The Linshao courier road is bustling with life,
The Jialing Tavern welcomes heroes from all around!
The two prefectures of Ganzhou and Suzhou, situated on the south bank of the Yellow River, boasted a majestic terrain. As a key stronghold in western China, bordered by the provinces of Shaanxi, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, this region served as a major artery connecting them, with bustling traffic flowing through constantly.
On that day, about ten days before the Qingming Festival, at the end of the courier road in Linshao County, a tavern named Jialing Jiang was suddenly packed to the brim. Guests from all directions chatted noisily, their voices a cacophony of accents from Lianghu, Liangguang, Henan, and Hebei, interspersed with the hoarse, heavy drawls of the southern regions. It was a gathering of heroes from Qi, Lu, Yan, and Zhao, a chaotic blend of voices from every corner of the land.
These men seemed naturally fierce-looking. Around their waists and over their shoulders, bulges could be seen hidden beneath their clothing, which anyone could easily guess were either precious treasures or weapons for self-defense.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed on the stairs. Before the patrons on the upper floor could see who was coming, a hoarse voice bellowed:
"Damn it! Bring your grandpa a large bowl of beef and two jars of wine right now! Hurry up!"
A moment later, a literal ball of flesh appeared at the top of the stairs.
Following close behind him was a man as tall and thin as a banner staff.
Upon reaching the upper floor, the ball of flesh—who was indeed a short, fat man—raised his hand to wipe the sweat pouring profusely from his forehead. Wiping his brow, he irritably repeated his previous demand:
"Bring the wine and meat up here! Your grandpa has to eat and hit the road in a hurry. Did you hear me?"
The short, fat man's shout was both harsh and powerful, as if his inner force had condensed into a gust of wind sweeping straight across the room.
About two zhang opposite the stairs stood a twisted plum tree shaped like a coiling dragon, from which a palace lantern hung. Beneath it sat a set of table and chairs. To the left and right sat two burly men from Shanxi Province.
It was around midday, and the weather was stiflingly hot. The burly man on the left had stripped off his shirt, exposing a muscular, sinewy torso. He was drinking when, unexpectedly, the palace lantern, shaken by the short, fat man's roar, fell from above, splashing the bowl of stewed duck on the table everywhere. The burly man leaped to his feet, pointed at the short, fat man, and cursed:
"You bastard! What kind of hero do you think you're playing?"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, he lunged forward, raising his fist and aiming a strike directly at the short, fat man's Shenting acupoint.
The short, fat man's head only reached the burly man's armpit, so a simple horizontal strike from the latter was enough to target the acupoint.
This rapid sequence of actions—leaving his seat, rushing forward, and striking—happened in the blink of an eye. However, to the trained eyes of the experts present, they recognized the move instantly as the Cheng Family's Three-Step Tiger.
In the martial world, the Three-Step Tiger of Shanxi's Shahe Fort, originating from the Cheng Family Village, had been famous throughout the Qi and Lu regions for thirty years.
Someone in the crowd recognized it and muttered:
"This is bad! Provoking these two Shanxi Tigers is going to cause a lot of trouble!"
Suddenly, an earth-shattering rumble rang out, followed by three heavy thuds. Everyone turned to look and saw that the short, fat man had been pushed back to the stairs, though his right foot remained firmly planted on the floor. The burly man, however, was in an even more awkward position. Although he had only retreated three steps, those three resounding cracks had shattered three of the green flagstones beneath his feet into flying debris. On the surface, neither seemed to have lost, but to the trained eye, it was clear that the Shanxi giant had suffered a slight disadvantage.
At that moment, the onlookers erupted into a deafening cheer. Someone said:
"The Three-Step Tiger of the Zheng family truly lives up to his reputation!"
Another said:
"Today we have truly had our eyes opened!"
Yet another remarked:
"To dare to clash head-on with the Three-Step Tiger, he is quite a hero himself!"
But those words were spoken very softly; clearly, the speaker was somewhat apprehensive. Another person whispered:
"The Three-Step Tiger was forced back three steps!"
Immediately after, a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz replied:
"That is using retreat as a form of advance! Haha..."
Among them, there were those who feared offending the Zheng Family Manor, yet could not bear to suppress their desire to show off their own discernment, so they only thought to themselves:
"Who on earth is that short, fat man? His internal cultivation is clearly superior to that burly fellow's."
Although everything had unfolded in the blink of an eye, the second burly man understood the situation immediately. He realized in his heart that his side had clearly come off worse. Even though some people were clapping and cheering, it was nothing more than hollow praise that contradicted the reality.
In the crowd, someone murmured:
"Oh look, isn't that Eldest Manor Lord Zheng of the Zheng Family Manor? We are in for a spectacular show!"
Someone quickly asked:
"And what about that short, fat fellow? Do you know who he is?"
The person replied:
"Though I don't know his exact identity, judging by the Pan Gen Tui footwork he just used, he probably belongs to the Luoyang Liu Family Fort."
Another person asked:
"Why was the Three-Step Tiger considered to have lost just now?"
The person replied:
"Just now, the Three-Step Tiger used the 'Hungry Tiger Descending the Ravine' stance, while the short, fat man raised his right palm to parry. The crucial aspect of the technique lay entirely in the lower body. Thus, I can guess with eighty to ninety percent certainty that it was the Pan Gen Tui. Otherwise, he would have been sent tumbling down the stairs."
The burly man addressed as Eldest Manor Lord Zheng Dahu stood there listening to the whispers circulating through the crowd. When he heard the mention of the Luoyang Liu Family Fort, he seemed visibly stirred and thought to himself:
"No wonder he is so arrogant and boastful! It turns out they are figures from the Liu Family Fort."
