Chapter 281

Everyone had expected Zuo Lengchan to launch an invasion, Feng Yi's martial arts were peerless and he was unrestrained, so a fierce battle between the two sides seemed inevitable; yet both sides managed to hold back, leaving the many elders of the Demonic Cult extremely disappointed.

They had thought the Five Peaks Sword School was their age‑old enemy, and Feng Yi was the cult leader's arch‑foe; if the two sides fought, it would be death or injury, and they could then wipe out both sides in one fell swoop, boosting their martial reputation and their status within the cult in a straight line.

That really is a case of the snipe and the clam grappling, with the fisherman reaping the benefit!

Such superficial reasoning was obvious to everyone present; moreover, for men like Feng Yi and Zuo Lengchan who have spent years roughing it in the jianghu, only a few fools fail to see it, and those kinds of people never get ahead in the jianghu because they don't live long.

Feng Yi glanced at Zuo Lengchan, a strange smile flickering at the corner of his mouth; seeing his arrogant bearing, Zuo Lengchan's heart sank: 'This man does not follow common sense—who knows what trick he'll pull next!'

Feng Yi walked with his hands behind his back, took two slow steps, and mused: 'Actually, the four words "magnanimous and tolerant" have never been my forte, but I've always preferred to listen to women's words.'

Moreover, your Five Peaks Sword School has always been united; although some of you are not good people, there truly are several senior masters, heroines among women, and Feng Mou does not wish to turn against them, so I'll just take the easy way out; besides, the Demonic Cult is numerous and powerful, not to be taken lightly, and I don't want to let them reap the benefit.

Everyone was stunned—does this guy really have nothing he dares not say? Though it's not hard to guess which women are heroines, who isn't a scoundrel?

Zuo Lengchan clasped his hands and laughed: 'Brother Feng, you're frank and outspoken, your insight is penetrating—admirable and commendable!'

Feng Yi shook his head: 'Since you dare come to me, you must know I'm fond of beauty; if I simply agreed, people would say Feng Yi was forced by Zuo Lengchan's army pressing in, and under threat I'd lightly consent, thus giving Brother Fei the rescue.'

In that case, certain busybodies would surely say I, Feng Yi, am a contemptible rat; sigh, it's because of this that I killed the Demonic Cult's Incense Master Xue, perhaps also injuring some innocents by mistake, which provoked the cult's siege—looking back, I was indeed a bit rash.

He said this with a sigh.

The reason Feng Yi killed Xue Ju had been heard by the Demonic Cult elders from the surviving followers.

Feng Yi's gaze shifted: 'Left Sect Master, Master Yue both have beautiful wives and concubines, sons and daughters galore, while I, Feng Yi, remain alone; the jianghu rumors wildly claim I have an affair with the Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden, and if it's true, I, Feng Yi, admit it.'

Too bad they just said they wanted to kill me—this is clearly a rumor, pure slander of my reputation.

Just ask: I'm naturally not chaste, so it's inevitable people say I indulge in women, not the conduct of a true man; add the label of a coward, how am I to pursue women afterward—who will bear responsibility for this lifelong matter?

All the heroes thought: 'This Feng Yi is indeed troublesome; obviously it's his own wanton conduct, yet now he blames it on the Songshan School!'

But everyone knows that being strict with others and lenient with oneself is human nature; most people can see others' faults clearly, yet when looking at themselves a single leaf blocks their view, and they miss Mount Tai.

In life and work, when any problem arises, the first reaction is either to blame the superior as a worthless waste or to shift responsibility onto incompetent subordinates; few people first consider whether they themselves might be at fault.

Zuo Lengchan suppressed his anger and said lightly: 'Then what is your advice, sir?'

Feng Yi raised his head to heaven and said calmly: 'I observe the jianghu rules: either you, Great Sect Master Zuo, duel me one‑on‑one and defeat me, or order your own followers, or even call upon the Five Peaks Alliance and all heroes under heaven to attack together—would that also be acceptable?'

Everyone was left speechless; Yue Buqun smiled and said: 'Alliance Master Zuo invited us here not to fight you; according to jianghu rules, there is also a second way.'

