Chapter 8 Wudang Voyage

"Wudang Zhuo Yihang, I have long heard of the reputation of Marquis Fu'an, and I have come to ask for your advice!"

A loud shout that shook the entire place broke the tranquility of the Marquis's residence.

The person was outside the mansion, but the voice seemed to be right in front of him. The person who came had great internal strength.

In the marquis's mansion, Chunhua and Xiayu, who were fighting and exchanging moves with each other, stopped what they were doing.

"Wudang Zhuo Yihang? That's rude!"

Xia Yu put the sword behind his back and curled his lips.

As close attendants, the four maids Chunhua, Xiayu, Qiuyue and Dongxue all learned martial arts with Zhu Chengwu's permission.

The four maids took turns resting in pairs. Two of them served Zhu Chengwu, while the remaining two studied literature and martial arts.

Although he was of low status, he was able to learn literature and martial arts, which many ordinary people of good status could not afford.

The so-called poor in literature and rich in martial arts, the true appearance should be rich in literature and martial arts!

"The Wudang master has come from afar, and I am glad to learn from him." A deep voice came from the backyard of the mansion.

Competing with the first voice.

The sound is more powerful and penetrating than the first one.

Martial arts is the most prominent discipline in this world.

It is normal for people who practice martial arts to learn from each other.

Before being conferred the title, because he lived in the royal palace, although Zhu Chengwu had the reputation of being a "genius", no one could go deep into the palace to disturb Zhu Chengwu.

After he was crowned as the queen, with the title of "Zhu's genius", some people began to come to Zhu Chengwu to discuss and seek advice.

He said he wanted to learn from Zhu Chengwu but in fact he wanted to become famous by stepping on him.

Of course, there are also some challengers who are put forward by major forces to test the quality of Zhu Chengwu, the "Zhu family genius", and to test the reaction of the Zhu family.

At the beginning, because Zhu Chengwu has always believed that bones and internal strength are the most important, he is not proficient in martial arts moves, and fighting in competitions is just talk.

At one point, they set an embarrassing record of losing 9 games in 9 months.

This is because Zhu Chengwu is the Marquis of Fu'an after all, and there are not many people who are qualified and dare to challenge Zhu Chengwu.

Otherwise, this losing streak will continue.

Fortunately, it was in broad daylight and in full view of everyone, and because Zhu Chengwu was a genius of the Zhu family and the legitimate son of the king, he did not suffer serious damage.

9 defeats in 9 games also made some people who wanted to become famous by stepping on Zhu Chengwu feel that defeating Zhu Chengwu was meaningless.

Afterwards, Zhu Chengwu learned from his mistakes.

I know very well that once I leave the palace, as a warrior, I will have to fight many competitions.

Fortunately, before Zhu Chengwu was conferred the title, he used various means to record all the martial arts in the Ming Dynasty's arsenal into the Jade Book.

Relying on his wild imagination and deduction from the Jade Book, Zhu Chengwu successfully deduced three martial arts that matched the "Tian Gang Tong Zi Gong (Jade)": the self-defense martial arts "Xian Tian Gang Qi (Jade)", the attacking martial arts "Liehuo Palm (Jade)", and the body movement martial arts "Jade Away from Home (Jade)".

Although the Ming Dynasty Arsenal has a large collection, most of them are basic martial arts, with only a few containing superior skills.

The real magical books are all in the secret library of the Zhu family.

Zhu Chengwu had little contact with the secrets contained there.

The only thing he got was a relatively ordinary manual of magical skills - "Tian Gang Tong Zi Gong".

This is also the reason why Zhu Chengwu named his main martial arts "Tiangang Tongzi Gong (Jade)".

A lot to learn from!

As for "(玉)", it means that this is derived from the jade edict, marking the difference from the original version.

Just like in Zhu Chengwu’s previous life, there are Chen style Tai Chi, Yang style Tai Chi, Wu style Tai Chi...

The Jade Book Deductions were all tailor-made for Zhu Chengwu and are the martial arts that best suit him.

Those three martial arts can exert their greatest power when combined with "Tian Gang Tong Zi Gong (Jade)".

Although it is also possible to practice alone.

With these moves, Zhu Chengwu gradually changed from losing streak at the beginning to more losses and fewer wins, and then to more wins and fewer losses...

This process took Zhu Chengwu five years.

Afterwards, as Zhu Chengwu absorbed the essence of various techniques and internal force, he used the power of the jade book to deduce the three sets of martial arts to the level of a magical book.

Zhu Chengwu rarely loses.

Especially at that time, Zhu Chengwu's internal strength had already broken through to the first-class level.

With first-rate internal strength and four magical manuals, Zhu Chengwu is hard to find an opponent among the younger generation...

