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

Speak slowly if you have something to say, and quickly if you don't. That evening, the ship docked at the Shanghai wharf.

Yun Changkong turned to Da Nian, and Mi Weiyi said, "You two have worked hard, please don't linger any longer, please go back now."

The two men cupped their hands in greeting and said, "Young master, please be careful!"

Yun Changkong tightened his backpack and strode away.

He wore a light fur coat and held a flute, still like a scholar, adrift at sea, yet still full of energy.

At this time, although Shanghai was not as prestigious as it would later become, it was already taking the shape of a "mini-Suzhou," bustling with traffic, people, and a lively mix of shouts from all over the country and the neighing of mules and horses.

Yun Changkong walked straight into the city. As dusk fell, the streets were bustling with people. He planned to find an inn to wash up properly.

As he walked, a glint flashed in Yun Changkong's bright eyes. He glanced down slightly, then continued walking slowly. After turning a corner, he stopped in front of a place called "Gaosheng Inn".

Suddenly, he let out a soft hum, and with a swift movement, he grabbed a man in gray in front of a stall.

The man was caught in a flash, and in his panic, he struggled frantically, but to his surprise, he couldn't budge an inch.

Yun Changkong's hand gripping his shoulder felt like an iron clamp or steel clamp, causing him excruciating pain, and he couldn't help but cry out "Ouch!"

Yun Changkong said calmly, "Tell me, why are you following me?"

Yun Changkong was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, surpassing ordinary people. As soon as he came out of the dock, he sensed someone acting suspiciously. He thought he was just imagining things, but after walking a street, the person was still following him. He immediately took action and dragged him out.

The man in gray was sweating profusely, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Yun Changkong said, "Fine, you're a tough one. Okay, tell me the truth, and I'll let you go."

He released his grip, but the man suddenly threw a punch at Yun Changkong's chest.

Yun Changkong laughed heartily, reached out and grabbed his wrist, saying, "You're getting a little too cocky!"

With a slight exertion, a cracking sound rang out, and the man's arm was broken into several pieces. Unable to bear the excruciating pain, he screamed, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "It seems I overestimated you." He released his grip, and the man fell to the ground with a thud. He swept his gaze around and said, "Which of you is his companion? Come out and take him away. I promise I won't lay a hand on him."

He had just caught this man, which had already attracted a crowd. Upon hearing this, the crowd looked at each other, but no one stepped forward.

Yun Changkong said coldly, "So the people of the Songshan Sect are all utterly treacherous. With such cowardice, they still want to unify the Five Sacred Mountains?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a man suddenly emerged from the crowd. Without saying a word, he bent down, picked up the unconscious man, and prepared to leave.

Yun Changkong shouted, "Wait!"

The man immediately stopped, turned around, looked at Yun Changkong with fear in his eyes, and said in a trembling voice, "So you really intend to go back on your word?"

Yun Changkong sneered, "Do you know who I am? So what if I broke my promise?"

The man said, "You are Yun Changkong."

Yun Changkong was startled: "Damn it, who has such connections?" He nodded and said, "Alright, since you know who I am, let me tell your boss that sending such a disgraceful piece of trash is embarrassing for him. Get lost!"

He waved his hand, and the man, as if granted a pardon, didn't dare say a word and squeezed into the crowd.

Yun Changkong narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself, "This person shouldn't be from the Songshan Sect, but who is he then?"

With his extensive experience, he initially asked people to come out, but no one did. However, as soon as he mentioned the Songshan Sect, people immediately came out.

He didn't think they were concerned about the reputation of the Songshan Sect; rather, it seemed like they were telling him that they were the Songshan Sect.

That's like trying to hide something obvious.

Thinking it over, he turned around and went into the inn.

He asked for a superior room, intending to wash up and get a good night's sleep, since he always felt uneasy at sea.

As Yun Changkong soaked in the bathtub, he wondered what kind of person was targeting him as soon as he stepped onto land.
Could it be a demonic cult?
Yun Changkong was exceptionally intelligent and knew that he had disrupted the Songshan Sect's plot to kill Liu Zhengfeng's family. This not only offended the Songshan Sect but also the Demonic Sect.

Because Liu Zhengfeng's association with Qu Yang was unacceptable to the righteous path of the martial arts world, Qu Yang was also regarded as a traitor by the demonic sect.

Therefore, the moment he stepped ashore, it was as if he had entered a state of surveillance. There could be no other organization besides the Demonic Sect that could have such eyes and ears.

Thinking of this, Yun Changkong felt like he had thorns in his back. He was not afraid of anyone, even if Dongfang Bubai came in person.

But this feeling of being in the open while others are in the shadows is extremely uncomfortable.

Moreover, could it be that because this is a major city with a canal, the various sects have already sent spies to monitor people in the martial arts world, and he just happened to be seen? Is it just routine for them, and he is worrying unnecessarily?

