Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

In the Jiangnan region, a land of plenty, there is no shortage of scholars and refined gentlemen. As long as their calligraphy and paintings can satisfy the shopkeeper, they are willing to pay even if it means losing money.

Therefore, the waiter would never judge a book by its cover: "A distinguished guest! Please come upstairs!"

Waving his hand to decline the waiter's offer, Su Yuchen found a table facing the street in the lobby and sat down. As a newcomer to the martial arts world, he needed to gather information and didn't know how far the Tianlong storyline had progressed.

A few people were already seated in the hall, with several tables occupied by swords and knives, clearly belonging to wandering knights of the martial world. Su Yuchen sat down and listened to their casual conversation...

"With the new emperor ascending the throne, the court and the country are in chaos, and the Liao dogs are constantly invading. Alas, the people of the north are suffering."

"We can only hope that the new emperor will take full control of the government as soon as possible, quell the unrest in the court and the country, and reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, so as not to fail the late emperor's ambition. At present, the Liao dogs have been invading every year. We, the people of ambition, must not put away our weapons and let our horses graze on the southern mountains."

"The affairs of the court are for the officials and gentry to worry about. We should learn from Qiao Feng of the Beggars' Sect, keep the enemy out of the pass, and protect the peace of this region."

"Indeed, thanks to the Beggars' Sect's advance warning and their ability to stop the Liao invaders outside the pass, the people were able to retreat in peace."

"It is said that Qiao Feng single-handedly broke into the enemy camp to investigate the enemy's situation, and even set up layers of defenses. He found out the Liao dogs' invasion route, and with his iron palms, he forcefully cut through the Liao army's camp, forcing the Liao people to retreat."

"Hey!!! The Beggars' Sect's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, in terms of palm technique alone, can be considered the best in the world."

"That's right. I heard that Murong Fu defeated all the heroes at the martial arts tournament. In the end, it was only through the intervention of an elder from Shaolin that Murong Fu was able to suppress him and force him to admit defeat!"

"Master Xuancheng of Shaolin possesses more than a dozen unique Shaolin skills, and his martial arts prowess is no less than that of Murong Fu."

"Murong in the South and Qiao Feng in the North! It is said that Murong Fu has mastered all the martial arts in the world, and his martial arts moves are complex and ever-changing. His family's 'Star Shift' can even reverse all martial arts."

"Take their own methods against them! The name 'Shifting Stars' is indeed well-deserved."

"In my opinion, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is more powerful. It simplifies complexity and makes a set of palm techniques extremely fierce, comparable to Zhao Zilong's seven entries and exits from Cao Cao's camp."

"Although Murong Fu had a reputation for chivalry, he did not do anything to benefit the country and the people. On the contrary, Qiao Feng took the lead and led the Beggars' Clan to charge into the front line many times. He was the real hero."

"Not entirely. Yanziwu is located in Taihu Lake, and Young Master Murong has repeatedly attacked and suppressed bandits and water strongholds in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area. Although his reputation is not as good as Qiao Feng's, he still protects the local area."

"Alright! Alright! Stop arguing. It's none of our business anyway. But we've heard Qiao Feng is about to become the Beggars' Sect leader?"

"Indeed! I heard that since the last battle outside the pass, Chief Wang has been planning to pass on the Dog-Beating Staff Technique. Once Qiao Feng learns it, it will be time for him to take over as chief."

"Qiao Feng is of the highest caliber in both martial arts and character. If he were to succeed as the leader of the Beggars' Clan, the clan would still be able to shoulder the banner of resistance against the Liao dynasty in the future."

"I wonder if we'll be able to attend the Junshan Conference and witness its splendor..."

"Brother Zhai, your Hunyuan Blade has slain the Six Evils of Kunshan, earning you a renowned reputation. You will surely find a place for yourself at Junshan."

"Not at all, Brother Su, you flatter me, you..."

Seeing that these people had already gone off-topic, the doorway darkened, and then a burly, imposing man walked in. Su Yuchen glanced at him and couldn't help but show a hint of appreciation.

The newcomer walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, yet landed softly and silently; his bones were extraordinary, his blood and energy abundant, indicating a naturally strong physique; his hands were broad and large, their warm, jade-like luster revealing a steadfastness like Mount Tai.

With just one glance, one could tell that this person's lightness skill and palm technique had reached the top level in the world, and his strong physique allowed him to become stronger when facing stronger opponents and to be good at protracted battles.

