I am Zhao Zhijing, a poor Taoist priest, and I have disciples all over the world.

In the stillness of the night, the small tavern was filled with steam, the aroma of meat mingling with the fragrance of wine. Zhao Min's delicate face flushed red in the steam, making her look incredibly beautiful.

Before today, Song Qingshu was not entirely sure of Zhao Min's feelings. Given her scheming and the preconceived notion that she should be shameless with Zhang Wuji, everything could have been intentional.

But Zhao Min's appearance this time, and the question she's about to ask, both indicate that the original plot has been changed. It seems that women understand women better, and Xiao Zhao's previous guess was absolutely right.

"Young Master Song, if I had really killed Zhou Zhiruo from the Emei Sect last night, would you have sought revenge for her afterwards?"

Song Qingshu said frankly, "Miss Zhao, Miss Zhou and I are completely innocent. There is absolutely no illicit relationship between us. Even if I were to make things difficult for you, it would only be out of a sense of national duty."

Last night at Wan'an Temple, Zhao Min witnessed Zhou Zhiruo gazing tenderly at Song Qingshu. Furthermore, the two were both disciples of righteous sects in the Central Plains martial arts world, a perfect match in terms of talent and appearance, so it wouldn't be surprising if they had been engaged beforehand.

Hearing Song Qingshu's vehement denial, his words and demeanor unmistakable, a thought struck him, and his earlier anger vanished.

"Does Young Master Song perhaps only love the country and not the beauty, and aspire to achieve great things?"

Song Qingshu still shook his head, "Today the Mongols kill the Han people, tomorrow the Han people kill the Mongols. Some things were like this a hundred years ago, and they will still be like this a hundred years from now."

"With my own strength, at most I can only be a spectator who goes with the flow. As for who will win, that's up to fate."

Zhao Min said happily, "Young Master Song's words resonate with me. As long as Young Master Song is willing to submit to the imperial court, what do the Six Major Sects and the Ming Cult matter?"

"With my support in the shadows, I have the manpower and the money to help you become the leader of the martial arts world. Then, we can get the entire martial arts community to work for the imperial court. What need is there for the world to be in turmoil then!"

As Song Qingshu listened, he tapped the table three times with his left hand, then said coldly, "Miss Zhao, are you comparing me to those petty scoundrels from the Five Gangs and Thirteen Sects?"

"Whether you believe it or not, this world will eventually return to the hands of the Han people; this is the mandate of Heaven."

Song Qingshu came from a later era. Zhu Yuanzhang's unification of the country and the establishment of the Ming Dynasty was the inevitable trend. However, to say this now would be nothing short of wishful thinking.

As expected, Zhao Min suddenly stood up and said sternly, "How dare you say such treasonous things? Isn't that open rebellion?"

Song Qingshu looked directly at her and said, "Wasn't my grandmaster clear enough when we were on Wudang Mountain that day?"

"Expelling the barbarians and restoring our land is the wish of every Han Chinese."

Zhao Min remained silent for a long time, seemingly both unwilling and relieved. Finally, she sat down again and slowly said, "Of course I understand, but only after hearing you say it yourself do I realize that it is beyond redemption."

Song Qingshu, remembering the peace and tranquility the Huashan Sect had enjoyed for the past few months and the favor he owed Zhao Min, said in a low voice, "Miss Zhao, I have killed at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, Mongols. I can guarantee I won't kill you, but that's the limit."

Song Qingshu's words included the Mongols he had killed in his previous life as Zhao Zhijing. Zhao Min, who was already saddened, couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

"Young Master Song, in your heart, am I really as vicious as a snake or scorpion, so much so that you would avoid me at all costs, and that's why you would lie to me like this?"

