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

Chapter 132: See the World
It should be noted that Prince Chahantemur of Ruyang held the position of Grand Commandant, wielding supreme military power. He was both wise and brave, and he had previously dispatched troops to suppress the uprisings in the Jianghuai region. These uprisings were led by the Ming Cult's Banghu, who belonged to Zhou Ziwang. He was truly a great talent in governing the country and commanding troops.

However, although he held military power, the court was controlled by treacherous ministers. In addition, the emperor was incompetent and tyrannical, and the continuous natural disasters in the north and south caused chaos in the country and the people were in turmoil. The Prince of Ruyang's conquests and attacks greatly increased his power, so the emperor naturally guarded against him at all times, hindered him in everything he did, and constantly reduced his military power.

With war raging across the land, Han Shantong, Liu Futong, Xu Shouhui, and others have gained considerable power. Prince Ruyang led several battles but failed to quell the rebellion and was stripped of his authority to do so. Instead, he sent some good-for-nothing sycophants to lead troops to suppress the rebels. Otherwise, why would Prince Ruyang have remained in Dadu at this crucial time?

"stop!"

The Prince of Ruyang understood Yun Changkong's meaning, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. He suddenly said in a stern voice, "Is this why Minmin is so certain that our Great Yuan will be defeated?"

The three monks responded and stepped forward in unison.

Yun Changkong, who was about to turn around, suddenly turned back upon hearing this. His previous arrogant and decisive demeanor vanished, replaced by a nonchalant expression. He said calmly, "Minmin is still your daughter after all. She hasn't forgotten that she is a Mongol, so she is very reserved in her advice to you. But I want to say that your Ruyang Prince's Mansion will ultimately end in destruction!"

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Ruyang's face turned extremely gloomy, while Wang Baobao's eyes widened and eyebrows bulged, his veins stood out, and he trembled all over. However, he was held in Yun Changkong's hand and had his mute acupoints sealed, so he couldn't speak. When he tried to gather his inner energy, his stomach ached as if it were splitting open, and cold sweat poured from his forehead.

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Young Prince, the acupoints I pressed are difficult to open if you try to force your qi out; it will only increase your pain."

Wang Baobao glared at him, but dared not struggle any longer. He heard the Prince of Ruyang's laughter in his ear: "So, you're going to use my two children to force me to agree to your conditions?"

Yun Changkong pulled Wang Baobao to the window, where they saw flames soaring into the sky and soldiers surrounding them. He said, "The word 'coercion' is too strong! I know that the prince loves Minmin more than anything, but the young prince is the kind of person who values ​​drawing a longbow, riding a fierce horse, and conquering the world. He has lofty ambitions, and in his heart, family affection is dispensable. If I don't subdue him, there will be no way I can speak to the prince."

Even if I capture you, the young prince might abandon you or perish together to inherit the Temur family fortune. For Minmin's sake, I have no choice but to offend the young prince!

Upon hearing this, Wang Baobao was furious. He and his sister were very close and always talked about everything. Although he was unhappy that she favored Yun Changkong, how could she be as heartless and ungrateful as he said?
"Amitabha!" Venerable Jiu clasped his hands together, lowered his eyes, and stepped forward, saying, "This humble monk has heard that the Han people have always been a land of etiquette. Since you have a close relationship with the Princess, you must have a great connection with the Prince and the young prince. You have entered the gate, yet you do not bow to them and instead use force to coerce the young prince. This is far below your dignity and is not the way of a human being!"

Yun Changkong looked the old Tibetan monk up and down. He saw that the monk had a pointed mouth and cheeks, and a lowered head and lowered eyebrows. He also saw that the monk Mohan Sheng had a chest and a protruding belly and a powerful aura. Mohan Fa had eyes like lightning. He couldn't help but think: "These three old bald men are not ordinary people. I have never heard of them before. Could it be that instead of me fighting the Three Crossings, they have set up these three old bald men for me?"

Seeing the strange look in his eyes, Mohammad clasped his hands together and said, "What insightful opinion do you have, benefactor?"

