Chapter 211: Duan Yu

Three of the Four Evils are gone.

Gu Qing, holding his large-ring blade, walked through Wanjie Valley, heard that Ye Erniang had gone out for a stroll, and indeed could not find her; reluctantly, he sheathed his blade.

"Master Gu."

Gu Qing was preparing to leave Wanjie Valley when he suddenly heard a clear voice; he turned and saw Zhong Ling, who was no longer her usual lively self—her eyes fixed on Gu Qing, pleading: "Can you take me as your disciple and take me away?"

Gu Qing studied Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling spoke slowly: "I truly don't know where to go."

Inside the Wuliang Mountain cave, after learning that Duan Zhengchun was her biological father and Duan Yu her brother, Zhong Ling felt no joy at becoming a royal princess—she only wished to return to Wanjie Valley and resume her carefree life. But now that she knew her identity, and understood the tangled web between Duan Zhengchun and Zhong Wanchou involving Gan Baobao, she felt she had no place to belong.

Everywhere she went, she felt awkwardly caught in the middle.

Mu Wanzhen had been following Gu Qing lately, so Zhong Ling wanted to stay near Mu Wanzhen—that was why she begged Gu Qing.

The merit of good deeds proves Zhong Ling truly wishes to leave this place.

"Of course."

Gu Qing agreed at once, looking at Zhong Ling and saying: "But martial training is hard."

Zhong Ling shook her head quickly: "I'm not afraid!"

As long as she could leave here first, that was enough.

Duan Zhengchun, Zhong Wanchou, and Gan Baobao had long been entangled in confusion; upon hearing that this girl could no longer bear it, each felt ashamed. Zhong Wanchou immediately declared he didn't care at all and urged Zhong Ling to stay by his side.

"Let her stay with Wanzhen for a while—it'll do her good."

Gu Qing said: "Let her clear her mind."

Yue Laosan had just argued with Gu Qing and was cut down by his blade—who would dare oppose him now?

Gan Baobao sighed, stopped arguing with Zhong Wanchou, and quietly prepared a carriage to take Duan Zhengchun away.

Zhong Wanchou was deeply reluctant to let Zhong Ling go, and simply blamed all the blame on Duan Zhengchun, cursing: "It's all that pretty boy's fault."

What of Duan Zhengchun?

Duan Zhengchun had gone into hiding.

After being rescued by Gu Qing, Duan Zhengchun said not a word.

This humiliation in Wanjie Valley was a great disgrace to Duan Zhengchun—and to the Duan family of Dali. Gu Qing and Duan Yu had rushed there and returned under cover of night, bringing the battered old man to the gates of Dali City.

Duan Zhengming, the Empress of Dali, Dao Bai Feng, and Gao Shengtai were all waiting at the city gate; as they saw Duan Yu driving the carriage back, they hurried over, lifted the curtain, and saw Duan Zhengchun covered in bandages, his body bruised and wounded.

Seeing this, Duan Zhengming was filled with sorrow; he sighed deeply and said to Duan Zhengchun: "You must change from now on!"

Duan Zhengchun was filled with shame.

Gu Qing bid farewell to Duan Zhengming and the others, took Zhong Ling with him, and did not go to the Town South Prince's Mansion—instead, he went to find Qin Hongmian and Mu Wanzhen, leaving Zhong Ling in Mu Wanzhen's care.

"He went to Wanjie Valley?"

Qin Hongmian, upon hearing this news, spoke with a bitter, indescribable tone.

After the group forced Dao Bai Feng into submission, Qin Hongmian had dared to remain in Dali City, watching as the Lady Wang settled there—hoping Duan Zhengchun might find time to visit her. Instead, he had gone to see Gan Baobao.

And now he was covered in wounds.

This left Qin Hongmian unsure whether to pity him or hate him—but she sincerely thanked Gu Qing. "What a devoted woman."

Gu Qing could ease Dao Bai Feng's burdens, but for someone like Qin Hongmian, he had no opportunity.

She was a woman who, in daily life, could directly avoid contact with most men.

"Big Sister Mu."

Zhong Ling saw Mu Wanzhen and rushed over happily: "I've come to live with you."

Mu Wanzhen's face hardened, but seeing Zhong Ling's pitiful expression, she softened and said: "Since we're sisters, call me Sister."

Zhong Ling nodded quickly, leaned close to Mu Wanzhen's shoulder, and studied her skin, exclaiming in surprise: "Big Sister Mu, your skin is so smooth."

Mu Wanzhen smiled proudly. Since Gu Qing had forcibly pushed her into the eighth level of Mingyu Gong, her previously weak internal energy had gradually revealed its wonders, bringing her a transformation as if reborn.

"If you want to learn, learn slowly."

Mu Wanzhen was about to explain when she turned to Gu Qing and said: "But don't you help her!"

If Gu Qing helped, she'd truly have another sister.

!

Zhong Ling shook her head, utterly confused.

As they spoke, a knock came at the door; Mu Wanzhen went to open it and, seeing who it was, froze.

The visitors were Dao Bai Feng and Duan Yu.

After Dao Bai Feng and the others escorted Duan Zhengchun back to the Town South Prince's Mansion, Duan Zhengming asked Duan Yu what had happened. Before his uncle, Duan Yu revealed everything without hiding a single detail—when he heard that the greatest evil of the age and the third greatest evil were dead, Duan Zhengming exclaimed in approval.

But upon hearing that Duan Yu had absorbed the entire internal energy of Duan Yanqing and the South Sea Crocodile God, he immediately ordered Dao Bai Feng to bring Duan Yu here to ask Gu Qing for help in resolving it.

"Uncle said that in this world, Ding Chunqiu can drain others' energy and is already feared like a demon. If I can absorb others' energy, everyone will be terrified."

Duan Yu said: "And he said that overnight, I've accumulated energy even he cannot match—my body is too weak to control such power, and great disaster may follow."

Duan Zhengming was the top lay expert of the Duan family of Dali, with profound martial knowledge; his warning was why Dao Bai Feng hurried here seeking resolution.

"Chun Ge…"

Qin Hongmian hesitated, then asked Dao Bai Feng.

"The more you get close to Duan Zhengchun, the more he betrays you."

Dao Bai Feng spoke coldly, as if heartless: "I saw through his nature many years ago—I became a Daoist nun. If you go near him now, once his wounds heal, he'll immediately seek someone else."

Hearing this, Qin Hongmian bowed her head in silence.

"The energy inside Yu'er isn't a problem."

Gu Qing immediately took Duan Yu, Dao Bai Feng, and Mu Wanzhen into a side chamber, had Duan Yu sit down, and directly taught him a scripture: "Duan Yanqing, the South Sea Crocodile God, and even your father are renowned internal experts. To absorb their energy is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime fortune. Now I will teach you a cultivation scripture to nurture your nature—practice it well, and you will surely succeed."

There is a protagonist in Jin Yong's works who can absorb others' internal energy, who possesses immense power he cannot control, whose sword art is divine, who cultivates the supreme hidden classics of the Tianlong world—he is Linghu Chong.

At the end of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the abbot of Shaolin passed Linghu Chong the Yijin Jing, allowing him to cultivate both internal and external arts to boundless heights, making him the only male protagonist in Jin Yong's universe to practice the Yijin Jing.

Now, Gu Qing intends to teach the Yijin Jing to Duan Yu, resolving the problem of Duan Yu's inconsistent martial power.

And let Duan Yu enjoy Linghu Chong's configuration.

(End of Chapter)