The Qi Xing Gang Bu, or Seven Star Steps, was quite different from the Zong Di Jin Guang, or Ground-Shattering Golden Light, that Yan Shouyi learned from Zhang Shantong. Zong Di Jin Guang could be used for travel or long-distance traversal, while Qi Xing Gang Bu was used for evasion within a seven-step radius, utilizing footwork and body movement.
While the Daoist Gao could dodge bullets while standing still, he would be no match for Yan Shouyi in a hundred-meter sprint.
Even though Yan Shouyi had found a flaw in the Qi Xing Gang Bu, Daoist Gao was not flustered at all.
All martial arts in the world are invincible, but only speed is unbreakable. As long as his movements were fast enough, no one could do anything to him!
Therefore, before Yan Shouyi could attack, Daoist Gao began to perform the Qi Xing Gang Bu on the spot.
Within his seven-step range, Daoist Gao's figure disappeared, replaced by seven afterimages, moving so fast that their faces were indistinguishable.
Long Feicheng, who was nearby, had lit the Xing Meng Xiang, or Awakened Dream Incense. Seeing Daoist Gao still hopping left and right in place, he picked up another steaming hot kettle and threw it at Daoist Gao!
"Qi Xing Gang Bu, is it? I'll show you the prowess of this little dragon from Rongcheng! I'm throwing this!"
The boiling water covered a wide area, encompassing almost all the space within Daoist Gao's seven steps. Unless Daoist Gao jumped out of the seven-step range, he was bound to be scalded by the hot water.
But this time, Daoist Gao's figure twisted eerily, and he perfectly dodged the water, which seemed to cover every angle!
After the water landed, Daoist Gao reappeared and taunted Long Feicheng:
"That last time was just an accident in a gutter, where you ambushed me. Now, with my Qi Xing Gang Bu, I can even dodge bullets, let alone your kettle of hot water?"
Long Feicheng also realized that this Daoist Gao was not a charlatan. With his strength, he probably couldn't help Yan Shouyi much.
So, he quietly turned around and gently patted Zhang Shantong's shoulder: "Grandpa, please wake up!"
Yan Shouyi shook his head helplessly. It seemed he couldn't count on Long Feicheng for this matter.
However, with Long Feicheng's reminder and test, Yan Shouyi had already found a way to deal with Daoist Gao.
He stomped his foot, instantly summoning the Bagua array of the Qimen Dunjia, encompassing the entire tea room!
Within the Jing Men (Gate of Startling) and Zhen Gong (Palace of Thunder) positions, Daoist Gao was instantly locked on!
"Jing Men! Zhen Gong! Mountain and water become one, the dragon appears in the field!"
Beneath Daoist Gao's feet, the floor, which was originally paved with solid wood, began to soften, turning into a patch of yellowish-brown mud!
Even more surprisingly, a dragon seemed to be stirring within the mud, accelerating its dilution!
Daoist Gao's expression changed. By the time he reacted, his feet were already sinking into it, with only his ankles visible.
"This kid can actually use Qimen Dunjia!"
Daoist Gao cursed under his breath and hurriedly tried to pull his legs out and escape outside the Jing Men.
However, the mud beneath his feet was more viscous than glue. As Daoist Gao struggled, he pulled his feet out of his boots and fell into the mud with a plop!
Now, Daoist Gao was like a moth trapped in a spiderweb, covered in mud from head to toe. It was difficult for him to even stand, let alone perform Qi Xing Gang Bu.
Seeing this, Long Feicheng couldn't help but shout: "Yan Ge, you're amazing! Now it's my turn!"
He glanced around. Besides some tea sets, there was nothing else on the table.
So, he grabbed the hot water kettle and threw it at Daoist Gao's forehead!
Clang!
The stainless steel kettle hit Daoist Gao's forehead, creating a large bump. Daoist Gao's vision blurred, and he almost fainted from the blow.
When Daoist Gao recovered, he glared at Long Feicheng and said viciously, "You brat, I'll make sure you can neither live nor die later!"
"Oh no, I'm so scared!"
Long Feicheng pretended to be scared and casually threw the teacup in front of him.
