When Chu Tong woke up, she felt inexplicably painful all over. She struggled to open her eyes and vaguely heard someone speaking beside her. Then, a pill was placed near her mouth, and water was poured down her throat for her to swallow slowly. Chu Tong's head lolled to the side, and she fainted again. When she woke up again, she felt hungry. She slightly opened her eyes and heard the sound of rushing water. The ground beneath her was constantly rocking, as if she were on a boat. Chu Tong wondered, "Where am I?"
Just then, the door opened, and a young girl slipped in. The girl was about the same age as Chu Tong, with slightly dark skin, round eyes, thin lips, and a very delicate appearance. She wore a peach-colored dress embroidered with gold trim. Upon seeing Chu Tong, she exclaimed with delight, "You're awake!" She then walked to Chu Tong's side and said, "You've been asleep for three whole days. You're finally awake!" After saying that, she turned and went out. A moment later, she carefully brought back a bowl of white porridge, propped Chu Tong up, and said, "I imagine you've been sleeping for so long, you must be hungry. Eat something first." She then carefully fed Chu Tong spoonful by spoonful.
Chu Tong ate two bowls of porridge and regained some strength. The girl then gave her a pill to take with water and said with a smile, "You suffered internal injuries. With careful recuperation, you should recover in a month or two." Chu Tong coughed and said, "Thank you for saving me. May I ask how I should address you, my benefactor?"
The girl smiled and said, "My name is Cai Liu. I'm not your benefactor. I'm just a maid. My master asked me to take care of you." After saying that, Cai Liu blinked her round eyes and smiled, "The man who was rescued with you is your lover, right? I heard that when he rescued you, he held your hand the whole time, and no one else could separate you."
Chu Tong blushed and quickly asked, "How badly is he injured? Is he alright?"
Cai Liu said, "He was badly injured. His left arm was broken, and he suffered severe internal injuries. He probably won't be able to get out of bed for several months. When I first saw him, he was covered in blood, as if he had just crawled out of hell. We all thought he wouldn't make it, but who knew he would wake up again. He's in the next cabin, so don't worry."
Chu Tong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, "I don't know what your master's name is. He saved our lives, and I want to thank him properly."
Cai Liu stuck out her tongue and said, "My master is very famous, so it's not appropriate for him to see you now. You should rest and recover." After saying that, she laid Chu Tong down and turned to slip out.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Could it be that Brother Hua Chunlai saved me and my husband?" But after thinking about it carefully, she felt it was unlikely. Hua Chunlai was Yun Yinghuai's sworn brother. If he came to save us, there would be no need for such secrecy. She lay there lost in thought, but couldn't make sense of it. She felt a sharp pain in her chest and cursed Bai Zongtang's ancestors for eighteen generations before falling into a deep sleep.
After seven or eight days in the cabin, Chu Tong's condition improved significantly. She secretly observed that Cai Liu's demeanor and manner were unlike that of an ordinary maid. Cai Liu also served Chu Tong with utmost care, and the food, clothing, and daily necessities she provided were all of high quality.
Another ten days or so passed. Although Chu Tong still felt occasional pain in her chest, her injuries had healed by about 50-60%. She begged Cai Liu to take her to see Yun Yinghuai. Cai Liu looked troubled and said, "We've been traveling day and night, and the journey is extremely dangerous. It's best if you don't show yourself or leave the cabin now. Although my master is powerful, he's not on his own territory, and there's a risk of something happening to him." But she couldn't resist Chu Tong's pleading. Late at night, she helped Chu Tong up and pushed open the door to the cabin next to her, saying, "He's inside."
Chu Tong went in and saw Yun Yinghuai lying on the bed, his head wrapped in gauze, his eyes closed, and his face pale with illness. She sat by the bed and nudged Yun Yinghuai, saying, "My little husband, my little husband." Yun Yinghuai remained motionless. Chu Tong stared intently for a moment and saw that although Yun Yinghuai was covered in injuries, his breathing was steady and even, indicating that he was not seriously injured. She reached out and gently touched Yun Yinghuai's cheek, secretly pleased with herself, and murmured, "My little husband is so brave and awe-inspiring. My judgment was indeed excellent." Thinking of the several times they had faced life and death together, and Yun Yinghuai's selfless rescue, she felt a surge of joy and sweetness in her heart. She couldn't help but lean down and kiss Yun Yinghuai's lips, then held his right hand and said, "My little husband, I will come to see you again tomorrow."
