Arhats Subduing Demons: Starting with The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber

Chapter 123 The Butterfly Effect, The Unpredictability of Life

That day, at dusk, the sunset painted the earth a crimson hue. On the main road leading to Yumen Pass, merchants and travelers came and went in an endless stream.

Among this group were several men, women, and children wearing straw hats and riding camels; they were none other than Yun Changkong and his entourage in disguise.

After entering the pass, the group checked into an inn. Yun Changkong arranged for the innkeeper to sell the camels and buy some horses before continuing their journey.

Throughout the journey, Xiao Zhao remained silent, yet she took meticulous care of Yun Changkong; Granny Jin Hua was efficient and experienced in the martial arts world, which made things much easier for Yun Changkong.

They arrived in Yongdeng that day, an important node on the ancient Silk Road, a vital transportation route connecting the Hexi Corridor with Qinghai and the Western Regions.

Although the food was delicious, the atmosphere was somber during the meal. Xiao Zhao's brows were furrowed, and her usually bright eyes looked somewhat melancholy, clearly indicating that she was burdened with something heavy on her mind.

Zhao Min, however, was elegant and charming. She had been training hard for seven or eight months, and with Yun Changkong's full assistance, her internal strength and martial arts had greatly improved. Although she had been traveling for a long time, the luster of her face had faded.

Grandma Jin Hua felt a pang of pain in her heart. She had been trying her best to avoid many thoughts, but now she felt that her daughter should not have to suffer so much. She said, "I'm going back to the East Sea."

Yun Changkong said, "I don't know how to advise you, but the Grand Master might find out about your identity, so it's really not safe there."

Xiao Zhao said, "Mother, I'll go back with you."

As soon as she said those words, she felt a chill run down her spine.

In fact, she thought that spending her remaining years in the Kunlun Mountains might be a good choice.

Unfortunately, Yun Changkong wanted to return to the Central Plains for Zhao Min's sake.

At this moment, she realized that parting was unbearable.

But if I don't leave, the consequences will be beyond my control.

She was controlling herself to speak calmly, and then got up and walked past Yun Changkong.

"Xiao Zhao!" Granny Jin Hua looked at Xiao Zhao's pitiful figure with heartache and raised her hand.

Xiao Zhao didn't respond, opened the door, and went out.

Zhao Min looked at Yun Changkong with a playful expression, a half-smile playing on her lips.
An indescribable expression appeared on Yun Changkong's face.

He really had no way to deal with it.

Some things, even if you are completely uninhibited, are not up to you.

Granny Jin Hua slowly raised her hand, smoothed the long hair that had fallen down her temple, let out a long sigh, and followed her out.

After a while, Zhao Min leaned close to Yun Changkong's ear and chuckled, "Let's hear what they have to say."

Yun Changkong sighed, "It's nothing more than words of comfort for my daughter. What's there to listen to?"

Zhao Min said, "That's not necessarily true. Maybe they have other things to do?"

"Let's go!" Zhao Min pulled Yun Changkong and they left the house.

She wasn't actually that concerned about the matter between the Purple-Robed Dragon King and Yun Changkong. Now that the mother and daughter both said they were leaving, whether out of curiosity or something else, she wanted to hear about it.

Zhao Min gestured for Yun Changkong to be quiet, then quietly walked to the window and peeked out. Inside, there was swirling smoke, and Granny Jin Hua was holding Xiao Zhao in her arms, sitting on the bed. She gently stroked her daughter's face, wiping away her tears, and whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry to your father."

Xiao Zhao sobbed, "Mother, it's not your fault. I also want to forget him and not think about him, but the more I think about him, the more I can't help it. Why is that?"

Yun Changkong understood very well that anyone who had ever been in love, even if their rational mind told them that there were various obstacles to being with him/her and that they should not think about him/her, their inner will would absolutely not allow it.

Even after a long, long time, you might suddenly dream of him one night.

Zhao Min pinched Yun Changkong. She knew her husband had never provoked Xiao Zhao, but this scene still made her a little jealous.

Then Granny Jin Hua said, "I know, lust is hard to resist. He is kind-hearted, brave and extraordinary, one of a kind in the world, and is indeed a good match."

Zhao Min looked up at Chang Kong, whose expression was awkward, almost embarrassed. She chuckled inwardly.

