Chapter 76: Disciple of the Eternal Spring Sect

Feng Yi exerted effort to employ his means to keep Li Mochou and Hong Lingbo; certainly he had his own purpose, but he felt he had also done a great good deed.

After all, these two disciples entered the ancient tomb, forcing Xiao Longnv to set down the Broken Dragon Stone, escape via the waterway, and live in the rear mountain, only then was she defiled; otherwise, Xiao Longnv residing in the ancient tomb would keep outsiders out, making this impossible.

Therefore keeping the two women is also a great good deed of immeasurable merit.

But now Li Mochou seized the opportunity to leave; just now, as the one involved, he thought she was escaping his grasp, but after Hong Lingbo reminded him, he immediately realized he was mistaken—Li Mochou must have returned to the ancient tomb.

Feng Yi deeply knows Li Mochou has always resented her master passing the mantle to Xiao Longnv; upon learning she accepted Ouyang Feng's adopted son as a disciple, she will surely go expose this and accuse Xiao Longnv.

After all, in the original plot she told Huang Rong that Guo Xiang was Xiao Longnv and Yang Guo's child, merely to ruin her reputation, showing how vicious her mind is.

Although in the original plot Xiao Longnv already knew it was Ouyang Feng who injured her master, she did not know Yang Guo had become a disciple of Ouyang Feng's father.

Later, only when he himself was caught between the Golden Wheel and Quanzhen Sect masters, on the verge of death, did he learn that Yang Guo's crazy adoptive father was Ouyang Feng; but at that time she and Yang Guo already had deep feelings, and nothing could obstruct them except parting in death.

But according to the current timeframe, they are merely a proper master-disciple relationship; with Li Mochou meddling, it's unknown what they'll become, possibly even reenacting the original plot.

Although Li Mochou's martial arts are no longer what they once were, life's disappointments often befall eight or nine out of ten, and such misfortunes frequently find those of ill fortune.

At that time, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnv were.

At this time, I am also.

A broken leg first, then encountering Ouyang Feng later, is solid proof.

Although I have no kinship or gratitude toward Yang Guo and Xiao Longnv, nor do I find their character worthy of admiration, there's no need to expend effort for them.

But if I toil hard and achieve nothing, instead benefiting someone from the Quanzhen Sect, that's damned nonsense! Feng Yi will not allow such a thing!

In short, Xiao Longnv's original plot being defiled has nothing to do with me; but if it's defiled because of my butterfly's flap, he will not forgive himself.

Feng Yi, thinking of this, felt his heart ablaze; he at once told Hong Lingbo, "We go to the South Gate to intercept Li Mochou—we must not let her go up the mountain now!" He displayed his movement technique, took a shortcut, and raced straight to Chang'an's South Gate.

Southern End Mountain lies south of Chang'an; Li Mochou's strength not yet recovered, I can get ahead and intercept her at the city gate.

Hong Lingbo said, "I'll follow you." and also came along.

Feng Yi saw her light steps, felt pleased, and said, "Lingbo, your lightness skill is truly good; in my view, many famed figures in the jianghu are not as good as you."

Hong Lingbo's face flushed, she said, "Not at all; I'm always scolded by my master!"

Feng Yi solemnly said, "Among ordinary people, someone your age with such martial arts is already rare."

Hong Lingbo did not deny this; in West Mountain she helped her master defeat many martial arts masters.

The two's movement techniques were swift, and they soon reached the South Gate.

Feng Yi ran on one leg in one breath to the South Gate, exhausted to the point of nearly losing his breath, bent over and panted twice; Hong Lingbo looked back and saw Feng Yi's left foot on the ground, right foot only able to lift, and said, "Wait here for me, I'll go buy you a crutch."

She saw Feng Yi running on one leg, indeed inconvenient; Feng Yi grunted, then waited at a tea stall by the city gate for Li Mochou to leave the city.

Who would have thought that even after Hong Lingbo brought over a pair of crutches, Li Mochou still hadn't appeared.

Feng Yi took the crutch, pondered briefly, and said, "It seems we must make a trip to the ancient tomb!"

Hong Lingbo nodded and said, "My master has always resented not receiving the true transmission from her grandmaster; she is certain to go to the ancient tomb to make things difficult for my master's uncle."

