The Demon King, reborn in Japan as a monk

"Let's begin the exchange," Zhang Sanfeng said.

"Thank you for your help, Elders," Zhao Min said to the Xuanming Elders beside her.

"Yes." The two elders of Xuanming responded and escorted Zhang Cuishan toward Zhang Sanfeng.

Zhang Sanfeng did the same, bringing the Prince of Ruyang with him.

Then the two sides met and pushed the person they were holding toward the other.

Unlike Zhang Sanfeng, who simply pushed Zhang Cuishan, the Xuanming Elders also secretly struck Zhang Cuishan with a palm while pushing him, just as they had done to Zhang Wuji. This enraged Zhang Sanfeng, who attacked the Xuanming Elders while simultaneously looking for an opportunity to capture the Prince of Ruyang.

The two elders of Xuanming instantly split into two groups: one stayed behind to deal with Zhang Sanfeng, while the other picked up the Ruyang Dynasty's troops and rushed back.

Then, the Eight-Armed Beggar Dongfang Zhuo began shooting, using his superb archery skills to restrain Zhang Sanfeng and help Lu Zhangke escape from Zhang Sanfeng's attack.

"master!"

Chapter 356 The True Man Ascends Emei

"Fire!" Zhao Min shouted decisively to the guards beside her as she saw that Lu Zhangke had run out a bit.

The guards were originally soldiers of the Yuan army, and even the personal guards and thousand-man squads of the Prince of Ruyang when he was the commander-in-chief. Their martial arts skills may not be as good as those of the Xuanming Elders, but when it comes to military operations, no one present is worse than them!

So when Zhao Min gave the order, they all neatly took out their bows and arrows and fired in a volley at the location of Zhang Sanfeng and his disciples.

"Take Cuishan and leave this place." Seeing this, Zhang Sanfeng didn't stubbornly insist on revenge. He decisively swung his arm, using his powerful internal energy to deflect and miss the incoming arrows, giving his disciple time to rescue Cuishan. After his disciple took Cuishan, they disappeared into the nearby hills under the cover of night...

"The princess?"

"No need to chase after them, let's go back," Zhao Min said, waving her hand.

The Mongols were all cavalry. They could manage a chase on the official roads, but going into the forest to engage in jungle warfare with a group of martial arts masters who could move swiftly and agilely would be tantamount to suicide. She wasn't stupid and wouldn't do such a thing.

The guards then regrouped, protecting the recently rescued Prince Ruyang in the middle of the group, and together they hurried back to the Prince's residence.

"These scoundrels are truly inhuman! When the day comes, I will definitely report them to His Majesty and have him teach these lawless scoundrels a lesson!" On the way back, Prince Ruyang cursed angrily, his face flushed red.

“Compared to direct punishment from the government, I still hope that Father can obtain permission from His Majesty to manage the martial arts world. Then I will have my own way of dealing with them,” Zhao Min, who was standing beside Prince Ruyang, advised softly.

"Do you have a solution?" the Prince of Ruyang asked to confirm.

"My daughter is confident," Zhao Min said with a smile.

“Very well, then Father will ask His Majesty for the authority to manage the martial world tomorrow. With today’s events as a foundation, His Majesty should not refuse my request,” Prince Ruyang replied confidently.

……

"The cold poison has entered the lungs. It seems we can only go to Mount Emei and seek help from that immortal." In a mountain temple far from the capital, Zhang Sanfeng sighed helplessly after examining Zhang Cuishan's body.

Logically speaking, even if Zhang Cuishan had no opportunity to cultivate his newly created Wudang top-tier internal skill, Pure Yang Limitless Skill, due to being away from the Central Plains for ten years, and thus purify and yang his internal energy, decades of cultivation should not have allowed him to be so easily defeated by the Xuanming Divine Palm.

However, Zhang Cuishan wasn't in perfect condition at the time; he was under the suppression of his internal energy caused by the Ten Fragrant Softening Powder. This resulted in his internal energy, which could have resisted the invasion of the Xuanming Divine Palm's cold poison, being suppressed within his dantian, making him perform even worse than his son Zhang Wuji at that time.

After all, when Zhang Wuji was attacked, he possessed internal energy. At most, it was because he was young and his internal energy wasn't pure or profound enough to exert much effect. He wasn't like Zhang Cuishan now, acting like an ordinary person.

