Chapter 36: The Iron Palm Sect Acts Fiercely, Subduing Dragon Palm Punishes Evil
The clamor from the inn carried out into the night.
The white-robed young man saw the shop assistant emerge alone from the inn and sighed.
The shop assistant hurried forward. Before he could speak, the young master said, “You’re not selling?”
“Young Master is wise,” the shop assistant replied with a smile, wondering how he had guessed.
“Alright, I understand.”
“Young Master, the silver coins?”
“Once I give them to you, can I take them back?”
“Thank you, Young Master.” The shop assistant left joyfully.
The young man watched the excited shop assistant, then looked at the beggar resting with his eyes closed by the roadside outside the inn. He sighed inwardly, “I’m not as free and content as a little beggar.”
…
Zhou Yan no longer thought about the young master buying the horse. The inn had prepared a room, and Huyan Lei had paid the rent. They went upstairs to the guest rooms via the hall staircase.
The escorts checked the rooms one by one, opened the windows to survey the surroundings from above, and then, satisfied, went downstairs with Zhou Yan.
A boisterous sound came from the hall.
Zhou Yan looked over and saw a young master with a frivolous appearance, surrounded by several men, confronting Mu Yi and his daughter.
Mu Yi’s voice rang out, “This young master is unfamiliar to me. I don’t know how I have offended you.”
The young master said, “I’ve come for the martial arts competition to recruit a husband.”
“Ah!”
“The other day, you held a martial arts competition to recruit a husband. I lost by one move, but my heart fell for the young lady. I’ve found a master to come and compete again.”
“I see. Since you were defeated, there’s no need to compete again.”
“I say we compete, and we compete.”
“Young Master, please don’t force the issue.”
“Fine, let me take the little beauty back.”
As Mu Yi negotiated with the young master in the hall, Zhou Yan roughly understood the situation.
Mu Yi had held a martial arts competition to recruit a husband, and the young master before them had lost to Mu Nianci. The other party, infatuated with Mu Nianci’s beauty, had hired an expert to pursue them.
The wealthy patrons and Hu People enjoyed the excitement. The Hu man adorned with pearls and jewels said, “Young Master, what exactly is going on here?”
The young master said, “This old man brought his daughter for a martial arts competition to recruit a husband. I was no match for him a few days ago, but I cannot forget the young lady, so I have pursued you all this way.”
“Haha, what a devoted young man.” The Hu man changed his tone, “Old man, there are many people here, perhaps you can find a suitable husband for your daughter. I might also gain a concubine. How about you hold another martial arts competition to recruit a husband?”
“Good!”
The numerous merchants watching the spectacle cheered.
The young master’s expression darkened, and he said, “My family has an origin with the Iron Palm Sect. Anyone who wishes to compete for the lady’s love is welcome to try.”
As he spoke, a big man with a tiger-backed and bear-waisted physique placed his hands on the table in front of Mu Yi. Without any apparent effort, the table creaked ominously, on the verge of collapsing.
The young master said proudly, “My master is from the Iron Palm Sect.”
The Iron Palm Sect was far away in Xiang territory, but most of the traveling merchants had heard of the incident where they “annihilated the Hengshan Sect.” For a moment, no one spoke.
Only the Hu man smiled, his expression dismissive.
Mu Yi’s face grew somewhat solemn.
“Let’s go, young lady. Whether it’s outside the inn or in the bridal chamber, let’s compete again.” The young master finished speaking and reached out to grab Mu Nianci.
Before Mu Yi could act, Mu Nianci let out a sharp cry and swept the tea and food on the table with her sleeve.
The man from the Iron Palm Sect waved his long sleeve, sending the tea and bowls flying into the air.
Mu Nianci swiftly drew a willow-leaf saber from her waistband. The long saber spun silently, its movement like flowing water and its form like a whirlpool. Even the tea splashed into the air was pressed into a fan shape by the saber’s light.
However, after only a few moves, Mu Nianci’s shoulder was struck by a palm, and the willow-leaf saber flew from her hand, embedding itself in a rafter. The blade vibrated, emitting a humming sound.
Mu Yi suddenly lunged forward, his fist striking upwards from below towards the face of the Iron Palm Sect man.
The Iron Palm Sect man roared, “Well met!” and pushed out his iron palms.
With a “bang,” Mu Yi’s sleeves rippled like waves, and his body swayed. Unable to withstand the immense force, he retreated sharply, his back hitting the wall before he could stop.
“Father!”
Mu Nianci rushed towards Mu Yi.
“Come here!” The young master sneered and reached out to grab Mu Nianci.
Mu Yi kicked up an iron spear standing by the wall, grasped it with both hands, and with a move called “Sweeping the Army,” he evaded the Iron Palm Sect man. The iron spear instantly broke through the wind and thrust towards the young master.
