1398Please respect copyright.PENANA4wAH6YJWbC
Lung Chang is led by the Monk to a small wooden room where an old man is sitting on a mat and is praying before a small statue of Buddha.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQRLd2BUIfK
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMTwxmSrt9q
"Abbot!", the Monk says. "Young Hero Chong is here."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAxlywbE7MXk
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAEF3m0Slhkq
He then turns towards Lung Chang and says: "This is Abbot Yongyu of Shaolin."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAdiJn2Fc6vO
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAiGa8ANAd95
Lung Chang bows before the Abbot. "Chong Guozhi pays respect to Elder Yongyu!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAv1LIAnxHRU
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA0nBlasOE8u
The Abbot just laughs and says: "Please, Young Hero, rise up."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAuKHcpv7sHV
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAK5NrABIxVq
"Elder, I do not deserve the title of hero."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMwmDJls3rX
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwpQUdhaOdF
"You do." He then points at the Monk. "Brother Lingfeng taught you 'Buddha's Palms' because he sensed that you are a good and upright person and that you will do great and heroic deeds for your nation."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAeURkz7w8IQ
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAvfNgSjgYCm
"So, that is the name of the Palm technique.", Lung Chang thought. He then replied: "I cannot thank you enough for your teaching. However, I have to leave this Temple. Please do no be offended by this. I really wish I could stay here, but I have to complete some tasks first."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAVzx8vqYHWL
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAg6hUoAbUOd
"Of course. How could we be offended by your request?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAUpbFIXE8Fu
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAD9f2wnvacN
"Thank you."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAL69VvBPvLj
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQcvEbtiybz
Lung Chang bows and is ready to leave when Lingfeng stops him. "Please, Young Hero, do not leave immediately. My Master wants to ask you a question first."1398Please respect copyright.PENANA1LSxDKKAKB
1398Please respect copyright.PENANARH9inObuGo
"Of course."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAZpKl8aleGD
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAclNAa3g5Kh
"Young Hero, how did you manage to obtain the 'Deadly Jade Sword' of Priest Yue Li?", the Abbot asks.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4Qeaqb5Hy
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAAiPYfqsqeF
"I have already told brother Lingfeng that I am a disciple of Wudang Sect and the Priest gave it to me."1398Please respect copyright.PENANA36DE0nFRAT
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMK5bykeF9U
"Oh? I see. Forgive me for inquiring you."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAipYJRVYTRW
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAk7eFepf4oV
"I am not offended at all. If you have any more questions, please ask them."1398Please respect copyright.PENANA8WiWOnIrsf
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1fWj68pdh
"I do not have any more questions. You can leave.". The Abbot gets up from his mat, pulls out a sword from his Buddhist gown and gives it to Lung Chang. "Here is your sword. Keep it well. It is an important treasure of Wudang. However, before you leave, I would like to ask you to go and see Miss Yang. She wants to thank you for saving her and her mother."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwqJSt3i6wO
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAA2X9CA69sn
"I bid you farewell."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAIZyEL26Aay
1398Please respect copyright.PENANABygERtCrW0
Lung Chang leaves the room and heads towards the room where Miss Yang and her mother are staying. He knocks the wooden door and waits for a few seconds before Yang Liqiu opens the door. When the young woman sees Lung Chang, she cannot hide her happiness.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAaYmUYR3vDG
1398Please respect copyright.PENANABmb4OvVcmB
"Young Hero, please come in!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAua9JR8QUms
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAATO3KGdSe8
Lung Chang enters the room, but he does not see Liqiu's mother.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAN8YYyeUvKe
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAIyODmQmwoy
"My mother is practicing her Swordplay outside. She told me to thank you for your help and to give you this."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAB5ymSKfLPP
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAUKCVpXAeTN
Liqiu pulls out a golden knife decorated with gems and hands it over to Lung Chang. "This knife can cut through everything. It will be very useful to you."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAiFs8J6gBV1
