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

Chapter 78 Love, Hate, and Grudges Will End Tomorrow
Upon hearing Hebi Weng's words, Yun Changkong smiled, seemingly unconcerned, and simply looked at Zhao Min.

Zhao Min's face flushed red, and she was so happy that she could hardly speak. After a long while, she chuckled and said, "You're willing to risk your life for me, aren't you afraid of dying here? Why would you risk your life for me?"

There are countless people willing to risk their lives for Zhao Min, but the reaction to hearing that different people would risk their lives for her is naturally very different.

Remember this: not everyone who says the same thing will get the same result!
Yun Changkong was a handsome young man with superb martial arts skills, and she was already delighted. Knowing that Changkong was injured, and hearing these words, a tenderness and affection she had never felt before welled up in her heart. That sweet feeling made her very happy, and she almost forgot about her current predicament.

Yun Changkong smiled slightly and said, "At your age, you shouldn't be getting married, but it's all because of me. You've saved me several times, and if I leave without doing something for you, I won't be at peace, and my cultivation won't improve at all. There's no point in living!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Min trembled, her pretty face turning pale. She slowly said, "I saved you, but I had bad intentions. I wanted people to misunderstand you and prevent you from gaining a foothold and making contributions among the Han people. You know that."

How could Yun Changkong not know Zhao Min's schemes? Yet, when he was with her, he didn't feel much hypocrisy. Zhao Min was just proud and cute, gentle and obedient, which showed that no amount of conspiracy or trickery could erase a person's true nature.

Chang Kong smiled leisurely and said, "Only ask about the outcome, not the cause. No matter what you think, the fact is that you saved me."

If you ask why, Zhang Sixia saved my whole family because he thought Zhang Wuxia was so angry that he really killed the entire Longmen Escort Agency, young and old. He knew that all the escort agencies in the world were one family, so he showed kindness to the three most famous escort agencies in advance to prevent them from seeking justice.

Just because Zhang Sixia's original intention wasn't to save my family, does that negate the fact that he saved people?

The Longmen Escort Agency lost Yu Sanxia's shipment. Does that mean his entire family deserves to die? If so, was it wrong of Master Zhang to send his disciples to protect the family?

Even if the Xuanming Elders joined the royal palace, it was only for their own enjoyment; they weren't truly loyal. Does that negate the fact that they were your subordinates?

At this point, the two elders of Xuanming didn't say anything, but they nodded inwardly. In the martial world, what matters is the facts, not the cause.

Zhao Min felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. She abruptly shook off Yun Changkong's hand and ran forward, giving a bitter laugh: "Yes, you, Master Yun, have always sought only peace of mind in your life! Very well!"

It should be noted that Zhao Min only fainted from holding her breath, and woke up as soon as she caught her breath. However, she knew that Yun Changkong did not completely trust her, so she wanted to hear Yun Changkong's reaction to learning from the Xuanming Elders that she was going to get married.

This was because she knew that the Xuanming Elders had obeyed her father and brother's strict orders to take her home, and there was no room for compromise.

It was only because they were wary of Yun Changkong's martial arts skills, fearing that if they failed to kill him, they would lose face and cause endless trouble, that they refrained from taking action.

However, the Xuanming Elders were unaware of Yun Changkong's true strength and were intimidated by his aura. But Zhao Min knew exactly where Yun Changkong's left chest wound was. No matter how strong Yun Changkong's skills were at this moment, with only one hand and one arm, he could not possibly withstand the combined attack of the two.

But she also knew that Lu Zhangke was a cunning spy, and if she directly said that she was willing to go home with him, it would be very contrary to her original intention of sneaking away last night.

He might notice something amiss.

That old man, Hebi Weng, was slow-witted and ruthless. He would have attacked with just a glance from Lu Zhangke. At that time, I couldn't have stopped him at all. Now that I've woken up, I've used the fact that the two of them weren't ordered to kill Yun Changkong to detain them.

She was initially happy to hear that Chang Kong was willing to risk his life for her, but little did she know it was for peace of mind.

