I Can Replicate Martial Arts

On the horizon, dozens of massive steel behemoths cleaved through the waves, sailing toward the shore under the glow of the setting sun.

Simultaneously, several iron monsters resembling great birds of prey took off from the steel behemoths. They came screaming through the air and quickly reached the space above the coast. These ’iron birds’ did not land but hovered in the sky, seemingly standing guard.

"Whose ships are those?"

"Could they be reinforcements from the Great Shang? I heard the Great Shang has occupied a vast territory beside the Central Plains and has even absorbed the local military."

A few well-informed martial artists instantly turned deathly pale.

If that were true, wouldn’t they, caught in the middle, become mere cannon fodder on the battlefield?

At these words, those who didn’t understand pressed for an explanation. Once those in the know explained the situation, panic instantly spread through the crowd.

"What do we do? There’s a wolf at the door and a tiger at the back! Does Heaven truly intend to destroy our Great Song?"

"We’ll fight them to the death! Even if our Great Song must fall, we’ll take a chunk out of them!"

The crowd erupted into chaos. Children cried, women wailed, and sounds of despair and hysterical screams rose and fell in a turbulent wave.

Some of the more powerful martial artists had already begun a slow retreat, ready to flee the moment things turned sour.

The Great Shang might be behind them, but the land was vast. Even living like a wild man would be better than being instantly crushed to a pulp by the crossfire.

Just as panic gripped the crowd, a few strange ’birds’ suddenly took flight from the distant steel behemoths. Something like a spinning blade whirled atop their heads, and in the blink of an eye, they were over the shore.

The Martial Dao masters in the Song Realm tensed up, staring nervously at these strange birds.

"Everyone, do not panic. I am Hui Kong of Shaolin. I have come under the orders of the Central Plains Dynasty to evacuate and aid you."

The strange bird hovered in mid-air. An old monk with long eyebrows stepped out, descending slowly as if walking on solid ground.

Following him, Dharma Masters from the Kongtong Sect, Huashan, Kunlun, and other sects emerged as well.

Someone who recognized Zen Master Huikong cried out in joyful surprise, "It’s Zen Master Huikong from the Shaolin Temple! It really is!"

"And Mr. Yue from the Huashan Sect! Mr. Yue is here too! We’re saved!"

The martial artists in the crowd were overcome with emotion. They had been in a hopeless situation, but now they had a chance to survive. How could they not be ecstatic?

"Where are the Shaolin disciples?"

After Hui Kong landed, he scanned the crowd along the shore and called out, his voice booming like thunder, instantly drowning out all other noise.

This terrifying display of Power left all the Martial Artists present in awe, and they fell silent.

"Xu Shian, a secular disciple of Shaolin, greets Elder Huikong."

"Disciple Void Aspect greets Grand-Uncle Master..."

Soon, dozens of Shaolin disciples—some secular, others ordained—stepped forward, their palms pressed together in greeting.

Most of them were disciples who had either been dispatched from the temple over the years or had left after completing their training.

"All disciples, maintain order!"

"We obey the Elder’s command!"

The Elders from the other sects followed suit, calling forth their own disciples from the crowd who had been dispatched in the past.

Some of these disciples had long since established their own lineages outside the sect, recruiting their own students. They were essentially the outer branches and Side Paths of their respective sects.

Now, summoned by their home sects, they stepped forward at once, their faces beaming with the pride of being disciples from top-tier sects.

In an instant, several hundred disciples from the various sects, along with their own students and families, stepped out. They formed a massive group and began to maintain order.

Seeing the impressive display from the various sects, the numerous Gui Xu forces decided to lay low for the moment and observe the situation.

In particular, some of the Great Song officials wore varied but equally grim expressions.

They knew that if this continued, their escape from this place would depend entirely on the whims of these sects.

But as powerful figures of the Court, even without military authority, they still had many skilled experts in their service. How could they be willing to bow their heads and submit?

’But the situation is still unclear. It’s best to leave this place first.’

"Amitabha Buddha! You’re finally here!"

Just then, a large group of Martial Artists abruptly appeared on a nearby hilltop.

Everyone looked over and was stunned to see that the leaders were none other than the Sect Leaders and Elders who had remained behind, followed by their disciples and their families.

It was a vast procession of several thousand people.

Many of them were expert survivors from the sects that had managed to retreat in time after the disastrous defeat on the Great Song border.

They had already done everything in their power to defend the Great Song’s territory.

Fighting on would have only led to pointless casualties.

With the invasion of the Great Zhou army, the sects could no longer hold their mountain strongholds. They had no choice but to abandon their homes, gather their people, and hurry to the coast.

They had been hoping to hold out for a rescue from the sects of the Central Plains.

Seeing this, the faces of the court officials grew even darker, and they couldn’t help but curse inwardly:

’I knew these martial men were treacherous. If they had fought to the death, the army might not have been defeated. To think so many of their masters survived... their hearts are truly wicked.’

"Senior Brother! Are you well? I am late."

Hui Kong’s face lit up with joy. He hurried forward to meet them, pressing his palms together as he addressed the leading Shaolin Monk.

"Not late, not late at all. Amitabha Buddha. Is the Central Plains Dynasty willing to take us in?"

The Shaolin Abbot, Hui Wu, was a gaunt, clean-shaven old monk with long eyebrows that drooped down to his cheekbones.

"Everything has been settled. These warships were sent by the Central Plains Court. Time is of the essence. We can talk more on board."

"Indeed!"

Hui Wu said, pressing his palms together.

The reunion was much the same for Shaolin as it was for the other sects.

Hearing this news, they were all overcome with joy.