Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 73

Upon hearing this, the Wudang members exchanged bewildered glances. Song Yuanqiao couldn't help but say, "What talent does my nephew possess that would earn such high regard from you, senior? He's just a child; isn't this matter far too frivolous?"

Zhu Yuchen shook his head and said...

"On the contrary, he is now the most suitable candidate for emperor, for three reasons."

"First, his mother, Yin Susu, his maternal grandfather, Yin Tianzheng, and his adoptive father, Xie Xun, were all members of the Ming Cult."

"Moreover, 'Green-Winged Bat King' Wei Yixiao has been suffering from a qi deviation due to practicing the Cold Cotton Palm, and has been needing to drink human blood to alleviate his condition. If Zhang Wuji can master the Nine Yang Manual, he can help Wei Yixiao get rid of the hidden danger."

"Of the five great Dharma protectors of the Ming Cult, three stood on his side."

"On the day the Ming Cult leader Yang Dingtian died at Ming Cult Bright Peak, he left a will, honoring Xie Xun as the next leader of the Ming Cult."

“Yang Xiao has a high opinion of himself and would probably disdain to disobey Yang Dingtian’s dying wish, and Fan Yao is the same.”

"Cheng Kun, Xie Xun's teacher, wreaked havoc in the martial arts world in Xie Xun's name and even seduced Yang Dingtian's wife, causing Yang Dingtian to suffer a qi deviation and die while practicing martial arts. It can be said that he had an irreconcilable feud with the Ming Cult."

"I think if Cheng Kun is killed, and Xie Xun finds Yang Dingtian's last words, the position of leader of the Ming Cult will undoubtedly fall into Zhang Wuji's hands."

Chapter 144 Zhu Yuchen's Reasons, Kong Jian's Cause of Death

Zhang Sanfeng sighed, "Yang Dingtian was a hero of his time, yet he died because of Cheng Kun. How do you know so much about the Ming Cult?"

Zhu Yuchen shook his head and said...

"Whether Yang Dingtian was a hero or not, I don't know, but his death can be said to be his own fault."

"Yang Dingtian's wife is Cheng Kun's fellow disciple, a fact little known in the martial arts world. However, Yang Dingtian's talent is limited, yet he forcefully practiced the Ming Cult's protective divine skill, the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth."

"He was often engrossed in practicing his martial arts and inevitably neglected his wife. So, unable to bear the loneliness, Yang Dingtian's wife and Cheng Kun often met secretly through the secret passage on Bright Peak."

"Unfortunately, the two lovers met secretly outside Yang Dingtian's secluded retreat room."

"At that time, Yang Dingtian was so angry that he suffered a qi deviation while practicing the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. As a result, when he opened the door to the secret chamber, Cheng Kun was so frightened that he fled in panic."

"At that time, Yang Dingtian was not far from death and was betrayed by his beloved wife. He only had time to leave a suicide note before he died. As a result, his wife, whether out of shame or something else, committed suicide on the spot in Yang Dingtian's arms, and the couple died together."

"As a result, Yang Dingtian's will was left in a secret room and no one knew about it. Later, the Ming Cult lost its leader, which led to great chaos. It was extremely ridiculous."

"As for how I know about this, it was just a coincidence!"

At this point, Zhu Yuchen thought to himself: Now that I think about it, the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth" is still left in the secret chamber of Bright Peak. I can find an opportunity to take a look at this martial art.

Upon hearing this secret, everyone couldn't help but sigh with regret. They never expected that such a great ruler would die such a pathetic and laughable death, which only intensified their killing intent towards Cheng Kun.

………………

Song Yuanqiao hesitated and said, "If that's the case, it would indeed be easy for Wuji to take over the Ming Cult, but it might not be enough to conquer the world. I wonder what your second reason is?"

Zhu Yuchen nodded in agreement...

"That's right, this first point alone is indeed not enough."

"As for the second point, among the largest rebel armies in the world today, the Red Turban Army led by Liu Futong and Han Shantong, Zhang Shicheng in the Jiangnan region, Chen Youliang in the Huguang region, and Fang Guozhen and others in Sichuan are the largest."

"The forces of Liu Futong and Han Shantong belonged to the Ming Cult, and Zhu Yuanzhang, Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, Lan Yu and others in this rebel army were all talented generals who could command troops."

