Transmigrating into Murong Fu, may you have many children and much happiness.

Chapter 117 Journalism Master Xiao Zhi, Martial Arts Tournament Begins

Just as Qiao Feng and Kumārajīva were exchanging blows, the guest monks kept announcing the names of the newcomers.

Heroes from Shandong, Shanxi, Hubei and Hunan, and Jiangnan have arrived, as have heroes from Sichuan and Shaanxi, and even heroes from the distant Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.

Heroes from all over the country came in response to Shaolin's call, but they never expected to witness a duel between two of the world's top masters, Qiao Feng and Kumārajīva, so soon after their arrival.

The fatigue of the journey vanished instantly, everyone intently watching the duel between the two. Though they were heroes from various regions, their martial arts skills were only second or third-rate. Normally, upon witnessing a duel between masters, people would explain and instruct their juniors, or, if their temperament dictated it, even offer their own critique. But now, despite the large number of people, the scene was eerily quiet, save for the shouts of Kumārajīva and Qiao Feng, and the soaring sounds of their kung fu.

Those heroes and valiant men dared not comment on their martial arts skills, and many couldn't even see the r...

A person's moves. Not to mention, one can see the subtlety of their moves.

The monk then announced, "His Highness Prince Duan, the Prince of Zhennan of the Dali Kingdom, has arrived."

When many people heard that Prince Duan of Dali had arrived, they stopped watching the fight between Kumārajīva and Qiao Feng and turned to watch Prince Duan instead.

Although his martial arts skills were quite high, they were definitely not comparable to those of Qiao Feng and Duan Er. The reason he was considered a hero was because Duan Er of Dali was famous far and wide. Who in the martial arts world did not know him?

Every prominent family with daughters would instruct their daughters and wives to stay away from Duan Zhengchun of Dali.

In extreme cases, they might even forbid them from having any connection with anyone surnamed Duan.

At this moment, seeing Duan Zhengchun and his group ascending the mountain, with Duan Zhengchun at the head and Dao Baifeng, Li Qingluo, and Ruan Xingzhu beside him,

Qin Hongmian was accompanied by four beautiful women, followed by Duan Yu, whose eyes were searching around, while her retainers Fan Hua, Hua Heliang, Ba Tianshi, Zhu Danchen, and others stood guard behind her.

Seeing that Prince Duan was old but still elegant, and had four beautiful women by his side, the heroes were immediately tempted to befriend him, compared to their own wives who had shared hardship with them.

Duan Zhengchun was also amazed by Xiao Feng's martial arts skills, but when he saw Kumārajīva, he was also shocked. He knew that this man was the Tibetan monk who had kidnapped Yu'er, and he secretly became wary.

At this moment, Qiao Feng seized the opportunity when Kumārajīva was slow to change his posture and finally closed to within three feet. The two then exchanged blows, just like when they first met.

Originally, Kumārajīva wanted to subdue Qiao Feng through the versatility of the Seventy-Two Arts, but he did not expect that Qiao Feng's movements were too fast, his reactions were extremely stable, and just like last time, his attacks showed no signs of preparation, making them impossible to predict.

Now that Qiao Feng had him cornered, he realized that his close-combat skills were even more exquisite, and immediately used the Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill to slash at Qiao Feng's chest.

Qiao Feng easily deflected the attack with a flick of his wrist and a raised elbow.

The two exchanged a few more moves, with Kumārajīva freely switching between Dragon Claw Hand, Vajra Finger, and Bright Fist. The eminent monks of Shaolin Temple were astonished, for even though each of them could only possess three or four unique skills, they could not wield them as casually as Kumārajīva.

But seeing how Qiao Feng, using only the most basic Arhat Fist, could fight so fiercely against those many extraordinary skills and even gain the upper hand, was truly astonishing.

A set of Arhat Fist techniques was executed with the force of thunder and the crushing weight of Mount Tai, leaving many young Shaolin monks deeply moved. Their masters took the opportunity to instruct them not to aim too high, like the Vajra Palm or the Prajna Palm; they pointed out that if the Arhat Fist was mastered, it could also overpower the Great Wheel King...

Qiao Feng fought with increasing ease, and his Arhat Fist, which he hadn't used for many years, made him quick-witted and sharp-handed. Then, seeing an opening in Kumārajīva's defenses, he leaned in, turned around, and struck the withered tree roots, hitting Kumārajīva squarely in the chest.

Kumārajīva's eyes twitched wildly, and he activated his Great Shifting Technique, but Qiao Feng struck him again with a simple Leaping Fist, knocking him back more than ten feet.

Kumārajīva looked at his chest, where Qiao Feng's fist had already pierced through, sweat beading on his forehead, and muttered to himself:

"Impossible, impossible."

"I've clearly mastered all seventy-two martial arts techniques, yet he's using the most rudimentary Arhat Fist, the kind only the most foolish little monks use... How could this be... How could this be?"

Since entering the temple today, Kumārajīva had maintained a confident and arrogant expression, but at this moment he was caught in a deep self-doubt.

Qiao Feng clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Master, how is my Arhat Fist? Does it meet your standards?"

