I. The Secret Banquet Under the Bridge
Under the scorching midday sun, while the drums of Shaolin faintly echoed, celebrating the first round victories of the Friendship Tournament, Monk Zhao Huo stepped out of the Temple's rear gate. Over his shoulder and in his hands, he carried six sets of food trays, covered with thick cloth to preserve their heat. His destination was a secluded area outside the Temple, near a small river crossed by a dilapidated stone bridge, a gathering spot for local beggars and, more significantly, the secret rendezvous point for the Kaypang Sect.
There, he found Tan Long, the young Kaypang commander who had just competed in the tournament. Tan Long, though dressed in the Kaypang's characteristic rags, exuded an impressive, free, and cheerful aura. Far from the secrecy that usually shrouded his sect, he appeared to be the true representative of the lively 'rivers and lakes society' (Jianghu). He was accompanied by several other Kaypang members who looked famished but orderly.
"Ah, Monk Zhao Huo! I didn't expect you to come yourself," Tan Long greeted with a wide smile and a voice trembling with delight, his eyes shining at the sight of the food trays. "This is a great honor for us."
Zhao Huo placed the trays on a flat stone. "Master Tan Long is too polite. The Shaolin kitchen serves all beings with Zen tranquility. Especially the hungry. Besides, this is a special offering for honored guests."
He uncovered the trays. The fragrant aroma of Enlightenment Tofu and Snow Ginseng Porridge immediately spread, stimulating the Kaypang members' appetite. Both dishes were prepared using Zhao Huo's Natural Umami cooking technique, capable of drawing out the deepest flavors from vegetarian ingredients without relying on strong seasoning.
Tan Long took his chopsticks and tasted the porridge. His eyes widened, and he exclaimed joyfully, "Splendid! Extraordinary! This is... Zen in a Bowl! The taste is so pure, so soothing, and the most amazing thing, the umami flavor is so intense, it's as if chicken was boiled in it, yet it's purely vegetarian!"
He burst into laughter; their familiarity was instantly forged, bound by a deep appreciation for the food.
"Our Sect Leader, Chief Hong, is a true gourmet. He would be thrilled to meet you and taste your cooking! He believes a great chef is a great warrior. You would become his favorite personal cook!" Tan Long said proudly, patting his stomach.
Zhao Huo offered a thin smile, looking at Tan Long with his characteristic calmness. "I am merely an ordinary chef trying to understand harmony. If this meal brings happiness, that is enough."
"Don't underestimate yourself, Monk!" Tan Long countered, chewing the tofu. "The food you serve is worth more than ten Iron Fist blows. Speaking of fighting..."
Tan Long then stood up, his expression turning serious but still proud.
"Monk, you must know that our Kaypang Sect's signature technique is the 18 Forms Dragon Subduing Palm? This Kungfu is hard to match. It possesses infinite variations; it is fundamentally rigid, yet capable of changing according to the situation—like the water that forms a river and the dragon inseparable from the storm," he explained.
"Regrettably, as a young commander, I have only mastered the first five forms. Only the Grand Sect Leader masters all 18 forms completely. But trust me, even five forms are lethal enough. I hope you make time to watch my afternoon fight. I intend to try the fifth form for the first time!"
Zhao Huo nodded, a genuine curiosity in his eyes. In his heart, he felt a subtle stirring for the first time since becoming a chef.
II. The Kitchen Monk and Absolute Memory
From a young age, Zhao Huo was indeed a plain, simple monk who never questioned much. He was trained in the basics of Shaolin's Arhat Fist. However, soon after, Abbot Xuan Ye ordered him to focus on the kitchen and intensively study the Bodhidharma Zen Principle.
For Zhao Huo, who didn't ask many questions and possessed a broad heart—perhaps what was deemed naivete by many, including the ambitious Monk Hui Jian—the order was cheerfully accepted. His broad heart never minded being confined to the kitchen. Instead, it was there that he immersed himself in experimenting with recipes and ingredients, finding spiritual depth and the harmony of Qi between the fire's heat and the water's coldness.
He realized that cooking was meditation. Understanding the reaction of heat on fat, distinguishing the natural umami flavor, and memorizing every spice combination was a spiritual exercise equivalent to any martial arts technique.
