Strange Shaolin

System Notice: Administrator Zhang Sanfeng had started a Group Livestream.

Meng Chuan and the others immediately clicked to watch. A floating panel appeared before Meng Chuan. This was his first time watching someone else's livestream, though the feature had only launched yesterday...

On the panel appeared a tall old man who was not quite burly, with white hair, a youthful face, bright eyes, and a kindly expression. He wore a Taiji Daoist robe, and the longer one looked, the more he seemed to have the bearing of an immortal.

The group members were no strangers to Zhang Sanfeng's appearance. Each of the five had a fate instance, and the other four had watched them all.

The person who started a Group Livestream could speak with his thoughts, and the group members would hear him. Meng Chuan had spoken aloud yesterday mainly because, even in a crowd, he could keep anyone he didn't want listening from hearing a word. Zhang Sanfeng couldn't do that.

If Zhang Sanfeng spoke aloud to communicate with them, his Wudang disciples might well think he had gone mad.

Meng Qi: The years haven't slowed you down, Master Zhang.

A comment drifted across Zhang Sanfeng's vision, though something about the person saying it made him feel odd.

Zhang Sanfeng: Little Meng, are you praising me or mocking me? I can't even tell anymore...

Meng Chuan: Hahaha! Of course Little Meng is praising you. It's your birthday banquet today, Master Zhang. You're the guest of honor!

Meng Chuan: Happy hundredth birthday, Master Zhang!

Meng Qi: Happy hundredth birthday, Master Zhang!

The Ancient One: I won't repeat that, but you have my best wishes too, Master Zhang.

Da Gu: Same here!

Zhang Sanfeng: Thank you, everyone. I'll make sure you're treated to good food and drink later!

Meng Chuan: Wait, are we about to get a show to watch over dinner?

While Zhang Sanfeng was chatting with the group, Yu Daiyan approached and bowed.

"Master, the people from the various sects coming to offer birthday wishes should reach Mount Wudang soon. Shall I arrange for someone to greet them?"

Ever since Yu Daiyan had regained the use of his legs and made great strides in his martial arts, he had been bustling about Wudang. Anything he could do, he volunteered to do; his feet barely touched the ground all day.

As he put it, after sitting for ten years, he was finally well again and simply couldn't sit still.

One thing was worth mentioning: although Yu Daiyan and Yin Susu had reconciled in private, he was usually expressionless around her, let alone willing to call her his sister-in-law.

Of course, that did not affect Yu Daiyan's affection for Zhang Wuji or the care he showed the brother who had been lost to the family for years.

Then, one day, Yin Susu told Zhang Cuishan what had happened back then. Zhang Cuishan had seen how Yu Daiyan treated her lately, and she did not want him to misunderstand his senior brother.

Yin Susu could be ruthless and had all the air of someone from the Demon Cult, but she truly loved Zhang Cuishan.

When Zhang Cuishan learned the truth, guilt overwhelmed him. He dropped to his knees before Yu Daiyan and wept uncontrollably. He had never imagined that the paralysis of a senior brother as dear to him as flesh and blood had anything to do with the woman he loved most!

Fortunately, their master Zhang Sanfeng had healed Yu Daiyan and restored his martial arts. Otherwise, Zhang Cuishan would not have known how to remain at Wudang.

Once everything was out in the open, Yu Daiyan's relationship with Yin Susu actually improved. He still could not quite treat her as family, but he no longer met her with a cold face.

"Greet them? What do you need to go greet them for? Send a few younger disciples. You've only just recovered, so don't run around. And tell those six brothers of yours to take good care of you; they needn't go greet anyone either!" Zhang Sanfeng shook his head.

"Master, wouldn't that be improper?" Yu Daiyan asked in surprise. His master was not the sort to say such a thing, especially when Emei was coming too...

"To hell with propriety!" Zhang Sanfeng swore outright. "If they're sincerely coming to wish this old Daoist a happy birthday, I'll show them every courtesy. But... hmph!"

Yu Daiyan froze. His master had cursed! But Yu Daiyan was quick-witted, and after hearing those words, he began to understand.

"Master, are these people coming under the guise of offering birthday wishes, when they really have another purpose?" Yu Daiyan reasoned. "If they're climbing Mount Wudang with hidden motives now... Xie Xun and the Dragon-Slaying Saber?"

