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

Chapter 57 Shake hands and make peace

Everyone knew that the more cautious the two were, the more fierce their attacks would be when they launched them. Zhou Zhiruo unconsciously clenched her slender hands, her nails digging into her palms. She was worried, but she dared not try to persuade them anymore.

But then Wang Xiaotian shouted, "Wait!" and stepped between the two.

"Are you courting death?" Abbess Miejue's voice was icy cold.

Yun Changkong also said strangely, "Brother Wang, I said you wouldn't live long, and you really don't take it to heart!"

This doesn't mean they killed Wang Xiaotian because he tried to stop them.

Because Yun Changkong and Abbess Miejue are both top-tier masters, they are poised to strike. In a split second, they might unleash several attacks. If he were to suddenly appear in the middle and take a hit, he would be dead.

Wang Xiaotian respectfully bowed to Abbess Miejue.

Abbess Miejue slightly turned her body and said coldly, "Even if Shi Huolong comes in person, he cannot interfere in this old nun's affairs, do you understand?"

Like Abbess Miejue, Yun Changkong disliked others interfering in his affairs, but Wang Xiaotian was an exception. He could only say, "Abbess, let's go somewhere else!"

“Alright!” Abbess Miejue immediately agreed.

"Master, your reputation is widespread, yet you took advantage of my brother Yun's injury, taking advantage of his vulnerability..."

"What?" Abbess Miejue interrupted Wang Xiaotian before he could finish speaking, her brows furrowed as she looked at Chang Kong: "You're injured?"

Wang Xiaotian shook his left hand behind his back repeatedly.

He intended to bring Chang Kong into the Beggars' Sect so that he could lead the sect and accomplish great things together!

The Beggars' Sect's leader has not left the mountain for many years, and every Beggars' Sect disciple has lost his former prestige when walking in the martial arts world!
He knew that although Abbess Miejue was stern and feared by many, she was upright, virtuous, and highly skilled in martial arts, which was admired by all. In addition, the Emei Sect had deep ties with the Beggars' Sect and the Wudang Sect. In this fight, no matter who won or lost, Yun Changkong would lose.

The demonic sect's retaliation was certain, and with the righteous sects also targeting them, what could they possibly achieve? Therefore, they risked their lives to do everything in their power to stop this conflict, which was in stark contrast to Yun Changkong's jeers when facing the Sky Eagle Sect!

Chang Kong knew what Wang Xiaotian was thinking, but after seeing the appearance of Abbess Miejue, he made up his mind to be a lone wolf.

When the mind is full of worries, why create trouble for oneself? He sighed without realizing it, neither admitting nor denying it.

Wang Xiaotian continued, "Master, you should know that Brother Yun fought a great battle in Kaifeng the day before yesterday against five of the Yuan Dynasty's top masters and the Right Envoy of the Demonic Sect. That battle was earth-shattering, the wind and clouds changed color, the Tartars became like stray dogs, the Right Envoy of the Demonic Sect became a dog, and Brother Yun was injured."

He knew that Abbess Miejue was proud and arrogant, and that as long as Yun Changkong was injured, a fight would not break out. However, he was not sure whether Yun Changkong would admit it or not; it all depended on whether the other party would give him face.

Abbess Miejue's drooping eyebrows drooped even lower, her face showing doubt: "Really?"

Wang Xiaotian said, "Master, it really can't be more true. I guarantee with my master's reputation that Brother Yun was indeed injured. His duel with Yin Tianzheng is approaching, so I took Brother Yun to my master for treatment. This shouldn't have been said, but since you are a martial arts master, we are all on the same side, so there's no need to hide it, right, Brother Yun?"

Yun Changkong frowned, thinking of how he had risked his life with him and helped him countless times. He couldn't refuse to give him face, especially since he had tasted the food and wine for him along the way. So he nodded as if he had no choice but to answer, "Yes, I was seriously injured."

He said he had been wronged before, so it wasn't exactly a lie.

"Master." Zhou Zhiruo hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed her master's sleeve, whispering, "You have always said that our purpose in practicing martial arts is to uphold justice and subdue demons. He was injured in a fight with the barbarian demons, and he was one of us. It would be dishonorable for you to fight him. Besides, this is General Yang's temple. If we see the blood of heroes, it would not be what his spirit would want!"

Ding Minjun chuckled: "Junior Sister Zhou, he looks perfectly fine, not like someone who is injured. He's clearly just afraid of Master's excuse and has even brought up Chief Shi."

I'm afraid he knows that his disciple used his identity and reputation to make unfounded guarantees, haha...

Besides, General Yang has fought countless battles and inflicted heavy losses on the Jin invaders. What hasn't he seen? He wouldn't be offended by the sight of blood; he might even find it exhilarating!

Wang Xiao's face turned a deep shade of liver. He wanted to rush up and tear her mouth apart, thinking to himself, "How could Abbess Miejue allow such a disciple to exist!"

Yun Changkong, however, was well aware of Abbess Miejue's intentions: "As a woman, you are inherently inferior to a man. If you can't even handle a fellow disciple like Ding Minjun, how can you talk about establishing yourself in the martial world!"
She is the whetstone for the sect leader!

Zhou Zhiruo shook her head and said, "Senior sister, you also said that General Yang killed the Jin bandits. Who do you think was Master or Young Master Yun?"

Whose blood isn't the blood of heroes and valiant warriors?

General Yang is defending our country. Does he hope we unite against the common enemy and drive out the Tartars, or do he want us to fight amongst ourselves?

Her few words, spoken softly, felt like sharp arrows piercing Ding Minjun's heart, causing her lips to tremble.

Abbess Miejue suddenly swayed, drifting past Zhou Zhiruo like a wisp of smoke, and arrived in front of Ding Minjun.

