The Sakazakies follow the monks, they are now standing at the wide field that tourists would be walking around if Shaolin did not have an appointment with Ryo.

"A battle may be inevitable. An open space like this is more suitable to use the full extent of our skills." The Karateka thinks, thrill overshadows his worries.

Standing in front of him is a group of over 40 monks. Aside from the Hui-ranked monks he met last time, there are other younger ones, around 30 years old, they must be monks of Hu rank, disciples of the old monks. While some Xu-ranks monks are unarmed, the rest carry different types of weapons. From the main building, 2 other monks of Hui rank lead a group of people to see the Shaolin and Kyokugen-ryu, 7 swordsmen wearing Daopao (Taoist robe) and 14 swordswomen.

Abbott Huican introduces the guests to each other:

"This gentleman in black Karate uniform is the current of Kyokugen-ryu Karate school in South Town, Master Ryo Sakazaki. People know him as "The Invincible Dragon". The ladies next to him are his wife, Lady King and his daughter, Anh Thư.

This is Priest Quandao, he is the junior of Priest Quanfu, current Chief of Wudang sect. These 6 young men are disciples of Priest Quanfu, Priest Quandao and their juniors.

These lady are Abbess Jinglien, Chief of Emei sect, and her juniors and disciples."

Ryo looks at them carefully. Priest Quandao, Abbess Jinglien and 3 of her juniors are around 40 to 60 years old. Judging from their breathing, postures and movements, they are masters of their crafts, each of them possesses powerful internal energy, although none of them is as prominent as Abbott Huican. The remaining 16 swordsmen and swordswomen are not as skilled in Qigong, Ryo estimates that none of them could win in a prolonged battle of internal energy against him or King. The Karateka thinks:

"Chinese Kungfu's methods of Ki control is more thorough than my understanding, my analysis may be incorrect. However, I don't think any of them can withstand Huiyuan's "Lion Roar" longer than 5 minutes, their young fighters would fall before King reaches her limit. My daughter would not be able to stand that long, but I doubt Shaolin Temple would use that move to take out only 1 player. If these people from Wudang and Emei are only here as witnesses, it is actually better for us."

With that thought, Ryo confidently walks toward the swordsmen and swordswomen to introduce himself and his companions.

After the Sakazakies, the Wudang and Emei martial artists have exchanged their greetings, Abbott Huican shows them their seats, 24 chairs have been prepared separately for each group, and the monks stand in the middle.

"Master Sakazaki has visited our humble establishment today to negotiate with Shaolin school about a certain matter.", Abbott Huican says. "However, this relates to the reputation of Shaolin Temple. We cannot comply so easily."

"May us know what does Master Sakazaki want from Shaolin?", Priest Quandao asks. He speaks in English, although his skill in this language is not very fluent, it is the right manner in this situation where Wudang acts as a mediator between Shaolin, a Chinese martial art school, and Kyokugen-ryu, a Karate school that has its base in the U.S.

"This is something my husband and Abbott Huican have agreed not to disclose to outsiders.", King says.

"Considering this is an affair between Shaolin and Kyokugen-ryu Karate, aren't you also an outsider as well, Lady Sakazaki?", Abbess JingLien asks.

"I and this child were in the same room when my husband and Abbott Huican decided on this.", King replies as she turns her glance toward Abbott Huican, implying that the nun should ask the Shaolin monk if she doesn't believe her statement.

"It is just as Lady Sakazaki said.", Abbott Huican says. "We have decided that we would like to keep it a secret between Shaolin and Kyokugen-ryu Karate. For some reasons, the news broke out and troubled our peers of Chinese and Japanese martial art communities. We are deeply sorry for this inconvenience."

"Revered Huican doesn't need to apologize. Supporting our fellow martial artists from righteous sects is a right thing to do.", Priest Quandao says. "However, it is not very reasonable for us to give our input if we don't know what is Master Sakazaki's demand."

"And yet you goody two shoes are here, trying to stick your nose in this.", Anh Thư says in Chinese, as she knows her father would stop her if he knows what she intends to say. "Don't you think it's time you stop acting so self-righteous and get lost, Priest?"

Priest Quandao ignores her remark, his face does not express even a slight disturbance, as expected of a priest of his status. However, a few young swordsmen that are his juniors are not as collected, they glare the girl violently. If Anh Thư wasn't so young, they may have pointed their swords toward her.

