Fate turned in circles, as if returning once more to its starting point.
After rescuing Duan Yu and Wang Yuyan, Qiao Feng set out with A'Zhu for Yanmen Pass to investigate his own origins.
They witnessed Northern Song soldiers slaughtering Khitan people, and they also saw the tattoos emblazoned on the Khitans' chests.
The truth was cruel. Even though Qiao Feng found it hard to accept, he could not deny the fact that he was Khitan.
In order to uncover more of the truth, Qiao Feng relentlessly searched for those who had taken part in the Yanmen Pass massacre.
Yet wherever he went, anyone with knowledge of the incident was murdered.
After searching everywhere, the only ones left were Master Zhiguang of Tiantai Mountain and Kang Min, the widow of Ma Dayuan.
With no other options, Qiao Feng took A'Zhu to Tiantai Mountain.
Things went relatively smoothly. They met Master Zhiguang and obtained the final letter left behind by Xiao Yuanshan, finally learning the full sequence of events.
Now, only one mystery remained.
Who, exactly, was the "Leading Big Brother" from back then?
Faced with Qiao Feng's questioning, Master Zhiguang let out a long sigh, spoke a cryptic prophecy, and then took poison to end his own life.
From that moment on, the only person who knew the true identity of the Leading Big Brother was Kang Min, that venomous woman.
The two hurried to Xinyang to meet her.
That shameless slut Kang Min began flirting the moment she saw Qiao Feng, offering to reveal the Leading Big Brother's true identity in exchange for a night of passion.
Given Qiao Feng's character, how could he possibly agree? He rejected her outright with harsh words.
Kang Min then proposed that Qiao Feng kill A'Zhu, even promising to help him regain his position as the Beggars' Sect Leader.
That demand finally crossed Qiao Feng's bottom line!
Enraged beyond measure, Qiao Feng slapped Kang Min across the face and left with A'Zhu in fury.
That night, A'Zhu disguised herself as the Beggars' Sect elder Bai Shijing to extract information from Kang Min. But Kang Min had already seen through the disguise and deliberately fed her false information.
As a result, Qiao Feng and A'Zhu mistakenly believed that Duan Zhengchun, the Southern King of Dali, was the Leading Big Brother.
After gathering information along the way, they arrived at Little Mirror Lake. Following a series of entanglements, they met Duan Zhengchun, his four retainers, and A'Zi, who had just escaped from the Xingxiu Sect.
A father's and mother's vengeance could not be shared under the same sky. Facing his supposed enemy, Qiao Feng found himself trapped in a dilemma.
Duan Zhengchun was the father of his sworn brother Duan Yu. If he sought revenge, it would mean severing their brotherhood—meeting again would make them mortal enemies.
A'Zhu's situation was even more agonizing, for she had only just learned that Duan Zhengchun was her biological father, and that A'Zi was her younger sister.
Tormented in her heart, A'Zhu suddenly remembered the wooden box Chu Yang had given them, and an astonishing thought arose unbidden.
Could it be…
That Mister Chu had already foreseen this day?
If that were true,
Then wouldn't Mister Chu be nothing short of divine?
Clinging to a slim hope, A'Zhu urged Qiao Feng to open the wooden box. Qiao Feng froze for a moment, then, half-believing and half-doubting, took it out. Inside was a neatly folded sheet of paper.
When they unfolded it, there were only two lines written on it.
Kang Min bore hatred from love toward Duan Zhengchun!Duan Zhengchun is not the Leading Big Brother!
So it was truly so!
Qiao Feng and A'Zhu exchanged glances. In an instant, every hair on their bodies stood on end, a chill running straight down their spines.
"Who exactly is this Mister Chu, and why does he know so much?"
"If Kang Min really framed Duan Zhengchun, how did he know she would name Prince Duan?"
"She could have framed anyone."
"That's what's truly terrifying…"
"Whether it's deduction and scheming, or already knowing the will of heaven, neither is something humans can achieve!"
A'Zhu took a deep breath, trembling as she grasped Qiao Feng's hand. "Brother Qiao, I'm a little scared. What should we do now?"
Qiao Feng pondered for a moment. "I'm still willing to trust Mister Chu. After all, he saved your life. If he had ill intent toward us, there'd be no need for him to do that."
"Besides, the day I fought him, I vaguely sensed that if he wanted to kill me, it wouldn't have been difficult at all…"
Thinking of Chu Yang's unfathomable abilities, A'Zhu still felt uneasy. Suppressing her fear, she said, "Why don't we speak openly with Prince Duan face to face?"
Qiao Feng nodded. For now, that was the only option.
Just as the two were preparing to confront Duan Zhengchun, the Four Great Evils suddenly descended upon Little Mirror Lake, their target being Duan Zhengchun.
