Chapter 008: Apprenticeship in Martial Arts

The two were mutually flattering each other. Niu Si could only watch from the side, several times wanting to speak but hesitating. Finally, he could not help but remind them: "Elders, the young monk has gone far. Should we follow him now?" Elder Qin hurriedly said: "Let's go! Everyone be careful, don't let him notice us."

Elder Qin said, "The palm strike you used against the Infinite Monk was the 'Thirteen Techniques of Subduing Demons', correct?" At this point, Ji Cangsheng was taken aback: "You even know the 'Thirteen Techniques of Subduing Demons'?" Elder Qin replied, "This is largely thanks to Mr. Zeng's extensive knowledge; otherwise, it would have been difficult to find you."

Wu Qiuyu happily left the stone cave and wandered leisurely on the mountain. Suddenly, he remembered the Taoist temple where his master once resided. Out of curiosity, he decided to search for it. To his surprise, he actually found it.

I originally thought he would jump up in joy, but to my surprise, he didn't take it seriously at all. Ji Cangsheng gave him a slap on the backside and exclaimed, "I want to be your master, are you still unwilling?"

In fear of Wu Qi's potential harm to the common people, he decided to leave him in the cave while he himself went to bury the two corpses and washed away the bloodstains with stream water

Wu Qiuyu believed that Ji Cangsheng was saying that he could go find Xiang'er and Uncle Liu at any time in the future. He was so happy that he jumped up and said: "That's great. I am willing, I am willing to be your disciple. Please cure my illness quickly, so I can..."

Wu Qiuyu felt a soreness in his legs, and he had to support himself with his hands on his knees to slowly straighten up, exclaiming: "Master, my legs are so sore"

Niu Si exclaimed: "Elders, no amount of gentle persuasion will compel him to hand over the secret manual. Let us take action."

I?'' Wu Qiuyu could not figure out how this was related to him. He shook his head and said with a silly smile: ``I can't do it.''

Wu Qiuyu stood in a horse stance as instructed by his master, not daring to move an inch

Ji Cangsheng smiled and said: "It seems that the three of you are quite confident in your own martial arts. I wonder how you compare to Master Sima? Sima Xiangcheng, despite his momentary bravery, ended up humiliating himself and nearly lost his life. How can you three be so brazen?"

The people of Ji Cangsheng understood and nodded: "So that's how it is. You admire his insight and character, haha, that means you lack insight and do not know how to conduct yourselves. The Beiming Sect has actually fallen to this state. After a few years, has your Sima Sect Leader become so muddled in this world?"

Lai Baochang held a chain in his right hand, while with his left hand he exerted force to strike the round hammer towards Ji Cangsheng's back. Just as Ji Cangsheng had climbed to the edge of the stone wall, he felt a gust of wind approaching from behind and hurriedly leaped forward. With a loud "bang," the iron hammer struck the edge of the stone wall, causing countless fragments of stone to fall. Niu Si quickly dodged. Qin Quanhai waved his right hand in front of him and caught two flying fragments of stone that were coming towards him.

Wu Qiuyu said: "When I was young, my great-grandfather taught me to stand like this. Every day I would go up the mountain to chop firewood and fetch water, my arms and legs were strong. I just didn't expect to have to stand for so long, and now I am still sore."

Ji Cangsheng, feeling angry, asked: "As a monk, have you never paid respect to your master?"

Knowing that Wu Qiuyu had been practicing diligently over the past few months and understanding that he was still a child, Ji Cangsheng said to him: "Today, I grant you a day of rest. Tomorrow, I will teach you the second move"

Wu Qiuyu poked his head out and discovered that indeed three more people had arrived, leaving him even more confused. "Go back in!" Ji Cangsheng signaled for him to hurry back.

Lai Baochang exclaimed: "Do not beat around the bush! Quickly take out the secret manual!"

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and his eyes brightened as he exclaimed: "Could it be that someone with the surname Ji has hidden the martial arts secret manual on the mountain, deliberately laying a scent to confuse people?" Upon considering this, he felt a surge of joy in his heart and quickened his pace, following the scent up the mountain

Qin Quanhua was still pondering over the move he had just executed, which was quite perplexing, and asked, "What kind of technique was that?"

"The Ghostly Hand of the Underworld, Qin Quanhai." Before he could finish speaking, Ji Cangsheng had already guessed it, which surprised Elder Qin quite a bit

The next day. The weather was pleasant and sunny. The sun was warm.

Ji Cangsheng did not feel guilty upon seeing him, nodded slightly, and asked: "Have you practiced this?"

"Master." Wu Qiuyu bowed to his master, feeling very pleased. What he cared about was not what benefits his master could provide him, but rather that once he was cured, he could go find Xiang'er and Uncle Liu.

