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

Chapter 128: Beauty's Favor
At this moment, the bright moon hangs in the sky, a gentle breeze blows, and Yun Changkong and Zhao Min return to the dilapidated temple.

A fire was burning in the temple. Xiao Zhao sat against the wall, her pretty face flushed red by the firelight, and her eyes seemed to be brimming with tears.

Yun Changkong stared in astonishment at Granny Jinhua. She remained silent, poking at the fire with a stick in her hand.

Yun Changkong asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with you?"

Zhao Min said slowly, "If I'm not mistaken, they saw a lovestruck man..." She hesitated before continuing.

Yun Changkong was startled upon hearing this, thinking, "This actually works?"

He knew that Zhao Min's unfinished words were a reflection of himself: driven mad by love.

Granny Jin Hua snorted and said, "Then what did you do with Chen Youliang and Song Qingshu?"

Yun Changkong then recounted the events.

Granny Jin Hua said, "I thought you would let Song Qingshu off the hook again because of the Wudang Sect and this little girl!"

Yun Changkong said in a deep voice, "There's nothing we can do. This man has gone mad for Zhou Zhiruo. There's no reason to guard against a thief for a thousand days. We absolutely cannot allow him to live any longer."

He thought of how Song Qingshu in the original story had planned to poison his father and grandmaster, which was truly depraved. Since he hated him so much, if he were alive, who knows how he would instigate the Wudang Sect. The only solution was to eliminate him once and for all.

Zhao Min looked at Yun Changkong, her face etched with tenderness and affection. Yun Changkong asked in a low voice, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Zhao Min blushed, lowered her head, and said, "I know you did all this for me. Mo Qixia values ​​the reputation of Wudang more than his own life. By letting me appear in front of him, you let him know that I have the biggest scandal of his Wudang sect in my hands."

"You see that man surnamed Song as nothing more than weeds, yet you insist on killing him. The real reason is that you fear he might conspire with Chen Youliang to incite Zhang Zhenren against me, and against my father and brothers. This time, you've truly been put in a difficult position."

Yun Changkong sighed, "Since he wants to kill me, I'll kill him first. What's so difficult about that? Don't overthink it."

Zhao Min smiled bitterly, "Do you think I don't know how lenient you've always been with the Wudang Sect? You could have easily let Mo Qixia take that Song guy back to Wudang Mountain to deal with him, but you insisted on killing him, all for my sake!"

Yun Changkong said, "It is true that I am tolerant of the Wudang Sect. After all, back then, Zhang Sixia saved not only dozens of members of my Yun family, but also countless heroes in Shanxi and Shaanxi who were preparing for an uprising. How could I possibly repay such a debt of gratitude by simply giving them a 'Black Jade Broken Heart Ointment'?"

So as long as there is any hope for Song Qingshu, or as long as he is not entangled with Chen Youliang, even if he offends me, it is not impossible to let him go.

But there was no other way; since they were now intertwined, they had to die together.

Zhao Min nodded and said, "If we kill one and let the other go, it will cause a big problem. Song Qingshu will not die when he returns to Wudang Mountain. At most, he will be confined to his quarters. He will definitely find a way to spread rumors to Shaolin Temple. Although Chen Youliang is insidious, his evil deeds have not been exposed yet. Shaolin Temple will think that you killed your own disciple and have no regard for the temple's traditions. It may cause a lot of trouble."

“That’s right!” Granny Jin Hua nodded and said, “This Chen Youliang is insidious and vicious, but he also puts on the air of a benevolent and chivalrous hero, which makes it easy to deceive chivalrous people like Mo Qixia. If they don’t die, countless troubles will follow. You may not be afraid, but it’s hard to say about this girl.”

It should be known that Zhao Min and Granny Jin Hua were intelligent, quick-witted, and knowledgeable. Upon seeing Chen Youliang's performance, they immediately realized that he was no ordinary person.

What they didn't know was that Chen Youliang in the world of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber was even more powerful.

Despite his actions against Zhang Wuji and the Ming Cult, which were ultimately exposed, he still managed to join Xu Shouhui's forces within the Ming Cult and gain his favor.

