Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 319 Idle Thoughts: A Gathering of Immortals on Penglai Island

Yuan Ziyi's almond-shaped eyes widened as if she were seeing this person for the first time. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Sect Leader Jiang, your role-playing... you're not even sparing yourself?"

Jiang Wen, however, said matter-of-factly, "Girl, you don't understand. A professional detective is someone who dares to make bold assumptions and draw judgments!"

"So professional that he thinks he's the murderer?"

Yuan Ziyi laughed in exasperation, her slender finger almost poking Jiang Wen's nose. "So what are you going to do now? Go to the Chong'an County government office to surrender yourself, or draw your sword and commit suicide to atone for your sins?"

"Hey, no rush, no rush. According to the rules, you have to wait until the very last moment to commit suicide."

Jiang Wen waved his hand, looking calm and collected, as if he had a brilliant plan. "The three-day period hasn't ended yet, has it? There shouldn't be any more clues here. Let's go back and investigate."

The two covered the three charred corpses again with tattered straw mats and finally left the thatched hut of the earth god temple that reeked of burnt smells. People in the martial arts world were often superstitious and always feared that the three who died violently would rise from the dead to claim their lives, so they did not allow anyone to cross the boundaries of the temple.

The two turned their horses and headed back. Yuan Ziyi stared at Jiang Wen with the eyes of someone looking at a madman, while Jiang Wen seemed lost in thought.

On the way back to the mountain, the two did not say much, because Jiang Wen's brows remained furrowed. He kept thinking about the three charred corpses, the strange wounds, the nameless skeleton that was deliberately buried, and the incongruous "Lao Dan Poem" on the wrapping of the rattan shield sect disciple.

"The skeletons in that cave are an old case; perhaps they dug them up for another reason; that poem might also be a clue to breaking the mystery..."

Jiang Wen muttered to himself, shifting his train of thought and finding a completely new direction, "But the key to this case might not be how they died, but where they went, what they did, and what they encountered during those three days they disappeared..."

Yuan Ziyi also stopped joking and said seriously, "You mean, what they did in those three days brought them to their deaths?"

"Very likely."

Jiang Wen doubted himself because there were obvious differences between the sword styles of men and women.

Women are naturally less strong and tend to have a habit of avoiding the strong and attacking the weak. This is unavoidable, and their power is mostly generated by explosive short bursts of force.

Due to insufficient strength, women usually slide the blade along the opponent's bones, rarely breaking the strong sternum. They will stab from the side or back without twisting the sword, quickly entering and exiting to avoid entanglement.

The moment the three victims of the rattan shield sect were pierced through the heart, the force of the sword tip increasing as it touched their clothes, directly shattering their sternums, and ensuring their certain death with a twisting sword movement.

This clearly indicates a high level of confidence in one's own strength, leading to a frontal assault—a move typically made by a man, or requiring a woman with a waist wider than her shoulders and astonishing physical strength.

Jiang Wen shook his head, putting the idea out of his mind. "Professional matters should be left to professionals. Let's go see someone first—and let's make it clear beforehand that you're not allowed to interrupt or say anything."

Upon returning to Wuyishan, Jiang Wen immediately found the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus. This Holy Mother, the leader of the Red Sun Sect, was still dressed in a simple dress, with a compassionate and insightful calm between her brows. Since she now lived on Jade Maiden Peak, finding her did not require much effort.

“Holy Mother, this murder case is full of suspicious points. The whereabouts of the three disciples of the Tengpai Sect before their deaths are a mystery. They may have gone to Songxi County. They had this poem hidden in their bundle: ‘Lao Danliang is not dead, the lineage of Tao will flow on. His legacy shines like the sun and moon, and his profound transformation is bathed in pure light.’ This poem seems to be related to Taoism and may be a key clue.”

Jiang Wen first sorted out the findings of his investigation, then handed the copied poem to the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus with a solemn expression. "I must now remain in Wuyi Mountain, therefore I humbly request that the Holy Mother utilize your sect's connections and informants in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi to secretly investigate two matters—"

"First, where did these three rattan shield disciples come from? In particular, during the three days before the conference, did they actually appear in Songxi County, with whom did they contact, and what unusual behavior did they exhibit? Second, can we find out the source of this poem, who transmitted it, and where it points? Furthermore, this matter concerns the truth of the murder case and the peace of this place, so we must act in secrecy."

