Chapter 92

The half-moon not only brushed the mountain with a layer of cold silver light, but also laid a layer of silver frost on several people, and the three all sank into silence.

One must know that when internal true force is pitted head‑on, the weaker side will surely have its viscera shaken and damaged; seriously, they may die on the spot; lightly, they still need months of recuperation to heal.

Fortunately, the three's internal powers were roughly equal, but after being shaken back each, they steadied their footing, none moved, and all secretly tested their breath.

After all, each of the three feared the other's prowess and had suffered hidden injury; fortunately, although they felt a slight upsurge of qi and blood, making them uncomfortable, their internal flow remained unharmed.

Suddenly hearing the woman give a low whistle, her voice soft and clear, the two great eagles in the sky circled a few more times, folded their wings and flew down, landing on the man and woman's shoulders.

The pair of eagles held their heads high, gazing about, extraordinarily spirited.

What could hold off Feng Yi and Huang Yaoshi in their clash was none other than Guo Jing.

The later arriving figure, upon seeing Huang Yaoshi, was overjoyed; needless to say, one knew she was the daughter of the Master of Peach Blossom Island and the wife of the great hero Guo Jing, Huang Rong.

Feng Yi saw Huang Yaoshi's sash and robes graceful and dignified, his bearing undiminished from before, and thought: "If it weren't for Guo Jing's intervention just now, would I have won or would he?"

He well knew these veteran masters each possessed hidden trump cards; before the final moment, the outcome could not be guessed.

Feng Yi's gaze flashed like two cold bolts, sweeping over the man and woman's bodies and faces. Seeing the man in a coarse linen robe, he appeared deep and steadfast like a mountain, his bearing composed.

That palm strike just now came down like Mount Tai pressing on the head. Though he mastered both the Divine Illumination Skill and the Blood Scripture, the orthodox and heterodox schools' supreme arts, and had also studied part of the Nine Yin True Classic, he was still shaken apart.

Although I was exchanging weapon strikes with Huang Yaoshi, this palm power was no less than the "Eighteen Dragon‑Subduing Palms" that smash anything and break any strength; moreover, his method against Huang Yaoshi was not palm force but finger force.

This ability to use two minds, employing two utterly different martial arts simultaneously, must be the "Ambidextrous Combat Technique".

This maneuver made Feng Yi genuinely envious.

Looking again at the woman, her face like peach blossoms, her hair coiled in dark clouds, though already married, her eyes shone like stars, her brows curved like new moons, half‑smiling, her complexion snow‑white, she wore a light purple silk robe that swayed gently in the breeze; compared to Xiao Longnv's pure and unworldly beauty and Li Mochou's alluring charm, she displayed an even more noble loveliness, and Feng Yi could not help thinking: "No wonder everyone covets her—her beauty truly is unmatched!"

And in the moonlight, the man appeared heroic, the woman lovely, with two great eagles standing on their shoulders; Feng Yi felt that these two were truly more like the "Condor Heroes".

Earlier, Feng Yi had seen the pair of what looked like white hawks but were actually white eagles circling above, and guessed that Guo Jing and Huang Rong were nearby; therefore he did not answer his question, eager to decide the victor against Huang Yaoshi.

And Huang Yaoshi also knew his daughter and son‑in‑law had arrived; if not for a bellyful of doubts he wanted Feng Yi to clear up, he would have simply run away already.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were also sizing up Feng Yi, seeing his heroic spirit shining outward, his gaze sharp as a tiger, leopard, eagle or falcon.

Though the earlier exchange was merely a fleeting glimpse, it was also clear that after the Five Greats and Guo Jing, the martial world had finally produced another supreme master—yet so young, it truly beggars belief.

Guo Jing thought to himself: "This person's internal energy is so pure and thick it seems even superior to my father‑in‑law's!"

Since Feng Yi debuted, he has weathered many trials; when the world weary city needed spirits lifted, when fear needed soothing, and he had once used the Divine Illumination Skill to stir vitality in Li Mochou.

These past months of assassination have also required scouting the enemy's traces, concealing one's qi, lying in wait to act; once a strike is launched, it hits true—truly still as a mountain, swift as a gale.

