"Catch the frog!?" — This voice echoed through the memories of the aged Sect Master. He recalled that on the day they were deliberating upon the nature of Yin Zhang, it was the first time he had beheld such a bewildered expression upon Liang Jingtian's countenance.'Even a clever bookworm like you has matters that leave you in a daze, unable to comprehend!' he mused inwardly.
"Sect Master, the command 'Catch the Frog' that you and the two Vice-Masters employed to vanquish the demonic Lama... I wonder, what is its origin?" the Chief Steward inquired.This inquiry caused the three powerful rulers of the Divine Eagle Sect to exchange glances before abruptly erupting into laughter.
"A most lethal frog-catching indeed!" Dongmen Yuan, the Right Vice-Master, cackled with a keak-keak sound in his throat.
"It marks the second occasion where catching frogs has delivered us from mortal peril!" Sikong Fu, the Left Vice-Master, threw back his head and laughed with such vigor that the very hall seemed to tremble.
"It is a tale from when we were but children... Bookworm, I shall recount it for you," Sect Master Chen spoke with a smile through his laughter.
In truth, the origin of 'Catch the Frog' stemmed from an actual occasion where the trio had gone to catch frogs together.In their youth, the three were constant playmates who roamed freely in their leisure hours.One day, "Fishy Smell" Dongmen Yuan—or Xiao Yuan, as his companions called him—led his two seniors to the riverbank.Spying several large frogs, they collectively decided to pounce upon them for sport.
But fortune did not favor them that day.While the three were merrily preoccupied with the act of pouncing and catching frogs, they chanced upon a ruffian from the Divine Eagle Sect surnamed Tong, known as Tong Guang (童广).This burly, square-faced man harbored a deep-seated dislike for the three children.Having surreptitiously gone out to consume spirits, he encountered the group of youths while returning to the sect.The root of his animosity lay in his habit of intimidating the weak into submission—yet these three children had persistently refused to bow their heads.They had clashed on several occasions prior, but it was seldom convenient for him to strike at the group within the guarded precincts of the Divine Eagle Sect.This day, however, that ill-natured youth surnamed Tong saw his opportunity; for this area was secluded and hidden from prying eyes, he moved directly to harass and threaten the three children.
Naturally, it was impossible to make the three companions bow their heads, and thus a clash of fists and feet erupted!At that season, the trio possessed only shallow abilities; being but children, they could by no means withstand a fighter like Tong Guang, who had already received specialized instruction in martial arts.The three youths were battered until they were rolling in the dirt, their frames defiled with mud and their countenances smeared with streaks of blood.Chen Shuyuan, as the eldest, saw that they were no match for their foe; yet, he rose to block the path, refusing to allow the man surnamed Tong to harm his younger brothers.For his defiance, he was sent flying by a heavy kick from the ruffian, his frame stumbling until it crashed upon the earth.
However, as Tong Guang moved to strike the half-Mongol youth and the fisherman's young grandson, Chen Shuyuan's voice thundered to his brothers: "Catch the frog!" The two instantly dropped prostrate to the ground, just as a massive wooden log whirled through the void and struck Tong Guang squarely in the face with monumental force!The blow sent the ruffian tumbling down until his consciousness vanished entirely!
"This is the very origin of the command 'Catch the Frog!'" Sect Master Chen concluded his narration, glancing at his sworn brothers before they collectively erupted into laughter.Upon learning the truth of the matter, the Chief Steward, who usually maintained a poised and scholarly bearing, could not help but join in their mirth."Catch the Frog!" had indeed proven to be a miraculous secret code capable of resolving a dire crisis.
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Though the Sect Master sustained injuries during this mobilization to aid the Imperial Court in war, the expedition was a resounding success.The Liao armies that clashed with the Divine Eagle Sect were utterly routed, and the remaining host withdrew from the territories of the Song.Some whispered that the enemy had lost their spirit upon learning that even Yin Zhang, the so-called "God of Death," had been vanquished, leaving them without the vigor to continue the struggle.Furthermore, rumors permeated the Jianghu that even among the Liao folk, many rejoiced at the death of that arcane entity!It was said that even the Liao General heaved a sigh of relief and offered applause at the news of the brass-masked phantom's demise.