Thinking of this, Yun Changkong immediately got up, dressed, slung his backpack over his shoulder, leaped onto the roof, and hurried away.

A short while later, the waiter brought the food and knocked on the door, but no one answered. He pushed the door open and found no one there, so he hurriedly ran out.

Upon hearing the report, the shopkeeper wrote on a piece of paper: "It seems that Yun Changkong has appeared. This person has extremely rich experience in the martial arts world and will flee at night." He turned around, took out a carrier pigeon, stuffed the paper into the small wooden tube on his leg, and the pigeon flapped its wings and flew into the sky.

Yun Changkong stood atop a tall building in the distance, watching this scene unfold, before quietly departing.

Yun Changkong was not in a hurry to find out the details, because if they were targeting him, there would definitely be follow-up.

If he were to investigate thoroughly based on a mere suspicion, he might inadvertently fall into a real conspiracy.

Yun Changkong wouldn't be used as a pawn, so he left, seeking lodging along the way. Sometimes he stayed in hospitable farmhouses, and sometimes he slept on the ground with the sky as his back.

Along the way, he also did several acts of punishing the wicked and upholding justice, simply because the land was vast and the evils of the world were unimaginable. Wherever he went, he would hear of local bullies who preyed on the people, so how could he ignore it?

His fine clothes and handsome appearance naturally attracted the attention of bandits, so some who tried to rob him ended up losing their lives instead. There were also local officials who were supposed to "govern the region on behalf of the emperor," but were found naked and hung under the plaque proclaiming "A Mirror Hangs High" in their government office, with the words "Corrupt officials will surely die!" written in blood on their bloated bellies.

Yun Changkong clearly saw that the people were starving, while the officials were fat and bloated, sleeping with several concubines at night, while shouting about being honest and upright. How could such a phenomenon be tolerated?

Yun Changkong's martial arts skills were such that when he wanted to kill officials, he could do so without a trace.

In the eyes of the common people, government officials are gods who hold the power of life and death, but in the eyes of a江湖人 (jianghu person) like Yun Changkong, officials are just pigs waiting to be slaughtered.

Leaving aside the original plot where the Songshan Sect slaughtered Liu Zhengfeng's entire family, and Linghu Chong played a trick on the general, it was Dan Qingsheng, the fourth master of Plum Manor, who, fearing that the distillation process would be incorrect and ruin the fine wine, specially went to the Imperial Palace in Beijing and had the emperor's imperial chef arrested to start the distillation.

This shows that the imperial court had no deterrent effect on martial arts masters.

Along his journey of punishing evil and upholding justice, Yun Changkong gradually came to understand what it meant to "leave without a trace after accomplishing one's task, concealing one's merits and fame."

Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, boasts numerous scenic spots and historical sites, making it the most famous place in Jiangnan.

On the banks of the Qinhuai River, near the Confucius Temple, tourists thronged the area. Amid the crowd, a man wearing a straw hat walked alone, his steps slow yet remarkably steady, his footsteps making no sound.

Suddenly, a man who looked like a waiter came over, bowing and scraping, and said, "Sir, the food and wine in our shop are all top-notch. Please do us the honor of dining here."

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "Is this person trying to lure customers to a restaurant, or is he plotting against me?" Seeing that the man's figure and gait did not seem to be someone who knew martial arts, he nodded and said, "Lead the way."

The waiter bowed and said, "Please follow me." He then turned and walked away.

Yun Changkong followed.
Before long, they arrived at a magnificent and resplendent restaurant.

The innkeeper respectfully ushered him into a private room upstairs.

Yun Changkong took off his bamboo hat and placed it on the table, saying, "Bring me some of your best dishes." He took out a silver ingot and tossed it over.

The shopkeeper said cheerfully, "Thank you for the reward." As soon as he finished speaking, the silver was in front of him, and he hurriedly reached out to take it.

Little did he know that Yun Changkong intended to test him, and used his internal force. He failed to catch the silver, but the edge of his palm was scraped, causing him to grimace in pain and clap his hands and cry out in pain.

But the shopkeeper turned around, quickly picked up the silver from the ground, as if the silver was more important than the pain in his hand, then rubbed his palm and retreated.

Yun Changkong felt strange. Why was the shopkeeper so humble for just five taels of silver?

After a while, various dishes of chicken, duck, fish, and meat were served in a continuous stream, served in the finest porcelain dishes, while the spoons and chopsticks were made of silver.

Upon seeing this, Yun Changkong frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "Strange, even the spoons and chopsticks are made of silver. It seems someone has invited me."

Just as I was pondering this, I heard someone asking the shopkeeper where they were. The shopkeeper replied that they were in seat number one.