This clearly shows that in his eyes, she is no different from Zhang Songxi and his ilk. How could Zhao Min accept this?
You should know that once a woman falls in love with someone, reason and right and wrong become irrelevant!

What she wants is for the other person to be of one mind with her; that's the key!
But many men don't understand this. They think, "I've done nothing wrong, so why are you getting angry?" They think the woman is being completely unreasonable!
Some people understand the principles, but due to their temperament, they are unwilling to back down and cannot put them into practice, causing many relationships to die in their infancy.

This is why many people feel that this guy is clearly a scumbag, and his economic and physical conditions are not better than theirs, so why can he repeatedly win the hearts of women while they can't? They are very puzzled by this. In fact, it's just that he's not as sweet-talking, thick-skinned, or willing to make a move.

Therefore, Zhao Min's words were barbed, making Chang Kong restless and agitated, with distracting thoughts arising all over his mind.

Yun Changkong could tell she was very excited, but his mind wandered elsewhere. He thought to himself, "She was pretending to be asleep earlier, and now she's playing hard to get. Her mind is so fickle. You want to learn my martial arts? I'll just stay calm and wait for the right opportunity." He then took a few steps forward and said, "You want to learn martial arts from me? I agree."

Zhao Min retorted angrily, "Who cares?" Then she suddenly flung her hand away, tripped, and fell forward with a cry of "Ouch!"

Her martial arts skills were not weak; she could have easily leaped up with a simple press on the ground, but now she was kneeling on the ground.

Yun Changkong was about to reach out to pull her, but when he was about half a foot away, he withdrew his hand and said, "I study the great Buddhist teachings and practice the orthodox Taoist methods. If you want to cultivate, you must let go of the competitive spirit and keep your mind clear and tranquil."

He looked at Zhao Min deeply as he said this: "You are incredibly intelligent, the best among all the people I know. But you are always thinking about scheming and plotting against others. No matter how good your talent or how wonderful your skills are, you may be good at strengthening your body, but you will never reach the highest level in martial arts!"

"You and I can only learn my divine skills by finding a quiet and secluded place!"

The two elders of Xuanming suddenly burst into laughter, as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world. Lu Zhangke said, "Don't Bodhidharma and Wang Chongyang have any competitive spirit?"

Yun Changkong sneered, "Old Lu, go and understand why Lao Tzu said, 'Therefore, one should always be without desire in order to observe its wonders, and always have desires in order to observe its manifestations,' and why Buddhism says, 'All forms are not forms, and emptiness is not emptiness!'"

The two elders of Xuanming were taken aback.

Zhao Min interjected, "If you want your mind to be clear, then why did you fight with Yin Tianzheng? Why did you save Yu Daiyan? Isn't it because you still harbor resentment?"

Upon hearing this, the two elders of Xuanming secretly cheered.

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Miss Zhao, you are arrogant and clever, but you don't understand at all what it means to be empty or not empty in just a thought, or what it means to be a Buddha or a demon in a single thought."

This means that many things in life, though seemingly real, are actually constantly changing and have no permanent form. By neither clinging to "existence" nor "emptiness," one can gain a more profound understanding.

Therefore, things as important as keeping one's word and coexistence between the Han and non-Han peoples are not the same thing for Yun Changkong.

You should know that he had not yet mastered his divine skills and did not want to pay attention to the five-year agreement. He was unwilling to leave the mountain, but he did leave. It was not his own will, but because he felt that he owed Yunhe and wanted to settle things for him and put a period to his life.
That "Jinyang Escort Agency" flag represents Yunhe's entire life, not Yun Changkong's. Yet, it brought him a near-death experience, which led to the inexplicable feeling he had when he received the flag.

This was simply because it was not something he, a practitioner of the Buddhist path, sought to pursue.

Zhao Min stood up, looked up at the sky, pondered for a while, and then said, "Young Master Yun, perhaps you are right. A clear mind and a tranquil life are desirable, but everyone has their own ambitions. I am a princess, my father is the Prince of Ruyang, and I have also made a friend as capable as you. If I were to live in seclusion and avoid the world, it would be a waste of my great fortune!"

