Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 658: Ingenious Strategy to Repel the Enemy

Ren Woxing launched a fierce assault, noticing that Fang Zheng’s palm techniques were becoming increasingly sluggish. He was secretly pleased: ‘Though your cultivation is high, you haven’t fought your way through countless life-and-death battles like I have. That’s why you struggle to unleash your full potential in actual combat.’

Just as he was about to press his advantage, he suddenly felt a numbness in his right arm as he struck out with his palm. His internal energy circulation became obstructed, causing him great alarm. He immediately realized that it was due to absorbing a portion of Kong Zhi’s power earlier, which he had yet to refine. With the intensity of this battle, that foreign energy had taken the opportunity to counteract him.

The truth was that while his Cosmic Absorption Technique was immensely powerful, it had a fatal flaw—once he absorbed too much internal energy, the different energies would start clashing and rebounding against him. Because of this, he normally had to allocate a portion of his own energy to suppress these foreign forces within him.

Under ordinary circumstances, with Ren Woxing’s level of mastery, this flaw wouldn’t be too detrimental. However, Fang Zheng’s martial arts were on par with his, forcing him to exert his full strength unknowingly. As a result, the foreign energy within him was no longer suppressed and took the opportunity to strike back.

“Amitabha.” Fang Zheng quickly noticed his abnormality and immediately switched from defense to offense, sending a powerful palm strike toward Ren Woxing’s chest.

Ren Woxing gritted his teeth and had no choice but to meet the attack with his right palm. The two clashed, their bodies shaking from the impact. Fang Zheng remained steady, but Ren Woxing staggered back several steps. He felt his internal energy surge chaotically, and his heart sank—if this continued, he would lose all dignity in front of everyone.

Without hesitation, he retreated swiftly and, in a sudden motion, turned around and seized Kong Zhi by the chest with one hand while striking at his head with the other.

The move was so unexpected and swift that no one had anticipated it. Seeing Ren Woxing locked in combat with Master Fang Zheng and seemingly at a disadvantage, one would expect him to focus on self-preservation. Who could have predicted that he would suddenly turn and attack Kong Zhi instead? The change was too abrupt. Otherwise, even though Kong Zhi was a renowned monk, he would not have been captured so easily in a single move. The gathered monks gasped in shock, their voices ringing out in unison.

Master Fang Zheng immediately leaped forward like a bird in flight, launching both palms toward the back of Ren Woxing’s head. This was a well-known strategy in martial arts—’Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao’—forcing the opponent to abandon their attack to defend themselves.

The monks all admired Fang Zheng’s swift reaction, realizing that Kong Zhi’s life was saved. However, just as Ren Woxing withdrew his palm, instead of countering Fang Zheng’s attack, he directly seized the ‘Shanzhong Acupoint’ on Fang Zheng’s chest. With another precise movement, he struck his heart, causing Fang Zheng to collapse to the ground.
The Shaolin monks, now fully reacting to the situation, cried out in alarm and surged forward.

At this moment, Ren Woxing’s energy was in turmoil, so he had no intention of making things worse. He allowed the monks to retrieve Fang Zheng without resistance.

“Amitabha!” Abbot Xuan Ci furrowed his brows and sneered, “Master Ren’s tactics are nothing but trickery and deceit. This is hardly the conduct of a righteous man.”

Song Qingshu laughed heartily and interjected, “In a contest of skill, victory depends on one’s abilities. If one insists on playing fair all the time, that’s just the foolish idealism of Duke Xiang of Song. Leader Ren is quick-witted and fought with strategy rather than brute force. I’d say his victory was brilliant.”

Ren Woxing had initially felt a bit embarrassed for resorting to such tactics, but hearing Song Qingshu’s words, he suddenly felt his reputation restored. He thought to himself, ‘What a fine son-in-law indeed. Yingying will not suffer marrying him.’

Jiumozhi also chimed in, “Though I have resided in Tibet for many years, I am well aware of a saying from the Central Plains—‘Warfare is the art of deception.’ Surely the esteemed Abbot is knowledgeable enough to understand this principle?”

With the two men shifting the argument, Ren Woxing regained his composure and laughed loudly, “Is there even such a thing as righteous men in the Sun Moon Holy Cult? If I were truly a righteous man, my followers would have long converted to Buddhism. Then what would we even be fighting for?”

The Shaolin monks were left speechless by their remarks. Some of the more hot-tempered monks nearly cursed out loud but held back, remembering their monastery’s precepts. However, their gazes were filled with burning anger as if they wanted to tear the four men apart.

Seeing the hostile looks from the monks, Zhang Sanfeng couldn’t help but smile bitterly. The commotion had drawn unexpected attention to him. However, with his vast knowledge and experience, he was not like the average Shaolin monk. In fact, he secretly agreed with Song Qingshu’s reasoning. Over the years, the Mongols had resorted to all kinds of strategies in battle, continuously defeating the Southern Song forces. If martial artists continued to cling to outdated principles, it would not be in the best interest of the Han people.

“Since Master Ren disregards the rules of the martial world, then don’t blame me for doing the same!” A loud voice rang out from the crowd as a figure suddenly lunged forward, launching a powerful palm strike at Ren Woxing’s back. Recognizing the attacker as Zuo Lengchan, the leader of the Songshan Sect, Ren Woxing quickly countered with a palm strike of his own, shouting, “Good!”

Ren Woxing was always competitive, and Zuo Lengchan had long been his rival. There was no way he would back down.

Zuo Lengchan had rushed over from Mount Song after receiving Abbot Xuan Ci’s message. He had remained silent, observing the battle, until he finally saw his opportunity to strike. His attacks alternated unpredictably between fists, palms, fingers, and claws, rapidly shifting through dozens of techniques. Ren Woxing, having just fought Master Fang Zheng, had consumed a great deal of internal energy and was now struggling against the sudden onslaught. He could only defend himself while secretly cursing his misfortune.

Song Qingshu furrowed his brows. With his keen eyes, he could see that Ren Woxing was still struggling to regain his breath. Without hesitation, he flashed forward to intervene. “Master Zuo, for someone of your status, isn’t it disgraceful to take advantage of others? Why don’t I take you on instead?”

Zuo Lengchan had suffered multiple defeats at Song Qingshu’s hands. Seeing him now, he instinctively felt wary. However, with so many people watching, he couldn’t afford to lose face. He quickly devised a plan and sneered, “I’ll defeat this Ren fellow first, then deal with you. Do you think I’m afraid of a two-on-one fight?” He then sent another punch toward Ren Woxing.

Zuo Lengchan thought himself clever—if Song Qingshu intervened, he could accuse him of ganging up and retreat with his reputation intact. If Song Qingshu didn’t step in, he could finish off Ren Woxing easily, strengthening his prestige and increasing his chances of uniting the Five Sacred Mountain Alliance.

Song Qingshu, however, wasn’t about to let him exploit the situation. Just as he was about to block the attack, Ren Woxing coldly said, “Stand aside, my good son-in-law!”

Song Qingshu hesitated, realizing Ren Woxing’s pride wouldn’t allow him to lose face before so many people. However, he also didn’t want Ren Woxing to suffer. With a grin, he said, “Fine, I’ll step back for now. But this shameless man deserves at least a slap.” He then raised his hand toward Zuo Lengchan’s face.

Zuo Lengchan was both shocked and furious, hastily dodging aside. “Are you two ganging up on me?”

Song Qingshu merely scratched his face with his raised hand and laughed, “I was just scratching an itch. What, did that scare you?”

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