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

The group followed the servants, and along the way they saw weeping willows swaying along the embankment, and pavilions and towers hidden among red flowers and green grass, as if shrouded in a light mist, hazy and indistinct, which added to their mysterious beauty.

Ren Yingying was delighted by the sight and exclaimed, "People say that Jiangnan is a land of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. After seeing this Plum Manor today, I can confirm that it is true. If only..." She swallowed the words back, her heart pounding, and turned to look at Yun Changkong.

Yun Changkong also looked at her, a hint of doubt in his eyes, yet as if he understood something, and said, "Yes, this is a wonderful place. If we could be the bride and groom here, what more could we ask for!"

"Haha..." Dan Qingsheng laughed loudly, "If the two of you could get married in our humble abode, that would be wonderful!"

Ren Yingying glanced at Yun Changkong, smiled sadly, and said softly, "Fourth Master, please stop joking with me. He and I are not the young couple you're talking about."

Dan Qingsheng noticed that Ren Yingying's expression was off, so he immediately changed the subject and said, "Brother Zhao, you defeated me today, so you must tell me the name of this sword technique. Otherwise, if someone asks about it in the future, I will be left speechless and saying, 'Oh, I'm sorry, they beat me up, but they didn't tell me what they used.' Wouldn't I become a laughing stock in the martial arts world?"

Danqing was naturally carefree and unrestrained, and these words made Ren Yingying unable to help but smile.

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "My master created this sword technique not long ago and named it the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique."

Hei Baizi and Dan Qingsheng all looked bewildered. Dan Qingsheng said, "To be honest, Brother Zhao, although we brothers have not left Plum Manor for more than ten years, we have heard of all the heroes and villains in the martial arts world, both the righteous and the villainous.

"But this is the first time I've ever heard of Brother Zhao's name, and I've never heard of the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique before. This is truly a strange thing, a very strange thing indeed!" He shook his head repeatedly as he spoke.

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "My master and I are both unknown people. It's understandable that you haven't heard of us."

Hei Baizi shook his head and said, "Although my fourth brother's swordsmanship is not as good as yours, his judgment is excellent. I have always been arrogant, and there are countless heroes in the martial world, but someone as accomplished in both literature and martial arts as you, brother, can only be described as 'a genius of unparalleled talent'. If you say you are not famous, then aren't you saying that all the people in the martial world are blind?"

"Not bad, not bad!" Dan Qingsheng nodded repeatedly.

Yun Changkong knew they had become suspicious, and said, "This matter has nothing to do with my friends in the martial arts world. I am not fond of fame and often use aliases when I travel in the martial arts world, so my reputation is not well-known."

Hei Baizi nodded and said, "I see." He then wondered, "What is this person's purpose in coming here?"

As the group chatted, Yun Changkong suddenly looked up and saw a magnificent pavilion in front of him. Most surprisingly, the pavilion was entirely constructed of bamboo, without a single piece of ironwood, exuding an extremely elegant and refined charm.

A hint of surprise flashed in Ren Yingying's beautiful eyes.

Above hung a light gold plaque inscribed with the two characters "Qinzhu" (琴筑), the calligraphy flowing and elegant. Yun Changkong praised, "What fine calligraphy!"

Ren Yingying said, "The masters of the manor are truly wise and insightful. No wonder they are willing to live in seclusion here. If it were me, I would not want to set foot in the martial world either."

Yun Changkong glanced sideways and saw Ren Yingying's eyes filled with joy. He suddenly understood why Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying would get married and live in seclusion here in the original story.

Because every blade of grass and every tree here touched Ren Yingying's heart, and given Linghu Chong's nature, he would naturally listen to the words of his beloved without hesitation. How could he possibly think that Huang Zhonggong would die here because of him?

Dan Qingsheng laughed and said, "Brother Zhao, my elder brother never sees outsiders, let alone entertains guests here at Qinzhu. This is the first time you've ever done this."

Yun Changkong clasped his hands in greeting and said, "I am honored by your high regard."

"Ha ha……"

The group entered the "Qinzhu" (琴筑), which was very spacious inside, with a straight corridor leading to who-knows-where.

However, Yun Changkong felt that there was a hidden danger in this simple arrangement. For a moment, he was on high alert, constantly on guard.

Seeing the shifting light in his eyes, Hei Baizi knew that he had already grasped some of the secrets. He laughed and said, "Brother Zhao, we did put some thought into building this place, but it's only meant to deal with petty thieves. In the eyes of a master like Brother Zhao, it's nothing."

Yun Changkong smiled silently.

As the group entered the living room, they saw a banquet being held. Huang Zhonggong sat to one side, holding a book in his hand and pressing his left hand on the table.

Dan Qingsheng smiled and said, "Brother, our distinguished guest has arrived."

