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

Chapter 149 The Flowers Are in Full Bloom

Zhou Zhiruo followed Zhao Min's gaze to the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, and said, "Do you intend to fight me with your sword and saber?"

Zhao Min shook her head and said, "What's the point of fighting with swords and blades?"
You said that mastering the Nine Yin Manual would make one invincible, and my husband also said that the Nine Yin Manual is the general outline of all martial arts, mysterious and unpredictable. This Huang Chang is a peerless genius, his legacy must be extraordinary. Let's extract the secrets from these swords and cultivate together for half a year. Then, we'll settle our score!

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yun Changkong and Abbess Miejue were both astonished.

A hint of excitement flashed in Zhou Zhiruo's eyes, followed by a cold remark: "You really are full of schemes and tricks, using any means necessary. So you also want to learn the Nine Yin Manual?"

Zhao Min showed no shame and said, "You are a disciple of Lady Guo's Emei Sect, and your martial arts tradition is the best of many schools. As for me, I also learned a lot of martial arts before, and I have also improved a lot following my husband. However, our skills are about the same."

"Let's practice the Nine Yin Manual together and test our results. This is a contest of intelligence. If you're afraid of losing, just say so. Who can force you then?"

Zhou Zhiruo raised her voice and said, "You think I'm afraid of you? Is that what you call a contest of intelligence?"

Zhao Min laughed and said, "You may not admit it, but you're actually quite afraid. You're afraid that my talent and intelligence are superior to yours, and that I can understand the Nine Yin Manual, while you can't understand it and can't cultivate it. It's not just that you're ashamed of your ancestors, but it also proves that you're inferior to me and can't hold your head up!"

Zhou Zhiruo said, "According to you, we both rely on ourselves and don't need anyone's guidance?"

Princess Zhao Min smiled and said, "You're afraid I have a husband to ask, but you don't."

Zhou Zhiruo blushed, glanced at Yun Changkong, said nothing, yet said everything.

She was indeed afraid that Yun Changkong would guide Zhao Min, while she herself would not, thus losing to Zhao Min.

The Nine Yin Manual was incredibly profound. In the original story, after Zhou Zhiruo obtained it, she repeatedly asked Zhang Wuji about the deep secrets of cultivating internal energy. Zhang Wuji generously shared his knowledge in detail, never expecting that Zhou Zhiruo had actually obtained the Nine Yin Manual. Instead, he was delighted for her, feeling that her ability to ask such crucial questions demonstrated significant progress in her internal energy cultivation. He even said that in two or three years, she would be on par with him.

Zhao Min laughed and said, "Sister Zhou, you underestimate me. Since I made a bet with you, I will win fair and square. I will not ask him for even the slightest thing. We will each rely on our own abilities!"

Zhou Zhiruo was both surprised and delighted, and blurted out, "Is this really true?"

Zhao Min smiled slightly: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond!"

Zhou Zhiruo said, "You, Zhao Min, are the ones who said that?"
Zhao Min's smile vanished, and she said seriously, "Since I am Zhao Min, I am also Yun Changkong's wife!"

Zhou Zhiruo's face darkened, and she said, "Fine, it's settled then. We'll have a six-month time limit. You can't ask Yun Changkong a single question. We'll cultivate at the same time, and we'll have a showdown after six months!"

Zhao Min extended her hand, and the two clasped hands together.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Wait!" and Xiao Zhao walked in leisurely.

Zhao Min asked, "Xiao Zhao, do you have any different opinions?"

Xiao Zhao lowered her head and said softly, "I want to compete with both of you!"

Zhao Min was taken aback and looked at Zhou Zhiruo.

Zhou Zhiruo remained silent and turned to walk towards the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.

Zhao Min chuckled and said, "Xiao Zhao, do you know the deeper meaning behind my duel?"

Xiao Zhao blushed and said, "I don't care about any deeper meaning. If you're afraid of losing to me, then I won't compete."

Zhao Min laughed heartily: "You really have quite the ambition! Fine, count you in, let's have the three of us compete together, that'll be the real fun!"

She was determined to subdue the two women and establish the authority of the island's mistress, saying, "Then it's settled. The loser must serve the winner as their master."

Xiao Zhao replied without hesitation, "It's a deal!" She thought to herself, "I'm going to serve you for life anyway! So what if I serve you as my master? I'll show you that you, Zhao Min, aren't incomparable!"