Chu Tong got up to leave, but her right hand was tightly gripped behind her back, and a mischievous voice said, "I am valiant and awe-inspiring. You have good taste, young lady. You should give me a kiss before you go."
Chu Tong quickly turned her head and saw Yun Yinghuai looking at her with a smile. Chu Tong asked happily, "You're awake? Does it still hurt?" Then her face flushed again.
Yun Yinghuai held Chu Tong's hand, raised his eyebrows and teased, "Little lady, one more kiss and it won't hurt anymore."
Chu Tong hesitated for a moment and then snorted, "One kiss it is fine." After saying that, she pouted and gave Yun Yinghuai a quick kiss on the lips.
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback, then chuckled softly, saying, "As expected of my little wife, she dares to love and hate, how can she be like an ordinary girl?" Yun Yinghuai laughed a few times but couldn't help coughing, which aggravated her wound and made her frown repeatedly.
Chu Tong quickly poured a bowl of water for Yun Yinghuai to drink, and asked, "Young husband, are your injuries serious?"
Yun Yinghuai said, "I've been taking expensive medicinal herbs these past few days, so I'm recovering quickly. Don't worry." Then she smiled and said, "You look quite well. I suppose your injuries are almost healed too?"
Chu Tong said, "That's right, I eat ginseng, lingzhi, and cordyceps every day. Our benefactor who saved us is quite wealthy. Young master, do you know who he is?"
Yun Yinghuai lowered his voice and said, "A few days ago, the cabin door was not closed properly, and I looked out. The whole ship was full of tall and strong men, all of whom were skilled in martial arts. Moreover, they had serious expressions and a murderous aura. They didn't look like martial arts people, but rather like well-trained government troops."
Chu Tong was stunned for a moment, and said, "Young master, do you think we might be rescued by the soldiers of Southern Yan?"
Yun Yinghuai smiled wryly, "I don't know either. I just hope that you and I were rescued by the soldiers of Nan Yan." The two of them talked for a while longer before Chu Tong reluctantly left.
More than a month passed, and Yun Yinghuai was able to get out of bed and walk around a little. When asked where Cai Liu was taking them, Cai Liu smiled and said, "Naturally, I'm taking you to see my master. He saved your lives, so shouldn't you go and thank him?" Seeing that the other party was avoiding the important matter, Yun Yinghuai simply stopped asking and thought to himself that he and Chu Tong couldn't go far with their injuries, so he focused on recuperating.
A few days later, the group changed carriages. It was then that Chu Tong realized they had already entered the territory of Beiliang. Her carriage and Yun Yinghuai's were protected by over thirty burly men. These men didn't utter a single word along the way, but their expressions and actions showed extreme respect for Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai. The group ate and drank as they went, traveling day and night, enduring great hardship, but Chu Tong was naturally happy with Yun Yinghuai by her side. The two chatted and laughed, whispering sweet nothings to each other, and their affection deepened.
One day, while lodging at an inn, Yun Yinghuai overheard someone at the next table saying, "I heard that Southern Yan has been defeated and has submitted to Great Zhou. Now, the Crown Prince of Great Zhou is about to return to the capital, and the Emperor of Great Zhou is going to reward the three armies outside the city gates!" Hearing this, Yun Yinghuai was immediately stunned and slowly put down his chopsticks. Chu Tong perked up her ears and heard someone else say, "With such a fierce general as Xie Linghui, how can Great Zhou not succeed? I heard that the Emperor of Great Zhou is overjoyed and has bestowed upon Xie Linghui a python robe and jade belt. Xie Linghui's elder sister, Consort Lan, has been promoted one rank and granted the title of Imperial Noble Consort. She enjoys the utmost favor from the Emperor."
Chu Tong sighed inwardly, thinking to herself, "Damn it, Xie Linghui is lucky. My husband's sword didn't even kill him!" She put a piece of food on Yun Yinghuai's plate, and Yun Yinghuai forced a smile, but there was a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.
At that moment, a giggle came from the window seat. A charming voice, speaking in a foreign tongue, emphasized, "I heard that General Xie is quite the handsome man, much better than you who only knows how to play music and sing all day." A male voice said unhappily, "My beauty, you are mistaken. Xie Linghui is nothing but a brute in leading troops. I... I would never stoop to associating with him... Besides, doesn't my elegant demeanor, my beauty, simply delight in my romantic and refined manner?" The beauty chuckled softly.
