Chapter 153

Feng Yi heard these words, turned his head and saw Li Mochou standing outside the pavilion, a faint smile on her face, she laughed and said: "In this world, emperors are the greatest, they emphasize following heaven and responding to people. But this is ultimately just a beautiful expectation and embellishment."

Feng Yi said: "I, Feng Yi, am merely an ordinary mortal; as long as I can obtain either following heaven's will or fulfilling people's wishes, having one of the two brings me a sense of ease—how is this not for myself?"

Li Mochou blinked slightly, then said in a low voice: "Saying you're heartless and unrighteous seems off, yet you have the habit of changing lovers like morning and evening, but you don't resort to tricks with my martial sister, such peerless beauty—it really makes you hard to read."

Feng Yi burst out laughing: "Actually, I am not unmoved by your martial sister's beauty; it's just that, on one hand, she and Yang Guo are emotionally compatible, and on the other, she often runs away, choosing to marry someone else in what she believes is a good way for her lover."

Feng Yi said: "Just thinking about this makes me angry—for example, if you one day marry someone else but claim it's for my own good, if I don't give you a hard spanking, it's only because I have a good temper!"

Feng Yi said: "Moreover, I, Feng Yi, alone being favored by such fine women as you, already leaves me with no regrets in this life—how could I be greedy for more!!"

Li Mochou snorted: "Stop with the sweet talk; if it weren't for my martial sister's love for Yang Guo, even if you didn't like her personality, how could you not tolerate her beauty?"

Li Mochou said: "It's nothing more than regretting that we didn't meet before she was married!"

Feng Yi smiled slightly, changed the subject, and said: "What about the Golden Wheel National Teacher, Ma Guangzuo?"

Li Mochou said: "He's been locked up by Fan Yiweng."

Feng Yi nodded and said: "Let's go see Lü E." As he spoke, he reached out and took her hand.

Li Mochou offered no resistance, after all she knew that for Feng Yi, even anger must have limits.

As soon as the two left the courtyard, they met several disciples of the Jueqing Gu, who all bowed to them in unison.

Feng Yi burst out laughing, gazed into the distant mountains, and saw only lush verdure, rich green hues dripping with color, both alluring and heroic, each exquisite in its own way. He took several deep breaths, feeling his five viscera and six bowels filled with pure qi, as if he had drunk fine wine, and couldn't help but sigh: "This place is truly a blessed cavern, a paradise beyond the world!"

Yet it also made him think of Guo Jing—Peach Blossom Island is no less a paradise beyond the world, but he gave it all up. His entire family, together with Xiangyang, were buried alive under the trampling of the Mongol army.

As for Guo Xiang's lovesick mind, whether she is alive or dead makes no difference to Feng Yi.

The two arrived at Lü E's residence; the house had only a few servant girls, and Lü E was sleeping soundly in a daze. Feng Yi went over and felt her pulse, when a loud voice said: "Brother-in-law, how is my martial sister?" Following the sound, Fan Yiweng had already walked in.

Li Mochou glanced at him, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Then Feng Yi said: "Judging by the current situation, in two or three months she should be able to recover, but…"

"But what?"

Fan Yiweng couldn't help but say.

Feng Yi said: "Nothing! Prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

The servant girls hurriedly fetched brush and ink; Feng Yi wrote down the internal cultivation method transmitted by Zhou Botong, then took out a packet of items from his robe.

He opened it, and everyone's eyes lit up: inside were four objects, one of which was a small dagger whose hilt was inlaid with a pearl the size of a longan, emitting a soft gleam.

Besides the dagger, there was a jadeite small bottle, a piece of goatskin about seven or eight cun square, and a half-section of lingzhi.

Suddenly hearing a cough, Feng Yi turned his head and saw Lü E had awakened; he hurriedly sat beside her bed. Seeing the items in his hand, Lü E exclaimed in surprise: "These are things from our Jueqing Gu—how did they end up with you?"

Feng Yi laughed: "This was given to me by Lao Wan Tong."

Lü E said: "Ah, I see."

Li Mochou suddenly realized: Lao Wan Tong caused a ruckus in the Four Chambers of Books, Swords, Elixirs, and Lingzhi, destroying books, stealing swords, kicking the furnace, breaking the lingzhi, yet he gave all these things to Feng Yi in one go; thus when she had scolded him for not attending to proper business, he had said he couldn't thank her enough—now it all makes sense, he was referring to this.