The result was that a top-tier martial arts master was directly defeated by the Xuanming Divine Palm, leaving Zhang Sanfeng unable to treat him and forcing him to seek help from others.

"Go to Emei?" Yu Lianzhou, Zhang Songxi, and the others exchanged glances, a strange feeling creeping into their hearts.

The main reason was that, under Zhang Sanfeng's suppression, having been a powerful figure in the martial arts world for so long, he felt a little awkward and embarrassed to suddenly start praising someone else, especially someone with an old relationship like Emei.

However, it wouldn't stop Zhang Sanfeng from making his choice. After all, this matter concerned Zhang Cuishan's life, and given their brotherly bond, they wouldn't give up their brother's chance to live just for the sake of saving face.

So after spending the night at the mountain god temple, the group decisively set off on their journey to Mount Emei...

They were quite tired and weary from the journey.

But they also heard about the chain reaction caused by their unauthorized trespassing at the Prince of Ruyang's residence—

First, the imperial court changed the tax system for major martial arts sects, such as Wudang, Shaolin in Songshan, and Emei in Sichuan, to a more outrageous one, which could be described as leaving no way for them to survive.

Then, the land surveying work for each sect will begin in the coming days.

After that, arrangements were made for labor and leisure, and disciples from these major martial arts sects were no longer excluded.

In other words, they were brought back under control after previously being detached from the situation.

Therefore, in addition to policy changes, the imperial court also established an organization similar to the Six Doors in novels, specifically responsible for matters of the martial arts world, and entrusted it to Prince Ruyang for management. One can imagine his attitude towards martial arts figures.

The martial world will be in utter chaos from now on. Even worse, Wudang will be pushed to the forefront of this turmoil, becoming the target of everyone's wrath...

After all, if they hadn't trespassed into the Prince of Ruyang's residence, how could the imperial court have caused so many troubles?

"Master..." Yu Lianzhou, who was resting in the inn, called out to his master with a somewhat unpleasant expression.

"We'll meet force with force and water with earth. If we really can't hold on any longer, I'll just disband the Wudang Sect. I don't believe that with my and your skills, we can starve to death!" Zhang Sanfeng waved his hand nonchalantly and said with a smile.

“Master, I’ve heard that the rebel armies in various places have been quite active lately. Do you think we should…” Zhang Songxi said with a thoughtful expression.

"We'll discuss this when we get back," Zhang Sanfeng said solemnly.

"Yes, Master," Zhang Songxi replied solemnly.

Afterwards, the group fell silent, ate their meal quietly, rested for a while, and then set off again towards Emei Mountain.

……

Several days later, Zhang Sanfeng and his companions finally arrived at the foot of Mount Emei.

"Master, Master Zhang from Wudang Sect, along with his disciples Yu Lianzhou, Zhang Songxi, Zhang Cuishan, and Yin Liting, have come to visit." A female disciple from Emei Sect reported to Abbess Miejue as she entered her room.

"Master Zhang? What brings him here?" Miejue asked in confusion.

However, she did not delay and immediately stood up and instructed, "Please, lead Master Zhang to the Golden Hall to sit down. This humble nun will go there right away."

The woman then left, and after pondering her intentions for a while, Miejue went to the Golden Hall where she was entertaining distinguished guests.

"I was unaware of Master Zhang's presence. I have failed to greet you properly and hope you will not take offense." As soon as she entered the Golden Hall, Miejue immediately put on a smile and apologized to Zhang Sanfeng and the others who had just sat down.

"What are you saying, Master? We came abruptly without informing you beforehand. Please don't take offense," Zhang Sanfeng replied politely, standing up with a smile.

After all, they came here with a request, so it wasn't appropriate for them to act according to their status and seniority and simply accept Abbess Miejue's apology.

"It is a great fortune for Emei to have Master Zhang come to my Emei Sect. How could this humble nun dare to blame you? Master Zhang, please sit down and have some tea." Miejue walked to her seat and sat down, and then asked Master Zhang and the others to sit down as well.

Chapter 357 Undercurrents

"By the way, I wonder what brings Master Zhang and his disciples to Emei this time..." After exchanging pleasantries, Miejue asked Zhang Sanfeng the question that had been on her mind.

"It's all because of my good-for-nothing disciple," Zhang Sanfeng said with a wry smile.