Huang Zhonggong then came to his senses, stood up and laughed, "Oh dear, I forgot about it for a moment. The score for 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' is truly wonderful."

He immediately invited Yun Changkong and Ren Yingying to sit down, while he himself sat in the main seat, with Hei Baizi and Dan Qingsheng accompanying him at the lower seat.

Dan Qingsheng asked, "Where is Third Brother?"

Huang Zhonggong said, "I went to invite him a long time ago, but he was probably so engrossed in Brother Zhao's calligraphy that he lost himself in it."

Hei Baizi shook his head and sighed, "The four brothers each have their own preferences, what can be done?"

Danqing gathered his energy in his dantian and said loudly, "Third Brother, what's so interesting about calligraphy? The master is right here, won't you come and ask him for guidance?"

His shout was so loud that it shook the walls, doors, and windows.

Just then, someone in the distance said, "They're here, they're here, what are you yelling about!" As soon as the voice fell, a figure moved in front of the hall, and a person walked in.

The man was short and stout, with a bald head that was shiny and bald, not a single hair growing on it. He held a calligraphy scroll in his left hand and a large brush in his right, and his clothes were covered in ink stains.

As soon as he entered, his gaze fixed on Yun Changkong. He took a step forward, grabbed Yun Changkong's hand, and said, "What beautiful calligraphy! Tell me quickly, whose style is this? I don't know it!"

Dan Qingsheng said, "Third Brother, please sit down. Is this proper?"

He added, “Brother Zhao, this is my third brother, Bald Brush Old Man. He got this nickname because he loves calligraphy and has worn out hundreds of brushes, but it's not because he's bald. You must not get this wrong.”

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "I understand."

The old man with the bald brush said, "Brother, your calligraphy is really good, really good."

Then he picked up his brush again and began to copy the calligraphy in the air, saying, "It's unrestrained and elegant, as if it's about to take flight. This cursive script is truly an eye-opener!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ren Yingying said irritably, "What do you mean by 'cursive'? Zhang Xu's 'Shuaiyi Tie' is what you call cursive."

Bald-Brush Old Man frowned slightly and said, "You also know Zhang Xu?"

Ren Yingying smiled but remained silent.

Bald-Brush Old Man then said to Yun Changkong, "Brother, if you tell me whose calligraphy this is, I... I'll give you twenty-eight moves of the Stone Drum Acupoint Striking Technique..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yun Changkong waved his hand and said, "Third Master, there's no need for that. I once met a descendant of the Dali Duan family and saw her practicing calligraphy, so I learned this skill from her."

"The Duan family of Dali?" The group of people were all surprised.

Yun Changkong said, "In the past, there was a disciple of the Dali Duan family who was a great calligrapher named Zhu Ziliu. He incorporated the finger technique of the Dali Duan family's One-Finger Divine Skill into his calligraphy, which is how this calligraphy work came about."

Master Yideng had four disciples: fisherman, woodcutter, farmer, and scholar. Among them, the scholar was Zhu Ziliu. He was originally the top scholar and prime minister of the Dali Kingdom, and also the "Number One Calligrapher in Southern China".

He learned the "One-Finger Divine Skill" from Master Yideng, and based on his own knowledge, he created the "One-Finger Divine Skill Calligraphy" with unparalleled skill, which was studied by later disciples. Therefore, Yun Changkong's "Small Chongshan" is not only admired by Bald Brush Weng for its calligraphy, but also because it contains the acupoint meridians of "One-Finger Divine Skill". As a master calligrapher, Bald Brush Weng not only loves it but also admires it sincerely.

Bald Pen Old Man laughed heartily, "So it's the One Finger Divine Skill! No wonder, amazing, amazing!"

Ren Yingying said, "Back then, Zhang Xu comprehended the brushwork of cursive script from Gongsun Da Niang's sword intent. It is truly remarkable that this descendant of the Dali Duan family can incorporate the One-Finger Divine Skill into calligraphy."

Dan Qingsheng clapped his hands and said, "Wonderful, wonderful. Not only is your martial arts superb, but your knowledge is also remarkable."

Huang Zhonggong said, "In my opinion, the young lady's zither skills are even more remarkable. May I ask who her teacher is?"

Ren Yingying said, "I can hardly be called a skilled musician; I'm just so-so."

Ren Yingying was proud and arrogant. She thought that if the ancients could create music scores, why couldn't she? So she searched high and low and collected countless scores, and then composed music on her own.

The "Pure Heart and Universal Benevolence Mantra" was composed by her own hand, but she was unwilling to elaborate. Huang Zhonggong did not press her for details.

After all, everyone has secrets.

After several rounds of drinks, Dan Qingsheng said, "Brother Zhao, you defeated me. My third and second brothers will definitely not accept this."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bald Brush Weng walked into the hall and said, "Brother Zhao, you were able to defeat my fourth brother, so your swordsmanship must be extraordinary. Let me see it for myself." He then said to Shi Lingwei, "Steward Shi, please bring me my bald brush."

