"Master, if you refuse to reveal your true skills, then do not blame this junior for being discourteous!"
Among all martial traditions of the Central Plains, the Shaolin Sect possessed the broadest range of techniques, the longest history, and the greatest variety of fighting styles. In truth, Shaolin martial arts had not been created overnight by any single founder. Rather, they had gradually evolved over centuries as generations of monks practiced and refined their combat skills, eventually establishing Shaolin as the foremost martial sect in the realm.
"You ignorant youngster! Let me show you the Left-and-Right Flower-Piercing Hands!"
Master Yuanguang was a man of fiery temperament. His gray robe flashed forward as he shouted,
"Raise your hands to distinguish good from evil;
Let the Flower-Piercing Hands weave left and right through every opening!"
His hands crossed before him, then shot out in alternating succession toward Xiao Yi's centerline.
"Excellent!" Xiao Yi exclaimed.
Retreating swiftly, he thrust out his right palm in a lightning-fast counter. Advancing and withdrawing in perfect rhythm, he attacked and defended simultaneously.
Master Yuanguang roared,
"Step forward with the right foot, strike the ribs with the elbow!
Push with the left, press with the right, and charge straight for the chest!"
Xiao Yi raised his left hand as though supporting Mount Tai, pivoted lightly, and calmly neutralized the attack with effortless precision.
So this is the famed Left-and-Right Flower-Piercing Hands. Truly extraordinary, he thought.
Aloud he praised, "Master, your martial skill is exceptional!"
Yuanguang replied,
"The White Crane Spreads Its Wings with Twin Flower Hands;
Hanging Fist and Flying Punch strike straight for the face!"
The Flower-Piercing Hands erupted like shooting stars, their speed rivaling arrows released from a bow as they rained toward Xiao Yi's face.
Suddenly, Yuanguang stepped in with another elbow strike, his fist carrying overwhelming force. His left hand pushed while his right pressed forward with terrifying ferocity.
Sensing danger, Xiao Yi lightly tapped the ground and leaped backward. Executing the movement "Circling the Mountain, Threading the Forest," he twisted his waist to evade to the right.
Yuanguang immediately pursued.
"Bow Stance, Double Sweeping, Double Crashing!
Like a shooting star chasing the moon along the right flank!"
His body soared into the air. Assuming a bow stance, his left hand became a palm while his right formed a fist, both striking simultaneously.
The two men closed into hand-to-hand combat.
Yuanguang transformed his right fist into a palm and slapped toward Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi instantly met it with his own right palm while extending the index and middle fingers of his left hand toward Yuanguang's Shanzhong Acupoint.
Yuanguang withdrew his fist and pushed with his palm.
Xiao Yi's right foot swept toward Yuanguang's left knee.
Yuanguang immediately lifted one leg, withdrew into a bow stance, and balanced gracefully upon the other like the Golden Rooster Standing on One Leg, shouting,
"Withdraw the fist! Stand alone like the Golden Rooster!
Draw the bow from horseback and summon boundless vigor!"
Their struggle resembled dragons battling tigers, every exchange more intense than the last.
Then Yuanguang suddenly bellowed,
"Left Heaven-Piercing Punch! Left Upward Hook!
Consecutive Stomping Kicks, steadfast and unyielding!"
Turning into a right bow stance, he struck with the back of his right fist before launching a series of rapid kicks.
Xiao Yi slid his left foot aside, his palms flowing with his footwork like drifting clouds. Lowering his body, he unleashed a sophisticated grappling technique.
Yuanguang shouted once more,
"Horse Stance! Sink low and fire the straight punch!
Twin fists crash against the temples!"
"Excellent!" Xiao Yi cried.
He spun around, separating his arms. His left palm deflected Yuanguang's strike while his right hand slipped underneath in a reverse interception. Sliding forward, he seized Yuanguang's wrist, locking his tendons and meridians with astonishing speed.
Yuanguang countered immediately. Instead of retreating, he advanced, stepping forward with his left foot into another Flower-Piercing transition.
His left palm shot toward Xiao Yi's face as he roared,
"Wild Geese Descend upon the Sand! Turn the Body!