Ji Cangsheng was in a very good mood, laughing heartily, when he suddenly felt something unusual coming from above. He hurriedly waved his hand to shield himself. A lump of crow droppings fell from the sky and stuck to his hand

"What? Sima... Sima, the leader has been injured?" Lai Baochang was taken aback. Qin Quanhai was also stunned and pondered, "Could it be that Mr. Zeng was right? But then, how could the Great Elder of the Protector, Lu Qiaoyin, have offended him and nearly been killed by a single strike? Elder Lu is a top expert of the Beiming Sect." Lai Baochang stared blankly at him, not understanding what he was saying, and asked, "Elder Qin, is what he said true?" Elder Lu is a top expert of the Beiming Sect." Lai Baochang stared blankly at him, not understanding what he was saying, and asked, "Elder Qin, is what he said true?"

Ji Cangsheng is indeed a master among masters, and although he cannot employ his most adept technique, the Thirteen Styles of Demon Subjugation, his skills will not easily be constrained by others

"He taught you the basics, very good. This saves me some trouble." Ji Cangsheng was very pleased, but suddenly put on a stern face and said, "You little rascal, from now on, do not mention your grandmaster in front of me. Otherwise, I am your master, and he is your grandmaster, and I would be unfairly taken advantage of by him. Not good, not good." Yixin understood this time and secretly laughed.

Niu Si held a knife in his hand, yet he did not dare to approach, only able to watch the two engage in combat from a distance

Ji Cangsheng looked at Lai Baochang's corpse and shook his head helplessly: "I never intended to take your life. I didn't expect that the chain hammer in your hand would bring about your demise." He took a few steps and jumped down from the stone wall

Ji Cangsheng gently patted his back and said slowly: "You have a kind heart, and the master is very pleased. It is only because you have not yet experienced the complexities of the world that you think simply about everything, unaware of the dangers of the rivers and lakes. Just now, in that confrontation, the master won, and could spare one or two of them. If they had won, I fear that both the master and you would have perished at their hands"

Ji Cangsheng will need to conduct an inspection nearby in a few days, to prevent Qin Quanhai from bringing reinforcements and causing further trouble. Fortunately, the winter has passed peacefully without incident

The Thirteen Techniques of Subduing Demons by Ji Cangsheng, with its powerful internal energy explosion, can shatter gold and break stones with a single strike, exhibiting extraordinary might. However, the transition from accumulating internal energy to unleashing it requires the assistance of techniques, making it somewhat inflexible during close combat. Qin Quanhai keenly seized upon this point, tightly entangling Ji Cangsheng and not allowing him any opportunity to rest and gather strength

In addition to teaching martial arts, Ji Cangsheng also guided Wu Qiuyu in becoming familiar with the meridians and acupoints, as well as distinguishing between poisonous insects and beneficial herbs. Wu Qiuyu found these subjects quite interesting, and aside from managing his daily training, he followed his master to learn some medical principles. Over time, he gradually became capable of reading medical texts and identifying acupoints on his own body for acupuncture, as well as using appropriate medications.

Entangled in the plight of the people, making it difficult for him to exert his strength, Qin Quanhai initially felt a sense of secret satisfaction. However, he later realized that even his proud Ghostly Hand of the Underworld could not achieve an extraordinary victory, which inevitably led to a feeling of restlessness.

Ji Cangsheng said: "If I could unleash the Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subjugation, I would have already struck you down with a single palm. Hmm. You are not bad either; the Ghostly Hand of the Underworld has indeed made it difficult for me to escape, allowing me to see things in a new light"

Ji Cangsheng allowed Wu Qiuyu to take off his clothes and lay on the green stone by the creek, examining his wounds all over his body. Looking at the numerous scars on him, Ji Cangsheng couldn't help but feel pity and sighed softly, "You little rascal, how did you endure all these injuries?"

Wu Qiuyu was familiar with the cave, darting back and forth. Niu Si was unable to catch him for a moment, which made him somewhat annoyed, and he began to swing his knife to attack. Wu Qiuyu shouted in alarm and hurriedly fled from the cave entrance. Niu Si pursued relentlessly, raising his knife to strike.

Niu Si caught sight of Wu Qiuyu and a thought flashed through his mind: "He must have brought this little monk for a purpose. If I capture the little monk, he will surely be distracted, and then Elder Qin will have an opportunity to act." Upon thinking of this, Niu Si was greatly pleased and quickly walked towards Wu Qiuyu with his knife in hand

Ji Cangsheng was astonished and vaguely said: "It's almost time, get up."

Ji Cangsheng laughed and said: "What demon-slaying and monster-subduing, what Bodhisattvas and Arhats! Do you think this is just a trick of monks chanting scriptures and telling stories? My 'Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subduing' is a set of palm techniques. Although there are only thirteen moves, each one can rival a thousand pounds of force, quite formidable indeed. Do you want to learn?"

Good!" Wu Qiu shouted while clapping his hands

"Zeng Zitu? Hmph! This fellow is indeed up to something." At this moment, Ji Cangsheng's face no longer bore a smile, and he began to be wary of the newcomers. "Are you Zeng Zitu's subordinates? For no reason at all, what do you want with me?"

Wu Qiuyu observed once with his eyes and practiced twice with his hands, each time managing to remember a little more. After the master demonstrated the entire move three times, Wu Qiuyu finally learned the complete technique, and only after repeating it several times himself did he feel confident that he had memorized it.

