socalfunplaces Page 67
Page 67
Yu Lianzhou reached out with his left hand to grab the fifth person's arm, using a Wudang grappling technique. He then quickly pressed various acupoints along the person's forearm and wrist with his middle finger.
Chapter 131 Talking about Emei Disciples
The man reversed the longsword in his hand, turning the yin and yang symbols upside down, and aimed it straight at Yu Lianzhou's fingers.
Yu Lianzhou said, "The Yin-Yang Sword Technique? So you are a disciple of Master Tieqin." He retracted his left hand and flicked his right hand out, striking the sword with a "clang clang clang".
The long sword in the black-clad man's hand bent under the force, then rebounded, its tip curving like a dragon, unexpectedly stabbing towards Yu Lianzhou's left shoulder blade.
Yu Lianzhou leaped back, and the person cried out "Ouch!" It was a woman. She took three steps back and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
The other four picked up the longsword and surrounded her. The woman waved her hand, and the five retreated into the bushes and quickly disappeared.
After the five people disappeared, Yin Susu hugged Zhang Wuji and asked, "Second Brother, are these people from the Kunlun Sect? Could they be Xihua Zi?"
Yu Lianzhou shook his head and said to Yin Susu, "No, these people are disciples of the Emei Sect."
“Emei Sect disciples? Could it be Abbess Miejue’s intention?” Zhang Cuishan asked, his brows furrowed.
Yu Lianzhou shook his head and said...
“When we fought them just now, I found that these people didn’t have deep internal strength, and their swords showed no killing intent. It must have been someone testing them on their own. Abbess Miejue probably doesn’t know yet.”
"Wudang has always been on good terms with Emei, but given Abbess Miejue's temperament and character, I'm afraid that in the future... alas!!!"
Zhang Cuishan looked dejected. When he and his wife returned that day, Wudang and Kunlun were originally working together to deal with the Eagle Sect.
However, the Kunlun Sect has now turned against Wudang, and given the attitudes of the various sects of Emei and Kongtong that day, it is likely to be detrimental to Wudang.
Thinking of this, he felt even more bitter.
………………
"Ha..." Zhu Yuchen chuckled, which made Yin Susu furious. Zhang Cuishan reached out and held her hand, shaking his head slightly.
"Fine, I'll give Fifth Brother face. Otherwise..." Yin Susu felt a surge of tenderness in her heart.
Zhu Yuchen ignored them and turned to ask, "Did you figure it out?"
Ah Niu thought for a moment and said, "I have seen He Taichong and Ban Shuxian's swordsmanship. Although the sword techniques of those people just now were correct, their artistic conception was wrong!"
When Yu Lianzhou and Zhang Cuishan saw that he didn't take the Kunlun Sect leader seriously at all, they were taken aback. Then, remembering the martial arts he had shown earlier, which were no less than Yu Lianzhou's, they understood.
Zhu Yuchen nodded and said...
"Kunlun is located in the Western Regions, facing the vast desert sands, the lone smoke and the setting sun, the ten thousand ice mountains, and the plum blossoms proudly braving the snow. These are the kinds of scenery that the martial arts world of the Central Plains cannot comprehend."
"The young girl who led the way just now exuded a pure Buddhist aura. Her swordsmanship and moves carried a sense of universal enlightenment, which was the essence of the Golden Summit of Mount Emei."
"This little girl is remarkable; she has already grasped the rudiments of her own sword intent."
"You haven't learned the Nine Yang Manual, so you couldn't see the profoundness of her internal energy just now."
"Her internal strength was far inferior to Yu Lianzhou's, but just now, when Yu Lianzhou attacked her with his finger-flicking sword with true qi multiple times, she was not only able to deal with it calmly, but also to resolve any potential internal injuries by advancing and retreating. This is quite in line with the principle of 'when the opponent moves slightly, I move first, advance and retreat alternately, and yin and yang complement each other' in the Nine Yang Manual."
"It should be that Guo Xiang integrated a part of the Nine Yang Manual she obtained into the Emei Heart Sutra. However, although Guo Xiang was resourceful, she lacked talent. So she only left a trace of the Nine Yang essence, probably to ensure a smooth transition with the Emei Nine Yang Skill."
"This young girl is quite skilled in martial arts. If she hadn't died prematurely, she would have been a worthy successor to the Miejue family. It's a pity... Miejue herself was only half-baked and might not have been able to see the talent in this young girl."
"Emei... what a pity! In terms of lineage, Guo Xiang was far more formidable than Zhang Sanfeng back then! It's a pity that she ultimately misplaced her trust!"
