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

Lan Fenghuang was startled when she heard the familiar voice. She turned her head and saw a painted boat sailing down the Luo River.

She knew that the Holy Maiden had suffered a great loss at Yun Changkong's hands last night. With her strong-willed nature and wide network of information, how could she let it go? In order to settle this matter, she wanted to take Yun Changkong to see Ren Yingying so that she could mediate between them. However, Ren Yingying arrived so quickly, which showed that she had been paying close attention to the matter. For a moment, her mind was racing, trying to think of a proper solution.

Yun Changkong also recognized Ren Yingying's accent and thought to himself, "This woman is really willing to abandon her reserve for Linghu Chong, and she's even pretending to be so shy."

What kind of person is he? Just by looking at the distance of the painted boat, he knows everything about Ren Yingying.

Knowing that Ren Yingying was here was no accident; it must have been thanks to her extensive network of informants. Otherwise, Luoyang is not a small town, so how could she have found her so accurately?
She must have seen Linghu Chong and heard what he said since she had spent so much time with him.

Other words might not matter, but as long as she hears Linghu Chong's words of deep affection for his junior sister, her heart will inevitably be firmly tied to him. The more Linghu Chong loves Yue Lingshan, the more Ren Yingying loves Linghu Chong—it's that absurd.

She was extremely shy and afraid that others would know her feelings. Only after Linghu Chong left did she speak up.

It was nearly dusk, and the setting sun cast its light on the river, making the water shimmer like thousands of shattered gold foils dancing in the wind—it was truly a beautiful sight. Just now, Yun Changkong and Lan Fenghuang were so engrossed in their sword fight that they hadn't noticed.

The painted boat sped by, and on the bow stood four maids in green robes, each with a sword at their side, standing steadily with their clothes fluttering in the wind.

Lan Fenghuang smiled and said, "I was just about to look for you when you arrived."

The Holy Maiden was inside the painted bream, yet her voice rang out clearly as she said, "I'm leaving Luoyang and have come to find you. Will you come with me, or..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lan Fenghuang interrupted, "Aren't you living here just fine? Why are you leaving?"

A knowing look flashed through Yun Changkong's mind. He thought to himself, "Sure enough, this woman was able to find him so accurately. I wonder how long she's been following him. As soon as she heard that Linghu Chong was leaving, how could she not follow?"

Yun Changkong knew that in this metal-based world, the origins of the so-called love between the male and female protagonists had various reasons.

But Ren Yingying was an exception.

Her affection for Linghu Chong stemmed from Linghu Chong's profound love for Yue Lingshan, which was truly a unique case.

Yun Changkong remembered clearly that Ren Yingying herself had said it. Simply put, when Linghu Chong told Ren Yingying, his "mother-in-law," about his unrequited love for Yue Lingshan, she felt sorry for him and was deeply moved, putting herself in Yue Lingshan's shoes.

When other women hear a man thinking about another woman in this way, most of them keep their distance, just like Lan Fenghuang, who felt that even if she were with him, it wouldn't be enjoyable.

However, Ren Yingying did the opposite. The more Linghu Chong thought about Yue Lingshan, the more she loved him. Even when Linghu Chong called for his junior sister in his sleep, saying that she had been killed and that his junior sister ignored him, she was not angry at all, but felt even more sorry for Linghu Chong.

That was a love so intense it was almost unbearable; the statement that she was willing to cut off her head wasn't just something Yun Changkong made up. It was something Dongfang Bubai himself confirmed. Therefore, given Ren Yingying's thoughts and actions in matters of the heart, calling her a "femme fatale" does indeed have some merit.

Of course, precisely because of this, Yun Changkong genuinely wanted to see this interesting scene. He wanted Linghu Chong to take the "Smiling Proud Wanderer" musical score to his "grandmother."
Then this "grandmother" is licking Linghu Chong, and she's pretending to be extremely shy. At that time, I'll jump out and see how this proud and shy woman will react!
This must be interesting. He felt that his current interactions with Ren Yingying, where she always acted like a high and mighty princess in front of him, were too boring.

