Fist Leaves Shaolin, Sword Returns to Huashan

"Bald donkey, they're making such a ruckus on the stage, and you Shaolin are just going to sit by and let it happen?"

"Amitabha!"

"Ox-nose, this monk is a man of the cloth; the four elements are empty to me, so what do fame and fortune have to do with me? If you find them eyesores, you are more than welcome to send your Wudang disciples up to teach them a lesson."

"Bald donkey, stop putting on an act here. We all know each other well enough; I don't believe for a second that you have no thoughts on the Mount Hua Sect making such a scene."

The exchange between Chongxu and Fang Zheng, filled with "bald donkey" and "ox-nose," made the nearby martial artists tremble with fear. They regretted being satisfied with these seats as much as they now feared the consequences.

The grievances between the three great righteous sects were not something to be trifled with. If they accidentally overheard something they shouldn't, they might end up as mere mortals caught in the crossfire of gods.

Talk was just talk, and bickering was just bickering; neither man had any intention of being the first to act. Although both possessed the strength to crush the Mount Hua disciples on stage, they were a generation older.

As the greatest beneficiaries of the status quo, Shaolin and Wudang naturally had to abide by the rules of the pugilistic world on the surface and could not bully the young.

Due to the differences in how each sect passed down their arts, the timing for recruiting disciples varied, leading to discrepancies in seniority over time.

The disciples of the same generation as the "Bu" character of Mount Hua had only joined their respective sects a few years ago and lacked the necessary cultivation; sending them up now would only be inviting humiliation.

This was the very reason why Fang Zheng and Chongxu were the ones presiding over the situation in the world of Smiling Proud Wanderer; it was not that the two sects lacked successors, but rather that the younger generation had yet to mature.

If one were to be cynical, it might even be intentional. Righteous sects prided themselves on respecting their elders, and having higher seniority always made it easier to gain an advantage when handling affairs in the pugilistic world.

Coupled with the special status of Shaolin and Wudang, it was easy for the label of "virtuous and prestigious" to be pinned on their leaders, granting them the favorable position of arbitrators in conflicts.

Seemingly realizing that they were on Mount Hua territory and that discussing this in front of everyone was inappropriate, the two tacitly lowered their voices.

After the banter ended, Fang Zheng said solemnly, "Ning Qingyu is a man of great talent and strategy. The Mount Hua Sect has produced a succession of talents in recent years. Ever since Feng Qingyang's sword first emerged from Mount Hua, the sect has become unstoppable."

Chongxu shook his head. "Bald donkey, there is no need for you to repeat that here; it is common knowledge to everyone in the pugilistic world.

My Wudang Sect is far away in Huguang; even if the Mount Hua Sect rises, they cannot reach over here. You had better keep this headache to yourselves!

By the way, didn't you just say 'a sword emerges from Mount Hua'? Then let's just call it 'Sword Emerges from Mount Hua'; it fits perfectly with your 'Fist Emerges from Shaolin.'

See how generous this Daoist is? I've placed your two sects on equal footing and even left my own Wudang Sect out of it."

Interests are always the catalyst for conflict, and as long as his own interests were not at stake, Daoist Chongxu was more than happy to watch the chaos unfold.

Don't let their friendly banter fool you; the two great powers behind them were riddled with contradictions. As heirs to their respective sects, their primary consideration had to be the interests of their own organizations.

Although both were considered the pillars of the martial arts world, the Shaolin Temple still held a slight edge over Wudang. For a long time, the Wudang Sect had been suppressed by Shaolin, and the situation had only begun to change with the rise of the Mount Hua Sect.

When it came to the issue of the Mount Hua Sect, Wudang had always wavered. On one hand, they wanted the Mount Hua Sect to keep Shaolin in check; on the other, they did not want to see another top-tier predator at the table.

Even with Fang Zheng's good temper, he was angered by such mockery.

On the surface, Wudang was yielding, but in reality, they were roasting the Shaolin Temple over a fire. Once the pairing of "Sword Emerges from Mount Hua" and "Fist Emerges from Shaolin" was accepted, it would be tantamount to acknowledging the Mount Hua Sect's status as a hegemon of the pugilistic world.

With two hegemons appearing in the north, and the two sides being only six or seven hundred miles apart with interests intertwined in many areas, it would be a miracle if they could coexist peacefully.

The pugilistic world is a place full of fence-sitters, and often, there is no room for retreat. Once the various sects mistakenly believed that the Shaolin Temple had gone soft, the momentum of the Mount Hua Sect would likely skyrocket again in a short period.

"Ox-nose, don't go too far. If your Wudang dares to support the Mount Hua Sect, we will support the South Shaolin in the south to challenge you. Let's see who plays the game better!"

Compared to the North Shaolin, the South Shaolin had a much weaker presence in the pugilistic world. But a weak presence did not mean weak strength.

Perhaps they were not as strong as the Wudang Sect, but they were not much weaker than the current Mount Hua Sect. If they truly gained the support of the Shaolin Temple, they would certainly have the strength to compete with Wudang.

However, the Wudang Sect was not without its own backing. As the imperial temple of the royal family, Wudang had always maintained a very good relationship with the Great Ming court, something the Shaolin Temple could not compare to.

In fact, the Great Ming court had played a role in the Wudang Sect's rapid rise to a position where they could stand as a tripod alongside the Shaolin Temple.

After all, this was a martial arts world, and the lethality and destructive power of martial artists were too astonishing. As the martial force of the Buddhist faith, the Shaolin Temple's power was already so vast that it had long since aroused the wariness of the Great Ming court.

Daoist Chongxu laughed heartily and said, "Bald donkey, stop trying to scare people here; this Daoist was not raised on fear. The mess between you and the South Shaolin could not be finished in three days and three nights.

If you really let them out, the first ones to worry would be yourselves. Even if you aren't afraid, aren't the old monks in your temple afraid of a North-South Shaolin conflict?

If you want to stir up trouble, wait until you are sitting in the Abbot's seat first!"

Perhaps it was because the breakfast at the Mount Hua Sect was too thin, but as more and more martial arts secrets were revealed, the surrounding martial artists began to leave one after another to relieve themselves.

Facing the impenetrable Chongxu, Fang Zheng was also suffering from a massive headache. Compared to releasing a piece of news, the cost of his own countermeasures was simply too high.

After a long silence, as if thinking of something, Fang Zheng changed his previous annoyance and said calmly, "Ox-nose, you are right; it can indeed be 'Sword Emerges from Mount Hua.'

As long as your Wudang Sect doesn't mind being robbed of the title of the number one sword sect, my Shaolin Temple can tolerate it."

If Li Mu were here, he would surely be shocked. So, the reputation of "Fist Emerges from Shaolin, Sword Belongs to Mount Hua" in Smiling Proud Wanderer came about this way.

Even knowing this was a "kill with kindness" tactic, the Mount Hua Sect could not refuse. As long as they wanted to rise to the top, they had no choice but to accept it.

"Sword Emerges from Mount Hua" sounded impressive, but aside from increasing the arrogance of their disciples, this title would only bring endless hatred.

There were so many sects in the pugilistic world that used swords; who would be willing to be considered inferior? Even if they didn't do anything, they would still feel resentful toward the Mount Hua Sect.

Especially the Wudang Sect, whose martial arts were also primarily sword-based. Their sword techniques were in no way inferior to those of the Mount Hua Sect, and their overall strength was even greater; it was impossible for them not to harbor a grudge.