The saying goes, "Ten years of bitter training in the deep mountains is not worth three days on the battlefield"; any martial art's ultimate skill is a fighting method, naturally seeking real combat and stressing adaptation to the enemy.

Especially these past few months, Feng Yi has been constantly on the move, growing gaunt and dark; his divine power has become more rounded and natural, his brilliance shining outward, his inner spirit lustrous, and he is steadily acquiring the bearing of a great master.

At this moment, though he makes no move nor speaks, his awe‑inspiring power keeps the three experts on the field from daring to slight him in the slightest.

Feng Yi watched a while, then suddenly transformed his blood saber into a supple silk that wrapped around his fingers, coiled at his waist, and clasping his fists he laughed: "Guo Brother's Eighteen Dragon‑Subduing Palms and Ambidextrous Combat Technique truly open one's eyes; I admire, I admire!" and gave a deep bow.

"How dare I!" Guo Jing returned the salute with clasped fists: "May I ask your esteemed name?"

Feng Yi laughed: "I am unworthy; my surname is Feng, my given name is Yi!"

Huang Rong also smiled faintly and said: "You can match my father in a contest; if you were still unworthy, I as his daughter would be mortified to death, wouldn't I, Father?"

Huang Yaoshi snorted: "That's right—one person, one horse, and he has stirred up Guanzhong, made the Mongols tremble, and even the whole nation's strength would be expended to kill him; how could you compare yourself to him?"

Guo Jing exclaimed in surprise: "The jianghu rumors speak of a great hero who slaughters Mongol officials, a mighty champion—could it be you? What a fortunate meeting!"

Feng Yi hastily waved his hands, embarrassed: "Guo Brother, please don't keep calling me a great hero, a mighty champion—I cannot bear such praise!"

Huang Yaoshi interjected: "He can be a great hero; why can't you?"

Huang Rong gave a hum, swiped her right hand across Huang Yaoshi's face, and peeled off a layer of human skin.

Huang Yaoshi's true face was revealed; he appeared slender and refined, with an elegant, lofty bearing, his demeanor clear and divine.

Feng Yi saw his bearing was superb, giving the impression of an otherworldly immortal; as for his exact features and age, however, they could not be discerned.

However, Huang Rong saw her father's face grown much older, his hair now streaked with white; feeling sorrowful, she flung her arms around him and immediately burst into tears, crying: "Father, where have you been all these years? Why have you never come to see your daughter, nor sent a word back?"

Only then did Guo Jing remember to salute; he hurriedly kowtowed and said: "I, the son‑in‑law, pay my respects to my father‑in‑law."

Huang Yaoshi didn't even look at him, coldly saying: "Forget those stale formalities."

Turning his gaze to Feng Yi: "Lin Chaoying could make Wang Zhongyang feel ashamed of himself; she truly is a heaven‑gifted genius—I rarely admire anyone, but she counts as one.

Yet she and Wang Zhongyang both withered away, leaving one feeling dull; today, seeing her successor, is not in vain."

Feng Yi drew a long breath, stepped back half a pace, clasped his fists with a wry smile: "Island Master Huang's learning is unparalleled; his calculations, strategies, medicine, divination, astrology, and the Five Elements of the Mysterious Gate know no bounds.

"The Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm, the Jade Flute Sword Method, and the Finger‑Flick Divine Power—each peerless under heaven, truly astonishing and admirable! Though I have learned some of Lady Lin's martial arts, I am not her disciple!"

Huang Yaoshi stared, then said: "In this world, aside from her exalted self, whose lineage could have produced you?"

His voice rang like metal and stone, his gaze sweeping over Guo Jing and Huang Rong: "Do you know?"

Huang Rong giggled: "We also don't know his origins."

Guo Jing also said: "We only know that this Master Feng has repeatedly assassinated Mongol officials, forcing them to postpone their troop movements—a great service to the world; my wife and I came this time precisely to meet him, hoping to undertake great endeavors together."

Feng Yi replied anxiously: "Guo Brother, you overpraise me; the Mongols' plots have long been laid, and even if they raise their armies a little later, it changes little; I still have some ideas that require your aid and that of the Beggars' Sect."