Chu Tong looked up following the sound and was shocked to see that the people sitting at the table were none other than Urina and King Qin Ye of Jinyang! Urina wore a pea-green cloak embroidered with gold plum blossoms, her hair loosely styled in a bun, and dressed in Northern Liang attire. Her wildness had lessened somewhat, instead highlighting her beauty. Qin Ye wore a silver satin cloak, his face more refined than before, flirting with Urina with a dashing air.
Ever since Chu Tong was taken away from the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion by Yun Yinghuai, Urina, influenced by Chu Tong's provocations, had harbored feelings for Qin Ye, exchanging flirtatious glances and subtle teasing. Qin Ye, a man of many charms, was feeling rather bored after losing both Ding Dang and Chu Tong. Seeing Urina's beauty, allure, and captivating charm, he was exactly what he wanted, and the two quickly became inseparable. This month, the Emperor of Beiliang was to visit this place to pay respects to his ancestors and ordered Qin Ye to accompany him. Qin Ye took Urina with him, and in his spare time, they would go out incognito for leisure.
Upon seeing this, Chu Tong immediately understood eight or nine parts of the situation. She thought to herself, "Tsk tsk, it seems that old woman really did have an affair with Qin Ye and became one of the Thirteen Beauties of Jinling. It wasn't in vain that I tried my best to match them up before I left... They are a perfect match, one flirtatious and the other romantic." She couldn't help but glance at Qin Ye again, but unexpectedly, her eyes met his.
Qin Ye was taken aback at first, then immediately stood up, took a few quick steps, pointed at Chu Tong and said, "You...you are..." Chu Tong secretly groaned, "Damn it! I've been recognized!" Yun Yinghuai held Chu Tong's hand under the table, looked up at Qin Ye and said, "Brother, what brings you here?"
Qin Ye glared at Chu Tong and said, "She is a maid who ran away from my manor! I am taking her back to the manor today!" Then he sneered at Chu Tong, "So you're hiding here! No matter where you run to, you can't escape my grasp!"
Yun Yinghuai coldly said, "She is my wife, how could she be a maid who ran away from your mansion? Brother, you must have mistaken her for someone else." Chu Tong felt a sweet warmth in her heart because of the word "wife," and she secretly glanced at Yun Yinghuai, unable to help but smile.
Yun Yinghuai thought to herself, "Qin Ye is the most beloved son of the Northern Liang Emperor. He is arrogant, extravagant and dissolute. If Xing'er is recognized by him, she will likely be in grave danger. I should find a chance to escape with Xing'er later. It would be too disloyal of us to implicate our benefactors."
Qin Ye flew into a rage and shouted, "Fine, what a pair of adulterers!" Then he yelled, "Guards! Seize them all!" As soon as he finished speaking, half of the diners in the inn stood up with their weapons drawn. The burly men who had been protecting Chu Tong and the others also rose at the same time. The two sides drew their weapons, waiting for a command to begin their battle.
Yun Yinghuai's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he slowly and deliberately said, "What? Do you intend to forcibly abduct a woman in broad daylight?"
Qin Ye was intimidated by Yun Yinghuai's imposing manner and involuntarily took two steps back. Upon seeing that the other woman's left arm was in a sling around her neck, he realized that her arm was broken. He then mustered his courage and said, "She is just a maid in my household. It is only right for me to take her away." After saying that, he sneered, "Even if I forcibly took a woman, what can you do about it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Yun Yinghuai slowly stand up while staring at him, instantly unleashing a sharp killing intent! Qin Ye felt a chill run down his spine, but then he heard Wu Rina praise, "He has the true colors of a man, he's a real hero." After saying that, she gave Yun Yinghuai a captivating look.
Qin Ye flew into a rage, his fair face turning bright red. He waved his arms and shouted, "What are you all standing there for? All of you, charge! Take them all down! Take them all down!"