Feng Yi took out the reishi mushroom and said: "This is a fine thing, great for strengthening the body; you take it, and I will channel my energy to help you absorb it, so your recovery will be quicker."

Lü E gave a bashful smile and said: "You're tired too; let's eat it together."

Feng Yi returned a warm smile and said: "I'm as strong as an ox; a few days of meditation and I'll be recovered."

Lü E shook her head and said: "If you don't eat, neither will I."

"Blah blah." Li Mochou, seeing the two's lingering affection, grew impatient: "Just split it into two pieces, one each—wouldn't that be fine?"

Lü E turned ashen at her shout.

Yet her features were delicate and graceful, her bearing naturally elegant; even though she was frightened, she possessed a peculiar charm.

Feng Yi gave a slight smile: "As you wish."

He split the half-section of reishi mushroom into two pieces with the dagger, ate one himself, and sent the other to Lü E's mouth.

Lü E opened her mouth and ate it; Feng Yi placed his hand on her lower abdomen, channeling true qi into her. This reishi mushroom had been aged for hundreds of years, and with Feng Yi's Divine Illumination Technique stimulating it, Lü E felt warmth spread through her limbs, extremely comfortable, her spirit refreshed, and her mind became markedly sharper.

Feng Yi handed her the paper inscribed with the internal cultivation secrets and said: "This internal art is very effective for restoring your strength; from now on you should practice it as instructed, and you need not practice the Jueqing Gu's internal art anymore."

Lü E felt that his gaze held both concern for her and a wordless pity; in an instant her emotions surged, her eye sockets grew hot, the corners of her mouth twitched, and she almost burst into tears.

Since she was six, when she lost her mother and also lost her parents' affection, this very reishi mushroom had been prepared by her father to be shared with Xiao Longnv.

All she wanted now was to lean against Feng Yi, to feel that long‑missing affection, yet she feared upsetting Li Mochou, so she clung desperately to the warm hand that gave her comfort, as if trying to make up for twelve years of loneliness and helplessness.

Feng Yi reached out and covered her small hand, then said gently: "First look it over; if anything is unclear, I'll come back later to explain it. I have some matters to attend to first."

Lü E nodded and took the handwritten internal cultivation instructions from him.

Feng Yi said: "Brother Fan, take us to see the Golden Wheel."

Fan Yiweng said: "Good!"

"I'm not going!" Li Mochou snorted.

Feng Yi smiled and said: "If my lady doesn't go, how could I possibly preserve my miserable life?"

Li Mochou knew his strength was undiminished, but hearing those words made her heart feel sweet and pleasant; she tossed her head and said: "Let's go then!"

The Jueqing Gu occupies a vast area, surrounded by mountains, with a radius of over forty thousand mu. The winding roads, hills and gullies make it hard to find; the National Teacher and Ma Guangzuo are imprisoned in the Huohuan Shi, and without a guide it would be difficult to locate.

As they walked, Feng Yi said to Fan Yiweng: "Send a few capable disciples out to investigate the Mongol army's movements."

Fan Yiweng immediately ordered someone to handle it.

Li Mochou could no longer suppress her doubts and said: "Fan Yiweng, don't you hate us? Don't you want to avenge your master, yet you keep calling me 'brother-in-law'—can you really say that?"

Feng Yi's brows furrowed slightly, but he saw Fan Yiweng stroking his long beard and saying: "Although my master's death grieves me deeply, he publicly entrusted my martial sister to Brother Feng; as his disciples, how could we not have a say?"

Moreover, his death was not at Brother Feng's hands; rather, it was as if his dreams had shattered, leaving him with no purpose, and he took his own life. Many disciples in the valley witnessed this. Since my martial sister has agreed to marry Brother Feng, he is my brother-in-law—what do I have to refrain from saying?

Li Mochou snorted and said nothing more.

Feng Yi's heart, which had been anxious and uneasy, became calm.

It seems Fan Yiweng also told Lü E about Gongsun Zhi's death; thus her mind could bear a little less burden.