Guo Jing said: "Master Feng, you're too modest; if it benefits the nation, its people, and the common folk, what is there to rely on? I, Guo, will certainly not shirk my duty, right, Rong'er?"

Before Huang Rong could speak, Huang Yaoshi gave Guo Jing a sideways glance and said: "You've become quite impressive, heh heh—upon meeting you, you greeted me with a Finger‑Flick Divine Power."

Guo Jing stood with his hands bound, unsure what to say; just now he had used the Eighteen Dragon‑Subduing Palms against Feng Yi, and the Finger‑Flick Divine Power against Huang Yaoshi.

And this was after his marriage, when Huang Yaoshi personally taught it to him on Peach Blossom Island.

Huang Rong let out a giggling laugh and said: "Father, your fine son‑in‑law sees you old at this age and still fighting, and naturally wants to stop you.

He knows to use the Finger‑Flick Divine Power to restrain you, which harms none of your reputation—what great progress! If he used the Eighteen Dragon‑Subduing Palms, I'd have to deal with him for you."

Huang Yaoshi indulged her coquettishness, gave a slight smile, and said: "All right, now that you're mothers, you're just as before, and you needn't fear being laughed at."

Upon hearing this, Huang Rong chirped: "Even if I become a grandmother, I am still your precious daughter!"

"How shameless!" Huang Yaoshi poked her nose, laughing: "Who's pampering you!" His expression shifted, and he coldly asked Guo Jing: "What brings you here this time?"

Guo Jing turned his gaze to Huang Rong; Huang Rong only then awoke from the joy of reuniting with her father, her eyes full of smiles, and she began to speak slowly.

As it turned out, after Guo Jing and Huang Rong participated in the Mount Hua Sword Discussion that year, Master Huang Yaoshi presided over their wedding, and they retired to seclusion on Peach Blossom Island. Huang Yaoshi's temperament was eccentric; he disliked bustle, and after spending several months with his daughter and son‑in‑law he grew weary of them, left a letter saying he would seek another tranquil place to live in seclusion, and then departed the island on his own.

Huang Rong knew her father's temperament; although she was reluctant, she could think of nothing to do. At first she still hoped that within a few months her father would bring news, but who would have thought that after a year of separation, there was no word at all.

Huang Rong missed her father and her master Hong Qigong, and she and Guo Jing had gone out to look for them, but for many years there was no news at all. Although they knew that Hong and Huang were invincible in the world and would come to no harm, with no one to attend to their food and clothing, they could not help worrying and missing them.

It was only a few years ago, when they heard in Jiaxing of Huang Yaoshi's whereabouts, but they still could not meet him, and it so happened that they encountered Yang Guo.

Later, Yang Guo used the Toad Skill on Peach Blossom Island to injure someone, which made Ke Zhen'e furious and unwilling to share a place with the Western Poison's disciple, so Guo Jing had no choice but to send Yang Guo to the Double Yang Palace to study under a master.

Guo Jing also often worried about this in his heart, and when he spoke with Huang Rong he cared about how Yang Guo's martial arts were progressing. On Peach Blossom Island, with long idle days, he often thought of accompanying Huang Rong to Mount Zhongnan to take a walk and visit Yang Guo.

Huang Rong always remembered that Yang Guo's father Yang Kang had, with his poisonous hand, killed the Five Freaks of Jiangnan and caused Guo Jing to regard her and her father as enemies; seeing Yang Guo's slyness and his constant troublemaking, she did not want to see him often, and said, 'Brother Jing, let us go to the All Truth Sect to look at Yang Guo, for fear those old Taoists will take offense, saying we doubt their teaching is not serious and must come personally to inspect.'

Guo Jing shook his head and said, 'Priest Ma, Priest Qiu, and Priest Wang are all very fond of me; they will certainly not take offense.'

Huang Rong said, 'The elders certainly would not, but the last time you alone challenged their ten-odd Big Dipper Heavenly Gang formations, the All Truth Sect lost face; among the disciples below the third generation, it's not certain that none of them mind.'

Guo Jing pondered carefully and felt his wife's words were quite reasonable; if he saw Yang Guo, he would have to inquire about his martial arts, and upon doing so he feared that someone in the Double Yang Palace might really take offense, so thereafter he never mentioned the matter again.

