Chapter - 483 All Over the World, No One Can be a Hero (8)

An old monk behind Kong Zhi stood up and said, "Shaolin Pai is ashamed to be the host; as luck would have it, our Fangzhang [Abbot] has suddenly fallen ill. Nobody is in charge of this grand assembly, and in the end we become the laughingstock of everybody present. Xie Xun and the Tulong Saber are two separate matters, but they are two in one and one in two, which can be handled together. According to Lao Na, what this Ye Shizhu [benefactor] of Qinghai Pai said is very reasonable. There are countless brave people with outstanding ability among the attending heroes. We only need everybody to demonstrate each one's skill. Whoever stays standing at the end will have the right to handle Xie Xun; the Tulong Saber will also be his. Let the heroes consider; isn't it a good idea?"

Zhang Wuji asked Peng Yingyu, "Who is this monk?"

Peng Yingyu shook his head. "Subordinate does not know," he said, "This monk did not participate in the besieging of the Brightness Peak. He also was not one of those held captive by Junzhu Niangniang at the Wanan Temple. But since he repeatedly speaks in front of Kong Zhi Dashi, his position in the Temple must not be low."

Zhao Min said in a low voice, "Nine out of ten, this man belongs to Yuan Zhen gang. I am guessing that Kong Wen Fangzhang has fallen into Yuan Zhen's hands. Kong Zhi Dashi thereupon is forced to comply with these rebels' wish. That's why he looks so gloomy and dispirited."

Zhang Wuji's heart sank; "Peng Dashi, what do you think?" he asked.

"Junzhu's guess makes sense," Peng Yingyu replied, "Only Shaolin Temple is full of martial art masters. Yuan Zhen's his nerves must be too big to have the courage to openly defy his superior and create trouble."

"Yuan Zhen has made preparations long time ago," Zhang Wuji said, "First, he wants to destroy our Cult; second, he wants to gain control over the Beggar Clan. Both deceitful attempts failed when success was just in sight. This time, I believe he wants to be the Shaolin Pai's Zhang Men Fangzhang [sect leader, abbot]."

"To be Zhang Men Fangzhang might not be enough," Zhao Min said.

"Shaolin Pai is the number one Sect in the Wulin world," Zhang Wuji said, "Being the Zhang Men Fangzhang is the pinnacle of achievement; nothing can be higher than that."

"How about 'wulin zhi zun'?" Zhao Min asked, "Isn't 'the most revered in the Wulin world' higher than Shaolin Pai's Zhang Men Fangzhang?"

"He wants to be the 'wulin zhi zun'?" Zhang Wuji asked absentmindedly.

"Wuji Gege," Zhao Min said, "Just because Zhou Jiejie [elder sister] married another man, you become muddle-headed, and cannot think about anything else clearly."

As the secret of his heart was exposed, Zhang Wuji blushed. "Zhang Wuji," he silently scolded himself, "You must not be engrossed in one thing and care about man-woman relationship only, and thus setting the important matter of rescuing Yifu aside." Calming himself down, he thought about how Yuan Zhen was really farsighted; today's great assembly was part of his grand schemes, so there must be something greater than what meets the eye. "Min Mei," he said, "What do you think Yuan Zhen's real intention is?"

Zhao Min said, "This man Yuan Zhen is very cunning; extremely intelligent …"

Zhou Dian, who had been listening on the side this conversation in low voice, finally could not restrain himself from cut in, "Junzhu Niangniang, you are also very cunning and extremely intelligent. I'll say you are not the least bit inferior to Yuan Zhen."

Zhao Min laughed, "You flatter me too much," she said.

Zhou Dian said, "Not too much …"

"Dian Xiong," Peng Yingyu cut him off, "Do not interrupt Junzhu Niangniang."

Zhou Dian was indignant. "You interrupted me first …" he said.

Peng Yingyu smiled without saying anything. He was well aware that bickering with Zhou Dian for two to four hours [orig. one or two 'sichen', 1 sichen = 2-hour] was not unusual; therefore, he would rather not respond.

"Why don't you say anything?" Zhou Dian asked.

"You told me not to interrupt you; I won't interrupt you," Peng Yingyu replied.

"But you have already interrupted me," Zhou Dian said.

"Then please continue whatever you were going to say," Peng Yingyu said.

