Chapter 241
Zhang Sanfeng has been famous for more than 70 years, and anyone who has fought with him or seen him fight is long dead.
Even his seven disciples only know that their master’s martial arts skills are unfathomable, and if you ask them how unfathomable, they would be at a loss for words.
Otherwise, why did the disciples scramble to go forward when the Three Divine Monks challenged them before?
It was because they were afraid that something would happen if their master took action.
Even the Seven Heroes of Wudang were like this, let alone the rest?
Therefore, many masters in the martial arts world, after reaching the pinnacle of their martial arts training, invariably have the thought:
With my abilities, I’m only slightly inferior to Zhang Zhenren of Wudang. Well, his power may be deeper, but if it comes down to life and death, I have the advantage of youth, and it’s hard to say who will win…
Shaolin Sankong, Emei Miejie, and even Shi Feilong and many others all had similar thoughts to a greater or lesser extent.
Even today.
I thought I was going to see a great battle between Zhang Zhenren and the Three Divine Monks, but now that I’ve seen it, I really don’t know how to describe it as a 鈥渂attle鈥�.
The Three Divine Monks were just good enough to serve as three targets for Zhang Zhenren’s top-notch martial arts.
Everyone finally saw clearly.
It turns out that the fine line between us is the fine line between heaven and earth…
I’ve never heard of anyone who practices martial arts to the point of flying in the sky.
I’m convinced.
So Zhang Sanfeng said he would treat everyone to a bowl of noodles and go home. Hundreds of heroes all showed their kind, generous, contented smiles: 鈥淥h, thank you, Zhang Zhenren, for your trouble!鈥�
As for the bloodshed at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, didn’t someone say it was the work of the Condor Gang?
And don’t talk about husband and wife, either. Zhang Cui Shan didn’t even know Ye Qingqing at the time, and pre-marital debts belong to each person.
As for Xie Qian, who is Xie Qian?
The Dragon-Slaughtering Sword, what Dragon-Slaughtering Sword?
And commanding the world to obey? Let me ask you, can you fly if you have the Dragon-Slaughtering Sword?
At this moment, all the heroes in the hall had clear thoughts.
This is exactly what happened: the dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and there was laughter and conversation in the hall.
The Wudang Sect’s firework Daoist became the busiest person at this time, cooking noodles with a whistling sound.
In fact, there was not enough noodles in the kitchen.
Fortunately, many of the guests had bought some birthday noodles in the town below, so they were considered to be bringing their own food, and Wudang Mountain would pay for the firewood.
The third generation of Wudang disciples mobilized, led by Song Shuming, and pulled up as much of the vegetables they had grown in their own gardens as they could, cutting and chopping them up, cooking and cooking, to spread on top of the noodles, so that it didn’t seem so monotonous.
As for the meat and oil that Zhang Zhenren had been thinking about, where was there enough to go around for so many people?
They could only look at other people’s dishes. Those famous heroes and gang leaders had a layer of fragrant oil floating on their noodles. Their disciples and gang members had to eat plain noodles, which were good for clearing the intestines and relieving greasy food.
The Seven Heroes of Wudang personally helped to pass out the bowls and deliver the noodles, apologizing over and over, 鈥淲e’ve been so rude, so rude.鈥�
The heroes sincerely said, 鈥淲e’re sorry, we’re so grateful for your hospitality.鈥�
The three Shaolin monks did not leave either. The three of them, who were 200 years old, sat on the chairs with their knees together, shoulders touching, hunched over, eyes dull and vacant.
Mo Shenggu brought the noodles, and the three of them took them and ate. As they ate, their dull eyes twitched 鈥�
They thought, 鈥淚t’s fine that Wudangshan’s martial arts are powerful, but how come the noodles also taste better than ours at Shaolin?鈥�
After a lively meal, the Divine Boxing School and the other gangs took their leave first, followed by Xia Dou, Tan Wudi, the Hejian Twins, and the others.
Huashan, Kongtong, and Kunlun exchanged a few words and left separately.
Finally, the three Shaolin monks, seeing that everyone had left, suddenly realized what was going on. They got up, bowed deeply, and led their nine disciples, walking like zombies, down Wudang Mountain.
Shi Feilong was about to resign as well, but Zhang Sanfeng stopped him, smiling, 鈥淓veryone who doesn’t matter has left, and we’re all that’s left. Where would you like to go without properly drinking a bowl of the old master’s birthday wine?鈥�
Shi Feilong was so excited that his face turned red, and the passing-on-skills and law enforcement elders were also beaming. The disciples of the Beggar Sect who had come with them all straightened their backs, deeply proud to be family with Wudang.
At that moment, Zhang Songxi, Zhang Cui Shan, Yin Liheng, and Mo Shenggu, along with ten disciples, galloped down the mountain to buy meat and wine.
That night, the Wudang, Emei, Beggar, and Golden Whip schools gathered together to celebrate Zhang Sanfeng’s birthday with cheers and drinks.
When the wine was at its best, someone inevitably asked Zhang Sanfeng how he could fly on land. Zhang Sanfeng took advantage of the buzz to talk and draw, expounding on the supreme truth of martial arts. Everyone, from Zi Miejue to Shi Feilong, felt that they had gained a lot.
The next day, Shi Feilong said goodbye, but was stopped by Zhang Sanfeng, who said to him, 鈥淢y disciple is getting married. Master Shi, have a drink of wedding wine before you go.鈥�
Three days later, Zhang Hong was once again wounded on Wudang Mountain. Six disciples, Yin Liheng, married Ji Xiaorong, and eight disciples, Hu Daniu, married Wang Nangu. It was truly a case of good things coming in twos. This time, there were no evil guests at the door, and everyone laughed and drank, happy beyond measure.
