One person: Senior brother Zhang Zhiwei, the Celestial Master begged me to descend the mountain.

As dawn broke, a faint, pale white hue appeared on the eastern horizon.

The mornings at Longhu Mountain always carry a touch of otherworldly beauty, with clouds and mist swirling among the layered peaks, and occasionally a few clear birdsongs can be heard.

Two young Taoist boys, responsible for cleaning the back hill, were yawning and waving their large brooms.

"Senior brother, there are just too many people at this year's Luo Tian Grand Ceremony."

The shorter young Taoist priest swept up the sunflower seed shells on the ground while complaining:

"We've already filled three trucks with just these sunflower seed shells and beverage bottles."

"Alright, stop complaining."

The tall senior brother tucked the broom under his arm and wiped the sweat from his forehead:

"This is a big day for our Celestial Master's Mansion. If outsiders see that the ground is not clean, it will be a disgrace to the Celestial Master."

As the two were talking, suddenly, the short Taoist boy stopped what he was doing.

He pointed to the eaves not far away, his eyes wide:

"Senior brother, look what's that?"

Look in the direction he was pointing.

On the bluestone ground, there lay a dark, lumpy thing.

At first glance, it looks like a large black garbage bag.

But upon closer inspection, it was clearly a person.

The two exchanged a glance, then mustered their courage and walked over.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the person was dressed in a tight-fitting black night suit, lying face down on the ground in a spread-eagle position, with their hands and feet in an extremely bizarre and twisted posture.

There was still white foam at the corner of its mouth, its eyes were rolled back, and only its chest was still rising and falling slightly, proving that it was still alive.

"Whoa!"

The tall senior was startled, then frowned and covered his nose with a look of disgust:

"Smells like alcohol... Is this another drunken pilgrim?"

"Why are you lying here like a corpse in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

The short Taoist boy leaned closer to take a look, then scratched his head in confusion:

"Senior, this person is dressed so strangely... Why are they so covered up in this heat? Are they doing performance art?"

"Young people these days have all sorts of wild ways of having fun."

The tall senior waved his hand, looking impatient:

"Hurry up, lend a hand and carry him away."

"If the VIP guests see a drunkard lying here, we're going to get yelled at again."

The two men, one in front and one behind, lifted the once-renowned top assassin, who had struck fear into the hearts of countless people, as if carrying a dead pig.

The assassin's bones were mostly broken, and when he was lifted so roughly, he let out a painful whimper.

"Well……"

"Ouch? You do feel pain now?"

The short Taoist priest was amused:

"Looks like he didn't die from drunkenness after all."

"Where should I throw it, senior brother?"

"Throw him in that pavilion on the back hill. He'll get out of there when he sobers up."

The tall senior brother said irritably:

"Hurry up, there's still a pile of cigarette butts over there that haven't been swept up."

……

Ten minutes later.

In the VIP guest room area, inside a luxuriously decorated suite.

"waste!"

"They're all useless!"

Upon hearing the news, Wang Ai slammed her cane into the ground.

"They used the best medicine, sent the best people, and even brought bone-piercing nails!"

"And the result?!"

"They didn't even get a scratch on them, but I've become a cripple?!"

"Grandpa..."

The middle-aged man kneeling on the ground said in a trembling voice:

"That Zhang Chu... is too strange."

"Our men didn't even have a chance to get close, and judging from the man's delirious ramblings..."

"That Taoist priest... didn't even wake up."

"Still not awake?!"

Wang Ai's pupils suddenly contracted, and she felt a chill run down her spine to the back of her head.

While asleep, he crippled a top assassin wielding a bone-piercing nail?

Is this guy even human?!

Even the Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei wouldn't keep the Golden Light Mantra activated so tightly while sleeping, would he?!

"Grandpa, shall we... still make a move?"

The middle-aged man cautiously raised his head.

"What the hell are you talking about!"

Wang Ai struck the man on the shoulder with her cane, causing him to stagger.

"Are you tired of living?!"

"If word gets out that we're carrying out an assassination in Longhu Mountain, and that we're even killing the people he brought back."

"Have we, the Wang family, lost all shame?!"