Yun Changkong said, "You are all Indians, yet you speak Chinese fluently."

Mohan Fadao said, "We have always admired Chinese culture and strive to learn both Chinese and Western cultures!"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, “What you say makes some sense. According to our Han etiquette, a son-in-law should kowtow to his father-in-law. But no one here treats me as a son-in-law. They all say I am a lecherous thief who stole the princess. Besides, I don’t trust you. I’m afraid the moment I bow my head and kneel will be the moment you make your move!”

"Haha..." Prince Ruyang laughed loudly, "So you're afraid!"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "I'm not afraid, but for Minmin's sake, I can release the little prince's pressure points." As he spoke, he poked Wang Baobao with a finger.

Wang Baobao let out a long breath and shouted, "My sister is a member of the Mongol royal family, a noble and precious daughter. How could she possibly be attracted to a barbarian like you? It must be you, you lecherous demon, who has bewitched her and caused her to lose her mind. My father invited three great sorcerers here precisely to rid you of this lecherous demon!"

"So, the three masters are specifically targeting me? That's quite an honor," Yun Changkong said with a slight smile. "What a pity, you've gained another chance to shut up!"

With a hiss, a finger was poked, and Wang Baobao was forcibly silenced once again!

Yun Changkong looked at Prince Ruyang: "He is too noisy and lacks the demeanor of a royalty."

Wang Baobao was momentarily speechless and turned to look at his father.

The Prince of Ruyang smiled and said, "My daughter is beautiful and talented. Since she was twelve years old, men who wanted to marry her have been lining up at my door."

Hehe, but that's not her ambition. She wanted to do great things like a man, but after meeting you, she changed completely. I know she has someone in her heart, and she is willing to quarrel with me for that.

I had thought that the person in her heart should be unparalleled in the world, but after seeing him today, I feel that she really did not misjudge him. Alas…

The Prince of Ruyang sighed deeply, much like a kind uncle chatting with his junior.

Wang Baobao was almost speechless with astonishment, thinking, "My father hates this boy even more than I do. Why is he acting so strangely? Could it be that he must give before he can take?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Your Highness is right. Minmin is intelligent, wise, and beautiful, truly unparalleled in the world. No man in this world is worthy of her sincere devotion and entrusting her life to her. Therefore, even though I know that the Ruyang Prince's Mansion is a den of dragons and tigers, and that Your Highness and your son hate me to the bone, I still came here. Actually, it's just because I don't want Minmin to be sad, and also to put my mind at ease!"

His words contained no hint of national righteousness, but were extremely sincere. The Prince of Ruyang and his son exchanged a glance and fell silent.

After a long silence, the Prince of Ruyang sighed, “Although I have countless wives and concubines, I know that matters of marriage cannot be forced. What can be forced is not a happy marriage. But do you know that being born into the royal family means having the responsibilities of the royal family?”

"Hehe!" Yun Changkong laughed, "Is it the responsibility of entering the gates of a noble family, a responsibility as deep as the sea, or the responsibility of treating the common people as insignificant as ants?"

"I spoiled Minmin too much. I shouldn't have let her get involved in the affairs of the martial world!" Prince Ruyang stared at the roof, slightly lost in thought. "But looking at the situation now, perhaps her choice was right. My precious daughter is growing up happily in my Ruyang Prince's Mansion, enjoying herself to the fullest, and will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life. For me, that is a great comfort. But what about her? She doesn't even want to see me again. Alas..."

He was incredibly decisive in commanding his troops and defeating the enemy, but Zhao Min was his beloved daughter, and he was truly torn about her feelings. He knew that his daughter didn't come to see him because she was afraid he would hurt her lover.

“Your Highness, you should understand!” Yun Changkong shook his head and said, “Minmin’s absence is not because she has forgotten her family, but because she knows that if she comes, you will have no more scruples and will surely kill me!”
So how will she conduct herself? If she doesn't come, you don't need to treat me like a son-in-law, nor do you need to regard me as a southern barbarian who offends the king's authority. I won't treat you as Tartars either. We can talk about the facts!

