Wang Chong had already recalled seventy or eighty percent of his martial arts. He had put the most effort into Flowing Cloud Palm and Splitting Wind Palm, but the martial art he excelled at was called Wind-Cloud Hundred Styles.
This was both a folding fan art and a palm technique, combining his innate inner-power art, the lightness skill Riding Clouds and Treading Wind, Flowing Cloud Palm, Splitting Wind Palm, and part of Holding-Candle Swordplay into one. It could be called an unmatched skill.
Flowing Cloud Palm embodied the artistic conception of flowing clouds and flowing water; the palm technique was fast, the moves exquisite, the changes endless. Splitting Wind Palm, however, was a palm force similar to the Void-Splitting Palm or Hundred-Step Divine Fist in martial arts novels. These two martial arts were the main trunk of Wind-Cloud Hundred Styles.
No need to say more about his inner power—it was clearly Orthodox Xuanmen, without a trace of demonic energy. His lightness skill Riding Clouds and Treading Wind was also graceful and free, fleet and sweeping away dust. Any martial art required internal force as a foundation; over ninety percent of martial arts could not do without the assistance of lightness skill. But the most powerful martial art he possessed was Holding-Candle Swordplay.
This swordplay had seventy-two paths; it was the supreme swordsmanship of Orthodox Xuanmen! It took its meaning from the ancient candle dragon and the anecdote of holding candle fire in one's mouth. It was said that if this sword art was practiced to the extreme, a faint light like candle flame could be generated from friction between the sword tip and the air. When the swordplay unfolded, there would be thousands of candle flames, and at its most extreme, it was dazzlingly brilliant.
Wang Chong silently mused in his heart: "The original owner's talent seems a bit lacking. He couldn't grasp the deeper levels of this sword art, only putting some effort into the swordplay paired with Wind-Cloud Hundred Styles. This sword art is the most subtle and wondrous; its most powerful moves he only roughly understood."
"Although I erased the patterns on the fan surface, if I can avoid using a fan, I should try not to. I'll put more effort into swordplay from now on!"
In the evening, more guests arrived at the inn. Wang Chong had a guilty conscience, so he couldn't help but secretly observe through the courtyard gate. He saw it was the Flying Tiger Escort Agency's caravan, and everyone had injuries on them. No one knew what danger they had encountered.
Those female disciples of the Qingcheng Sect made no move. Instead, the escort agency, after settling in, sent two escort guards to pay a visit.
Chu Qiuzi, hearing the swarthy-faced middle-aged man announce himself—surnamed Zhang, given name Xingzhou, a Wudang Sect disciple—only then did her jade-like countenance slightly thaw. She said lightly: "Wudang and Qingcheng are both of the Nine Veins of Xuanmen. Please speak directly about whatever business you have."
The sinister-looking man had an irritable temper and could not restrain himself: "The cargo we are guarding this time is very important, but yesterday we were ambushed by the Clear River Gang. They outnumbered us, and we failed to protect the goods. Hearing that several heroines of the Qingcheng Sect are staying here, we specially came to beg you to help us retrieve the goods."
Chu Qiuzi, hearing this matter, felt somewhat unwilling. Escort agencies guarded goods for money and protected cargo; it had nothing to do with chivalry. Losing escort goods had fixed procedures: return to the agency for help, send more men to seize them back by force, or hire a well-known figure from the jianghu to mediate. These were all familiar tactics. These two escort guards showing up uninvited and boldly asking for help was taking her sisters as fools, trying to drag them into the water, making them fight to the death for the escort agency and work for the cargo owners.
Such incidents of dragging people into service for no reason were common in the jianghu. Only those whose sect elders had muddled brains and never warned them, inexperienced newcomers to the jianghu, would recklessly agree—not only serving others but also needlessly making enemies, ruining their lives.
While staying at the inn, an escort guard had found out that a group of martial arts women were also lodging here. They discussed it privately and came to try their luck. If they could get these jianghu heroines to lend their strength, their chances of retrieving the goods would increase by several points. They hadn't expected to run into the Qingcheng Sect. Purple-Green Jade Maiden Chu Qiuzi's reputation was extremely high. Though not as renowned as Wu-Hook Frost-Snow or Chess-Sword Linglong, she was not far behind. She was not someone easily manipulated. Though his companion had forced himself to speak, Zhang Xingzhou felt uneasy in his heart and had no real confidence.
