Chapter 25: Zhang Sanfeng Runs Swiftly

In the front hall of Mount Wudang, Song Yuanqiao, the eldest disciple of the Wudang Sect, led the group out to face the encircling forces of the Five Great Sects, beginning to play the game of evasion.

"Today is my master’s hundredth birthday, but as he dislikes extravagance, we can only accept your kind intentions in spirit. Our Wudang Sect is small, lacking the means to properly host all fellow martial artists. I must ask you to descend the mountain early—the night roads are not easy to travel."

Among those gathered before the Wudang Hall, a middle-aged nun stepped forward, first laughing heartily, then feigning magnanimity. "Brother Song, you jest. Everyone knows Wudang is among the foremost righteous sects in the martial world. Master Zhang is a respected elder, renowned for his virtue. Since he prefers tranquility, of course we dare not disturb him. But today, the Five Sects have come not only to celebrate his birthday, but for another important matter."

Song Yuanqiao knew well what this important matter was—the trouble sought for his fifth junior brother. He interrupted, "Master Miejue, today is my master’s birthday. If you have business, please return tomorrow."

Tomorrow? Would they even find Zhang Cuishan then? Miejue, uncommonly thick-skinned, seeing Song Yuanqiao trying to block her, simply tore away all pretense. "Brother Song, let’s not beat around the bush. If you let Zhang Cuishan come out and tell us where Xie Xun is, we’ll leave at once."

At her words, the Five Sects immediately echoed their assent.

"Miejue, what do you take the Wudang Sect for? You come here to block our doors and demand we hand over my fifth brother?" Song Yuanqiao was furious. These people were truly mad for the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

"Heh, Brother Song, Golden Lion King Xie Xun killed countless from our Five Sects," Miejue sneered. "For the innocent disciples who died, Zhang Cuishan must reveal Xie Xun’s whereabouts today. Brother Song, we’re all martial people—let’s settle this by skill. I’ve long heard of your prowess and the true transmission from Master Zhang. Shall I ask for a few pointers?"

"Please, Master, show your hand." Song Yuanqiao, second only to Zhang Sanfeng in Wudang, feared no Miejue and stepped forward for the challenge.

Before Song Yuanqiao could steady himself, Miejue had already leapt in with her sword. Song Yuanqiao’s anger flared—she, a sect leader, was still a level below him, yet she attacked under the guise of learning, even resorting to a sneak attack.

Already troubled by his fifth brother and Yin Susu’s affairs, and now, on his revered master’s centennial, having the Five Sects block their gates, Song Yuanqiao felt his temper rise. Seeing Miejue’s sword slashing toward him, he lifted his own and engaged her directly.

Their swords clashed, but before Song Yuanqiao could display his swordsmanship, a sharp crack sounded—his sword had snapped.

"Heavenly Sword?" Song Yuanqiao exclaimed, recalling the famed blade said to be kept in Emei, the sharpest sword in the world.

Miejue had no intention to duel fairly; she had tricked him, using the Heavenly Sword’s unrivaled edge to break Song Yuanqiao’s blade. Seeing her ruse succeed, she pressed her advantage, swinging her sword at Song Yuanqiao’s chest.

Song Yuanqiao quickly summoned his inner strength, unleashing his famed Sleeve Technique to block her.

With a tearing sound, Song Yuanqiao’s sleeve was sliced clean off by the Heavenly Sword.

Taking advantage of the breach in Song Yuanqiao’s protective energy, Miejue struck his chest with a palm.

"Pfft!" Song Yuanqiao took the blow, spit blood, and staggered back ten steps before regaining his footing.

Normally, Song Yuanqiao, as Zhang Sanfeng’s true disciple and heir of Wudang, should be at least equal to Miejue, not defeated in just two moves.

However, he and his junior brothers had just used their internal energy to purge the chilling poison from Zhang Wuji’s body, and their strength had not fully recovered. Moreover, Miejue’s near sneak attack with the Heavenly Sword gave her the upper hand. So, his quick defeat was not so surprising.

Between masters of equal rank, a single misstep can be fatal—especially when one holds a divine weapon like the Heavenly Sword. Unless you wield the Dragon-Slaying Saber, whatever you block with will be cleaved in two.