Without hiding anything, he recounted how he and his men went to Dadu to seek revenge, but afterwards discovered that his disciple had been captured and they had to play the hostage exchange game. However, he was ultimately tricked by someone.

"As expected of the Mongol Tartars, they don't keep their word. Please wait a moment, Master. I'll have my disciple fetch my junior brother right away," Miejue said loudly. Then she stood up and walked out of the hall.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Shortly afterward, Ishihara Akira, led by a female disciple of Emei, arrived at the Golden Hall, a place for receiving guests.

"Ishihara greets Master Zhang and his fellow disciples," Ishihara Akira greeted Zhang Sanfeng and the others.

"Greetings, Junior Brother Shi," Yu Lianzhou and the others stood up and replied.

"I'm sorry to trouble you again, Benefactor Ishihara," Zhang Sanfeng said with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Master Zhang, you are too kind. Putting aside the long-standing relationship between our two sects, just considering that we are both Han Chinese, I have no reason to stand by and watch someone die. So Master Zhang, there is no need for such formalities,” Shi Yuanzhang replied.

"That's because I'm being too polite," Zhang Sanfeng said with a smile.

"Cuishan, why don't you thank Benefactor Shiyuan?"

"Thank you, Junior Brother Shi," Zhang Cuishan said, standing up despite his illness.

"Senior brother, please sit down. We're brothers, no need for such formalities." Shi Yuanzhang quickly stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Cuishan's hand, and smiled.

Of course, if given the chance, he wouldn't mind being his real 'brother'.

I just don't know if Yin Susu is willing.

Without further ado, Ishihara Akira began to treat Zhang Cuishan's body for the cold poison.

As for the issue of the Ten Fragrant Softening Powder, it had already dissipated on its own on their way to Emei.

After all, the effects of that medicine only last for twelve hours. Once that time is up, it will be eliminated from the body through metabolism, and the body can recover without medicine. Otherwise, when the six major sects were captured and imprisoned in Jing'an Temple by Zhao Min in the original novel, they would not have had to add Ten Fragrance Softening Powder to their meals as a seasoning.

So soon, Zhang Cuishan's problem was resolved, and as his internal energy cultivation resumed, his complexion returned to a healthy and rosy state.

The atmosphere became increasingly harmonious afterward. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Miejue had someone take Zhang Zhenren and the others to rest, leaving herself and Ishihara Sho alone.

"It seems the rumors in the martial arts world are true. All these changes and troubles are entirely due to the impact of Zhang Zhenren and his group's nighttime intrusion into the Ruyang Prince's Mansion." After Zhang Zhenren and his group completely disappeared, Miejue sighed, as if she had finally confirmed something.

"Will it have a significant impact on Emei?" Shi Yuanzhang asked as he sat down on the chair next to Miejue.

"It's not clear yet. It will probably be clear after the government remeasures the land and property owned by each faction. But judging from the news we've heard so far, we're likely to have a very difficult time in the future," said Miejue.

“Isn’t that something we already knew?” Ishihara Akira laughed.

After all, their next plan was to 'choose an emperor,' which could be described as an open rebellion and support for rebellion. Therefore, it was obvious that they would be targeted and even suppressed by the court. Now, it was just that the things they were going to experience in the future had been brought forward. In fact, the situation was much better than it was back then.

At least they still have the opportunity to prepare for their future and gather other necessities.

But if they openly rebelled, they would have no chance at all.

Even if such a thing existed, it would require a huge expense or a tremendous cost to obtain.

"But the world of martial arts is about to become anything but peaceful," Miejue shook her head and sighed again.

……

"Kill!" At the same time, at the base of a second-rate sect in a certain place in the north, with someone's order, a group of people dressed as Han Chinese, but whose movements were full of military spirit, officially launched an attack on the sect's mountain gate.

"Charge!"

Then, some experts rushed out from the back of the group and into the sect's mountain gate, where they fought with the sect's most fiercely resisting experts.

With the assistance of the surrounding soldiers, the experts from those sects were quickly killed on the spot. Then, they advanced straight in and began a thorough purge of the sects' forces.

"Leave the Ming Cult's mark behind, then retreat!" After a long while, once the last member of the sect capable of resisting had been eliminated, the leader shouted orders to those around him.

Immediately, several soldiers stepped forward and painted the Ming Cult's mark on the building's walls before joining the evacuation team, which was beginning to carry supplies, and left the sect's mountain gate, disappearing into the vast official road.