Since you want to do something for me to put your mind at ease, I can't let your good intentions go to waste and hinder your spiritual practice. Of course, it's also for your own good.

Yun Changkong sighed inwardly. He had originally wanted to take Zhao Min to a secluded place so that she could gradually calm down and stop caring about the fighting and killing. That would be better for everyone!
But now it seems that Zhao Min can't do it. Similarly, she may be curious or fond of herself, but she can't reach the level of being able to abandon everything like she does with Zhang Wuji!

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "What is it?"

Zhao Min stared at him for a long time, then said, word by word, "Get married immediately!"

When Yun Changkong heard these words for the second time, his mood was once again quite bitter: "With you?"

"Pah!" Zhao Min's eyebrows twitched and she said, "I am a Mongolian barbarian, how could I be worthy of you, Hero Yun?"

Your father was very famous and well-connected in Shanxi and Shaanxi; otherwise, he would not have dared to plot a rebellion.

You, the great hero, have surpassed your master and become famous throughout the world. While this may arouse jealousy, it will also surely inspire admiration in others.

Countless noble ladies and female warriors from prestigious sects are eagerly awaiting your arrival. Just say the word, and someone will arrange everything for you—the matchmaker, the witnesses, and all the formalities—within a few days. Then you'll have settled your life's most important matter and won the heart of your beloved.

"I'll hold a knife to my father's throat and force him, then I guess I won't have to get married. What do you think?"

In an instant, Yun Changkong felt a void in his heart, and an indescribable sadness welled up inside him.

However, as soon as this feeling arose, his heart suddenly started pounding.

He had always believed that he had no romantic feelings for this little girl who was ready to kill him at any moment and who was quick to anger!

Worrying about her is simply a matter of human compassion.

There's absolutely no way Zhao Min could love him.
But where does this feeling come from right now?

This feeling was exactly the same as his previous desire to kill all the members of the Demonic Cult, which was quite abrupt.

Yun Changkong realized the problem at this moment. Thinking of what the Sweeper Monk had said in his previous life and Shi Potian's experience, he suddenly realized that he had unknowingly embarked on the path of demonic possession again. He knew that the deeper his demonic power became in the martial world, the more dangerous it would be if he continued to roam around and get caught up in grudges and love affairs.

It seems that now that this matter is settled, I must return to the mountain to continue my cultivation.

Yun Changkong was stunned for a long time before letting out a long laugh and saying, "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows. I thought I understood many principles, and after many years of hard work, I have only barely achieved some success."

But only today do I realize that while the principle is easy to understand, putting it into practice is difficult, and I still have a long way to go!

"Don't believe that bald monk's nonsense!" Zhao Min saw his bright eyes and vaguely sensed something ominous: "Are you going to say yes or no?"

Yun Changkong smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, wealth, power, love, and affection in this world are all like the moon in a mirror or a flower in the water."

Only now do I understand that the divine skill I practiced wasn't meant to subdue external demons, but rather internal ones. Therefore, I had already renounced worldly life long ago, yet I couldn't let go of worldly affairs, going in the opposite direction, which led to this predicament. I should have become a monk.”

Zhao Min said angrily, "You, you...you just said these things on purpose to mock me and make me angry."

Yun Changkong clasped his hands together and said, "Once I have settled all worldly affairs, I will retreat into the deep mountains to cultivate Zen meditation. So, although I did not agree to what you just said, I have agreed to it."

With a flick of his sleeve, a gentle breeze swept by, and his figure vanished in an instant, like flowing clouds and running water.

Zhao Min's heart surged with emotion, her nose stung and her eyes welled up with tears. Suddenly, she cried out, "Yun Changkong, if you don't become a nun, I'll look down on you!"

Yun Changkong was already a mile away when his voice drifted over: "Princess, Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan were once so powerful, but where are they now? If Heaven had feelings, it too would grow old; in this world, only indifference is good. In the end, everything in this world is just an illusion."

