Shaolin's Greatest Lay Disciple, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Yan Wuju

The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Shaolin Temple on Mount Song.

The Hour of the Tiger had just arrived when lamps began lighting up throughout the temple. The servant monks quietly and methodically set to work.

Today was the annual year-end martial competition. For such a grand event, naturally no one dared be negligent.

By the time the sky had begun to brighten, the broad bluestone square before the Mahavira Hall had been swept so clean it gleamed like a mirror. Every trace of the light frost and snow that had accumulated over the past few days had vanished, and the bluestone slabs reflected the gradually brightening sky.

Sandalwood incense had long since been lit in the great censer before the hall. Wisps of green smoke curled upward quietly in the windless morning.

By the end of the Hour of the Dragon, every monk in the temple without duties on hand, young and old alike, had gathered before the Mahavira Hall to witness this annual grand occasion.

When Zhu Yingxiong and the others from the Dharma Hall arrived with its head, Worryless Zen Master, the square was already thick with figures and low murmurs.

Zhu Yingxiong wore neat, plain monk's robes. His steps were steady as he followed closely behind his master.

Quite a few people in the square cast furtive glances at their group.

The Dharma Hall disciples took their places in the designated area of the square and waited. Worryless Zen Master exchanged a few quiet words with the two elders accompanying him, then headed toward the main entrance of the Mahavira Hall.

As Worryless Zen Master's and Elder Sorrowless's personal disciples, Zhu Yingxiong and Yuan Cheng were fortunate enough to follow behind them into the Mahavira Hall.

The light within the hall was slightly dimmer than outside, making it seem all the more solemn and majestic.

Though Shaolin had not broadly invited the various martial arts sects to observe this year-end competition, quite a few people were seated in the hall. Among them were many lay disciples with deep ties to Shaolin.

Even several elders of the temple who remained in seclusion year-round and rarely showed themselves had all come.

Worryless Zen Master led them straight ahead to the principal seat at the center of the hall. Seated there was an old monk of broad build, ruddy complexion, and kindly features. He was Shaolin's current abbot—Master Questionless.

Worryless Zen Master pressed his palms together in greeting, and Zhu Yingxiong and Yuan Cheng behind him bowed as well.

"Greetings, Abbot."

Bu Wen Abbot rose with a smile and returned the greeting.

The rest of those in the hall, monk and layman alike, had also risen, showing their respect for the sect leader and the heads of the various halls.

Taking the chance, Zhu Yingxiong quietly swept his gaze across the hall.

Angerless Zen Master of the Discipline Hall had already arrived, with Yuan Jie standing behind him.

Yuan Hui of the Prajna Hall was likewise standing behind Bitterless Zen Master, the head of the Prajna Hall.

Bitterless Zen Master was a short, gaunt old monk.

Yuan Hui seemed to sense his gaze and looked over. Their eyes met lightly in midair before both withdrew them.

Zhu Yingxiong turned his attention back to examining those present.

The person who caught his eye most was a middle-aged man seated to the right of Bu Wen Abbot.

He wore a crimson brocade flying-fish robe, with a black luan-patterned belt around his waist. He stood straight as a pine, his face cold and imposing. His entire bearing carried the chilling aura of one long invested with power over life and death.

Many gazes in the hall, open and covert alike, fell upon him with a measure of awe.

While Zhu Yingxiong observed everyone present, many of them were also examining him.

"This must be Senior Brother Worryless's gifted disciple, Nephew Yuan Zhen? Indeed, a young talent of remarkable bearing." The speaker was the middle-aged man in the flying-fish robe, his voice steady and forceful.

"He is merely a youngster newly arrived in the world. He does not deserve such lavish praise." Worryless Zen Master turned slightly and said warmly to Zhu Yingxiong, "Yuan Zhen, come pay respects to your Uncle Wuju."

Zhu Yingxiong stepped forward as instructed, pressed his palms together, and bowed with respectful yet composed demeanor. "Disciple Yuan Zhen greets Uncle."

Zhu Yingxiong keenly sensed that Uncle Wuju's gaze lingered on him for a moment, as though assessing him. Only then did the man give a slight nod and say in a deep voice, "Calm and composed, unlike a youth. Senior Brother Worryless, you have taken in a fine disciple."

"Not at all, not at all," Worryless Zen Master said modestly.

After a round of greetings and pleasantries, everyone took their seats again.

Worryless Zen Master led the Dharma Hall group to seats below and to the left of Master Questionless, directly beside Bitterless Zen Master of the Prajna Hall.

Zhu Yingxiong and Yuan Cheng remained standing behind Worryless Zen Master.

