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

Chapter 136 is constantly changing

Loneliness lasts longer, while the nights of revelry are short.

Yun Changkong and Zhao Min rode their fine horses and slowly set off on their journey.

A wave of warmth washed over Zhao Min, and she asked softly, "Do you really think that Sister Yang is here to settle a score with you?"

Yun Changkong looked at Zhao Min, their eyes met, and without saying a word, they both knew what the other was thinking.

Zhao Min said softly, "I just want to know, did you really like her that much?"

You were completely unguarded with her. If she really killed me, so be it—I stole you from her—but would you really rather die by her hand, like the saying goes, "Better to die under the flowers, even as a ghost, than be a romantic?"

Yun Changkong said softly, “You love my heart, I love your beauty, I pity your affection. Because of this cause and condition, we are bound together in this cycle of reincarnation for hundreds of thousands of kalpas, unable to break free.”

Zhao Min spat and said, "You've figured out the Buddhist scriptures."

Yun Changkong sighed and said, "Actually, the reason I feel indebted to you is because love is about giving, not simply possessing."

In this respect, I have not done enough for either you or her.

How much you gave up for me, and what did I give up? It sounds like disobeying my father, but in reality, I would have disobeyed him even without you. Because from the very beginning, I disapproved of their way of life.

Including Sister Yang, while I verbally proclaimed how much I liked her, I actually considered marrying her a proud and heroic act, something that others couldn't do.

It wasn't until the incident involving Miss Zhou that I understood how terrible it was to treat a young woman like that in this era. I felt deeply guilty, which is why I had been avoiding her all along.

"Escape?" Zhao Min nodded and said, "Actually, if you want to find her, you can."

“Yes!” Yun Changkong nodded and said, “I can find her as long as I want to.”

Zhao Min was greatly surprised and said, "Then why didn't you go look for me? Was it because of me?" She thought to herself, "I was still young then."

Yun Changkong saw through her thoughts and said, "It wouldn't be right to say it's because of you. It's just that I know she carries the mission of her predecessors, while I, after a trip to the martial world, am tired of fighting, hate those unpredictable conspiracies and tricks, and hate those words about national righteousness that make it seem like what I do is beneficial to the great cause of the nation, and if I don't do it, I'm a traitor and the country will fall apart."

Sigh, come to think of it, it's probably because I lack ambition and don't love enough.

He spoke very bluntly, and Zhao Min was stunned for a moment. Then she gritted her teeth and said, "Brother Yun, now can you tell me how you know so many secrets that no one else knows? It's not just me."

Yun Changkong was taken aback. Zhao Min had asked this question countless times, and he had always avoided it. Now, seeing Zhao Min's fervent yet dazed gaze, he couldn't help but drift off into a daze, looking into the distance.

A gentle autumn breeze swept up a few fallen leaves, which drifted slowly down.

Suddenly, Yun Changkong understood everything.

Why do I get bored so easily?
All because of their own prophetic advantage.

The more you can anticipate, the more outcomes you see, the more choices you face, and the more hesitant and indecisive you become.

In other words, the more you know, the more you think, and while you may gain more, you also lose more.

For example, the woman in yellow, Zhou Zhiruo—if one didn't have the advantage of foresight, one would only see their beauty, and then one could pursue them without restraint and enjoy the process.

But knowing who they are, I have all sorts of concerns, including with Zhao Min. My feelings for her aren't as pure as her feelings for me.

Because I know her personality well, I couldn't help but be moved when I saw her pay such a price. There might not have been much love involved, but I felt completely satisfied. This made me feel guilty towards her, as if I didn't love her as much as she loved me.

For example, when one is roaming the martial arts world and dealing with sect disputes, the same principle applies.

Knowing too much and understanding too much naturally leads to the question: what's the point of all this fighting and killing?
It's inevitable to get tired of it!
Sometimes in life, we don't know that things will actually be better later.

Yun Changkong understood the reason why he had been traveling around and suffering restrictions for so many years. He was both excited and amused. But when he saw Zhao Min riding alongside him, her face full of admiration and love, his heart was filled with peace and tranquility.