If you truly can't let go, as long as you cultivate good karma, the hope of finding a good match and a suitable husband in the future is still there.

His words were met with silence in the empty forest, without any echo.

Zhao Min listened blankly, her heart filled with unbearable sorrow, and her eyes gradually became desolate.

After a long, long time, tears suddenly burst forth.

Zhao Min burst into tears, squatted down, hugged her knees, and sobbed bitterly.

He Biweng, who knew nothing of romantic love, said, "Princess, Yun Changkong is being ungrateful. Aren't you lowering your own status by doing this?"

"Shut up!" Zhao Min has always been arrogant and spoiled. Although she acts one way in front of Yun Changkong, how can her temperament be changed?

Hebi Weng found it uninteresting and looked at his senior brother.

Lu Zhangke then walked towards Zhao Min and said, "Princess, don't be angry. Do you know why Yun Changkong is like this?"

Zhao Min stopped crying, looked up and asked, "You know?"

Lu Zhangke laughed and said, "He just performed a great feat for you, which opened our eyes to a whole new world. Look at that tree."

Zhao Min turned her head and looked at him, wiping away her tears, and said happily, "He is indeed amazing. Then tell me, why is he like this!"

Lu Zhangke said, "I've been wondering about this too. At his age, his martial arts skills are truly astonishing. It's impossible to cultivate them even from the womb. What is the reason for this? Today I finally understand the reason!"

Zhao Min said, "Speak!"

Lu Zhangke said, "You've seen the monks of the Vajra Sect, but you haven't seen the monks of the Shaolin Temple. Those with profound cultivation are either kind and gentle, or stern and strict, or wild and unrestrained, or even adorable and simple. This is all because Buddhist martial arts are in harmony with one's nature. They have cultivated for a long time, and naturally become like this. Even my brother He and I look cold and aloof, but in reality, it's the same principle. It's the Xuanming True Qi cultivated from the Xuanming Divine Palm, which is extremely yin and cold."

But we are all singular in form. Sometimes the clouds in the sky are like the warm sun, sometimes like the desolate autumn and winter, sometimes domineering and arrogant, and sometimes like a gentle breeze, as if we don't care about anything.

These are not his true form, but rather the result of his internal energy cultivation!
He said that he had only achieved minor success, and that was all; therefore, he could only unleash this divine skill but not retract it, he could only continue but not stop it, and this already posed a huge hidden danger!

"Hidden danger?" Zhao Min's face turned pale as she listened, as if she had heard something evil, not martial arts. She asked in confusion, "His divine skill is not yet complete, so what? What does it have to do with his actions? I still don't quite understand!"

Lu Zhangke said, "Those bald monks in Buddhism all emphasize emptiness and clarity, so with his internal strength reaching such a level, he should have long ago become different from others and regarded beauty as mere rouge and skulls."

Zhao Min's eyebrows and eyes flickered, as if she had realized something.

Lu Zhangke continued, "He knew that we were taking you to see the prince, and he had no right to stop us, but he insisted on showing off his supernatural powers to force us to leave. The truth is that he cares about you."

Pointing to his eyes, she said, "I was watching his every move, trying to see if I could launch a sneak attack, but his concern for you just now showed naturally, so I didn't dare to make a move!"

"Haha..." Zhao Min burst into laughter upon hearing this, because she knew that Yun Changkong was still injured but was still so concerned about her. She asked, "What do you mean by the hidden danger you mentioned?"

Seeing that she smiled, Lu Zhangke knew that there was a chance of bringing her home. He didn't dare to actually force Zhao Min to come home, so he continued, "This kind of thing is nothing to others, but he hasn't mastered the Buddhist divine skills, so he can't reach that wonderful state of being able to let go and control at will, and be completely at ease."

He realized that you had stirred his heartstrings and disrupted his composure. He understood the gravity of the situation; if he continued to entangle himself with you, he would at best make no progress in his cultivation, and at worst suffer a qi deviation. So, although he seemed to leave gracefully, he was actually fleeing in disarray!