The leader of the Four Great Evils, Duan Yanqing, was the former Crown Prince of Dali. During internal turmoil in Dali, the traitorous minister Yang Yizhen seized power, forcing Duan Yanqing to flee.
Later, when Dali was restored, all the ministers believed Duan Yanqing to be dead and thus enthroned Duan Zhengchun's elder brother, Duan Zhengming, as the new emperor.
From that point on, Duan Yanqing regarded the two brothers as mortal enemies, scheming day and night to reclaim the throne.
Strictly speaking, Duan Yanqing seeking to kill Duan Zhengchun was an internal affair of the Dali royal family, and outsiders had no place to interfere.
But Qiao Feng could no longer concern himself with such distinctions. Before Duan Zhengchun could even make a move, he stepped forward alone and engaged the Four Great Evils in a fierce battle.
Moments later, the four were defeated.
Duan Yanqing could only hurl a few harsh threats at Qiao Feng before storming off in anger.
"Many thanks, Brother Qiao, for your assistance!"
Duan Zhengchun, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, looked spirited and handsome—hardly like a middle-aged man at all.
"Duan Yu is my sworn brother. How could I stand by and watch? Prince Duan, to be honest, I came today to verify something with you."
Qiao Feng's expression was solemn as he clasped his fists slightly.
"If it concerns something important, please come speak with me privately in the woods."
Seeing Qiao Feng's demeanor, Duan Zhengchun guessed the matter was urgent. Leaving the others behind, he took Qiao Feng to a secluded spot to speak in low voices.
A'Zhu waited anxiously in the distance. When she finally saw Qiao Feng slowly shake his head at her, she could no longer hold back her tears.
Turning around, she walked unsteadily toward Ruan Xingzhu, who was fussing over A'Zi with concern.
"Thank you, Prince Duan, for your frankness."
"Brother Qiao, you give me too much credit. Had it not been for your open character and willingness to speak plainly, we both might have fallen into Kang Min's vicious trap."
"I am ashamed. It was also thanks to Mister Chu's guidance that I was able to clear up my misunderstanding of Prince Duan…"
"Mister Chu? Could Brother Qiao introduce him to me? That Mister Chu would be considered a benefactor to me as well."
"I don't know where Mister Chu has gone. If there's a chance in the future, I will certainly invite him for a drink."
"Hahaha! When that time comes, be sure to invite me as well."
With the misunderstanding resolved, the two chatted happily. But when they emerged from the woods, they simultaneously saw Ruan Xingzhu clutching A'Zhu and sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing Duan Zhengchun, Ruan Xingzhu couldn't help shouting, "Brother Duan, A'Zhu is our child too!"
Overjoyed, Duan Zhengchun rushed forward and embraced the mother and daughters.
Qiao Feng suddenly felt his mouth go dry. The father of his sworn brother had suddenly become his father-in-law. The next time he saw Duan Yu, he didn't know whether he should call him Second Brother—or little brother-in-law…
But in the very next moment,
Qiao Feng felt as though he had plunged into an icy abyss, fear gripping his heart.
If A'Zhu had already known that Prince Duan was her father, and he had stubbornly insisted on killing Prince Duan as the Leading Big Brother to avenge his parents…
What would that have led to?
Caught between him and her biological father, A'Zhu would have been torn between life and death. Most likely, she would have tried to resolve the hatred in her own way.
And what A'Zhu excelled at most was disguise!
After realizing a certain possibility, relief appeared on Qiao Feng's face as he murmured to himself,
"A'Zhu… Mister Chu saved you twice…"
A lone plume of smoke in the vast desert, the sun setting over a long river.
Though Wang Wei's poem "On a Mission to the Frontier" was not written about Mongolian scenery, it suited the breathtaking view before Chu Yang perfectly.
Crossing the border of the Ming dynasty and arriving at the boundless Mongolian grasslands, Chu Yang suddenly realized how vast this world truly was.
Unlike the gentle, refined scenery of Jiangnan, the grasslands were bold and unrestrained—like a young maiden just emerging from her boudoir, unadorned, carrying a fresh and natural aura.
As the wind swept across, the half-man-high grass swayed like green waves. The setting sun draped the entire prairie in a pale golden veil.
Such scenery was something Huang Rong could not bear to miss. She volunteered to sit beside Chu Yang, acting as a temporary driver.
Meanwhile, Mu Nianci, who usually took on the role of driver, hid inside the carriage and refused to come out.
No matter how Chu Yang called her, she always found excuses to decline.
In the end, Huang Rong dragged her out by force to admire the prairie view. Even so, Mu Nianci kept her head lowered out of habit, clearly not in high spirits.
