[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn":3,"chapter-thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-45":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Thirteen Years as King of the Great Song, I Learned I Was the Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2271740,4437,"Chapter 45: The Taizu Long Fist Is Wrong!","thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-45",45,"\u003Cp>Benyin blinked in surprise, then rose to his feet: “What is it, Master Zhao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti said: “Earlier in Weichu, I borrowed a horse and promised to return it within a few days—at the side of Wuwei Temple. I must go see about it. I can’t break my word.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin pondered: “How many days do you plan to stay in Dali?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti smiled: “The scenery here is delightful. I may linger a while before leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin nodded: “If so, I’ve taken an instant liking to you, Master Zhao. Perhaps you’ll allow me to invite you again for further discussion of the Dharma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti clasped his hands: “That would be excellent. I too feel a kinship with you, Master. Shall I trouble you tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Perfect. Let me see you out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhao Ti and his companions left Tianlong Temple, Benyin returned to the meditation hall. The guest monk said: “Abbot, what is the origin of this Master Zhao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “It’s likely true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guest monk asked: “How can you be so sure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Brother Bencao, all of us here are of royal lineage. How could we not recognize a member of the imperial clan? This Master Zhao is probably being modest—he’s not merely a distant relative. His status is likely higher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bencao thought for a moment: “You’re right, Brother. But what of the Daxiangguo Temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Daxiangguo Temple has always been the imperial temple of the Great Song. Its abbot was appointed directly by the Song Emperor. This Master Zhao has profound insight into the Dharma—it’s entirely plausible he’s friends with the abbot. His royal lineage only confirms it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bencao said: “You’re right, Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Tianlong Temple, Zhao Ti looked out at the green willows and blooming flowers, and smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no urgent need to go to Wuwei Temple; he had just met Benyin, and too much talk too soon would be unwise—better to proceed slowly, after all, Jiumo Zhi had not yet arrived in Dali.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spent some time strolling by Erhai Lake, then visited Wuwei Temple before returning to his inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, after calculating the midday chanting at Tianlong Temple had ended, Zhao Ti returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, their conversation lasted longer—centered entirely on sutras and the various schools of thought in the Central Plains. Both men grew cheerful, drinking much tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the third day, Zhao Ti arrived early. After half a day of talk, they turned to music, chess, tea, and flowers. Benyin took Zhao Ti to see the temple’s tea bushes, their blossoms tender and radiant. He explained the varieties in detail, and Zhao Ti spoke fluently, leaving Benyin astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fourth day, Zhao Ti did not come. He spent the whole day wandering Wuwei Temple, waiting for Mu Wanzheng—but she never appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fifth day, he returned to Tianlong Temple and spoke with Benyin of the great mountain sects: Emei, Wutai, Putuo, Jiuhua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they turned to Chan Buddhism and Shaolin. Benyin said: “What do you know of Shaolin’s sutras?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti stroked his chin. This was hard to answer. The current Shaolin abbot should be Xuanci—the “leading elder” from the Yamen Pass incident, Ye Erniang’s lover, Xu Xu’s father. As for Buddhist doctrine… it was probably shallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “The sutras may be good. But how well have they been studied?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin sensed his meaning and smiled: “I’ve heard Shaolin has a Scripture Pavilion, filled with countless texts—including writings by Bodhidharma himself, and some martial arts secrets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti said: “I’ve never been to Shaolin, but I’ve heard of the Scripture Pavilion. As for martial arts…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin asked: “What of them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti said: “I’ve often heard of the Seventy-Two Superior Arts—each treated as priceless. But it’s laughable. Who among Shaolin’s monks can master them all? After a thousand years, with the tides of time and the rise and fall of dynasties, how many would remain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Master Zhao, you have insight into martial arts as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti smiled faintly. Benyin shook his head: “Forgive me—I spoke foolishly. The Great Song’s founding emperor wielded a coiled dragon staff, striking down four hundred commanderies. His thirty-three-form nameless Long Fist defeated countless heroes, driving them into seclusion. How could Master Zhao know nothing of martial arts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti froze: “Master Benyin… you said thirty-three-form Taizu Long Fist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taizu Long Fist, also called Dahong Quan, Hong Quan, Pao Chui, or Pao Quan, is later known as the foremost of the Six Great Fist Styles, the mother of all fists. But whether in later transmissions or in Zhao Ti’s own palace training, it was always thirty-two forms. Yet Benyin spoke of thirty-three. His mind stirred with doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Did I misstate? Is it not the thirty-three-form Taizu Long Fist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti mused: “Where did you learn of the thirty-three-form Taizu Long Fist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Tianlong Temple holds ancestral notes from the Duan lineage. Emperor Daodao Guangci, who lived in the same era as the Song Taizu, traveled to the Central Plains in his youth. In his later years, he wrote a personal manuscript mentioning it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti knew Emperor Daodao Guangci was Duan Sichong, a contemporary of the Song Taizu. He asked: “Did Emperor Guangci have dealings with the Taizu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin recalled: “The manuscript doesn’t elaborate. It only says the Taizu’s fist technique was astonishing—thirty-three-form nameless fists that drove heroes into seclusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti drew a sharp breath. Something was wrong. He’d spent years in the palace—he’d never heard Taizu Long Fist had thirty-three forms!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d read every imperial diary of the Taizu, Taizong, Zhenzong, Renzong, and others. None mentioned “thirty-three forms” of Taizu Long Fist. Neither court nor common folk ever spoke of anything but thirty-two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Duan Sichong made a mistake? Had he grown senile in old age?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin said: “Emperor Guangci loved martial arts. Later generations called him the Duan clan’s martial fanatic. In his notes, he held this fist style in the highest regard, even saying… our Dali’s Yiyang Finger could not match it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows. This could not be senility. There was clearly a hidden truth. He’d need to consult Empress Gao after returning to Dongjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never mastered the essence of the Taizu fist,” Zhao Ti said slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin smiled: “Martial arts are easy to inherit, but hard to innovate. Those who surpass their masters are few. Most later learners merely imitate, follow diagrams, and seek blindly. How can they ever fully absorb the original?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti nodded: “Your insight is profound, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued discussing martial arts for another hour. Zhao Ti rose to take his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the days that followed, he visited Tianlong Temple nearly every day, growing familiar with the monks, befriending Bencao, Ben Guan, Ben Xiang, and deepening his talks with Benyin beyond sutras and scriptures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also visited Wuwei Temple daily, but never saw Mu Wanzheng. He described her appearance to Zhou Dong and asked him to wait there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, after only a short while talking with Benyin, Ben Guan entered, bowed apologetically to Zhao Ti, then said to Benyin: “Brother, Master Kurong has called for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin apologized to Zhao Ti and rose to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti fell into thought. The deadline for Jiumo Zhi’s arrival must be near. The Tianlong monks have no solution—and are growing desperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benyin returned after a long while, his face drawn in a bitter smile: “Master Zhao, some matters have arisen at the temple. I fear we won’t be able to chat as freely in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti frowned: “Master Benyin, your expression is troubled. Has your temple encountered some unsolvable difficulty?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1274,"2026-06-19T22:30:31.989Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","490836afb886e9fdc19317c7c2d2492ca5d70d77e8c409aaa3173adb2469295e","thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-46","thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-44",270,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-cover.jpg"]