Heaven-relying Sword And Dragon-slaying Sabre

"Is he [orig. lao3 ren2 jia1 – senior] all right?" Zhang Wuji asked.

"My acupoint is sealed by them …" Zhou Zhiruo said.

Zhang Wuji only cared about Xie Xun, "How is Yifu?" he asked again.

"I don't know," Zhou Zhiruo replied, "I was captured by them and brought here. I don't know Yifu's whereabouts."

Zhang Wuji laid her down on the ground and massaged several points on the joint of her leg. Who would have thought that Zhou Zhiruo's acupoint was sealed using a special technique and his massage did not show any result. Her feet were planted on the floor, yet she was unable to stand up; her knees bent and she sat back down.

All the beggars left their seats and stood on the steps in front of the courtyard. Shi Huolong cupped his fists and said, "Are you the Zhang Jiaozhu of the Ming Cult, Sire?"

Zhang Wuji knew he was facing a leader of a clan, so he must not fail to show courtesy; immediately he cupped his fists in return and said, "I don't dare. I beg Shi Bangzhu's forgiveness for breaking into your Clan's headquarters."

"Zhang Jiaozhu's name has shaken the Jianghu in the past few years," Shi Huolong said, "It's like thunder … ringing in my ear, and today seeing the old chap's skill, which is really fierce, hey hey, my utmost admiration."

Zhang Wuji said, "I come recklessly and have become Shi Bangzhu's laughingstock. Where is my Yifu, Jin Mao Shi Wang [Golden-Haired Lion King]? Please let him, Senior, come out to see me."

Shi Huolong's face flushed, and then he laughed and said, "Zhang Jiaozhu is young, but your words are this bold. We invited Xie Shi Wang [Lion King Xie] with a good intention, to come … to drink a cup of wine, but not only Xie Shi Wang left without bidding us farewell, he harmed our eight disciples with heavy hands; damn it [orig. ta nai nai, lit. his granny; a curse phrase], how are we going to settle this business? Why doesn't Zhang Jiaozhu advise us on this?"

Zhang Wuji was startled, he thought, "Those eight Beggar Clan disciples were indeed the victims of Yifu's heavy hands. It seems that he, Senior, is really not here. But where did he go?" Thereupon he said, "What about this Miss Zhou? Why did your Clan hold her captive here?"

"This …," Shi Huolong was startled.

Chen Youliang quickly interjected, "I hear people say that although Zhang Wuji of the Ming Cult possesses a strong martial art, he is a barbarian little devil head who does not have any regard of reason … ha ha …"

"Why?" Zhang Wuji's face stayed calm and collected.

Chen Youliang said, "I have witnessed it today; hey hey, as sure as the shadow of a tree, as plain as your name."

"Why did you call me barbarian without any regard of reason?" Zhang Wuji asked.

"This Miss Zhou is the Sect Leader of Emei Pai," Chen Youliang replied, "She is the leading figure of an upright Sect; what relation does she have with your heretical Cult? This Song Qingshu Xiongdi is an up-and coming young leader of Wudang Pai, Miss Zhou and he are a perfect match [orig. lang2 cai2 nu3 mao4, lit. skilled young man, beautiful woman, and 'zhu lian2 bi4 he2, lit. pearl matches with jade]; it is truly a harmony in social position and economic status, a pair of two-goodness. The two of them are passing by, and the Beggar Clan invited them to stay as our guests, to share a cup of wine with us. Why did the Ming Cult Jiaozhu unexpectedly come and intervene? That is funny, really funny!" Echoing what he just said, the crowd of beggars burst into loud laughter.

Zhang Wuji said, "If Miss Zhou is your guest, why did you seal her acupoints?"