"Mother, do you think so too?" Xiao Zhao asked.

Granny Jin Hua sighed, "Yes, you are young and haven't met many people, but I have lived for so many years and met countless people. Someone like him is truly unique. He has many admirable qualities that others cannot see, but for us women, alas..."

Yun Changkong thought that his relationship with the Purple-Robed Dragon King was entirely due to their internal energy, but he didn't expect her to have such a high opinion of him. Zhao Min, who was beside him, was even more excited.

Xiao Zhao then asked, "Mother, what do you think is the best about him?"

The Purple-Robed Dragon King said, "Actually, his high martial arts skills and handsome appearance are his least remarkable qualities. What I admire most about him is his kindness, his magnanimity, and his generosity."

My child, you must know that he has always been a loner. Even when someone of great status in the martial arts world tries to associate with him, he doesn't take it seriously. He is able to live a solitary life.

Only those with inner peace and a pure and virtuous heart can achieve this. If one harbors evil intentions, their days will be filled with thoughts of how to harm others and how to satisfy their desires. They will naturally seek to associate with others and would never be able to relinquish all worldly pleasures and retreat to a secluded life in nature.

Yun Changkong thought it made sense.

"And his magnanimity towards Zhang Wuji is something that others cannot match. No one in this world can stand to see someone better than themselves."

Zhang Wuji was clearly a potential threat, but what did he do? He never belittled others. He didn't need to suppress others to demonstrate his strength, which was his true power and also his most charismatic moment.

Furthermore, his cautious nature and desire to avoid danger, while seemingly timid, actually make him the kind of person capable of such daring actions.

Xiao Zhao said, "His return to the Central Plains this time seems to be because of Zhao Min, but in reality, he also wants to do his part for the anti-Yuan cause. Xiao Zhao understands all of this."

Granny Jin Hua said, "The world is dangerous and life is short. I'm going back to Ling Snake Island this time. I don't want to worry about worldly affairs anymore. You don't need to come back with me."

Xiao Zhao murmured, "I originally thought that no matter where he was, as long as I could follow him, I didn't care about status or anything else. As long as I had him, I would have no regrets. But, but I..."

"Xiao Zhao..." Granny Jin Hua said, her voice choked with emotion and tears welling in her eyes, "You don't need to think like that. My affair with him will never be made public. I will never see him again. Just pretend that you no longer have me as your mother. You and he are inseparable, bound together in life and death. As long as you are happy, that's enough."

She felt she had been selfish for a long time. Seeing Xiao Zhao in such pain, she made up her mind to return to Ling Snake Island, join her husband in the afterlife, and put an end to this ill-fated relationship.

She believed that Yun Changkong would protect her daughter. As for some hurdles, Xiao Zhao had to overcome them herself; no one could help her.

Hearing this, Yun Changkong vaguely guessed what the Purple-Robed Dragon King was thinking and became anxious. Suddenly, he felt something slippery on his hand and saw Zhao Min's fingers twitch slightly, tickling his palm.

Their eyes met, and though they spoke no words, it was as if they understood each other. Suddenly, they were of one mind and turned to leave together.

Back in her room, Zhao Min sat by the oil lamp, her beautiful eyes smiling, and said, "You've gotten yourself into this mess, how are you going to clean it up?"

Yun Changkong lay on the bed and said, "Marrying Xiao Zhao off should solve everything."

Zhao Min smiled radiantly at her husband and asked, "Whom will you marry?"

Chang Kong said, "Zhang Wuji!"

Zhao Min glared at him and said, "You seem quite shrewd, so why are you saying such foolish things? Didn't you see that she was exchanging glances with Zhou Zhiruo from the Emei Sect? Besides, you're avoiding her now, and she feels that this is due to ethical constraints."

She'll only feel wronged and miserable. If you were to marry her off, she'd be heartbroken. A woman with a fiery temper might even commit suicide!

Yun Changkong remained silent for a long time before saying, "Then what can we do? I'm watching this fall apart, and I feel quite wronged."

His affair with the Purple-Robed Dragon King destined him to be unable to be with Xiao Zhao, and Xiao Zhao herself felt the same way, only she didn't know it.

