Chapter 42: Tiger Wang and Liu Taiji

Liu Taiji chose the Fallen Leaf Villa as the place to drink. A masked man produced a sign reading "Secluded Sanctuary" and hung it on the chamber door. With tables, chairs, wine, and food arranged inside, the residence was instantly transformed into a tavern.

The Secluded Sanctuary was the most mysterious tavern in the pugilistic world. The food was exquisite, and the wine was divine. It was said that the proprietor was a spirit, and his tavern had no fixed abode; wherever his sign hung, there he was, and there his food and wine were to be found.

Liu Taiji said, "Xue San, go set off a firework first."

"Understood, Master." Xue San walked outside to prepare and ignite a firework tube.

There must always be someone in the martial arts world to play the villain. Tiger Wang sat upon his dragon-drawn chariot. The difference between a dragon-drawn chariot and an ordinary carriage was that the steeds pulling it were replaced by spiritual flood dragons treading through the clouds and soaring across the sky.

Tiger Wang possessed a square face, sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, and a full beard. Draped in bright yellow robes and crowned with a golden diadem, he sat like a supreme overlord looking down upon the mortal realm. At this moment, he was toasting and toying with a golden magic box in his hands. The sight of the object brought back memories, carrying him back to that stormy night of thunder and rain.

Ji Qingcheng was trembling with anxiety amidst the crashing thunder. To survive her thunder tribulation, she had hidden within a secluded stone cavern, opened the intricately crafted magic box, and expelled the spiritual pearl from her womb into the box, thereby preventing it from being stolen or damaged by villains. The heavy rain continued to fall outside amidst the roaring thunder, forcing Ji Qingcheng to depart alone. Deprived of her spiritual pearl, she appeared utterly exhausted. She left in a haggard state to find a bed and sleep deeply. Her appearance remained unchanged, but upon waking, she would transform into another woman plagued by madness—Shi Yuhuan. Few members of the Demonic Cult knew this secret: the same woman was called Ji Qingcheng when she possessed the spiritual pearl, and Shi Yuhuan when she was without it.

After Ji Qingcheng fell into a deep slumber, a mud hand emerged from the wall and took the magic box.

That hand made of clay belonged to Tiger Wang. He possessed a pair of miraculous hands; rather than being made of flesh and blood, they could transform at will into any of the five elements: gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. This was the result of his cultivation of the Corpse-Dissolution Immortal Dao, having sacrificed his fleshly hands in exchange for hands of gold, wood, water, fire, and clay. Relying on these miraculous hands, Tiger Wang had defeated his rivals in the martial arts world, ascended to the throne of the alliance leader, and stolen Ji Qingcheng's magic box.

Standing on either side of Tiger Wang were two individuals who served as his right-hand assistants. The man was named Hao Erbao, the younger brother of Hao Jingming; every dirty deed committed by Tiger Wang had been executed by him. The woman was named Ji Caifeng, fair-skinned and curvaceous, the sort of alluring femme fatale who drove men to only two possible outcomes: either rampant desire or death.

High above the Fallen Leaf Villa, a cluster of brilliant fireworks flashed across the sky.

Tiger Wang had been keeping a close watch. Seeing the signal, he asked, "Hao Er, is that the signal you agreed upon? Was that old codger Lin Fengmian subdued with such ease?"

Hao Erbao replied, "Alliance Leader, I shall go and take a look first."

Tiger Wang commanded, "Take Zhaifeng and Runtu with you."

Hao Erbao answered, "I'd better go alone. No matter how formidable Lin Fengmian may be, I am still capable of fleeing for my life."

Liu Taiji sat right beside his father, Lin Fengmian. His mother, Consort Liu, had failed to survive her thunder tribulation and passed away when he was seventeen years old. His father, Lin Fengmian, had found him, locked him within a pagoda, and told him that peerless martial arts were hidden within, urging him to cultivate diligently.

