Chapter 102

On the peak, even a falling needle can be heard; this is because the National Preceptor and Huang Yaoshi are both intelligent people, although Guo Jing is dull-witted, his wife is extremely intelligent, and he also knows that his mother-in-law once forcibly memorized the Nine Yin True Classic.

But a single profound internal martial art runs to over ten million characters at the very least; even someone with photographic memory, after reading it twice, could not possibly remember it without any mistake, let alone having heard it!

"You really listened twice?"

The National Master closed their eyes and spoke slowly.

"You really listened twice!"

Feng Yi's lips curled with a hint of a smile, his words were very affirmative.

The National Master held themselves in high esteem, demanding excellence of themselves, but today's defeat was an utter disgrace.

Although only Huang Yaoshi, Guo Jing, and their disciple Darba were watching, they still felt unable to lose face; moreover, to pass the sect's supreme protective divine skill to another made this decision extremely difficult for them.

"It's not that if I'm willing, I can just blurt out the divine skill; it's not that simple."

In other words, if Huang Yaoshi, Guo Jing, and Feng Yi were forced to trade their fame-making divine skill for a chance at survival, they could hardly agree readily; they would need to find a way to turn the tables.

The National Master let out a light sigh and said, "Feng Yi, your heart is more ruthless and decisive than mine; once you act, to achieve your goal you will never relent. Losing to you, I have no cause for complaint! However…"

The National Master gazed at Feng Yi and said slowly, "I want to ask: did you from the start assume my martial skill is inferior to yours?"

You deliberately humiliated Huodu, sending someone back with a message.

"'In fact, it was to make me come unwillingly and let down my guard, leading to this outcome?'"

Feng Yi hesitated a moment, nodded slightly, and spoke softly: "Defeating you is not difficult. But if I don't first humiliate your disciple, making you feel compelled to regain face on your own, it would become troublesome. After all, there are not a few extraordinary talents among the Mongols; sending a few would already make victory hard, let alone seeking the divine skill."

The National Master gave a bleak smile and said, "Not bad; the Four Princes' Hall of Worthies of Mongolia welcomes talents from all quarters—it seems my arrogance and pride have long been part of your calculations."

Feng Yi nodded and said, "Your disciple is already so arrogant and conceited; the master must know. That's not hard to guess."

Feng Yi's voice was light and ethereal, yet it made the National Master burst into laughter, inwardly thinking: "Huodu is naturally arrogant; I thought it was due to his princely status, but I didn't realize he learned it from me."

Having gathered their laughter, they shook their head slightly and said, "Very well, this is my own fault! I will now recite the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill twice." At that moment they spoke and gestured, uttering the heart method.

Having come this far, Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing could not very well leave, anyway they doubted they could remember two recitations.

After the National Master recited it once, Feng Yi's system in his mind already had a prompt, adding the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

The National Master simply did not believe anyone in this world could hear it twice and memorize the thirteen layers of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, nor would they feign.

Nor would they dare to feign, for they saw Feng Yi's mind so meticulous that even reciting twice involved great subtlety.

If they altered a few words while reciting the first time, they might not even know what they changed when reciting the second; if Feng Yi noticed, it would be more loss than gain.

Rather, it would be better to speak truthfully and see how much Feng Yi could retain after two recitations; this internal skill's heart method is not flawless—who would dare cultivate it? The setting sun sank, casting the treetops of the peak with a bloody hue, and the faces of those present shifted accordingly.

Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing's martial arts were already perfected; hearing the method of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, they could not grasp it fully at once, but from the text's profound meaning they understood that this divine skill is simple in theory yet difficult in practice.

After the National Master finished speaking, they glanced at Feng Yi, bowed their hands to Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing, flicked their sleeve, and walked down the mountain.

Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing also returned the salute with clasped hands to the National Master.

Darba did not know what their master and Feng Yi et al. had said, but seeing their master could leave, they paid respects to the few and then followed down the mountain.

Guo Jing gazed at the Golden Wheel National Master's back and suddenly said, "National Master, victory and defeat are common in war; a master of your stature will surely reach even higher heights."