"Fleeing in disarray?" Zhao Min laughed even more heartily, but halfway through her laughter, she suddenly remembered Chang Kong's words, "If Heaven had feelings, Heaven would grow old; in this world, only heartlessness is good." Her face suddenly darkened, and she said coldly, "Then he really wants to become a monk, doesn't he?"

Seeing her stern expression, Lu Zhangke was taken aback and suddenly sighed, "That's not how it works. He hasn't mastered his divine skill yet, so he can't achieve the state of emptiness and clarity. But once he masters his divine skill, as he said, emptiness or non-emptiness, whether he's a monk or a layman, is just a matter of a single thought. Why would he be so attached to it?"

Zhao Min pondered Lu Zhangke's words carefully, finding them quite reasonable, yet she was also displeased. Her delicate brows furrowed, and she said, "What use is it for someone like him, who sees through everything, even if he masters unparalleled martial arts? He can neither dominate the martial world nor pacify the realm. Isn't that the greatest waste?" Lu Zhangke shook his head, saying, "Princess, you still don't understand! Both Buddhism and Taoism appear to be about leaving home, but in reality, they are also involved in the world. It's only because those whose cultivation is insufficient that they maintain these precepts. But if one's cultivation is sufficient…"

Zhao Min interrupted, "I understand. In the past, the great lama Phagpa used Buddhism to enter the world and was able to assist the emperor in becoming emperor. However, his descendants have now become a scourge, simply because their Buddhist power is insufficient and they cannot control themselves."

"The princess is wise!" Zhao Min laughed heartily and drifted away, with the two elders of Xuanming following closely behind.

Are they right?

natural.

Yun Changkong practices the "Great Dharma of Buddhism," and when he encounters anything, he should always keep his mind clear and serene, remaining as it is!

However, the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill" is incredibly complex and powerful. Even while sleeping, its power continues to increase.

Since he entered the martial world, he has experienced all sorts of things, and his internal strength has improved to the point that he is almost in perfect harmony with his spirit. However, this has also made it impossible for him to control his seven emotions and six desires.

Whether it's the beauty of the Purple-Robed Dragon King or the anxiety about losing Zhao Min, it all stems from an inability to resist the corrupting influence of the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance.

In particular, the "Purple-Robed Dragon King" gave him a unique kind of wonderful experience. This was completely different from his past life's affairs with men and women, as well as the pleasures of practicing martial arts in this life. It caused his self-control, which he had cultivated during his five years of seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain, to crumble. Otherwise, how could he have had a second encounter with the Purple-Robed Dragon King? In reality, he had lost his self-control and could not control his lust.

Yun Changkong moved like a whirlwind, running for over a hundred miles in one breath. He felt a pain in his chest and stopped by a stream, looking at his reflection in the water.

The moonlight was bright at that moment, and his blurry figure swayed and rolled on the water, looking somewhat ferocious at first glance.

"Splash!" Chang Kong hurriedly plunged in. The cold air entered his brain, and although his mind cleared slightly, he felt exhausted.

Chang Kong sat cross-legged by the stream, partly to rest his mind and recover his strength, and partly to ponder the problem.

Thinking carefully about the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill, and recalling his interactions with the Eagle Sect, Xianyu Tong, the Purple-Robed Dragon King, and Zhao Min, he gradually came to understand its profound mysteries.

It turns out that the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill" is the culmination of all Buddhist internal skills. Shaolin Temple alone has internal skills such as the Yi Jin Jing, and the Seventy-Two Arts also have corresponding internal skills. This skill is the culmination of all of them, with a clear outline and key points. It is known as the most exquisite internal skill of Shaolin. It can be said to have seized the creation of heaven and earth, and even the Yi Jin Jing would be overshadowed.

Therefore, with this small amount of power, Yun Changkong was almost invincible in the world. However, because his divine skill was too strong, it inevitably brought great trouble.

The Arhat Skill is complex because it has eighteen phases, each with its own unique transformations. Each phase has its own method of circulating energy, much like a martial art, each possessing immense power.