The teacup was not made of stainless steel. It shattered upon hitting Daoist Gao's head, and the shards cut Daoist Gao's face, leaving him bleeding all over.
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but remind him, "Little Long, the hot water kettle was one thing, but the teacup you just threw is from the Ming Dynasty."
"Ah?"
Long Feicheng was startled. "Then I won't throw teacups anymore."
Daoist Gao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the kid would stop now.
Who knew that Long Feicheng went to the next tea room and brought back two more kettles.
They were filled with boiling hot water!
Scoundrel!
If this kept up, someone would actually die!
Daoist Gao was so terrified that his soul flew out of his body. He used all his might to climb out.
But the mud had already risen to his waist, and the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.
Seeing Long Feicheng about to throw another kettle, Daoist Gao suddenly thought of a way to break free. He forcefully slapped the mud in front of him, making a loud "bang." Then, his body soared into the air, flying out of the mud!
Long Feicheng was stunned and quickly looked at Yan Shouyi: "W-w-what the heck... This isn't scientific, is it???"
Yan Shouyi sighed: "Mud is a non-Newtonian fluid. The more force you apply to its surface, the harder it becomes."
"????"
Long Feicheng was completely dumbfounded: "Yan Ge, are you a mage or a doctor? Since when did metaphysics start talking about science???"
Yan Shouyi couldn't be bothered to explain. He quietly stomped his foot, changing the position of the Jing Men.
Just as Daoist Gao escaped, before he could even celebrate or stabilize his footing, the ground beneath him vanished again.
That damnable, annoying mud had somehow appeared under his feet once more!
"Is there no end to this!!" Daoist Gao roared.
Even with his Qi Xing Gang Bu, which could dodge bullets, Yan Shouyi's move was simply too shameless.
As he hopped around here, Yan Shouyi just had to shift his feet, and it left him so exhausted he felt like spitting blood.
Daoist Gao was utterly helpless against him!
"You need to understand, you were the one who attacked us first," Yan Shouyi said with a smile. "What? You're allowed to bully us, but we're not allowed to fight back?"
Daoist Gao, lying in the mud, slowly sank deeper. He suddenly wondered why his junior brother hadn't returned to help.
Yan Shouyi's kick earlier had only sent him into the West Lake!
At that moment, a figure leaped in through the window, carrying the half-dead short Daoist.
This person was Yan Shouyi's shadow, Xue Kai!
Even after Yan Chou was released from prison, Xue Kai hadn't forgotten his mission. He had been secretly protecting Yan Chou and intervening when necessary.
Previously, seeing Yan Shouyi and the others enter the Xihu Yaju, presumably for private matters, Xue Kai had kept his distance, watching from afar.
Therefore, he was unaware that Yan Shouyi and the others had been incapacitated by the Zui Meng Xiang.
It wasn't until Yan Shouyi woke up and kicked the short Daoist out that Xue Kai realized Yan Shouyi and his group were in danger.
The disheveled short Daoist crawled out of the West Lake and was immediately met with a sound beating from Xue Kai.
His fate was arguably more miserable than Daoist Gao's.
Xue Kai threw the short Daoist into the mud and asked Yan Shouyi, "What happened?"
Yan Shouyi replied, "They are my father's enemies."
"Master's enemies?" Xue Kai sneered. "With such meager abilities, are they even worthy of being Master's foes?"
Daoist Gao was enraged: "How dare you insult us!"
The tall and short Daoists were actually quite accomplished in their cultivation, but their current level was clearly no match for Yan Shouyi and Xue Kai.
After all, they were merely the enemies of Yan Chou from twenty years ago.
Not everyone possessed Yan Shouyi's innate talent. In the past twenty years, although Daoist Gao and his junior brother had made some progress, it was not significant.
This led to them being overjoyed at the sight of Yan Shouyi, ready to exact revenge on Yan Chou, only to find themselves unable to defeat even his son and disciple, and instead being subdued.
Yan Shouyi smiled, squatting down with his Zhanpo Saber, and placed the blade against Daoist Gao's neck:
"What did my father do to you back then that you insist on getting revenge?"