Chapter 36 Mu Zhi’s Ingenious Stratagems

　　The two men chuckled, their voices brimming with amusement. “Why, sir, the whole of Ezhou is abuzz with it! The Qian family has but one daughter, their cherished jewel, pampered as though she were spun from gold. Have you not heard?”　　Liu Chengyuan finished his bowl of hot dry noodles in haste before setting off towards Hengzhou. For two days he journeyed, the road stretching long beneath his feet, until, by the shores of Hong Lake, he chanced upon a band of disciples from the Kongtong Sect.　　One of them, sharp-eyed and quick of tongue, let out a triumphant cry. “Well, well! We scoured the land in vain, only to have fortune place him right in our path! Is this not Liu Chengyuan—the very scoundrel who stole the Japanese Sword Manual at the Mount Taihang martial gathering?”　　Liu Chengyuan regarded them with a puzzled expression. “My good sirs, surely there must be some mistake? Before the eyes of all assembled, I handed the manual to Guanzhong Sect himself. Why, then, do you accuse me of theft?”　　One of the Kongtong disciples drew his blade with a furious cry. “The son of a demonic heretic, and still you dare weave lies to save your skin? Master Sun, a man of unimpeachable virtue, has already confirmed that you swapped the manual—do you take us for fools? Enough of this nonsense! Come on, lads, let’s finish him off!”　　With that, the nine disciples of Kongtong closed in, forming a tight circle around Liu Chengyuan. Each brandished their weapon of choice, their movements swift and merciless—one wielded the Soul-Chasing Fist, another the Soul-Chasing Palm. Others brandished the Soul-Chasing Blade, the Soul-Chasing Spear, the Soul-Chasing Sword, the Soul-Chasing Staff, the Soul-Chasing Spade, the Soul-Chasing Twin Hooks, and the Soul-Chasing Twin Whips.　　Liu Chengyuan narrowed his eyes. “Ah, so you are disciples of the Kongtong Sect’s Soul-Chasing Department!”　　Even as the words left his lips, the nine men had already launched their attacks. Their strikes came swift and relentless, each blow seamlessly flowing into the next, an unbroken tide of steel and fury crashing down upon him like a tempest roaring over the mountains.　　Liu Chengyuan, still nursing his internal injuries, had little choice but to meet their assault with the techniques of Guanzhong Fist. He struck first, his left fist shooting forward in