Chapter One, presenting the intentions from the West, one part flying westward and another part flying eastward
Character Introduction
Yan Songshuang: With a peerless beauty and astonishing celestial cultivation, she, in the prime of her youth, has attained everything that countless people dream of. However, her mother's death has filled her with hatred towards her father, who abandoned the family, causing her to struggle and fight continuously in the vortex of grievances and enmities
Yang Heng: He once had a happy and fulfilling family, but a sudden calamity turned everything into nothing. In order to rescue his parents from his grandfather's grasp, he endured countless hardships and experienced the vicissitudes of human emotions, ultimately composing a breathtaking and timeless legend.
Yang Hengyi joyfully said, "Since this is the case, why should we still escape?"
Yang Heng recalled his mother's words from last night and said joyfully: "Yes, we can ask your sect to intervene and rescue father"
A Heng's father gently pried open his wife's delicate fingers and calmly said, "Trust me, we will definitely arrive at Kongse Temple before dawn"
Yang Nantai shook his head and said: "You are mistaken; I have never wanted to argue with you. All along, it has been you who thought I was in conflict with you. However, in the end, I did engage in a dispute with you, and I rescued Ming Tan from your hands"
Yang Beichu concluded the magic flute path: "I only used 30% of my strength, so as not to win unfairly and leave you feeling dissatisfied."
With a fierce shout, Yang Nantai exclaimed: "You have some guts to bully my wife and children!" In a swift motion, he abandoned his opponent Yang Beichu and, like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, landed on the rooftop.
Aheng increasingly felt puzzled and asked, "Mom, what is the Skeleton Order? Who really came?"
The little boy couldn't help but chuckle and said, "You already know, who told Uncle Ma to speak ill of my father?"
The little boy, seeing that his mother was serious, hurriedly turned to his father for help and said: "Dad—"
The little boy took the ointment and applied it to the swollen palm of his hand. Seeing the sorrow reflected in his mother's eyes, he softly said, "Mom, I promise I won't dare to do it again."
Ah Heng's mother was exhausted, her face devoid of any color, as she comforted her son while also reassuring herself, saying: "Ah Heng, don't make a fuss. Daddy has driven away the bad people and will come to take us away soon"
Before the fence gate, the yellow earth stirred, and seven extraordinary flowers with green branches and red leaves inexplicably sprang up from the ground. The black petals bloomed and withered instantly, quickly giving rise to black fruits shaped remarkably like skulls, faintly glimmering with a metallic sheen
Aheng's mother clearly possessed a higher level of cultivation than Sima Yang; however, burdened by her concerns for her beloved son, she was unable to gain the upper hand in a short period of time
The little boy was taken aback, looking at his father who sat silently at the table drinking rice wine, and then he pleaded with a pitiful face: "Mom, I'm really about to starve, can you let me fill my stomach first?"
The abbot Jue Ren of Kongse Temple is a long-time friend of their couple, and without asking much, he invited Ah Heng and her son into the temple, arranging for them to stay in a quiet meditation room.
Having spoken, he walked with a steady and firm stride to the fence gate and called out to the dimly lit night sky: "Yang Beichu, come out!"
How could you possibly know that the Yunyan Sect is a paragon of the righteous path and a leader in the Buddhist community, having formed an irreconcilable enmity with the various factions of the demonic sect over the course of a thousand years? Moreover, your uncle hails from the Miezhao Demon Palace and would certainly not let me and Senior Sister Mingyue go unscathed upon encountering us
The young man in the blue attire leaped forward and called out, "Aunt, please wait!" He pointed the jade flute in his hand towards Ah Heng's mother's throat
At present, the two children hastily finished their vegetarian meal at m.hetushu.com, bid farewell to the abbot, and left Kongse Temple, heading westward
The young man in blue had a trickle of fresh blood at the corner of his lips, yet he did not dare to wipe it away. With his hands lowered, he said: "Yes, the disciple knows his crime"
A Heng's mother warned: "Do not use your abilities to cheat, otherwise I will impose double the punishment"
Unexpectedly, Yang Heng suddenly said in a low voice: "Mother, I must learn martial arts well, and when I grow up, I will seek revenge on Yang Beichu"
Yang Heng'an fell silent, yet his eyes occasionally gazed out the window, hoping for the sudden appearance of his father's familiar figure
Little did she know that her mother showed no signs of stopping, as the bamboo chopsticks came down heavier each time, each strike more severe than the last
Song Yang remained silent for a moment before responding: "He will not kill your father; otherwise, your grandfather Yang Weiyan will not spare him either"
The little boy had no choice but to reluctantly and slowly extend his small hand, pleading softly, "Mom, be gentle."
