Yun Yinghuai put Chu Tong down, then walked to the waterfall. Looking up, he saw towering, steep, and treacherous mountains. Knowing that climbing them was a pipe dream, he felt a slight disappointment. Then he heard Chu Tong calling him from behind. Turning around, he saw Chu Tong lying on a rock by the river, pointing at the lake and smiling at him, "Yun Yinghuai, shall we catch a couple of fish and grill them for lunch?"
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback by her radiant smile, then gave a perfunctory reply and looked away. He noticed something carved on the rock beside him, and quickly pushed aside the plants obscuring it. There, he saw several lines of strong, powerful characters carved into the stone:
"The heavy fog soaks through my thin clothes, and tears stream down my face under the moon."
Looking ahead, my hatred remains unresolved; turning back, I find myself trapped.
A solitary figure grows old, the dream of two boxes remains unfulfilled.
"All things vanish in the dust, leaving only a long sigh in old age."
The inscription at the bottom read: "Yun Banhe's Last Words." Chu Tong leaned closer, and upon seeing the words "Double Boxes," a chill ran down her spine. She instinctively touched the brocade pouch tied to her waist. Since leaving the Jin Yang Prince's mansion, the double boxes and the Shoushan stone seal had been in her pouch, never leaving her side despite the pursuit, drowning, and other misfortunes. Looking at the stone tablet, she thought, "Could it be that Yun Banhe lost the double boxes and couldn't bear it, so he committed suicide here? Did he drown himself?"
Yun Yinghuai stared at the words on the mountain wall for a long time, then sighed and said, "I never imagined that the founder of my Yunding Sect would really pass away here."
Chu Tong said, "I heard that the Cloud Peak Sect was wiped out in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Your ancestor fled to the Northern Liang Dynasty. Of course, he could gather his forces and make a comeback. Why would you be so foolish?"
Yun Yinghuai shook his head and sighed, "You don't know this, but the founder of my Yunding Sect was a descendant of the royal family of the previous dynasty. Later, when the previous dynasty fell, the royal family members fled the palace with a large amount of gold and silver treasures, intending to use them for the future restoration of the country. They hid the treasure in two places, one to tell their descendants, and the other was drawn as a treasure map, torn in half, and hidden in two boxes in case of unforeseen circumstances. When the Yunding Sect was founded, the founder opened one of the treasures to recruit soldiers and horses, which made the Yunding Sect grow rapidly, but because it was too sharp, it attracted the disaster of being wiped out. As for the two boxes, they disappeared during the war. The founder must have felt that there was no hope of restoring the country, so he committed suicide here."
Upon hearing the word "treasure," Chu Tong's heart pounded. She touched the brocade pouch again, thinking smugly, "Hahaha, the treasure of the Cloud Peak Sect is now mine!" Suddenly, she remembered something and immediately asked, "Yun Yinghuai, do you know how to open those two boxes?"
Yun Yinghuai glanced at her and said, "I've never even seen the box, how would I know how to open it?" Then, gazing at the mountain wall, he sighed again, "Since the Great Zhou wiped out the Yunding Sect, the descendants of our patriarch have regrouped in Southern Yan. Now, time has passed, and no one has the desire to restore the kingdom anymore." He thought to himself, "By chance, I've seen our patriarch's last words. I'll clean up the surroundings, then kowtow and pay my respects, to express my gratitude as a junior." With that thought, he began clearing away the vines around the rock. Suddenly, he noticed a protruding edge around the rock, like an opening blocked by the rock. A thought struck Yun Yinghuai, and he turned to Chu Tong, saying, "Chu Tong, step back a bit." Then, with a shout, he pushed against the rock with both hands and his legs, and with a creak, the rock was moved slightly.
Chu Tong was taken aback, thinking to herself, "My goodness! There's a hidden world behind that rock! But I wonder if there's any gold or silver treasure inside?"
Yun Yinghuai took a deep breath, then focused his energy in his dantian and shouted again. With a "thud," the rock collapsed. Chu Tong excitedly ran over, about to rush into the cave, when she was suddenly hit by a stench that almost made her faint. She quickly ran to the side and coughed loudly, "What, what is in here?"
