Chapter 4: Shaolin Arrives

  Zhang Songxi glanced at everyone's expression and whispered to Zhang Cuishan, "I don't know what kind of strong reinforcements they are still waiting for? Unfortunately, Master doesn't like noise, and none of the close friends of Wudang Sect were invited beforehand. Otherwise, it wouldn't have ended up in such a situation where we're outnumbered and isolated." He thought that since his master had connections all over the world, and the seven brothers were chivalrous and had many good relationships, if they had prepared ahead of time, they could have invited dozens of masters to come celebrate together.

  Zhang Cuishan saw the situation getting worse and worse, and there was no good way out. He just said in a low voice: "When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will dam it. The seven brothers of us have never been afraid of anyone."

  Mo Qi Xie nodded and said, "Second Brother is right. What can a trivial person like him do to me, the master of Wudang?"

  Song Qing saw this and couldn't help but shake his head. The scoundrels were not worthy of the Wudang sect, but what about Shaolin? Although Zhang Sanfeng was now widely recognized as the world's number one master, the Wudang school was also a major force in the martial arts world, with the saying going that 'the north reveres Shaolin, the south respects Wudang'.

  However, the gap between Wudang and Shaolin is still quite large. The phrase "the best martial arts in the world come from Shaolin" is not just a compliment. Even when Shaolin was closed off to outsiders, the Quanzhen School, which was the largest school in Jianghu at the time, did not dare say it surpassed Shaolin.

  Actually, the Quanzhen School of those years and today's Wudang Sect are really similar. Although the Wudang Sect has the world's number one master Zhang Sanfeng, this is just like a nuclear weapon, usually not to be used, while the Quanzhen School although the world's number one master Wang Chongyang died, there is still Old Immortal Child Zhou Bao Tong.

  Wudang Sect has Wudang Seven Heroes, and Quanzhen School also has Quanzhen Seven Sons. However, among the third-generation disciples, Quanzhen School had Yin Zhiping, Zhao Zijing and others, while Wudang Sect basically didn't have anyone except for itself, so it can be said that Wudang Sect's foundation is still inferior to Quanzhen School in its heyday, let alone Shaolin.

  Regardless of what Song Qing Shu was thinking, Zhang Song Xi nodded and shook his head, "Although it's true, we can't be careless. Today's matter concerns Wudang, so let's not talk about Jianghu righteousness. We should strike first."

  Everyone listened and nodded solemnly in unison.

  The guests in the hall finished their meal and the waiters cleared away the bowls and chopsticks.

  "Gentlemen, friends, today is our master's 100th birthday. We are honored that you have all come to celebrate with us. Please forgive the simplicity of our hospitality. Our master had originally wanted to invite you all to join him at Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang for a drink, but unfortunately, we cannot do so today. Perhaps another time we can make up for it. My younger brother, Zhang Cuishan, has been away for ten years and has just returned today. He has not yet had the chance to report his experiences to our master. Today is also our master's birthday, a joyous occasion. If we were to discuss the conflicts and killings in the martial arts world, it would be inappropriate. Your kind intentions in coming to celebrate with us would be turned into malicious intentions. Since you have all come to Wudang, I will accompany you on a tour of the mountains, front and back, to enjoy the scenery." His words first shut everyone's mouths, making it clear that today was a celebratory occasion, and if anyone were to bring up the matter of Xie Xun and the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, they would be considered enemies of the Wudang Sect. These people had come together to Mount Wudang, except for those from the Emei Sect, with the intention of forcing out information about Xie Xun's whereabouts through a fight. However, the Wudang Sect was renowned and powerful, and no one dared to single-handedly make an enemy of them. If hundreds of people were to rush forward together, then there would be no need to worry, but if someone had to take the lead and start trouble, then no one wanted to be that person. The crowd looked at each other in silence for a moment.

  Song Qing shook his head on one side, since these people chose to come today, they can't just retreat with their tails between their legs.

  As expected, Xihuazi of the Kunlun Sect stood up and said loudly: "Zhang Si, you don't have to beat around the bush. We are straightforward people who do not engage in underhanded dealings. Let's open the window and speak clearly. This time we came up the mountain, first to celebrate Zhang Zhenren's birthday, and secondly to inquire about the whereabouts of that evil thief Xie Xuan."

