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

Yun Changkong and Lan Fenghuang left Green Bamboo Lane. Looking around, the long street was deserted. Lan Fenghuang said with a solemn expression, "Brother, can you tell? The situation seems to be getting more and more serious."

Yun Changkong said calmly, "Are you referring to the two people from just now?"

Lan Fenghuang said earnestly, "Yes, when the group of followers and I heard the sound of the zither and flute from afar, we were all unable to control ourselves and dared not approach until we could no longer hear it. But it seems that these two had been here for a long time, and I did not notice them at all."

Yun Changkong said, "There are no more than five people in the world with skills like these two. It's not surprising that you didn't notice them."

Lan Fenghuang frowned and said, "Yes, but logically speaking, people with this kind of skill must be of high status. What would make them do this? It must be something important, like bringing peace to the martial arts world."

Yun Changkong found her furrowed brows and brows quite charming, so he couldn't help but pull her close and say with a smile, "Never mind him, things will work themselves out, why worry so much?"

Lan Fenghuang said, "Don't think this is a small matter. Not to mention that you have offended the Sun Moon Sect, the Holy Maiden has also been poisoned by the Three Corpse Brain God Pill. This poison is located in her brain and can only be cured by the Eastern Sect Leader himself. If she does not take the medicine before the Dragon Boat Festival, she will definitely commit suicide to avoid going mad and dying. I returned to Yunnan in the hope that you and she can reconcile, become friends, and help her!"

Yun Changkong's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Aren't you afraid that by helping me, I'll end up finding you a love rival?"

Lan Fenghuang struggled free from his embrace and pouted, "I'm talking to you about serious matters, and you're still joking? Do I have to beg you?"

Yun Changkong said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'm serious." Then, his expression turned serious, and he said, "Phoenix, I have something to tell you, but you can't tell anyone."

Blue Phoenix asked in surprise, "What is so important? I promise."

Yun Changkong whispered in her ear, his voice sharp and clear, "Ren Woxing is not dead."

Lan Fenghuang's body suddenly trembled, and Yun Changkong nodded and said, "He is imprisoned in a certain place, which I happen to know."

Lan Fenghuang exclaimed in surprise, "Then you must not delay. The Sun Moon Sect has many spies. If they send out a warning, the news will soon reach Blackwood Cliff. Now that the Holy Maiden and the Eastern Sect Leader have fallen out, we must not allow him to live. We must rescue him as soon as possible."

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "That's what I think too. Only by rescuing him can we have a fair fight with Dongfang Bubai and prevent the Sun Moon Sect from interfering!"

Lan Fenghuang said, "You must have thought this through carefully."

But then she paused slightly, saying, "Why didn't you say so sooner? If you had, if you had told the Holy Maiden earlier, she would have been grateful to you and offered herself to you!"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "In your eyes, am I really that hopeless, using my family to achieve my despicable goals?"

Lan Fenghuang pointed at his nose and said, "You, you're just so competitive, but that's what makes you ambitious, and I like that even more. I won't say any more, I'm leaving now."

Seeing her almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, so charming and alluring, Yun Changkong couldn't help but kiss her right cheek and said, "I like you even more."

Lan Fenghuang said with a grin, "I'm leaving." She glanced at Yun Changkong, slowly turned around, and walked forward.

Yun Changkong suddenly remembered something and said, "Wait a minute."

Lan Fenghuang stopped upon hearing this, and Yun Changkong said, "I will pass on a set of internal energy techniques to you; you must practice them diligently."

Lan Fenghuang laughed and said, "Alright, since it is what my elder brother taught me, I will definitely learn it well."

Yun Changkong then explained several methods of the internal energy cultivation techniques that he had extracted from and integrated with other techniques such as the "Arhat Subduing Demons Technique".

Lan Fenghuang had a solid foundation in martial arts, and Yun Changkong only needed to give her a little guidance before she memorized it.

Yun Changkong said, "Your martial arts skills are already quite good. The longer you study this skill, the more effective it will become. In the future, you can decide for yourself who you want to teach it to."

Lan Fenghuang said, "Then take good care of yourself."

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "For your safety, I will also take care of myself. You should also be careful."

Lan Fenghuang glanced at him with deep affection before taking a step and leading her followers away.