Yun Yinghuai stepped aside and waited until the stench had mostly dissipated before covering her mouth and nose and entering. Chu Tong, though disgusted by the stench, couldn't resist her curiosity and followed, also covering her nose. The cave was dimly lit. To the left was a smooth stone, taller than a person. A dead body lay on the stone. Over the years, it had decomposed beyond recognition, and the stench was emanating from the corpse.
Chu Tong covered her nose and mumbled, "My god, this, this hero, did he die from constipation? How can he smell so bad!"
Yun Yinghuai glared at Chu Tong, who stuck out her tongue and remained silent. Yun Yinghuai turned to the corpse, a wave of sadness washing over him. Knowing this was the ancestral master's tomb, he regretted his impulsive act of pushing aside the stones and barging in. He knelt on the ground, clasped his hands, and said, "Ancestral master, please forgive me. I have disturbed your peace with my recklessness. I will now withdraw and block the entrance with the rocks. If I can obtain the valley, I will surely come here to collect your remains and return them to your hometown for burial." He then respectfully kowtowed three times.
Chu Tong was preoccupied with finding gold and silver treasures. She searched around but couldn't find a single glittering gem, and couldn't help but feel disappointed. Turning her head, she saw several jars of various sizes placed on the right side of the cave. Seeing that Yun Yinghuai wasn't paying attention, she slipped over, secretly picked up two small jars, and ran away. She went outside and hid the jars behind a large tree, then grabbed a handful of wildflowers and weeds and came back in.
At this moment, Yun Yinghuai had already gotten up and was looking at the furnishings inside the cave. He glanced at Chu Tong and said, "What were you doing just now?"
Chu Tong blinked her large eyes and said solemnly, "Just now, standing here, I felt this senior exuding an aura of unparalleled heroism. Overwhelmed with emotion, I went out and picked some flowers to offer as a tribute." She placed the flowers on the ground, then knelt before Yun Banhe's body, hands clasped together, eyes closed, and murmured, "This, this old hero Yun, you don't know me, and I'm not your disciple, but as the saying goes, 'We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?' Although we've been separated for over a hundred years, we share a common hatred for the Great Zhou royal family and its lackeys, so we are friends..." At this point, Chu Tong thought to herself, "If I were to ask him to bless me so I could find the Twin Treasure Boxes, he probably wouldn't agree." "Or should I say something else?" Thinking this, she slightly opened her eyes and saw Yun Yinghuai standing at the cave entrance. The sunlight shone on his handsome features, making him appear even more dashing. Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately closed her eyes, saying, "Hero Yun, since we are friends, I'll speak frankly. Your disciple Yun Yinghuai may be a bit stubborn, but he is loyal and righteous. I disliked him at first, but now I find myself liking him more and more. Anyway, I need a husband in the future. Since I've already been intimate with him, you... you should give him to me in marriage! If you grant my wish, I will definitely burn a lot of paper money and paper horses for you, so that you will have enough money to bribe the King of Hell, escape the underworld sooner, and be reborn as an emperor in your next life." After saying this, she respectfully kowtowed three times.
Seeing Chu Tong muttering to herself with her eyes closed, Yun Yinghuai was a little puzzled, but seeing her devout expression, he couldn't help but smile.
After kowtowing, Chu Tong stood up, held her breath, and looked at Yun Banhe. She saw that the corpse was holding a sword in its left hand, and something seemed to be pressing down on its right. Chu Tong pulled it out and looked closely. It turned out to be a piece of animal hide with a map drawn on it.
Yun Yinghuai walked over, frowning, and said, "What are you rummaging through?"
Chu Tong handed over the animal hide, her cheeks flushed with excitement: "Yun Yinghuai, look, isn't this a treasure map?"
Yun Yinghuai stared intently at the map for a moment, then suddenly relaxed his brows and said with a look of joy, "This is a map of the water cave. It turns out that our ancestor had already found the way out of the valley!" He then pointed to the map and said excitedly, "We just need to make a raft and we can get out of the mountain through that water cave."
Upon hearing the word "water cave," Chu Tong felt a chill of fear, and her face immediately fell. Yun Yinghuai noticed her thoughts and softened his voice to comfort her, "Don't be afraid. We will be fully prepared before entering the water cave again." Then, he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yun Banhe's corpse and said, "Grandmaster, may I borrow this animal hide for a moment?" After saying this, he led Chu Tong out of the cave, sealed the entrance, and bowed once more.
