Reborn Song Qingshu: Besieging Bright Peak at the Start

The year, month, and day are unknown.

In short, on this day, Zhang Wuji rode at breakneck speed.

They traveled from Shaolin through Neixiang to Sanguan Temple, then crossed the Han River southward, arriving at the foot of Wudang Mountain late at night.

Without hesitation, they immediately went up the mountain.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiao and Yin Tianzheng were using their lightness skills to compete in foot speed, seeing who could reach Wudang Mountain first.

Further ahead of them was a ghostly blue figure—Wei Yixiao.

Eighty li further west, the official road was bustling with hundreds of people.

In the center of the procession, eight burly men carried a large yellow satin sedan chair, inside which sat a young man in brocade robes, expressionless as he gazed towards the distant mountains.

Yu Daiyan's bedroom on Mount Wudang.

Qingfeng carried a large, rough earthenware bowl, which was filled to the brim with pine nuts. They were all carefully selected during the day, each one plump and uniform in size.

Mingyue stood beside Yu Daiyan, constantly picking up pine nuts and stuffing them into Yu Daiyan's mouth.

The sound of something cutting through the air rang out continuously inside the room.

"Pfft—pfft—pfft—"

Each pine nut was hit precisely in the center of a target hanging on the opposite wall.

"Third Master, right in the bullseye!" Qingfeng cheered.

On the other side, in Song Qingshu's bedroom, he opened his eyes from meditation and looked out the window.

Tonight, the stars and moon are dim, and everything is shrouded in a hazy mist.

As Zhang Wuji was about halfway up the mountain, he suddenly saw a person running wildly ahead.

From afar, I could see a bald head and long sleeves; he was a monk.

The monk's footwork was superb; with a light touch, he was lifted up as if by an invisible rope, his wide robe billowing like wings in the night wind.

  

The monk climbed the mountain and arrived at the Sword-Untying Stele.

Suddenly, a voice shouted, "Which friends have graced Wudang with their presence so late at night?"

As soon as the shout fell, four people emerged from behind the rocks, their figures scattered yet subtly surrounding each other, blocking the entrance to the mountain path.

The monk stood before the stele commemorating the sword's dismantling, his hands clasped together, his voice low and sorrowful:

"The Shaolin monk Kongxiang has urgent business and requests an audience with Master Zhang of Wudang."

Upon hearing this, the leading Taoist priest glanced at the monk.

The monk before me was covered in dust, his robes stained with mud, and his face bore an unconcealable sorrow that did not seem feigned.

What made him even more cautious was the other party's Buddhist name—the Kong generation.

He immediately bowed and spoke with greater respect: "Master, you have come a long way and must be tired. Please come to our humble abode for tea."

Kongxiang removed the dagger from his waist and handed it to another Taoist priest to show that he dared not bring a weapon into the temple.

Seeing him calmly lay down his weapon, the leading Taoist priest was finally relieved and turned to lead the way.

The Taoist priest led Kong Xiang into the Sanqing Hall of Zixiao Palace.

The candles in the hall burned continuously, and the statues of the Three Pure Ones appeared solemn in the candlelight.

Kong Xiang stood still in the hall, and without waiting for the Taoist priest to announce his arrival, he loudly proclaimed:

"Please inform Master Zhang immediately, Master. The matter is urgent and cannot be delayed even for a moment!"

The Taoist priest looked embarrassed: "Master, you've come at an inopportune time. My master is currently in seclusion."

Kong Xiang immediately looked anxious and said, "In that case, please inform Master Song."

The Taoist priest's expression darkened, and he shook his head.

"Our eldest master, along with his fellow disciples, joined forces with your sect to launch an expedition against the Ming Cult, and they have not yet returned."

After hearing this, Kong Xiang sighed deeply.

"In that case, the Wudang Sect, like my Shaolin Sect, is doomed to face this calamity today."

The Taoist priest didn't understand his meaning, but seeing his sorrowful expression, he felt a growing unease and quickly said:

"Master, please don't be anxious. Our sect's affairs are currently being handled by Third Uncle Yu. I will go and inform him shortly. Please wait a moment."

A thoughtful look flashed across Kong Xiang's eyes, then he clasped his hands together and said:

"That's fine then, please inform them."

The Taoist priest turned and strode quickly toward the back hall.

A moment later, he jogged back, bowed, and said, "Master, Third Uncle Yu invites you."