She perhaps anticipated you would intercept her, so she must be hiding in the city now; we have no choice but to go to Southern End Mountain to wait for her."

Feng Yi saw she was quite clever, felt pleased, and said, "Southern End Mountain is vast; do you know the way?"

Hong Lingbo said, "I have a map." She produced it and handed it to Feng Yi.

Feng Yi glanced at the so-called map, frowned slightly, truly unable to comprehend; Hong Lingbo herself understood its meaning, he said, "This map is drawn according to my master's oral instructions; I can read it. This time she had me come to Chang'an to kill someone, and I planned to swing by the ancient tomb to see if I could seize the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra from my master's uncle's hands. I don't know, but she secretly followed me..."

Feng Yi said, "The ancient tomb is full of mechanisms; even Ouyang Feng almost came to grief there. Li Mochou naturally knows this, fearing she'd be restrained, so she had you scout the route ahead."

Hong Lingbo's ears flushed red; she whispered, "I too was bewitched, even dreaming of becoming the mistress of the ancient tomb!"

Feng Yi sighed, "Li Mochou's appearance, martial arts, and talent are all top-notch among women, yet she can't shake off obsession; in this life she will surely meet an untimely end—you must not learn from her."

Hong Lingbo remained silent.

Feng Yi now can only go to the ancient tomb, to prevent Li Mochou from meeting Xiao Longnv and them, and also inform Yang Guo; this is a remedial measure for the trouble I caused.

As for Ouyang Feng, a person who alternates between lucidity and confusion, upon seeing his son perhaps he won't even recall killing Xiao Longnv's master.

Feng Yi has reason to believe his memory begins to return as he sees people.

Take the example of meeting Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and Ke Zhen'e in Jiaxing: at first they didn't know each other, fought a bout, and then knew who they were.

Not only did he know he had killed their brothers, he could also learn they resided on Peach Blossom Island.

After their discussion concluded, they set out for Southern End Mountain; Feng Yi's legs were inconvenient, so Hong Lingbo bought two mules for travel. They went about twenty li, and in the distance saw a vast, majestic mountain range stretching before them, impossible to take in at a glance.

Feng Yi sighed, "This mountain is truly huge—no wonder the Quanzhen Sect established itself here!"

Hong Lingbo laughed, "The ancients said: aside from the Great Crossing, nothing surpasses Southern End Mountain in size."

Feng Yi wondered, "Have you been here before?"

Hong Lingbo said, "I haven't come before, but the Quanzhen Sect has recently flourished greatly; Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, and others have taken on many fine disciples, their fame in the martial world growing ever louder.

My master is a villain everyone calls for death, yet they practice chivalry, aid the endangered and distressed, have done countless good deeds; in the jianghu, whether or not one is a martial scholar, hearing the name Quanzhen Sect elicits great respect.

My master last time in West Mountain, although he wounded Sun Bu'er with Ice Soul Silver Needles and seemed victorious, also knew his martial arts fell short of Qiu Chuji, so he went to deliver an antidote to Sun Bu'er, apologize, and give him no pretext to attack.

But she, in her heart, cannot forget this, desiring to seize the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra to avenge the shame!

Hong Lingbo, hearing Feng Yi give no reply, glanced up and saw his face solemn, as if pondering.

Hong Lingbo couldn't help thinking, "In my life I have never encountered such a man."

She gazed at Feng Yi's jet-black eyebrows, high nose bridge, and slender cheeks, feeling she could never see enough, truly wishing to behold him thus for a lifetime.

The two traveled in silence until evening, when they arrived at the market town at the mountain's base.

That town lies at the foot of Southern End Mountain; since the Quanzhen Sect's leader Wang Zhongyang established the Quanzhen Sect on Southern End Mountain and built Chongyang Palace, Southern End Mountain has become the holy land of all Daoists, and the architecture here is also gray bricks and black tiles, quite Daoist in style.

Feng Yi and Hong Lingbo, having eaten nothing from morning till now, with hunger burning, entered the town, bought two sets of new clothes for Hong Lingbo, found an inn, reserved two upper rooms, and bathed and changed.