Chaos erupted instantly. Cai Liu shouted, "Stop!" Then she walked to Qin Ye's side, pulled something from her bosom, and Qin Ye's expression changed drastically upon seeing it. Cai Liu leaned closer and whispered a few words in Qin Ye's ear. Qin Ye's face flushed red and then turned pale. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, you win!" He then grabbed Wu Rina's hand and said, "Come with me." Without looking back, he stepped out of the inn. Qin Ye's subordinates all followed behind him, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai exchanged a glance, both looking surprised and uncertain. Chu Tong thought to herself, "This Cai Liu can even force back the prince of Beiliang. Just who is she? Could she be a concubine of the emperor of Beiliang? But... but she doesn't seem like it."
Cai Liu turned around and smiled, "I originally wanted you to rest for another night and see the master tomorrow, but it seems that won't work now. You may come with me."
After saying this, she urged Yun Yinghuai and Chu Tong to get into the carriage. They traveled for half an hour, swaying and bumping along the way, until they entered a royal palace. After passing through a long corridor, they stopped in front of a courtyard called "Jingxin Hall". Cai Liu led Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai to the main hall and said, "Wait a moment, I will go and invite the master out." After saying this, she turned and walked towards the inner room.
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai took their seats. After a moment, a clever little monk came from the side hall and served them tea. Chu Tong stared wide-eyed, secretly wondering, "How strange! In this royal palace, it should be palace maids serving tea. Why is a little monk here?" She looked around curiously. The Jingxin Hall was extremely quiet and secluded. Facing them was a long pear wood table with a white jade Guanyin statue on it. In front of the statue were several plates of pastries and seasonal fruits. Next to it were two candlesticks, made of silver, gold, jade and gemstones, with sixteen candles, the red candles flickering slightly.
Chu Tong looked at Yun Yinghuai with a strange expression and said, "Young husband, could it be that the princess of Beiliang is also your former lover? Apart from the King of Jinyang, I don't know any royal relatives of Beiliang."
Yun Yinghuai glared at Chu Tong and said, "If you keep talking nonsense, don't blame me for using family discipline to punish you."
Chu Tong stuck out her tongue, about to say something, when she heard a cry of alarm from the back room: "Quick! Stop him!" Before the words were finished, a figure darted out from the back room. The person was disheveled and his face was obscured. He bared his teeth and claws and pounced on Yun Yinghuai.
Yun Yinghuai hurriedly got up to dodge, but his injuries hadn't healed, and his movements were still slow. The man, however, was agile and nimble, his hand forming a fist as he aimed a powerful blow at Yun Yinghuai. Yun Yinghuai leaped onto the table, but the sudden movement aggravated his internal injuries, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood. Chu Tong was horrified and was about to throw a chair at the man when a loud Buddhist chant rang out: "Amitabha! You beast! Stop right now!" In the blink of an eye, a dark red figure was already in front of them. He kicked the man over and shouted, "Good, good, you beast! Haven't you learned your lesson from before?"
The man rolled to the ground, clearly terrified, his body curled up in a ball, whimpering. Chu Tong looked closely and saw that the man was a monk in his forties, tall and slender, with deep-set features, quite handsome and dignified, with an extraordinary air.
Upon seeing the monk, Yun Yinghuai was immediately stunned and exclaimed, "Master! Master!" Chu Tong was taken aback and thought to herself, "What master? Could this big monk be my young master's master, Yun Zhongyan? Wasn't his master killed by that vixen, the Second Madam?"
The monk turned around, looked at Yun Yinghuai, nodded slightly and smiled, "Huai'er, it's been many years. You've really grown up and haven't let your master down."
Yun Yinghuai hurriedly jumped down from the table and knelt on the ground, saying, "Disciple thinks of you, Master, all the time... It's so good that you're still alive! Disciple is overjoyed..." Upon learning that his master was still alive, he was overjoyed and wanted to dance with joy. Overwhelmed with emotion, his voice choked with emotion.
Yun Zhongyan stepped forward, intending to pat Yun Yinghuai's head, but stopped mid-air, instead patting his shoulder and helping him up. At that moment, a beautiful young woman in blue rushed out, throwing herself at the man's side, sobbing, "Ding Lang, Ding Lang, what's wrong?" Then, looking up with her tear-streaked face, she said, "Grand Preceptor, please calm your anger, don't punish him, he... he's just an ignorant madman..."
Yun Zhongyan shook his head and said, "This old monk will not punish him. Dingdang, you may leave now." Dingdang wiped away her tears, glanced at the person on the ground, and could only silently retreat.
