Chapter - 343 Broken Marriage of the Purple Dress King (6)

"Jin Hua Popo," Zhou Zhiruo said, "Although Xian Shi has already died, Emei Pai did not die with her. I have fallen under your hands, so if you want to kill me you can just kill me; but if you want to force me to submit to your desire, I suggest you give up that idea. Our Sect was fallen into the royal government's sinister plot and we were imprisoned in the Pagoda; but did you see any of us surrender? Zhou Zhiruo is merely a young and feeble woman, yet I have accepted the heavy responsibility assigned to me. I know it is very difficult, so early on I have already disregarded my own life and death."

Zhang Wuji saw the vital acupoints on her back were threatened by Jin Hua Popo; her life was hanging on a thread of hair, yet she was stubbornly standing up. He was afraid that in her anger Jin Hua Popo would take her life. He realized the situation was desperate; he wanted to jump out to rescue her. Zhao Min had already guessed his intention; she grabbed his right arm while lightly shaking her head, meaning that he should not act recklessly.

They heard Jin Hua Popo laugh aloud and say, "Miejue Shitai did not make a wrong decision. This young Sect Leader's martial art skill is weak, but her character is actually very strong. Hmm, that's right, that's right, insufficient martial art can be learned, river and mountain can be changed, but character is difficult to be altered."

Actually, right at that moment Zhou Zhiruo was scared to death, only she remembered about how her Shifu just before her death had placed her great trust on her, so she summoned all her courage and stood unyieldingly upright.

The other Emei disciples were originally looking down upon Zhou Zhiruo, but at this moment they saw her disregarding personal dislike bravely stepping forward to protect Ding Minjun, and then she did not demean their school prestige at all even under a powerful enemy's threat, feelings of respect and admiration started to grow in their hearts.

Jing Xuan brandished her sword and let out some signal whistles; the Emei disciples moved at once, with weapons in their hands they dispersed surrounding the pavilion.

"What is it?" Jin Hua Popo smiled and asked.

Jing Xuan said, "Popo captures Emei's Pai Leader, what do you want?"

Jin Hua Popo coughed several times and said, "You want to achieve victory by sheer numbers? Hey, hey, will ten times your number make any difference in Jin Hua Popo's eyes?"

Abruptly she let Zhou Zhiruo go, and then her body swayed and dashed straight toward Jing Xuan. Her two fingers moved toward Jing Xuan's eyes as if she wanted to dig her eyes out. Jing Xuan hastily waved her sword trying to chop her arm. Suddenly she heard a 'hey' noise, followed by a grunt; one of her Shimei standing close to her had fallen down. Turned out that when Jin Hua Popo faked an attack to Jing Xuan, her left foot actually kicked the acupoint on the waist of an Emei female disciple.

Her shadow dashed around the pavilion, her sleeves fluttered in the air, occasional coughs were heard, Emei disciples thrust their swords, but nobody was able to stab her; on the contrary, seven male and female disciples fell down because their acupoints were sealed. Her acupoint sealing technique was very strange; those who were hit were screaming from pain. In a short moment the garden was full of sad and shrill screams, rending the hearts of those who heard them.

Jin Hua Popo clapped her hands and returned to the pavilion. "Miss Zhou," she said, "How is Jin Hua Popo's martial art compared to your Emei Pai's?"

"Our Sect's martial art is certainly better than Popo's," Zhou Zhiruo replied, "You were defeated by my Xian Shi's sword the other day; have you forgotten?"

Jin Hua Popo was furious, "The Old Nun Miejue was using a precious sword; that doesn't count!" she said.

"Popo, let's be honest," Zhou Zhiruo said, "If Xian Shi and you fight barehanded, who do you think will win?"

Jin Hua Popo was silent for half a day before answering, "I don't know. I came to Dadou today to find out between your Zun Shi and me, who's weak and who's strong. Ay! Miejue Shitai has died, Wulin world lost one of its martial art masters. Someone like her had never been seen in the past, and will never be seen in the future. Henceforth Emei Pai will become weak."

Those seven disciples were still screaming and wailing, as if they were underlining Jin Hua Popo's words. Jing Xuan and several other senior disciples tried hard to unseal their acupoints, but their efforts did not show any effect. It looked like they would have to be released by Jin Hua Popo herself.

Zhang Wuji had treated not just a few of Wulin world's characters who were injured by Jin Hua Popo in the past. He knew this granny was very vicious, a person of her caliber was rare in the Jianghu. He was thinking of coming out and help, but after careful consideration he decided against it. He thought, "If I help Miss Zhou, I will offend Zhu'Er. This cousin of mine has been so good to me; moreover, she is my close relative. How can I favor one and discriminate against the other?"

In the meantime, Jin Hua Popo said, "Miss Zhou, do you admit defeat?"

Zhou Zhiruo gathered up her courage and said, "Our Sect's martial art is as deep as the ocean, it can't be learned in a short time. We are still young. Right now we are inferior to Popo, but our progress in the future will be immeasurable."

Jin Hua Popo laughed. "Wonderful, wonderful!" she said, "Since that's the case, Jin Hua Popo is taking my leave now. Just wait until your progress is immeasurable then you can come back and unseal their acupoints." While saying that she took Zhu'Er's hand, and turned around to leave.

Zhou Zhiruo realized her fellow disciples were too much in pain; they might not be able to endure another hour and might die from their pain. "Popo, wait a minute!" she hastily said, "Please help my Shijie's and Shixiong's [martial (older) sisters and brothers]."

"You want me to help them? That's easy," Jin Hua Popo said, "From this day forward, wherever Jin Hua Popo or her disciples go, Emei disciples have to make yourselves scarce."

Zhou Zhiruo thought, "I have just accepted the Sect Leader responsibility, already I have to face this strong enemy. If I agree to her condition, how can Emei Pai set our feet in the Wulin world? How can I let the demise of Emei Pai to be in my hand?"

Jin Hua Popo saw her hesitation; she laughed and said, "You don't want Emei Pai's prestige to fall; that's fine. Just let me borrow the Yitian Sword then I will help your fellow disciples."

Zhou Zhiruo said, "Our Sect's master and disciples all fell into the royal government's evil plot and were held captives on that Pagoda. How can the Yitian Sword still be in our hands?"

Jin Hua Popo had already expected this answer, she knew her chance of borrowing the Sword was only one in ten thousands, yet hearing Zhou Zhiruo say so, her countenance showed disappointment nonetheless. Suddenly in a stern voice she said, "If you want to save Emei Pai's reputation, you cannot save your own life …" Taking a pill from her bosom she said, "This is the 'duan chang lie xin' [breaking intestines, cracking the heart] poison. You take this, then I'll save your people."

Zhou Zhiruo remembered that her heart was already broken when she received her Shifu's injuction; she said in her heart, "Shifu told me to deceive Zhang Gongzi [young master Zhang]; I can't do this. Rather than keep on living with this constant torture, death is a hundred times better; nothing matters anymore." With a trembling hand she took the poison.