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

The beauty of West Lake lies in its waters. Surrounded by mountains and clouds, the tranquility of its clear waters is utterly captivating.

The awning boats, gently swaying, with their reflections on the green waves and misty shadows, make one feel as if they have stepped into a series of picturesque scenes of the Jiangnan water towns, where even the greatest worries can be forgotten.

Even if it's only temporary.

At least Yilin was like that.

She became a nun at Hengshan Mountain at a young age and rarely had contact with the opposite sex, but a trip to Hengshan Mountain awakened her romantic feelings.

The monk's robe covered her body, but it could not sever her longing for the mundane world. Her Buddhist heart was long gone; all that remained was her tender heart.

Now, surrounded by this lake and embraced by nature, she finds a rare tranquility. At least her heart will no longer beat wildly for only one person.

Yun Changkong was also very happy to see Yilin lost in thought. Sharing the beautiful scenery with this young nun was exciting and novel, and it also made him feel refreshed.

You should know that Yun Changkong is essentially a romantic; when he sees a beautiful woman, he feels an urge to make her happy.

He felt that this was his duty.

No matter who it is, it has never changed.

For example, the woman in the yellow dress who was as cold as ice.

This was his true nature, but as he practiced the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill" and studied Taoist and Buddhist scriptures, his mind became extremely broad, far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

Because most people would prefer to be the one who brings happiness to a woman.

But for Yun Changkong, whether or not she was the one who brought her happiness was no longer so important.

For example, it was Yun Changkong who flirted with the woman in yellow, and it was also Yun Changkong who did not end up with her.

These two are not contradictory.

The reason is simple: when Yun Changkong flirted with the woman in yellow, she accepted it and felt happy; that was Yun Changkong's reward.

If the woman in yellow is happy and can accept being with Zhao Min in the end, then that would be the icing on the cake.

If you feel you can't accept it, and you're unhappy being together, then you should choose to leave, and Yun Changkong won't try to stop you.

Even if it's just an attempt, it's still considered forcing it on others!

Therefore, Yun Changkong would not do that.

He knew that the other party had made a well-thought-out decision to come out of seclusion, find him, and then leave.

Her coming was perhaps just a prelude to her departure.

Yun Changkong always liked to be considerate of others, just like Zhou Zhiruo and the others. Even though she knew that Yun Changkong had Zhao Min, she was still willing to be with him, so Yun Changkong naturally wouldn't refuse.

Because he knew that the other party had also figured it out, and there was no question of deception, so they could be at peace with themselves.

But he would never deliberately conceal his past in order to get a woman.

Although he is not a devoted person, he still cannot be without guilt after obtaining what he has!

Yun Changkong does everything with a clear conscience.

Just like his treatment of Ren Yingying, Yun Changkong never hid his true nature. Upon their first meeting, she scolded him for being dissolute, frivolous, and shameless.

Even if Ren Yingying confesses her feelings now, Yun Changkong will not accept them directly.

Because he knew that the other person's attraction and confession were mixed with too many uncertain factors, such as martial arts skills, or perhaps it was just a fit of pique.

So, revealing your secret and its consequences, and letting her consider it carefully, is the most basic thing to do.

If he concealed the truth, apprehended the suspect, and then informed him, it would be better to follow Tian Boguang's example and directly "make it a fait accompli." However, given Yun Changkong's arrogance, such a method would be extremely despicable.

He couldn't possibly master a divine skill just to use it to force himself on women. Although Yun Changkong was among the "scumbags," he didn't want to be included in their ranks.

In other words, if Yun Changkong accepts a woman, he will accept everything about her, including the family she values.

Therefore, allowing your woman to know everything is a basic form of respect.

If he only wanted to sleep with a certain woman, concealing the truth, and traveled all the way south to Hangzhou, ten Ren Yingyings would have become his women.

In May, the Jiangnan region is often shrouded in mist and rain.

In an instant, it was as fine as silk and as light as smoke, filling the world and adding a touch of emerald green.

Yilin snapped out of her daze, looked up at Yun Changkong, and smiled sweetly, saying, "Big brother, you sing well, and this rain is just as good."

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Perhaps the heavens are moved by my sincerity and wish to grant this wish. But this is not my song; I just heard someone else sing it and learned it."

Yilin seemed to be deep in thought, her pretty face full of smiles, and said, "When shall we go to Lingyin Temple?"