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai were both shocked, thinking to themselves, "Dingdang calls that madman Ding Lang, could he be...?" Yun Zhongyan pulled the person on the ground up and made him sit in a chair. She brushed aside the hair in front of the person, revealing a rugged and handsome face. Yun Zhongyan turned to Yun Yinghuai and said, "That's right, he is your senior brother Ding Wuhen."
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai both gasped in shock. The scene of Ding Wuhen stirring up trouble at the martial arts tournament was still vivid in their minds. In just a few months, he had actually gone mad!
Yun Zhongyan sighed, "I only found him a few days ago. He was already in this state of madness then, disheveled and running around everywhere, with only that girl named Dingdang following him closely. When he goes berserk, he is incredibly strong, but when he is calm, he is as still as a statue. I have given him acupuncture and brewed medicine for him to take every day, but so far there has been no effect." After saying this, she put her hands together and said, "Amitabha, this is probably the retribution for this wicked beast."
After saying this, he pressed Ding Wuhen's pressure points and looked at Chu Tong, saying, "This must be the heroine Yao Chu Tong. I have long heard of her."
Chu Tong had long regarded Yun Zhongyan as Yun Yinghuai's biological father. With her future father-in-law in front of her, she naturally dared not act recklessly. She bowed respectfully, pretending to be extremely obedient, and said with her head bowed, "Hello, Elder Hero Yun. Elder Hero Yun, you flatter me. My martial arts skills are too poor, and I am really no heroine."
Yun Zhongyan said, "Miss Yao is extremely loyal. In a life-or-death situation, she would rather die than betray her friends. This is what makes her worthy of the title 'hero'." Chu Tong was overjoyed by Yun Zhongyan's praise. She was about to burst into laughter, but then she thought better of it and forced back her smile. She lowered her head, clasped her hands in a humble manner, and said, "You flatter me, sir. Hehe, you flatter me too much."
Yun Zhongyan smiled slightly, and the three of them sat down. Seeing that Yun Yinghuai had just vomited blood again, Yun Zhongyan quickly took his pulse again and said kindly, "Your internal injuries have healed by 40%. You just need to take good care of yourself. The medicine you have taken along the way was made by your master. You only need to take it for another month, and your internal injuries will be completely healed."
Yun Yinghuai said, "Thank you, Master."
Yun Zhongyan carefully examined Yun Yinghuai, then sighed, "It's been years since I last saw you, I almost didn't recognize you. Although I'm not by your side, I know everything about you. You've done very well, and I'm very pleased." After saying that, he glanced at Ding Wuhen and said, "Ding Wuhen falsely accused you of betraying your master and ancestors. Tomorrow, I can help you clear your name and let the truth come to light."
Yun Yinghuai felt a surge of emotion and was about to say something when he heard a cold voice say, "You only treat Yun Yinghuai as your disciple, but you never regard me as your son!"
Everyone was startled and looked at Ding Wuhen, only to see him with a cold smile and piercing eyes, showing no sign of madness whatsoever. Ding Wuhen sneered, "I'm not mad at all. It's just that after the martial arts tournament, I found it difficult to establish myself in the martial world, and groups of martial artists were chasing me. They suspected that I had secretly switched the two boxes and were forcing me to reveal their whereabouts. Out of desperation, I had no choice but to feign madness to avoid being hunted down." After he finished speaking, he looked at Yun Zhongyan and said, "Father, you call him Huai'er, but you call me a beast! My surname is clearly Yun, and my name is Yun Wuhen. Mother said she didn't want me to use your name to roam the martial world, so she wanted me to change my surname to Ding. But now you actually call me 'Ding Wuhen'! Father, have you completely forgotten our father-son relationship?" His voice was hoarse, with a hint of sorrow, and his eyes were fixed on Yun Zhongyan.
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai were taken aback. They exchanged a glance, both thinking, "Could it be that Ding Wuhen doesn't know about his own background?"
Yun Zhongyan sighed, clasped his hands together, and chanted a Buddhist prayer, saying, "Amitabha, let this old monk clarify all the rights and wrongs, the grudges and debts of the past tonight." After saying that, he looked up at Yun Yinghuai and said, "Do you remember wearing a jade plum blossom when you were a child?"
Looking back on my homeland, three thousand miles away
Yun Yinghuai was startled and quickly took off the jade plum blossom pendant she was wearing around her neck, saying, "Master, is this it?"
