When Zheng Yubai got off the car, Zheng Jingzhe had already started chatting with fellow disciples from other branches. He had not participated in any activities of Xingyiquan since he left Jinghai more than ten years ago. This time he suddenly showed up. On the surface, everyone was very enthusiastic about him, chatting about the past ten years, but secretly they were wary of him.
Sun Yunqing shook hands with Zheng Jingzhe with a forced smile: "Brother Zheng, we are finally together now that you can attend this Xingyi Conference. I am really relieved." As he spoke, he glanced at the travel bag slung over Zheng Jingzhe's shoulder, obviously not knowing what was in it.
Seeing Zheng Yubai coming over, the Sun family father and son showed annoyance without exception. In the farce at Juxian Pavilion last time, Zheng Yubai had completely ruined the reputation of their Sun family. Sun Yunqing, who thought he could call the wind and rain in both the black and white worlds, now realized that Zheng Yubai had always been hiding his power. However, although he was jealous in his heart, he still smiled and said, "My nephew is here too, it's great. Come here quickly, I'll introduce you to some uncles and aunts."
Sun Yunqing enthusiastically called Zheng Yubai over and introduced him to the representatives of each branch one by one. He praised Zheng Yubai to the skies, saying that he was a genius that only appears once every five hundred years in the Xingyiquan school.
The more Zheng Yubai listened, the more he felt something was wrong. On the surface, Sun Yunqing was complimenting him, using words like "invincible". Representatives from various branches also complimented him out of politeness, but judging from their expressions, they clearly didn't care. Some even looked at Zheng Yubai with contempt.
"This old fox." Zheng Yubai realized that he had been pushed out by Sun Yunqing as a target without knowing it. The various branches of Xingyiquan had always been dissatisfied with each other, and they all believed that their own Xingyiquan was the most powerful and authentic. Now that Sun Yunqing praised Zheng Yubai as invincible, it was inevitable that it would cause resentment and jealousy from others. This move was beautiful, and it easily made the Zheng family father and son the target of public criticism.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Sun Yunqing invited everyone in. The second floor of the martial arts hall had been set up as a special meeting room, and it was decorated in a grand manner. After everyone entered, they took their seats. The sixteen branches of Xingyiquan finally gathered together for the first time in more than ten years.
Sun Yunqing looked at the crowded room and a smile appeared on his face. He glanced at Zheng Jingzhe and winked at his son Sun Haitong.
Sun Haitong understood and quietly left the venue. Sun Yunqing then stood up, cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, please be quiet..."
Sun Haitong left the venue, looked around to see if there was anyone around, and found a secluded place to make a phone call.
"Hey, the target has appeared, the old and the young are here."
A male voice said something on the phone, and Sun Haitong nodded and said, "Don't worry, we will cooperate with you, but you have to make sure they can never turn over."
After hanging up the phone, Sun Haitong said to himself smugly: "Zheng Yubai, let's see what you can do this time."
The Xingyiquan Conference held every five years actually has only one fixed agenda, which is to elect the head of Xingyiquan for the next five years. Sun Yunqing has been the head for ten years. Although he has no merit, at least he has worked hard. Other branches are unwilling to compete, and his chances of being elected are more than 95%.
"After counting, Sun Yunqing's votes are..." The person in charge of checking the votes is Guo Chengming, a highly respected senior brother in Xingyiquan. It is said that he is a descendant of Guo Yunshen and is best at Bengquan. He is a generous person and is highly respected in the sect, so he was publicly selected to check the votes.
"Fifteen votes in favor and one vote against." Guo Chengming announced after carefully checking the sixteen ballots collected.
Dozens of eyes were cast towards Zheng Jingzhe. In the past ten years, Sun Yunqing was elected with all fifteen votes. As soon as Zheng Jingzhe came back this year, there was an extra vote against him. Who else could it be but him
Zheng Jingzhe looked relaxed and said after hearing the result announced by Guo Chengming: "I voted against it, so is my objection invalid?"
Guo Chengming said: "Fifteen votes in favor means that Junior Brother Sun's support rate is already over 90%. Your one vote against is useless."
