Forging Hall

Two large, bright lanterns hung at the entrance of Duanfeng Hall, their light shining so brightly that the two golden "Longevity" characters on them gleamed dazzlingly. A constant stream of people came to offer their birthday wishes, bustling in and out of the hall.
Today was the 60th birthday of Duan Songqiao, the patriarch of Duanfeng Hall. Duanfeng Hall was renowned throughout the martial arts world, not only because Duan Songqiao's Sixty-Four Styles of Chaotic Cloak Blade Technique ranked among the top ten in the martial arts sword manual, but also because its "Duanfeng" brand knives were sold throughout thirteen provinces, and even exported to Southeast Asia, where they rivaled Burmese knives, earning the reputation of being the premier knife manufacturer in the country. Duan Songqiao himself was known for his amiable nature; despite his high martial arts skills, he never abused his power. He had done numerous repairs to bridges and roads, and during years of famine, he would open his granaries to provide relief. While not exactly a benevolent figure, he enjoyed a very good reputation in the local community. When down-on-his-luck men from the martial arts world came seeking help, Duan Songqiao would always give them four or five taels of silver as a token of respect, out of consideration for his fellow martial artists. Therefore, regardless of whether they were from the righteous or the underworld,
everyone spoke highly of Duan Songqiao. Duan Songqiao's eldest disciple, Xu Jingtang, greeted the guests at the door. Duan Songqiao, a seasoned veteran of the martial arts world, knew that face was more important than substance. Having more friends meant having more options, so he had made many friends from all over the country, not just those from the righteous path. These friends had come to celebrate his birthday, which was a sign of respect, but they weren't necessarily friends
. He couldn't afford to cause any trouble, so he had instructed Xu Jingtang to be courteous to everyone, even beggars. Among the disciples of the Forging Peak Hall, Xu Jingtang was the most tactful and articulate, making him the most suitable person to receive guests. Xu Jingtang had been busy all day, and there were about a hundred people who had come. He was bowing and scraping for so long that his back was aching. His junior apprentice, Zhuo Xing, who was helping him, however, was very excited and showed no signs of fatigue. Duan Songqiao had friends in both the legitimate and underworld circles, and many of the people who came to celebrate his birthday were well-known figures in the martial arts world. Zhuo Xing, being young, was amazed to see so many renowned swordsmen and knife-wielders before him.
Xu Jingtang welcomed several senior figures inside, and seeing that no one else was coming, he decided to sit down and rest. He instructed his junior apprentice, Zhuo Xing, to stand guard at the door, and then returned to his room to have some tea to relax. Duan
Songqiao's family was wealthy and powerful, and his Forging Peak Hall occupied a vast area, far more luxurious than the residences of ordinary gentry and wealthy people.
Today, the Forging Peak Hall is holding a grand birthday banquet. Several halls in the front hall have already been opened for the feast. As Xu Jingtang walked through, he saw many wealthy guests already flushed from drinking. The tables were laden with cups and plates, and the wine and meat were plentiful—a truly lively scene.
Having followed his master for a long time, Xu Jingtang knew many heroes of the martial world. He was also quite shrewd. As he walked among the heroes, he suddenly felt something was amiss. It seemed that several of his master's close friends were missing from the banquet.
Among them were three female warriors: Zhou Chunyan, the heroine of Jingxiang; Xu Fengjiao, the swift-blade flying phoenix; and Li Yanhong, the jade maiden of Hainan.
These three women were quite famous in the martial world, not because their martial arts skills were particularly outstanding, but because they had good connections on the ground. Both government officials and bigwigs in the bandit world gave them some face. Moreover, these three women were beautiful and graceful; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were dazzlingly beautiful. With so many people and so much noise, he couldn't be afraid that something might go wrong.
Xu Jingtang felt uneasy and thought it best to inform his master. His master was entertaining seniors from Wudang and Shaolin in the inner courtyard's painting studio; perhaps he had invited these three female warriors as well.
Thinking this, he continued walking towards the inner courtyard gate. Two junior brothers were guarding the entrance, and they quickly bowed to their senior brother.
His master's painting studio was in a rather large, independent courtyard, where his master had cultivated himself in recent years. He had heard it was luxuriously furnished, spacious, and elegantly situated, surrounded by flowers and trees—a stark contrast to the bustling area outside, truly a suitable place to entertain distinguished guests. Xu Jingtang, however, had only ever been inside the courtyard. Reaching the gate, he paused, surprised to see two female disciples of his master's wife standing guard.
These two junior sisters were beautiful, and although he rarely saw them, he recognized them. Xu Jingtang knew they were agile and had indeed learned a great deal from his master's wife. However, it was strange that his master was being so cautious on such a joyous occasion, even having guards stationed at the gate while entertaining guests. He stepped forward, but was stopped by his two junior sisters, who smiled and said, "Senior Brother, Master and Mistress are entertaining guests inside. They instructed that no one should disturb them. Please go back, Senior Brother."
Xu Jingtang glanced at the two pretty junior sisters, nodded, and went back. Instead of going to the front courtyard to greet the guests, he turned a corner, used his hands and feet to propel himself over the high wall in two or three leaps, and quietly made his way to the back wall of the studio.
There was a sliding door with a mechanism in the back wall. He opened the mechanism, pushed the door open, and entered a hidden space. The mechanism, made of steel, was thickly coated with grease, making it completely silent. It opened into a tiny secret room, and through a small sliding window was a secret peephole into the inner room. "If Mistress hadn't told me about this mechanism, I probably would have missed many secret sights," Xu Jingtang thought smugly.
As soon as he opened the secret peephole, he heard a series of wanton, sweet moans escaping from within. Looking through the intricately designed opening, Xu Jingtang took a deep breath with excitement. In the warm, spring-like studio, there were three folding chairs and several benches on one side, and on the other side, several junior female students from the inner courtyard stood in a row, wearing various colored tube tops in bright red, emerald green, peach red, and light red. Some of these junior female students were familiar to him, while others were completely unfamiliar to him, but each of them was more beautiful and vibrant than the two junior female students guarding the gate. Their faces were rosy and tender, and each of them had her hair tied up in two high buns with her black hair hanging down to her temples. Looking around, there was a large expanse of pink and radiant beauty, with exquisitely shaped bodies.
The high, snowy breasts, partially concealed by a brightly colored bodice, formed a row of perilous peaks, captivating the eye and drawing the gaze. Combined with her fair, delicate neck, flowing smoothly down her beautiful shoulders, and most strikingly, her lower body was completely naked. Beneath the vibrant bodice lay a glimpse of her fair, slender abdomen, and the dark mounds of her pubic hair, which overshadowed her slender waists, long legs, and small, delicate feet adorned with bright red embroidered shoes. Xu Jingtang stared intently at the waists, abdomens, and legs of these beautiful junior sisters for a long while before turning his gaze to where they were all staring. "
Zhou Chunyan, the Heroine of Jingxiang!" Xu Jingtang first saw this petite female knight-errant. After seeing her for the first time, Xu Jingtang exclaimed that she truly lived up to her name, Chunyan. Her delicate face was pretty with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, her skin was fair and delicate, her big eyes were charming and captivating, and her small lips were red and slightly upturned, full of spring. Her big eyes seemed innocent and naive, but her perky breasts were bold and high. The face of a beautiful young girl had the breasts of a full-figured young woman. No wonder she was called the number one female knight-errant by the heroes of Jingxiang.
The beautiful female warrior, Chunyan, sat around a large round table with her hair disheveled, her brows furrowed. Her fair face was flushed red, quite attractive, and her small, red lips were bitten tightly by her teeth, a look of pain on her face. This was probably because her two bare, white, and large breasts were being roughly grasped by a pair of large hands. Thick fingers were vigorously kneading and rubbing the obviously bouncy and smooth peaks of her breasts, kneading and squeezing the two beautiful, snow-white breast hemispheres in countless ways, without any tenderness. Xu Jingtang had a keen eye and greedily watched as the red, erect nipples were played with until they stood erect. The large, thick-skinned hands on the undulating breasts were clearly those of skilled martial artists trained in external martial arts. Looking further back, Xu Jingtang was quite surprised. The arm was bulging with muscles, and the owner of the arm was completely naked, his body covered in bronze muscles. These muscles were not like those of a young man who had just started practicing martial arts, but rather flat and well-defined. This man was bald, with a tuft of white beard under his chin. It was none other than Master Baishen, a high-ranking monk from Shaolin.