The Prince of Ruyang's expression turned serious as he said, "You have come prepared, using both soft and hard tactics, but I don't understand why you are so certain that my Great Yuan Kingdom will perish and that I will not have a good outcome. Tell me!"

Yun Changkong said solemnly, "Your Highness is no ordinary person to have raised such outstanding individuals as Minmin and your son. Therefore, I may speak frankly."

When Genghis Khan unified Mongolia, Kublai Khan inherited his grandfather's legacy, conquering countless countries, encompassing the four seas, and establishing the Yuan Dynasty. Wherever his army marched, none could resist his submission.

But the strength of the Han people lies in their large population, which is precisely the weakness of the Mongols. In order to maintain your rule, you either rely on the words of some foreign monks who dig up graves and sever the dragon veins, or you issue cruel decrees to kill all Han people with the surnames Zhang, Wang, Liu, Li, and Zhao. Furthermore, you regard the Han people as the lowest of the low, hence the so-called "southern barbarians and lowly dogs."

However, the barbarian dogs you speak of also have a fiery temper, no less so than the Mongol Tartars. You have only ruled for a few years, and when have those who rose up in rebellion ever ceased?

The Prince of Ruyang snorted coldly and said, "So what? The Han people have been rebelling all along, but what have they accomplished? When have they ever escaped being suppressed?"

Yun Changkong sneered, "So what about this time? Why didn't you put it out?"

After a moment of silence, the Prince of Ruyang slowly said, "That's because His Majesty listened to slander and prevented me from commanding the troops!"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "This is the fundamental truth. This is a reflection of your Great Yuan's impending doom. Looking through history, has there ever been an immortal dynasty?"
"In the glorious days of the Han and Tang dynasties, weren't you just a bunch of barbarians who ate raw meat and drank blood?"

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Ruyang remained silent with a gloomy expression, while Wang Baobao's face turned bright red.

Yun Changkong pretended not to see it and said, "As the saying goes, Heaven's sins can be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins cannot be escaped. Your Yuan court is in political chaos because of the succession to the throne. Everyone in the royal family is coveting the emperor's throne, and there is infighting between the emperor and his ministers. Even if you, Prince Ruyang, are the most capable military commander in the world, how do you compare to Bai Qi of the Qin Dynasty or Wu Mu of the Song Dynasty?"

Both Prince Ruyang and Wang Baobao frowned. Prince Ruyang murmured, "How do I compare to Bai Qi and Yue Fei?"

Yun Changkong's gaze swept over him and Wang Baobao, and he said in a deep voice, "Let's not even talk about whether you have their abilities or not. Even if you do, so what?"

He chose his words carefully: "I know Your Highness is a pillar of the Yuan Dynasty. But how much trust does the Emperor have in you?"

To put it nicely, you're the Grand Marshal of the Army; to put it bluntly, you're nothing more than a chamber pot!

"Insolence!" Prince Ruyang slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "How dare you insult me?"

Yun Changkong smiled faintly: "The words are harsh, but the reasoning is sound. If Emperor Yuan trusts you deeply, and if you have no political enemies in the court to restrain you, even if you encounter a minor setback, you will still be on the battlefield suppressing the rebel army!"

Why bother with your children's family affairs?
But they fear your power is too great to control, so they have to reduce your strength. However, if the generals you're appointed lose their troops and our rebel army is unparalleled in its might, and the court has no choice but to use you, then I ask you, what are you if not a chamber pot that you find unsightly but absolutely must use?

The Prince of Ruyang sighed, his face grim: "I have my own responsibility. The Emperor is only confused for a moment, but he will surely have a bright future!"

Yun Changkong sighed and nodded, saying, "This old emperor used to be a man of vision, but he made mistakes in governing the country, became self-destructive and licentious, but he wasn't stupid. He was indeed destined to rise to power!"

Prince Ruyang was slightly surprised: "You also know about the Emperor!"