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAgRWa9oHGDh
"Miss, I cannot accept this gift. In fact, I should be the one to thank you, since you saved me."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMeCWxjIyGk
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA1HP8OUwKrz
"Please, accept this gift. I will be offended if you do not accept it."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAxON8yZ3pfD
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwAoAnNyltZ
"Alright. I shall accept this knife. I thank you."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAvKbm39rkYY
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA7EeDaYErPC
Lung Chang bows and leaves the room. He does not look back, as he does not wish to show that he has shed tears. He quickly wipes his tears and leaves. This act of Yang Liqiu had touched Lung Chang. For almost a year, he had met no friends and was all alone. He was treated as an outcast, as an enemy of the Martial Arts World. But now, someone actually treated him well. Miss Yang and her mother took him to the Shaolin Temple and looked after him. They thanked him again and again and gave him this precious treasure. Lung Chang felt that he was not alone and had some friends. But now, he has to leave and will be alone again.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAUMl6L39jli
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQBGQ9JyyOL
Meanwhile, in Luchow, a man hurries into the city on horseback. The white horse he is riding is tall and strong. And the man who is riding the horse is none other than Piao Zhen, former brother in arms of Lung Chang and Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect. His horse gallops into the city with great speed, knocking off citizens who walk in the streets, until he reaches the Office of the Magistrate.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAarNtmzz5pJ
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAjFWvirTT40
The entrance to the Office is guarded by four soldiers. The soldiers wear an armor that is made from a multitude of small pieces of steel shaped like the Chinese character for the word "mountain" (山). The pieces are interlocked and riveted to a cloth backing. The armor effectively covers the torso, shoulders and thighs while remaining comfortable and flexible enough to allow movement.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAWPMCX3k50p
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAmLvOBrBVXP
The soldiers stop Piao Zhen and one of them asks: "Do you have an Official Seal?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAt7f8Owk99R
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAR6v9P7ZaR3
"No.", Piao Zhen replies. "But please tell Magistrate Chao that Piao Zhen wants to talk to him."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAHQJDHAlI4q
1398Please respect copyright.PENANADqSDQwVNzl
The soldier grunted. "Who do you think you are? Get out of here before I beat you up!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAK2ThFPY003
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAGaTyu0uqyu
"Ha! If you fight against me, you will not last even three moves."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAGmKb6F9ZlF
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAyaKl5H6xFG
The soldier pulls out a sword and charges at Piao Zhen. Piao Zhen dodges the sword and with a swift move strikes out quickly at his opponent's eyes with the index and middle fingers of his right hand. He gouges out the soldier's eyes and blood runs like river on the man's face. He then kicks the man's chest with a powerful back kick which kills him.1398Please respect copyright.PENANASIqBlUG8L6
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAHhaykWgg6p
Piao Zhen laughs. "I told you that you would not last even three moves, but you did not listen to me. Well, this is what happens to arrogant people.". He then turns at the other three soldiers, who have been scared out of their wits. "Now, will you please fulfill my request?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAtqJlk5uw7B
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAjI5ugXqV58
"Yes, sir!", one of the soldiers replies and runs into the Office. A few minutes later, the Magistrate comes out of the Office with ten soldiers accompanying him and greets Piao Zhen. The Magistrate wears a red full-length robe with side slits beginning below the waist. There are side panels at the slits to conceal the undergarments and the robe is wide sleeved and has a belt. The Magistrate also wears a black hat with two wing-like flaps of thin, oval shaped boards on each side, indicating his status as an Official.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAlLBAmUGJDe
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAfgjeswBmlU
The Magistrate bows slightly before Piao Zhen and says: "Magistrate Chao of Luchow pays his respect to the esteemed Sect Leader Piao Zhen of the Kunlun Sect.". He then shouts: "Men, take those three soldiers who guarded the entrance and dared to offend Mr. Piao and behead them!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANArQGKaxYXs5
