Chapter - 380 Veiled Woman In the Black Marshes (4)

Hong Qigong's martial art was from the 'hard' and 'yang' [positive, male] side, but when the hardness reached its peak, by default there would be softness in the middle of hardness. The fundamental of this martial art can be found in the Book of Changes ['I Ching'], where the older 'yang' gave birth to the younger 'yin'. Hence, within the Proud Dragon Repents and the Treading on Frost to Reach the Ice the hard energy and soft power blended together and was impossible to distinguish.

"Ah!" Ying Gu softly exclaimed and hastily eluded; she managed to get away from Guo Jing's right fist, but was hit by his left kick. She also could not avoid Guo Jing's horizontal left palm, which pushed her right shoulder.

As his palm strength hit its target, Guo Jing was certain she would be pushed back against the wall. He was afraid the dirt wall of this thatched-roof hut would not be strong enough and collapse; but strangely as his palm was touching her shoulder he felt like her body was covered with a layer of exceptionally slippery thick lubricant that his palm slipped to her side. But her body was also shaking and the two pieces of bamboo strips in her hand fell to the ground.

Guo Jing was startled, quickly he restrained his force; but Ying Gu's agility was extraordinary, she had already taken advantage of a favorable situation. Her ten fingers shot forward and attacked the 'shen feng' [divine grace] and 'yu shu' [jade letter] acupoints on Guo Jing's chest. Her acupoint sealing technique was excellent.

Guo Jing found it was too late to parry; he leaned slightly to the side. His move resembled the stance he used just now, but a killing strike was concealed within the move. Something stirred in his heart, "Her acupoint sealing technique is somewhat similar to Zhou Dage's [Big Brother Zhou]; if I had not practiced with Zhou Dage for thousands and tens of thousands times in that cave, I wouldn't be able to avoid her attack just now."

Ying Gu felt a burst of energy coming out from Guo Jing's body through his right arm heading toward her own arm; she realized that if her arms were hit by the enemy's power, her arms would be broken for sure. Hence once again she used her Loach Maneuver to make Guo Jing's palm slipped by her shoulder.

These several moves were very exquisite, each one of them was unanticipated by the opponent; both were startled, they leaped back several steps almost simultaneously, both were taking defensive position. Guo Jing thought, "This lady's martial art is so weird! If I can't touch her, then I will be the one who will always fall under attack."

Ying Gu was also astonished, she thought, "This youngster is so young, how can he possess this kind of martial art skill?" Following which she thought, "I have been hiding here for more than a dozen of years, diligently training hard; inadvertently mastering a wonderful martial art skill, thinking I have become invincible in the world, very soon I can go out of this forest to seek revenge and to rescue someone. Who would have thought that in mathematics I am inferior to this young girl by a long shot, in term of martial art I can't even match this youngster who is still wet behind his ears? Much less he is carrying somebody on his back. If we fight for real, I would have lost early on. For dozens of years I endured pain and suffering, will it all be flushed in running water? Shall I give up my desire to seek revenge and rescue someone?" Having thought this, her eyes turned red and her nose ache; she could not restrain tears from rolling down her cheeks.

Guo Jing knew the strength of his own palm had shaken her, he busily said, "Junior had rudely offended Senior, I truly did not mean it; please forgive me and let us go."

Ying Gu noticed that while speaking Guo Jing repeatedly looked at Huang Rong with utmost concern in his face. She recalled her own misfortune, how she was separated from her lover and could not see each other until that day; her jealousy raged and she coldly said, "This girl was hit by Qiu Qianren's Iron Palm. There is a dark shadow on her face, she won't live to see the fourth day; why are you still concerned about her?"

Guo Jing was shocked, straightaway he examined Huang Rong's face, and indeed he could see a layer of dark shadow in between her eyebrows like it was smeared with ink. His heart turned cold, immediately he held Huang Rong up and with a trembling voice asked, "Rong'er, you … how do you feel?"

Huang Rong felt her chest and abdomen fiery hot while her four limbs were icy cold. She knew that that lady did not speak nonsense; she sighed and said, "Jing Gege, during these three days, don't ever leave me even for a single step. Can you?"

"I … I won't leave you even for half a step," Guo Jing said.

Ying Gu sneered and said, "Even if you won't leave her for half a step, you will only have seventy-two hours."

Guo Jing raised his head up, his eyes full of tears. He looked at that lady earnestly implored her not to say anything that might hurt Huang Rong's feeling.

Ying Gu was an unfortunate woman, dozens of years of suffering had given her a calloused heart. Seeing these two people who loved each other were going through a disaster, her heart was filled with delight. She was going to say something to hurt their feeling when she saw Guo Jing's miserable expression. Suddenly an idea come flashing like a lightning strike in her mind, she thought, "Ah, ah, the heaven sent these two here to help me fulfill my wish to revenge." She lifted her head and mused, "Heaven, oh Heaven!"

At that time the sound of people shouting outside the forest was getting louder. Apparently they had searched everywhere and came to the conclusion that Jing and Rong, two people were still in the forest; only they were unable to find the way to enter.

After about half a day, Qiu Qianren's voice was heard calling out from outside the forest, "Divine Mathematician Ying Gu, Qiu from the Iron Palm requests an audience." His words were shouted against the wind, but surprisingly could be heard clearly, an indication of a profound internal energy.

Ying Gu walked to the window, gather her 'qi' on her 'dan tian' and shouted back, "I usually don't see outsiders; whoever comes to the black marsh die, don't you know it?"

"There were one man and one woman who came into your black marsh; please deliver them to me," Qiu Qianren replied.

"Who can come into my black marsh? Qiu Bangzhu underestimates Ying Gu too much," Ying Gu called out.

Qiu Qianren let out a 'hey, hey, hey' cold laugh; seemed like he believed her words. Then they heard the shouting of the Iron Palm Clan people gradually getting father away. Ying Gu turned around to Guo Jing and asked, "Do you want to save your martial sister?"

Guo Jing was dumbstruck, immediately he bent his knees to kneel down and said, "If Senior is willing to give direction …"

Ying Gu's face suddenly appeared to be covered with a layer of frost, sternly said, "Senior! Do you think I am old?"

"No, no!" Guo Jing hastily said, "Not too old."

Slowly Ying Gu's eyes moved from Guo Jing to look outside the window, she muttered softly, "Not too old. Hmm, after all, that means I am old."

Guo Jing was happy and anxious at the same time; listening to the way she talked, looked like Huang Rong could be saved. But his words had offended her, he was not sure if she was still willing to render assistance. He wanted to say something to correct himself, but actually did not know what to say.