  "Not bad, tell me where that scoundrel Xie Xun is hiding."

  "Is it? Shouldn't the prestigious Wudang Sect avoid hiding evil and accepting filth?"

  "It can't be that the Wudang Sect wants to monopolize the Dragon Slaying Sword."

  "Yes, yes."

  .......

  With the emergence of a leader, everyone's morale suddenly rose, and they all urged Wudang to hand over the whereabouts of the evil Xie Xun.

  Just as Zhang Songxi was about to shout "Ah yo" as a signal, he took the initiative and suddenly heard from outside the door: "Amitabha!" This Buddhist mantra clearly entered everyone's ears, clear and bright, like it came from afar, but sounded like it came from beside them.

  Zhang Sanfeng smiled and said, "So it's Master Kongwen of the Shaolin Sect who has arrived. Quickly go and welcome him." The voice outside the door continued, "Master Kongwen, abbot of Shaolin Temple, along with his fellow monks Kongzhi and Kongxing, as well as his disciples, come to pay their respects to Zhang Zhenren and wish him a long and happy life."

  A thousand autumns of joy and prosperity, I'm afraid it's a case of "the sooner Zhang Sanfeng dies the better". Song Qing said with a curl of her lip.

  Kong Wen, Kong Zhi and Kong Xing were three of the four great divine monks of Shaolin. Except for Master Kong Jian who had already passed away, all three divine monks had arrived. Zhang Songxi was shocked and his "ah" was stuck in his throat. He knew that the powerful Shaolin masters had come to Wudang Mountain, but he and his six men were still no match for them, having been subdued by the "Tiger Claw Sealing Hand" of Kunlun and other sects.

  Zhang Songxi and Zhang Cuishan, Song Yuanqiao exchanged a glance, all seeing the solemnity on each other's face. Now that Shaolin has joined in, it seems that today's matter cannot be resolved peacefully.

  Zhang Sanfeng led his disciples to welcome them, and saw three divine monks leading nine monks, walking slowly to the front of the Purple Mist Palace. Kong Xun Master's white eyebrows drooped down to cover his eyes, resembling a long-eyebrowed arhat; Kong Xing Master had a majestic physique and a fierce appearance; Kong Zhi Master, on the other hand, had a bitter expression, with the corners of his mouth drooping. Others who saw their faces couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, indeed a symbol of compassion. Song Qingchu was different, although these three people could not be said to be bad, but to be called divine monks, they were far from it. Compared to the already deceased Kong Jian Divine Monk, they were not even in the same league.

  Kong Yun, the divine monk, first paid his respects to Zhang Sanfeng and then exchanged pleasantries with others in the Zi Xiang Palace. After everyone sat down again, Song Yuanqiao ordered his disciples to serve clear tea.

  He took a sip of clear tea. Kong Wen said, "Zhang Zhenren, I am younger than you in both age and generation, so I shouldn't bring up other matters on your hundredth birthday. But as the abbot of Shaolin Temple, I have a few words to say to my senior, please don't take offense."

  "Hmph, and this kind of person still wants to put up a monument. Song Qing couldn't stand it when people spoke out of turn like this; if they knew it wasn't the right time to talk, why not choose another time? Why did they have to speak now?"

  Zhang Sanfeng smiled slightly and pointed at Zhang Cuishan, saying: "Three senior monks, have you come for my fifth disciple Zhang Cuishan?" Zhang Cuishan heard his master mention his name and stood up.

  "Indeed, we have two matters to consult with Zhang Wuji. Firstly, Zhang Wuji killed 71 people from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency of our Shaolin Sect, and also struck down six Shaolin monks. How should these 77 lives be settled? Secondly, my senior brother, Kong Xian Dashi, was a kind and virtuous person who never quarreled with others, yet he was brutally murdered by Jin Mao Shi Wang Xie Xun. It is said that Zhang Wuji knows the whereabouts of this Xie fellow, so we ask Zhang Wuji to enlighten us."