Hong Lingbo took off her Daoist robe, quickly changed into a yellow outfit, tied her hair into a female bun, matched with a red-tasseled sword, donned a thorn hairpin; a Daoist nun instantly became a charming heroine, merely her expression showing a bit of coldness.

The two left the room, found a table, ordered a few specialty dishes and a pot of wine, were drinking when suddenly heard a gruff voice say, "Li Mochou is always stirring up trouble!"

The two followed the sound and saw two young Daoists in yellow caps and gray robes enter the shop; they should be grand-disciples of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

One had swollen cheeks and fingerprints on his neck; the other was slender in build and uninjured on the face.

Isn't that right? I don't even know who that old lunatic is, insisting on going to find the Ancient Tomb Sect!

While speaking, they had already entered the restaurant; the person who had been hit shouted loudly: "Waiter, bring two jugs of wine!"

He paused, then cursed: "Our Quanzhen Sect really has bad luck; of all things, we ended up neighbors with the Ancient Tomb Sect."

The thin man sighed and said slowly: "Li Mochou is quite formidable; last time, the two founding masters, Changshengzi and Qingjing Sanren, could do nothing against her, and Founding Masters Qiu and Wang also didn't gain any advantage—everyone knows that."

Yet Xiao Longnv is about our age, and her reputation is already great; last time she even defeated Founding Master Hao, nearly driving him to suicide. Alas, the loss we Quanzhen Sect suffer at the hands of the Ancient Tomb Sect—what's getting slapped twice?

On Xiao Longnv's eighteenth birthday, Prince Huodu brought a gang of heretics and caused a ruckus at the Chongyang Palace, only to be stopped by Guo Jing.

Knowing he couldn't win, Huodu resorted to trickery, making a ten-year agreement with Guo Jing. He then went to disturb the Ancient Tomb, but was subdued by Xiao Longnv's followers, suffered a crushing defeat and fled—within months the story spread throughout the martial world.

Later, in full view of everyone, Xiao Longnv broke Hao Datong's long sword, nearly driving him to suicide. Although Quanzhen disciples had always trusted Hao Datong's martial skill, this single act made them admire Xiao Longnv's skill even more.

Thus, although Xiao Longnv never set foot on Mount Zhongnan, her name had already become quite renowned in the martial world.

After a moment of silence in the restaurant, the fat Daoist snorted and said: "Junior Brother Liao, why bother boosting others' morale while destroying your own prestige?"

In my view, they Ancient Tomb Sect just use poison—Li Mochou with her icy phosphorous silver needles, Xiao Longnv with bees; when it comes to genuine martial arts, they can't compare to our Quanzhen Sect!

Hearing this, the thin man immediately turned solemn and said: "Senior Brother Lu is absolutely right; our Quanzhen Sect is the orthodox lineage of martial arts, with heroes emerging in succession—sooner or later we'll make the Ancient Tomb Sect look bad, especially that Yang Guo…." Upon saying that, he remembered Yang Guo was a taboo and abruptly fell silent.

Suddenly, a girl's giggle rang out, her laughter tinged with teasing.

The two Daoists felt displeased; glancing over, they saw the laughter came from a strange woman—though her features were delicate and handsome, her expression hinted at aloofness.

For some reason, upon seeing her the two Daoists felt aversion; the thin Daoist frowned and asked: "Miss Heroine, what are you laughing at?"

Hong Lingbo lifted her face and said haughtily: "I laugh at the Quanzhen Sect, supposedly a righteous school, which only knows how to scheme behind people's backs. That Wang Zhongyang, hailed as the world's best, is probably just all talk!"

The first thing an Ancient Tomb Sect disciple does upon initiation is insult Wang Zhongyang; if conditions allow—such as having a portrait in the tomb—they spit on it; if not, they at least curse Wang Zhongyang as having an empty reputation.

Having been domineering with Li Mochou before, Hong Lingbo could not tolerate anyone insulting her sect.

Even though Li Mochou had personally severed her master-disciple bond with her, this had long become her habit, not something she could change overnight. Likewise, in the eyes of Quanzhen Daoists, Wang Zhongyang is a godlike figure; these words instantly enraged the two Daoists, but seeing she was a woman, they dared not strike directly and forcibly restrained their anger.

