Chapter 53: with translation of chapter title

"How could Daoist Qiu have the leisure to come to this great desert?"

After hearing the shout, Blind Ke's iron staff paused slightly; after a moment of recollection, his face cleared, and he had already identified the comer.

But then it seemed he thought of something, and he asked in a low voice toward the tent flap:

"Daoist Qiu, you wouldn't be treating our wager as a joke, would you?"

This old rival I haven't seen in ten years; back then, because of a single remark from him, my seven siblings and I made a wager and ventured into the great desert, which ultimately led to the tragic death of one brother.

Upon seeing this person again, Ke Zhen'e could not quite describe his complicated feelings; after thinking it over, he even felt an urge to grab his staff and continue fighting him.

The comer was none other than Qiu Chuji.

He wore the attire of a middle-aged Daoist, with a bamboo hat on his head and his clothes dusted with white snow; a long sword was slung diagonally across his back. When he lifted the tent flap, the yellow tassels on the sword hilt fluttered left and right in the wind. After glancing at the scene inside, he strode in with a remarkable bearing.

Hearing Blind Ke's words, Qiu Chuji felt somewhat conflicted; he had indeed come with the intention of canceling the agreement, but how could he voice that in front of so many people? Moreover, there were members of the Beggar Sect present.

After a moment of inner turmoil, Daoist Qiu did not give a direct reply, but simply clasped his hands toward Ke Zhen'e and said:

"Hero Ke, long time no see!"

Ke Zhen'e hearing that tone instantly felt ill at ease, thinking of something when

"Bang!"

He smashed his iron staff down hard, and immediately, with a grim face, he demanded in a low voice:

"How? Could it be that you, a distinguished one of the Quanzhen Seven Masters, truly intend to break the agreement?"

Seeing this, Han Xiao Ying and her several brothers' faces also looked unpleasant.

"Hiss~"

How should he reply to that?

Qiu Chuji felt a pang of difficulty in his heart.

After Yang Kang and his mother were abducted, I searched for several days straight but found no trace whatsoever; explaining the reason for this is actually not difficult.

But with so many people present, if it became known that the Quanzhen Seven Master Qiu Chuji not only betrayed his word but also became an honored guest in the Jin Prince Zhao's mansion, what would that make me? What would the Quanzhen Sect become?

After all, our forefather painstakingly resisted the Jin for most of his life, yet his disciples and grandchildren have instead become honored guests of the enemy.

Unworthy descendants?

This would surely make the fellow martial artists laugh us to death!

Qiu Chuji, considering this, immediately kept silent and gave no answer.

"Qiu Chuji! How could we, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, tolerate you, an ox-nosed Daoist, humiliating us like this!"

Hero Ke, hearing the other's tacit admission, was blazing with rage; he completely forgot the Beggar Sect member nearby, grabbed his staff and lunged forward, shouting his denunciation, and did not forget to include his deceased fifth brother.

"Hmph!"

Everyone says Daoists hate being called 'ox-nosed' the most, and sure enough, upon hearing that, Qiu Chuji across from him also flared with anger, disregarding his own fault, and with a 'clang', drew his treasure sword from his back.

Back then, a single word made them lay down their feud and form a wager; now, another single word has them again facing off with staff and sword. Gratitude and grudges settled swiftly—this is the true portrait of the vast majority of martial artists.

Beside them, Beggar Sect Elders Liang and Jian, after seeing the situation inside the tent, exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with delight, and then gently ushered the Beggar Sect disciples backward.

Upon hearing the sound of the sword being drawn, Blind Ke hesitated no longer; locating the source by sound, he fiercely brandished his demon-subduing staff.

Although he is blind, his hearing of subtle concealed weapons is still precise to a hair's breadth, let alone the sound of this sword before him.

Seeing this, Qiu Chuji raised his sword to block; at the moment the sword blade met the staff tip, he exerted internal energy to deflect it, causing Ke Zhen'e's staff to miss, after which he again swept his staff horizontally.

"Clang!"

"Ding!"

Thus, the two began exchanging blows back and forth inside the large tent.

"Big brother!"

"Big brother!"

Old Six All-Gold Hair and Old Five Han Baoju were about to pick up their weapons and rush forward to assist.

"Wait!"

Old Two Zhu Cong quickly reached out to block, gesturing with his eyes, and warily looked toward the Beggar Sect members nearby.