Shi Lingwei responded, went out and brought back a weapon, which he presented with both hands.

It was a judge's pen forged from fine steel, one foot and six inches long. Strangely, the pen's tip was bound with a tuft of ink-soaked sheep's wool, making it resemble a large writing brush. While ordinary judge's pens are used for acupressure, this weapon used soft sheep's wool as its tip. How could it possibly defeat an enemy by striking acupoints? It must be because his internal energy was so profound that even sheep's wool could injure him.

Bald-Brush Weng took his weapon and smiled, "Please, Brother Zhao."

Seeing Yun Changkong's "One Finger Divine Skill" being so masterful, he hoped that Yun Changkong would teach him a few moves. He thought that if he could figure out Yun Changkong's martial arts style and comprehend it, it would be the happiest thing in his life.

Yun Changkong laughed loudly: "I'd rather accept your offer!"

He also went outside and drew the jade flute from his waist.

Bald-Brush Old Man leaned his judge's pen on the ground at an angle, staring at Yun Changkong with his small eyes, and said in a rough voice, "Young Master Zhao's swordsmanship is superb. I will use this bald pen in my hand to learn from your divine skills. We can be considered friends through literature."

Before he finished speaking, his wrist suddenly twitched, and the tip of the judge's pen hummed. His first stroke was in the style of Yan Zhenqing's "Poem for General Pei".

The three dots of the character “裴” transform into three feints, the brushstrokes flowing from top to bottom, carrying a sense of profound power, aiming directly at the vital acupoint on Yun Changkong's shoulder.

Yun Changkong lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure floating several feet away. He then thrust out his jade flute, not to attack the enemy's body, but to stab at the wrist of the bald-pen-wielding old man.

This move was executed perfectly, capturing the essence of gaining the upper hand.

The old man with the bald brush let out a "Huh?" and blocked with his horizontal brush. Yun Changkong withdrew his jade flute. Before the weapons clashed, the old man with the bald brush had only written half a move of the character "Pei" before it was abruptly interrupted.

His wrist suddenly sank, and the judge's pen went down against the current. The pen tip brought a gust of wind as it passed, aiming straight for the tiger's mouth where the opponent was holding the flute.

Yun Changkong saw that his side-attack technique was the key to avoiding the enemy's strength and striking their weakness, and it was extremely agile.

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Good!" Yu Xiao pointed at the "Yangxi" acupoint on his wrist.

Bald-Brush Weng couldn't continue writing this stroke, so he changed his brush and wrote Zhang Fei's "Inscription on Mount Bameng". This brushwork was solemn, and each stroke was like carving stone and chiseling a monument, with a strong central stroke.

However, Yun Changkong Yuxiao always managed to force him to reverse his brushstrokes and save himself just when his calligraphy was about to be completed.

After three moves, Bald Brush Old Man's forehead was covered in sweat, and he shouted, "Good lad, you dare to break my brush technique!"

His calligraphy was originally infused with countless spiritual strength, but suddenly it took a turn midway, not only did the strokes become blocked, but the internal energy also changed course, and he felt a surge of blood and qi in his dantian, which was indescribably uncomfortable.

Bald-Brush Weng simply abandoned all rules and used the wild cursive style of Huaisu's "Autobiographical Essay". In an instant, the judge's brush turned into a streak of black light, moving erratically and unpredictably, with the brush tip flowing freely. Sometimes it was like a startled snake entering the grass, and sometimes it was like a sudden rain hitting the window.

Inside the hall, only the whistling of the brush could be heard as Yun Changkong moved about, his jade flute sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes pointing, sometimes flicking, each move landing precisely on the starting point of the old man's brushstrokes.

After exchanging more than ten moves, Bald Pen Old Man suddenly roared angrily, and the Judge's Pen flew out of his hand and "thudded" into a beam in the hall.

He was panting heavily, pointing at the vast sky, and after a long while said, "Fine! Fine! You won't let me write, this old man... this old man loses!" After saying that, he turned around, picked up the wine barrel in the corner, gulped down a few mouthfuls, then grinned, pulled out a brush, flicked it with his fingertips, the brush spun around, dipped it in wine, and began to write wildly on the white wall in the hall.

The wall was covered in ink, exuding a melancholy air; it was none other than the "General Pei's Calligraphy".

After finishing writing, Bald Pen Old Man looked at it, let out a long sigh, and said, "Your swordsmanship is superb, but I am not convinced by your victory. I didn't even manage to write my own words."

