Chapter 4: The Journey of Death (3)

Ding Hengdao: "The ability of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang to create the current grand situation may seem coincidental, but in reality, it is inevitable. Under tyrannical rule, the people's hearts yearn for rebellion; as long as someone rises to call out, the masses will surely respond in unison, amplifying their power. However, given the intelligence and capability of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, reaching this point is already a considerable challenge. As time progresses, it is natural for prosperity to decline, ultimately leading to demise. The true contenders for the world against the tyrannical Qin are those who can avoid the sharp edges and ultimately, the later arrivals who possess great wisdom and courage to rise above."

Ding Heng's eyes narrowed, emitting a cold glint, as if he could see the thoughts in Ji Kong's mind. He sneered, "Even if I am a thief, I am a thief unparalleled under heaven! Those who dare to claim the title of the best in any profession deserve the reverence and worship that comes with it, rather than the cold mockery of someone like you"

Pah! If I desire something, there is no one in this world who can stop me from obtaining it. Do I still need to ask you to steal? I simply want you to understand that a person should live life to the fullest, without regrets. If you can truly embody these eight characters, then you will die without regrets

Perhaps it is you, perhaps it is me, perhaps it is the person I have come here to find. However, as long as you put in the effort, you will naturally have such opportunities. Therefore, you must remember that success or failure is not important to you; what matters is whether you participate.

With a sound of "Ah..." from Ji Kongshou, he stuck out his tongue and said, "Are you the God of Thieves, Ding Heng?"

Ji Kongshou is precisely this type of person

Ding Hengdao: "It is not difficult to obtain it; the challenge lies in the fact that the mysteries within cannot be unraveled. This mysterious iron turtle has existed for thousands of years, and throughout this long period, it has passed through the hands of countless wise and brave individuals, yet it remains unsolved to this day. This demonstrates the immense difficulty involved, which cannot be achieved solely through human effort. One must possess a certain degree of luck to fulfill their desires and ultimately become the second generation master of the martial arts inscribed on this mysterious iron turtle."

Ding Heng said indignantly: "I do not blame you for your shallow understanding, but you cannot speak carelessly. You are the first person to dare say that I, Ding Heng, am ill. If it were not for our three years of friendship, I would definitely beat you to the ground!"

Fan Kuai looked up at the sky, realizing that it was getting late. After giving a few reminders, he carried Liu Bang on his back and leaped into the darkness, disappearing from sight

Ji Kongshou was momentarily taken aback, thought for a moment, and said: "I must go meet that old monster with the surname Ding, you should go wait for me at Old Man Wen's place first"

Jì Kōngshǒudào: "I cannot be blamed for this. I have studied with you for three years, and aside from this disguise and transformation technique, all the other so-called extraordinary skills are utterly useless. How can this not make me doubt the authenticity of you as a master thief?"

As of now, it has been three years since you and I have known each other. One has been teaching earnestly, while the other has been learning diligently. Time indeed flies; in the blink of an eye, you are almost an adult now said Master Ding with deep emotion

No!" Ding Heng shook his head, "Not only that, but even the things that others cannot accomplish, you must find a way to achieve them; this is the true essence of a hero.

Han Xin gazed at the disappearing figure of Fan Kuai, filled with doubt: "Do you really believe that Fan Kuai will return?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji and Han exchanged glances, their faces filled with disappointment. Fan Kuai noticed this and, pulling out a flying knife from the tree, handed it to Ji, saying: "There is no need for you to feel disheartened. Although you cannot return to Peixian with me this time, I, Fan Kuai, have always kept my word. You only need to take this flying knife to meet Wen Hu. He will treat you as if he were meeting me, and you will naturally be well received as honored guests"

This is the secret signal he agreed upon with Master Ding, and his response is merely a light cough, after which Master Ding leisurely strolls in.

Ji Kongshou's eyes brightened, and a surge of confidence arose within him. He said: "Yes, this is my ambition and ideal. What others can achieve, I, Ji Kongshou, can certainly accomplish as well"

"Oh no, this is unacceptable." Ji Kongshou and Han Xin were taken aback, anxiously stamping their feet. After much effort, they helped Fan Kuai to his feet. Ji Kongshou was puzzled, thinking: "Didn’t I save Liu Bang? Why is Fan Kuai bowing to me? Could it be that Liu Bang has some connection to the Wuqiao Gate?"

Do you know that your act of kindness not only saved Liu Bang, but also made you a great benefactor to the thousands of disciples at Wuqiao Gate!" Fan Kuai suddenly knelt down and bowed deeply on the ground

Ji Kongshou panicked and reached out to help, but to his surprise, the place he touched felt as heavy as a mountain, and Fan Kuai's body remained completely still

Ding Heng said with a serious expression: "Some matters cannot be judged solely by what is in front of you. As time passes, you will naturally come to understand. But you must believe me, I, Ding Heng, have traveled the world and met countless people; I would never misjudge anyone. You are indeed not an ordinary person, and sooner or later, you will become a dragon among men and a phoenix among women!"