The exploits of the Divine Eagle Sect in repelling the enemies of the state were truly illustrious, earning them exceptional rewards from the Imperial Court.Emperor Song Renzhong was greatly pleased by their meritorious service and was impressed by the sect's voluntary entrance into the fray.Hoping they would serve as a paragon for the heroes of the realm, His Majesty granted a Golden Imperial Plaque inscribed with the calligraphy:
"Deep Virtue and Loyal Integrity" (德厚忠誠 : De Hou Zhong Cheng)
This was bestowed as a supreme honor upon Sect Master Chen Shuyuan of the Divine Eagle Sect.
This plaque was fashioned from red sandalwood, intricately carved with a pair of dragons.The characters were inscribed in golden ink upon an azure field, its frame adorned with auspicious clouds and pearls.The plaque measured over one fathom in width and two cubits in height; in its left corner was engraved the words "The Emperor's Imperial Handwriting," while the lower right bore the seal of His Majesty in red ink.
Beyond being a supreme proclamation of honor, this Golden Imperial Plaque held the authority to mobilize military forces and command movements during seasons of war.Furthermore, it possessed the power to pardon crimes, granting amnesty even from the penalty of death!
By virtue of such illustrious glory, the Divine Eagle Sect (Shen Ying Pai) ascended to become one of the foremost powers in the land.Consequently, no school or rival camp would dare set themselves as an adversary against them without absolute necessity!For this was a sect peerless in every facet, boasting a leader whose martial arts had reached the pinnacle of being unrivaled under Heaven, and a following of vast numbers.On land, the Divine Eagle Sect commanded a valiant cavalry unit; on the waters, they possessed a grand fleet.It could be said that by the Sect Master's word of "Power" alone, horsemen would gallop across the plains and ships would clutter the seas!Crucially, he possessed a "Prestige" that inspired cautious respect among the high-ranking officials of the state, for the Imperial Court held the Divine Eagle Sect in highest honor!
Thus, the expansion of the Divine Eagle Sect's influence was swift; their branches grew from a mere twelve to thirty.Their numbers swelled from three or four thousand to ten thousand subordinates, spreading across the vast territories of the Song Dynasty in but a short season!
At this stage, even the Shaolin Monastery—the preeminent sect of the land—chose to abandon their thoughts of issuing a challenge to restore their renown.Though they harbored a bitter grudge over the defeat of their Scripture Hall warden, who had been crippled to the point of being unable to move or speak, Shaolin found it inconvenient to provoke a conflict with a sect so firmly backed by the Imperial Court...
Since the prominent sects had yielded in this manner, other camps and sects likewise harbored no desire to stir up trouble with the Divine Eagle Sect (神鹰派 : Shen Ying Pai).Everyone remained calm and maintained a reserved bearing, observing the shifting winds; no soul sought to act with impetuous haste or bring unnecessary disorder upon themselves.Even the various supreme masters who thirsted to challenge the "Celestial Sword Divine Eagle" (天剑神鹰 : Tian Jian Shen Ying), Chen Shuyuan, in hopes of attaining illustrious renown, were now besieged by such apprehension that they abandoned their thoughts.They had no wish to cross the authorities, a move that could bring ruin upon their own sects or even their families; for clashing with a personage who wielded both absolute power and immense prestige (Barami) was a grave and troubling concern.From that hour forth, not a single soul dared to step forward to issue a challenge or test their martial prowess against Sect Master Chen Shuyuan.
At this stage, the Divine Eagle Sect possessed immense face, being perfectly equipped with manpower, wealth, and a resounding reputation.Within the Jianghu, it could be said they stood unrivaled and without opposition.Consequently, many of the sect's power-holders conceived the thought: "This is a golden opportunity to expand our grandeur unto the next level!"
For though the Divine Eagle Sect possessed branches across the entire land, they had yet to stand firm or set down roots within the city of Kaifeng—the majestic capital of the Song Dynasty.Should they be able to establish a foothold in the capital, it would surely augment their wealth and prestige manifold.The capital, by all accounts, was the most prosperous heart of the realm and the center of the land, teeming with a multitude of people, rank, riches, power, and fortune.Who among men does not desire such things? And those who already possess them only thirst for more without end!