Xu Jingtang was greatly shocked. Although he was somewhat prepared, he was still stunned. Looking at Master Baishen, his lower body was also naked. He sat steadily on the cushion of the square chair, his muscular thighs covered with thick leg hair. On his strong waist sat the naked and beautiful body of Zhou Chunyan, a female knight from Jingxiang. Judging from the position of her round, white buttocks between the master's legs, it was estimated that the monk's penis was inside Chunyan's body, but he did not move. Instead, his two rough hands were wantonly playing with her two smooth, white, jade-like breasts.
Master Baishen smiled as he looked at the fair-skinned beauty in his arms. Zhou Chunyan, the female knight-errant from Jingxiang, leaned her naked body against the monk's chest, her small hands gripping his thighs tightly. Her two smooth, pink legs were wrapped around Master Baishen's hairy calves, her delicate feet pressing hard against his strong calves. She seemed to be in pain, yet also in pleasure, as she glanced at the large round table beside them.
A person in an apricot-yellow Taoist robe stood beside the large round table, obscuring one corner and preventing Xu Jingtang from seeing what was happening on the table. He could only see a pale, pinkish-white body moving about. Without a doubt, this elegant Taoist must be Ye Lingsu from Wudang. Ye Lingsu was rumored to be a master of swordsmanship, but Taoist sexual techniques were also profound and complex; how could Ye Lingsu not know a thing or two? He just didn't know why she was so composed, standing impeccably dressed by the table at this moment. Was she perhaps drinking?
Xu Jingtang moved lightly to another small secret room, slowly sliding open the peephole. He was immediately met with a dazzling display of beauty. On the large round table lay two naked, exquisitely beautiful bodies: one with her pink legs spread wide, the other with her round, white buttocks raised high. Both women had curvaceous figures and smooth, supple skin, looking at them at first glance like two plump white sheep laid out before them.
Xu Jingtang had long heard that the Hainan Jade Maiden, Li Yanhong, was a woman of the Yi ethnic group, known for her straightforward and bold nature. Seeing this heroine's naked body now, he finally believed in the wild and alluring nature of Yi women.
Li Yanhong's breasts weren't particularly large, but she possessed astonishing elasticity and beautiful, healthy feminine curves. A long, winding trail of emerald green leaves and red peach blossoms was tattooed on her soft, pink neck and shoulders, making her fair skin appear even more alluring and enchanting. Two long, slender, pale white legs and the graceful lines between her waist and abdomen, the soft, supple skin glistening with moisture—just looking at them was enough to make one's mouth water, arousing a strong desire to caress, pinch, lick, and kiss them. Especially the pair of long, delicate, and beautiful legs below her wasp waist and hips, plump and snow-white, stunningly beautiful. How smooth and tender they would be to hold in one's arms, in one's hands, or on one's shoulders, how enchanting and alluring they would be.
This Yi woman spread her two snow-white, plump thighs wide apart, her long, pink legs stretching straight towards the Taoist standing by the table. Ye Lingsu of Wudang was only wearing a Taoist robe on the outside, her body completely naked underneath. These two extremely beautiful pink legs slipped under his armpits, her toes disappearing into his robe, gently poking at him.
The old Taoist stroked the knees of the snow-white legs offered to him with both hands, his face flushed with a radiant smile. The Taoist priest was extremely well-preserved, with skin and a physique as fair and robust as a young man's. However, the moment Li Yanhong's two snow-white legs were inserted, the skin on his chest and hands immediately appeared less fair and smooth than Li Yanhong's two plump legs. Fortunately, the old Taoist's crotch was also quite impressive, with a thick, long, black penis standing erect. The glans was particularly large, and whether it was stimulated by the beautiful scenery before him or due to his cultivation, the trembling, purplish-black glans swayed, aiming at the dark, oily pubic hair of the female knight in front of him, ready to begin the battle.
Li Yanhong bent her legs, spreading her two snow-white, plump thighs wide apart. Her two white, lotus-root-like arms also reached towards her genitals. Her small hands spread apart, revealing her thick, butterfly-wing-like labia majora. Her beautiful face, flushed with lust and brimming with desire, was flushed. She raised her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, opened her watery phoenix eyes wide, and stared silently at Ye Lingsu's thick, hard penis, especially at the large glans. Her bright red tongue licked her pale red lips... The moans filling the room came from Xu Fengjiao, the swift-bladed Phoenix, who was beside Li Yanhong. Xu Fengjiao from the North was said to be skilled in using a pair of broad-bladed peach blossom knives. Her knife skills were extremely fast and ruthless. She was a woman whose movements were as swift as the wind.
At this moment, what Xu Jingtang saw through his voyeuristic eyes was first and foremost a pair of fair, tender, full, and unrestrained breasts. These jade-like breasts were round and firm, bouncing on Xu Fengjiao's chest like two large white rabbits. At a glance, one could tell that the areolas of her breasts were smoother and more supple than silk, with two dark red nipples that were swollen and throbbing, blatantly tempting a man's hands to pounce on them and knead them vigorously. If one were to grasp them in one's hands, one would surely be filled with the warm, fragrant, and soft pleasure of smooth, supple jade... The Jingxiang heroine Zhou Chunyan's youthful face and large breasts were already considered the best in the world, but who knew that Xu Fengjiao's breasts were even more unrestrained and round than Zhou Chunyan's. Their size was truly astonishing. If Xu Fengjiao were not a northern woman with an exceptionally tall and full figure, it is feared that an ordinary woman would not be able to withstand such a burden.
Xu Fengjiao knelt obediently on a large round table covered with a thick carpet, her soft, white waist bent deeply, revealing her large, round, white buttocks, which were incredibly striking. The two plump, snow-white buttocks were sandwiched between a bright red cleft, revealing a patch of dark pubic hair. The undulating curves and contrasting colors made this busty, voluptuous woman even more alluring.
Xu Fengjiao pulled her long, black hair up high, revealing her long, white neck. Her charming and beautiful face rose and fell repeatedly. One arm supported her body, while the other reached down to her crotch, vigorously stroking herself. Her full, moist, bright red lips parted as she cried out joyfully, her high-pitched moans and gasps unrestrained, with soft, seductive endings, a mix of soft moans and gasps. Her round, white buttocks swayed wildly in the air, a thin stream of clear liquid dripping from between her legs.
It was a Burmese bell, Xu Jingtang knew in his heart. If there wasn't a man's penis thrusting vigorously into this woman's private parts, then there must be a Burmese bell smeared with aphrodisiac glue inserted into Xu Fengjiao's body, vibrating and shaking. No wonder this seductive and wanton Xu Fengjiao was shaking her plump buttocks so vigorously. The more she shook, the more the Burmese bell smeared with aphrodisiac glue vibrated, trembling and shaking inside her private parts, making the woman feel comfortable and wanton, but it was far from satisfying the thirst of a man's thick penis thrusting in. However, just looking at her wanton appearance, she was no ordinary person. She was indeed a woman like the wind.
"Daoist Master, haven't you made your choice yet? Will you do this woman with unparalleled breasts, Fengjiao, or that seductive and charming Yan Hong'er?"
As soon as Xu Jingtang heard the loud voice, he knew it was his master. He turned his eyes to look at the source of the voice and saw his master sitting naked on a meditation bed, with a naked woman wearing a thin red gauze dress squatting between his legs, bowing her head and playing the flute for him. The woman's waist was slightly thick, but her plump, round buttocks and snow-white long legs, revealed when she squatted down, were in no way inferior to the snow-white buttocks and ample hips of Xu Fengjiao, the Flying Phoenix. Just from her profile, Xu Jingtang knew that this was his mature and beautiful master's wife.