Zheng Yubai looked at his father with a teasing smile on his face. He knew that his father didn't care whether Sun Yunqing could become the head of Xingyiquan, nor did he mind Sun Yunqing running for the secretary general of the Wushu Association. In a sense, Zheng Jingzhe's personality and temper were a bit similar to Wu Neng. They were both the kind of people who didn't seek goals but only valued fun.
As expected, Zheng Jingzhe did not express any doubt about the result, and so amidst the happy applause of everyone, Sun Yunqing was elected as the head of Xingyiquan for the third time.
Sun Yunqing, who thought Zheng Jingzhe would get mad, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After being re-elected as the head of Xingyiquan, he would have the capital to run for the secretary general of the Wushu Association. Just as he was about to thank everyone happily, Zheng Jingzhe picked up the travel bag that had been on the ground and slammed it on the table. The heavy travel bag made a loud noise and almost collapsed the table.
"Junior Brother Zheng, what are you doing?" Guo Chengming was shocked.
Zheng Yubai sighed secretly, thinking that his father's performance was about to begin.
As expected, Zheng Jingzhe quickly unzipped the travel bag and took out the things inside one by one. He described with great enthusiasm how Sun Yunqing was beaten by him and cried and peed. Zheng Jingzhe had a talent for storytelling. Each part of the story was different and there were many jokes from time to time. Many of his fellow disciples listened to his story in amazement, wanting to laugh but not daring to. Their expressions were so funny.
Sun Yunqing knew that Zheng Jingzhe had bad intentions, but he didn't expect him to bring up things that happened more than a decade ago. The evidence was irrefutable, and he couldn't refute it. His face turned green like a green pepper, then purple like an eggplant, and he was so angry that his lungs were about to explode.
When Zheng Jingzhe finished reading the words left by Sun Yunqing on the Iron Bagua in a vivid manner, someone finally couldn't help laughing out loud. This was like poking a hornet's nest, and everyone laughed wildly. Only Sun Yunqing and his disciples had ashen faces, as if they had lost their parents.
After everyone finished laughing, Zheng Jingzhe smiled like a child who had succeeded in a prank and said, "Why did I bring up what happened back then? Actually, I was afraid that Junior Brother Sun would run into a worse person when he ran for the position of secretary general in the future, so I gave him a heads up. But I exposed all Junior Brother Sun's old scores, and he didn't change color. He is indeed a cunning man. It seems that I was worrying too much."
Everyone looked at Sun Yunqing, thinking that his face didn't change color. If it was a little greener, it might be able to carry out photosynthesis.
"Senior Brother Zheng is really good at joking. It's amazing that you still remember things from your youth." Sun Yunqing's voice was a little shaky. Anyone who was not a fool could tell that he was suppressing his anger.
"We had such a good relationship before, of course I remember it." Zheng Jingzhe was a little impressed by Sun Yunqing's endurance. If he encountered such a thing, he would have overturned the table and started a fight. Comparing the personalities of the two, it is easy to see why Sun Yunqing is now the head of Xingyiquan, while Zheng Jingzhe can only farm in his hometown in the northern countryside.
"If Senior Brother Zheng likes it, we can talk alone later." Sun Yunqing suppressed his anger and thought to himself: Zheng Jingzhe, I have tolerated you for a long time. But you don't have much time left. Don't cry when you see my trump card later.
Zheng Jingzhe made a scene, and he also vented his anger. He said with a smile: "There is no need to talk alone. I'd better just attend the meeting." Then he slid the weapons into the travel bag and threw them under his feet. He also said to the others: "Although the weapons here are a bit old, they are still very useful after being sharpened. Especially for commemorative purposes, if you like them, please don't hesitate to take them back and play with them."
Everyone laughed again after hearing his joke. Zheng Yubai looked at Sun Yunqing's expression and wanted to laugh, but for some reason, he felt a little uneasy in his heart.