Just then, the painted boat was about to dock. Lan Fenghuang glanced at Yun Changkong and saw that his eyebrows were raised and a faint smile was on his lips. She said, "Let's get on the boat."

Before Yun Changkong could speak, the Holy Maiden said, "Don't let him come up. I don't want to see him."

Yun Changkong's internal strength far surpassed Ren Yingying's, but Ren Yingying had come with a purpose, so she naturally heard every word of his conversation with Lan Fenghuang.

I'd like to say something unrelated, specifically for those who lack comprehension.

Why is it that when Yun Changkong speaks, he is easily overheard?

That wasn't just Yun Changkong, but everyone.

Even though Yun Changkong possessed profound internal energy, he couldn't possibly use it to eavesdrop at any time. Because without deliberately circulating his internal energy, he could hear even falling leaves and flying flowers within a ten-zhang radius.

If you want to hear any sounds, you can use your divine skill to hear all sounds within a hundred feet, even the sound of horses' hooves from several miles away.

I ask you, who would do that without finding it noisy and annoying?
Those who heard him speak, having come with a purpose and intention, would naturally use their inner strength to listen to the sounds from afar before even getting close.

This is why it happens that when Yun Changkong speaks, others hear him, but he is unaware that someone has arrived.

It's simply because no one would constantly use their internal energy to listen to distant sounds, nor would they speak; they would have to do so secretly, in whispers, for fear of being overheard.

Yun Changkong never worries about his words being overheard. He dares to speak, and he's not afraid of being heard.

This is like Yang Guo eavesdropping on Guo Jing's conversation and following him, while Xiaolongnu is taken advantage of by a Taoist priest.
Qiao Feng was followed by Shaolin monks from Henan to Yanmen Pass, and then from Yanmen Pass to eastern Zhejiang, without him knowing anything. Was that a matter of the strength of his martial arts skills or internal energy?

No, that's an inevitable phenomenon that occurs when the eavesdropper has a specific purpose and deliberately targets someone who doesn't have an omniscient perspective.

Just like when we're on the street and we see someone talking, if you listen carefully, you'll naturally know what they're saying. The person talking might not know you're eavesdropping, because their eyes aren't as sharp as yours, or their hearing isn't as good as yours.
No, it's just that their attention wasn't on you.

They don't even understand such a simple principle, yet they keep talking about how advanced the protagonist's martial arts have become.

This is like in fantasy novels where powerful beings can see the world with all their might. Does that mean they have to spend all their time observing the world and listening to what others have to say? Don't they have anything to do for themselves?

Yun Changkong had no intention of boarding the ship. He had just had a great deal of insight from his battle with Linghu Chong and wanted to meditate on the profound meaning of the matter. However, upon hearing Ren Yingying's words, he became playful and said, "Yes, if I board the ship, Miss Ren will be too shy to do so!"

The Holy Maiden said, "You are supposed to be a hero of the martial arts world, yet you dare to gossip and spread rumors behind people's backs. How are you any different from those long-tongued women?"

Yun Changkong chuckled and said, "You have to be reasonable. I was speaking by the Luo River, and you were right next to me. How can you call it speaking behind my back? As for whether it's gossiping or not, we're like mute people eating wontons; we know what's going on."

As for calling me a gossip, haha, in your eyes, Miss Ren, am I nothing more than someone with a frivolous tongue, utterly detestable? To hold a reputation without doing any work—that's not my style, Yun Changkong's!"

After these words were spoken, there was silence on the ship for a long time.

He brought up Ren Yingying's words that had scolded him in Green Bamboo Lane, which stunned even the maids.

They had intended to reprimand Yun Changkong for his rude remarks, but now they were at a loss for what to do!
Ren Yingying said sternly, "Is this a lesson or revenge?"

