Chapter 239: Some Achieve Fame in Battle, Others Are Turned Away
Huang Yaoshi’s Empty Force Palm struck towards Huo Gong Toutuo like a tidal wave. Amidst the swirling dust, a defiant laugh suddenly rang out.
“Haha, life is like a sea of suffering, the physical body a raft. The path of martial arts is like a long, arduous journey in the dark night. I came from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, shaved my head to become a monk, and founded the Vajra Sect. Since achieving great success, I have met no match. Today, to witness the Island Lord Huang’s Empty Force Palm is a great honor. To compete with the Island Lord and together reach the pinnacle of martial arts, what joy, what joy!”
Yanbo Diaosou said, “The Western Regions can represent the entire martial world. This old monk is merely looking at the sky from the bottom of a well.”
“Old man, I remember you.”
“This old man also remembers you.”
Huo Gong Toutuo smiled grimly, revealing white teeth. His bright yellow kasaya suddenly bulged, his great dragon-like spine vibrated, and his muscles tensed, fully utilizing every muscle capable of exerting power and every meridian controlling his movements. Then, Huo Gong Toutuo inhaled as if a whale devouring prey, his hands drawing an arc upwards to his shoulders, fingers pointing upwards, palms facing forward. His palms pushed out slowly as if carrying a thousand pounds of weight.
With a “bang,” a sound like a large water bladder being squeezed and bursting echoed in the air. Huo Gong Toutuo’s figure paused for a moment, and a massive ripple spread with his monk’s robe and body. As the fierce wind roared and spread, Zhou Yan’s clothes, a dozen feet away, fluttered as if in a strong gust. Those who were closer to the battle, with insufficient cultivation, were like being hit by an invisible wall of energy, stumbling backward.
Tianxin Chan Master, the head of Shaolin Temple’s Arhat Hall, exclaimed, “Great Strength Vajra Palm.”
Another thunderous name. Zhou Yan looked at Ku Cheng. The Abbot of Shaolin Temple said, “In terms of sheer power, the ‘Great Strength Vajra Palm’ ranks among the top of all Shaolin Temple’s martial arts. Once the cultivation technique is mastered, it cultivates both internally and externally, making unarmed combat infinitely powerful. I never expected him to not only cultivate the ‘Great Strength Vajra Finger’ but also grasp the essence of this palm technique. Blessed, blessed.”
Hearing Ku Cheng’s words, Zhou Yan understood. The ‘Great Strength Vajra Palm’ and the ‘Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms’ were similar martial arts. Once mastered, internal force circulated outside the body, exerting external force through the air with unparalleled power.
Huo Gong Toutuo’s talent was undoubtedly unquestionable. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat the disciples of the Arhat Hall and Dharma Hall with just a few moves by secretly observing Shaolin Temple’s eminent monks practicing martial arts. Upon arriving in the Western Regions, he indeed had the strength to act with impunity using these peerless skills. However, he must have had other fortunate encounters.
As Zhou Yan thought this, he looked back at the arena.
Huang Yaoshi and Huo Gong Toutuo exchanged blows, having fought for nearly a hundred rounds. Huo Gong Toutuo’s head emitted white mist, his monk’s robe billowed, and his inner clothing was filled with airflow as he unleashed palm after palm.
A straight white line appeared above Huang Yaoshi’s head. He stepped in the Bagua and moved in the Liuhe. With each step he took, a deep footprint was left on the ground. The difference in their internal force was immediately apparent.
Huang Yaoshi’s cultivation was superior to Huo Gong Toutuo’s, but the Eastern Heretic was renowned throughout the world. For Huo Gong Toutuo to fight on par for a hundred rounds in a pure internal force contest was already astonishing.
Huang Yaoshi’s palm force became increasingly fierce. Huo Gong Toutuo’s body was enveloped in steaming heat. After a hundred rounds, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in Huang Yaoshi’s pupils, and a palm wind of unparalleled ferocity surged forth like a spring gushing from the ground.
Their palm forces clashed and moved to the base of a giant pine tree. Under the palm force that rumbled like a moving mountain, Huo Gong Toutuo roared and pushed his palms forward, his strength as dense as a tide.
With a “boom,” the air waves rolled, and countless pine needles fell to the ground. The bluestone beneath their feet shattered. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Huo Gong Toutuo retreated step by step, taking seven or eight large strides before his body sank, stabilizing his stance.
“Good palm force.” He laughed ferociously, and with a “wah,” spat out a large mouthful of blood.
“Master!”
Baoshu and Baoxian leaped forward, landing beside Huo Gong Toutuo.
“Retire.”
“Yes!”
The two monks obeyed and retreated, standing beside Baoshou and Baoxiang, who were lying on the ground.
