Gongsun LuâE could not hold back anymore and called out, âMaster Yang, youâre not as strong as my senior apprentice brother; why continue?â
Valley Master Gongsun was beginning to get angry when he saw his daughter protecting an outsider; he glanced at her and saw her face was filled with concern. He then looked at Xiao Longnu and saw that her expression was calm, appearing like she had no concern for Yang Guoâs safety whatsoever; his anger immediately turned to joy. He thought, âSo she has no feelings for that punk; otherwise, how could she have no concern for him now that heâs facing danger?â
He didnât know that Xiao Longnu knew that Yang Guo was ingenious and his martial arts were above those of Fan Yiweng; when the two fight, victory is certain so there was no need for her to worry.
Yang Guo threw the bent scissors on the floor and said, âOld Fan, youâre not a match for me, just throw away your staff and surrender.â
Fan Yiweng said angrily, âIf you can beat my staff then Iâll knock myself dead.â
Yang Guo said, âWhat a pity, what a pity!â
Fan Yiweng called out, âWatch this stance!â A stance of âPushing Down the Peak of Mount Taiâ was sent out towards his head. Yang Guo dodged to the side and his left foot was placed on the head of the staff. Fan Yiweng shook his hands, flinging the staff. Yang Guo followed the staff and was forced into midair, but his left foot was still standing steadily on the staff head. Fan Yiweng shook the staff a few times but couldnât shake Yang Guo off. He was about to turn the staff when Yang Guoâs right foot advanced and he was actually running towards him on the staff.
In the eyes of Fan Yiweng and the onlookers, these two stances were inconceivably strange; but in reality, it was a technique of the Ancient Tomb sect that utilizes great lightness kung fu to defeat a long and large weapon.
Years ago when Li Mochou fought Wu Santong in Jiaxing, she stood on the chestnut tree that Wu Santong had used as a weapon and she couldnât be shaken off by him. Li Mochou had used this type of martial art.
Fan Yiweng was stunned and in this time, Yang Guoâs left foot had advanced a step and he kicked out with his right towards his nose. Fan Yiweng was in an extremely distressing situation; the enemy was attached to his weapon. If he leapt backwards he would bring the enemy with him and would not be able to avoid that kick. His hands were holding onto the staff so he couldnât use his hands to block; his beard had been cut off and couldnât be used as defensive weapon. It was an urgent situation and he had no choice but to throw away the steel staff and leap back to avoid the kick.
A âdangâ sound was heard as one end landed on the floor. Before the other end landed as well, Yang Guo had picked it up in his hands.
Ma Guangzou, Nimoxing, Xiaoxiang Zi and the others cheered.
Yang Guo placed the staff on the floor and laughed, âWhat about it?â
Fan Yiwengâs face went red and said, âI was careless and fell for your trick, Iâm not accepting it.â
Yang Guo said, âWeâll go again.â He threw the staff towards Fan Yiweng who stretched out his hand to catch it. However, when the staff was two feet in front of him, it suddenly swept up. Fan Yiweng clutched thin air while Yang Guo flew over and stretched out his arm, taking the staff once again. Ma Guangzouâs and the othersâ cheers were becoming louder. Fan Yiwengâs face was now purple.
Fawang and Yin Kexi looked at each other and both secretly laughed, praising Yang Guoâs cleverness. Yesterday, Zhou Botong had shot out broken spearheads towards them with the force immediately taken back as soon as it shot out; after the spearheads flew out, they suddenly changed direction in midair; now Yang Guo was copying him. But there were four spearheads while there was only one staff; the staff was also heavy and to change the force was not hard; what Yang Guo had done was much easier than what Zhou Botong had done.
But Valley Master Gongsun and his disciples did not know what it was about and all were shocked.
Yang Guo laughed, âWhat? Do you want to go again?â
His beard had been cut and weapon taken but it was all due to cleverness; how could he admit defeat without any protest? He said loudly, âIf you use real martial arts to beat me then Iâll admit defeat.â
Yang Guo chuckled, âIn martial arts, ingenuity comes first. Your Masterâs mind is unclear; of course the disciples he teaches will be lacking a bit. Iâll give you some advice; itâs better if you go and find another Master.â These words were an insult directed at Valley Master Gongsun.
Fan Yiweng thought, âMy study of martial arts is lacking and Iâve disgraced my Master; if I really canât win then Iâll commit suicide to apologize to Master.â He clenched his teeth and stood up straight.
Yang Guo swept the steel staff towards him and placed it in his hands, he said, âBe careful this time; if you lose your staff again, you wonât be able to blame anyone else.â
Fan Yiweng did not reply. He held the end of the staff tightly with his right and thought, âYouâll only be able to take away this staff if you cut off my right arm.â
Yang Guo called out, âCareful!â He flung himself forward until his left hand rested on the end of the staff; the index and middle finger of his right hand went towards his opponentâs eyes; at the same time, his left foot had flipped upwards and was holding down the staffâs body. This was a stance from the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ, âStealing the Staff from the Mouth of the Tigerâ.
On the previous two times that Yang Guo took the staff, though everyone thought his movements were special, they all saw what happened clearly. But this time even Fan Yiweng didnât know what was going on; he just blinked and the staff was in the hands of the opponent again. Only Jinlun Fawang with his profound martial arts knowledge and his experience of the âDog Beating Stick Techniqueâ knew that Yang Guo had used one of the skills of this stick technique.
Ma Guangzou called out, âThe âNo Beard Long Beardâ. Are you in awe now?â
Fan Yiweng called out, âHe used witchcraft, and it isnât real martial arts, why should I admit defeat?â
Yang Guo laughed, âHow will you admit defeat?â
Fan Yiweng said, âOnly if you use real martial arts to beat me, then Iâll admit defeat.â
Yang Guo returned the staff to him and said, âFine, weâll go another couple of stances.â
Fan Yiweng was extremely worried about his clever empty-handed staff snatching techniques; he thought, âNo matter how much advantage I get, when heâs at a point where he can hold me off no longer heâll suddenly use his witchcraft. It would be difficult for me to win.â So he said, âI use such a large and long weapon yet you are empty handed, even if I win you wonât take it.â
Yang Guo laughed, âYouâre afraid of my âEmpty Hands Entering A Hundred Bladesâ kung fu; fine, Iâll use a weapon.â He scoured the room and all he saw were bare walls, there wasnât one single weapon that he could use. However, in the courtyard there were two large willow trees; it had many branches and had emerald green leaves hanging down from it. He looked at Xiao Longnu and said, âSince you want to have Liu as a surname, Iâll use a willow branch as a weapon!â He leapt into the courtyard and broke off an inch thick branch; it was about four feet long. The length and thickness was similar to the Beggar Clanâs Dog Beating Stick. The branch still had its leaves which gave the weapon elegance.