Zhao Min scoffed and said, "Anyway, this is a lesson. Don't show off your martial arts skills so easily in the future, especially in front of beautiful women. When you, Hero Yun, make a move, it is earth-shattering and shocking. All of them are methods that no one has ever seen before. Who wouldn't be attracted to you?"

If there's no interaction, that's fine. But if you travel together for a while, your extensive knowledge, magnanimity, and broad-mindedness will even win over that old woman; what young woman wouldn't be moved?

Yun Changkong laughed heartily: "Alright, I'll listen to you, but I still have to show a little bit to your father and brothers!"

Zhao Min raised an eyebrow and scolded, "You! You can't hurt my father and brothers. My brother has a bad temper, so I can give him a beating, but you absolutely can't lay a hand on my father!"

It should be noted that Zhao Min's feelings for her father and brothers were no less than those for her husband. In the original novel, she abandoned her father and brothers for Zhang Wuji, which was heartbreaking. However, at that time, Zhang Wuji was seriously injured by Lu Zhangke's Xuanming Divine Palm and was on the verge of death. She could only save her lover first and ask her father and brothers for forgiveness later, which is why she threatened to kill herself.

Rather, it was not that she truly abandoned her father and brothers for her lover.

In short, if Zhang Wuji were to kill her father and brothers, she would protect them with her life.

Yun Changkong, of course, knew this well, and laughed heartily: "Then let's see how my wife will reward her husband." With a wave of his hand, Zhao Min was already beside him.

Zhao Min's cheeks flushed red, and she said angrily, "Don't talk nonsense..." Before she could finish speaking, Chang Kong kissed her on the cheek and then picked her up in his arms. Zhao Min couldn't help but cry out, "I don't want to be here..."

Yun Changkong suddenly put her down and looked towards the door, where he heard someone outside say, "An old friend has come to visit."

Chang Kong smiled and said, "Please come in." He opened the door and saw an elderly man in gray robes with a short beard standing outside.
Yun Changkong and Zhao Min exchanged a glance. They had never seen this face before, but the voice belonged to Situ Qianzhong.

"You really know how to enjoy life. Do you know what's happened in the martial world?" The man said as he entered the house, sat down, and tore off his disguise. Sure enough, he was the red-nosed drunkard Situ.

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Brother's disguise skills are truly superb."

Situ Qianzhong said, "If I weren't skilled, how could I survive?"

Chang Kong sat down and said, "What do you mean?"

Situ Qianzhong took out a long sword wrapped in cloth from behind his back and placed it on the table, saying, "You showed off your power on Bright Peak, and people say I'm your supporter, so be it."

"You killed the Twin Fiends of Hejian and the Three Swords of Qinghai. They have a whole bunch of disciples and followers who can't find you to seek revenge, or perhaps they don't dare to. But facing me, their accomplice who parades around with the Autumn God Sword, how can they be polite? This old man wants to drink for a few more years; can he do that without changing his appearance?"

Yun Changkong smiled faintly and said, "I see!"

Zhao Min opened the cloth and saw her husband's longsword. She asked, "Master Situ, how did you know we were here?"

Situ Qianzhong rolled his eyes: "Sorry, this is an old man's secret from his time in the martial arts world."

Zhao Min smiled slightly and said, "Very good, very good!"

Situ Qianzhong asked, "Why is it so good?"

Yun Changkong said, "You said something big has happened in the martial world, please tell me, brother."

Situ Qianzhong said, "The Ming Cult's Wudang Sect was almost wiped out in one fell swoop. Even Zhang Sanfeng was seriously injured and almost became a prisoner. Tsk tsk, do you think this is a big deal?"

Yun Changkong's body trembled violently as he looked at Zhao Min.

Zhao Min said softly, "Was it my brother's doing?"

Yun Changkong asked, "What exactly happened?"

He was very surprised. Zhao Min had been with him the whole time, so how could this have happened? How did it succeed?

"That's a long story," Situ Qianzhong clicked his tongue and said with a grin, "As the saying goes, an emperor doesn't starve his soldiers. Before I speak, I should clear my throat, shouldn't I?"

Yun Changkong immediately brought over a jar of wine and filled his bowl to the brim.

Situ Qianzhong drank a bowl of wine and then began to tell his story.