Feng Yi chuckled: 'Of course, I'm very reasonable—I didn't steal the Lin family's Evil‑Resisting Sword Manual, did I?'

In fact I also stole another line: buying one's way with money. Lin Zhen'nan's escort agency does huge business, mostly opening roads with money; wherever they go they have to befriend the local extortion gangs.

The jianghu isn't all fighting and killing; there's also human sentiment and worldly etiquette, reciprocity and all—so Brother Fei's life could also be bought with money, right?

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances—after all that roundabout talk, it was just about money. The Songshan School immediately breathed a sigh of relief; if it's silver, then it's no problem.

There are countless escort agencies in the world; even the mighty Fuwei Escort Agency has to pay protection money to the local extortion gangs, let alone others.

However, some factions of the Five Peaks Sword School value reputation and never take such payments; those people rush to curry favor, yet they can't climb up to that level.

But the Songshan School is not like that; they have both underground underworld figures and legitimate enterprises, otherwise how could they support over a thousand disciples with such huge expenses?

Zuo Lengchan had endured until now; he could only first save Fei Bin and then speak: 'Then please tell us the number.'

Feng Yi shook his head: 'That number is hard to say—it's like me telling you how much Fei Bin is worth, and you'd pay exactly that.'

Zuo Lengchan gave a slight nod: 'That's the reasoning.'

Those slow on the uptake couldn't grasp the hidden meaning.

But the clever ones like Yue Buqun understood.

This means that if Zuo Lengchan names a figure, saying too little makes Fei Bin seem worthless, while saying too much leaves him unable to produce the amount—what then?

Feng Yi chuckled: 'Talking to smart people is refreshing, so since we've come to the banks of the Qin Huai River, I ask Sect Master Zuo to give each of these flower‑girls one hundred taels of silver, just to look after their business.'

As soon as he said that, everyone looked at each other, bewildered and uncertain.

Some women felt embarrassed; Nun Dingxian and Nun Dingyi shook their heads and sighed, feeling that Feng Yi's move greatly lacked the bearing of a master.

The Songshan disciples had long been filled with anger at Feng Yi; hearing him say they should look after the prostitutes' business, they could no longer endure.

Ding Mian's face flushed red as he shouted: 'You're bullying people too much!'

He is a natural‑born loudmouth, and with his abundant inner strength his voice rings out like thunder—truly a voice like thunderclap, making everyone's ears buzz, and his tall stature seemed to swell a foot taller out of nowhere, like an iron tower, startling everyone.

His mighty shout is a technique used on the battlefield when generals clash and martial artists spar to shock the enemy; if the opponent's will is slightly weak and they lapse, one can spot the opening and finish them with a single move.

Although the Songshan School fears Feng Yi, they cannot tolerate his nose‑to‑the‑air arrogance; Ding Mian's great shout to intimidate the enemy came first, and Lu Bai, Le Hou and their fellow disciples, exchanging a glance, knew the follow‑up and immediately launched a fierce attack.

The Songshan School's three top experts thrust their palms forward together, their power like mountains overturning seas, striking toward Feng Yi.

Before the palms arrived, the palm wind already blew some people's chests tight; torches several zhang away fluttered helplessly, and seeing this momentum, the heroes felt a twinge of fear; those well‑versed and knowledgeable recognized it as the Songshan School's supreme art, the 'Great Songyang Divine Palm'!

Feng Yi's cultivation is superb; his mind and spirit settled, Ding Mian's fierce shout to intimidate the enemy left him unmoved, yet the three men's combined palm strike could not be ignored—he raised his palms and immediately struck out.

With a bang, the two great forces collided, both sides meeting palm to palm, force against force, the weaker side injured.

Ding, Lu, and Le staggered back three steps in succession, feeling their chest blood surge upward, nearly spurting from their mouths; they hastily suppressed it with inner energy, but felt their five viscera and six bowels churned by the true qi, extremely uncomfortable, their bodies swaying, unable to stand firm.

