The man walked until he was right in front of Liu Zhengfeng, and then raised the flag high in the air. "Uncle-Master Liu, here's Five Mountains Sword Alliance Chief Zuo's order: Please temporarily postpone the ceremony of Uncle-Master Liu's 'Gold Basin Hand Washing'," he announced.
Liu Zhengfeng bowed to the flag. "May I ask why Alliance Chief would give such an order?" he asked.
"I am just following my orders. I really don't know the reason behind Alliance Chief's decision. Will you, Uncle-Master Liu, please pardon me?" the man answered.
"You are being too modest! Nephew apprentice, you must be 'Ten Thousand Feet Pine' Nephew Shi, am I right?" he asked. Although he had a smile on his face, his voice had already slightly trembled. Obviously, even as one who had experienced many confrontations, he was greatly shocked because of the sudden change.
The man was none other than the apprentice of the Songshan Sword School, "Ten Thousand Feet Pine" Shi Dengda. Realizing that Liu Zhengfeng knew about his name and nickname, he was immensely proud.
"Apprentice Shi Dengda here shows his respect to Uncle-Master Liu," he said, bowing slightly.
Taking a few steps forward, he also saluted Priest Tianmen, Yue Buqun, Sister Dingyi, and the bunch. "Apprentice of Songshan Sword School here shows his respect to Uncle-Masters." The other four men in yellow also bowed to salute.
Sister Dingyi was quite pleased. "It's great that your Master decided to step in and stop this ceremony," she said while slightly bowing back. "All we martial people care about is the virtue of chivalry. I think one should just enjoy the Martial World leisurely and carefree; why bother becoming a government official? But I knew brother Liu had everything arranged already and would never have listened to the old nun, me, so I simply decided to save my breath."
Liu Zhengfeng said with a solemn face, "In the old days when our five sword schools formed the alliance, we agreed to help each other when attacking or attacked upon, to uphold justice in the Martial World as a whole. When there are matters related to the five schools, we should all follow the Alliance Chief's command. Our five schools made this five-colored Command Flag together. It is true that when seeing the Command Flag, it's like seeing the Alliance Chief himself, but today's 'Gold Basin Hand Washing' ceremony is only my private matter. It is neither against any martial rules, nor related to the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, so I am not restricted by the Alliance Chief's Command Flag. Nephew Shi, please tell your respectful Master that I will not follow the order and ask for his pardon." He walked toward the gold basin.
Shi Dengda rushed forward and blocked in front of the gold basin.
"Uncle-Master Liu, my Master urged me again and again to ask Uncle-Master you to temporarily postpone your 'Gold Basin Hand Washing' ceremony. Master said that the Five Mountain Sword Alliance has the same root with different branches; we members are like brothers to each other. By sending out this Command Flag with the order, he was not only taking the inter-school relationship into consideration, but also to uphold the justice in the Martial World, and also for the good of Uncle-Master Liu," he exclaimed while raising the silk flag even higher in the air.
"I am a bit confused here," Liu Zhengfeng said. "The invitation for my Gold Basin Hand Washing ceremony was sent to Mount Songshan with great manners way ahead of time. A long letter was also sent together to apprentice brother Zuo explaining everything in detail. If apprentice brother Zuo really had such good intentions, why didn't he stop me earlier, and waited till now to stop me with the Command Flag? Obviously he wants me to go back on my words in front of all the heroes in the Martial World, so I would be laughed at by every martial people!"
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THE SMILING PROUD WANDERER by Jin Yong
RandomLegend has it that there is a martial arts manuscript Bixie Sword Manual in the house of Lin family, which when learned will give the person god-like speed and power. Thus, whoever manages to master it, will become the conqueror of the martial world...