In this regard, Yang Guo not only did not know, but even thought that Guo Jing had cast him aside and paid no heed, although he clearly knew Guo Jing treated him kindly, and he often harbored resentment.

That year, the Mongols were mobilizing and preparing for war to conquer the Song; although Huang Rong was on Peach Blossom Island, she still remotely led the Beggars' Gang, and upon hearing the news she naturally wanted to issue a call for heroes, broadly inviting the valiant to discuss joint resistance to the Mongols.

Feng Yi again slaughtered Mongol officials in Guanzhong, causing an uproar; hearing this, Guo Jing thought this person could be recruited as an ally, and it happened to be convenient to make a side trip to the All Truth Sect to see Yang Guo.

The two also arrived at Dragon Colt Stronghold, a necessary stop on the road south; in the town they heard a night passerby, whose lightness of movement was exceedingly superb, rarely seen in the world, and catching a vague glimpse of the figure, which resembled Huang Yaoshi, they hurriedly put on their clothes and went out, but the person had already vanished without a trace, so they directed the giant eagles to search.

These two giant eagles understood human nature, flew high and saw far; when Feng Yi and Huang Yaoshi were fiercely fighting, their momentum was tremendous, and the eagles, upon seeing it, immediately cried out to signal, whereupon Guo Jing and Huang Rong followed the sound.

Seeing the two fight to a white-hot pitch, neither yielding, Guo Jing, being who he is, would not help his father-in-law launch a sneak attack on Feng Yi, a stranger he did not know, nor would he dare interfere in Huang Yaoshi's duel with another; but to prevent either from coming to harm, he broke off their attacks, forcibly separating them.

After hearing his daughter's account, Huang Yaoshi suddenly said, 'Brother Feng, just now I asked you something; can you answer now?'

'Of course!' Feng Yi nodded, saying, 'I, the junior, actually harbor no concealment; I merely wished to exchange a few moves with Island Master Huang to test my own abilities.'

Huang Yaoshi stared, then burst into loud laughter, swept his wide sleeve, and proclaimed in a clear voice, 'Good lad, your ambition is admirable. In martial arts, I can no longer defeat you; you are so young that your future achievements will far surpass ours.'

Feng Yi laughed and said, 'But martial arts are merely Huang Island Master's school; if he were to set up some formation against me, I would lose without having anything to show for it!'

Huang Yaoshi burst into laughter again. As a senior who relied on his own standing, he would disdain to use other means against Feng Yi; if it came to a true life-and-death battle, Feng Yi would indeed have the advantage of youth, but Huang Yaoshi, the Old Heretic, versed in the mystic gates and the Five Elements, could make use of the terrain, stir up a commotion, and then Feng Yi's advantage would be greatly diminished.

However, Feng Yi knew well that Huang Yaoshi loved fame and would absolutely not resort to other means when dueling a young man like himself; otherwise, given his cautious nature, how could he have pursued under the cover of night?

Seeing Feng Yi thus, Huang Yaoshi realized that his earlier arrogant demeanor was merely an act, intended to provoke him into displaying his true abilities.

One old, one young, both belonging to the heterodox path, they could not help exchanging a smile.

Huang Rong said, 'Father, just now the eagles cried out loudly here; lest anyone hear, let us change to another place to talk properly. We also wish to know what this Hero Feng thinks about his large-scale killing of officials.'

Huang Yaoshi had not wanted his daughter and son-in-law to disturb him, but now he could only sigh.

After walking several li, they suddenly saw ahead a mountain cliff lush and verdant, embracing a small pool; the surroundings were open and empty, the scenery beautiful, they could speak without fear of eavesdropping, and could better observe the movements all around; each of them sat upon a stone.

Huang Yaoshi said, 'Brother Feng, you just said that what you are doing is neither to save the Song nor to save the people, but I observe your character and believe you must have some instruction; I, Huang, would like to hear the details.'

'I dare not accept such instruction.' Feng Yi said, 'I am merely a commoner; I understand neither military strategy nor governance, and I only know how to rely on martial arts to cause destruction.'

