owlsbooks Chapter 330 All That Life Owes Is Death
Chapter 330 All That Life Owes Is Death
Chapter 330 All That Life Owes Is Death
"You scoundrel, give me back my second brother's life!"
Just as the heroes were discussing among themselves, a shout suddenly resounded from the Tongtian Hall of the Great King Peak. The rough voice was like a thunderclap, and two figures suddenly appeared, instantly drowning out the noise of the entire place.
Everyone turned to look outside the hall, where they saw a man who was eight feet tall and had a robust physique. He was dressed in a silk robe, looking like a wealthy gentleman, but he was carrying a one-legged bronze figure on his shoulder. He was walking into the hall in a rage.
The so-called one-legged bronze man, or more accurately, the one-legged bronze man spear, is a bronze mold cast in the shape of a human from the front end of a wooden or iron rod. It is called the one-legged bronze man because it has only one leg.
This man possessed astonishing strength. His one-legged bronze figure weighed forty to fifty pounds, classifying it as a powerful heavy weapon. The figure's arms were also ingeniously designed, serving as a pressure point weapon, combining the strengths of "heavy, clumsy, and skillful" techniques from martial arts. As the bearded, burly man moved forward, the bronze figure left trails of sparks on the bluestone slabs.
Beside him stood a gloomy-faced man, short and thin, with a dark face and two long, thin mustaches. Although they were less than an inch long, he was lean and agile. He was carrying a corpse covered with a white cloth in his arms. The corpse had a full beard and was a dark, murky mess. Its eyes were wide open and lifeless, and its face was ashen.
The two men, exuding a menacing aura, strode straight to the center of the Tongtian Hall. The wealthy man slammed the one-legged bronze figure to the ground with a loud crash, shattering the entire bluestone slab. As the fragments flew, Jiang Wen gritted his teeth in pain.
"You bastard! Get out here and face your death!"
His voice was booming, so loud it hurt everyone's eardrums. The entire arena fell silent instantly, and all eyes turned to the seats on the sidelines. Everyone looked at each other with hesitant expressions, and no one knew what was going on.
Jiang Wen also pondered for a moment, looking around before his gaze first fell on the row on the left side of the hall, convinced that the suspect must be among them.
Gui Xinshu, who was in the lead, was known for his protectiveness and volatile temper, and was ruthless in fights. He had the most enemies among those present, but at this moment, he stared wide-eyed at his surroundings, not at all like someone who knew these two people.
Then, Jiang Wen looked at Feng Daode and Master Ji. These two represented the two major forces of Shaolin and Wudang, and had the widest social contact. They were also more likely to make enemies and grudges. However, the two seemed to be competing in their self-control, each holding a gloomy or strange expression, without any extra reaction.
While watching the show, Jiang Wen didn't even consider that possibility – the two people in front of him were skilled in martial arts, and even if he and his accompanying martial arts masters rushed at them, the outcome would be fifty-fifty, not to mention that the other side was carrying a dead person.
Just as Jiang Wen was about to continue observing the right side, he noticed that the martial arts practitioners seated in the eighteen seats inside the hall all seemed excited, their faces flushed, and in their drunken revelry, they showed no fear of the approaching hostages; instead, their eyes were filled with a thirst for bloodshed and carnage.
Where did these bloodthirsty spectators come from? Why are all the people who survived the great upheaval at Sanliting so strange?
However, Jiang Wen soon realized that a schoolteacher dressed in a scholar's robe with a flowing beard slowly stood up from the seats on the right—it was none other than Lu Feiqing, the man of cotton needles!
Seeing the unfriendly guest staring intently at him, Lu Feiqing slowly rose, bowed to the surrounding heroes, and then looked at the man calmly: "Brother Teng, in a gathering of martial arts masters, one must be mindful of one's words. You barged into this Wuyi Gathering and spoke arrogantly to me. What is your purpose?"
"What is it for?"
