The next morning, while Yang Guo was eating breakfast in the hall, Guo Fu signaled him to the courtyard. The Wu brothers were at the side looking a bit troubled. Yang Guo was amused and went over to Guo Fu and asked, âYouâre looking for me?â
Guo Fu laughed and said, âYes, come with me outside, I want to ask what youâve done in the last few years.â
Yang Guo exhaled deeply, thinking that it wasnât easy to explain, even if he spoke for three days and nights he would not have finished, and how could he reveal these things to her?
The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder to the main door, Yang Guo slightly turned his head and saw the two Wu brothers following. Guo Fu had noticed a long time ago and pretended that she didnât see them and talked to Yang Guo. Yang Guo picked some insignificant events to talk about, he pushed and pulled making Guo Fu laugh. She knew that Yang Guo was keeping things from her but she still felt amused by his words. The two slowly walked to a Willow tree. Suddenly they heard a neigh; a skinny and scabby horse came hurrying over to Yang Guo, rubbing against him in an affectionate manner.
When the Wu brothers saw such an ugly horse, they couldnât hold themselves back and burst out laughing. They went over to the two.
Wu Xiuwen laughed and said, âThat precious horse is very special, only someone with your ability could one find a horse like that. When are you going to find me one like that?â
Wu Dunru said seriously, âThat is a Da Shi Guoâs (Great Master Guoâs) priceless treasure, how could you buy it?â
Guo Fu looked at Yang Guo and then at the ugly horse, when she saw the two had the same dirty and pitiful appearance, she couldnât resist laughing.
Yang Guo laughed and said, âIâm ugly, my horse is ugly, weâre a match. The horses that the Wu brothers ride must be very spirited horses.â
Wu Xiuwen said, âThe horses that we ride are only a bit better than yours. Sister Fuâs red horse, now that is a precious horse. Youâve seen it before when you were on Peach Blossom Island.â
Yang Guo said, âSo Uncle Guo gave the red horse to a girl.â
The four of them chatted as they walked. Guo Fu suddenly pointed to the west and said, âLook, motherâs teaching stick techniques again.â
Yang Guo turned his head and saw Huang Rong with an old beggar walking towards the mountainside, the two of them holding a stick in their hands.
Wu Xiuwen said, âElder Lu is so dumb, heâs been practicing the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ for so long but he still hasnât managed to learn it.â
When Yang Guo heard the words âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ his heart trembled but he didnât show any signs of it, he turned around and looked away, pretending to appreciate the scenery.
He heard Guo Fu say, âThe âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ is the treasure of the Beggar Clan; my mother said that the mastery and ingenuity of the stances are unbeatable. It has the most powerful stances in the world of weapons; you canât just learn it in ten days or a fortnight. You said heâs dumb, are you very clever?â
Wu Dunru sighed and said, âItâs a pity that apart from the Chief of the Beggar Clan, no one is allowed to learn it.â
Guo Fu said, âIf you become the Chief of the Beggar Clan in the future, Chief Lu will impart it to you. Even my father does not know this skill, thereâs no need to cry.â
Wu Dunru said, âHow can I be the Chief of the Beggar Clan? Sister Fu, why did Masterâs wife select Elder Lu to replace her?â
Guo Fu said, âOver the last few years, my mother just held the title. The running of the clan is all done by Elder Lu Youjiao. All the many bothersome things that go on in the clan give my mother a headache. She said why is it necessary to have the name and not do anything; so why not pass the position on to Elder Lu and make it official. Once Elder Lu learns the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ, my mother will pass on the position to him officially.â
Wu Xiuwen said, âSister Fu, how exactly do you use the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ? Have you seen it before?â
Guo Fu said, âI havenât seen it. Ah, I have seen it!â She picked up a branch off the ground and lightly attacked his shoulder and laughed, âItâs like this.â
Wu Xiuwen called out, âFine, just see if Iâll let you go now youâve called me a dog.â He stretched out his hand to grab her. Guo Fu laughed and jumped away. Wu Xiuwen chased after her. The two ran around a few times and returned to their original places.
Guo Fu laughed and said, âLittle Brother Wu, donât get angry. Iâve got an idea.â
Wu Xiuwen said, âFine, tell me.â
Guo Fu said, âWeâll watch in secret, we can see exactly how special the âDog Beating Techniqueâ is.â Wu Xiuwen clapped his hand in agreement.
But Wu Dunru shook his head and said, âIf Masterâs wife finds out we are secretly trying to learn the skill she will lecture us severely.â
Guo Fu said, âWe are just going to watch, weâre not trying to learn it in secret. Anyway, an ingenious and masterly kung fu such as this, how could you learn it after just a few glances? Big brother Wu, so do you count as someone whoâs amazing?â
After this put down, he just smiled slightly. Guo Fu continued, âLast night when we were in the study eavesdropping, did my mother shout at anyone? Youâre just a little chicken. Little Brother Wu, letâs go.â
Wu Dunru said, âFine, fine, your reasoning does make some sense; Iâll go with you.â
Guo Fu said, âIs it possible that you donât want to watch one of the worldâs best skills? It doesnât matter if you donât go, once Iâve learned it Iâll come back and beat you with it.â As she said this she raised her stick and waved it at him.
The three of them had heard about the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ a long time ago and were fascinated by it but they had never seen what it looked like. Guo Jing once discussed martial arts with them; he told them how years ago on Mount Jun Huang Rong used the technique at the Beggar Clanâs gathering to beat everyone there and claimed the position of the Chief of the Beggar Clan. The three of them listened enchanted. Right now Guo Fu was encouraging them to take a look, though Wu Dunru spoke out against it, in his heart there wasnât anything he wanted to do more. He pretended to be coerced into it and all heâs doing is listening to Guo Fuâs suggestion; if they are found out then his Masterâs wife canât blame him.
Guo Fu said, âBrother Yang, you come as well.â
Yang Guo was gazing at the faraway mountains as if he was absorbed in thought and didnât hear what they said. Guo Fu called out again and Yang Guo turned his head around, his face looked lost, he asked, âFine, fine, follow you where?â
Guo Fu said, âDonât ask; just follow me.â
Wu Dunru said, âSister Fu, why do you want him to come, he wonât understand; his dumb brain is going to make some noise, how can Masterâs wife not notice?â