"If we can subdue these people, and with the Ming Cult leader holding the righteous cause in hand, and with the assistance of the Wudang and Emei sects, the throne will be within reach."

“Moreover, my servant can also provide assistance,” Zhu Yuchen said, pointing to A Niu.

Zhu Yuchen explained, "A Niu can build at least 20,000 cavalrymen in the borderlands, and 30,000 more if he has more. He can enter Sichuan from there, overlook the Central Plains, and suppress any dissent within the Ming Cult rebels."

The Wudang people couldn't help but look at A Niu. With his honest and simple face, no one would have thought that such an honest and simple person would actually lead tens of thousands of iron cavalry!

………………

Zhu Yuchen continued...

"Moreover, among the righteous armies in the world today, Chen Youliang's force is supported by Cheng Kun, and the two of them are master and disciple."

"Cheng Kun now goes by the alias 'Yuanzhen,' hiding in the Shaolin Temple and the Prince of Ruyang's mansion. On one hand, he is a retainer of the Prince of Ruyang's mansion, secretly instigating conflicts between various factions and the Ming Cult; on the other hand, he supports his disciple Chen Youliang in forming a righteous army to fight for the world."

The Wudang disciples were in an uproar. Yu Lianzhou asked, "Is what you say true, senior?"

Song Yuanqiao clasped his hands and said, "My second brother does not doubt you, senior. It's just that Cheng Kun is of great importance. If we can capture him, many things can be resolved."

Zhu Yuchen nodded and said...

“In the past, Cheng Kun raped Xie Xun’s wife and killed Xie Xun’s entire family. That’s why Xie Xun pursued him relentlessly until he was killed.”

"Later, Cheng Kun was being relentlessly pursued by Xie Xun and had no chance to meet Yang Dingtian's wife in secret. So he secretly went to Shaolin Temple, found the monk Kongjian, and confessed that he was willing to repent and become a monk at Shaolin Temple, asking Kongjian to resolve this ill-fated relationship between master and disciple."

"This led to the monk Kongjian taking Cheng Kun as his disciple, giving him the Dharma name 'Yuanzhen.' Later, the monk Kongjian approached Xie Xun, attempting to influence him with Buddhist teachings. However, Cheng Kun ultimately betrayed Kongjian and did not appear at the scene that night."

Yu Lianzhou said, "Since it was the monk Kongjian who mediated the feud, but Shaolin insisted that Xie Xun killed the monk Kongjian."

Zhu Yuchen chuckled and said...

"It's not that I look down on Xie Xun, but with his martial arts skills, if Kong Jian hadn't volunteered, how could Xie Xun have killed Kong Jian, who had mastered the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill?"

"Kong Jian was willing to learn Xie Xun's Seven Injury Fist and said he would never fight back. If he survived, he hoped Xie Xun would accept his mediation in this ill-fated master-disciple relationship."

"Xie Xun attacked Kong Jian twice with the Seven Injury Fist, but both times the attack was deflected by Kong Jian's Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, resulting in Xie Xun being seriously injured."

"It wasn't until Xie Xun attacked with the Seven Injury Fist for the third time that Kong Jian, unable to bear seeing him being injured to death by the force of the fist, withdrew his protective true qi, which resulted in him being injured by the Seven Injury Fist."

"When Xie Xun later learned of Kongjian's actions, he knelt down and wept bitterly, willing to accept the monk Kongjian's kindness. Unfortunately, Cheng Kun betrayed Kongjian."

"Kongjian's death thoroughly enraged Shaolin, creating an irreconcilable feud with Xie Xun. Meanwhile, Cheng Kun was hiding within Shaolin Temple, stirring up trouble."

"Most of the current power struggles in the martial arts world are secretly instigated by Cheng Kun with the help of the Prince of Ruyang's mansion, in order to suppress various righteous armies and give Chen Youliang the opportunity to seize the world."

Hearing this explanation, everyone gained a new understanding of Cheng Kun's treacherous and cunning nature.

Even Zhang Sanfeng couldn't help but sigh...

"When I visited Shaolin Temple in the past, I even met Yuanzhen, but I didn't know that he was Cheng Kun."

"In that case, Wudang will probably not be able to stay out of it."

Zhu Yuchen nodded in agreement, saying, "Given Cheng Kun's character, if Chen Youliang were to gain control of the world, he would not let any forces associated with Xie Xun go."