The newcomer glanced around, chose a table opposite Su Yuchen, and sat down. When their eyes met, the newcomer was slightly taken aback by the undisguised admiration in Su Yuchen's eyes, and then bowed respectfully.

You unexpectedly encounter Qiao Feng.

Su Yuchen smiled. No wonder his martial arts were so extraordinary; this was Qiao Feng.

"So it's Brother Qiao. Brother Qiao's heroic deeds are admired by everyone in the world. The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people! There is no one else like Brother Qiao in the world." Su Yuchen said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Qiao Feng was slightly taken aback, then glanced around. Seeing that no one else was looking over, he was shocked. This person was using telepathy across two tables, and his voice came from afar without being leaked. His internal strength was no less than his own.

I initially thought this person was Murong Fu, but upon closer inspection, I realized that he was dressed in a pale blue Taoist robe and was definitely not a wealthy or noble person. He was also quite different from the legendary Murong Fu.

Thinking of this, he also felt the urge to befriend him, and stood up, saying, "Young brother... young Taoist priest, you flatter me! May I sit at the same table with you?"

Su Yuchen gestured for him to sit. After Qiao Feng sat down, he looked him over carefully, which made Su Yuchen smile slightly and ask, "Brother Qiao, have you noticed something?"

Qiao Feng laughed heartily and said, "Young Daoist, you know who I am, but I don't know your esteemed name. May I ask for your guidance?"

Su Yuchen nodded and said, "It's normal that Brother Qiao doesn't know. My name is Su Yuchen. I live on an unnamed wild mountain by West Lake in Hangzhou."

"The mountains and fields are full of extraordinary people!"

Qiao Feng exclaimed, "When I first met Master Su, I thought you were Murong Fu. I never imagined that there were so many extraordinary people in the mountains and fields, including such a remarkable person as you."

"I disdain people like Murong Fu," Su Yuchen said calmly.

Then, changing the subject, not wanting to continue commenting, he smiled and said, "I, Su, prefer peace and quiet and don't often wander around the foot of the mountain. It's quite an unexpected pleasure to run into Brother Qiao."

Chapter 292 Battle with Qiao Feng

"Qiao Feng was just an ordinary person."

"As for the greatest heroes, those who serve their country and its people, Qiao Feng is unworthy of such praise."

"Many heroes of our Beggars' Sect are buried beyond the Great Wall, forever accompanied by the yellow sand. Compared to them, what I, Qiao, have done is merely to carry on the will of our Beggars' Sect, to recover our lost territories, and to secure the Yan and Yun regions forever."

Qiao Feng cupped his hands in greeting.

Su Yuchen nodded and said...

"Brother Qiao is right. It is precisely because of these virtuous and righteous people who have followed one after another that the Central Plains has been able to survive time and time again the calamities of war. Compared with famous heroes, they are even more worthy of the respect of future generations."

"Brother Qiao, you are not burdened by your fame and are devoted to the country, which is already worthy of the title. You are also worthy of the title of chivalrous for living up to the expectations of your predecessors and following in their footsteps. Only you, Brother Qiao, truly deserve the title of chivalrous."

"No wonder the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms can display unparalleled power in Brother Qiao's hands. Brother Qiao's magnanimity and spirit alone are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Brother Qiao's martial arts are in harmony with his body and his mind, making him a born martial arts master."

Qiao Feng looked at Su Yuchen and said, "Master Su can see through my abilities at a glance, but I can't see how skilled you are in martial arts. Your martial arts are indeed superior to mine."

Su Yuchen smiled and said, "Brother Qiao has not yet reached the peak of his martial arts. If it were then, Brother Qiao would naturally be able to see a different view."

Qiao Feng cupped his hands and said, "I am eager to learn from you, and I wonder if I may ask for your guidance."

Su Yuchen hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's fine. I also want to see what's different about Brother Qiao's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms."

Qiao Feng cupped his hands in greeting, then pressed his palm on the table and flew through the window like a swallow. With a light touch of his toes, he leaped onto the roof and said, "In that case, let's go outside the city for a battle. Daoist Su, please come with me." As he spoke, he leaped through the air and disappeared into the distance on the roof.

Su Yuchen simply smiled, flicked his sleeve, and disappeared from the hall. The next moment, he was beside Qiao Feng, his sleeves billowing like clouds and wind, moving with the gusts of wind stirred up by Qiao Feng's movements. No matter how fast Qiao Feng quickened his pace, Su Yuchen accompanied him at a leisurely pace, and the two soon arrived at the woods outside Jiaxing City.