The thin man behind him spoke in a sinister tone, suddenly ripping off the white cloth covering the corpse. Not only was his face contorted in a grotesque death, but his chest was also adorned with numerous deep, round, bloody holes that revealed the bone, a truly horrifying sight.
"My second brother, Gu Jinbiao, died tragically at the foot of Wuyi Mountain last night! In the martial arts world, who else could possess such skill in hidden weapons, killing with a single blow, and who also had a long-standing feud with us, but you, Lu Feiqing, the 'Needle in Cotton'?!"
The crowd erupted in uproar, whispering amongst themselves. No one had expected that the group would come for the most amiable-looking person, Lu Feiqing. Years ago, Lu Feiqing had left the Wudang Sect for some reason and wandered around the martial world. There were even rumors that he was too lazy to navigate worldly affairs and had become a tutor for a high-ranking official in the imperial court, practically on the verge of retiring from the martial world.
Lu Feiqing waved his sleeve and said, "Brother Teng, Third Brother Jiao, the six demons of Guandong have been causing trouble in the capital, which has nothing to do with me, Lu. But your second brother, Gu Jinbiao, is so audacious that he tried to kidnap a young girl of an official. I saw injustice and cut off his ear as punishment."
As everyone's gazes shifted, they indeed discovered an old wound on the deceased's left ear, where half of the auricle had been cut off.
"During my trip to Fujian, the three of you haunted me again, harassing me everywhere, until my old friend Zhao Banshan and I joined you, at which point you finally stopped. In truth, it was you who repeatedly and unreasonably harassed me. Now that I have died under mysterious circumstances, what is the reason for you suddenly seeking me out!"
Lu Feiqing was eloquent and articulate, explaining the cause and effect of the matter clearly in just a few words. She stated that the other party had started the trouble due to old grudges, and that she had been avoiding them at all times and had not engaged in any physical fight.
More importantly, he revealed the identities of the three men. These six sworn brothers from different surnames roamed freely inside and outside the Great Wall, committing numerous evil deeds. Yet, each of them possessed exceptional martial arts skills and was a formidable opponent, causing many to hate them to the bone, but to be powerless against them.
"Hey Lu, you said it yourself, we have a past grudge. If you didn't kill him, did God kill him? Stop pretending. Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, he couldn't save you!"
Lu Feiqing frowned, glanced at the wounds on the corpse, and knew that these people were unreasonable and domineering. Now that Gu Jinbiao had died tragically and mysteriously, this matter would be difficult to resolve peacefully.
He said coldly, "You lot have been holding grudges and seeking revenge for a long time, wanting to take my life. Today, you're trying to frame me with your third brother's corpse. What kind of loyalty is this? It's a joke. I don't know what your intentions are."
After saying this, he raised his hand and took out a handful of golden needles from the pouch at his waist. With a sudden flick of his wrist, they flew out like a sudden gust of wind and rain, deeply embedding themselves in a row of wooden pillars in the Tongtian Hall.
Everyone looked up and saw that the needle was as thin as a cow's hair, and the tip of the needle shone with a pale blue light. It was his unique hidden weapon that had allowed him to roam the martial arts world.
"Please look at me, everyone. I, Lu Feiqing, have been traveling the martial world for decades, and everyone knows that my only hidden weapon is this Hibiscus Golden Needle. It is usually used for acupuncture and needle insertion, and the needle only makes a narrow hole in the flesh. It is more than three times the size of the round hole wound on this person's body. How can you say that I killed him? Moreover, I was with Brother Zhao all day yesterday. All the people who accompanied me can testify. How could I have ambushed and killed him?"
With conclusive evidence and clear reasoning, the assembled heroes nodded in agreement, their gazes towards Jiao Wenqi now filled with suspicion.
However, Teng Yilei, the leader of the Six Demons of Guandong, was an arrogant person who would never listen to reason. At this moment, he stopped the bronze statue and glared angrily.
