Chapter Twenty-Four: Sword Drawn and Bowstring Taut

  Just as Zhang Ping and the other three were quietly watching from outside, Zhang San suddenly said: "Those standing outside peeking must also be people from Snow Mountain Sect. Let's all come in together! Since it's determined by martial arts strength, let's not consider seniority, everyone can make a move." His sleeve swept back, with a loud crash, the two long windows were blown out by his sleeve wind.

  "Go in!" said Shi Po-po. With her left hand holding Ah Xiang and her right hand holding Shi Ba Tian, the three walked shoulder to shoulder, while Zhang Ping followed behind them into the hall.

  Everyone in the hall changed color as soon as they saw it. Cheng, Qi, Liao, and Liang each held a weapon and surrounded Zhang Ping and the other three. Shi Popo just hummed coldly and didn't make a sound. Feng Wanli stepped forward, bowed his head and saluted, saying: "Greetings, Master's wife!"

  But Shi's wife looked up at the sky with both eyes, completely ignoring him. Meanwhile, Shi Tianyi excitedly waved to Zhang San and Li Si, saying: "Big brother, second brother, I haven't seen you for a few days, I thought little brother was dead."

  "Ha ha, very good! So Third Brother is also here. Are you also going to fight for the position of Snow Mountain Sect Master? And Headmaster Xiang Lidao of Chang Le Gang, are you also joining in on this excitement?"

  Having said that, Zhang San turned to Shi Po Po and said: "So this old lady is Bai Lao Furen, I'm so sorry for the disrespect. Your junior brothers are eyeing the position of head of the Bai family, they're competing in martial arts, vying for the top spot, well! Let's get started!"

  Shi's old lady was full of disdain, carrying Shi Ba Tian and A Xiu two people, proudly walking forward. Zhang Ping saw this scene, only with both hands holding the sword, standing aside, ready to quietly observe the changes. Cheng Zi Xue and others did not dare to block, staring at Shi's old lady sitting in the Taishi chair.

  Li Si shouted: "You still don't take action, what are you waiting for?" Cheng Zi Xue said: "Right!" and thrust his sword at Liang Zi. Liang Zi swung his sword to block it, and then Cheng and Liao joined the battle as well.

  Zhang Ping watched from the side as the four people's sword moves were full of loopholes, either completely inaccurate or lacking in power. What was left of the elegance of Snow Mountain Sect's first generation master? It was clear that these four were not competing to win, but rather to lose. Each person was unwilling to become the sect leader and only reluctantly made a move, hoping to lose to their opponent so someone else would take on the thankless task.

  Shi's wife stood by, growing more and more annoyed, shouting: "These ghostly moves, can they even be considered Snow Mountain Sect's martial arts? You've lost all face for the Snow Mountain Sect!"

  He turned his head and said to Shi Tianyi: "Good disciple, take this knife and cut off one arm from each of them."

  Shi Tianyi glanced at Zhang San and Li Si, seeing that they had no reaction. Zhang San just smiled and looked at himself. He had to take the single knife and point it at Cheng Zi, swinging the knife to chop. Cheng, Qi, Liao, and Liang heard Shi Tianyi ask someone to chop off his own arm, this was not a joke, seeing him swing the knife, they quickly used their true skills to defend themselves. However, soon the four discovered that although Shi Tianyi had deep internal strength, his technique was slow to react, and although his moves seemed fierce, he actually held back everywhere. So the four took advantage of the opportunity, left some small wounds on their bodies, and retreated in defeat.

  Just as Shi Tianyi was about to be promoted as the leader of Xue Shan Sect, Zhang Ping suddenly spoke up: "Wait a minute, I also want to compete for this position. Tianyi, let's exchange blows." After finishing speaking, he held two swords in his hands. Although the copper and iron double swords were not present, Zhang Ping still had confidence in himself.

  Shi Tianyi's opponent was Zhang Ping, and he hastily pushed himself away, saying he wasn't the opponent. But Shi PoPo sternly ordered Shi Tianyi to make a move, and under duress, he had no choice but to draw his knife and engage in battle. It could be seen that Shi Tianyi held his single knife vertically downwards, with his left hand clutching his right fist, slightly bowing his body, using the "Golden Crow Knife Method"'s first move, "Opening the Door to Invite the Thief". Zhang Ping saw that Shi Tianyi was ready and thrust out his long sword with his right hand, its power fierce and strong, a most crude and shallow force chopping down towards Huashan.

  Only to see Shi Tianyi unhurriedly raise his knife to block, and lightly parry this move. Zhang Ping had long known that Shi Tianyi's internal strength was astonishing, but he didn't expect him to be able to easily parry his own move, it can be seen that his internal strength is not inferior to his own. Then, Zhang Ping's left hand sword swiftly struck out, a silent and swift sword move was issued. Shi Tianyi hurriedly raised his knife to chop down, but unexpectedly Zhang Ping suddenly turned the sword light, from below to above, narrowly avoiding Shi Tianyi's short knife, and went straight for his throat.

  Shi Tianyi dodged the move with a swift Iron Plate Bridge. Thereafter, Shi Tianyi ignored Zhang Ping's changing moves and focused on channeling his inner energy into his knife, striking one blow after another. For a time, Zhang Ping was unable to take down Shi Tianyi without causing serious injury to both parties. As a result, the two men's moves became faster and their inner energy stronger. After more than twenty exchanges, all that could be seen was a blur of sword and knife lights between them, their figures indistinct in the heat of battle. To outsiders, it seemed as though neither had the upper hand, but in reality, Zhang Ping had gradually grasped Shi Tianyi's knife techniques.