With a loud slap, she was slapped across the face. After the slap, she returned to her original spot, as if she had never moved.

This sudden turn, the slap, and the return to the starting point—all executed in one fluid motion, were so impressive that even Yun Changkong, with his exceptional martial arts skills, was greatly impressed and felt inferior.

Because if he had slapped Ding Minjun so quickly, the force might not have been so subtle, and it might have made her nose and mouth bleed, unlike Miejue's slap, which was just loud but didn't hurt.

Abbess Miejue sighed softly and said, "Minjun, do you know why?" Ding Minjun covered her face, her lips trembling, not knowing how to answer. She thought to herself, "You're afraid of losing face because you can't beat someone, so you're taking it out on me. I guess I'm just unlucky."

“It’s very simple.” Abbess Miejue said, word by word, “Zhiruo was afraid that her master’s lifelong reputation would be ruined, so she tried her best to dissuade you, but you insisted on being stubborn and aggressive, only thinking about your own little schemes!”

Abbess Miejue narrowed her eyes and coldly looked at Ding Minjun: "If Yun Changkong loses, you'll be able to vent your anger. But if I die here, are you still thinking about taking over as sect leader?"

Ding Minjun felt guilty and breathless upon hearing this. She glanced at her master's eyes and knelt down with a thud: "Master, your disciple has no such intention!"

She trembled, silent as a cicada in winter, not daring to lift her head!

Seeing her like this, Abbess Miejue's eyebrows furrowed with murderous intent, and she slowly raised her right palm.

"Master!" Zhou Zhiruo hurriedly knelt down and grabbed her sleeve: "Please spare my senior sister. She just has a bad temper, but she's not a bad person at heart."

Abbess Miejue glanced at her, then turned her hand to Yun Changkong and said, "My disciple and this Beggar Clan boy are right. You are dealing with the Mongol Tartars and the Demonic Sect. We are on the same path. Let's shake hands and make peace!" She stepped forward slowly and extended her right hand towards Changkong.

Of course, the real purpose of the handshake and reconciliation was to test the waters.

This time, neither Wang Xiaotian nor Zhou Zhiruo stopped them.

Since the sect leader of Abbess Miejue said they would shake hands and make peace, then they would make peace.

Secret duels are extremely common in the martial arts world!

In the world of martial arts, it's not just about fighting and killing. Sometimes, out of consideration for face, two people can't fight. They can shake hands, and the outcome of the fight is likely known only to the two of them, without damaging their reputation.

Yun Changkong knew that Abbess Miejue valued her reputation, and that giving up now would not convince the crowd. So he smiled and said, "It's fine!" He slowly extended his right hand as well.

Seeing that his attack seemed slow but was fast and covered a wide area, Abbess Miejue immediately reached out and grabbed it, circulating her inner energy and sending it out from the "Laoguan" acupoint in her palm.

Yun Changkong felt a powerful and resilient force surging towards him. Just as he was about to use his strength to counterattack, the opponent's force vanished without a trace. He was startled and thought, "The Abbess Miejue lives up to her name!" He then withdrew his strength.

Abbess Miejue suddenly swallowed his palm force to draw away his internal energy, and then exerted more force, pushing him back and forth. This is an extremely profound martial art of the internal school, which can not only test whether he is injured, but also defeat him in one move.

In the original story, Zhang Wuji was sent flying, coughing up blood, by this very move of hers.

But he sensed that Chang Kong's strength was faint and elusive, half real and half illusory, and he was taken aback: "How come his technique is similar to mine!"

Then, remembering the rumors in the martial arts world that Yun Changkong possessed the "Nine Yang Manual," he immediately used the "Emei Nine Yang Skill" to rush off.

The time between her releasing her internal energy and its sudden withdrawal was only a moment. At this moment, the "Emei Nine Yang Skill" she unleashed was like a tidal wave, and together with the previous force, it attacked her.

Yun Changkong felt a gentle yet intensely hot force surging towards him, with boundless momentum. He thought to himself, "My Arhat Subduing Demon Skill is no less powerful than the Nine Yang Divine Skill. If I were to defeat your Emei Nine Yang Skill with the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill, that wouldn't be considered a real skill!"

He immediately used the technique from the "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top Palm".

Abbess Miejue felt the opponent's force suddenly contract, and the force abruptly lost its target. But in the blink of an eye, the great force she herself had exerted suddenly reversed.

With a loud "thud," Abbess Miejue's arm jerked, and she took a step back, her hands separating from their previous clasp.

Yun Changkong also took a step back.

Abbess Miejue's face flushed crimson, and she felt a surge of heat rush to her arm. Although it was her own force, she quickly dissipated it, but her arm still trembled. She exhaled and said, "You're very good! Very good!"

Even now, everyone was still in shock, and it seemed like the battle was still undecided, because both of them took a step back at the same time.

Yun Changkong, with a stern face, said, "Master's divine skill is truly astonishing and admirable!"

Abbess Miejue said, "Come with me, I have something to tell you." Without waiting for Changkong to speak, she strode out of the temple gate like a puff of smoke.

Yun Changkong thought to himself, "Why should I go with you?" He didn't move his feet.

Then Zhou Zhiruo said, "Young Master Yun, my master means what she says, so you can go without worry."

Wang Xiaotian also said, "Brother Yun, Abbess Miejue is looking for you. This is great news for you. Go quickly."

He knew that if Yun Changkong received a compliment from Abbess Miejue, taking over the Beggars' Sect would be even easier.

Zhou Zhiruo smiled and said, "Yes, if Master says you are very good, then you are very good."

Yun Changkong glanced at Zhou Zhiruo and thought to himself, "What a load of rubbish! It's probably some grand speech again. I can't possibly let you be my wife!" But he still went out.

(End of this chapter)