DEMI GODS AND SEMI DEVILS Book 1 of 5 (Adventures of The Youth) by Jin Yong

Sword Qi And Lines Of Jade Smoke Part 4

Jiumozhi let out a long sigh. "It's all my fault; I shouldn't have opened my mouth and made such a foolish promise. Otherwise, with Mr. Murong dead, what does it matter whether or not I am able to obtain the scroll of the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians'? Today, this young monk is going to be wildly bold and say a few audacious words that may display an exaggerated opinion of my own abilities. If the technique of the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians' really is as amazing and profound as Mr. Murong believed, I fear that even if your venerable monastery has the scroll, it does not have anyone capable of learning it. If someone here is capable of learning it, then in all likelihood it is not nearly as amazing as Mr. Murong believed it to be."

Elder Kurong said, "This old monk is confused about something. I hope that the Enlightened Lord may instruct me." Jiumozhi said, "I wouldn't dare!" Elder Kurong said, "The fact that the 'Divine Scroll of the Six Meridians' is hidden within our humble temple is concealed even from the secular members of the Duan family. Might I ask, how is it that Mr. Murong learned of this?" Jiumozhi replied, "Mr. Murong's understanding of the martial arts of the world was extremely deep and broad. He even had at his fingertips many skills belonging to various sects which had long been forgotten by even the leaders of the sects themselves. The characters used to describe Mr. Murong, 'Using the opponent's skills, exercising them upon the opponent', comes from this. But all his life, Mr. Murong was never able to learn any of the secrets of the 'Single Solitary Finger' or the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians'. This troubled him all his life, and he took this regret with him to his grave."

Elder Kurong grunted, then fell silent. Emperor Baoding and the others thought to themselves, "If he really learns the secrets of the 'Single Solitary Finger' and the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians', then I fear that he might really be able to use our own techniques against us in the future.

Abbot Benyin said, "It has been well over a decade since my martial-uncle has received any guests. Enlightened Lord, as you are an eminent monk of this era, my martial-uncle made an exception and has accompanied you for a long time. Enlightened Lord, please." As he spoke, he rose to his feet, signifying the meeting was at an end.

But Jiumozhi did not rise with him. He unhurriedly said, "The scroll of the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians' is only a tool with an undeserved reputation, and has no practical use. Why must your precious temple hold it in such importance, to the point where you would be willing to harm the friendship between the Heavenly Dragon Temple and the Great Wheel Temple, as well as the diplomatic relations of Dali and Tibet?"

Benyin's face changed slightly. He said in an awe-inspiring way, "Enlightened Lord, are you saying that if the Heavenly Dragon Temple does not hand the manuscript over, that Dali and Tibet will face each other with weapons and armies?" Emperor Baoding had always kept a strong garrison of forces to the northwestern boundaries of the country, so as to keep Tibet from invading. Upon hearing Jiumozhi's words, he became totally engrossed in the conversation.

Jiumozhi replied, "The master of my country has long yearned for Dali's local environment and people. He has long desired to meet with your honored country's master and compete with him. However, I felt that doing so would cause great loss of innocent life, which is greatly in contradiction with the heart of Buddha's teachings. For many years, I have spared no effort in dissuading him from such a course."

Benyin and the others were all aware that a veiled threat was hidden within Jiumozhi's words. He was the national protector and dharma king of Tibet. Everyone in Tibet from the king to the commoners was Buddhist, much like the country of Dali. Jiumozhi always had the trust of the Tibetan king. Whether there would be peace or war with a nation could hinge on a single word from him. It really would not be worth it for the people of their two countries to be forced to endure suffering over a simple manuscript. Tibet was powerful whereas Dali was weak; if war really did break out, the overall situation would be very dangerous. But how could the Heavenly Dragon Temple freely give up their most precious treasure to him, by virtue of him trying to intimidate them?

Elder Kurong said, "Since you, Enlightened Lord, desire this manuscript so much, far be it for this old monk to deny you. But we dare not agree to exchange it for Shaolin's 72 Ultimate Techniques. Enlightened Lord, as you have mastered all of Shaolin's 72 Ultimate Techniques in addition to the martial arts of the Great Snowy Mountain's Great Wheel Monastery, you are no doubt peerless and without equal in the world."

Jiumozhi clapped his hands together. "Master, do you mean for me to put my incompetence on display?" Elder Kurong said, "Enlightened Lord, you said that our monastery's manuscript of the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians' is a useless tool, undeserving of its fame, which cannot be used. We will use the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians' to experience your elite skills. If it really is as you said, Enlightened Lord, and the technique is unusable and undeserving of its fame, why should we value it? In such a case, Enlightened Lord, feel free to take it!"

Jiumozhi was secretly startled. In the past, when he discussed the 'Divine Sword of the Six Meridians' with Mr. Murong, he learned enough to know that it totally depended on converting internal energy into invisible sword qi. They both felt that no matter how astonishing the techniques were, for a single person to have enough internal energy to use all six of his meridians to create sword qi was most likely impossible. Now, judging from elder Kurong's words, not only was he capable of using the technique, but all of the other monks around him were as well. The Heavenly Dragon Temple's centuries-long fame clearly was no little thing indeed. His expression had been very polite and respectful all along; now, he became even more polite. Bowing forwards slightly, he said, "It is this humble monk's greatest fortune for you, honored reverends, to be willing to display such a consummate skill in front of me."

Abbot Benyin said, "Enlightened Lord, what weapons do you wish to use? Please feel free to take them out now."