  After Shi Tianyi launched more than a dozen moves, Zhang Ping seized the opportunity and suddenly made a heavy slash with his left sword and a quick straight thrust with his right sword. The sudden change in Zhang Ping's dual-sword style caught Shi Tianyi off guard, forcing him to swing his knife down empty-handed while retreating hastily.

  Zhang Ping seized the opportunity and launched a full-force Deer Leap Strike. At the same time, his right hand transformed into a flying sword after the heavy strike, aiming straight for Shi Tianyi's throat. However, Shi Tianyi lacked experience in techniques and facing enemies, so when he saw Zhang Ping's flying sword, he used a left strike to block it. By then, Zhang Ping had already closed in on Shi Tianyi, his left hand sword darting out like a snake spitting out its breath. This sword was swift and silent, with an angle that was extremely unusual, and Shi Tianyi lost the initiative while blocking the flying sword, unable to react before Zhang Ping's sword was pressed against his throat.

  Zhang Ping then put down his sword and said to Shi Tianyi, "Tianyi brother, your inner strength is indeed astonishing. If you practice the moves for a while until they become smooth and effortless, I won't be a match for you."

  Shi Tianyi chuckled and said, "Where did you get that from? Lier brothers' martial arts are really good. Even if I practice for another ten years, I won't be their match." Shi Tianyi said as he scratched his head, suddenly seeming to think of something, he turned around with a pitiful expression and looked at Shi Popo.

  "Good, good, good. The double swordsmanship of Director Liudao is indeed the best in the world, and this bowl of Laba congee can be drunk. However, the people invited by Xiake Island are all leaders of various schools and factions, but Director Liudao doesn't seem to be a member of the Snow Mountain faction, let alone being considered as a leader."

  Zhang Ping listened to Zhang San's words and replied, "What the two envoys said is not necessarily true. The leader of a faction is naturally someone who is recognized by everyone. As the saying goes, 'a hero does not ask about his origin', why must you care about my former identity?"

  Zhang Ping turned to face Cheng, Qi, Liao, and Liang, asking: "I am unworthy and untalented, but today I coincidentally won half a move. Although I was not originally a disciple of the Snow Mountain Sect, if I can be favored by you all today, I am willing to become the leader of the Snow Mountain Sect. Firstly, I want to contribute to the survival and development of the Snow Mountain Sect, and secondly, I hope to peacefully resolve the grudges between my sworn brother and your sect. What do you think?"

  Cheng, Qi, Liao, and Liang would be fine as long as they didn't go to Xiake Island to die. Now that Zhang Ping is willing to go to Xiake Island in their place, they are naturally more than happy. As for Shi Zhongyu, his conflicts all originated from the Longmen, so it's already good enough that he doesn't kick them while they're down; now he readily agrees without hesitation.

  However, just as the four were about to readily agree, Old Lady Shi suddenly shouted: "No way, that little scoundrel's crimes are heinous, he tried to insult Ah Xiu and caused my daughter-in-law to go mad because of him. Today's internal strife in Snow Mountain Sect also originated from him. Today, no matter what, we can't let him off, besides, you're not a disciple of Snow Mountain Sect, what qualifications do you have to be the sect leader? What are these four people doing paying attention to me, I don't know, but today Shi Xiao Cui absolutely won't submit to you."

  Zhang Ping felt embarrassed and hastily made eye contact with Shi Tianyi, but unexpectedly Shi Tianyi said to Zhang Ping: "Lier brothers, what's wrong with your eyes? I see your eyes flashing, is something wrong?"

  Zhang Ping saw that the plan had dragged out of his control, and being polite was useless, so he could only use force to coerce. Zhang Ping hummed three good words with his nose, then said to the Snow Mountain Sect people: "Since I and Tianyi are not your Snow Mountain Sect disciples, the previous match doesn't count, let's have another round. The matter of Shi Zhongyu is his own fault, you Snow Mountain Sect naturally has the right to deal with it. But I came here with good intentions, yet was ambushed, imprisoned, and had my beloved sword stolen. This is really great, really great..." After speaking, Zhang Ping crossed his two swords, preparing to take action at any moment.

  "Brother Li, let's talk things over." Shi Tian thought Zhang Ping was about to fight and kill someone, so he hastily advised him.

  Zhang Ping saw that Shi Tianyi was persuading himself, knowing that he had a kind heart and often showed sympathy for women. He then said to him: "Your mother and adoptive father and mother were also caught by them using despicable drugs at the time, now their lives are uncertain, in danger of death at any moment. Now that you have a wife, do you not care about your mother anymore?"

  Shi Tianyi was suddenly choked by Zhang Ping's words and couldn't speak, so he kept saying "I, I..."

  Zhang Ping took advantage of the situation and asked Snow Mountain Sect's people, "Since you oppose it, then my previous match with Tian Yi can't be counted. You all settle the matter of the sect master first, after the two envoys finish their business, I'll settle accounts with you." After finishing speaking, Zhang Ping coldly smiled and stood to the side, holding his twin swords, waiting to see how things would develop.