Seeing that everyone from Wudang had grasped the seriousness of the matter, Zhu Yuchen continued...

“Cheng Kun is not a concern. As long as we capture him, I believe that with Master Zhang’s abilities, we can make him confess his crimes in front of all the heroes of the world.”

"The most difficult thing is the rebel army under Chen Youliang's command. If it is not handled properly, it will cause endless harm, trigger conflicts across the country, and bring suffering to the people."

………………

Zhu Yuchen clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Sanfeng and said...

"As for the third point, that's a personal matter of mine."

"Since entering the Central Plains, the Ming Cult has gradually become Sinicized. If Zhang Wuji can ascend the throne, it can ease the relationship between the Ming Cult and other factions and avoid internal strife within the martial arts world."

“Nowadays, the Western Regions and even more distant countries of Europe are swallowing up the world, and India, where Buddhism and the Ming Cult came from, is not peaceful.”

"I do not want the Central Plains to be ruled by foreign tribes again, but I need someone to end this chaotic world as soon as possible."

"Moreover, once Zhang Wuji ascends the throne, no one will likely pay attention to Xie Xun's affairs anymore. He will then be able to legitimately keep Xie Xun on Mount Emei, avoiding any covert assassination attempts."

"Moreover, with Master Zhang's guidance, I don't think he will go astray. Even if he ascends the throne, he won't indiscriminately kill important civil and military officials. This is a good choice for Ah Niu and the people of the world."

Chapter 145 Zhu Yuchen's Origins and the Subsequent Paths of the Two Grandmasters

Zhang Sanfeng nodded and said...

“I understand your intentions, fellow Daoist. However, I need to discuss this matter with Mr. and Mrs. Cuishan, and I also need to hear Wuji’s opinion.”

"Moreover, even if they agree, I still need to consult Emei. After all, Emei has the greatest influence in Sichuan. When 30,000 cavalrymen enter Sichuan, we still need to listen to the opinion of Abbess Miejue of Emei."

"The matter is complex and cannot be sorted out in a short time."

Zhu Yuchen nodded, saying indifferently, "That's how it should be! This was just a spur-of-the-moment idea of ​​mine. Whether it succeeds or not depends entirely on everyone's opinion."

Zhang Sanfeng laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist has caused me such a big trouble, yet you try to shirk all responsibility and claim it has nothing to do with you."

Zhu Yuchen laughed...

"Contending for supremacy is not my desire. If Ah Niu hadn't also been unwilling, I wouldn't have wanted those 30,000 cavalry to eventually turn into internal strife and cause trouble, and I wouldn't have thought of that kid Zhang Wuji."

"I only wish to travel through the heavens, see the Great Path to Immortality, and behold the magnificence of the Dao Ancestor."

"Fellow Daoist, what a spirit!" Zhang Sanfeng clapped his hands and said, "Then please stay a few more days, fellow Daoist. This old Daoist has prepared a place to wait for you."

Zhu Yuchen bowed and thanked them for the invitation, and the two of them headed towards the backyard together.

………………

As they walked, Zhang Sanfeng asked, "I once heard Abbess Miejue say that you have a connection with both me and Emei in this life, but I don't know where you came from outside the Great Wall?"

As Zhu Yuchen's robes fluttered, he looked at the mountain scenery and said, "This is no exaggeration. If I remember correctly, when the Five Great Masters of the World held their last Mount Hua Sword Tournament, you and your master, Master Jueyuan, also went to the summit of Mount Hua."

Zhang Sanfeng sighed...

"The brilliance of our predecessors is still vivid in our minds today."

"Since you know this, you must also know that my master and I were chasing after Xiao Xiangzi and Yin Kexi."

"Unfortunately, even with the testimony of five seniors, the Lankavatara Sutra could not be found in their hands. They simply left, and Master Jueyuan was punished for it."

Zhu Yuchen nodded and said...

"Later on, Xiao Xiangzi and Yin Kexi died in the Western Regions, and news of the Lankavatara Sutra was also brought back to Shaolin by Kunlun Patriarch He Zudao."

"Later, outside Shaolin Temple, Master Jueyuan defeated He Zudao with his internal strength. Then the real master revealed the Arhat Fist. In order to protect the real master, Master Jueyuan had no choice but to flee Shaolin. That's how the classic was passed down to three schools."