With these thoughts, he feigned indifference to the matter and stepped forward. Glancing at the pale face of Zheng Erhu, he cupped his hands and asked the short, fat man:
"Is Your Excellency perhaps from the Luoyang Liu Family Fort?"
The man as tall and thin as a banner pole who accompanied the short, fat man had been standing behind him all this time. Seeing that his companion had gained the upper hand, he wanted to join in the fun and quickly answered on his behalf:
"You flatter us! You flatter us! That is indeed the case. My elder brother is a man whose reputation precedes him."
Zheng Dahu let out a cold snort and thought to himself:
"This fellow talks utter nonsense. Fine, I will beat you to your knees first, and it won't be too late to teach that short, fat man a lesson afterward."
With that thought, he turned toward the crowd and spoke aloud:
“Did you all hear that clearly? This fellow speaks with utter arrogance, showing no respect for rules. I ask everyone here to bear witness.”
With that, he turned to the tall, thin man and said:
“Since you have both fame and prestige, why stand on ceremony? Why don't you bring out your Pangen Leg and let us have a look?”
The tall, thin man, partly because his hands and feet were itching for a fight, and partly to show off his skills before the assembled heroes, burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this. He then addressed the crowd:
“If I were to use the Pangen Leg, even if I defeated him, I could hardly be called a true hero.”
Realizing they were about to witness a thrilling duel, the onlookers instinctively stepped back, clearing an open space. Any tables and chairs that might get in the way were quickly moved aside. Someone called out to the tavern waiters:
“These gentlemen are all renowned figures of the jianghu. They are about to display their martial prowess, so if any of you are afraid of dying, you had better keep your distance. If you aren't, then by all means, stay and watch.”
After he repeated this warning several times, a few curious waiters could be seen craning their necks, standing just behind the crowd of heroes.
As the old saying goes, "In literature, there is no undisputed first; in martial arts, there is no willing second." Today, the Jialing Tavern was filled with figures from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, men who lived by the blade. Unless one was an absolute fool, no one here would ever willingly take second place.
If one were to travel upstream along the Honghe River, who in the surrounding provinces would not know of the Zheng Family Manor of Shahe Fort and the Liu Family Village of Luoyang?
The Liu and Zheng families had always loved to flaunt their prestige before the martial world. Now, in the presence of so many heroes and champions, this was a rare and perfect opportunity.
The short, stout man turned to the surrounding crowd with a smug, self-satisfied air and said:
“This elder brother is none other than Guashan Palm Liu Hai of the Liu Family Village.”
As he spoke, he pointed at the tall, thin man and continued:
“Years ago, at the Gulu River, he single-handedly fought a fierce battle against the Bayan Twin Slayers.”
The surrounding crowd erupted into thunderous applause. The tall, thin man, Guashan Palm Liu Hai, quickly cupped his hands and bowed to the crowd in gratitude. Then, waving his hand toward Zheng Dahu, he bellowed:
“If you have the skill, try to withstand this palm strike of mine!”
No sooner had the shout left his lips than he swiftly lunged to Dahu's left, launching an attack with the "Plucking Stars and Exchanging Dippers" stance. The fierce wind of his palm chopped straight down toward his opponent's head, but just as it was about to connect, the strike suddenly veered sideways, sweeping toward Dahu's eyes.
Years ago, during his battle with the Bayan Twin Slayers, he had used this very killer move to secure his victory. The technique was formidable, characterized by its extraordinary speed and power. Yet, just as the wind of his palm swept in, a sharp crack echoed. Dahu, quick as lightning, slipped behind him. Liu Hai's strike missed, crashing instead into the shrine of the rooster god behind Dahu, sending dust billowing and wooden splinters flying in all directions.
Having missed with his formidable strike, Liu Hai realized in his heart that his opponent was no ordinary foe. In his sudden panic, he completely forgot to employ the Liu Family Village's famously overbearing Pangen Leg.
He quickly dropped low, pressing his body flat against the ground while hooking his leg backward in a counter-strike. This technique combined evasion with offense, a desperate maneuver meant only for moments of extreme crisis.
As the two clashed, the crowd of martial artists fell dead silent, watching with bated breath. The silence was so absolute that one could almost hear the collective beating of their hearts.
Moments before, the crowd had been cheering and shouting with thunderous enthusiasm, but now they parted to both sides, leaving a wide, open space in the center of the arena.
The short, stout fellow and Er Hu locked eyes, each wary of a sudden surprise attack from the other.
In the center of the arena, both sides remained on guard, searching for a weakness in the other's defense, neither yet gaining the upper hand.
Guashan Palm Liu Hai seemed to lose his patience. His eyes widened as he channeled his true qi throughout his body. Suddenly, he dropped to one knee close to the ground, slowly pushing his palms out to his left and right.
At that moment, they were more than two zhang apart. Zheng Dahu quickly arched his back and pulled in his abdomen, his feet shifting slowly as he prepared to counter his opponent's lethal strike.
Just as the battle reached a life-or-death juncture, a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz suddenly drifted into Liu Hai's ear:
"Have you forgotten to use the Pangen Tui?"
Reminded by the voice, Liu Hai felt as if he had just awakened from a dream. Overjoyed beyond words, he quickly turned his head to look, just as a clattering sound echoed from the direction of the stairs.
An old man, leaning on a bamboo staff, dressed in tattered clothes with disheveled hair, walked up to the upper floor. Squinting his tiny eyes, the old man scanned the room and bellowed:
"Where is the waiter? Hurry and find this old man a place to rest my feet! Oh my, why are my legs so weak?"
Having called out twice without receiving any reply, the old man used his bamboo staff to push his way through the crowd, walking straight into the center of the arena.
A well-meaning bystander, fearing for the old man's life, quickly shouted:
"Hey, old man, do you have a death wish?"
The old man acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, muttering to himself:
"At a time like this, if only I had a bowl of cold rice and a ladle of cold water to refresh myself, that would be truly wonderful!"