Ji Cangsheng said seriously: "Starting today, I will teach you martial arts. Stand over there." He adjusted Wu Qiuyu's stance into a horse stance and instructed, "If I haven't called you, you are not allowed to get up." After saying this, he went to the stream to wash his hands.

In a moment of panic, Wu Qiuyu unleashed the already mastered "Mountain Shocking Demon" in the hope of frightening him

Both parties became distracted, causing their movements to slow down. Ji Cangsheng's figure flickered. Qin Quanhai would not allow him to escape and hurriedly reached out to intercept. However, Ji Cangsheng did not intend to leave; he shifted his body and, seemingly from nowhere, produced another hand to grasp Qin Quanhai's left hand. Qin Quanhai was taken aback and aimed his right hand directly at Ji Cangsheng's throat. Yet, Ji Cangsheng did not evade; he forcefully yanked Qin Quanhai's left hand, causing him to lose his balance. Before he could fall, Ji Cangsheng seized his right hand, pulling both hands outward. Qin Quanhai let out a miserable scream as both arms dislocated.

"Senior Brother?" Qin Quanhé's mind was in complete disarray, "Aren't you the servant of Weng Qiuhé? Who is your senior brother?"

Wu Qiuyu encountered death for the first time, frightened, he closed his eyes and shrank into the hole, his heart racing wildly

Ah, I am willing, I am willing. Wu Qiuyu casually replied, rubbing his backside, getting up, putting on his clothes one by one, and sitting down on a stone, muttering: But I still need to go back to find Xiang'er and Uncle Liu. As your disciple, am I not supposed to be with you? Are you still asking me to find Xiang'er and Uncle Liu?

Wu Qiuyu was even more anxious: each of them had been fighting with the master for so long, what if... He did not dare to think further, only hoping that the master would win quickly. "It would be best if those two could retreat in the face of difficulty, so that no one would have to die." He thought to himself, and inadvertently walked out.

Lai Baochang released the chain hammer and said to Qin Quanhai, "Let's get started. There's no need to waste words with him." Niu Si had also drawn his knife, waiting for Elder Qin's command to rush forward and meet his death. Qin Quanhai, still unhurried, replied, "Mr. Ji is merely indulging in verbal bravado, not caring at all for his own life, is he?"

Wu Qiuyu entered the cave and briefly recounted what had just happened to his master. Ji Cangsheng was initially taken aback, set down what he was holding, and said: "The footprints themselves are not a concern, but I fear that people have already arrived." Wu Qiuyu, puzzled, looked outside the cave and replied: "There is no one here, Master. Who are you referring to?"

Ji Cangsheng and Elder Qin are both individuals who are well-informed about their surroundings. Although the situation is tense, they cannot help but glance over in this direction. Ji Cangsheng, upon hearing Wu Qiuyu's call, seizes the opportunity to look over and, in a fleeting moment, sees Wu Qiuyu strike down Niu Si with both palms. He cannot help but exclaim, "You little rascal, well done!" Qin Quanhai, upon hearing Ji Cangsheng's praise, dares to look over and, catching sight of Niu Si lying on the ground, is taken aback and wonders: Who did this? Ji Cangsheng, upon hearing Wu Qiuyu's call, seizes the opportunity to look over and, in a fleeting moment, sees Wu Qiuyu strike down Niu Si with both palms. He cannot help but exclaim, "You little rascal, well done!" Qin Quanhai, upon hearing Ji Cangsheng's praise, dares to look over and, catching sight of Niu Si lying on the ground, is taken aback and wonders: Who did this? Is there someone else here? He clearly did not expect it to be that little monk from the Foguang Temple.

Niu Si was taken aback, unable to discern the reality of the situation. He hurriedly leaped to the side, intending to evade the attack. However, the uneven stone wall had a protruding rock corner at that moment. He collided headfirst, striking his forehead, and his body rolled down against the stone wall, meeting an untimely death

Wu Qiuyu looked at his master in confusion, rubbing his thigh, and did not say a word

After each practice session, once I have sweated, washing with the cool stream water leaves my body feeling exceptionally refreshed

He stood with his legs slightly bent, his hands reaching forward; as if to bring them together, his right hand turned palm up and swept outward, while his left hand continued to move down to his right elbow; the palm of his right hand flipped inward, and his arms overlapped; ... then both hands with palms facing up separated to the sides; when his arms were parallel, he suddenly squeezed his elbows back, drawing his hands to his chest with his wrists; with a loud shout, he forcefully pushed his palms forward ...

"The Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subjugation?" Wu Qiuyu found this name quite amusing, "Master, you can subdue demons and vanquish evil too? Just as powerful as the Bodhisattvas and Arhats."

Release him, and ask: "Are we still fighting?"