Seeing the great excitement on his face, Zhao Min followed his gaze but found nothing unusual. She thought to herself, "Could it be that he can't bear to part with that woman in yellow?" She felt a pang of worry and hesitated to speak.

Yun Changkong said, "Alright, I'll tell you the reason. It's because I seem to have had another life! In that dimensional space, I saw the entire lives of all of you, including everything that you each seem to have hidden!"

Zhao Min asked curiously, "Really?"

Then he clapped his hands again: "I'm so stupid, incredibly stupid. The world is full of wonders. You were born with knowledge, how come I didn't think of it or believe it?"

Yun Changkong laughed heartily: "If you could just think of this and believe it, that would be stupid!"

"Pah, you're the stupid one!" Zhao Min scolded playfully, then smiled and said, "So, do you want to go find her?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Whether you want to or not is one thing and whether you can do it is another. It depends on the conditions."

The essence of my martial arts practice is to be myself, and I must also allow others to be themselves.

You've seen how proud she is. You can't just be like those bullies who prey on the weak and oppress the strong, thinking that if you like her, you have to take her away, have her body, and ignore her feelings.

Zhao Min pursed her lips and said sullenly, "It seems you still have her in your heart. You're willing to accept anyone who's willing." She spurred her horse and galloped away.

Yun Changkong smiled slightly and followed, but he also thought to himself, "Yes, because of the prophet, I'm not even willing to pursue women anymore. Why? Because I'm afraid of failure!"

Thinking back to my past life, when a man pursued a woman and she rejected him, the man's continued pursuit was considered a social phenomenon known as "simp." Even Zhao Min was a quintessential "simp."

So it seems that he only sends out a "I like you" signal to women, without doing anything else, just waiting for them to take the initiative.

How can you expect to have the best of both worlds?

Yun Changkong felt that this damned prophet had brought him glory, but also troubles he shouldn't have had, and he couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

Around noon, the two arrived at a restaurant. Yun Changkong asked the owner to butcher a chicken and ordered several local dishes. While they waited...

Suddenly, they heard whispers at the door. The two turned to look and saw eight maids in black and white gracefully enter, but the woman in yellow was nowhere to be seen.

Zhao Min's heart stirred slightly, and she wondered, "Could it be that she has already returned to the mountain?" She was secretly delighted at the thought.

Eight maids ordered some water and food, and four of them kept their eyes fixed on them the whole time.

Four people were watching Yun Changkong and Zhao Min.

Zhao Min saw this and noticed that Yun Changkong looked very uncomfortable, so she stopped eating. As the two left the restaurant, they suddenly heard a cold voice say, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Zhao Min trembled and turned to look. A woman in a yellow dress with wide sleeves stood under the willow tree. She muttered to herself, "What's she doing here again?" A sense of melancholy washed over her, followed by a surge of arrogance. She called out, "Sister Yang, what exactly are you trying to do? Why are you appearing and disappearing so mysteriously? When will this end?"

The woman in yellow glanced at Yun Changkong: "Let's talk in private."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "It seems this is related to what happened last night?"

The woman in yellow felt a flush rise to her face as she thought of last night, and Zhao Min also frowned and glared at her.

Yun Changkong pretended not to see her, smiling as he looked at the woman in yellow.

The woman in yellow's face darkened: "Come with me!"

Yun Changkong knew she had something to ask him, and glanced at Zhao Min, who snorted.

The woman in yellow turned and left, her speed so fast that even the wind and lightning could not describe it, instantly leaving Yun Changkong a distance of an arrow's flight.

Yun Changkong laughed heartily, grabbed Zhao Min, and followed her as if flying on the wind, his feet barely touching the ground.

Zhao Min heard the wind rushing past her ears, and the scenery on both sides rushed past her as if she were flying through the air. She felt as if she were riding on clouds and mist, and she was utterly astonished.