Lan Fenghuang knew that the Holy Maiden was unpredictable and eccentric, and Yun Changkong was even more unfathomable, so she quickly replied, "Alright, Holy Maiden, you won't even allow me to pay my respects?"

The Holy Maiden said, "No need. Uncle Dongfang told me to return to Blackwood Cliff. What good would it do to meet again?"

Lan Fenghuang was slightly taken aback and said, "Go back to Blackwood Cliff? At this juncture, wouldn't it be very dangerous for you to go back?"

Ren Yingying said, "Uncle Dongfang was instigated by a villain and thought that I had a relationship with this hero Yun. He thought that I was hiding it from him to harm him. I will go back and explain, and that will be fine. There is no danger."

Lan Fenghuang, however, darted out several feet like a large bird and landed lightly on the painted boat. The four maids swayed and blocked the cabin door.

Blue Phoenix said, "I'll go with you!"

Ren Yingying said, "I have remembered your kindness to me. If fate allows, let's meet again someday."

Lan Fenghuang said anxiously, "No, I want to see you, I want to see you right now!"

Ren Yingying smiled and said, "Yun Changkong, you are right. Young Master Linghu is indeed a brilliant man of his generation. He is not only unrestrained and magnanimous, but also kind-hearted and courageous. His character is far superior to yours, a famous figure in the martial arts world."

Once his internal injuries have healed, he will undoubtedly be the undisputed number one martial artist in the world.

Yun Changkong laughed heartily: "I know that Linghu Chong is perfect in your eyes, so why do you need to tell me?"

Ren Yingying giggled and said, "What, you're not convinced? You actually argued with a mere woman over a single sentence. How can a real man be so narrow-minded? Am I wrong?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "I am completely convinced, but you are not a mere woman, you are the dignified Holy Maiden of the Sun Moon Divine Sect!"

The Holy Maiden scoffed, "Young Miss? In your eyes, am I the Holy Maiden? Have you ever called me 'Young Miss'?"

Yun Changkong consistently addressed Ren Yingying as Holy Maiden or Miss Ren, unlike other martial arts figures who might call her "Young Miss Ren." He then casually remarked, "Holy Maiden or Young Miss, it's all the same title. Don't you think 'Miss Ren' is much more intimate than 'Young Miss' or 'Holy Maiden'?"

Ren Yingying said sternly, "Who wants to be close to you?"

Lan Fenghuang frowned: "Holy Maiden, what are you trying to do?" Then she said to Yun Changkong: "Brother, please don't provoke the Holy Maiden anymore!"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you and stop teasing her."

Ren Yingying snorted, "Fine, I was rude to you last night, and you've already said something to me today. Let's be clear, from now on, you'd better stop talking nonsense."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Fine, I'll go with your word and get it straight, but I'm not talking nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Lan Fenghuang looked at the Holy Maiden in the cabin, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifting towards Yun Changkong, thinking to herself, "How could the Holy Maiden so easily straighten things out with someone?"

Then the Holy Maiden said, "I heard what that Young Master Linghu said, and he is indeed a man of deep affection and loyalty, a true dragon among men. His swordsmanship is also superb, unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. But you just said that you had something that he gave to me, and I... I am extremely curious. May I have a look?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "It's your business if you're curious. Why should I satisfy your curiosity?"

Ren Yingying remained silent for a long time. Although Lan Fenghuang could not see Ren Yingying's expression, she already knew that Ren Yingying must be furious, because she was always willing to give whatever she wanted. Even if she just let slip a hint, millions of people would do things for her.

Ren Yingying sneered, "You spoke so confidently just now, but you couldn't produce anything in front of me. You're not only frivolous and despicable, but also a complete liar!"

Yun Changkong chuckled and said, "Miss Ren, your provocation is not very clever. I, Yun, am different from others. Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"

Ren Yingying said fiercely, "I don't care what you're thinking. I only know that you're just making a show of being clever. Set sail!"