The reason the Shaolin monks divided this skill into eighteen puppets back then must have been that they might one day be distributed, with some getting one, some getting two, and some getting three.

Even mastering just one skill is a blessing beyond measure.

This is because Buddhist martial arts are compatible with human nature, and a playful and cheerful nature makes them naturally suitable for those who are optimistic by nature. However, it would be difficult for someone with a cold and aloof personality to master them.

Even someone as innocent and pure as Shi Potian, with such profound inner strength, cultivated the Eighteen Phases in a state of ignorance, guiding his inner strength onto the right track and entering the minor achievement stage.

The main reason for this was that he didn't pay much attention, but after entering the martial arts world, he made no further progress. This was because, as he entered the martial arts world, his state of mind was greatly affected by the grudges of the Snow Mountain Sect, the operating style of the Chang Le Gang, and the relationship between Ding Ding Dang Dang and A Xiu.

He was terrified that Dingdang would find out he was a "dog bastard" and not Shi Potian. He explained it to her several times, both longing to be with her and afraid, caught in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.

When Ah Xiu asked his name, he was afraid that people would find out his name was "Dog Bastard," even though he knew it was indecent. This kind of anxiety was something he had never considered before.

A bastard is a bastard. If your mother calls you that, then you're a bastard too. He can't say that to Ah Xiu because he cares.

If you care, your mind becomes impure.

Then, the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill did not improve until he unintentionally practiced the "Tai Xuan Scripture" on Xia Ke Island, which cleared the blockages in his meridians and made him a master of martial arts.

It should be noted that his internal strength was already sufficient, but the "Arhat Technique" prevented him from progressing further, which was due to the loss of the state of mind where no thought arises. When he encountered a divine skill with different requirements, he finally succeeded.

Yun Changkong barely managed to cultivate the "Eighteen Aspects of Arhat Subduing Demons" with the help of the "Jade Pendant," but this was not his true nature, and he knew that martial arts were powerful, so he did it intentionally.

Even with a broad-minded attitude, one still harbors a desire to improve one's skills.
You should know that to properly cultivate the Arhat Subduing Demons Technique, even just getting to the beginner level is extremely difficult, with only one in 100,000 people able to do it, let alone reach the minor level of mastery.

It may take five or eight years, or even several decades, to reach this level. One should be free from all thoughts, and any distracting ideas should be like water flowing without leaving a trace. One must never let them shake one's mind.

Yun Changkong had been practicing for less than five years. As he came into more and more contact with the outside world, his inner demons grew stronger. First, due to various grudges, he developed a strong hatred and wished he could kill the entire Demonic Sect!
Although his one-night stand with the "Purple-Robed Dragon King" had ignited his inner fire, it had also brought him a wonderful experience. That's why he wanted to have sex a second time that morning, not caring whether the other person wanted to do it again.

Although due to a fortuitous encounter, his internal energy was increasing within his body, the changes in the eighteen phases of his aura were becoming less and less harmonious.

As a result, one becomes increasingly unable to control one's mind, and using the Arhat's True Qi to fight is extremely mentally taxing. This leads to an increase in distracting thoughts in one's mind.

This situation is like a strong bow with an arrow on the string; the more it is drawn, the more fully it will be pulled. Either the bowstring will break, or the arrow will be released.

When he met Zhao Min this time, he told himself that she was still young, but his behavior was quite ambiguous.

For ordinary people, this is nothing.

But the Arhats subdue demons, which means subduing inner demons, often requiring a unity between outward behavior and inner beliefs. Yun Changkong, however, knew that he was pursuing high levels of martial arts skill but neglected inner cultivation.

The immense internal energy and formidable martial arts, the allure of beauty, and the brutality of slaughter all rendered the inner desire for purity and tranquility a joke.

If one's mind cannot bear the weight of Shaolin Kung Fu, then physical problems will arise, just like those of Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo!
Yun Changkong sat by the stream for half the night and realized that no matter how wonderful his divine skills were, without sufficient virtue, it was all in vain! Perhaps this was the reason why "what brings a ruler prosperity, one must also bring about his downfall."