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAV4u1wjPKAY
The three soldiers cry and plead for mercy, but their comrades follow the orders of Chao and take them to be beheaded, leaving Magistrate Chao and Piao Zhen alone.1398Please respect copyright.PENANA2ah761nUw8
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAjcKQH1PnwD
"Master Piao, I am terribly sorry for this incident."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAhoZ7b7dFXx
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA6CjYBzwVyc
"It's alright. Shall we go to you office to discuss?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMjDnUDBMMh
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAeNJv4SMO2J
"Of course."1398Please respect copyright.PENANApQCEAgzai7
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAiTw8PqGzUL
The two men enter into the Office and into a small room, that is nevertheless all gild. Even the desk of the Magistrate is golden. It shows the wealth and corruption of the Magistrate who overtaxes the people in order to live a luxurious life. The two men sit on two mats made from the best silk in the entire Ming Empire.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAPPIwezP7Ue
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAygNq9gZWhU
"Brother Chao, I hate long speeches, so let's come to the point.", Piao Zhen says smilingly. "Have you got the map?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAEWgevzea0W
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAYG3YS2hWOu
"Well....". Chao's face is sweating with cold sweat, showing his anxiousness.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAgJVCXN3oqx
1398Please respect copyright.PENANATUAFFX7lrZ
"Well what?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAPJtV9tkgBw
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwkBQUkO89R
"I managed to get it but.... but... it was stolen."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAnOXEx9d6hb
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA5v0vvrXYRE
"How?!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAswZ6Hp61Te
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwe25ZXaDUu
"Well, the carriage which transferred the map here was attacked on it's way to the city by bandits and-"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAZPhqWAykSo
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAz9nxDvugI5
Before he can finish his sentence, Piao Zhen's right hand shoots out and grabs his neck.1398Please respect copyright.PENANADPBEH7UfMV
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAEQL9cm1EAc
"Find me the map now or you will not live for too long."1398Please respect copyright.PENANA8SVGvGQUxk
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAlteVL6MyVr
Piao Zhen leaves the room and Magistrate Chao, who breaths with great difficulty, shouts "Colonel Li, come here!".1398Please respect copyright.PENANAvR9BjUCEH3
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMcWjWVtXPt
A tall fat man wearing a military armour similar to the one worn by the soldiers enters the room and bows before the Magistrate. "Colonel Li respectfully awaits orders from Magistrate Chao."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAHoD0RpbtLC
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwg9LzaJNvP
"I want you to retake the map stolen by the bandits. You must complete your task in three days. I do not know how you will manage it, but if you fail, you shall be beheaded!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAG2PVZButOv
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAHNDa0SDd9I
"Rest assured, sir! I will complete my task!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAUNzPpo24vt
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAGxhdFLZtly
Colonel Li goes to the barracks and takes 40 soldiers with him. He then orders the soldiers to search around for any suspicious persons and to find information about the location of the bandits. The soldiers find the chance to use the excuse of "investigating" to loot all the shops in the city and commit murders, rapes and other despicable acts. One of those companies of soldiers enters the 'Tavern of Lu', the most famous tavern in the city. The six soldiers who enter the Tavern shout: "Everyone do not move! We are investigating an act of robbery and so we need your cooperation."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAj9DEZnS5HJ
1398Please respect copyright.PENANANFsN24nz0R
The costumers are all scared and anxious, except for a young woman sitting on the left corner of the shop. That woman is Wu Lan, daughter of Wu Ma, brother of the deceased Chief of Huashan Sect, Master Wu Kang. After she had failed in her attempt to kill Lung Chang, she went further South to meet with her father. On her way South, she stopped at this Tavern to have a meal.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAfc3yi0UnyM
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA2RWYlnyWFe
The soldiers, seeing the Lan, come towards her. One of them smiles at her and says: "Pretty lady, why do you not come with us to have some fun?". The other soldiers laugh heartily, but Lan just walks away. The soldier grabs her arm and pulls her towards him, but she kicks him on the belly with a back kick and pulls out her sword.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAJHFJn1XKmQ