"Ahem, everyone, be quiet. Junior Brother Sun has been reappointed as the headmaster. Next, we are going to discuss the new five-year plan for Xingyiquan." Guo Chengming cleared his throat and motioned for everyone to be quiet. In fact, these so-called agendas were just superficial efforts. Most of the representatives of the sixteen sects were rough people. Among them, five or six people could not even read, and the rest were not well educated. Sun Yunqing was a well-educated person in Xingyiquan, otherwise he would not have been able to sit so firmly in the position of the headmaster.
When Sun Yunqing first became the headmaster, he started to promote a so-called five-year plan, which roughly meant to promote the development of Xingyiquan. However, the people of the Sixteen Sects were very traditional and were unwilling to pass on their unique skills to outsiders. Therefore, despite two five-year plans, Xingyiquan was still not as influential as Taekwondo and Karate, which were introduced from abroad. Even compared with Tai Chi, which is also an internal martial art, there are far fewer people practicing it.
This time, the five-year plan was also very grand, but in reality, I am afraid that even one tenth of it could not be guaranteed to be implemented. Fortunately, everyone turned a blind eye to the sect's affairs, and each of them only cared about their own affairs. As for how the entire sect would develop, they did not care at all.
Zheng Yubai felt sad when he saw the scattered group. Although he knew that martial arts had lost their survival in modern society, the final result would be performance, or it would die. But he was still a little sad to see the people in the martial arts world being so unwilling to fight. As a member of the last generation of the martial arts world, he didn't want to see such a thing happen.
Perhaps, Yang Feiyun will be the last hope for the revival of martial arts, Zheng Yubai thought. If the Wulin Conference can continue to be held, and one day it becomes a world-wide competition like K1 and UFC, then martial arts will still have a glimmer of hope. As for the boastful Sun Yunqing in front of him, Zheng Yubai doesn't think he really has the determination to revitalize martial arts. This kind of person will always put his own interests at the highest level. Fighting for power and profit is his ideal in life. As for using power to seek benefits for others, I'm afraid it doesn't exist in his mind at all.
Sun Yunqing talked eloquently, but everyone was listless. Some people dozed off, some were discussing lunch dishes, and some were studying boxing. In short, except for Zheng Yubai, no one was listening seriously. Everyone treated this as a formality, but it was necessary to have this formality, so the people on the stage and the audience tacitly performed the play, wasting their lives but having a lot of fun.
Sun Yunqing was talking excitedly when the door opened a crack and Sun Haitong flashed in. Zheng Yubai keenly saw that the father and son of the Sun family exchanged a mysterious look with each other, and then looked at him at the same time. He suddenly became alert in his heart, as if something was going to happen.
After Sun Yunqing finished his speech, the audience clapped sparsely a few times, which was regarded as the approval of his five-year plan.
Zheng Yubai clapped his hands absentmindedly, his eyes never leaving Sun Haitong. Sun Haitong leaned close to Sun Yunqing's ear and whispered a few words, glancing over from the corner of his eyes.
"Hey, everyone, I have something to announce." Seeing some people thinking the meeting was over and getting up to leave, Sun Yunqing said loudly.
Everyone sat down again, and someone asked impatiently, "The leader has been chosen, and you have discussed your five-year plan. Is there anything else? If it's just some trivial matters, you, the leader, can make the decision."
"This matter is of great importance. Even as the head of the sect, I dare not make a decision on my own." Sun Yunqing's tone became stern and cold.
Everyone heard something and gradually quieted down. Someone asked, "What's going on?"
"Everyone, what is the 65th rule of our Xingyiquan?" Sun Yunqing did not answer the question directly, but asked in return.
Although some of the people present could not read, they had been familiar with the rules of Xingyiquan since childhood and could recite them by heart. When Sun Yunqing asked this question, someone responded immediately: "All Xingyiquan disciples are not allowed to form cliques for personal gain, form gangs, join the underworld, or help the tyrants to commit atrocities."
Sun Yunqing sneered, "You're right, that's exactly what you said. We Xingyiquan disciples learn the skills passed down by our ancestors, and we also abide by the rules passed down by our ancestors. If someone breaks the rules of our ancestors, what do you think we should do?"