Zhou Zhiruo sneered, "You two can just wait to become my maids!" As she spoke, she picked up the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and sat on a rock, slowly sharpening them.

The Dragon Slayer Saber is made entirely of black iron, making it incredibly hard. However, seven inches from the hilt on the back of the blade, the edge of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, also seven inches from the hilt, can be slowly cut into it. This will reveal serrations on the blade. By slowly grinding the serrations, the blade can be sawed open.

Because this seven-inch spot wouldn't come into contact with the enemy's blade during a fight, a bit of soft iron remained.

As Zhou Zhiruo and Zhao Min rubbed their swords together, chips appeared on the back of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the blade of the Heaven-Reliant Sword, from which two pieces of black iron fell out.

Zhao Min picked up a piece that had fallen from the Heaven Sword and felt its weight. Compared to ordinary iron, if it were the same size and thickness, this piece of iron would weigh almost five times as much.

The iron sheet was engraved with seven small characters: "Pudu Shandong Peach Blossom Island".

The Dragon Slayer Sword is engraved with a map, the road winding and intricate, with tiny arrows marking the way. At the end of the road, the paths fork, each ending with a small book depicted.

Clearly, if only the iron fragments of the Heaven-Slaying Sword can be retrieved, then Peach Blossom Island is the only place known.

Peach Blossom Island is extremely vast; how can we find where the two books are hidden?

If you only have the iron piece from the Dragon Slayer Sword, and only one map, you'll still be completely clueless. How can you know where this map is?

On the back of the two iron plates were engraved four rows of sixteen small characters, four characters in each row: "The Legacy of Yue Fei, The Nine Yin Manual, Drive Out the Barbarians and Protect the People," which served as the command.

Zhou Zhiruo said, "Let's follow the map then." She turned and left, her steps seemingly light and graceful, swaying and floating, already several feet away.

Zhao Min laughed and followed, and Xiao Zhao followed Zhao Min, moving very quickly. The three women disappeared in an instant.

Only Yun Changkong and Abbess Miejue remained standing motionless.

Abbess Miejue sighed, "Do you understand the deeper meaning behind their duel?"

Yun Changkong said, "It's just youthful impetuosity."

Abbess Miejue laughed loudly, then looked up at the sky and snorted, "Youthful impetuosity? Isn't this all the trouble you caused because of your philandering! For an ordinary person to have even one such good woman is a blessing earned over several lifetimes, yet you've made them live like lonely, resentful women in their secluded chambers. What a terrible sin you've committed!"

Yun Changkong's face flushed: "Master, this was not my intention."

After a moment of silence, Abbess Miejue said, "If Zhiruo loses, perhaps her inner knot will be untied. But what if she wins? Alas, the past is gone, all things are empty, Amitabha!"

Yun Changkong said, "Master, you were injured just now. Please come inside and rest for a while. Please!"

Abbess Miejue followed him to a secluded dwelling.

Yun Changkong settled her in and came out of the house. There he saw a snow-white figure standing against the wind, looking at him with a cold smile.

Yun Changkong walked closer and said, "Why are you giving me that fake smile?"

The Purple-Robed Dragon King snorted coldly and said, "Zhou Zhiruo has ill intentions. The only reason we didn't kill her before was because of Abbess Miejue. Now that all the Emei disciples are here, why not just kill them all and be done with it? Why bother with this betting match? Even Xiao Zhao got involved. How will this end?"

Yun Changkong sighed, "I can't do that!"

The Purple-Robed Dragon King sneered, "Of course you can't do that. You're not satisfied with having two women on your left and two on your right. You want to take that Miss Zhou into your possession as well."

Yun Changkong said, "I had absolutely no such intention!"

The Purple-Robed Dragon King coldly replied, "Absolutely not. You understand her better than her master. If you weren't concerned and observing her closely, how could you have done this?"

Yun Changkong was speechless for a moment; this was due to his foresight, not to deliberate observation.

The Purple-Robed Dragon King sighed: "Whether you admit it or not, being with you makes me feel comfortable, and I feel the same way."

You have unique insights into everything, from romantic love to grand ambitions and martial arts anecdotes, you can discuss them all with ease. You are neither rigid and serious nor superficial and detached, and you can put yourself in others' shoes and consider things from their perspective. What woman wouldn't be moved by you?
Why does Zhou Zhiruo hate you? Why is she so unwilling to submit to Zhao Min? Ultimately, it all boils down to jealousy.

