Chapter - 280 Visitors Drunk On Magical Lotus In the Green Willow Manor (12)

Zhou Dian slapped his thigh, "She burned the manor, so what? We can still catch up and kill them all."

Yang Xiao said, "Since she had already burned the manor, she must have prepared everything. We may not necessarily be able to pursue them."

"Yang Xiong," Zhou Dian said, "Your martial art is not bad, but when it comes to scheming, you beat Zhou Dian by half a notch."

Yang Xiao laughed and said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! Zhou Xiong's strategic ability is divine; how can Little Brother match it?"

Zhang Wuji smiled and said, "You two don't need to be modest. This time we do not suffer too much damage, except for thirteen, fourteen brothers who suffer some arrow wound; we should thank our lucky stars. Let's continue our journey."

Along the way they asked Zhang Wuji how he knew the cause of their poisoning. Zhang Wuji replied, "I remember in the Poison Manual there is an article: If the fragrance of the 'qi ling xiang mu' is mixed with that of some kind of lotus flower, the resulting mixture oftentimes can cause someone to become intoxicated for a few days. It can be neutralized by drinking the mixture of the beads of the flower with water. If the poison is not dispelled immediately, the toxicity will greatly damage the heart and the lung. This 'zui xian ling fu' is several times more severe than regular lotus. That was the reason I asked everybody not to circulate your internal energy. Otherwise the fragrance would have entered all passages and pulses, and then your life would be in danger."

Wei Yixiao said, "I am surprised that this little girl Xiao Zhao has rendered a great service today; if it wasn't for her bravely stepped forward in critical situation, our casualty would be very heavy."

Initially Yang Xiao believed that Xiao Zhao was the enemy's spy; but her actions that day could be considered a great service to the Ming Cult. It was so totally beyond his anticipation that for the time being he did not know what to think.

Along the way they tried to guess Zhao Min's origin, but nobody was able to offer a plausible explanation. Zhang Wuji did not tell anybody that they fell into the trap together, and that he touched her feet, ripped her skirt, and the circumstances surrounding that occasion. Although he felt that he did not do anything shameful, he still didn't feel comfortable talking about it in public.

That evening they decided to stop by an inn a little bit early. The rest of the Ming Cult people went their separate ways to find temples and ancestral halls to spend the night. Xiao Zhao took some water to Zhang Wuji's room for him to wash his face.

"Xiao Zhao," Zhang Wuji said, "Today you have rendered a great service; you don't have to act as my servant anymore."

Xiao Zhao flashed one of her captivating smiles. "I am very happy to attend to your needs; what servant are you talking about?" After waiting for him to wash his hands and face; she took the golden case out and said, "I wonder what kind of poisonous bugs or secret projectiles are in this box?"

"Right," Zhang Wuji said, "We have to be very careful."

Placing the case on the table he pulled her away from it. Taking out a copper coin he tossed it away. 'Ding!' the coin hit the edge of the golden case and opened up its lid. Nothing strange happened. He came near to take a look. Inside the box was a pearl head ornament; it still vibrated lightly. It was precisely the head ornament he took from Zhao Min's temples, except the two big pearls, which Zhao Min said were missing, were back on their golden stems. Zhang Wuji was taken aback; he could not guess Zhao Min's real intention in doing this.

Xiao Zhao smiled and said, "Master, that Miss Zhao is very good to you, she sent somebody to deliver this precious pearl head ornament to you."

Zhang Wuji said, "I am a man, what am I supposed to do with this kind of girl's jewelry? Xiao Zhao, you can keep it."

Xiao Zhao shook her hand; she laughed and said, "How can I? Others show their affection to you; how do I dare to take it?"

With three of his left hand fingers Zhang Wuji took the pearl ornament. "Catch!" he laughed, and tossed the ornament away. His strength was neither light nor heavy; the ornament landed on Xiao Zhao's hair without the golden pin scratching her skin.

Xiao Zhao reached up to take it away, but Zhang Wuji shook his hand and said, "Can't I give you some trinkets?"

Xiao Zhao's cheeks blushed; in a low voice she said, "Thank you very much, then. I am only afraid my Miss will be angry with me."

"What you did today was not a small matter," Zhang Wuji said, "How can the Left Emissary Yang, father and daughter, still suspect you?"

Xiao Zhao's heart was filled with joy; she said, "You have been gone for a long time, I was really worried; plus those Tartars came to attack. I don't know how, but suddenly I was swept by a great courage. If I think about it now, I was really scared. Master, can you talk to the Five Elements Flags and the Heavenly Eagle Flag brothers: asking them not to be offended by Xiao Zhao's boldness and unseemly behavior?"

Zhang Wuji smiled and said, "They can't thank you enough, how can they blame you?"

Less than a day later they arrived within the Henan borders. By that time the world was in chaos; everywhere heroic and patriots raised their arms to fight the invaders. Mongolian officers and soldiers conducted an even stricter questioning and searching of insurgents. It was inconvenient for the Ming Cult people to travel together as a large group, therefore, they traveled in smaller groups to the Mount Song [Song Shan] and regrouped at the foot of the mountain before they finally traveled together up the Shaoshi Peak.

The Gigantic Wood Flag Chief, Wen Cangsong, was sent ahead to deliver Zhang Wuji and the others' name cards to the Shaolin Temple. Zhang Wuji knew that this time they went up to the Shaolin Temple to ask for justice and although they did not want any fight, the end result would be difficult to tell. Supposing that the Shaolin monks did not want to talk but resort to violence instead, the Ming Cult could not balk at the challenge. Thereupon he passed on an order: while the leaders were entering the temple, the Five Elements Flags and the Heavenly Eagle Flag were to disperse around the temple and wait outside; as soon as they heard him whistle three times, they were to render their assistance. The flag leaders accepted the order and went their separate ways.

Not too long afterwards an old monk acting as the welcoming host went down the mountain accompanied by Wen Cangsong; he said, "The Temple Abbot and all elders are closing themselves in meditation; they cannot receive any guest."

The Ming Cult leaders' faces changed as they heard this. Zhou Dian indignantly said, "This is the Cult Leader of the Ming Cult, personally came to the Shaolin Temple to pay a visit; the Senior Monks do not want to see him, don't you think this is a bit rude?"

Zhou Dian angrily stretched out his hand to grab his collar. Shuo Bude raised his arm to block, he said, "Zhou Xiong, don't be rude."

Peng Yingyu said, "Since the Abbot is in seclusion, then it will be the same if we can see Reverend Kong Zhi or Kong Xing."