"Greetings, Wisdom King." Wang Gang stepped forward and saluted, thinking, This must be Jiumozhi. He looks every inch an eminent monk-nothing like what I saw on television.
After Jiumozhi returned the salute, Murong Bo introduced him. "This is my wife's younger brother. Though he has a little cleverness about him, my wife has spoiled him, leaving him willful and unruly. I'm afraid he has made a fool of himself before you, Wisdom King!"
Jiumozhi smiled, like the Buddha smiling as he held up a flower, and said slowly, "I think otherwise. On my journey, I met the eminent monk Xuantong of Shaolin. While discussing Buddhist teachings, he mentioned some remarks made by this young benefactor. This humble monk found them most agreeable."
"When people are infatuated with the mortal world, use the mortal world to draw them in, then guide them to enlightenment, demonstrating the vastness of Buddhist teachings." Jiumozhi praised him. "Young benefactor, your roots of wisdom run deep. You have an affinity with the Buddha!"
Wang Gang shuddered in alarm and hurriedly said, "You praise me too highly, Master. I'm immersed in the mortal world, and my six senses are impure. I can hardly claim any roots of wisdom."
Murong Bo was startled as well. If Jiumozhi really talked Wang Gang into becoming a monk, wouldn't his wife fight him to the death?
He was just about to speak when Jiumozhi smiled again. "When you see through the mortal world, benefactor, you will naturally understand that Buddhist teachings are boundless."
Wang Gang hurriedly nodded. "If I ever find the mortal world dull, I'll certainly study Buddhist scriptures!"
Jiumozhi smiled and nodded, then turned back to Murong Bo. "Benefactor, what do you think of my proposal?"
Murong Bo shook his head. "Star Shifting is a secret of the Murong Family that must never be passed on to outsiders!"
"Alas, the martial arts of the world ought to be exchanged, so that we may draw on everyone's strengths and carry them to greater heights!"
"I dare not violate my ancestors' instructions!"
"In that case, allow this humble monk to experience the mysteries of Star Shifting!" As he spoke, Jiumozhi pressed his palms together, then struck out with one palm.
Wang Gang felt a scorching wave of air rush toward his face, carrying a fierce blade intent. He immediately knew this was Jiumozhi's supreme skill, the Flame Blade.
Murong Bo's expression remained unchanged. He raised a hand slightly and guided it aside with the ease of someone strolling through a courtyard. The Blade Qi rebounded, thirty percent faster than it had come.
Jiumozhi hurriedly struck out with another palm. With a boom, waves of heat churned. Wang Gang retreated again and again, his entire body burning hot, as though he stood in the height of summer rather than late autumn.
Murong Bo stood immovable, the hem of his robe snapping, his smile unchanged. Jiumozhi, however, retreated three steps before steadying himself. Victory and defeat were immediately clear.
Far from being discouraged by losing in a single exchange, Jiumozhi's eyes shone. Delighted, he said, "So this is turning a man's own methods against him! Truly brilliant and profound!"
Murong Bo smiled. "Your Flame Blade is no ordinary skill either, Wisdom King! It is powerful, colorless, and formless. In my view, only the Dali Duan Clan's Six Meridian Divine Sword can rival it!"
"Oh? What is so remarkable about this Six Meridian Divine Sword?"
Murong Bo shook his head and sighed. "I have never seen it myself. I have only heard that it can release formless Sword Qi, firing through all six meridians at once and even forming a sword formation."
"Since you know where it is, Master Murong, why not obtain it for a look?"
Murong Bo shook his head. "It is the Duan Clan's greatest treasure. If I asked openly, they would certainly refuse. As for taking it secretly, am I, Murong Bo, some petty thief?"
"That is easily resolved!" Jiumozhi smiled. "This humble monk is from Tubo and has neither kinship nor ties with the Dali Duan Clan. Nor do Tubo and Dali have diplomatic relations. Since it is inconvenient for you to obtain it yourself, Master Murong, this humble monk can do it in your stead."
"Excellent!" Murong Bo took three booklets from inside his robe. "These contain the essential principles and training methods of Shaolin's Seventy-Two Supreme Skills, along with ways to counter them that I have devised. How about exchanging these for your Flame Blade, Wisdom King?"
Jiumozhi was overjoyed. Shaolin's Seventy-Two Supreme Skills were renowned throughout the world. He took the booklets and opened them, finding both illustrations and text within, all drawn and written by hand.
After reading the three booklets, Jiumozhi asked in surprise, "There are only a dozen or so martial arts here. How can they be called the Seventy-Two Supreme Skills?"
Murong Bo smiled without answering, then said, "I have yet to fully unravel the rest. By the time you bring the Six Meridian Divine Sword, Wisdom King, I should have completed the work."