The Caishen Temple was empty, which was clearly within Ji Kongshou's expectations. He did not seem anxious at all, and only when the night deepened did he hear three knocks on the door, "Duk, duk, duk".

"There are no tricks today, I just want to talk and chat with you." Ding Laofuzi sat down next to him

You finally understand now! Ding Heng seemed somewhat surprised by Ji Kongshou's rapid change in attitude.

At least it was never my intention to come here in the first place said the old master Ding淡淡地道 Have you heard of the name the God of Thieves Ding Heng

According to my intuition, Fan Kuai is indeed a person worthy of our trust, and I have no reason not to believe him

Old Master Ding gazed through the window at the dark night sky, lost in thought, and after a long while said: "I came to Huaiyin at the behest of others, but in the three years I have traversed every inch of Huaiyin, yet I have still found nothing."

Ji Kongshou shook his head and said, "In such a vast world, how easy is it to find it?"

Ji Kongshou trembled all over, realizing that Ding Heng's words were not false, and an expression of disappointment involuntarily appeared on his face

Ji Kongshou suddenly heard these stirring words, and he felt a rush of blood and excitement. He suddenly thought that Ding Heng said these words to him because he had confidence in him, believing that he had the ability to seize opportunities. However, with his current limited strength, having never even stepped into the martial world, how could he dare to speak of the world at large?

No, the martial arts philosophies in the world are incredibly diverse, and you should still have opportunities. For instance, when the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan established prehistoric civilization, he also encountered extraordinary experiences at your current age. He fought Chiyou nine times and lost each time, but ultimately comprehended the profound essence of martial arts, becoming the greatest master in the world, which allowed him to unify the wilderness and be hailed as the ancestor of our Huaxia. After his death, it is said that he recorded all his imperial martial arts teachings into two black iron turtles, leaving them for future fated individuals. As long as we can find these two black iron turtles and decipher the mysteries within, your dream of becoming a top master in the world will be within reach!

Ding Heng was momentarily taken aback, but finally smiled: "This is a good question. In the past three years, the skills I have taught you have all been techniques and forms, yet I have never taught you any methods for cultivating internal energy. This is akin to constructing a hundred-foot tall building; the framework has been erected, but no foundation has been laid. As a result, it cannot withstand the wind and rain, and a slight push will cause it to collapse. What I need to do now is to prepare a solid foundation for you, so that when you enter the martial world, you can endure the onslaught of storms and tempests."

"In that case, do I not have any hope at all?" Ji Kongshou said with a hint of reluctance.

Fan Kuai said: "In fact, the military officer you mentioned is a general under the command of the county magistrate Murong Xian, named Xiao He. If it were not for his informing me, how would I have known that you saved Liu Bang"

Ji Kongshou said seriously: "I have been living each day like a year. Ever since I met you, I haven't had a single good night's sleep, and I've been guessing riddles with you for a full three years!"

The path is forged step by step by individuals; as long as one walks well on each step ahead, it is not impossible to reach the pinnacle of life. Ji Kongshou silently told himself, this is akin to a mountaineer who, while still at the foot of the mountain, is already marveling at the scenery before him, lost in its beauty. However, when he finally reaches the summit, he suddenly realizes that everything he saw earlier may have been beautiful, but the true ultimate beauty can only be appreciated when one stands at the peak.

I have said before that I came here at the behest of others, but over the course of three years, I have visited thousands of homes by day and passed by countless households by night, yet I have still gained nothing. The only one who has caught my eye is you, young man. It is only today that I reveal this disgraceful matter to you, as I am about to leave Huaiyin

Ji took the flying knife with empty hands, and although the knife was only seven inches long, it felt remarkably heavy, clearly not made of ordinary cast iron. The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing, with an incredibly sharp edge, exquisitely crafted, and with smooth lines, making it evident that it was created by a master artisan. Instantly, he felt a deep fondness for it, holding it in his hand and reluctant to let it go for a long time

"Who could he be?" Ji Kongshou said with deep admiration.

Fan Kuai smiled faintly and said, "You have risked great dangers for Liu Bang, and I should express my deep gratitude! However, Liu Bang is currently unconscious and his injuries are still unstable. I must quickly take him back to Peixian to ensure his complete recovery. Therefore, I cannot take you with me this time; I can only temporarily put you through some hardship. Within a month, I will certainly come to welcome you both again"

Ji Kongshou and Han Xin could not help but feel overjoyed, smiling as they said: "If Master Fan truly appreciates us, why don't we start following you to venture into the world from today?"

"Starting from today, are you going to lay the foundation for me and teach me the cultivation methods of internal energy?" Ji Kongshou appeared somewhat impatient.

Ji Kongshou was hanging onto the agreement with Old Master Ding. In order to avoid trouble for himself, after parting ways with Han Xin, he headed straight to the God of Wealth Temple alone

Of course. "Ji Kongshou smiled, 'Although you have always been nice to me, I still do not want to be regarded as a fool by others.'"