Zhu Yingxiong could not help stealing a few more looks at Uncle Wuju. Seeing him dressed in a flying-fish robe, he knew the man had to be from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, even though he had not seen an Embroidered Spring Saber.

Yet whether in the books he had read in his previous life or in the memories of this life, he had no impression of this man.

Seeing Zhu Yingxiong watching the Embroidered Uniform Guard officer opposite them, Yuan Cheng leaned slightly closer and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"That man in the flying-fish robe is Yan Wuju, the universally acknowledged greatest master among Shaolin's lay disciples. In the martial world, he is known as the 'Night Owl.' By seniority, he is of the same generation as Worryless Zen Master and my master. He is now the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, wielding tremendous authority."

Zhu Yingxiong's heart tightened slightly, but his expression did not change in the slightest. He replied in the same low voice, "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother. And those people seated to the Abbot's right—who are they?" His gaze fell upon the several people below Yan Wuju, whose clothing differed from one another's. Clearly, they were not monks of Shaolin Temple.

"Gladly. Junior Brother, look." Yuan Cheng subtly gestured toward the man seated directly below Yan Wuju.

The man was around thirty or forty. His cold, sharply cut face seemed carved from a blade, and his eyes were as keen as icy lightning. He sat in silence, rigid and upright, an icy aura surrounding him. A dark bow case leaned against his right side, faintly radiating a murderous chill.

"He too is a master among Shaolin's lay disciples, descended from a military family. His name is Cheng Wang, and he is known in the martial world as the 'Cloud-Piercing Arrow.' His skill with the bow is nearly without equal."

Cloud-Piercing Arrow Cheng Wang? Zhu Yingxiong's thoughts stirred. He did remember this name. In the future, this man would try to launch a sneak attack from the water against the Demon Master Pang Ban. The instant he revealed himself, Pang Ban would use a boat oar to pierce his chest with a single blow, killing him on the spot.

So much for strength—one oar, and he was reduced to ashes.

Yuan Cheng's voice continued beside his ear, directing him toward the third person.

That was an old monk in plain gray robes. His face was aged, but his eyes were gentle. Behind him stood a man wearing a dark official uniform, a standard-issue saber hanging at his waist.

"This old monk is Zh*ida Zen Master of Cool Breeze Temple, which shares the same lineage as Shaolin. The man behind him is his lay disciple, He Qiyang, Chief Constable of the Seven Prefectures." Yuan Cheng continued, "By seniority, he is our grandnephew." His tone carried a hint of amusement by the end.

Another familiar face. Zhu Yingxiong sized up He Qiyang, the Chief Constable of the Seven Prefectures. He appeared to be in his thirties, with a capable face and sharp, shrewd eyes. Here, this chief constable did not even qualify for a seat and stood there like a lackey.

Then again, so did he.

"Further down, that man," Yuan Cheng indicated the last person, "is Du Dahong, chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency in the Central Plains."

Zhu Yingxiong looked over and saw a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted man with a purplish complexion and short, halberd-like whiskers beneath his chin. Though he sat quietly, he still radiated a bold and fierce air.

Just as Yuan Cheng finished introducing the last person, footsteps sounded outside the hall again, and a group filed inside.

At their head was an elderly monk. Though clearly advanced in years, he was exceptionally huge and brawny. Du Dahong, chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, was already a tall man, yet this monk stood half a head taller still. Broad-shouldered and thick-backed, he strode with deep, weighty steps like a moving mountain.

Following closely behind him was an equally burly martial monk—Yuan Tong of the Arhat Hall.

The leader, then, must be Fearless Zen Master, head of the Arhat Hall.

Before Fearless Zen Master even reached them, his bell-like voice had already resounded through the hall. "This poor monk has arrived late. I hope the Abbot and all my senior and junior brothers will forgive me."

"The timing is just right. How could you be late?" Bu Wen Abbot replied with a smile, his tone mild.

Fearless Zen Master's voice boomed as he greeted everyone in the hall one by one, then took the empty seat at the end. The moment he sat down, he said bluntly, "Senior Brother Abbot, the time has come, and all the honored guests have arrived. Shall we begin?"

"No rush, no rush. Let us wait a little longer," Bu Wen Abbot said slowly.

"Oh?" Fearless Zen Master looked around, his thick brows lifting slightly. "It seems everyone who should be here has arrived. What else are you waiting for, Senior Brother?"

Bu Wen Abbot was just about to speak when a sudden commotion arose outside the hall.

Two figures, one before the other, passed through the open doors and entered the great hall.