Wu Qiuyu wiped away her tears and asked, "Have you spared that person?" Ji Cangsheng replied, "I have severed his arm, so he cannot do evil for the time being. Let him be. At worst, we can just move to another place"

Wu Qiuyu was left dumbfounded, nearly struck by a falling branch. Ji Cangsheng concluded the form and asked with a smile, "How was it?" Wu Qiuyu clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Master is amazing!"

Ji Cangsheng smiled and said: "I certainly cannot take it out at any time. However, I do have some herbal medicine prepared here. For those who have been injured or have seen blood, it is nothing serious. I will prepare a medicine pack for you all."

The two individuals are entangled with each other, making it difficult for either to gain the upper hand in the moment, each hoping for a lapse in the other's focus—this would allow them to break free from the entanglement and unleash their signature technique, the Thirteen Styles of Demon Subjugation, to decisively defeat their opponent; meanwhile, Qin Quanhai, seizing the opportunity, could launch a sudden and stealthy attack aimed directly at the opponent's vital points

Ji Cangsheng recalled what Liu Zhengfeng had privately told him, saying that this young monk was kind and righteous, and could endure hardship. It seems that this is indeed the case. With a little guidance in the future, he might be able to achieve something. Thus, he asked, "You little rascal, if I were to take you as a disciple, would you be willing?"

Qin Quanhai's arm was incapacitated, so he gave up on retrieving the bodies of Lai Changlao and Niu Si'er, choosing instead to walk alone on the mountain, contemplating how to take revenge and how to obtain the martial arts secret manual from Weng Qiuhé

Ji Cangsheng pulled him inside, then walked out of the cave entrance and said loudly: "The weather is nice today, it seems we are expecting guests"

Elder Qin replied disdainfully: "Have you ever heard of an elder from the Beiming Sect switching to another faction? Mr. Zeng, having originated from Shaolin, has long established his own sect and is now a valued ally of our Beiming Sect. Although we are not under each other's authority, everyone respects Mr. Zeng's insights and character. However, when there are requests, all comply with orders, so why would there be a need to specifically seek refuge?"

Wu Qiuyu stood in a manner similar to his master, with his legs slightly bent and his hands gesturing a few times. Ultimately, it was not successful, and he had no choice but to give up

Niu Si arrogantly asked, "Why don't you guess who I am?" Ji Cangsheng didn't even glance at him, waving his hand and saying, "You can forget it." Niu Si felt a surge of anger, his eyes wide with indignation, but he didn't dare to act recklessly in front of the two elders. Wu Qiuyu leaned against the cave entrance, nearly laughing out loud.

Lai Baochang only knew that he could swing the chain hammer freely now, not realizing that once there was distance, the Thirteen Styles of Exorcising Demons by Ji Cangsheng could be unleashed. Ji Cangsheng took a step back, focused his energy, and drew an arc with his arms in front of him, suddenly exerting force to execute the move "Carrying the Moon to Clear the Demons"

Suddenly, he faintly caught a whiff of a strange odor. Qin Quanhé looked around and muttered to himself, "Where is this strange smell coming from?" After walking a few more steps up the mountain, the odor persisted, leaving him puzzled: "This place is high in the mountains and spacious, and it is the refreshing autumn season; how could such a strange smell be lingering here?"

Elder Lai was taken aback: "How do you know we are elders of the Beiming Sect?" Ji Cangsheng replied: "I also know that your name is Lai Baochang, you are skilled in using the chain hammer, and you are known as the 'One Against Ten Thousand', is that correct?" "This..." Lai Baochang was even more dumbfounded, unable to help but reach for the chain at his waist.

It is generally understood that profound martial arts such as the Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subjugation should first require the cultivation of internal energy. Once the internal energy reaches a certain level, one may then practice external techniques. However, Ji Cangsheng considered that Wu Qiuyu was still a child; if he were to insist on sitting in meditation and breathing exercises, he might become bored over time, which would be counterproductive. Therefore, he first taught him a technique called "Mountain Shocking Demon," allowing him to use this technique to verify whether his internal strength had improved. In this way, it truly suited Wu Qiuyu's temperament.

Since that battle, Wu Qiu encountered a mental block, which created obstacles during his training. Whenever he exerted force, the shadow of Niu Si would flash before his eyes, causing him to become distracted and hastily conclude his practice, unable to unleash even a fraction of his power. Over time, he became less invested in his training.

Qin Quanhai glanced at Niu Si at the cave entrance, then looked up at the corpse of Elder Lai on the stone wall, feeling a deep sorrow in his heart. He walked over to Niu Si, kicked him with his foot, and seeing that he was already dead, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "You have followed me for ten years, yet I never expected you would meet such an end today. Alas. Was it that little monk who killed you?" Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he mused to himself: "The little monk has been missing for just over a year, yet he possesses such skill. Could it be that he has also learned the martial arts secrets of Weng Qiuhé?" He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh again: "You have followed me for ten years, yet I never expected you would meet such an end today. Alas. Was it that little monk who killed you?" Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he mused to himself: "The little monk has been missing for just over a year, yet he possesses such skill. Could it be that he has also learned the martial arts secrets of Weng Qiuhé? It seems that Weng Qiuhé truly left behind a secret manual, indeed formidable. If I were to obtain that manual, with my current skills, given some time, I would surely stand alone in the martial world, why would I need to remain beneath others?" Upon thinking of this, he felt a surge of joy and began to devise a plan on how to obtain the secret manual.