"Fengling Ferry, Fengling Ferry, one glimpse of Yang Guo and your life is ruined! So even though she became a Buddhist nun, she still named her disciple Fengling Abbess."
"Forget it, why bother telling you all this?"
"These emotional entanglements of the older generation, now they've all been swept away by the winds and rains, and what has time left behind?"
Zhu Yuchen stood to the side, rambling on and on, then shook his head helplessly, thought for a moment, and said…
"Zhang Sanfeng's 100th birthday celebration is already unbearable. By now, all the sects should have gathered near Wudang, just waiting to threaten Wudang! Let's go and meet with Miejue first."
"She happens to have what I want, so I'll give her a chance. If she can understand the meaning of facing death and living, Emei can still be saved. If she insists on becoming a demon, then it's the will of Heaven that cannot be defied."
At this point, he looked at Yu Lianzhou and said...
"Sometimes you're pedantic, and other times you see things quite clearly. Should I say you have convictions or that you're just stupid?"
"That couple will surely die if they go to Wudang!"
"If you pity them, then prepare two coffins in advance! Yin Susu is selfish, and Zhang Cuishan, ha, is both stupid and selfish. Old Zhang is blind!"
"Second Master Yu, let's meet on Mount Wudang. I hope you're not so foolish as to be completely unprepared."
The sounds drifted back sparsely, indicating that the master and servant had already gone far away.
………………
Zhu Yuchen and the others had already gone far away. Yu Lianzhou felt a sense of loss and couldn't help but say...
"Since my master, I have never seen such a free and easy person. It is strange that such a person has no reputation in the martial arts world!"
"He said that the various factions were going to threaten Wudang, and I'm afraid that's not an exaggeration. Fifth Brother, let's set off immediately, rush back to Wudang, and report the details to our eldest brother so that we can prepare in advance."
“We, the Seven Heroes of Wudang, are not to be manipulated by others. These people are delusional.”
"But what could Abbess Miejue possibly want from someone like that? Oh no, could it be the Heaven-Reliant Sword?"
"But Master said that the Heaven-Slaying Sword is just a slightly sharp sword. How could someone like him possibly have any designs on it?"
Upon returning to the Central Plains, Zhang Cuishan felt that everything was different from before, and couldn't help but smile wryly...
"If even you, Second Senior Brother, can't figure it out, then I have no clue either. I only hope that Master can figure out the reason behind this."
"However, if my husband and I are disturbed on Master's 100th birthday celebration, we would be devastated!"
Yu Lianzhou shook his head: "You are one of the Seven Heroes of Wudang. How can you allow others to bully you? What will become of Wudang's prestige? Everything comes down to reason."
Thinking of the word "reason," Yu Lianzhou couldn't help but smile bitterly. Yin Susu had killed the entire Longmen Escort Agency in Lin'an; she was in no way in the right.
If Shaolin were to use this as a pretext to launch an attack at their master's birthday banquet, it would be very difficult to deal with.
Thinking of this, he glanced at Yin Susu and realized that she wasn't inherently bad, but as the saying goes, "One who stays near ink gets stained black, and one who stays near vermilion gets stained red."
Yin Susu grew up in a place like the Eagle Sect. From a young age, she was exposed to all kinds of evil and treacherous methods, which is why she couldn't distinguish between good and evil and killed recklessly.
"What harm is there in Wudang taking responsibility for her past mistakes? I only hope that she has truly repented and will no longer act recklessly, so that my fifth brother's devotion will not be in vain." Yu Lianzhou thought silently as he looked at Zhang Cuishan and his wife.
The four men walked around the bushes and soon saw three fine horses tied to a large tree by the river. Upon closer inspection, they saw a piece of paper nailed to the tree that read: "Respectfully offering three horses to atone for the crime of destroying the boat."
Yu Lianzhou smiled, untied the reins, and the three of them rode towards Wudang.
Chapter 132 Extinction at Hankou
Zhu Yuchen and his servant left the riverbank with the boatman. A Niu took out a silver ingot to compensate the boatman for his loss and left amidst profuse thanks.
Although it was their first time entering the Central Plains, A Niu didn't ask many questions and followed Zhu Yuchen. The two used their lightness skills and were even faster than the horses. As dawn broke, they had already traveled two or three hundred li and were approaching Hankou.
After daybreak, the two found a market and bought food. Zhu Yuchen, recalling the narration in his mind earlier, couldn't help but feel speechless. Was this system a bit too lively...?