2

Kumārajīva turned to look at the crowd pointing and whispering about him, and realized that it was indeed quite astonishing that he had just lost to the Arhat Fist with his Seventy-Two Arts.

He felt ashamed, angry, resentful, confused, and disappointed, but outwardly he managed to control his expression, then feigned a hearty laugh and said:

"Okay, okay!"

The martial arts of Xiao Dawang of the Southern Court of the Great Liao Kingdom are indeed exquisite and his combat power is unparalleled, capable of defeating the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts!

"It is truly a great pleasure for this humble monk to have the honor of witnessing the magnificence of King Xiao today!"

When the monks of Shaolin Temple heard Kumārajīva change his tone and address Qiao Feng as "King Xiao," thus separating Qiao Feng from Shaolin Temple, and even claiming that this King Xiao of Liao could break Shaolin's seventy-two unique skills, it was truly extremely malicious, as if Qiao Feng was fighting on behalf of Liao, and Kumārajīva was fighting on behalf of Shaolin.

It was as if it wasn't Kumārajīva who lost to Qiao Feng by a single move, but rather that their Seventy-Two Arts were merely empty names.

Kumārajīva said this, and even the heroes present were arguing among themselves.

After all, compared to the Tibetan Empire in the far west, the Southern King of the Liao Dynasty was more hated by them.

Mozhi understood a principle long ago: if the current situation is not in your favor, you can first muddy the waters.

He was the best debater in the Western Regions, not only because he had an amazing memory that allowed him to read and recite all the Buddhist scriptures, but more importantly because of his ability to bewitch people with just a few words.

If Murong Fu were present, he would be pleasantly surprised to discover that Kumārajīva was actually a promising talent in journalism.

Although Qiao Feng was good at arguing, he was too lazy to argue with Kumārajīva at the moment. After all, he only fought with Kumārajīva because he couldn't stand Kumārajīva's attempt to take down Shaolin's reputation and was afraid that his master would be humiliated.

But he was indeed a Khitan, so there was no need for him to debate with Kumārajīva here.

Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he walked to Xuan Ku's side.

Xuan Ku is now old and often thinks of many things from his early years. Just now, seeing Qiao Feng's Arhat Fist being performed with such ease, he couldn't help but recall that twenty or thirty years ago, after he saved Qiao Feng, he took him as his disciple and secretly taught him martial arts every night at Qiao Sanhuai's farmhouse.

The image of Xiao Qiao Feng practicing his boxing with meticulous precision overlapped with that of the peerless hero before him, making him both cry and laugh.

Xuan Ci was worried that Xuan Ku's body had not fully recovered and that he was too tired, so he asked the young novice to help him to a bench in the hall to rest.

At this moment, Qiao Feng saw Xuan Ci and naturally bowed and greeted him. Xuan Ci saw him and a complex look flashed across his eyes.

He also knew that today's martial arts gathering would inevitably be fraught with twists and turns, but at least for now, the ordeal of the Great Wheel King wanting to take away the Shaolin plaque had been overcome.

He then introduced Duan Zhengchun, who had just arrived from afar, to Qiao Feng. The two exchanged greetings, and Duan Zhengchun, seeing Qiao Feng's heroic qualities, nodded in approval.

The two had shared a meal together at Canhezhuang, where Qiao Feng had heard the Murong brothers recount many of the prince's romantic escapades while drinking.

Thinking of this, Qiao Feng suddenly looked towards the square, wondering if his brother Murong Fu would come today.

Meanwhile, Murong Fu was at an inn at the foot of the mountain urging the women to hurry up.

"I told you to get up early today so we can go to the temple for breakfast. Let me tell you, the vegetarian food at Shaolin Temple is really delicious. The Shaolin monks use their kung fu to grow vegetables and cook, so the flavors are unique."

Eating it every day would be unbearable, but eating it occasionally is quite nice.

After the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the senior monks had all packed up their stalls...

It was only a little past 6 a.m., even though so many things had happened at Shaoshi Mountain.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Kumārajīva walked up to the Shaolin monks and wore his signature Buddha-like smile, as if no conflict had occurred.

It was as if he wasn't there to cause trouble, but rather to exchange ideas on Buddhism.

As the head of Shaolin Temple, the organizer of the martial arts tournament, Xuan Ci was dissatisfied with Kumārajīva's recent challenge to the temple, but he also knew that this Great Wheel King was indeed proficient in both literature and martial arts, and that he was skilled in both Buddhist teachings and martial arts. So he did not dare to be negligent and introduced him to Duan Zhengchun.

Duan Zhengchun glanced at Kumārajīva, then looked at Duan Yu, noticing that Duan Yu still seemed quite resistant to seeing Kumārajīva. Last time at the wedding, he had been too preoccupied with personal matters to notice Kumārajīva was there.

But Duan Zhengchun was an old hand at the game, and a prince of Dali, so he had no shortage of gifts. He clasped his hands and said, "My son, Duan Yu, was favored by the Ming King and brought east. I have heard much from my son and learned a lot along the way. I am very grateful and thank you."

