novel-bin Chapter 4 The Battle of Huashan
Chapter 4 The Battle of Huashan
"Gentlemen," I said, "we've come up Mount Hua to compete in martial arts. If you two are looking for romance, there are plenty of opportunities down the mountain!"
At the height of his life, Huang Yaoshi stepped forward and interrupted Zhao Yu and his companion, his gaze fixed intently on them: "Now that our personal grudges are settled, shouldn't we get down to business? Or would you two like to rest a little longer and recover?"
Huang Yaoshi was blunt, and Lin Chaoying certainly wouldn't tolerate it.
With her eyebrows raised in anger, Lin Chaoying was about to retort when Zhao Yu raised his hand to stop her.
"Ouyang Feng is nothing special; there's no need for him to rest," Zhao Yu said confidently. "However, since this is a martial arts competition, there should be some rules. Are we just going to let it all turn into a chaotic free-for-all?"
Even without the cheat code, Zhao Yu was very confident in his martial arts skills; otherwise, he wouldn't have arrived at Mount Hua ahead of time to ambush Ouyang Feng.
Now that his great revenge has been achieved and his skills have greatly improved, Zhao Yu is even more confident and would never refuse Huang Yaoshi's challenge.
Wang Chongyang stepped forward slowly and took out an oilcloth package from his bosom.
"This sword competition is all about the Nine Yin Manual. The victor will win it. As for the methods of the competition, we martial artists don't have many rules. We will use fists, weapons, internal energy cultivation, martial arts knowledge, and adaptability in the face of an enemy. Whoever can subdue everyone will be the victor, and we will unanimously recognize him as the number one in the world."
"What does Your Highness think?"
After saying that, Wang Chongyang looked up at Zhao Yu, but there was a strange undertone in his voice.
Zhao Yu could naturally tell.
It's understandable that Wang Chongyang harbored resentment towards him; in his early years, Wang Chongyang faced countless life-threatening situations while fighting against the Jin dynasty.
However, while Wang Chongyang was leading the righteous men of the north to resist the Jin, the Southern Song court was bowing and scraping to the Jin state in the north.
Later, Wang Chongyang's military campaign failed, and in despair, he became a Taoist priest and founded the Quanzhen School. It's hard to say whether this was partly due to his complete disillusionment with the Zhao family.
From this perspective, it is understandable that Wang Chongyang harbored resentment towards the Zhao Song imperial family.
Zhao Yu knew perfectly well why Wang Chongyang was acting this way. He stopped Lin Chaoying, who was about to speak out for justice, and nodded: "Martial arts people have their own rules. Very well, let's do it this way. The six of us will have a martial arts contest to determine who is the best in the world. If this gets out in the future, it will be considered a grand gathering of the martial arts world."
At this moment, Hong Qi, who had hastily buried Ouyang Feng, returned and couldn't help but ask, "Six people? Is Lady Lin also going to join the battle?"
Lin Chaoying glared at him: "What are you trying to say now, you stinking beggar? Are you trying to bully my swordsmanship?"
Given the prevailing social climate in ancient times, it was unrealistic to talk about gender equality. Initially, no one considered Lin Chaoying as a potential participant in the martial arts competition.
However, Zhao Yu, being from the future, naturally didn't care about these formalities and finalized the matter first.
Hong Qi was truly afraid of the two of them. Upon hearing this, he immediately shrank back and gave them a forced smile.
"Not at all, not at all. Lady Lin's martial arts are unparalleled. I have no objection to being a beggar."
"You're smart to know what's good for you." Lin Chaoying, holding a long sword, exuded a heroic aura. "I've practiced martial arts for many years and consider myself to have some skill. Since we're vying for the title of the best in the world, how could I be left out?"
Duan Zhixing stepped forward slowly: "Miss Lin's skills are remarkable, and we will certainly not refuse. However, swords and spears have no eyes during a duel, so we must be careful."
"What Your Majesty says is quite right. However, since we dared to come to the top of Mount Hua, we have naturally made preparations. During the duel, we should just rely on our own abilities and not worry about our identities or backgrounds."
After hearing Zhao Yu's words, Duan Zhixing said no more, nodded to Zhao Yu, and had no further objections.
With the plan finalized, Huang Yaoshi, who had been eagerly anticipating the outcome, could no longer wait.