Ding Heng smiled faintly and said, "Do you know why, three years ago, I only taught you three exquisite techniques and the Empty Step, but did not impart to you the methods of internal energy cultivation?" He paused, gazing deeply at Ji Kongshou, and continued, "First, you have missed the optimal age for cultivating internal energy; second, the internal martial arts principles I have learned are not suitable for you at this moment. I began practicing martial arts at the age of three, started cultivating energy at five, and only achieved minor success at twenty-six. Even to this day, my internal energy still cannot rank among the top thirty in the world. If I am in such a situation, what use is it for you to cultivate at this time?"

"With great fervor and no regrets?" Ji Kongshou was momentarily taken aback, as if deep in thought. "Recently, I have often heard people mention the events concerning Chen Sheng and General Wu Guang. They were merely ordinary individuals, yet they raised the slogan 'Do kings and nobles have any special qualities?' Not only did they establish the state of Chu, but Chen Sheng also proclaimed himself King of Chu. They must have lived quite a remarkable life, wouldn't you agree?"

Ji Kongshou's face turned red for once, and he said shyly: "It sounds like you are scolding me."

"Bah! I wonder if I have been unfortunate for eight hundred lifetimes to have caught your eye." Ji Kongshou swatted his hand away, "Since you came to Huaiyin to look for someone, why did you only inform me at this moment? Do you not know that in this territory of Huaiyin, I, Ji Kongshou, can cover half the sky with my hand?"

Do you really want to know the reason why I am doing this?" Old Master Ding said with a leisurely smile

Hello, Old Master, I wonder what new tricks you have devised today to torment me?" Ji Kongshou saw him approaching with a kind expression and a smile, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Han Xin couldn't help but look at Ji Kongshou with a face full of sympathy, and said with a hint of glee: "It seems that the old master truly is your nemesis"

What shall we do now? Han Xin could not help but ask

Ji Kongshou suddenly thought of the injured Liu Bang, and inwardly mused: "Perhaps the old master was not wrong; without internal strength, Liu Bang would have likely perished long ago. In this light, I find myself lacking in all respects; could it be that my complete lack of internal strength is truly related to my situation?"

This is as unusual as the sun rising from the west, not only rare but also strange

I scoff! Old Ding firmly replied, "Is there anyone in the world as clever as a lunatic like me?"

Ding Heng laughed heartily and said, "Are you covering half the sky with your hand? Should I also learn from you, covering one eye with my hand, half-opening and half-closing it every day, so that I can only see half the horizon? The reason I can appreciate you is not because you are the abandoned child of emperors and generals, nor because you are the orphan of high officials and nobles, but because of yourself. Although you mingle in the marketplace and engage in the profession of a rogue, you are poor yet not greedy, lowly yet not abandoned, possessing a chivalrous heart and a bit of cleverness. What is even rarer is your unique character, making you the best candidate I have been seeking!"

Indeed, I truly admire your ability to boast; you are undoubtedly the best in the world at it. Since your three marvelous techniques and the Empty Step are so extraordinary, why is it that I feel absolutely nothing?" Ji Kongshou pointedly articulated the essence of the problem.

Therefore, those who have reached the summit know that regardless of how treacherous the road may be and how harsh the environment is, once they have appreciated the beauty above the peak, they will no longer be interested in the scenery along the way

Ji Kongshou, puzzled, said: "You claim that you have come here on someone else's behalf?"

Ding Heng said proudly: "You truly deserve the title of an ignorant little brat, daring to claim that the miraculous techniques of the Three Moves and the Void Step are utterly useless. Truly, the ignorant are fearless. Do you know that over the past three years, every skill you have learned is an unparalleled masterpiece, each one a coveted treasure among the people of the martial world?"

Ji Kongshou scratched his head and said, "But I still don't understand what kind of things you want me to do. Is it to steal things that others cannot steal in this world?"

He suddenly recalled another question and said: "Others always lay the foundation first before constructing tall buildings. Why do you insist on going against this principle?"

Ji Kongshou could not help but chuckle softly: "I admire you, I truly admire you."

Ji Kongshou smiled silently, yet in his heart, he was dismissive: "You speak so beautifully, and you are a master thief and a handsome rogue, but in reality, you are just a thief. Even if you are a great thief, it is nothing remarkable."

The story of the Xuan Tie Gui has long been one of the three most popular mysteries in the martial world. Some say it is merely a ruse concocted by the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan to deceive people; others claim that the Xuan Tie Gui does not contain any records of martial arts techniques, but rather resembles two keys that unlock the secret doors to treasures. There are also those who assert that the patterns on the shell of the Xuan Tie Gui hold some profound secrets. In any case, opinions are divided and rumors abound, yet it is undeniable that all martial artists are greatly intrigued by it and harbor covetous desires. As soon as it makes an appearance, it is sure to stir up a great storm in the martial world.

Ji Kong shook his head and said: "This person is really too arrogant, a thief is just a thief, and he still has to add a 'god' behind it. Is he out of his mind?"