Wang Ai took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the surging anger and fear in her heart.

He sat back down in his chair, a look of resentment flashing in his sinister old eyes.

You have to swallow this anger, even if you can't.

At least within the territory of Longhu Mountain, we absolutely cannot make any more moves.

"Clean up that mess completely, don't leave any loose ends."

Wang Ai closed her eyes, waved her hand, and her voice instantly aged several years:

"Get out."

……

Three poles in the sun.

The training ground was even more lively today than yesterday.

Although it's only a Group B match, the attention surrounding this game has been skyrocketing because of Zhang Taichu's earth-shattering slap yesterday, and the fact that he's facing the perpetually sleepy Wudang Wang Ye today.

The stands were packed with people, and even the aisles were crowded.

Many enthusiasts have even set up betting odds, wagering whether the match will last more than a minute.

"In the final round of Group B, Zhang Chu will face off against Wang Ye!"

The referee's voice, amplified by a phonograph, clearly resonated throughout the entire arena.

In the center of the arena.

Zhang Taichu had arrived long ago.

He was still as disheveled as ever, wearing a tattered Taoist robe, old cloth shoes, and his hair was tied up with a straw rope.

He was squatting by the ring, idly picking at the bits of meat stuck between his teeth with his little finger.

That was a souvenir left over from the meat buns I had that morning.

Where are they?

Zhang Taichu flicked the shredded meat he had just picked out, muttering with some dissatisfaction:

"What time is it? If you don't come soon, I'll have to go back and catch up on my sleep."

The referee, a Taoist priest, also looked embarrassed.

He held the list and called it out again:

"Wang Ye of the Wudang Sect, please enter immediately!"

"Wang Ye?"

"Master Wang?"

No one answered.

"Wow, is the king actually afraid?"

"Of course! Zhuge Qing was beaten up like that yesterday, and Wang Ye isn't stupid."

"No way? Doesn't Wudang Mountain have any pride? They're just forfeiting?"

The audience began to jeer, with whistles rising and falling.

"this……"

The referee wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the platform with some difficulty.

The old Celestial Master sat on the high platform, stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes slightly, and wore a meaningful smile on his lips.

"Say it three more times."

"If you don't come, it will be considered a forfeit."

The referee received the order, took a deep breath, focused his energy, and prepared to call out the third time.

Just then.

Behind a huge vermilion load-bearing column at the very back of the stands, near the exit.

Suddenly a hand reached out.

Immediately afterwards, half of its head cautiously peeked out.

It was indeed the king.

However, at this moment, Master Wang had lost all the composure of a monk.

His face was deathly pale, his eyes were dark like a panda's, and he was still clutching three copper coins tightly in his hand.

"Um..."

Wang Ye's voice wasn't loud, but it still carried despite the relatively quiet atmosphere of the room:

"Master, could you... please grant me a leave of absence?"

"The King!"

The referee was so angry that his mustache stood on end.

"What are you doing hiding there?! Get up here and start the match!"

"I'm not going!"

Wang shook his head vigorously, his whole body clinging to the thick pillar that it would take two people to hug, like a koala.

"I...I'm not feeling well!"

"Yes! I have diarrhea!"

"The vegetarian meal I had last night wasn't clean, and now my legs are weak; I can barely stand!"

As Wang Ye shouted, he also flashed the three copper coins in his hand:

"Furthermore, I just consulted the oracle, and today is extremely unlucky! It's better to remain still than to move, and especially avoid going towards the center!"

"If someone goes up there, at best they'll suffer broken bones, at worst they'll die!"

"Master, please have mercy and consider it a forfeit?"

"I give up! I really give up!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

I've seen cowards before, but I've never seen anyone this cowardly.

This is a grand Taoist ritual!

All the extraordinary people in the world are watching!

This guy has completely disgraced Wudang Mountain.

"Hahaha! This king is hilarious!"

"To avoid getting beaten, you're even using diarrhea as an excuse?"

"You know what, judging from his face, he really does look like he's had diarrhea all night."

Hearing the laughter around him, Wang Ye remained completely unfazed, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

laugh?

What's the point of laughing!

Your life is your own!