The fat Daoist growled: "At the foot of Mount Zhongnan, you dare act so arrogantly—whose influence are you relying on?" As he spoke, he glanced at the silent Feng Yi.

Hong Lingbo was merely speaking on impulse; hearing this, she didn't know how to reply, after all she had been expelled by Li Mochou.

Seeing the fat Daoist's piggish face and hearing their words, Feng Yi thought they must have been coerced by Ouyang Feng into asking about the Ancient Tomb's route, leading to this sorry state; feeling a bit embarrassed, he said: "We're all fellow jianghu travelers; some verbal sparring is just trivial—if you're unhappy, you should still go report to your elders."

At a glance at their movements he knew their skill was inferior to Hong Lingbo's, fearing she might injure the Quanzhen Daoists and cause trouble on the way up the mountain.

Who would have thought this remark only made the two Daoists angrier, given that Feng Yi was about their age—such boldness was excessive.

The two Daoists immediately rose; the fat Daoist said: "I am a humble disciple of Quanzhen, Lu Qingdu."

The thin Daoist said: "Liao Qingping…"

In unison they asked: "May I ask your esteemed name, young hero, and who is your master?"

Feng Yi smiled and replied: "My master is no longer in this world; telling you would be pointless."

The two Daoists exchanged a glance, and Lu Qingdu shouted: "Are you looking down on us?"

Upon hearing his name, Feng Yi recalled the role he played in the original story, felt genuinely annoyed, ignored him, and simply kept drinking.

Hong Lingbo said coolly: "You Quanzhen folks, many and mighty, either investigate people's backgrounds or go to complain to your masters, or just swarm in en masse, right?"

"Impudent!" Lu Qingdu shouted: "You're too arrogant!"

He shifted his stance, left palm feinting, right palm striking out—this was the Quanzhen Sect's "Tiger Gate Palm," with considerable force.

Hong Lingbo gave a faint smile, swept her hand to her waist, a white sash leapt up and wrapped around the opponent's wrist.

Seeing the sash approach, Lu Qingdu started, his hand snapping back, and he blurted: "Are you from the Ancient Tomb Sect?"

Liao Qingping also asked: "Miss, are you Li Mochou's disciple?"

That day Xiao Longnv fought Hao Datong with a silk sash; both Daoists were present, and their technique matched Hong Lingbo's exactly.

Hong Lingbo flicked the sash; with a soft "pa" it coiled back to her waist, her posture graceful and unrestrained.

The two Daoists exchanged a glance and couldn't help but silently praise: "Good!"

Lu Qingdu shouted: "Are you Ancient Tomb Sect folks insisting on being enemies of my Quanzhen Sect?" Feng Yi raised his brows and said: "I've said it—you don't represent Quanzhen, and she isn't from the Ancient Tomb Sect; go about your business!"

Lu Qingdu roared: "Do you really think we're blind? With such bravado, you must be a master—I'll take you on!"

With a swish, he drew his long sword from his waist; the blade swayed, its edge skewed, executing the "Probe the Sea, Slay the Dragon" thrust aimed at Feng Yi's ribs.

Even though Feng Yi knew this guy was the one who bullied Yang Guo, he didn't expect such a vicious strike—his sword was aimed to kill outright.

Feng Yi extended his cane, which instantly stuck to the opponent's sword; a slight wrist tremor, and as his Divine Illumination Skill erupted, there was a ringing "dang"—Lu Qingdu's sword snapped in two.

With a "duo," the half-blade tip shot into the beam; Lu Qingdu gripped the broken half-sword, retreated several steps with a thudding gait, his face flushed, his chest feeling oppressive, and in an instant everyone was stunned.

He never imagined a youth his own age could possess such profound inner strength.

Had he known Feng Yi used less than two-tenths of his strength to avoid shocking the world, he would have been frightened enough to drop dead on the spot.

At that moment Liao Qingping was both shocked and impressed; thinking of Lu Qingdu's character, having suffered a loss, he felt he must step up, lest he cause trouble for himself later—he let out a low whistle, drew his sword, and prepared to leap forward.

Suddenly someone darted in from the shop door, moving with lightning speed, as if treading without touching the ground, and snatched the sword from his hand.

Liao Qingping turned his head and saw a Daoist wearing a yellow cap and green Daoist robes; he immediately bowed and said: "Uncle Master Zhen, they are members of the Ancient Tomb Sect."