What I'm jealous of is why she doesn't enjoy your love for her!

Having someone in your heart gives you hope for life. If there's no one to miss, when will these bleak days ever end? This is a good thing for her, but she doesn't understand it yet! She strode off to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Yun Changkong stood there for a while, then walked towards the kitchen, came up behind the Purple-Robed Dragon King, and gently put his arm around her slender waist.

The Purple-Robed Dragon King turned around and scolded, "What are you doing? I need to cook."

Yun Changkong said, "Sister Long, if I could spend my whole life with you on this island, I would be so happy."

The Purple-Robed Dragon King trembled and fell silent. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "Chang Kong, I am so much older than you and have been married before. You are still so greedy. I am also very happy."

Yun Changkong laughed, "Sister Long, you've been married before, and I married Minmin too, so we're pretty much the same. You look younger than me, but you're only a little bigger here." His hand was already groping her chest.

The smooth, lustrous skin exposed at the neckline of the Purple-Robed Dragon King was alluring, and a delicate fragrance wafted from his swan-like neck to his nose, causing him to feel a surge of heat flowing down from his lower abdomen.

The Purple-Robed Dragon King sensed something amiss, raised his right leg, and gently tapped him with his heel, laughing, "I, this old woman, have the utmost respect for your glib tongue."

Yun Changkong said, "You are not allowed to say 'old woman,' you can only say 'wife.'"

The Purple-Robed Dragon King trembled slightly and whispered, "But what about Xiao Zhao? I think Zhang Wuji is a man worth entrusting one's life to, so I mentioned it to her, and she got very unhappy."

Yun Changkong sighed and said, "Sister Long, you've been through this too. Do you remember when you were on Bright Peak, didn't everyone in the Ming Cult think that Brother Han was not good enough for you and opposed your marriage to him? What did you do then?"

The Purple-Robed Dragon King suddenly blushed and said, "The more they forbid it, the more I want it, which is why I turned against them."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Xiao Zhao is your daughter. How could she not have her own ideas? If you try to persuade her, it will only backfire. Don't worry about it anymore. Just enjoy life. Haven't you noticed that you're getting younger and younger? Holding you is like holding a ball of cotton, making people love you so much."

These days, the Purple-Robed Dragon King had been looking at herself in the mirror and noticed that her skin was becoming increasingly smooth. She had initially thought it was just her imagination, but hearing him say the same thing, it was clearly true. She couldn't help but feel secretly delighted and said, "It's fate that we're together. You treat me as your wife, and I'll treat you as my husband. I'm not afraid you'll have any doubts. There are still some capable people on Spirit Serpent Island that I can transfer over. We can't have to do everything ourselves in the future."

Upon hearing this, Yun Changkong's breathing became slightly heavier, and he quietly began to rub her jade-like belly with both hands, saying, "I can't bear to let you leave me for even a moment."

"Would you like to come with me?" The Purple-Robed Dragon King looked at him with tender eyes.

Yun Changkong said, "You should focus on cultivating the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. Now that we have the Nine Yin Manual, you can also cultivate it. We can talk about it again when your martial arts are even higher."

He knew that in the original story, the Persian Ming Cult had infiltrated Ling Snake Island, which was why Xiao Zhao had to travel to Persia to save Zhang Wuji and the others. Naturally, he would not let the Purple-Robed Dragon King go back.

After all, the Persian Ming Cult came to the Central Plains because of the Ming Cult itself. If the Purple-Robed Dragon King doesn't return to the island, the Persian Ming Cult won't be able to find him and will naturally go looking for the Ming Cult in the Central Plains. He's too lazy to worry about it and avoid trouble.

The Purple-Robed Dragon King said, "Alright, I also want to see if the Nine Yin Manual is as miraculous as it seems."

Yun Changkong said, "Whether it's miraculous or not depends on who practices it."

The Purple-Robed Dragon King nodded and said, "That's true!"

The two prepared the meal and returned to the hermitage, where they found Zhao Min, Zhou Zhiruo, Xiao Zhao, and Abbess Miejue reading together.

Seeing this, Yun Changkong felt a warmth in his heart and thought, "If only things could always be this harmonious."