“Although I am a member of the martial arts world, I am not a fool!” Yun Changkong said quietly, “People’s hearts are fickle, so people are always changing randomly, there is no such thing as a fixed nature!”

"But conduct in the world depends on human nature, and planning depends on the hearts of the people. Now, the Yuan court is beset by both natural disasters and man-made calamities. While the regime may seem to remain, the Mongol tribes have actually split apart. We Han people, however, are united as one, vowing to drive out the Tartars and reclaim our land!" The Prince of Ruyang slowly rose, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the night sky, his eyes filled with emptiness: "Yes, you Han people, for the sake of power, can kill fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, and we Mongols are also treacherous and fratricidal, tearing the once mighty Yuan Empire to pieces!"

Yun Changkong said, “You are a man who knows about military affairs, so you should know that this uprising of the Han people is not like the past. It is an uprising in many places at the same time, which makes it impossible for your Mongol elite troops to take care of everything in the east, west, south and north. As long as one place becomes a strong place, how many of us Han people are there? It is a single spark that can start a prairie fire!”

Even if the emperor sends you to command troops, there will still be internal checks and balances. We Han people only have the Ming Cult. The leader Zhang Wuji's martial arts skills are definitely not inferior to mine, and his subordinates are full of talents, with generals and ministers as numerous as carp crossing the river!
Even if you're made of iron, how many nails can you hammer?

They will likely either die on the battlefield or be assassinated!
This illustrates the principle that it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against an arrow in the dark!

Even if you are a brilliant strategist, able to defeat Bai Qi, surpass Yue Fei, and quell the rebel army, the success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand. My Han people shed blood like rivers. Do you Mongols think you will live forever?
Hehe, I'm afraid your tribe is almost wiped out. At that time, will the emperor still tolerate a Han Xin?

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked—that's your fate!"

The Prince of Ruyang remained silent, his face pale. After a long while, he finally said, "I have the power to quell the rebellion, and my authority will naturally increase accordingly, but that's not necessarily true..."

Yun Changkong chuckled and said, "Alright, there's another way. Your Highness can take advantage of the victory and rise to the top, and jump onto the dragon throne. It's not impossible, but unfortunately!"
You are not a descendant of Genghis Khan. The Golden Family was fighting for the throne, and whoever won would rule the Borjigin dynasty.
what about you?
Will they allow it?

If the Han Chinese attack you, and the Mongol nobles also attack you, then you'll only be inviting annihilation for your family!

These words greatly annoyed Ruyang Wang and Wang Baobao, who were unwilling to admit it from the bottom of their hearts.

However, both of them were exceptionally talented individuals who had lived in the Central Plains for a long time. Like Zhao Min, they were deeply influenced by Han culture and had read extensively in historical records, which made them feel that this was indeed the case.

He lost the battle, and was defeated and killed!

We won, and our achievements are so great they threaten the emperor's authority!

If they were to rebel, the Mongol tribes, who are currently unable to lift swords or mount horses, would surely unite to suppress them, leaving them with little chance of victory.

To outsiders, the Prince of Ruyang's position seemed incredibly prestigious, but only he knew that it was like walking on thin ice. He sighed and said, "I thought you were going to tell me some profound words of wisdom, but I never expected it to be like this."

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "How can reasoning with righteousness be as simple as talking about profit? Besides, Your Highness is a hero, and you must believe in the cruel way that those who achieve great things should not hesitate to kill the common people. Moreover, how many people have you Mongols killed since you entered the Central Plains?"

He paused for a moment and said, "But there is no dynasty that lasts forever. Heaven gave you Mongol heroes a hundred years of dominance, and now it's time to give it back. This is also the will of the Eternal Heaven!"

Upon hearing the words "Eternal Heaven," the Prince of Ruyang and his son acted strangely. Wang Baobao, feeling displeased, glared at Yun Changkong.

Yun Changkong ignored him and said, "If Your Highness can truly die on the battlefield and be wrapped in a horse's hide, then you will be a hero and a great king."

