Chapter Thirty: The Small Sorrow of Reversing the Flow of a River

  "You're a human or a ghost, my fist can hold a person, my arm can run a horse, my chest can shatter a boulder, chrysanthemum blooms on the bottle cap. You trying to scare me is useless, if you don't speak up, the stone in my hand won't be polite." Yue Kang walked in and saw a tattered person lying on the ground, that person's hair was disheveled, couldn't see their face clearly, Yue Kang asked cautiously.

  "Don't be afraid, little brother, I'm human." The man struggled to sit up, his voice was old and weak, with a very low tone. He messed with his hair, and Yue Kang saw that it was an old face full of wrinkles.

  What's scary is that he looks like an old man on the verge of death, Yue Kang asked: "It's late at night, what are you doing here alone? You look pitiful, I'll send you home!" Respecting the elderly and loving the young is a traditional virtue of the Chinese people!

  "Thank you for your kind intentions, young brother," said the old man in a weak voice. "I'm afraid I won't be able to return home."

  "Oh?" Yu Kang raised a question.

  The old man seemed to be in great pain even lifting his hand, "Young brother, sit down and listen to me, my time is running out."

  Yue Kang sat down next to the old man, wanting to hear what he had to say.

  "I, Hong Shigong, am the 28th leader of the Beggars' Sect. I was an orphan since childhood and was raised by my master. When I turned 18, my master suddenly passed away and handed over the leadership to me. I led the brothers of the Beggars' Sect to travel far and wide, recruiting many people, and fortunately did not disappoint my master's expectations. The Beggars' Sect has grown stronger under my leadership."

  I'm dizzy, Hong Qigong doesn't know if he's his great-grandfather or not, Yue Kang thought to himself.

  "I won't say more nonsense, in short, you just need to understand my identity. I estimate that I won't be able to hold on for much longer. When Master was around, he once told me the secret of longevity, saying that after practicing this skill, one can live an additional 200 years. Seeing that my life is hanging by a thread and I'm already over 100 years old, I've been searching everywhere for the martial art that Master told me about, and finally found it a month ago. That's why I came to this forest to focus on cultivating it - who doesn't want to live a few more years?"

  "Unfortunately, I over-practiced and went mad. Now I can only live for an hour, and I'm resentful that my martial arts skills won't be passed down. Who knew you'd arrive? It's as if the heavens have opened their eyes! Now I realize that all the so-called 'long-life' martial arts are just scams." Hong Shi Gong revealed a bitter smile, seemingly laughing at his own foolishness.

  It turns out that's the case, and Yue Kang would not believe that there is an immortal martial art in the world. If everyone becomes immortal, wouldn't it be an era of monsters? Maintain your breath and don't stop breathing, this is the secret to immortality!

  "Alright, no more nonsense. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master? I will impart all my lifelong knowledge to you?" Hong Shigong's voice grew weaker and weaker.

  "The master is above, please receive the apprentice's bow." Yue Kang was quick and neat, thud, he knelt down on the ground, knocked three loud heads. What a good thing, if Yue Kang didn't agree, he would be stupid. In the future, Yue would have a body of martial arts, flying eaves and walking walls, treading on branches and flying leaves, what a handsome and elegant existence!

  Hong Shi Gong also revealed a smile, "This dog-beating stick I will pass on to you, from now on you are the 29th leader of the Beggars' Sect. Also, after I die, bury me here! Now I'll start transmitting my skills to you, as for how much you can get, it depends on your luck." Hong Shi Gong's face didn't show too much pain at the thought of death, instead, he looked relieved.

  "Come sit down with your back to me, it may hurt later, but you must hold on." Hong Shigong said after sitting cross-legged.

  "Alright, don't worry, Master. I can hold on." Yue Kang sat down according to Hong Shigong's words.

  Hong Shigong slowly stretched out his hands and stuck them to Yue Kang's back, and all he heard was a humming sound. Yue Kang felt two streams of heat flowing into his meridians.

  Those two streams of heat flowed slowly into Yue Kang's dantian along the meridians.

  Two hot currents, equally tyrannical, like the surging Yellow River water, surged and swirled in Yue Kang's meridians. Yue Kang felt his meridians being stretched to become thicker and thicker, and his whole body emitted a tearing pain.

  Yue Kang gritted his teeth and persisted, Yue Kang felt that the veins were as thick as threads before, now they are estimated to be as thick as a thumb, Yue Kang felt like he had become a big fat man all of a sudden.

  Enduring, with sweat dripping from his forehead, his teeth clenched and grinding audibly, it truly wasn't an ordinary kind of pain. Yue Kang suddenly thought that the first time a virgin was penetrated, he didn't know if it was this kind of feeling. For the country, for the people, for himself not being caught picking flowers in the future, for the elegant flying eaves and walking on walls, for the dream of being a great thief, Yue Kang endured the piercing pain.

  After a long time, Yue Kang felt that the two streams of air behind him were getting smaller and weaker, and after a while, they completely disappeared.

  Yue Kang knew that the transmission was complete, and his veins gradually subsided, finally returning to calmness. However, it seemed that there were many more things in his dantian, causing his whole body to be filled with energy.

  "I didn't expect it! I didn't expect your body to be so weak, and you only absorbed a tenth of my power. Heaven's will! Take care of the Beggar Gang for me." Hong Shi Gong said, closing his eyes and no longer breathing.

  "What did I only absorb a tenth of?" Yu Kang didn't have time to think about this question, and hurriedly supported Hong Shigong, using his hand to check his nose, and he had already stopped breathing.

  Yu Kang heaved a sigh, his eyes slightly sour, why did he suddenly feel like crying? Was it that he also had some small sorrows flowing against the current of life?

  Yue Kang nodded, saying somewhat sadly: "Master, rest assured! I will help take good care of the Beggar Clan." Yue Kang suddenly thought of a practical problem - he didn't understand the Beggar Clan at all, would they recognize him as their leader? Never mind, he'd think about it later.

  For now, let's just put Hong Shigong to rest. Yue Kang thought of those great heroes on TV who could chop out a hole in the ground with one palm, and wondered if he could do it too. Yue Kang gathered his energy and suddenly swung out a palm.

  The big pit wasn't visible, only the leaves on the ground moved slightly. Yue Kang was extremely disappointed and started digging a hole with his hands.

  A lonely mound was piled up under Yue Kang's labor, and Yue Kang found a sign, engraved with "Tomb of Master Hong Shi Gong" on the stone. Yue Kang solemnly knocked three heads in front of the tomb, "You old man rest in peace! I will come to see you." Although Yue Kang had no deep feelings for the old man, he had passed on his skills to him, at least that was a great kindness.

  A little bit of sadness, this life!

  Yue Kang left the forest and returned to the kiln factory.

  Yue Kang saw that Bai Miao Yun's room had already turned off the lights, presumably she was already asleep, and returned alone to his own room.

  Lighting a candle and sitting at the table in a daze, what just happened seems like a dream.

  "Bang......" Yue Kang heard a loud noise and was startled in his heart.

  She looked up and saw that the door had been kicked open. Bai Miao Yun was standing at the entrance, her face full of anger, looking flustered and exasperated.