With that, he strode forward, stopping just over two chi away from Liu Hai. Fearing that the old man would ruin the match, the short, fat fellow barked out an insult:
"Is this old man blind?!"
Cursing, he rushed forward to block him. His round figure looked exactly like a ball of meat. In his haste, he scurried over like a fat sow, causing the onlookers to burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Already furious, the short, stout fellow saw that the crowd was mocking him and thought to himself:
"You damn old dog, if I don't teach you a lesson, your grandpa here won't be able to vent this anger!"
With that thought, he deliberately feigned a slip. As he stumbled, he swept his right leg out to hook the old man's leg and trip him upward.
But with a sharp swoosh, the crowd suddenly saw the ball of meat roll across the ground, landing flat on his back with all four limbs pointing to the sky.
The martial artists stared wide-eyed at the old man, only to see him still standing there like a statue, a look of utter bewilderment on his face. An immediate uproar of chatter broke out. Someone said:
"Huh? How could such a strange thing happen?"
Another person said:
"Could he have suffered a sudden stroke?"
Then someone else chimed in:
"Perhaps this old man made a move?"
Someone acting more knowledgeable shouted back in annoyance:
"The old man's hands were hanging by his sides and his feet didn't even move, so how could he have made a move? Shut your filthy mouth and stop farting such nonsense!"
Yet another person said:
“Perhaps his belly is too fat. Sitting for so long must have cut off his circulation, so he stumbled and fell the moment he stepped out.”
The crowd of martial artists chimed in one after another, making the place as noisy as a bustling market. Mountain-Crossing Palm Liu Hai quickly squatted down, helped the short, stout man up, and scanned him closely. Finding absolutely nothing unusual, he quickly asked:
“Huh? How could such a strange thing happen?”
The short, stout man also looked bewildered and replied:
“Strange! Truly strange! Could it be that yours truly has run into some wicked sorcery today?”
Liu Hai thought to himself:
“Could this be the old man's doing?”
He cast his eyes over the old man, observing that he appeared to be in his early seventies. His hair was disheveled, his face dirty and sallow, and his eyes vacant. He wore a half-smile that was not quite a smile, making him look rather unsightly. He was dressed in a patched-up tunic, with his tattered trouser legs rolled up unevenly to his knees. Tied around his shins was a piece of cloth so shredded to ribbons that whenever a gust of wind blew, the tattered fabric fluttered like butterflies.
Although Liu Hai was quite famous and had always been arrogant, he was a seasoned veteran of the jianghu with vast experience. Thus, he did not dare to be careless. He thought to himself:
“This old man doesn't look like anything out of the ordinary. With his dull eyes and sallow complexion, he doesn't show the slightest sign of possessing formidable martial arts.”
“Why don't I test him and see?”
With that thought, he curled his fingers and let out a loud shout. His ten fingers, clawed like talons, lunged toward the old man's Queqiao acupoint.
This sudden turn of events startled everyone present. Even if anyone had wanted to step in and save the old man, it was already too late.
But they only heard the old man cry out in alarm, hurriedly raising his bamboo staff in a trembling defense while shouting:
“How terrifying! You're so heavy-handed, how can this old man possibly take it?”
Everyone stared intently, only to see Mountain-Crossing Palm Liu Hai standing frozen like a wooden statue, as if he had encountered something utterly terrifying.
The old man cried out loudly again:
“How strange! This old man ran all the way here out of breath, just wanting to beg for some cold rice to stave off hunger and some cold water to quench my thirst. I didn't bother anyone... This tavern is such a mess!”
“There isn't even a place to sit... My legs have gone completely weak...”
With that, he plopped straight down onto the floor, tossed his bamboo staff aside, and scratched his head vigorously, his mouth still muttering endlessly.
Just then, a clattering sound echoed from the stairs, followed by the tavern waiters shouting in unison:
“The Grand Chief Manager has arrived!”
A middle-aged man in his early forties, neatly dressed in a robe and cap, walked upstairs with a cheerful, smiling face, holding a riding crop in his hand. Following behind him were more than ten guard-warriors. Suddenly, he was heard asking the waiter loudly:
“Are there many guests today?”
A waiter quickly bowed and replied:
“Reporting to the Grand Chief Manager, our humble establishment is very fortunate today. Guests have arrived in droves; there isn't a single empty seat left.”
The man addressed as the Grand Chief Manager said, “Excellent,” then turned to the crowd of martial artists, cupped his hands, and said loudly:
“Could it be that you heroes all intend to visit Jinfo Fort? I have been ordered by the Fort Master to come here specifically to welcome you all.”
The crowd of heroes erupted into loud cheers. The Grand Chief Manager continued:
"Tomorrow morning is the auspicious day of our Pass Master. To repay your great kindness in traveling from afar to grace us with your presence, our Pass Master has ordered that for anyone who is a guest of Jinfo Pass, all food and drink will be provided by our people. You need not worry about a thing."
He paused for a moment, then continued:
"Horses have already been prepared downstairs. Please make your way to our humble manor. I still have some urgent matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first."
With that, he cupped his hands and bowed to all the heroes present before heading downstairs. The crowd of heroes cheered and clamored again, and someone remarked:
"The Chief Steward's bearing is truly extraordinary; his manners are impeccable in both arrival and departure."
Another person said:
"If not for that, how could he hold the position of Chief Steward of Jinfo Pass?"
Someone else called out to the martial artists and stewards of Jinfo Pass standing nearby:
"Since the Chief Steward has said so, when do we set off?"
The martial artists replied in unison:
"We depart immediately. The horses are ready downstairs. We will head straight west, rest for the night in Qinlong, then pass through Kongtong and continue straight ahead. By tomorrow morning, we will have arrived at Jinfo Pass."