The next morning, as the sun rose, Chang Kong rose, his divine light radiant and his countenance solemn. He walked toward the riverbank, with only one thought in his mind: "Let bygones be bygones tomorrow!"

After walking for several miles and turning around a mountain ridge, he suddenly heard a groan. Yun Changkong swayed and leaped about three zhang away. He saw two people lying beside a clump of tall grass, both dressed in tattered clothes.

A young man, his face ashen, with a wound on his throat, was already dead. The wound was a bloody mess, yet the teeth marks were clearly visible; his death was quite peculiar, as if he had been bitten to death.

Another elderly beggar had a pale face. Yun Changkong helped him up and felt that the man's body was cold, but he was breathing faintly.

He helped the old beggar up and channeled his inner energy into his Lingtai acupoint. The old beggar coughed up a mouthful of blood.

His Arhat Subduing Demon Skill was incredibly effective, its power awakening people. The old beggar felt a warm current flow through his body, and felt a great sense of pleasure in his chest.

The old beggar was overjoyed to find that his opponent was so capable, and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you very much, young hero. May I ask your name, my benefactor?"

Chang Kong said, "I am Wang Xiaotian!"

The old beggar's body trembled, his eyes gleamed with a burning light, and his lips trembled as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Chang Kong could tell he recognized the name and probably knew the person, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry, I meant no harm. He's my friend. Who hurt you?"

The old beggar took another breath and said, "Since you asked, I dare not hide it. I am Wei Yixiao, the Green-Winged Bat King of the Demonic Sect."

Chang Kong nodded slightly: "It really was him!"

The old beggar said, "Please go to the Yellow Crane Tower and tell our fellow martial artists that this villain has entered... the Central Plains, from Gansu and Liangzhou to Shanxi and Henan... either sucking blood or using... the Frost Palm technique. Forty-eight people have already died at his hands... He's going to support White Eyebrow... the old man, and harm our righteous sect..."

He felt his strength gradually dissipating, took another breath, and said, "My surname is Ji, I am an Eighth Elder of the Beggars' Sect... I'm sorry to trouble you..." His head swayed and he went limp.

Yun Changkong gave a wry smile, stood up, and without touching the ground, floated away.

This is Jianghu!
What I saw was only the tip of the iceberg; people were dying every day in places we couldn't see!
Yun Changkong ran for several miles, and as he approached the riverbank, a sharp yet mocking laugh drifted into his ears from the woods by the roadside: "Old nun Miejue, it seems your kung fu still needs some work!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp, clear shout rang out: "Give me back my disciple's life!"

Yun Changkong moved swiftly, his movements swift and powerful, and entered the forest. Even someone with his level of martial arts was taken aback.

Just as Abbess Miejue was wielding a sharp sword that seemed to pierce the sky like a white rainbow, she rushed towards a man wearing a striped robe. Her speed was so fast that even Chang Kong felt he needed to defend himself. But the gray-robed man floated away, and Abbess Miejue didn't even touch the hem of his robe.

The person had fallen onto a pine branch, and when they landed, the branch was as solid as iron and remained completely still.

Yun Changkong couldn't help but exclaim, "What superb lightness skill!"

Abbess Miejue glared at him, turned her longsword, and moved with the momentum of the sword, shooting out like an angry arrow, slashing several times in quick succession.

Wei Yi laughed heartily, sprang to his feet, and landed behind her.

Abbess Miejue turned the hilt of her sword, drawing a semi-circle, and launched a counterattack.

Wei Yixiao grabbed a tree branch halfway through the journey, and with a whoosh, landed lightly and gracefully on a tree, his movements so elegant that words could not describe it.

Abbess Miejue praised Yun Changkong's lightness skill in front of him. The one praising him was Wei Yixiao. She was proud and arrogant, so she naturally showed off her skills. Her graceful figure and the sound of her long sword swishing were beautiful.

Wei Yixiao avoided fighting, instead dodging and flying. Seemingly wanting to show off his skills, he didn't go far, but instead circled around an old pine tree, rising and falling.