Abbott Huican realizes the tension is rising between the guests, he tries to drive the discussion back to the initial topic:

"Master Sakazaki's demand is not completely unreasonable, and it definitely does not carry any hostility toward Shaolin or any Chinese martial art school. However, it is related to Shaolin's reputation, we cannot accept it willingly. Shaolin and Kyokugen-ryu Karate are both martial art schools with traditions, one is from the East and the other is from the West. How about we settle this issue with a martial art contest?"

"Fine by me.", Ryo replies immediately, as they have expected this outcome. The Sakazakies want Shaolin to release Luan, the Hizoku assassin who is prisoned by Shaolin monks, but they are low in number and cannot brute force their way through the mass of Chinese martial artists gathering here to save her. Shaolin wants the Sakazakies not to reveal their secrets, having an elaborated discussion with so many witnesses is not favourable for them. Settling this issue through a martial art contest may sound foolish and uncivilized to outsiders, however it is the most optimal way for both Kyokugen-ryu Karate and Shaolin. And despite their confusion, the people from Wudang and Emei cannot oppose this idea, as both parties have agreed on this.

"Master Sakazaki certainly would challenge a fighter from Shaolin as the representative of Kyokugen-ryu Karate school.", Abbess Jinglien says. "With his status as the current head of Kyokugen-ryu, it is obvious that only Revered Huican, who is the Abbott of Shaolin Temple, has equal status as the one called . Having anyone lower in rank accepting this challenge would be disrespectful to Master Sakazaki and his school. However, Revered Huican is old and Master Sakazaki is still a man in his prime, this doesn't sound like a fair fight and would affect the reputation of Kyokugugen-ryu Karate."

Anh Thư thinks:

"Shaolin is the root of all External Kungfu; within these schools, its Qigong practise is the most orthodox of all. As a master of Shaolin Kungfu, his strength will only increase until he can no longer force his mortal body to perform Shaolin's Qigong trainings. These people just make things up to get some advantages to their side."

"What do you suggest then?", King asks.

The nun replies:

"Revered Huican is the Abbott of Shaolin Temple, his knowledge of Shaolin Kungfu is the most well versed, even his juniors cannot compete. Needless to say, monks of Xu-ranked, who are disciples of his and his juniors, would need at least a decade to catch up to their masters. Obviously they are not on the same league as Master Sakazaki, who understands Kyokugen-ryu Karate techniques as thoroughly as Revered Huican understands Shaolin martial arts. However, they would be a decent equalizer to the physical unfairness of this matchup."

"You want to bully my husband with number?", King says. "This wouldn't be good for Shaolin and Chinese martial art community's reputation."

"Indeed.", Abbess Jinglien says. "However, my suggestion is that Master Sakazaki should fight the young Hu-ranked monks one by one, then challenge the High Monks of Hui-ranked after defeating them. Xu-ranked monks are disciples of Revered Huican and his juniors. If the Master of Kyokugen-ryu cannot defeat them in a fair fight, then we don't really need to question whether he has the skills to challenge their masters, do we?"

These reasons the nun proposed are obviously bias, even if Ryo can defeat each of them within a few strikes, taking all of them one by one is still exhausting. Furthermore, although their statuses are supposed to be a rank lower than a school's leader such as Nidaime Mr. Karate, they are still at around the same age as Ryo, also in the prime of their physical abilities, their Ki conditioning methods can be traced to the same root as his, and they are likely more efficient in Ki training since Shaolin is supposed to be the standard of all External Kungfu. It is not easy to get pass these monks without any injury, loss of internal energy, or exposing his techniques.

However in the more traditional martial art groups, it is the norm to treat a person based on his status as a martial artist. Therefore, despite how unreasonable it is, if "The Invincible Dragon" disagrees with this suggestion that was proposed it in such details, it would be considered a loss to Kyokugen-ryu Karate.

Although Ryo knows these conditions are not fair, he cannot back down. The Karateka roars viciously:

"Great! Today is a great day to witness the brilliance of Shaolin Kungfu. Who will fight me first?"

"I am Xuqing, disciple of Master Huiyuan. Please give me some pointers.", a monk jumps toward the Karateka, his hand wields a Chinese Dao.