Hearing this, everyone began to discuss excitedly. One man, who seemed to be the leader of the stewards, swept his gaze over the crowd, his face showing a hint of displeasure. Then, he spoke in a loud voice:
"Just now, I received word from our men that two heroes were testing their skills against each other here. Comparing martial arts is a common occurrence in the Jianghu, but these few days are joyous occasions for our Pass Master. I ask that you all show some respect for our Pass Master."
The crowd of heroes all responded:
"Of course, that goes without saying."
Afterward, the two factions of Liu and Zheng, along with everyone else, followed the stewards downstairs, mounted their horses, and set off toward the west.
Jinfo Pass is an important pass in Gansu, bordered by Tingguan Peak to the west, close to Kongtong to the east, and adjacent to Qinlong to the north. Atop the mountain, layers of clouds shrouded the peaks, the wind rustled through the pines, and the water murmured softly—it was truly a place of picturesque and indescribable grandeur. Legend has it that during the early Tang Dynasty, a Golden Buddha, over ten zhang tall, would often appear amidst the clouds on the mountain peak, radiating thousands of beams of divine light. This miraculous manifestation drew crowds of nearby residents who flocked to worship. Later, a Daoist priest came to live there in seclusion, building a thatched hut on the summit.
One night, he wrote down the two characters "Jin Fo" and vanished without a trace. Later, someone who remembered this tale built Jinfo Temple on the mountain peak to worship.
At the foot of the pass, ancient trees towered into the sky. Clusters of bamboo lined the winding rivers, creating an elegant and otherworldly scenery. Not far from the riverbank stood a three-arch gateway inscribed with the three characters "Jin Fo Jia". Behind the gateway lay a stone path, about two zhang wide, spacious enough for two horses to ride abreast. On both sides of the path, flowers and grass flourished. At the end of the path was a low city wall with its gates wide open, leading into a vast courtyard paved with goose-egg-sized cobblestones.
In the middle of the courtyard, a central pathway led straight to the front doors of the manor.
Inside the manor, six grand halls stood in close succession, looking magnificent and solemn. Two large bronze rings hung from the main doors, set into two lifelike beast heads.
In the main hall, weapon racks stood on both the left and right sides, holding all eighteen types of weapons, meant specifically for the manor guards to use.
This was the manor of the Jinfo Cape Master.
The local residents were accustomed to calling the master of this manor the Jinfo Cape Master. Some simply referred to him as the Cape Master.
But as for his real name, his age, what he looked like, or where he originally came from, not a single soul knew.
As it turned out, thirty years ago, this Jinfo Cape Master had dominated the southern banks of the Yellow River. Wielding the Eight-Step Soul-Chasing Sword in one hand and the ninety-seven stances of the Stele-Shattering Palm in the other, he had defeated countless heroes and champions of the jianghu.
In the Central Plains martial forest, from the lowest commoners to the venerable elders, there was no one who had not heard of "Stele-Shattering Palm" Zhang Congxi, and all praised him as a true hero. Later, for reasons unknown, Zhang Congxi suddenly vanished from the southern banks of the Yellow River and came to Jinfo Cape, where he selected a site with excellent feng shui to build his manor.
Within the manor, he employed martial arts instructors, stewards, and guards. Figures from both north and south, land and water, as well as those from both the Black and White paths of the jianghu, all sought him out to forge alliances upon hearing of his presence.
This year, Zhang Congxi was celebrating his sixtieth birthday. Following the suggestion of his Head Steward, Qi Rufeng, he sent out invitations beyond the Pass and across the north and south of the Great River, inviting heroes and champions from both the Black and White paths to attend this grand sixtieth birthday banquet.
Although the title of Jinfo Cape Master was highly renowned in the jianghu, ever since Zhang Congxi went into retirement at Jinfo Cape, his reputation had become a mere legend. People in the martial world had only heard of his name, but none had ever seen his face. Thus, as soon as he sent out invitations to his fellow martial artists, the news spread like wildfire across the jianghu. Even those who had not received an invitation prepared gifts and journeyed there, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Cape Master and see what kind of man he truly was.
On that day, the atmosphere inside and outside the manor was exceptionally bustling and lively. Servants and laborers bustled back and forth like weaving shuttles. The stewards busily supervised the workers as they swept and cleaned the rooms, preparing accommodations for the gathering heroes.
From the manor gates all the way to the riverbank, attendants stood waiting to welcome the heroes arriving from all directions. It was a scene of immense bustle and excitement.
Just as dawn broke, the Jinfo Cape Master, Zhang Congxi, was already dressed in his finest robes and hat. With a joyful expression and hearty laughter constantly on his lips, he personally came out to receive the guests arriving to offer their birthday congratulations.
Since this was his first public birthday celebration, he could not hide the sheer delight on his face. Head Steward Qi Rufeng had long prepared grand and solemn birthday ceremonies. This time, he wanted to make a magnificent display of everything, hoping to elevate the reputation of Jinfo Cape to even greater heights.
Suddenly, an announcement echoed from the manor gates:
"The Three Heroes of Yizhou have arrived! The Five Tigers of Changbai have arrived!"
Because the voice was still far away, it was not entirely clear. Soon after, someone repeated the announcement in a louder voice:
"The Three Heroes of Yizhou... The Five Tigers of Changbai..."
The announcement reached the gift reception hall. The steward in charge accepted the gifts and immediately sent a messenger running into the main hall to inform the Cape Master.
Upon hearing the announcement, the Armor Lord hurriedly went outside the main hall to welcome the Three Heroes of Yizhou and the Five Tigers of Changbai. After exchanging pleasantries and expressing his gratitude, the Armor Lord led the group into the hall and ordered the attendants to serve tea.
