stonecrandall Chapter 6 White Hat
Chapter 6 White Hat
The seven-day martial arts competition had ended, and the group hadn't had a proper meal in a long time. The mountaintop was also a biting cold place, so they didn't linger any longer.
As the saying goes, going up a mountain is easy, but going down is hard. However, for these people who possess superior martial arts skills, the obstacles on the way down the mountain were obviously nothing.
With light steps, the group arrived at the foot of the mountain amidst laughter and conversation.
As soon as they descended the mountain, several people leaped over and stopped in front of them.
"Master!"
"Your Majesty!"
The two groups of people approached Wang Chongyang and Duan Zhixing respectively, their expressions full of worry.
Watching the two go off to find their own disciples, Zhao Yu turned back to look at Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qi, and said with a smile, "It seems that you two are all alone."
Hong Qi said nonchalantly, "I'm just a beggar, why do I need anyone to bolster my reputation? Besides, my Beggars' Sect disciples are all over the world, where in the world don't I have brothers?"
Seeing that the three of them were looking at him at the same time, Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly and turned his head away.
"A mediocre person, not worth mentioning. Besides, even as a member of the royal family, you are all alone."
"This is Jin territory, and my men are not easy to mobilize. Besides..." Zhao Yu raised his hand, which was holding Lin Chaoying's hand, to indicate, "I have Sister Lin with me, so I'm not alone."
Lin Chaoying smiled and looked at Huang Yaoshi, who seemed a little embarrassed.
Huang Yaoshi was speechless for a moment and then fell silent.
However, when he caught a glimpse of the other people out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but have some thoughts of his own.
"Should I... take on a few disciples?"
A moment later, Wang Chongyang and Duan Zhixing each led their disciples forward.
"Gentlemen, please forgive my rudeness. Our competition has lasted for seven days, and I couldn't help but be a little worried. I lost my composure for a moment, please don't take offense."
After saying that, Wang Chongyang gently called out to those behind him, "Chuji and Chuyi, come and greet the seniors."
Upon hearing those two familiar names, Zhao Yu's expression turned strange.
Judging from their appearances, the young Qiu Chuji looked more like a battlefield general than a Taoist priest, while Wang Chuyi was dressed like a Taoist master.
However, their ages...
Zhao Yu waved his hand: "It seems I'm about the same age as them, how can I call myself a senior?"
Qiu Chuji glanced at Zhao Yu curiously, secretly shocked.
"Is this person, at such a young age, actually more skilled in martial arts than my master?"
Wang Chongyang insisted that his two disciples pay their respects, saying, "There is no order of precedence in learning; the one who has achieved mastery is the teacher. Brother Zhao's martial arts are superb, and he has far surpassed the two of you in the art. How can he not deserve a bow!"
In front of their master, Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi respectfully greeted the group, thus establishing their acquaintance.
After Wang Chongyang introduced his disciples, Duan Zhixing stepped forward with several of his retainers.
He smiled apologetically at them, "My retainer just reported that I have been away from the country for a long time, and there are many government affairs piling up in the court. So I cannot enjoy a drink with you all today."
The group exchanged pleasantries.
Zhao Yu sized up the group of people behind Duan Zhixing and realized that they were probably the "fishermen, woodcutters, farmers, and scholars," but he didn't know who Wu Santong was.
After exchanging pleasantries, seeing that Duan Zhixing was about to leave, the others also took the opportunity to say goodbye.
Seeing this, Zhao Yu had no choice but to speak up and stop him.
"Please wait, everyone!"
Zhao Yu said loudly, "King Duan has court affairs to attend to. I imagine you gentlemen don't have anything urgent, right? There's a restaurant not far away; how about we go for a drink? It's on me!"
Upon hearing this, the others immediately understood that Zhao Yu had something to say.
Hong Qi immediately spoke up: "Hey Zhao boy, if you have something to say, just say it. Is it something you're hiding behind Emperor Duan's back?"
Huang Yaoshi's eyes flickered as he looked at Zhao Yu, wanting to hear his explanation as well.
Zhao Yu smiled meaningfully, not responding to Hong Qi, but instead cupping his fists towards Duan Zhixing: "King Duan, today's farewell will surely be followed by another. I wish you a safe and smooth journey back to Dali."
Besides being a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person who walks the martial arts world), Duan Zhixing had an even more important identity: the emperor of the Dali Kingdom.
A man like him would naturally understand the deeper meaning behind Zhao Yu's words.
Returning the greeting with clasped hands, Duan Zhixing replied with a smile, "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness. Dali and Song have always been friendly neighbors, and the time for our reunion is not far off. We will certainly have a drink together in Lin'an another day."
Goodbye.
"Wait a moment."
After bidding farewell to the others, Duan Zhixing, along with his four retainers, mounted his horse and rode away in a cloud of dust.
After getting some distance from Zhao Yu and the others, Zhu Ziliu couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, could that prince be a prince of the Song Dynasty? But as far as I know, the current emperor of the Song Dynasty doesn't seem to have any adult children."
"This one doesn't exist now, but the previous one might not be," Duan Zhixing replied slowly.
Wu Santong, standing to the side, said disdainfully, "So what if he's a prince of the Song Dynasty? He's so rude today; he's unlikely to amount to anything."
Duan Zhixing shook his head: "That's not necessarily true..."
Several retainers pressed for answers, but Duan Zhixing remained silent.
As he spurred his horse forward, he silently thought to himself, "If he returns to Lin'an, the world will likely be in turmoil from then on..."
At this moment, a group of people walked from afar into the town at the foot of Mount Hua.
Hong Qi nodded thoughtfully: "I see. I almost forgot, Emperor Duan is the emperor of another country. So, the matter you're keeping from him, could it be related to the imperial court?"
Those who can practice martial arts to this level are not stupid.
Even though he didn't understand Zhao Yu's meaning at first, it didn't take long for Hong Qi to figure out what Zhao Yu was thinking.
Of the people present, Huang Yaoshi was from Peach Blossom Island in the East China Sea, which is also the homeland of the Northern Song Dynasty, so he was naturally a Han Chinese. As for Hong Qi, he was obviously a Han Chinese.
Wang Chongyang's dedication to resisting the Jin dynasty was of self-evident significance to the Song dynasty.
Zhao Yu deliberately avoided Duan Zhixing, so the matter he wanted to discuss must be related to the nation and the world.
Upon arriving at the inn in town, Zhao Yu gestured for them to enter, saying, "You'll all find out what's going on in a moment. Please come in."
Leaving Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi outside, Zhao Yu and the other four took their seats in the private room on the second floor, and soon a banquet table was set up.
However, even though the people present hadn't had a proper hot meal in seven days, no one touched their chopsticks. They all looked at Zhao Yu, waiting for him to speak.
"Although this is indoors, with our martial arts skills, we are not afraid of being overheard by others. Brother Zhao, you can speak now if you have something to say."
Wang Chongyang spoke first.
Zhao Yu stood up: "You all know that I am a member of the royal family, but you do not know my specific background. I am Zhao Yu, the third son of the late Emperor Guangzong of the Song Dynasty, the Prince of Yongjia. The current Emperor of the Song Dynasty is my elder brother."
Wang Chongyang and Hong Qi nodded slightly. They hadn't expected Zhao Yu to have such a powerful background. He wasn't just some remote member of the royal family; he was actually a prince.
Huang Yaoshi, however, wore a cold smile: "What? Does His Highness intend for us to kowtow to you?"
"No!" Zhao Yu glanced at the three men and slowly spoke, "I invited you three here only to ask for your help. I'd like you to present me with a white hat!"