"You're as cunning as a snake in cotton, with three burrows like a rabbit. Who knows if you have other insidious hidden weapons! Even if it wasn't you, it must be that Thousand-Armed Buddha Zhao Banshan next to you. He's the best at hidden weapons in the world, and he can use any weapon with ease. Either you killed him, or he did!"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man who looked like a wealthy businessman in the next seat slowly stood up. He was none other than Zhao Banshan, the third leader of the Red Flower Society, also known as the Thousand-Armed Buddha.
He still had a smile on his face, but his tone became a bit more serious: "Boss Teng, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I, Zhao Banshan, have no deep grudge against Gu Jinbiao. I've only met him a few times. Why would I kill him? Besides, I, Zhao, never do anything underhanded. I would never stoop to sneaking up on someone to kill them."
However, this explanation is somewhat weak. Everyone in the martial arts world knows that Zhao Banshan is the number one master of hidden weapons in the world. His hidden weapon skills are unparalleled, and his moves are extremely exquisite. He can launch several hidden weapons at the same time, leaving his enemies overwhelmed. He is proficient in all kinds of hidden weapons, such as money darts, sleeve arrows, crossbows, slingshot swords, and Bodhi seeds. It is indeed difficult for him to clear his name.
Zhao Banshan chuckled and suddenly flung out a strangely shaped weapon. It flew in a zigzag pattern and came flying towards Jiao Wenqi. Jiao Wenqi hurriedly ducked to avoid it. Strangely enough, the weapon flew back into Zhao Banshan's hand. He caught it and threw it back, but this time it didn't hit any vital points. It just spun over his head and was then pressed down on the table by Zhao Banshan.
"This is Zhao's unique hidden weapon, the 'Returning Dragon Jade,' which can sever a person's throat in a matter of moments. Why waste time and effort to riddle a person with holes?"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Jiao Wenqi suddenly stepped forward and slammed his hand on the rosewood table with its drawers and ivory panels. His Iron Pipa Hand technique, which combined Iron Sand Palm and Eagle Claw Kung Fu, was incredibly powerful, and the table instantly turned into flying wood chips.
He shouted sternly, "Lu Feiqing and the Six Demons of Guandong are mortal enemies. We admit that we opposed him before. If he didn't kill anyone, then call out the murderer. Otherwise, I will kill you all today to avenge my third brother!"
Before he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist, and the Iron Pipa Hand unleashed a fierce thrust that pierced the air with a sharp sound, aiming straight for Zhao Banshan's face! Teng Yilei also moved at the same time, and the One-Legged Bronze Man swung up a dark, shadowy figure, carrying the force of a thousand pounds, and smashed it down on Lu Feiqing's head!
Suddenly, things took an unexpected turn. The crowd of heroes, along with their tables, retreated, making way for an open space. However, Jiang Wen felt that these people were all looking for trouble and couldn't suppress the smirk on his face.
Zhao Banshan remained calm and composed. He slightly rotated his body, drawing a circle with his left hand and hooking with his right, performing the exquisite Tai Chi move "Grasp the Sparrow's Tail." His palm strikes were smooth and effortless, and Jiao Wenqi's Iron Pipa Hand was pulled away by his palm force, sliding off to the side and crashing into a nearby stone pillar.
Seeing this, Jiao Wenqi swung his arm and swept it horizontally, unleashing all the ruthless moves of the Iron Pipa Hand, each strike aimed at vital points, his fingertips as sharp as knives, accompanied by a whistling sound. Zhao Banshan's Tai Chi, however, flowed like a surging river, endlessly rotating, and no matter how fierce his attacks were, they were all easily deflected. Relying on the principle of using softness to overcome hardness, he completely subdued the Iron Pipa Hand. The two instantly clashed, the sounds of bones and muscles colliding filling the air.
On the other side, Lu Feiqing leaped out, drew her White Dragon Sword, and unleashed the Soft Cloud Sword Technique. The sword light flowed like clouds and water, spreading out like misty rain, with continuous and intricate moves.