Yun Changkong pointed into the distance and said, "Yes, Lingyin Temple is on that North Peak. We'll be there soon."

When the boat reached the lakeside, Yun Changkong opened his umbrella, and the two disembarked. After walking along the cobblestone path for a while, the sound of chanting sutras drifted from the sky.

It was early morning, and the monks had not yet finished their morning prayers.

The sounds of bells and wooden fish, the chanting of Buddhist scriptures, and the sounds of chanting on palm leaves made Yilin and Yun Changkong quicken their pace. They saw the vermilion mountain gate standing out against the green trees, with a black plaque bearing the three large characters "Lingyin Temple" in gold on a black background hanging above it. The characters were written in vigorous strokes.

The two entered the temple, where incense smoke curled and bells rang in the main hall, and worshippers came in an endless stream.

At this moment, dozens of monks gathered in the main hall, palms together in prayer, chanting scriptures with all their might. Many people were listening intently.

Yilin was already captivated, and Yun Changkong also found the wooden fish chanting enchanting and serene. Before long, the morning class ended.

Many people entered the main hall under the guidance of the monks to offer incense and worship Buddha.

When Yun Changkong and Yilin arrived at the incense table, a young novice monk offered them three sticks of incense.

Yun Changkong took the incense, lit it, and gently waved it beside the incense burner to extinguish the flame, leaving only wisps of smoke. He then clasped his hands together, faced the Buddha statue, bowed three times, and then inserted the incense sticks into the center, left, and right of the incense burner before stepping aside.

Yilin followed closely behind, took the incense offered to her, looked up at the Buddha statue in the hall, lit the incense according to etiquette, extinguished the flame, clasped her hands in prayer, and stepped forward to insert the incense.

After doing all this, she put her hands together, bowed to the Buddha statue, and slowly retreated to the side.

But just then, "bang!"

A muffled thud came from the incense burner, the ash exploded, and white smoke billowed, causing a gasp of surprise in the hall.

The monks and pilgrims of Lingyin Temple were all greatly alarmed.

Yilin was so shocked that her eyes widened and she stood there in a daze, as if she had been frightened into a stupor.

Several monks rushed forward, righted the overturned incense burner, and gathered up the scattered incense sticks and ashes.

An old monk slowly walked up to Yilin, put his hands together and said, "Benefactor, please offer incense again."

"Yes……"

Yilin looked very uneasy. She took a breath and then stepped forward again to the incense table, repeating the previous etiquette one by one.

When she inserted the incense into the incense burner for the second time, her fingers trembled slightly, as if struck by some unseen force. Her body stiffened abruptly, and she felt as if her surroundings were filled with extremely flexible objects, making it impossible for her to move.

To everyone else, Yilin's incense sticks looked like they couldn't be inserted into the incense burner.

Yilin was horrified and bewildered, wondering anxiously, "Could it be that Buddha really doesn't want me anymore?" Suddenly, her face turned deathly pale, and she became dazed.

Suddenly, she felt a force pushing her backward, causing her to slip and almost fall backward.

Fortunately, Yun Changkong reacted quickly and caught him.

The monks and worshippers inside the hall all looked frightened and took a step back in unison.

"Is this...is this a manifestation of Buddha?"

"How could this be?"

"I've never seen anything like this in my entire life!"

Whispers rose and fell, and everyone turned their gaze toward Yilin. In an instant, the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

"Big brother... what's wrong?"

Yilin gripped Yun Changkong's hand tightly, her fingers trembling slightly with nervousness.

Yun Changkong said, "It's alright, don't worry!" He looked at a thin, bony old monk with a silver beard that reached his belly, meditating in the corner, and put his palms together, saying, "Master, what is the explanation for this matter?"

The monk, twirling his prayer beads, shook his head and sighed, "Since the founding of this temple, there has never been such a strange phenomenon. I don't understand it either."

Yun Changkong sneered, "Master, my sister is a devout Buddhist. First, the incense burner exploded for no reason, and now she can't even stick incense sticks in. If you can't solve this problem, Master, hehe..."

The old monk clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and silently chanted a Buddhist prayer. Then he looked up at Yilin and slowly said, "Everything has a cause and an effect. Such strange phenomena must have a reason. Perhaps someone has done something inappropriate, or perhaps someone has used great supernatural powers to disturb the Buddha's mind..."

These words sparked another round of discussion among the people in the hall.

"Did you do something inappropriate?"

"Great supernatural power?"