Yun Yinghuai felt much better after finding a way out of the valley. He thought to himself that since he was currently suffering from internal injuries, it wouldn't be too late to recuperate in these deep mountains before leaving the valley. Having made up his mind, he took Chu Tong for a walk around the waterfall and found another cave. He chased the animals out of the cave and then settled down there with Chu Tong.
Chivalry, swordsmanship, and romance
The light rain has cleared, the new moon shines brightly, and the summer air is vast and open. Smoke drifts across the water, reflecting a few returning geese; the myriad lights on the flat sands have faded.
As night fell, the valley grew suddenly cold. Chu Tong woke up in the middle of the night from the cold. Seeing that the fire in the cave was about to go out, she went over and added a few more pieces of firewood. Turning her head, she saw Yun Yinghuai lying on the other side of the cave, fast asleep. Yun Yinghuai had been struggling with his willpower these past few days, and now he was exhausted and fast asleep. Chu Tong tiptoed to Yun Yinghuai's side, carefully examining his face by the firelight. Then she reached out and gently stroked his eyebrows and eyes, murmuring, "This guy is really handsome, but it's a pity he always has such a serious face, as if someone owes him a lot of money."
In his sleep, Yun Yinghuai vaguely heard a sweet voice whispering in his ear. Then, a soft, cool hand touched his face. His heart skipped a beat, and he was overwhelmed with emotions. He grabbed the hand and whispered, "Wan... Wansheng..."
Chu Tong stiffened, staring blankly at the hand held by Yun Yinghuai, wondering, "Wansheng...who is Wansheng?" She pondered for a moment, then frowned slightly, staring at Yun Yinghuai's handsome face, and muttered to herself, "Is Wansheng your lover?"
Yun Yinghuai held Chu Tong's hand tightly, his face shifting between sorrow and joy. He stood there for a moment, then suddenly released Chu Tong's hand, murmuring, "You...you should go..."
Chu Tong snorted and thought to herself, "That's it, that Wan Sheng is probably his ex-lover!" Then she thought of Yun Yinghuai, who was handsome and dashing, and who was already the leader of the Yunding Sect at a young age. How could such a young man not win the hearts of women? Chu Tong became uneasy at this thought. She lowered her head and saw that Yun Yinghuai had fallen into a deep sleep again, his face expressionless.
The following evening, Yun Yinghuai practiced a set of Great Cloud-Searching Palm techniques by the waterfall. After finishing, he felt his internal energy circulating throughout his body, knowing his internal injuries were gradually healing, and he felt immense satisfaction. Now calm, Yun Yinghuai looked around and saw Chu Tong standing by the lake, her trousers rolled up, catching fish in the shallow water. Her eyes were fixed on the water, and suddenly she shouted "Hey!" With lightning speed, she grabbed a large fish from the water with both hands. The fish thrashed wildly, and Chu Tong squinted, dodging the splashing water, and said triumphantly to Yun Yinghuai, "How about grilled fish tonight?"
Yun Yinghuai smiled slightly without replying, then lifted his clothes and jumped onto the lake. With a few "splashes," he kicked several live fish out of the water and threw them onto the shore. Chu Tong stared in surprise and exclaimed, "Wow, you catch fish so easily!"
Yun Yinghuai glanced at Chu Tong and said calmly, "If you practice martial arts diligently every day, you can become like me."
Chu Tong stuck out her tongue and chuckled dryly, saying, "Fine, fine, from now on, if I want to eat fish, I'll have you catch it for me!" Yun Yinghuai was taken aback, but then saw Chu Tong already humming a song as she went to gather firewood.
In no time, the two of them had grilled the fish over the fire, each picking one up and enjoying it immensely. As evening approached, the setting sun cast long, sharp rays of light, creating a breathtakingly magnificent scene. Yun Yinghuai remarked leisurely, "The scenery is magnificent, but it's a pity there's no wine." Chu Tong, upon hearing this, rolled her eyes and said, "Getting wine isn't difficult." Yun Yinghuai looked at her in surprise, and Chu Tong grinned, "If I can conjure up wine, you absolutely mustn't be angry!" Yun Yinghuai smiled and said, "Of course."