Ji Cangsheng comforted, "He died from his own reckless actions; it has nothing to do with you." Wu Qiuyu continued to cry, "I struck him with the Mountain Shocking Demon technique; I am the one who killed him." Ji Cangsheng replied, "Did you even make contact with him?" Wu Qiuyu was taken aback, thought for a moment, and felt that he probably did not. Ji Cangsheng said, "Then that settles it. How could you possess such great ability to kill someone from a distance?"

Ji Cangsheng stretched lazily, yawned, and said in a languid manner: "Alright, alright, I am tired. If the three of you are thirsty, I only have stream water to offer. If you are in a hurry to continue your journey, then feel free to take care of yourselves, no need to keep me company with idle chatter."

Ji Cangsheng called Wu Qiuyu out of the cave and instructed him to stand in the center of the open space

Niu Si was still in a state of shock. Upon seeing Ji Cangsheng return, he was so frightened that he took several steps back, and the knife in his hand trembled incessantly

Qin Quanhai took a step back. Lai Baochang understood and swung the chain hammer towards Ji Cangsheng.

Upon hearing Wu Qiuyu express his eagerness to become a disciple, Ji Cangsheng felt delighted as well. He turned around and said, "Then why not come and pay your respects to your master quickly." His mood changed remarkably fast, making him somewhat of a playful old man.

Hahaha. Elder Qin laughed heartily, "Mr. Ji, there's no need to pretend. If it weren't for your strike that injured the monk Wujie, no one would have known you were in Shanxi." Ji Cangsheng asked, "Are you and that monk's group here to seek revenge on me?"

Wu Qiuyu was puzzled: "Whose footprints are these? How could someone come here?"

Wu Qiuyu woke up and saw his master sitting peacefully beside him. Overjoyed, he shed tears and cried out: "Master, I was so scared. I was afraid that they would harm you."

Wu Qiuyu stepped onto the rubble and entered. The plaque hanging askew on the main hall's door was in a state of disrepair, the characters long since faded and barely legible, and it seemed poised to fall at any moment

Wu Qiuyu had little experience in the martial world and could not have imagined that someone was following behind, so he retraced his steps all the way back.

Elder Qin said, "Mr. Ji is indeed perceptive." Ji Cangsheng smiled and replied, "Where do you three come from? Are you here to chop wood or gather herbs? I suppose hunting is out of the question.

Wu Qiuyu poked his head out of the cave entrance once again, and was dazzled by the sight before him

Qin Quanhai remained lost in thought, not responding. Niu Si called out from behind, "He must be scared inside, and is just bragging here. When has he ever met Master Sima?" "Indeed," Lai Baochang clearly agreed with his statement.

Wu Qiuyu could not figure out what kind of palm technique it was, only saying: "I listen to my master." He approached any martial arts with a nonchalant attitude, neither greedy nor dismissive.

The temple is not large, and it has long been in a state of disrepair, with more than half of the courtyard wall having collapsed

Wu Qiuyu was still haunted by past fears and did not wish to continue learning martial arts. Ji Cangsheng employed various means and finally managed to persuade him to comply. This time, Wu Qiuyu took nearly a month to memorize the techniques, yet he was unable to execute them smoothly.

Wu Qiuyu continued to play with the water, casually saying: "Would you take me as a disciple? What would that entail?"

Knowing his temperament well, Ji Cangsheng did not hold it against him. He patted him on the shoulder, took a couple of steps forward, assumed a stance, and turned back to say: "Today, I will first teach you the first move—Mountain Opening, Demon Shocking. Pay attention."

Step into the grand hall. The statues of the Three Pure Ones enshrined within are mostly peeling and covered in dust, with numerous cobwebs haphazardly hanging from the statues, corners, and columns. The incense altar has already rotted and collapsed

Wu Qiuyu was startled and exclaimed, "What are you doing?" Niu Si, with a strange smile at the corner of his mouth, did not respond, but advanced menacingly with a knife in hand. Wu Qiuyu realized that he meant no good and turned to flee into the cave. Niu Si pursued him with the knife in hand.

After a two-month interval, when Wu Qiuyu's mood had relaxed somewhat, Ji Cangsheng began to teach him the second form of the "Thirteen Techniques of Demon Suppression": Dispelling the Mist

As he gazed at the world, lost in thought, he suddenly remembered his disciple, realizing that nearly half an hour had passed. He inwardly exclaimed that it was not good, hurriedly set aside his book, and thought to himself: I must not let that little rascal exhaust himself.