Guo Chengming on the side said: "It depends on the severity of the situation."
"What if someone joins a gang and becomes its right-hand man?" Sun Yunqing asked.
Guo Chengming said without hesitation: "According to the rules, if there is any behavior of harming lives or oppressing the people, then they will be stabbed three times and stabbed six times. Even if there is no major crime, they will be expelled from the family."
After hearing this, even if Zheng Yubai was kept in the dark at first, he now understood. Sun Yunqing's words were clearly directed at him.
Did he have any evidence? Zheng Yubai thought to himself that his identity was not a secret. After all, he had been so close to Heipi and the others last time, so it was inevitable that it would reach the ears of the Sun family father and son. Moreover, the Sun family father and son were people of status in Jinghai. If they really wanted to find out his background, it would not be difficult.
Zheng Yubai watched Sun Yunqing's performance calmly, his heart was filled with excitement. He then said, "One of the people present has joined Black Star Company. It is said that he is a capable subordinate of Black Star Company's boss Xu Heixing. What do you think should be done with this person?"
Everyone was shocked when they heard Sun Yunqing's words. People in the martial arts world usually have close ties with the underworld. Even if they don't get involved in the affairs of the underworld, they know more than ordinary people. Many people in the martial arts world join the underworld to make a living after they have achieved success in martial arts, and some join the underworld and go astray. There are always inextricable connections between the two. The Black Star Company has a rising reputation in the underworld, and everyone present knows it. And when they heard that someone was Xu Heixing's capable assistant, and he was among these people, everyone looked at each other in doubt, and each had their own suspects in their hearts.
"How could such a thing happen? Who is it?" Li Chengxiu stood up and said coldly. He was the oldest and respected the rules handed down by the elders the most. It was said that his disciples strictly followed the rules handed down for hundreds of years and could not change them at all. In fact, some of the rules had long been out of date, and other branches mostly turned a blind eye to them. As long as it was not too excessive, they would not pursue it.
Sun Yunqing cast his eyes on Zheng Yubai and said, "Nephew Zheng, who do you think that person is?"
At this point, Zheng Yubai had no choice but to express his opinion. He stood up and said, "I am right."
The whole audience was in an uproar, even Zheng Jingzhe was stunned. He scratched his head, thinking of the strange things that happened last time he came to Jinghai, and couldn't help but cursed: "Damn it... You even lied to me!"
Zheng Yubai sighed in his heart. In fact, he was not afraid of the punishment of Xingyiquan, but he was most concerned about his father's reaction. If he wanted to investigate, it would be more terrifying than three knives and six holes.
"Zheng Yubai, what's going on?" After Sun Yunqing lit the fire, someone naturally took it over. Li Chengxiu was the first to ask.
"I admit that I am from Black Star Company, but I never think of myself as a gangster. I have never oppressed ordinary people, never hurt a good person, and never done anything against the law. I have a clear conscience." Zheng Yu said clearly.
"What a clear conscience you have." Sun Yunqing sneered, "As a disciple of Xingyiquan, you knew the rules of the sect, but you ran away to become a gangster. You also used Xingyiquan to win the favor of Xu Heixing and climbed up step by step. Did you do these ugly things?"
This question was very clever. The previous things were indeed done by Zheng Yubai. He was a man of honor and had nothing to fear from admitting. But Sun Yunqing's last sentence was decisive. If he admitted it, wouldn't it prove that he also thought it was a shame
Zheng Yubai hesitated for a moment, and Sun Haitong shouted, "Zheng Yubai, do you still want to deny it?"
"There's nothing to deny. I have a clear conscience." Zheng Yubai had nothing else to say. He stood in the middle with dignity. There was regret, hatred, and all kinds of emotions brewing in the eyes of everyone looking at him.
“Hmph…” Li Chengxiu snorted coldly, with an intimidating look on his face. He strode over and shouted, “You stubborn boy, do you think no one dares to teach you a lesson?” As he spoke, he punched him, intending to teach Zheng Yubai a lesson right here in class.