After hearing this, Chu Tong got up and went into the bushes. After a short while, she returned with two jars, pushed them in front of Yun Yinghuai, and said, "I took this wine from Elder Yun's tomb." After saying that, she immediately waved her index finger in front of Yun Yinghuai and said, "I've told you everything, you promised, you're not allowed to be angry!"
Looking at Chu Tong's sparkling eyes, Yun Yinghuai was both amused and exasperated. He stared at Chu Tong for a long time, then sighed and said, "Alright, I'm not angry." He then comforted himself, "I think my Yunding Sect's founder was a magnanimous and generous senior who wouldn't hold a grudge against us juniors. When I come back to collect my founder's remains, I'll just buy a few jars of good wine to pay my respects to him."
Chu Tong smiled, her eyes crinkling, and happily opened the wine jar. A clear, mellow aroma immediately wafted out. Yun Yinghuai took a sip and exclaimed, "Good wine!" The two drank together for a while, then Chu Tong secretly glanced at Yun Yinghuai a few times, finally unable to resist asking, "Who...who is Wan Sheng?"
Yun Yinghuai stiffened, his smile vanishing abruptly. He glanced at Chu Tong, then placed the wine jar on the ground. The atmosphere became tense. Chu Tong bit her lip and pressed on again, "Wansheng was...your ex-lover?"
Yun Yinghuai stood up abruptly, his voice hoarse. "Don't ask anymore. There's nothing. It's over. Since it's over, don't ask anymore." He turned and left. Chu Tong jumped up immediately, chased after him, and hugged Yun Yinghuai from behind, burying her face in his back and whispering, "Don't be angry... Yun Yinghuai, no matter how many thousands or hundreds of lovers you had before, from now on you're not allowed to have any more. Anyway, I'll follow you from now on. Whether you're framed, on the run, or destitute, as long as you protect me with all your might like before, and smile at me every day, I'll be content."
Yun Yinghuai stiffened and remained silent. Chu Tong continued, "After we leave the valley, we'll find a good place to buy a big house, and we'll never have to live a life of wandering again. What do you say?"
After a long silence, Yun Yinghuai turned around and asked in a hoarse voice, "Why?" Chu Tong looked up and met Yun Yinghuai's deep, dark eyes. She lowered her head in a panic, then raised it high again, staring into Yun Yinghuai's eyes and said loudly, "Because you are a great hero! I've lived from childhood to now and have seen many princes and nobles, famous scholars and gentlemen, as well as many commoners and officials. There are many who are richer and more powerful than you, more eloquent, more knowledgeable about romance, and more intelligent. But none of them are as loyal and committed to their promises as you!"
Yun Yinghuai was slightly taken aback. Chu Tong composed herself and said in a clear voice, "The first time I met you, you infiltrated the Xie mansion to assassinate the Second Madam in order to avenge your master. Although I laughed at you for being reckless and courting death, I still admired you for being willing to risk your life for a dead person. At that time, I thought, if you are so kind to the dead, you will certainly treat the living well. Anyone who can do such a thing is truly a hero. Then at the inn, you refused to be wronged, regardless of what kind of upright gentlemen or chivalrous heroes they were." He killed without hesitation, showing no fear even when facing multiple opponents alone—this is the ruthlessness of a true man. When we were in distress on Tianyu Mountain, you remembered Bai Xiaolu's kindness and wouldn't let me kill her to cover it up—this is the benevolence of a hero. We are not related, yet you are a man of your word, saving me time and again. Looking at this world with a cold eye, there are too many treacherous and selfish people. You saved me first several times in moments of life and death; I have the utmost respect and admiration for you. You are loyal, righteous, brave, and strong—a true hero!
Yun Yinghuai was stunned. He remained silent, but his eyes seemed to be churning with turbulent emotions. Chu Tong looked up quickly at Yun Yinghuai, then lowered her head shyly, reaching out a small hand to take his large one, saying, "Yun Yinghuai, I want to be with you all the time, and I'm telling you this today. You are a renowned swordsman in the martial world, so please don't look down on me, a little orphan. From now on, you can call me Xing'er, just like my mother..."