Zhang Sanfeng's gaze was distant, and the past events flashed before his eyes. After a moment, he shook his head, skipped over this past event, and continued, "Xiao Xiangzi and Yin Kexi passed down the location of the Lankavatara Sutra before their deaths, but He Zudao said that 'the sutra is in the oil.' I still don't understand it."

Zhu Yuchen smiled and said, "The scriptures are among the apes!"

"Oil? Yuan? Ape?"

Zhang Sanfeng was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized, "It's that strange white ape that was with Xiao Xiangzi and Yin Kexi back then!"

Zhu Yuchen nodded and said...

"That's right! Back then, when Xiao Xiangzi and Yin Kexi were being pursued by the master and his disciples, they had no choice but to cut open the ape's abdomen, wrap the scriptures in oiled paper, and sew them into the ape's body."

"The two of them originally planned to study the scriptures together after leaving the Central Plains. Unfortunately, they later had a falling out and ended up dying in the Kunlun Mountains."

"Before his death, Xiao Xiangzi told He Zudao that the scriptures were in the ape and asked him to pass on this to Shaolin. Unfortunately, Xiao Xiangzi was not in his right mind when he died, and He Zudao did not hear him clearly, but heard that the scriptures were in the oil."

“My home is at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. Later, by chance, I encountered that strange white ape and took out four volumes of the Lankavatara Sutra from its belly. That is how I was able to bring the Nine Yang Manual back to Wudang today.”

Zhang Sanfeng sighed, "This is also a matter of fate. Today, I am able to resolve this mystery and comfort the spirit of Master Jueyuan in heaven."

Zhu Yuchen agreed...

“Master Jueyuan was a great monk of his generation, with profound knowledge of Buddhism. He probably did not care about these worldly matters.”

"Speaking of which, since you visited the summit of Mount Hua in the past, you must have met my ancestors. My ancestor, Master Liu, was a bodyguard of the 'Southern Emperor' Master Yideng."

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and said, "So it is that person. It is a pity that I was young and insignificant back then, and I left in a hurry with Master Jueyuan, so I was unable to make friends with the senior master."

Zhu Yuchen shook his head and sighed...

"Since the fall of Xiangyang, the Zhu and Wu families have been scattered to the Western Regions. They established the Zhu-Wu Lianhuan Manor at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. Now the Zhu family has long since declined and is no longer the family of prime ministers it once was."

"My father and his family have long lost the prestige of our ancestors and have become petty and despicable people. If you were to see my family in this form, you would probably frown and leave without ever having any contact with them again."

"The Southern Emperor's unique skills, my family's One-Finger Divine Skill, and the Orchid Finger Flicking Technique, which were secretly passed down on Peach Blossom Island, are all now unmastered."

Zhang Sanfeng sighed with regret, saying, "It is fate that we have met you, fellow Daoist."

Zhu Yuchen smiled and said, "My original intention was that the blessings of a virtuous person should be extended to five generations before being cut off. However, A Niu wanted to give them a chance. So I acted a little hastily. This time, my entry into the Central Plains was also intended to avoid my father in this life."

Zhang Sanfeng chuckled and said, "This old Daoist would like to hear how you intend to set things right."

The valley is deserted and quiet, leaving only a trail of echoes...

………………

After that, Zhu Yuchen and his servant settled down on Wudang Mountain, spending their days discussing metaphysics and Taoism, enjoying themselves immensely.

Zhu Yuchen lived through three lifetimes, and his knowledge was broad and diverse, encompassing everything; Zhang Sanfeng, on the other hand, specialized in Taoism, and the refinement and purity of his understanding were incomparable to Zhu Yuchen's.

The two discussed philosophy every day and each gained something from it; Zhu Yuchen, of course, benefited greatly.

Zhang Sanfeng absorbed the essence of their martial arts, not only advancing further in his own path but also touching upon the Dao of the Mind. He also simplified the extremely difficult "Pure Yang Wuji Gong" and "Tai Chi Classics," making them progressively easier, thus providing his disciples with opportunities to begin their studies.

As you listen to Zhang Sanfeng explain the Dao of Pure Yang Wuji and Taiji, your path of refining your spirit progresses rapidly. You gain a deeper understanding of the void state before the separation of Yin and Yang, and you vaguely touch upon the future of your own swordsmanship.