Jiumozhi understood: Murong Bo would not release his hawk until he saw the hare. Still, exchanging the Flame Blade for these supreme skills was worthwhile. He immediately took out several sheets of gold foil and placed them on the table.
"These contain the Flame Blade technique, along with some insights of this humble monk!"
Wang Gang leaned closer and saw that the writing on the gold foil was actually in Chinese. Clearly, Jiumozhi had come to the Great Song specifically to exchange martial arts. Still, this was truly extravagant. Monks really were rich!
With the exchange complete, Jiumozhi had obtained what he wanted. Eager to study the Shaolin supreme skills, he exchanged a few more words before hurriedly taking his leave.
After seeing Jiumozhi off, the two headed toward Canhe Manor. On the way, Wang Gang asked for the Flame Blade manual. Murong Bo sneered mockingly. "You aren't even third-rate. What do you want this for? Rubbing your hands together would generate more heat than you practicing it!"
Wang Gang slapped his sword and snapped, "You lout! Do you think my sword has lost its edge?"
"Heh..." Murong Bo gave a cold scoff.
Furious, Wang Gang drew his sword and thrust, his sword moves fierce and swift as a gale.
Murong Bo neither dodged nor evaded. Only when the sword tip approached his body did he extend two fingers and catch it, stopping the blade from advancing another inch. Then he bent a finger and tapped the blade.
Wang Gang felt a vast force surge toward him, smashing through his internal power and sending it fleeing without helmet or armor. His hand went numb, and the sword changed hands in an instant.
"That's all?"
Murong Bo glanced at him and casually tossed the sword back. "You have reached third-rate after all!"
"You lout, you go too far!"
"So what if I do? Come at me again if you don't like it!"
The two traded verbal thrusts and parries all the way to Canhe Manor.
The moment he entered, Wang Gang shouted, "Sister, someone tried to assassinate me! I nearly died!"
Murong Bo stiffened. Damn, I forgot about that! This bastard always loved tattling.
"What? Were you hurt anywhere?"
A clatter and crash rang out. Murong Bo closed his eyes in anguish. How many fine things must she have broken?
"Quick, let me see where you're hurt!"
Her face full of anxiety, Madam Wang hurried out with a worried A Qing. As soon as she saw Wang Gang, she pulled him into her arms to inspect him.
Wang Gang winked at A Qing, then said to Madam Wang, "Sister, I'm fine. That assassin's martial arts were worse than mine. I drove him off with two strokes of my sword!"
"You're really all right?" Madam Wang looked into his eyes for confirmation.
"I'm really fine!" Wang Gang jumped up and down twice to reassure her, then sighed. "It's just that the martial arts Brother-in-law taught me weren't good enough. That man actually used the same sword technique as me. He nearly stabbed me!"
Then Wang Gang recounted what had happened that night, adding oil and vinegar to the tale, leaving both women shaken.
"That Wang Gui had such a wolf's heart! And to think I used to look after him!" Madam Wang clutched her chest and ground her teeth. Then she turned to Murong Bo and complained, "Since you were teaching him martial arts anyway, why didn't you teach him something stronger? It was so dangerous!"
"He chose that sword technique himself!" Blame had dropped onto him out of nowhere like a black pot, leaving Murong Bo speechless. When he noticed that even A Qing was looking at him reproachfully, he felt utterly aggrieved.
"What does he know about martial arts? He just practices whatever you give him!"
"Ah, well... you can't put it that way..."
"Then how should I put it? How many years have you practiced, and how many days has he?"
"All right, my wife is right. It was my fault!"
Once Madam Wang switched into unreasonable mode, Murong Bo could not withstand her at all. He could only surrender.
"You can't blame Brother-in-law for this!"
Wang Gang spoke up in explanation, earning a grateful look from Murong Bo.
"The main problem was that I hadn't seen enough and didn't know how to choose. But today, my horizons were broadened!"
Murong Bo's heart lurched at those words. This brat is up to something!
Sure enough, Madam Wang asked, "Oh? How were your horizons broadened?"
"When Brother-in-law met that monk today, one palm strike made the whole room hot. Brother-in-law even traded for that technique!"
As he spoke, Wang Gang stared straight at Murong Bo's sleeve and said quietly, "I'd like to learn that technique. I just don't know whether Brother-in-law would be willing to part with it..."
"Why wouldn't he be willing?"
At a single look from Madam Wang, Murong Bo could only resentfully take out the sheets of gold foil.
Wang Gang snatched the gold foil, raising his eyebrows provocatively at Murong Bo, then said:
"Sister, once I've learned it, come find me whenever you're cold. With one palm strike, I guarantee you'll be sweating from the heat."