"No!" Lan Fenghuang waved her hand and said, "Holy Maiden, you cannot return to Blackwood Cliff. That Yang fellow is plotting something. His decision to send you back to Blackwood Cliff this time is definitely not for good. Although the Eastern Cult Leader values ​​you, he lives a secluded life, and all the power is in the hands of that Yang fellow. If something unexpected happens..."

"So what?" Ren Yingying sighed. "Since Uncle Dongfang suspects me, he has now issued the Blackwood Token, ordering me to return to the main altar. If I don't go, wouldn't that confirm the rumors and prevent me from winning this year's championship? You don't need to persuade me anymore."

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "Going back to Blackwood Cliff, damn it, she's clearly going to chase after her lover. This woman is really boring."

He laughed and said, "Miss Ren, whether I'm being clever or just spouting nonsense, if I make a move on this item and my prediction comes true, what will you say then?"

Ren Yingying was so angry with him that she coldly replied, "You're smart, but you're really stupid. Haven't you ever thought that whether you're right or not depends entirely on me? Why are you so sure?"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "You're talking about someone else, not you, Miss Ren."

If it were anyone else, they would pretend not to be interested even if they were tempted, but you, Miss Ren, are different.

You are proficient in music, especially in playing the zither and the flute. As the saying goes, "The heart of a zither player is like water." If the heart of a zither player is not pure, how can one create something vivid in stillness and find wonder in mystery?
Furthermore, the xiao (vertical bamboo flute) originated from the Qiang people. Initially, it only had four tone holes. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, two more holes were added, and later another hole was added, making a total of six tone holes (five in the front and one in the back). This symbolizes the connection between the five internal organs and the six viscera, because playing the xiao inevitably connects with one's own vital energy. If one cannot focus one's heart and express one's true feelings, one cannot produce the beautiful melodies that are "like a lament, like a yearning, like weeping, like a complaint; the lingering sound is faint and continuous."

Therefore, it is not something that a heartless person can master in order to play the flute well.

Furthermore, you, Holy Maiden, are known as Miss Ren. The word "Miss" refers to your composure in taking charge at a young age and your state of mind of "not being troubled by fame and fortune, nor bound by good and evil."

So, it's either yes or no. If you're going to go against your conscience just to win against me, haha, then how dare you call yourself a young lady?

He spoke eloquently, and then with a whoosh, the pearl curtain was lifted, revealing a delicate white hand, followed by a woman.

She was wearing a red and white dress, and her hairstyle resembled that of Ren Yingying. Unfortunately, her face was covered with a thick gauze, making it impossible to see her features.

The woman frowned and looked over.

Yun Changkong met her gaze and recognized her as Ren Yingying. Feeling utterly bored, he shook his head.

Although Ren Yingying's beauty was already deeply etched in his heart, and he had no lewd thoughts, their meeting last night was at night, and it was still dark today. The water was shimmering, and the woman's eyes were captivating, her figure graceful. If she could remove her veil, it would truly be a feast for the eyes. But this stunning beauty was deliberately kept from view, which was a complete waste of her beauty and a disservice to the efforts Nuwa had put into her.

But Ren Yingying perceived Yun Changkong's head-shaking gesture quite differently, and she coldly asked, "What do you mean by shaking your head?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "I shook my head because you're covering your face..." He originally wanted to add three more words, "Let me see," which would have been perfectly logical.

But as the words were about to come out, he suddenly realized that saying them would make him seem frivolous, which was fine, but it would also make him too focused on Ren Yingying's appearance, which would only make this arrogant woman smug again. So he swallowed the last few words.

Although Yun Changkong was a romantic, and Ren Yingying's beauty and noble demeanor were rare in his life, he was unwilling to truly elevate her to a high position!

But Ren Yingying was incredibly intelligent. Even without him saying it, she understood his meaning. She stared at him and suddenly said, "Your words just now showed you have quite the insight. Wearing a jade flute, it seems you are very accomplished in music?"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "I'm just a beginner, what expertise do I have to offer!"

Ren Yingying's eyes were filled with frost as she said, "Then these words were deliberately prepared for me, weren't they?" Her beautiful eyes were fixed on Yun Changkong.

