Several months ago Old Master had learned about the seven rogue priests of Saochin province and the evil they were doing. This was in strict violation of the sacred precepts taught to them by other members of his sect.
“What shall we do about the renegade priests Old Master?"
He wasn’t surprised when Old Master said nothing.
The seven had moved into town near Huashan and established many of the finest opium dens and prostitution houses, controlled the gaming shops and used deadly kung fu on anybody who tried to stop them.
“They make a mockery of the sacred and desecrate the living”
Old Master openly denounced them. Eventually news got back to the Seven Rogue Priests who responded with a formal challenge.
“No one says that about us and lives. The old fool must die”
Old Master nodded and the challengers sent men to build a dueling platform. They erected a circle of eight 20-foot poles with a radiating pattern of ropes and surrounded with upturned swords on the ground below.
The platform was like spider web and sun hung low as Old Master went to the challenge. He was dressed in his regular white robes and carrying his only weapon, a throwing net.
Dressed in red, with faces green from the toxins they used, the Seven Rogue Priests stood defiantly on the posts. Old Master jumped immediately to the center of the web, and the fight began.
The Seven Rogue Priests attacked, using patterns derived from the Ba Gua, and either charged in unison or attacked singly.
He did not want the fight to go on long, so he dealt with his opponents quickly. The eldest attacked with the symbol of ancient priesthood, the horsehair whisk.
He whipped it around in a lethal slice and Old Master caught it with his net and dealt a mighty kick. His opponent staggered forward, blowing a jet of green poison.
Old Master shielded himself with his sleeve and threw his opponent to the ground. Now Old Master rushed forth and split the remaining fighters apart.
Balancing nimbly on the ropes, he faced two men, one armed with a poisoned steel brush, the other with mirrored discs that reflected light into Old Master's eyes.
“And now it is my turn”
Old Master caught the first man, but the second threw a disc and severed part of the net. He quickly leapt forward and struck the arm of the imprisoned man, who then shot the steel brush into the other.
The next fighters carried a poisoned needle folding fan and twin spear-headed maces. The spinning mace heads whirled powerfully and sought to smash Old Master's arms before thrusting at pressure points.
"No more soup for you"
With a high spinning leap, Old Master dodged one attack and a dozen flying needles thrown from the fan. A single mid air kick to the throat of the fan fighter killed him, and the net brought the mace wielder to the ground.
The remaining fighters introduced double edged swords and three sectional staff. They taunted Old Master's age and derided their fallen comrades.
"You old mountain goat"
Old Master's normally peaceful face took on a suddenly fierce look.
He wound his trailing sleeves in three quick circles and then back bended to avoid both sword and staff. Old Master then sprang back - unfurling his sleeves to slap the faces of both his attackers with whipping cloth.
The sword man recovered quickly to thrust his sword and Old Master evaded wrapping his sleeves around the trapped blade. A single kick propelled the man crashing into a post and falling down to the ground with a thud.
The last of the rogue priests charged Old Master and was surprised with a tight-roped sidestepping crane fist to the tempel. The sectional staff and the last rogue priest fell at the same velocity to the ground below.
“Some times you have to pull weeds from the garden”
Moments after his crumpled opponent fell to the ground, Old Master jumped from the platform to land lightly. He walked up the mountain road slowly, dissolving into the distance...
.