Chu Qiuzi pondered for a moment, still without a good excuse to refuse. Fifth Junior Sister Female Zhuge Luo Lingxi let out a soft laugh and said: "Originally, when fellow jianghu practitioners have difficulties, we sisters should lend a hand. But unfortunately, recently the lecher White Chrysanthemum has been committing crimes in succession, abducting Lotus Immortal Nan Xinlan and Mingzhu of Iron Pear Mountain Villa. We are anxious to go rescue them; this matter is extremely urgent, and we cannot spare a hand for the time being."
The sinister-looking man could not help but say: "Such beautiful women falling into the hands of a lecher—I fear they've already done everything possible. How can there be any time to spare..." All the Qingcheng women turned green in the face. How could they not know this? But to have it spoken out so bluntly to their faces—especially since Tie Mingzhu was a close friend—was truly not giving them face.
Fourth Junior Sister Jade Balance Fairy Bai Lingxi had the fiercest temper. How could she tolerate this man talking nonsense? She raised her hand and fired a Crane-Cry Divine Needle.
The swarthy-faced middle-aged man knew it was bad. He hastily struck out a palm and shoved his companion, but how could he compare to the orthodox lineage of Qingcheng? Though he was a Wudang Sect disciple, he was merely a lay disciple, like a lay disciple of Shaolin, unable to receive the supreme true transmission. His move was a bit slower. He heard his companion cry out in pain—the Crane-Cry Divine Needle had pierced his ear. The sinister-looking man's face was full of anger, but he was just an ordinary escort guard, and he himself had misspoken; he truly did not dare lose his temper at the Qingcheng disciples.
Zhang Xingzhou had no choice. He pulled his companion and said: "We came at a bad time. We'll take our leave first."
Chu Qiuzi pressed down Fourth Junior Sister and said lightly: "Please go."
The two left the courtyard where the Qingcheng women stayed. Zhang Xingzhou felt a bit resentful. "Old Lu, why did you speak nonsense?"
The sinister-looking man, though his ear had been pierced, the Qingcheng Sect's Crane-Cry Divine Needle was usually non-toxic, and the wound was small. He rubbed it to stop the bleeding. He jerked his chin toward the side and said: "Qingcheng's women won't do. We can still ask about your junior disciple. Even if his martial arts are crude, he can at least be an extra piece of meat to take a blow."
Zhang Xingzhou had no choice but to knock on Wang Chong's courtyard door again.
Wang Chong had been circulating his internal force to his ears, eavesdropping in his own courtyard. This sentence rushed straight into his ears. He was so angry that smoke seemed to come from his seven orifices. He silently cursed: "These two escort guards are not good people! They're just taking me for a fool, trying to coax a fool into fetching chestnuts from the fire for them. Not opening, not opening—I just won't open. Let's see if you can still smash the door!"
The two escort guards pounded on the door for a while. Wang Chong made up his mind: he simply wouldn't open the door, nor make a sound. This was a survival trick unique to modern people. The swarthy-faced middle-aged man and the sinister-looking man didn't think so much. They thought Wang Chong had temporarily gone out, so they could only return resentfully.
Wang Chong heard their footsteps hurrying away, gradually growing distant. He had just let out half a breath of relief and silently thought: "That middle-aged man who said my traveling movement resembled his sect's Riding Clouds and Treading Wind lightness skill is actually from Wudang Sect. Am I not then Wudang Sect too? Could it be that the girl in blue wasn't lying? Am I really Wudang's Mo Yuncong? I shouldn't trust too easily. I always feel there's something fishy about this."
Suddenly he heard a howling wind. A slender figure, tall and graceful like jade, flipped over the wall and landed lightly. An extremely gentle voice said: "So you are a disciple of Wudang Sect. I don't know if you are a lay disciple or under which elder?"
Purple-Green Jade Maiden Chu Qiuzi had a beautiful and graceful appearance, smiled charmingly, her whole body seemed wrapped in spring breeze, extremely beautiful and gorgeous!
...Wang Chong: Is this girl here to catch the lecher...
...Chu Qiuzi: How should I politely ask him a moment later if he's married...
...Eldest Senior Sister: I'm in closed seclusion...
...Third Senior Sister: I'm also in closed seclusion, haven't come down the mountain...
...Fourth Junior Sister Jade Balance Fairy Bai Lingxi: Second Senior Sister acted so fast...
...Fifth Junior Sister Female Zhuge Luo Lingxi: Second Senior Sister acted so fast...
...Sixth Junior Sister Cloud-Grabbing Immortal Magpie Long Cuocuo: Second Senior Sister acted so fast...
...Seventh Junior Sister One-Flavor Immortal Huang Yan: Second Senior Sister acted so fast...
...Little Junior Sister Cloud-Dwelling Green Bird Ren Wanqing: Second Senior Sister acted so fast...
Chapter 10