"I fear being assassinated, dying at the hands of petty villains of the Yuan court, or even at the hands of the emperor you serve. Are you willing to accept that?"

He paused for a moment, then said quietly, "Minmin said that her father and brothers love and respect me, and that she must never harm you in the slightest. This shows how devoted she is. Of course, I cannot disobey them, but if your fate turns out as I predicted, she will surely be heartbroken and die young. Is this what your father-in-law and brother-in-law want?"

These words moved everyone present, for they made perfect sense. To die on the battlefield was the ultimate fate of a military officer, but to be assassinated or unjustly killed was a true tragedy!
Were Bai Qi, Han Xin, and Yue Fei afraid of death?
Of course, I'm not afraid!

But their final fate was definitely not what they wanted!

Even with Yue Fei's unwavering loyalty, he still uttered the lament "The heavens and the sun shine brightly," which shows how deeply he was grieved!
Then, thinking back to how Yun Changkong had said he wouldn't harm Wang Baobao at the crucial moment, she was surprised again.

The Prince of Ruyang coughed twice and said, "Since you don't want to hurt Minmin, taking her brother would be pointless. Aren't you afraid I'll leave you here?"

Yun Changkong smiled calmly and said, "It's not that I'm not afraid, but I've finished speaking and expressed my feelings, so it's time for me to leave. The rest is up to Your Highness to decide!" He released Wang Baobao, pressed a pressure point on him to release his speech, and strode towards the door.

"Wait a minute!" Wang Baobao sneered. "So, you're saying we have nowhere to go?"

"The world is so vast, where can't we find refuge?" Yun Changkong said without turning his head, "Success and failure are determined by the times. The Central Plains are not a place for you Mongols to rule forever. Returning to where you came from is an immutable principle!"

His eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light: "No matter how ambitious you Mongols are, there is only one Genghis Khan! Anyone who tries to imitate him is digging their own grave!"

With that, he shook his arms, and a strong wind swept through the area, making a series of cracking sounds. The Mongolian soldiers surrounding the entrance to the hall had their bows broken and their swords flying.

The Mongol soldiers, their morale shattered, did not retreat, but gazed at Prince Ruyang.

Yun Changkong glanced at the Prince of Ruyang and said indifferently, "Does Your Highness wish to keep me here?"

The Prince of Ruyang said, "I want to know how many people in this world have skills like yours, and how does Zhang Sanfeng compare to you?"

Yun Changkong said, "The world is vast, full of hidden talents. There are probably no fewer than ten people with my skills, but they all prefer to cultivate immortality and seek the Dao, unlike me who likes to roam the martial world and meddle in worldly affairs. As for Zhang Sanfeng, his skills surpassed his contemporaries and have shone through the ages. He is an unparalleled martial arts master. He is dedicated to creating martial arts, hoping to rival Bodhidharma from the West and establish a great era in martial arts. I am no match for him!"

Upon hearing this, the hearts of the Prince of Ruyang and his son pounded. In that instant, Wang Baobao's mind flashed back to the scene on Mount Wudang, where he had Gang Xiang of the Vajra Sect launch a sneak attack on Zhang Sanfeng and then led his men to display their tyranny. Zhang Sanfeng's tall and composed figure left a deep impression on him.

Now that Yu Daiyan has been crippled, Yin Liting has been killed, and Zhang Sanfeng has been ambushed, what should we do?
"You don't need to worry!" Yun Changkong said calmly, "The Wudang Sect is known for its chivalry, and Zhang Sanfeng is highly respected. He can't bear to abandon the Wudang sect, nor would he do something like a disguised assassination or sneak attack. The only thing I'm afraid of is..."

Wang Baobao pursed her lips: "What are you afraid of?"

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "I'm just afraid that he'll abandon the Wudang Sect, abandon the reputation and demeanor he's built up over decades, and become as shameless as I am, dressed in black, carrying the Zhenwu Sword, and sneaking into the capital city at night, tsk tsk..."