In Bow Stance, drive the elbow into the heart!"
The offensive surged forward like collapsing mountains and overwhelming seas, each technique faster than the last.
Xiao Yi answered with a clear whistle.
His left hand chopped downward to intercept the incoming palm while his right swept horizontally across his chest.
At that very instant, Yuanguang had no room left to withdraw. He struck out with his own palm.
Bang!
Their palms collided with explosive force.
Xiao Yi staggered back several steps, while Yuanguang himself was forced backward a full pace.
Such astonishing internal strength... How can someone so young possess martial arts of this caliber? Yuanguang thought in amazement.
The assembled heroes watching nearby were stunned into silence.
Master Yuanguang said gravely,
"Benefactor, you have come bearing peerless martial arts. You are indeed a worthy successor to a renowned master."
Xiao Yi cupped his fists respectfully.
"Shaolin Temple's reputation is known throughout the world. Your martial skill is truly remarkable, Master. Having received your instruction today, I realize that I have caused considerable disturbance. Please forgive my discourtesy."
Just then, a resounding Buddhist chant echoed through the courtyard.
"Amitabha!"
A gray-robed monk in his fifties entered the scene. Thick-browed and broad-eyed, wearing straw sandals, he glared at Xiao Yi.
"Is that truly yours to say?" the monk demanded sternly. "Do you think Shaolin Temple is a place where anyone may come and go as they please?"
Seeing more and more Shaolin monks gathering, Xiao Yi immediately abandoned his arrogance.
He cupped his hands respectfully.
"May I ask this master's Dharma name?"
"I am Ben Guang."
Apart from the Abbot himself, Shaolin Temple was administered by the Four Chief Monastic Officers: Chief Monk Ben Guang, who served as the Abbot's principal assistant; Hall Master Yuanguang of the West Hall; Hall Master Yuantong of the Rear Hall; and Hall Master Yuanzhi.
Xiao Yi immediately pressed his palms together in apology.
"So you are Master Ben Guang. This junior, Xiao Yi, ascended the mountain today merely to pay homage to the sacred remains of the Holy Monk. My heart has always held Shaolin in deep reverence. After leaving the meditation quarters, I wandered about without thinking and accidentally entered the Sutra Library, causing your monks to misunderstand my intentions. For this, I sincerely apologize."
Seeing the growing number of Shaolin monks surrounding him, Xiao Yi naturally softened his attitude. Regardless of his own martial prowess, even the strongest fighter could hardly withstand an entire monastery alone.
Master Ben Guang listened quietly. He had no desire to escalate the matter further, for the young man's martial ability was clearly formidable. Moreover, Xiao Yi had already lowered himself and apologized.
After a brief silence, Ben Guang said calmly,
"Benefactor, perhaps there has indeed been some misunderstanding. Nevertheless, trespassing within Shaolin Temple must still be handled according to the regulations of our Discipline Hall."
Pausing slightly, he turned and said,
"Ben Tian, as Chief Monk of the Discipline Hall, how should this matter be dealt with?"
The head of the Discipline Hall was Monk Ben Tian.
Stepping out from among the assembled monks, he reflected that the Sutra Library was one of Shaolin's most sacred forbidden areas, strictly off-limits to outsiders. This man had not only entered it unlawfully but had also injured the monks guarding it.
He declared loudly,
"In my opinion, he should spend three days carrying water, chopping firewood, and performing cleaning duties."
To Shaolin Temple, such a sentence was merely a light disciplinary measure.
To Xiao Yi, however, it was an unbearable humiliation.
His expression darkened instantly.
Ever since rising to fame in the martial world, he had been arrogant, reckless, and feared by all. Today he had even dared to disregard Shaolin itself. Having already humbled himself enough to apologize, Shaolin still intended to punish him with menial labor for three full days.
To him, this was intolerable.
His eyes blazed with fury.
"Shaolin Temple has gone too far! I come when I please, and I leave whenever I wish. What can Shaolin possibly do to stop me?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he executed his lightness skill and shot skyward in a single bound...