Chapter 19

"Is it you?!" By the moonlight, as Jiang Chen approached, Guo Fu also recognized him. He was the young man who, at the Fengling Ferry Inn, had wanted to go see the Divine Condor Hero with her younger sister. She had thought Jiang Chen was just an ordinary young man, never imagining that his martial arts skills would be so formidable. She couldn't help but wonder: Could the great hero her sister spoke of be him?

Back then, near Heilong Pond, although Guo Xiang had heard from Dharma Master Yideng and others that Jiang Chen's martial arts were strong, she had never imagined that his skills would be so impressive. Overwhelmed with joy, she quickly laughed and said, "Big Brother Jiang, you can just call me Xiang'er. This time, I owe you a great deal for saving me."

"It's nothing, nothing," Jiang Chen waved his hand and smiled, "Even if I hadn't acted, your big brother would have stepped in."

"Big brother?" Guo Xiang was taken aback by this. She was quick-witted and extremely intelligent, and immediately understood. She hurriedly asked, "Has Big Brother come too? Where is he?"

Seeing her anxious expression, Jiang Chen couldn't help but shake his head and said, "He has already left." Afraid that Guo Xiang would be too upset, he comforted her, "Xiang'er, don't be too worried. Since your big brother said he would come to celebrate your birthday, he will definitely come. After all, a great hero like him always keeps his word, especially to a cute girl like you."

"Okay," Guo Xiang responded, but the disappointment on her face was hard to hide. Jiang Chen saw this and knew that she was deeply infatuated with Yang Guo, even in front of her savior, her mind was still wandering, thinking about her big brother.

Guo Fu, hearing their conversation, frowned and was about to speak. Suddenly, someone called from outside the temple, "Sister Fu, Sister Xiang, are you in the temple?" Then, a handsome man rushed over, none other than Guo Fu's husband, Yelü Qi. Delighted, she called out, "Brother Qi, come quickly!"

Guo Fu had gone to look for her sister and hadn't returned for a long time. Yelü Qi, recalling that Lu Youjiao had been ambushed, feared that there might be enemies outside Xiangyang and came to escort them back to the city. Hearing Guo Fu's call, he brought two six-bag disciples of the Beggar Sect and rushed into the hall. Seeing Nimo Xing dead on the spot, he was shocked. He knew that the Indian dwarf was very strong, and even he couldn't defeat him, so it was unbelievable that he had died here.

He saw that both of Nimo Xing's palms had a hole through them, and there was a deep, dark hole in the "Shenting" acupoint on his forehead. He couldn't tell what kind of weapon or force had penetrated the martial arts expert's palms and then his skull, killing him. The skill of the person who did this was truly unimaginable. After a moment's thought, he turned to Guo Fu and asked, "Is it Grandfather who has arrived? Please lead me to meet him."

Guo Fu was puzzled, "Who said Grandfather has come?"

Yelü Qi raised his eyebrows and said, "Not Grandfather?" He smiled, "Then it must be my teacher." He looked around but saw no sign of Zhou Botong. Knowing his teacher's playful nature, he thought he must be hiding to scare him. He immediately ran out of the temple and leaped onto the roof to look around, but saw no one.

Guo Fu called out, "Hey! What are you talking about Grandfather and teacher?"

Yelü Qi returned to the hall and said, "Nimo Xing's martial arts are extremely high, and even I might not be able to defeat him. I think the only people in the world with such skills are my father-in-law, our grandfather, my teacher, Dharma Master Yideng, and the Golden Wheel Dharma King. The Dharma King is the imperial preceptor of Mongolia and wouldn't be Nimo Xing's enemy. Dharma Master Yideng rarely kills, so I guess it must be either our grandfather or my teacher. Sister Xiang, who helped you?"

Guo Fu's eyes widened. She knew that Jiang Chen could kill Nimo Xing, but she didn't expect Yelü Qi to rate him so highly, comparing him to her father, grandfather, Dharma Master Yideng, and others.

"It's Big Brother Jiang!" Guo Xiang was also surprised, pointing to Jiang Chen. In her heart, she couldn't help but compare him to her big brother, wondering who was stronger between Big Brother Jiang and Big Brother Yang.

Yelü Qi was greatly surprised. Having seen many things, he quickly calmed down and said, "Young Hero, your skills are impressive. I, Yelü Qi, am truly admiring." He saw that Nimo Xing's iron staffs were bent and broken, clearly by a powerful palm strike, which made him even more impressed.

"Too kind," Jiang Chen smiled, "I just took advantage of the night to attack. In terms of real skills, I might not have been able to kill him." With his modest demeanor and the corpse of Nimo Xing as evidence, he felt that he had successfully put on a good show, even if not perfect, it should be at least eighty percent convincing.

They exchanged a few polite words. Then, the two Beggar Sect disciples carried the body and the broken staffs, following Jiang Chen, Yelü Qi, and the Guo sisters back to the city. They arrived at the Guo residence, and servants went to inform Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

Soon, Jiang Chen heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, he saw Guo Jing leading the way, with a strong and heroic presence. Beside him stood a woman in green, graceful and beautiful, with eyes like water and a closed mouth, looking like a young girl despite her hair bun. This beautiful woman was, of course, Huang Rong.

Behind her stood a refined scholar, about forty years old, with a scholarly air even in his beard, holding a judge's pen. He was none other than Zhu Ziliu, one of the "Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer, Scholar" disciples of Dharma Master Yideng.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong listened to Guo Fu's account and recalled the danger they had just faced, feeling secretly alarmed. Guo Xiang thought she would be scolded by her parents for her mischief, but Guo Jing, pleased with his daughter's sense of righteousness, comforted her instead. Huang Rong, seeing her husband's calmness, hugged her youngest daughter and then turned to Jiang Chen, saying, "Thank you, Young Hero, for saving my two daughters. I am Huang Rong. May I ask your name?"

"Oh, you are the leader of the Beggar Sect, Master Huang. I have long admired you. Master Huang, as a heroine, you and Great Hero Guo Jing have defended Xiangyang and protected our Song Dynasty. I am truly admiring. I am Jiang Chen. It is a great honor to meet two such heroes today."

Huang Rong, always quick-witted and intelligent, like her father, the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, heard this and thought that Jiang Chen was trying to intimidate them. However, she didn't know if he was friend or foe and what his purpose was in coming to Xiangyang. She remained calm and subtly signaled to Zhu Ziliu.

Understanding Huang Rong's hint, Zhu Ziliu stepped forward and laughed, "Young Hero Jiang, your skills are impressive. I am truly admiring." Although they didn't know if Jiang Chen was friend or foe, he had too many suspicious points, making it hard to trust him. Therefore, he decided to follow Huang Rong's hint and test him.

Jiang Chen, of course, knew Zhu Ziliu's identity and saw through his intentions but pretended not to notice, asking, "This is...?"

"I am Zhu Ziliu," Zhu Ziliu responded gracefully.

"Oh, a disciple of Dharma Master Yideng," Jiang Chen laughed, "Dharma Master Yideng is a top expert in the world. As his disciple, you must have inherited his true skills. I have long heard of the miraculous One Finger Zen of the Duan family of Dali and am truly admiring."

"I am ashamed to say, my talent is limited. Although my teacher has been generous in teaching me, my achievements are limited," Zhu Ziliu said as he approached Jiang Chen and then exclaimed, "Oh? Young Hero Jiang, you dropped your soap!"