Zheng Yubai would not let him hit him, but he did not dare to fight back. He slightly shivered and dodged. Li Chengxiu missed the attack and said angrily, "You dare to hide!"
He was about to hit him again, but Zheng Jingzhe's voice rang out from behind him: "Brother Li, calm down. My son doesn't need you to teach him a lesson."
Li Chengxiu turned around and said angrily: "Your son broke the sect rules and should be punished."
"Oh? What does the sect rules stipulate? Did my son kill someone, set a fire, or harm someone's daughter? With that punch from you, I'm afraid more than a dozen bones must have been broken. Which sect rules stipulate this? Besides, you are not enforcing the law, so what right do you have to do this?" Zheng Jingzhe's words were like frying beans, leaving Li Chengxiu unable to refute.
“You…you…” Li Chengxiu was so angry that he couldn’t speak.
Sun Yunqing said at the right time: "As for evidence, there is some. But that person was afraid of Zheng Yubai's revenge and did not dare to come out to testify."
Zheng Yubai was helpless to hear such nonsense. Li Chengxiu seemed to have received a command from the emperor and cursed: "Zheng Jingzhe, did you hear that? Your son is so arrogant. If you don't teach him a lesson, he will bring shame to Xingyiquan in the future."
"Are you old and confused?" Zheng Jingzhe stood in front of Zheng Yubai, "You believe everything Sun Yunqing says. Are you his son?"
"You..." Li Chengxiu was so angry that he almost vomited blood.
"Dad, I did join the underworld. If you want to punish me, I will accept it." Zheng Yubai held his father, not wanting him to make enemies for himself.
"Zheng Jingzhe, did you hear that? Your son has already admitted it. If you continue to make trouble, you will be punished according to the sect rules." Guo Chengming said. He and Li Chengxiu were brothers in the same sect and had a close relationship. Seeing Zheng Jingzhe so angry about Li Chengxiu, he naturally favored him.
"The worst that can happen is that you can just kick both of us out. What's the big deal? I don't even want to stay with such a crappy sect." Zheng Jingzhe laughed.
"You are a bastard who betrays your teacher and ancestors!" Li Chengxiu finally couldn't bear it anymore and punched him.
Zheng Jingzhe raised his eyebrows: "Damn it, I've disliked you for a long time. Since we have a fight today, I'm going to beat you up." As he said this, he raised his arms to block Li Chengxiu's fist, and kicked Li Chengxiu in the lower abdomen, kicking the old man away.
In fact, it is not that Li Chengxiu's kung fu is not good, but he has been pampered for many years, always relying on his seniority to bully others, and his reaction is slow due to his age, so he is no match for Zheng Jingzhe. He was kicked out by Zheng Jingzhe, and fainted after rolling his eyes.
"How dare you!" Guo Chengming was furious. He jumped up and attacked Zheng Jingzhe from behind.
Seeing that he was about to attack his father, Zheng Yubai was unwilling to give in and raised his hand to stop him. Guo Chengming sneered and punched him. Zheng Yubai did not dodge and punched him with the same punch. His arm was longer than Guo Chengming's, and before Guo Chengming's fist could hit his body, he had already punched him in the chest. Guo Chengming felt a sweetness in his throat and flew backwards, slamming into the wall.
In the blink of an eye, the masters of the two branches were defeated by the Zheng family father and son, and everyone in the audience was shocked. Someone asked in surprise: "Are you really going to betray your master?"
"Pah..." Zheng Jingzhe spat, "If our ancestors knew that there were useless disciples like you, they would have died of anger. What's the point of keeping a sect like this with so many people? From today on, our Zheng family will withdraw from Xingyiquan."
"Wait!" Sun Yunqing stepped forward, "If you quit Xingyiquan, you won't be able to practice Xingyiquan in the future."
Zheng Jingzhe glanced at him with a half-smile: "Sun Yunqing, do you think I won't dare to beat you now that you are the head? If you can beat me, I will never use Xingyiquan again."
"It's a deal." Sun Yunqing said with a confident smile, "Today I will teach you traitors a lesson with Xingyiquan!" (To be continued)