The Holy Mother of the Red Lotus took the note, her gaze sweeping over the four lines of poetry. She nodded slightly, her voice gentle: "Sect Leader Jiang, rest assured. Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi are all old territories of our sect. Although we have suffered considerable losses, our spies and informants still exist. The woodblock printing in Jianzhou and Fuzhou is also under our sect's control. Since this matter needs to be kept secret, I will personally go there tomorrow with the Goddess of the Six Ding to investigate the matter thoroughly."

Jiang Wen cupped his hands in gratitude, and she paused, looked up at Jiang Wen, and added meaningfully, "The conference is all ready, and since all the heroes have gathered, I think it is not appropriate to delay any longer."

Jiang Wen remained outwardly calm, but he clearly understood her unspoken meaning, leaving Yuan Ziyi alone to look at the two of them with suspicion.

"Hmm... I didn't expect it to come so quickly. It seems there's some kind of divine intervention at play..."

Jiang Wen raised an eyebrow, making a decision.

"Then announce that the second round of the martial arts tournament will officially begin tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM) in front of Zhizhi Nunnery. Disciples from all sects will be invited, but anyone who wishes to exchange martial arts skills and share their experiences is welcome to come up on stage! The goal is to make friends through martial arts, and to stop when the point is reached!"

Seeing his resolute words, Yuan Ziyi seemed to have instantly shaken off the emotions that had been turbulent because of the murder case and turned her attention back to the martial arts tournament itself, as if she was never worried about not finding the murderer.

The Holy Mother of the Red Lotus looked at Jiang Wen, nodded slightly again without saying anything more, turned and drifted away. Her pure white figure quickly disappeared into the twilight leading to the mountain path, as she went to arrange for people to investigate Songxi County and the poem.

Yuan Ziyi walked to Jiang Wen's side, then looked in the direction the Holy Mother had left, and asked suspiciously, "What are you two talking about so mysteriously?"

Jiang Wen gazed at the darkening sky, a mysterious smile curving his lips: "Don't ask anymore. We're still far from the truth. What's the use of knowing all this? Just stir things up. The muddier the water, the more interesting it will be."

"But I always feel like you've discovered something and are deliberately hiding it from me, and I haven't been able to help you at all along the way."

"No, in my experience, your presence here is the greatest help."

"Oh……"

Yuan Ziyi blushed and replied.

"The most important thing right now is to get the stage for this martial arts tournament set up! Come on, I need to go and tell my beloved disciples to prepare well, so we don't mess things up tomorrow."

………………

As dawn broke and the thin mist lingered, martial arts practitioners from various sects had already gathered around. Compared to yesterday's banquet, the atmosphere today was noticeably more somber. The shadow of the charred corpse case at the Tengpai Gate still lingered in everyone's minds, but the instincts of martial arts practitioners kept their eyes fixed on the arena.

In the open space inside Zhizhi Nunnery, three wooden platforms, each about ten feet square, had been erected overnight. Although simple, they were enough for everyone to practice their skills.

Jiang Wen had changed into a slightly more solemn dark gray Taoist robe, with a bronze ancient sword at his waist. He slowly stepped onto the center of the wooden platform, his gaze sweeping over the dark crowd below, his voice steady and powerful, piercing the morning chill:

"Heroes, my esteemed companions! You were kind enough to join us in this grand event at Wuyi the other day. However, the martial world is ever-changing, and some villains have caused trouble, disrupting this important gathering. Regarding the matter of the three brothers from the Rattan Shield Sect, I, Jiang, will fulfill my promise made three days ago! However—"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone revealing an undeniable firmness:

"We martial artists, how can we abandon the righteous path because of evil influences? The martial arts tournament is about making friends through martial arts, exchanging skills and honing our abilities, that is the essence! Therefore, the second match today will be held on this stage. All my fellow practitioners, regardless of the size of their sect or their seniority, who are willing to exchange skills and verify their martial arts insights, are welcome to step onto the stage!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the disciples below the stage, and said in a clear voice:

"We, the disciples of the Wuyi Sect, should set an example! Today's sparring is for the purpose of exchange, so we will stop here! You should all remember the sect rules, be humble and courteous, and not tarnish the reputation of our Wuyi Sect!"

Jiang Wen sternly admonished them. As he called out names, three Wuyi Sect disciples stepped forward. They had all changed into new clothes that Jiang Wen had found a tailor in town to make. They were all dressed in black, narrow-sleeved silk outfits, with wrist guards and narrow boots, and their waists were cinched, making them look exceptionally neat and elegant.

