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

Chapter 44 One vs. Two
Cheng Kun secretly helped Zhao Min plan that, while the six major sects were besieging Bright Peak, Zhao Min would lead a large number of experts in an attempt to reap the benefits and wipe out the Ming Cult and the six major sects in one fell swoop.

This time, because of Yun Changkong's sudden emergence, the martial arts world was in turmoil, and he immediately seized the opportunity to destroy the Ming Cult.

If he could use his disciple Xie Xun to make enemies of the righteous sects in the martial arts world, then using Yun Changkong to make enemies of the demonic sect would naturally be a piece of cake for him.

The deeper the hatred between the two sides, the more likely they are to fight each other!
Just hearing Cheng Kun's smile, Yun Changkong knew without even looking that his face must be incredibly sinister. Instantly, his blood boiled, and he thought to himself, "This old scoundrel is too cunning! I was just dealing with some江湖恩怨 (jianghu grievances), but he exaggerated it so much that my actions gradually became related to the overall situation of the world. How am I supposed to live in the future? I won't have peace of mind until this man is dead!"

He knew the members of the Demonic Cult were wicked, yet they also valued loyalty above all else. He admitted that his preconceived notions and foresight had made him somewhat arrogant. If the Demonic Cult were to come looking for him, and a fight broke out, he would naturally fall into their trap and become their weapon.

But if we don't kill, what's the point of practicing martial arts?

You will also fall into endless danger!

Even if we unintentionally learned of his conspiracy today and could have taken precautions in advance, this man is cunning and vicious, and his scheming will not stop.

Just like when he instigated the siege of Bright Peak and was rescued by Zhang Wuji, he immediately turned his attention to the Beggars' Sect. In short, as long as he lives, his schemes will never end!

If he doesn't die, who knows what other schemes he might have up his sleeve? There's no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days straight!

Once Yun Changkong thought about it, he realized that he had to kill Cheng Kun first!

Everything else has to come later!

They immediately decided that when Cheng Kun came out, full of pride and self-satisfaction, they would put on a show of a ferocious tiger pouncing on its prey!
Zhao Min laughed and said, "Mr. Cheng, I admire your plan of killing the tiger like Bian Zhuang, but the use of Yun Changkong is a very important part of your plan, and I'm afraid it may not turn out as you expect!"

"Oh?" Cheng Kun said grimly, "What do you mean?"

Zhao Min smiled and said, "Based on your understanding, what kind of person is Yun Changkong?"

Cheng Kun said, "I have inquired about his affairs in Jiangnan in detail. Like most young people, he is self-important, arrogant, and conceited, yet he is unscrupulous."

Just the fact that he chose the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang as the location for the duel—a move imitating the Wudang Sect's past intention to hold a gathering of heroes there—shows the extent of his ambition; he seems to believe that nothing in the world is impossible. Forget Yin Tianzheng, humph, perhaps even Zhang Sanfeng will be a future challenger!

Yun Changkong was taken aback: "You old rascal, you're really my confidant!"

Zhao Min chuckled and said, "Mr. Cheng, you have a brilliant plan, but you underestimate this boy a bit."

Chang Kong was suddenly filled with curiosity.

Then Cheng Kun asked, "What does the princess mean by that?"

Zhao Min said, "I think I have seen this person today, Mr. Lu Zhang, what do you think?"

Yun Changkong was taken aback; it turned out that Lu Zhangke was also in the room.
He had not sensed anything yet, even though his mind was focused on the conversation between Zhao Min and Cheng Kun. This person's aura was long and subtle, almost imperceptible, making him a rare master.

A cold voice said, "It is widely known in the martial arts world that Yun Changkong is a master of martial arts. Having seen him today, it is difficult to judge his skill level, but to be able to easily catch four arrows fired by Zhao, Qian, Sun and Li without moving his body at such a young age is unparalleled in the world."

"Is it, Brother He?"

A deep, aged voice from the right said, "Senior brother is right. This person's inner strength is probably no less than ours."

This is clearly Hebi Weng.

Yun Changkong knew that the Xuanming Elders were extremely difficult to deal with, but he did not expect that they had been in the room all this time and had only spoken their first words now. It was one thing that they had deep internal strength, but they were also really able to hold back!
Then Cheng Kun said, "What you two say must be true, but the more powerful he is, the more advantageous it is for us. Is there any problem with that?"