"How difficult it is! Look at Yan Hong's vulva, its overlapping shape like a butterfly spreading its wings, it is a famous vaginal instrument, and inserting it will be exceptionally pleasurable. But that heroine Fengjiao is overflowing with spring water, her big buttocks are so round, they are truly good vessels for my Taoist cultivation."
Wudang Ye Lingsu's eyes shone, and a glistening liquid secreted from the head of his large penis, but he couldn't decide which one to insert first.
Li Yanhong, the proud and aloof woman from Hainan, upon hearing this, slapped the swaying, pert buttocks of the swift-sword-wielding Fei Huang beside her, then nimbly sat up, her two snow-white thighs swinging, revealing her naked body. She walked to Duan Songqiao, the dignified Duan Fengtang, on the couch, gently pushed aside Duan's wife who was bowing her head to play the flute, grabbed Duan Songqiao's penis, and with a soft moan, sat on top of him. Her snow-white, smooth thighs spread wide, her seductive and thirsty posture beautifully displaying her two plump legs and the graceful curves of her waist and back.
Xu Jingtang glanced over and realized that his master's penis was no less than that of the Wudang Taoist, even longer, though the glans was slightly pointed, and the pubic hair was very thick, dark like a forest.
The wanton Li Yanhong, upon sitting on the penis, let out a wanton cry, a sound that was both a long sigh and a painful groan. She then reached under her waist, spreading her butterfly-shaped vulva apart, and began to thrust up and down violently. For a moment, the high-pitched, sweet moans of the two beautiful women echoed in the room; one was still somewhat clear and sweet, while the other was somewhat hoarse and wanton.
Ye Lingsu had long since realized that the wanton Li Yanhong liked his thick, long penis. He had planned to tease her a little before thrusting in and out, then, after a hundred or so thrusts, insert it into Xu Fengjiao's alluring, plump buttocks to savor. After having his way with the two exquisite women, he would then go and freely pluck the bounty of Duan Songqiao's female disciples. Who knew that Li Yanhong would escape? Enraged, he grabbed Xu Fengjiao's swaying, full, round buttocks and thrust his penis forcefully into her thick labia.
Xu Fengjiao, enjoying herself alone, had already aroused herself to the point of overflowing lustful fluids. Then, feeling a thick, hard spear thrust into her, she was overjoyed and leaned back to meet it. Her battle-hardened orifice moved with ease, swallowing the Taoist's thick, hard spear completely. Feeling full and pleasurable, she swayed her lithe waist, and before the Taoist could even thrust, she began to move herself back and forth. Her full, fiery red lips exhaled a passionate flow, and her moans and sighs rose and fell more dramatically.
While the two couples were indulging in their pleasure, Xu Jingtang was thinking about his master's wife. He saw her silently walk from the meditation bed to a couch and lean against it. Beneath a thin veil, her voluptuous, mature body rippled with graceful steps. She raised her equally long, white, tender thighs, her eyes fixed on the muscular Master Baishen.
Seeing that both the Taoist priest and his master were engaged in battle, Master Baishen laughed heartily, stood up from his chair, and gently lifted the delicate beauty in his arms, her hips swaying. Her large, white breasts, as beautiful as a young girl's, were covered in large red handprints.
Master Baishen didn't bother to find a bed; instead, he stepped back a few paces and squatted into a horse stance, lifting the Jingxiang heroine Zhou Chunyan upwards. With a loud "pop," a thick, hot, red phallus was withdrawn from Zhou Chunyan's lower body. This phallus was as thick and long as a mortar and pestle used in pharmacies, its glans large and round like a mushroom, glistening with heat. As soon as it was pulled out, Zhou Chunyan opened her bright red lips and cried out "Ah, Oh!" twice, shaking her long black hair and tightly gripping the monk's arm, beads of sweat appearing on her small, pink nose. It's truly baffling how such a thick, long penis could be completely swallowed up by the petite and beautiful Zhou Chunyan's tender orifice.
Master Baishen unleashed his internal and external strength, effortlessly supporting the petite beauty's thighs with one hand while gripping her delicate, large breasts with the other. His massive penis, without needing to be aimed, expertly and forcefully thrust its hard glans into Zhou Chunyan's private parts beneath her pink buttocks. Using his waist and legs, he pushed his penis deep into the tender orifice of this beautiful, youthful heroine.
After only a couple of thrusts, the penis gleamed and was covered in slippery, moist fluid. With each thrust, Zhou Chunyan in his arms gritted her teeth, opened her cherry-red lips, her little tongue trembling, and gripped the monk's thick arm, crying out in a charming and melodious voice. It wasn't a cry of pain, but rather a series of cries of pleasure as her fair and tender face flushed red. "So comfortable, ah, big monk, ah ah, so comfortable, a little lighter, oh oh, harder, ah, ah, ah, you're killing me, ah, hmph, hmph, big monk..." Her two snow-white and delicate legs swung up and down in the air, her little toes, smeared with bright red balsam juice, curled up and down, her tender little feet constantly hooking back and forth.
Xu Jingtang withdrew his gaze, composed himself, his face flushed and his head spinning. He heard his master's voice saying, "Girls, stop looking, surround the two masters and entertain them, serve them well."
Turning back to the room, he saw a group of beautiful junior sisters dressed in brightly colored bodices surrounding Master Lingsu and Master Baishen. They leaned against the men who were diligently practicing, some stroking their chests, others resting against their backs, offering their fragrant lips, soft breasts, and fair faces. Some even shamelessly pushed his buttocks and licked his thighs, saying things like, "Master's cock is so big!"
and "Master is so amazing!" The seductive voices, along with the lewd moans and the "slap slap" sounds of flesh colliding, made the studio seem more like a place for "Spring in Full Bloom."
Xu Jingtang was filled with jealousy and resentment, his burning lust unfulfilled. Turning his head, he saw his beautiful teacher's wife leaning against the couch, only to realize that her alluring, watery eyes were also looking at him through the peephole. Their eyes met, and although he knew his teacher's wife couldn't see him, Xu Jingtang's large penis throbbed. Looking at the alluring, mature woman's body beneath the thin gauze, the dark, captivating forest at the base of her high, white thighs, and her long, white legs and delicate feet clad in red satin embroidered shoes, Xu Jingtang quietly slipped through the hidden window and left the secret room.
Xu Jingtang had just calmed himself and returned to the main gate when he heard the rapid sound of hooves. The horses were incredibly fast; what seemed like a mile away was now before they reached the Forging Blade.
There were five people there. They were all riding white horses, each one exceptionally fine, without a single stray hair—rare and excellent steeds. Xu Jingtang and Zhuo Xing stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I am Xu Jingtang of the Forging Peak Hall, welcoming you all. May I ask if you heroes have come to celebrate my master's birthday?"
The man who dismounted was a short, dark-skinned man, probably only in his early thirties, with a pockmarked face. He was unattractive, but extremely agile, leaping off his horse as if weightless. The man merely snorted, and a long-faced man beside him said, "It's Brother Xu. Please inform Elder Duan that the young master of the Shi Family Horse Ranch in Guanzhong has come to offer his birthday greetings." The Shi Family Horse Ranch in Guanzhong
, along with the Forging Peak Hall, was known as "Fast Horse and Steel Knife." The Forging Peak Hall produced knives, and the Horse Ranch produced horses; both were renowned. Xu Jingtang had heard many stories of江湖 figures and knew that the young master of the Shi Family Horse Ranch was a hero of the younger generation, but he hadn't expected him to be so arrogant. He was very composed and not annoyed at all. He smiled and said, "Young Master Shi has come a long way and must be tired. Please come in and have a drink. Ah Xing, quickly go and inform Master."
Zhuo Xing agreed and turned to walk inside. Young Master Shi thought that Duan Songqiao would definitely come out to greet him because of his status. However, he was surprised to find that only a junior disciple came in to announce his arrival. His face immediately darkened. Xu Jingtang was very perceptive and quickly came over and said, "Young Master Shi, Master Bai Shen of Shaolin and Master Ye of Wudang came together just now. My master sat down with them. If he heard that Young Master Shi has also come, he would be very happy."
