Guo Fu didnât have any good feelings towards Yang Guo but she didnât loathe him either; she just treated him as a down on his luck, incapable person. He was insignificant, but when she heard her father wanted to betroth her to him, she was angry. But she still thought that this would never happen so she didnât take it to mind. Later on, she saw that his martial arts were anything but ordinary, she was just surprised and nothing more; yet when she saw that he was in danger, she couldnât stop herself from worrying about him.
Yang Guo knew that if this continued, within ten moves he would succumb to his opponent. He had glanced over and saw that although Xiao Longnu was still sitting on the stone base, her back was no longer leaning against the pillar. She was paying close attention, at any moment she would leap out and help him. He had an idea; he suddenly waved the stick and flew across, leaping over Xiao Longnuâs legs.
Huo Dou shouted, âWhere are you going?â He followed after him.
Xiao Longnuâs legs raised slightly, the tip of her left foot aimed towards Huo Douâs âDescendantâs Arrangementâ pressure point on his right ankle, the tip of her right foot kicked towards his left footâs âSurging Springâ pressure point.
At least Huo Duoâs skills were profound and refined, he saw what was happening, there was a nimble change, Xiao Longnuâs legs had risen a little, and the bystanders didnât think anything of it. He himself knew that Xiao Longnu had used a lethal attack, in the midst of this he used a stance of âThe Mandarin Duckâs Looping Kickâ; his legs kicked thin air in a loop and avoided the motionless pressure point kick by Xiao Longnu.
When Yang Guo went by Xiao Longnuâs legs, he knew what was going to happen; he didnât wait for his opponent to fall to the ground and attacked with his Dog Beating Stick.
Huo Dou stretched out his fan and supported it against the stick and used the force to move faraway from Xiao Longnu. He couldnât stop himself from glancing over at her, thinking, âIndeed there are many able people in the central plains, that boy and girl are still in their teens, how come they are so good?â
With the advantage of an extra stance, Yang Guo kept on attacking with the stick technique, he used three critical stances in a row, and Huo Dou was scrambling about, using all his strength to repel the attack. However, Yang Guo did not have an ingenious fourth attack to continue the chain, he slowed down momentarily and allowed Huo Dou to counterattack, and was on the receiving end again.
The onlookers did not understand the stick technique and it went by them, Huang Rong however kept on calling out âWhat a pityâ in secret, she couldnât hold in her thoughts and said, âThe stick returns across the ground under the clever hand, striking the twin dogs without return.â This was one of the formulae of the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ, though Yang Guo knew the stances and formulae, he didnât know when to use them; when he heard Huang Rong recite this, he immediately brushed the stick across the ground and attacked forward without returning.
The direction and force of this stick was weird, though he used it, he didnât know what use it had. How could it be that as soon as the stick attacked forward, it happened just at the same time as the opponent raised his fan? Huo Dou had not finished using this stance but knew something was wrong, he hurriedly jumped up and moved away.
Huang Rong continued, âWhen the dog leaps over the wall how can it be beaten? Quickly hit its backside and chop its tail.â This stick technique had been passed from generation to generation in the Beggar Clan. Beggars arenât the most elegant and cultured, the words of course would be vulgar.
The bystanders thought that Huang Rong was ridiculing him by calling him a dog; they didnât know that she was giving martial arts advice to Yang Guo. Though the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ wasnât taught to anyone other than the chief; but firstly, Yang Guo had already learned it, and secondly, this match was extremely important, victory was needed. Huang Rong couldnât care about the clanâs rules anymore, when she saw the two of them advancing and retreating, attacking and defending, she kept on calling out pieces of advice.
Every phrase she called out was ingenious and what was needed, and along with Yang Guoâs intelligence, he was able to unleash the stances power. After he gained the upper hand many times, he didnât wait for Huang Rong to finish the line before he continued, he just needed the first few words and was immediately able to use right technique. The power of the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ was indeed strong, even with Huo Douâs level of martial arts, a bamboo stick was able to run circles around him, and he had no chance to attack. Everyone saw that after a few more moves, the skilled Prince of the other nation would lose. The heroesâ surprise and delight rose. The hall was filled with cheers.
Huo Dou quickly unleashed two stances with his fan forcing Yang Guo away a few steps and then called out, âHold it!â
Yang Guo laughed and said, âWhat? My Grandson admits defeat?â
Huo Douâs face was angry and said firmly; âYou said you are challenging for the position of Chancellor for your master, why are you using the martial arts of Hong Qigong? If you say you are representing Hong Qigong, weâve just had two rounds. Are you people trying to cause confusion, deny it or not?â
Huang Rong didnât think wrongly, these words were difficult to refute, she was about to argue with him when Yang Guo interrupted, âThis time you are speaking like a person, indeed this stick technique is not my Masterâs, even if I beat you, you wonât take it. If you want to test out my skills, itâs not hard. Just know I used another sectâs kung fu because I was afraid that when I unleash my own sectâs kung fu, youâd lose even more tragically.â When he heard Huo Douâs words, he looked over towards Xiao Longnu and realized something, âLuckily that Prince woke me up. If I use the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ to beat him, how will I be able to show off Gu Guâs abilities? How could Gu Gu not be offended if Iâve forgotten her great kindness in teaching me martial arts?â In reality, Xiao Longnu was really innocent and naĂŻve, her heart was filled with love and passion for Yang Guo. As long as she could see him, she was fulfilled; she didnât care about anything else. If he wins thatâs great, if he loses thereâs no harm, it doesnât matter. And when it comes to whether he uses their sectâs kung fu or not, or whether heâd listen to Huang Rongâs advice, she didnât take any of that to heart.
Huo Dou thought, âIf you donât use the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ, how hard will it be to take your life?â So he chuckled and said, âFine, Iâll experience your Masterâs great stances.â
The most refined techniques that Yang Guo had learned under Xiao Longnu were swordplay, so he faced the crowd and said, âPlease can I borrow one of you Seniorâs sword.â Within the two thousand or so people in the hall, three hundred of them carried a sword, when they heard Yang Guoâs request, they all agreed and offered their swords.
Before Hao Datong and Sun BuâEr entered the tutelage of Wang Chongyang, they were patriotic people; after they were nurtured by Wang Chongyang; their desire to repel the barbarian invaders was even stronger.