"'However, since the Mongols began their campaigns, they have slaughtered millions and plundered countless; today, National Master, turning misfortune into fortune, I hope that one day you will return to the Western Regions and widely spread the Dharma, best not to come back to the Central Plains.'"

The National Master halted, eyes turned to the sky, as many past events surged in their heart, then suddenly sighed and said, "Guo Jing, you and I, Han and Mongol, are enemies, not friends; today you spared me, showing your magnanimity!"

"'But although the Mongols above and below have differences, their resolve to destroy the Song is unshakable; even as I, the National Master, I have unavoidable duties!'"

Having said this, a hundred feelings welled up, indistinct whether sorrow or anger; they then raised their voice and said, "Green hills remain, green waters flow forever; when we meet again, let each rely on their own means!"

Having finished, they suddenly quickened their pace and disappeared from the summit.

Feng Yi knew the National Master spoke the truth.

The Mongols are determined to seize the Central Plains.

Nothing more than some wanting to slaughter all Han in the Central Plains, turn the land into pasture for their horse races; others advocate that prowess need not be slaughter, and to govern Han lands with Han law.

In an instant, only the three remained standing in silence for a moment, then Guo Jing suddenly said, "Feng Brother, you work for the people, assassinating Mongol officials—I originally held you in high esteem."

Feng Yi smiled and said nothing.

Guo Jing added, "But you force others to reveal their sect's martial arts; your conduct is also utterly despicable."

"'I ask, if someone else made you reveal your own internal skill's heart method, what would you do?'"

As for how Feng Yi treated the National Master, Guo Jing remained silent throughout; but his honest and steadfast nature made it hard for him to accept Feng Yi's conduct, and now that the National Master has left, he speaks his mind directly.

"'Guo Jing,' Feng Yi asked, 'You say, if I were to lose today's battle, what would happen?'"

Guo Jing pondered and said, "Your martial prowess is unmatched, your strategy surpasses others—how could you lose?"

"'Unmatched martial prowess? Strategy surpassing others?' Feng Yi shook his head and said, 'Only the Golden Wheel National Master alone—perhaps not hard to defeat—but they are many and strong; if the Golden Wheel does not come with me, what could I do? Then what would happen?'"

"'How so?' Guo Jing frowned."

Feng Yi closed his eyes and sighed softly: "Then I, this Mongol-slayer, would become a mere jumping clown! Now that the National Master returns, they will surely keep silent about victory or defeat, and those Mongol warriors and lamas would not dare to besiege the mountain."

"'And I, personally taking great risk, deserve the benefits! I am not a noble gentleman like Guo Jing!'"

Guo Jing felt angry, brows rising, and said, "What does that have to do with being a noble gentleman? In life, one cannot resort to any means to achieve one's goals!"

Feng Yi laughed and said, "Western Poison Ouyang Feng, for the Nine Yin True Classic, offended the Central Divine Power, Eastern Heretic, Northern Beggar, and Southern Emperor all at once, committing countless vile acts—did he talk about methods? Take this old fellow Temujin: he first allied with the Song to destroy the Jin, still entrusted you with important duties, then secretly transmitted military orders to you, commanding you to attack the Song; if you refused, he would immediately execute you."

"'Your mother, to spare you trouble, slit her throat in your embrace—did Temujin talk about methods?'"

"'As for the present Mongols, there's no need to say more.'"

Having said this, Guo Jing fell silent for a moment.

Every word Feng Yi spoke was true; that great stumble he made back then, even nine deaths and one life could not fully describe it—if not for his mother's suicide, sparing him ulterior worries, Temujin would have slain him, reducing him to ashes. Thinking of this, his eyes moistened, and he slumped to the ground.

Feng Yi also said, "Guo Jing, people's thoughts cannot be changed in a moment; thus you have always acted as you see fit, and so do I—only our temperaments differ greatly and our methods vary! As for others seeking my martial arts, it depends on their ability; moreover, facing you and Master Huang of the Island, I would lay bare all the martial arts I know—what difficulty is that?"