As Zhu Chengwu wins more and more, his fame becomes greater, the significance of defeating Zhu Chengwu becomes greater, and more people come to challenge him.

Because many people came to challenge Zhu Chengwu but no one was sure of winning.

A default rule has been formed in the past two or three years.

If there is a martial arts fanatic who simply wants to exchange martial arts skills and does not want his victory or defeat to be known to everyone, he can submit a visiting card and compete privately in the training ground inside the mansion.

If you come for fame but don't want to offend the Fu'an Marquis' Mansion, you can hand in a visiting card, make an appointment, invite spectators, and compete on the specially built martial arts stage outside the Marquis' Mansion. Depending on the situation, Zhu Chengwu will conduct a wave of commercial mutual praise.

But Zhuo Yihang did not make either of the above two choices. Instead, he chose the most intense one, which was to shout directly.

This leaves almost no room for buffer between the two sides.

This is also the reason why Xia Yu said Zhuo Yihang was impolite.

There is another reason for this rule, that is, Zhu Chengwu also needs to practice. It doesn't matter if you practice the moves, but when you are practicing internal strength, it is easy to get a stitch in the side when you are stimulated like this.

Sometimes Zhu Chengwu would get very angry due to interference and would use heavy force during competitions.

Fortunately, the "Tian Gang Tong Zi Gong (Jade)" deduced from the Jade Book had almost no risk of going astray. Otherwise, Zhu Chengwu would not have used heavy blows but fatal blows.

As more and more people were under heavy charge, people outside slowly figured out the pattern, and this rule gradually formed.

In fact, it was because Zhu Chengwu won more in recent years that the Fu'an Marquisate became more prestigious.

In the first few years after Zhu Chengwu was conferred the title, the Fu'an Marquisate was not as strong as others, so who cared about you?
The door-to-door challenges are all done by shouting.

As soon as Zhu Chengwu walked out of the gate of the marquis' mansion, he saw a handsome man in Taoist robes standing right in front of the gate.

"I have long heard of your reputation, Lord. Today is a chance meeting, so I would like to ask for your advice. I hope you will forgive me."

Good looking.

Speaks in an orderly manner.

But Zhu Chengwu felt it was hypocritical.

I deeply feel that it is all show and no substance!

"Mr. Zhuo is a disciple of the Wudang master and the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Mr. Zhuo. But instead of returning to the capital to visit his parents, he came all the way to Xuzhou. How can I not help him?"

The hidden ulterior motive in his words shows that Zhu Chengwu dislikes Zhuo Yihang.

Uh~~~
Zhuo Yihang was speechless for a moment.

The Ming Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety.

As a Wudang disciple, Zhuo Yihang didn't have much time to go down the mountain to visit his parents. In previous years, he stayed at home to accompany his parents.

This year, my father happened to be out of the capital, so at the request of the prince, I came to Xuzhou to test the ability of Zhu Chengwu, a famous genius of the Zhu family.

It was precisely because time was running out that Zhuo Yihang came directly to challenge.

But, can these words be said?

"Mr. Zhuo, here? Or on the martial arts stage?" Zhu Chengwu didn't let Zhuo Yihang be embarrassed for too long.

"The guest should follow the host's wishes!" Zhuo Yihang bowed quickly.

"Then let's do it here!" As soon as Zhu Chengwu finished speaking, the spectators around him tacitly retreated ten feet.

Over the years, many people have come to challenge Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

Some engage in martial arts performances, while others engage in direct combat.

The locals already have experience with various situations.

"Master Zhuo, be careful!" As soon as the words fell, Zhu Chengwu took a step forward and had already approached ten steps. "So fast!"

Zhuo Yihang was startled and quickly drew his sword.

Although he was startled, he did not panic. He saw Zhuo Yihang using the "Taoist Welcoming Guests" move to stab out straight ahead.

It is the Wudang's top-notch martial art - Taiyi Xuanmen Sword.

He is indeed a Wudang master.

What you have learned is profound.

Respond promptly.

But today Zhu Chengwu wants to overpower others by force.

Zhu Chengwu took another step forward and came within three feet of Zhuo Yihang.

Zhuo Yihang's long sword is sharp.

But it is useless.

Zhu Chengwu raised his hand and attacked Zhuo Yihang in the face with a flaming palm.

Zhuo Yihang suddenly felt a heat wave coming, and turned the sword in his hand to block the incoming palm.

"not bad!"

"As expected of you, Wudang's chief disciple!"

Zhu Chengwu praised him verbally and urged him to use his strength. Zhuo Yihang suddenly felt the sword in his hand getting hot.

Such a hot internal force.

"One palm can block it, so what about two palms?"

