Reborn Song Qingshu: Besieging Bright Peak at the Start

Chapter 72 Slap in the Face

Ding Minjun's sharp shout pierced through the rain, and the eyes of the Emei disciples in the courtyard all turned to the shadows behind the courtyard wall.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Amidst the torrential rain, a few coughs suddenly drifted over.

The coughing sound seemed to roll over the raindrops, each sound clearly penetrating the ears, and the rushing water in the yard couldn't drown it out in the slightest.

"Click!"

A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, its pale light illuminating the courtyard.

Two figures had appeared inside the courtyard wall at some unknown time.

A slender, ugly young girl was helping an elderly woman with a hunched back and a cane as they slowly walked towards them.

Zhang Wuji, who was hiding in the shadows, had already gathered his strength and leaped forward, but when he saw who it was, he suddenly stopped.

It's Spider!

Upon seeing Zhu'er again, Zhang Wuji was overjoyed.

When Zhu'er was kidnapped by Wei Yixiao, he and Yin Yewang chased after her.

Midway through, Yin Yewang received a signal from the Eagle Sect to leave. He intended to pursue them again, but was instead put into the Qiankun Yiqi Bag by the Cloth Bag Monk and taken to Bright Peak.

After the siege of Bright Peak by the six major sects came to an end, he asked Wei Yixiao whether Zhu'er had been drained of her blood.

Upon learning that Wei Yixiao had refrained from drinking Zhu'er's blood because of her identity, he fainted due to the outbreak of cold poison. After waking up, Zhu'er disappeared.

Unexpectedly, we met again tonight in this desolate courtyard amidst the heavy rain.

But when he looked at the hunched old woman again, his heart sank.

He had experienced Granny Jin Hua's temperament firsthand in Butterfly Valley. She was ruthless in her actions, and he wondered why she had appeared in the middle of the night.

After a pause, he became much more sober. Right now, Emei was in a state of internal strife. As the leader of the Ming Cult, if he rashly showed up, he would not only fail to help Zhou Zhiruo, but would also confirm her stigma and make it even more difficult for her to gain a foothold in Emei.

Let's hold back for now and wait until Granny Jin Hua really intends to harm someone before we intervene. As for the rest, let's observe and see what happens next.

Ding Minjun, standing in the courtyard, frowned when she saw who it was.

Years ago, she had met Granny Golden Flower with Abbess Miejue and knew that this old woman was a formidable character. She immediately demanded in a deep voice, "Granny Golden Flower, what do you intend to do?"

Granny Jin Hua seemed not to hear her words. Supported by Zhu'er, she coughed twice more, glanced at the group of Emei disciples in the courtyard, and slowly said, "Where is Abbess Miejue? Tell her to come out and see me."

Upon hearing this, Ding Minjun sneered and said sarcastically, "You've been listening outside the wall for so long, why pretend to know the answer? My master has already passed away, what are you doing here pretending to be a visiting old friend?"

"Has he passed away?"

Granny Jin Hua exclaimed in disbelief, "Extinction—she's actually passed away?"

Her voice was filled with regret and sorrow: "Why did she leave us all of a sudden? How did she die? Why didn't she wait for me to come and see her one last time? Alas! What a pity, what a real pity—"

She said "What a pity!" twice, her words overflowing with grief, just like an old friend suddenly receiving bad news.

Before she could finish her sentence, she bent over and coughed violently, her shoulders trembling as if she were about to run out of breath.

Zhu'er, standing beside her, quickly patted her back lightly, then looked up at Ding Minjun and shouted sternly, "Who has the patience to eavesdrop on your conversation? My mother-in-law and I were just passing by when we were caught in a downpour and came in to take shelter. We just came in and saw you all gathered here. Are you deaf when your mother-in-law asks you a question? How did Abbess Miejue die?"

Zhu'er was naturally quick-witted, and her words were barbed and sarcastic, making Ding Minjun's face turn red and white with anger.

She was already at a critical juncture in her power struggle, and being interrupted by an outsider was already displeasing. Now, being publicly rebuked by this ugly girl in front of all her fellow disciples, how could she possibly hold back?

He immediately roared, "You brat, how dare you speak so rudely! I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Before the words were finished, two crisp "snap, snap" sounds were heard, their clear notes drowning out the sound of rain throughout the courtyard.

For a moment, everyone's vision blurred, and they couldn't see how Granny Jin Hua moved.

The old woman, who had been coughing and unable to straighten her back while leaning on her cane, was now standing in front of Ding Minjun, having received a slap on each cheek.