Besides, Song Yuanqiao’s reputation in the martial world was as the Jade-Faced Mengchang, known not only for his skill, but also his gentlemanly demeanor. He preferred words over violence. Miejue, however, thrived on contest and aggression, always ready to draw her sword, her fighting experience far outstripping Song Yuanqiao’s.

Seeing their elder brother struck and spitting blood, his junior brothers could no longer abide by martial etiquette. Each grabbed their weapons and moved to intercept Miejue.

Unfortunately, these brothers were also weakened, having just treated Zhang Wuji’s injuries.

Healing by internal energy is far more taxing than harming, especially as Zhang Wuji was still a child, untrained, with delicate meridians. While healing him, they had to devote most of their strength to protecting his meridians. When they realized they couldn’t safely remove the chilling poison and protect him, they each left a stream of protective energy within him.

Thus, their strength was reduced by seventy percent. With Miejue’s unmatched weapon, they fought cautiously, resulting in a stalemate.

But it wasn’t just Miejue pressuring Wudang today—the other sects, including Shaolin and Huashan, were standing behind her, some with masters equal to Miejue and Song Yuanqiao. On Wudang’s side, no one else could match them.

"Zhang Cuishan," Miejue shouted, fighting four of the Wudang Seven Heroes without losing ground, her confidence soaring. "If you don’t come out, we won’t hold back. Will you just watch your brothers fight and die for you?"

Miejue realized she couldn’t win, and the Wudang Four Heroes were learning to avoid the Heavenly Sword. If she waited longer, she might lose. So, she resorted to psychological tactics, knowing Zhang Cuishan cared deeply for his brothers.

"Stop," Zhang Cuishan, unable to bear the provocation, came out with Yin Susu.

Although Yu Lianzhou and the others hated Miejue for hurting Song Yuanqiao, seeing their fifth brother appear, they halted, knowing that even if they won, today’s matter couldn’t be resolved by force.

"Zhang Cuishan, you finally bring out this witch," Miejue said, now uninterested in fighting, putting away the Heavenly Sword as Yu Lianzhou and the others stopped. Secretly, she resented the other sects who, though here for the Dragon-Slaying Saber, wouldn’t help for fear of offending Wudang.

"Miejue, don’t go too far," Zhang Cuishan said, bitter that his actions brought disgrace upon Wudang.

"Zhang Cuishan, just tell us where the Golden Lion King is, and we’ll leave at once," Miejue said, triumphant.

"You can forget it. I will never betray my sworn brother."

"How dare you sink so low, befriending a murderous demon like Xie Xun. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson for your master." Miejue drew the Heavenly Sword again, hoping to defeat the Wudang Seven Heroes single-handedly, even though the third-ranked Yu Daiyan was paralyzed and absent. Seeing Yin Susu beside Zhang Cuishan, she thought that including a demon cult witch would make it a complete victory.

Li Daniu, unfamiliar with Wudang’s paths, finally found the front hall. Peering out the window, he saw an outrageously arrogant middle-aged nun wielding a dazzling sword, preparing to attack Zhang Cuishan and his wife.

So this was the infamous Miejue?

Before Li Daniu could judge her further, a figure flew over from behind the Five Sects.

"Who dares touch my disciple?"

He knew it was a master, but did he always have to appear at such crucial moments, so punctual? Li Daniu watched as the white-bearded Daoist, who casually stepped on a monk’s head, arrived—it could only be Zhang Sanfeng.

Hearing Zhang Sanfeng’s voice behind her, Miejue, at the peak of her confidence, turned and unleashed her best Emei sword technique. Her move seemed to wield dozens of swords at once, sealing all of Zhang Sanfeng’s landing points.

But Zhang Sanfeng, the supreme master of the age, though not yet having created his legendary Tai Chi Fist and Sword, had long invented the miraculous Cloud Ladder technique.

Li Daniu, with mortal eyes, could clearly see Zhang Sanfeng, at the end of his descent, step left then right, halting his fall and rising in midair, dodging Miejue’s sword.

Newton, come out and explain—what principle is this?

While Li Daniu inwardly called for Newton, Zhang Sanfeng had already flipped behind Miejue and, before she could turn, snatched the Heavenly Sword from her.

