When Emily Parker unleashed her domineering “Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers,” she felt a gentle force softly wrap around her fist, preventing her from advancing even half an inch. No matter how hard Emily Parker tried, her little face flushed red with effort, her fist remained completely immobile. Grace Miller, knowing Emily Parker’s background and realizing they had encountered a true master, hurried forward and said, “Little master, please show mercy. My sister Emily didn’t know any better and offended you. I apologize to you on her behalf!”

“Sister Miller, don’t apologize to this pervert! Hurry up the mountain and ask Uncle Wright to come and teach this stinky Taoist a lesson!” Emily Parker stomped her foot, tears welling up in her eyes, while glaring fiercely at Henry Bolton.

“This young lady, I can let go of your sister, but she can’t hit me again! What does ‘pervert’ mean? And tell your sister to stop calling me a stinky Taoist—am I really that smelly?” Henry Bolton looked at Grace Miller with a puzzled expression.

Grace Miller saw the anxious and wronged look on Henry Bolton’s face, especially his clear eyes. Having met countless people, she knew he wasn’t pretending. So Grace Miller nodded, “Alright, I promise my sister won’t attack you again or insult you! But… you can’t keep looking at us so rudely.”

Henry Bolton was stunned. So staring at girls was impolite—maybe staring at girls all the time is what makes someone a pervert! Realizing this, Henry Bolton felt even more flustered and deeply regretted his rash behavior. He quickly withdrew the trace of divine power restraining Emily Parker, and, not daring to use his magic to fly (as that would be too shocking), he could only blush and hurriedly flee up the mountain.

Chapter Four: First Arrival at Wudang

Everyone burst out laughing at the scene, but after laughing, no one dared to sneak a peek at the two sisters again. After all, the image of Emily Parker’s punch sweeping by, even lifting the leaves on the ground, was still fresh in their minds—who would dare cause more trouble? Whether naturally or not, everyone kept a bit more distance from the sisters.

“Sister Miller, that Taoist just now was amazing! When I punched him, it felt like I was hitting air, and I don’t know if he used some kind of magic, but then my fist couldn’t move at all!” After regaining her freedom, Emily Parker couldn’t help but say a little dejectedly.

“It seems Uncle and the others were right—Wudang Mountain really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even such a young Taoist has such superb martial skills. But I’ve never heard Uncle Wright mention such a formidable young Taoist at Wudang. We know most of the young disciples of the Wudang Sect, and their martial skills are about the same as ours. I’ve never seen a young master who can defeat you without even lifting a hand!” Grace Miller shook her head in disbelief, then caught up with the group. Still, Henry Bolton’s indescribable martial skills left her deeply unsettled, and she no longer considered herself a standout among the younger generation.

After leaving the tour group, Henry Bolton made sure no one was around. Although he really wanted to fly through the air, he knew it would be too easily noticed, so he used his earth-escape technique and instantly arrived at a deserted spot near Yuzhen Palace, then emerged from the ground.

Yuzhen Palace is located four kilometers east of Wudangshan Town, backed by Phoenix Mountain and surrounded by mountains and water. In the past, it was called Huangtu City. At its peak, Yuzhen Palace had four hundred halls and rooms, covering more than 56,000 square meters; its main hall is of brick-wood construction with a hip-and-gable roof, and is one of the best-preserved buildings on Wudang Mountain with early Ming style. Most notably, Yuzhen Palace was built by the emperor specifically for a Wudang Taoist named George Bolton.

According to historical records, George Bolton’s given name was Zhang Quanyi, courtesy name Xuanxuan. He was tall and imposing, with large ears and round eyes, and regardless of the weather, wore only a rain cape. “Sometimes he lived in remote mountains, sometimes wandered bustling cities,” and people believed he was a man of the immortals.

In the early Ming Hongwu period, George Bolton came to Wudang Mountain and built a hut here to cultivate. The Wudang Fist he created became famous throughout the land, and after generations of masters’ continuous development, it eventually became one of the most influential schools in Chinese martial arts. As George Bolton was revered as the founder of Wudang martial arts, Yuzhen Palace was also respected by generations of Wudang disciples, who practiced martial arts there.

While at Wudang, George Bolton once said that this mountain would one day flourish. Decades later, the Yongle Emperor indeed greatly renovated Wudang. In the 23rd year of Hongwu, George Bolton left Wudang, and his whereabouts became unknown. Both the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di issued edicts and sent envoys to search for George Bolton. The Yongle Emperor even wrote in a letter to George Bolton: “…The true immortal’s virtue is lofty, surpassing all things, and his mysteries are unfathomable. Though I am dull and unworthy, my sincere wish to meet you is never forgotten, day or night…” But things did not go as hoped; no one ever found George Bolton, who was said to possess the arts of longevity and transcendence, and this Wudang master became a mysterious figure admired by later generations. To show his sincerity, the Yongle Emperor personally ordered the construction of Yuzhen Palace and decreed that a statue of George Bolton be placed in the center of the main hall for worship. From then on, Yuzhen Palace also became the headquarters of the Wudang Sect.