Who's for It? Who's against It?

Though Zhang Sanfeng had just shown a glimpse of his power and stunned every Wulin sect, and Shaolin had acted strangely indeed, none of it could overcome the temptation of the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Besides, the disciples of every sect had come with weapons bulging beneath their robes. They had never intended to let the matter rest.

Still, no one wanted to be the first bird to stick its head out. Whoever spoke first would inevitably draw Wudang's full attention.

After a while, Xihua Zi of the Kunlun Sect saw that no one else was speaking up and stepped forward. "Master Zhang, today is your hundredth birthday. Allow this junior to offer his congratulations!" He gave a Daoist salute as he spoke.

Xihua Zi straightened and raised his voice. "There is a second matter. We of the Wulin would also like to ask about the whereabouts of that villain Xie Xun!"

"Shaolin knows nothing of that. Although Xie Xun has a grievance with us, we have no wish to spoil Master Zhang's birthday celebration!"

Kong Wen stepped forward, and the Shaolin delegation nodded as one in agreement. "Shaolin will take no part in this matter!" He drew the line then and there.

Zhang Sanfeng looked at Xihua Zi. "You came to Wudang Mountain to ask where Xie Xun is. Are you saying he's hiding here?"

Xihua Zi's expression changed. If that accusation landed on his head, the martial world would drown him in spit!

"Wudang is an esteemed sect, and Master Zhang is a man of great virtue. Naturally, you would never harbor such filth." After that little bit of flattery, Xihua Zi went on.

"Years ago, Xie Xun flew into a murderous frenzy and slaughtered our fellow martial artists. Anyone in the Wulin has the right to put him to death!"

Zhang Sanfeng waved a hand impatiently. "I know exactly what Xie Xun did. I'm only a hundred, not senile!"

In other words, cut the damn nonsense.

"Unfortunately, Xie Xun fled overseas years ago, leaving countless comrades with no way to rid the world of that fiend. Today, we ask Hero Zhang to tell us where he is, for the sake of the Wulin!" Xihua Zi finally came out with it.

Zhang Sanfeng nodded and glanced at him. "All that hemming and hawing. If you have something to say, say it. Even this hundred-year-old speaks more plainly than you!"

Xihua Zi's face darkened. Weren't you supposed to be a venerable master of the martial world? Why are you so crude?

"Cuishan, do you know where Xie Xun is?" Zhang Sanfeng asked, turning to him.

"Of course. Xie Xun is my sworn elder brother." Zhang Cuishan nodded.

"Then you decide whether to tell them."

"In the martial world, loyalty is what matters. How could I be so heartless and faithless?"

Zhang Sanfeng nodded. "You all heard him. My fifth disciple is a fine man whose loyalty reaches the clouds. I'm afraid you'll be leaving empty-handed, so please—"

"Does Master Zhang mean to shelter a monster like Xie Xun? Have Zhang Cuishan reveal his whereabouts at once, lest Wudang suffer for it!" Xihua Zi suddenly spoke with stern conviction, sounding every inch an unbending hero.

Behind him, however, his companions stared at him in bewilderment.

What's with you, little brother? "Lest Wudang suffer"? Are you trying to start a war with Wudang? Do you know who that old man up there is? What the hell are you saying?

The Shaolin delegation's eyelids twitched. Thank goodness they had not joined forces with such a pig-headed ally. The Vajra Sect's destruction had been well deserved...

Zhang Sanfeng looked at Xihua Zi in surprise. "You intend to make an enemy of Wudang?"

"I'm not the one making an enemy of Wudang. If Fifth Hero Zhang refuses to reveal Xie Xun's whereabouts today, then Wudang is making an enemy of the entire Wulin!"

"Fellow martial artists, isn't that—"

Xihua Zi turned toward the major Wulin sects and found that everyone had moved far away from him, including his own sect leader, He Taichong.

Xihua Zi: ???

My own teammates are holding me back?

"Master Zhang, we merely wish to know Xie Xun's whereabouts. We have no intention of opposing Wudang," He Taichong explained. He had little choice: the fellow up front who had apparently lost his mind belonged to his sect.

"Exactly!"

"We only want to know where Xie Xun is!"

"Wudang is a virtuous sect. How could we make an enemy of it?"

"Precisely, precisely!"