The woman in yellow turned around and saw Yun Changkong and Zhao Min following together. She couldn't help but feel angry. She accelerated the circulation of her inner energy, her long sleeves billowed, and she transformed into a yellow light that flickered up and down.

Yun Changkong was quite puzzled, but he was running too fast at the moment, and the strong wind was like a knife to his face. He could only protect Zhao Min and could not ask her anything. He then used his true energy to speed up and catch up.

The woman in yellow turned around again and saw that Yun Chang was calm and composed. She felt a chill in her heart and couldn't help but think, "He's holding someone in his arms, and I can't get rid of him either. Where have all my skills gone after all these decades?" Thinking of this, she felt somewhat disheartened.

In fact, in no time at all, the two had run more than twenty miles. The woman in yellow climbed a hill where there were few people around, and then stopped. Only then did Yun Changkong remove his large sleeve from Zhao Min's face.

Zhao Min looked around, knowing that she wouldn't be overheard here, and asked with surprise, "With your high level of martial arts, are you afraid of being overheard?"

The woman in yellow snorted: "You're plotting against someone who isn't paying attention, can't you hear me?"

Yun Changkong asked, "What does Sister Yang have to say?"

The woman in yellow said, "Did you know that Zhou Zhiruo, a disciple of Abbess Miejue of the Emei Sect, Wang Xiaotian, a disciple of the Beggar Clan leader, and Zhang Wuji, the leader of the Ming Cult, went out to sea together?"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Zhao Min said, "So what? What's it to you?"

The woman in yellow snorted and slowly said, "Do you know about the connection between my ancestors and the founder of Emei?"

Yun Changkong remained silent.

Seeing that he remained silent, the woman in yellow became even more certain that he knew, and said, "You also know the secret of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, don't you!"

Zhao Min couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? It's just that we have the Nine Yin Manual."

The woman in yellow sighed and said, "It is precisely because of the Nine Yin Manual that great chaos may ensue. My ancestor said that many people died because of this manual."

"Indeed!" Yun Changkong said quietly, "That's why the Mount Hua Sword Tournament came about!"

"The Sword Tournament at Mount Hua?" Zhao Min was very curious.

The woman in yellow gazed at the distant grass and trees, her voice low and deep: "Back then, Master Guo and his wife knew that Xiangyang could not be defended for long, but they knew that the Han people would surely rise again. They were determined to die for their country, but they did not expect that Master Guo's unique skills would be lost. He spent his whole life studying martial arts and military strategy, and expelling the Tartars. These two things were of great use."

That military strategy was compiled based on the "Wumu's Legacy". Guo Daxia had accompanied Genghis Khan on his western expedition and was well aware of the Mongols' methods of warfare in the field. He also incorporated these key points into the military strategy.

As for the martial arts manual, it mainly consists of the "Nine Yin Manual," along with some of the unique skills of Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, and the exquisite martial arts of the Nine-Fingered Beggar, the master of Guo Jing and his wife.

Part of the Nine Yin Manual contains martial arts techniques that can be learned quickly. Unfortunately, two of Huang Daozhu's other disciples practiced them incorrectly. Huang Daozhu was heartbroken by the deaths of his disciples and devised a way to correct them, so that they could be learned quickly while minimizing future problems.

The heroine Huang then used the heavy black iron sword left to her by her ancestor, Guo Xiang, and added refined gold from the West to forge a Dragon-Slaying Saber; she also fused together the gentleman's sword and lady's sword, belonging to her ancestor and grandmother, to forge a Heaven-Reliant Sword. The great heroine Guo and her husband hid this military strategy manual in a top-secret location, and engraved a map of the location and instructions for entering it on two pieces of black iron, concealing the pieces within the Heaven-Reliant Sword and the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

"I see!" Zhao Min nodded and said, "But..."

The woman in yellow said, "To obtain this military strategy manual, you must first obtain the iron plate. However, to obtain the iron plate from the swords, you must use both swords and weapons; neither can be missing."

Zhao Min said, "That's a good thing too. Zhang Wuji has found the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and Abbess Miejue has the Heaven-Reliant Sword, so they can take them out."