'Destruction?' Huang Rong said, 'I understand that meaning. With your strength alone you cannot ultimately reverse the declining trend; in the end, your actions will merely be imitated by others, creating a scene of chaos, and how would we ever clean that up?'

'What's wrong with chaos? Why not let it be chaotic?' Feng Yi said, 'Or perhaps we should simply continue as we are, maintain the present state, and let everyone meet on the battlefield for a decisive clash!'

Feng Yi turned to Guo Jing and said, 'Hero Guo, I have long heard that you were raised among the Mongols; in your view, can the Great Song prevail over the Mongols in this mobilization? If Xiangyang falls, what would be the result?'

Guo Jing fell silent for a moment, then rose to his feet and said, 'Whether we can beat them or not, we will know only after we fight.'

'But when the soldiers come, we will meet them with our generals; when the water comes, we will block it with earth. We who practice martial arts, defending the country against invasion, is simply our duty as human beings.'

'This time, I and Rong'er will issue a call for heroes, hoping to convene a great martial arts assembly; if heroes from all quarters lend their aid, the situation may not become too perilous.'

'If the region of Xiangfan is truly breached, the Mongol armies will be able to follow the Han River, enter the great Yangtze, cross southward, advance into Ezhou, and thereafter with a million boats and ships drift downstream east; at that point our Great Song will surely perish, for they will then be able to march straight on Lin'an.'

Although his tone was plain and unadorned, those present could hear the heavy, solemn intent behind his words.

Guo Jing well knew that the Mongols abounded in talent and possessed formidable strength; this sudden outbreak, its momentum was indeed fierce regardless, and though he felt it doubtful whether Xiangyang could be held, he did not wish to speak too pessimistically, lest he dampen Feng Yi's resolve to resist the Mongols.

Feng Yi nodded and said, 'Indeed, in terms of military strength the Mongols have already reached the pinnacle of the world, unmatched by any dynasty past or present.'

Moreover, Zhao Kuangyin gained the throne illegitimately, favoring civil over military affairs; to this day, ruler and minister are incompetent, treacherous and corrupt officials run rampant in court and countryside, petty men hold power, loyal and capable generals are suppressed, either killed or demoted.

From the Liao Kingdom to the Western Xia, to the Jin, and now to the Mongols, these alien peoples each desire to seize this fat morsel of China's Central Plains.

Yet those high officials, besides squeezing the people's fat and cream for their own pleasure, curry favor and seek favor from foreign powers in order to secure stability.

Were I not a Han Chinese, and were there not foreign enemies without, I would not have slaughtered those Song corrupters from top to bottom, leaving none alive!

Such shocking and outrageous remarks left Guo Jing feeling immense fear and panic.

Huang Rong was also astonished, unable to speak, merely staring at Feng Yi in surprise.

'Well said!' Huang Yaoshi clapped his hands in great praise, saying, 'These words exactly meet my heart!'

'Young brother, over these many years only you have spoken the words I wished to say; with such a realm, how could it possibly be preserved? With such a court, what good is there in preserving it?'

Suddenly he let out a long whistle, sounding like rolling thunder, shaking the forest leaves to a rustle; after the whistle ceased, tears streamed from his eyes.

In an instant Huang Yaoshi's demeanor became listless and his appearance waned; although Huang Rong knew her father's eccentric temperament, his actions left her at a loss, and she cautiously asked, 'Father, you… you are all right?'

Huang Yaoshi remained silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and said, 'Rong'er, do you know the origins of my Huang family? How did my epithet Eastern Heretic come about?'

Huang Rong shook her head and said, 'You have never told me.'

Huang Rong's mother, at the time of her birth, happened to have the Nine Yin True Classic stolen; exhausted in mind and body, she died in difficult labor. Huang Yaoshi had previously expelled all his disciples from the island, leaving only himself and his daughter to depend on each other.

Huang Yaoshi had long borne the epithet 'Eastern Heretic'; his conduct was eccentric, he often declared that worldly rites and regulations were nonsense, and he loved his daughter more than his own life, thus never imposing any restraint, with the result that he indulged her to extraordinary arrogance and willfulness—not only did she know nothing of these matters, but she also refused to accept her father's title of Eastern Heretic.

