NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 32 - Relentless Aggression!
Chapter 32: Relentless Aggression!
“What’s going on here?”
“Is this how Wudang treats its guests?”
“Exactly! They’ve left us all to sit out here on the square!”
As time went by, many martial artists on the plaza began grumbling openly.
After being escorted to the plaza upon their arrival at Mount Wudang, they were seated at banquet tables, clearly meant for entertaining guests. However, most of these martial artists had not come purely to celebrate Zhang Sanfeng’s birthday. With no sight of Zhang Sanfeng, Song Yuanqiao, or Zhang Cuishan, their patience began to wear thin.
In stark contrast, disciples from prominent sects remained composed, quietly observing from their seats. For these more influential factions, the restless clamour of the lesser martial artists was inconsequential. They regarded these individuals as pawns—and now, those pawns were showing their utility by stirring up chaos.
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“Wudang has many responsibilities to attend to,” a resonant voice echoed across the plaza, carried by inner energy. “If there has been any lack of hospitality, allow me, Song Yuanqiao, to extend my sincerest apologies to all present!”
Song Yuanqiao entered the scene, accompanied by Zhang Cuishan and several Wudang disciples.
The previously boisterous plaza instantly fell silent. Those who had been the loudest in their complaints moments before quickly averted their gazes, their boldness vanishing into thin air.
These troublemakers knew their limitations. Their abilities were far inferior to those of Song Yuanqiao and his peers. Faced with such a disparity, their only option was to swallow their complaints.
“Amitabha!” Abbot Kongwen of Shaolin rose from his seat, speaking solemnly. “Shaolin, represented by myself and my disciples, has come to extend our congratulations to Master Zhang on his auspicious birthday.”
“Abbot Kongwen, you are most gracious,” Song Yuanqiao replied, nodding politely with a faint smile.
Even though Song Yuanqiao was fully aware that Shaolin’s intentions were less than sincere, he maintained his composure. As long as Kongwen refrained from direct hostility, Song Yuanqiao had no reason to provoke him.
“However,” Kongwen continued, his tone suddenly becoming stern, “Shaolin also has a matter to discuss with Fifth Hero Zhang.”
Turning his gaze toward Zhang Cuishan, Kongwen added, “Over a decade ago, during the Dragon Gate Escort Agency massacre, our Shaolin disciples bore witness to events implicating Fifth Hero Zhang. Would Fifth Hero Zhang care to explain this?”
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“Utter nonsense!” Yin Liting, standing nearby, could no longer hold back his anger. “How could my Fifth Brother possibly be involved in such a crime?”
“What about my Third Brother, who was struck down by Shaolin’s Great Vajra Finger? That incident is well known throughout Jianghu!” he continued, his voice rising. “What explanation does Abbot Kongwen have for that?”
[Great Vajra Finger (Dàlì Jīngāng Zhǐ, 大力金刚指): A powerful Shaolin martial arts technique.]
Yin Liting’s outrage was palpable. Relations between Wudang and Shaolin, though historically respectful on the surface, had always been strained. The attack on Yu Daiyan that left him paralyzed had only deepened the rift.
Now, seeing Kongwen directly target Zhang Cuishan, Yin Liting’s fury erupted.
“Third Hero Yu’s unfortunate fate has no connection to Shaolin,” Kongwen said coolly. “Sixth Hero Yin, let us not engage in baseless accusations.”
Although Kongwen knew very well that Yu Daiyan’s injury bore the hallmarks of Shaolin’s Great Vajra Finger, the act had not been sanctioned by Shaolin’s leadership.
“I, too, have a question for Fifth Hero Zhang,” Miejue, the head of Emei, interjected coldly.
“That villain Xie Xun has committed countless atrocities. Over a decade ago, he disappeared along with Fifth Hero Zhang. Now that Fifth Hero Zhang has returned, where is Xie Xun?”
“Yes, where is that scoundrel Xie Xun?”
“That murderer killed my sworn brother—I must see him pay with his life!”
“Xie Xun is a menace to Jianghu! He must be eliminated!”
“…”
The martial artists, emboldened by Miejue’s question, began clamouring once more. While some genuinely sought vengeance against Xie Xun, others were driven by the desire to claim the legendary Dragon-Slaying Saber he possessed.
“Over a decade ago,” Zhang Cuishan began, stepping forward hesitantly, “while engaged in a battle with Xie Xun, we were both swept out to sea. During our time adrift, I lost track of him. To this day, I have no knowledge of his whereabouts.”
Though a man of integrity, Zhang Cuishan chose to lie to protect Wudang. With Zhang Sanfeng absent, revealing his relationship with Xie Xun would only invite disaster upon the sect. Zhang Cuishan resolved not to endanger his brothers and disciples, even if it meant compromising his own principles.
“You don’t know?” Miejue sneered. “Or is it that you’re unwilling to say?”
Her sharp eyes pierced into Zhang Cuishan, clearly reading the turmoil in his expression.
“Well said, Master Miejue!”
“Fifth Hero Zhang, stop shielding him!”
“Xie Xun is a villain—why protect him?”
“…”
The crowd’s restlessness grew as they hurled accusations at Zhang Cuishan, their demands growing louder.
“Amitabha!”
“Xie Xun has sown chaos throughout Jianghu,” Kongwen declared. “Does Fifth Hero Zhang truly believe that a simple ‘I don’t know’ is sufficient to dismiss such a matter?”
His expression calm, Kongwen fixed his gaze on Zhang Cuishan, the thin veneer of courtesy now entirely discarded.
For Kongwen and many others, the mention of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was a mere pretext. Their true objective remained the Dragon-Slaying Saber—a prize that had drawn them all to Mount Wudang.