After a short while they arrived at the Huohuan Shi; ahead, seven or eight zhang away, several large elm trees intertwined their shade, and beneath them stood a large brick‑kiln where the National Teacher and Ma Guangzuo were imprisoned.

Fan Yiweng said: "Inside there is coal ash and dirt, very unclean; let me go pull the two out?"

Feng Yi said: "Evil people must have something unusual. Mochou, you don't go in; I'll go in and have a look."

Saying this, he walked into the kiln gate with Fan Yiweng; a wave of heat hit them head-on, and they heard someone shout: "Who goes there?"

A green-clad disciple emerged from behind the brick wall; seeing it was Fan Yiweng, he immediately bowed and said: "Senior Brother."

Fan Yiweng said: "Lead the way ahead."

That person turned and went inside.

Several people crossed the brick wall; the heat grew more intense. Two shirtless laborers were moving piles of firewood and charcoal, and the green-clad disciple pushed aside a large stone, revealing a small hole.

Feng Yi poked his head in and saw a stone chamber about a zhang square inside; the National Preceptor sat facing the wall, with white vapor rising from his head, evidently practicing his cultivation.

Ma Guangzuo, however, lay on the ground, alive or dead unknown; obviously his strength was inferior to the National Preceptor's, and he could not endure the heat.

Feng Yi turned his gaze, staring intently at the National Preceptor, sizing him up for a moment. He admired the man's willpower; after all, if he himself lacked an arm and a leg, he could not imagine how he would go mad. He then smiled and said: "National Preceptor, are you still working so hard?"

The National Preceptor turned his head, gritted his teeth, and said: "Feng Yi, your victory is not honorable; what do you have to be proud of?"

Feng Yi let out a nasal snort: "National Preceptor, you appear to be a great monk of the age, but in reality you are honeyed words with a hidden blade, smiles concealing knives, false feelings, repaying hatred with virtue. Yet you say my victory is not honorable; I too would like to compete with you on equal terms—if you would give me the chance."

Moreover, ask yourself honestly: if we fought fairly, what are your chances of winning?"

The National Preceptor spoke in a deep voice: "What do you know? I, as a humble monk, bear the honor and disgrace of the Ningmiao Sect, and also the safety of countless temples and their followers. You, however, have no attachments or burdens, so you can act as you please."

However, from now on you will be just like me; otherwise why would you have Ma Guangzuo detained together, if not for fear that the news would leak? This Jueqing Gu was destroyed by my Mongol army.

Now that the victor is king and the loser is bandit, further talk is useless! I only ask that you give me a swift death!"

Not long ago, the Golden Wheel National Preceptor was an all-powerful master; now he has become a cripple missing an arm and a leg.

Now, when his true qi stirs, his shoulders and hips feel as if cut by a knife, a strange pain piercing his heart; were it not for his deep inner strength, combined with his grave wounds and the high temperature, he would have long been dead beyond revival.

Yet this suffering is beyond what ordinary people can endure; the more he speaks, the angrier he becomes, his gaunt face flushing red then purple.

Feng Yi's face remained expressionless as he told Fan Yiweng: "Quickly open the chamber door and release Ma Guangzuo."

Fan Yiweng handed the key to the disciple, opened the door, and shouted: "Someone come!"

Two laborers responded and entered; Fan Yiweng pointed at Ma Guangzuo and said: "Carry him out!"

The National Preceptor watched as Ma Guangzuo was dragged out, showing no movement himself, yet his face was ferocious, glaring hatefully at Feng Yi.

"National Preceptor!" Feng Yi suddenly stepped forward and declared loudly: "You too are a hero of the Mongols; surely you know that flowers never bloom twice and time never returns. Though your body is now maimed, your life remains; if you wholeheartedly seek death, all your divine abilities and supreme techniques will vanish with you—would that not be a great tragedy of life?"

The National Preceptor glared at him, his gaze fierce and vicious, and coldly laughed: "Do you still want my martial arts?"

Feng Yi shook his head: "I have obtained the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill; your other martial arts are worthless to me."

I merely feel that, although you have lost, if this entire body of skill were to be buried, it would truly be a great loss to the martial world.

I hope you will cherish your life and preserve your body, living a few more days; even if you turn to bones in this prison, if this skill were preserved, perhaps it could forge another martial arts master, letting your name as Golden Wheel National Preceptor be passed down through the ages.