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes darting around the hall, and inevitably, many gazes fell upon Yilin.

Yilin bit her lower lip, looking at Yun Changkong with unease, wanting to speak but unable to utter a single word.

"Oh?" Yun Changkong narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "Master's words are profound and I do not understand them. But doesn't Buddhism say that one should lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot? How can Buddhism refuse a disciple who offers incense?"

The old monk gazed at him for a moment, a solemn expression appearing on his face. He then slowly nodded, clasped his hands together, and said, "As long as one has the heart of Buddha and the affinity for the Dharma, the Buddhist path can be widely opened. It is not unique to Lingyin Temple!"

Upon hearing this, Yilin was startled: "Does this mean I have no affinity with Buddhism anymore?"

Yun Changkong smiled slightly and said, "Master, may I enter Lingyin Temple to cultivate?"

Upon hearing this, the old monk showed no emotion, and slowly nodded, saying, "If this is your intention, benefactor, then it is certainly not impossible!"

His gaze, as dark and unfathomable as a deep pool, fell upon Yilin: "However, while everything in this world has its predetermined course, there are also opportunities for change. If one is destined, there will be a glimmer of hope; if one is not, even with a thousand methods, it will all be nothing but a mirage."

Yun Changkong's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded with a smile, saying, "Master's lofty virtue is indeed beyond the reach of ordinary people." At this point, he bowed slightly, and his tone became respectful: "It is truly an honor for me to meet you today, Master. May I ask your Dharma name?"

The old monk said calmly, "Your arrival here is merely a matter of fate. As for my Dharma name..." He paused slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips, "A worldly name is nothing but an attachment; you need not insist on asking."

Yun Changkong clasped his hands together and said, "I have learned a lot!"

He led Yilin out of the main hall and strolled along the stone steps. The rain had stopped, and Feilai Peak was not very high, but the trees were lush and the Zen forest was quiet and elegant. The breeze after the rain was truly refreshing and cleansed one's mind.

Suddenly, Yilin sighed softly and said, "Young Master Yun, why do you do this?"

This sigh came without warning, and the sudden change in address was also unexpected. Yun Changkong's heart stirred, and he turned to look at Yilin, saying, "For you, I think it's worth it!"

Yilin looked sorrowful and said, "For my sake, you have offended Buddha like this. Isn't that a sin?"

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "Sister, offending Buddha is necessary for your sake. Besides, that's not important. What's important is whether you accept this farce."

Yilin smiled bitterly and said, "You said it yourself, it's a farce, so why bother?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "The incense burner broke, and the incense could not be lit. This was caused by my internal energy, and it was indeed a farce. But the truth is that it cannot be achieved through martial arts. Do you understand?"

Yilin then realized and exclaimed, "Oh, I understand! Cultivating Buddhism is about the heart, not the home. If my heart is in the secular world, then Buddhism is all in vain. But if my heart is in Buddhism, even the three feet of secular world cannot sever my devotion to Buddhism!"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "That's exactly the point. That's why I want to ask Sister Yilin to get the Buddha's permission to take off her monk's robes and restore her original appearance."

If I were to forcefully do it, I could accomplish it at either Lingyin Temple or Baiyun Nunnery. But where your heart lies is beyond the reach of external forces; this is also my hope that you can rid yourself of karmic burdens and attain true freedom.”

Yun Changkong spoke calmly, yet his words deeply resonated with Yilin.

Yilin sighed, "Brother, but this matter is not that simple."

Yun Changkong smiled calmly and said, "It's difficult in some ways, but it's also very simple in others. To say something that might anger you, if Linghu Chong hadn't appeared back then, would you still have the composure to cultivate Buddhism?"

Yilin was stunned for a long time before sighing, "That makes sense."

If it weren't for Linghu Chong that day, and Tian Boguang had succeeded, I probably wouldn't have had the face to live in this world, let alone cultivate Buddhism.

Yun Changkong said, "Yilin, you are a very smart person."

Let me tell you, I once spent ten years in solitary ascetic practice in the deep mountains and came to a conclusion: I think living alone is not scary; what is scary is when someone enters your world, someone you can't have but can't forget.

Therefore, whether the person before you is a blessing or a curse, you should cherish them with sincerity. Because most regrets in this world are not because we cannot get what we want, but because we could have.

If time is relentless in turning one's temples white, then the tenderness of the past can only gradually dissipate between day and night. Wouldn't that be extremely tragic?