[After receiving a letter from Abbess Jingxian, Abbess Miejue has led Abbess Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, Ji Xiaofu, and other disciples down from Emei Mountain to Wudang Mountain. Today, while passing through Hankou, they encountered Yuan soldiers blocking their way.]
Fang Ping, known as "Golden Melon Hammer" from Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan, was killed by Xie Xun, leaving behind eleven blood-written words: "The killer is Cheng Kun, the Hunyuan Thunderbolt Hand."
[After Gu Hongzi of Emei was angered to death by Yang Xiao, Abbess Miejue only had one lay brother, Fang Ping, who became her last refuge for Buddhist faith.]
[Having lost her last vestige of worldly attachment and died tragically, coupled with the death of her senior brother, Gu Hongzi, she was already close to the demonic path. Young man, do you wish to guide her?]
After lunch, the two continued their journey and finally arrived in Hankou in the afternoon. Before they could ask any questions, they saw caravans returning from ahead.
Seeing that the master and servant were setting off alone, a caravan of only a dozen or so merchants stopped them and said, "You can't go any further. Turn back quickly!"
Zhu Yuchen cupped his hands and asked what had happened, only to learn that a group of Mongol cavalry had clashed with a group of nuns and young girls who were also martial artists. The two sides were fighting fiercely, and their path was blocked.
"Run back quickly! The Yuan soldiers will be here soon, and those of us who are close by will definitely be caught up by them. If they catch up, we'll die," one of them said breathlessly.
“That’s right…that’s right…these Yuan dogs don’t listen to reason. They see us as two-legged sheep and kill us whenever they want. Going there is just sending us to our deaths.” Another person said.
Zhu Yuchen was surprised by the coincidence. It should be Abbess Miejue and the Yuan soldiers confronting each other ahead. After thanking the merchants, the two used their lightness skills to head in that direction.
The group of more than ten people looked at each other, and one of them said, "Good advice is useless against a fool. Let's just keep running back!"
The group nodded, and immediately set off without resting.
………………
At their pace, the master and servant had already covered two or three miles in a short while when they saw a group of more than twenty Mongol cavalrymen attacking a group of women.
These Mongol cavalrymen were all elite warriors. The dozen or so men worked together seamlessly, each with their own role: one was responsible for the encirclement and attack, while the other ten provided support on the outside to prevent the Mongol warriors from breaking through. The sound of their horses galloping back and forth kept the martial arts masters of the Emei Sect trapped inside their encirclement.
The leading nun wielded a long sword, and with a few swift strokes, she severed the weapons in the hands of the cavalrymen, giving the group of young girls a chance to catch their breath.
Seeing that two more people were rushing over, the Emei disciples couldn't help but show surprise, and even Miejue showed a hint of appreciation.
The Mongol cavalrymen roared, and two of them immediately split off, wielding curved swords and grinning maliciously as they charged towards them. Several girls in the circle cried out in alarm, shouting warnings to be careful.
Facing the oncoming cavalry, A Niu remained expressionless, drew a curved sword from his back waist, leaped into the air, and unleashed a burst of sword energy. The two Mongol cavalrymen who had just approached, a hint of surprise in their eyes, were decapitated by a single stroke.
Ah Niu landed, kicked one of the corpses off the horse, and it landed on the horse's back.
The warhorses recognized their master and neighed loudly, but A Niu, who was used to killing on the southern grasslands, showed a hint of killing intent, and the warhorses immediately quieted down.
Ignoring the astonished expressions of the cavalrymen, he pulled on the reins, turned his horse around, and charged straight at the Mongol cavalry.
The Mongol cavalry quickly dispatched more than ten men from the outer perimeter to charge towards A Niu. As the two sides drew near, A Niu brandished his scimitar, and the flashing light of the blade resembled a bursting sun rising from the ground, showcasing the splendor of the "Desert Blazing Sun Blade".
In an instant, the two sides passed each other. With a slight tremor of his curved blade, Ah Niu unleashed countless slashes. He not only blocked all the incoming weapons but also took the opportunity to kill five people. Two had their necks severed, two were cut in half at the waist, and one person's head was struck by the back of the blade and exploded on the spot.
In one round of combat, Ah Niu killed almost half of his opponents. Without hesitation, he leaped back, his body like an eagle, soaring low over the sky, landing once again on the enemy's horse. They crossed paths, hacking and kicking, leaving only a pile of corpses behind.
He landed on the horse, slapped the horse's rump with his scimitar, and the warhorse neighed and charged at the Mongol cavalry again.
