The Demon King, reborn in Japan as a monk

"Why, why? Did he force you?" Yin Liting still couldn't accept it and pressed on.

"If I were to use force, given Xiaofu's personality, wouldn't she resist if I were holding her so intimately?" Shi Yuanzhang said with a smile, "Yin Liting, you should wake up. Xiaofu is already my woman. For the sake of the relationship between the two factions, you should stop bothering her and avoid making things awkward for Master Zhang and my senior sister."

Yin Liting remained silent, gazing deeply at Ji Xiaofu, who couldn't bear to look at him. He then stared at Ishihara Sho's face beside Ji Xiaofu's head for a while, his expression deathly still. Like a walking corpse, he turned and left the Emei Sect's rest area...

However, they completely missed a key point in Ishihara Sho's words—his senior sister.

She probably mistook the so-called senior sister for Ji Xiaofu.

"Why did you do that?" After watching Yin Liting walk away, Ji Xiaofu questioned Ishihara Sho in a emotionless voice.

"As the saying goes, a short pain is worse than a long one. Rather than letting him dwell on the past and think there's still a chance to win him back, we should just go for it and make him give up completely. While he's still young, he might still have a chance to find a woman who suits him and get married and live a good life." Shi Yuanzhang grabbed Ji Xiaofu's treasure and said calmly.

"On the contrary, your previous actions clearly showed that you had no regrets. You could even tell from your name that you didn't regret your relationship with Yang Xiao. So why didn't you just write a letter to annul the engagement and let Yin Liting give up? Instead, you concealed it and dragged it out. Are you planning to keep him hanging until he dies, or are you planning to have him take over and fill the void left by Yang Xiao at some point in the future?"

"If that's the case, Xiaofu, then you really aren't a good woman."

“I didn’t,” Ji Xiaofu argued.

"It doesn't matter. Regardless of what you thought before, you are now my woman, and I have made the necessary decision for you. So if you don't want Yang Xiao to die for some inexplicable reason and if Bu Hui can successfully enter Emei, I advise you to put aside your other thoughts and serve me well. Because only I can give you happiness right now."

With that, Ishihara Sho waved his hand, and the door in front of Ji Xiaofu suddenly closed, the bolt tightened, and Ishihara Sho carried Ji Xiaofu back into the room.

"Now, let us leave more traces in Wudang, in the place where Yin Liting lived."

……

Three more days passed, and Zhang Sanfeng's 100th birthday officially arrived.

Wudang Mountain also became extremely lively on this day. Whether it was the so-called six major sects that were famous in the Central Plains, such as Shaolin and Kunlun, or small sects and gangs such as Hai Sha Gang, Beggar Gang, or so-and-so family, all those who made a living on Wudang Mountain prepared a congratulatory gift and came over.

Even those who didn't operate on the Wudang Mountain grounds, such as certain sects and families in the north, traveled thousands of miles to come, making those who didn't know the situation really think that Zhang Sanfeng had such great influence that his birthday celebration could mobilize the entire martial arts world.

Although Zhang Sanfeng, as the number one martial arts master, certainly had such a high profile.

But the bigger reason was his disciple, Zhang Cuishan, one of the Five Heroes!

As the only person currently who might know the whereabouts of Xie Xun, the Golden Lion King, he is the culprit who caused all of this!

Because the group of people who came to offer birthday wishes, apart from the Emei sect which had already been suppressed by Ishihara Shō, were mostly, or rather, all, there for the Golden Lion King Xie Xun and the Dragon-Slaying Saber in his hand.

So the scene was predictable. After a few polite words, the crowd, relying on their numbers and the Wudang Sect's belief that they could not and dared not offend the entire martial arts world, began to press Zhang Cuishan for the whereabouts of Xie Xun, the Golden Lion King.

He was left speechless, filled with grief and indignation, and in the end, he made a choice that no one expected—

He severed his own heart meridian to preserve his loyalty and righteousness!

Chapter 347 Showing Off One's Skills

And that wasn't the end of it. Immediately afterwards, Yin Susu followed in Zhang Cuishan's footsteps with great determination. Taking advantage of the fact that Xie Xun's whereabouts could only be told to Kong Wen, she casually whispered a nonsense in Kong Wen's ear, and then stabbed herself with a dagger, committing suicide to follow Zhang Cuishan.

This plotted to implicate Kong Wen, the high monk who had obtained Xie Xun's whereabouts in full view of everyone, thus shifting the conflict from Wudang to Shaolin.

It's worth mentioning that Zhang Cuishan's death shocked Zhang Wuji, causing him to break free from Lu Zhangke's momentary restraint at the last moment and shout out, thus attracting Zhang Sanfeng's attention. In turn, Lu Sanfeng used his superior martial arts skills to save Zhang Wuji...