"Now that we're in Mongolia, shouldn't Sister Mu be going to find that silly boy's mother—your future mother-in-law?" Huang Rong's eyes spun as she flashed a sly smile. "Sister Mu, you're embarrassed, aren't you?"
Mu Nianci shot her a look. The little girl was obviously teasing her.
Chu Yang nodded thoughtfully. "That should be it. After all, she's a young woman. Meeting her future mother-in-law without family present would be a bit awkward."
Mu Nianci let out a deep sigh, her brows knit with worry.
"Hehehe."
Huang Rong laughed like a little fox. Ever since traveling from the Southern Song to Mongolia, she had long guessed Mu Nianci's true feelings—and had also guessed that looking for her future mother-in-law was nothing more than a fabricated excuse.
Seeing Mu Nianci stuck in an awkward position, the naturally mischievous Huang Rong couldn't be happier.
In terms of relationship, Huang Rong and Mu Nianci got along well and had become close friends. But the moment she thought of Mu Nianci having feelings for Chu Yang, Huang Rong still felt uncomfortable.
"How about this then, Miss Mu—we'll first escort you to find Guo Jing's mother, and then we'll set off, how does that sound?"
As the saying goes, send the Buddha all the way to the Western Heaven. Having brought the girl all the way to Mongolia, Chu Yang couldn't bring himself to simply abandon her.
They were already at the foot of the sacred mountain—what was one last step?
Mu Nianci wanted to gather her courage and be honest with Chu Yang, but the moment she met his gaze, her resolve inexplicably crumbled. All she could do was thank him listlessly. "Thank you for the trouble, Brother Chu."
Guo Jing was sworn brother to Tolui, the son of Temujin, and also the Golden Blade Prince Consort of his daughter Huazheng. As a result, Li Ping's residence was in a rather special location, close to Temujin's royal tent.
Dressed in Central Plains attire, Chu Yang found it difficult to ask the herdsmen about the location of Temujin's tent, so he resorted to using illusion techniques to mislead them.
For the sake of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art, Chu Yang had learned a bit of Mongolian in advance, making communication manageable.
After encountering several groups of herdsmen and finally obtaining Temujin's location, the carriage no longer stopped.
They traveled through the night.
At dawn the next morning, Mu Nianci took the reins from Chu Yang's hands and silently sat down to drive the carriage.
"Miss Mu doesn't seem very happy?"
"It's nothing. I'm just a little nervous."
Looking at her somewhat pale profile, Chu Yang thought for a moment and asked, "You don't actually like this marriage arrangement?"
Mu Nianci's expression stiffened. She wanted to nod, yet didn't know whether she should.
Between Chu Yang and Huang Rong, there seemed to be no place for her to stand.
"If you don't like it, you can say so plainly. Uncle Yang may be stubborn, but he's not someone who acts unreasonably."
Chu Yang assumed Mu Nianci was the same as in the original story—having fallen for Yang Kang and, out of filial piety, forced to make this trip to Mongolia.
Objectively speaking, Guo Jing was far more reliable than Yang Kang. If Chu Yang were Yang Tiexin, he would much rather see Mu Nianci with Guo Jing.
That was, of course, assuming Mu Nianci liked him.
Matters of the heart could not be forced—otherwise, there wouldn't be so many love-stricken men and women in the world.
"If… if I truly don't like this marriage, what does Brother Chu think I should do?"
After a long while, Mu Nianci finally asked in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Who you like is your own freedom. No one else has the right to interfere. You can decide however you wish."
At this point, Chu Yang paused slightly. "That said, compared to Yang Kang, I think Guo Jing is a much better match. Even if you don't like Guo Jing, it would still be best not to choose Yang Kang."
Mu Nianci looked completely bewildered, not understanding Chu Yang's meaning at all.
What did this have to do with Yang Kang?
A sudden cough came from inside the carriage, interrupting their conversation.
Mu Nianci hurriedly straightened up. Her cheeks flushed red, and for some inexplicable reason she felt a little guilty toward Huang Rong. For the rest of the journey, she didn't dare say another word.
With magic enhancing it, the carriage traveled across the grasslands as smoothly as if on flat ground. In just a day and a night, they arrived near Temujin's royal tent.
The three of them dismounted and discovered that a banquet was underway here, seemingly held in honor of some important guests.
"Little Chu, they're all dancing! I want to dance with them too!"
"Forget it—be careful they don't treat you like a spy."
"No way. I'm just a girl. What kind of spy would look like me?"
"Stop fooling around. Hurry up and help find where Guo Jing's mother is."