Last night, he was in the stands, but he clearly felt the unreasonable "power" emanating from Zhang Taichu.

That wasn't even a contest between people of the same level.

Go up?

Going up there would be like delivering food to someone else!

"No!"

The referee, his face dark, roared:

"Even if you have diarrhea, you have to come up here and finish the competition before you can go!"

"Hurry up! Don't dawdle!"

"I don't!"

Wang hugged it even tighter, wishing he could embed himself into the pillar:

"If you force me, I'll... I'll pee right here!"

In the center of the arena.

Zhang Taichu, who had been squatting, finally stood up.

He dusted off his bottom and looked with a smile at Wang Ye, who was clinging to the pillar and refusing to let go.

"Hey."

"That little bastard is actually quite interesting."

Zhang Taichu took two steps forward, stood at the edge of the arena, and waved to Wang Ye from a distance of several dozen meters.

"Little Wang."

Zhang Taichu's voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as if it were ringing right next to Wang Ye's ear:

"Since we're already here..."

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Upon hearing this voice, Wang Ye's hair stood on end.

He stared intently at Zhang Taichu's smiling face, feeling as if it were the smile of a devil.

"No, no, no! Senior! Sir!"

"I really can't go on! I'm completely exhausted!"

"Next time! Next time for sure!"

As Wang Ye shouted, he began to shrink behind the pillar, even considering whether to use earth magic to escape.

however.

Zhang Taichu did not give him that chance.

"Don't mention it."

Zhang Taichu grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth.

His withered hand reached out and made a grasping motion towards Wang Ye.

Come here!

Om-! ! !

The air jolted suddenly.

"Holy crap?!"

Wang Ye felt an irresistible force coming at him.

His hands, which were gripping the pillar tightly, suddenly lost all their grip in that instant.

Shila-

Accompanied by a piercing scraping sound.

On that vermilion load-bearing pillar, ten deep finger marks were actually left!

That was Wang Ye's last act of defiance.

"Aaaaaah! My pillar!!!"

Amidst gasps of surprise.

Wang Ye felt as if he had been lifted up by an invisible hand.

With a whoosh.

It flew directly over half of the training ground.

He danced wildly in the air, his Taoist robe fluttering in the wind like a kite with a broken string.

"Help!!!"

"Kidnapping!!!"

Screams echoed through the training ground.

But the screams stopped abruptly.

boom!

A muffled thud.

Wang Ye landed heavily in the center of the ring, right at Zhang Taichu's feet.

It stirred up a cloud of dust.

"Cough cough cough..."

Wang was thrown so hard that he was completely disoriented and saw stars.

He struggled to get up, only to find that a tattered cloth shoe had stepped on the hem of his Taoist robe.

Wang Ye froze, then slowly raised his head.

He met Zhang Taichu's smiling eyes.

Zhang Taichu squatted down, reached out his hand, and very kindly patted the dust off Wang Ye's shoulder.

That gesture was so gentle that it made Wang Ye want to cry.

"Why are you running?"

Zhang Taichu said with a smile:

"Young people should know how to respect the elderly and care for the young."

"How could you bear to make me wait there for so long?"

Wang Ye swallowed hard, his lips twitching as he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Dao... Daoist Master..."

"I really... wasn't prepared..."

"It's alright, I wasn't prepared either."

Zhang Taichu waved his hand, his face showing complete innocence:

"Let's just have a casual spar."

As he spoke, he leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said in a volume that only the two of them could hear:

"I heard..."

"You learned that... Feng Hou Qi Men technique on Mount Wudang?"

Wang Ye's pupils suddenly contracted.

All the muscles in his body tensed to the extreme in that instant.

Feng Hou Qi Men!

This is his biggest secret!

Apart from the Grand Master and the Old Celestial Master, nobody knew!

How did this person know?!

"take it easy."

Zhang Taichu patted Wang Ye's stiff face, smiling like a big bad wolf trying to lure Little Red Riding Hood:

"Come."

"Open my eyes."

"What if it doesn't look good..."

Zhang Taichu pointed in the direction Wang Ye had just flown from:

"I will plant you in that pillar."

"The kind that you can't even button up."