"Master Su, your skills are superb. Brother Qiao had the advantage of being one step ahead, but you still couldn't beat Master Su. Your lightness skill is already superior to mine." Although Qiao Feng lost, he remained upright and honorable.

“Since I went first, it’s fair that Daoist Su should make the first move.” Qiao Feng gestured for Su Yuchen to make the first move.

Upon hearing this, Su Yuchen nodded and said, "Brother Qiao, be careful." With that, he struck Qiao Feng with his palm.

That palm strike was unremarkable, without a trace of wind. The jade-like hand seemed powerless, but a dragon head in the palm roared and remained still. Qiao Feng's expression changed drastically. He lightly touched the ground with his toes and leaped backward to avoid its sharpness: "Crossing the Great River, Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms!"

As he spoke, Qiao Feng turned around, changing his retreat into an advance, leaping into the air and unleashing a palm strike called "Flying Dragon in the Sky." The dragon's shadow swirled around him, a simple move, yet the palm force covered all of Su Yuchen's front, back, left, and right, leaving him nowhere to dodge. Facing Qiao Feng's palm strike, Su Yuchen took a step and arrived in front of Qiao Feng in an instant. The moment their palms collided, a "boom" resounded, and a wave of energy spread out in all directions, stirring up countless fallen leaves and dust.

Su Yuchen stood motionless, while Qiao Feng retreated continuously, using a nearby tree to dissipate his momentum three times. After landing, his footsteps left seven deep craters in the ground before he finally stopped.

Qiao Feng originally thought that Su Yuchen's palm strike was powerful and mighty, but to his surprise, when the two palms collided, Su Yuchen's palm not only had no power, but also brought out a suction force, absorbing all the palm force that Qiao Feng had attacked. Then, a clever force suddenly burst out, pushing him backward continuously. Moreover, the true energy did not harm him in the slightest, but instead poured out of his body to his feet.

Before Qiao Feng could ask a question, Su Yuchen smiled slightly, his figure blurred, and he was already in front of Qiao Feng. Then, he struck out with a palm. With a "roar" of a dragon, a dragon shadow rushed towards him. The palm force was extremely fierce. The surrounding trees tilted and the leaves made a 'rustling' sound. The palm force came one after another, seemingly inexhaustible. It was the 'Regretful Dragon Soaring'.

Qiao Feng dared not underestimate him and immediately unleashed the move "Treading on Frost, Ice Arrives," striking out with both palms simultaneously. Two dragon shadows flew about, one fast and one slow, one hard and one soft, rotating and coordinating within Qiao Feng's palms to form a continuous stream of true energy, their claws and rings interlocking, aiming to deflect Su Yuchen's palm force.

Unexpectedly, the moment their palms collided, Su Yuchen's fierce palm force seemed to transform into a gentle, flowing one, or like a surging river rushing forward. Not only did it neutralize his palm force, but two dragon shadows also appeared and coiled around his arm.

Qiao Feng's expression changed again, and he took a step backward. As he did so, he shook his arms, condensing the power of the "Benefiting the Great River" technique into his arms. Two dragon shadows appeared and disappeared on his arms. At the same time, a repulsive force continuously surged out to resist and eliminate Su Yuchen's palm force.

"Good!" Su Yuchen praised, "Brother Qiao is indeed resourceful and extraordinary. However, this way, we cannot see Brother Qiao's brilliance. Now it's your turn to make the first move."

Qiao Feng was not arrogant at this moment. Knowing that the other party's martial arts were far superior to his own, he immediately nodded and said, "Alright, let me also see Master Su's Dragon Subduing Palm power."

As he spoke, Qiao Feng swayed, crossed his arms over his chest, and immediately clapped his hands together. His palm force multiplied into two, then four, then sixteen. Some lunged forward, some turned and struck from the side, some were fierce, some were gentle, some were both strong and soft, and some seemed both real and illusory. The sixteen dragon shadows of his palm force were all different, which was the 'Riding the Six Dragons' technique.

Su Yuchen remained stationary, and with a single move, "Dragon Appears in the Field," he unleashed countless palm shadows in all directions. Each palm strike countered a palm force, dissipating them into nothingness.

While Su Yuchen was dealing with the situation, Qiao Feng struck out with a palm, letting out a dragon's roar. The palm strike, which "shocked a hundred miles," had already reached three zhang in front of Su Yuchen. At this moment, the old force had dissipated, and Qiao Feng struck out with another palm strike. Seven consecutive palm strikes were delivered, and when they reached Su Yuchen, the palm force was as overwhelming as a mountain and the sea, with an irresistible power.