Yun Yinghuai's eyes were deep and thoughtful, his heart churning with unsettling emotions. Chu Tong's words didn't express a single word of romantic love, yet every sentence revealed his deep affection. He had wandered the martial world since childhood, and had even had forthright female warriors express their love for him before, but never had she spoken with such sincerity, frankness, and unrestrained spirit!
Yun Yinghuai's eyes, like autumn water, held a hidden light. After a long silence, he slowly said, "You must think this through carefully. If you stay with me, you will live a life of constant uncertainty, a life on the run. The injustice I have suffered has not yet been cleared, and I am despised by everyone in the martial arts world. If you follow me, you will likely suffer the same humiliation."
Chu Tong blinked her cold, starry eyes and nodded frantically, saying, "I know all of that. I was chased all the way here, and I almost died several times, but I wasn't scared at all. If I follow you from now on, I'll have plenty to eat and drink. What I just said was completely sincere; I wasn't joking!" While she said this, she thought to herself, "If we find some treasure in the future, I'll be the richest man in the world. You'll follow me and live a life of luxury and wealth. Why would you be living a life of constant uncertainty, on the run?"
Thinking of this, Chu Tong raised her face, about to say something, but suddenly her waist tightened, and then she was pulled into a broad embrace. Chu Tong immediately smelled the cool scent of the man. Her face turned red, and she was about to struggle when she heard Yun Yinghuai's deep voice in her ear: "Don't move, let me hold you for a while."
Chu Tong quietly leaned against Yun Yinghuai's chest. After a moment, she stretched out her arms and slowly tightened her embrace around Yun Yinghuai's waist.
After a long pause, Chu Tong said, "Yun Yinghuai, are you... are you agreeing to my request?"
Yun Yinghuai rested his chin on Chu Tong's head, but remained silent for a long time. Chu Tong blinked her cold, bright eyes, nestled against Yun Yinghuai's chest, and urged, "Yun Yinghuai, if you agree, you agree; if you don't agree, you don't agree. Why are you being so indecisive, a grown man like you? I'm not ashamed, so why are you?"
Yun Yinghuai remained silent.
Chu Tong looked up and glared angrily, saying, "Say something!"
Yun Yinghuai glanced at Chu Tong, sighed, and then pulled Chu Tong back into his arms, saying helplessly, "Silence speaks louder than words right now, so stop making a fuss."
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai stayed in the valley for a few more days, enjoying the gentle breeze and bright moonlight. That night, Chu Tong confessed her feelings by the waterfall, but Yun Yinghuai didn't say a word. He simply held her in his arms and stood quietly for a long time, but from then on, he treated her even more intimately than before. A few more days passed, and Yun Yinghuai's internal injuries gradually healed. He chopped down several large trees to make a raft and entered the water cave several times a day to find a way out. The water cave was extremely deep, winding and intertwined like an underground maze. One path led to a small cave on a hillside. Yun Yinghuai used a map to figure out the route out of the valley, and then he took Chu Tong and left Tianyu Mountain. After leaving the valley, the two changed clothes at a nearby market, bought horses and other items, rested for a few days, and then headed towards Nan Yan.
Since leaving the Xie residence, Chu Tong had been suffering from severe poisoning and was repeatedly pursued, living in constant fear. However, this time, with her beloved, a man of great martial arts skills, accompanying her on her journey to Southern Yan, she enjoyed sightseeing, chatting and laughing freely, and her spirits were exceptionally high. Yun Yinghuai, who had initially found Chu Tong's rambling and annoying chatter annoying, now found the girl clever, witty, and full of charm, making their company incredibly enjoyable, and she no longer felt lonely at all.
The two traveled for over two months and arrived in Linzhou, within the territory of Southern Yan. It was already noon, and they found a restaurant in the city and ordered a couple of simple dishes. After eating for a while, Yun Yinghuai looked up and said, "After leaving that grove of trees on the outskirts of the city, it's another half an hour's walk to Lianyun Mountain, where the main gate of the Yunding Sect is located. I cannot return now because my grievances have not been cleared, but I have a highly respected elder in the sect named Shi Youliang. He is a close friend of my master. I will take you to his residence, and he will surely take good care of you."