Zhao Min laughed and said, "What I meant was that if Mr. Cheng wants to use Yun Changkong, he must make him as arrogant and disdainful of everyone as you say, and strike back hard whenever he is provoked. But in my eyes, he is not such a stupid person!"

Cheng Kun fell silent. He felt that Zhao Min simply didn't want to lose face if his words came true, so he said, "Your Highness is joking."

Yun Changkong cursed angrily: "Laugh at your mother, do you think I don't have a brain?"

Zhao Min shook her head and said, "I'm not joking, it's the truth!"

Today I encountered two people while hunting. At first I didn't pay them any mind, but then I realized that one of them looked just like Yun Changkong, whom the scouts had told me about.
I deliberately took a detour and waited for them on the way they came, but he actually used his lightness skill to come over on the main road. I thought that no matter what the reason, this person must have become interested in me.

So I asked him his name in hopes of finding out his lineage, but he dodged the question and tried to find out more about me.

I then extended a polite invitation, intending to lead him to another residence to see if there was an opportunity to recruit him, but he politely declined, leaving me no room to maneuver.

"What?" Cheng Kun was taken aback: "The princess invited him, and he refused? You are..."

“That’s right!” Zhao Min said with a sweet laugh, “I am dressed as a woman.”

Zhao Min's beauty was so striking that even at only fourteen years old, she was already the most beautiful woman in the capital. Many Mongolian nobles wanted to marry her, and the sons of those high-ranking officials would feel flattered and overjoyed if they could even speak to Zhao Min.

To Cheng Kun's surprise, Yun Changkong, a young man, was rejected so readily.

Cheng Kun said, "It is only natural for a young man to be attracted to a woman. Yun Changkong is just a young man, but to have such composure when he meets the princess is truly remarkable."

Upon hearing this, Chang Kong was startled: "Yes, this is Zhao Min. Why don't I feel any attraction to her when I see her?"

If it was because he had guessed Zhao Min's identity and was afraid to keep the appointment, his reaction was very different from when he saw a beautiful girl in his previous life.

This left Chang Kong somewhat bewildered. He knew his own situation; in his past life, he was just like any other man, and he loved beautiful women.
Moreover, Zhao Min is clever and witty, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and devoted to her lover. She's a love-struck woman, making her a perfect match for any man!
Who doesn't want to be more loved than their parents?

Yet, when I'm with her, my heart remains as calm as a still lake, without a ripple? Why is that?

To say that she was too young, or that his heart had already been captured by the woman in yellow, Chang Kong knew that was not the case!
Looking back now, he realizes that his insistence on marrying the woman in yellow was merely a ploy to stir her emotions and make her waver.
Moreover, he didn't experience the restraint, impulsiveness, and later desire he had when he first saw a beautiful woman he liked in his previous life!

This reaction...something's not right!
In that instant, alarm bells rang in Yun Changkong's mind: "How come I'm not interested in women anymore?"

Then he thought of Yunhe again and thought, "Damn it, I'm only sixteen this year, and I'm almost sixty. With his status and position, getting married is a piece of cake for him. How come he only has a son when he's over forty?"

Could it be that practicing Shaolin internal energy really makes one gradually lose interest in women?

After three years of practicing Shaolin basic internal skills and then five years of arduous training in the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill," his internal strength increased day by day. Could the price be that he no longer liked women?
This made Yun Changkong's usually calm heart pound wildly, and his palms sweat.

Women are wonderful things!

How could I not love it?

If I didn't love women, what use would this iron rod be to me if I practiced martial arts?

Inside the room, Zhao Min remained calm and smiled faintly, saying, "It doesn't matter that he refused my invitation. The world is dangerous, so how can we not be cautious? What surprised me the most was that I instructed Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li to shoot the four divine arrows directly at him. I wanted to see if Yun Changkong was all talk and no action, and I also wanted to see how he would react!"

Cheng Kun asked, "How many people are with the princess?"

"There were only five of us: myself, Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li. Mr. Lu and Mr. He did not show up from beginning to end. Mr. Cheng, if you were in my shoes, what would you have done?"

Cheng Kun said, "These men aren't very skilled in martial arts, but their archery skills are unmatched, even by top-tier figures of our time. Their arrows are meant to kill me, so naturally I must retaliate!"

Zhao Min laughed and said, "Yes, even a good-for-nothing like him couldn't hold back, but Yun Changkong not only held back, but also left immediately without saying a word."