Zuo Lengchan flashed his body, arms outstretched to block behind the three junior brothers, and only then could they steady themselves.

Feng Yi hehe‑laughed: 'The Great Songyang Divine Palm is nothing more than this!' His laugh was utterly mocking.

This turn of events was a dire reversal; the Songshan masters' faces, already flushed, swelled up like pig livers.

Everyone saw that Zuo Lengchan's skill of bearing the back to neutralize force was certainly a supreme art of the age, yet Feng Yi made it even harder to believe.

Because no one wants to believe that anyone could, with one person's strength, directly oppose the combined palm power of the Songshan School's three top masters and win in battle.

This victory was not won by relying on martial technique.

For instance, even if Feng Yi's inner strength exceeded theirs by a mere fraction, using martial arts in combat might still let him win.

But to stand still and yet receive the three men's palm strikes and prevail—if he moved, wouldn't that be even more terrifying?

This is enough to prove that Feng Yi's inner strength far exceeds the combined depth of the three.

Nun Dingxian and Jia Bu, among others, felt strangely: 'People say Feng Yi's martial arts are supernatural, that he could match the Eastern Invincible (the cult leader) in skill; I initially didn't quite believe it,'

'but now it turns out he really is that formidable—yet at his age, even if he had started training in the womb, he couldn't have such profound, heavy inner strength.'

Fei Bin, however, was so angry he felt his chest about to burst, shouting furiously: 'What does your high martial arts matter? Now that it's come to this, I'd rather be shattered jade than intact tile!' He immediately raised his palm and struck his own forehead.

By this point, he also didn't want to let himself cause the Songshan School to suffer even greater humiliation.

"Junior brother!" "Senior brother!" "Master!"

Someone in the Songshan School shouted loudly, but Zuo Lengchan and the others took no action; they also felt that it was no big deal to all die in battle, and they could not leave behind a reputation for cowardice.

Feng Yi shouted, "What's it to you?" Then he lunged forward, grabbing at Fei Bin; suddenly a faint wind stirred beside him, a yellow flash appeared, and Zuo Lengchan thrust a palm toward Feng Yi's waist and ribs with a shout.

He, out of respect for his status, was unwilling to attack together with his junior brother, but now forced, he struck out alone; this palm was swift, heavy, and extremely fierce, its wind aimed at Feng Yi's vital points.

Unexpectedly, Feng Yi turned his body and vanished; Zuo Lengchan was startled and had no time to change his move.

Then they saw Feng Yi already gripping Fei Bin's wrist; Fei Bin felt excruciating pain, as if his wrist were clamped in an iron band, his whole body went weak, he heard a loud shout, a yellow flash flickered, and Zuo Lengchan rushed in like the wind, grabbing Fei Bin and kicking Feng Yi, attacking from above and below.

Feng Yi laughed heartily, offered no resistance, shifted like lightning, and his body lightly darted several zhang sideways.

Even while holding a person in his hand, he remained as light as nothing, leaping like a rabbit and a falcon, swift beyond compare.

Fei Bin was extremely bold and brave; though held by Feng Yi, he felt no fear at all and shouted, "Everyone, attack together, don't worry about me!"

Zuo Lengchan had already come rushing in again, striking a palm at Feng Yi; Feng Yi laughed, "Excellent, excellent!" and shoved Fei Bin forward.

If Zuo Lengchan did not withdraw his force, he would surely strike Fei Bin; who would have thought that Zuo Lengchan did not pull back his palm, and although Fei Bin was willing to die, his senior brother's behavior also made him somewhat incredulous.

Suddenly a gentle, warm force transmitted to his back; instantly his limbs and bones felt a comforting warmth that was indescribably pleasant, yet he could not exert any strength.

With only a soft crack, Zuo Lengchan's palm struck squarely on Fei Bin's chest.

Although Zuo Lengchan's palm power was extremely fierce, he did not expect that upon hitting Fei Bin his arm would suddenly heat up and his body sway; fearing that Feng Yi might follow up from behind Fei Bin, he tapped his foot and retreated several zhang in the same motion.