If you truly do not wish to live, why must I strike you down? Suicide would suffice, and someone would see to your burial.

Only then would you be buried beneath a tree to become fertilizer—such a death would truly be unworthy of your status as a National Preceptor."

Feng Yi's words left the National Preceptor speechless; though he was furious and wished to crush Feng Yi's bones and scatter his ashes, given his present state as a prisoner in the fire cell, what could he do?

Feng Yi sighed softly: "Since you are a member of the Ningmiao Sect, you should know that over a hundred years ago, Master Jumozhi lost all his martial arts yet became a great Buddhist master. Are you not his equal?"

Upon hearing this, the National Preceptor collected himself, gave a bitter smile, and said: "Looking at your young age, your high martial prowess is understandable, but to be so learned and well-informed, even knowing of Master Jumozhi—"

Feng Yi remained silent and unmoved; the National Preceptor also fell into contemplation. After a moment of mutual gaze, Feng Yi let out a long sigh: "Think it over well." Then he turned and left.

Upon leaving the Huohuan Shi, they saw Ma Guangzuo had already awakened, his face showing both surprise and fear.

"Did you kill that bald traitor?" Li Mochou snorted, coldly staring at Ma Guangzuo: "What should we do with him?"

Feng Yi's gaze fell on Ma Guangzuo, and he forced a smile: "Brother Ma, how does the National Preceptor's fate look?"

Ma Guangzuo stared blankly, then muttered: "This, this..."

"If you stay in the Central Plains, you will eventually end up like him." Feng Yi said offhandedly: "I keep my word; you may leave safely. But I hope you will forget everything about this valley, return to your hometown, and as long as I live, never serve the Mongols again!"

"I..." Ma Guangzuo gulped hard, "I dare not disobey!"

"Very good!" Feng Yi smiled: "I treat you as a man whose word is worth a thousand gold, so in my heart you surpass the Golden Wheel National Preceptor; you must not let me down."

The Golden Wheel National Preceptor is a National Preceptor, yet Feng Yi says he is inferior to Ma Guangzuo.

Instantly Ma Guangzuo's face lit with joy; he said: "Good, Brother Feng, thanks to those words of yours, I was almost roasted like a pig, so I won't even curse my mother." He laughed heartily, turned, and walked away.

Fan Yiweng said: "Take the valiant Ma out of the valley."

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A green-clad disciple followed up.

In just a day's time, the four top experts who had come with Ma Guangzuo were all destroyed by Feng Yi's hands; how could he dare to linger? He fled home in panic, naturally living to a ripe old age—this is a later story.

Only then did Fan Yiweng ask: "Brother-in-law, you really won't kill that monk, to vent anger for my junior sister?"

"Ah!" Feng Yi closed his eyes and said softly: "If I were in his place, I would have done the same; back then, in my furious haste, I crippled his body. Now I think about it, my victory was indeed not honorable, so how could I kill him?"

Li Mochou gave Feng Yi a sideways glance and said: "You've said it all; just now you were calling them wicked……" She trailed off, seeing Feng Yi look unhappy, and fell silent.

Feng Yi opened his eyes, glanced at Li Mochou, and smiled: "Wickedness is the truth, but I do not kill based solely on good versus evil; I also consider allegiance."

Moreover, the so-called wicked deeds—if I have done them myself, they are not wicked in my eyes.

If a certain evil act is something I could not commit, yet someone else can, then that person is a wickedness deserving of death.

Thus I deem those who are ungrateful and treacherous, who betray master and ancestors, who forget their roots—such people must die; how could the wickedness of others compare to mine?"

Li Mochou and Fan Yiweng suddenly understood.

Feng Yi judges wickedness by putting himself in the other's place; as he said, if he were to swap places with the Golden Wheel National Preceptor, he too would try every means to escape, so it would not be an evil that demands death.

Li Mochou recalls even more clearly that he once told her: if he were abandoned by others, he would go vent his frustrations, and even if forced to swear a poisonous oath, he might well become as resentful of the world as she is.

Feng Yi looked around and said: "Just remember, this National Preceptor's external wounds are hard to heal now; he cannot make waves. But once his external injuries heal, he will surely seek to escape.

You must assign alert disciples to guard him; if you wear down this National Preceptor, truly make this prison his lifelong abode.