The current ranking of Shaolin is "Bai Ren Wu Xu". Although Bai Shen is not very famous in the martial arts world, he is a high monk of the "Bai" generation. As for the Ye Daoist of Wudang, there is only Ye Lingsu, whose ranking is only below the current Wudang Sect Leader Yu Lingxiu.
No matter how arrogant Young Master Shi is, he should know that he is no match for these two. Hearing Xu Jingtang's words, he sighed and said, "Wang Shengjiu, let's go."
Watching them go inside, a faint smile appeared on Xu Jingtang's lips.
Just then, a horse's neigh suddenly came from the road. The young master of the Shi family turned sharply at the sound and exclaimed, "What a fine horse!"
The horses of the Shi family's horse farm were renowned throughout the land, and the young master's party had ridden only the finest steeds, but the horses of the newcomers seemed even more magnificent. In the twilight, only the sound of hooves could be heard, rapid yet orderly, but no one could be seen. As everyone was wondering, a flash of light appeared before their eyes, and a tall, black horse had arrived in front of the Forging Hall. This horse was as black as charcoal, blending into the twilight and thus invisible.
Xu Jingtang thought to himself, "I wonder which hero has arrived this time. My master's social circle is truly vast." He stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and was about to exchange a few pleasantries when he saw the person who jumped off the horse, and he was taken aback.
This person was riding such a magnificent steed; he had originally assumed it must be a chivalrous wanderer, but to his surprise, the person who dismounted was a young monk. This monk wore a blue robe and had a very handsome and refined appearance, but he carried a long cloth bag on his back, more than five feet long, thin and long like a carrying pole.
Young Master Shi was used to seeing fine horses, and upon seeing this black horse, he immediately recognized it as a rare Ferghana breed. Ferghana horses originated in the Western Regions, and it is said that they were created by the locals by introducing celestial horses into their domesticated horses. They were exceptionally fine and powerful, and it was only during Emperor Wu of Han's expedition to Ferghana that the Ferghana horses were introduced to the Central Plains. Over the years, the bloodlines of these Ferghana horses have become impure. The few that are still called Ferghana are merely larger and slightly faster than ordinary horses, far from the miraculous creatures described in ancient texts. The Shi family's large horse farm, which raises tens of thousands of horses, has never seen one so magnificent. Although the young master of the Shi family has a comical appearance, his skill in judging horses is truly remarkable. Upon seeing this horse, he was filled with envy and stepped forward, saying, "Master Ying… I am Shi Yulang from Guanzhong. May I ask if you would sell this precious horse?" He was obsessed with horses, and upon seeing this fine steed, his speech became much more tactful. He was also surprised to see that the rider was a monk. Xu Jingtang, however, almost burst out laughing when he heard that this short, dark-skinned man, the young master of the Shi family, was named "Shi Yulang."
The monk dismounted, looked at the two enormous lanterns at the entrance, and said, "Is this Duan Songqiao's Forging Hall?"
He addressed Duan Songqiao by his given name and completely ignored Shi Yulang. Xu Jingtang, being very well-mannered, remained outwardly calm despite his anger. Shi Yulang, however, raised an eyebrow and shouted, "You little bald monk, how dare you not answer when I'm speaking to you?"
The monk raised an eyebrow, glanced at Shi Yulang, and said in a low voice, "You're not good enough."
His words were as calm as ever. Shi Yulang, who was already short-tempered, became even more enraged. He jumped back, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and shouted, "You little bald monk, draw your sword!"
He was naturally domineering at the horse farm, and no one dared to disobey him. Killing a few people was nothing to Young Master Shi.
Seeing the two men at an impasse, Xu Jingtang quickly stepped forward and said, "Young Master Shi, please calm down for the sake of my master."
Shi Yulang retorted, "Xu Jingtang, mind your own business!" In the Guanzhong region, Shi Yulang only needed to raise the banner of his horse farm to deter those roadblocks. Before entering the Central Plains, his father had warned him never to be lacking in manners. He had already been extremely humble towards this monk, yet the monk dared to say he wasn't good enough. Young Master Shi couldn't swallow this insult.
The monk led his horse to a tree, tied it up, and said, "Da Fengge of the Shi family's horse farm in Guanzhong is quite skilled, but his swordsmanship is more powerful than agile. He's not good enough to fight me. You should leave, or you'll get hurt."
Although Shi Yulang was rude, he wasn't ignorant of the times. He knew that he was offering birthday greetings to Duan Songqiao, and killing someone outside the Duan family's Forging Hall would be far too arrogant. But the monk's words had already insulted the Shi family's horse farm, which fueled his anger. He cursed, "You little bald monk, stop with the talk! If you've got the guts, let's see who's the real deal!"
The monk shook his head and said, "I'm busy. I've heard there are senior monks from Shaolin and Wudang here. You're not up to the task."
He clasped his hands together and said to Xu Jingtang, "Benefactor Xu, please tell Master Baishen and Master Ye that Tan Guang from Tiantong Temple requests an audience."
Xu Jingtang didn't know what Tiantong Temple was. Seeing that Tan Guang was very polite, he returned the greeting and said, "Master, please wait a moment while I go in and inform him." Tan Guang was quite young and couldn't really be called a "master," but Xu Jingtang strictly followed his master's instructions and dared not be lacking in manners. Just as he was about to enter, he saw Shi Yulang standing guard, watching him intently. He feared that Shi Yulang might attack him at any moment, so he hesitated and said to Tan Guang, "Master Tan Guang, Master Bai Shen is chatting with my master. Why don't you come in with me to pay your respects?"
He was afraid that if he left, Shi Yulang would attack the monk. He wanted to bring him in, thinking that no matter how tyrannical Shi Yulang was, he wouldn't attack in front of the guests. To his surprise, the monk merely smiled and said, "No need. Please inform Master Xu. I'll wait outside."
Xu Jingtang was still somewhat uneasy. He gestured to Shi Yulang, but Shi Yulang glared at him and ignored him completely. The attendant named Wang Shengjiu said with a forced smile, "Brother Xu, please go ahead. My young master has had a long journey and needs to rest outside." Xu Jingtang had no choice but to hurry inside, glancing back as he went, thinking, "I hope nothing bad happens."
Most of the guests were already seated. Xu Jingtang saw his junior brother, Zhuo Xing, eating some peanuts among the crowd. He patted Zhuo Xing's shoulder and asked, "Junior Brother Zhuo, have you told Master?"
Zhuo Xing stretched his neck and swallowed a peanut, saying, "Master sent word that he knows. He's chatting with Master Baishen right now."
Xu Jingtang frowned. Those who came to offer their congratulations were all chivalrous figures from the martial arts world. A hundred or so people sat around a dozen tables, making a great commotion. It was lively, but also chaotic. Several junior disciples moved around in the crowd like flowers, paying their respects to the elders and saying a few auspicious words to their peers. The Yiyang Opera Troupe, which had been invited to the courtyard, was preparing to perform "An Tian Hui" in a melodious voice. All of this was not much different from the birthday celebration of an ordinary wealthy man in the countryside. He squeezed through the crowd and walked straight to the front of the painting studio, which was filled with the colors of spring. He saw his master, Duan Songqiao, already dressed neatly, standing in front of the house with two female disciples guarding the entrance. He went over and bowed first, saying, "Master."
Duan Songqiao was chatting with the two female disciples. Hearing Xu Jingtang's voice, he turned his head and said, "Come in. Are all the guests here?"
Xu Jingtang glanced at the closed door of the painting studio, swallowed hard, and said, "Master, there is a master outside. He says he is Tan Guang from Tiantong Temple..."
Before he could finish speaking, his master, Duan Songqiao, raised an eyebrow and glanced at the painting studio. His eyes seemed to hold a deep meaning. Xu Jingtang had already seen this and his heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Could it be that he knows about my spying? No, it doesn't seem like it. Judging from their expressions, they seem to know that monk will come. Could it be... could it be that their birthday celebration and pleasure-seeking are just pretense, and they are really waiting for that monk?" He noticed a layer of worry on Duan Songqiao's brow. It seemed that his master knew the origin of Tan Guang and therefore did not suspect him.