As Yun Changkong watched the figure disappear from sight, a sense of bewilderment suddenly arose in his heart. He let out a long sigh and strolled along the street.

Suddenly, I turned my head and caught a glimpse of a slender figure, which quickly disappeared into the shade of the trees.

He recognized Ren Yingying at a glance and chuckled to himself, "This woman is really interesting." He pretended not to see her and strolled forward.

After walking a dozen or so feet, Yun Changkong stopped abruptly and immediately lunged towards a locust tree on his left, laughing, "Didn't you leave?"

Ren Yingying stood gracefully in the wind among the branches of this tree, while Yun Changkong stood in front of her, sharing the same branch.

Ren Yingying felt as if the branches hadn't moved at all. She sighed and said softly, "I wanted to leave, but I came back without realizing it."

As she spoke, she leaped lightly, and like a green cloud, she slowly drifted down to the ground.

Yun Changkong landed on the ground as well, and laughed, "Your lightness skill is really good. If you hadn't been wearing women's clothing and your clothes hadn't made a slight whistling sound as they cut through the air, I wouldn't have noticed!"

Ren Yingying lowered her head and said, "Uncle Dongfang taught me this lightness skill, but I'm not very good at it."

Yun Changkong was taken aback and said, "No wonder I saw your movements were so light and agile, and your sword moves were so strange and unpredictable. They seemed to float and drift like smoke and mist, extremely elusive. It turns out that it was taught by Dongfang Bubai."

Ren Yingying smiled and said, "Who do you think taught me martial arts?"

Yun Changkong said, "I thought it was Ren Woxing who taught him."

Ren Yingying shook her head and said, "My father passed away when I was seven years old. My internal energy and martial arts skills are not the same as his."

Yun Changkong nodded and asked, "What are you going to do next?"

Ren Yingying looked at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly and said, "I originally thought of contacting my father's old subordinates to rebel against Dongfang Bubai, but then I thought, that would ultimately lead to failure, so why take more lives? Why not take advantage of my remaining life to go to a scenic spot, climb mountains and rivers, and soothe my soul!"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "So you still want to stay with me."

Ren Yingying spat and said, "Who's with you? I'm going alone."

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "That won't do. You have to come with me."

Ren Yingying said, "What are you saying? Are you trying to force me?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Today, I killed so many members of the Demonic Sect for your sake, didn't I?"

Ren Yingying was taken aback, then said sullenly, "I didn't ask you to help me!"

Yun Changkong said, "If it weren't for me today, what would have happened to you if you had returned to Blackwood Cliff? Even if Dongfang Bubai couldn't bear to kill you, Yang Lianting might not be so forgiving. Besides, if I had killed you with one strike, that would have been the end of it all. But I'm afraid of someone as beautiful as you. Tsk tsk, you'd better repay me properly."

Ren Yingying said bitterly, "I understand now, you're just a scoundrel who expects something in return for a favor."

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "You're quite the judge of character. But I'm a scoundrel who expects repayment for favors. If you don't repay my kindness, wouldn't that be ungrateful? That would also be a petty act. So you and I are a perfect match!"

Ren Yingying snorted, "Who's ungrateful?"

"Alright!" Yun Changkong clapped his hands and said, "Then you have to repay me. Come with me to Hangzhou. As the saying goes, there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. With Miss Ren accompanying me on a boat trip on the lake, that would be the greatest pleasure in life. It would not have been in vain that I took this great risk for you!"

Ren Yingying sensed that she had fallen into Yun Changkong's trap again. She was furious but helpless. She snorted, "Then I'll risk my life for you. I'm not going to Hangzhou with you."

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "If you don't get the antidote for the Three Corpse Brain God Pill by the Dragon Boat Festival, you'll definitely go crazy and won't even recognize your own father. What's the point of losing your life?"

Ren Yingying said angrily, "Anyway, I'm not going to Hangzhou with you. Make another request."

Yun Changkong smiled slightly and rubbed his chin. When Ren Yingying saw his posture, she quickly said, "Don't you have any other ideas. I would rather die than submit to you."

Yun Changkong looked puzzled and said, "What other thoughts? Oh, I see. You said I'm lusting after your body, and you immediately thought of that. I'm afraid that's what you're thinking too!"

Ren Yingying was overwhelmed with shame and anger, and turned to leave.

