Chapter 66: Fragment 4: If you can't win, run away. Don't try to be tough.
The martial arts competition in Qingcheng Mountain is a grand event. Except for some independent cultivators or those who are not interested in it, who only send two or three disciples to come alone, most of the sects that rank among the Zhu League will have elders or masters accompanying them.
The Lan family lived nearby, and Lan Qianhuang himself loved this kind of scene, always sitting in the VIP area to watch the game with great fanfare.
"Young Taoist priest, you are so strange. I didn't set these rules. I can't just fight whoever I want, right?" Lan Qianhuang didn't even look at the other person. As the head of the Lan family, she had great prestige. She didn't need to say much. The Lan family members behind her grabbed Fang Ya like eagles, and their silver necklaces and bracelets were shining with cold light.
Nan Huai, no, now he is Lan Huai.
At this moment, he was wearing a southern Xinjiang style outfit similar to that of the Lan family, but the color was darker than that of ordinary people. His eyebrows and eyes did not show any emotion. He looked clearly the same person, but very different from before.
"I heard Lan Qianhuang is interested in training him as the new Young Master of the Family," Meng Caiyun recalled the insider gossip he'd just heard from his father. "This younger brother is a ruthless person, too. He's only just returned to the Lan Family and he's already risen to prominence. And he's even been able to make Lan Qianhuang happy. I don't think Lan Qingsi has that kind of talent."
Wang Fengxu sighed, "Young Patriarchs are always changing, but Lan Qianhuang remains."
Meng Caiyun sighed, "Yes, this sister is smart. Everyone is eager to become the young master of the family, and no one would even think of causing trouble for her."
The two were chatting, but Fang Ya didn't seem to get the answer he wanted, so he returned to his seat angrily.
At this time, the five judges at the main seat began to shuffle the bamboo sticks in another box, pulling out two sticks and combining them. Meng Chengyin called out the names: "First group - Bingxu versus Jiaxu."
"Prepare for Wuyin and Yiwei."
Wang Fengxu breathed a sigh of relief: "It's not me, I'm Renshen."
Meng Caiyun felt a little regretful: "It's not me either, I'm Bingwu."
Wang Tianfu: "...I am Bingxu."
The two patted Wang Tianfu on the shoulder and said, "Come on, if you can't win, just run away. Don't try to be tough!"
Wang Tianfu: “…”
What about fighting spirit?
Does not exist.
He nervously went up to the stage, not seeing his opponent for a long time. Finally, he spotted a girl with a ponytail hanging off the edge of the chessboard, trying to climb up. Seeing her struggling, Wang Tianfu stepped forward and gave her a hand, and she whispered a thank you.
"The black one in Bingxu is Wang Tianfu from Qingcheng Temple. The white one in Jiaxu is Chu Ying from the Northern School."
Wang Tianfu was surprised: "Beipai, are you an incense watcher?"
Chu Ying stammered and lowered his head: "I've only just started, so I'm not very familiar with the business."
Wang Tianfu understood: "Same here, let's get started."
As soon as she finished speaking, when Chu Ying looked up again, her expression was completely different - the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she was smiling, her eyes became narrow and long, and her erect pupils all revealed her identity as a predator at the moment.
"Oh, can we invite the gods without lighting incense?" Wang Tianfu stepped on a black piece, and was surprised, and blurted out involuntarily.
There are four major families of incense-readers in the north: Hu, Huang, Chang and Mang, with Hu Xian being the most prominent. Each family has their own method of inviting the immortals, but "lighting incense" is an unavoidable ritual.
Wang Tianfu glanced around, but couldn't see how this new Northern School member lit the incense. However, before he could ponder further, Chu Ying, possessed by the Hu Immortal, had already rushed forward with incredible speed—it seemed she had decided to strike first, ideally preventing her opponent from dodging and automatically being eliminated.
Meng Chengyin's voice echoed in all directions: "This is the first time for both of you to participate in the martial arts competition. Your moves will be primarily probing, leaving more room for maneuver."
Chu Ying used her palms and claws as weapons, and was agile and fast. However, she had only recently learned incense, and her use of spiritual power was relatively inexperienced. She relied solely on recklessness, without considering any countermeasures.
Wang Tianfu was like a mouse being chased by a cat on the stage, jumping up and down, occasionally throwing Yunzi to block, and they chased each other for a long time. When Chu Ying was about to swing his claws, Wang Tianfu leaned back and did a somersault. After dodging, he raised his hand and made a gesture, and a scorching flame rose up and flew straight into the opponent's face.
Chu Ying had the look of a cat with its whiskers singed by fire. He frowned and quickly took a few steps back, rubbing his slightly burning cheek with the back of his hand. Just as he was thinking of a countermeasure, he heard Meng Chengyin calmly announce: "Chu Ying of the Northern Faction has crossed the line and is out."
"Qingcheng Temple's Wang Tianfu wins."
Wang Fengxu clapped his hands in the audience with a big smile on his face, as if he had won himself: "Well done! Xiao Fuzi!"
As the two of them left the stage one after another, Chu Ying's expression changed, her eyes opening and closing, and she returned to her previous shy and quiet self. She calmed down, breathed a sigh of relief, and said to the other person with a smile, "You are young, but you are quite capable."
"No, no," Wang Tianfu touched his head embarrassedly, "Sister, you are also very strong. If I don't fight a war of attrition, I can't beat you."
He suddenly remembered something: "Did you light the incense just now? Why didn't I see it?"
"Oh, this is it." Chu Ying pulled out a necklace from her collar. On it hung a bottle similar to Fengyoujing (a Chinese medicinal herb). Oil droplets were swaying inside, and it was covered with a layer of black substance. "I put incense ash in there. I want to ask the immortal to smell it. It's more convenient than burning incense."