Abbess Miejue stood up and said, "The Nine Yin Manual is indeed profound and extensive. The Military Treatise of Yue Fei is full of the essential principles of military campaigns, battle formations, and tactics."

Peach Blossom Island was strangely laid out with winding paths, but the three women had a map to guide them, so they had no trouble. Following the map, they unearthed two manuscripts in the ground beneath a cave.

Zhao Min said, "Look, this Nine Yin Manual also contains quick-learning martial arts techniques, as well as many other amazing martial arts."

Yun Changkong took the books and saw that they had turned yellow and were covered with neat, tiny characters written in fine, delicate handwriting.

One book is the legacy of Yue Fei, and the other is the "Nine Yin Manual". The contents are full of all kinds of magical martial arts. When you turn to the end, you will find martial arts such as "Nine Yin White Bone Claw" and "White Python Whip".

The Purple-Robed Dragon King said, "The supreme martial arts weapon, the Dragon-Slaying Saber, commands the world, and none dare disobey. Without the Heaven-Reliant Sword, who can contend with it? Only today do I understand the true meaning of these twenty-four characters."

Xiao Zhao said, "Yes, if we can train the army in the methods of Yue Fei, we will surely be able to reproduce the mighty army that is said to be 'easier to shake a mountain than to shake Yue Fei's army,' and we will surely be invincible. That would be 'to command the world, and none would dare to disobey.'"

But if those in power oppress the people like the Mongols, even with command of thousands of troops and unparalleled power, they might not be able to prevent it. That peerless master who mastered the Nine Yin Manual could, with a single swing of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, decapitate him.

Zhao Min snorted coldly and said, "So what if Yue Fei was powerful? He still died unjustly at Fengbo Pavilion! Fighting a war isn't just about military strategy!"

Yun Changkong said, "The reason why Master Guo and his wife left this book was out of good intentions, but it has caused great trouble. This is the truth that even the wisest can make a mistake. Whether we can drive out the barbarians cannot be achieved by relying solely on a powerful army. We need the right time, the right place, and the right people. Now is the perfect time."

Upon hearing this, the women all nodded in agreement.

Even Zhao Min knew that natural disasters were rampant, causing chaos not only across the land but also within Mongolia. With neither favorable timing nor geographical advantage, and lacking popular support, how could they possibly win?
Yun Changkong flipped through the Nine Yin Manual again and said, "If you three are making this bet because of me, there's no need for that!"

Zhou Zhiruo sneered, "Who made a bet because of you? Stop being so conceited!"

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "That's good!"

Xiao Zhao asked, "Does Young Master think we can't practice the Nine Yin Manual?"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "It's not that he can't practice. It's just that Huang Shang was an exceptionally talented person. His martial arts skills in the first half of his life were obtained through self-comprehension of the Taoist scriptures. Later, because of the matter of suppressing the Ming Cult, he was besieged by his relatives and friends in the Ming Cult. Facing masters from various schools and sects, he was outnumbered, injured and fled. However, his family was killed.

Driven by a desire for revenge, he meticulously studied various schools of thought and their methods of countering his attacks. Forty years passed in the blink of an eye. When he finally found his enemies, they had all died of natural causes, except for one woman who had grown from a young girl into an old woman. He had completely forgotten all his hatred, and he realized that his day had finally come.

He wrote the Nine Yin Manual so that his hard work would not be wasted.

Having experienced great changes in his life, he deeply understands the principle that misfortune may be the foundation of fortune, and fortune may be the harbinger of misfortune.

After all, he didn't know martial arts back then, and his family was safe and happy. He learned martial arts on his own, but his family was all killed.

Clearly, the path of martial arts is fraught with endless harm. He did not want his life's work to be buried, but he also feared that it would bring harm to the world. Therefore, he wrote down the most profound principles of the Nine Yin Manual in Sanskrit, the most difficult script in the world.

Later, the great hero Guo and his wife were able to receive the teachings entirely thanks to Master Yideng's translation. This Nine Yin Manual is now written in Chinese characters by Heroine Huang. You are both extraordinary women with great comprehension, so you will naturally understand it.

However, the orthodox teachings within are profound and complex, and without a foundation of extremely deep internal strength, they cannot exert any power.

However, when cultivating internal energy, one should be single-minded. If you are all thinking about betting and winning, it is inevitable that your minds will be disturbed. The more powerful your martial arts are, the greater the harm will be. It is more of a curse than a blessing.