"I've forgotten already, I don't remember what I was going to say," Zhou Dian said.

Zhao Min laughed and continued, "I thought that if Yuan Zhen's sole objective was to be Shaolin Temple Abbot, he did not need to gather all the heroes under the Heaven here. Xia Daxia has already fallen into his hands, why would he want the heroes to fight over him? Wuji Gege, speaking about martial art skill, I am afraid nobody in the world is superior to you. It's impossible that Yuan Zhen did not know this fact. I don't think he is being nice by arranging all heroes under the Heaven to gather here so that you can defeat them all and become the 'wulin zhi zun'. It is like he is offering Xie Daxia and the Tulong Saber to you for free."

Zhang Wuji, Peng Yingyu and Zhou Dian nodded and asked, "What do you think is his real plot?"

At this time Yang Xiao walked over toward Zhang Wuji and joined the discussion, "I have been thinking, this traitor Yuan Zhen's evil scheme must not be a simple one …"

Zhou Dian could not bear not to comment, "Yuan Zhen is our Cult's archenemy. Junzhu Niangniang, you were once also our Cult's archenemy. This traitor Yuan Zhen is very cunning and extremely intelligent, Junzhu Niangniang, you are also very cunning and extremely intelligent. I say the two of you are on par with each other."

"You are talking rubbish!" Yang Xiao scolded him.

With a faint smile Zhao Min continued, "What Mr. Zhou said makes sense. If I were Yuan Zhen, how would I carry out my conspiracy? Mmm … first, I would persuade Kong Wen Fangzhang to send out mass invitation to all heroes under the Heaven, requesting them to come to Shaolin Temple. Kong Wen Fangzhang is a devout Buddhist; a person of mercy and peace. Naturally, he did not want to be meddlesome in other people's business; but all I need to do is mention the names of Kong Jian and Kong Xing, two Shen Seng. Kong Wen Fangzhang loves his martial brothers very much, so, he gave his permission. Furthermore, if Shaolin Temple wanted to kill Xie Daxia, the enmity with the Ming Cult would be as deep as the ocean. Based on one Sect's power alone, Shaolin might not necessarily be able to resist Ming Cult's full-force attack; but if Shaolin shifted the blame to the heroes from all over the world, certainly the Ming Cult could not massacre several thousand attending warriors, could it?"

Everybody nodded their heads in agreement. Zhao Min continued, "Once the great assembly is in progress, I would not show my own face; I'll let others use Xie Daxia and the Tulong Saber as a bait to provoke the heroes and warriors to kill each other. Inevitably, The Ming Cult would have to fight countless enemies. After the battle is over, it doesn't matter who win or lose, the Ming Cult force would be decreased by half and its power would diminish considerably."

"Exactly," Zhang Wuji said, "I have had the same concern, but Yifu's kindness to me was as heavy as the mountain. He also has dozens of years of friendship with our brethrens. How can we sit down without trying to save him? Ay, we have been on this mountain only for several days, Grandfather had already died. That traitor Yuan Zhen must be clapping and cheering in his hiding place."

Zhao Min continued, "At the end of the battle, most likely Zhang Jiaozhu will be crowned the number one martial artist; so the Shaolin monks would say, 'Zhang Jiaozhu's skill surpasses all the heroes. You are worthy of the honor and the accolades. Our Temple sincerely hands over Xie Daxia to Zhang Jiaozhu. Would Zhang Jiaozhu please go to the hill peak behind the Temple to welcome him?' Thereupon everybody would climb the peak together; Zhang Jiaozhu must break the 'Jin Gang Fu Mo Quan'. If anybody stepped forward to assist him, Yuan Zhen's crony would say, 'The one defeating all the warriors was Zhang Jiaozhu of the Ming Cult; it has nothing to do with anybody else. It would be better for Sire to stand on the side and watch.' In his effort to win the title of number one martial artist in the world, even if Zhang Jiaozhu did not suffer any injury, his internal energy would be consumed I don't know how much; by that time, how can he be the three monks' match? In the end, not only Xie Daxia could not be rescued, he would die among the three green pines instead. Only the cold moon and the bitter wind would accompany the body of the great hero of this generation, Zhang Wuji. Tell me, isn't my scheme wonderful?"