Just then, another announcement rang out:
"Escort Leader Chen of the Kaifeng Yuanyang Escort Agency, Old Escort Leader Huang of the Hubei Yang Heng'an Escort Agency, Grand Manor Lord Qian of Jiangling, and Martial Master Liang Xionghua of Lingnan!"
A short while later, another announcement followed:
"The Four Slayers of Laoshan, and the Five Ghosts of Tianmu!"
However, the announcer felt that the word "Ghost" sounded too unpleasant, so he casually changed it to "Immortal." He shouted at the top of his lungs:
"The Five Immortals of Tianmu have arrived!"
His voice was so loud that even the Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing the name.
He had always held a poor impression of these "Five Immortals," but since he was in high spirits today, he felt that the word "Immortal" was barely acceptable.
Before long, another announcement came:
"The Zheng Clan Fortress of Shanxi, and the Liu Clan Stronghold of Luoyang!"
Seeing so many renowned heroes and martial artists arriving to celebrate his birthday, the Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor could not contain his joy. He laughed heartily, bustling back and forth from east to west, tirelessly welcoming his guests.
Meanwhile, the stewards had already hurried to set out the banquet so that the early guests could begin their appetizers. In the blink of an eye, noon had passed. Renowned figures from both the righteous and unorthodox paths had nearly all arrived.
The Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor then commenced the banquet, raising his cup with the gathered heroes, merrily draining cup after cup. Host and guests alike toasted one another with great joy, creating an incredibly lively atmosphere.
Most of the heroes had gathered here either to build a good relationship with the Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor, or to show off their own sense of righteousness and camaraderie. Thus, they all chimed in:
"We are truly fortunate to be favored by the Armor Lord today. If there is ever any task you need us to do in the future, Armor Lord, just say the word, and we brothers will never hesitate!"
Another said:
"With the Armor Lord’s illustrious reputation in the Jianghu, who would dare come to your door and pluck the tiger's whiskers?"
The Five Ghosts of Tianmu suddenly chimed in:
"Just having the Five Immortals of Tianmu here is more than enough!"
The Five Ghosts of Tianmu had taken the announcer's slip of the tongue to heart. Thus, they intentionally channeled their inner energy to project their voices, ensuring that every hero in the hall heard them clearly.
Hu Renjie, the second brother of the Three Heroes of Yizhou, had always despised the Five Ghosts of Tianmu. The moment they finished speaking, he sneered and said loudly:
"What 'Immortals'? Immortals, my foot!"
Upon hearing this, the Five Ghosts of Tianmu leaped to their feet and bellowed:
"You bastard! How dare you insult your grandpas?"
Not one to back down, Hu Renjie also stood up abruptly and sneered:
"What if I do insult you? The Five Ghosts of Tianmu are nothing more than trash fit to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and thrown under a bridge!"
As it turned out, the Five Ghosts of Tianmu had once raided an escort wagon at Baqiao, just west of Xi'an, killing the escort leader and over a dozen people from the escort agency. At that time, only an old man and a child remained, neither of whom belonged to the escort agency. Yet, the Five Ghosts of Tianmu still wanted to slaughter them as well. This was a taboo of the highest order, even within the underworld. Fortunately...
At that moment, an old monk happened to pass by. Unable to bear the Five Ghosts' ruthless attempt to wipe out every last soul, he flew into a rage, grabbed them one by one by the collar, and threw them under the nearby bridge. At the time, the old monk was even heard saying:
“This old monk has never tolerated those who violate the precepts of Huangjue Temple. You are truly deserving of punishment! Truly deserving!”
Not long after, the matter spread throughout the jianghu, so that there was no one who did not know the Five Devils of Tianmu had been punished by that old monk. Yet, no one knew who the monk was, or at which temple he resided.
In recent years, the Five Devils of Tianmu had been forced to live in hiding, not daring to show their faces outside of Huizhou, for fear of running into that monk again.
By this time, they had drunk quite a bit of wine, and in a sudden burst of high spirits, they blurted out those boastful words, thinking they would establish their prestige in front of everyone. Who would have thought that Hu Renjie would dig up their shameful past, proving that they had only outsmarted themselves.
At that, the Eldest Devil roared in fury, spreading his five fingers and clawing straight toward Hu Renjie’s eyes. Hu Renjie, who was naturally hot-tempered, did not hesitate; he tilted his head to dodge, then reached behind his back and drew his longsword from its scabbard.
This sudden turn of events caused the heroes present to clamor in excitement. The remaining four of the Five Devils and the other two of the Three Heroes also rushed forward to join the fray, turning the scene into a chaotic and noisy brawl.
Seeing this, the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor looked displeased and quickly shouted:
“Please, everyone, stay your hands!”
Just hearing this shout was enough to show that the inner power of the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor was shockingly profound. At once, the Five Devils and the Three Heroes hurriedly leaped out of the fray.
The Master of the Golden Buddha Armor then said in a deep voice:
“No matter how great or small the matter, today is a joyous occasion for this Zhang. Please show me some respect and temporarily put it aside. Come, return to your seats and drink! Anyone who does not drink is looking down on this Zhang.”
The Five Devils and the Three Heroes suppressed their anger and returned to their seats. The Eldest of the Five Devils, seeing that the fight had been broken up and wanting to save some face, said:
“It’s not that we, the Five Immortals of Tianmu, are boasting, but there is no way we were thrown under some damn bridge; that was completely made up by people in the jianghu. No old monk or young monk would dare provoke us, the Five Immortals.”
Just as he said this, the voice of the announcer outside the manor echoed in:
“Reverend Yu Ming of Huangjue Temple in Huizhou has arrived!”
The moment the words “Huangjue Temple” reached the ears of the Five Devils, they were struck with terror. It turned out that the Five Devils of Tianmu had these three words deeply engraved in their minds, so upon hearing them, they were scared out of their wits. They took several steps back, stammered a few words, and then slunk into the crowd of heroes, stealthily peeking outside to see what was happening.