Think about it again. If you could choose again, would you choose to avoid Hengshan altogether or stick to the same old trip?
Actually, I brought you to Lingyin Temple not to hear your answer that you'd like to be my wife, but to make you understand that Buddha is me, and you are Buddha!

Yilin's mind was buzzing.
Let's leave aside what Yun Changkong said.

She couldn't even imagine that Yun Changkong would go to such lengths to weave a beautiful lie before the Buddha just for her sake.

This person is far more daring and unrestrained than his father, who shaved his head and became a monk for his mother.

Yilin was stunned for a moment, then stammered, "Brother, that Miss Ren is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also more beautiful than me. I am just an unknown person..."

Yilin, because of her feelings for Linghu Chong, saw Ren Yingying's feelings for Yun Changkong and felt a sense of kinship with him. She felt inferior to Ren Yingying and did not understand why Yun Changkong was so devoted to her.

Yun Changkong stared at her intently for a moment, then suddenly sighed, "Sister, how can you belittle yourself? The person I, Yun Changkong, have chosen is surely one of a kind in heaven, hard to find on earth."

Yilin blushed and whispered, "I don't know if you're praising someone else or just flattering yourself."

Yun Changkong said, "Both, but they mostly flatter you."

Yilin said, "Brother, is this just sweet talk from a laywoman?"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "They said this too?"

Yilin's face flushed, and she lowered her head, saying, "They say that men will do all sorts of things to coax women... I don't know if you mean it sincerely or if you're just flattering them?"

Yun Changkong smiled slightly and said, "Silly girl, even if a man is clumsy with words, he will become eloquent when he meets a beautiful woman who makes his heart flutter!"

Seeing Yun Changkong's handsome eyes staring at her, so captivating, Yilin felt flustered and said, "Brother Yun, you... you treat the Holy Maiden like that, so don't try to fool me."

Yun Changkong said, "I'm not trying to fool you, Yilin. Don't you know how beautiful you are? You said the Holy Maiden is beautiful, that's true, but if you had long, black hair, I think you could outshine her."

But from behind a tree about three zhang away, came two cold laughs.

Yun Changkong was startled, and Yilin's heart pounded. She turned her head and saw a figure flicker a few times before disappearing.

Despite her swift movements, both men could tell that she was a woman.

Yilin said in a trembling voice, "It is the Holy Maiden."

Yun Changkong recognized the voice as a woman's, but couldn't be sure if it was Ren Yingying. He didn't necessarily want to say anything, but instead said, "It's alright."

With his skill, he should have noticed someone was there long ago. However, he never spyes, and his mind was on Yilin. He ignored everything else and thus failed to notice.

Yun Changkong said, "Now that we're here, and Lingyin Temple is known as a sacred site of Zen Buddhism, shall we take a good look around it?"

Yilin was still unsettled, but she composed herself and said, "Alright!"

The two began to tour Lingyin Temple. They came to a corner and saw the Sutra Repository.

The two entered the pavilion and looked at the Buddhist scriptures. Yun Changkong saw a book called "The Sutra of Purifying the Mind and Subduing Demons". The book was yellowed. He was moved and picked it up. He said to the monk, "Master, may I have this Buddhist scripture?"

The monk chanted "Amitabha" and said, "This scripture is a unique copy, left behind by a monk who once stayed at the temple."

Yun Changkong understood what he meant and said, "Then could I borrow it to make a copy?"

The monk said, "Alright."

Yilin said, "Big brother, let me help you."

"it is good!"

The two of them, one grinding ink and the other copying scriptures, didn't realize it until evening. Yun Changkong said, "Let's go have some porridge!"

Yilin and I then headed towards the dining hall.

Upon arriving at the dining hall, I discovered that it was just as crowded as a restaurant or tavern.

Lingyin Temple has always offered free porridge to guests. Although it is a thin porridge, the vegetarian dishes served with it are the monks' special creations, crispy, fragrant, and delicious.

There are no extra charges during major holidays, and the cost is not much on ordinary days, so many people come just for a bowl of vegetarian porridge, and the tables in the dining hall are almost full.

There was no one waiting in the dining hall; those who wanted to eat porridge had to serve themselves. People came and went, but it wasn't too chaotic.

Having grown up in a communal environment, Yi Lin seemed quite familiar with the place, and Yun Changkong followed behind her, serving her thin porridge.