Little Stone, though chubby-faced, had unusually excited eyes. Hong Wending was as steady as a mountain, his aura restrained. Hu Fei, on the other hand, had sharp eyes like an eagle, with a long sword hanging prominently at his waist. Jiang Wen finally revealed a confident smile.

The disciples responded in unison, "We will obey our master's orders!"

Jiang Wen nodded slightly: "Today you will all wait by the stage, awaiting guidance from your fellow practitioners!" After saying that, he stepped back to the side of the stage, his gaze sweeping across the entire audience like that of a hawk, waiting for the first challenger.

On the three arenas, people immediately stepped up to the other two to settle their daily disputes, but the arena occupied by the Wuyi Sect remained silent. Perhaps the oppression from yesterday's rattan shield incident had not yet dissipated, and seeing that those who stepped up were just teenagers, many seasoned veterans of the martial arts world showed disdain and whispered among themselves.

"They're all just young soldiers. Brother, I'm too old. Why don't you go and spar with them?"

"No, no, Sect Leader Jiang's 'Gentleman's Sword' is renowned. What if he injures or damages a disciple? How can we explain that to others?"

"Hehe, that's what I think too. We have to give them some face. Winning would be unfair, and losing would be embarrassing. I'm not going."

“Hong Wending seems alright. His stance was quite stable yesterday. He should be able to hold his own for a couple of moves.”

"Exactly, that guy named Hu Fei even brought a sword on purpose. Why don't you go up and have a weapon spar?"

"You guys go if you want, I'm not going. If you're so capable, then you try your hand at me! Stop talking nonsense!"

Amidst this atmosphere of slight disdain and mockery, Jiang Wen remained as steady as a mountain, yet out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of two familiar figures standing on the outskirts of the crowd—

It was Huang Liang and Jian Fu, who should have been recuperating at Huixian Temple. Their faces were still pale from their recent illness, but their overall spirits were good. They were craning their necks to watch the excitement from the back of the crowd.

Jiang Wen frowned slightly, walked over without making a sound, and asked in a low voice, "Didn't Master Yuanhua tell you to rest quietly in the temple and not to go out? Why are you here?"

Huang Liang quickly cupped his hands, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face: "Sect Leader Jiang, please calm down... The Master knows we're really feeling cooped up in the temple. He said our souls are already solidified, so as long as we don't leave the vicinity of King Peak, it's fine for us to come out for some fresh air and see the excitement. We can even absorb some yang energy and human presence, which will help us recover. We promise to go back as soon as we're done watching!"

Jian Fu nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with curiosity about this grand martial arts event.

Upon hearing this, Jiang recalled Yuan Huazi's sharp tongue but kind heart, and Yuan Louzi's lazy and carefree manner, so he wasn't surprised—after all, they just wanted to keep the two of them from running around.

He nodded: "Since it's the real person's permission, then keep a close watch. You two must not fight with anyone." After saying that, he ignored them and turned his attention back to the edge of the stage, his eyes gleaming.

Jiang Wen was a seasoned veteran and was prepared for this situation, naturally having contingency plans in place.

At this moment, the audience below was still mostly watching the spectacle, and no one was actually going up on stage. A little girl of about seven or eight years old, seeing that no one had gone up for a while and hearing the discussions, pouted and couldn't help but pull a girl next to her and mutter, "Sister Tian, ​​look at these people, all they know how to do is talk! They're spouting all sorts of nonsense, but none of them actually dare to go up on stage. Humph, I think they're afraid of my senior brothers!"

The girl beside her slightly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping contemptuously over the gossiping men. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of those nearby: "Sister Ningdie is right. The Wuyi Sect's fellow disciples have a solid foundation and superb martial arts skills. It is only reasonable that ordinary people do not dare to step onto the stage. However, today's words 'making friends through martial arts' will probably become empty words."

Her words sounded calm, but they were actually barbed, subtly mocking those people who only knew how to talk big, implying that "ordinary people" wouldn't dare to challenge a few children.

Fu Ningdie immediately chimed in, deliberately raising her voice: "That's right! My senior brother's fists and palms can shatter stone tablets! He can take on three or five people without a problem!"

She paused, seemingly unable to think of a particularly impressive description, then immediately puffed out her chest, "Anyway, they're absolutely amazing! I think they're afraid of losing and losing face, so they don't dare to go up!"