Zhang Wuji knew this man was treacherous and cunning, and that keeping him around would only bring disaster, so Yin Yewang wanted to kill him. However, Chen Youliang surprisingly enlisted Xu Shouhui to plead for him.

It is said that Chen Youliang once offended the leader of the sect, knew the gravity of his sins, and deeply repented. Now he sincerely joins the sect and is determined to repent and reform, but asks the leader to give him a way to start anew.

Zhang Wuji, Yang Xiao, Yin Yewang, and others all felt that Chen Youliang was so insidious, but since Xu Shouhui had been bewitched, if they killed Chen Youliang, it would inevitably show that they were not magnanimous and that they held grudges and had no tolerance for others, which would surely chill the hearts of heroes all over the world.

Just as Cao Cao wanted to kill Liu Bei, but was dissuaded by Guo Jia and Cheng Yu, killing him at that time would deter talented people from joining Cao Cao and would harm his overall strategy of winning people's hearts.

Zhang Wuji and the others knew that to achieve great things, they had to win the hearts of the people. Therefore, they did not kill Chen Youliang, but only asked Peng Yingyu to advise Xu Shouhui to be careful and not to let the military power fall into Chen Youliang's hands.

Unexpectedly, Xu Shouhui did not heed the advice and trusted Chen Youliang implicitly, ultimately losing his life at Chen's hands. Chen Youliang led the western route of the Ming Cult, proclaimed himself King of Han, and fought with the eastern route of the Ming Cult for control of the country until the Battle of Poyang Lake, where he was defeated and killed.

Yun Changkong knew this well, which is why he was determined to kill Chen Youliang.

Xu Shouhui, as the leader of the uprising, was a hero whose name shines brightly in history. His political skills and abilities were beyond the reach of ordinary people, yet he still fell into the hands of Chen Youliang. Yun Changkong thought to himself, if Chen Youliang hadn't died, who could have imagined how he would have treated him?
Why not kill him before he gains power? Or wait until he becomes powerful and then turn against you?

But since he saved Mo Shenggu, Song Qingshu's rebellious act did not have serious consequences. He returned to Wudang Mountain and will definitely not die!

Then we'll have to use some strategy!
Chen Youliang killed Song Qingshu in order to incite hatred against him!

In this way, Song Qingshu wouldn't be considered to have killed him with his own hands!

I'm not afraid of the Wudang Sect coming to seek revenge and disturb my peace!

It should be noted that Yun Changkong would not have returned to the martial world if it weren't for Zhao Min's gratitude towards her father and brothers!

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "In the martial world, it's not necessarily about targeting good people or bad people, but those who sound like good people but are actually hypocrites are intolerable to the world and will be condemned by both gods and men, and will inevitably be attacked by the masses!"

Xiao Zhao chimed in, "It's because they are hypocrites who wear human skin but have the heart of a snake, making them impossible to guard against!"

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "That's right. If we judge people based on their evil deeds, hypocrites may not necessarily do more evil than true villains. But when facing a true villain, everyone will be on high alert. If you can't beat them, it's because you're not as skilled as them, and there's nothing to say about that!"

But hypocrites have the ability to make it impossible for people to distinguish between good and evil, truth and falsehood. When they want to harm someone, no one knows when they will do so, and they are very likely to succeed!
So once discovered, they must be killed—that's what everyone would do! Because killing him is self-preservation; everyone fears a hypocrite targeting themselves and their families!

Xiao Zhao sighed and said, "This young master Song's martial arts skills and appearance are top-notch in the martial arts world. It's a pity that he fell into an endless hell because of a moment of infatuation and can't get out of it!"
"My lord Yun, tell me, is love really that terrifying? And how can one escape its clutches?"

Her voice was gentle, and her eyes were fixed on the vast sky.

Yun Changkong remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say to comfort her.

Zhao Min smiled and said, "You two chat, I'll go outside and take a look." With that, she stood up!

"Don't go!" Yun Changkong reached out and grabbed her, saying, "Xiao Zhao, Song Qingshu's story cannot be used as an example of being a lovesick fool, because in many things, choice is more important than effort."

"Choice is more important than effort?" The girls were all taken aback.