Yun Changkong laughed heartily: "You're overthinking it. I heard these words from two masters of the qin and xiao; I have no such knowledge." "Masters of the qin and xiao?" Ren Yingying frowned, and after a long while said, "The person who can say such a thing must have extraordinary attainments in music, which I was unaware of." She couldn't help but curtsy to Yun Changkong again, saying, "Please enlighten me, Mr. Yun. I would like to pay you both a visit."

Seeing that she had always been bossy, but now knew to bow, Yun Changkong smiled slightly: "You really are a fool. Alright, since you bowed to me, I'll grant your wish this once." He then pulled a book from his robes.
With a flick of her right hand, she sent the thin book flying out, as if guided by an invisible thread. It slowly flew several feet away, stopping two feet in front of Ren Yingying. She stretched out her hand, and with a "snap," the book fell to the ground.
The book fell into her hands.

Lan Fenghuang and her four maids were all deeply moved.

If it were just throwing a book, even someone who has never practiced martial arts could do it. But Yun Changkong threw the book slowly, and the pages didn't move at all. It was as if an unseen person had taken it and put it down just as Ren Yingying reached out. The skill with which he used his internal force was truly astonishing.

Ren Yingying knew that he had used his internal energy to wrap the book when he threw it out. Such a skill was truly astonishing and terrifying. She also felt that her earlier statement, made to provoke him, that Linghu Chong would be the best in the world in the future was somewhat biased. She bowed and asked, "What is this?"

Yun Changkong said, “I have two friends who have composed a piece for the qin and xiao together. It is said to be unprecedented in the ages, and even Guangling San cannot compare to their piece. You are a master of music, so please take a look and judge it.”

Ren Yingying laughed and said, "I am truly ignorant. Is there really a music master in this world who can compose music that surpasses Guangling Sanqu?"

Her words, however, implied a strong sense of disbelief.

Lan Fenghuang smiled and said, "There are too many people in this world who like to boast, brother, don't believe them so easily!"

As she spoke, Ren Yingying had already turned to the first page and said, "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, um, this requires the qin and xiao to be played together. This piece is really long!" Before she could finish her sentence, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Ren Yingying looked up at the clouds in the sky and murmured, "The melody here changes from 'jiao' to 'zheng' so quickly, can it really be played on the zither?"

Although her voice was low, Yun Changkong was attentive and listened carefully. He said, "You can definitely play this piece. It all depends on your skill level."

Ren Yingying raised her eyebrows and stared at him, saying, "Could it be that you can play this piece?"

"I can't!" Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "I'm already stumped by just playing the flute piece, let alone the zither piece. But I've heard two people play it together, and it truly makes one sigh, 'This music is only fit for heaven!'"

Ren Yingying smiled and said, "As the saying goes, 'Practice makes perfect.' With your internal strength, if you take the time to practice every day, you will naturally become proficient!"

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "If I only seek music, it is naturally not difficult for me, but if I want to incorporate internal energy to injure people, that is difficult."

"I see!" Ren Yingying smiled and said, "Music is a way to cultivate oneself, while martial arts is a way to kill. The two are inherently contradictory. Especially since your martial arts are already high, the music you seek is extraordinary, and the skills you integrate must be extraordinary. This must be a hundred times more difficult than learning music."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "You really are an expert. Giving you this piece is not an insult!"

Ren Yingying bowed slightly and asked, "Young Master Yun said that this was a joint work by two people. May I ask who they are?"

Yun Changkong said, "It's Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng."

Ren Yingying nodded and said, "So it was the two of them?"

This "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" melody is truly a rare gem. Please, aboard the ship and into the room, let me serve you some fragrant tea as a token of my gratitude.

