Chapter 265: The Phantom of Shaolin Temple
Martial arts realms and combat experience, when combined, are the truest reflection of a person’s strength.
Zhang Wangyue was undoubtedly such a person, able to fully unleash his strength.
Zhou Yan was even more so, having participated in hundreds of battles, accumulating rich combat experience, able to seize fleeting opportunities, and with flashes of inspiration, employ divine strokes that were as elusive as a sheep’s horns on a hanging branch.
Thus, Fu’an’s Chief Escort killed the Funiu Mountain leader Ba Rui, and Zhou Yan heavily injured Yu Huacheng, the White Lotus Cult Leader, who was stronger than him.
Ouyang Ke, Yang Kang, and Huo Du were the opposite; each possessed peerless skills, but when facing fierce opponents, they could only exert seven or eight tenths of their strength at most.
Throughout the Jianghu’s renowned righteous sects, disciples who achieved success in their arts would descend the mountains to travel, punishing evil and eliminating wickedness. This was essentially accumulating experience and improving cultivation techniques. Those with exceptional talent would gradually refine their techniques, simplifying the complex and purifying the crude. Some even achieved mastery and created their own cultivation techniques.
Zhang Wangyue retreated and kicked his staff; this move was actually learned from Zhou Yan. In the past, when Zhou Yan was instructing Mu Nianci in spear techniques at the escort bureau, he demonstrated the staff-kicking technique he had learned from Zhang Sanqiang. Fu’an’s Chief Escort witnessed this and further developed it.
Zhang Wangyue killed Ba Rui and reached for his staff. Looking around, he saw Yu Huacheng’s front stained with blood. His figure suddenly landed near the Yanbo Diaosou, repelling the Fishing Old Man with a flurry of palm strikes, and quickly retreated with the White Lotus Saint Son.
“Brother Zhou!”
Zhang Wangyue leaped towards the place where Zhou Yan and Yu Huacheng had previously fought.
…
Zhou Yan fell to the ground, rolled several times, used his hands for leverage to rise to a half-kneel, and then slowly stood up.
In an instant, he felt the gentle Qi emanating from Jade Guanyin, which penetrated his skin, relaxed his muscles and activated his collaterals, and healed his internal injuries. He used the Quanzhen Sect’s internal energy cultivation technique to intercept and circulate the Qi along his meridians. In just over ten breaths, he spat out a mouthful of dark purple, almost black, foul blood. The stagnation in his chest instantly dissipated, and the sound of his blood rushing through his veins echoed in his ears, like a long-frozen river melting and flowing turbulently under the spring sun.
The palm strike from Yu Huacheng had actually caused injuries far more severe than the confrontation at the Xiangyang wharf with Qiu Qianren. Therefore, it was still too early to fully recover. However, with his blood flowing and inner Qi circulating smoothly, his movement was no longer hindered, and he could slowly recover from his injuries on his own.
Dust and smoke were dispersed by several figures as Zhang Wangyue, Wang Kui, and Yanbo Diaosou appeared beside Zhou Yan.
Seeing Zhou Yan, whose lips were still stained with blood, the three were truly startled.
Zhang Wangyue quickly grabbed the porcelain bottle containing only a few “Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pills” left.
Zhou Yan smiled and stopped him, “It’s nothing, I have pills. I can fight another round.”
Knowing Zhou Yan’s personality, Zhang Wangyue let out a sigh of relief, “The White Lotus Cult Leader seems to be seriously injured.”
“He was stabbed with a sword.”
Yanbo Diaosou sighed, “That old man is truly formidable. With a single palm strike, he unleashed a Heaven and Earth Net, with the momentum of wind and rain. It’s remarkable that Brother Zhou managed to stab him.”
Zhou Yan chuckled and said to Zhang Wangyue, “It was the Returning Spear technique used by the Tongbai Mountain bandit leader that time.”
Zhang Wangyue understood and smiled knowingly, his face filled with admiration.
“Let’s press our advantage and take the stronghold,” Zhou Yan said.
“Alright!”
The figures of several people flickered as they joined the fray.
Yu Huacheng and Wuse fled, and Ba Rui was killed. The stronghold lacked any high-level experts. Ordinary attacks did not affect Zhou Yan’s injuries. He remained the greatest threat to the bandits in the stronghold. Using the Tomb Lightness Skill, he moved swiftly and unpredictably, like a phantom. With his sword, he struck acupoints. Wherever he passed, the fallen bandits had no visible wounds but bled from their noses and mouths, dying.
As dusk fell, the setting sun was like blood. The battle that had lasted half a day gradually ended. Of the ten thousand bandits in the Funiu Mountain stronghold, several thousand scattered and fled like birds and beasts, while the rest were either killed or captured.
The only regret was that the second-in-command of Tongbai Mountain, who had fled to the stronghold, saw that the situation was unfavorable and slipped away early, thus escaping punishment.
