Chapter 61 Everyone Gets a Share

Lu Jin felt more and more short-changed the more he thought about it. "I have to go up and ask!"

Zuo Ruotong grabbed him by the arm. "You foolish disciple, with so many people watching, do you want to throw away your dignity?"

"This..." Lu Jin hesitated. He had lived an untainted life, and going up like that did seem a bit undignified, yet not going up made him feel cheated.

"Once this is over, your master will accompany you!"

Zuo Ruotong said with a calm expression. In truth, he was just pondering what excuse to use to approach Zhang Zhiwei, and now, didn't he have one ready-made?

"Thank many thanks, Master!" Lu Jin instantly beamed with joy.

Meanwhile, a new commotion arose on the martial arena.

A group of people rushed forward, all wanting to spar with and receive guidance from Zhang Zhiwei.

After all, those present were no fools. The previous sparring match between Zhang Zhiwei and the Lu family twins had been so breathtaking that they had not dared to step forward.

Judging from the recent match with that Liu Delu, however, this wasn't really a spar at all—it was clearly guidance. Furthermore, the beneficiaries seemed to have gained immensely. Since that was the case, why shouldn't they also step onto the stage to seek guidance?

With Lu Jin and the Lu family twins bearing the brunt of it ahead of them, even if they went up and lost, it would be an honorable defeat with no loss of face.

Besides, given the current situation, this Senior Brother Zhang was bound to become a renowned figure of great fame in the future. To have sparred with such a major figure during one's youth—wouldn't that be a lifelong honor to boast about?

Zhang Zhiwei looked somewhat helplessly at this crowd of fellows eager to spar and seek guidance, thinking to himself: *Or perhaps... you should all come at once?*

Of course, this thought flashed through his mind and vanished instantly.

Zhang Zhiwei cast his gaze toward his master, who had maintained a gloomy expression ever since he stepped onto the martial arena.

*Am I, Zhang Zhiwei, the sort of person who loves brawling and fighting?*

Zhang Zhiwei used voice-transmission to ask his master how he should handle this!

Zhang Jingqing turned his head to look at Old Master Lu. "Old Lu, shouldn't we put an end to this farce?"

Old Master Lu laughed heartily. "Hahaha, the Celestial Master is as protective of his disciples as ever. Are you afraid your precious boy might get hurt?"

"Not quite!" Zhang Jingqing shook his head. "Isn't today Old Lu's grand birthday? How could we let this rebellious disciple steal the thunder!"

Old Master Lu smiled. "What is the Celestial Master saying? Steal whose thunder? With our friendship, there's no need to be so formal. Besides, didn't you and Sect Master Zuo discuss this last night? Let the one who loses know that the world is vast and wide, and help the one who wins make a name for himself."

"The day is still early, and the banquet won't start for a while yet. Everyone's spirits are running so high, why not let your esteemed disciple offer some further guidance? Besides, these years are not peaceful. Internally there are warlords carving up the land, and externally foreign powers are eyeing us hungrily. The red-haired ghosts and the Japanese are acting more and more frequently. In the future, our practitioners' circle will inevitably require collective action."

"Your Celestial Masters Mansion is the leader of the southern Taoist sects. When the time comes, you will still need to lead everyone. Moreover, your disciple is a disciple with a borrowed surname. Judging by his methods, his future position as the Celestial Master is practically secured. Why not seize this opportunity to help him build a resounding name and prestige? Once he has authority, everyone will gladly submit to him in the future!"

Having served as the head of the family for decades, Old Master Lu was naturally well-versed in these social subtleties and human relations.

Zhang Jingqing pondered for a moment and nodded. Things had reached this point, and Zhang Zhiwei had already stolen the entire spotlight. Stopping now would be pointless; it was far more practical to follow Old Master Lu's suggestion and consider reaping greater benefits from this martial tournament.

"Old Lu's insight is profound!"

Immediately afterward, Zhang Jingqing transmitted his voice to Zhang Zhiwei, telling him to continue holding the ring.

*Fine, it seems I'll have a busy time of it today...* Zhang Zhiwei rolled up his other sleeve as well. A wheel-war? He wasn't afraid in the least. One move per person, how much energy could it possibly cost?

