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

Yun Changkong and Ren Yingying chatted for a while, and before they knew it, dusk had fallen. Moreover, the place was covered by a bamboo forest, and the sky was already dark. Fortunately, Yun Changkong had sharp eyesight. Looking around, he saw that the bamboo forest was full of strong men dressed in black, standing around. There was also a rustling sound behind the house, so someone must have come.

Yun Changkong stared intently at them; each one had bright eyes, strong physiques, and clearly a solid foundation in martial arts.

The gaunt, white-haired old man, holding a wood-chopping knife, faced the crowd and shouted, "Jia Bu, come out and see me!"

A man laughed and said, "Brother Shangguan, if the Holy Maiden gets angry, we'll both be in deep trouble. Let's go together!"

As the voice spoke, two elderly men wearing yellow belts and black clothes emerged from the woods.

The man on the right was tall and imposing, with long arms and legs and eyes like lightning; he was none other than Shangguan Yun, whom I had seen before.

The man on the left said, "Your subordinate, Elder Jia Bu of the Azure Dragon Hall, pays his respects to the Holy Maiden!"

After a long silence, Ren Yingying's low voice came from inside the room, saying, "Uncle Jia, the Yellow-Faced Venerable is quite something, making such a big show of force. Is he trying to capture me and take me back to Blackwood Cliff?"

Yun Changkong saw that the "Yellow-faced Venerable" Jia Bu had a thin face, as yellow as wax, but his temples were bulging high, as if they contained a walnut. He thought to himself, "The Demonic Sect is indeed full of experts. The elders I met were all highly skilled and first-class experts. I'm afraid that apart from Shaolin Temple, no other sect can compare with them."

Jia Bu hurriedly replied, "This subordinate dares not!"

Ren Yingying said, "I just came down from Blackwood Cliff and met Uncle Dongfang not long ago. You should go back."

Jia Bu said, "I have something to ask of you, and I hope you will grant me an audience."

A white shadow flashed, and Ren Yingying had already leaped out of the house.

Jabran called out, "Greetings, Holy Maiden!"

As he spoke, he bowed, and with his shout, the hundred or so people around him all respectfully bowed down, saying, "Greetings, Holy Maiden!"

Ren Yingying appeared, motionless like a wooden or clay sculpture, while the crowd prostrated themselves on the ground, seemingly oblivious to her presence.

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "This woman has such a grand presence; even Minmin isn't as elegant as her!"

Ren Yingying gently flicked her sleeve and said, "Get up!"

"Thank you, Holy Maiden!"

Everyone stood up.

Ren Yingying said coldly, "This is my secluded place, and I never receive outsiders. You've already seen it, so go back to Uncle Dongfang now!"

Jia Bu said, "I am extremely grateful for the Holy Maiden's exceptional grant of an audience, but the Eastern Master has strictly ordered me to ask the Holy Maiden to return to the main altar."

Ren Yingying stood there silently, her expression cold.

Seeing that she did not react, Jia Bu said, "Miss, you have grown up with the Eastern Cult Leader since childhood, so you should know how much he loves you. In the past, if Miss had said so, I would have obeyed."

Ren Yingying remained standing quietly, without moving or saying a word.

Jia Bu continued, "But today is different from the past. I knew that the Holy Maiden was receiving guests, so I lingered outside for a long time before taking the liberty of requesting an audience. It is because we came to Luoyang on behalf of the sect leader, but the news was leaked, attracting the attention of the Shaolin Temple and the Songshan Sect. We are willing to die, but we are afraid that the young lady's health will be harmed. I implore the young lady to come back to the headquarters with us so that our Sun Moon Divine Sect can defend itself against the enemy with peace of mind!"

Ren Yingying seemed moved by Jia Bu's words and nodded, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Jia. Uncle Shangguan, you came to Luoyang just to take me back to the main altar?"

Shangguan Yun clasped his hands in greeting: "Reporting to the Holy Maiden, the Eastern Sect Leader's benevolence is far-reaching, and both the living and the dead feel it..."