The two girls sang in harmony, their clear voices standing out sharply in the somewhat dull atmosphere.

Those men who were just watching the show and making sarcastic remarks suddenly felt embarrassed by the two young girls' teasing. In particular, the words "afraid to go up," "afraid to lose," and "losing face" felt like needles pricking the hearts of these self-proclaimed heroes of the martial world.

"You little brat, you've got a sharp tongue!"

A rough, angry voice rang out, carrying a heavy northern accent.

A sturdy, dark-skinned man stood up from the crowd. Judging from his clothes, he looked like an ordinary farmer. His hands were rough and large, covered with calluses. He was probably a disciple of some small sect or a wandering practitioner. At this moment, he was provoked and pointed at the three of them.

“This tiny kid is bullying you if he hits you; and this kid with the sword, I don’t practice with long weapons.”

He then pointed to Hong Wending, the one among the three who looked older than Xiao Shitou and more approachable than Hu Fei, seemingly finding fault with his overly thin physique, and said in a gruff voice:

"I've heard your Southern Fist style is quite impressive, which suits me perfectly! Kid, let this old man test your skills! Let's see how many punches you can take with those skinny arms and legs!"

After saying that, he leaped onto the wooden platform with great force, causing the platform to tremble slightly.

He stopped, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Hong Wending, and said in a gruff voice, "Young man, please!"

When Hong Wending saw someone call his name to come up on stage, although his words were not very polite, there was no anger in his eyes. He immediately clasped his hands in return and said in a steady voice, "Hong Wending of the Wuyi School, please give me your guidance, senior." His posture was neither humble nor arrogant, showing the demeanor of a master.

Without wasting words, the farmer let out a low shout and strode forward, delivering a simple yet powerful straight punch that, with a dull whistling sound, struck straight at Hong Wending's center. This punch was devoid of any fancy moves; it seemed to be purely the strength of his muscles and bones, and the fierce power honed over many years!

Hong Wending's eyes narrowed. He saw Hong Wending push off the ground with his toes, and his body leaped forward with the force of the push. When he landed sideways, his waist sank down, and he firmly planted himself in a bow stance. His front leg was bent like a tiger's claw ready to pounce, and his back leg was straight like a tiger's tail supporting a mountain rock. His center of gravity was low, and he was as if a tiger had climbed a rock and landed firmly, and his feet were rooted to the spot.

Then, his hands, which were originally bent in front of his abdomen, followed the momentum of his forward movement, and with the twisting force of his waist, he flipped his wrists upwards and pushed out with his palms open and his palms gathered power, like a tiger lifting a mountain, and pushed fiercely towards his opponent.

Immediately, a palm strike whistled through the air, carrying an overwhelming force that seemed to flatten all obstacles in its path. Without the slightest detour, it crashed straight into its opponent, clearly intending to meet him head-on!

The same move met the attack head-on! The same relentless advance without retreat! This was none other than the "Tiger Pushing the Mountain," a technique with an extremely solid foundation in Hung Gar Kung Fu!

boom!

The two men's fists and palms collided without any fancy moves, producing a dull thud!

Contrary to everyone's expectations, the scene of Hong Wending being punched away did not occur!

Both men trembled violently at the same time. Hong Wending stumbled back three steps, each step making the platform creak. His face flushed red, clearly indicating that his blood was churning. However, he managed to regain his footing!

The farmer was also thrown back by the force of the recoil, taking a small step back before regaining his balance. His face was filled with astonishment as he looked at his fist in disbelief, then at the boy opposite him who was much smaller than himself!

"what?!"

A chorus of astonishment arose from the audience. On one hand, no one expected that this seemingly ordinary farmer would have such a powerful and domineering punch, clearly a master; on the other hand, no one expected that Hong Wending, at such a young age, could withstand such a heavy punch without falling down!

Hong Wending was even more astonished.

He now has a solid foundation and has mastered internal strength. Even when facing a master, he can neutralize the force and escape. However, the force of that punch just now was so overwhelming that it was like a torrent of water, making his arm numb and his blood churn!

This fist technique... is so strange and domineering, it's definitely not a move that an ordinary farmer could have!

The farmer seemed even more shocked. His punch, though seemingly clumsy, actually contained the powerful force to split rocks and break jade. Even an ordinary expert could not withstand his punch. Yet this young man could take it head-on without getting hurt.