Speaking, they began to recite the scripture of the Divine Illumination Classic on their own.

Guo Jing and Huang Yaoshi couldn't help but both look at Feng Yi, seeing him chant the heart method calmly, as if he truly did not keep Feng Yi's unmatched martial prowess in mind.

Even though they knew Feng Yi was no noble gentleman, they never imagined he would be so recklessly bold!

In the martial world, learning martial arts has always meant seeking a teacher and befriending peers; the Song people placed utmost importance on rites and laws, so martial artists regard taking on disciples as extremely important, and status is also very important—thus they also despise Feng Yi's approach.

Seeing him talk incessantly, and then thinking that Feng Yi just had Jinlun speak the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill without avoiding them, it wasn't pretentious either. The father-in-law and son-in-law both were stunned.

After all, without a formal master-disciple relationship, how could the martial arts be passed outward?

He isn't afraid of violating his master's teachings, feeling sorry to his master? Feng Yi recited the introductory method, was about to continue, when suddenly he heard Huang Yaoshi say: "Brother Feng, actually your idea, this old man can also understand; back then we few old fogeys, for a copy of the Nine Yin Scripture, hehe..."

He shook his head, then said: "However, skills have limits while the Dao is boundless; we few old fellows have all had some exposure to the Nine Yin Scripture, but in the end what we keep hidden is still our own secret arts—do you know why?"

Feng Yi pondered briefly and said: "Because when martial arts are cultivated to the peak of perfection, they already harmonize with one's own mind and nature."

"Talking with you is indeed efficient." Huang Yaoshi's eyes showed approval: "For example, my son-in-law's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms—Hong Qigong and he can unleash invincible power; but if I were to practice this martial art, even training a lifetime, I could never reach their level!"

He appeared leisurely, but Feng Yi already understood the implication of his words, saying: "Not bad, what kind of person uses what kind of martial art. They have an upright and bright nature, are innately benevolent, tacitly aligning with the essence of palm techniques, whereas we are not so. Thus whether many superior martial arts can truly exert great power actually depends not on the strength or weakness of internal energy, but on the cultivation of one's state of mind."

Huang Yaoshi nodded and said: "Some martial arts require a compassionate heart, while others require a fearless bearing."

"Without this state of mind, even possessing supreme secret manuals and guidance from supreme masters, practicing for a hundred years would be in vain!"

Feng Yi nodded and said: "Indeed, some martial arts also require a heart of love and affection to unleash great power."

Guo Jing stared blankly for a moment, then said: "But if you already understand all this, why then?"

Feng Yi gazed into the distance, sighing softly: "We who have accomplished internal cultivation ought to understand that when internal energy reaches the highest level, qi follows intention, acting as one wishes."

"But upon reaching this level, training again and again merely makes internal energy more robust and techniques more exquisite."

"Yet as age increases, bodily strength actually wanes; this one increase, one decrease is like standing atop a hundred-foot pole—hard to advance further!"

Having said that, Huang Yaoshi fell silent, and Guo Jing also felt a gloom in his heart. Both being top experts of the present age with extraordinary insight, they understood that human strength sometimes has its limits.

Feng Yi let out a long sigh and said: "Speaking of it, it's also lamentable—we cultivate and refine qi, actually using our limited individual bodies to pursue the boundless Dao; this is an act of defying heaven,

"No matter how high one's martial arts or how great one's fame, in the end none can escape the summoning of King Yama; what difference is there from ordinary people? Therefore I am not a distinguished martial artist; I follow my own nature, and how others view me is utterly unimportant!"

Huang Yaoshi gazed at him for a while, then suddenly laughed: "Excellent—many people, after becoming strong, still cannot discern the right and wrong of fame and profit, which are all illusory; just based on this point, you have already surpassed the Old Heretic Huang."

Feng Yi gave a self-mocking smile: "No matter how many truths one understands, putting them into practice is still difficult!"

Huang Yaoshi grew even more astonished: "Since you have comprehended this principle, what plans do you have?"