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "Third Master, your calligraphy skills are superb and your internal strength is sufficient, but think about it, the enemy is not a dead person. Can they rigidly wait for you to write in a step-by-step manner?"
The way of martial arts is to seize the initiative and strike only after the opponent has made their move, adapting to the situation and guiding the opponent's actions. This may seem like the orthodox path of martial arts, but in reality, it puts you at a disadvantage. If the opponent doesn't move, are you going to stay still too? Can you simply see who can outlast the other?

The old man with the bald brush listened in silence for a moment, then said, "I am truly ashamed. I was always arrogant and thought this was some kind of extraordinary skill. Alas..."

Hei Baizi thought to himself, "I have never seen such a high level of swordsmanship in my life. In this world, I am afraid that only that person can surpass him." He stepped out of the hall and said, "Brother Zhao, what superb skills. I would like to ask you to teach me a few tricks of hidden weapon skills."

Dan Qingsheng said, "Brother Zhao, my second brother's chess piece hidden weapon is a unique skill in the martial arts world. When he shoots out 361 black and white pieces, no one can stop him. You must be careful."

Hearing his younger brother say this, Hei Baizi couldn't help but smile slightly on his usually cold face.

In chess, the first move is crucial, and so is in martial arts. Hei Baizi is well-versed in the principles of chess and naturally understands the art of gaining the initiative. Seeing that Yun Changkong is also a master in this field, he felt that he might inevitably lose if he went up against him, so he didn't want to fight with weapons or fists.

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "Second Master, please!"

Hei Baizi narrowed his eyes slightly, and with a sudden jerk of his left hand, the black iron chessboard shattered, sending thirty white chess pieces flying off the board. With a flick of his sleeve, he finished the move.

A flash of white light appeared, and the white chess pieces shot out like a dense rain.

This batch of hidden weapons was launched with great speed and density, but Yun Changkong neither dodged nor avoided them, nor did he draw his jade flute to parry.

Everyone thought, "Is he going to catch it with his hands?"

As expected, Yun Changkong was overjoyed to see so many hidden weapons coming at him at the same time. He caught them left and right, smashed them in front and sent them flying behind, and in an instant, he threw the pieces he caught back out.

A loud clanging sound rang out, and the ground was covered with chess pieces.

Hei Baizi said, "Good technique!" With a low shout, he raised his left hand and shot out another group of chess pieces. With a burst of Xuan Tian Finger energy in his right hand, several more chess pieces either struck the wrist or the pulse point, or pierced the knee and the shin.

Yun Changkong saw shadows of hidden weapons everywhere, and no matter how he dodged left or right, or jumped high or crouched low, he was bound to be hit by a hidden weapon.

Ren Yingying exclaimed, "What a beautiful shower of flowers!"

"A Rain of Flowers" was originally a technique for releasing several types of hidden weapons at once. Although it is called "A Rain of Flowers," it can actually release dozens of chess pieces at the same time, rather than throwing and shooting them randomly. Hitting the target is a rare and unheard-of skill in the martial arts world.

Although Yun Changkong could also attack and collect simultaneously with one hand, he couldn't help but admire, "What skill!" With a word of praise, he spun around half a circle, his palms forming an arc. With a gust of wind, he managed to envelop dozens of chess pieces within his palm circle, which swirled in the air like fireflies.

Dan Qingsheng exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, how do you know my swordsmanship? Oh dear, this is truly strange, very strange."

Yun Changkong laughed heartily: "I'm just copying what I've learned; please excuse my poor performance."

With a clapping of his hands, all the chess pieces came together with a "poof," and he shouted, "Watch out!" With a push of his hands, dozens of chess pieces flew toward the black and white pieces.

As the chess pieces came crashing down, making a whooshing sound, they clearly possessed profound inner strength. Black and white pieces held the black iron chessboard in their hands and immediately began to spin and fly, making a constant clanging sound and sparks flying everywhere.

He collected all dozens of chess pieces, but the impact made his wrist ache.

Ren Yingying glanced at the black and white pieces and said, "Second Master, you have good skills, but your chessboard is made of magnets, which is a bit of a trick."

Dan Qingsheng said, "My second brother made the chessboard with magnets so that he could study chess techniques. He placed the iron chess pieces on it, and they would not move or tip over even when placed in a chariot or on horseback."

Later, taking advantage of the situation, they used the chessboard as a weapon and the chess pieces as concealed weapons; it wasn't that they intentionally used magnetic objects to gain an advantage over others.

Hei Baizi sighed, "Why say such things? Brother Zhao's skills are amazing. No matter what, I am completely defeated. I admire you."

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "There is more than one way to martial arts. The four masters each have their own unique skills, but everyone has strengths and weaknesses. I only attacked the weak points and was lucky. It's nothing special."

If I were to compete with the Second Master solely in finger techniques, I would be far inferior to his Xuan Tian Finger skill. Moreover, there's the First Master's Seven-String Invisible Sword. I wish to entrust my heart to Yaoqin; facing him, I know I'm doomed without even a contest. (End of Chapter)