Then, with a leap and a turn, he was already behind Su Yuchen, and with a backhand strike, he 'Dragon Tail Swing', aimed at Su Yuchen's back.

"it is good!"

Su Yuchen praised him, and with his right hand, he also unleashed a palm strike of "Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use," his power concentrated and restrained like a mountain, as if Mount Buzhou had been erected in front of him, allowing him to remain unmoved despite the overwhelming palm force; at the same time, he twisted his left hand and struck backward with a palm strike of "Shocking a Hundred Miles" to deal with Qiao Feng.

The two palms collided with a loud 'hum,' and the wind from the palms roared like thunder, exploding outwards like a violent explosion.

Qiao Feng did not retreat. Instead, he used the momentum to leap up, standing seven feet in the air, and then struck down with a palm as large as a mountain, aiming at Su Yuchen's head. Before the palm force arrived, the wind from the palm had already blown dust around Su Yuchen. Facing this palm, Su Yuchen twisted his right wrist and unexpectedly struck out with a palm, which was the 'Divine Dragon Swings its Tail'.

With a 'whoosh', Qiao Feng used the force to retreat in mid-air, and then his body moved like lightning, instantly striking out more than ten palms around Su Yuchen. The two fought with lightning speed, and the palm shadows flew back and forth with continuous dragon roars. The palm wind grew stronger and stronger, and rocks shattered and grass and trees turned to ash, which fell all over the ground.

After completing a set of palm techniques, Qiao Feng fought with increasing ferocity. He perfectly replicated many techniques that Su Yuchen had used but which he had never thought of before, making his palm power even more unpredictable and profound.

Su Yuchen's palm strikes became increasingly simple. He stood still and struck out with a single palm, sometimes as powerful as a collapsing mountain, sometimes as overwhelming as the sky. His palm strikes were fierce and invincible, forcing Qiao Feng to dodge his attacks.

As the battle raged on, Qiao Feng would sometimes move with lightning speed, his palm strikes were domineering and unparalleled, and he was invincible. Su Yuchen, on the other hand, used the softest and gentlest methods to overcome the hardest. The place where they fought seemed to collapse and the earth to cave in, with the ground sinking three feet out of thin air, leaving only scorched earth and ruins in its wake.

With a resounding 'boom,' Qiao Feng flew through the air like a swallow, landing three zhang in front of Su Yuchen. At this moment, his blood was boiling, and his hair and beard were flying wildly, clearly indicating that he had pushed his internal energy to its limit. Su Yuchen, on the other hand, remained impeccably dressed in blue, calm and composed, showing no sign of anything amiss. The difference in their abilities was immediately apparent.

Qiao Feng was slightly taken aback, then laughed loudly and said, "I was presumptuous, and I must thank Daoist Su for showing mercy."

Chapter 293 Teaching Qiao Feng the Yi Jin Jing

Su Yuchen shook his head, pointed to the sky and said, "If I didn't have other things to do, I would definitely have a good fight with Brother Qiao."

Qiao Feng laughed heartily and said...

"Master Su, why should you give me face? Just by looking at your calm and composed demeanor, I know you haven't used your true skills yet. On the contrary, I have gained some insights."

"The Taoist's Dragon Subduing Palm is both hard and soft, controlled by his will, and has reached the level of mind and power, which is far superior to mine."

"I just don't know where the Long Dragon Subduing Palm technique came from. Since I joined the sect, I have never heard of our sect's palm techniques being passed on to outsiders. Of course, if it is inconvenient, Daoist, please pretend that I did not ask."

Su Yuchen shook his head and said...

"The Beggars' Sect's Dragon Subduing Palm technique originates from the Taoist book 'I Ching,' which mainly involves the Taoist concepts of Qian, Kun, Kan, and Li. To put it bluntly, any master who is well-versed in Taoist classics can deduce the Dragon Subduing Palm technique based on the power and transformation techniques contained within it."

"Of course, such highly skilled predecessors are extremely rare, and even if they understand the changes in martial arts, they are already devoted to the Taoist cultivation and inquiry of immortality, seeking the changes of the Great Dao contained in the book, and disdain such fighting skills."

"The skills of martial arts in this world are nothing more than the changes of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, and the Nine Palaces. The changes are also nothing more than the range of changes of hardness and softness, speed and slowness, straightness and curvature, positive and negative, emptiness and fullness, absorption and repulsion, etc."

"Although I am not very talented, I have a wide range of knowledge. I would not say that I can recite Taoist classics by heart, but I am not someone that ordinary people can do. As long as I have read any martial arts once, I will naturally understand the principles behind it."