Yun Changkong slowly said, "Song Qingshu doesn't understand Zhou Zhiruo. You should know that Zhou Zhiruo's life was saved by Zhang Sanfeng from the Yuan soldiers and monks who were chasing her. At that time, she was in dire straits when an old Taoist priest suddenly appeared, crossing the river and knocking down the Yuan soldiers with a wave of his sleeve. How shocking that was."

At such a young age, she already had a towering figure in her heart who could stand tall and save people from suffering.

So when she fed Zhang Wuji on the Han River, she felt that the all-powerful old man couldn't let his grandson eat, so she volunteered to do it. Zhang Wuji ate with great relish, and Zhang Sanfeng was very pleased, which naturally gave her a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Although she hadn't seen Zhang Wuji for many years, she still cherished the old feelings. However, with Zhang Wuji's reappearance and the various abilities he displayed, it was not difficult for her to win his heart.

And what about Song Qingshu? His reputation as the "Jade-Faced Mengchang," earned over many years, might seem unattainable to others, but in Zhou Zhiruo's eyes, it was utterly insignificant.

Zhao Min smiled and said, "Not to mention that Zhou Zhiruo has met you before. Song Qingshu is just asking for trouble no matter how he compares."

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "Even without me, Zhou Zhiruo wouldn't have fallen for Song Qingshu. Because what Zhou Zhiruo wants is a true hero, someone who can make her the center of attention and shine brightly, and Song Qingshu is far from being that kind of person."

To put it bluntly, even if he got Zhang Sanfeng to propose marriage, he wouldn't have any face in front of Abbess Miejue. He's still determined to pursue a woman who doesn't have feelings for him. Isn't he just asking for trouble?

If he had chosen any other woman, his reputation as the foremost figure in the third generation of Wudang would have been enough to make his wishes come true!

“But if you can control what you think, then it’s not love,” Xiao Zhao said quietly.

Seeing her expression, Yun Changkong fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Min laughed and said, "Yes, I heard that Abbess Miejue didn't even read Zhang Sanfeng's letter back then, which forced him to ask Shaolin Temple to teach him the Nine Yang Skill. Speaking of which, Abbess Miejue thought highly of you, a young hero, and didn't even hide the secret of the Nine Yin Manual from you!"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "I have never been a young hero, I just had some good fortune!"

Moreover, the so-called heroes and great men of this world are nothing more than ordinary people who, by chance, choose to face desperate situations.

When Emperor Gaozu of Han launched his rebellion by slaying the white snake, and Emperor Taizong of Tang staged the Xuanwu Gate Incident, could they have foreseen that they would be able to rule the world? In reality, it was just that when the time came, they had no choice but to take a gamble, and fortunately, they won!

If they lost, Liu Bang would be seen as an ignorant and shameless rogue, and Li Er as a rebellious and immoral beast who would be forever condemned to the pillory of moral shame!

But when they make such life choices again, they no longer care about winning or losing!

Zhao Min let out a long sigh: "I was born a woman, but fortunately I was born into a wealthy family. My father doted on me. He not only allowed me to learn music, chess, calligraphy and painting like Han women, but also allowed me to practice martial arts and do things that ordinary women cannot do. At that time, I thought that life is only a hundred years long, so I should do something spectacular to make my life worthwhile."

Xiao Zhao opened her big eyes and said softly, "You have such lofty ambitions? In your opinion, what kind of thing can be considered earth-shattering?"

Zhao Min smiled and said, "I want to learn from Genghis Khan, Tolui, Kublai Khan, and Batu Khan to establish a great empire!"

Xiao Zhao and Granny Jin Hua were slightly startled. They had always thought that Zhao Min only had eyes for Yun Changkong. For a long time, they had never been able to see through her innermost thoughts. Now, hearing her reveal her true feelings, they saw a kind of majesty in her beautiful face, making them afraid to look directly at her, as if she had become a different person!

But Zhao Min said softly, "But fate is fickle. I don't know how, but my thoughts changed without me realizing it."

All I want is for my family to be happy and safe. I don't seek fame or fortune. If I can live a carefree life, supporting my husband and raising my children, being an ordinary woman, living a simple life, I won't think about the blessings or misfortunes involved!