"Haha..." Yun Changkong couldn't help but laugh. This "Condor Hero" with thick eyebrows and big eyes started flattering him as soon as he opened his mouth. He hadn't noticed it before.

Jia Bu glanced at Yun Changkong and asked, "Who are you?"

Although Jia Bu had never met Yun Changkong, the Sun Moon Sect had many informants. Even the waiters and waitresses in restaurants and inns could be their spies. They had already found out everything. How could he not know that Yun Changkong was handsome?

Shangguan Yun said, "This is the renowned hero Yun, who is famous throughout the martial arts world."

Jia Bu chuckled dryly and said, "So it's the hero Yun who slaughtered Tian Boguang and the masters of the Songshan Sect. He is indeed elegant and otherworldly, and his martial arts are also extraordinary. He is truly rare in heaven and unparalleled on earth."

Only someone like him is worthy of the young lady. I've heard some ignorant people say that the young lady is infatuated with a disgraced disciple of the Huashan Sect. It seems that's just a complete fabrication. Brother Shangguan, is that so?

Ren Yingying retorted angrily, "Uncle Jia, I have always respected you. Don't you think it's beneath you to speak like that? I have absolutely no relationship with him!"

Jia Bu said, "The Holy Maiden is right to criticize you. It turns out that Hero Yun and the Holy Maiden have no connection. A beautiful lady is sought after by a gentleman, right? Although Hero Yun's feelings are one-sided, Hero Yun is a man of exceptional talent, and I'm sure he won't be swayed by them... Hehe, please go ahead."

He said that Ren Yingying was in love with Linghu Chong, forcing Ren Yingying to say that she had nothing to do with Yun Changkong, and then he sarcastically remarked that if Yun Changkong was meddling in other people's business, then he was not worthy of respect.

Yun Changkong rolled his eyes and said, "Since childhood, you surnamed Yun have been able to go wherever you want and do whatever you want. I've always been the one telling people what to do, and no one has ever told me what to do. You dare to give me orders?"

His imposing manner was something no one could imitate; with a single, calm remark, he made it impossible for Jia Bu to utter another sarcastic word.

Jabu said in a deep voice, "So, does Your Excellency wish to become an enemy of our sect?"

Yun Changkong said indifferently, "Don't try to scare me with the Demonic Sect. Even if the past leaders of your Demonic Sect were to be resurrected, what could they do to me?"

Jia Bu chuckled dryly twice and said, "Fine, I suppose you're overconfident in your martial arts skills." His voice suddenly turned stern as he coldly said, "Putting your words into action doesn't make you a hero. Your skill will be proven if you can leave safely tonight."

Yun Changkong asked calmly, "Your invitation to the Holy Maiden to return to Blackwood Cliff is a pretense; your real intention is to capture me, isn't it?"

Jia Bu was clearly taken aback, then burst into loud laughter and said arrogantly, "Yun Changkong is indeed extraordinary, but it's a pity you won't live much longer." He paused for a moment, then suddenly said in a stern voice, "Light the torches and let him die knowing why."

The torches ignited instantly, illuminating the entire bamboo forest.

Yun Changkong saw that some of these people were holding up torches, while others were drawing bows and nocking arrows, the arrowheads gleaming, aimed at him, Ren Yingying, and Green Bamboo Elder.

Jabu shouted, "Shoot!"

Yun Changkong drew his jade flute to block the attack, but then saw more than ten long arrows shooting obliquely into the sky. They were black in color, and then Yun Changkong and the others smelled a strange stench.

The stench resembled both a rotting corpse and a large number of dead fish and shrimp. Yun Changkong possessed high internal strength, but the stench was so strong that it made him feel nauseous.

It turns out that the long arrow was not a feathered arrow used to shoot people, but rather had a mechanism inside that was used to shoot water. After the water arrow shot obliquely into the sky, it turned into raindrops and fell down. Some of them landed on the bamboo forest and were corroded with small holes, which shows how potent the poison was.