He abandoned his initial disdain and realized that the Wuyi School's kung fu was indeed quite skillful; his expression became serious.

The two looked at each other and saw seriousness in each other's eyes.

Without a word, the farmer roared and launched another attack, his fists whistling and sweeping, each punch powerful and heavy, as if he wanted to smash Hong Wending to pieces!

Hong Wending focused his attention and responded with steady footwork. He unleashed a set of Hong Family Fist techniques, sometimes blocking, sometimes deflecting, sometimes striking head-on, and sometimes entangling. Although he was more defensive than offensive, he occasionally found an opening to counterattack. His fists and fingers could also carry a sharp wind, and he used his horse stance to generate a hidden force.

He activated his inner energy, stomped his back foot hard on the ground, and channeled the power from his waist, legs, shoulders and arms into his palms. Instead of retreating, he advanced, unleashing wave after wave of palm force like a tiger unleashed from its cage, trying to withstand the opponent's punches and crush forward.

For a moment, the air on the stage was filled with the whistling of fists and the resounding thuds. One was fierce and unparalleled, like a giant axe splitting a mountain; the other was steady and powerful, like a tiger climbing a mountain. They fought to a standstill, drawing a crowd of people below the stage who watched with bated breath. The words of disdain that had been spoken earlier had vanished, replaced by gasps of amazement and cheers.

"What powerful and fierce boxing skills!"

"This young man is quite remarkable! He actually managed to take the attack head-on!"

"This farmer is no ordinary man! What kind of boxing style is that?"

"..."

Jiang Wen had already arrived at the edge of the stage, watching with lightning speed as Hong Wending and the farmer fought fiercely. When he saw the farmer's simple yet incredibly powerful first punch, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

Did you catch a shark while fishing?

The peasant's fist was like a raging storm, fierce and unparalleled. Every punch carried the power to split rocks and shatter monuments, showing that it was a hard-hitting hand that cultivated both internal and external strength. At first, Hong Wending responded with the Hong family fist method and managed to defend himself in a precarious situation. But slowly, gradually, Hong Wending's punches became more and more unpredictable and agile, and his footwork and body movements became unpredictable, bringing with them an indescribable aura.

Jiang Wen watched from below the stage with a furrowed brow and alarm bells ringing in his mind. He wasn't worried that Hong Wending would lose—on the contrary, the potential Hong Wending displayed under pressure startled him, as it faintly revealed the aura of the strange and secret Dragon Form Fist he had learned before!

Looking at the two fighting now, although the peasant's boxing style was crude, his pure, domineering, and fierce power, which seemed capable of destroying gold and jade, was constantly rising as the peasant became more and more frenzied in his fight.

The farmer was agitated, feeling as if his immense strength had vanished without a trace, as if a strange force was emanating from Hong Wending's fists, devouring and dissolving his power. On the other hand, Hong Wending's moves were becoming increasingly unpredictable, with bizarre and fragmented techniques appearing all the time.

On the stage, Hong Wending's fist techniques moved like dragons and snakes rising from the land, his killing intent frequently appearing as swift as thunder; when still, he was like a dragon diving into the abyss, his breath as calm as a deep pool, yet he would often appear and disappear like a dragon in the unpredictable clouds, floating and sinking, agile and unfathomable. As his fist intent gradually increased, the breathing of the people around the stage was suppressed.

"This person's fist intent is so pure that it can actually trigger the secret Dragon Form Fist that Wen Ding has suppressed for a long time. Moreover, this person is truly skilled in both internal and external cultivation. When facing an enemy, every move he makes is accompanied by natural internal strength, which allows him to defeat the enemy without being noticed."

Jiang Wen frowned slightly, his fingertips unconsciously twirling. "Looking at the ferocity and domineering power of the punches, the deep and solid foundation, and the shattering power of the moves, it follows a fierce and powerful style. It must have quite a background..."

Jiang Wen's figure flickered, and he gracefully slipped between the two like a ghost.

He did not take the force of either punch head-on, but at the last second, he precisely blocked in front of the farmer, choosing a delicate moment when the old strength was exhausted and the new strength had not yet arisen; at the same time, his other wide robe sleeve swept towards Hong Wending like flowing clouds emerging from a mountain, and a gentle force instantly dissipated the force he had gathered, gently pushing him back several steps.

"Wait a moment, you two!"

Jiang Wen's clear voice rang out, containing a calming power that instantly eased the tense atmosphere in the room.

