Using the Emei Nine Yangs Technique as Bait

After nine bouts, counting the draw, the Wudang Sect had won five, drawn one, and Emei had won three.

The Wudang disciples' restrained cheers rang across the training grounds, their excitement plain on their faces.

The Emei disciples looked somewhat tense, clearly dissatisfied with the result. Their eyes instinctively turned toward Master Miejue, seated at the head of the assembly.

Master Miejue's expression remained as calm as still water, as if the wins and losses before her had stirred nothing in her.

Once the disciples who had just finished their bouts had stepped down, Miejue suddenly spoke.

"Shao'an, you'll take the final bout!"

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shaoan felt a little puzzled.

Miejue didn't know that Gu Shaoan's cultivation had greatly increased.

So, at this moment, she must have thought he had only gained two years' worth of internal energy.

But Gu Shaoan's natural aptitude had reached an excellent level.

Two years of cultivation for him were no less than four or five years for martial artists with ordinary aptitude.

The Wudang and Emei disciples who had competed earlier were all youngsters. The youngest were around twelve, while the older ones had only recently come of age. They had all been promoted to Inner Sect Disciple not long ago, and were juniors with little internal energy and limited skill.

Their internal energy and grasp of martial arts were both inferior to Gu Shaoan's.

By Gu Shaoan's reckoning, these disciples were at most as strong as the three bandit chiefs on Heimu Mountain.

Why would Gu Shaoan need to take the field himself for a bout like this?

Though he was puzzled, he answered Miejue's order at once. "This disciple obeys."

With that, he walked out from behind Miejue, encouraged by Zhou Zhiruo's gaze.

Watching Gu Shaoan emerge from behind Miejue, Song Yuanqiao's eyes showed a flicker of understanding.

It was common for disciples from friendly martial arts sects to spar with one another.

Especially since the Wudang Sect and Emei Sect had enjoyed a good relationship ever since Wudang's founding.

Their disciples occasionally sparred and exchanged pointers.

But in recent years, Miejue had been busy dealing with the Ming Cult's various disturbances in Emei's territory, while Wudang had its own affairs to attend to. As a result, the two sects had had no time to spar.

Now Miejue had suddenly brought Emei's disciples over to spar with Wudang's. In Zhang Songxi's view, she had probably done so to broaden the horizons of her newly accepted disciple.

And whenever Miejue had mentioned this new disciple on the way up the mountain, her eyes had been full of fond approval.

That made Song Yuanqiao curious. What was so special about Gu Shaoan that Miejue took such an interest in him?

Still, looking at Gu Shaoan, who seemed no older than twelve, and remembering that he had been Miejue's disciple for only a little over two months, Song Yuanqiao could only give a few instructions and summon the youngest Inner Sect Disciple on Wudang Mountain.

The boy was twelve, not much older than Gu Shaoan.

As the two small figures took their places three zhang apart in the training ground, the eyes of everyone nearby turned toward them.

"Wait."

Just then, Miejue's voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

Song Yuanqiao asked, "Abbess, is something the matter?"

Miejue smiled calmly and spoke slowly. "To be frank, a year ago, True Master Zhang sent a letter proposing to exchange Wudang's Wudang Nine Yangs Technique for our Emei Nine Yangs Technique."

"But at the time, I was still resentful over the matter of the Heavenly Sword, so I refused what True Master Zhang had written."

"Yet considering the friendship between our two sects, I didn't want a moment's resentment to sever that bond."

"So, in the bouts that follow, if my disciple loses to someone from the Wudang Sect, I'll exchange the Emei Nine Yangs Technique for Wudang's Wudang Nine Yangs Technique. That should help preserve the relationship between our sects."

Song Yuanqiao and the others' eyes lit up.

Zhang Songxi, ranked fourth among the Wudang Seven Heroes, couldn't help praising her. "Abbess, your generosity is admirable."

Song Yuanqiao and the others knew that when Zhang Sanfeng had written to request the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, he had wanted to combine it with the Wudang Nine Yangs Technique, take the best from both, and neutralize the cold poison left in Zhang Wuji's body by the Mysterious Nether Palm.

Although Zhang Wuji had since gone missing, and no one knew where he was, the cold poison from the Mysterious Nether Palm in his body was unusual. It could hardly be cured by anything short of the strongest yang energy.

If they could obtain the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, then once they found Zhang Wuji, they could cure his cold poison and save his life.

In the training ground, as Gu Shaoan listened to Miejue, his eyebrows rose involuntarily, and the internal energy circulating in his body paused, as though he were straining to hear.

There had already been something suspicious about Miejue bringing him to Wudang.

Gu Shaoan couldn't figure out what she was planning.

Now Miejue had actually brought up the Emei Nine Yangs Technique. To Gu Shaoan, it plainly sounded like bait.

As Gu Shaoan wondered about this, Miejue spoke again.

"But, as I said earlier, True Master Zhang went a little too far last year. If someone from your sect wins against my disciple, then the Emei Nine Yangs Technique will be exchanged for the Wudang Nine Yangs Technique."

"But if my disciple proves more skilled and wins, the exchange is off! Wudang must return our Emei treasure, the Heavenly Sword."

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shaoan understood her intentions at once.

She wanted to use the sparring between the two sects—and him—to retrieve the Heavenly Sword from Wudang ahead of time.

Now that he understood Miejue's purpose, Gu Shaoan also saw why, at the foot of the mountain, she had specifically mentioned how long he had been her disciple when introducing him.

She had clearly meant to put Song Yuanqiao at ease.

Song Yuanqiao hesitated.

But thinking of the value of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, as well as the deceased Zhang Cuishan and poor Wuji, Song Yuanqiao sighed inwardly.

He glanced at Gu Shaoan, took a deep breath, and nodded.

"The Heavenly Sword belongs to Emei. It remained at Wudang last year only because of circumstances. Since Abbess is generous enough to offer the Emei Nine Yangs Technique in exchange, how could I refuse?"

Song Yuanqiao's agreement pleased Miejue, though she merely murmured, "Mm," without letting it show.

But Song Yuanqiao was an upright man.

Knowing how recently Gu Shaoan had joined the sect, he didn't want to take undue advantage of him. In the end, he asked Zhang Songxi to select a Wudang Inner Sect Disciple around Gu Shaoan's age.

A short while later, a twelve-year-old boy in a blue martial outfit stood three zhang from Gu Shaoan on the training ground.

The two were similar in stature, both with the youthful features of boys their age.

With so many senior disciples and even uncles watching, the Wudang boy couldn't help feeling nervous. His youthful face was still unseasoned, but he took a deep breath, tried to imitate the composure of his elders, and drew his sword. In a clear voice, he said, "Wudang, Zhang Yuting. Please instruct me!"

"Emei, Gu Shaoan."