In his six years as Head Chef, he never returned to the martial arts hall for training. Even during this tournament, his focus was absolute on kitchen affairs, logistics, and his spy duty. He hadn't watched a single duel.
However, the sincere invitation from Tan Long broke his concentration. There was a subtle urge to witness the physical manifestation of the common people's philosophy of strength represented by the Dragon Palm.
Zhao Huo returned to the Temple and cleaned himself up. He briefly saw Monk Hui Jian pass by with a look of disdain, as if viewing a chef shirking his duty while kitchen matters were peaking. Disregarding the gaze, Zhao Huo headed toward the arena.
III. The Manifestation of the Dragon Palm
In the late afternoon, the Shaolin Martial Arts Arena was filled with a boisterous crowd. Zhao Huo, for the first time, took a spot in the corner of the logistics corridor, his eyes fixed on the arena.
There, Tan Long (Kaypang Sect) prepared to fight Peng Yu (Kongtong Sect). Peng Yu was famous for his lethal technique, the Seven Injury Palm, radiating an aura of cruelty and aggression that could only be countered with rigid principles.
Chief Referee Zhou Rong struck the gong.
Peng Yu made the first move, launching a quick punch aimed at cutting off Tan Long's Qi flow.
Tan Long roared, moving his arm, and launched the first form of the Dragon Palm: "The Dragon's Regret" (Hui Long You Jiao). This form was a very rigid and principled defense, blocking Peng Yu's punch with unexpected force. The impact created a gust of wind in the arena.
Peng Yu, surprised by the power, immediately tried to evade and attack Tan Long from behind, hoping to find a weak spot on his back.
Tan Long smiled confidently. He had anticipated the move. With speed far greater than his appearance suggested, he executed a variation of the Dragon Palm: "The Divine Dragon Wags Its Tail" (Shen Long Bai Wei).
This movement was fast, graceful, and flexible, like a dragon's tail flicking through water, transforming the rear attack into both a parry and a counter-strike. He deflected Peng Yu's attack on his back while simultaneously retaliating with a side attack aimed at the point of balance. Peng Yu lost his balance and staggered, forced to retreat.
This was the opening Tan Long had waited for. With all his might and a roar that summoned the strength of the earth, Tan Long unleashed his fifth form: "Seeing the Dragon in the Open Field" (Jian Long Zai Tian).
The dragon palm, now filled with formidable internal Qi, struck Peng Yu's chest. The impact was not only physical damage but also a Qi tremor that disrupted the opponent's meridians. Peng Yu was hurled, flying out of the arena with a hard crash. He coughed, his Seven Injury Palm technique not even fully utilized.
Winner: Tan Long (Kaypang Sect).
IV. The Analysis of Movement in Silence
Amidst the cheers celebrating Kaypang's victory, Zhao Huo stood frozen. He did not applaud, but his eyes, clear like a mountain lake in the morning, stared intently at the arena.
In his mind, something extraordinary was happening. His memory worked exactly as it did when he memorized every flavor combination and every spice composition in a secret recipe.
He didn't just watch the fight; he recorded every detail with absolute precision:
Peng Yu's Punching Pattern: The frequency, attack angle, and wasted energy.
Tan Long's Footwork: How Tan Long changed his stance from the defensive "The Dragon's Regret" to the rotating, graceful movement of "The Divine Dragon Wags Its Tail," which diverted power.
Qi Transition: The difference in internal energy between the second and fifth forms of the Dragon Palm—how the energy was drawn from the dantian and released through the palm. He could measure the air pressure and Qi intensity released, as if he were measuring the acidity level in vinegar or the heat of the fire in the furnace.
Zhao Huo's mind, which functioned as an infinite library of tastes and aromas, was now recording and archiving the movements of the Dragon Subduing Palm with the same precision: Absolute Memory (which he now realized also applied to martial arts movements).
Zhao Huo, the monk chef who had not trained intensively for six years, now possessed complete data on three forms of the Dragon Subduing Palm in his head, analyzed in terms of efficiency, power, and Qi transition. He admired the fight, but his admiration was quickly mixed with a new awareness of the hidden potential he now possessed, concealed behind his Zen tranquility.