On the 14th of April, the Beggar Sect and the Golden Whip Sect joined forces and went down the mountain.
On the 18th of April, Zhang Sanfeng spent several days teaching Taijiquan to Ye Guhong and then went back into seclusion.
Although Ye Guhong was meant to return to Emei to help eliminate the disaster, he was persuaded by Ye Guhong to stay behind. Tang Gong and Zhou Zhixing were allowed to return to their master’s school first, along with a group of female disciples and the Jiangbei Eight Eccentrics.
Before leaving, Ye Guhong talked with Zhu Chongba and the others for half the night, instructing them on what to do.
In July, Zhang Sanfeng left his retreat and bestowed the Nine Yang Kung he had comprehended upon Ye Guhong, Hu Daniu and Zhang Qubing. He then closed his retreat again to formally comprehend the innate Tai Chi Nine Yin and Yang Divine Kung.
Zhang Sanfeng created the Nine Yang Kung based on the inherited kung fu of Wudang and Emei, and renamed it the Nine Yang Xuan Kung to show the difference from the original.
Ye Guhong immediately set about practising the Nine Yang Mysterious Skill. After carefully studying it, he realised that it was much stronger than the original Emei Nine Yang Skill, and the reasoning behind it was clear. It also lowered the talent requirements for practitioners, which made him very happy.
While practising, Ye Guhong taught Hu Daniu and Zhang Qubing what he had learned, and their health gradually improved as a result.
The summer turned to winter, and the days and months flew by.
Before long, a year had passed. Hu Daniu and Zhang Qubing had both made some progress in practising the Jiu Yang Xuan Gong. Coupled with Hu Daniu’s constant use of acupuncture and medicine, all the cold poison in their bodies had been extracted.
It was now the seventh month of the Zhizheng period (1347).
On the 15th of the seventh month, Zhang Cui Shan, longing for his beloved wife, informed his eldest brother and, taking his son, set off to find Ye Qingqing in the Divine Eagle Sect.
Song Yuanqiao was afraid that he would be ambushed on the way, so he asked Zhang Songxi and Mo Shenggu to accompany him.
After Zhang Qubing left, Ye Guhong also felt relieved. The next day, he bid farewell to Song Yuanqiao, Yu Lianzhou and the others, and went down the Wudang Mountains with his master, Mie Jie.
After descending the mountains, the two of them walked at a leisurely pace, heading all the way to the Han River.
While walking, Mie Jie laughed and said, 鈥淵ou should fulfill your responsibilities as a master. You have been delayed at Wudang Mountain for more than a year, and you don’t care that our school has no leader and doesn’t know what chaos it is in.鈥�
At this time, Ye Kuhong was already 18 years old, and his figure was becoming more upright and tall. He said with a smile, 鈥淪enior sister Jingxuan is mature and prudent, brother Tang is thoughtful, and Brother Zhou is in charge, so I don’t think there will be any problems. Senior sisters Jin and Wei have sent several letters, saying that everything is fine, haven’t they?鈥�
Mie Jie said, 鈥淥kay, you’ve grown up, so you can make the decisions. After this major event, I’ll be done with all the grudges and I won’t bother going back down the mountain. I’ll just stay at home and practice martial arts and teach the disciples.鈥�
She carried a long bundle on her back, but inside was the sect’s sword, the Heavenly Support. She had written a special letter during the New Year’s holiday asking Tang Gong and the others to bring it to her, for what she called her 鈥渕ajor event.鈥�
The two of them walked for more than ten li, and when they saw the Han River in the distance, suddenly a young and handsome monk walked over from the pier.
As the three of them approached, the monk put his palms together in a gesture of respect and said respectfully, 鈥淭his master, this benefactor, I am in your presence. This is the first time I have set foot here. May I ask if you are going to Wudang Mountain, but is this the road to go?鈥�
Mie Jie looked at the monk and saw that he was only in his early twenties, but his breathing was so long and slow that it was almost inaudible. He couldn’t help but feel a little shocked, and thought to himself: This young monk is only a few years older than my son, Gu Hong, but how is it that his internal strength is so high? Nowadays, it is generally acknowledged that my son, Gu Hong, is the best in his generation, but if we just talk about internal strength, this young monk may not be that much better.
Feeling a little upset, he said with a stern face, 鈥淲here are you from, and what business do you have going to Wudang?鈥�
Although Mie Jie spoke impolitely, the monk did not look displeased. He replied calmly, 鈥淚 am a Shaolin disciple, my Dharma name is Hongye. The reason I want to go to Wudang is because I am a little confused about martial arts. I have thought about it over and over again but I still can’t understand it, so I am anxious and restless. Recently, I heard that Wudang Zhang Zhenren has combined martial arts with Taoism and is ranked among the immortals, so I want to come and seek his advice.鈥�
Mie Jie frowned and said, 鈥淪haolin Temple has no red-letter generation, so who are you? How dare you play tricks in front of a poor nun?鈥�
The monk once again folded his hands: 鈥淎mitabha, how dare I lie? I am a disciple of the Shaolin Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, and the ranking system I was taught is different from that of the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song.鈥�
Mie Jie was surprised: 鈥淪outhern Shaolin? Southern Shaolin Temple has no interest in worldly affairs, and few of its disciples travel around the world. You are an exception. But since you are a Shaolin disciple and have doubts about martial arts, why don’t you go to Mount Song to ask your own predecessors?鈥�
The monk was silent for a moment, his expression showing some helplessness: 鈥淪haolin Temple on Songshan Mountain was conferred by the Mongols, and our Fujian disciples don’t quite approve of it. Besides…not to brag, but there are also several highly skilled masters in the lower Shaolin Temple in Fujian, and they also couldn’t answer my confusion, so Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain is probably also difficult.鈥�
After hearing this, Mie Jie’s curiosity was piqued.