This move shocked everyone out of their wits; only the Five Peaks School's headmaster and other top experts understood that Feng Yi was transmitting power through the body, making Fei Bin's body equivalent to a shield.

Although the method of transmitting power through the body is not terribly difficult, to think of repelling Zuo Lengchan with it is utterly unthinkable; naturally it shocked all the masters: "The jianghu says Feng Yi's divine skill is invincible; seeing him today, his true ability surpasses even the rumors."

Some of those with low martial arts initially did not understand, but upon hearing the nearby experts explain, they immediately cried out in panic, looking at each other in alarm.

Everyone felt for the first time a sense of tension and oppression, all thinking: "He comes and goes like the wind; his inner power is so profound, his martial arts so high, truly deserving of the phrase 'unfathomable'."

Although Zuo Lengchan had suffered this great embarrassment, he also knew that Feng Yi's martial arts and inner power were indeed superior to his own; if he wanted to win, perhaps only by using weapons, but thinking of how Feng Yi had just come and gone like a ghost, with an elusive footwork, what use would wielding a sword be?

In an instant, he felt rather disheartened and cold-hearted.

After his battle with Ren Wo Xing more than ten years ago, he had trained painstakingly for years, believing his martial arts had greatly improved, enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Shaolin abbot and the Wudang sect leader; only then did he feel the time for the Five Peaks' unification had arrived, but who would have expected to encounter such a rival, with this person present,

He could not wash away the humiliation; would the allied Five Peaks not become a laughingstock? Fei Bin, held by Feng Yi, unable to move, his face flushed red, stared at Feng Yi and shouted, "I willingly accept death; what does it have to do with you!"

Feng Yi said with a chuckle, "Master Fei, you've always said I'm not a hero, haven't you? After thinking it over, I agree you're right; a person still ought to have some heroic bearing.

Therefore, the first step to being a hero is to speak like an arrow shot forth, with no regret!

Since I said before everyone that I would save you, how could I go back on my word?

If you die just like that, wouldn't that make me break my promise and grow fat, cutting off my heroic path? Hahaha, hahaha, hehehe!

In the original plot, Ding Mian, Lu Bai, and Fei Bin forced Liu Zhengfeng; Liu Zhengfeng captured Fei Bin and pleaded with kind words, saying he would never set foot in the Central Plains again, begging for mercy.

But Ding Mian and Lu Bai thought that if they agreed, it would damage the Songshan School's prestige; they not only refused, they also forced Liu Zhengfeng's children to say their father deserved to die, killing anyone who wouldn't comply; the sole seven- or eight-year-old child, seeing his older siblings chopped into several pieces by a long sword and with a sword pointed at him, terrified, said his father deserved to die.

Such wicked deeds of forcing children to oppose their father already made Feng Yi hate them to the extreme; yet they still dared to besiege him, so he also wanted to drive the Songshan School into a state where they could neither live nor die.

The Songshan School's disciples, furious and uncontrollably angry, the three great guardians rushed forward again, shouting as they struck out; Feng Yi laughed continuously, his form drifting, dodging each attack, and did not strike back.

"Amitabha!"

Master Dingxian pressed her palms together and said, "Everyone assisting, please listen to this old nun's words!"

Those few immediately ceased fighting, and Feng Yi did not pursue.

Anyway, he had no intention to kill; he was just out for fun.

No mistakes, one after another, inside and out, everywhere you look.

Master Dingxian said, "Hero Feng, your martial arts are transcendent; we are far inferior, but a man of honor would rather die than yield! If the Songshan School were to submit to your divine might like this, how could they stand in the martial world, how could they face their ancestors; your demand is truly too harsh."

Feng Yi laughed and said, "Master, do you know any other name for the Qinhuai River?"

These words came like a sudden peak, leaving everyone utterly puzzled.

In a blink, the waning moon set in the west, casting a thin layer of frost over the river surface, while in the distance the lanterns on the flower boats drifted.

Master Dingxian pressed her palms together and said, "Please instruct us!"

Feng Yi said, "I dare not, but on this Qinhuai River some call it the River of Flowing Gold, and of course some call it the River of Tears."