Upon seeing it, Yun Zhongyan exclaimed in surprise, "How strange! How did this jade plum return to your hands?" He took it and examined it carefully for a moment, then sighed and said, "I am a descendant of the royal family of the Great Zhao. One hundred and twenty years ago, the Great Zhao dynasty was overthrown by the Great Zhou. My ancestor, Yun Banhe, founded the Yunding Sect in the hope of one day restoring the country. The Yunding Sect had two sacred boxes containing a treasure of unimaginable value. Later, my ancestor's uprising failed, and one of the jade boxes was lost in the chaos of war."
Chu Tong nodded slowly beside him, thinking to herself, "That's right, the lost box was taken by the Great Zhou royal family and put into the storeroom, and later, by some twist of fate, it fell into my hands."
Yun Zhongyan continued, "Our ancestor was forced to lead his subordinates and the royal family to seek refuge in Southern Yan. By the time the Yunding Sect was passed down to my generation, the royal family of Great Zhao was dwindling, and the hope of restoring the kingdom was becoming increasingly slim. When I was twenty, I was being hunted down by enemies in the martial world. On the verge of death, I was rescued by Prince Ping of Southern Yan, Lin Xihe. Later, Lin Xihe helped my Yunding Sect flourish in Southern Yan. To repay his kindness, I gave Lin Xihe a seal with auspicious beasts and agreed to serve as his bodyguard for three years. It was around that time... that I met Lin Ji." After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes, as if Lin Ji's charming and beautiful appearance was reappearing before his eyes.
The room was quiet. Chu Tong, being adept at reading people, noticed Yun Zhongyan's longing expression and stuck out her tongue, thinking to herself, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Monks are not pure of the six senses. That great monk still has feelings for the Second Madam... I absolutely cannot say that I killed the Second Madam, otherwise the heavens and earth will collapse, and I'm afraid I won't be able to marry my young husband." Thinking of this, she gave Yun Yinghuai a sharp look. Yun Yinghuai, knowing Chu Tong's thoughts, gestured for her to calm down.
At this moment, Ding Wuhen burst into laughter, shouting, "Father, this Yun Yinghuai must be the bastard child you and that Lin Ji had! Ever since he came to our family, your relationship with Mother has grown increasingly distant. Mother even turned to Buddhism and later became a nun in despair! You raised Yun Yinghuai from a young age, but rarely showed me any care. Although you taught us all our martial arts, you always taught him a few extra moves, even passing on the 'Great Cloud Search Hand,' which should have been passed down to the direct line! Later, when you disappeared, you even made Yun Yinghuai the leader of the Cloud Peak Sect! Father, in what way am I inferior to him!" Ding Wuhen stared at Yun Yinghuai with bloodshot eyes, roaring, "I hate you! I think about how to kill you day and night!"
Yun Yinghuai said coldly, "You hate me, so you imitated your master's wife's handwriting to frame me, and even colluded with the two hall masters to rebel."
Ding Wu shouted, "So what if it is? I painstakingly planned to collect both boxes and the seal, so that I could rightfully become the sect leader with the sacred objects in the two boxes. But I failed every time, whether in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace or the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion. Later, I accidentally obtained both boxes and a seal in the Ping Prince's Mansion. When I opened one of them, I found it was empty, with nothing inside. I was not willing to give up, so I joined forces with Xie Linghui to devise a plan to invite heroes from all over the world to a martial arts conference. Bah! That hateful Xie Linghui! I even taught him the Qunfang Sword Technique, but he betrayed me and deserted in the face of battle!"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "So that jade box was also stolen by Ding Wuhen who sneaked into the palace. Ding Wuhen, you can only blame your bad luck. You got all of this for nothing. Why did you have to be born if you already have a son like me? It's no wonder you're unlucky and have no way out."
Yun Zhongyan sighed and looked at Ding Wuhen with compassionate eyes, saying, "Wuhen... I never knew you had these grievances in your heart. I have indeed let you down... and I have also let down your parents and Lin Ji."
Ding Wuhen was immediately stunned and exclaimed, "What did you say?"