Lu Qingdu also shouted: "Uncle Master Zhen, will you stand up for us disciples?"

He was a disciple of Zhao Zhijing, knowing his master was competing with this Uncle Master Zhen for the position of chief disciple of the third generation; he hoped the latter would come forward and give this cripple a harsh lesson—or else be taught a lesson himself.

Having lost face, he could no longer contend with his master for the position.

The Daoist glanced at Feng Yi, then at Hong Lingbo, performed a bow, and announced loudly: "I am Zhen Zhibing, disciple of the Quanzhen Changchun True Person; I have met you two exalted ones—you are both Ancient Tomb Sect disciples."

Zhen Zhibing is the second disciple of Qiu Chuji, skilled in martial arts, quite talented, and highly regarded in the Quanzhen Sect.

Among Qiu Chuji's disciples, martial arts prowess originally ranked Yin Zhiping first, Zhen Zhibing second; but in recent years Yin Zhiping has devoted himself to internal alchemy and qi cultivation, neglecting his martial arts, so among the third-generation disciples, Zhen Zhibing and Zhao Zhijing now vie for supremacy.

【Jin Yong's note: In the original edition of The Return of the Condor Heroes, the young Quanzhen Daoist who admired Xiao Longnv was originally named Yin Zhiping. However, Yin Zhiping is a real person, with the daoist name Qinghe True Person, a disciple of Qiu Chuji who later served as head of the Quanzhen Sect; portraying him with flawed conduct would tarnish the image of the ancients, so in the third edition his name was changed to Zhen Zhibing—similar in sound but purely fictional.】

(Given this, as the protagonist possessing foreknowledge, he would only consider him Zhen Zhibing, not mistaking him for the Yin Zhiping of the serial or sanlian editions.) Hong Lingbo, now about forty, has a clear and handsome appearance, phoenix eyes smiling, a knapsack slung over his shoulder, bulging, exuding a medicinal fragrance, a sword slung diagonally across his back; aside from his dignified bearing, he gives an immediate sense of closeness.

Feng Yi frowned at this person, speechless, thinking he had encountered a "dragon knight" and wondering what to do! Hong Lingbo laughed: "Whether we are of the Ancient Tomb Sect or not, what does it matter?"

Zhen Zhibing said: "If you truly are of the Ancient Tomb Sect, our two sects' founders share deep origins—why resort to armed conflict? If you are not of the Ancient Tomb Sect, as long as the lady explains her reasoning, I will naturally provide an answer."

He had a composed expression and his tone was also rather kind.

Lu Qingdu hurriedly said: "Martial Uncle, the Ancient Tomb Sect martial art just used is exactly the same as what Xiao Longnv displayed that night; I and my junior apprentice brother Liao would not be mistaken."

"Yes, Martial Uncle Zhen. We wouldn't be mistaken."

Liao Qingping replied.

Zhen Zhibing shook his head and said: "Even if she is from the same sect as Long Niang, what of it? You two rashly drew swords on people; if I hadn't arrived in time to stop it, you'd have caused trouble, and your master probably couldn't bear it."

Lu Qingdu, hearing this, felt dissatisfied and said displeased: "Those two have such big airs, treating my Quanzhen Sect as nothing……"

"Shut up!" Zhen Zhibing shouted: "How our sect is, heroes under heaven can see clearly; is it just whoever says how it is, that's how it is? Hurry back to the mountain!"

Lu Qingdu, having received such a rebuke, felt indignant, but since Zhen Zhibing was an elder and orders were hard to defy, he could only glare at Feng Yi and Hong Lingbo, toss aside his broken sword, and swing his sleeves as he left.

Liao Qingping bowed to Zhen Zhibing and also walked out of the shop.

Zhen Zhibing then said to the two: "Since Yang Guo joined your sect, our disciples have had many misunderstandings; please forgive us."

He had already figured it out; this woman is definitely related to the Ancient Tomb Sect, otherwise she would have spoken up by now.

The Quanzhen Sect and the Ancient Tomb Sect have deep entanglements; before, it wasn't like this, but after Yang Guo defected from the sect and joined the Ancient Tomb, everything changed.