Duanfeng Hall was renowned in the martial arts world, ranking among the top ten in the "Famous Swords Manual," but it was still far inferior to the titans of the martial arts world like Shaolin and Wudang. When Bai Shen and Ye Lingsu came to wish Duan Songqiao a happy birthday, Xu Jingtang, though somewhat surprised, didn't think much of it.
Just then, the studio door opened, a fragrant breeze wafted out, and Shaolin's Bai Shen and Wudang's Ye Lingsu emerged.
Xu Jingtang was an exceptionally intelligent man; seeing the two men's gazes, he immediately felt uneasy, sensing that this birthday banquet was about to turn into a storm. Seeing that Duan Songqiao was already looking at him, Xu Jingtang composed himself and said, "Master Tan Guang said he wanted to see Master Bai Shen and Master Ye."
Bai Shen and Ye Lingsu exchanged a glance and approached simultaneously. Duan Songqiao hurriedly said, "Masters, this matter was arranged by my Duanfeng Hall. Let this old man go see him. Please, have a seat."
Ye Lingsu smiled slightly and said, "Old man Tuiweng, since this person is related to an old friend from over twenty years ago, and since you have entrusted this matter to us, please wait here for a moment. My senior brother Shen and I will be right back."
Duan Songqiao, now old, felt he should indulge in the pursuits of a scholar, so he studied poetry and painting. Although his poetry still retained a certain rustic charm, and his paintings were not much different from the folk New Year paintings of his hometown, he had already adopted the elegant name "Tuipu" (meaning "retired garden"), hence Ye Lingsu called him "Old man Tuiweng."
These words were spoken peacefully, and Duan Songqiao was delighted, knowing that with the two of them involved, even the most serious matters could be resolved. He happily said, "Master Ye, then..."
Before he could finish saying "thank you," a scream suddenly rang out from outside. Everyone in the room was startled. A few quick-witted ones glanced at the Geyang troupe in the courtyard, but the actors, who had just donned their costumes, remained frozen in place; it was clearly not them shouting.
Xu Jingtang recognized the voice of the short, dark-skinned, pockmarked Shi Yulang and inwardly groaned, knowing he must have fought with Tan Guang and likely suffered a loss. Tan Guang knew Bai Shen and Ye Lingsu, while Shi Yulang was the young master of the Shi family's large horse ranch; injuring either side would be disastrous. He turned and rushed out, but after only a few steps, he felt a sudden gust of wind beside him, and a figure had already darted past—it was none other than Ye Lingsu, a renowned master of Wudang. Ye Lingsu was not young, but her movements were unusually fast. In just two or three leaps, she broke through the crowd and reached the doorway—it was the Wudang's Cloud Ladder Leap technique. At that time, internal martial arts were very popular, and many people learned the "Ladder Cloud Leap" technique, but only a handful could achieve such mastery.
When Xu Jingtang rushed outside, he couldn't help but gasp.
The five people who had come to the Shi family's horse farm, including Shi Yulang, were now reduced to ten pieces. All five had been cut in half at the waist. The pockmarked, dark-skinned, short man, Shi Yulang, was in the worst condition; his upper body lay by the door, while his lower body flew onto the road. Bloodstains were everywhere, even splattered on the lantern on the door. The two gatekeepers at the door stood motionless, speechless, as if in a daze. Xu Jingtang grabbed one of the gatekeepers by the collar and shouted, "What happened?" The gatekeeper only managed a few dry sounds and didn't answer. In fact, it was obvious without asking; Tan Guang was slowly wiping the blood off a long knife on a corpse.
The sword was at least five feet long, most likely the long cloth bag he had been carrying on his back.
Tan Guang slowly wiped the blood off the blade. Ye Lingsu glanced at the corpses around her, snorted coldly, and said, "So the successor of the Great Compassion Sword has been reborn."
Tan Guang raised an eyebrow, his face remaining expressionless, and bowed to Ye Lingsu, saying, "This must be Master Ye of Wudang. My master told me when he was alive that when the seven major sects surrounded us, Master Ye was the first to wound him."
Xu Jingtang didn't know what the "Great Compassion Blade" was. The "encirclement by the seven major sects" was a major event, but he had never heard of it. Seeing Ye Lingsu's alarmed expression, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. With so many experts gathered, he wasn't afraid of Tan Guang's violence, but no matter how arrogant and rude Shi Yulang was, he was still someone from the Shi family's horse farm who had come to celebrate Duan Songqiao's birthday. The result was that he had been cut in half at the waist in front of the Forging Hall. He really didn't know how to explain this to the horse farm.
Ye Lingsu glanced at the five people on the ground and said, "Back then, Yinzong promised never to harm anyone again, but it turns out he still harbors wolfish ambitions. Hmph."
Tan Guang bowed again and said, "Master Ye, you are mistaken. My master had a great awakening after the combined attack of the seven major sects and has never harmed anyone since. In the past twenty-seven years, he hasn't even harmed an ant. However, what I practice is Vajra Zen, which does not avoid killing. Please don't confuse the two."
At this time, Duan Songqiao and Bai Shen also came out, followed by a large group of martial arts heroes. These people were all eager to stir up trouble. They had to restrain themselves because they came to pay their respects to Duan Songqiao on his birthday. Now, hearing about the changes outside, most of them were more excited than surprised.
Originally, one shouldn't bring weapons to pay respects on a birthday, but how could martial artists, except those who only knew how to use their fists and feet, not bring weapons?
Just now they were hiding in the shadows, but now many people had drawn their weapons and were noisily crowding together. This birthday banquet had almost become a trap of swords and shadows. Bai Shen and Duan Songqiao arrived behind Ye Lingsu. Before Duan Songqiao could speak, Bai Shen suddenly exclaimed, "The Great Compassion Blade!"
Tan Guang wiped the long sword clean, slung it over his shoulder, raised one palm to his chest, and chanted the Rebirth Mantra in a low voice, oblivious to everyone else, ignoring Bai Shen. After finishing the Rebirth Mantra, he looked up and glanced at them. Xu Jingtang, standing beside his master, felt those two gazes like lightning, like thunder, like a thousand-pound boulder falling off a cliff. His heart sank again. Before he could feel fear, he saw Bai Shen's body tremble slightly, and he whispered, "So the Yin Sect really does have a successor."
Bai Shen was usually taciturn, and when chatting with Duan Songqiao, it was usually Duan Songqiao who spoke first, with Bai Shen occasionally interjecting. But upon seeing Tan Guang, he immediately spoke. Xu Jingtang heard one of the guests behind him say, "Who is that man with the broken skin?" "That's the young master of the Shi Family Horse Ranch in Guanzhong." "The Great Wind Song Sword Technique of the Shi Family Horse Ranch is quite formidable. How did he die here? Was it a sneak attack?" Someone else whispered, "I'm afraid not. The five people were positioned precisely in the 'Guard the Four Directions' sword formation of the Great Wind Song Sword Technique..."
The person didn't finish speaking, but Xu Jingtang was deeply moved.
He looked at the speaker and recognized him as Zhuge Yang, one of the Three Heroes of Western Sichuan. These Three Heroes of Western Sichuan were also famous martial artists in Sichuan. Zhuge Yang was said to be a descendant of Zhuge Liang. Although his martial arts skills weren't particularly outstanding, he was said to have exceptional eyesight, knowing all the martial arts sects in the world. Therefore, although they lived in remote Western Sichuan and hadn't done anything particularly remarkable, their reputations were considerable. Hearing that he had discerned the truth with just one glance, it was clear that his reputation was well-deserved.
The Shi family's horse farm was very famous, and they used their numbers to bully the few, which had already lost their sense of chivalry. He was originally very dissatisfied with Tan Guang's insidious killing, but after hearing what Zhuge Yang said, he realized that the five members of the Shi family had first surrounded Tan Guang with a sword formation, and Tan Guang was just retaliating. So he couldn't blame Tan Guang for being ruthless.
Ye Lingsu snorted coldly and said, "Since Master Yinzong promised to abandon the sword forever, why has the Great Compassion Sword reappeared?"