The two bickered as they led Mu Nianci in search of Li Ping's yurt. Everywhere around them were Mongolians singing and dancing, most of them already drunk out of their minds.
Chu Yang grabbed a few drunken Mongolians and used illusion techniques to make them reveal Li Ping's location.
But just as they were about to head over, Chu Yang suddenly heard some Mongolians discussing Tantric Buddhism. After carefully probing with Observation Haki, he realized that the true guest of honor at this banquet was none other than the Tantric Buddhist sect.
"So that's how it is… What a fortuitous coincidence. I thought it would take a long time to find them…"
Chu Yang beamed with delight and turned to Huang Rong. "You take Miss Mu to find the person first. I'll come find you later."
With that, he vanished directly in front of the two of them.
Huang Rong and Mu Nianci stared at each other. Neither of them had yet grown accustomed to Chu Yang's "immortal methods."
At the center of the royal encampment, Chu Yang quickly locked onto Temujin's yurt using Observation Haki and heard the voices of Temujin conversing with Tantric monks.
He strolled over at an unhurried pace. Wherever he passed, soldiers fell under illusion, standing motionless like puppets.
Lifting the tent flap, Chu Yang saw Temujin seated at the place of honor, flanked on both sides by lamas dressed in crimson robes.
Temujin also noticed Chu Yang in Central Plains attire. He froze for a moment, then immediately shouted, "Who goes there?!"
Chu Yang ignored him, snapped his fingers, and Temujin's gaze—as well as that of several lamas—instantly became vacant and dull.
Chu Yang walked up to the Tantric lamas and began interrogating them about the cultivation formula of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art.
At the same time—
Huang Rong and Mu Nianci stopped in front of Li Ping's yurt. Mu Nianci clenched her teeth and hesitated, not daring to go inside.
Seeing this, a fleeting trace of mischief flashed across Huang Rong's lips before she put on a cold expression.
"Be honest—Sister Mu, do you like Little Chu?!"
Already flustered, Mu Nianci had her secret exposed in one blow and cried out reflexively.
"You're this nervous—of course you like Little Chu! Sister Mu, stop pretending!" Huang Rong said irritably.
"Rong'er… Miss Huang, don't talk nonsense. I don't—I didn't…"
Mu Nianci's tongue seemed tied in knots. She couldn't even speak properly. Her face was burning red, filled with a shame akin to being caught by the rightful wife.
Huang Rong was just about to continue breaking down Mu Nianci's psychological defenses when a woman's voice suddenly came from inside the yurt.
"Who's outside?"
Li Ping's voice carried a hint of excitement—she hadn't heard anyone speaking Han Chinese in a long time.
Hearing Li Ping call out, Mu Nianci's little face turned pale. Was she really about to be dragged in to meet her future mother-in-law?
"Sister Mu, if you don't admit it now, I'll take you inside to meet your future mother-in-law!"
Huang Rong snorted coldly, threatening her.
"Rong'er, I was wrong. I really do like Brother Chu…"
Mu Nianci's eyes reddened as she lowered her voice and began to cry.
Just then, Li Ping lifted the tent flap and saw two young girls standing outside, both beautiful as celestial maidens. She froze. "Who are you?"
Huang Rong smiled sweetly. "Auntie Li, your daughter has come to find you!"
Elsewhere, Chu Yang was in the midst of extracting the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art's cultivation formula from the lamas through illusion.
Suddenly, a strange fluctuation rippled through the air, forcibly disrupting his illusion and leaving Chu Yang utterly baffled.
The youngest of the crimson-robed lamas abruptly opened his eyes. Staring straight at Chu Yang, he asked in flawless Han Chinese, "Benefactor, your methods are indeed mysterious—but aren't they a bit despicable?"
Chu Yang looked at him with curiosity. "How did you break my technique?"
"A mere trick of deception. As one who cultivates the Buddha's path, how could I fail to see through it?" The young Tantric monk smiled faintly. He then began chanting Buddhist mantras, and an immense, righteous power instantly surged through the yurt.
Chu Yang's eyes lit up as he thought to himself, I thought this was a wuxia world—who knew the art style would suddenly turn full-on fantasy? I wonder what level this cultivator is at.
The young monk formed a hand seal with one hand. A halo of Buddhist light bloomed behind his head. He thrust his palm forward, and a swastika symbol burst forth from his palm, expanding rapidly as it flew.
Chu Yang circulated his inner energy and unleashed several strikes of the Vajra Palm in succession. The enormous handprints collided with the swastika and were annihilated in an instant.
The difference between them was like heaven and earth.
"Mortal martial arts can't compare to the true methods of our Tantric sect!"
"Benefactor, lay down the butcher's knife and attain Buddhahood—repent at once!"