But in your pursuit of victory, you inevitably have to practice quick-learning martial arts like the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

Against ordinary opponents, this strategy might yield unexpected victories, but against true masters, it's largely ineffective and could even cloud one's judgment, ultimately doing more harm than good!

These words were like a wake-up call, and the women were deeply moved.

Abbess Miejue suddenly realized and said, "That's right. Back then, when Huang Daozhu was heartbroken by his disciple's injury, he corrected the Nine Yin White Bone Claw and White Python Whip techniques. Although the consequences were minor, they still exist."

"If you want to learn, you must first cultivate a truly solid foundation of internal strength before learning profound martial arts. This is not something that can be achieved in a short period of time. Since you've made a six-month agreement, in your pursuit of victory, you'll undoubtedly be thinking about quick-fix martial arts. At that point, you might end up like the 'Black Wind Duo' again."

Zhao Min asked, "What Black Wind Duo?" Abbess Miejue replied, "They were the disciples of Island Master Huang, who once studied martial arts on this island. They stole the Nine Yin Manual, but failed to master its techniques, leading to a bloody battle and the nickname 'Black Wind Duo'!"

The girls fell silent.

Yun Changkong said, "I will give this Wumu Legacy to Zhang Wuji so that the Ming Cult can restore the broken Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber to their original state. Then we will completely retire from the world and not care about worldly affairs. If in the end we all become like Mei Chaofeng, the 'Iron Corpse' with hard skin..."

Xiao Zhao asked curiously, "What does 'Iron Master Mei Chaofeng' mean?"

Yun Changkong said, "That means her skin is dark, hard as iron, impervious to swords and spears, just like a corpse."

"Huh?" The girls were all surprised.

Yun Changkong said, "If I were to hold such beautiful women like you, and then touch your skin and find it not smooth and tender like water, but rather as hard as iron, wouldn't that be like burning a zither to cook a crane? I won't do it!"

"Us?" Zhao Min said, half-jokingly and half-scolding, "Besides me and Sister Long, who else would you like to hug?"

Upon hearing this, the Purple-Robed Dragon King's beautiful face flushed, and she said in a sweet voice, "Why do you have so many questions?"

Zhao Min said, "Didn't you see that someone here has ulterior motives?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Who is the person, and who is the wine?"

Zhao Minyao tilted her nose up, pouted her red lips, and said in a coquettish voice, "We mute people know what we're doing eating wontons!"

At this point, his gaze shifted slightly, intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over Zhou Zhiruo and Xiao Zhao, a complex expression appearing in his eyes.

Zhou Zhiruo said, "Zhao Min, since we've made a bet, it's up to fate. You have to accept the consequences! If you're scared, you can just admit defeat. I won't force you, so as not to worry someone!"

Zhao Min sneered, "Don't think you've already won."

Zhou Zhiruo said, "But some people are just afraid that you will lose to me!"

Yun Changkong sighed inwardly, "Why are these two always fighting? Sigh, can I think of a way to get them to coexist peacefully?"

Abbess Miejue said, "Zhiruo, Changkong, you two should have a good talk. This constant avoidance isn't a solution."

“That’s right,” Yun Changkong said. “Miss Zhou, come with me. I have something I want to say to you.”

Zhou Zhiruo said, "Let's talk right here. The three of us have agreed that we won't be alone with you for the next six months, so that no one can cheat!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Changkong became agitated and said, "Nonsense! Why can't I be alone with my wife for six months at a time?"

Zhao Min chuckled and said, "Both Miss Zhou and Miss Xiao Zhao said they were afraid you would give me special treatment."

Yun Changkong shook his head like a rattle drum: "No, no, if I don't pick you, this strong and beautiful rose, I'll think I'm not romantic enough, let alone half a year. I'm not going to compete anymore."

He knew that Zhou Zhiruo would definitely learn the Nine Yin White Bone Claw in order to win against Zhao Min. Remembering the ruthlessness of the original story, he was extremely worried and didn't want Zhao Min to learn it with her, fearing it would affect her will.

Abbess Miejue said, "Zhiruo, why don't you go out and talk to Changkong?"

Zhou Zhiruo thought for a moment, then got up and walked towards the door.

Seeing her lonely and forlorn figure, the group...

Yun Changkong said to Zhao Min and the Purple-Robed Dragon King, "I'm going out for a while. You two eat first."