"Miss Zhou was nicely sitting and drinking in here, talking and laughing. Who said her acupoints were sealed?" Chen Youliang said, "The relation between the Beggar Clan and Emei Pai is very deep; it goes for generations. The founder of Emei Pai, Shizu [martial ancestor] Guo Nuxia [heroine Guo] was our Clan's previous leader, Huang Bangzhu's beloved daughter. Our previous generation Yelu Bangzhu was Guo Nuxia's brother-in-law. Unless you belong to the ignorant, wet-behind-the-ear generation, all Wulin people are aware about these historical facts. How can we, the Beggar Clan, offense the current Emai Pai's Sect Leader? Zhang Jiaozhu's accusation is unfounded, how can you prevent the heroes under the Heaven from sneering at you?"

Zhang Wuji laughed coldly and said, "So you are saying Miss Zhou sealed her own acupoints?"

"That's not necessarily true," Chen Youliang said, "We have everybody here as our witness, Zhang Jiaozhu rushed in, snatched her by force without any propriety, and then took Miss Zhou out. Miss Zhou struggled to free herself, and then Sire sealed her acupoints. Zhang Jiaozhu, although it is difficult for heroes to resist beautiful face, and even though you are lecherous and want to have possession over her, this is a public place with numerous people; everybody's eyes are on you. Zhang Jiaozhu, aren't you degrading your own position by committing this reckless act?"

Zhang Wuji's eloquence was far inferior to Chen Youliang, as he was receiving such a false countercharge, he was furious and it was even more difficult for him to refute. Hid countenance turned ashen and he shouted, "So you said you have decided not to tell me where my Yifu is?"

Chen Youliang also raised his voice, "Zhang Jiaozhu, your Cult's Guang Ming Shi Zhe [emissary of the brightness] Yang Xiao has caused the death of Emei Pai's Ji Xiaofu Nuxia. Everybody in the Wulin world knows about it, no need to point my finger. Now you are relying on your superior martial art to come over here and commit this kind of despicable, filthy shady business; I am afraid it will be difficult for you to escape justice."

Zhang Wuji turned his head toward Zhou Zhiruo and said, "Zhiruo, tell me, how did they capture and take you here?"

"I … I … I …" Zhou Zhiruo said the word 'I' three times, then suddenly her body went limp and she passed out.

The crowd of beggars broke into a commotion; they called out, "Ming Cult's devil head killed her!" "Zhang Wuji could not deny the charge and killed Emei Pai's Sect Leader!" "Kill the pervert thief Zhang Wuji, rid the world of trouble!"

Zhang Wuji was livid, he stepped forward in big strides toward Shi Huolong, thinking, "To subdue the criminals must capture the leader first; as long as I can catch Shi Huolong, good or bad is in his hands. I can force them to reveal my Yifu's whereabouts."

Zhang Bang Longtou and Zhi Fa Zhanglao blocked together. Zhang Bang Longtou brandished his iron stick, while Zhi Fa Zhanglao had a steel hook in his right hand and iron crutch in his left hand. Two men with three different weapons simultaneously attacked Zhang Wuji.

Zhang Wuji let out a light whistling noise and launched Qian Kun Da Nuo Yi. 'Clink! Clank!' Zhi Fa Zhanglao's right hand steel hook parried Zhang Bang Longtou's iron stick, his left hand's crutch threatened to smash his lower body.

On the side, Chuan Gong Zhanglao's sword was also thrust in; he called out, "This fellow's martial art is very weird, everybody must be careful." 'Swish, swish, swish!' three times, his sword curved like a rainbow, aiming Zhang Wuji's chest and lower abdomen.

"Good swordmanship!" Zhang Wuji praised his swift and fierce move. Evading sideways, his left forefinger pointed toward Chuan Gong Zhanglao's thigh.

Chuan Gong Zhanglao turned his sword over and the tip of the sword aimed toward Zhang Wuji's fingertip. This change happened so fast that the tips of the sword and the finger were only less than a hair-width apart. This sword move was a rarely seen masterpiece in the Wulin world. Zhang Wuji silently praised, "The Beggar Clan's name is revered in the Jianghu, for a hundred of years did not decline. There are truly crouching tigers and hidden dragons within the Clan, such as this outstandingly capable man."