Chapter - 348 Broken Marriage of the Purple Dress King (11)

Zhang Wuji turned his attention to the two Beggar Clan's Elders; Ji Zhanglao was short and plump, with a red face, reminding him of a village butcher. Zheng Zhanglao was tall and skinny, with an ashen look, a perfect picture of a beggar. Both men carried eight cloth sacks on their back. The other man standing afar looked about thirty years of age; he also wore a beggar clothes, but his clothes was neat and clean. Surprisingly he also carried eight cloth sacks on his back. For someone his age to achieve an eight-bag elder position of the Beggar Clan was extremely rare. Suddenly that man opened his mouth, "Jin Hua Popo, you said you were not going to help Xie Xun, but in the end you are helping him. Aren't you ashamed?"

Jin Hua Popo coldly said, "Are you also a Beggar Clan's Elder, Sire? Please forgive this Old Granny's faulty vision for not recognizing you."

"I joined the Beggar Clan not too long ago, no wonder Popo did not know," that man replied, "My surname is Chen, given name Youliang."

"Chen Youliang? Chen Youliang?" Jin Hua Popo muttered, "I have never heard that name."

Suddenly a cry was heard as Zheng Zhanglao's left arm was hit by Xie Xun. The three Beggar Clan disciples who were standing on the side immediately charged forward with their unsheathed weapons. These three's martial art skills were inferior to Ji and Zheng, two Elders; normally they would only be in the Elders' way, but since Xie Xun became blind, he had never fought with anybody, so his battle experience was lacking. Today was the first time he fought powerful enemies. Amidst the sound of fists and kicks were the sounds of the weapons; these mixtures of noises made him difficult to distinguish the enemies' positions. In a moment his shoulder was hit by a fist.

Seeing the critical situation, Zhang Wuji was about to make his move, but Zhao Min said in a low voice, "Certainly Jin Hua Popo would help?" Zhang Wuji halted his steps; he looked at Jin Hua Popo, and saw that she was leaning on her stick with cold smile on her face, without giving any sign that she was going to help.

By that time Xie Xun's left leg was kicked heavily by Zheng Zhanglao. Xie Xun staggered, he nearly fell down. Zhang Wuji had already prepared seven small pebbles in his hand; by now he could not wait any longer, his right hand moved, the seven pebbles flew toward the five people surrounding Xie Xun. But before the pebbles hit their targets, a black light flashed; 'swish!' three weapons were cut down. Among the five people, four were cut off right on their chests, becoming eight pieces, which scattered to all directions, falling off the hill. Only Zheng Zhanglao survived with his right arm cut off, but his back was hit by the two pebbles Zhang Wuji shot; he fell on the ground. The four of the slain people's back were also hit by the pebbles, only the Saber cut them off first before the pebbles arrived. This time Zhang Wuji's action was actually unnecessary.

This incident happened so fast that everybody was startled. They saw Xie Xun's hand was holding a deep black saber, precisely what was known as 'wu lin zhi zun' [the most revered in the Wulin (martial art) world], the Tulong Saber [Dragon-slaying Saber]. He held the Saber horizontally across his chest, standing on the peak of the hill, his power and prestige made people shiver, he looked just like a deity.

Zhang Wuji had seen this Saber since he was little, yet he had never expected its sharpness to have such an overwhelming power as demonstrated just now. Jin Hua Popo muttered, "'Wu lin zhi zun, bao dao tu long'! [the most revered in the Wulin world, precious saber slaying the dragon] 'Wu lin zhi zun, bao dao tu long'!"

Losing his arm, Zheng Zhanglao screamed in pain just like a pig getting slaughtered. Chen Youliang pale faced, he said in a loud voice, "Xie Daxia's [great hero Xie's] martial art is unparalleled, my utmost admiration! I ask you to let this Zheng Zhanglao go down the hill. Let me trade my life with his. Xie Daxia, please make your move!"

His speech made everybody's countenance change; they had not expected this person's 'yi qi' [spirit of loyalty and self-sacrifice/code of brotherhood] to be this deep. Zhang Wuji could not help but feel quite respectful towards him.

"Chen Youliang," Xie Xun said, "Hmm, you are a real man. Take this surnamed Zheng away, I will not make things difficult for you!"

"Let me thank Xie Daxia first for your graciousness in not killing us," Chen Youliang said, "Only the Beggar Clan has five lives died under Xie Daxia's hands. I am going to train for ten more years. If I achieve success, I am going to come again to settle this debt."

Xie Xun thought that he only have to move one step forward and brandish his precious saber, then this man would not escape alive; yet under this extremely dangerous situation he still had the nerve to say that he would come back to seek revenge in the future; he was a very brave man. Thereupon Xie Xun said, "If the Old Man is still alive ten years from now, I am going to wait for your instructions."

Chen Youliang cupped his fists toward Jin Hua Popo in salute and said, "Without permission the Beggar Clan has trespassed your island; herewith we apologize!" Carrying Zheng Zhanglao, he went down the hill in big strides.

Jin Hua Popo turned toward Zhang Wuji and coldly said, "You, this young fella, you are good at the acupoint striking technique. Why are you shooting seven pebbles? One was meant for Chen Youliang, the other was meant for me, wasn't it?"

Seeing she was able to see that he has prepared the seven pebbles, but was not able to see through his disguise, Zhang Wuji did not know how to reply; he only showed a faint smile.

"Young fella," Jin Hua Popo said sternly, "What is your honored name? Disguising yourself as a sailor, following Lao Po Zi [the Old Granny] around, what is your purpose? You dare to act craftily in front of Jin Hua Popo; are you bored of your life?"

Zhang Wuji was not used to tell lies; he was startled and could not answer. Zhao Min made her voice hoarse and answered, "We are from the 'ju jing bang' [gigantic whale clan], we make our living on the sea, doing business without any capital. Lao Popo [Old Granny] offered us a lot of gold, so what's wrong with giving you a ride? This brother saw the Beggar Clan was cheating and he wanted to lend a hand. His intention was good, but we did not expect Xie Daxia'a martial art was this high; in the end we were only being meddlesome."

Although she imitated a male's voice, her voice was still unavoidably sharp; piercing the ears of those who heard her. Luckily her makeup was perfect; her face was yellowish and looked like an old man, Jin Hua Popo was not able to see the flaw.

"Many thanks!" Xie Xun waved his left hand and said, "Ay, Jin Mao Shi Wang is like a tiger fallen on the plains that he has to receive help from Ju Jing Bang. Leaving the Jianghu for twenty years, capable people have come forth in the Wulin world in large numbers; why should I come back?"

When speaking the last sentence, his voice was full of sorrow, as he sighed with depressing emotion. Just now when Zhang Wuji shot those seven pebbles, Xie Xun could hear clearly the strength behind the shot; strength like that was truly rare in the world. He was shocked that there was such an expert in the Wulin world. Also, in the battle today, the reason he escaped injury from besiege after fighting all night was entirely due to the Tulong Saber. Suddenly the memory of the Wangpan Island some twenty years ago where he faced a group of warrior was like a different lifetime to him.