Tan Guang bowed again and said, "My master has practiced asceticism for twenty-seven years and is about to reach the realm of the celestial beings, but there is only one hurdle he has not been able to overcome. He once told me that there is no difference between having a sword in hand and having a sword in heart. Master Baishen has been well-versed in Buddhist principles, and I'm afraid he has already understood this principle?"
Baishen put his palms together and said, "Excellent. Having a sword in hand is attachment to the Dharma, and having a sword in heart is attachment to the self. I did not expect Master Yinzong to be so diligent, having already broken through the superficial appearance. I truly admire him greatly."
"Attachment to the self" is divided into attachment to the Dharma and attachment to the self. The Hinayana focuses on breaking the attachment to the self, while the Mahayana Chan school aims to break both of these attachments. The so-called "attachment to the self" is that worldly people do not understand the principle of impermanence and believe that all phenomena in the world are substantial, hence the thought of "self." Such Buddhist principles were beyond the comprehension of others. Ye Lingsu, a Taoist, was also unaware of what Tan Guang and Bai Shen were discussing. Seeing that Tan Guang ignored his question and instead engaged Bai Shen in Zen, he was greatly displeased. Although his martial arts skills were superb, his heart was somewhat narrow-minded. At this moment, anger rose within him, but his face remained flat and expressionless. He said indifferently, "Since you have a knife in your hand, then Master Tan Guang must have already mastered your master's Thirty-Six Styles of the Great Compassion Knife Technique, right? If you want to avenge the Yin Sect, then stop with the cryptic exchanges and let me witness the Great Compassion Knife Technique again." As soon as
he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve and drew a sword from it. The Wudang School's Tai Chi Yin-Yang Sword is renowned throughout the world. Ye Lingsu is one of the Wudang School's top masters, having immersed herself in swordsmanship for over fifty years. Twenty-seven years ago, she was already a rising star of the Wudang School, and now she is one of the world's rare sword masters. This sword is not very long, only about two feet including the hilt, but as soon as it is drawn from the sleeve, one can feel its chilling aura. Those standing close by can hardly withstand the cold and take a step back.
Xu Jingtang also felt a chill on his skin and dared not stand behind his master any longer, so he also took a step back. Behind them, the heroes whispered amongst themselves. The well-informed Zhuge Yang muttered, "The Wudang Yin-Yang Sword is divided into two parts, Yin and Yang. Master Ye's swordsmanship is so chilling; I'm afraid he hasn't yet reached the supreme realm of Yin-Yang harmony." He spoke as he pleased, but Xu Jingtang knew that the way of swordsmanship was like a vast ocean, its mysteries unfathomable. Even if Ye Lingsu hadn't reached the supreme realm, the chilling aura of her sword indicated her exceptional skill. Zhuge Yang's assessment was insightful, but if he were to fight Ye Lingsu, he probably wouldn't last ten moves against such an extremely Yin sword. The moment
Ye Lingsu's sword was drawn, Tan Guang's eyebrows suddenly lifted, his face radiating light. He had arrived dusty and weary, a mere shabby-faced little monk, but now his face was as smooth as jade, as if he had become a completely different person. He looked at Ye Lingsu, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "If Master Ye wishes to offer guidance, that would be excellent. This humble monk's Vajra Zen practice of using killing to prove Zen has always been unable to cross this threshold. Killing a master like Master Ye will surely bring me sudden enlightenment."
Seeing Ye Lingsu about to attack, Bai Shen quickly said, "Brother Ye, Master Tan Guang has already broken through the dualistic attachments of man and dharma. Originally, wielding a sword or not wielding a sword is the same. Why not sit down and contemplate this profound truth together?" Ye Lingsu
thought to himself, "This Bai Shen once reigned supreme with his Hundred-Step Subduing Ox Divine Fist..." When the seven major sects besieged and annihilated the Yin Sect, his fists were like blades, incredibly powerful. How come, nearly thirty years later, all that former might has vanished? Now he talks about meditation and cultivation—truly utterly ignorant. "His martial arts are extremely high. Although he is a Taoist priest, he has learned very little about Taoist cultivation. Taoism also has the practice of meditation and cultivating qi, very similar to Buddhist meditation. However, he has always been stubborn and unyielding. He has meditated for decades, cultivating only a breath of true qi. The Taoist principles of tranquility and non-action have always been like a gentle breeze blowing past a horse's ear. Having roamed the martial world for so long, his fame has grown day by day. Sometimes he even forgets he is a Taoist priest, relying solely on his sword to contend with the heroes of the world." Now that he's old, he's become even more shrewd, like ginger and cinnamon, his arrogance only growing stronger with age. Hearing Tan Guang's boastful tone, he was stirred by the ambition of his youth. He tightened his grip on
the monk and shouted, "Of course, of course! Killing you is also slaying a demon!" Duan Songqiao, seeing the two had reached a stalemate, was about to make his move. Although Shi Yulang had died outside the gate, there would likely be some future conflict with the Shi family's horse farm. If Ye Lingsu could capture this young monk, it would be good to explain to the farm owner. However, he was used to smoothing things over and preferred to avoid trouble. He said from the side, "Master Ye, Master Tan Guang, why must you two fight?" "Let's talk this out."
Tan Guang stretched out his right hand, his five-foot-long sword pointing straight out, and smiled, "Lord Duan, I practice Vajra Zen. Killing one is not too few, killing ten thousand is not too many. If Lord Duan has any enlightenment, you might as well come and prove this Zen principle under my blade."
Duan Songqiao's face turned red and then white. He was highly respected in the martial arts world, and no one had ever spoken to him like this before. Tan Guang's words were elegant, yet they were extremely rude and a challenge. Before he could speak, one of the heroes around him shouted, "You little bald monk, how dare you be so rude! Do you think all the heroes of the world are nothing?"
Those people were used to being rough and boorish, and their insult of "bald monk" included Bai Shen as well. But once the words left their mouths, others immediately followed suit, with "bald monk" and "thief bald" ringing out incessantly.
Bai Shen, with his excellent self-control, remained unfazed, while Tan Guang also remained impassive, pointing his long sword at Ye Lingsu and saying, "Please enlighten me, Master Ye."
Ye Lingsu was furious inside, but a smile appeared on his face as he said, "Very well. Slaying demons and eliminating evil to uphold the righteous path is also the duty of a monk like me." He drew a circle with his sword and took a step forward. This step was extremely heavy, dust flying everywhere, and the force of the sword scattering it in all directions. Xu Jingtang felt a blur before his eyes and exclaimed in shock, "So there are such fierce moves in the Two Elements Sword!"
At this moment, the knowledgeable Zhuge Yang also stopped speaking. A chilling aura emanated from him, and the two large lanterns at the door, though not afraid of the wind, dimmed considerably in an instant, as if their flames had been forced to shrink to a single point. Xu Jingtang opened his eyes wide and looked ahead. Dust billowed in the open space, and only two figures flickered indistinctly. These two figures moved with incredible speed, their advances and retreats fluid and graceful, almost like fellow disciples practicing their moves. However, it was too dark and dusty to see clearly. He glanced at his master, Duan Songqiao, whose eyes were wide with shock. He walked over and whispered, "Master, should we call the other disciples over?"
Duan Songqiao slowly nodded and said in a hoarse voice, "Alright, go quickly!"
Xu Jingtang reached for his waist, only to find it empty. He then realized it was his master's birthday, and he hadn't brought his sword.
He glanced to the side; his junior brother, Zhuo Xing, was staring wide-eyed, his face filled with terror. He patted Zhuo Xing's shoulder and whispered, "Xing, quickly go get my knife, and call the other senior brothers over!"
Zhuo Xing's face was deathly pale. He turned and ran inside. Xu Jingtang watched the figures with trepidation. Bai Shen stood motionless to the side, his eyes closed, muttering some Buddhist chant. At this moment, there were about a hundred people outside the Forging Hall, all holding their breath. These were all chivalrous figures of the martial world, skilled in many dangerous feats, but the fierce battle between Tan Guang and Ye Lingsu seemed otherworldly, almost demonic.