As for giving guidance... offering guidance to others was, in a way, offering guidance to oneself, wasn't it? Zhang Zhiwei was quite willing to have an upright and legitimate chance to witness the unique arts of various schools.

"Since everyone is in such high spirits, I shall humor you all to the bitter end. Come one by one, no shoving, everyone will get a turn!"

Zhang Zhiwei said with a relaxed expression, uttering a fiercely arrogant and overbearing statement.

Yet no one raised any objections to these words, nor did anyone harbor doubts; the matches of the first three rounds had already proven Zhang Zhiwei's absolute strength.

"Since that's the case, I'll go first to seek guidance from Senior Brother Zhang!"

"Why should you go first? I'm standing right in front, I'll go first!"

The crowd scrambled eagerly to get up there, but abruptly, the air stagnated. The noisy crowd suddenly fell completely silent, and the scene instantly turned somewhat eerie.

"A formation has been cast, someone is using Qimen techniques!"

Zhang Zhiwei understood immediately, though unlike the others, he did not find himself unable to move. He merely felt a sluggish, dragging sensation enveloping his entire body.

This feeling did not last long. As a young man wearing a long robe stepped onto the martial arena, the sluggishness vanished, and the people around him regained their mobility. All of them looked in shock and awe at the long-robed youth on the arena.

The long-robed youth wore his hair slicked back and possessed a refined, scholarly demeanor. He cupped his fists and said:

"I have long heard that the Qimen arts of the Celestial Master Sect are peerless. Zhuge Yunhui of Zhuge Village wishes to request Senior Brother Zhang's guidance!"

Zhuge Yunhui... Zhang Zhiwei quickly searched his memory for information regarding this person.

He was the eldest grandfather of Zhuge Qing in later generations, and the husband of Tian Xiaodie among the Thirty-Six Thieves. He was a hopeless romantic who, for the sake of love, defied the Zhuge family rule that the Qimen arts of the Wuhou lineage were taught only to males and never to females, secretly transmitting the Wuhou Qimen to Tian Xiaodie.

Later, when the righteous sworn brotherhood of the Thirty-Six Thieves was exposed, the Wuhou Sect sought to purge its ranks. To protect his wife, Zhuge Yunhui argued with reason and evidence. In the end, the sect master of the Wuhou Sect pretended to agree, promising that as long as Zhuge Yunhui severed all ties with Tian Xiaodie, her life would be spared.

Zhuge Yunhui complied, but the sect master broke his promise and secretly sent people to dispose of Tian Xiaodie. Because of this, Zhuge Yunhui rebelled and left Zhuge Village, never returning for the rest of his life.

"Then the Zhuge brother is bound to be disappointed, for I have not practiced Qimen techniques!" Zhang Zhiwei stated frankly.

"You've never studied them?!"

Zhuge Yunhui was taken aback. He honestly hadn't expected this. Fengshui physiognomy and astrological divination were among the orthodox traditions of the Taoist sects; Zhang Zhiwei had even learned boxing arts like Baji, yet he hadn't studied this?

"So that's how it is. Yunhui was too presumptuous, Senior Brother Zhang, please forgive me!"

Zhuge Yunhui cupped his fists, preparing to step down. He had come up purely out of a desire to spar with Zhang Zhiwei regarding Qimen techniques, with no intention of competing for supremacy. After all, he knew his own limits very well; in terms of sheer martial might, he couldn't even keep up with the dust of Zhang Zhiwei's horse.

"Wait, since you're already up here, why not give it a try and let me witness the profound mysteries of the Wuhou Qimen? After all, sparring and guidance work both ways—you can guide me, too!"

Zhang Zhiwei smiled. He carried no psychological burden of maintaining an idol's image, and he was quite curious about Qimen Dunjia.

"Since Senior Brother Zhang wishes to witness it, I shall respectfully comply!"

Zhuge Yunhui turned around, lightly tapped the ground, and deployed the Wuhou Qimen, taking himself as the Central Palace to unfurl the Qimen formation.