"Therefore, if friends come, we will naturally treat them to good wine and food! If they are enemies, then don't blame us for being impolite!"
"This Sect Leader He's motives for coming up the mountain at this time are not pure!"
"Senior brother, tell me, isn't this the truth?"
After saying that, he looked at Zhang Sanfeng with a hint of dissatisfaction. Xiao Ning felt that Old Zhang was really too naive. He had mentioned it to him yesterday, but Zhang still didn't take it to heart.
"My martial uncle is so majestic and powerful!"
Yin Liting and Mo Shenggu were thrilled to hear this, and the same thought popped into their minds at the same time. They looked at Xiao Ning with a hint of admiration in their eyes.
Xiao Ning's words struck a chord with them; this was the demeanor and majesty befitting a legendary martial arts master!
"Junior brother is right, senior brother was too attached to appearances!"
Zhang Sanfeng gave a wry smile and shook his head repeatedly: "Since that's the case, Yuanqiao, as the current leader of Wudang, you are of equal status to Leader He. So you should lead the other disciples to welcome Leader He. I will wait for Leader He in this main hall!"
Song Yuanqiao readily complied, bowing deeply: "Yes, Yuanqiao will obey Master's orders!"
At that moment, he led his five junior brothers out of the main hall and went to greet them.
Before long, Song Yuanqiao led a group of people into the main hall. Xiao Ning looked over and saw that the leader was a middle-aged man in brocade robes. He was not very old and was wearing a bright yellow robe. He looked very elegant and had a calm demeanor, like a person in a high position.
However, Xiao Ning's cultivation level was far superior to this person's. He could tell at a glance that this person's cultivation level was only at the seventh level of the Acquired Realm. Not to mention compared to Song Yuanqiao at the ninth level of the Acquired Realm, he was far inferior to Yu Lianzhou at the eighth level of the Acquired Realm.
This person must be He Taichong.
He was followed by eight disciples, both men and women, whose martial arts skills were all mediocre.
The Kunlun Sect is in grave danger, facing a generational gap and a crisis of succession!
This thought only flashed through Xiao Ning's mind and was not spoken aloud.
On this side, He Taichong entered and bowed to Zhang Sanfeng to offer his congratulations: "This junior disciple of Kunlun, He Taichong, along with his disciples, pays respects to Master Zhang and wishes you a long and prosperous life."
"Ha ha!"
Zhang Sanfeng stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Sect Leader He, you are too kind. This old Taoist priest was unable to greet you from afar. I hope Sect Leader He will forgive me!"
Upon hearing this, He Taichong smiled and said, "What are you saying, Master? As a junior, how could I trouble you to personally welcome me? It should be I who pay my respects to you!"
After a few polite words, Zhang Sanfeng pointed and said, "Hehe, please take a seat, Master He!"
He Taichong didn't stand on ceremony and sat down in the main seat below. His disciples followed and sat behind him, while the young Taoist boy waiting nearby quickly served him fragrant tea.
Just then, another young Taoist boy came in with a name card and handed it to Song Yuanqiao. It was the Five Elders of Kongtong who had arrived.
Among the martial arts world today, the six major sects of the Central Plains are Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Huashan, Kunlun, and Kongtong.
These five elders of Kongtong were the real power figures in the Kongtong Sect.
In terms of seniority and status, the Five Elders of Kongtong were far inferior to Song Yuanqiao, but they were still elders of a faction, so naturally Song Yuanqiao went to greet them.
Before long, the Five Elders of Kongtong entered with a group of disciples. After another round of pleasantries, the five elders and their disciples sat down.
Immediately afterwards, as if it had been pre-arranged, leaders of many sects and gangs, such as the Divine Fist Sect, the Sea Sand Sect, the Giant Whale Gang, and the Wushan Sect, came to the mountain one after another to offer birthday greetings.
The entire Zhenwu Hall resembled a bustling market, noisy and chaotic.
Song Yuanqiao and the others had only planned that the disciples of their sect would celebrate the birthday of their patriarch together. They did not expect that so many guests would come today. Even though six of the Seven Heroes of Wudang were to receive them, how could they possibly manage?
Zhang Sanfeng disliked these formalities the most. On his seventieth, eightieth, and ninetieth birthdays, he always instructed his disciples not to disturb outsiders. However, on his hundredth birthday, the martial arts world was filled with distinguished guests.
Later on, there weren't even enough chairs for guests to sit in Zixiao Palace.
Song Yuanqiao had no choice but to have some round stones moved and placed in the hall. The leaders of various sects and gangs still had seats, but their disciples and followers had to sit on the stones. When the teacups were used up, they had to use rice bowls and vegetable bowls to serve tea.
Xiao Ning, who had been observing from his high seat, turned to Zhang Sanfeng upon seeing the chaotic state of the hall and said, "Senior brother, the trouble I was talking about has arrived!"
------------
Chapter 17 Together We March to Wudang
Xiao Ning turned to Zhang Sanfeng and said, "Senior brother, trouble is coming!"
Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard, coldly observing the crowd in the hall, and replied, "This old Daoist also sees it; those who come here with ill intentions do not come with good intentions!"
Not only Zhang Sanfeng and Xiao Ning realized that the visitors were up to no good, but the Seven Heroes of Wudang also noticed it. The brothers gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves.
Zhang Songxi whispered, "Fifth brother, did you notice?"
Zhang Cuishan nodded and replied, "They all made arrangements beforehand. When they met, they seemed very confident. Some people pretended to be surprised, but in reality, they were just trying to cover up their true intentions."
Zhang Songxi agreed, "That's right. They weren't sincerely wishing Master a happy birthday at all. The gifts they brought were just longevity noodles and cakes that they had just bought from a small town at the foot of the mountain."
Zhang Cuishan snorted coldly and said, "The purpose of the birthday celebration is to interrogate you."
Zhang Songxi said, "I'm not here to demand an explanation! It's just a minor murder case at the Longmen Escort Agency, and I'm determined not to ask He Taichong, who is far away in Kunlun, to come out of his way."
A cold glint flashed in Zhang Cuishan's eyes as he replied, "That's right, these people are all here for my sworn brother."
Zhang Songxi sneered, "These people underestimate the disciples of Wudang. Even if they outnumber us, would the disciples of Wudang betray their friends? Fifth brother, even if your sworn brother is a heinous criminal, since he is your sworn brother, you must not reveal his whereabouts."
Zhang Cuishan asked, "Fourth Brother is right, what should we do?"
Zhang Songxi pondered for a moment and said, "Just be careful later. When brothers are of one mind, their strength can break metal! The Seven Heroes of Wudang have seen many storms, so why would they be afraid of them?"
Although Yu Daiyan was disabled, the seven of them were still known as the "Seven Heroes of Wudang".