V. Results of Other First Round Duels
The competition continued in other arenas, with results confirming that this tournament was not only about raw strength but also strategy, intrigue, and resilience:
Arena 1:Namgung Min (Namgung Family) faced Gong Wei. Namgung Min, after initial difficulties due to the effects of the weakened Seven Star Poison, successfully rallied and used his fast Namgung Lightning Sword to defeat Gong Wei, who relied on pure strength.
Arena 2:Tang Bo (Tang Family) fought Liu Bao. This was a clash of wits involving the use of poison and antidote. Tang Bo, the hidden weapon expert, successfully exploited a defensive gap and defeated Liu Bao, who focused on his Nine Venom Finger defense.
Arena 3:Murong Wei (Murong Family) battled Yue Fei. Murong Wei, with his Shadow Palm and Phantom Swordsmanship relying on speed and illusion, managed to overpower Yue Fei's Golden Spear technique.
Arena 4:Monk Zhi Shan (Shaolin Temple) competed against Shi Meng. Shaolin won again. Monk Zhi Shan relied on formation and agility to suppress the Beauty Maiden Fist's internal strength from the Emei Sect's Shi Meng.
The Tournament now had Ten Winners representing all major Jianghu factions.
VI. Secret Discussion: The Cult's Shadow and The Scapegoat
That evening, in Abbot Xuan Ye's secret chamber, the atmosphere was grim. Only Xuan Ye, Murong Yuan, and Tang Feng were present. Monk Fa Xing guarded the door.
The replica of the Green Jade Ruyi, created by Murong Yuan, was now wrapped in silk, placed on the table.
"Your replica is flawless, Master Murong," Xuan Ye said. "You have saved Shaolin's honor, at least for this ceremony."
Murong Yuan bowed. "It was my duty, Abbot. But we must find the real Ruyi quickly. Our time is very short."
Tang Feng spoke in a dry tone. "The theft of the Ruyi and the attempt to poison Namgung Min with the Seven Star Poison are not separate incidents. This is high-level coordination. The poison is extremely rare. Their goal is not just to divide the Alliance but to destroy our faith in ourselves."
"The infiltration technique and the placement of the poison in Namgung Min's room are very cunning, mimicking a specific style... A style used by the Demonic Cult twenty years ago," Tang Feng revealed.
Xuan Ye pounded the wooden table, his face pale. "Impossible! The Demonic Cult was annihilated to its roots!"
"It might only be the shadow of the past, remnants, or someone who learned their techniques. The goal is to induce paranoia and weaken the fragile Murim bond," Murong Yuan interjected.
Tang Feng nodded. "And we have found the security loophole. A food supplier named Old Man Li has secretly brought empty crates into the Temple, and he is in contact with Black Fox Xing, a paid informant."
"Spies... the real threat is hidden in the logistics network we trust the most!" Xuan Ye exclaimed.
"And there is more, Abbot," Tang Feng added. "Black Fox Xing recently spread whispers in the market about a young monk who is suspected of breaking the temple's rules, often sneaking out, possessing hidden talent, and being too close to an Elder. They are creating the perfect target to divert our attention from the real spies."
Xuan Ye looked at Tang Feng. "A young monk...?"
"His name is Zhao Huo, the Head Chef," Tang Feng answered flatly. "He is the same person you tasked with overseeing logistics. He is naive and too honest. Hui Jian's suspicion of him is publicly known. If the stolen Ruyi is not found soon, those spies will plant evidence on Zhao Huo and accuse him of stealing something precious to destabilize Shaolin, making everyone believe that the evil originated from within ourselves."
Xuan Ye realized that he had put Zhao Huo in grave danger. He had to protect the young chef.
"We must buy time," Xuan Ye whispered. "Fa Xing, search for any clues. Tang Feng, monitor the movements of Black Fox Xing and Old Man Li. Murong Yuan, prepare for the Closing Ceremony. We must protect Zhao Huo and find the real spies before they plant evidence and spread the slander."
Shaolin's true crisis has now shifted: it is no longer about the stolen Jade Artifact, but about protecting Zhao Huo from the fate of slander.