With a flick of his wrist, the jade flute landed in his hand: "Since that's the case, let's make our move first. Let me experience the power of your White Rainbow Palm!"
Huang Yaoshi also possessed the Splitting Palm technique, but not only was his Splitting Palm less powerful than Zhao Yu's previous one, he also couldn't control the force to change direction.
Driven by a desire to hunt, he naturally became very interested in Zhao Yu.
Huang Yaoshi, of course, didn't care about worldly etiquette. Seeing that Zhao Yu had agreed to the duel, he only gave a reminder before launching his attack.
With flowing robes, a wisp of green instantly appeared before Zhao Yu.
Taking a step forward, Zhao Yu murmured, "Excellent swordsmanship!"
Facing Huang Yaoshi's jade flute pointing straight at him, Zhao Yu formed a claw with one hand and met it with the other hand, fingers pointing outwards.
"Capture? Pressure point technique?"
Huang Yaoshi was furious: "Instead of using the White Rainbow Palm, you're using this common trick to deal with me. Fine, let me show you my power first."
Thinking that Zhao Yu was underestimating him, Huang Yaoshi became even more ruthless, lightly tapping his jade flute to strike Zhao Yu's vital points.
Although Huang Yaoshi seemed to have the advantage of a weapon, Zhao Yu's hand struck first, bypassing the sword light like a butterfly flitting among flowers, and pressed straight towards Huang Yaoshi's shoulder joint.
Huang Yaoshi looked surprised and struck out with his palm, breaking free from the capture with a powerful palm strike.
This is no ordinary grappling or pressure point technique!
Zhao Yu remained calm. This was certainly not a simple street stunt; it was the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand, a secret technique passed down by the Xiaoyao Sect, a divine skill that could utilize all the martial arts in the world.
In the blink of an eye, the two figures crossed paths and had already exchanged several blows.
Seeing the two sparring, Lin Chaoying drew her longsword and looked at Hong Qi with an unfriendly expression: "Since my brother already has an opponent, old beggar, let's have a match."
Hong Qi couldn't help but take a half step back: "Miss Lin, how about I admit defeat?"
He certainly didn't think he couldn't beat Lin Chaoying, but she was a woman who had just saved him, so how could Hong Qi possibly lay a hand on her?
As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Qi looked directly at Wang Chongyang beside him: "Brother Wang..."
"Enough with the nonsense!" A sharp rebuke rang out, a white shadow flashed, and Lin Chaoying thrust her sword straight at Hong Qi. "If you don't make a move, you're truly disrespecting women!"
Helpless, Hong Qi drew a circle with his right hand and thrust out a palm to fight Lin Chaoying.
The two remaining players on the field exchanged a glance, naturally deciding that they could only consider each other as their opponents.
Wang Chongyang stepped forward and said, "I have long heard of the divine skills passed down in the Duan family. Today, I have witnessed the wonders of the One-Finger Divine Skill, which is a great comfort to me."
Duan Zhixing laughed heartily: "Master Wang, you flatter me. Since I am not in Dali, I am also a member of the martial world. Please!"
"Excuse me!"
As soon as they finished speaking, the two launched their attacks simultaneously.
Duan Zhixing pointed with his index finger, and a misty aura swirled around his fingertip, melting the surrounding snowflakes.
Wang Chongyang's eyes gleamed, and he met the attack with his palm: "Well done!"
The two immediately engaged in battle.
Amidst the wind and snow of Mount Hua, the six men stirred up a flurry of snowflakes, their inner strength surging so powerfully that even the snow on the mountaintop melted away.
At first, they just sparred in pairs, but when the fighting got heated, it turned into a six-person free-for-all.
Zhao Yu's White Rainbow Palm, with its unpredictable curves, bypassed Huang Yaoshi and went straight for Hong Qi. Hong Qi countered with a palm strike of "Regretful Dragon" aimed at Duan Zhixing.
After dodging, he pointed at Huang Yaoshi again. Huang Yaoshi laughed and dealt with it. Then, he flicked his finger, and a snowball the size of a pebble flew towards Lin Chaoying.
Lin Chaoying deflected the hidden weapon with her longsword and then thrust it at Wang Chongyang, who in turn dragged Zhao Yu into the battle.
The six men fought fiercely, their beards and hair standing on end, all feeling they had gained a great deal.
This battle lasted for seven days and seven nights!