The two found two empty seats and sat down to eat. The dishes included Lingyin vegetable buns, fermented tofu skin, fermented bean curd, and crispy yellow mustard greens.

The vegetarian dishes were no different from ordinary porridge, but they were fragrant. When she was half full, Yilin stopped eating and asked softly, "Brother, can you get used to these vegetarian dishes?"

Yun Changkong raised his head and smiled, "Sister, the vegetarian food of Buddhism is incomparable to the taste of the food in the neighborhood shops. Moreover, when men and women eat together, if there is affection, even the humblest food can taste better than the most delicious delicacies."

Yilin stammered, "Big brother, you..."

Suddenly noticing that Yun Changkong's gaze was unusual and he was looking to the side, she also stopped talking and followed his gaze.

There stood a man dressed in mourning clothes and wearing a bamboo hat at the entrance of the dining hall. He was standing low, making it difficult to see his face.

But this person was carrying a long sword, ancient and mottled, with the scabbard, hilt, and tassel all black, so black that it inspired fear.

The man strode over, clasped his sword in greeting, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Master Yun."

Yun Changkong smiled calmly: "Who are you?"

The man said coldly, "In your heart, Master Yun, no one matters. You don't need to be so polite. I'm here just to borrow something from you."

Yun Changkong said, "What?"

The man said, "It's hard to say what kind of sacred Buddhist site this is. I'll wait for you outside the temple! Do you dare to come?"

Yun Changkong was taken aback, his eyes flashing, and said, "Please!"

The man turned and left the dining hall.

Yilin was quite surprised and asked, "You don't recognize this person?"

Yun Changkong nodded slightly.

Yilin said, "He seems to have ill intentions."

Yun Changkong said, "Good things don't come my way, we'll go and see him!" He walked out with Yilin.

In a short while, they arrived outside the temple, where the man stood under a locust tree. He had already taken off his raincoat and straw hat.

He appeared to be in his thirties, with a fair face and red lips, dressed in a light blue outfit. He was handsome and dashing, like a jade tree standing in the wind. However, his eyes were fierce, and the corners of his mouth were slanted, giving him an arrogant and domineering appearance.

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "What do you need from me?"

The man said coldly, "A head!"

Seeing this, Yilin couldn't help but interject, "Why? Do you have a grudge against my older brother?"

The man didn't even glance at her, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light as he coldly said, "Rumors say that Yun Changkong is a romantic and unrestrained man, and seeing him today, it's certainly not unfounded..."

Yun Changkong interrupted, "I see you do know that Buddhism cannot tolerate bloodshed. You are a man of principle, yet you speak ill of others. Can you explain why?"

The man sneered and said, "Since you did it, why don't you admit it?"

Yun Changkong laughed heartily and said, "We are complete strangers, yet you can pronounce my name so clearly. This shows you are a thoughtful person. I would like to ask you for some guidance."

With a "whoosh," the man drew his sword and said coldly, "Come on, I've just entered the Central Plains and am looking for a match with you. Draw your weapons!"

As soon as Yun Changkong and Yilin saw the man stretch out his hand, a chilling aura emanated from it, and a dazzling blue light shone through.

While the sword-drawing technique is swift, the longsword is also a formidable weapon.

Yun Changkong nodded, extended one palm forward, and said, "Since you are unwilling to tell me, then please do so."

Seeing that he didn't draw his weapon and was going to catch his longsword with his bare hands, the man became even angrier and said, "You surnamed Yun, how dare you underestimate me? Do you think I, Jiang Feihong, am not worthy of your drawing of your sword?" He made a sword gesture with his left hand, and the longsword in his right hand shone brightly, showing his profound internal strength.

"Jiang Feihong?" Yun Changkong frowned slightly upon seeing his extraordinary skills. He didn't recognize the man, but seemed to have heard of him before, though he couldn't quite place him.

"Ah, the willow-leaf sword!"

Yilin gasped in surprise.

Jiang Feihong's longsword had already pierced towards Yun Changkong, truly a sword as swift as a flying swan.

"Wait!" Yun Changkong shouted sternly, "I have something to ask you."

Jiang Feihong didn't stop his attack, and said coldly, "There are plenty of confused ghosts in the underworld, what difference does one more make?"

His sword strike was swift and powerful, seemingly capable of inflicting serious injury. Yun Changkong could see this clearly, but he merely smiled faintly: "You think you can make me a ghost? You're out of luck!" (End of Chapter)