HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE Book 2 of 2

Sabre And Sword Lost, People Perish Part 4

"Song Xiongdi," Zhi Fa Zhanglao said, "Since you are part of our Clan, you are subjected to our Clan's rules and regulations. Someday, even though you become the Wudang Pai Zhang Men [Sect Leader of Wudang Sect], you will still have to follow our Clan's order. Do you understand this?" His manner of speaking was very serious.

"Yes," Song Qingshu replied.

Zhi Fa Zhanglao continued, "Although our Clan and Wudang Pai both follow the same chivalrous way, our approaches are not the same. Since someday the Wudang Sect Leader position will certainly fall into your hands, why did you want to become part of our Clan? You must answer this question truthfully."

Song Qingshu cast a sidelong glance toward Chen Youliang before answering, "Chen Zhanglao has shown an utmost benevolence toward me, I admire his conduct very much; therefore, I will be satisfied to follow his leadership."

Cheng Youliang laughed and said, "There are no outsiders here, I don't see any problem for you to say it. After the Sect Leader of Emei Pai, Miejue Shitai passed away, the newly-appointed Sect Leader is a young and good-looking lady by the name of Zhou Zhiruo. This lady and Song Xiongdi are childhood friends; apparently they are betrothed to each other. Who would have thought that the Devil Cult's big devil-head Zhang Wuji appeared and stole her heart away, and took her overseas? Obviously, Song Xiongdi was furious and came to me for advice. I vow to help my brother taking that Zhou girl back."

The more Wuji heard it, the angrier he was; thinking in his heart, "This man spoke nonsense; when did such thing ever happen?" He wanted to jump down into the main hall to confront him, but in the end decided to restrain his rage and keep on listening.

Shi Huolong laughed aloud and said, "It's always hard for a hero to resist a beauty. I am not surprised. One is the Wudang Sect Leader, the other is Emei Sect Leader; not only a match in social position and economic status, but also the man highly skilled, the woman beautiful. This is a perfect match indeed."

Zhi Fa Zhanglao asked again, "Since Song Xiongdi has this grievance, why don't you ask Zhang Sanfeng Zhenren [lit. true/real man – a respectable term to address a Taoist priest] and Song Daxia [great hero Song] to mediate?"

Chen Youliang replied, "Song Xiongdi told me: that little thief Zhang Wuji is Wudang Pai's Zhang Cuishan's son. Zhang Sanfeng has always been very fond of Zhang Cuishan. For that reason, Wudang Pai is in a good term with the Devil Cult lately. Zhang Sanfeng and Song Daxia are not willing to offend the Devil Cult. Presently, in the Wulin world of the Central Plains, our Clan is the only one who stands against the Devil Cult; furthermore, we are the only one who has enough power to resist those devils."

Zhi Fa Zhanglao nodded. "That's true," he said, "Only by destroying the Devil Cult and slaughtering that fellow Zhang Wuji Song Xiongdi's desire will be satisfied and his grievance compensated only by destroying the Devil Cult and slaughtering that person Zhang Wuji."

From his hiding place on the tree, Zhang Wuji recalled how in the Western Region's desert and on the Brightness Peak, Song Qingshu's treatment toward Zhou Zhiruo had always been rather strange. Only now did Zhang Wuji realize that Song Qingshu had a deep feeling toward her. Yet he was still astonished over what had happened, "A Wudang disciple wants to join the Beggar Clan; this is not right, especially without reporting to Tai Shifu and Song Shibo [martial (older) uncle] first. He is betraying his own school, betraying his own father, for a woman's sake; wouldn't he make a very big mistake? Besides, Zhiruo loves me very much, although Song Qingshu received the Beggar Clan's help, how can he force her to follow him? Song Dage [big brother Song] has made a name for himself in the Jianghu, he holds the reputation as the up-and coming leader of Wudang Pai. How can he make such a blunder?"