Feng Yi said: "I am thinking of gathering the world's supreme arts, doing my utmost to break through the outdated conventions of martial arts; if I can overcome the current impasse in martial arts, then my lifelong learning would not be in vain!"

Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing stared at Feng Yi in astonishment. Both felt his Divine Illumination Scripture method was extraordinary, assuming Feng Yi at most wanted to absorb the strengths of many schools and become a great master; little did they know he intended to forge an entirely new martial arts path.

Guo Jing couldn't help but say: "Creating martial arts isn't that hard, but the foundation of martial arts lies entirely in internal cultivation.

"You want to blaze a new trail, break martial conventions—how could that be easy? One careless move, and you might deviate into demonic practice!"

Feng Yi blinked, smiling: "Since heaven has given us a pair of wings, how could we not spread them and fly high? If we don't think of forging another path, we'll either live out our days and die in bed, or die beneath hatred—either way I'd feel it a great loss! This is not the road I want."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yaoshi raised his eyebrows and clapped: "Good—'Heaven's movement is vigorous; the gentleman constantly strives for self-improvement.' Young people should have an enterprising spirit; if everyone were like us old fogeys, then this martial arts way would truly have no hope!"

Feng Yi laughed: "I, an ignorant youth, am speaking rashly—perhaps it's merely a delusion."

Huang Yaoshi saw his thoughts, smiled faintly, and said: "Good, today I will impart all my learning to you! Otherwise, having heard your benefits without giving anything in return, Old Heretic Huang would be laughed at."

Speaking, he turned to Guo Jing and said: "You cannot casually pass on the Beggar's Sect and Quanzhen Sect martial arts to outsiders, so just recite the entire Nine Yin Scripture."

Guo Jing nodded: "Yes."

Feng Yi felt great delight inside, laughing: "Then respectfully obeying is better than mere respect."

It turned out that Feng Yi had the National Preceptor, in front of Guo Jing and Huang Yaoshi, speak of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, and then directly throw out the Divine Illumination Skill, all in order to seek the extraordinary arts possessed by Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing.

He didn't believe these two would listen to him for nothing.

Reciprocity is the great way of the world.

As for martial arts leaking out, Feng Yi couldn't care less.

He wants to pass it on to whomever he wishes! As long as he doesn't teach it to enemies or wicked people! Huang Yaoshi acts in an unorthodox manner, disregarding propriety; seeing that Feng Yi, though claiming not to cultivate virtue, can meet sincerely, without pretense or affectation, acting naturally—this suits his taste perfectly.

Moreover, Feng Yi, at the age of weak crown, possesses strong martial arts and lofty talent—rare in ancient and modern times! With such ambition and lofty aspirations, if I could add to his achievements, it would also be a joy in life! As for Guo Jing, although he was taught by his mother and influenced by his master, considering himself a member of the orthodox sect, since meeting Huang Rong he has compared her with certain Beggar's Sect elders, gradually realizing that the distinction between righteousness and wickedness actually resides in one's heart, originally hard to discern. Furthermore, he better understands the principle of reciprocating kindness.

Having achieved his goal, Feng Yi cast a brick to attract jade, producing all the arts he knew: Divine Illumination Skill, Blood Saber Scripture, Linked City Sword Technique, and Shadowless Divine Fist.

Huang Yaoshi, as a grandmaster of his generation, possesses profound skill not inferior to the orthodox Quanzhen Sect nor to the Duan clan of Dali, whose name shakes the southern lands. His esoteric internal arts, Palm of the Void, Finger Snap Divine Power, Peach Blossom Falling Flower Palm, Jade Flute Sword Art, Orchid Palm Striking Acupoints, Whirlwind Sweeping Leaves Leg, Five Transformations of the Esoteric Gates, and so on—each is a supreme art capable of making one renowned throughout the world.

As for Guo Jing, he laid out the entire Nine Yin Scripture.

This Nine Yin Scripture encompasses the essence of all martial arts under heaven, hailed as the general outline of martial arts. It contains the Daoist great way for cultivating internal energy, as well as boxing classics and sword principles, practical methods, all kinds of rare and strange martial arts, from training methods to breaking them—nothing is missing.