He didn't directly confront Teng Yilei's one-legged bronze figure. His sword moves were like silkworms winding around trees, light and elusive, always looking for the opponent's weaknesses. Teng Yilei's bronze figure, on the other hand, was powerful and heavy. Every blow could shatter stone slabs, but it could never touch Lu Feiqing's clothes. Instead, he was forced to retreat repeatedly by the Soft Cloud Sword. One was as heavy as Mount Tai, and the other as light as a feather. They fought to a standstill.
After fifty rounds, the situation gradually became clear. Lu Feiqing's Soft Cloud Sword Technique became increasingly smooth, and her sword light had already enveloped Teng Yilei's entire body. Teng Yilei could only rely on his superhuman strength to lift the bronze statue to defend himself, and his breathing was already disordered. Meanwhile, Zhao Banshan's Tai Chi Chuan had the upper hand. Jiao Wenqi's Iron Pipa Hand was completely countered by him, and every move he made was like a stone sinking into the sea. At this moment, his breathing seemed to be gradually becoming erratic, and a huge opening was revealed in his chest.
Jiao Wenqi seemed momentarily flustered, hastily turning his back and clasping his hands to protect his vitals, but he forgot that when he turned around, his weakness was exposed right in front of Lu Feiqing. However, he was also a seasoned fighter, and immediately threw out a hidden weapon, the Pipa Nail, from his sleeve, aiming at Lu Feiqing's left eyebrow "Yangbai" acupoint and left shoulder "Quepen" acupoint, trying to divert his attention.
Lu Feiqing caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye. He was about to draw his sword when he felt a surge of anger. However, he had always been upright and kind-hearted. In recent years, he had lived a secluded life and had shed much of his江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) temperament. Even when faced with a villain like Jiao Wenqi, he was unwilling to take his life in public at the martial arts tournament. He only wanted to subdue him and then reason with him.
He immediately sheathed his White Dragon Sword, abandoned Teng Yilei, and flashed to Jiao Wenqi's side like lightning. He flipped the sword's spine, neither stabbing nor slashing, but instead slapped down at Jiao Wenqi's shoulder, intending to knock him to the ground.
But he never expected that the Six Demons of Guandong would have murderous intent today. Jiao Wenqi was cunning and treacherous, and this flaw was actually a deliberate trap to lure the enemy!
Seeing Lu Feiqing's sword slashing down, Jiao Wenqi not only didn't dodge, but instead twisted his body violently, using his Iron Pipa Hand with all his strength to smash into Lu Feiqing's lower abdomen. At the same time, the mechanism on his hand suddenly clicked, and five bone-piercing nails shot straight into Lu Feiqing's chest at close range!
Lu Feiqing's old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet been generated. He had no time to defend himself and could only dodge to the side with all his might, avoiding the hidden weapon aimed at his vitals, but he could not dodge the iron pipa hand that came crashing down on him. With a muffled "thud," the iron pipa hand slammed solidly into his lower abdomen. Lu Feiqing spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered back several steps, almost dropping his White Dragon Sword, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Brother Lu!"
Zhao Banshan's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He wanted to turn back to help, but he didn't expect that the Six Demons of Guandong were indeed ruthless. Jiao Wenqi was tightly entangled with him and he couldn't break free at all. Even if he wanted to use a hidden weapon, it was blocked by the other party's body. He went berserk.
Zhao Banshan was anxious, and immediately launched two concealed weapons made of fine steel and shaped like right angles at the roof and floor with lightning speed.
This move looked like a miscalculation, completely out of sorts. However, after the two hidden weapons were launched, they bounced back as if they were alive after hitting a hard object, strangely changing their angle and grazing Jiao Wenqi's hands and legs, leaving two deep wounds from which blood gushed out.
The shuttles were still bouncing back, moving faster than lightning. The crowd was filled with amazement and admiration, and everyone dodged and weaved. Several unlucky people had already been grazed. Only one woman in red suddenly stood up, her figure soaring through the crowd like a swallow, and nimbly flew into the air to retrieve the two unique hidden weapon shuttles. She held them in her hands and examined them carefully.