Yun Changkong knew that the Flood Banner of the Ming Cult's Five Elements Banner had once concocted such poisonous water. He knew that if he wanted to escape, there would be no problem. However, if he were to fight head-on, no matter how deep his internal strength was, if he were sprayed by a single spear, he would be doomed.

As he was pondering, a beautiful figure flashed by, and Ren Yingying landed in front of him, coldly sneering, "Uncle Jia, is this how you gained your reputation? You've truly failed Uncle Dongfang in promoting and relying on you!"

It should be noted that before and after Dongfang Bubai usurped power in the Sun Moon Cult, he purged the old guard from Ren Woxing's time. Some were killed, some were expelled, and some, like Qu Yang, went into seclusion.

Dongfang Bubai would not stand idly by and watch his sect decline and its power weaken. In order to bolster his prestige, he also recruited people from outside the sect.

This "Yellow-faced Venerable" Jia Bu was originally the leader of the Yellow Sand Gang in Hebei. For decades, he had run rampant in Hebei and killed countless heroes. Later, he was subdued by Dongfang Bubai and joined the Sun Moon Divine Cult. In recent years, he was promoted to the position of Elder of the Azure Dragon Hall and is the head of the ten elders. He is very proud of himself.

Yun Changkong heard Ren Yingying's voice transmission: "This poison is incurable, do not act rashly."

Jia Bu was also extremely loyal to Dongfang Bubai. Upon hearing Ren Yingying's words, he simply smiled and said, "This subordinate has no reputation for heroism, only knowing how to be loyal to Dongfang Bubai to the death." After a pause, he said in a deep voice, "Holy Maiden, it would be best if you followed this subordinate back to Blackwood Cliff."

Ren Yingying flicked her sleeve and said indifferently, "What if I don't know how? What will you do then?" Jia Bu chuckled dryly twice.

Suddenly, Yun Changkong asked, "May I ask this Brother Jia, what high position do you hold in the Sun Moon Sect?"

Jia Bu glanced at him coldly and said, "I am an unworthy old man. I am deeply ashamed that the sect leader has favored me and appointed me as an 'Elder of the Azure Dragon Hall.' I am merely a figurehead and do nothing."

Yun Changkong said, "So you're second only to the emperor, above ten thousand others?"

Jia Bu said, "No, our sect has countless masters, many of whom are superior to me."

Yun Changkong smiled calmly and said, "Oh, even so, to dare to use poison on the Holy Maiden, one can imagine how powerful she is."

Ren Yingying said coldly, "I think you've accepted a bribe from Zuo Lengchan and are plotting something nefarious!"

Jia Bu laughed and said, "Holy Maiden, you don't need to provoke me. How could I give orders to the Holy Maiden? It's just that, Hero Yun, capturing you and taking you to Blackwood Cliff is the leader's order. It's my duty, and I have no choice but to do it."

The disciples of the Demonic Sect had always regarded Yingying as a goddess. When she spoke, their expressions changed slightly, but they were relieved after Jia Bu finished explaining.

Yun Changkong laughed heartily and said, "So today, what seems like an attack on the Holy Maiden is actually aimed at me. Or perhaps the Holy Maiden wants to protect me, or perhaps I want to help her, and you just happen to kill us both. In the end, let me say that the Holy Maiden insists on protecting our sect's enemy?"

Jia Bu was startled, thinking to himself, "This kid is indeed quite capable; he seems to know everything about this." While thinking this, he coldly said, "Our sect is about to unify the martial world, so there's no need to hide anything from you. That's right, our sect came to Luoyang to capture you and take you to Blackwood Cliff. If we can't capture you alive, we'll take you dead!"

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "Then why are you so eager to kill me? What is the reason for this? Can you explain?"

Jia Bu sneered, "You know perfectly well why you're asking."

Yun Changkong chuckled and said, "I understand. It seems that your so-called destiny of Dongfang Bubai was actually Yang Lianting's idea."

He feared I would help the Holy Maiden, so he wanted to take the opportunity to kill us both. If he had been even more cunning, framing the Songshan Sect or Shaolin Temple would have incited even greater righteous indignation among the followers.