But then Yun Changkong said, "Come and see! Miss Holy Maiden is an ungrateful wretch!"

Ren Yingying suddenly stopped and said angrily, "Fine, I'll go to Hangzhou with you, but if you dare to do anything reckless, I'll kill you."

Yun Changkong sighed softly, "You don't understand, do you? As the saying goes, 'The man's heart is willing, but the woman's is not, so he is secretly heartbroken and sad; but if he could win the heart of the beauty, he would be romantic even if he lost his life!'"

Ren Yingying's cheeks flushed slightly, like they were tinged with rouge, and she muttered softly, "Now I know why you, who are so frivolous, have married so many wives." Then she turned and left.

Yun Changkong laughed heartily.

The two walked along the Luo River for a while and arrived at the dock.

It was nearly midnight, and the boats did not depart. The two arrived at a secluded place, where Ren Yingying sat under a willow tree, resting her chin on her hand, her mind in turmoil as all sorts of past events came flooding back.

Ren Yingying has been a princess of the Sun Moon Sect since childhood. Needless to say, when Ren Woxing was in power, Dongfang Bubai was in power, but for her, he was even more revered than when Ren Woxing was in power. Everyone in the sect regarded him as a god.

Those in positions of power must possess authority. Over time, Ren Yingying naturally suppressed her joys, sorrows, and anger deep within her heart. However, for some reason, she could not control her emotions whenever she faced Yun Changkong.

This situation confused and angered her, so she pretended to be indifferent and deliberately said some provocative things to prevent him from seeing her true feelings.

Unfortunately, no matter what he does, Yun Changkong is always the same, always so unserious.

Ren Yingying liked being with him, but he not only had a wife, but was also entangled with Lan Fenghuang. What could she do?
Ren Yingying also wanted to never see Yun Changkong again, but she couldn't help it. That day, Yun Changkong healed his internal injuries and left. Her heart felt like it was on fire, and she inexplicably ran to Luoyang again.

Because she knew that Yun Changkong and Zuo Lengchan had a pact to meet at Baiyun Mountain. The moment she saw Yun Changkong, she almost burst into tears. If, if there hadn't been Lan Fenghuang; if, if he hadn't married, she would definitely have confessed her feelings to him and expressed her love.

Yes, she deliberately insulted the Wang family, intentionally trying to contradict him and let him know she was there.

She approached him, her demeanor as cold as ever, but her heart was in turmoil. Afraid he would see through her, she lied, saying she needed to return the score of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer." In truth, every melody of that score was etched into her memory; what use would it be if she didn't return it?

She said she was going to Shaolin Temple to see Linghu Chong, hoping to make him angry or feel sorry for her, but it seemed that all her efforts were in vain.

She felt so bitter inside.

She felt as if she had fallen in love with Yun Changkong, and she wouldn't allow herself to have such thoughts.

However, she found that only when she was with him could she feel sad and cry, giggle and laugh happily, and she simply couldn't let go of him.

She had clearly left Green Bamboo Lane with Old Man Green Bamboo, yet she had no idea where to go. She wandered around the city again and again, but for some reason, she found herself back in Green Bamboo Lane.

It wasn't until she saw Yun Changkong again that she realized she was waiting for him so that they could travel and enjoy the scenery together.

However, she would never tell any of this, lest Yun Changkong laugh at her.

Yun Changkong sat on a rock a few feet away from Ren Yingying, a smile on his face, watching her.
This girl has fair skin and a radiant complexion, her bright eyes sparkling with intelligence. She is truly unbelievably beautiful, but alas, she was born at the wrong time.

The pale moonlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, casting the reflections of a graceful young woman with delicate eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and a handsome young man, in the flowing water, creating a scene full of warmth, tranquility, and serenity.

Ren Yingying felt warm all over, but her heart felt as if it were floating on clouds, giving rise to a sense of otherworldliness.

After an unknown amount of time, Ren Yingying turned her head and looked at Yun Changkong. Seeing him staring at her, she said angrily, "Why are you always staring at me?"

She was angry on the surface, but she was actually very happy inside, and two dimples appeared on her face. Yun Changkong sighed and said softly, "A faint blush rises to the sky, dimples on her cheeks ripple like spring, her jade hand rests on her fragrant cheek, her eyes roll and are guessed by others."