Upon hearing the name of Reverend Yu Ming of Huangjue Temple in Huizhou, the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor looked delighted. He stood up abruptly and asked:
“Has Reverend Yu Ming graced us with his presence?”
Then he quickly turned to instruct the stewards:
“Quickly prepare a vegetarian feast and bring it out, so that I may personally welcome him.”
With that, he hurried outside. Before long, he led an old monk into the main hall. The guests all looked over and saw that the old monk had long, auspicious eyebrows that reached down to his cheeks, and his eyes were as bright as stars. The Master of the Golden Buddha Armor loudly introduced him to everyone:
“This is the one renowned in the jianghu as the Daluo Golden Immortal, Reverend Yu Ming of Huangjue Temple in Huizhou!”
A chorus of admiring murmurs erupted in the hall. Venerable Yu Ming quickly pressed his palms together, repeatedly chanting, "Amitabha."
Someone well-versed in the lore of the jianghu began sharing anecdotes about Venerable Yu Ming with the rest of the guests at the banquet.
According to this person, the Venerable's Vajra Finger technique could shatter a massive boulder from a distance of over two feet.
Another guest chimed in:
"Once, at Hanyun Temple, Venerable Yu Ming used his qigong to subdue five fierce tigers, leaving them completely unable to resist. Within less than half an hour, all five tigers went limp and collapsed to the ground."
Among the crowd, many also wanted to show off their own sects' martial arts. Eager to elevate themselves, they bragged and debated so heatedly that spit flew in all directions.
At that moment, the Five Devils of Tianmu stole a glance at Venerable Yu Ming. Recognizing him as the very man who had thrown their brothers under the bridge the other day, they all gasped in terror. Cursing their bad luck inwardly, they quietly slipped out of the hall together.
The Master of the Golden Buddha Manor led Venerable Yu Ming into a quiet chamber and ordered the stewards to brew and serve fragrant tea.
The Master of the Golden Buddha Manor said:
"I never expected my humble banquet to disturb your holy presence, Venerable. Please forgive my lack of hospitality! Forgive me!"
Venerable Yu Ming replied:
"This old monk was invited by the Zhongnan Layman, so I simply stopped by on my way."
Just then, a steward rushed in, holding a piece of paper which he presented with both hands. Upon opening it, the Master of the Golden Buddha Manor paled. He stood up abruptly, turned to Venerable Yu Ming, and said:
"There is a minor matter outside that requires my attention. Please remain here and enjoy your vegetarian meal, Venerable. I shall return shortly."
With that, he hurried out. As the Master of the Golden Buddha Manor returned to the main hall, he saw the gathered heroes still drinking and feasting merrily, everyone in high spirits. Seeing the Master appear, they all raised their cups in toast. The Master quickly returned the gesture to the crowd before hurrying out of the manor gates.
Outside, Deputy Chief Steward Cheng Gang, along with the other stewards and the manor's martial arts instructors, all wore anxious expressions. Cheng Gang was heard saying:
"I, Cheng, have roamed the jianghu for many years, yet I have never heard of such a visiting card."
A steward said:
"It seems this card portends something truly terrifying."
Another spoke up angrily:
"Hmph! What's there to be terrified of? We are of the Golden Buddha Manor—who could we possibly fear?"
Hearing this, the Master of the Golden Buddha Manor felt a pang of unease. He quietly approached and asked Cheng Gang:
"Where is the person who delivered this card?"
Seeing the Master arrive, everyone fell silent. Cheng Gang presented a small box made of boxwood, opened the lid, and drew out a long black card printed with a stark white skull. Handing it to the Master, he said:
"This appears to be a Death Gate cover; the visiting card is inside."
The Master of the Golden Buddha Manor reached out, took the card, and turned it over several times, thinking to himself:
"Why would they send such a card to the Golden Buddha Manor?"
He pondered for a long time, not uttering a single word.
Sensing that something was amiss, Cheng Gang quickly asked:
"Does the Master know what this card signifies?"
The Master replied:
"This card belongs to the Yutian Fire God Sect. It is called the Tribute-Demanding Card, and it has struck terror into the jianghu for many years."
The words "Yutian Fire God Sect" fell upon their ears, leaving everyone frozen like wooden statues, their limbs turning ice-cold.
The Manor Master continued:
"It is not your fault that you do not recognize this object. Even in the jianghu, very few have ever had the chance to lay eyes on this Skull Missive. I wonder what the Yutian Fire God Sect is demanding by sending it here?"
Pausing for a moment, the Lord of Jinfoxia turned to Cheng Gang and asked:
"Aside from this missive, was there anything else?"
Cheng Gang replied:
"Only this missive, nothing else."
The Lord of Jinfoxia was startled and filled with dread, thinking to himself:
"This is disastrous! I have often heard that whenever the Yutian Fire God Sect wants to take someone's life, or some highly important treasure, they send only a single black Skull Missive. This black color signifies that the victim is absolutely forbidden from making any excuses or arguments."
With these thoughts, he questioned Cheng Gang further:
"Where was this missive delivered from?"
Cheng Gang glanced at the old servant guarding the gate. The old servant hurriedly said:
"Reporting to the Lord, I was standing outside the manor gate when a gust of wind suddenly blew past, and this missive somehow flew right in front of me. I quickly reached out to catch it. When I looked up, I saw a dark figure dozens of zhang away, which vanished in the blink of an eye."
The Lord of Jinfoxia did not ask any more questions. Holding the missive, he walked into the main hall, his face clouded with worry and gloom. Inside the hall, the gathered heroes and brave men were still eating and drinking merrily, conversing in high spirits. They were noisily recounting various legends and anecdotes of the jianghu. Some boastful individuals claimed to have participated in earth-shattering events in the wulin, their faces filled with smug satisfaction.
