Chapter - 252 The Six Strongest Take Charge of Resolving Disputes (7)

Kong Sheng's eight strikes came continuously, looking more like eight different variations of a single move, each with unparalleled speed. Who would've thought that Zhang WuJi is even faster? Every time he lands the blow first. Every time Kong Sheng makes a move, he has to take a step back. By the time he has retreated seven steps, he begins to use 'Evil Wrapping Form' and 'Weakness Blocking Form'. These are the last two moves of the Dragon Claws. Their appearance seems to be filled with weaknesses, making the user look unsure of himself. Yet both of these forms are based on the principle of counterattacking. Every single weakness is a trap that allows for some very potent counterattacks. Although Dragon Claws is a Hard style of martial arts, it's last two moves changes to a very Soft style. Zhang WuJi takes another breath and steps up, also using the same final two forms, but immediately changed to a 'Cloud Palm Form' afterwards.

Kong Sheng thought ecstatically, "Ha! Finally fell into my trap." He sees Zhang WuJi's right arm entering the trap, unable to possibly retreat. Kong Sheng recoils his arms and then spun them from the top, striking down on Zhang WuJi's arms from above. He sees that this youngster is proficient in Shaolin kung fu. Afraid that he may be related to the temple, and knowing that Zhang WuJi had been lenient with him earlier, Kong Sheng did not try to take his life, only seeking to break his bones. Yet just before his attack landed, he felt a strong and warm inner power flowing into his chest, preventing his arms from going down further. At this time, Zhang WuJi's five fingers have already reached his body.

Immediately, Kong Sheng's heart sank. Tens of years of hard practice on this Dragon Claws, thinking it is unrivaled in the martial world, has now gone up in smoke. He nods and says, "Mr. Zeng's Dragon Claws are indeed much better than mine." His left hand then grabs his right hand, about to break them, when he felt numbness on his left wrist. Only to see Zhang WuJi applying some chi there, and says, "I simply used Shaolin's Dragon Claws to defeat you. What's the shame in that? Had I used any other type of kung fu, I could not have won today."

Kong Sheng, in his moment of failure, had wanted to break his own fingers, never to practice kung fu again. Yet when he heard this, he realizes that Zhang WuJi had been protecting Shaolin's integrity this whole time. If Zhang WuJi hasn't done this, then Shaolin's history and place in the martial world could have gone down in flames today. After he thought this through, Kong Sheng could only feel gratitude for Zhang WuJi, and says, "Mr. Zeng's kindness is truly incredible. You have my total admiration." Zhang WuJi responds, "I'm sorry for striking an elder. Please accept my apologies." Kong Sheng chuckled, and says, "I can't believe this Dragon Claws can have such amazing power in your hands. Should you have time, please come to Shaolin so you can give some more pointers." Usually, this sort of sentence has a connotation of challenging someone to a fight. Yet Kong Sheng's tone did not carry any of that meaning. He really does deeply respect Zhang WuJi's kung fu.

Zhang WuJi hurriedly responds, "Oh, you are flattering me. Shaolin's martial arts are vast and deep, while mine is shallow and thin. Should we be fated to meet again, I would also like reverend you to share some advice with me." His words are also just as sincere.

Due to his lack of management skills, Kong Sheng doesn't hold any position of authority within the temple. But his reputation in Shaolin is extremely good. Everyone deeply respects his character and martial arts skills. So when Shaolin's people see that he admits to defeat so sincerely, they do not complain. Plus, seeing how Zhang WuJi did everything in his power to keep Shaolin from losing face, they all knew that Shaolin couldn't challenge him further today. Kong Zhi is the leader of this whole attack, and knows that the six sects cannot simply back down like this. Seeing the problem with the situation at hand, he gave a look to the Master of Hua Shan sect, XianYu Tong. Xian YuTong is the brain behind this attack on Brightness Peak. When he sees Kong Zhi asking for help, he immediately steps into the arena. Zhang WuJi sees a forty-some year old middle-aged scholar come up, handsome and charismatic, and begins to like him a bit. Zhang WuJi asks, "What does the elder wish of me?" Before XianYu Tong could respond, Yin TianZheng says, "This is the Master of Hua Shan sect, XianYu Tong. Although his kung fu is average, he's very devious. You need to watch out." When Zhang WuJi heard the name, he thought, "Hey, this name sounds familiar. I wonder where I heard it before?" Only to see XianYu Tong walk up to a couple of yards in front of Zhang WuJi before stopping. He waves his hand and says, "After you, Mr. Zeng." Zhang WuJi also returns the favor, and adds, "After you, Master XianYu."

XianYu Tong says, "Young Hero Zeng's kung fu is simply marvelous, to be able to defeat the Kong Dong elders and even the Mystic Reverend Kong Sheng. I truly respect you. So may I ask, who is your teacher? Which sect did you come from?"

Zhang WuJi has to think of how to respond, so he remains silent.

XianYu Tong laughed, and then speaks loudly, "I wonder why Young Hero Zeng is so afraid to speak about your mentor? As a wise man once said, 'When you see someone worthy, you hold them in high regards, when you see someone not worthy…" When Zhang WuJi heard this, he immediately thought of 'See Death but Won't Help'*. He then remembered that five years ago in the Butterfly Valley, Hu QingNuo told him that XianYu Tong killed his sister. At that time, Zhang WuJi thought, "This XianYu Tong really is a terrible person. If he doesn't get bad luck later in life, then the gods really need their eyes re-examined." The words of that day came back to him, "A youngster got the Golden Bug Poison of the Miao tribe. He should've died from the poison, but I treated him for three days and three nights, using all my powers to cure him. We became sworn brothers afterward. Sighs. Who would've thought that he later killed my sister… My poor sister… Ever since our parent's death, we had only each other for support." When Hu QingNuo said this, his face was so frail and miserable, making Zhang WuJi quite sad. Hu QingNuo then said that he later tried to seek revenge, but Hua Shan sect simply has too many powerful people, and XianYu Tong is too cunning. So Hu QingNuo almost died in his hands. When Zhang WuJi thought of all this, he raised his eyebrows, and his eyes brightened, staring at XianYu Tong. Zhang WuJi feels the need to teach this person a lesson, so he chuckled, and then said, "I was never poisoned at the Miao Tribe, nor did I kill the sister of my best friend, why would I have anything to hide?"

*This made a lot more sense in Chinese, since the two phrases are similar.

XianYu Tong is instantly shaken when he heard this, and cold sweat pours down his face. After Hu QingNuo saved his life, he and Hu QingNuo's sister Hu QingYang fell in love. He married Hu QingYang, and she became pregnant. But later XianYu Tong wanted to be the Master of Hua Shan, so he left behind Hu QingYang. Then he married the only daughter of the former Hua Shan Master, resulting in Hu QingYang committing suicide. This is a story that XianYu Tong kept secret for years now. Yet somehow this little kid found out about it. How could he not be shocked? XianYu Tong immediately begins to think, "Since this kid knows my secret, I must kill him. It would be disastrous for him to reveal this to the world." This prompted him to regain his intensity. XianYu Tong says, "If you won't reveal your teacher's name, I guess I'll have to test out your amazing skills then. Let's just have a friendly duel, so please don't hurt me too much." As he said this his left hand shot out at Zhang WuJi's head, yelling, "Let us start!" He obviously doesn't want to give Zhang WuJi a chance to say something else, which Zhang WuJi has figured out. He easily blocked off the oncoming blow and keeps taking, "I know Hua Shan's kung fu is great. So I don't need to fight to test it out. But your 'Repaying Kindness with Reprisal*' skill is really quite unmatched, don't you agree?"