He will certainly not let his martial arts be buried underground; perhaps for Jueqing Gu this is also a resource."

Fan Yiweng nodded: "Understood."

Feng Yi and the others returned to Lü E's residence; Feng Yi explained the internal energy cultivation method in detail to her, also allowing Fan Yiweng to listen in.

Fan Yiweng was overjoyed.

Over the next few days, Feng Yi daily infused Lü E with true qi; Li Mochou harbored resentment, speaking little.

But Lü E was guileless and modest, often making small talk with Li Mochou.

That day, Lü E couldn't help asking: "Elder Sister Li, I heard Feng Lang say you have great renown in the martial world. As a young, beautiful woman, how did you achieve that?"

Li Mochou is indeed a world-renowned extraordinary woman, but she is older than I, and she knew Feng Yi first; naturally she is my elder sister, I should defer to her and not harbor competitive feelings, lest Feng Yi be put in a difficult position.

Li Mochou said nonchalantly: "One relies on martial arts, two on disposition, three on means. People of the martial world respect only strength; if your martial arts are formidable and you act decisively, you will naturally have a place in the martial world."

Lü E felt dejected, sighing: "Elder Sister Li, you are truly amazing; though people say the martial world is treacherous, you, as a woman, have made a name for yourself. I have never left the valley since childhood; if I went to the martial world, I'd surely make a fool of myself."

Li Mochou smirked: "Not at all; you are sincere with others, unlike me whose ill repute spreads across the world."

Seeing Lü E's sincerity, Li Mochou's guard lowered; she also didn't want Feng Yi to be embarrassed, so she naturally grew fond of Lü E.

Feng Yi felt pleased inside, while Fan Yiweng admired him.

Indeed, a capable person is truly capable!

It even made Li Mochou, such a woman, offer flattery.

After a few more days, a disciple of Jueqing Gu reported that the Mongol army had broken camp; Feng Yi breathed a sigh of relief. That day he and Li Mochou went to Qing Hua Cong and spoke of the danger of the love flower's poison.

Upon hearing, Li Mochou said that once the poisonous thorn pierces, merely thinking of one's beloved causes immense anguish; she immediately wanted to destroy the flower trees.

Feng Yi had the same intention; after obtaining Lü E's consent, he sent green-clad disciples to cut down each love flower tree in the valley and burn them.

Feng Yi feared leaving even a single plant, lest the root remain and regrow; he and Li Mochou searched the valley thoroughly, finding no trace of love flower branches, fruits, or seeds, and then ceased.

After this campaign, the calamitous miraculous tree was finally exterminated by Feng Yi and Li Mochou; future generations would no longer suffer its poison, and this too was a great deed of Li Mochou.

After another month, thanks to Feng Yi's tireless efforts, Lü E's internal injuries healed, though her external wounds were not yet fully mended.

After breakfast that day, Feng Yi told Lü E: "I ought to leave."

Lü E's face turned pale at once; she exclaimed: "I don't want you to go; I want you to stay here for a lifetime!"

Overcome with emotion, the words she had rehearsed a thousand times in her heart spilled out; as soon as they left her lips, her face flushed crimson and tears began to roll.

Feng Yi chuckled: "Don't misunderstand; I haven't married you yet. You tell me to go, yet I still won't go. But I promised the Beggars' Sect to rendezvous in Chang'an—how could a person go back on his word and profit?"

Lü E's heart pounded; she lowered her head and said: "Then I want to go with you!"

Feng Yi shook his head, then looked at Li Mochou: "Not only can she not accompany me, you cannot either!"

Li Mochou was about to flare up, but seeing Feng Yi clasp their hands together, he said: "A true man, born between heaven and earth, ought to have the heart to defend the nation against invasion."

"But I go to Mongolia to spread poison, to create plague; if mishandled, I fear none who go will survive."

He continued, raising his brows: "If I die from poisoning others, it is just retribution; yet I cannot let you risk yourselves."

Li Mochou, too, knew the peril of going to Mongolia; she felt a sour ache in her chest, and looking at Lü E, she too burst into tears.

Feng Yi reached out to wipe Lü E's tears, saying: "However, rest assured, I am not easy to kill."