When Yun Changkong saw that Ren Yingying immediately treated him to a warm welcome as soon as he took out the score of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," he felt it was tasteless. This thing did not belong to him in the first place, so he said, "Thank you for your hospitality. This piece was composed by Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yangqiong over several years. They almost lost their entire family and their lives for this piece of music. In order to prevent this piece from being lost forever, they asked me to take it back to the Central Plains and find a kindred spirit for it."

Last night I heard the young lady play a beautiful piece, its charm boundless. With this score in your hands, Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang can truly die without regrets. How could I possibly steal someone else's beauty!

He then looked at Lan Fenghuang and asked, "Fenghuang, are you coming with me, or going with her?"

Both Ren Yingying and Lan Fenghuang were taken aback by these words.

As the leader of the Blue Phoenix Sect, she was not as ignorant as she appeared on the surface, thinking that Yun Changkong's actions were a trap to lure Ren Yingying into it.

She was also aware of the undercurrents within the Sun Moon Sect. Among the Lightbringers and elders, only Xiang Wentian was truly loyal to Ren Yingying. Therefore, when rumors about Yun Changkong and Ren Yingying surfaced, she thought that if she could win over this powerful figure, Yun Changkong, and leverage his prestige, it would be a safeguard for the Holy Maiden.
For this reason, she drugged Yun Changkong so that she could take him to the Holy Maiden and have her rescue him.

Thus, Yun Changkong owed the Holy Maiden a favor, but things didn't go as planned; Yun Changkong turned out to be a big liar. Now, he was even more conflicted, wondering who to follow, a truly difficult situation.

Ren Yingying secretly wondered, "What kind of person is this kid? Could it be that he really doesn't have something on his mind about me?"

Ren Yingying was initially suspicious of Yun Changkong's intentions and almost turned against him. However, after careful consideration, she realized that although the young man spoke frivolously, he was actually quite tactful. More importantly, the Sun Moon Sect was a mixed bag, with most of its members being vulgar men, which annoyed Ren Yingying at first sight. In addition, with Yang Lianting abusing his power, she didn't want to stay there for even a moment longer, which is why she moved to Green Bamboo Lane.

Yun Changkong may seem like a rogue, but he is actually knowledgeable and eloquent, and one never gets tired of being around him.

That's why I took the initiative to invite him, but I never expected it to turn out like this!
Is there anyone in the world who would reject you?
Ren Yingying grew increasingly agitated, and said coldly, "You took such a great risk to give me the sheet music, and you ask nothing of me?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "I am not so noble. Your face is covered by a veil, just like the saying, 'A secluded orchid in a secluded valley, exuding fragrance alone, is not appreciated by the world.' But I, Yun Changkong, have been fortunate enough to see the true face of the Holy Maiden on Mount Lu, and I have to admit that you are indeed a rare beauty in the world."

Furthermore, Liu Zhengfeng said that if I wanted to play this xiao piece well, it would be best to have someone to help me improve, so I wanted to try playing it with you. But plans change, so never mind.

Ren Yingying's eyes lit up, probably feeling quite pleased. After a long while, she said, "You are clearly very good at talking, but you just have to be annoying."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "If I don't say it this way, I won't get the evaluation of a frivolous and despicable person, and how can I let the Phoenix recognize my talent?"

"Pah!" Ren Yingying spat, "You really are..."

Ultimately, he was too embarrassed to say the words "have face."

Lan Fenghuang said sweetly, "Look at you all, talking at once. Wouldn't it be better if we went on the boat to talk? Why do you insist on standing here in the river breeze!"

Yun Changkong knew that it would be difficult for Lan Fenghuang to go with him, so he said, "You have been friends for many years, and I can't let you forget your friendship for the sake of beauty. You should go with her. I will be in Luoyang for the next month!"

Lan Fenghuang was taken aback upon hearing this. She stared intently at Yun Changkong and saw that he had a smile on his face and seemed normal. However, she was really worried about Ren Yingying. To say that she would drag Yun Changkong into the Sun Moon Sect's struggle at this moment was a bit hard to bear.

Women's hearts are so fickle. She used to want to use Yun Changkong to help her friend, but now she's thinking about him again.