What Feng Yi obtained from the Double Yang inscription is far inferior to what Guo Jing has.

The three of them were not seeking fame or revenge, but purely out of curiosity, discussing martial arts.

When they encountered a martial art they wanted to learn, they would naturally try it out a bit; all three had accomplished internal cultivation, the most difficult and slowest-to-show-results internal energy gate had already been passed, so what they studied was merely how to circulate internal energy and gather it into fists, palms, and weapons—also quite easy.

In the course of this talk, unnoticed, the bright moon hung high, stars twinkled, and they went on speaking until the morning sun broke forth, still unceasing.

Suddenly hearing two sharp bird cries, they looked up to see two white vultures riding the wind, circling in the air and emitting piercing cries.

Several people at once recognized them as Guo Jing's giant vulture.

Guo Jing hastily rose, saying: "Father-in-law, Brother Feng, I must take my leave." As he spoke, his figure flickered and he disappeared into the cliffside.

Huang Yaoshi also rose and said: "Young friend, your internal energy is round, smooth, and unconstrained, profound and unfathomable; you have also fortuitously obtained the Nine Yin Scripture, which harmonizes with your own martial arts—overbearing yet not lacking humility; not mentioning whether you could forge another path, you only need to integrate the way of balancing hardness and softness, and your future achievements will not fall below any martial arts master of ancient or modern times!"

Having said that, he furrowed his brow deeply, shaking his head repeatedly: "Alas, alas." He flicked his sleeve and drifted away.

Feng Yi was greatly surprised, asking: "Island Master Huang, what is it that's regrettable?" Taking a step, as if shrinking the earth to an inch, he caught up with Huang Yaoshi at the cliff's edge.

A gentle breeze came, blowing the two's clothes and hair aloft, making their whole bodies feel cool.

Huang Yaoshi countered: "You don't know what's regrettable?"

Seeing him with sleeves clasped in the wind, his bearing graceful and elegant, like an immortal, Feng Yi couldn't help but smile: "How would I know?"

"Cheng Ying!" Huang Yaoshi fell silent for a moment: "That girl possesses both virtue and beauty; missing her, you will surely regret it."

"Originally you are handsome and elegant, your martial arts strong, and you are also clever—it would not be hard to win a girl's favor, but you remain ambiguous with other women, which simply won't do."

"What the Island Master says is true!" Feng Yi replied somewhat resentfully: "But back then I didn't seek anything else; I merely wanted to glance at her appearance, not necessarily to do anything."

"You brat, your mind is bewitched!"

Huang Yaoshi shook his head heavily: "Even if you saw her, what could you do?"

"She lost both parents from childhood, lived under others' roofs, and even her excellent uncle-in-law was killed by Li Mochou, making her far more sensitive than ordinary people—hence she, like me, wears a grotesque mask! Even if she were as beautiful as a celestial maiden, making you fall in love at first sight, it would only add needless anguish."

Feng Yi heard these words, his feelings surged, and he said: "Never mind, before it was just my impulsive whim, acting recklessly! From now on I won't see her!"

Huang Yaoshi smiled faintly and said again: "Of course there is another way: you send that woman away, or kill her."

"I, as your master, will decide and betroth her to you!"

"No!" Feng Yi blurted out: "I can't do it!"

"How?" Huang Yaoshi said: "If you don't cut when you should, you'll invite chaos; you're a smart person—either pick one of the two, or use the Wisdom-Moving Sword, sever the love silk, cut off the karmic bond!"

Feng Yi remained silent, gazing at the mountains and rivers, seeing nothing but verdant greenery, peaks gathered like a crowd, his heart opened wide, he murmured softly: "Indeed, it's a pity!"

Huang Yaoshi shook his head and sighed: "I knew it, you brat can't pass the love trial!"

"The Island Lord is no different." Feng Yi felt slightly annoyed.