Huo Gong Toutuo grinned, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. “Island Lord Huang, is your debt settled?”
Huang Yaoshi actually had some admiration for Huo Gong Toutuo’s resilience. Although the latter had threatened him, he had not acted maliciously. His daughter had even received a cultivation technique and medicated paste, so it could be considered even.
“It is settled.”
“Good. This old monk still doesn’t understand how I offended Peach Blossom Island. After diligent cultivation, I will seek out Island Lord Huang again to learn from his martial arts.”
“I await your visit.”
“It will not be in vain.” As Huo Gong Toutuo spoke, blood continued to flow from his mouth. He then turned to Zhou Yan, “Kid, this old monk will not bully the young. Another day, I will let my unworthy disciple compete with you.”
Zhou Yan chuckled deeply, “Good!”
“Abbot Ku Cheng, the mountains are high and the waters are long. We shall meet again.”
“Blessed, blessed.”
Huo Gong Toutuo no longer addressed the Abbot of Shaolin Temple and walked directly out of the arena. Baoshu and Baoxian followed. Several martial monks carried Baoshou and Baoxiang on simple stretchers made of tree trunks. Over a hundred people from the Vajra Sect and the Western Regions martial world followed in a grand procession.
As he left the crowd, Huo Gong Toutuo looked around, but Huang Rong was nowhere to be seen. It was not convenient to search everywhere in the current situation. He called his disciple Baoyin over, gave him detailed instructions, and then headed straight down the mountain.
Yang Kang, along with Qiu Qianren, Gongsun Zhi, Helian Chuncheng, and dozens of others, prepared to leave. Huo Du suddenly said:
“Crown Prince Wanyan, we shall meet again in the Jianghu.”
Yang Kang was not discouraged. The Vajra Sect’s attempt to seek revenge on Shaolin Temple had failed due to the obstruction of Zhou Yan and Huang Yaoshi. However, this would also firmly bind the Vajra Sect and the imperial family together.
A frustrated leader of the Vajra Sect was much easier to deal with than one who had swept through Shaolin Temple.
Yang Kang thought this, cast a mocking glance at Huo Du, and suddenly smiled, “Good. I will accompany you to the end.”
As he finished speaking, he took out a fan from his waist, inscribed by the Jin Emperor with the four characters “The great handle is in hand, and the clear wind fills the world,” and unfurled it with a swish, then fanned himself as he departed.
Huo Du’s face turned ashen. Wanyan Kang’s eyes were filled with provocation and disdain. Shaolin Temple was in Jin territory, and his master might not be a match for the leader of the Vajra Sect or the Iron Palm Sect. Their verbal sparring had put him at a disadvantage.
Zhou Yan saw Yang Kang and Huo Du provoking each other and secretly smiled. He withdrew his gaze and said to Ku Cheng, “Master, please excuse me for a moment. I will visit the temple later.”
“We await the escort’s visit.” Ku Cheng was also a shrewd person. With the Vajra Sect and Yang Kang’s group leaving, he addressed him as an escort.
Zhou Yan cupped his hands to Ku Cheng and walked towards Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi. However, after only a few dozen steps, he found it impossible to move forward. Martial artists kept surrounding him, and the noise in his ears was deafening.
“The Three Heroes of the Yellow River greet Young Hero Zhou. We invite you to our mountain villa for a visit.”
“My name is Jing Yidao from Caizhou. I am fortunate to meet Young Hero Zhou today.”
“Divine Fist Sect’s Zhang Shengli greets Young Hero Zhou.”
…
Zhou Yan could not ignore them and responded verbally. In the distance, Hong Qigong laughed heartily and said to Huang Yaoshi, “That kid is making a name for himself on Shaoshi Mountain and is in a lot of trouble. I’m off.”
“I’ll go with Seventh Brother.”
Their figures flickered, and they disappeared into the woods. Huang Yaoshi searched for Huang Rong. He saw that on the trunk of a peach tree where he had spoken with Huang Rong in the forest earlier, there were characters pricked by golden needles.
“Father, I will return to Peach Blossom Island after playing for a while. Do not worry.” Huang Yaoshi gave a wry smile and left with Hong Qigong.
Zhou Yan broke free from the crowd. Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi were nowhere in sight. He didn’t mind. The martial artists at the scene were excited and noisy, and Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi would not linger in such a boisterous atmosphere.
Experts act in mysterious ways, appearing and disappearing like dragons.
He then looked for Zhang Sanqiang. The Ming Cult leader, who was alone, was already several miles away.
It was also a departure without saying goodbye.
“Experts are so lonely,” Zhou Yan sighed and walked towards Zhang Wangyue and Lu Beihe.
“Brother Zhou’s cultivation has improved greatly. I am truly impressed.”
