Chapter - 141 Changchun Admits Defeat (11)

Liang Zi Weng was both furious and impressed, thinking: "This dirty scholar has truly remarkable skill with his hands. All he did was dusted my sleeve, and actually managed to steal the packets of herbs in my robes." Turning around and brandishing his spade, he shouted: "Come, come, let's see who the real winner is in a weapon fight!"

Zhu Cong laughed. "At that, I am definitely not your match."

Qiu Chu Ji said, "So this is Chief Peng Lian Hu, what about the others? I do not know your names yet." Sha Tong Tian declared himself in a hoarse voice. Qiu Chu Ji said, "Great, all of you have renowned reputations! There has been no clear winner between us today, and it's a pity both sides now have injured parties. Looks like we'll have to arrange a gathering another day."

"That couldn't be better," said Peng Lian Hu. "If we don't meet the Quan Zhen 7, it will be the big regret of our lives. Priest Qiu, please set the date and venue."

Qiu Chu Ji considered: "Elder Martial Brother Ma and Younger Martial Brother Wang have both been severely poisoned, and will need at least a few months to recuperate. Younger Martial Brothers Tan, Liu and the rest are all scattered and we will need some time to notify them." So he said aloud: "Six months later in August on Mid-Autumn Festival, we'll admire the moon while discussing wugong. Chief Peng, what do you think?"

Peng Lian Hu thought: "With all of the Quan Zhen 7, and plus the 7 Freaks of Jiang Nan, we will be heavily disadvantaged by numbers. We must gather more allies. Six months would be sufficient. Prince Zhao wants us to head to Jiang Nan to steal Yue Fei's manual, so we can take the chance and meet there." So he said: "How tasteful of Priest Qiu to arrange a martial gathering of friends on Mid-Autumn Festival. But we must also find a tasteful venue – let's make it the hometown of the 7 Freaks of Jiang Nan."

Qiu Chu Ji replied, "Excellent. We'll meet in the Jia Xing Prefecture amid the South Lake, at the Misty Rain Inn. Everyone is welcome to invite a few more friends."

"It's a deal."

Zhu Cong said, "Looks like us 7 Freaks of Jiang Nan will have no choice but to play host and foot the bills! Of all the places both of you had to pick Jia Xing so you can feast on our expense, how sly. But since it's so rare that all of you grace Jia Xing with your presence, we will be able to afford it. Chief Peng – about the medicine – the white is for consumption and the yellow is for topical application."

By this time, half of Peng Lian Hu's arm had already gone numb. It took him great effort to bear with it and converse with Qiu Chu Ji, and then he had to put up with Zhu Cong's incessant and useless chatter. The anger boiled in his chest but he dared not be impolite while his life was still in their hands. Finally he heard Zhu Cong's last sentence and hurriedly swallowed the white antidote.

"Chief Peng, for forty-nine days you will not go near wine or women," said Ke Zhen'E coldly. "It will be a shame if we do not see you at the gathering in Jia Xing."

Peng Lian Hu replied angrily, "Thanks for your concern." Sha Tong Tian applied the yellow antidote on his palm, and supporting him, turned to leave.

Wan Yan Kang knelt on the ground and kowtowed 4 times to his mother's dead body. Then he turned and kowtowed a few times to Qiu Chu Ji. Raising his head, not uttering a single word, he walked away.

Qiu Chu Ji said sternly, "Kang'er, what is the meaning of this?"

But Wan Yan Kang did not answer. He did not join Peng Lian Hu and the others, but took another turn and went on a separate path alone. Qiu Chu Ji was stunned for a while, then turned and bowed to Ke Zhen'E and Zhu Cong.

"If not for the help of the 6 Heroes, my Martial Brothers and I might have lost our lives. Besides, my disgraceful pupil has turned out to possess such a wicked character. He cannot hold a candle to your virtuous pupil. For us martial arts practitioners, character and integrity is of foremost importance; wu gong is secondary. I'm ashamed to have a disciple like this. The duel at Jia Xing's Drunken Fairy Inn has reached a conclusion – I admit defeat. Word will henceforth spread throughout jiang hu that Qiu Chu Ji has been trounced by the 7 Freaks of Jiang Nan, and I have sincerely and gladly admitted my loss."

The 6 Freaks swelled with pride as he spoke – their 18 years of effort in the deserts of Mongolia had finally paid off. Ke Zhen'E uttered a few words of humility. But the 6 Freaks then thought of their Fifth Brother Zhang Ah Sheng who died in the desert, and sadness descended upon their hearts. It was regretful that their Fifth Brother did not live to hear Qiu Chu Ji admitting defeat.

After they had helped Ma Yu and Wang Chu Yi back into the inn, Quan Jin Fa went and bought coffins to prepare for the Yang couple's funeral. Qiu Chu Ji saw Mu Nian Ci grieving sorrowfully and felt awful himself. He said, "Miss Mu, how did your father spend the last few years?"

Wiping her tears, Mu Nian Ci replied, "My father and I have been wandering for over ten years, never settling at one place for more than a month. Father said he wanted to look for a… a Brother by the surname Guo…" Her voice trailed off and she slowly lowered her head.

Qiu Chu Ji glanced at Guo Jing, then said to Mu Nian Ci, "How did your father end up adopting you?"

"I came from Lotus Pond village in the Lin'An Prefecture," she replied. "About ten years ago, father took refuge at my place to recover from his injuries. Soon after, an epidemic broke out, killing my parents and brothers. Father then took me in as a daughter and taught me martial arts. To find this Brother Guo, we roamed all over and started… started the 'joust for a spouse'."

"Ah. Your father's surname is actually Yang, not Mu, so you should change your name accordingly."

"No, I won't take the surname Yang. I will still use Mu."

Qiu Chu Ji said, "Why? You don't believe me?"

Mu Nian Ci replied softly, "How would I dare to doubt, Priest? But I'd rather my surname be Mu."

Qiu Chu Ji saw that she was stubborn and dropped the matter, thinking that she must be too traumatized by the sudden loss of her father to understand. Little did he know that he was the one who did not understand. Mu Nian Ci was actually thinking of something else – she had already committed her life to Wan Yan Kang. Since he was her father's real son, he must of course take the surname Yang. If she had the same surname, how could they marry?

Wang Chu Yi was gradually recovering his energy after taking the antidote and lay on the bed, listening to their conversation. There was one thing he failed to understand, and so he asked, "How come your wu gong is so much better than your father's?"

Mu Nian Ci replied, "When I was 13, I met a strange person and he taught me wu gong for 3 days. It's a pity I was born unintelligent, and so didn't manage to learn much."

Wang Chu Yi said, "He taught you just 3 days of wu gong and you managed to defeat your father? Who is this expert?"

"Priest, I wouldn't dare to hide anything on purpose but he once made me vow that I will never reveal his name."