Cheng Kun sighed: "This young man certainly doesn't seem like a young man!"

Zhao Min nodded: "This isn't over yet. I also directly exposed his identity, saying that Yun Changkong was all talk and no action, and that I looked down on him. I thought that a young man who had just become famous shouldn't lose face in front of a woman, but I didn't expect him to be able to hold back!"
"Alas, this man's martial arts skills are good, but that's not particularly remarkable. Strength can't overcome intelligence, and taking him wouldn't be difficult. What's truly rare is that he's so young yet possesses such a calm and composed demeanor!"

Chang Kong chuckled inwardly as he listened to her "compliments." What composure? It's only because I know your identity and that you have experts by your side that I dare not act rashly. Otherwise, I would have dealt with you long ago.

You dare shoot at me? You'll get your revenge sooner or later!

Cheng Kun said gravely, "Perhaps he knows that the Xuanming Elders are nearby and dares not act rashly?"

“That’s possible!” Zhao Min said. “I’ve also guessed that way. But no matter what, it’s enough to show that he’s a smart man who uses his brain, rather than a brute who relies on force.”

The gentleman should take advantage of this kind of person and act accordingly. We are in the shadows, and he may not be able to detect us.

But if we're plotting something, there's no guarantee we won't be discovered. As you said, we only have one chance to secretly build up our strength and launch a powerful attack. If he discovers our scheme and becomes wary, isn't it possible that our grand plan could backfire?

The flower hall was silent, each person lost in their own thoughts.

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "Zhao Min is indeed a competitive girl. No matter whether Cheng Kun is right or wrong, she won't let anyone lead her by the nose!"

After a long while, Cheng Kun finally sighed and slowly said, "Your Highness is right, I have learned a lot."

"How dare I!" Zhao Min smiled and said, "I am still young and need more guidance from you, sir. However, Mr. Cheng, you were right about one thing just now. This boy is indeed cunning and has extraordinary composure. He is no less capable than you, Mr. Cheng."

"If this boy cannot be of one mind with my Great Mongol, and only has his own petty schemes, he will always be a major threat as long as he lives..." He suddenly stopped speaking. Cheng Kun raised his eyebrows, knowing that Zhao Min was referring to him.

Upon hearing this, Chang Kong cursed inwardly, "Little wench? You say that too? How am I like Cheng Kun? Fine, then you'd better remember this, and watch how I learn from Cheng Kun!"

At this point, Zhao Min yawned.

Cheng Kun said, "It's late, so I won't disturb the princess's rest any longer."

Zhao Min said, "Okay, I will give Mr. Cheng's suggestion a good consideration."

Cheng Kun exchanged pleasantries, and Zhao Min said, "It's late and the road is dark. Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li, please have someone escort you out of the manor."

"Yes!" the four people outside the door replied.

With a creak, the door opened, and a thin man stepped out first.

At that moment, the moon parted the heavy clouds, revealing its clear light. But as soon as the man appeared, he put on a mask, and Chang Kong couldn't see his face. He thought to himself, "That old thief is guilty. Since he's on someone else's turf, why is he covering his face? Is he too ashamed to show his face as a traitor?"

Seeing two people carrying lanterns leading Cheng Kun towards him, he immediately held his breath, focused his energy into his limbs, and waited until Cheng Kun reached the tree before delivering a head-on blow!

Cheng Kun walked to the tree, and when he was still two or three zhang away, he suddenly stopped and asked, "Your Highness, have you invited any friends over tonight?"

Chang Kong was suspicious: "Is there something behind his words? Could it be that he discovered me?" But then he thought, he had been holding his breath and concentrating since he came out. Even if he was close by, he might not be discovered. How could he?
Zhao Min laughed and said, "Could it be that some thief has come to visit our courtyard? That would be too much trouble for Master Cheng."

Cheng Kun said, "No..." Suddenly, two beams of cold lightning shot from his eyes. He turned to look at the tree where Chang Kong was hiding and shouted, "Get down here!"

When he shouted, those accompanying Cheng Kun didn't react much; they just thought he had shouted at the top of his lungs. However, Yun Changkong, who was hiding in the tree, felt differently. It was as if a steel awl had pierced his eardrum and gone straight to his forehead.

It truly shook him to his core, causing the true energy he channeled into his limbs to scatter, and the pain made him grimace. He lost his footing on the tree and fell to the ground.

Fortunately, he had covered his face with a black cloth, so no one else could see his disheveled appearance.