"The day you left Bright Peak, the Ming Cult recommended Zhang Wuji as its leader. The Wudang Sect hoped that he could lead the Ming Cult to the righteous path, and they fully supported him."

Upon assuming the leadership, Zhang Wuji immediately issued a decree stating that the sect was a heretical and evil sect. While some members were unaware of the truth and were instigated, there were also members who acted recklessly and harmed the innocent. From this day forward, everyone from himself down must strictly abide by the sect's rules, do good and avoid evil, and uphold justice. Brothers within the sect must love and help each other like siblings, and must absolutely refrain from fighting. He appointed the cold-faced Mr. Leng Qian as the enforcer of the punishment hall, declaring that anyone who violated the sect's rules, even his maternal grandfather or uncle, would be punished without exception.

Yun Changkong nodded slightly, and Zhao Min smiled and said, "This kid has some ability."

"That's right, Master Yun's judgment is truly remarkable!" Situ Qianzhong laughed. "His second order was that all members, disciples, relatives, and friends of our sect and other major sects should kill each other. From then on, we would forgive and forget past grievances and no longer seek revenge against any sects." The Ming Cult disciples immediately agreed.

Song Yuanqiao added, "We have come to destroy the demons, and we are also pleading for the sake of all living beings. Today, the Demonic Sect is willing to repent and reform. We only hope that all sects and factions will unite from now on, stop killing each other, and work together to deal with the barbarians. In the martial arts world of the Central Plains, without a supreme leader who can give orders, the great cause of driving out the barbarians will not be easy to achieve."

Some people recommended Zhang Sanfeng, but Zhang Songxi, with his master's advanced age, was simply not up to the task of undertaking such a heavy responsibility.

The crowd then nominated Abbot Kongwen of Shaolin Temple, but Master Kongzhi said that monks should be detached from worldly desires, and that hatred and attachment are wrong. If his senior brother were to assume such a position, it would be against the Buddhist precepts.

Upon hearing this, Abbess Miejue, being a member of the Buddhist order, naturally couldn't recommend him, and the Kunlun and Huashan sects, needless to say, had already lost face. Therefore, the Kongtong sect nominated Zhang Wuji, known for his great benevolence and righteousness, and his willingness to repay evil with kindness, as their leader.

Zhao Min interjected, "Why hasn't anyone nominated a leader for the Beggars' Sect?"

Situ Qianzhong said, "Although the Beggars' Sect is the number one sect in the world, Shi Huolong has not been out of the martial arts world for more than 20 years. He is no different from Zhang Wuji, who has just started out. His martial arts and character are not as good as Zhang Wuji's, which is obvious to all."

However, Zhang Wuji refused, citing his youth and lack of experience. Yang Xiao said, "It's a rare occasion for all the heroes to gather here today, and everyone is united. If the leader declines, everyone will disperse, and it will be difficult to gather them again."

Zhang Wuji then stopped declining, saying he hoped everyone would work together to achieve their great cause and fulfill their lifelong ambitions. The heroes immediately swore a blood oath!

Zhao Min asked, "So how exactly are the arrangements made for each family and faction?"

Situ Qianzhong said, "After everyone has sworn an oath of blood, Zhang Wuji will explain the specifics. Please stay for a few days to discuss the arrangements."

After several days of discussion, it was decided that only by rising up in various places to jointly resist the Yuan Dynasty, and by having all the followers and sects of the Ming Cult support each other and exhaust the Yuan army, could the great cause be accomplished. Thus, a strategy was decided: Zhang Wuji of the Ming Cult, along with Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao, would take charge of the main altar, while Yin Tianzheng, the White-browed Eagle King, would lead his followers in an uprising in Jiangnan.

The monk Budai led Liu Futong, Du Zundao, Luo Wensu, Sheng Wenyu, Wang Xianzong, and others in an uprising in the Yingchuan area of ​​Henan.

The monk Peng Yingyu led Xu Shouhui, Bu Puwang, Ming Wu, and others in an uprising in Gan, Rao, Yuan, and Xin prefectures in Jiangxi.

It is said that in the past, they had assisted the Banghu in Runing and Xinyang prefectures, and launched an uprising against the Yuan Dynasty under the banner of the Ming Cult. Peng Yingyu had assisted Zhou Ziwang in an uprising against the Yuan Dynasty in Yuanzhou. Both uprisings were suppressed. The two were ordered to contact the Banghu and Zhou Ziwang's former followers to start another uprising.