Xu Jingtang suddenly felt a slight heat on his cheek. Startled, he reached up and touched it, only to find a small, dark patch on his palm, and a strong smell of blood. He was horrified, knowing someone must be injured, but he didn't know who. Looking up, he saw that the people standing in the first row were also stained with blood, but they were all so stunned that none of them noticed. Just as he was feeling alarmed, he felt someone tug at his clothes from behind. It was Zhuo Xing, holding his sword. Xu Jingtang took the sword, and seeing that his junior brothers were already armed and standing beside him, he calmed down slightly and whispered, "You must protect Master later."
At this moment, a "clang" suddenly rang out in the battle, and something flew straight up. Everyone looked closely and saw that the object was long. Zhuge Yang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Master Ye is indeed remarkable."
Ye Lingsu used a sword about two feet long, but the flying object was five or six feet long; it was definitely not Ye Lingsu's sword. Hearing Zhuge Yang's words, everyone who heard him also breathed a sigh of relief. They felt that although the little monk's swordsmanship was excellent, he was no match for Ye Lingsu. Now that he had captured him, this disaster was averted. Before the two figures could even settle, several sharp-eyed onlookers cried out in alarm.
Ye Lingsu stood nearby, half his body drenched in blood, his right arm missing. Tan Guang stood at a distance, his long sword still resting against his shoulder. Before anyone could react, Bai Shen suddenly lunged forward. This monk, with his solemn appearance, possessed unexpectedly remarkable lightness skill. Xu Jingtang was startled. Bai Shen caught Ye Lingsu, lightly tapping his shoulder with his fingers to seal acupoints and stop the bleeding.
Only then did the long object fall from the sky with a "snap"—Ye Lingsu's right arm. The arm, still clutching the sword, appeared to be five or six feet long.
Ye Lingsu's face was ashen as he stared at Tan Guang, while the assembled heroes dared not even breathe. Few people knew much about Bai Shen's martial arts skills, but Ye Lingsu's skills were widely admired. Some said that if the masters of the martial arts world were ranked, Ye Lingsu would be within the top twenty, and in terms of swordsmanship, she would be within the top five. Among the more than one hundred guests who came to celebrate Duan Songqiao's birthday, apart from a few young swordsmen who were new to the game and didn't know their own limitations, no one dared to say that Ye Lingsu's martial arts were bad. Who would have thought that this sword immortal-like figure couldn't even last a hundred moves against this unassuming young monk, and even had an arm severed.
Bai Shen frowned and said, "Tan Guang, your swordsmanship has truly surpassed your master, even surpassing Yin Zong in his prime."
The old monk had been calling Tan Guang "Master" all along, but now he swallowed those two words, a hint of anger rising in his heart.
Tan Guang said, "Master Ye's swordsmanship is divine, greatly benefiting my Vajra Zen practice. Master Bai Shen, have you gained any insights?"
His voice remained calm and gentle, yet those around him felt a chill run down their spines. His words portrayed Ye Lingsu as a mere sparring partner, suggesting that after defeating Ye Lingsu, he dared to challenge Bai Shen. Had they not witnessed his defeat of Ye Lingsu, they would have considered him utterly arrogant, but now everyone felt a chill.
Ye Lingsu suddenly shouted, "Little monk, this old Taoist still has the strength to fight again..."
His voice was loud, startling everyone. Before they could even cheer, Ye Lingsu coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed. Bai Shen, who was beside him, caught Ye Lingsu's back and checked his pulse on his left hand, finding no pulse at all; he was dead.
Ye Lingsu, having lost an arm, felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing that Tan Guang was going to challenge Bai Shen again. He thought to himself, "I thought my martial arts were unmatched, but this young monk, so young, actually possesses such skills." He was already petty, and now, filled with grief and shame, he was determined to fight again, but his injuries were too severe. He let out a shout, and his life was over.
Bai Shen gently placed Ye Lingsu on the ground before raising his head and saying, "Master Tan Guang, this humble monk is unworthy, but I wish to learn from your superior skills."
After Ye Lingsu's injury, Bai Shen's mind was in turmoil, and his speech was not as calm as usual, but he had now returned to normal.
Tan Guang, seeing the dark aura that had clouded his face earlier, now calm and collected, knew that Bai Shen's internal strength was extraordinary. He shouldered his long sword and smiled slightly, saying, "That's exactly what I intended."
Bai Shen was not well-known, and no one knew the extent of his martial arts skills. However, seeing Duan Songqiao's great respect for him, they knew that this monk was no ordinary person. Seeing him slowly roll up his sleeves and tie a knot at his upper arm, revealing his arms, which were unremarkable, Xu Jingtang was somewhat disappointed. Suddenly, he heard Bai Shen shout, and his arms suddenly became noticeably thicker, with muscles bulging. Xu Jingtang was greatly surprised, thinking, "I thought these two were just lecherous fools, but they're so powerful! Master Bai Shen's internal strength has reached such a level, seemingly even surpassing Master Ye."
He didn't know that twenty-seven years ago, Bai Shen was hailed as the foremost of the "Three Heroes of Shaolin," a rising star. At that time, Bai Shen was full of vigor, having mastered three of the seventy-two Shaolin arts at just over twenty years old. His fist power was profound, and he was even considered the best in Shaolin. However, when he joined the attack on Yin Zong, he was utterly defeated by Yin Zong's twin swords. After returning to the temple, his ambition vanished, and he never ventured into the martial world again, devoting himself to Buddhism. Although he hadn't studied martial arts for the past twenty years and his fist techniques hadn't improved at all, his internal strength had become incredibly abundant. Standing at this moment, he exuded the aura of a grandmaster, his presence imposing and majestic.
Zhuo Xing squeezed next to Xu Jingtang and whispered, "Senior Brother, how powerful is Master Baishen's fist technique? Fighting that monk with his bare hands and his knife, I'm afraid he'll suffer."
Xu Jingtang also whispered, "Of the seventy-two Shaolin arts, the Hundred-Step Subduing Ox Divine Fist is the pinnacle. Master Baishen's internal strength is profound; in a battle between masters, weapons are merely secondary."
The knowledgeable Zhuge Yang, who had also squeezed to the front, heard Xu Jingtang's words and, itching to join in, chimed in, "Yes, yes, what Young Hero Xu said is true. This Hundred-Step Subduing Ox Divine Fist was originally called the Liberation Fist, said to have been created by a high-ranking monk during the Song Dynasty. This fist technique is extremely powerful; it's said that one punch can break a tree that can be embraced. I wonder if Master Baishen has reached that level."
He had barely finished speaking when Bai Shen suddenly let out a loud "Ha!" and threw a seemingly ordinary punch. Among the assembled heroes were some skilled fighters, who found the punch unremarkable and unremarkable. However, Tan Guang reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, holding his sword horizontally to his chest. As everyone wondered what was happening, a loud "bang" was heard, and Tan Guang's monk's robe billowed as if caught in a strong wind. He swayed and actually took a step back.
At this moment, Bai Shen and Tan Guang were a full ten steps apart, and Bai Shen's punch seemed to have a tangible and substantial force, astonishing everyone who witnessed it. Several experts who were confident in their own strength were horrified by the ferocity of Bai Shen's punch. The crowd couldn't help but cheer in unison, and Zhuo Xing was extremely excited, saying, "Senior brother, Master Bai Shen is so powerful!"
Tan Guang was so struck by the force of the punch that his blood and qi stagnated, and he lost his balance, taking a step back before regaining his footing. He raised his head and exclaimed, "Master Baishen, what excellent fist power!"
Baishen smiled slightly and said, "Master Tanguang, thank you for your guidance."
The others thought he was about to throw another punch, but Baishen turned around and slowly returned. When he reached Duan Songqiao, he smiled slightly and said, "Benefactor Duan, thank you for your trouble." After speaking, he straightened his monk's robe, slowly sat down, put his hands together, and chanted, "What I seek is unattainable, Xiangyan strikes the bamboo. Wandering and displaced, my heart longs to return." After speaking, the light on his face faded, and he sat still, still smiling.
Zhuo Xing was puzzled and whispered, "Senior Brother, is Master Baishen talking about the boxing manual?"
