Sword Roaring in the Sky

Chapter 236 Willing to exchange a city for a person

In the martial arts world, half of the masters at the Grandmaster level are from Songyang, Shaochan, the Northern Yan Royal Court, and Longzang Temple. The rest, such as the five great families and ten sword sects of Dalang, all have "past" Grandmasters, not current Grandmasters. For example, the Miao family has no Grandmasters, and the Hu family, apart from the missing Hu Qingdi, only has a few Xiantian masters.

Since the founding of the Songyang School, there has never been a time when the seven disciples appeared in the martial arts world together.

This is a momentous event that will shake the world.

Along the way, even officials at all levels of the imperial court received orders from their superiors to welcome Grandmaster Zhang, Headmaster Wang, and all the True Immortals.

Yes, Sun Yanwan is quite influential.

He had actually been quietly promoted before the new year to a sixth-rank official position as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, and given a leisurely post. Anyway, no one was watching him work from nine to five, so it didn't matter whether he was doing his job or not.

Given Sun Yanwan's background and status, if he were to actually go to Luojing and visit the Hanlin Academy every day, many people would feel extremely awkward and uncomfortable.

Nothing happened along the way. After the Seven Friends of Songyang and Sun Yanwan entered Donghai Pass, the imperial court even sent an army to protect them, ostensibly for protection, but in reality... it was also for protection!
The main purpose was to ensure that the Seven Friends of Songyang would not suddenly change their route to Luojing and beat up the emperor.

Shaochan Temple was located on Guannei Road. After entering Donghai Pass, monks greeted us on the road within two days.

When they arrived at a place half a day's journey from Shaochan Temple, Abbot Kongchan, accompanied by a group of senior monks from Shaochan Temple, set out with great pomp and ceremony. The senior monk of Shaochan Temple bowed respectfully from afar and called out, "This humble monk greets fellow Daoists from Songyang. May I ask what brings you all here from afar?"

Wang Xuangui chuckled and said, "It's nothing serious."

“My second junior brother has a second disciple who has long admired your disciple Shi Si, and specially asked us old folks to come to Shao Chan Temple to propose marriage.”

The monk Kongchan felt disgusted and thought to himself, "My disciple was kidnapped by Sun Yanwan and is still in Black Dragon City."

"You Songyang Sect abducted people and call that admiration?"

"It's a good thing that all seven of you old geezers are bachelors, otherwise, this humble monk would have suspected that the feng shui of your Songyang Sect is not right."

Although Monk Kongchan complained, he was also somewhat pleased, after all, the Songyang Sect really gave him face. Not only did Zhang Yuanqiao come, but even the sect leader Wang Xuangui came. Moreover, the Seven Friends of Songyang made an unprecedented joint appearance, giving Shaochan Temple a lot of face.

Not to mention the monk Kongchan, even the great Zen master Daku had nothing to say.

He smiled slightly and replied, "What do you think of my disciple? Is he worthy of such a grand gesture from you fellow Daoists of Songyang? Come to the temple, have a cup of tea, and then ask my senior brother, Da Ku, to make the decision."

The monk Kongchan actually felt quite guilty towards his younger brother. After all, at the time, he only thought that Nian Xizhao was his senior brother's disciple, that he was not a bad person, and that he knew him well. But who would have thought that this scoundrel would cause twelve female warriors to fight for his hand in marriage?

Now that Sun Yanwan has taken a liking to Shi Si, whose status, literary talent, and martial arts skills are unparalleled in the world, and who has even had the Seven Friends of Songyang come together to propose marriage, it is quite a triumph for her.

Although the monk Kongchan himself could make the decision, the Seven Friends of Songyang had given him such a great deal of support. How could the monk Kongchan not back up his disciple? With the Great Master Daku intervening, there would be no event in the martial arts world that could compare.

Wang Xuangui chuckled and said, "Please lead the way, Master Kongchan."