However, Yun Changkong had no words to express his suffering. But his mind was still racing. He was in mid-air. He pushed off the tree trunk with his feet, took a deep breath of true energy, and his mind cleared. The true energy that had been scattered in his body was now in harmony. He swooped out like an eagle and covered Cheng Kun with both palms.

Under the moonlight, Cheng Kun's eyes flashed with a look that seemed to be both surprised and angry, and he hurriedly reached out with both palms to meet the attack.

It should be noted that his shout was not casual; it was the Shaolin's ultimate technique, "Vajra Chant," which, like the Lion's Roar, is a sonic attack.

The difference between the two is that once the "lion's roar" is uttered, it is indiscriminate, affecting friend and foe alike, and is breathtaking and mind-controlling.

However, this Vajra Chan chanting is a technique that focuses sound into a line, allowing for precise targeting of the enemy, much like inserting a steel needle.

The reason why all sonic techniques are unbearable is that everyone has a crescent-shaped object in their ear, which is responsible for maintaining balance. If this crescent-shaped object is shaken, no matter how skilled you are, you will not be able to stand steadily.

Cheng Kun seemed to be speaking to Zhao Min, but suddenly shouted out "Vajra Chant," his timing was so precise that it was as if a knife had been plunged into Yun Changkong's brain.

Just as an elephant may be incredibly strong, a woman or child can pierce its skin with a small needle, the difference between the two lies not in the magnitude of their strength, but in their ability to focus on one aspect while neglecting the rest.

Therefore, even though Yun Changkong's internal strength was not much weaker than Cheng Kun's, he was still greatly shaken and immediately fell off the tree.

But Cheng Kun did not expect that this person would not faint after eating and drinking so much of his food, but would instead be able to directly attack him with his own energy.

In an instant, he felt a sharp, overwhelming force pressing down on him, like Mount Tai pressing down on him, with no way to avoid it!

Cheng Kun was already highly skilled in martial arts, and after years of training at Shaolin Temple, his skill was so great that few in the world could rival him. He slightly squatted into a horse stance, and with the Heavenly King Holding a Pagoda posture, he turned his palm to meet the attack.

With a loud bang and a crack, the two blue bricks under Cheng Kun's feet were shattered into dust.

Yun Changkong somersaulted out, and Cheng Kun staggered back three steps. When he finally stood still, his chest was churning with blood and qi. However, he did not expect that Yun Changkong's palm strike still contained a hidden force. He staggered back three more steps before he was able to neutralize the great force.

Cheng Kun's shout shattered the silence of the night, and someone cried out, "An assassin! An assassin!"

The people from the Prince of Ruyang's mansion were naturally the ones who exclaimed in surprise. They had been diligently guarding every position in the courtyard that needed to be defended, but someone had easily broken in. They had failed in their duty and should be punished by military law.

It should be noted that not only was the Prince of Ruyang a skilled military commander himself, but his sons and daughters were as capable as well, so the shouts were filled with unease and fear.

Immediately afterwards, countless torches lit up in every corner, and in the blink of an eye, the entire manor was ablaze with flames. Warnings rang out everywhere, and warriors armed with weapons rushed to the back garden from all directions.

Yun Changkong exchanged a palm strike with Cheng Kun, then flipped backward without landing. He pushed off the tree with both feet, and like an angry arrow, he pushed forward with his left palm and shot backward with his right, rushing towards Cheng Kun.

He used his most ferocious "Frost-Treading and Ice-Breaking Palm" technique, determined to kill Cheng Kun.

Before the palm strike could reach Cheng Kun, a cold voice rang out: "Insolence!" A gust of cold wind suddenly rushed in from the side.

Chang Kong frowned and glanced sideways. The newcomer's face was shrouded in black smoke, and he had a sparse, gray beard. Although he didn't recognize him, he could tell from the voice that it was Mr. Lu Zhang.

He had never experienced this chill before, but he knew it must be the power of the "Mysterious Dark Palm". Yun Changkong dared not be careless, and withdrew the palm power, his left index and middle fingers were like sharp swords.

With a "whoosh," the "Pure Yang Finger" pierced through the palm wind without any hindrance, striking the opponent's palm squarely. A muffled groan was heard, and Lu Zhangke dodged away.