Zhou Yan teased, “Don’t tell me you’ve been neglecting your training.”
“How could I? I will spar with Brother Zhou another day.”
“Good.”
“Brother Zhou, are you returning to Zhongdu?”
“I need to go to Cuya Mountain.”
“I will go with Brother Zhou.”
“Excellent.”
Zhou Yan was delighted. It was a good opportunity to plan with Yang Miaozhen about eradicating the bandits on Tongbai Mountain. Thinking this, he said to Zhang Wangyue, “The Golden Doll is still at Cuya Mountain. I will take Master there and then return to Zhongdu.”
“Let’s go together. I haven’t seen Leader Yang in a long time. I’ll go and visit.”
“That would be perfect.”
The Tianzhu Monk also walked over, clasped his hands in gratitude to Fu’an Chief Escort. Zhang Wangyue politely responded. The Tianzhu Monk then said to Zhou Yan, “Shaolin Temple has no immediate worries. It is acceptable for this old monk to accompany the escort to Leader Yang’s place.”
“Agreed!”
“Blessed, blessed. This old monk will now take his leave from the Abbot.”
“I will go with Master.”
“I will go to the temple to burn some incense,” Zhang Wangyue said.
“This old man will wait outside.”
Yanbo Diaosou did not worship gods or Buddhas and did not enter Shaolin Temple. He waited outside with Liang Xiaowu, while Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and Lu Beihe walked towards the temple.
“Young Hero Zhou, please wait.”
Zhou Yan looked and saw Huo Du approaching.
The Mongolian Little Prince had seen Zhou Yan talking extensively with Ku Cheng earlier and assumed they were old acquaintances. He carefully chose his words and said, “I happen to be visiting Abbot Master. Perhaps we can go together?”
“I am about to take my leave from Abbot Master. Our paths differ, so I will go ahead.” As Zhou Yan spoke, he stepped into the temple, followed by Zhang Wangyue, Lu Beihe, and the Tianzhu Monk.
Huo Du watched Zhou Yan’s retreating figure, his face ashen.
Inside the temple, Zhang Wangyue and Lu Beihe burned incense and added some donation money. Zhou Yan was led to a guest room by the reception monk, and the Tianzhu Monk returned the 《Lankāvatāra Sūtra》.
Zhou Yan had not read the fourth volume of the 《Nine Yang Manual》, but he had no regrets. Obtaining the first three volumes of the true scripture from the Tianzhu Monk was an unexpected fortune, and he did not need to force it.
A little novice monk led the way, and they arrived at the Chan Courtyard. Ku Cheng, who had been regulating his breath after taking pills, came forward.
Zhou Yan said, “The Vajra Sect has retreated. I shall take my leave.”
“Blessed, blessed. Thank you, escort, for your righteous assistance.”
“You are too kind, Abbot. What is the feud between the leader of the Vajra Sect and your temple?”
At this point, Ku Cheng no longer concealed anything. He recounted how Huo Gong Toutuo, who had been a cook in the temple’s kitchen, was beaten by a supervising monk. He secretly learned martial arts and, during the annual Dharma Hall competition, spoke disrespectfully, leading to a fight. He defeated the nine great disciples of the Dharma Hall and severely injured Ku Zhi before fleeing. The senior monks in the temple had a heated argument over this matter, blaming each other. Arhat Hall’s head, Ku Hui Chan Master, in anger, left for the Western Regions and founded the Shaolin sect of the Western Regions.
Zhang Wangyue and Lu Beihe then understood the true reason why Shaolin Temple had not been involved in the Jianghu for so long.
Zhou Yan said, “That Huo Gong Toutuo is ferocious and vindictive. After his injuries heal, he will surely return. Abbot Master needs a plan that will resolve this completely.”
“This old monk has discussed it with several of my senior brothers and will consult with my junior brother Ku Hui on this matter.”
Zhou Yan felt relieved upon hearing this. Shaolin Temple was going to join forces with Shaolin of the Western Regions. Although they might not merge the temples, it was already a very good outcome.
“Excellent. Since that is the case, I will not disturb the Abbot’s quiet cultivation.”
“This old monk will escort the escort and Master out of the temple.”
Ku Cheng, accompanied by Tianxin and Tianming Chan Masters, saw them off. They bid farewell and rode away.
Tianxin watched Zhou Yan and the others turn into the green shade of the mountains and said, “Abbot, the Mongolian Little Prince and Golden Wheel Law King request an audience.”
Ku Cheng said, “If it were only the Law King, we could discuss the Dao. The Little Prince is driven by worldly desires, and the Law King accompanies him. His heart is already clouded, so say I am in seclusion due to internal injuries.”
“Understood.”
Ku Cheng turned and entered the yellow-walled temple courtyard, leaving directly.