Upon hearing this, Chu Tong's eyes widened immediately, and she swallowed the bun in her mouth with great effort, saying, "No way! If you don't go, I won't go either. I'll follow you wherever you go! Last time at the Xie residence, you abandoned me for several years. Now I must keep a close eye on you at all times."
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback, then smiled slightly and said, "I'm just asking you to stay at Yunding Sect for a few days. I'll come pick you up after I've finished my business." Chu Tong lowered her head and pouted. Seeing her aggrieved expression, Yun Yinghuai said softly, "I'm going to investigate my master's wife's whereabouts. I don't know what dangers lie ahead. You don't know martial arts, and I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you at all times in a critical moment..."
Seeing the gentle look in his eyes, which subtly revealed his concern, Chu Tong felt a warmth in her heart. Just as she was about to say something, a dozen or so government officials suddenly rushed into the restaurant. The leader, a man in his thirties or forties, had an average appearance, but a scar on his left cheek added a touch of fierceness to his face. As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Manager, bring some food quickly! We're in a hurry to deliver a message; we don't have time to waste." With that, he and his men sat down ostentatiously.
Chu Tong turned her head and secretly glanced at the man a few times. Yun Yinghuai leaned closer and whispered, "They are the Emperor's personal 800-mile express cavalry. Something urgent must have happened in the prefectures and counties of Nan Yan, which is why they sent them to deliver the message so urgently."
Chu Tong asked curiously, "How did you know?"
Yun Yinghuai chuckled and pointed to the belt of the leader, saying, "He's wearing a golden token that allows him to move freely within the palace. And look at all these people dressed as imperial guards; it's not hard to guess."
Chu Tong stuck out her tongue and said, "My goodness, I wonder what important official document it is that they sent more than a dozen people to deliver it. That's quite a commotion! But it doesn't necessarily mean it's any important business. Isn't there a poem that goes, 'A single rider in the mortal world brings a smile to the concubine's face'? It's about how the emperor's concubine could have lychees delivered from 800 li away overnight if she wanted to eat them. Maybe the messenger today was delivering a love poem that the emperor wrote for his mistress! Sigh, being the emperor is really different!"
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback upon hearing this. He then looked at Chu Tong's wistful expression and couldn't help but smile slightly.
After finishing their meal, the two hurriedly set off, traveling for half an hour before entering a small grove on the outskirts of the city. The grove was quite lush, with towering trees blocking out the scorching sun. As they walked, Yun Yinghuai suddenly reined in his horse, frowning as he stopped. A faint smell of blood seemed to linger in the air. Just then, Chu Tong couldn't help but exclaim, "Blood! There's a dead body over there!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Yinghuai immediately dismounted and galloped in the direction Chu Tong pointed. He saw seven or eight corpses lying on the ground, blood flowing like a river; they were clearly recently killed, with severed limbs scattered around. Yun Yinghuai walked over and turned over one of the fallen bodies. The instant he saw the corpse's face clearly, he roared angrily, and a chilling killing intent surged from his entire body!
Chu Tong was startled. She jumped off her horse and peered at the corpse. It was an old man in his early sixties, his face contorted, his eyes wide open, his mouth agape—a truly terrifying sight. Yun Yinghuai gritted his teeth and said, "This man is Bai Xun, the head of the Jinghong Hall of my Yunding Sect!"
Chu Tong exclaimed, "Ah! How could he have died so tragically? Could something have happened at the Cloud Peak Sect?"
Yun Yinghuai stood up, his face ashen, and walked forward. Chu Tong led two horses and followed behind him. Along the way, they saw several more corpses. With each place Yun Yinghuai looked at, his murderous aura intensified, but his overall presence became increasingly imposing. Chu Tong followed silently, but her large eyes darted around warily. She inwardly groaned, "Mother! So many people have died here. There must have been a fierce fight! If the powerful enemy hasn't gone far, won't Yun Yinghuai and I be in grave danger?"
Yun Yinghuai pursed his lips, mounted his horse, glanced at Chu Tong, and said, "Come with me!" With that, he spurred his horse and galloped away. Chu Tong hurriedly urged her horse to follow behind Yun Yinghuai. The two rode for a while and arrived at a magnificent garden halfway up the mountain. They saw that the garden gates were wide open, and several corpses lay inside, with blood flowing like a river.