Yun Zhongyan said, "When I was young, I became very close to Ding Pinsong, a chivalrous hero of the martial arts world, and we became sworn brothers. His fiancée, Bai Suxue, was known as the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world. The two of them had a deep affection for each other and were very loving. Ding Pinsong was a martial arts prodigy, especially skilled in swordsmanship. He was known in the martial arts world as 'The Sword That Leaves No Trace.' He and Bai Suxue co-created the Thirty-Six Forms of the 'Qunfang Sword Technique.' The two of them often practiced swordsmanship for fun, and they were truly a divine couple."
"Twenty-six years ago, the Fengcheng Sect issued a wide call for heroes, holding a grand gathering. I asked Lin Xihe for leave, but he insisted on going with me. It was at that gathering that Lin Xihe fell in love with Bai Suxue at first sight, even to the point of obsession. He pursued her several times, but was rejected by her. In a fit of rage, he sent his elite guards to kill Ding Pinsong! I was devastated when I found out, but Lin Xihe had been kind to me, and I couldn't kill him to avenge my sworn brother. So I had the guards who killed my sworn brother killed one by one... At that time, Bai Suxue was pregnant with Ding Pinsong's child. She was young and pregnant out of wedlock. With Ding Pinsong dead, she was even more heartbroken. I felt guilty for not being able to help my sworn brother kill his enemy, so I married Bai Suxue. We became husband and wife in name only, so that she could safely give birth to my sworn brother's child." At this point, Yun Zhongyan turned to Ding Wuhen and said, "Wuhen, you are actually Ding Pinsong's son."
Ding Wuhen was stunned. He felt a "boom" in his mind, his eyes stared straight at Yun Zhongyan's face, and his whole body went limp.
Yun Zhongyan continued, "Bai Suxue had a fellow disciple named Fang Hongxiu. After the Heroes' Gathering, she fell in love with Lin Xihe's wealthy and romantic ways. Seeing him pursuing Bai Suxue so earnestly, she felt that he was a rare and devoted man. She stole the Qunfang Sword Manual and lied that she had been expelled from the sect and had nowhere to go. I took pity on her and took her into the palace. Lin Ji liked her gentle and obedient nature, so she took her in as her personal maid."
"From then on, Fang Hongxiu schemed to get close to Lin Xihe, but at that time Lin Xihe was infatuated with Bai Suxue and had a stunningly beautiful woman by his side, so he paid no attention to her. She was extremely cunning and dressed herself up as Bai Suxue had at the Heroes' Gathering, performing the 'All Beauties Sword Technique' in the garden. Lin Xihe was stunned when he saw her and began to favor her even more, gradually neglecting Lin Ji. Fang Hongxiu was extremely jealous. When she learned that Lin Ji was pregnant, she framed her repeatedly. Lin Xihe was very fond of her and naturally obeyed her every whim. She forced Lin Ji into the inner palace, intending to eliminate her completely. I took great care of Lin Ji, and ten months later she gave birth to a son and entrusted him to me, hoping that I could raise him to adulthood."
Yun Yinghuai was startled and asked in a trembling voice, "Master, am I... that child?"
Yun Zhongyan looked at Yun Yinghuai with affection, shook her head and said, "You are not, but you are a descendant of the Great Zhao royal family!" After speaking, she looked at the incense burner on the table and slowly said, "The Great Zhao royal family has dwindled to almost nothing in my generation, leaving only my sister Xuan'er and me. Before I even reached adulthood, I had eight beautiful concubines, hoping they could carry on the family line and continue the family line of Great Zhao. But several years have passed, and none of them have had children. I have sought out famous doctors everywhere and searched through medical books, but to no avail. At that time, I was in despair, feeling ashamed of my ancestors. But now, things have suddenly taken a turn for the better."
After saying this, he glanced at Yun Yinghuai and said slowly, "My younger sister Xuan'er was beautiful and intelligent from a young age, a female Zhuge Liang. In order to help me restore the Great Zhao, she went to Beiliang and entered the palace as a maid. Later, she was favored by the emperor of Beiliang and became a concubine. Not long after Lin Ji gave birth to her child, I received a letter from Xuan'er. The letter said that she had given birth to a son for the emperor of Beiliang. The emperor was overjoyed and made her a Consort Xuan. I had a flash of inspiration, so I took Lin Ji's son and traveled day and night to Beiliang. Then I sneaked into the palace and switched the two babies."