The Skeleton Order... he has really come! Ah Heng's mother murmured, "He has finally found us!"
A middle-aged woman with a graceful appearance, dressed simply, was arranging the bowls and chopsticks. Upon hearing her son's voice, she said without raising her head: "Ah Heng, kneel down"
Yang Nantai spat out a mouthful of blood and crossed the ancient sword before his chest, saying: "Thank you for your kindness!"
At this moment, Ah Heng in the room widened his eyes in surprise, truly unable to understand why this uncle, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, wanted to confront his father in a fight
Yang Hengtian innocently asked, "Have you fallen in love with Dad, and can't bear to part with him, so you no longer want to be a nun?"
"Have you finished arranging your affairs?" In the twilight, a man in his thirties slowly emerged. He had a handsome face, with sharp eyes that held a hint of menace, and his thin lips curled slightly upward, revealing an air of cold arrogance.
"Ka ba!" Sima Yang's index finger struck against Yang Nantai's chest, as if it had collided with a wall of solid copper and iron, breaking with a sound. The person was sent flying into the air, their chest shaken by the force of Yang Nantai's palm, causing their blood and qi to surge violently, resulting in serious injury.
He cried out, "Mother, I want to go back to find Father! Why do we have to escape? Why does Uncle want to kill us?"
Yang Beichu's facial muscles twitched slightly as he took off the jade magic flute from his waist and said, "I let you take the first move"
But today, this tactic is clearly ineffective. The father lowers his head to drink, not even glancing at him.
Yang Beichu laughed and said: "Both you and her must stay; I will not let that child go either"
This is his tried-and-true skill. Whenever he got into trouble and his mother was about to discipline him, as long as his father could say, "Let it go, the child is still young," he would consider himself off the hook
Song Yang was taken aback and said, "This child is clear about grievances and rewards, and will repay any enmity, just like his father!" Unconsciously feeling a pang in his heart, he raised his head to look at the clay statue of the large-bellied Maitreya Buddha enshrined behind the incense altar in the meditation room, and sincerely murmured, "Bodhisattva, with your compassion, I pray for the safety of Nan Tai and Ah Heng. All sins and sufferings shall be borne by me alone; even if I must ascend a mountain of blades or descend into a sea of flames, I am willing!"
Yang Heng angrily said: "This scoundrel, do you still want me to call him uncle?"
Then, she set down Yang Heng from her back, knocked on the bronze ring on the temple door, as if she had exhausted all her strength and collapsed in front of the door
"Your uncle." Ah Heng's father walked towards the door and said, "I will go meet him. You take Ah Heng and leave immediately. Do not pack anything; just temporarily hide at the Kongse Temple."
This is an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, with a dark complexion and a scruffy beard. His shirt is open and has quite a bit of mud from the fields on it, making him appear like an old farmer in his fifties
Isn't it just a flower placed on cow dung? Aheng's mother glanced at her husband and said, He said it casually and doesn't necessarily mean any malice—cow dung is nutritious and much better than those beautiful but useless embroidered pillows in the world
Oh! Ah Heng responded, tightly clutching her shoulders, but upon seeing her mother wielding the celestial sword in battle against Si Ma Yang, she called out again: "Mother, give it your all and defeat this villain!"
With a sharp sound, the bamboo chopsticks fell heavily into the palm of the little boy's hand, immediately leaving a red mark.
All of this is perhaps too sudden and too cruel for a child who has just turned nine
Aheng's mother, her heart torn like a knife, cried out: "Nantai, our lives are intertwined; let us fight him to the end!"