Zhao Min picked up her wine glass, lightly touched it to Song Qingshu's glass, and without caring whether he could drink or not, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

"Even if you put all the members of your Wudang Sect together, you might not have killed more than a thousand people. Even if you killed thirty or fifty a day, you would only kill about ten thousand people a year. Do you think I would be afraid?" Song Qingshu did not answer, but simply drank the wine. Zhao Min's father was the Prince of Ruyang, who had fought all his life. She had been exposed to such things since childhood, so she was naturally not comparable to ordinary people.

The two remained silent, watching the bright moonlight stream into the room through the window, its rays slowly flowing across the floor, seemingly lost in thought.

"Young Master Song, thank you for keeping me company tonight and relieving my worries. If I want to see you again next time, would you be willing to come?"

Song Qingshu shook his head slowly but firmly, "Once this matter is settled, I will return to Mount Hua. At that time, we will be separated by vast distances. Please take care of yourself, Miss Zhao."

Zhao Min lowered her head and sighed, saying sadly, "If I hadn't been born a Mongol, nor was I Princess Shaomin, but just an ordinary Han girl at the foot of Wudang Mountain, would you have treated me better?"

"Young Master Song"

Before he could finish speaking, a towering flame suddenly shot up in the west, followed by a distant commotion.

"Something's happened at Wan'an Temple!"

Zhao Min knew everything about the group that came to Dadu to rescue the four major sects. Song Qingshu, who was in charge, had been there all along. How could the others have caused such a big mess?
Seeing is believing, so Zhao Min hurriedly went outside to look for the Bitter Monk, but he was nowhere to be found. She was even more surprised. When she turned around and saw Song Qingshu following her, she calmed down.

"Heh, Young Master Song, don't think you've already won."

Driven by her competitive spirit, Zhao Min leaped onto her horse and galloped away, while Song Qingshu, with Xiao Zhao in tow, also headed towards Wan'an Temple.

It turned out that while the two of them were drinking, Fan Yao had already returned to Wan'an Temple to obtain the antidote for the Ten Fragrance Softening Powder, and then sneaked into the tower to distribute it to the masters of the four major sects.

Just then, Zhao Min's elder brother, Wang Baobao, also known as the Prince of Ruyang, arrived with his men. Seeing the situation was not good, he immediately ordered his men to set fire to the tower, saying that he would rather kill all the people from the four major sects than let one of them escape.

Fortunately, Song Qingshu had given a warning, and Zhang Wuji, Yang Xiao, Yu Lianzhou, and others had already taken precautions. Together, they broke out and fought against the masters guarding Wan'an Temple.

As a result, although the tower was engulfed in flames, the Mongol troops who were supposed to hold their ground with powerful bows and crossbows were instead slaughtered by Zhang Wuji and his men.

Adding to the chaos, Wei Yixiao launched a diversionary attack, setting fire to the Ruyang Prince's residence. Wang Baobao, worried about his father's safety, had no choice but to abandon Wan'an Temple and return to the residence to check on the situation.

When Song Qingshu arrived at the scene, Zhao Min's experts were protecting her as she retreated into the temple. Zhang Wuji, in order to rescue the people from the four major sects, did not pursue them relentlessly.

"Young Master Song, you have proven your superior skill this time. I will retrieve the Heaven-Slaying Sword next time. Until we meet again!"

Zhao Min received Song Qingshu's promise, but that didn't mean others wouldn't attack her. Seeing the experts from the four major sects rushing out of the tower one after another, she knew that defeat was inevitable and it was best to leave as soon as possible.

"Amitabha!"

The four major sects, led by Abbot Kongwen of Shaolin, chanted Buddhist prayers and bowed to the crowd with their hands clasped together. "Many thanks to the heroes of Wudang and Ming Cult for their righteous rescue. The various sects of the Central Plains were originally enemies of Ming Cult, but Leader Zhang was able to put aside past grievances. All those past grudges should be wiped clean."

These people had been captured by Zhao Min for a long time and naturally did not know that Song Qingshu had become the leader of the Huashan Sect, so they still regarded him as a disciple of the Wudang Sect. (End of this chapter)