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAM8HOvvXjxX
The soldier, despite being kicked, laughs and comments: "I like girls like you.". He and his comrades pull out their swords and charge at her. Lan, although furious with the soldiers, decides to retreat by a few steps; in a fight, no matter how angry you are, you must never act rashly.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAln49T2rs9M
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAka72etnKL3
The soldiers surround her and one of them charges at her. She uses her sword to block the soldier's sword and a "clang" is heard. Although the power of the soldier is great, the internal energy of Lan is even greater and so the soldier is pushed back. She then somersaults and thrusts her sword directly towards an other soldier's throat. She pierces the throat and blood is spurted out from the throat. Two other soldiers charge against her, but Lan uses her lightness Kung Fu to retreat by a few steps. She then grabs one of the Tavern's wooden chairs and throws it at the two soldiers. Although the first dodges the chair, the second is hit by it and falls on the ground. The soldier who dodged the chair tries to run away, but Lan somersaults and kicks his stomach, causing him to vomit blood.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwwLKRua87z
1398Please respect copyright.PENANABdK3eu7fx5
Although she has killed one soldier and injured seriously an other, she still has to face four more soldiers. It is then when the shout of a man is heard: "Stop it!". The soldiers turn round and look at the man who shouted at them: Piao Zhen. After the execution of the three soldiers who dared to offend Piao Zhen, the soldiers of Magistrate Chao do not dare to disobey Piao Zhen's orders and run away.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQzVsFDkk8o
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAZdOgCuw9hm
Piao Zhen approaches Lan, who is surprised to see how eagerly the soldiers obeyed this young and well dressed man.1398Please respect copyright.PENANADxWAAGymFW
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAiWgt0ajNEj
"Miss, I am Piao Zhen, Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect. May I know your esteemed name?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAqwkk7kbegm
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA1Cby1YL3b7
"Oh...I see. You are the 'Gentleman Swordsman' Piao Zhen. It is of no surprise that the soldiers fled when they saw you. My name is Lan."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9xmXh8MUB
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwg3aoP0FKh
"What about your family name?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAhIaPYC2Sxt
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAfTRE8H7Sqs
"Is there any reason to ask so many questions?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAqPpin8YJb2
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA4Q4OnWFE5z
Piao Zhen blushes. "No. I am just amazed with your skills. Miss Lan, where are you heading to?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANA4fwl120EST
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAgTxCuq21M8
"Wherever I want!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANATJThCA4y9Q
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAf5krBOp9sp
Lan is very annoyed with Piao Zhen bothering her with his constant questions and with her fiery temper, she cannot hide her annoyance any longer.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQffyj5Kswm
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAeYIT4YvjAs
"I am sorry if I have offended you. But, I would like to ask you some more questions."1398Please respect copyright.PENANA06e3ozCIOc
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAyAN3p3Wcqv
Lan just ignores him and walks away, but Piao Zhen somersaults and lands before her, stopping her from leaving.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAcRCNvAnXfe
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA7Y9RTpRN1t
"So the Gentleman swordsman is in fact bullying women? What a great hero indeed!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANA8D758ESOCm
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA1cKg5uPnyQ
Piao Zhen remains calm despite Lan's mockery.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAQsZaLJjzoN
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA8NtOFUjbwN
"Miss, you have misunderstood me."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAzUc4Pep5IO
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAJq0WVz1m0b
"Oh, really?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANALtJAYptxq4
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAOILcRIUm7K
"Yes. I just want to exterminate the bandits of this area."1398Please respect copyright.PENANApxaeP5tfND
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAC2i6NCwpkb
"And what has this to do with me?!"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAPdXyPvqnSs
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAnZE53VIAyt