But Jiao Wenqi was also a ruthless man. Even though he was injured, he tried to hold Zhao Banshan back. Teng Yilei was overjoyed when he saw this and was not willing to let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Teng Yilei, known as the Great Demon of Guandong, was originally a wealthy man in Liaodong with a fortune of tens of thousands. He owned many ginseng farms, ranches, and gold mines. With his innate superhuman strength, he befriended many experts and acted recklessly everywhere. For the sake of brotherhood, he was willing to risk his own life and vowed to kill his opponent. He was extremely terrifying.
At this moment, Zhao Banshan had already rushed in front of him. He used the Tai Chi move "Covering Hand and Elbow Strike" without reservation. While wrapping around the opponent's arm, he used the rotation of his waist and hips and the drive of his shoulders and back to unleash the power of his whole body like a cannonball, striking the opponent's vital ribs and abdomen.
Teng Yilei actually took the hit head-on. His body swayed and he spat out a mouthful of blood, but he took another step forward. He poured all his strength into the one-legged bronze man, his eyes were bloodshot, and he smashed it down hard on Lu Feiqing's head!
This move was executed with all his might. The bronze figure, accompanied by a whistling sound, was less than half a foot away from Lu Feiqing's head. If it hit, his brains would splatter and he would die on the spot!
Zhao Banshan was sweating profusely with anxiety. Despite being hit by the Iron Pipa Hand, he suddenly raised his hand and launched three more Dragon Returning Darts with a sharp whistling sound, aiming straight for Teng Yilei's back, trying to force him to defend. However, Teng Yilei's eyes were already bloodshot. At this moment, he was willing to be seriously injured to take Lu Feiqing's life. He ignored the sound of the darts behind him, and the bronze figure continued its momentum!
As the bronze figure drew ever closer, Lu Feiqing slowly closed her eyes, sighing inwardly that she had lived an upright and honorable life, yet she never imagined she would die at the hands of such a villain.
The surrounding heroes exclaimed in surprise. Feng Daode's eyes also flashed with cold light. He poured his inner strength into his whisk and swung it out. The blow was enough to split stone tablets and shatter rocks, but the distance was too far and there was no time to rescue him.
At this critical moment, when life and death hung in the balance, a swift, ghostly figure appeared in front of Lu Feiqing in an instant.
No one saw how he moved, but Jiang Wen, who was sitting in the main seat enjoying tea just a moment ago, was now standing in front of Lu Feiqing. Facing the powerful one-legged bronze figure, he remained calm and, with a slight flick of his left hand, drew a perfect arc, using the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, which he had activated to its peak.
Jiang Wen's seemingly light palm strike accurately hit the side of the bronze figure, like a large lake filled with floodwaters during a flash flood. Suddenly, the lake embankment collapsed, and the floodwaters rushed out, deflecting all the force sent by the opponent and about to rebound.
With a deafening "whoosh," Teng Yilei felt an overwhelming and unstoppable force emanating from the bronze figure. The immense strength he had poured in vanished instantly, like a mud ox sinking into the sea. The bronze figure involuntarily stopped on Jiang Wen's palm. Then, the other party gently flicked his palm, and another powerful force slammed into the one-legged bronze figure. The entire bluestone slab on which Teng Yilei was standing shattered instantly, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!
"I hate it when people try to smash my skull with their bare hands. Do you think this is a demon-locking tower?"
Teng Yilei was shocked to hear this, but his old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated. At this moment, his chest was wide open. Before he could react, Jiang Wen's right hand had already been raised. The palm wind was heavy and mighty, with the force of an overturning mountain and a tidal wave. It was the essence of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms - The Dragon Regrets!
With a muffled thud, the palm print landed solidly on Teng Yilei's chest.
Teng Yilei flew more than three zhang away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground of the main hall. A mouthful of blood mixed with shattered internal organs gushed out, his eyes wide open, and he died on the spot, without even having time to let out a scream.
From the moment Jiang Wen unleashed his attack to deflect the force, to the moment he killed his enemy with a single palm strike, the entire process took less than a breath.