Zhang Sanfeng was rather disappointed. These great Wulin sects had fallen in his estimation.

Zhang Sanfeng: If they rushed me and hacked me to death with a flurry of blades, I'd think more highly of them. I might even tell them where the Dragon-Slaying Saber is!

Zhang Sanfeng posted in the group chat.

Meng Chuan: Wake up, Master. If they'd hacked you to death, you wouldn't be able to talk.

Zhang Sanfeng: Great Emperor, it was only an analogy...

Meng Chuan: Oh, then never mind.

Daigu Madoka: Then what will you do with these people, Master?

Meng Qi: Hack them to death with a flurry of blades!

Zhang Sanfeng: They neglect their martial arts training all day and dream of becoming the supreme ruler of the Wulin with a sword or saber. Suddenly, I don't see much point in arguing with them.

Zhang Sanfeng: I'll just send them down the mountain.

"Fellow martial artists, I know most of you seek Xie Xun because of the Dragon-Slaying Saber in his hands." Zhang Sanfeng looked at the crowd below and offered them earnest advice:

"All that talk of Wulin supremacy, the Heavenly Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber—it's all empty."

"If you truly want to be the supreme master of Wulin, live to a hundred like this old Daoist. Wouldn't that do it?"

Meng Chuan: Killing them with words.

Meng Qi: Let's be reasonable. I live to a hundred, and then I have to face you at two hundred?

"And as long as this old Daoist remains in the martial world, none of you should dream of becoming the supreme master of Wulin!"

"If you truly want to become the supreme master of Wulin, come withstand one move from me first!"

"That's all I have to say. You may leave!"

Zhang Sanfeng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. He said no more.

"Master, Xie Xun really—" Xihua Zi still refused to give up. Before he could finish, Zhang Sanfeng reached out with his left hand and clenched it around empty air. Then he lifted it, and Xihua Zi was flung into the sky.

A hundred meters, five hundred meters, a thousand meters...

Zhang Sanfeng then pulled him back down. When Xihua Zi landed, his entire face had turned purplish, and he coughed uncontrollably.

Seeing Xihua Zi in distress, Zhang Sanfeng sent a stream of true qi straight into his body. Xihua Zi perked up at once. As for whether that true qi might have some other effect, only Zhang Sanfeng knew.

Still, wasn't it perfectly normal for foreign true qi to leave a few hidden troubles?

Meng Chuan: You dare interrupt my grand display? Die!

Meng Qi: Get lost!

Zhang Sanfeng looked at the horrified crowd and said evenly, "I said you can forget about becoming the supreme master of Wulin. You may leave."

"Who's for it? Who's against it?"

Meng Qi: Master, have you been buying books to read too?

Daigu Madoka: I haven't seen any books where Master uses a line like that!

Meng Chuan: Zhang Sanfeng, courtesy name Junbao, the greatest master of showing off in history.

The Ancient One: Indeed...

How could any of the great sects object? Was what they had just witnessed even humanly possible?

"We're leaving right now."

"Farewell, Master Zhang!"

Watching the crowd flee in near panic, Zhang Sanfeng smiled. Then he suddenly said, "Wait!"

Everyone from the great sects froze as though struck by a binding talisman. They looked at Zhang Sanfeng with miserable faces. "Does Master Zhang have any further instructions?"

"I'll see you off!"

"We wouldn't dare trouble you, Master. We'll roll out ourselves—no, we mean, we'll walk."

Zhang Sanfeng ignored them. They had come to celebrate his birthday; now that his guests were leaving, wouldn't it be poor manners not to see them off?

With a sweep of his sleeve, he sent everyone from the great sects to the foot of Wudang Mountain.

The people of the great sects stood dumbfounded. Hadn't they been on Wudang Mountain just a moment ago? How had Master Zhang done that with one sweep of his sleeve?

Damn, it was like a dream...

Thanks to Ao, Zhui Xue Ming Jing for the tip of 100 Qidian coins, and to readers 160329183217956, Jing Luo lj, Gao Ye Xuan 1, Kan Jian Wo Qing Jiao Wo Bie Kan Le, Yi Qu Wei Mang Du Yu Sheng, 20181216184928282, Xing Chen De Wu Ye, Ao, Zhui Xue Ming Jing, and 151021104354246 for their tips. Please vote and add this book to your favorites!