For in the martial world there has long been a rule: without one's master's permission, one may not take another teacher, even if the newly encountered master's skill is ten times greater than one's own; one must not be swayed by novelty and recklessly seek higher branches, otherwise it constitutes a grave rebellion, despised by fellow martial artists.

In the past, after Guo Jing apprenticed himself to the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, he later studied under Hong Qigong but never called him "master" until, after Ke Zhen'e and others formally approved, he finally established a master-disciple relationship with Hong Qigong.

That day, Sun Popo left Zhao Zhijing speechless in his retort; she also never associated with martial artists, unaware of these rules, speaking rashly, she said Yang Guo had already taken Xiao Longnv as his master, not realizing she had committed a grave taboo.

Yang Guo was only fourteen years old, and with his reckless nature, unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, even before the great assembly he admitted he had taken Xiao Longnv as his master.

The Quanzhen Daoists originally mostly pitied Yang Guo, feeling Zhao Zhijing's handling was improper, but upon hearing Yang Guo dared to openly rebel against the master, an act unprecedented since the founding of the Quanzhen Sect, they all became greatly enraged.

As for the unfair treatment Yang Guo suffered in the Quanzhen Sect, it was only because when Guo Jing went up Mount Zhongnan a great battle defeated the assembled Daoists, offending many; quite a few who had suffered under Guo Jing took out their resentment on Yang Guo, hoping he would face more setbacks; though not necessarily malicious, venting one's pent-up frustration is only human.

Zhao Zhijing's conduct was despicable; he only passed on Yang Guo's internal energy formulas, but did not teach him the complementary techniques, and others were unaware of this.

The only elder who cared for Yang Guo, Qiu Chuji, went to Shanxi because of Li Mochou.

Before leaving, he could only repeatedly instruct Zhao Zhijing to ask after Yang Guo should anything happen to him.

Who would have thought that, as Yang Guo spewed wild words of rebellion, Qiu Chuji returned, but could do nothing, reflecting that like father, like son.

This is just another petty creature who forgets righteousness for profit!

Thus what the Quanzhen Sect sees is that Yang Guo is undisciplined, has rebelled against the master, while the Ancient Tomb Sect has taken in their defectors; moreover, Li Mochou and Xiao Longnv have in turn defeated the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, which is another slap to the Quanzhen Sect's face, and everyone hates the Ancient Tomb Sect.

However, after seeing Xiao Longnv once, Zhen Zhibing is haunted by her, unable to free himself, and bears no hostility toward the Ancient Tomb Sect.

On Xiao Longnv's birthday, he also sent candied peaches and two jars of honeyed dates into the Ancient Tomb forest, and wrote a gift note; Xiao Longnv did not accept them, but he took pleasure in it nonetheless.

Today, coming down the mountain, he also went to purchase medicines for Xiao Longnv.

Because last night, when he fought Zhao Zhijing, it caused Xiao Longnv to be injured and spit blood, which made him feel heartbroken terribly; he hated that he couldn't move all the precious medicinal herbs to Mount Zhongnan and offer them to Xiao Longnv.

Feng Yi saw Zhen Zhibing's knapsack and smelled the medicinal aroma; by now he had basically figured out the direction. This time period was when Xiao Longnv and Yang Guo, in the flower thicket, had taken off their clothes to practice the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, been affected, and were injured and spitting blood.

He then casually said: 'Daoist Zhen being so easy to talk to, it's probably not just fellow Daoist affection, but rather out of consideration for Xiao Longnv, right?'

Zhen Zhibing had his thoughts laid bare by his words, his eyes showing a strange color, he spoke in a calm voice: 'What do you mean by that?' After saying these four words, he reached out and pressed his hand on the sword hilt.

'Want to fight!' Feng Yi gave a slight cold smile, flashed his body, rushed to Zhen Zhibing's front, fingers spread, grabbed toward his chest.

The two were about ten feet apart; Feng Yi stepped over, Zhen Zhibing hadn't yet drawn his sword, a strong gust of wind surged before his chest, he was greatly startled, hastily pushed out his left palm.

Feng Yi saw that his internal energy was quite robust, his palm technique exquisite, also quite surprised, thinking: 'This guy actually isn't a waste after all!'

(End of chapter)