The young monk's expression was indifferent, his entire body radiating majesty, truly giving the illusion of a Buddha descending into the world.
The massive swastika was about to press down on Chu Yang.
Brilliant lightning surged skyward, directly shattering the golden swastika.
The young monk's pupils contracted violently. From Chu Yang, he felt an aura of terrifying intensity.
When he looked again, the scholar before him had undergone a horrifying transformation.
A golden chakra cloak draped over his body. Lightning coiled around him like silken ribbons. Most striking of all were those eyes—tomoe spinning endlessly—utterly inhuman.
The monk stared at Chu Yang in disbelief. He had thought the man merely a martial expert who practiced some demonic art, never imagining such a non-human existence.
"Monster!"
The young monk shouted in alarm.
Thinking about the origin of the Tailed Beast Cloak's power, Chu Yang felt the accusation wasn't entirely wrong. He grinned. "Then please, Master, subdue this monster of yours!"
The moment his words fell, Chu Yang flashed forward, appearing right in front of the young monk, one hand pressing down on the monk's head, which was shrouded in Buddhist light.
"Insolence!"
The young monk brought his palms together. Behind him appeared a Buddha radiating boundless light, joining its palms in the same gesture.
The small yurt couldn't withstand such a clash. Swept by the Buddha's palm, it was instantly reduced to dust.
Temujin and several lamas remained completely unharmed, protected by the Buddhist light around the young monk, and were sent flying to a distant location.
Chu Yang was caught between the enormous palms, like a tiny fly.
"The benefactor's body overflows with murderous intent. Today, this monk will surely enlighten you!"
The Buddhist light around the young monk grew ever brighter.
There was not the slightest trace of panic on Chu Yang's face. Behind him, an equally majestic figure appeared, slowly enveloping him.
The Buddha's palms were forced apart by a terrifying power. The young monk focused his gaze—and the scholar's figure had vanished, replaced by a colossal monster with three heads and six arms.
Susanoo drew its bow and loosed an energy arrow. It pierced straight through the Buddha's head behind the young monk.
That vast, radiant Buddhist light dimmed abruptly.
Pff!
The young monk spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as though his internal organs had all taken that crushing blow. The pain was so intense he was on the verge of passing out.
Susanoo strode up to him. As it dissipated, Chu Yang's true form was revealed, his hand still resting on the monk's head.
"Monk, still want to 'deliver' me?"
"Amitabha. This humble monk's cultivation is shallow. Failing to subdue the demon is truly regrettable."
"You're saying that without fear that I might kill you?"
"One who has left the secular world already places life and death beyond concern."
"Quite enlightened, aren't you?"
Chu Yang patted the monk on the forehead. He had already obtained the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art, and during the fight he had even picked up an unknown Tantric true technique as a bonus.
Since he had already profited, why go so far as to kill? There was no grudge between them to begin with—and truth be told, he was the one in the wrong first.
This also made him realize that illusion techniques were only truly effective against those of lower realms. Against resolute cultivators like this young monk, they were somewhat lacking.
The young monk waited for quite some time, yet Chu Yang never sent him off to the Western Paradise to meet Vairocana Buddha. When he finally opened his eyes, Chu Yang was already gone.
"Was it not a demon's emergence after all?"
The young monk was utterly confused. Chanting a soft Amitabha, he murmured, "To think such a remarkable person exists in this world…"
The battle earlier had awakened many drunken revelers. Seeing the Buddha struck down by a monster's arrow, they were terrified and dropped to their knees, praying desperately for the demon god to spare their lives.
As Chu Yang walked through the encampment, no one dared lift their heads—no, it was that no one could lift their heads.
Some instinct told them that this scholar who emerged from the royal grounds was precisely the three-headed, six-armed demon god they had witnessed.
Though they dared not look up, they still knelt devoutly toward the direction from which the footsteps came, bowing again and again.
The two girls were also stunned by the spectacle of a demon god battling a Buddha. Trembling, they left Li Ping's yurt, only to see countless herdsmen and soldiers kneeling in worship toward Chu Yang.
"Little Chu… did you kill the Buddha?"
Huang Rong's face was deathly pale.
"It wasn't a Buddha—just a monk's Dharma manifestation."
Chu Yang smiled and shook his head.
"Then… are you hurt?"
Huang Rong rushed forward anxiously, checking him all over—touching here, pinching there—afraid he might be missing something.
"If you keep touching me like that, I'm reporting you for indecent assault!"
Chu Yang slapped her hands away irritably. He was still fired up—what if something really happened?
"So, Miss Mu really plans to wander the martial world on her own?"
"Yes. Brother Chu, thank you for taking care of me during this time."
"No need for thanks. Take care of yourself."