Master Dingyi wondered, "How do you mean that?"

Feng Yi smiled and said, "I don't know how many wealthy merchants and tycoons, in order to win the favor of women on this Qinhuai River, spend a thousand gold at a toss, truly nightly revelry, letting people indulge in boundless sensual blessings, hence it is called the River of Flowing Gold."

Yet the women here are mostly the families of former officials, either stripped of rank by the emperor and made into prostitutes, or tricked or kidnapped into this place, not of their own free will.

"Amitabha!" Master Dingxian said, "Who knows how much blood and tears of frail women are left in this Qinhuai River?"

Feng Yi sighed and said, "Exactly so. I am not emperors like Zhu Yuanzhang or Zhu Di, unable to change these women's fate; being able to look after their livelihood is the utmost of my ability."

Normally, this Qinhuai River would be bustling, but because of us, its song and dance merriment has ceased early.

Be it the Songshan School or myself, we are lawless, disregarding the imperial court, yet these women are different.

Their task here is simply to make money; we brandish blades and clubs here, even officials retreat, so which customer would dare come?

Without customers, those women cannot earn money; if they cannot earn, the top-tier performers may not be greatly affected, but the other women inevitably suffer the wrath of the madams and pimps.

Ordinarily I couldn't manage this, but today's affair arose because of me; I had the Songshan School give each woman a hundred taels of silver—could that also be wrong?

What is called bullying excessively—could it be that the Songshan School counts as human while prostitutes do not? I don't care how others see it; in my eyes they are all the same, all human.

He spoke leisurely, his words fitting both emotion and reason.

At first others hearing him say the Songshan School should give silver to the prostitutes found it overly domineering and unreasonable, but upon hearing his explanation now, it indeed makes sense.

They ruined the Qinhuai River's business and could just brush it off, yet these women unable to earn money are indeed affected by them.

Moreover, some think that Feng Yi's visits to prostitutes actually harm his reputation not at all, and seem rather like doing good deeds.

On the upper floor, Ren Yingying frowned tightly and spat, "This person is shameless and twists reason to his advantage!"

"How do you know he's twisting reason?" Mo Da said gloomily, "Perhaps this is his true inner thought, knowing it's wrong yet unable to change it, a helpless resignation."

Ren Yingying's face flushed with blood, she gave a couple of cold chuckles, and remained noncommittal.

Abbess Dingxian's nature is most accommodating and kind; she is always eager to help others, so she naturally thought Feng Yi's deed was excellent. However, considering her position as the head of Hengshan Sect, she cannot intervene in Mount Song's affairs, and besides, as a woman, it would be inconvenient for her to speak.

Zuo Lengchan only felt that Feng Yi's martial arts were unfathomable, something he had never seen in his life; if he still did not know the difference in skill, he did not know how great a disgrace he would suffer. He then clasped his fists and said, "Your divine skill is invincible, and your heart is benevolent; I, Zuo, am impressed…"

Feng Yi said, "No need for the compliments; just tell me whether you agree or not!"

Zuo Lengchan's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Agreeing is not difficult, but let us first settle this; I, Zuo, also have a condition, otherwise…"

He did not finish the rest of his words, but the meaning was clear: If you do not agree to my condition, we will also swarm upon you.

Jia Bu shouted in a sharp voice, "At this point, can even the alliance leader hold back? In my view, let us all rush him together, attacking him from all sides so he cannot defend himself, making it hard for him to escape."

Zuo Lengchan remained silent, giving no answer.

Feng Yi let out a cold snort and said lightly, "Good, good, very good!" As he spoke, he threw Fei Bin down, turned, and walked away.

Suddenly recalling something, he stopped his steps and said, "I, Feng Yi, settle debts openly and do not contend in secret; from today on, I will wholeheartedly devote myself to killing your Mount Song sect members, and also those of you who dared to besiege me—I have just noted them all down."

I must visit each one of you personally. Do not think that I cannot remember a few hundred people; I remember these leaders of yours, and under my methods, not a single petty follower will be able to flee.