Sun Yanwan, at the very end of the group, felt somewhat awkward. Once inside Shaochan Temple, she didn't dare look around. Shaochan Temple was built on flat land, with the Wei River flowing through it. This ancient temple, with a history spanning over a thousand years, had been repeatedly honored and granted land by successive dynasties, despite their wariness of it. From the front of Shaochan Temple, one could travel a hundred li in any direction and still remain within its territory, making it arguably the largest landowner of its time.

In terms of wealth, Shaochan Temple far surpasses Songyang School, boasting a long history and enduring fortune.

The temple had countless halls. As they entered the gate, they saw an old monk waiting for them for a long time. Although he was called an old monk, he did not look very old. After all, Zen Master Da Ku had advanced to the Innate Realm at a very early age. However, his years of arduous Zen practice gave Da Ku a natural air of majesty, making people feel that this monk was like a living god or Buddha, and ignoring his youthful appearance.

Zen Master Daku also clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said with a smile, "The arrival of fellow Daoists from Songyang is truly an honor to our humble temple. Please come inside and we will serve you tea."

The two eminent monks of Shaochan Temple, along with several other eminent monks from various halls, welcomed the Seven Friends of Songyang to a meditation hall. Following his master's instructions, Sun Yanwan knelt before the monks Da Ku and Kong Chan and said, "Years ago, Sun Yanwan happened to meet Master Xianzi in the martial world. She was as graceful as a startled swan and as lithe as a swimming dragon... She was like a light cloud veiling the moon, and as swirling as snow in a flowing wind... Her beauty was exquisite and elegant... She wore a shimmering silk robe and adorned herself with jade and precious stones."

“My heart is filled with endless longing, and I have been tossing and turning all night. I cannot forget this love, so I earnestly request my elders to come to Shaochan Temple to propose marriage. I hope that the two eminent monks will grant this marriage.”

Master Da Ku thought to himself, “If I don’t approve this article, I’m afraid that one or two hundred years from now no one will remember me as a martial arts master. They will only remember me for breaking up a loving couple and ruining the marriage of the literary leader and the youngest top scholar of Da Lang.”

The old monk chuckled and said, "Shi Si is my junior brother's disciple. You can ask him."

Sun Yanwan was somewhat afraid of the monk Kongchan, so she hurriedly took out a scroll she had prepared beforehand and said, "This is the investiture document for a city under my name. The city is called Yanzhou. It is used as a betrothal gift. I am willing to exchange a city for a person."

The abbots of Shaochan Temple were all masters. When they saw Sun Yanwan take out the investiture document and claim that he was willing to exchange a city for a person, they all gasped and thought to themselves, "This kid from Songyang Sect is really willing to spend a lot of money."

"Using a city as a betrothal gift is quite sincere."

When the Seven Friends of Songyang left Songyang Mountain, the whole world knew that they were coming to Shaochan Temple to propose marriage to Sun Yanwan. Of course, the eminent monks of Shaochan Temple were also aware of this, but they all pretended not to know.

With the seven friends of Songyang Sect all present, Sun Yanwan's status and position are unparalleled in the world. Moreover, everyone knows that Shi Si is in Black Dragon City and even lived in Taiyi Temple for a long time. There is absolutely no reason why this marriage cannot be successful.

But at this time, the betrothal gifts that Sun Yanwan presented were no more generous than those given by an emperor when marrying his crown prince.

Many people looked at Kong Chan; the matter was just one word from this contemporary grandmaster away.

Kong Chanxin replied leisurely, "This old monk grants permission to this marriage."

Kong Chan usually refers to himself as a humble monk, but now that he is Master Shi Si, he has to change his tone.

Zhang Yuanqiao smiled slightly and said, "In that case, I will thank you all on behalf of my junior disciple."

With a wave of his hand, the grandmaster prompted Sun Yanwan to pay his respects to the Great Master Ku and the monk Kongchan, and then serve tea to the heads of each hall.

Inside the meditation hall, a harmonious atmosphere prevailed, and Sun Yanwan's anxious mood eased somewhat.

However, he knew that although his master had taken care of the two eminent monks at Shaochan Temple for him, he still had to get past Shi Si himself.

(End of this chapter)