Upon hearing his beloved disciple's tearful complaint, Zhang Sanfeng flew into a rage: "Lianzhou, Cuishan, do you know who the other party is?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Lianzhou stood up, bowed deeply, and said, "Reporting to Master, that man was disguised as an ordinary Yuan soldier. I was caught off guard and was injured by his palm strike. My nephew Wuji was also forcibly abducted by him! I have failed in my duty, and I beg Master to punish me!"
"Get up, this is not your fault!"
Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "With your cultivation at the seventh level of the Acquired Realm, Lianzhou, for someone to injure you with a single palm strike, it seems this person's martial arts skills are indeed quite formidable!"
Yu Lianzhou thought for a moment and said, "Master, that day I struck him with a palm. This man's palm strike was vicious and ruthless, a rare sight in the world. I suffered internal injuries on the spot from that one strike, and it took me a full quarter of an hour to expel that cold energy from my body."
"The chilling palm technique?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng frowned and said, "Could it be... the Xuanming Divine Palm? I thought that the Hundred Losses Daoist had been dead for thirty years and that the extremely vicious Xuanming Divine Palm had been lost. Who knew that there would still be someone in the world who could use this palm technique?"
Song Yuanqiao exclaimed in surprise, "Master was actually talking about the Xuanming Divine Palm?"
He was the oldest and had heard of the names of Bai Sun Dao Ren and Xuanming Shen Zhang. As for Yu Lianzhou and the others, they had never even heard of the names of this person and this martial art.
"This old Taoist is just guessing; it's just that this palm technique matches Lian Zhou's description very well!" Zhang Sanfeng was also somewhat uncertain.
"That man kidnapped Wuji, surely to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and his sworn brother. How hateful!"
After listening to the conversation between his master and second senior brother, Zhang Cuishan said resentfully.
"This person somehow obtained the inheritance of the Hundred Losses Daoist, and with such cultivation, he can be considered a master of his generation. Yet he attacked a child, which shows how despicable his character is!"
Zhang Sanfeng frowned and said, "Moreover, this person's origins are unknown. Finding him is like finding a needle in a haystack. How difficult it is!"
Xiao Ning said leisurely, "I have heard about this person's background!"
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Chapter 15 Genuine Acknowledgment
The two elders of Xuanming, the elder brother was nicknamed Lu Zhangke and the younger brother was nicknamed Hebi Weng, but their real names are unknown.
The senior brother was a womanizer, and the junior brother was a drunkard. The two had been learning martial arts from the same school since childhood. From their prime to old age, they had never been separated for a single day in decades. Their martial arts skills were superb, and they cooperated seamlessly. They were skilled in the extremely cold and sinister Xuanming Divine Palm.
They had no wives or children, but were obsessed with fame and fortune. As masters of their generation, they joined the Prince of Ruyang's mansion to be at his beck and call.
"...This time, Zhang's child was kidnapped by them in order to confuse the public and seize the opportunity to incite a war between the various factions in the Central Plains martial arts world!"
Xiao Ning slowly recounted the origins of the Xuanming Elders.
"Is it the Prince of Ruyang's residence again?"
Zhang Sanfeng's eyes narrowed, and he let out a cold snort. A terrifying aura surged out, causing the Seven Heroes of Wudang and Yin Susu and the others in the hall to tremble as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
"Brother Dao, please calm down!"
Xiao Ning flicked his sleeve, blocking Zhang Sanfeng's overwhelming aura, and comforted him, "The Xuanming Elders captured our little grand-disciple simply to sow discord and throw us into disarray. Otherwise, with their profound cultivation, they could have killed him with a single palm strike. Why did they have to take him away?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng slowly nodded: "What you say makes sense!"
"Brother Dao, you're just letting your concern cloud your judgment!"
Xiao Ning smiled and said, "In a couple of days it will be your 100th birthday, Brother Dao. In my opinion, the Mongols will not give up so easily and will definitely send people to cause trouble. We can simply remain unchanged and deal with whatever happens!"
He paused, looked at Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu, and sighed, saying, "But this means my little grand-disciple will suffer these next few days!"
"What my uncle says is absolutely right!"
Zhang Cuishan forced a smile and said, "Jade must be carved to become a useful object! Letting the child experience some hardships will be beneficial for his future."
That's what I said, but when I thought about how my beloved son was suffering so much, I was filled with grief and pity.
After Zhang Cuishan finished speaking, he glanced at his wife, but then, thinking of the inhuman treatment his son was enduring, his eyes revealed a look of inexplicable pain.
But then Yin Susu knelt down with a sorrowful expression, pleading, "I beg you, Master and Uncle, to have mercy and save my poor child!"
Although she had never heard of the Xuanming Elders, seeing her husband's revered master and senior brother both looking solemn, Yin Susu felt even more apprehensive.
Zhang Sanfeng waved his sleeve and helped Yin Susu up, gently comforting her, "Daughter-in-law, don't worry. This old Taoist will find a way to rescue my grand-disciple. Just wait patiently for a few days!"
Xiao Ning also looked solemn and agreed, "Brother Dao is right. With the martial arts skills of my fellow disciples and me, once we find the whereabouts of the Xuanming Elders, we will definitely capture them and bring them to justice, and rescue our little grand-disciple!"
Yin Susu was about to say something more when Zhang Cuishan stepped forward, took her hand, and shook his head slightly, telling her not to say anything more.
Seeing the sorrow on the faces of Zhang Cuishan and his wife, Song Yuanqiao and the others couldn't help but feel sympathetic. The seven of them were very close, and Zhang Cuishan's child was their nephew. They felt bad for their nephew's suffering.
Song Yuanqiao patted Zhang Cuishan on the shoulder and comforted him, "Fifth brother, fifth sister-in-law, don't worry. With Master and Uncle personally taking action, my little nephew will definitely return safely."
Yin Liting and Mo Shenggu nodded in agreement: "Yes, Senior Brother is right. With Master and Uncle taking action, Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law, you can rest assured!"
After being comforted by his fellow disciples, Zhang Cuishan and his wife Yin Susu finally felt a little relieved.
Yin Susu glanced at her husband, and their eyes met. After more than ten years of being together, they immediately understood each other's meaning. The two of them joined hands and bowed deeply. Zhang Cuishan said loudly, "We, your fellow disciples, appreciate your kindness and are deeply grateful!"
Song Yuanqiao stepped forward and helped him up, saying gently, "We're all brothers, Fifth Brother, you're being a bit too formal by saying that!"
Seeing them chatting and laughing, Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and watched the scene with a smile. Xiao Ning couldn't help but laugh and said, "Brother Dao, I am quite envious of the sincere friendship among my fellow disciples!"
"In my opinion, when choosing a successor, one should prioritize character and, secondly, comprehension," Zhang Sanfeng said solemnly upon hearing this.
"The world is so vast, the matter of the Wudang lineage is trivial and not worth mentioning. When I take on disciples, I am extremely cautious and will not accept anyone who is not upright, so as to prevent my orthodox martial arts from falling into the hands of despicable people!"
"If they can master martial arts, then make friends with righteous people all over the world, drive out the Tartars, and restore our land, I, this old Taoist, will die without regret!"
Zhang Sanfeng's resounding words filled Xiao Ning with awe. Such magnanimity and breadth of mind truly made him a martial arts grandmaster rarely seen in China's millennia-long history.