Huang Yaoshi fell silent for a moment, then said: "Not bad, since ancient times the love trial is hard to overcome!" He sighed, then said resentfully: "As the saying goes, 'Better not to meet than to meet; having affection is like having none.' I am now like a lonely widower, with nothing to live for, nothing to hear in death—truly meaningless!"

He laughed heartily and leapt down from the peak.

But seeing him, his body like a swallow in flight, his feet tapping a few times on some trees and rocks, he vanished into the vast sea of clouds.

Feng Yi watched his disappearing back vanish from sight, and he too felt boundless desolation.

He knew Huang Yaoshi was a sentimental person, who had been thinking of dying for decades, all because of a single word: love.

In an instant, he felt the heavens high and the earth vast, as if this boundless world held only him alone.

Thinking of lying by the cliff, gazing at the azure sky, but Hong Lingbo's beautiful face kept flickering before his eyes, and Cheng Ying's gentle, clear voice lingered in his ears.

He suddenly felt that he was indeed a major scumbag.

Last time in the Lian Cheng World, everyone coveted his "Seven-Day Legend," every day was a life-or-death crisis, leaving no room for romantic feelings.

Now in this world, no one knows him, there is no danger, yet he cannot tolerate loneliness; upon seeing a beautiful woman, he occasionally indulges in flirtatious talk, teasing the ladies' hearts.

But the last time he crossed from the Lian Cheng World to here, it happened suddenly, leaving him no preparation at all. He didn't know what condition triggered it, nor whether he had waited long enough, or what else.

If he dabbles with women here and then suddenly jumps worlds one day, wouldn't he be harming others and himself? Thinking of this, he couldn't help muttering Huang Yaoshi's recited line, "Better not to meet than to meet; having affection is like having none." Could it be that in his case, Feng Yi, it's truly so? He stared blankly at the sky and then fell into a deep sleep.

These two days have really worn him out.

But by day he thinks, by night he dreams. Yet his mood is troubled, and the dreams do not let him be happy.

At times he dreams of Hong Lingbo smiling at him, at times he dreams of her coyly angry, and at times he sees her drawing her sword to kill.

In the jianghu there has appeared a "Blood Demon Fairy," who is the woman of the great hero Tu Meng, Feng Yi, and was once a disciple of the "Red Silk Fairy."

Because Feng Yi is unfaithful and heartless, she has come to utterly despise men.

Feng Yi suddenly saw Hong Lingbo standing beside him, smiling on her face, yet blood flowed from her mouth; she held her long sword pointing at his chest, his heart trembled, and he cried: "Lingbo, I am not a faithless man..." He reached out to pull her, but could not reach her no matter how he tried.

In a half-dream, half-awake state, ahead lay heavy mist; a girl in green clothes with snow-white skin gazed at him, her face bearing a look of sorrow bordering on despair, her palm pressing toward his face, yet he did not know her.

Feng Yi couldn't help but shout aloud, waking with a start; it was actually deep night, and he had slept a full day.

The wind on the lone peak, especially at midnight, is naturally chilling and piercing to the bone; Feng Yi felt his whole body soaked through with cold sweat, icy cold, and when the night wind blew, it was truly chilling to the marrow.

He hastily turned his head to look around, but there was not a trace of a person.

Feng Yi's heart gave a jolt; he unslung his wine flask and took a gulp.

At this moment he finally understood what fear is, what a love tribulation is!

What a trouble it is to provoke women and then have a hard aftermath! Thinking of how Feng Yi, since his transmigration, has killed many people without ever having nightmares, yet because of women his heartstrings have been tugged! If there were a love etched deep into the bone, that would be fine!

But he asks himself, he has none—how then could he endure?

If he truly fell in love, what could be done? It seems he must henceforth avoid any entanglement with women.

Night fell, stars scattered sparsely.

Feng Yi felt he had grasped the ultimate truth of life, and so he flashed down the cliff.

But no one told him that when he meets the girl who makes his heart throb wildly, perhaps then he will know what true love is, just like the jianghu—exactly how it compels one against one's will.

For love has always been blind, just like the nightmare Feng Yi just had—there is only suddenness!

(End of chapter)