Thus, the Wudang birthday celebration came to an end. Apart from Emei, the so-called six major sects had no face to stay on Wudang Mountain anymore—after all, they had already driven people to their deaths and turned a happy occasion into a funeral. If they stayed any longer, they were afraid that Wudang would stop them at all costs. Although it was impossible for all of them to die on Wudang due to the number of people, no one wanted to be the one who would die, right?

So, amidst the commotion, Shaolin was forced to retreat from Wudang Mountain in a sorry state, surrounded by other sects and minor martial arts factions, thus bringing peace to Wudang Mountain.

"Master, it seems we won't be able to celebrate your birthday today. You see..." After everyone else had left, Song Yuanqiao suppressed his grief and anger and walked up to Miejue, speaking politely and gently.

After all, he had seen Emei's previous performance. They really did not participate in the other parties' interrogation of Zhang Cuishan. Although he could not rule out the possibility that they wanted to reap the benefits, based on their performance, he had no excuse to use force to drive the Emei people away.

Moreover, the two factions have such a close relationship.

"Who says we can't celebrate a big birthday?" Before Miejue could speak, Ishihara Takashi stood up from his seat with a smile on his face.

"I wonder who this is..." Upon seeing that he was a stranger, Song Yuanqiao turned to ask Miejue.

"This is my junior brother, Ishihara," Miejue introduced with a helpless expression.

Hidden behind, Yin Liting, who was gathered around the bodies of Zhang Cuishan and his wife with his fellow disciples, was startled by what he heard. He looked at Ishihara, who was talking to his senior brother, and Ji Xiaofu, who was standing behind Miejue, with disbelief.

Is this Emei?

That's absolutely ridiculous.

Without offering any explanation, Shi Yuanzhang walked directly past Song Yuanqiao to Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu's side, placed his hand on Yin Susu's wound, and activated his Double Hand technique...

Yin Susu's wound healed without anyone watching.

After all, Yin Susu was wearing clothes.

Then, Shi Yuanzhang patted Yin Susu's chest, and Yin Susu, who had been dead, suddenly straightened up and gasped for breath.

"Mother, Mother!" Zhang Wuji cried out joyfully, his grief overwhelmed.

"She's alive! Fifth Sister-in-law is alive!" the others exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Sanfeng couldn't help but glance over, a look of surprise flashing across his eyes.

Then, Ishihara Akira moved to Zhang Cuishan's side and, in the same manner, rescued Zhang Cuishan as well...

"Didn't I die?" Zhang Cuishan murmured blankly as he looked at the familiar Zhenwu Hall and his masters and fellow disciples around him.

"You died, but you came back to life." Mo Shenggu said excitedly, holding Zhang Cuishan beside him.

"Fifth Brother!" Yin Susu exclaimed excitedly, having come to terms with reality to some extent.

Zhang Cuishan glanced at her but didn't say anything, instead turning his head to the side.

Clearly, he was still angry with Yin Susu.

"Ah!" At that moment, Zhang Wuji hugged his body, shivering violently as if he were in a frozen wasteland.

"Wuji!" Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu said in unison.

Without hesitation, Zhang Sanfeng swiftly appeared before Zhang Wuji and began examining his body—

"The Profound Netherworld Divine Palm," Zhang Sanfeng said in a deep voice.

"The Xuanming Divine Palm?" a Wudang disciple asked in confusion.

They had never heard of such a martial art.

But Zhang Sanfeng didn't say much. Instead, he immediately straightened Zhang Wuji's body and used his refined, pure Yang internal energy, cultivated for a hundred years, to heal Zhang Wuji's body...

Much later.

"Master, how is Wuji?" Zhang Cuishan asked hurriedly as his master finished his practice.

“It can only temporarily suppress the cold poison in Wuji’s body and prevent it from flaring up. As for removing it…” Zhang Sanfeng shook his head.

Immediately, both Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu became dejected.

If even Zhang Sanfeng, the number one martial artist in the world, couldn't do anything about it, then does that mean Wuji is beyond saving?

However, Yin Susu's eyes lit up again immediately. She quickly turned around and knelt in front of Shi Yuanzhang, kowtowing and pleading, "Master, since you were able to rescue my husband and me from the clutches of the King of Hell, you must be able to cure my Wuji, right? I beg you, please save my child Wuji! If you can cure him, I am willing to tell you Xie Xun's whereabouts!"

"Yin Susu!" Before Shi Yuanzhang could speak, Zhang Cuishan, standing to the side, shouted at Yin Susu again with an angry expression.