Everyone felt alarmed, thinking, "His martial arts are peerless; from now on, where could there be a peaceful life to live?"

Yue Buqing stepped sideways to block him and said, "Master Feng, why go to such extremes? The Mount Song Sect may fight you alone, but they ultimately cannot defeat you; your fame spreads across the world, and the reputation of your deadly palms and swords suffers not at all. Grievances should be resolved, not perpetuated—why not listen to the alliance leader's terms?"

Feng Yi gave a snort and said, "Why should I listen? I have always been the one threatening others; anyone who dared to threaten me is dead—how could I make an exception for him, Zuo Lengchan?"

Yue Buqing lowered his voice and said, "Actually, you cannot blame the alliance leader either; after all, he is the leader of the Five Peaks Alliance, and you ought to give him a way out as well!"

With Zuo Lengchan's level of skill, even hearing those words made his facial muscles twitch.

Feng Yi glanced at him and said, "What you say also makes sense; the alliance leader is a respectable man, and heaven inherently cherishes life—I, Feng, also do not wish to create more killing karma…"

Suddenly his body swayed, seeming unreal, like a dream or illusion, and he was already before Jia Bu.

Jia Bu was instantly terrified out of his wits; little did he know that Feng Yi's arrival had shown no prior sign, and he too was a top contemporary expert, flashing a pair of black judge's pens over three feet long from his waist, he hastily pointed them at Feng Yi's palm and vital points on the body, acting with great composure and speed.

The nearby Shangguan Yun and others also drew their weapons, but it was strangely odd—their weapons had not even been issued when Feng Yi had already turned into a clear breeze and vanished without a trace.

Only a rapid series of popping sounds was heard; Jia Bu's mouth spewed blood wildly, his body seemed to become a ball of flesh, and he collapsed limp to the ground.

Zuo Lengchan and the other experts focused their minds and eyes on Feng Yi; hearing and watching, as soon as his body moved, they widened their eyes, straining to follow his motion—but in the dizzying blur, Jia Bu had already collapsed face-down.

Meanwhile, Feng Yi stood still, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the starry sky, as if he had never moved.

Just moments ago, the Mount Song Sect had surrounded Feng Yi in attack, yet no one saw clearly what happened.

At this moment, seeing Jia Bu suddenly slain, swift as lightning and thunder, everyone was stunned into silence; a few particularly timid ones felt their knees go weak, either kneeling or sitting, actually unable to stand upright.

Some felt it utterly inexplicable—just moments ago he had shown a compassionate demeanor, not forgetting to look after the prostitutes' business, so how could he suddenly kill someone?

Just what kind of person is he—good or evil?

Or perhaps, compared to him, who is truly the demon—the demonic sect or he?

Only a few perceptive people knew that Jia Bu had repeatedly stirred up the crowd to besiege Feng Yi; a master of Feng Yi's caliber, having freed his hands, could hardly tolerate him.

Ren Yingying felt her heart tighten even more, her inner self both angry and dejected.

Her anger stemmed from feeling that, in Feng Yi's eyes, she was no different from anyone else—merely a transaction partner.

Where was the liking for beautiful women he had spoken of, and that she herself was the beauty in his heart?

For if she held any place in his heart, he ought not to have slain the sect's elder before her eyes, leaving her in what position? And to think she had even told him her name!

As for her dejection, it was that he felt pity for the prostitutes, yet had none at all for her.

Then Mo Da asked softly, "Are you angry?"

Ren Yingying's face darkened, and she replied, "No!"

Mo Da chuckled lightly and said, "Do you think Zuo Lengchan's glance at you just now was merely casual, that he does not know your identity?"

Ren Yingying heard this, recalled the moment just before when Zuo Lengchan had glanced at her without saying anything, and she involuntarily shivered, then her face showed relief as she said, "He was telling Zuo Lengchan that he has no relation with me, this holy maiden of the demonic sect, and is actually concerned for me?"

Mo Da gave a faint smile and said, "I never said that; it's just what you think!" His body swayed, and he drifted away.

(End of chapter)