"You are very highly skilled and you do not want to reveal your family name, so I believe that you are in cahoots with the bandits."1398Please respect copyright.PENANArxn6ijjm5X
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAbkFZcTEvId
"How dare you?!". Although Lan could easily have gotten out of trouble just by telling Piao Zhen of her family name, her fiery temper overtakes her and she slaps him. Piao Zhen just laughs.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAaXktgW2cGo
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAdeq5HFoOYN
"Miss, please come with me to the Office of Magistrate Chao or I will have to offend you."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAkHuHfpc0ik
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA9Lz5KpSv0h
"You dare?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAVE26UkT2Cz
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAF9ITLJFvYP
"Of course I do."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAMHi30cOrcH
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAPOAVPCab6Y
Lan charges forward with her sword against Piao Zhen. The move was so fast that the costumers watching the fight did not realized what happened until a few seconds later. However, Piao Zhen is a very highly skilled pugilist, despite his young age, and so he quickly stretches out his hand and easily grabs the sword by the hilt. He then seal Lan's Vital Points, temporary paralyzing her.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAO6QpmfomUV
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAjie9MYqNBu
He bows slightly before her and says: "Miss, I am sorry to have offended you, but I must end the suffering of the civilians and end the plague of the bandits in this region."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAXuD87FsjkQ
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAn52IHNUnqi
Suddenly, a tall and handsome bearded man with naked muscular torso and wearing only black trousers, shouts: "It is not the bandits who plague the city. It is the corrupt Magistrate and his soldiers!". All of the costumers applaud him.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAX9QGHRnPdx
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAenlvsFR3jp
"And may I know your esteemed name, sir?", Piao Zhen calmly asks. He does not want to cause a fight without knowing the identity of his enemy.1398Please respect copyright.PENANArhVjjf22JB
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAHg1sxDW5bL
"My name is Hong Long (Red Dragon) and I am leader of the 'bandits'."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAlHikaWYjDb
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAdmTFtXh3ob
"So, you stole the map!?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANA1JNvd5mi5o
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAnEtjjq5GRu
Although Piao Zhen is normally calm and never gets angry, this time his anxiousness to find the map overtakes him.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAz2I0sN4F8J
1398Please respect copyright.PENANATZ2rbGw4lZ
"What use is this map to you?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAFeqC4cWsCS
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA0m0NFHw7Rg
Piao Zhen thinks for a few seconds and does not reply, not wanting to reveal the true reasons he wants the map.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAAwdUeQmVQq
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA6qTvEDsq32
Hong Long says: "What use does a hero like you has of a map showing the locations of all armies in the Ming Empire?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANAoGCFKRk9Y9
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAeTcD9zYi09
Piao Zhen knows that if he does not react quickly, his plans will fail. He strikes out with his palms, but the man dodges the attack and punches his right fist on Piao Zhen's left cheek. Piao Zhen vomits blood and Hong Long unseals Lan's Vital Points. Piao Zhen is ready to continue the fight, but Hong Long grabs Lan and uses his Lightness Kung Fu to run away. Hong Long's Lightness skill was unlike anything Piao Zhen had seen before; Hong Long run so fast that Piao Zgeb did not even realize that he had moved until many seconds later. Piao Zhen tries to follow them, but his lightness Kung Fu is not on par with Hong Long's. He will have to find an other way to catch that 'bandit'.1398Please respect copyright.PENANAppqQ2C9q0w
1398Please respect copyright.PENANA21DLNa14ns
Meanwhile, ten soldiers arrive at the Tavern, notified by the sound of fighting. Seeing Piao Zhen, they all bow before him. One of them says: "Master Piao, do you have any orders?"1398Please respect copyright.PENANA2aWGOJUtbT
1398Please respect copyright.PENANAr8pFP9qHrd
"Yes. Rush into the Tavern and execute everyone."1398Please respect copyright.PENANAmwuhjqkz0r
1398Please respect copyright.PENANABFG2lpDRyb
Those who were in the Tavern heard too many things about the contents of the map and Piao Zhen cannot take the risk of letting them leave and spread the story about the map. So, the soldiers charge into the Tavern and massacre everyone. They also find the chance to loot the place. Why Piao Zhen wants to get this map? Who is Hong Long? 1398Please respect copyright.PENANAwDj1d4AfFr