Lan Fenghuang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Then take good care of yourself."

Yun Changkong waved his hand and said, "I will take care of myself. You should also be careful." With that, his body flickered and disappeared in an instant.

Ren Yingying sighed softly, "This person is really strange. Phoenix, if you can't bear to part with him, let him go. I'll be fine."

Lan Fenghuang was in a terrible predicament. Ren Yingying was her friend of many years, and Yun Changkong was the man she had pledged her life to. Yet, both of them were equally proud and refused to back down. She felt utterly trapped and could only say, "I don't know what's wrong with you two. You could have been good friends, why..."

At this point, she suddenly asked an unusually naive question: "Holy Maiden, you speak so highly of Linghu Chong, do you really like him?"

Ren Yingying rolled her eyes at him, her voice filled with displeasure: "Listen to what you're saying! You've only been with Yun Changkong for a few days, and you're already so self-righteous! Set sail!" She went into the cabin.

Lan Fenghuang didn't take it to heart and followed him inside, saying in a sweet voice, "You just praised Linghu Chong like that. I've never heard you evaluate a man like that before. How can you be so self-righteous?"

The boat drifted towards the center of the river. Ren Yingying looked out the window at the scene on the river and suddenly said, "You have always been indifferent to men, yet you gave him your most precious thing. What kind of person do you think he is?"

Lan Fenghuang was startled and stared at Ren Yingying with her big eyes.

Ren Yingying smiled and said, "Don't worry, I didn't follow you. But I know that you, Phoenix, are so eye-catching. You went back to the inn with him and had dinner with Linghu Chong."

This time, Lan Fenghuang was not surprised at all. She said, "You are our young lady, with many eyes and ears. What's so surprising about this?" She then looked Ren Yingying up and down and couldn't help but ask, "Then why did you ask him what kind of person he is?"

Ren Yingying gazed out the window and slowly said, "The feelings between men and women cannot be forced in the slightest; they also depend on fate. Why would one person fall in love with another? Sometimes the reasons are truly inexplicable and incomprehensible!"
Just like Linghu Chong, why did he fall in love with his junior sister? What did he love about her? Why did he still think about her even though he knew she had someone else in mind?

Take you for example. There are so many men in the world who like you and want to marry you. Why would you choose him, disregarding the rule in your sect that you cannot marry?

How deep is your affection? Is he really worth all this effort?

Ever since I learned about Yun Changkong, I've known him to be ruthless and cunning. When I met him, he seemed calm and collected, but in reality, he was as hard as stone and never showed any genuine emotion.

He may have desires for you, but that doesn't necessarily mean he loves you. Think about it: he might say he has several wives one night, and then want your body that very night. What kind of person is that? Have you considered these things?

Lan Fenghuang had never thought about these things. She had just acted impulsively and was taken in by Yun Changkong. She was stunned for a moment and stammered, "You are the Holy Maiden, how could you think about these things?"

Ren Yingying sighed and said, "When I have nothing to do, besides playing the zither and flute, I think about my father and Uncle Dongfang."

I have no memory of my mother, but I know that Uncle Dongfang killed seven of his wives and concubines.

I've always wondered, how can a man be so cruel? He just kills his lover, the one he shares a bed with?
I thought about it for a long time, but I couldn't come up with a satisfactory answer. I could only think that they were probably powerful figures who wouldn't let so-called love bind them. We women, no matter how talented or beautiful we were, were just tools for them to achieve their goals.

So Yun Changkong is actually right. I heard Linghu Chong say that I envy his junior sister. To have someone who, even with death approaching, still thinks of her so fondly—isn't that the greatest fortune for a woman?

After listening, Lan Fenghuang remained silent for a long time before whispering, "When you say 'them,' do you mean that Yun Changkong and the Eastern Cult Leader are the same kind of people?"

“Yes!” Ren Yingying looked at her and said, “If he cares about you, how could he feel at ease letting you go with me knowing my dangerous situation?”