"Brother Chu… I've already explained this marriage matter to Auntie Li. When I return, I'll tell my father and call it off."
"Ah—if you've made up your own mind, that's fine. There's no need to explain it to me."
"Brother Chu… do you think we'll meet again?"
"If you ever feel bored, you can always come to the private school to find Huang Rong. She'll definitely be happy."
Standing in front of the carriage, Mu Nianci suddenly fell silent, lowering her head to stare at her toes as an ant crawled from the ground onto the top of her foot.
The moon was bright, the stars sparse.
For a moment, Chu Yang didn't know what to say as a farewell, so he turned to look at Huang Rong.
"Little Chu, you're really stingy. At a time like this, you're not even giving a parting gift."
Huang Rong rolled her eyes and pulled out a cloth doll from her bosom, dressed to look very much like Mu Nianci.
"Sister Mu, this is for you!"
She handed the doll over. Mu Nianci took it, examined it carefully, and a smile appeared on her face.
Chu Yang scratched his head. He had never thought about giving Mu Nianci a gift.
Receiving the present, Mu Nianci looked at Chu Yang with clear expectation in her eyes.
"I'll give you a hairpin, then."
Branches twined together in Chu Yang's palm, glowing with a soft green light. In the depths of night, it was exceptionally beautiful, like countless fireflies swirling around.
A jade-green wooden hairpin appeared in his hand, which he passed to Mu Nianci.
She accepted the hairpin and gently stroked it, her gaze tender.
"Alright then, Miss Mu. This is where we part."
Chu Yang and Huang Rong climbed onto the carriage. The little red horse snorted and slowly turned around, heading off.
Mu Nianci stood there in a daze, waving continuously as she watched the carriage grow farther and farther away.
Sitting on the carriage shaft, Huang Rong was unusually quiet. Chu Yang thought she felt lonely because of Mu Nianci's departure, so he comforted her. "Miss Mu didn't want to return with us, so she must have her own matters to attend to. We should respect her choice."
Huang Rong shook her head. "She doesn't have something to do…"
Chu Yang had no idea what had happened between them and asked in confusion, "Did you two have a fight? Weren't you fine just now?"
"Oh, stop it! It's not a fight. You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Don't ask!"
Huang Rong shot him an annoyed glare.
"What a temper," Chu Yang smacked his lips. "If you fought, you can just make up next time. Or should I leave you here so the two of you can talk things out and roam the martial world together? I can head back on my own first—"
Before Chu Yang could finish, Huang Rong suddenly slammed her forehead hard into his. The result was that she hurt herself badly, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.
"That's what you get for fighting without honor!"
Chu Yang laughed smugly.
Joking aside, his body's toughness had reached a level where, while not yet impervious to blades or fire, it certainly wasn't something teeth could bite through.
Furious, Huang Rong bared her teeth and lunged at Chu Yang, snapping down with her little tiger fangs glinting coldly.
Chu Yang grabbed her mouth with one hand and warned her, "Keep this up and you'll chip your teeth."
Imagining her teeth really getting broken on Chu Yang's flesh, Huang Rong immediately abandoned the idea of biting him, glaring at him angrily instead.
"From now on, with Miss Mu gone, you're responsible for driving the carriage."
As he spoke, Chu Yang handed the reins to Huang Rong.
Though still angry, Huang Rong obediently took them—she was afraid Chu Yang might really leave her behind.
But after handing over the reins, Chu Yang didn't go back into the carriage. He sat there with his eyes closed, resting, muttering, "Don't slack off. I'm watching."
Strangely enough, Huang Rong stopped sulking and instead revealed a faint, barely noticeable smile.
After the two left, Mu Nianci stayed with Li Ping for one night. The next day, she took her leave and set out alone on her journey through the martial world.
Having roamed the jianghu with her adoptive father Yang Tiexin for eighteen years, she had learned everything she needed to. There was nothing for her to be afraid of.
Moreover, she had learned the Nine Yin Manual from Chu Yang. Even though it wasn't the complete version, her martial cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.
For first-rate experts of the various dynasties, defeating her in a one-on-one fight was absolutely impossible.
Unless a grandmaster personally intervened.
This was precisely why Chu Yang had readily agreed to let her travel alone.
After bidding farewell to Li Ping, Mu Nianci had just stepped out of the yurt when she saw a very young monk standing outside, as if he had been waiting for quite some time.
The monk wore plain white robes. His appearance was clean and neat, free of dust, and he carried a gentle smile that gave him an air of kindness far beyond his years.
Seeing the monk smiling warmly at her, Mu Nianci asked softly, "Master… may I ask who you are?"