"I just want to save my child!" Yin Susu retorted without backing down.

Zhang Cuishan remained silent, and seeing this, the others didn't say anything more. They could only look at Ishihara Akira to see how he would respond.

"No need. I know Xie Xun's whereabouts, but I have no interest in him or the Dragon-Slaying Saber in his hand, so you two don't need to do this." After saying that, Shi Yuanzhang walked past the dumbfounded Zhang Cuishan and his wife and came to Zhang Wuji, who had temporarily calmed down and was unconscious. He used the Ninjutsu Fine Needle Extraction Technique in combination with the Dual-Handed Technique to pull out the cold poison from Zhang Wuji's body.

"Alright, Master Zhang, please check again," said Ishihara Akira, standing up.

"Alright." Zhang Sanfeng didn't stand on ceremony and began to examine Zhang Wuji's condition again.

Just as Ishihara Akira said, the cold poison in Zhang Wuji's body had completely disappeared, and even some of the original damage was gone. Apart from still being unconscious, he was no different from a healthy child.

"Alright, all better. Take Wuji down to rest." Zhang Sanfeng said with a smile to Zhang Cuishan and his wife, who were looking at him expectantly.

"Thank you, thank you!" Yin Susu said gratefully, then picked up Zhang Wuji and went to her and Zhang Cuishan's room in the back to settle Wuji down.

"Thank you very much, Master Ishihara, for your righteous help. We, the entire Wudang sect, are deeply grateful. In the future, if there is anything we can do to help you, young Master Ishihara, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do my best to help you, even at the cost of my own life. I hope you won't find it too much trouble." Zhang Sanfeng bowed to Ishihara with a sincere expression and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you, Master Xie Shiyuan." Upon seeing this, Song Yuanqiao led the other Wudang disciples in expressing their gratitude.

"You're too kind. But I do have something I'd like to trouble Master Zhang with." Ishihara Akira returned the greeting and then smiled at Zhang Sanfeng.

“Please speak, Master Ishihara,” Zhang Sanfeng replied.

Chapter 348 Seeking Tao

"I would like to trouble Master Zhang to explain the Taoist cultivation system to me from the beginning, especially the content of cultivating both body and mind, as well as the subsequent Five Qi Returning to the Origin, Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, Jade Liquid Returning to the Elixir, and the Nine Turns and Seven Returns to condense the Golden Elixir. I hope Master Zhang will not hesitate to enlighten me." Shi Yuanzhang did not mince words and stated his request directly.

This also stunned those around who thought Ishihara Akira wanted to take advantage of their kindness.

Because they really didn't expect that the favor Ishihara Akira wanted from Jang Jin was this!

This is something that only true Taoists and those who cultivate the Tao would pay attention to and care about.

However, considering the way Ishihara Sho saved people before, it's not impossible to understand his thinking.

After all, it's estimated that only a highly accomplished master like Mr. Ishihara, who can bring people to life and death, would truly value these Taoist summaries that martial arts practitioners consider to have no practical use whatsoever.

In any case, among the Seven Heroes of Wudang, even the oldest, Song Yuanqiao, only knew about these things, but he couldn't explain them in detail.

After all, his mind wasn't on that.

"I never expected that Master Ishihara would also be a member of my Daoist sect!" Zhang Sanfeng exclaimed in surprise. "Since Master Ishihara thinks so highly of this old Daoist, I will naturally speak freely and without reservation. As for the matter of teaching, Master Ishihara is exaggerating. We should be learning from each other."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Zhang," Ishihara Akira said with a smile.

"It won't be troublesome at all."

However, although the matter was settled, the discussion could not take place immediately. After all, today was Zhang Sanfeng's 100th birthday, and there was a grand celebration to be held. So, after agreeing to meet at the birthday banquet, the two allowed the Wudang disciples to prepare the banquet, inviting many disciples from Emei, and they ate and drank like a family on Wudang Mountain.

To create a lively atmosphere and celebrate, the two factions even spontaneously set up a martial arts arena for their young disciples to compete and exchange skills.

However, upon hearing all this, the Wudang disciples' expressions turned grim.

Although the Emei disciples were still using Emei's moves, their speed, strength, and the power of their moves were vastly different from usual. What's even more outrageous is that, despite being lower-level disciples, they were unleashing sword energy that even most martial arts practitioners couldn't use!

It should be noted that even among martial artists today, those who wish to use sword energy as a regular attack method need to have profound internal strength as support.

In other words, only the leaders or elders of the top six major martial arts sects, such as Wudang, Shaolin, Kunlun, and Kongtong, can use this technique. Even if someone from a small sect is in their forties or fifties and has cultivated internal energy for decades, they still cannot use it.