The force wasn't extremely strong, but it knocked her head to the side, her mouth filled with a metallic taste, and a trickle of blood flowed down the corner of her mouth.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence, with only the sound of rain pattering against the eaves.

Ding Minjun was stunned for a long time before she realized that she had been hit in public. Shocked and angry, she screamed, "You old hag! How dare you hit me!"

With a flash of cold light, the long sword in his hand pierced through the heart of Granny Golden Flower with a move called "Golden Needle Tribulation Crossing".

This move, born of anger and with its fierce swordplay, is a true inheritance of the Emei sword technique.

Granny Jin Hua stood still, not moving, until the tip of the sword just barely pierced her clothes, then she turned slightly to the side.

Four crisp sounds rang out in succession: "snap, snap, snap, snap," each one clearer than the last.

This time, everyone opened their eyes wide, but they still only saw a gray shadow flicker, and they couldn't even clearly see her raise her hand.

Ding Minjun received four solid slaps, and her already slightly swollen cheeks immediately bulged out, turning blue and red, just like a steamed bun.

She staggered back seven or eight steps, slipped on the muddy water, and fell to the ground with a "plop." Blood and foam came out of her mouth, and she spat out two back teeth. She groaned for a long time but couldn't get up.

With two attacks, none of the Emei disciples in the courtyard could see the moves clearly. Everyone felt a chill in their hearts, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords tightened, and they looked at each other, none daring to take a step forward.

Zhao Min was secretly alarmed and whispered to Song Qingshu, "This old woman's movements are truly bizarre."

Song Qingshu smiled without saying a word. Back when he fought with this Golden Flower Granny at Blizzard Manor, he had indeed expended a lot of effort.

Granny Jin Hua slowly walked back to her original spot with her hands behind her back. She sighed and shook her head, saying, "Extinction was a grandmaster of her generation, with an iron will throughout her life. How come her disciples are so incompetent after her death? In the end, no one can carry on her mantle."

Zhu'er, supporting her, then coldly glanced at Ding Minjun and said, "I'll ask one more time, how exactly did Abbess Miejue die? Do you really want to go deaf and mute?"

At that moment, Jingxuan stepped forward, knowing that with a powerful enemy at hand, it was the time to unite everyone. He then flicked his sleeves and stood in front of the disciples.

Her face was solemn, and she said in a deep voice, "Grandma, my master jumped off the high tower of Wan'an Temple and died from his injuries."

Before his death, Master had left a will designating a successor to lead the sect. However, some disciples in the sect still have objections, which is why they are discussing sect affairs here.

My Emei sect is a major martial arts sect. What guidance does Mother have for us today? Please tell us.

If there is any old grudge with my late master, we can set a date and, once the matter of my sect leader's appointment is settled, we will settle the score with my mother-in-law according to the rules of the martial arts world.

If the elder sister-in-law uses her seniority to bully the weak and humiliate my Emei sect, then all the disciples present today will fight to the bitter end, even if it means spilling blood in this desolate courtyard.

If even one or two people manage to escape, the entire Emei Sect will one day fight the old woman to the death!

These words were neither humble nor arrogant, combining strength and gentleness, leaving room for compromise while maintaining a firm bottom line.

The Emei disciples in the courtyard, who were initially panicked, straightened up immediately upon hearing these words, their eyes filled with respect as they looked at Jingxuan. In this critical moment, it was still the senior sister who mattered!

Granny Jin Hua said "Oh," looked up at Jing Xuan, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes, and nodded, saying, "Not bad, at least one member of the Extinction Sect still has some backbone."

Leaning on her cane, she said in a deep voice, "In my entire life, I've only lost twice in fights."

The first time was in Butterfly Valley, where he was defeated by Abbess Miejue's sword.

"Hmph, it wasn't her swordsmanship that defeated me; it was her Heaven-Slaying Sword that could cut through iron like mud, which my coral-gold cane couldn't withstand, hence the half-move defeat."

At this point, she suddenly stopped talking, the veins on her hand gripping her cane bulging, as if she had remembered something she was extremely reluctant to mention from the past.

After a long while, he slowly released his grip and continued, "This second defeat—well, let's not talk about it."

Over the years, I have traveled to the ends of the earth, hoping to find a blade that can rival the Heaven-Slaying Sword, so that I can once again prove myself superior to the Extinction Sword.

I finally found an old friend who was willing to lend me her precious sword, so I made a special trip to the Central Plains, but unexpectedly she passed away first.

Granny Jin Hua sighed deeply, her voice filled with regret: "It seems it's fate that this old woman can't avenge this humiliation."

She changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over everyone: "Since Miejue has already chosen a new sect leader before her death, then let her take a few of my moves, which can be considered as settling this old grudge for her master."

"Who is your new leader? Step forward and let me see."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo wiped the rain from her face, stepped forward, curtsied, and said softly, "This junior, Zhou Zhiruo, is entrusted by my late master to manage the Emei sect. Greetings, senior."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ding Minjun, who had struggled to her feet from the mud and water, using her sword for support, her cheeks swollen and her speech slurred, still sneered in a shrill voice, "You dare call yourself the sect leader? Who—who recognizes you as the sect leader?"

Zhu'er had always disliked Ding Minjun.

When she was captured by Miejue in the Western Regions, Ding Minjun made things difficult for her at every turn, while Zhou Zhiruo often took care of her.

Hearing Ding Minjun still dare to be defiant, he immediately sneered and took two steps forward, saying, "My mother-in-law hasn't spoken yet, who gave you the right to interrupt?"

Before she could finish speaking, she swayed and slapped Ding Minjun across the face.

His movements and footwork were quite similar to those of Granny Jin Hua when she made her move, but he was far inferior to Granny Jin Hua in skill.

Although Ding Minjun was powerless against Granny Jin Hua, she was still a senior disciple of the Emei Sect, and her swordsmanship and martial arts were not weak.

Seeing Spider's palm coming, she immediately dodged to the side, and with her long sword, she slashed straight at Spider's wrist.

The two exchanged seven or eight moves. Although Zhu'er's moves were strange, she was still far from skilled enough. Her movements gradually became sluggish, and she was forced to retreat repeatedly by Ding Minjun's sword. It looked like the tip of the sword was about to slice into her forearm.

"Little girl, I've taught you so many times, but you're still so useless."

Granny Jin Hua's voice rang out slowly, and everyone only felt a slight movement of a gray shadow in front of them before she had already moved to Ding Minjun's side.

This time, she deliberately slowed down her movements. Every action—raising her palm, flipping her wrist, and lowering her hand—was clearly visible to everyone. Her moves were unremarkable, yet Ding Minjun seemed to be nailed to the spot by an invisible force, watching helplessly as the slap landed on her face, unable to dodge it even slightly.

"Slap, slap, slap!"

The three slaps were harder than the last, until Ding Minjun's face cracked open, blood mixed with rainwater flowed down, and her whole face swelled up like a pig's head.

Granny Jin Hua controlled her palm strikes with great restraint, injuring only the skin and flesh without damaging the bones and muscles. Yet, this effortless skill chilled the hearts of all the Emei disciples.

"This is called 'shifting stance and changing form.' The palms should be heavy, the waist flexible, and the power should precede the hands and feet."

Granny Jin Hua slowly withdrew her hand and said to Zhu'er.

Ding Minjun was repeatedly humiliated in public, and almost fainted, but this was not the end of it.

Upon hearing this, Zhu'er's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands, laughing, "Grandma, I see it clearly this time! Let Ali try again, and see if my technique is correct!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped Ding Minjun, who was unable to move, across the face.

Just then, a flash of green appeared, and Zhou Zhiruo stepped in front of Ding Minjun, raising her hand to stop Zhu'er's wrist.

Although she was frail, she stood tall and graceful like a bamboo shoot in the rain. Turning to Granny Jin Hua, she said in a calm but firm tone, "Granny, my senior sister Jing Xuan has already said that she will not tolerate such wanton humiliation of my disciples by seniors."

Granny Jin Hua stared at her for a long time, then suddenly laughed and said, "Little girl, so you're the sect leader chosen by Abbess Miejue? Then let me ask you, tell me, how does my martial arts compare to your master, Abbess Miejue?"

Zhou Zhiruo raised her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, without the slightest hesitation: "My late master was highly skilled in martial arts, a grandmaster of his generation, so naturally my late master was superior."

Even without the Heaven-Slaying Sword, the senior might not have been able to defeat the former master.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Granny Jin Hua said "good" three times in a row, her voice carrying a hint of admiration. Leaning on her cane, she slowly said, "As expected of someone chosen by Extinction, her stubborn nature is exactly the same as hers."

I wonder how much of your skill you've mastered? Let this old woman give you a try!

After speaking, she paused slightly with her cane, and then moved like a ghost, her palm striking Zhou Zhiruo's chest with fierce force.

A sharp "clang" rang out.

A sharp, piercing sound came from the shadows, cutting through the rain and heading straight for Granny Jin Hua's back!