Chapter - 312 Willingly Disfigure a Handsome Face (6)

With total concentration Zhang Wuji launched attacks and put up defenses among the weapons, but momentarily he had not yet understood his opponents' movements; so it would not be easy to score any victory. Luckily He Biweng was severely wounded and his movements were unavoidably sluggish.

In the meantime Zhao Min lightly clapped her hands three times and naked blades dazzled in the hall. Three men attacked Yang Xiao, four people attacked Wei Yixiao, and two pointed the tip of their weapons on Zhou Zhiruo's back. Yang Xiao snatched a sword and brandished it lightning fast, stabbing a man attacking his back. Wei Yixiao used his 'qing gong' [lightness kungfu] as his weapon and slapped two people with his 'xuan yin mian zhang' [dark cloud cotton palm]. But in reality the enemies were too many, for every man down, two came out to take his place; while Zhang Wuji was engaged in a fierce battle against the Xuanming Elders and was not able to lend them a hand. It would not be too difficult for the three of them to escape, but certainly it was almost impossible if they wanted to take Zhou Zhiruo along.

While they were anxious, suddenly Zhao Min shouted, "Everybody hold your hands!" Her voice was not too loud, but her subordinates obeyed her and immediately leaped backward.

Yang Xiao tossed his sword to the ground. Wei Yixiao had just snatched a blade from an enemy's hand; he turned it around and threw it back to its owner, while laughing a big laugh. Seeing someone was still holding a dagger on Zhou Zhiruo's back; Zhang Wuji could not help but feeling anxious and it showed on his face.

With a sad voice Zhou Zhiruo said, "Zhang Gongzi [young master, a respectful term to address a young man], please leave. Xiao Nuzi [little/young girl] is deeply grateful of three gentlemen's kind intention."

Zhao Min smiled and said, "Zhang Gongzi, I feel sad to destroy such a beautiful face like this. Surely she is your beloved?"

Zhang Wuji blushed; he said, "Miss Zhou and I have known each other since we were little. When I was a child I was hit by this man's …" he pointed to He Biweng, "… Xuanming Divine Palm. The cold poison entered my body and made me difficult to move. I was lucky this Miss Zhou helped me eating and drinking. I do not dare to forget her kindness."

"So you were childhood friends," Zhao Min said, "You are thinking of making her the Devil Cult's Madame Cult Leader, aren't you?"

Zhang Wuji blushed even deeper. "The barbarians have not yet been extinguished, how can I think of raising a family?" he said.

Zhao Min's face darkened. "You surely want to destroy me very much, don't you?" she asked.

Zhang Wuji shook his head. "Until now I still do not know Miss' origin," he said, "Although our paths have crossed several times, every time it was Miss who seeks out Zhang Wuji; it wasn't the Old Zhang who looks for trouble with Miss. I will be deeply grateful if Miss is willing to let my martial uncles and the Wulin warriors from various sects go; I wouldn't dare to seek enmity with Miss. Moreover, Miss still has to tell me three matters, which I will strive to carry them out, in no way will I refuse your command."

Zhao Min could hear the sincerity in his voice, her face brightened like a fresh flower just blossomed. She smiled and said, "Hey, you haven't forgotten that." Turning her head toward Zhou Zhiruo she said to Zhang Wuji, "This Miss Zhou is not your beloved, she is neither your martial sister, nor your fiancé; so if I want to destroy her face, it has nothing to do with you …" She cast a sidelong glance; Lu Zhangke and He Biweng immediately raised their weapons in front of Zhou Zhiruo, while another man raised a sharp dagger toward her cheeks.

If Zhang Wuji wanted to save her, he would have to break the Xuanming Elders' defense line; which was not easy. Zhao Min coldly said, "Zhang Gongzi, you'd better tell me the truth."

All of a sudden Wei Yixiao held out his palms and spat some saliva on them. He rubbed his palms several times to the sole of his shoes, and laughed a big laugh. Nobody knew what kind of crafty trick he was about to perform; suddenly a green shadow flashed. Zhao Min felt her left and right cheeks were rubbed by a palm. She looked at Wei Yixiao and found him stood on his original position, but now in his hands were two daggers; it was not clear whom he snatched the daggers from. Zhao Min realized things were not good; she did not dare to rub her own cheeks, but took a handkerchief and wiped her face. She saw her handkerchief was black with some mud, and knew instantly that it was the dirt from Wei Yixiao's shoes plus his saliva. This thought made her sick that she almost threw up.

Wei Yixiao said, "Miss Zhao, whether you want to destroy Miss Zhou's face or not, it is up to you. You are cruel and merciless; I, the one with surname Wei, cannot stop you. Just know this: today you cut Miss Zhou's face once, the one surnamed Wei will double it; I will cut your face twice. You cut her face twice, I will cut yours four times. You break one finger of hers, I will break two of yours." Speaking to this point he struck the daggers in his hands to each other and continued, "What the one surnamed Wei wants to do, he can do it. 'Qing Yi Fu Wang' [The Green Winged Bat King] will do what he says. All my life I have never said an empty talk. You can guard against me for a year or a year and a half, but not for eight years, ten years. You can send your people to kill me, but I doubt they will be able to pursue me. I take my leave now!" When the word 'now' came out of his mouth, he had already disappeared.

'Slap! Slap!' two daggers flew and struck a pillar; followed by "Aiyo! Ah!" screams, two foreign monks in the hall slowly sat down. Somehow the swords in their hands were snatched by Wei Yixiao; while their acupoints were also sealed by him.

Wei Yixiao's words were spoken lightly, but everybody knew it was not idle talk; they saw with their own eyes that Zhao Min white cheeks, which were red from rouge earlier, were smeared black by Wei Yixiao's dirt. If he was holding knives in his hands, Zhao Min's cheeks would have been destroyed. His movement to her and back was lightning fast; it was like a ghost or a demon's movement; certainly no experts would be able to guard against him. Even Zhang Wuji felt ashamed of his own inferiority. In a long distance race Zhang Wuji would be able to win relying on his stronger internal energy, but moving in the courtyard or between the porch and the veranda nobody could match this person's divine speed.

Zhang Wuji bowed and saluted. "Miss Zhao," he said, "We have offended you today; we'll take our leave now." Taking Yang Xiao's hand he turned around and went out the hall. He knew with Wei Yixiao's threat Zhao Min would not dare to harm Zhou Zhiruo. Zhao Min looked at his back with mixed feelings: ashamed and angry; but she did not command her people to block their way.

Zhang Wuji and Yang Xiao returned to the inn; Wei Yixiao was already waiting for them there. Zhang Wuji laughed and said, "Wei Fuwang [Bat King Wei], today you have given them a demonstration of your prowess, letting them know not to easily provoke the Ming Cult."

"It wasn't difficult to scare a little girl," Wei Yixiao said, "She can pretend to be fierce and wicked, but as she heard me wanting to destroy her face, I guarantee you she won't be able to sleep for three whole days and three whole nights."