Qiao Feng couldn't help but sigh, "It's unimaginable that there is such a talented person as Daoist Master in the world. In this way, the martial arts that others cherish are like children's games in Daoist Master's eyes."

Su Yuchen smiled and said...

"Our Central Plains culture has a long history. In the past, when all schools of thought flourished, the founders of various schools wrote books and established their own doctrines. The principles contained in these books have already explained everything. It is just that people are foolish and do not seek knowledge from books, but instead seek knowledge from nothing."

"In the past, a neighbor bought the box and returned the pearl, making himself a laughingstock. Nowadays, most people don't realize that they are also blind to the truth. We, on the other hand, merely strive to be in harmony with the thoughts of the sages and then seek to surpass them."

Qiao Feng asked in confusion, "I have heard that Murong Fu is proficient in countless martial arts. Could he also be a person of extraordinary talent like you, Daoist?"

Su Yuchen shook his head and said, "Murong Fu is nothing but a hypocrite who has benefited from his ancestors. I'm too lazy to comment on him. Brother Qiao will understand when he sees him in the future."

Qiao Feng could tell that Su Yuchen truly disdained Murong Fu. Although he didn't understand why, he didn't press the matter further.

Su Yuchen changed the subject, saying, "I've heard that the Beggars' Sect's Dog-Beating Staff Technique is exquisite, with complex variations and skillful application of force, making it the best among staff techniques. I wonder if I, Su, would have the opportunity to witness it."

Qiao Feng laughed heartily and said, "Since I already know of your abilities, Daoist, I cannot grant your wish. After all, this is a secret technique of my Beggars' Sect. If I possess it all, I would not mind if you learned it."

Su Yuchen sighed in regret, but didn't force him. The two walked and talked, and Su Yuchen spoke as if he knew all the martial arts in the world by heart, as if he could summon them with a wave of his hand. Qiao Feng asked, "With your knowledge, Daoist Master, what martial arts in the world do you not know?"

Su Yuchen thought for a moment and said, "The Beggar Clan's Dog-Beating Staff Technique, the Dali Duan Family's Six Meridian Divine Sword, and the martial arts of the most mysterious sect in the world, the Free and Unfettered Sect, are all things that I have never seen before."

Qiao Feng was slightly taken aback and said, "Leaving aside the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, it is said that the Six Meridians Divine Sword of the Dali Duan Clan requires mastery of the One-Finger Divine Skill. What kind of existence is the Free and Unfettered Sect?"

Su Yuchen casually pointed, and a beam of finger force shot seven zhang into the air, creating a bottomless crater in a roadside rock. He said...

"This is the Dali Duan family's One-Finger Divine Skill. It's not difficult to learn; the difficulty lies in accumulating enough true qi."

"As for the Xiaoyao Sect, it was established by the sages of Taoism. I have only heard rumors about it and have never actually seen it. This time, I came down the mountain because I had a feeling from divination that I had a connection with the Xiaoyao Sect, so I made a special trip down the mountain."

Qiao Feng exclaimed in surprise, "Taoist Master, you are also proficient in divination? I have only ever seen swindlers and cheaters in the marketplace."

Su Yuchen smiled mysteriously, appearing enigmatic: "I may not know much else, but I am well-read. I have some knowledge of astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, agriculture, and commerce."

Qiao Feng was deeply impressed by your extensive knowledge and talent. For the first time, he felt that reading more books might not be such a bad thing after all.

As a true chivalrous person, he only admires you and harbors no covetousness towards you. He is genuinely happy to befriend such a learned person as you.

Seeing the narrator's prompt, Su Yuchen couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Was he going a bit too far by fooling a chivalrous person who he couldn't find fault with?

"I heard that you studied martial arts at Shaolin Temple when you were young, Brother Qiao?" Su Yuchen asked.

Qiao Feng nodded and said, "That's right. When I was young, I studied martial arts under Master Xuanku of Shaolin Temple, and later I became a disciple of Chief Wang of the Beggars' Sect."

Su Yuchen nodded and said, "I am not very talented, but I have studied Buddhist scriptures quite a bit. There is a particular passage in it that has a special meaning. Diligent reading of it can cultivate one's inner strength and character. Brother Qiao, would you be interested in learning it?"

"Uh? Isn't Master Su a Taoist priest? How come..."

"Hehe! All Buddhas are paths to the Tao, and all the great paths lead to the same destination. In the end, they are all the same, so there is no difference. Brother Qiao, please listen to me. Thus have I heard..."