As she spoke, she looked at Yun Changkong, her tone carrying a gentle request.

Granny Jin Hua and Xiao Zhao exchanged a glance. This heroic and spirited princess instantly lost all her heroic spirit when it came to tender feelings for her children. They couldn't help but sigh at the great power of the word "love"!

Yun Changkong also felt a surge of emotion and said softly, "Minmin, Cheng Kun actually scolded me back then, saying that I was not worthy of your feelings for me, and Chen Youliang said the same thing."

I didn't realize it before, but as the saying goes, those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things more clearly. Thinking about it carefully, they're right. I truly owe you a great debt." She looked at Granny Jin Hua.

Granny Jin Hua looked away.

Zhao Min smiled knowingly and said, "They said that because they were in dire straits, they just wanted to plant a seed of suspicion between us. They just didn't want us to be happy!"
This is similar to Chen Youliang's insistence on dragging Song Qingshu down with him; in reality, he wanted to force the Wudang and Shaolin sects into making things difficult for him.

If Mo Shenggu tells the truth, they might not make things difficult for you, but they won't let go of the Ruyang Prince's Mansion, with whom they have both old and new grudges, because it's for the greater good!
But if you were to protect my father and brothers for my sake and oppose them, then you would naturally become their enemy, and we both understand that. Why do you say such a thing?”

Yun Changkong sighed deeply and remained silent.

Granny Jin Hua and Xiao Zhao never expected that this seemingly proud woman, whose beauty outweighed her pride, would possess such a magnanimous heart. Only then did they understand why she had allowed Yun Changkong to defy the world.

Yun Changkong said, "In fact, all the rights and wrongs and grudges in this world are caused by the gains and losses of interests and emotional entanglements. Everyone's actions are not based on rationality and fairness at all, but on their position and their closeness or distance from the parties involved. Even virtuous people like Zhang Sanfeng and Zhang Wuji are not exempt from this."

Back then, when the various sects went to Wudang Mountain to force Zhang Cuishan to reveal Xie Xun's whereabouts, some of them were after the Dragon-Slaying Saber, while others were seeking revenge.

Zhang Cuishan knew that Xie Xun had committed indiscriminate killing, and he felt that it was wrong. However, he believed that Xie Xun was his sworn brother and he had to be loyal to him. He did not reveal a word of it, even if it meant dragging the Wudang Sect and the martial arts world into a fight.

The Wudang Sect also knew that Xie Xun's killing was wrong, but they supported and defended Zhang Cuishan because they also valued righteousness!
That's the bond between fellow disciples!

As for the rights and wrongs involved, who cares!
After all, Xie Xun's killing was wrong, but he wasn't from the Wudang sect, so who would betray their loyalty for this?

Yun Changkong paused here, took off his wine gourd, took a sip, and continued: "When I was a child, I heard these stories and I thought they were heroes. But as I grew older, I finally realized that all people are the same."

So-called heroes and martial arts masters are nothing more than having a bit more opportunity given by God and having worked a little better than others!
Especially since what is arranged by God is something no one can resist, how one walks the road ahead is up to oneself.

As long as you cherish yourself and don't betray your conscience, that's enough!

"Not betraying one's conscience?" The women had never heard anyone say that before, but upon careful consideration, it seemed to make sense. A thousand feelings welled up inside them, and they didn't know where to begin.

Yun Changkong said, "Yes, this idea of ​​not betraying one's conscience sounds abstract, but it's actually very simple. It's like if you kill someone, aren't you afraid that their relatives and friends will seek revenge? Whether it's eliminating the root of the problem or being on guard day and night, it all stems from this reason!"
It's not about whether the person who was killed deserved to die!
Because he deserved to die—that's your opinion, but others might not, especially his family.

Like Xie Xun, those whose relatives he killed all thought he deserved to die, but Zhang Wuji would never say that his adoptive father deserved to die. Instead, he would say that his adoptive father had only made a mistake at the time.

He has to protect whoever wants revenge!

Then can you say Zhang Wuji was wrong?

Xiao Zhao said, "Of course not. As an adopted son, it is only right that he protects his adoptive father."