"This humble monk is Sangye Drolma, a Tantric practitioner of the Tibetan tradition. In my youth, I once used the Dharma name Yunshen—benefactor may address me as such."
Clad in plain white robes, Yunshen inclined his head with a gentle smile. His words and bearing were refined and courteous.
"Greetings, Master Yunshen. My name is Mu Nianci. It seems you were waiting for me—may I ask what the matter is?"
Mu Nianci brought her palms together and offered a proper bow.
"May I ask whether the peerless expert from last night—whose powers reached the heavens—is a friend of Miss Mu?"
This Master Yunshen was none other than the Tantric cultivator who had clashed with Chu Yang.
Hearing him mention Chu Yang, Mu Nianci instantly became wary. Her hand silently moved to the whip coiled at her waist as she said nothing.
"Miss Mu, please rest assured. In last night's contest of arts, I was no match for that expert. It was only because he spared my life that I'm still able to speak with you now."
Yunshen spoke of his crushing defeat without the slightest resentment on his face.
Seeing that he bore no intent of vengeance, Mu Nianci asked in confusion, "Then why is Master seeking Brother Chu?"
"To seek the Dao."
Yunshen replied succinctly.
As the most gifted cultivator of the Tantric sect, he had entered the Dao through both Buddhist teachings and martial arts. Though he appeared young, he was already over a hundred years old. By now, his path had reached its limit, with not the slightest room left for advancement.
Chu Yang's power was something he had never encountered before—calling him an earthly immortal would not be an exaggeration.
After their clash, Yunshen had experienced a moment of sudden enlightenment. His bottleneck loosened slightly, and that was why he now wished to seek the Dao from Chu Yang.
Mu Nianci did not understand the specifics of "seeking the Dao," but she could sense that the monk before her had been completely subdued by Chu Yang. The hostility in her heart faded.
"Master Yunshen, you arrived too late. Brother Chu and the others left last night. I didn't travel with them, so I don't know where they're headed."
Mu Nianci said apologetically.
"It is this monk's karmic fate being insufficient. The fault does not lie with the benefactor."
Yunshen couldn't help letting out a long sigh.
Seeing him like this, Mu Nianci felt a pang of sympathy and said softly, "I do know where Brother Chu lives, but I don't know when he'll return home. If Master doesn't mind, I can tell you."
Yunshen glanced at the kind-hearted girl before him. Threads of worldly fate coiled around her, one of them clearly connected to a small city in the Southern Song.
This was a Buddhist divine ability Yunshen had awakened after a century of cultivation—Fate Vision.
Yunshen's Fate Vision was only at an introductory level. He could briefly glimpse a person's future, though usually without concrete details—vague and dreamlike.
Mu Nianci's fate appeared unusually clear because it was entwined with Chu Yang's.
"Miss Mu will go there again in the future. If you do not find it objectionable, may this monk travel together with you?"
...…
The little red horse galloped across the grasslands for over a month before Chu Yang and Huang Rong finally returned to Ming territory.
They had seen enough scenery—and suffered no small amount along the way.
When they were about to leave, Huang Rong even shouted that she would never come again.
According to plan, Chu Yang still needed to make a trip to Wudang Mountain to meet Zhang Zhenren.
After his battle with the Tantric monk, Chu Yang was certain of one thing—the Zhang Sanfeng of this world was absolutely a cultivator.
Illusion techniques likely wouldn't work on Zhang Sanfeng. The best method would be to force him to make a move.
Entering a small border city, Chu Yang took Huang Rong to an inn to rest for a while. The two had just gone up to the second floor and were about to order food when they heard a storyteller discussing recent major events in the martial world.
In just over a month, the jianghu had been thrown into turmoil.
"Everyone's heard about what happened to the Ancient Tomb Sect recently, right?"
"It's said that the greatest martial manual under heaven—the Nine Yin Manual—is hidden within that tiny Ancient Tomb Sect beneath Mount Zhongnan!"
"A man is innocent, but possessing treasure is a crime!"
"After the news spread, numerous sects and martial experts flocked to Mount Zhongnan to fight over the Nine Yin Manual."
"Their thinking was simple—if they couldn't afford to provoke Wang Chongyang's Quanzhen Sect, couldn't they bully the obscure Ancient Tomb Sect?"
"And so, calamity struck the Ancient Tomb Sect. The sect was occupied, and the only two remaining disciples escaped with great difficulty thanks to an old servant who fought to the death."
"That old servant was truly loyal—despite endless torture, he never revealed the slightest clue about the two disciples' whereabouts."
Clang!
A porcelain bowl was smashed violently onto the floor, shattering into pieces. Huang Rong looked at Chu Yang in panic.