A multitude of Elders (Jang Lao), Hall Masters (堂主 : Tang Zhu), and Branch Leaders sought to propose to Sect Master Chen the founding of a branch in Kaifeng.There were even those who dared to suggest moving the sect's main headquarters from Taiyuan in Shansi Province directly into the capital itself!They perceived that by seizing this destined hour—when the sect had performed meritorious service for the state and was favored by the Emperor—they could carve a path into the capital with ease.Establishing a foundation in the heart of the realm would surely not be an arduous task.Though they all knew well that numerous powerful camps and schools resided there, they believed that with the sect's current manpower and ability, even if they had to endure a crimson storm of slaughter and bloodshed for a season, they would surely succeed in establishing their dominance within the Imperial City!
This matter was the subject of clamorous debate during a general assembly of the sect.Sect Master Chen himself manifested an air of interest in advancing into the Imperial Capital.The two Vice-Masters likewise maintained no reserved bearing; both were in full accord, ready to strike and establish a foothold in Kaifeng.
However... Chief Steward Liang Jingtian, who had remained in stony silence for several double-hours, abruptly rose.He moved with silent grace and presented a slip of paper for the Master's perusal.After but a fleeting moment, Sect Master Chen heaved a weary sigh and thrust the paper back into the Steward's hand.He raised his palm to command absolute silence from the assembly, then slammed his hand upon the table with monumental force, ordering all discourse on the matter to cease and adjourning the assembly forthwith!
After the masses had departed from the Great Hall, mired in bewilderment, the Left and Right Vice-Masters hurried forward, seizing the Chief Steward to demand an explanation.Liang Jingtian uttered no word, merely yielding the paper to the two brothers.The Right Vice-Master, ever the hot-tempered soul, snatched it away to read; once finished, he fell into a daze, nodding his head unceasingly without a single word.Besieged by skepticism, the Left Vice-Master grasped the small parchment from his brother's hand, only to be struck with an identical reaction.The Chief Steward then received the paper back, secreting it within his sleeve before departing in silence.
Chen Shuyuan remembered that day with absolute clarity... for the parchment bore but a brief, chilling message:
"Within Kaifeng City dwells Bao Zheng.".
The Prefect of Kaifeng was Lord Bao, a man of supreme virtue.He possessed one Imperial Sword of Authority and the three Execution Guillotines—the Dragon-Head, the Tiger-Head, and the Dog-Head.Supported by a host of heroes endowed with penetrating wisdom and peerless martial arts, along with scrupulously honest officials stationed at the Kaifeng Tribunal, they comprised a base of power that resounded throughout the land.
Through the "Virtue" he commanded, Lord Bao could persuade the state and the teeming masses across the four corners of the earth to join his cause.Thus, "Virtue" was the true Power and Prestige—absolute, eternal, and utterly unshakable.
Even if the Divine Eagle Sect possessed a Golden Imperial Plaque, its half-righteous, half-evil conduct, myriad illicit enterprises, and reliance upon a network of corrupt and avaricious officials made a clash with Lord Bao's Kaifeng Tribunal inevitable.He feared that a single plaque of gold could not ward off disaster forever; consequently, the Divine Eagle Sect abandoned all thoughts of advancing into the Song capital.
The Old Master heaved a soft sigh, drawing his ruminations from the bygone seasons back to the present hour...Though he could not lead his sect into the Imperial City to achieve ultimate hegemony, he still maintained a formidable foothold and possessed the Imperial Plaque inscribed with "Deep Virtue and Loyal Integrity" (德厚忠誠 : De Hou Zhong Cheng).This sacred decree had served to intimidate the martial world and hold the gentry in check, ensuring his stability until this very day.
And today was a day of profound significance—the day he no longer needed to harbor a bitter rancor over the lost secrets of the Tibetan "Everlasting Life" (Shennu Zhijie) art from the demon Yin Zhang.For now, the "Golden River Canon" (金河宝典 : Jin He Bao Dian), the manual of internal energy circulation bequeathed by the East Sea Divine Sage (东海神贤 : Dong Hai Shen Xian), was finally within his grasp!!
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