Lü E hastily wiped her face, holding back tears: "Then you cannot not go?" Saying this, her eyes grew moist again.

Feng Yi shook his head and told her: "Some matters must ultimately be undertaken by someone. If I don't go, if he doesn't go, our Han people are doomed."

Li Mochou snapped: "Didn't you say you wanted me to resist the Mongols and serve the country?"

Feng Yi sighed: "Times have changed. Initially I only took you as an ally, letting you mix in, without considering your life or death; now you are my beloved—how could I let you accompany me into danger?"

"I, Feng Yi, am no sage; having acquired these abilities, I cannot be a cowardly turtle, nor can I let the Mongols prevail."

"But you two, I cannot bear to part with!"

He handed the bundle in his hand to Li Mochou, then looked at Lü E: "Mochou, Lü E is gentle and weak; thus the major affairs here must fall to you—truly a burden on you."

Feng Yi thought that this journey's life and death were uncertain; his tone was unprecedentedly gentle, making Li Mochou also want to weep.

Feng Yi let out a long sigh: "If I go and never return, you must not hate me."

Li Mochou knew Feng Yi's mind was set, she could not change it; she took the bundle, stood there dazed, only wanting to burst into tears.

"You must come back." Li Mochou finally uttered these words.

Feng Yi gazed deeply at her, then stroked Lü E's black hair, sighing: "If I do not return..."

Lü E felt a lump in her heart; she urged: "Just leave tomorrow morning!"

Feng Yi smiled and whispered in her ear: "The mourning period is not over; aren't you afraid of being wronged?"

As Feng Yi's lips lightly touched her ear, Lü E felt as if burned by fire; she said nothing aloud, but in her heart thought: "What grievance?"

Feng Yi said: "Very well, today shall be our wedding day."

Jueqing Gu, because Gongsun Zhi was to wed Xiao Longnv, had everything ready; preparations began that day. Li Mochou, though envious, said nothing.

But Feng Yi simply married both women together; after the guests dispersed that night, Lü E came forward holding a cup of tea, bowed deeply before Li Mochou and said: "Elder Sister, please accept my respects."

Li Mochou hastily rose to support her, saying: "You'll kill me; little sister, you must not do this."

Lü E insisted Li Mochou drink the tea; Feng Yi said: "Though there is no right or wrong, there is precedence—Mochou, please drink this cup of tea."

Lü E happily replied: "As my husband says."

Upon hearing Feng Yi's words, Li Mochou rose and drank the tea with an ordinary salute (ordinary salute)

That night was Feng Yi's bridal chamber.

Lü E said Li Mochou, being senior, should have Feng Yi visit her room first; Li Mochou countered that Lü E was an unmarried maiden residing in Jueqing Gu, so Feng Yi should go to Lü E's room first, lest she be wronged.

Feng Yi thought that reasonable.

Li Mochou took Feng Yi's hand and led him to Lü E's door, shoved him inside, shut the door, and laughed: "Little sister, if you don't accept him, he might run away from home."

Lü E glanced at Feng Yi, feeling quite shy.

Feng Yi then scooped her up in one motion, laid her on the bed, removed her garments piece by piece; Lü E had a full figure, lovely features, her whole body crystalline and pure—seeing this, Feng Yi's blood surged.

Lü E's body trembled slightly, both shy and fearful. Since her body was not yet fully healed, Feng Yi could only taste and stop, cherishing her tenderly with utmost gentleness.

As the saying goes, a golden needle pierces the peach blossom bud; one dares not speak loudly, secretly furrowing the brow; the faint orchid‑musk scent is heard in the breath; even now one still regrets the lack of deep affection.

Lü E looked back on the past, unconsciously her eyes grew moist; fortunately she was understanding, in the end she didn't say much, and even pushed Feng Yi into Li Mochou's room.

Li Mochou also knew that parting with Feng Yi, she didn't know when they would meet again; she, too, had been through such things, Feng Yi's worries were all dispelled, and he fully displayed his talents.

The two indulged in wild passion, leaving nothing untried, both feeling delighted.

The next day, Feng Yi went to see the National Preceptor again, then left Jueqing Gu and headed north. On the main road, he saw smoke and dust filling the air, troops of cavalry galloping southward. The riders all carried knives and swords, vigorous and proud.

(End of chapter)