After hearing this, Ren Yingying turned around, stared at Yun Changkong, her eyes gleaming with a deep, alluring gaze, and sighed, "Yun Changkong, what exactly do you mean to me?"

Yun Changkong was taken aback: "What do you mean, how?"

Ren Yingying was in a state of turmoil and didn't know where to begin. After calming herself down, she asked, "Why did you help me?"

Yun Changkong said solemnly, "I didn't help you. If I had wanted to help you, you wouldn't be in this situation today. I just wanted to compete with Dongfang Bubai, and you were a communication point."

Another reason is that you're so beautiful. I love seeing you angry or shy.

Ren Yingying glared at him fiercely and said angrily, "You, you, you want to compete with others? You think you're so great? Humph, you're just asking for death!" After saying that, she turned her head and became angry.

Yun Changkong laughed inwardly, but said aloud, "If I die, won't you be able to vent your anger too?"

Ren Yingying was even more annoyed and said angrily, "Don't you know that our sect has a divine skill called the Sunflower Manual? It is the supreme secret manual of the martial arts world. Dongfang Bubai has been practicing it diligently for many years and is already invincible. How old are you? How can you compete with him!"

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "Supreme? Hehe, not necessarily! Besides, even if someone is supreme, they still have their strengths. We'll only know who wins and who loses after the fight."

Ren Yingying snorted, "Do you know the Sunflower Manual? It's a treasure passed down from the previous leader to the next leader of our sect. I've rarely seen Dongfang Bubai these past few years. I suspect he handed over power to Yang Lianting so he could focus on practicing his skills. Don't think that just because you have unparalleled martial arts, you're invincible!"

Yun Changkong said, "I never said I was invincible!" He continued, "The path of martial arts is ancient and profound. Generally speaking, it can be divided into two main sources: orthodox and extreme. Orthodox martial arts focuses on gradual progress of the foundation, and learning is very slow, but the more one's skill improves, the greater the achievement. It is mainly about nourishing the body and establishing one's life."

So-called extreme martial arts follow bizarre and unorthodox paths, focusing primarily on defeating the enemy and controlling their momentum. Like your martial arts, even though it includes techniques for self-preservation, it still falls into the unorthodox category, such as using drugs to stimulate and leverage my strength. However, this kind of martial arts has one advantage!

Ren Yingying asked, "What are the benefits?"

Yun Changkong said, "Since you are taking an extreme path, harming others and using whatever means are available, then you must take a different approach, a quick and unconventional one, that can achieve quick results."

"Practicing this kind of skill, perhaps in just a few months, one can surpass the decades of arduous training of those sect leaders."

Ren Yingying was taken aback and asked, "You mean the Sunflower Manual?"

“That’s right!” Yun Changkong nodded and said, “So before the duel with Dongfang Bubai, only heaven knows who is superior.”

Ren Yingying gazed at Yun Changkong, her expression a mix of reproach and amusement, and said, "I was thinking that if all else fails, I'll go back to Blackwood Cliff and feign compliance with Dongfang Bubai. If I can get him to teach me the Sunflower Manual... well, if I master it, perhaps I can defeat you."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "You don't need to practice to defeat me."

Upon hearing this, Ren Yingying couldn't help but smile and said, "You don't need to flatter me anymore. Anyway, there's no chance now. However, it's almost impossible for you to challenge Dongfang Bubai to a duel."

He hasn't left Blackwood Cliff for ten years. I've rarely seen him in recent years. You can't possibly go up Blackwood Cliff, can you? It's a mountain that reaches into the clouds, with thousands of followers and countless traps. You might be able to get up, but you definitely won't be able to get down. Hmm, you could just lie down and come down.”

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "That's why I went to Hangzhou to rescue someone. Only with his intervention can the chaos in your Sun Moon Sect be quelled, and I won't have to worry about others attacking me."

Ren Yingying asked in surprise, "Who is it? Does my sect have someone like that?"

Yun Changkong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, fixed on Ren Yingying's face, and he remained silent.

Ren Yingying felt that his piercing gaze was like a sharp, frost-covered sword, as if it wanted to pierce her chest. Suddenly, she felt uneasy and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yun Changkong sighed softly and said, "I've been wondering, was I doing this because I was bewitched by your beauty and fell into a trap without realizing it, or was it for some other reason? Alas..."