He first nodded slightly to Hong Wending. He noticed a barely perceptible vertical line flash across Hong Wending's eyes, which he then forcefully suppressed. Instantly, the pure Heavenly Silkworm True Qi spread throughout his body, covering every inch of his meridians like peeling silk from a cocoon.

Jiang Wen then turned to the farmer, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and displayed the demeanor of a sect leader with composure.

"This brave man has excellent skills! His punches are powerful and his internal and external skills are well-developed, which is truly rare in my life."

Jiang Wen spoke earnestly and praised him generously, saying, "Today's martial arts gathering was originally intended to allow disciples to learn from each other, hone their skills, and broaden their horizons. Wen Ding is so young yet he has already received such guidance from a strong man; he has truly benefited greatly."

This was a very clever remark. Although even the martial arts practitioners present could see that the farmer was getting serious, they were still holding back some of their strength, afraid of crushing this prodigy. But they could simply take it as a piece of advice.

Everyone had to admit that if young disciples could undergo this tempering and grow, it would be extremely beneficial.

On the farmer's simple, rough face, an undisguised smile of admiration bloomed. He patted Hong Wending's shoulder heavily, the force solid but not hurtful. Hong Wending was swayed by the pat before regaining his balance.

"Good lad! Nice punches and kicks!"

Even as Jiang Wen blocked the farmer's path, his inner energy was still surging, and his voice was exceptionally loud, making the eardrums of those nearby ring.

"At such a young age, he possesses such refined strength, and even more remarkable is his composure and seasoned skill! His foundation in Southern Fist is solid, and he can control and unleash that unpredictable power at will. Every move he makes already exudes the demeanor of a master! Given time, he will surely achieve great things! Hahahaha!"

His hearty laughter, devoid of any pretense, was full of genuine appreciation for the younger generation, a stark contrast to his previous wooden demeanor on stage.

This sudden and enthusiastic praise was clearly a high recognition of his strength. Hong Wending was slightly taken aback and clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Senior is too kind."

The farmer's laughter subsided slightly, and he stared intently at Hong Wending, then glanced at Jiang Wen, who stood beside him with a serious and thoughtful expression, before loudly proclaiming, "I, an old man, never hide my identity when I travel the world. Young man, listen carefully, my surname is Gui, and my given name is Xinshu!"

The moment the three words "Gui Xinshu" were uttered, it was like pouring a ladle of cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar in front of Zhizhi Nunnery!

"Gui Xin Tree?! The 'Invincible Divine Fist' Gui Xin Tree?!"

"Master Gui of the Huashan Sect?! Isn't he... isn't he active in Jiangnan? Why is he here?"

"My God! No wonder his punches were so powerful, it was this senior!"

"The Divine Fist is invincible... He actually personally went down to test the juniors?"

No wonder there were exclamations and discussions all around. Gui Xinshu's reputation in the martial arts world was too great. The title of "Invincible Divine Fist" was by no means an empty name. He was a person who had truly reached the pinnacle of martial arts skills! Who would have thought that such a famous person would disguise himself as a peasant and appear at the Wuyi Mountain Martial Arts Conference, and even spar with Jiang Wen's disciple?

Gui Xinshu paid no attention to the noise around him and continued to say to Hong Wending, and also to everyone present: "I have come here for no other reason than to deliver a message from my junior brother Yuan Chengzhi, saying that Jiang Wen, the leader of the Wuyi Sect, is holding a grand martial arts gathering and has invited many heroes."

He sighed.

"Now that our sect leader is getting on in years and our junior brother is preoccupied with other important matters, he was worried that our sect might be disrespectful. Therefore, he specially asked me to come on his behalf to witness the grand event and to pay my respects to Sect Leader Jiang. This trip has certainly not been in vain; I have witnessed a promising talent!"

Jiang Wen stood aside, his mind clearing as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun—no wonder Gui Xinshu suddenly appeared in Wuyi Mountain, sneaking into the newbie village to beat up low-level players; it turned out that Yuan Chengzhi didn't want to continue showing his face, so he found a scapegoat of considerable importance...

Jiang Wen's lips curled into a knowing smile.

Judging from the timeline, the roads to Wuyi Mountain are rugged and difficult to travel. It would take at least half a month to get there from Jiangnan by boat or carriage. Yuan Chengzhi probably realized from the beginning that he intended to keep him here, which is why he wrote a letter to his senior brother early on.