"So you do have some sense." Zhang Sanfeng looked at Yu Daiyan and nodded.

"The nerve of them! They mean to make trouble for Fifth Brother at Master's hundredth birthday banquet!" Yu Daiyan said furiously. This was an insult not just to Zhang Cuishan, but to all of Wudang, and above all, a mark of disrespect toward their master!

"When the time comes, all well and good if the sects behave themselves. But if they dare make trouble, we seven disciples will show them the power of the True Martial Seven-Section Formation!" There was even a hint of killing intent in Yu Daiyan's voice. Zhang Sanfeng had been like a father to the seven of them, and the seven fellow disciples were closer than brothers by blood!

Zhang Sanfeng had created the True Martial Seven-Section Formation, a technique for fighting together, after contemplating the turtle and snake mountains beneath the statue of the Great Emperor of True Martial. Because the technique was so subtle and profound, he divided it into seven parts, giving each of the Wudang Seven Heroes one part to learn.

Each part was formidable on its own. When two of the Seven Heroes used theirs together, their attack and defense complemented each other, greatly increasing their power.

With three working together, their power doubled again compared to two!

Four working together were the equal of eight martial artists—and not just any martial artists, but first-rate experts!

Five were the equal of sixteen first-rate experts, and six were the equal of thirty-two. When all seven unleashed the complete True Martial Seven-Section Formation, they were the equal of a full sixty-four first-rate martial artists!

It counted as an impressive technique for fighting together in any martial arts world.

In the Heavenly Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber World, even counting everyone active in the martial world and everyone retired from it, one would be hard-pressed to find sixty-four first-rate experts!

To claim the seven of them could take on everyone from all the sects might be a bit arrogant. But half of them? Certainly! Throw in the sect leaders too!

Zhang Sanfeng patted Yu Daiyan's shoulder, a look in his eyes that Yu Daiyan could not read.

"You seven won't need to act."

"Huh? Then are we just going to let the sects run wild?"

Zhang Sanfeng only smiled.

A while later, the various sects arrived on Mount Wudang. Apart from Emei and Shaolin, their birthday gifts were perfunctory in the extreme.

There was not even a slightly precious medicinal herb among them. Most were things bought in the little town at the foot of the mountain, like steamed buns shaped like longevity peaches.

Emei, on the other hand, had brought a Hundred Longevity-Character Robe, embroidered with a hundred characters for "longevity." According to Emei's representative, each character had been stitched by an Emei disciple's own hand—a gift full of sincerity. Naturally, they would wait to present a gift like that to Zhang Sanfeng in person.

Oh, and it was not Miejue who had come from Emei, but Abbess Jingxuan and several disciples.

Meng Qi: Emei's people are all right. They put real thought into it.

Meng Chuan: Emei and Wudang have always been close. Emei came this time out of friendship between the sects, not to wade into these muddy waters. Otherwise, Miejue would have come herself.

Meng Qi: Miejue's temper is awful and she's a strange one, but in some respects she's all right.

As for Da Gu and the Ancient One, they said little. The twists and turns of etiquette and personal obligations here were just too Chinese!

Reading the comments, Zhang Sanfeng nodded to himself and made a mental note of Emei's gesture.

Then there was Shaolin. For some reason, although the people Shaolin had sent were the same as in the original storyline, their gifts were different.

Expensive medicinal herbs, sharp weapons, relics left by eminent monks—they handed the whole lot to the young Daoist boys receiving gifts for Wudang. Then they stood far away from the other sects.

As if avoiding the plague!

Da Gu: Uh, wasn't Shaolin one of the main troublemakers in the fate instance?

The Ancient One: I can't read them.

Meng Qi: Strange.

Meng Chuan: Master Zhang wiped out the Vajra Sect earlier, didn't he? I think it had some connection to Shaolin.

Da Gu: Is Shaolin scared?

Meng Qi: So that's it!

Meng Qi: Cowards!

Thanks to honnot and reader 20201116152450114 for their 100 Qidian-coin tips each (I forgot to mention them last night, haha). Thanks also to readers 151201104354246, Hangxing Yuzhou, Mingzhang Dui, Yiqu Weimang Du Yusheng, and 120329183217956 for their recommendation votes.