"Ahem, what did you say?" Ren Yingying blushed and said, "You've already started being indecent after just a few words."

He lowered his head and said, "If you really want to find Dongfang Bubai for my sake, then there's no need. Anyway, I've been without a mother since I was little, and my father is dead. I'm all alone now, and I've also taken the Three Corpse Brain God Pill."

Perhaps you're right, that fullness leads to loss. My father hoped I could be perfect, so he named me Yingying (meaning "satisfied"). But my surname is Ren (任), so how can I expect to be full without losing anything? This is my fate, and there's no need to take your life for it!

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "This woman still has some conscience." He said, "You said that I am indifferent to everything, and I don't deny that. But I am also a martial artist, and it would be a great regret if I didn't meet the number one master in the world. Whether it's life or death, success or failure, that's my own choice, and it has nothing to do with you."

If you're too afraid to face someone just because they're powerful, what kind of man are you! Even if you live on, you'll always look down on me.

Ren Yingying shook her head and said, "I never looked down on you, never."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Who was it that just said something about a petty person who expects to repay favors?"

Ren Yingying blushed and said, "What is it? You keep reopening old wounds. How can a man be so narrow-minded? Do you expect me to apologize to you verbally?"

Yun Changkong laughed: "You insult me, and I can't even say anything? If I do, you accuse me of something serious. Is this the kind of moral blackmail you learned from the prestigious sects?"

Ren Yingying raised her head and said, "Yes, so what?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "What an unreasonable young lady! I've certainly seen it all."

Ren Yingying raised her right hand and said, "If you say another word, I'm going to hit you."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "I won't talk anymore, I won't talk anymore. I just exhausted my true energy and I'm no match for you. Don't get angry and kill me and stuff me into the Luo River."

If Empress Wu Zetian were to suddenly appear and say, "Hey, I've actually encountered such a man in my magical Luohe River area, capture him and make him my male concubine..."

"Pfft!" Ren Yingying couldn't help but laugh and said, "Shameless! Wu Zetian would definitely chop you into mincemeat and throw you into the mountains to feed the wolves. You still want to be a male concubine!"

From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever dared to utter a joke with Ren Yingying. Yun Changkong often joked and teased with her, and he had never experienced such joy in his life.

When Yun Changkong saw her smiling face, with dimples appearing on her cheeks and joy between her brows, he was reminded of Zhao Min. When he teased her, she also laughed with the same carefree joy.

They were both good women, and to have even one of them would be an immense blessing. But he was fickle and now he was like a boat adrift, not knowing where he was going. He didn't know if he would ever see her again in this lifetime. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Seeing this, Ren Yingying's smile vanished, and she said, "Why are you sighing like that?"

Yun Changkong gazed at the flowing water and said, "I think that if I only seek momentary pleasure, even if I meet a kindred spirit or a lover, it is inevitable that the music will end and the party will be over in the blink of an eye. Alas, it is truly a great tragedy."

Ren Yingying said coldly, "You are still young, how could you have passed your prime so quickly?"

Yun Changkong said, "You don't understand."

Ren Yingying was taken aback. After a moment of silence, her face darkened, and she turned her head toward the river, saying, "Have you always thought that as a woman of the martial world, I can do whatever I want without hiding anything? If I were in love with... Young Master Linghu, I should have told him my feelings. I shouldn't have been in the same place with you in this ambiguous way. That would be fickle and promiscuous... It would only make me a laughingstock."

At this moment, the surrounding fields are silent, the starlight is hazy, creating a scene that is both real and unreal, like a beautiful maiden with a frown.
However, this also reminded Yun Changkong of Zhou Zhiruo in the past. Like Ren Yingying, she was somewhat hesitant about matters between men and women. He sighed and said, "Everyone in the world is different. How can one person's personality be used to describe everyone?"

Among women, there are naturally extraordinary women who don't hide their feelings at all, speak their minds without restraint, and boldly express their emotions; there are also those who bury their innermost thoughts deep within their hearts; and there are those who, when no one is around, face the candlelight alone to express their feelings. Each has her own beauty, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My thoughts do not represent the truth.

As for the claims of being fickle and indecisive, that's utter nonsense.

Even if you are in love with Linghu Chong, it is not your fault. Similarly, I do not think Yue Lingshan, who abandoned Linghu Chong, is at fault.