At that moment, the Lord of Jinfoxia raised the black Skull Missive high and spoke in a loud voice:
"My fellow heroes, does anyone recognize this missive?"
Everyone stared wide-eyed, then looked at one another, none of them knowing what the missive signified. Suddenly, someone in the hall cried out in alarm:
"Is this the Requisition Missive of the Yutian Fire God Sect?"
The words "Yutian Fire God Sect" seemed to carry an immense, terrifying weight. Upon hearing them, everyone was so struck with fear that their eyes widened and their mouths gaped, unable to utter a sound. The Lord of Jinfoxia said:
"It is not that I, Zhang, wish to drive my guests away, but this black Skull Missive was suddenly delivered to me, Zhang Congxi. If you all remain here, you will inevitably incur the enmity of the Yutian Fire God Sect. It is not that I look down on you or doubt your ability to assist me, but the Fire God Sect is immensely powerful, and their actions are incredibly overbearing and bizarre. I am sure you are all well aware of this."
"For nearly a hundred years, no one has dared to say a single word of defiance to the Fire God Sect."
As the Lord of Jinfoxia reached this point, he swept his gaze across the gathered crowd, seeing fear written on every face. Some of the more cowardly ones hastily gulped down a few cups of wine, then slipped out the door and fled. Seeing this, the Lord of Jinfoxia continued:
"From what I know, the Fire God Sect will surely arrive by sunset. Please, everyone, continue with your feast! If the Fire God Sect does not push me too far, we might not even have to resort to blades."
Though he spoke thus, the remaining guests quickly finished their food and drink in a hurry, and one by one, they began to bid their farewells. Some who had just been boasting loudly wanted to save a bit of face before leaving, so they said:
“It is not that I dare not stay, but rather that I came here merely to join the festivities and forgot to bring my lethal weapons. Thus, it would be difficult for me to display my full abilities. Please allow me to return home to fetch them, and I shall be back shortly.”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone pushed back their chairs, stood up, and swarmed out in retreat. Left in the grand hall were only Old Escort Chief Huang of the Xiangyang Heng'an Escort Agency, the Three Heroes of Yizhou, the Five Tigers of Changbai, Grand Manor Lord Qian of Jiangling, and Escort Chief Chen of the Kaifeng Yuanyang Escort Agency. They chose to stay only because they shared a deep, long-standing friendship with the Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor. Furthermore, they were all renowned in the jianghu as righteous and chivalrous figures; though they knew they might not have the strength to be of much help, they refused to cling to life and fear death, lest they be ridiculed by the world.
Deeply moved, the Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor did not dare utter mere words of gratitude. Instead, he quietly entered the private chamber to consult with Reverend Yuming. The Reverend asked:
“What happened just now? Why does the Lord look so troubled?”
The Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor replied, “Your Reverence is most perceptive. Something has just occurred that leaves me in a difficult dilemma.”
With that, he recounted the matter of the Black Skull Card from the Fire God Sect of Yutian. Reverend Yuming pressed his palms together, frowning as he said:
“Amitabha! The Fire God Sect resides far away in the Western Regions and has never had any grievances with the Lord. Why would they send a Skull Card here? What could be their intention?”
The Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor said, “I do not know what their intentions are, but if their demands are not too unreasonable, I might be able to...”
Just then, a commotion suddenly drifted in from outside the manor gates. The Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor called out in a loud voice, “What is going on?”
A voice replied from outside, “Reporting to the Lord, an old beggar has come here asking for food.”
Looking displeased, the Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor said, “If he came to beg, why is he shouting so noisily? If he has already been given food and money, why is he still causing trouble?”
The voice from outside replied again, “It seems this old beggar has come with the intention of making trouble.”
The Lord of the Golden Buddha Armor said, “Go see if he is a fellow member of the jianghu who has come to offer birthday congratulations. If so, invite him inside quickly and entertain him!”
Then, a loud shouting match was heard outside the hall, followed by the boisterous yelling of an old man: “You people truly have no manners! With such a lavish feast laid out, how could you not invite this old man to eat and drink? Hurry inside and bring out some food and wine for me—even cold rice and leftover soup will do!”
Next came the sound of footsteps as Escort Chief Hong of the Heng'an Escort Agency, Grand Manor Lord Qian of Jiangling, Escort Chief Chen of the Yuanyang Escort Agency, the Three Heroes of Yizhou, and the Five Tigers of Changbai all filed out of the hall. Then, the voice of Deputy Chief Steward Cheng Gang could be heard asking the stewards, “Who let this old beggar in to cause trouble?”
The stewards replied in unison, “Taking advantage of a brief moment when everyone was distracted, this old man suddenly appeared sitting on the floor. No matter how much we try to drive him away, he refuses to leave.”
Cheng Gang's angry shouting was heard once more, followed by the placating voices of Escort Chief Chen and the others: “Today is the Lord's auspicious day. There is no harm in letting him sit there.”
The old beggar suddenly leaped to his feet and said, “This old man's stomach is growling with hunger! Hurry inside and bring out some meat and wine right now. Once I have eaten my fill, I can have a good sleep!”
Because the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor was deeply worried about the Fire God Sect, he was solely focused on his discussion with Reverend Yu Ming in the private chamber, paying no attention whatsoever to the strange old man causing a ruckus in the main hall. He casually ordered the stewards:
"Invite him to rest in the corridor and bring him some wine and meat."
Hearing the Master's order, the stewards did not dare to make things difficult anymore. They quickly brought out a tray of wine and meat and invited the old man out to the corridor to eat and drink. Afterward, the gathered heroes all returned to the main hall.