Just now, the distance was too close, making it difficult for the chain hammer to exert its power. Now, Ji Cangsheng jumped aside on his own, which was exactly in line with Lai Baochang's intentions. He then leaped onto the stone wall and swung the hammer towards Ji Cangsheng. The chain hammer whistled through the air. Ji Cangsheng knew that he was strong, and the hammerhead was a solid iron ball, so he did not dare to be careless and dodged in time

The person in front of Niu Si said to the elder Qin, who was older: "This time we really came to the right place. Elder Qin, you are indeed knowledgeable to think of coming here to look for it." A proud expression appeared on Elder Qin's face as he replied: "It's nothing, everyone has worked hard. When we find that person later, if he refuses to hand over the items, we will have to rely on Brother Lai's meteor hammer to deal with him." The man with the surname Lai laughed and said: "With Elder Qin's ghostly hand at play, it seems that it won't even come to my turn to embarrass myself."

Ji Cangsheng gradually taught him some simple techniques, guiding him into the basics. Although Wu Qiuyu's aptitude was not particularly high, he was diligent and hardworking. Since there was nothing else to do here, he took his training seriously.

Ji Cangsheng examines his martial arts skills, primarily assessing whether his palm techniques have become more proficient and whether his internal energy has improved, without paying attention to the strength of his strikes. Wu Qiuyu is also reluctant to mention it in front of his master, thus Ji Cangsheng remains unaware of his condition, continuing to immerse himself in medical texts and pharmacopoeias, only checking his internal true energy every ten days.

After the New Year, Wu Qiuyu turned fifteen years old

Ji Cangsheng coldly laughed and said: "Hehe, the elder of the Beiming Sect is also concerned about the affairs of the Central Plains martial arts world, how interesting."

The three individuals, realizing they had been discovered, exchanged glances and had no choice but to jump down separately

After teaching him two palm techniques, Ji Cangsheng no longer rushed to teach new moves, instead focusing on transmitting his internal cultivation methods to him, allowing him to gather internal energy. Wu Qiuyu had no foundation in internal skills, so his progress was somewhat slow. Ji Cangsheng did not pressure him and took the opportunity to delve into medical studies himself

A black cloth was hanging from the beam, slowly being pulled up. Three individuals were hiding on the beam, intently watching him

Jì Cāngshēng could not be bothered with him, stood up and said casually, "Do as you please!" His implication was that whether or not to become a disciple was entirely up to him.

Qin Quanhé let out a sigh: "Alas, must it be this way?" His face remained expressionless, yet he suddenly struck out, aiming for Ji Cangsheng's throat. Ji Cangsheng was already on guard; with a swift movement of his left hand, he neutralized this surprise attack. Although Qin Quanhé's hands appeared emaciated, they resembled a pair of iron hooks, with very strong tendons and bones. His movements were also extremely swift, circling around Ji Cangsheng like a ghost; his strikes were elusive, akin to those of a spectral hand.

Ji Cangsheng nodded slightly: "Seeing that your foundation is already quite good, I will begin to teach you the 'Thirteen Techniques of Demon Suppression' today"

Lai Baochang was swinging a chain hammer, ready to strike, when he saw Ji Cangsheng make a move, and couldn't help but exclaim "Ah". The two were about seven or eight feet apart, and Lai Baochang did not expect him to attack from such a distance, so he hesitated slightly. By the time he sensed something was wrong, it was already too late to evade. Ji Cangsheng waved his arms diagonally, appearing unremarkable, yet concealing immense internal power. Two forces instantly swept past Lai Baochang, slicing from his left rib to his right shoulder, and brutally grinding across his chest and abdomen. Ji Cangsheng waved his arms diagonally, appearing unremarkable, yet concealing immense internal power. Two forces instantly swept past Lai Baochang, slicing from his left rib to his right shoulder, and brutally grinding across his chest and abdomen.

"Master, how do I pay my respects?" Wu Qiuyu scratched his head, "I have never paid my respects to a master before."

Ji Cangsheng is also very anxious, now it is as if he is trapped in water, being harassed by a group of fish, unable to hit them or evade them.

Qin Quanhai was greatly shocked, secretly exclaiming "Not good." He saw Lai Baochang's expression of pain as he leaned backward. The chain hammer, which had already been swung out, was pulled back by his falling body, striking him squarely in the chest. Lai Baochang did not even have time to cry out before he fell down with a thud, spitting out blood profusely. The chain hammer rolled onto the ground, covered in fresh blood.

"Yes." Wu Qiuyu, being honest, stepped forward, knelt down on the ground, and bowed his head.

Ji turned to Elder Qin and said, "You seem unfamiliar." Elder Qin replied with a cold smile, "Mr. Ji hides and seeks all day long, so it is only natural that you do not recognize me, Qin."

After practicing for another half month, Wu Qiuyu had mastered the move "Opening the Mountain to Shock the Demon." Ji Cangsheng was not in a hurry to teach him new techniques, but instead used the move to guide him on the methods of circulating energy and exerting force.

Ji Cangsheng comforted, "Take your time, no need to rush. I will demonstrate it for you step by step." He then broke down the move "Kicking the Mountain to Shock the Demon" and slowly showed it to him.