Kong Xiang nodded and followed him toward Yu Daiyan's bedroom.

Before Kongxiang received the reply, one of his disciples came to Song Qingshu and said that Master Kongxiang of Shaolin was requesting an audience, and that his Third Uncle Yu had invited him to come.

Song Qingshu naturally knew what this empty image was all about. The show he had been waiting for for days was finally about to begin.

He arrived at the door of Yu Daiyan's bedroom, just as Qingfeng Mingyue was leaving the room. Upon seeing Song Qingshu, she looked away.

Seeing the bulging bags in their arms, Song Qingshu asked curiously, "What are you two hiding in your arms?"

"Um... Uncle Song... no... it's nothing."

The two hurriedly ran away, as Third Master had specifically instructed them not to let Uncle Song know about his martial arts practice.

Song Qingshu shook his head, ignored him, and turned to go inside.

"Hey? Uncle, why are your lips so dry and chapped?"

"Cough...it's probably due to the dry weather."

Yu Daiyan subconsciously licked his lips and said somewhat awkwardly.

At the same time, he was worried that Qingfeng and Mingyue hadn't let the kid notice when they were carrying the target and the porcelain bowl.

Before Song Qingshu could say anything more, a Taoist priest led a monk in.

As soon as Kong Xiang entered the room, Song Qingshu's gaze fell on him.

The monk was tall and had a kind face, but his brows were etched with a lingering sorrow.

He clasped his hands together, bowed deeply to Yu Daiyan upon entering, his voice hoarse and sorrowful:

"Third Master Yu, this humble monk has disturbed you so late at night, it was truly unavoidable. Shaolin... Shaolin is finished."

Yu Daiyan's expression changed, and he sat up straight: "Master, what makes you say that?"

Tears welled in Kong Xiang's eyes, and his voice trembled:

"The Demonic Sect launched a surprise attack. From Abbot Kongwen down, our sect members either died fighting for the temple or were captured by the enemy. Only this humble monk managed to escape at the cost of his life."

The demonic sect's main force is heading towards Wudang. Today, the survival, honor, and disgrace of the Central Plains martial arts world rest entirely in Wudang's hands.

After saying that, she burst into tears.

Yu Daiyan and Song Qingshu exchanged a glance, their faces filled with shock and confusion.

Of course, Yu Daiyan's shock was genuine, but Song Qingshu's was an act.

Yu Daiyan pondered for a moment, looked at Kong Xiang, and spoke cautiously and restrainedly:

"Master, isn't there some misunderstanding here?"

According to Yu's nephew Qing Shu, the current leader of the Ming Cult is Zhang Wuji, the only son of my deceased fifth brother Zhang.

My trip to Shaolin is also to inquire about the injury my sixth brother, Yin Liting, suffered from the Vajra Finger technique. I would never dare to harm Shaolin in such a way.

Song Qingshu: "Third Uncle is right..."

Kong Xiang was wiping away tears with his sleeve when he heard this, and his hand paused slightly. He hadn't expected this to happen, but he quickly put on a grief-stricken expression:

"Does Third Master Yu mean this humble monk is spouting nonsense? There may be a misunderstanding, but how could this humble monk joke about the reputation of Shaolin Temple! If Third Master Yu still doesn't believe me, please take a look at this."

As he spoke, Kongxiang untied a yellow cloth bundle from his back. He opened the bundle, and inside was a layer of oilcloth. He then opened the oilcloth, and a severed head was revealed!

The severed head, with its wide-open eyes and furious expression, belonged to Kongxing, one of the three great monks of Shaolin.

Yu Daiyan was horrified! He almost cried out.

Kong Xiang wept uncontrollably: "I risked my life to seize Brother Kongxing's Dharma body because I was afraid this scene would happen."

I've traveled day and night to deliver this message. All I ask is for Master Zhang to make a decision. It's truly disheartening that the Third Hero Yu doubts this humble monk!

After saying that, he let out another wail.

The sight of the severed head was so shocking that even if Yu Daiyan had any doubts, he was completely stunned.

It may not have been the Ming Cult that carried out the massacre, but the fact remains that Shaolin was slaughtered.

Thinking of what Kong Xiang had said—that the other side had led their troops toward Wudang—a sense of urgency rose in Yu Daiyan's heart.

"I have misunderstood you, Master. If that is the case, please come with me, and I will take you to see your master."