Before he could finish speaking, the eyes of the Prince of Ruyang and his son revealed a look of horror and fear. If Yun Changkong could sneak into the Prince of Ruyang's mansion, why couldn't Zhang Sanfeng?

Yun Changkong spared them out of respect for Zhao Min, but what about Zhang Sanfeng?
Wang Baobao's face turned pale, and he sighed softly, "Back then, I should have fought desperately on Wudang Mountain and taken the old Taoist's life!"

He didn't say what he really thought: "Why should I be so worried!"

It turns out that the reason why the Prince of Ruyang's mansion made such a big fuss was actually to prevent Zhang Sanfeng from entering!
After all, Yun Changkong and Zhao Min had disappeared without a trace, and they didn't know he would come today!
Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "Brother-in-law, sometimes you have to believe in fate, just like you Mongols believe in the Eternal Heaven! As the saying goes, the way of heaven is unpredictable. The Wudang Sect follows the Taoist teachings and is chivalrous and helps the world. Although the sect has been established for decades, the number of people they have saved is countless, and the merits they have accumulated are as high as mountains and as deep as the sea. Therefore, although their sect has calamities, it is not in danger of being destroyed. At critical moments, there are always benefactors to help them!"

Just like the Shaolin Temple, they have been established for thousands of years and have experienced many dangers and storms, but they are still able to become a major sect in the martial arts world. This is because the unworthy disciples are ultimately a very small minority, and most of them uphold the way of doing good and helping the world, so they are blessed!
This is actually the same as the struggle for the world. From the Xiongnu, the Five Barbarian Invasions, the Turks, the Khitans, the Jurchens, the Tanguts, and even the Mongols today, who didn't want to occupy the Han people's beautiful land forever? Countless people died for this!

But we Han people will never yield. There will always be righteous people who will resist foreign invaders and prevent our country from being destroyed and our race from being exterminated!

You think killing can solve problems, but little do you know that killing is the simplest thing in the world, something even a scoundrel can do.

But what's truly rare is killing someone without leaving any trouble, any future problems, or paying any price!

Can you imagine how others might seek revenge?
It could be a waiter, or a latrine cleaner; there's no way to guard against it!
Such days may not compare to the exhilarating feeling of galloping across the Mongolian grasslands, experiencing the high clouds and gentle breeze! Farewell!

"Amitabha!" The Tibetan monk Mohan Sheng, who had been silent all along, stepped forward with his chest puffed out and his belly protruding. His Buddhist chant was as loud as thunder. He put his palms together in a gesture of respect and said, "Benefactors, we would like to see if you truly possess the divine skills of Buddhism." As he spoke, he suddenly stepped forward, slapping his left palm horizontally and chopping his right palm vertically, striking towards Yun Changkong.

The man acted so quickly that neither the Prince of Ruyang nor the soldiers at the gate could see him clearly.

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "This person wants to fight me head-on so that he can use his numbers to defeat the few!" His mind raced, and with a swift movement, he dodged out of the way.

Suddenly, a chilling aura rushed in from the left. This aura was strange and unusual, slightly different from the Xuanming Divine Palm, but it was powerful and its strength was as strong as a mountain!

Yun Changkong glanced at the person who had made the move and saw that it was Venerable Jiu. His heart sank: "This person is even more powerful. What kind of palm technique is this?"

Thinking it over, he simply reached out and blocked the power of Venerable Jiu's two palms.

The power of Venerable Jiu's palms, which could topple boulders and trees with a single push, was actually blocked by someone so easily and effortlessly; it was truly unimaginable.

However, when Yun Changkong's palms met his, he suddenly felt that the cold palm wind had turned into an extremely hot one. It turned out that the Venerable Jiu's palm technique was extremely magical and sophisticated, and it was not something that could be found in the Central Plains.

Yun Changkong exclaimed "Eh!" and the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill" was rapidly activated. Venerable Jiu felt a tremendous force, like a surging tide, overwhelming the sky and the earth, shaking his blood and qi, and causing him to retreat three steps. He was quite surprised: "What kind of skill is this?"

(End of this chapter)