Jia Bu was secretly surprised, but outwardly remained calm and said coldly, "Whether she is filled with righteous indignation is unknown, but without your strong support, even if the Holy Maiden wants to do something, she will be much weaker and more isolated."

Yun Changkong said, "Since you've revealed the truth so frankly, you're definitely going to kill me."

Jia Bu said, "Yun Changkong's martial arts skills are well known throughout the world. Even Zuo Lengchan said that you are the number one master in the world. Although that may not be true, you are still so young. If we cannot kill you, it will cause endless trouble in the future. I have no choice but to apologize today."

Yun Changkong smiled slightly: "You're quite a man. I made a careless move today, so what can I say? But before I die, could you allow me to hear the Holy Maiden's beautiful music?"

Ren Yingying looked puzzled, thinking, "He wants me to play the zither for him at this crucial moment."

Jia Bu was far more cunning. He coldly said, "Sir, don't try to delay us. If you want to hear the Holy Maiden's enchanting voice, fine, but first cut off your right arm. Otherwise, I'll let you off the hook!"

Ren Yingying's gaze turned cold, and she said, "You dare?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Of course he dares. Who is Yang Lianting? He's like a chief eunuch. Jia Bu and the others may seem like tough men, but in reality, they're like lapdogs in front of him. So your majesty as the Holy Maiden is nothing."

Ren Yingying snorted, "Uncle Jia, Uncle Shangguan, you are both honorable heroes, yet you betrayed... a villain like Yang Lianting and risked your lives for him! I truly feel sorry for you!"

With a fierce look in his eyes, Jia Bu said, his thick eyebrows furrowed. "You dare to look down on me!" His square face and thin cheeks were now slanted at the corners of his mouth. His arrogant demeanor was indeed in line with his status as the head of the elders.

Ren Yingying turned her gaze and exclaimed, "Uncle Shangguan, my father treated you very well when he was alive. Are you going to be like Jia Bu and obey Yang Lianting's every command?"
"Fine, I'll grant your wish. Let me die at the hands of the Condor Hero; that would be just as good!"

Jia Bu was ranked above Shangguan Yun, and Shangguan Yun was confident that his martial arts skills were superior to his. He was already somewhat troubled by this, but when he heard Ren Yingying say this, he couldn't help but hesitate.

He naturally knew that Yingying was the daughter of the former leader, and that the Eastern Leader had always respected her greatly. However, Zuo Lengchan had revealed that Dongfang Bubai had plotted to murder the former leader and usurp power, so he expected that there would be a lot of entanglement between the Eastern Leader and Miss Ren. But it was absolutely impossible for him to order his subordinates to spray poison water at Yingying at this moment.

Shangguan Yun said, "Elder Jia, either agree or..."

Jia Bu said angrily, "Everyone has seen how the Eastern Cult Leader treats the Holy Maiden, but she was showing concern for a former disciple of the Huashan Sect on Wubagang. In fact, she knew about Linghu Chong's miraculous swordsmanship that blinded fifteen masters with one sword, so she colluded with him and intended to betray the sect!"
Today, she even believed Zuo Lengchan's words, thinking that the Eastern Cult Leader had killed her father. It's lamentable that the Eastern Cult Leader, a man of chivalry and martial prowess, treated the young lady like his own daughter, yet she betrayed him. There is no one in the world more ungrateful than her!

As he spoke, he trembled all over, and the other disciples of the Demonic Sect who heard this also showed expressions of grief and indignation.

Ren Yingying is undeniably beautiful and unforgettable. Regardless of whether the disciples of the Demonic Sect can obtain her, it is inevitable that they will fantasize about her.

It's like a loser seeing his "goddess" being taken away by someone else. Not only does he feel envy, jealousy, and hatred towards the person who picked the flower, but some extreme people might even hate the woman for not choosing him!
This is similar to some people who think that beautiful women should like them and become their women, even though they know it's wishful thinking, they still consider themselves extraordinary. This is the inherent weakness of human nature.