The woman in the yellow dress said seriously, "This is both a good thing and a bad thing."

Do you know why the great hero Guo and his wife didn't directly pass on their martial arts manuals and military strategies to heroine Guo, but instead hid them within swords and blades?

Zhao Min laughed and said, "These military strategies and martial arts skills are not something that can be obtained by anyone but a wise, intelligent, and upright person. If someone else obtains them, they may become a disaster for you Han people."

The woman in yellow nodded and said, "That's one aspect. Master Guo and his wife did indeed foresee that if the time for expelling the Mongols had not come, the military books and martial arts manuals would fall into the hands of the Mongols or wicked people. Not to mention keeping them for proper use, they would probably cause endless trouble."

Therefore, Guo Xiang, the founder of the Emei Sect, and the leader of the Beggars' Sect only knew this secret, but did not directly obtain the manual and military strategy.

Moreover, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime; if one possesses great power, murderous intent will naturally arise. This is why the great hero and his wife did not directly impart the Nine Yin Manual to heroine Guo."

Zhao Min suddenly realized, "If the Emei Sect had possessed the martial arts of the Nine Yin Manual long ago, they would probably either have dominated the martial arts world or been wiped out!"

The woman in yellow said, "They've probably been wiped out long ago. What's the point of dominating the martial arts world?"

Yun Changkong sighed, “That’s right. Parents love their children and plan for their long-term future. Heroine Guo is capable of forming her own school and has considerable talent. There’s no reason why she can’t cultivate the Nine Yin Manual. Besides, when Heroine Guo and her husband died, she was already quite old. She was just afraid that giving it to her daughter would harm her. The Emei Sect only has a few resources. How could it protect the Nine Yin Manual?”

The woman in yellow nodded and said, "That's right. Our ancestor always felt indebted to Lady Guo, so he left a will asking his descendants to take care of the Emei Sect."

The Shaolin Temple is a powerful sect, but it has always been embroiled in controversy due to its martial arts manuals. The Emei Sect, with its limited strength, could dominate the martial arts world if it possessed the Nine Yin Manual, but it would be a threat to the Ming Cult…”

Zhao Min suddenly said, "That makes sense. Given Abbess Miejue's personality, she would never reconcile with Xie Xun, who killed her brother. She would probably take the knife first, obtain the secret manual, and then..."

What she said sounded terrifying, but Yun Changkong knew that Abbess Miejue was ruthless and capable of anything. She might have Zhou Zhiruo pretend to accompany Zhang Wuji to retrieve the sword, only to turn on him once the manual was obtained and the mission accomplished.

Suddenly, the woman in yellow said, "I invited you here because I wanted to talk about this. The Nine Yin Manual is a good thing, but it is also a bad thing."

The Guo family left the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword with good intentions, but the martial arts world has been thrown into chaos and bloodshed because of the Dragon-Slaying Saber. I heard you have a good relationship with Abbess Miejue; you should try to persuade her.”

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "With your abilities and connections, why don't you go?"

The woman in yellow shook her head and said, "No, Abbess Miejue is a stubborn person. She might resent my ancestor for treating Master Guo badly."

Furthermore, her hatred for the Ming Cult surpasses even the survival of the Emei Sect. If she feigns reconciliation with the Ming Cult, and then, once she obtains the Dragon-Slaying Saber, turns against them, she would likely have no face to face the heroes of the world.

Yun Changkong's eyes lit up: "You said she would commit suicide."

The woman in yellow nodded slowly: "Abbess Miejue is unyielding, and once she bends, it won't last long. None of the twelve nuns of the Jing generation under her command are talented. The only one who can be said to be outstanding is Zhou Zhiruo. However, I have observed this woman, and she is definitely not someone who is content with mediocrity."

Yun Changkong sighed, "You truly are someone who, though confined to the mountains, knows everything under the heavens!"