Finding her father's epithet unpleasant and wondering where the 'heresy' lay, after she met Guo Jing and married him—before the birth of Guo Fu—Huang Yaoshi left the island, and for more than ten years they never saw each other; how then did Huang Rong come to know these past events?

Huang Yaoshi calmed down and let out a long sigh, saying, 'These matters are known only to your senior apprentice brother Ling Feng, who entered the door earliest.'

Saying this, he raised his head to gaze at the stars and slowly continued, 'My Huang family is a prestigious clan of Zhejiang, a family of scholarly tradition; our ancestors achieved great merit during Zhao Kuangyin's time, were ennobled as marquises and dukes, and throughout the dynasties have held high office.'

Your great-great-grandfather served as an imperial censor during Emperor Gaozong's Shaoxing era. That year Qin Hui falsely accused and persecuted Yue Fei; your great-great-grandfather repeatedly submitted memorials to redress Yue Fei's grievance, whereupon the young Zhao Gou and Qin Hui flew into a rage, not only refusing his request but also demoting him.

Your great-great-grandfather was utterly loyal; he called upon officials and the common folk alike to rise and defend Yue Fei. Qin Hui thereupon had your great-great-grandfather killed, and his family were all conscripted to serve in Yunnan.

I was born in Lijiang, Yunnan; from childhood I read many books and trained in martial arts, and from early on I cursed the emperor, declaring that I would overthrow the Song and resolve to kill the emperor and the present ministers to avenge Yue Fei and my father.

At that time Qin Hui was long dead, and Emperor Gaozong was old and feeble; my grandfather taught me the Confucian way of loyalty to the ruler and filial piety, urging me to enter officialdom through the civil examinations, but I found it utterly intolerable and constantly argued with him.

Everyone at home said I was unfilial; later, your grandfather, in a fit of anger, drove me out of the house. I returned to western Zhejiang, where I not only refused to take the imperial examinations but also destroyed the Minglun Hall of Qingyuan Prefecture, posting large notices outside the imperial palace and the offices of the prime minister and the Minister of War, as well as outside the gate of the Southern Migration Confucius Mansion in Quzhou, accusing the sages of destroying virtue and denouncing the court's evil policies, saying we should plan a northern expedition to recover our lost lands.

Heh, this corrupt court would never listen; instead it sent several hundred troops to capture me day and night, but my martial arts were already superb—how could that bunch of good-for-nothings do anything to me?

Thus, my reputation became widely known in the jianghu, for I denounced the sages and destroyed ancestors, slandered the court without restraint, speaking the words that common folk dared not utter, earning me the epithet 'Vile and Strange Great Hero'.

After a few more years, after exchanging swords with Wang Zhongyang, your master, and Ouyang Feng at Mount Hua, I earned the epithet 'Eastern Heretic'.

Huang Rong, hearing these family matters for the first time, trembled at the lips, her eyes suddenly reddened, and tears streamed down.

She began to understand her father's bitterness.

Huang Yaoshi gazed at the stars strewn across the sky, a hint of pain in his eyes, raised his brows, and said, 'Actually, back then I, like Brother Feng, wished to slaughter every member of those foolish kings and treacherous ministers, leaving none alive.'

Guo Jing and Huang Rong felt a numbness in their spines, both thinking, 'If this were to happen, it would be an unprecedented bloodbath.'

Having said that, Huang Yaoshi sighed and continued, 'Although I am reckless and lawless, I also understand that if I were to kill the Song ruler and his ministers, internal strife would surely erupt in the court, giving the Jin foreigners an opportunity to exploit—would I not become a sinner for all ages?'

I can only hide away on Peach Blossom Island, withdrawing from the world; otherwise, with my youthful temperament, the Great Song would have long been ruined.

Guo Jing could not help but say, 'Father-in-law, the Zhao Song dynasty is misgoverned, the ruler is dim and the people suffer, treacherous villains hold power, the loyal and good are wronged—this is true, but the common folk are utterly innocent!'

His voice grew solemn as he said, 'I once accompanied Ronger on the Mongol western campaign; their conduct was excessively brutal, they slaughtered cities and destroyed states, men were either killed or enslaved.'