Therefore, both Zuo Lengchan and Jia Bu kept talking about the Holy Maiden and Linghu Chong in front of Yun Changkong. Their real purpose was to arouse the ugliness in Yun Changkong's human nature, namely jealousy, so that he could hurt Ren Yingying and Linghu Chong and then they could reap the benefits.

This is because Yun Changkong is indifferent to everything. If it were anyone else, they would have snatched Ren Yingying away long ago. What nonsense about Linghu Chong, the saying "Great fullness is like emptiness" and "A match made in heaven"!
Even so, after hearing it so many times, Yun Changkong developed a rebellious attitude. So even though he had no feelings for Ren Yingying, he kept flirting with her.

The reason behind this is simply that he wants to prove himself: if Linghu Chong can do it, so can I!
It's not that there are no good things, it's that there are no good people!

Ren Yingying was surprised by Jia Bu's utter nonsense, which added many unfounded accusations against her.

Because Ren Yingying saved Linghu Chong's life this time, she herself didn't know what her intentions were. She even thought that maybe it was to spite the proud Yun Changkong.

This was because Ren Yingying was strong-willed and competitive. Yun Changkong defeated her completely, both in martial arts and intellect, and even took Lan Fenghuang away right in front of him, thus accomplishing his goal.

The next day, it was diagnosed that Linghu Chong's illness could only be cured by the Star Absorbing Skill and the Yi Jin Jing. Ren Yingying had suffered a loss at Yun Changkong's hands and wanted to get back at him, so she tried to find someone to help her and spared no effort to cure Linghu Chong.

She longed to stand before Yun Changkong and say, "Didn't you say that only the Yi Jin Jing and the Star Absorbing Technique would work? But I was cured without them!" She had naturally fantasized about this triumphant moment.

But as things unfolded beyond her expectations, everyone said she had fallen for Linghu, leaving her confused about her own intentions.

At this moment, Ren Yingying was both angry and anxious, and was about to lash out when she suddenly heard a sobbing sound from beside her ear.

Ren Yingying turned her head and saw Yun Changkong holding a jade flute, the sound of which was melodious and captivating. When he saw her looking over, he nodded slightly to her.

Those members of the demonic sect stood there dumbfounded, their expressions as if they had been paralyzed by acupuncture.

Ren Yingying's face flushed, and she suddenly realized that he wanted her to help him with her music. She swayed and floated into the house.

The zither rang out six times in succession.

Yun Changkong recognized the tune as "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," and his heart leaped with joy. The sound of his flute changed, becoming a mournful, flowing melody, like a gentle breeze that seeped into the skin and touched the very bones.

"Clang clang clang," the hundred or so members of the demonic sect loosened their grip, and the water guns, bows and arrows, and torches all fell to the ground.

Jia Bu and Shangguan Yun were also captivated by Yun Changkong's flute music, recalling happy times. They were momentarily stunned, but their internal strength was profound. As soon as they heard the sound of weapons hitting the ground, they suddenly realized something was wrong.

Jia Bu bit his tongue, his mind clearing instantly. He gathered his inner strength and shouted, "Fire arrows! Kill them all!"

Just then, Yun Changkong's flute music also changed, instantly transforming from endless joy into a sound of killing.

The music sounded like a thousand horses charging into battle, ten thousand drums beating in unison, the sound soaring high into the clouds. And everyone's heart pounded rapidly in response.

The skilled members of the Demonic Sect, who had just been awakened by Jia Bu's shout, sat down together and used their internal energy to resist him, but those with weaker internal energy started shouting and yelling.

Only Shangguan Yun and Jia Bu were able to control their heartbeats, but they were both greatly surprised. They used superior mental techniques to calm their minds, but their hearts still beat in sync with the music, and they dared not move at all.

They saw the old man with green bamboo sitting cross-legged, a smile on his face, as if nothing had happened. The two were even more startled, thinking, "What's going on? This old man seems unaffected?" They each covered their ears with their hands. (End of Chapter)