True to expectations, Liu Taiji did not let his father down. He attained enlightenment inside the tower and mastered the arts of Taiji. By now, he was confident that he was invincible under heaven.

Hao Erbao possessed exceptional lightness kung fu, but no matter how sublime one's skills were, movement inevitably stirred the wind and left traces behind. Thus, he was quickly discovered by Liu Taiji. Perhaps Lin Fengmian had also noticed him, but there was no need for the elder to make a move, for Liu Taiji had already condensed a sphere of white light in his palm and hurled it outward.

The sphere of light was gentle yet bounded through the air, coming right up beside Hao Erbao. Hao Erbao sprinted, attempting to shake off the danger, but the orb clung to him like a shadow, finally igniting his robes and scorching his back.

Faced with such bizarre and menacing attacks, panic-stricken for his own safety, Hao Erbao had no choice but to flee back toward Tiger Wang.

The harnessed flood dragon spotted the orb of light, sensed the danger, and panicked in terror. The charioteer instantly pulled back the reins, soothing and controlling the creature.

Inside the carriage, Tiger Wang first felt a surge of fervent wind. Raising his guard, he beheld the ball of light. To counter it, Tiger Wang reached out and grabbed the orb with both hands. His clay hands cracked and split, transforming into hands of gold. As the golden hands began to melt, they shifted into hands of fire. Absorbing the heat of the light sphere, beads of sweat instantly broke out across his forehead.

Hao Erbao reported truthfully, "Alliance Leader, a group of masked people has appeared around Lin Fengmian. Among them, a man wearing a Taiji mask possesses terrifying martial arts; it was he who unleashed that ball of light."

Tiger Wang remarked, "So Lin Fengmian has kept his true strength so deeply hidden. After all, having spent a lifetime striving for his status in the martial arts world, how could he ever be reconciled to taking it with him to the grave!"

Hao Erbao asked, "Alliance Leader, what shall we do next?"

Tiger Wang commanded, "He is a match for me, and we cannot afford a mutual destruction. Retreat first! We shall wait for an opportune moment."

The chariots soaring through the firmament veered away and departed. The disciples of the Martial Arts Alliance who had been lying in ambush everywhere withdrew in full. However, numerous masked men wielding curved sabers blocked their escape route. The sabers in their hands glowed like superheated iron, radiating a searing heat—these were the Burning-Iron Scimitars. Many of those retreating were severely burned by these weapons, and cries of agony echoed across the field.

With the crisis averted, the banquet at the Secluded Sanctuary could proceed as normal.

A multitude of wild delicacies from the mountains was served. Xiao Bugui, feeling famished, eagerly dug into the savory bear paws and braised pig trotters.

Liu Taiji raised his cup and said, "Come, Father, everyone, let us drink a toast together in celebration."

All drank their wine. Liu Taiji then said, "Xiao Bugui, you are protected by divine beasts and possess remarkable skills. Join the Shadow Organization, and I shall grant you three stars."

Xiao Bugui declined politely, "Senior, thank you for your appreciation, but I have no desire to live every day wearing a mask. Please forgive me."

Displeased by the rejection of the Shadow Organization's persona, a murderous glint flashed across Liu Taiji's face. Reading the subtle expressions, Lin Zi understood her uncle's intentions and tactfully intervened, "Uncle, Xiao Bugui is our sworn brother and sister, meaning he is already one of our own. If you force him to paint his face like some ghost, which young woman would ever fancy him? With us sisters here, he will never betray you."

The niece's words failed to sway Liu Taiji's mind. A small sphere of light had already begun to condense in his palm.

Yin Wuxiang stood up and pleaded as well, "Master, Xiao Bugui is a man of the Demonic Cult; I must bring him back unharmed."

The orb of light in Liu Taiji's hand dissipated of its own accord. He replied to Yin Wuxiang, "When you first joined the Shadow, I promised you that I would not kill a single demon of the Demonic Cult. I keep my word."