Kumārajīva put his hands together and said, "I have long admired the great name of Prince Duan of Dali."

He then glanced meaningfully at the beautiful woman beside Prince Duan and said, "Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved."

Prince Duan was destined to be a wise and virtuous ruler of the Dali Kingdom, a true blessing to the millions of people in the south.

Duan Zhengchun knew that Kumārajīva was mocking him, and was about to speak when he heard a sinister voice coming from afar:

"Hehe, Master, don't be fooled by this scoundrel who disrupts the established order and usurps the throne."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun and his son Duan Yu's faces immediately changed color. The voice belonged to the notorious Duan Yanqing.

Just then, Duan Yanqing, dressed in a green robe and leaning on two iron staffs, came flying from a distance. Although his legs were injured and he needed two thin iron staffs for support, he had profound internal strength and his lightness skill was quite impressive.

Behind him followed the "wicked" Ye Erniang and the "fierce and evil" South Sea Crocodile God, the three villains, who arrived all at once.

Last time at Leigu Mountain, he almost had a mishap, but Duan Yanqing is, after all, a rare first-rate expert in the martial arts world, and he still dared to come to the martial arts tournament on the Double Ninth Festival.

Nan Hai'e Shen needs no introduction; he's a fearless and reckless individual.

When Ye Erniang heard that her eldest brother was going to Shaolin, she remained silent, which the other two took as tacit agreement.

Abbot Xuanci was a gentle man who treated all guests with courtesy, regardless of their character.

Although Shaolin Temple rules do not allow female guests, Abbot Xuanci merely smiled at Ye Erniang upon seeing her and paid her little attention.

The monks all thought, "Today we have many enemies. Compared to that, the rule of not receiving female guests is a trivial matter. Look at that Prince Duan of Dali, who brought four female guests who were like bodhisattvas. There's no need to cause any more trouble over this."

More and more people gathered, and Qiao Feng felt the unfriendly gazes coming from all directions. He recalled that when he was the leader of the Bow Gang, he associated with heroes from all over the world every day. Who didn't call him a great hero and a true man?

But now, he is still himself, but the way others look at him has changed.

It seems that the martial arts world of the Central Plains does not welcome him, a Khitan. Qiao Feng does not care about his own plight. After this matter is over and the Central Plains no longer welcomes him, he will show his face again. When he misses his mentor, adoptive parents, and brothers, he can visit them anonymously.

The real task is to advise the King of Liao against starting a war lightly.

At this moment, Xuan Ci saw that the main martial arts masters and people involved in the upcoming events had arrived.

Although Murong from Gusu has not yet arrived, matters concerning his junior brother Xuanbei and Ke Baisui of the Funiu Sect will be discussed later.

Let's deal with the deaths of Master Nazhiguang, Zhao Qiansun, and others, and the ambush on Junior Brother Xuanku, first. After all, all the martial arts heroes have arrived, and we can't wait any longer, lest more trouble arise.

Then Xuanci mustered his inner energy and said, "The gathering of heroes at Shaolin Temple brings glory to our humble abode."

The purpose of this martial arts conference is to quell the unrest and resolve the recent bloodshed in the martial arts world.

"Does Benefactor Xiao have anything to say?"

It turns out that Xuan Ci had asked the young monk to help Xuan Ku inside because he didn't want his junior brother to get involved in the matter. After all, even an upright official can't settle family disputes, and he knew that his junior brother and Xiao Feng were like father and son.

However, the recent tragedies all point to Xiao Feng, which is why a special invitation was sent to summon him from the Liao Dynasty. The grudges of these decades should be settled on this day.

Then, an old man with white hair and a youthful face, dressed in a long silk robe, stepped forward, staring angrily at Qiao Feng, and bowed to the crowd, saying:

"Esteemed heroes, I am Shan Zheng, the 'Iron-Faced Judge,' and I have come today for my old friend, the monk Zhiguang!"

As he spoke, five people followed him forward and walked together onto the square.

Those who recognized them pointed out that they were Shan Zheng and his five sons, all with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and their appearances were quite similar.

To outsiders, they look like brothers.

The oldest was over thirty and the youngest was barely twenty. They were clearly five brothers born of the same mother and were known as the Five Heroes of Mount Tai.

There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names.

Dan Zheng was a ruthless and incorruptible man who hated evil, so he earned the nickname "Iron-Faced Judge". He was highly respected and praised by people in the martial arts world.

But when the heroes heard him mention the monk Zhiguang, they realized it must be Master Zhiguang from Tiantai Mountain. They had heard that he had died at the hands of thieves last year, and several of his young guards had also perished.

Unexpectedly, today's gathering was precisely to seek justice for him. Many of the heroes were already looking towards Qiao Feng. There had been rumors that Qiao Feng, a Khitan, had killed many renowned figures in the martial arts world to cover up his identity as a Khitan traitor, but it was unclear whether this was true or not.

But just now, I saw Qiao Feng fight against the Tibetan monks for Shaolin, and his words and actions showed a rare heroic spirit.

Was he wronged, or was he just good at pretending?

The heroes were very curious.