Including myself, I'm a fickle jerk by nature. It's normal for my crush not to choose me or to fall for someone else.

It's perfectly normal for two people to be happy together and then separate when they feel uncomfortable.

It's just that you've been poisoned by dogmatic and feudal thinking, believing that a person must be faithful to whoever they're with. If they aren't, you're accused of being fickle or promiscuous. Isn't that just bullshit?

Why don't we see emperors and nobles remaining faithful to one woman until the end? And what about those self-proclaimed moral exemplars and virtuous scholars who frequent brothels and indulge in debauchery? Aren't their affairs numerous?
Those are just trivial things done by those in power to restrict ordinary people so they can reserve resources for themselves; you and I are not included in that. Therefore, whatever you do is entirely your own business, and you don't need to care what others think.

These words were shocking and unconventional. Ren Yingying was stunned. She hadn't expected Yun Changkong to have such a bold idea, and she didn't know what to say.

However, the two of them said no more after that.

At daybreak, Yun Changkong hired a covered boat and said to Ren Yingying, "There are many eyes and ears around. We should travel by water and avoid coming out if possible."

Ren Yingying shook her head and said, "You're just burying your head in the sand. With the two of us like this, how can we possibly hide it from everyone?"

Yun Changkong thought it made sense, so the two found an inn. Yun Changkong took off his luxurious clothes and put on plain clothes. Ren Yingying changed into men's clothing. When Yun Changkong saw her in a green robe, which accentuated her round face, making her even more handsome and dashing, he shook his head and said, "No, no, you don't look like a man at all." He broke off a few strands of hair from his head and said, "Stick them on."

Ren Yingying smiled slightly, took it, and stuck it under her chin, thus adding a few strands of beard.

The two put on straw hats, boarded a boat, followed the Luo River into the Yellow River, then turned onto the Grand Canal, and crossed the Yangtze River.

During the long days on the boat, Yun Changkong constantly asked Ren Yingying for knowledge about music, and Ren Yingying naturally did not hesitate to share her knowledge.

She also had many questions about the score of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, and the two inspired each other, gaining great insights.

As they approached Hangzhou, Ren Yingying asked, "Who exactly are you trying to save?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Maybe this person doesn't need me to save him. We'll see. But if I succeed, you'll probably have to call me uncle."

Ren Yingying was furious and raised her hand to strike.

Yun Changkong pointed at her and said, "If you don't believe me, let's make a bet!"

Ren Yingying raised an eyebrow and said, "Let's gamble, what should we gamble on?"

Yun Changkong said, "If you lose, not only will you have to call me uncle, but you'll also have to offer your face so I can kiss you."

Ren Yingying snorted, "Dream on!" With a flick of her sleeves, she gracefully stepped out of the cabin.

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "So you're still afraid of losing!"

Ren Yingying said, "I won't fall for your provocation. I'm not stupid."

"Haha..." Yun Changkong found it more and more interesting. If he really wanted to do something, he could have taken ten Ren Yingyings. But he just liked to see Ren Yingying's shy appearance. He was happy to see it.

That evening, the boat arrived in Hangzhou. The two men disembarked, disguised themselves, and then entered the city of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou, formerly known as Lin'an, was established as the capital during the Southern Song Dynasty and has always been a popular destination. Upon entering the city, it was already dusk, and the streets were bustling and crowded. However, one could walk more quickly through the back alleys and side streets.

The two turned into a quiet alley, and after some twists and turns, they found an inn. Yun Changkong asked the waiter about the location of West Lake and Plum Manor, and then said to Ren Yingying, "I'll go scout the area first, and then we'll make our move tonight."

Ren Yingying agreed, and Yun Changkong left as instructed.

Yun Changkong arrived at the West Lake and saw that the blue waves were like a mirror and the weeping willows brushed the water. He wandered around and saw a solitary mountain full of plum trees before returning to the inn.

Ren Yingying was getting impatient and asked Yun Changkong, "Where exactly are you going, and who are you going to save?"

Yun Changkong said, "Let's go and investigate tonight and then we'll talk about it."

Ren Yingying had no choice but to agree.

Around midnight, the two, both dressed in close-fitting clothes, arrived at West Lake and then climbed Lonely Hill. (End of Chapter)