The practitioner took time to treat the common people, prepared effective medicine, and administered acupuncture to address the internal bruising in his brain. Additionally, he transmitted some simple breathing techniques to him, encouraging careful practice to enhance his recuperation.

Ji Cangsheng did not expect that he would keep bowing non-stop, so he hurriedly pulled him up and said with a smile: "You little rascal, you are indeed something! From now on, you will be my disciple, Ji Cangsheng. I will be your master. From now on, call me Master."

Ji Cangsheng provided guidance from the side, while Wu Qiuyu practiced repeatedly. After two days, he was already able to execute a complete move in a fluid manner. Ji Cangsheng nodded in approval, and Wu Qiuyu also displayed a happy smile

Wu Qiuyu stood there upright, and upon seeing his master look up at him, he foolishly asked, "Master, is it ready yet?"

In the midst of his anxiety, Niu Si cast a glance at the corpse of Elder Lai, still shivering in fear. He eagerly hoped that Elder Qin could quickly achieve victory and put an end to this terrifying nightmare. However, given the current situation, there seemed to be no opportunity for Elder Qin to prevail.

As the three individuals saw Wu Qiuyu walking away, they jumped down one after another. An older man asked, "Isn't this the little monk?" Another person turned to the one behind and asked, "Niu Si, the information you received, confirm it, is it really him?" Niu Si thought for a moment and replied, "Elder Qin has a keen eye. I believe it is most likely him."

Wu Qiuyu stood as instructed, when suddenly he was pushed from behind by Ji Cangsheng with a palm. Caught off guard and losing his balance, he took a step forward and turned around, staring blankly at Ji Cangsheng: "Master ... ... "

Ji Cangsheng examined Wu Qiuyu's palm technique daily and, seeing that he had indeed made progress, felt naturally pleased. He also began to teach him meditation and breathing exercises to cultivate internal energy.

Wu Qiuyu still felt a lingering fear. Ji Cangsheng asked, "Then if he wants to use you to threaten the master, forcing Elder Qin to kill me, would you prefer the master to die, or him?" Wu Qiuyu clutched his thigh tighter and cried, "I don't want the master to die. I don't want anyone to die."

Autumn has arrived in the blink of an eye

Wu Qiuyu was extremely nervous, fearing that his master might suddenly pass away as well. In moments of peril, he called out several times: "Master, be careful!"

You can stand for half an hour at a time, which is quite rare. Ji Cangsheng was overjoyed, but just as he was smiling halfway, he suddenly asked, "You little rascal, did you slack off while I was reading?"

For several days, Wu Qiu encountered a state of daze every day, experiencing the same nightmare each night. In his dreams, he was always haunted by the terrifyingly pale face of Niu Si and the scene of him slowly collapsing, which would always startle him awake. Ji Cangsheng could only try his best to offer comfort, not wanting to force him to continue his training.

Is he really dead?! Wu Qiuyu looked horrified, "I killed someone! Master..." and then he hugged Jicangsheng's thigh and began to cry.

"Are you really unwilling to hand it over?" Lai Baochang placed his hand on the chain hammer. Niu Si also drew his knife halfway from his waist. Qin Quanhai, rubbing the jade pendant hanging at his waist, still spoke calmly, saying: "Mr. Ji, it will have to be taken out sooner or later, so why must it come to the point of injury and bloodshed?"

Ji Cangsheng dodged to the side and called out, "Are we really going to fight?" Lai Baochang replied, "Is there any doubt about it?" He retracted the chain in his hand and kicked out again. Ji Cangsheng did not evade, striking his palm towards Lai Baochang's instep. Knowing that Ji Cangsheng's palm technique was formidable, Lai Baochang did not dare to confront it directly, quickly withdrawing his leg and swinging a hammer. Ji Cangsheng sidestepped, leaping onto the outer stone wall with a push from both feet. He was concerned that Lai Baochang's chain might injure Wu Qiuyu, which is why he led him to fight in a different position. Lai Baochang was aware of Ji Cangsheng's impressive palm technique and did not dare to engage directly, hastily retracting his leg and swinging a hammer. Ji Cangsheng evaded again, leaping onto the outer stone wall with a push from both feet. He was worried that Lai Baochang's chain might harm Wu Qiuyu, thus prompting him to change the battlefield.

Ji Cangsheng washed the crow droppings off his hands, then went into the cave to fetch a book, sitting on a stone by the stream to read. In the intervals of turning the pages, he occasionally glanced at Wu Qiuyu, noticing that he stood still, so he nodded slightly and continued reading.

Ji Cangsheng said: "Zeng Zitu is a disciple of Shaolin Temple. You are the elders of the Beiming Sect. When did you become his subordinates? Did he defect to the Beiming Sect, or did you switch your allegiance to Shaolin?"

Thus, two more months passed, and Wu Qiuyu finally mastered that technique thoroughly. However, his internal strength was still lacking, and he was relying on the brute force of his hands.