Women became their property; although I am dull and pedantic, I know that once the Mongols occupy the Great Song, rivers of blood will flow and every household will suffer.

Feng Yi clapped his hands in praise, saying, 'Great Hero Guo, your insight is penetrating!'

'You still know the common folk won't fare well!' Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly, looking at Guo Jing and said, 'The principle that those not of our kind must have different hearts—why did you not realize this sooner?'

You are no different from that foolish lot under Emperor Huizong back then, who allied with the Jin to destroy Liao, only to have the Jin troops breach Bianliang after Liao's fall, thus earning the 'Jingkang humiliation.'

Emperor Lizong naively allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin; you did not become a son-in-law to Tie Muzhen, yet you brought my daughter to aid this butcher, with the result that even half of the Song's rivers and mountains could not be preserved.

Sweat beaded on Guo Jing's forehead like broth; though he harbored some resentment, he dared not retort, for after all his wife had just seen her father after more than ten years—if he drove her away by anger, it would surely end badly.

Huang Rong thought to herself, 'I too took part in those events back then; I was young then, never imagining it would come to this…' Her mind was a blank void.

Yet Feng Yi gave a faint smile and said, 'Island Master Huang, this cannot be blamed on Great Hero Guo!'

At that time the Mongols were also enemies of the Jin, had not invaded our lands, slain our people, and had allied with the Song.

The principle that times change needs no elaboration; how could we of our generation cling to one person's past and refuse to let go? Would that not invite ridicule?

Feng Yi well knew that Huang Yaoshi acted solely on his own likes and dislikes, doing as he pleased, yet in truth his heart also harbored an unspeakable pain.

He most revered loyal ministers and filial sons, believing loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness to be the utmost virtues; yet wishing to serve his country, the country was no more; wishing to master martial arts and become the greatest under heaven, he was suppressed by Wang Zhongyang and Ouyang Feng in turn; wishing to start a family, his beloved wife died early, and since Guo Jing came into the picture, in the eyes of his daughter, who depended on him for survival, there is only her 'Jing brother,' not this old father.

Desiring to withdraw from the mundane and become a carefree immortal, his heart could not let go of the suffering masses, resulting in a strange, solitary disposition and a life full of contradictions.

Looking over Huang Yaoshi's life, he never truly acted on his innate nature even once.

Wanting the Nine Yin True Classic, for fame, relying on deceit?

Filled with resentment when scolded, for fame he still endured! He called it 'not stooping to their level'—his contempt for the world and his wickedness are merely a surface facade.

He lived less freely and openly than the Western Poison Ouyang Feng! 'I am just this poisonous!' Huang Yaoshi coldly said, 'What could you children possibly understand of my state of mind?'

He then turned to Feng Yi and said, 'To be frank, I have followed you for a month now; your deep scheming, divine planning, superb martial arts, and tenacious endurance are unmatched in my experience.'

Having heard your words today, I also understand your idea: you simply wish to rely on assassination to test whether your method works, and then have my son-in-law and daughter, using their great hero titles and chief positions, summon the martial world's heroes to join the assassination campaign—but I still have two points that need your clarification.

Feng Yi felt admiration, rose, and clasped his fists, saying, 'Island Master Huang perceives things clearly; I, the junior, indeed harbor this idea.'

If we cannot win in a frontal clash, then we resort to ambush!

But I am alone, my abilities limited, cannot last long; I will surely need the martial world's heroes to unite their efforts. Unfortunately I am obscure, and many who style themselves as orthodox sects and heroic figures look down on my deeds, deeming me full of tricks and intent only on harming people.

Moreover, many people live with a fence-sitting, wait-and-see attitude, no different from some corrupt officials in the court; even some true heroes, burdened by personal fame, consider my approach improper for the public stage and bound to attract gossip.

As Feng Yi, I value substance over empty fame, and thus do not care.

Even the present Lin'an court will inevitably have turncoats who regard me as an enemy; I am as strong as iron, able to drive in many nails, but for now I can only put up a show.

Even the present Lin'an court will inevitably have turncoats who defect to the enemy and regard me as a foe; I am all iron, and can only hammer in so many nails—for now I can only produce a sample first!

(End of Chapter)