"You…" Miejue felt blood surge, not from injury but from anger. Song Yuanqiao couldn’t last two moves against her, yet she couldn’t last one against Zhang Sanfeng. Was he deliberately not teaching his disciple properly?

"What do you mean, 'you'? If not for my sentimental ties to Guo Xiang, I wouldn’t let you leave Wudang unscathed today." Zhang Sanfeng, having failed to catch the Xuanming Elders, returned to check on Zhang Wuji. Before he even entered, he saw his eldest disciple on the ground and Miejue bullying his fifth disciple with the Heavenly Sword—his anger flared.

"Heavenly Sword, Heavenly Sword—such a blade in your hands is wasted. I’ll keep it for seven years. If you can produce a worthy disciple in that time, let them come for it." Zhang Sanfeng tossed the sword, which flew dozens of meters and lodged in the beam of the hall.

"Zhang Sanfeng, do you intend to shield your disciples just because you’re so powerful?" He Taichong of Kunlun, seeing Miejue defeated, knew his hope of an easy victory was gone. He signaled to Master Kongwen of Shaolin, who stepped forward.

"Master Zhang, will you ruin your reputation for the sake of a demon cult villain who killed countless righteous disciples?" Master Kongwen said.

Zhang Sanfeng was about to reply, but Zhang Cuishan stopped him.

"Master, let me handle this."

"Very well, Cuishan. Rest assured, whatever you decide, I will stand behind you." Zhang Sanfeng wasn’t worried about his own reputation, but knew only Zhang Cuishan could resolve the matter today.

Was he about to witness history? Li Daniu knew that soon something utterly unreasonable would happen: Zhang Cuishan’s suicide, followed by Yin Susu’s sacrifice.

Even while reading the novel or watching the dramas, Li Daniu never understood why Zhang Cuishan had to kill himself. On the surface, it seemed the perfect solution, but in truth, it was the worst choice.

Both Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu knew Xie Xun’s whereabouts, and that was common knowledge—after all, the three disappeared together.

When Zhang Cuishan committed suicide, Yin Susu was right beside him. If his death was meant to obscure Xie Xun’s whereabouts, would it not force Yin Susu to suicide as well?

Moreover, their only son, Zhang Wuji, had been struck by the Xuanming Palm—a martial technique so deadly that even Zhang Sanfeng’s first reaction was to seek out the Xuanming Elders, not attempt to cure it himself.

Who would willingly give up trying to save their own child?

And his third brother, Yu Daiyan, was paralyzed, with all of Wudang mistakenly blaming Yin Susu for the injury. Yet, while Yin Susu did hurt Yu Daiyan with the Heavenly Eagle Sect, that alone couldn’t have caused paralysis; indeed, in the TV adaptation, Yin Susu arranged for Yu Daiyan to be sent back to Wudang.

With that unresolved, the enmity between Wudang and the Heavenly Eagle Sect could never be settled. One was his sect, the other his wife’s family—was he to watch them feud endlessly?

So, even if Li Daniu wished to stop Zhang Cuishan’s suicide, he didn’t know where to start.

"System, what storyline does this world follow?" Li Daniu couldn’t figure it out. "The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber" had countless versions, and nearly every depiction of Zhang Cuishan’s suicide was different. In this cinematic world, which would it use? So far, some events matched the movie, others didn’t.

For example, in the movie, Miejue had already fought Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu before Zhang Sanfeng arrived, and had slapped Yin Susu multiple times. When Zhang Sanfeng appeared, he returned the favor to Miejue. None of that happened here.

"The plot is based on 'The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber: The Demon Cult Master.'"

"Then why did the recent events differ so much from the movie?" Li Daniu considered the so-called plot optimization, which was supposed to fix illogical points. With Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu wounded, and Miejue wielding the Heavenly Sword, she should have had an assured victory.

"Because, according to the movie’s depiction of Zhang Sanfeng’s abilities, he could easily return to Wudang in time to prevent Miejue from harming Zhang Cuishan and his wife after failing to catch the Xuanming Elders."

Li Daniu was speechless.

"So, you're saying Zhang Sanfeng runs fast?"