38: Chapter 38: The Heavenly Punishment Sect Arrives!
38: Chapter 38: The Heavenly Punishment Sect Arrives!
As an arrow lodged into the platform on the east side, a group of martial artists robed in white, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, stood with their hands behind their backs.
Beneath their feet, some stood atop a wide flying sword, while others had a flying sword under each foot as they traveled toward the platform from a distance in the east.
Zhang San noticed that the martial artists from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect had swords emitting jets below them, and he was filled with curiosity.
“What kind of technique is this, allowing the sword to emit jets and carry someone in flight?”
Bai Yucheng immediately explained to the inexperienced Zhang San.
“The Mysterious Soldiers Sect excels in the Thousand Mechanisms Path and has a unique mastery in forging weapons.”
“Their weapons are all engraved with rune arrays, capable of unleashing powerful techniques.
Therefore, martial artists from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect possess the capability to fight above their level.”
The disciples of the Corpse Nether Sect, seeing that it was the Mysterious Soldiers Sect’s people, immediately jumped back onto the platform on the north side, not daring to act rashly.
From the Mysterious Soldiers Sect’s side, precisely seven people arrived, neither more nor less.
The seven individuals stowed away their flying swords and sat upright at the table.
The person in the middle, who appeared to be the eldest brother, simply said in a soft voice, “Eat.”
Only then did the other six dare to pick up their chopsticks.
At this moment, the youngest among the seven, with a very soft voice, asked, “Senior brothers and sisters, didn’t we just have a meal?
I really can’t eat much more!”
The eldest brother picked up a slice of smoked fish with his chopsticks, dipped it in some sauce, and elegantly placed it in his mouth.
After swallowing, the eldest brother responded in a low voice, “Don’t talk, eat slowly, we need to show the demeanor fitting of a great sect like the Mysterious Soldiers Sect.”
Although the junior brothers and sisters were all too full to eat, since the eldest brother had spoken, they could only bow their heads and start eating.
The second eldest brother, who had eaten the most before, could not help but let out a burp like a dragon’s roar after just a few bites, earning angry glances from several junior brothers and sisters.
The disciples of the Corpse Nether Sect, looking at the people from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect in the western spectator stand and noting their aloof demeanor, turned their attention to the empty platform on the east side.
However, just as two disciples were about to move toward the east platform, a loud shout was heard from the distance.
“The heretic cults have arrived, and as the dignified and righteous Pure Stream Sword Sect, how can we not show up?”
No sooner had the voice faded than a series of slim, sharp swords flew out into the air.
One sword followed another, forming a bridge-like pattern in mid-air.
A middle-aged man in white robes, with a refined Confucian look, stepped on the swords one after another to arrive at the platform on the east side.
Following him were several disciples, including one female disciple trailing closely behind.
It was only after reaching the platform that the disciples retracted the swords back into the sword boxes behind their backs.
On the shore, the crowd of onlookers were beyond excited.
They had seen individual martial artists’ feats before.
But to witness such a large number of martial artists, or rather cultivators, brandishing their skills was indeed the first experience of this magnitude for everyone.
Around Zhang San, many people also cast inquisitive looks.
Seeing this, Bai Yucheng reminded Zhang San, “Shouldn’t we go up too, or else we might not get a spot?
Apparently, the Four Directions Platform was prepared by the Dragon Serpent Gang.”
However, Zhang San waved his hand dismissively.
“The ‘Backhand’ is not only named for their strength but also for timing.
Upon hearing this, everyone contemplated and felt that it indeed made a lot of sense.
Little did they know, Zhang San had been pondering on how to make an entrance as impactful as the others, considering his own level of Refining Qi into the Body.
From such a distance, he surely couldn’t ask Xu to carry him there.
Of course, it would be even better if Sister Ling carried him, but the question was if that would be too embarrassing!
“Moreover, since all four platforms are now occupied, which spot do you think we should take?”
With a single question, Zhang San had everyone stumped.
The position of Gluttonous Mountain on the south side was the most vacant, yet every generation of Gluttonous Mountain had few people but formidable fighters.
Especially that young female disciple from the Gluttonous Mountain of this generation, although her clothes are torn and tattered, one could tell through the shredded fabric that she is a rich and generous girl.
Even when she reveals her true intentions, she does not hide anything inside.
Now that’s what you call benefiting all under heaven!
Just at that moment, from downstream of the Great River Mouth, two huge shadows gradually closed in amidst the water mist.