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "That's right, so it's only right for the murdered to take revenge!"
This is why the feuds and grudges in the martial arts world never end!
So I later understood that no matter if you are a towering hero or a mediocre person in the vast world, you will be troubled by emotions and coerced by your position, unable to extricate yourself!

Many things aren't about the opinions of the world, nor are they about giving an explanation to others, nor are they about whether that person even exists. Rather, it's about the bottom line within your own heart that you cannot cross, and without that line, many emotions cannot exist.

Granny Jinhua seemed to sense something and let out a long sigh.

Xiao Zhao stared intently at Yun Changkong's face. Perhaps everything was predestined and unchangeable. She sighed and looked at Zhao Min, asking, "Sister Zhao, what do you like about Brother Yun?"

Yun Changkong was taken aback.

Seeing the resentment in her eyes, Zhao Min couldn't help but chuckle to herself: "This girl is also troubled by love. After hearing so much, ethics and love still make her so worried."

After thinking for a moment, she smiled slightly: "I think it was when I was thirteen years old that I first met him. I didn't know who he was, but he gave off a calm and invincible aura. At that time, I was determined to do great things, so I naturally wanted to bring him under my command!"

"Huh?" Xiao Zhao was slightly surprised: "You want to bring him under your command?"

Zhao Min smiled and said, "This world is inherently a dog-eat-dog world. Only by possessing great strength can one become a superior person."

I saw that this kid was extraordinary, how could I complain that there are too many masters? But he actually refused me and even showed off his skills, which made me feel both hatred and awe.

What's even more infuriating is that he came to my house that very night and humiliated me in front of my men.

Yun Changkong interjected, "I didn't do anything to you. On the contrary, I was the one who was hit by the Vajra Prajna Palm and the Vajra Finger. I'm in a terrible state!"

Zhao Min rolled her eyes at him and said, "Your distress is unknown to others. They only know that the usually aloof Princess has been captured alive and her fate has been taken by force."

Your vanity as a self-proclaimed righteous hero has been satisfied, while I can only endure the humiliation of defeat. I am filled with resentment!

Xiao Zhao asked, "If you hate him so much, how could you fall in love with him?"

Zhao Min glared at Yun Changkong and said, "I was captured by him. All the way there, I kept thinking about how this despicable thief would humiliate me. At that time, I thought that if things went wrong, I would bite my tongue and commit suicide. I would never let him defile me."

Yun Changkong was startled and said, "That's what you think of me?"

Zhao Min snorted: "Spying on me in the middle of the night, do you think I'd consider you a good person?"

"And then what happened?" Xiao Zhao asked. "What did he do to you?"

Zhao Min said, "I thought of a plan all the way, but..." At this point, her mind went blank, and she turned to look at Yun Changkong and said, "He actually released my pressure points, and I vomited blood and fainted."

Yun Changkong knew what she was thinking and sighed, "At that time, I was seriously injured and urgently needed to heal. Killing him was definitely out of the question, and controlling him was also out of the question. After all, who could have guessed whether the boatman on the ship was greedy and wanted to kill me?"

Therefore, I needed her protection, but I didn't know her intentions. So I released her pressure points and pretended to faint. In reality, I secretly gathered my inner energy; if she harbored any ill intentions towards me, I would kill her!

"Huh?" Xiao Zhao was taken aback: "She was only thirteen years old at the time, and you already had murderous intentions?"

Yun Changkong said with a wry smile, "When times become extraordinary, we naturally cannot be bound by the past!"

Zhao Min smiled and said, "You control others without being controlled by them. His life was at stake, so how could he easily entrust it to someone else? But I saw through his tricks, and naturally I didn't fall for it. After that, he focused on healing his injuries. Before dawn, his injuries were healed."
At that time, I was filled with anxiety, afraid that he would bully me, but to my surprise, he not only did not assault me, but also treated my arm injury, even though he was the one who caused it. Later, I gave him the medicine.

He left without a word.

At that time, I felt he came like lightning, arrogant and domineering, and left like a gentle breeze. His gratitude to the Wudang Sect was like a burning fire, so intense that he didn't even care about his own life! But when there were no outsiders around, he was like gentle water to me. I can never forget him for a moment!