The woman in yellow remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "If it weren't for my ancestors' dying wish, I wouldn't want to get involved in this matter. Besides, the Ming Cult and the Beggars' Sect are the main forces against the Yuan Dynasty. Although I am a woman, I cannot lose to men in terms of national righteousness. If this matter is not handled properly, the excellent situation that we have worked so hard to build will be ruined!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Min felt a surge of unease, thinking, "What is she talking about national righteousness? As a Mongol princess, I have abandoned my royal dignity and the Mongol people, just for my own selfish desires to be with Yun Ge. How can I face all the Mongols in the world?"

Seeing that Zhao Min was distracted, Yun Changkong reached out and took her hand. He felt that her hand was as cold as a stone, so he held her hand even tighter and sent a stream of true energy through her.

Zhao Min felt an immense warmth spreading throughout her body, warming her very soul.

Yun Changkong stared intently at the woman in yellow and said coldly, "Alright, I understand what you mean."

"Expelling the Tartars and restoring the Han dynasty is the inescapable responsibility of the Han people. However, the Mongols' perverse actions have long been unpopular, and now uprisings are breaking out everywhere. The troops under Han Shantong and Xu Shouhui may not necessarily lose to the famous generals of the past. With them around, even if the Emei Sect and the Ming Cult leader are dead, restoring our Han dynasty is still an inevitable trend!"

He paused, then added, "I respect your desire to fulfill your ancestors' wishes, but you must also respect the fate of others."

Ultimately, whatever the outcome, it was their own choice, and they should have no regrets.

"No regrets now?" The woman in yellow frowned, her gaze sharp as frost. "And you? Do you regret it?"

Yun Changkong glanced at Zhao Min and smiled, "You asked me why I married Minmin. It's because she's beautiful. That's one reason."

However, what touched me about her was her heart. Her heart was so big that she could bear any hardship alone. Yet, her heart was also so small that she could burst into tears at the slightest comfort.

She was well aware of her own strength and rarely bowed her head, but she was willing to do so for me.

Sister Yang, although I'm a superficial person, I don't fall in love with just any beautiful woman. Only when she has me in her heart can she truly move me and make me willing to risk my life for her!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Min gently leaned into Yun Changkong's arms, wishing that this moment could last forever.

The woman in yellow nodded slightly and said, "You're right. No one wouldn't be moved by her feelings for you, and naturally, she wouldn't regret it."

Yun Changkong understood the implication in those words, but he didn't want to ask anymore. He was too tired. Wouldn't it be better to use this free time to study something else? He smiled and said, "All things arise from the mind. The mind changes with the environment. If the mind is strong, the world will naturally be broad. Feelings come from one's own will, so why regret them!"

With a flick of his sleeve, he drifted several feet away.

The woman in yellow gazed at Yun Changkong's departing figure, feeling as if in a dream. This was the first time someone had left on their own before her eyes.

For a moment, she could hardly believe it, and murmured, "All things arise from the mind."

Zhao Min leaned against Chang Kong and asked, "What are your plans?"

Yun Changkong sighed: "Let's go out to sea, find a deserted island, and have a litter of chubby babies!"

"What do you mean, 'a whole litter'? Am I a pig?" Zhao Min laughed as she spoke, looking at the sky and sighing, "Do you think my father and brothers will listen to you?"

Yun Changkong said, "This matter is not entirely up to me. Your father and brothers are both capable and heroic figures, and it's naturally difficult for them to be swayed by my words alone. But as long as the rebel army gains significant momentum and makes them feel threatened, then it won't be difficult for them to realize that leaving now is the best option. If the rebel army..."

"That's how it is!" Zhao Min sighed. "But what if, as this Sister Yang says, Abbess Miejue obtained the Nine Yin Manual and then turned against the Ming Cult in alliance with the Beggars' Sect?"

"I'll say it again!" Yun Changkong said calmly, "If I've explained it so clearly, and you still insist on doing it, my life or death is none of my concern, and I don't care who rules the world. I can't let you be the only one subjected to condemnation for disregarding national righteousness!"