Yun Yinghuai was stunned. Chu Tong gasped in shock. She thought to herself, "Good heavens, my young master's identity is so illustrious! He's a prince of a kingdom!" She said aloud, "Old hero Yun, you've switched the prince with a cat; don't others know it?"
Yun Zhongyan said, "Newborn babies all look alike. Besides, princes don't live with their mothers; they are all raised by wet nurses and female officials. Even if they discover that the prince has been replaced, they would be afraid of losing their heads and dare not speak out." He paused here and continued, "Xuan'er's child is a descendant of the Great Zhao royal family and the only bloodline of Great Zhao. I should raise him by my side and carefully educate him so as not to fail the ancestral teachings. Lin Ji's son can also grow up in the royal family, living a life of luxury and high status. I will not fail Lin Ji's entrustment. However, my actions have caused Xuan'er and her child to be separated, which I feel guilty about. Therefore, I give Xuan'er the sacred white jade box of our sect and a lucky beast seal as a small compensation."
Chu Tong had a sudden flash of inspiration and thought to herself, "That's it! Lin Ji's son is Qin Ye, the King of Jinyang! Later, my little husband's biological mother gave the white jade box and seal to her adopted son, and these two things ended up in my hands. Now Yun Yinghuai has become my little husband. Tsk tsk, it seems that Yun Ding Sect and I have an inexplicable connection."
Yun Yinghuai seemed to be in a dream, his expression slightly dazed, his heart pounding as he exclaimed, "Master, you, you are my uncle? I am the son of the Emperor of Northern Liang?"
Yun Zhongyan nodded and said, “That’s right. The jade plum blossom you wore when you were young was originally a keepsake that Lin Ji left for her son, but I had selfish motives and kept it. Later, I felt uneasy and sent it to Beiliang a few years later, telling Xuan’er that it was a gift for her child and that she should wear it close to her body... I never thought that after so many years, I would see this plum blossom again.”
Yun Yinghuai thought to himself, "That's right. If my master weren't my maternal uncle, how could he love me like his own son? He passed on all his martial arts skills without reservation, taught me strategies for governing the country, and repeatedly warned me that my noble birth set me apart from others. The Yunding Sect was established to restore the Great Zhao Dynasty, so the sect leader must be a descendant of the Great Zhao royal family. That's why my master made me swear in his last letter that I would only pass on the position of sect leader to my descendants on the day of my ascension to the throne." Thinking of this, he was filled with mixed emotions and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
The room fell silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts, their emotions churning. After a long while, Yun Yinghuai raised her head, composed herself, and said, "Master, back then you said that Lin Ji took away Master's wife's Qunfang Sword Manual, and that you were going to the Great Zhou to retrieve it, but you disappeared without a trace after that. Uncle Shi said that you were killed by Lin Ji, who brought back your last words and ordered me to inherit the position of sect leader... What exactly happened?"
Yun Zhongyan said, "Back then, Lin Ji volunteered to become a spy in the Great Zhou in order to survive. At that time, I was on my way back to the Southern Yan and was unaware of this. When I rushed back to the Great Zhou, Lin Ji had already become the favorite concubine of Xie Chunrong, a powerful minister of the Great Zhou." At this point, Yun Zhongyan couldn't help but give a bitter smile.
"Four years ago, Lin Xihe took out the seal of Yunding Sect and asked me to do something for him. He knew that my relationship with Lin Ji was extraordinary, so he ordered me to go to Da Zhou and ask Lin Ji to help other spies of Nan Yan steal Da Zhou's secrets. If Lin Ji disobeyed, I was to kill her! Then he said that Lin Ji stole a sword manual from Fang Hongxiu before she left, and he wanted me to retrieve it as well. I guessed that it was the Qunfang Sword Manual. At that time, I only wanted to return it to its rightful owner and give it back to Wuhen's mother after I retrieved it."
"When I returned to the Great Zhou, Lin Ji was already a mother. She harbored deep resentment towards Lin Xihe, so how could she listen to him? Over the years, she has experienced many changes, and her mindset is different from before. She has become increasingly ruthless and secretly poisoned me to kill me. I was rescued by Shi Youliang and luckily survived, but I was disheartened. I wrote a farewell letter and asked Shi Youliang to deliver it to you. Afterward, I went to the Daji Temple in the Northern Liang to be ordained as a monk. Three years later, I was appointed as the Mingjue National Preceptor by the Emperor of the Northern Liang."