Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 172 - 166: You come to destroy my sect, and I have to provide food and accommodation?_3

Chapter 172: Chapter 166: You come to destroy my sect, and I have to provide food and accommodation?_3

Thus, in the grand hall of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect, the people from the Town Martial Office were seated on the left; the three esteemed guests who were invited along with the elders of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect were on the right.

At the head of the table sat Xie Dezhao, who warmly hosted Zhang San and others.

After the third round of drinks and the fifth course of dishes,

Xie Dezhao put down his wine cup and gave Zhang San a ceremonial bow.

"Mr. Zhang San, may I know why the Town Martial Office has brought so many people to our Mysterious Soldiers Sect? Are you here for some sort of inspection? Rest assured, if there are issues on our part, I will certainly correct them!"

Xie Dezhao intentionally left himself vulnerable in his remark, hoping that Zhang San would take the easy route, find any excuse, and make the whole affair a mere formality before leaving.

This would be good for everyone.

Zhang San laughed heartily and said, "Originally, we came because of Zheng Yijian leading the disciples of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect to ambush and kill martial artists from the Town Martial Office. But since the Sect Leader has spoken, and you have not only taken back Zheng Jian’s words but also expelled him from the sect, his actions are purely personal. Once we clarify this, naturally, there will be no problem."

Upon hearing this, Xie Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief.

Though speaking so might cause the Mysterious Soldiers Sect some embarrassment,

At least the integrity was preserved, even if the face was lost, which could still be seen as a blessing.

"Since there are no issues, why don’t the friends from the Town Martial Office drink a bit more?"

Zhang San picked up his wine cup, then set it down again, shook his head, and looked towards a disciple standing behind Blade-Wielding Buddha Card.

"Drinking plainly is really uninteresting. I see though this young brother looks unassuming, his right arm appears robust. Why not come up and demonstrate the blade technique your master has taught you and let us witness it too? How about it?"

Upon hearing these words, the expression on Blade-Wielding Buddha Card’s face suddenly turned fierce.

What does he mean?

Is my disciple a dancer, to perform for others just like that?

And is my Burning Wood Sword Technique some circus act for your viewing pleasure whenever you wish?

But before Card could refuse, he heard a voice from behind him.

"Sure, I’ll open your eyes!"

With that, the senior disciple leapt into the center of the hall, drew the blade hanging by his waist, and swung it towards the wine cup in front of Zhang San.

But the blade did not strike the wine cup; instead, it stopped beside it, and then with a lifted hand, he struck again.

The blade moves grew quicker and quicker, swishing rapidly—

In an instant, the senior disciple had executed sixty-four strikes.

The wine in Zhang San’s cup had already been completely evaporated by the hot air surrounding the cup.

"This is my master’s unique skill, the Burning Wood Sword Technique. If my master were to perform, he could make eighty-one strikes. Replace this wine cup with wood, and it would promptly catch fire. And this is not reliant on Fire Movement, but purely on the speed of the blade."

Zhang San immediately clapped in admiration.

"I never imagined there could be such a miraculous blade technique in the world."

At this point, the senior disciple, full of pride, asked, "I see you are merely at the True Core Realm of the Five Emperors’ Proper Position. What skills do you have that would warrant such hospitality from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect?"

Many were startled.

You were called to assist, not to cause trouble.

Didn’t we agree there was no problem?

What are you doing?

At this moment, Xie Dezhao almost wished he could rush over and chop up this senior disciple of Card.

Zhang San smiled lightly, looking tranquil, and said, "Well, I, Zhang San, indeed don’t possess much skill. I can only extinguish the Mysterious Soldiers Sect."

Upon hearing this, everyone from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect turned pale.

After all, just three days ago, the Town Martial Office had announced their intention to extinguish the Mysterious Soldiers Sect.

"Seeing the three esteemed guests, it seems Sect Master Xie must have particularly invited them for the Town Martial Office. Given this, if I don’t trouble them a bit, it would be a waste of Sect Master Xie’s painstaking efforts. Well then, tonight, let Card’s great disciple prepare well."

"Tomorrow, we will have a good contest. If I lose, the Town Martial Office will leave the Mysterious Soldiers Sect; if you lose, well..."

Zhang San didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect felt a chill up their spines.

Especially as they saw Sun Wushuang across the table already beginning to pour wine on his blade and start cleaning it, they grew even more fearful.

At this time, the disciple who had jumped out also realized that he might have created trouble.

And Xie Dezhao, sitting at the main seat, covered his face, completely baffled.

What does this mean?

You, the Town Martial Office, come to destroy our sect and still stay here today?

And I have to take care of your food and lodging, right?

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[Note 59] Reference Explanation

The Burning Wood Sword Technique is referenced from Jin Yong’s "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" as one of the seventy-two unique skills of Shaolin.