As night fell, Liang Xiaowu arrived from the Tongbai Mountain stronghold to deliver news: Lu Beihe, Huyan Lei, Qiu Qianchi, Mu Nianci, and others had captured the main stronghold.
Zhang Wangyue and Yang Miaozhen let out sighs of relief. A great victory!
…
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Silver light dust was sprinkled on the ground, and the air was filled with the fragrance of ginseng.
The main stronghold contained the hundred-year-old ginseng that Ba Rui had seized from the escort team and merchants.
Liang Xiaowu caught a hazel grouse in the mountain forest, which could strengthen the waist and knees and benefit bone marrow. He added it to the ginseng to make a soup for Zhou Yan to nourish his Qi and blood. He had accompanied Zhou Yan on many personal safety escorts, and on two occasions, the employer was Huang Rong.
Now, not only was he skilled in cooking, but his understanding of medical principles also far surpassed that of ordinary escorts.
Lu Beihe, Huyan Lei, and Qiu Qianchi were still at the Tongbai Mountain stronghold.
In the courtyard hall were Zhou Yan, Yang Miaozhen, Zhang Wangyue, and others.
Yang Miaozhen served the soup and handed the porcelain bowl to Zhou Yan.
“Brother Zhou, you’ve worked hard. Replenish your body well. This soup invigorates Yang Qi and promotes blood circulation.”
Among the people of the Jianghu, speaking of Yang Qi was done openly, without any hint of impropriety.
Zhou Yan did not refuse her kindness and accepted the porcelain bowl with a smile, “Thank you, sister.”
He thought to himself that since he began cultivating the first volume of the Nine Yang Manual, Yang Qi was precisely what he had in abundance.
“Why be so polite? If something were to happen to you, how could I rest easy?”
Yanbo Diaosou chuckled, “As long as Brother Zhou didn’t die on the spot, he won’t die later. That day at the Xiangyang wharf, he also spat fresh blood, but he recovered completely within an hour or two.”
“An unkillable, naturally gifted constitution,” Zhou Yan joked.
“If Fishing Old Man Senior says so, I am relieved,” Yang Miaozhen changed the subject, “We captured over a hundred fine horses from Funiu Mountain alone. There were countless weapons and vast sums of gold and silver. Tongbai Mountain should have even more. Brother Zhang and Brother Zhou, please give me some advice on how to develop in the future.”
“Brother is skilled in this,” Zhou Yan said, then drank the soup to strengthen his Yang.
Zhang Wangyue pondered for a moment and said, “Regarding training methods, Leader Yang has grasped the essence, so I won’t say much. The villagers should be settled, and their departure should be voluntary. Those who wish to leave the stronghold should be given some money, as these villagers were all captured through plunder.”
“Yes, that’s not a problem.”
“My suggestion is that Leader Yang should develop in Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain in the future.”
“Why?”
Zhang Wangyue said, “Cuya Mountain is also an ideal place for training and storing troops, but it is flat all around. Once surrounded by a large army, not only would you be isolated and without aid, but you would also have no retreat. Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain are different. The two strongholds can support each other, and they are surrounded by majestic mountains and steep ridges. You can advance or retreat. They can support tens of thousands of soldiers. Leave a small number of personnel at Cuya Mountain and move the rest to the two strongholds.”
Zhou Yan inwardly praised him. He had not studied the Wumu’s Military Writings, but with his knowledge from two lifetimes, exiting Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain leads to Nanyang. Jingxiang is the gateway to the world, and Nanyang is the gateway to Jingxiang.
Zhang Wangyue was indeed the son of a general’s family.
“Good, I’ll listen to Brother Zhang.”
“In the future, Fu’an will no longer need to detour through the Huai River when escorting goods to Jiangnan,” Wang Kui said with satisfaction. “Both the Northern and Southern Escort Bureaus should be grateful to Leader Yang.”
“It is Fu’an that should be thanked. Without Fu’an, where would the armored cavalry be? Brother Zhang, Brother Zhou, please stay here for a while.”
“After Brother Zhou’s injuries have healed, the old man and he will go to Dongting Lake and then to Hengshan,” Yanbo Diaosou chuckled.
“Mm.”
“Once the two strongholds are stable, I will also return to Zhongdu.”
“That’s fine too. Anyway, in the future, whether Fu’an is escorting goods or Brother Zhou is traveling north or south, you will most likely pass through here. Sister will always welcome you.”
“Good!” Zhang Wangyue and Zhou Yan said in unison.
Zhou Yan was full and did not concern himself with the affairs of the stronghold. He found a secluded valley to practice and heal his injuries.
…
Entering the ancient temple in the morning, the first rays of sun illuminated the tall forest.
After the morning meal, the sounds of strong winds echoed from the martial field of Shaolin Temple as Ku Cheng and Ku Hui emerged from beneath the lush trees.