Zhao Min laughed and said, "Yes, my husband! Don't do anything reckless or bully me, or I won't stand for it!"
The Purple-Robed Dragon King nodded slightly.

Yun Changkong followed her out and saw Zhou Zhiruo gracefully walk through the bamboo forest.
He followed along for a while.

Then Zhou Zhiruo arrived at a mountain peak. She faced the sea and remained motionless. The sea breeze grew stronger, causing her dress to flutter, making her look like a fairy from Mount Guye. However, her slender and graceful figure also revealed a sense of loneliness.

In that instant, Yun Changkong's heart trembled. A beautiful and gentle figure flashed before him, Zhou Zhiruo's face appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Yun Changkong stepped forward, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the distant horizon where the sea met the sky.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Zhiruo suddenly said, "Didn't you have something to say to me?"

Yun Changkong said, "I've thought about it for a long time, and I still want to tell you what's on my mind. But this is the first time I've been alone with you, and I don't know how to start the conversation properly."

Zhou Zhiruo's heart skipped a beat. A subtle feeling filled the air as memories flashed through her mind.

She and Yun Changkong have known each other for nearly five years and have met many times, but each time there has been someone else by their side. This is indeed the first time the two of them have been together.

Zhou Zhiruo was also momentarily stunned. A sea breeze blew, clearing her mind, and she slowly said, "You don't want us to fight!"

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "Yes!"

Zhou Zhiruo said, "Are you afraid that Zhao Min will lose to me?"

Yun Changkong said, "Of course I'm afraid she'll lose to you, but I'm also afraid you'll lose to her. You're both strong-willed women, and whoever loses will be unhappy."

Zhou Zhiruo gave a cold laugh: "Do you care whether I'm happy or not?"

Yun Changkong said, "You already know the answer in your heart. That's more accurate than me saying whether you care or not."

Zhou Zhiruo turned her head to look at the sky and saw that his eyes were full of gentleness, but the man in front of her did not belong to her. Thinking of this, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. She gritted her teeth and said, "Did you ever like me? You told my master that you wanted me to marry you, and you even told Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min that you wanted me to be your concubine. Was there any truth in your words?"

Yun Changkong's expression changed slightly. He glanced at her and saw her deep and sorrowful expression. He was surprised and said, "What are you saying? These are just words spoken in the heat of the moment. You must not think of them like that."

As soon as Zhou Zhiruo uttered the words, she thought, "Am I stupid? How could I ask such a shameless question?" For some reason, a strange shyness welled up in her heart, and her face turned as red as if she had applied rouge.

Fortunately, the weather turned around and the wind softened, like a pair of delicate hands brushing her disheveled hair across her face and covering it.

Zhou Zhiruo said, "That was just something said in the heat of the moment, but was all your kindness to me fake?"

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "It's true that I cared about your feelings, but I wouldn't dare say that I was good to you."

Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Do you remember where we first met?"

“I remember,” Yun Changkong nodded. “It’s the Yang General Temple in Zhuxian Town.”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Zhou Zhiruo said, "Actually, I remember all the kindness you've shown me."

At that time, I had only recently joined the Emei sect. My master treated me very well. I had never had a mother since I was a child, so I felt that she was my mother. But because of this, my fellow disciples were all jealous of me.

Senior Sister Ding was especially harsh; she wouldn't let go of even the slightest mistake I made. At first, I wanted to go far away, but where could I go?
My father was merely ferrying people across the Han River; he hadn't offended anyone, yet he was killed by Yuan soldiers chasing after Ming Cult rebels.

Thinking about it this way, I realize I can't become someone like my father.

I need to learn martial arts, I need to become someone like Master Zhang, or at least be like my master, so that I won't be bullied.

I have been diligently learning everything my master taught me, and my master is very pleased. She said that the responsibility of carrying forward and developing the Emei School rests on my shoulders.

That time at General Yang's Temple was the first time I followed my senior sister down the mountain, but it wasn't the first time I was bullied by Senior Sister Ding.

You told Senior Sister Ding that you wanted to become the leader of the Emei Sect, but suppressing your fellow disciples was far from enough.

At that moment, my heart felt like it had been pierced by an awl, because everyone in the Emei Sect knew about how Sister Ding had been tormenting me. But no one had ever explained it so clearly before. I was deeply grateful.