Everyone on the Four Directions Platform looked towards the shadows that resembled ship vessels, only to discover that they were not two tall ships, but two giant black-scaled water serpents.
On the bodies of the two water serpents, chains and locks were fastened, and trailing behind the chains was a majestic and grand battle ship.
Fluttering in the wind on the battle ship, a flag with a dragon and serpent playing with a pearl.
At the bow, a man wearing a mask engraved with a dragon on one side, a serpent on the other, and a precious pearl at the forehead, raised his hands and cupped his fists towards the people on the Four Directions Platform.
“I am Pang Gezhuang, the Chief of the Dragon Serpent Gang, pleased to meet all of you after such a long time.”
“However, this time, the Dragon Serpent Gang cordially invited warriors from 28 factions, how come only four have arrived?”
Upon hearing this, a martial artist from the Corpse Nether Sect, carrying a bronze coffin, burst into laughter.
“On my way here, I encountered six guests you had invited.
Seeing that their foreheads were darkened, they were bound to encounter a bloody disaster, so I sent them a few coffins.
The eldest disciple of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect stood up and cupped his fists in respect towards the Chief of the Dragon Serpent Gang.
“We from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect are a reputable orthodox faction and would never engage in bloodshed and cruelty like the Corpse Nether Sect.
“On the road, we also came across six guests of the Dragon Serpent Gang.
They were moving too slowly, so we helped them take the water route.
Perhaps they lost their way at the bottom of the lake.”
Even though the eldest disciple from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect spoke with Confucian elegance, everyone knew that the six guests had been taken care of and were at the bottom of the lake.
The two people from Gluttonous Mountain were still eating.
The middle-aged man swallowed what was in his mouth and emitted a few words from between his blackened teeth with indifference, “Too noisy, eat.”
Everyone had heard of the Gluttonous Mountain’s Gluttonous Divine Skill, which could refine anything they consumed, making even poison harmless.
But nobody had ever imagined that the martial artists of Gluttonous Mountain would dare to eat people!
The Sect Master of the Pure Stream Sword Sect scoffed.
“It’s precisely because of you heretics that my Pure Stream Sword Sect has no choice but to eliminate those coveting treasures, returning a clear and bright world to this place.”
“Of course, I, Kong Wenzai, am not doing this for my own sake.
Our Pure Stream Sword Sect has come to obtain this treasure to present it to the Imperial Court.”
“When we return it to the Confucian Sect, it is also considered fulfilling the ancestral debt.
If the Confucian Sect does not accept it, we can join the Town Martial Office.
With my contributions and capabilities, the position of Principal Officer is undoubtedly mine.”
Upon saying this, Kong Wenzai’s face was filled with pride.
It seemed as if the position of Principal Officer at the Town Martial Office was already beckoning him.
And right at this moment, Zhang San’s voice rang out from the shore.
“The Heavenly Punishment Sect has arrived—”
The Heavenly Punishment Sect, the archenemy of the Town Martial Office’s life and death!
Right after Kong Wenzai finished talking about joining the Town Martial Office, damn it, the people from the Heavenly Punishment Sect arrived!
At this moment, Kong Wenzai, holding his daughter’s hand, maintained a calm exterior, but his legs had already started trembling, and a sense of urgency to urinate overcame him…
Fortunately, Kong Wenzai had extraordinary self-control and managed to hold it back.
[Note 16]Noun Explanation
“Sashimi” is a delicacy where raw fish is sliced into thin slivers or pieces and then dipped in sauce before eating.
My personal research found the earliest records in “The Book of Songs, Small Elegance, The Sixth Month,” which reads, “Tweeting my friends all around, roasted turtles, fish fillet.”
In “Qi Min Yao Shu” by Jia Sixie, a literary figure from the Northern Wei dynasty, the method of dipping fish fillet is also detailed.
By the Tang Dynasty, the trend of consuming raw fish fillets had reached its peak.
Bai Juyi’s “Playful Observations of Fishing Banquets at Songjiang Pavilion Overnight” mentions, “Morning plates with red carp sashimi, evening candles dance with the fair ladies.” Wang Wei’s “Song of the Women of Luoyang” also says, “The beloved rides a white horse with jade reins, the maid holds a golden plate with carp fillet.”
Therefore, while this delicacy has now developed well in Japan, please remember it is our own cultural heritage.
Should you encounter any misguided statements suggesting the contrary, kindly inform them with the material provided above.