Abbess Miejue pursued her, each pounce fiercer and faster than the last, but she could do nothing against her.

Yun Changkong saw the two people surrounding the big tree, one attacking and the other dodging. Both of them were moving at extreme speed, one after the other, like a shadow, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

The moment their feet touched the ground, not a speck of dust rose, and when their swords were drawn, not even a tree branch snapped. Their extraordinary lightness of foot and exquisite swordsmanship were truly astounding. He thought to himself, "People say the Azure-Winged Bat King has the best lightness of foot; it's truly unbelievable!"

Then he thought, "That Abbess Miejue is really stubborn. If my lightness skill is not as good as hers, then I'll just chop down trees!"

But he knew that Abbess Miejue was extremely arrogant and dared not speak nonsense. In the original story, Song Qingshu showed off his skills, but he was inferior to her in terms of impression.

Praising Wei Yixiao's lightness skill is true, but there's no need to worry about her taking offense.

As the two were chasing each other, they heard footsteps and a group of Emei disciples rushed over.

Wei Yi laughed heartily: "Old nun, I'm not playing with you anymore." She stretched out her toes, picked up a clump of dirt, and dust billowed up. Abbess Miejue waved her sleeve to deflect it, slowing her momentum slightly.

But Wei Yixiao seemed to drift away like a wisp of smoke towards the sky. Abbess Miejue, mindful of her status, immediately stopped.

Yun Changkong's expression turned solemn. Just then, Wei Yixiao let out a strange howl, flicked his sleeve, and a strong, extremely cold wind suddenly swept in.

He was no ordinary person. Upon hearing Yun Changkong speak, he immediately recognized the other party's extremely high level of internal strength and, eager to learn from him, unleashed his signature move, the "Frosty Cotton Palm."

Yun Changkong remained unmoved, his body still, and with a slight push of his palm forward, an extremely powerful force emanated, stirring up the leaves of the surrounding trees.

With a whoosh, the leaves were forced to hang in mid-air by the force of the two palm strikes, a truly strange and astonishing sight!

Yun Changkong snorted: "What a fine Frosty Palm!"

He had used 60% of his strength, but the opponent blocked it. He then added another 20% of his strength to his palm, and with a hiss, the leaves suddenly rushed towards Wei Yixiao.

Wei Yixiao's clothes and hair flew wildly, and the leaves brushed against his cheeks as if they were cutting him with knives. Startled, he hurriedly withdrew his palm and flew backward like an arrow released from a bow, flying more than two zhang.

But he had barely moved his body when...

With a light step, Yun Changkong moved like a shooting star chasing the moon, his five fingers like hooks, grabbing down towards Wei Yixiao's shoulder.

Wei Yixiao felt a gentle breeze suddenly rise in front of him, and the Chang Kong movement technique moved with incredible speed, rushing towards him.

Wei Yixiao's heart skipped a beat: "Who is this person, so skilled?" He turned his feet and glided away sideways.

Yun Changkong twisted his arm, swift as the wind and lightning, and grabbed Wei Yixiao's sleeve!
Wei Yixiao, who was always proud of his lightness skill, was shocked to find it had failed. He quickly shook his head and with a "whoosh," half of his sleeve was torn off.

He lightly touched the ground with his feet and flew backward again.

Yun Changkong shouted sternly, "Where do you think you're going?" He endured the pain in his left arm, drew a circle with his left hand, and then struck out with his right hand with a whoosh—it was "The Dragon Regrets!"

Wei Yixiao felt short of breath. He was in mid-air and had no room to dodge, so he had no choice but to push out with both palms.

With a loud thud, their palms collided, and Wei Yixiao's body flew straight out with a "whoosh," crashing directly into a tree with a "boom," causing leaves to fall in a flurry.

Wei Yixiao's face turned from white to red, and with a "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice trembling as he asked, "Who are you?"

Impatient with the provocation, Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Yun Changkong!" He raised his right hand, about to use the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms to kill him again.

Suddenly, a loud laugh was heard, followed by a strong gust of wind overhead.

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(End of this chapter)