His high-profile appearance with the Golden Snake Sword that day was a result of Yuan Ziyi's scheme, and he was forced to do so to promote the martial arts tournament and the Wuyi Sect. Now that Gui Xinshu has arrived, he naturally does not want to get involved in the noisy and complicated affairs of the martial arts world and become the focus of everyone's attention.

This... doesn't seem like such a bad thing?

Gui Xinshu is a straightforward and fierce man, and extremely protective of his own. In the martial arts world, he is respected more than just respected; he is feared. Having him represent the Huashan Sect carries considerable weight. Moreover, he is simple-minded, and if one can cultivate a good relationship with him, one might even gain some benefits…

Jiang Wen's mind raced, but his face remained composed. He solemnly clasped his hands in greeting to Gui Xinshu: "So it is Second Master Gui who has graced us with his presence. I, Jiang, have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me! Brother Yuan, you are too kind. It is truly an honor for our sect to have Second Master Gui in person! And for my disciple to receive guidance from Second Master Gui just now is an immense blessing for him!"

His words were both polite and sincere. This man had earned his reputation through fighting. Given Gui Xinshu's status and reputation in the Ming and Qing martial arts world, this would greatly enhance the reputation of Hong Wending and the Wuyi Sect. Jiang Wen even planned to have his other two disciples spar with him, hoping to trick him into giving them the title of the Three Ninjas.

Unfortunately, Gui Xinshu wasn't very well-read, and he waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Sect Leader Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. I've come here only to attend the ceremony on behalf of my junior brother, and also to take a look at the atmosphere of the martial arts world in the south. Your disciple is indeed quite remarkable!"

He glanced at Hong Wending again, his admiration undiminished.

Taking this opportunity, Jiang Wen said, "Second Master Gui, although our Wuyi Sect is humble, it is still filled with virtue. Our disciples are all carefully selected. Why don't you come and pay your respects to our senior?"

Jiang Wen then gestured for his disciples to step forward and pay their respects in turn. Gui Xinli stood in the upper position with an arrogant expression, indeed a strange character. His gaze swept over the disciples of the Wuyi Sect like lightning, his imposing aura still lingering, before finally landing on his eldest disciple, Lin Xiu.

Seeing his cold and silent expression (actually, he was frightened), Gui Xinshu suddenly exclaimed with delight, "I heard that you are the oldest disciple of the Wuyi Sect. Why are you hiding your skills here? Next time, I will definitely test your abilities myself!"

Lin Pingzhi was startled and was about to defend himself when Lin Zhennan, who had been watching from the side, suddenly stepped forward. He had just heard Gui Xinshu praise Hong Wending and now he was being asked to give his eldest son pointers, which made him feel very proud.

He suddenly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to Gui Xinshu, and said, "It is truly an honor for Second Master Gui to grace Wuyi with his presence! I, Lin, am unworthy, but I would like to offer some wine to enhance the festivities—"

Before he finished speaking, he pulled out a thick stack of items from his pocket and presented one to Gui Xinshu: "Second Master Gui, this is a silver note from my Fuwei Escort Agency, worth five hundred taels. It can be exchanged at any branch of the agency! This is just a small token of our appreciation for the Huashan Sect's long journey!"

Then, he took out a smaller paper note and began to move back and forth among the prominent figures of various factions, introducing himself to everyone: "I am Lin Zhennan, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of Fuwei Escort Agency. This is a fifty-tael silver note... Well, consider it a small gift. Why should the gang leader (master) say anything more?"

Not only the prominent figures, but also members of various sects who came forward to offer their congratulations each received five taels of tea money. For a moment, the whole place was filled with joy and excitement. Jiang Wen couldn't help but marvel at the Lin family's unique skill, which was indeed "a single throw of the universe"...

Before and after this series of events, it was already noon. Jiang Wen felt that Gui Xinshu was looking him up and down, as if he wanted to have a friendly competition, but he didn't know how to start the conversation.

But at that moment, Jiang Wen and Gui Xinshu, as if on a whim, both looked towards the tightly closed gate of Zhizhi Nunnery, which seemed to isolate them from the hustle and bustle of the world. A loud, clear shout pierced through the mountain mist and reached the nunnery:

"Master Feng Daode of the Wudang Sect, accompanied by Master Dongxuanzi of the Xiandu Sect, has come to attend the meeting!"

Before the words were even finished, the mountain breeze seemed to freeze for a moment… (End of Chapter)