"Brother Yun!" Zhao Min wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "How can you be so good to me, always thinking of me!"

Yun Changkong chuckled and said, "Who told me to like you, my little lapdog?"

Zhao Min blushed and said, "How could you be so mean? I won't come again."

Zhao Min was already very beautiful, and her shy demeanor was like a rare flower in its first bloom, or a beautiful jade radiating a glow, making her incomparably beautiful and truly stunning.

"Haha, the most beautiful woman in Mongolia!" At this moment, Yun Changkong was even more excited with the soft jade in his arms. He laughed loudly and looked up at the sky: "I have traveled through the world with many hardships. I am not a hero pretending to be a hero. I travel the world with my beautiful wife in my arms. Today I know who I am."

The next day, the two arrived at Haijin Wharf and suddenly heard someone shout, "Brother Yun!" Turning around, they saw a young girl running towards them excitedly; it was none other than Xiao Zhao.

Zhao Min threw a punch at Yun Changkong.
Yun Changkong laughed and said, "How can you blame me for this?"

As she spoke, Xiao Zhao threw herself into his arms and cried, "I thought something had happened to you. Why didn't you come?"

Yun Changkong was quite embarrassed when he suddenly heard someone call out, "Xiao Zhao, aren't you ashamed!"

Grandma Jin Hua came over.

Xiao Zhao wiped away her tears and was pulled onto the boat by her mother. Zhao Min glared at him, snorted, and followed her.

The ship weighed anchor and headed south. The group went to the cabin and sat down. Xiao Zhao asked about their separation. Yun Changkong told them about the Ruyang Prince's Mansion, but he didn't mention the woman in yellow.

Zhao Min vividly described her encounter with the woman in yellow and her fight with her. Although it was only one move, she described it as a battle of three hundred rounds.

When Xiao Zhao heard that she couldn't beat a woman, she couldn't help but curl her lip and said smugly, "Oh dear, my princess, you've met your match!"

Zhao Min snorted, "After a few more years, I won't be afraid of her anymore."

Later, she recounted how she had used "Ten Fragrant Softening Powder" to bewitch Yun Changkong.

Xiao Zhao and Granny Jin Hua were both taken aback. Even though Yun Changkong was right there, they couldn't help but feel scared.

Granny Jin Hua knew that no matter how skilled you were in martial arts, once you were poisoned, your life or death was entirely in the hands of your opponent, and you would often be unable to live or die, which was the most tragic thing.

Xiao Zhao said, "How could you be so careless!"

Yun Changkong and Zhao Min smiled but said nothing.

Granny Jin Hua said, "This Ten Fragrant Tendon-Softening Powder is so potent, how could it be made? Even with your skill, you cannot withstand it."

Yun Changkong shook his head, and Zhao Min said, "This was offered by the old Tibetan monk, and I don't know the prescription."

Yun Changkong said, "Don't worry about these things. No matter how high your martial arts are, even if you are indestructible, even if there is a way to subdue you, even the Buddha Tathagata, whose power is boundless, was stung on the finger by a scorpion demon while expounding the scriptures and felt unbearable pain. How much more so for us mortals!"

Granny Jin Hua sighed, "This is the principle of mutual generation and mutual restraint among all things."

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "The basic rule of this world is that everything is constantly changing, so at any time, we must allow anything to happen."

People who bring us joy or lessons are all too common, and these experiences are meant to help us understand ourselves better.

If one's only ability is to protect a farmhouse, to live out one's days in a picturesque place, enjoying the tranquility of nature, that is the greatest skill one can possess. To insist on seeking the dazzling heights of the clouds is both laughable and pathetic!

Xiao Zhao said, "But..." but hesitated.

Zhao Min smiled and said, "No buts. I know your feelings for my husband. Do you know how bad his heart is?"

Yun Changkong's gaze swept over Xiao Zhao. Under the candlelight, her beautiful face was captivating, her expression shifting and changing, yet carrying a hint of resentment and helplessness.

Yun Changkong felt as if something was stuck in his throat...

(End of this chapter)