Chu Tong's eyes widened, her face filled with fear, and she asked, "This... Could it be that the Cloud Peak Sect has been wiped out?"
Yun Yinghuai jumped off his horse and strode inside. Chu Tong hurriedly followed and grabbed Yun Yinghuai's arm. After walking a few steps, they suddenly heard the faint sounds of fighting ahead. Yun Yinghuai turned to Chu Tong and said, "I don't know what dangers lie ahead. You wait for me here. If the situation changes, you must ride away immediately and not stay here for long."
Chu Tong nodded and said to Yun Yinghuai, "Be careful. If you encounter any powerful villains, don't be reckless. Run for your life."
Yun Yinghuai strode forward, and Chu Tong quietly followed him for a while. When the sounds of fighting became clearer, she looked around and spotted a large tree. She hugged the trunk, climbed up, and sat on a branch, looking down into the distance. She saw over a hundred people standing in the courtyard ahead, each wielding a sharp blade, their expressions fierce. Among them, a young man was fighting an old man with a sword. The young man was already covered in blood and now looked even more exhausted. The old man was obese, with small eyes and eyebrows. As he fought, he shouted loudly, "Shi Youliang, are you still going to be a coward in Miaoyun Pavilion? If you don't come out, your precious son will become a victim of my sword!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the onlookers burst into laughter, saying, "The moves of 'Gentle Breeze,' the fastest swordsman in Southern Yan, seem to be nothing special now."
Enraged, the young man swung his sword at the old man. The old man snorted and immediately launched a powerful right kick at the young man's right wrist, then leaped high into the air to thrust at his left arm. The young man flicked his wrist; his move was incredibly skillful. Although it was a strike with the force of splitting a mountain, he deliberately swung his sword downwards and to the left, deflecting the attack and managing to defend himself completely.
The old man couldn't help but praise, "You've got some skill!" Then he changed his stance again. He grabbed the young man's left arm and thrust his sword at the man's thigh with his right hand. The young man hurriedly blocked with his sword, but at that moment, the old man suddenly released his left hand and swiftly struck the young man's chest, followed immediately by a powerful punch to the young man's leg bone. This punch was delivered with full force; if the young man had taken it head-on, his leg would likely have been crippled.
Just then, a loud shout rang out: "Stop!" The voice, delivered with immense internal force, made everyone's eardrums ring. Immediately afterward, Yun Yinghuai leaped past the crowd and into the arena, his fist flying like lightning straight for the old man's face. The old man was startled and quickly dodged. Yun Yinghuai seized the opportunity to save the young man, taking several steps back, and said in a deep voice, "Yiqing, are you alright?"
At this moment, Chu Tong also saw the young man's appearance clearly and was taken aback. It turned out that the man was Shi Yiqing, who had been cursing the Seven Sages of Peach Garden with his wife Chu Yue in the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion!
Shi Yiqing was overjoyed to see Yun Yinghuai and immediately grabbed his arm, exclaiming, "Sect Master!" But after calling him "Sect Master," he felt it was inappropriate. It turned out that when Yun Yinghuai left Yunding Sect, he had made a solemn vow that he would never return to Yunding Sect until he found out the whereabouts of his master's wife and cleared her name. So, after calling out, he felt a little awkward.
Yun Yinghuai descended from the sky, causing an uproar among the crowd. They whispered amongst themselves, their expressions filled with surprise and uncertainty. Yun Yinghuai, supporting Shi Yiqing, asked, "What happened?"
Shi Yiqing said, "Shen Zhanyang, the leader of Jifeng Hall, and Zhang Huanqiang, the leader of Benlei Hall, have joined forces to betray the sect! They colluded with outsiders to seize the position of sect leader. The incident happened suddenly, and it was an internal conflict, so many brothers were lost. These two traitors took advantage of the situation and killed Bai Hall Master. Now only my father and a few men are left to retreat into Miaoyun Pavilion and desperately hold on! I beg... I beg the sect leader to make a decision!" After saying this, he said to Yun Yinghuai in a very low voice, "There are only thirty-odd wounded brothers left in Miaoyun Pavilion, and my father has also suffered serious internal injuries... I have sent Chu Yue to the branch of Yunding Sect and Tonghua Society to ask for reinforcements, hoping that I can hold on for a little while longer... Fortunately, the sect leader has arrived!"