Ji Cangsheng smiled and said: "You little rascal. Do you think your master is someone they can harm at will? However, it was indeed perilous just now. Thanks to you, by getting entangled with that little thief, the one with the surname Qin was distracted, allowing your master to use a clever trick to subdue him"

Wu Qiuyu replied: "I grew up with my grandmaster. He said that I am too far behind and that my status is not sufficient to recognize him as my master, as the other senior brothers would be unhappy. Therefore, I do not have a master."

After more than a year of effort, Wu Qiuyu's injury has healed, the headaches have not recurred, and his hair has gradually started to grow back

Ji Cangsheng was in high spirits when he was unexpectedly disturbed by this crow's droppings. He secretly gathered his energy and suddenly shouted loudly, pushing with both palms. A branch broke with a crack, and the surrounding twigs shook incessantly, causing many leaves to fall. Fortunately, the crow had already left the branch, startled and flapping about in a panic, and finally managed to escape through the gaps in the branches.

It no longer hurts. Wu Qiuyu said casually, unconcerned, as he reached his hand into the stream, splashing the water, while continuously exclaiming: It's fun, it's fun. I've shattered the shadows of the clouds.

Ji Cangsheng no longer paid attention to him, walked over to help Wu Qiuyu up, and examined his injuries. Seeing that Wu Qiuyu was unconscious, he picked him up and entered the cave

Wu Qiuyu looked around but found no other clues, so he walked out to return and inform his master

The three individuals felt a secret joy in their hearts, and thus they ambushed nearby, observing the situation.

Ji Cangsheng seemed taken aback and said: "It appears that you are unaware of the matter regarding the injury of Master Sima. This is quite strange. Therefore, I advise the three of you to refrain from this and return to properly manage the affairs of your Beiming Sect, rather than entangling yourselves with me here"

Wu Qiuyu looked around and, seeing no one, shouted loudly: "Is anyone there? Is there anyone inside?" After calling several times without receiving a response, he muttered to himself: "They must have left because they find this place too dilapidated"

Ji Cangsheng received the style, waved his hand, and said: "It is your turn."

Hearing that there were still people alive, Wu Qiuyu felt somewhat better, resting his head on his master's lap, and said: "Master, I am afraid. Can we hide a little further away, so that we never have to fight with anyone again?" Ji Cangsheng sighed and said: "We can only do our best. Where can we hide that we will never be found?"

"Enough, enough." Ji Cangsheng, not wanting to hear any more of his rambling, directly sat down on a stone and waved, saying, "You just need to bow down. Is that clear?"

Elder Qin said: "Mr. Ji, why must you feign ignorance? You have betrayed the sect and stolen the martial arts secret manual. With Master Weng missing, it is likely that you cannot escape involvement. If you are wise, hand over the manual, and we can all live in peace!"

Wu Qiuyu watched helplessly as Niu Si died, believing that he had killed him, and was so frightened that he fainted

Ji Cangsheng smiled and said, "You keep insisting that I hand over the martial arts secret manual. There is no manual, but you have indeed witnessed the new moves created by my senior brother."

Ji Cangsheng said: "I have only used ten percent of my strength, and you already think it is impressive? Once you have mastered it, it will be far more powerful than this."

Niu Si was aware that he was a monk of Foguang Temple, a disciple under Master Wuyá. He thought he had been brought here to help the suffering of the world, and when he heard someone call out "Master, be careful," he misheard it as "Benefactor, be careful," so he merely shot a glance at him and did not take it to heart

Qin Quanhai gritted his teeth in pain, staring blankly at him, and exclaimed: "That move you just used... that is not the Thirteen Styles of Demon Subjugation!"

It turned out that the master was strict, and Wu Qiuyu was diligent in his practice, unable to spare a thought for Xiang'er and Uncle Liu. Now that he had become lax in his training, whenever he found himself idle, he often thought of Xiang'er, imagining the scenes described in the song she sang for him, his heart still filled with an indescribable sweetness

Qin Quanhé said, "Let us not waste time on idle chatter. Please hand over the secret manual, Mr. Ji." Ji Cangsheng replied, "There is no rush. I have something I am curious about and need to clarify first." "What is it?" Qin Quanhé did not understand what he wanted to ask.

With a crisp sound of "ka-la," a rock half-suspended on the hillside shattered in response, and the broken fragments tumbled down with a clatter.

This courtyard has not been cleaned for a long time, with the ground covered in a thick layer of dust and scattered fallen leaves. With each step taken, clear footprints are left behind. At first, Wu Qiuyu was only focused on having fun, but later he noticed something unusual. On the ground, there were actually several sets of footprints leading into the door

Elder Lai said, "What happens to that monk is none of our business." Elder Qin replied, "We specifically came to find Mr. Ji." Ji Cangsheng said, "You keep calling me Mr. Ji, but how do you know my surname is Ji?"

Wu Qiuyu requested to go out for a walk, and Ji Cangsheng agreed, only advising him not to go to the back mountain to encounter misfortune again

Wu Qiuyu grew up in a temple from a young age, living a life far removed from the secular world, thus his mind was free of distractions. With the dedicated guidance aimed at helping all beings, he quickly gained enlightenment.