Xu Jingtang shook his head and said, "I don't know either. Senior Zhuge, what did Master Baishen say?"
Zhuge Yang also said blankly, "I don't know either. Perhaps my cultivation is too shallow, and I really don't understand the master's meaning."
As they were talking, Duan Songqiao whispered, "Master Baishen has passed away."
Although Xu Jingtang did not understand Zen principles, he knew the meaning of "passed away." He was shocked and exclaimed, "What?" Ye Lingsu and Tan Guang had fought a hundred rounds before Ye Lingsu lost an arm and was defeated. Bai Shen's martial arts seemed to be slightly higher than Ye Lingsu's, yet he had died after only one move. Looking at Tan Guang, he suddenly felt that this little monk was not of this world.
Duan Songqiao sighed, "Master Bai Shen's enlightenment is a fortunate thing. I have lived sixty years in vain. Alas, the world is full of turmoil, and it is difficult to return from the wrong path. Jing Tang, bring me my knife."
Xu Jing Tang was shocked again. Duan Songqiao had not fought anyone for a long time. Did he also want to fight Tan Guang? He hesitated for a moment, and Duan Songqiao shouted, "Go quickly!"
At this moment, Tan Guang tightened his belt and walked over slowly. He severed Ye Lingsu's arm and killed Bai Shen with a single stroke. Fear gripped everyone's hearts. Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "Everyone, charge forward together and chop him down!"
Someone else responded, "That's right! We don't need to talk about chivalry when dealing with this kind of fiend. Let's all go together!"
There were many guests gathered in front of the Forging Hall, most of whom were skilled fighters. If they all attacked together, even the mighty Great Compassion Blade of Tan Guang would be no match for them. But although the shouts were loud and many echoed, those at the front of the line retreated instead of advancing. They thought, "You guys shout nicely from the back, but we're in the front row. If we all go together, the monk's long blade will strike, and we'll be the first to die." As they retreated, those behind, fearing they would be pushed to the front, also retreated. Those in the last row were already pushed against the wall, and people outside were still retreating. That row was almost crushed into a meat patty, and they couldn't help but shout, "Stop pushing! You'll be crushed to death if you push any further!" Their shouts were hoarse and extremely jarring amidst the chorus of boastful words. Tan Guang ignored them, walked to Bai Shen's corpse, planted his long sword in the ground, and began to chant the Rebirth Mantra softly.
Duan Songqiao suddenly raised his voice, "Master Tan Guang's arrival is a matter for my Forging Peak Hall, and has nothing to do with others. Please forgive my rudeness, heroes, and please come inside for the banquet. I know
what I'm doing." Someone in the crowd said, "Lord Duan, you're mistaken. We're here to wish you a happy birthday out of respect for you, Lord Duan. Your affairs are our affairs, how can we ignore them?"
Beads of sweat appeared on Duan Songqiao's forehead as well. He had kept this secret for twenty-seven years, believing it would never be exposed. Who knew that Tan Guang would come knocking today? Was this twenty-seven-year-old secret about to be revealed to the world? In these twenty-seven years, he had built bridges and roads, doing countless good deeds. If this matter were revealed, his good reputation would be ruined.
Duan Songqiao, now in his sixties, valued his reputation more than his life. Receiving Tan Guang's letter, he was terrified every day. After much deliberation, he decided it was best to invite Bai Shen and Ye Lingsu. When they arrived, he thought they were saviors fallen from the sky, and painstakingly arranged for their enjoyment, hoping they would save him from his predicament. But as soon as Tan Guang arrived, both men were killed, leaving him utterly bewildered. He had already guessed Tan Guang's intentions; if this matter were truly exposed, his own reputation would be ruined, and his entire Duanfeng Hall business would be destroyed. He had only one son, who died suddenly three years ago, leaving behind a five-year-old child. Even if Duan Songqiao didn't think of himself, he had to consider his descendants. He was willing to risk his life to try and cover up the matter, but his friends in the martial arts world were too loyal and insisted on pursuing the matter relentlessly.
At this moment, Xu Jingtang emerged carrying Duan Songqiao's golden sword. The Forging Hall specialized in swords, and its blades were renowned. Duan Songqiao's golden sword had a seven-inch wide blade and a two-inch thick back, gilded and inlaid with jade—truly an extremely magnificent weapon. Xu Jingtang held the sword respectfully, accompanied by a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl dressed in green—Duan Wenbi, Duan Songqiao's daughter.
The martial arts heroes were all astonished to see Duan Wenbi. Duan Songqiao was wealthy and imposing, resembling a country tycoon, while Duan Wenbi was beautiful and charming, with a touch of childishness in her eyes, yet her radiance was undeniable. Not only was Duan Wenbi beautiful, but her figure was also graceful and curvaceous. Her steps were light and upright, exuding a vibrant and captivating youthful energy. The young swordsmen and knife-wielders straightened their backs, silencing their vulgarities, thinking, "Old Duan has such a beautiful daughter. If I could shield him from this, he might even want me as his son-in-law..." But these thoughts quickly faded when they considered Tan Guang's martial arts prowess.
Duan Songqiao doted on his daughter, taking the golden knife from Xu Jingtang's hand. He frowned and said, "Abi, why did you come out? Go inside quickly!"
Duan Wenbi replied, "Father, Mother said someone came to cause trouble. She's worried and wanted me to check."
Duan Songqiao said, "It's alright, go inside quickly." He knew that many of the people here were江湖豪客 (jianghu heroes), who were polite on the surface but capable of anything behind the scenes. He knew he would most likely die under Tan Guang's knife. Death was a small matter, but he feared that some of the guests would harbor ill intentions towards Duan Wenbi. He was determined to die, but now he hesitated, unsure of what to do. However, he had already presented the knife, and with so many guests present, there was no reason for him to back down. Tan Guang's decision not to come on his birthday suggested that he had anticipated this.
He pondered deeply, unable to make a decision. Among the guests, someone shouted, "Master Duan, let that little bald monk witness the Chaotic Cloak Saber Technique!" The Chaotic Cloak Saber Technique of the Forging Peak Hall was renowned. Duan Songqiao's son, who had once roamed the martial world, was a rising star among swordsmen. However, Duan Songqiao's son died young, and few had actually seen this technique.
Hearing the cheers and applause rising and falling, Duan Songqiao felt a mix of emotions. He drew his sword and looked at Tan Guang, saying, "Monk, this old man also wishes to learn your saber technique."
Xu Jingtang, seeing his master about to fight Tan Guang, knew the outcome was likely grim. Although Confucius said that disciples should serve when needed, Tan Guang's martial arts were so formidable that going forward would be tantamount to suicide, and he dared not. But not advising him wouldn't be befit a senior disciple, and advising him might lead to his master ordering him to fight. Caught in this dilemma, he saw Duan Songqiao standing there, seemingly lost in thought. Xu Jingtang thought to himself, "Is Master upset that I brought my junior sister out and distracted him?" He stepped forward and said, "Master, I'll take my junior sister inside."
But before he could finish speaking, Duan Songqiao stopped him, saying, "Let Abi stay here." With that, he drew his sword, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Master Tan Guang, I am Duan Songqiao. I humbly request your guidance."
Xu Jingtang was bewildered by his master's actions. He was quick-witted, and seeing Duan Songqiao staring at Tan Guang, a thought suddenly struck him: "Does this monk recognize my junior sister?" But seeing Tan Guang chanting sutras with his head down, showing no unusual behavior, he couldn't understand it at all.
Unbeknownst to him, Duan Songqiao was a seasoned veteran of the martial world. When Duan Wenbi appeared, he was thrown into turmoil, yet he continued to observe Tan Guang's movements. He noticed that as Duan Wenbi spoke, Tan Guang's gaze swept quickly towards her, and his body trembled slightly. He knew that Duan Wenbi's appearance had disrupted Tan Guang's Vajra Meditation. Knowing he was no match for Tan Guang in martial arts, he feared victory would fall to Duan Wenbi. Xu Jingtang, though astute, failed to notice Tan Guang's sudden, unexpected movement and thus remained baffled.
[The End]

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