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "The newcomer is quite skilled."

Suddenly the curtain was lifted, and an old man dressed in gray, with a tall and muscular build and long arms and legs, walked in.

His eyes shone brightly, exuding a powerful aura, which showed that he possessed profound internal strength.

The old man glanced at Yun Changkong, then clasped his hands in a salute and said, "I have been too rude to you with such simple food and wine."

Yun Changkong rose to return the greeting, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality. Please forgive my poor eyesight."

The old man smiled slightly and said, "I am Shangguan Yun. I am honored to hold the position of Elder of the White Tiger Hall by the grace of the Eastern Sect Master."

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "So it was him!" As one of the members who besieged Dongfang Bubai, this elder of the Demonic Sect had left his mark on Yun Changkong's mind. However, his face suddenly turned cold, and he said, "So it is Elder Shangguan. I have no connection with your sect. Why is that?"

Shangguan Yun said, "I have come under orders."

Yun Changkong asked, "By whose orders?"

Shangguan Yun smiled and said, "Although I am not as famous as you in the martial arts world, I am not an unknown person either. Who else but our sect leader can order me around?"

This Shangguan Yun is known as the "Condor Hero," and his martial arts skills are said to be far superior to those of ordinary sect leaders, gang leaders, and chief masters.

Although he did not have a very long tenure in the Sun Moon Cult, there had been significant changes within the cult in recent years, with elders and senior figures either being ostracized or retiring on their own. As a result, Shangguan Yun was a first-rate figure in the cult who wielded immense power and influence.

Yun Changkong smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "If I didn't know you betrayed Dongfang Bubai, I would believe you." He laughed and said, "Master Dongfang is the best in the world. It is truly unexpected that a nobody like me would be so highly regarded by him."

Shangguan Yun sat down and said, "You are too modest. The might of Hengshan City in annihilating the Five Mountains Sword Sect was truly magnificent. Our sect greatly admires it. This is a true hero, a great man, and a chivalrous knight. That is why the sect leader specially ordered me to pay a visit."

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "Then what advice do you have for me?"

Shangguan Yun said, "I am merely a messenger. Because you are no ordinary person, the sect leader has specially ordered me to ask you a question. I hope you can answer truthfully and not let this matter be spread to a third party, so that I can complete my mission. I would be extremely grateful!" With that, he stood up and bowed deeply again.

Yun Changkong found it rather strange. Seeing that the other party had come with courtesy and was acting mysteriously, he said, "What is it? Tell me first."

Shangguan Yun remained silent.

Yun Changkong said, "Alright, you can speak with confidence. There are no other guests on this entire second floor."

Shangguan Yunyi shuddered: "This person possesses formidable skill." He then whispered, "May I ask your relationship with the Holy Maiden of our sect?"

Yun Changkong frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "What does this mean?" He said, "What could it be related to? I've heard of the Holy Maiden's name countless times, but I've never seen her before."

Shangguan Yun said, word by word, "Really?"

Yun Changkong's face darkened: "Since you don't believe me, why ask me? Please!"

Shangguan Yun laughed and said, "In that case, I'm relieved. Thank you."

Yun Changkong found it even stranger and said, "What could be the reason that your sect cares so much about me? If it were to kill me, I could understand. But to send an elder like you just to ask such a strange question is simply absurd. I urge you to tell me the truth so that I may clear up my doubts!"

Shangguan Yun chuckled dryly: "We, the people of our sect, hate those hypocrites who use the name of justice to their advantage. Your actions in Hengshan City are in line with our sect's sentiments. What harm is there in Shangguan Yun acting as your advocate?"

Yun Changkong gave a cold laugh and said, "You're not being honest, are you? I treat you like someone important, but you treat me like a three-year-old?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yun's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but he quickly recovered and sighed, saying, "To be honest, you should know that although our sect is full of extraordinary people and our leader's martial arts are unparalleled and unfathomable, young heroes like Master Yun are exactly what our sect is looking for."

"If you could join our sect, not only would you become the most powerful figure in the martial arts world, but our sect would also be honored to have you. What do you think?"

Yun Changkong already found it strange, and now it seemed even more absurd. He thought to himself, "This person seems to obey Dongfang Bubai, but he's not actually that loyal. Yet he asked about my relationship with the Holy Maiden and then asked me to join the sect. There must be some conspiracy I don't know about..." After a moment's thought, he smiled faintly and said, "I am naturally unruly, and besides, whether your sect has me or not is insignificant. I can only disappoint your sect leader's kindness."

Shangguan Yun smiled slightly and said, "There are many who steal empty reputations in the martial arts world, Your Excellency..."

Yun Changkong snorted and said coldly, "Whether it's an empty reputation or not, you'll find out by trying." With a wave of his hand, he slapped the object across the table. (End of Chapter)