As your reputation in the martial arts world grew, Senior Sister Ding became much more reserved. She no longer dared to ask me to wash her clothes, cook for her in the middle of the night, or even fetch her bathwater.

Because I know she's afraid. She's afraid you'll overhear her joke, afraid that if I really marry you, I'll settle scores with her one day.

Actually, I know that if I want to learn all of my master's skills, I must keep a low profile and conceal my strength. Otherwise, I will die at the hands of my senior sister before I have mastered the martial arts.

She always thought I was about the same as her, but by the time I was fifteen, she was no match for me. I was just pretending, and I was far less good at it than she was.

You're right. When I met Zhang Wuji and Yin Li at Kunlun Mountain, I was just putting on an act. Yin Li was no match for me. I just didn't want to be used as a pawn by Senior Sister Ding.

I don't know how long I'll have to keep pretending before I can become as good as my master.

That day, Chief Shi and your father visited Emei with a formal invitation to propose marriage. Master said that Chang Kong had also intended to marry my disciple back then, but I said you were still too young and we should talk about it later. Now that Chang Kong has become a protector of the Beggars' Sect, Chief Shi will personally act as matchmaker.

Our sect's founder, Master Guo, has a deep connection with several generations of Beggar Clan leaders. This humble nun, wishing to facilitate such a good thing, asked me, "Zhiruo, you have met Changkong before. His character and martial arts skills are both top-notch. What do you think?"
I said, it's all up to Master to decide.

At that time, your father, my master, and Chief Shi were all happy. I was shy but also extremely happy. I thought to myself, "Brother Changkong is a hero and treats me very well. Marrying him would be a blessing for me." But I didn't dare to show it.

Even so, my senior sister Ding always tried to be nice to me. Whenever I was thirsty or hungry, she would bring me delicious food and tea. She also bought me many beautiful silk skirts, saying that she was ignorant before and that every sect was like this. She just hoped that I could achieve great things and told me not to mind.

I was so happy then, so very happy.

As you said, I may not love you, but I enjoy the feeling you give me; I feel triumphant. I'm so foolish, aren't I?

Hearing these words, Yun Changkong was deeply moved. Turning his head, he saw that Zhou Zhiruo's eyes were already brimming with tears.
In an instant, he felt uneasy. He thought of the day at General Yang Temple when he confronted Ding Minjun, and he also thought of the time he refused to marry her at Guangrenwang Temple in Shanxi. Seeing her like this now, it felt as if a crack had appeared deep in his heart, and a torrent of emotion surged forth, churning and churning.

Is it a genuine expression of emotion, or just an act?
Yun Changkong couldn't be sure, but he suddenly understood why Zhou Zhiruo still harbored such resentment despite his clear explanation.

The change in her relationship with herself caused a dramatic shift in her life.

Yun Changkong sighed deeply and said with a bitter tone, "Miss Zhou, I made you suffer back then. To be honest, there was a time when I really liked you too."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. She felt her eyes burning, her nose stinging, her mouth dry, and her ears ringing. She wanted to cry but couldn't, and wanted to scream but couldn't. It felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. Suddenly, she felt a heat on her cheeks, and before she knew it, tears were already streaming down her face.

A voice inside her said, "Then why don't you like him anymore? When you and Zhao Min were getting married under the moon, I hadn't seen Zhang Wuji. I thought he was dead! He wasn't!"

Yun Changkong smiled bitterly and said, "The reason I told you that I used to like you is not because I necessarily want a result."

Rather, it's a farewell to my past, and I hope that when you're at a low point in your life or feeling down, you won't lose heart or harbor resentment.

Because I was once attracted to your charm, I still am, and I believe I will continue to be, because you are a very, very beautiful woman. To have you shed tears is a feat worthy of a legendary figure like Yun Changkong. This is my true feeling; I'm not using it to ask for any relationship with you or to prove that I like you.

“If you like someone but don’t ask for anything in return, is it still liking them?” Zhou Zhiruo’s throat felt slightly sweet. She looked up at the sky and gazed into the depths of the white clouds, and said with a smile, “I know you are comforting me, and I am also telling you that my feelings are not about asking anything of you.”

do you know?

That day you said you liked Zhao Min, and my heart ached terribly. But I don't understand why you knew my feelings.

Every time you speak up for me, you express what I've long wanted to say to my master but dared not say. I feel we have a great understanding, even more so than my master.