Lan Fenghuang forced a smile and said, "Perhaps he is too proud. You called him frivolous and hateful, and then said how good Linghu Chong is. He must feel uncomfortable. Or perhaps he made an appointment with Zuo Lengchan first and was afraid that something might happen and he would break his promise."

Ren Yingying scoffed: "I said he was despicable, and he got upset when I said Young Master Linghu was good? Why? Besides, he challenged Zuo Lengchan to a duel. Does he think his woman is less important than his reputation? In my opinion, he treats everything as a game, whether it's teasing me, wanting to see me make a fool of myself, or treating you the same way!"

Upon hearing this, Lan Fenghuang hesitated and asked, "What do you mean?"

Ren Yingying said slowly, "It's optional!"

Blue Phoenix was taken aback and said, "Is it optional?"

"Do you know what kind of internal energy he practices?" Ren Yingying said calmly, "It's Shaolin Temple internal energy!"

Lan Fenghuang stared at Ren Yingying and said in a deep voice, "What does this have to do with Shaolin Temple's internal martial arts?"

Ren Yingying said, "Buddhism teaches that all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; form is emptiness, emptiness is form; the difference between Buddha and demon is just a thought away."

At his age, if he couldn't break through this level, how could his skill be so high?

If he sees through this, then women will naturally become dispensable in his eyes.

Just like how he treated Tian Boguang, the Songshan Sect, the Northern Desert Twins, and Liu Zhengfeng's family, he was both a demon and a Buddha!

When he left just now, he didn't even look back, showing not a trace of regret. Don't you think he's heartless?

After listening to Ren Yingying's thorough analysis of Yun Changkong, Lan Fenghuang felt a sudden sense of bewilderment. Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up like pearls.

Seeing her heartbroken state, Ren Yingying felt a pang of pity and said, "Perhaps I misjudged him. After all, he gave me the score of 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' so readily, asking for nothing in return. It truly surprised me!"

As he spoke, he flipped through the sheet music, his five fingers on his left hand plucking and pressing on the zither, and the sound of the zither rang out, elegant and melodious.

Not long after she started playing, the music suddenly rose higher and higher, becoming magnificent and heroic, with the momentum of a great army and a mighty force. Just as the music seemed to stop, Ren Yingying picked up the xiao (vertical bamboo flute) and started playing. The music was melodious and swirling, sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes very low, sometimes swirling and then lowering again, lingering and lingering, floating around the beams.

Ren Yingying suddenly put down her flute, stood up, and said, "Why do you think he did it?"

Blue Phoenix said sadly, "What do you mean, why?"

Ren Yingying gazed out the window, lost in thought for a moment, before saying softly, "This piece is indeed exquisite. Not to mention composing it, I'm afraid there are no other people in the world besides Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang who can play it. How could Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang entrust such a precious score to him?"

Lan Fenghuang said, "He saved the lives of Liu Zhengfeng's entire family. What does a song matter?"

Ren Yingying said quietly, "I'm afraid in Liu Zhengfeng's eyes, this piece of music is more valuable than the lives of his entire family!"

Hearing this, Lan Fenghuang sensed that she seemed somewhat distracted and asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Ren Yingying said, "As the saying goes, one should not accept a reward without merit. Why did he give it to me?"

Lan Fenghuang couldn't help but laugh again: "Because you're beautiful..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ren Yingying suddenly looked at him intently and said, "Everyone does things for a purpose. Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang are not tolerated by either the righteous or the demonic paths. Why should he help them when he is risking his life? What can they give him?"
After helping him, he received such a precious musical score, only to give it to me for no apparent reason. What do you think he wanted in return?

Lan Fenghuang noticed that Ren Yingying's expression was strange, and there was something inexplicable deep in her eyes.

He had never seen such an expression before. Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a clear male voice from outside the window: "May I ask which two esteemed gentlemen are playing this elegant piece? This humble student, Linghu Chong, hopes to witness their brilliance. Please grant me an audience!" (End of Chapter)