The Iron-Crowned Taoist led Bu Sanwang, Meng Haima, and others in an uprising in the Xiang, Chu, Jing and Xiang areas.

Zhou Dian led Sesame Li, Zhao Junyong, and others to start an uprising in the Xusu-Fengpei area.

Han Shantong led Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Tang He, Deng Yu, Hua Yun, Wu Liang, Wu Zhen, and Sun Deyan in raising an army in Haozhou, Huaibei.
Leng Qian, together with the followers of the Western Regions, cut off the Mongol reinforcements heading to the Central Plains from the Western Regions. The Five Elements Banners were under the command of the main altar, and would be dispatched to wherever there was a crisis.

Zhang Wuji said, "My Ming Cult members are scattered in all directions. When the opportunity arises, we will immediately rise up to resist the Yuan Dynasty. I hope that the elders of each sect will inform their disciples to join the righteous army nearest to their sect's location. They must not fight for power or devour each other. If there are any disputes, they can only be reported to the sect leader, who, together with the leaders and elders of other sects, will make a fair judgment and will not show favoritism!"

Yun Changkong nodded: "This guy is born to do big things."

Zhao Min's face darkened, and she said, "Then how come we were almost wiped out?"

Situ Qianzhong sighed, "After the heroes dispersed, they all returned to the Central Plains to prepare for their uprisings. Everyone knew that the Yuan court had a conspiracy, so they took extra precautions. But the other sects were fine, only the Wudang Sect was in trouble. Could the princess have guessed?"

Zhao Min said irritably, "Aren't you very capable? Why are you asking me?"

Situ Qianzhong glanced at her and took a sip of wine.

Yun Changkong suddenly asked, "Minmin, what do you think of your brother?"

Zhao Min laughed and said, "Are you testing me? Actually, I already guessed it. It must be related to Yin Liting, right?"

Situ Qianzhong sighed softly, "That's how it is!"

Yun Changkong was taken aback, then suddenly realized: "For Zhang Sanfeng!"

Zhao Min said, "You're not stupid. Although Zhang Sanfeng is a skilled martial artist, he has a kind heart. It's not difficult to win him over. I've never taken him seriously, and my brother is naturally the same!"

Yun Changkong sighed. He thought of the original plot where Yin Liting ran out in a daze, only to have his limbs crushed by Zhao Min's men and thrown on the road.

This time, Zhao Min wasn't there, but he still got into trouble.

"What a fine saying, 'With affection in one's heart, it's not difficult to obtain.'" Situ Qianzhong sighed, "It seems that Your Highness understands Master Zhang very well!"

Zhao Min smiled and said, "Back then, Zhang Wuji was struck by the Xuanming Divine Palm, originally to deal with Zhang Sanfeng. His subsequent actions, whether it was his heartbreak after Zhang Cuishan committed suicide or his seeking the Nine Yang Divine Skill at Shaolin Temple for Zhang Wuji, show that he had an inseparable affection for his sect's disciples. To kill him, all we need to do is deal with his disciples."

However, Cheng Kun strongly advised against it, saying that Zhang Sanfeng was a grandmaster of the martial arts world, and they could let him rally the martial arts community to destroy the demonic sect. That's why they didn't attack the Wudang sect, intending to deal with them after the demonic sect was destroyed.

Situ Qianzhong nodded and said, "Yes, the Ming Cult disciples are scattered in all directions. If they want to destroy the main altar, they have to go all the way to Kunlun Mountain. The Mongol army cannot withstand such losses. Why not take advantage of the power of the martial arts world?"

But thanks to Master Yun's reminder, and knowing that the heroes all knew about the "Ten Fragrant Tendon-Softening Powder" poison, each sect was on guard. However, despite all the precautions, many sects entered the pass without incident. Meanwhile, the Ming Cult group was at "Green Willow Manor" not far ahead…

Yun Changkong glanced at Zhao Min. He thought that with Zhao Min by his side, many things wouldn't happen, but to his surprise, they still did.

Zhao Min was greatly surprised and frowned deeply, saying, "You don't know this is my family's property, do you?"

Yun Changkong remained silent.