At this moment, the cavalry besieging the Emei Sect were stunned and slowed down. Abbess Miejue's eyes were fierce, and she immediately seized the opportunity to swing her sword and open a gap.
The two men worked together from the inside and outside, instantly scattering the remaining Mongol cavalry. Seeing the scattered cavalry, A Niu did not pursue them, but rode back and gathered more than ten horses.
Patting the horse's head, Ah Niu couldn't help but say, "Young Master, these are all top-quality warhorses. It would be a waste to release them. They will head straight back to the military camp."
Zhu Yuchen shook his head and chuckled, "If you like it, then keep it!"
Ah Niu responded and turned to select a few suitable horses for transportation.
………………
Over there in the Emei Sect, a few young girls were gathered together, pointing and whispering in this direction. One of them seemed to have confirmed something and walked up to Abbess Miejue and whispered a few words.
Abbess Miejue raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of surprise, and then led her disciples over.
"Emei Extinction, which sect do you two belong to, and who is your master?" Abbess Extinction asked, scrutinizing the two.
Ah Niu curled his lip and immediately stood behind Zhu Yuchen, intending to teach her a lesson.
Zhu Yuchen sighed. Although Abbess Miejue was dressed in a Buddhist robe, her eyes were fierce and her features were harsh, showing no signs of a nun's refinement. He was too lazy to say anything more, so he reached out and made a move, "Controlling the Crane and Capturing the Dragon." Abbess Miejue only felt a gentle force coming towards her. Her right hand trembled, and the long sword in her hand hummed. A strong force lifted her fingers, and the long sword flew towards the young man.
The Emei Sect disciples were taken aback, and they all drew their longswords, pointing them at Zhu Yuchen and his companion. One of them, with a fierce look in her eyes, was Ding Minjun. She shouted angrily, "Put it down."
Ding Minjun has always considered herself the next leader of Emei Sect. She had long regarded the Yitian Sword as her own. Now that it had been snatched away, she was confident that with Abbess Miejue by her side, she would be able to get it back. Therefore, she wanted to show her loyalty to Abbess Miejue.
"How dare you!" Abbess Miejue roared, leaping into the air and striking out with her right palm towards her chest—the "Golden Summit Buddha Light" of the Emei Buddha Palm.
Zhu Yuchen drew a section of his longsword, ignoring her. Behind him, A Niu lightly touched the ground with his toes, his right palm gleaming with golden light, as if cast in gold. He moved like a wild goose soaring through the sky, exchanging a palm strike with Abbess Miejue in mid-air.
With a loud "boom," like a thunderclap from a clear sky, the aftershocks of their clash unleashed gusts of wind that swept wildly in all directions.
When Miejue was struck by his palm, she felt a powerful force mixed with pure true energy impacting her meridians. Her blood and qi surged, her face flushed, and after taking several steps back, she finally couldn't help but vomit a mouthful of stagnant blood.
Seeing this, the Emei disciples were all stunned, and Ding Minjun's face even showed a trace of panic. No one expected that Abbess Miejue would be injured in one move.
Extinction retreated several steps, his right hand trembling uncontrollably, his eyes wide with shock. He looked at A Niu, who had retreated behind Zhu Yuchen as if nothing had happened, and said, "Shaolin Vajra Palm, are you a Shaolin disciple?"
Chapter 133 On the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber in Hankou
Ah Niu remained expressionless and ignored her, creating an awkward atmosphere.
The Emei disciples surrounded Abbess Miejue: Abbess Jingxu clasped her hands together, blocking Miejue's way; Abbess Jingxuan, with a fierce look in her eyes, stood on either side of Ji Xiaofu; Ding Minjun, however, had already quietly retreated behind Miejue and stood with a group of Miejue's grand-disciples.
Abbess Miejue glanced at Ding Minjun and immediately flew into a rage. Without saying a word, she slapped Ding Minjun across the face, leaving a purplish-red handprint. Blood trickled from the corner of Ding Minjun's mouth, but she dared not utter a word.
Abbess Miejue cursed, "Useless!" She turned and stared intently at A Niu, fearing he might suddenly attack.
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from behind. After a moment, three fine horses carrying two men, a woman, and a child came towards them. It was Yu Lianzhou and his party, who looked travel-worn.
"Master, Brother Aniu, it's so good to know you're alright! I just heard from a merchant that there are Tartars rampaging around here, and it seems that the Emei Sect is fighting them off. I came here specifically to lend a hand," Yu Lianzhou said as he dismounted.