Ku Hui’s broken bones in his arms and palms had already healed after being treated with “Black Jade Continuing Bone Paste.”
Huo Gong Toutuo had been defeated and fled from Shaoshi Mountain, burning down Shaolin of the Western Regions.
Everyone in the temple knew that the Vajra Sect would return, so the martial monks diligently practiced day and night. This was especially true for Tianxin Chan Master, the head of the Arhat Hall, and Tianming Chan Master, the head of the Dharma Hall.
When Ku Hui and others arrived at Shaolin Temple, the two temples merged in a tragic manner, and the martial arts atmosphere at Shaolin Temple became even more fervent. Especially Tianxin and Tianming Chan Masters, who humbly sought guidance from Tianlong and Tianxiang, and sparred with each other, their skills improving significantly. According to their entry into the temple and time of becoming disciples, Tianlong and Tianxiang of Shaolin of the Western Regions should refer to the heads of the Arhat Hall and Dharma Hall of Central Plains Shaolin as Senior Brothers.
As Ku Hui and Ku Cheng walked over, they saw the monks gathered in a circle. In the center of the martial field, Tianxiang was practicing a cultivation technique. As he struck with his palms, his footwork, body, and spine moved in coordination. He leaped and exerted force, his palm techniques being grand, continuous, and ancient.
After completing the palm technique, he was met with thunderous applause.
Tianming Chan Master stepped forward and said, “That day at Shaoshi Mountain, Baoxiang of the Vajra Sect used the ‘Vajra Prajna Palm.’ I believe his skill is far inferior to yours, Junior Brother.”
“That’s natural. Senior Brother has meticulously studied the Vajra Prajna Palm, the Great Vajra Fist, and the Maha Finger. He is a master of all three,” said a little novice monk from the Western Regions Shaolin, who followed Ku Hui. His words drew a round of good-natured laughter.
Tianxiang said, “As one practices the Prajna Palm, there is no end to it. The palm force grows stronger with practice, and the moves become purer. It can be said that there is no limit to learning. I am merely proficient; if we were to truly compare skills, I am still no match for Baoshu of the Vajra Sect.”
“Baoshu did not make a move at Shaoshi Mountain. Is he very powerful?” Tianxin asked.
“Yes, in Shaolin of the Western Regions, only the Abbot and my Senior Brother Tianlong can match him.”
Tianlong heard this and said, “The Abbot can likely defeat Baoshu.”
The implication was that he himself was also no match for Baoshu.
Tianming, Tianxin, and others felt a heavy weight in their hearts. If that was the case, then besides the Abbot, no one in Central Plains Shaolin Temple could defeat him.
Tianlong saw the solemn expressions on everyone’s faces and said, “My fellow brothers need not worry. The Vajra Sect’s foundation is not as deep as Shaolin Temple’s. If we strive diligently and practice without ceasing, we will surely surpass them one day.”
“Junior Brother Tianlong speaks well,” Tianming said.
Tianxiang took over the conversation and said to a monk of the “Tian” generation, “Junior Brother, you are also practicing the Vajra Prajna Palm. I will share some of my cultivation insights on this palm technique.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
“We will start with ‘Seamless,’ which in Sanskrit is called ‘Avakshaya,’ meaning ‘indescribable.’ The key is that the right palm’s force should be light yet solid, and the left palm’s force should be heavy yet empty. The interplay of emptiness and solidity is crucial. The enemy, unaware, is easily deceived…”
Ku Cheng stopped and watched for a long time. He said to Ku Hui, “The departed are like flowing water. I feel as if I am seeing the time when you and I, fellow disciples, were practicing martial arts.”
“I feel the same.”
The two of them, as if by unspoken agreement, clasped their hands together, chanted a Buddhist invocation, and slowly departed. On the martial field, after Tianxiang finished explaining the Vajra Prajna Palm, Chan Master Tianlong then shared his insights on the Dragon Claw Hand. The monks from the Western Regions and the monks from Central Plains Shaolin Temple sparred and exchanged martial arts knowledge. The sunset fell amidst such a rhythm.
…
In the moonlight, something crawled through the forest, moving silently and slowly. Upon reaching the courtyard wall, a figure that leaped out of the darkness pierced through the clear moonlight and landed in a forest outside Shaolin Temple.
Not long after, voices were heard from the forest: “I will explain the Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill, the Shadow Following Leg, and the Lightness Skill of One Reed Crossing the River.”
“Great!” replied a voice filled with overwhelming joy.
The person who spoke first meticulously recounted the three techniques of Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Unique Skills and asked, “Have you remembered them?”
“Every single word.”
“Are there any other instructions?”
“Find a way to obtain the Yi Jin Jing.”
“Understood.”
“Good, be careful.”
The forest fell silent. A figure emerged from the trees, like a giant owl, moving forward at times and hiding at others, disappearing into Shaolin Temple amidst its densely packed buildings.