Situ Qianzhong said, "Zhang Wuji and the Ming Cult were invited to a banquet by a very wealthy guest. I don't know what happened, but everyone came out, except for Zhang Wuji. The others, such as the Messenger of Light, the Dharma King of the Ming Cult, and the Five Elements Banner, were all poisoned. Zhang Wuji went to get the antidote, and then the Mongol cavalry arrived and slaughtered them."

The Ming Cult was leaderless, and the Five Elements Banner suffered heavy casualties. Only after Zhang Wuji arrived and captured the commanding general was the entire cult saved. Alas, of the more than two hundred skilled fighters, only a few dozen remained.

Yun Changkong looked at Zhao Min and thought of how, in the original story, it was Zhao Min and Xiao Zhao who protected the Ming Cult from harm. This time, without them, Zhang Wuji and the Ming Cult suffered a great loss.

Zhao Min sighed with a hint of helplessness, "Alright, we built this Green Willow Manor here to deal with the heroes of the martial arts world. This was also a plan that Cheng Kun offered back then."

He said that when the heroes of the martial arts world return after defeating the demons, we can pretend to be martial arts practitioners who have come seeking fame and fortune, and use poison to take them down without anyone noticing.

Although Cheng Kun died at Bright Peak, he must have conspired with my father and brothers beforehand.

Yun Changkong thought of Cheng Kun's treacherous ruthlessness and Wang Baobao's decisive killing, which were far beyond what Zhao Min in the original story could compare to. He felt a chill in his heart and said, "What happened next? Could it be that they first destroyed Shaolin, then Wudang, and then made the Ming Cult the king of the martial arts world?"

Zhao Min looked surprised upon hearing this.

Situ Qian glanced at the two of them and said strangely, "No, it was the Wudang Sect that was attacked."

“If Cheng Kun hadn’t died, Shaolin Temple would have been easy to destroy!” Zhao Min said quietly. “But now that he’s dead, it will be much more difficult to eliminate Shaolin first.”

Yun Changkong suddenly realized: "In the original story, Shaolin Temple suffered because Cheng Kun, under the guise of being a disciple of the monk Kongjian, used the 'Ten Fragrant Tendon-Softening Powder,' which led to the capture of many masters. Now that we no longer have this powerful traitor, it's almost impossible to catch Shaolin Temple off guard like in the original story. So, with Yin Liting in our hands, won't Wudang Sect suffer too?"

He looked at Zhao Min, their eyes met, and they knew what the other was thinking.

Situ Qianzhong said, "In the end, a monk came carrying Yin Liting's head..."

"What?" Yun Changkong was shocked and stood up abruptly: "How come it's Yin Liting's head?" He remembered that it used to be the head of Master Kongxing of Shaolin Temple, so why has it been changed this time?

Situ Qianzhong sighed and said, "Yin Liuxia was killed. A monk carried his head up Wudang Mountain to report that the Demonic Sect had wiped out the six major sects. He managed to snatch Yin Liuxia's head and came to report to Master Zhang."

Master Zhang and the three heroes Yu were deeply grieved. Taking advantage of Master Zhang's mental confusion, the bald thief launched a sneak attack, severely injuring him. Later, three or four hundred martial arts masters attacked Wudang Mountain, resulting in a bloodbath. Master Zhang, severely injured, was naturally unable to resist.

Fortunately, Zhang Wuji and the Ming Cult masters arrived one after the other, but their arrival was staggered. After a battle, they were still no match for the sheer number of opponents and were all severely injured.

Yun Changkong was completely stunned. He hadn't expected that his union with Zhao Min would have such a huge butterfly effect.

In fact, he also knew that in the original story, if Zhao Min hadn't fallen in love with Zhang Wuji and shown mercy, turning a fight into a battlefield of love, then Shaolin, Wudang, and Ming Cult would all have faced certain death.

With the Xuanming Divine Palm of the Xuanming Elders, apart from Zhang Wuji, even people like Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao couldn't withstand the second level of cold poison. Let alone so many other experts, how could they possibly win?
In the original storyline, Zhao Min chose to fight Zhang Wuji one-on-one out of respect for him, but this time, she wasn't involved!

However, even without Zhao Min's mercy and her plan, he still suffered such a terrible fate. Could it be that Wang Baobao is really that powerful?