Wang Tianfu opened his eyes wide: "You really know how to think of a solution."
Seeing she was an acquaintance, Meng Caiyun walked over and greeted her, "Didn't Senior Feng come with you?"
Chu Ying lowered his eyelashes when he heard this: "My aunt was seriously injured last time. Her life was saved, but she has lost her spiritual power and her mind is confused. She is now recuperating in her hometown."
"Is that so?" Meng Caiyun sighed. "So you came here alone? Do you need any help?"
Chu Ying waved his hand: "No, no, thank you. My aunt is being taken care of by people from the Northern School, and the hall also sent a senior brother to accompany me."
As she spoke, someone called out her name. The man had a dark, sinister look in his eyes. He was of medium height, with dark skin. He wore a jacket and a headscarf, and had a small, delicate drum slung around his waist. At first glance, you'd think he was from a troupe performing the Ansai waist drum.
"I'm leaving first," Chu Ying seemed a little afraid of him. He hurriedly said goodbye to the others, took two steps forward, then hesitated and stepped back, whispering, "If you meet Brother Mo on stage, be careful."
As they were talking, the two people in the second round had already landed on the stage.
Bai Zifang is a female disciple holding a copper ring Zen staff, and Hei Zifang is a young man with glasses wearing a shirt and black pants.
Everyone started whispering, "How many years has it been since Zen Buddhism accepted a female disciple? She looks like she's only in her teens, right?"
"I heard that he is Master Wu Liao's direct disciple?"
"It's just a rumor. People have calculated that the monk has no more disciples."
"Tsk tsk, speaking of the last female Zen disciple, I guess she was still..."
"Shh, don't mention those names."
Meng Caiyun pushed aside the spectators and shouted, "Come on, Zhao!"
Meng Zhao pushed his glasses and looked a little out of place standing on the stage. Rather than a disciple of Xuanmen, he looked more like an office worker choosing instant pasta flavors at Lawson.
He shrugged helplessly: "I'll try my best."
He is a field operator of the Alien Management Bureau. In theory, he doesn't need to participate in Xuanmen's affairs, but now Zhu Meng has to obey the management of the Alien Management Bureau on the surface, so he is just a representative who is just going through the motions.
"The black piece of Wuyin represents the unusual authority of Meng Zhao. The white piece of Yiwei represents the wisdom of Zen Buddhism."
Zen Buddhism has always presented itself to the outside world as a compassionate preacher who rescues those in need. However, Huixin looked far from the staid and solemn figures of those who had taken the precepts. Her demeanor was agile and light, a bit like a cunning swallow. She held her staff, but instead of rushing to attack, she walked around her half of the chessboard, taking in the layout of the pieces.
As Meng Zhao raised his hand, several hollow paper-cut figures emerged, rubbing their hands and eager to try, their expressions were even more exaggerated and vivid than their master's.
"It seems Huixin wants to make a move," Wang Fengxu folded his arms and pondered the meaning. "This Yunzi may not look big, but it's quite heavy—"
Before he finished speaking, Huixin exerted force on his arms, his muscles tensed, and using the Zen staff as a handle, he pushed at a black piece: "Get up!"
The black piece immediately moved diagonally upwards, rubbing against the table surface.
Wang Fengxu was dumbfounded: "Hey, what strength!"
"It must be the 'Dragon-Elephant', one of the two great secrets of Zen Buddhism," Meng Caiyun explained. "There are two sacred guardian beasts in this Dharma: the Dragon King of the Water and the Elephant King of the Land. Both are revered for their strength. Many Zen practitioners practice this, and I didn't expect this little girl to wield it better than those old novices."
Wang Fengxu rubbed his neck and said, "If I get hit by that, my head will explode, right?"
The momentum on the stage was overwhelming, but Huixin still felt dissatisfied. She stomped her cane, and the copper rings jingled. "What's wrong with you? Are you looking down on me?"
Meng Zhao: "I don't underestimate you."
"So you're going to fight me like this?" Hui Xin was a little surprised: "Without using all your skills?"
Meng Zhao: "...This is all my skills."
"Hit him! Hit him!" Someone in the audience was not satisfied and couldn't help but add fuel to the fire, shouting, "Female Bodhisattva, please don't show mercy! Let this lazy boy learn a lesson!"
Meng Caiyun was shocked: "This is terrible."
"What's wrong with your brother? He's still so slow on stage," Wang Fengxu speculated, "Are you two really from the same family?"
"If he's not from my family, then is he from yours?" Meng Caiyun seemed shocked by the question. "He's my second uncle's only son. He was brought up very strictly, so he's a bit reserved."
Wang Fengxu raised his eyebrows: "Soft skin and hard bones, I'm only introverted in front of you, hey - don't glare at me, I usually don't make mistakes when judging people."
Huixin moved a few chess pieces, and the black piece suddenly showed signs of defeat. Meng Zhao didn't seem to be in a hurry, and only used paper men to harass him. Huixin dodged the white paper men, and pointed the Zen stick at the last cloud piece. She was about to make the final move, but found that the distribution of the chess pieces had returned to its original state.
"Oh no, I've fallen into a trap!" She came to her senses and found that Meng Zhao was not unwilling to stop her, but was just using paper people to interfere and secretly set up a maze behind her, making her effort in vain.
Seeing her notice, Meng Zhao didn't give her a chance to react, rushing forward with a paper figurine in hand. Hui Xin remained motionless, eyes closed, standing still. It was assumed she was about to surrender, but just as Meng Zhao approached, she suddenly took a deep breath, straightening her back. The long, immense breath seemed to swell her chest.
Meng Caiyun was stunned for a moment, his playful expression faded, and he shouted to the stage, "A Zhao! Cover your ears!"
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