Even if you and Zhao Min have a vow of eternal love, I will still be happy, because we also have a spiritual connection, and you also have feelings of pity for me.

Every moment I spend with you feels like being bathed in warm sunshine and soothed by refreshing tea; I feel so fortunate.

My master said that even if I get married in the future, I can still accept the position of sect leader, all because of you.

So you rejected me, and I became a laughingstock. My Senior Sister Ding immediately changed her tune, saying that Yun Changkong, at such a young age, was already invincible in the world, and naturally he would marry a peerless beauty. Junior Sister Zhou, it seems you still don't meet his standards!

Yun Changkong sighed, "Ding Minjun takes pride in suppressing you; perhaps it's because she's realized her own worth."

Zhou Zhiruo smiled slightly: "I have resented you, but for some reason, I can never bring myself to hate you."

I can only hate Zhao Min. I don't think she's any better than me! Tell me, is she a peerless beauty? Am I uglier than her?

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "Women are just women, always concerned about their own beauty and ugliness." He said, "In this life, we experience many things, and the unpleasant things far outweigh the pleasant ones, so there is more suffering than joy."

If we want to be happy, we must be able to withstand lies, tolerate deception, endure perfunctory treatment, and forget broken promises.

Some moments I took for granted have left you with feelings you can't let go of. But this isn't unique to us. It happens all the time in the world.

But those who have hurt us are the ones who can truly make us understand the hardships of life and what helplessness means.

This is also a form of growth in life, and there is absolutely no need to be obsessed with it.

In that situation, being able to laugh freely is happiness itself. Of course, a smile from a beauty like you turning around is even more captivating.

Zhou Zhiruo's body trembled slightly, and tears streamed down her face as she said, "I thought I could forget you, but then on the way to Bright Peak, I met Zhang Wuji. He succeeded as the leader of the Ming Cult, and I was very happy for him, because I was able to enter the martial world entirely because of him."

If it weren't for Master Zhang taking me there and saving me, sending me to Emei, I don't know if I would have survived. Later, my master asked me to trick Xie Xun out of the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and also told me that I couldn't marry him. Actually, I know that she was afraid that I would fall in love, so she swore an oath with my deceased parents and my unborn child.

When Zhang Wuji and I went overseas, I kept thinking about whether I would lie to my childhood friends if we got married. Sometimes I thought, I am a disciple of Emei, and although I am unworthy, he is the leader of Ming Cult, and his adoptive father, Yang Xiao, and Wei Yixiao both killed people from my Emei sect. So it wouldn't matter if I lied to him.

Zhang Wuji treated me very well, showing me concern and care. The better he treated me, the more guilty I felt. I thought that if we encountered a storm and the boat capsized and we all died, it would be the end of it all.

However, after several months, we not only found Xie Xun without any major incidents, but also returned to the Central Plains.

I think I deceived him and even stole his godfather's Dragon-Slaying Saber. I will never be able to face him again.

So when I said I was bullied by you and pregnant with your child, I was partly testing him. His reaction would help me decide to steal the Dragon-Slaying Saber. But I also hoped he would get angry, whether he looked down on me, chased me away, or confronted you.

In this way, I will no longer live in a difficult situation.

Yet he still agreed to marry me and even wanted to acknowledge your child. For a moment, I didn't know if it was out of gratitude for you helping him avenge his adoptive father, or because of me.

Yun Changkong said, "He did it because of you. Even if you said you were bullied by Song Qingshu, he wouldn't abandon you. He's not that kind of person."

"Perhaps!" Zhou Zhiruo said with a bitter smile, "But by some twist of fate, you all overheard everything. You captured me, perhaps for my own good, but forcing me to watch you and Zhao Min being affectionate is so cruel to me."

Last night, I deliberately went to your room. I heard from Senior Sister Ding that men are like hungry wolves seeing sheep when they see women, especially beautiful women who throw themselves at them.

I want to see if you are like that.

But you ignored me. Do you know how heartbroken I was? I just wanted to know, how could you be so indifferent to me in that situation? Shouldn't you have hugged me?

Yun Changkong smiled gently and said softly, "If that's what you think, then the flowers are in full bloom. If I don't open my heart to them, it would be a waste of their beauty. From now on, you can come with us. Come on, let me hug you first!" He turned to Zhou Zhiruo and opened his arms.

(End of this chapter)