The sudden appearance of the "Six Demons of Guandong" in Fujian, claiming to have encountered Lu Feiqing by chance and seeking revenge, then embarking on a killing spree straight to Wuyishan, is as bizarre as a man entering a delivery room, only to have the baby emerge a moment later asking the doctor whether to save the operating room or the hospital, to which a passerby simply replies, "Paul Korchagin!"
Jiang Wen knew with his toes that this matter was related to Tian Guinong. He probably spent a lot of money to hire these people to kidnap Tian Qingwen and disrupt the martial arts tournament.
Jiao Wenqi, standing nearby, was already terrified. His lean frame turned to flee, but before he could take a step, Jiang Wen's figure appeared behind him like a shadow. His fingertips moved nimbly, the movements elegant as a caressing flower, yet it was Peach Blossom Island's unique Orchid Finger Finger Technique, as fast as lightning. With a few soft "sizzling" sounds, seven or eight major acupoints on Jiao Wenqi's body had been struck.
His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, unable to move except for his eyes, which were filled with terror and despair.
The entire room was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Hundreds of martial arts heroes stared in disbelief at the young Taoist priest in the blue robe standing in the arena. No one had expected that this usually gentle and refined young sect leader would kill the rampant Teng Yilei in one move and then capture Jiao Wenqi in the next. His martial arts skills were simply unfathomable and divine.
Jiang Wen slowly withdrew his hand, dusted off the dust on his Taoist robe, and maintained the calm smile on his face, as if he had just done a trivial thing.
“Wending, take this Mr. Jiao down there to calm down—yes, to that cliff tomb in the back mountain. It’s cold and quiet there, perfect for him.”
He looked down at Jiao Wenqi, who was unable to move on the ground, then turned to the martial arts practitioners present. His voice was clear and resonant, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"The Wuyi Mountain Martial Arts Gathering is a place where fellow martial artists can resolve grievances and exchange resources. These two men stormed the gathering carrying a corpse, framed someone, and attacked and injured others. They have no regard for the rules of the martial arts world and treat our Wuyi Sect as nothing. Teng Yilei resisted to the end and has been executed; Jiao Wenqi is treacherous and cunning, so he has been apprehended for now. Once I, the sect leader, have investigated the cause of Gu Jinbiao's death, I will give the martial arts world an explanation."
After saying that, he turned around and nodded slightly to Lu Feiqing, who had staggered to her feet, and Zhao Banshan, who had rushed over, and said in a calm tone: "Mr. Lu, Third Master Zhao, you two have been frightened."
Lu Feiqing, pale-faced and clutching her lower abdomen, bowed deeply to Jiang Wen: "I am deeply grateful to Sect Leader Jiang for saving my life."
Zhao Banshan also clasped his hands in a fist and bow to Jiang Wen, his face full of sincere admiration: "Sect Leader Jiang's martial arts skills are truly superb. I have broadened my horizons today!"
Only then did the crowd react, erupting in thunderous cheers. Only Feng Daode sat back down with an unreadable expression. Perhaps some people had previously thought that Jiang Wen was too young to handle this martial arts gathering of major sects from both the North and South, but now everyone was convinced.
Jiang Wen raised his hand slightly, suppressing the cheers from the audience. Just as he was about to slowly walk back to his seat, he noticed that the girl in red, Hongdou, had somehow become entangled with Zhao Banshan. The two of them were whispering to each other, holding two silver shuttle-shaped hidden weapons in their hands. They looked just like a wife who had just received a paternity test report and was about to question her husband about why the child was not her own.
Just as Jiang Wen was worried that Hongdou might do something irrational to Zhao Banshan because she lacked fatherly love since childhood, he saw Zhao Banshan staring at her with complicated eyes, taking the initiative to tightly grasp Hongdou's hand, repeatedly hesitating to speak.
The martial arts practitioners who had been accidentally injured by weapons and hidden weapons and were about to find a doctor to treat them all stopped in their tracks instantly, revealing bloodthirsty and excited smiles, indicating that even if they died now, it would be worth it!