His right palm was blocked by the sword, but Zhu Chengwu still had his left hand.

Zhuo Yihang had already tried his best to block the palm.

Seeing the second palm coming, he had no choice but to use the Iron Bridge move.

But since he had succeeded in the attack, how could Zhu Chengwu give Zhuo Yihang a chance to catch his breath?

Zhu Chengwu's footsteps kept him within three feet of Zhuo Yihang.

He kept hitting Zhuo Yihang with one palm after another, making it difficult for Zhuo Yihang to cope with it.

Finally, Zhuo Yihang was unable to resist and was hit by Zhu Chengwu's palm.

He immediately vomited blood and flew backwards.

The outcome has been decided.

Zhu Chengwu did not pursue the victory.

Instead, he stopped practicing and stepped back, slowly regulating his breathing and suppressing the surging internal energy.

A warrior's internal energy is not always in a surging state.

Only when a warrior is preparing for a fight or is actually fighting, will the internal force in his body surge at a rapid speed like a raging torrent.

This state consumes a lot of internal energy.

No one can keep it up forever.

Under normal circumstances, a warrior's internal energy is like slowly flowing lake water.

Calm!

Almost no loss.

It takes time to switch between the exercise state and the normal state.

That’s why sneak attacks are possible, and why it’s said that sneak attacks are against martial ethics.

"Master Zhuo!" Seeing Zhuo Yihang vomiting blood, the servant who followed Zhuo Yihang stepped forward nervously to check Zhuo Yihang's injuries.

He looks like a servant, but he is actually the prince's confidant.

He disguised himself as a servant just to guide Zhuo Yihang and avoid attracting attention.

Although he knew that he was in public and no one had signed a life and death agreement, Zhu Chengwu, who had an official background, would not kill.

But the servant was still worried.

After all, accidents are always likely to happen in a competition.

Zhuo Yihang was the disciple of Wudang's headmaster and the son of the Minister of Revenue. Once Zhuo Yihang died here, Wudang and the Minister of Revenue would hate Marquis Fu'an to death, but they would also have a rift with the crown prince.

"After nine moves, the Marquis has become even stronger!" However, no one in the Marquis' Mansion who was watching the fight cared about Zhuo Yihang.

"Nine moves, this is all a Wudang disciple can do..."

"I heard that Zhuo Yihang is the chief disciple of Wudang?"

"Wudang has also fallen!"

"Two months ago, the Thunderbolt Palm fought with the Marquis for thirty moves before he was defeated. It seems that..."

There were whispers from the crowd watching the fight.

Some people are weird...

Especially some who lost money.

It is even more unacceptable!

Many people came to the Marquis' Mansion to challenge, and this lasted for nearly ten years.

The bored people around even started betting with each other, betting on winning or losing, betting on tricks...

There had been casinos in the past, but they were all shut down by the Marquis’s Mansion in cooperation with local authorities.

Zhu Chengwu needed to become famous, so he never forbade people to watch as long as his opponents didn't mind.

I don't mind playing some nice exhibition games either.

But by using the Marquis of Fu'an as a gambling tool, doesn't the Marquisate have any dignity?
Most of the people are just laymen who come to watch the fun.

Whoever fights better and longer will naturally be considered more powerful!

This is how some "heroes" who do not deserve their reputation came about.

Although he only lasted nine moves, Zhuo Yihang was already among the top three opponents Zhu Chengwu had met over the years.

First-class internal strength, skilled Wudang skills...

If he hadn't lost the initiative, he could have lasted at least fifteen moves.

Martial arts is the way of fighting.

If two warriors can fight without a clear winner after twenty moves, it means that the gap between them is not big.

The main reason why Zhuo Yihang was defeated so quickly today was that Zhu Chengwu seized the advantage of being the first to attack and showed no mercy.

Not only was Zhuo Yihang's way of challenging him rudely, but his name also made Zhu Chengwu think of the indecisive, ungrateful, and escapist man in the TV series in his previous life.

Extremely unhappy.

At the same time, Zhu Chengwu had already received news that Zhuo Yihang was sent by the crown prince, which represented a test from the crown prince.

Zhu Chengwu must use the toughest means to cut off these temptations one by one.

Otherwise it will become more and more troublesome in the future.

That's why I go all out and show no mercy.

Zhu Chengwu understood his father's plan.

The prince succeeded to the throne and inherited the great treasure. He broke through the master and became the foundation of the royal family.

But this is just his father's plan, his father's wishful thinking. Zhu Chengwu does not have to follow it.

Moreover, Zhu Chengwu, who did not drink Meng Po soup, knew very well the truth that "peace will survive if it is sought through struggle, but it will die if it is sought through compromise."

(End of this chapter)