Chapter - 392 Both Sabre And Sword Became Missing And the Person Turned Fugitive (10) (1/2)

There was a Buddla Maitreya idol sitting in the main hall, its bare chest exposed its big belly, its mouth frozen in an eternal smile, looking so kind and benevolent. Zhang Wuji was still assessing the situation when suddenly someone in the hall was shouting, ”'Zhang Bo Long Tou' [the leader in charge of the alms bowl (small earthenware bowl used by Buddhist monks to ask for alms)] has arrived!”

The beggars stood up at once. A nine-pouched elder who looked like a scholar with a broken bowl in his hands, slowly walked in and stood on the right side.

Another shout was heard, ”'Zhang Bang Long Tou' [the leader in charge of the (beggar) stick] has arrived!”

The nine-pouched elder who looked like Zhou Cang, lifting an iron stick high in his hands, walked in big strides, and stood on the left side.

That man shouted again, ”Zhi Fa Zhanglao' [law enforcement elder] has arrived!”

A thin and small old beggar walked in, his hand holding a worn-out bamboo mat. His steps were light and he walked without raising a single speck of dust. Zhang Wuji thought, ”This man's 'qing gong' is excellent; perhaps he is only a notch below Wei Fuwang [bat king Wei].”

Another shout was heard, ”'Chuan Gong Zhanglao' [instructor/teacher/coach (someone who passes on skills) elder] has arrived!”

This time an old beggar with white hair and white beard appeared. He was empty handed, and his level of martial art skill could not be evaluated from either his stature or his footwork.

The four elders occupied the four meditation mats, but the mat in the middle was still empty. They all bowed down and shouted in one voice, ”Inviting Bangzhu [clan leader] to preside!”

Zhang Wuji's heart was stirred, ”I heard the Beggar Clan's Bangzhu is called the 'Jin Yin Zhang' [Gold and Silver Palm], Shi Huolong [his given name means 'fiery dragon'],” he mused, ”But in the Wulin world, very few people have ever seen his real face. I wonder what kind of character is he?”

In the main hall, all the beggars bowed down together. A moment later, the sound of footsteps was heard from behind the screen, and a large man walked in big strides. He was more than six feet tall, looked healthy and strong, with a red face like a high-ranking government officer. He stopped at the middle of the main hall and stood with his hands on his waist.

The crowd of beggars chorused, ”The disciples in attendance pay their respect to Bangzhu.”

The Beggar Clan's Bangzhu Shi Huolong waved his right hand and said, ”That's enough! You boys are well?”

”We wish Bangzhu well,” the crowd chorused. They waited until Shi Huolong took his seat on the middle meditation mat before they all sat down.