The two understood, immediately held back, nervously watching the two combatants, ready to strike at any moment.

After fifty exchanges, Ke Zhen'e was gradually finding it hard to parry; after another staff sweep, he leapt to increase the distance, then swiftly produced something from his bosom and hurled it repeatedly at Qiu Chuji.

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

The two concealed weapons shot straight toward his face.

Seeing this, Qiu Chuji's hairs stood on end; he hastily leapt to dodge one, but as he landed, the other had already flown to his face. In desperation he swung his sword to block it, hearing only a 'clang' as the weapon lodged directly into the wooden beam.

Everyone looked over and saw that the object glimmered with a sinister light—it was indeed a poisonous water-chestnut-shaped concealed weapon.

"Despicable and shameless! To actually use concealed weapons to harm people!"

Seeing that he had just suffered from the concealed weapon, Qiu Chuji was furious beyond measure and shouted a rebuke.

"Hmph! Why should one be upright and honorable toward those who betray trust and break promises?"

Blind Ke refused to yield, retorting stubbornly.

Seeing this, Qiu Chuji hardened his resolve, holding nothing back; he activated the Quanzhen heart method and, with the move 'Searching the Sea, Slaying the Dragon', leapt forward to thrust at Ke Zhen'e.

"Big brother, be careful!"

"Big brother, be careful!"

Old Six All-Gold Hair and Old Five Han Baoju, seeing this, loudly shouted a warning and then each grabbed their weapons and rushed forward.

Qiu Chuji easily deflected Han Baoju's incoming golden dragon whip with a single 'Gale Wind Sweeps Leaves' move, then used 'Parting Flowers, Brushing Willows' to deflect All-Gold Hair's large abacus, and immediately followed with the 'Geese-Formation Diagonal Strike' from the Quanzhen Sword Technique, continuing to thrust at Ke Zhen'e.

"Big brother, be careful!"

Old Four Nan Xiren could not restrain himself; he brandished his sword forward to directly block that move, then swiftly struck with a Southern Mountain Palm toward Qiu Chuji. Qiu Chuji, unwilling to yield, exerted his full Quanzhen heart method and met it with a fierce 'Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown Palm'.

When their palms met, Nan Xinren could not withstand the force; with a boom he staggered back several steps before barely managing to stand firm.

Seeing this, Old Two Zhu Chong flung open his iron fan with a clatter and lunged forward; upon closing in, he lashed out with his left hand using the Separating Tendons and Misplacing Bones Hand, aiming fiercely at Qiu Chuji's shoulder.

After Qiu Chuji flipped his body to dodge, he thrust again with the White Rainbow Piercing the Sky Thrust toward Zhu Chong; Zhu Chong barely blocked with his iron fan, and Ke Xiazi had already swung his staff at Qiu Chuji.

In an instant, the six people inside the tent traded blows back and forth, with incessant clinking.

Employing the Quanzhen Sword Technique, Qiu Chuji's seven swords and seven forms flowed through the forty-nine variations with ease; his sword movements came and went like lightning, and despite being surrounded by five opponents, he advanced and retreated like the wind, his offense and defense seamless.

Han Xiao Ying had been quietly guarding against the Beggar Gang members on the side, not daring to step forward rashly.

When the fighters had exchanged nearly a hundred moves, the coordination among the Five Freaks began to falter; seeing this, Han Xiao Ying no longer hesitated, she unleashed the Wave-Treading Body Technique, drew her sword, and thrust forward.

As Qiu Chuji felt he was gradually gaining the upper hand over several opponents, his heart suddenly pounded nonstop; a glance revealed that Han Xiao Ying had already rushed forward with her sword.

That speed was unbelievably fast; Qiu Chuji, unable to attend to anyone else, met it with all his strength using the West Wind's Fading Glow; the swords clashed with a 'ding', Qiu Chuji held his sword in defense, while Han Xiao Ying could not parry and hastily retreated several steps.

Although the speed was great, her internal strength was vastly inferior to Qiu Chuji's.

At that moment, the Beggar Gang members nearby suddenly surrounded them, and Elder Jian shouted loudly with righteous words:

"Qiu Daozhang, don't fear! We have come to aid you!"

Sorry for the typos, thanks for the heads-up.

(End of chapter)