Xiao Zhao sighed softly: "Brother Yun has a heart as vast as the sea, capable of encompassing all things. What's most remarkable is that he possesses the demeanor of 'not being encouraged by universal praise, nor discouraged by universal condemnation.' Perhaps this is what truly captivates Her Highness the Princess?"

Yun Changkong was quite embarrassed.

Zhao Min smiled gently and said, "Yes, he truly possesses the magnanimity to 'distinguish between internal and external matters, and to discern the boundaries of honor and disgrace,' a quality unparalleled in the world!"

Yun Changkong sighed, "I'm not that good. I just know that fate is unpredictable, life is like a game of chess, and everyone has their own ambitions. But whether great or humble, intelligent or foolish, in the end, it's all the same: a mound of yellow earth covers everything. So, it's already quite good if what I do can bring me peace of mind!"

Upon hearing this, the girls all looked disappointed.

Indeed, in the end, no one can escape that day.

All fame and fortune are ultimately meaningless!
Zhao Min changed the subject: "Oh dear, talking about these old stories brings back so many feelings. Sigh, I'm sleepy, I should go to bed."

He got up, spread a mink coat on the ground, and lay down on it.

Yun Changkong also sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to rest.

At daybreak, the group set off again with their horses. They arrived at the Haijin Town Wharf that day. It was almost the beginning of winter, the weather was high and cold, the blue water was vast and boundless, and the white sails seemed frozen and stuck to the blue sea and green mountains.

Granny Jin Hua went to hire a boat for the sea. Yun Changkong said to Zhao Min, "Min-mei, why don't you stay here with them..."

Zhao Min's brows furrowed with anger as she said, "Brother Yun, you're not good at all."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Why am I not feeling well again?"

Zhao Min pursed her lips and said, "You know it yourself."

Yun Changkong was a little puzzled, but Xiao Zhao smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Min snorted, "You know perfectly well that my father and brothers harbor great hostility towards you, and that this journey is extremely dangerous. You're afraid that if I go, you won't be able to act freely. I also believe that you won't harm my father and brothers for my sake. But if I don't go, they will have no scruples towards you. If anything happens to you, how can I live? Is the bond between husband and wife just empty words?"

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

When Yun Changkong saw her clear, bright eyes, as if veiled by a layer of mist, his heart churned, and he felt a sudden weight lift over him.

Given this profound love, how could we not pull her father and brothers out of this sinking ship?

Yun Changkong composed himself, reached out and grasped Zhao Min's hands, and said, "Alright, husband and wife are one. I was wrong. But you cannot enter the Prince's residence, do you understand?"

Zhao Min laughed: "I'm not stupid!"

Granny Jin Hua came over: "Xiao Zhao, let's get on the boat!"

Zhao Min glanced at her and said, "Are you going to explain this to them? I'll wait for you over there." With that, she left.

Seeing her so understanding and kind, Granny Jinhua felt a mix of emotions and said, "To have such a good daughter who treats you so sincerely is truly a great blessing for any man!"

“You are all equally good women.” Yun Changkong said to Granny Jin Hua, “This time, whether I succeed or not, as long as I live, I will definitely go into seclusion. If you are willing to wait for me, wait for a few days, and we will go together!”

If you truly find it unbearable, then definitely don't stay on Ling Snake Island. Find another island, like Peach Blossom Island!

"Peach Blossom Island?" Granny Jin Hua was taken aback. "What? Does no one live there?"

Yun Changkong said, "There shouldn't be anyone left!"

Saying that, he turned around and left.

Xiao Zhao was deeply saddened, thinking, "You won't even say a word to me?"

Seeing her so dejected, Granny Jinhua sighed and said, "Let's go!"

Xiao Zhao shuddered, then suddenly threw herself into her mother's arms and burst into tears, crying, "Mom, I... I feel so bad!"

Granny Jin Hua sighed, "Fate has arranged things, and many things are simply entangled and inescapable. I've also thought about it: if I leave, will you be able to go with him?"

Xiao Zhao shook her head and said, "Of course I want my mother."

Granny Jin Hua said, "I've been thinking about something lately. What if he... Alright, stop crying, come on, let's get on the boat!"

(End of this chapter)