"Senior Brother!" Hebi Weng was about to rush forward and strike, but he was taken aback by what he saw. He realized that his senior brother had suffered a loss, and he was stunned for a moment before rushing forward to support him. He saw that his senior brother's face was covered with a red glow, his cheeks were bulging, and his expression was very painful.

Yun Changkong repelled Lu Zhangke, but his left palm still struck Cheng Kun. Cheng Kun raised his right index finger and also pointed at Yun Changkong's palm.

Yun Changkong swiftly withdrew his left hand, his palm transforming into a finger, and quickly met his opponent's finger with his own.

With a "thud," their fingers clashed. Cheng Kun felt a surge of pure yang heat rise up, let out a groan, and drifted more than ten feet away.

After defeating two powerful experts in succession, Yun Changkong felt a chill run down his spine and retreated three steps. Only after his true energy surged did he manage to neutralize the power of the "Mysterious Netherworld Palm" and the Illusionary Yin Finger.

Although the three exchanged only a few moves, each move was incredibly fast and powerful, leaving everyone astonished: Could there really be such a person in the world? Where did this master come from?

Yun Changkong raised his right hand and glanced at Lu Zhangke, saying indifferently, "Xuanming Divine Palm, what a great name, but it's nothing special."

Lu Zhangke said coldly, "Your Pure Yang Finger Technique is truly remarkable; I admire it!"

Knowing he had just narrowly escaped death and ruined his reputation, he broke out in a cold sweat and was filled with lingering fear.

It turns out that although Yun Changkong's "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill" combines Yin and Yang, it is ultimately a Shaolin martial art, which is mainly Yang. This "Pure Yang Finger" is pure Yang finger power. Furthermore, palm power is inherently at a disadvantage against finger power. This is the way to break through the surface by focusing on a single point.

When the three combined, Yun Changkong sent his pure Yang energy into Lu Zhangke's palm the moment he met him. Lu Zhangke practiced an extremely Yin and cold internal energy, so he naturally found it difficult to remain calm when attacked by pure Yang energy.

If Yun Changkong had mastered the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill," this single finger strike on the "Laogong" acupoint in his palm would have crippled his Xuanming Divine Palm. Even so, it was only by Hebi Weng grasping Lu Zhangke's hand and combining their strength that the pure Yang true energy was completely dispelled.

The experts in Zhao Min's garden were well aware of the abilities of the Xuanming Elders. Upon seeing how powerful this man in black was, they were initially stunned, but then someone shouted, "Attack him together! Kill him! Kill him!"

Although Yun Changkong had the upper hand just now, he had already tested that these people all had amazing skills. He was not afraid of anyone in a one-on-one fight, but if they all attacked at once, he would not only have difficulty killing Cheng Kun, but also escaping.

But he was a man who could react quickly to any situation, thinking to himself, "If I were to run away with my tail between my legs like this, that wouldn't be me! If I can't kill Cheng Kun, I'll take Zhao Min!"

After thinking this through, Chang Kong simply put his hands behind his back, paced back and forth a few steps, looking completely relaxed, as if he didn't take anyone in the room seriously, and said, "I heard there are many experts here, so all you do is swarm at me? Heh..."

At this moment, a clear voice said, "Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San are enough. The rest of you, return to your original positions."

Yun Changkong turned his head and saw Zhao Min walking slowly with her hands behind her back. She had changed into her daytime clothes and was wearing a green dress. Under the moonlight, she was beautiful and charming, just like an elf.

Seeing Yun Changkong looking at her, she curled her lips into a slight smile, seemingly disdainful, but a lively light flickered deep in her eyes. She clasped her hands in greeting and said, "Friend, what brings you here so late at night?"

It turned out that Yun Changkong was dressed in night clothes, only revealing a pair of bright eyes. Moreover, because his mouth was covered with a black cloth, his voice was somewhat muffled and different from his usual voice, so it was impossible to identify Changkong by his voice.

Yun Changkong looked at Cheng Kun and pointed with his halberd, saying, "I came for him."

Tell me, how did you find me?

Cheng Kun's eyes flashed, and he said in a gloomy voice, "I heard it."

"You think you can beat me?" Chang Kong scoffed. "Stop bragging, okay?"

Cheng Kun snorted and looked up, saying, "Your concealment skills are impressive, but don't you know what moonlight is?"

Yun Changkong glanced at the large tree and the dappled moonlight, feeling ashamed inwardly. He sighed and said, "So that's how it is! No wonder you were so hard to kill, you're amazing!"

(End of this chapter)