The Iron Palm Sect man lunged forward, one hand striking Mu Yi’s right shoulder, while the other attempted the “empty-hand snatching the blade” technique to seize the iron spear.
“Yang Family Spear Technique! That man is in danger,” Huyan Lei exclaimed.
Zhou Yan had already charged forward.
Huyan Lei removed his spear bag, held his spear with both hands, and under the inn’s bright lights, his iron spear leaped up, its edge thrusting out like an illusion.
Mist and dust swirled. The young master beside Mu Nianci was sent flying towards the Iron Palm Sect man with a “bang” by Zhou Yan’s “Iron Mountain Lean.” Zhou Yan then grabbed Mu Yi’s waistband.
Mu Yi felt a powerful force from his lower back, pulling him backward. Zhou Yan’s momentum did not decrease, and he passed by Mu Yi.
The Iron Palm Sect disciple had just caught the flying young master when Zhou Yan’s right arm bent inward, his right palm drawing a circle. With a whoosh, he pushed outward. The man heard the sharp palm wind and hastily struck out with a palm.
With a “bang,” the man staggered backward, knocking over several tables and chairs. Before he could regain his balance, Zhou Yan followed up with “Kanglong Regret,” which landed again.
The man was greatly alarmed and desperately pushed out another palm.
The two palms met, sending dust and smoke everywhere. Zhou Yan’s internal force, honed through diligent cultivation, radiated outward. With a crack, the man’s arm broke, and he was sent flying out of the inn, unconscious.
From behind him, Huyan Lei’s spear attacks surged like an angry tide.
Besides his own Huyan Family Spear Technique, the escort now also practiced the Yue Family Spear Technique. His mastery of spear techniques was far beyond what Mu Yi could compare to.
The young master and his subordinates saw only flickering, cold spear edges before their eyes. They were constantly forced to retreat towards the inn’s exit. As the young master who wanted to snatch the bride passed by Zhou Yan, he used sanshou to seize and capture him, lifting him and throwing him away.
With a bang, the dazed young master, seeing stars, rolled several times on the ground. He staggered to his feet, “Good! You dare…”
Huyan Lei truly feared that Zhou Yan would kill him.
If there were no one around, he would have easily dealt with them one by one with his spear. But this was a bustling wharf, and they were currently escorting adart. So, he flickered and appeared beside Zhou Yan, saying angrily.
“Scram!”
Huyan Lei’s fierce appearance and imposing demeanor commanded respect. His shout was like thunder. The young master, who was about to utter threats, lost his nerve and vented his anger on his subordinates, “You useless wretches, why aren’t you carrying your master away!”
The young master cast a ferocious glance at Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei, turned, and left.
…
Seeing that the danger had passed, Mu Yi stepped forward and said gratefully, “Thank you both, escorts, for your righteous assistance.”
“You’re welcome!” Huyan Lei and Zhou Yan cupped their fists.
Mu Yi quickly said to the innkeeper, “Shopkeeper, I will pay for the damaged tables and chairs.”
The shopkeeper, who ran a business in Fengling Ferry and was accustomed to fights, smiled and said, “Certainly, thank you, guests.”
Mu Yi bowed to the shopkeeper, then turned to Mu Nianci and said, “Daughter, come and thank our saviors.”
Mu Nianci was naturally grateful and stepped forward, saying, “Thank you both, escorts.”
“No need to be polite!”
With their brief replies, Mu Nianci retreated behind Mu Yi.
Zhou Yan kindly said, “That scoundrel might bring people back for revenge. It’s not advisable to stay here long.”
“Rest assured, benefactor. My daughter and I will depart tomorrow.”
“That is for the best. We are busy, so we bid you farewell,” Huyan Lei said.
“Farewell, escorts.”
Mu Yi and Mu Nianci escorted them out of the inn and watched as the old man and the young man rode their horses into the night and finally disappeared.
The previous chapter has been revised, changing the plot of Huang Rong stealing the horse to buying it. Readers who have already read it can refresh their pages. “Night-Shining Jade Lion” is not a husky; the original plot was for Zhou Yan to whistle and summon it back. Huang Rong has not been slandered, as the Yellow River Gang will act on the water, and Huang Rong will still appear. Also, I hope readers won’t say it’s a mindless harem when the protagonist interacts with a female character. Interacting with original characters is unavoidable, and their appearances only serve the subsequent plot. Furthermore, this is a fanfiction, and there will be a lot of original content; it will not strictly follow the original work. Lastly, this is a wuxia fanfiction, and I am focusing on the story and chivalry. My writing skills are limited, so I hope those who like it will support me, and those who don’t find it to their taste will be more forgiving. I am just a V2 small author.