Chu Yang's face was dark. The Ancient Tomb Sect had always kept to itself, avoiding contact with outsiders. He could not imagine how news of the Nine Yin Manual had leaked.
"Little Chu… those two girls now…"
Just thinking of that delicate, jade-carved little child possibly meeting a cruel fate made Huang Rong burst into tears, her tears pattering onto the tabletop.
"Don't cry yet—the storyteller isn't finished."
In the main hall, all the diners stared tensely at the storyteller. Only after he finished a sip of hot tea and let out a long breath did he continue.
"What I'm about to say next are unverified rumors. Listen if you will, just for amusement—don't take them too seriously."
"It's said that after escaping, those two Ancient Tomb disciples somehow headed this way. They happened to get caught up in a conflict between the Demonic Sect and the Six Great Sects, were seized by the Demonic Sect, and taken to Bright Peak."
"The Six Great Sects have harbored grudges against them for a long time. With this added spark, they've now joined forces to lay siege to Bright Peak."
The storyteller was speaking with gusto when a scholarly-looking young man suddenly appeared before him, causing his voice to cut off abruptly.
The scholar cupped his hands and asked, "Sir Storyteller, may I ask—why did those two Ancient Tomb disciples come to Ming territory?"
The storyteller scratched his head, smiled awkwardly, hesitated for a moment, then said, "I heard they were actually trying to go to Mongolia, but were intercepted halfway by members of the Six Great Sects."
The scholar closed his eyes, his expression utterly blank, as a chilling aura spread unchecked throughout the hall.
The well-traveled storyteller sensed that this scholar was not to be trifled with. He quietly took a few steps back, intending to slip away.
At that moment, the scholar suddenly opened his eyes, smiled, cupped his hands toward the storyteller, and then beckoned to the girl beside him to leave.
The girl's face was filled with murderous intent.
After the two left, every piece of porcelain in the inn exploded simultaneously!
Chu Yang returned to the stables, led out the carriage, and instructed Huang Rong, "I'll go to Bright Peak first. You drive the carriage and follow later—be careful."
Huang Rong nodded obediently.
With that, Chu Yang no longer bothered to conceal himself. He shot straight into the sky, vanishing into the horizon.
Bright Peak lay at the border of Ming territory, built atop an unbroken mountain range. Due to its harsh terrain, hardly anyone ever set foot there.
But this time, with the Six Great Sects traveling thousands of miles to besiege Bright Peak, the commotion was immense. Even from high above, Chu Yang could see a long, snaking mass of people stretching for miles.
Following the flow of the crowd, Chu Yang quickly located Bright Peak at the summit of the mountain range.
The battle seemed to have been raging for quite some time.
The entire Bright Peak was awash in blood.
Perhaps because the plot had shifted somewhat, Chu Yang did not see the scene of Zhang Wuji single-handedly fighting the Six Great Sects.
What he saw instead was the frenzied slaughter of two armies locked in combat.
Blood flowed like rivers.
Standing in midair, Chu Yang looked down indifferently at the carnage. He did not care about their lives or deaths—he only wanted to find Xiao Longnü and Li Mochou.
Soon, someone noticed Chu Yang's presence and instinctively shouted in alarm, "Look—there's someone in the sky!"
Before he finished shouting, he was cut down by a blade. Even as he died, his eyes remained fixed on the heavens.
Everyone on Bright Peak was already blood-mad. Who would bother listening to what he said?
Amid the chaos, Chu Yang descended beside that unfortunate soul, glanced down at him, then crushed his throat with a single step, ending his lingering agony.
Chu Yang walked slowly through pools of blood. Anyone who tried to kill him ended up collapsing inexplicably, lifeless, into the gore.
No one noticed how Chu Yang killed—only that, without anyone realizing it, too many had died, creating a vacuum around him.
Chu Yang casually grabbed a still-breathing disciple of the Ming Cult and asked, "Where are the two disciples of the Ancient Tomb Sect?"
The Ming Cult disciple did not answer. Instead, he spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm.
An invisible wave of force blocked the spit. Chu Yang frowned, dragged the disciple into an illusion space, and interrogated him. After learning the truth, surprise flickered across his face.
This Ming Cult disciple belonged to the Five Elements Flags. In his memories, the Ming Cult had not abducted Li Mochou and Xiao Longnü—instead, they had rescued them from the Six Great Sects.
Looking at the utter chaos on Bright Peak, and at the disciples of the Six Great Sects, Chu Yang flew into a rage. With a thunderous shout, he unleashed Conqueror's Haki.
An invisible shockwave rippled outward. Aside from a handful of experts, most of the Six Great Sects' disciples and Ming Cult members collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The remaining experts stared at Chu Yang in terror.
(End of Chapter)