A long while later, the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor and Reverend Yu Ming emerged from the private chamber. Everyone stood up to pay their respects. Reverend Yu Ming clasped his hands, bowed, and said:
"You all know well that the Master has received the Black Skull Missive. The arrival of this Skull Missive is an ill omen. As far as this old monk knows, the Fire God Sect has been expanding in the Western Regions for nearly a century. Although their Sect Leader has changed over time, no one knows what he actually looks like. Thirty years ago, the heroes of the Central Plains martial arts world gathered and went to Yutian to seek out the Sect Leader of the Fire God Sect to test their supreme martial arts, but they all returned in bitter defeat. Those Central Plains masters were all defeated by the guardian elders of the Fire God Sect, without even catching a glimpse of the Sect Leader."
The event thirty years ago, where the Central Plains martial arts world joined forces to test their skills in Yutian, was something everyone had heard of, and it had shaken the Central Plains martial arts world for a time. The former Chief Escort of the Heng'an Escort Agency in Xiangyang, Hubei, had also participated in that world-shaking battle.
Reverend Yu Ming's face showed deep emotion; he sighed softly and continued:
"It is not that this old monk is still harboring resentment over that matter, but if the Fire God Sect intends to do harm to the Golden Buddha Armor..."
Saying this, Reverend Yu Ming's eyes flashed like lightning as he looked at the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor. The Master of the Golden Buddha Armor said gratefully:
"Your generous willingness to help, Reverend, is something this Zhang will never forget. Your inner power is peerless, Reverend, capable of rivaling two elders of the Fire God Sect. If the Fire God Sect sends four elders this time, the rest of us can take on two, and the situation would be evenly matched. However, if those who come are the Six Fire Messengers of the East Courtyard, or the Five Elements Team Elders of the West Courtyard, it will be truly difficult for us to withstand them."
Manor Lord Qian of Jiangling said:
"Those titles are indeed things this Qian has never heard of. What are the Six Fire Messengers and the Five Elements Team?"
The Master of the Golden Buddha Armor said:
"The Reverend has informed me that the Six Fire Messengers and the Five Elements Team are the guardian elders of the East and West Courtyards of the Fire God Sect. The Six Fire Messengers are six elders who use the word 'Fire' in their names: Heavenly Fire, Earthly Fire, Human Fire, Sun Fire, Moon Fire, and Star Fire. As for the Five Elements Team, they use the five elements in their names: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Together, the East and West Courtyards have eleven elders. According to legend, to be appointed as a guardian elder in the East and West Courtyards of the Fire God Sect, one's martial power must at least surpass that of a sect leader. The Reverend just told me that thirty years ago, the alliance of the Central Plains martial arts world and Yutian suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the elders from these two courtyards."
As he spoke to this point, everyone listened in silence. Hu Renjie, one of the Three Heroes of Yizhou, who naturally hated evil as his mortal enemy, grew furious upon hearing this and could not help but say in indignation:
"What the hell are the Six Envoys of the Five Elements anyway! Just let them come. I, Hu Renjie, will poke six or seven holes in every single one of them, just you watch."
Hearing him speak, everyone burst out laughing again. A long while later, at dusk, the voice of the Deputy Chief Steward, Cheng Gang, was suddenly heard shouting a question outside the manor gates:
"Who are you gentlemen looking for?"
Then came some very strange, peculiar voices, followed by the demanding shout of another person:
"Did you not receive the invitation sent by the Fire God Sect?"
As soon as the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor and the others heard the words "invitation of the Fire God Sect" spoken in that bizarre voice, they knew the visitors had arrived. They all rushed out of the main hall and saw a row of twelve green-clad youths standing outside the manor gates. Each youth wore a large bamboo hoop on his arm and held a jade box in his hands.
Standing behind these twelve youths was a row of five very strangely dressed men, each wearing a wide, loose robe with a bright red sash wrapped around his waist.
Looking closely at the five men, the onlookers saw that the oldest was around seventy, while the youngest was only in his early forties.
Reverend Yu Ming swept his gaze over the five men, chanting "Amitabha" under his breath. He had already recognized them as the Guardian Elders of the Five Elements Squad from the Western Courtyard of the Yutian Fire God Sect.
Years ago, when the Central Plains martial arts world was defeated in Yutian, the figures of the various sects of the Central Plains suffered a great, humiliating disgrace that they had not yet found an opportunity to wash away.
At that time, when the defeated heroes returned, they were so disheartened that none of them would speak of the names, appearances, ages, or martial arts of those Six Envoys of the Five Elements. They only mentioned one detail: anyone who became a Guardian Elder of the Western Courtyard's Five Elements Squad would wear a bright red sash around their waist.
Back then, Reverend Yu Ming had paid close attention to this detail and committed it to memory. Thus, the moment he saw the bright red sashes tied around the waists of these five men, he could not help but shudder with shock.
The Master of the Golden Buddha Armor stepped forward, bowed politely, and asked:
"Have you gentlemen come from Yutian?"
One of the five, a man of over seventy, spoke in a highly bizarre voice:
"We already sent someone with our invitation, so why ask such pointless questions?"
The second man said:
"Do you not see these bright red sashes?"
Another said:
"We have come to deliver a gift from our Sect Leader to you."
The fourth asked:
"Are you going to keep us standing outside this manor gate just to hand over the gift?"
Seeing how arrogantly these five spoke, the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor grew secretly furious. However, seeing the bright red sashes around their waists and having been warned by Reverend Yu Ming that they were indeed the Five Elements Squad of the Western Courtyard, he dared not lose his temper. Suppressing his anger, he forced a smile and said:
"I, Zhang, was momentarily careless. Please, gentlemen, come inside for some tea!"
With that, he extended his hand and said:
"Please, after you!"
Immediately, the twelve green-clad youths swaggered into the main hall. The five men followed closely behind them.
Once inside the hall, the Master of the Golden Buddha Armor invited them to take their seats, while he himself sat in the host's chair.