Seeing Chang Kong's grim expression, Zhao Min lowered her head and whispered, "I wonder how my brother is?" She naturally didn't care about the deaths or injuries of others.

"Fortunately, the Wudang Sect escaped unscathed!" Situ Qianzhong said, "The Ming Cult was short-handed and looked like it couldn't hold out, but then the Beggar Clan's large force suddenly arrived. The Beggar Clan's Dog-Killing Formation was really powerful, so your brother and the others had to retreat."

Both sides suffered heavy losses in this battle!

Yun Changkong slowly sat down. Having survived numerous tribulations and narrowly escaped death, he had become indifferent to everything and his mood had calmed down.

Thinking of the Shaolin Master Kongxing in the original story, who was ignorant of the ways of the world and still died, why shouldn't Yin Liting of Wudang die?

Even martial arts masters as skilled as Zhang Sanfeng, Zhang Wuji, and myself almost died!
This is the cruelty of reality!

Moreover, how many people would die in the cause of overthrowing the Yuan dynasty? Who cares about all that?

Situ Qianzhong said, "Hero Yun, what are your plans after hearing all this?"

Zhao Min said, "Sir, please go ahead."

Situ Qianzhong said, "You haven't finished speaking, why are you kicking me out?"

Zhao Min said, "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. My husband is determined to retire into seclusion, so there is no need to say anything more."

“Retire into seclusion?” Situ Qianzhong said, “You are a Mongol princess. You can give up wealth and honor. How long can you stay like this?”
"Great Hero Yun, times create heroes, and heroes are made by the times. If you don't step forward, the fate of our Han dynasty will be in grave danger!"

Yun Changkong smiled faintly and said, "Brother, don't try to put a label on me. I have neither such ambition nor the self-awareness to back it up. Please, go ahead!"

Zhao Min said, "We'd rather find a place where no one knows us, even if life is a little harder, than struggle with emotions every day. Do you understand, sir?"

Seeing Yun Changkong's dejected expression, Situ Qianzhong sighed and turned to leave.

Zhao Min smiled and said, "Xiao Zhao, someone here is about to get angry."

The light flickered slightly, and a bright-eyed, white-toothed woman in a blue dress appeared in the room.
Xiao Zhao glanced at Zhao Min, then asked Yun Changkong, "What are your orders, young master?"

Chang Kong sighed, "Xiao Zhao, you're not my maid, don't do this."

Zhao Min's expression turned serious, and she asked, "Brother Yun, do you hate me?"

Seeing her stern tone, Yun Changkong asked, "What do I hate about you?"

Zhao Min said, "Actually, I thought of these things a long time ago, but I didn't tell you."

Yun Changkong sighed: "How could I not have thought of that? But you know they have an opponent. How could you know when they would make their move, when you're thousands of miles away? It's just a matter of each serving their own master. The world is unpredictable. What can you blame? If you must blame someone, blame me!"

Zhao Min shook her head and said, "Actually, you made everything so clear a long time ago. It's their own incompetence that's to blame you."

Xiao Zhao said, "I think it's precisely because they know all too well that they let their guard down when nothing happens along the way, and even worse..." She hesitated before continuing.

Zhao Min said, "Speak!"

Xiao Zhao said, "They might even speculate that the young master is just exaggerating to gain fame. Besides, your brother is also remarkable. Since the martial arts world is going to form an alliance, what could be more pleasing to the Ming Cult and Wudang Sect than killing Yin Liuxia..."

Yun Changkong slammed his hand on the table and said, "That's right. Yang Xiao and Yin Liting had a grudge because of Ji Xiaofu. Yin Liting also left the team because of the shock of Bu Huiyi. With his death, the relationship between the Ming Cult and the Wudang Sect will not only be irreparable, but the rift will be widened even further. Hehe, what a vicious plan."

Zhao Min sighed, "That's right. Cheng Kun once said that if we want to deal with Zhang Sanfeng, it would be best to start with Yin Liting!"
If I were in charge this time, perhaps I would have taken pity on him and spared his life, but my brother…sigh! He's much more capable than me.”

"This man is extraordinary, no ordinary man!" Yun Changkong suddenly stood up and said, "Our whereabouts have been exposed, let's leave tonight!"

(End of this chapter)