The old man sneered, "Sect Master? This traitor who betrayed his master is no longer the Sect Master of Cloud Peak Sect! Yun Yinghuai, how dare you come back now?"
Yun Yinghuai's expression remained impassive, his cold, murderous eyes sweeping over the crowd. Though young, since becoming the leader of the Yunding Sect, he had always led from the front, displaying both courage and wisdom, and had led his followers to accomplish several momentous events that shook the martial world, thus earning him immense prestige. Moreover, Yun Yinghuai exuded an awe-inspiring majesty, causing some to lower their heads,不敢直视他 (不敢直视他), others to quickly avert their gazes upon him, and still others to glance at Yun Yinghuai before immediately looking at the old man.
Yun Yinghuai finally fixed his gaze on the old man. He understood that this betrayal must have been planned for a long time. The situation was extremely critical, and the other side was clearly determined to fight to the death. Moreover, with one of their leaders already dead, there was no possibility of appeasement, and a war seemed inevitable. The two stared at each other for a moment, and Yun Yinghuai asked, "Shen Zhanyang, why did you betray us?"
Shen Zhanyang sneered and said, "Yun Yinghuai, you are not a member of the Yunding Sect, so what right do you have to question me?"
Yun Yinghuai said sternly, "Even if my name remains unaddressed, everyone in the Yun Ding Sect is like a brother to me. Do you know how many lives you have taken! Master Bai of the Jinghong Hall saved my life, and now that he has died tragically, I must avenge him!" Then he looked around, his voice cold and solemn, and said, "Brothers and sisters, you must have listened to slander or been forced to obey orders, leading you to commit this act of betrayal. I swear here and now that whatever you have done, as long as you sincerely repent and lay down your weapons, I, Yun, and everyone in the Yun Ding Sect will forgive and forget all your past actions! If you break this oath, may you be condemned to eternal damnation!"
A hush fell over the crowd, followed by a flurry of discussion. Half of the people in the crowd hesitated. They stole glances at Yun Yinghuai, all feeling that he possessed a majestic presence and awe-inspiring power, like a god. They couldn't help but regret obeying orders to rebel.
Shen Zhanyang laughed loudly, then his expression turned serious, and he said in a loud voice, "Yun Yinghuai, you are a traitor to your master and ancestors, and your crimes are unforgivable. What right do you have to swear an oath here?" Then he turned to the crowd and said, "My lads! Don't listen to his nonsense! Which of you hasn't stained your hands with the blood of our sect members? Now it's a matter of going against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat! As long as we break into Miaoyun Pavilion and kill Shi Youliang, this Yunding Sect will be ours, and the Yunding Sect's sacred double box will also be ours!"
Yun Yinghuai's temple throbbed slightly. He suddenly laughed, a laugh as if a glacier had melted and a spring breeze had caressed his face. He slowly nodded and said, "So, you're still unrepentant?"
Shen Zhanyang narrowed his eyes, a mocking look on his face, and said, "Yun Yinghuai, do you think you can stop a chariot by yourself?"
Yun Yinghuai still smiled slightly and said, "Then give me your life!" After saying that, his smile completely disappeared, and his whole body was filled with murderous aura. His fists attacked Shen Zhanyang with lightning speed like raindrops!
Shen Zhanyang was taken aback and hurriedly dodged, but Yun Yinghuai's fist technique was too fast and incredibly exquisite. Even after a punch was finished, a new change would occur at the end, the style unpredictable and erratic, each move aimed at his vital points, seemingly intent on killing him immediately! However, Shen Zhanyang had been a seasoned martial artist for many years, and as the head of the Jifeng Hall of the Yunding Sect, his martial arts were naturally superior. The two were locked in combat for a time. Yun Yinghuai thought to himself, "These rebels all follow Shen Zhanyang's lead. As the saying goes, 'To catch a thief, first catch the king.' If we punish the leader, the rest will retreat without a fight. Only swift and decisive action can stabilize the situation!" With this thought, Yun Yinghuai's punches became even more ruthless.