"It's nothing." Ah Heng's father set down his wine cup and casually walked into the inner room. Soon, he returned, holding two celestial swords that Ah Heng had never seen before. He kept the one with the black sheath for himself and handed the one with the red sheath to his wife
Yang Heng asked, "Mother, how did you escape this time?"
A Heng's mother silently dropped her chopsticks, went into the inner room to fetch some ointment, and handed it to her son, saying: "Apply it yourself"
"Bastards, I will kill you!" Upon seeing Yang Nantai injured, Ah Heng glared at Yang Beichu with rage, his fists clenched tightly as he was ready to fight with all his might
A Heng's mother felt a pang in her heart as she looked at her intelligent and understanding son, tears falling in a daze. She sighed and said, "Some things should be discussed when you grow up, but for now, your mother can only tell you in advance."
Kneel down! Ah Heng's mother closed the door and said with a serious expression: "Did you sneak onto Uncle Ma San's roof today and block his chimney?"
"You are deceiving me, you are deceiving me!" Yang Heng exclaimed, "If Father can drive away the bad people, then why should we escape?"
Song Yang had long anticipated that hetushu.com would lead to this outcome, secretly pondering that Yang Nantai must have been taken back to the Demon Palace of Extinction. Given Yang Weiyan's character of being ungrateful and vengeful, one can only imagine how much torment he would endure
Yang Beichu said: "Who remembers? Anyway, we have been competing since childhood; whatever I like, you always want to take it for yourself"
A-Heng's mother tidied her chaotic thoughts and slowly said: "Ten years ago, I was originally a nun from the Xuedou Monastery of the Yunyan Sect on Emei Mountain, with the Dharma name Ming Tan."
Bang! Almost simultaneously, Yang Beichu's jade magic flute struck Yang Nantai's back, causing him to stagger forward and barely regain his balance
Yang Nantai drew the ancient sword, Qingtian, from his hand, a burst of blue sword light illuminating his face, and slowly pointed it at Yang Beichu, saying: "Please!"
Behind him followed a boy in blue, who wore a jade-like magic flute at his waist. He coldly looked at Ah Heng's father and said: "Yang Nantai, my master has been looking for you for a full ten years"
The green mountains loom in the distance as the sun sets in the west, with the smoke from cooking rising gently and the sounds of chickens and dogs echoing. Just moments ago, the children were playing wildly, but upon hearing the calls coming from their homes, they immediately burst into laughter and scattered in a rush.
Abao, you worthless loser, if you don't come home soon, I'll make sure you have no food to eat
Yang Nantai did not respond, saying: "This is a matter between us brothers, let Ming Tan go!"
After hitting for more than ten times, the boy's hand had already swollen. Ah Heng's father said softly, "That should be enough."
Nan Tai, it is I who have implicated you, let me go!" A Heng's mother called out softly, disregarding everything as she rushed forward to embrace her husband's strong waist
After teaching his disciples, Yang Beichu turned his gaze towards Aheng's father, furrowing his brow and saying: "Why have you aged so much? Where is the Xuanyuan Heart that you stole from the palace ten years ago, and where have you hidden it?"
At that moment, the mother walked to the jade statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva enshrined in the room, clasped her hands together, and bowed three times. Then she carefully took the statue down from the altar, gently held it in her arms, and then secured it on her back. In a low voice, she said, "A Heng, let's go!" Before A Heng could respond, she used her agility to leap out of the back window and landed on the roof.
Sima Yang was greatly alarmed and quickly pointed his left index finger at Yang Nantai's chest
After enduring until dawn, the abbot sent a young monk disguised as a beggar to Menghuang Village to gather information. Upon returning, he reported that Yang Nantai had been severely injured and captured, while Yang Beichu and Sima Yang were taken away overnight to an unknown destination. Their home had also been ransacked, leaving a scene of utter chaos.
Aheng asked in a daze: "Father, Mother, what on earth has happened? Uncle has come, why is Father going out with a sword? Isn't he a relative of our family?"
She hardened her heart and admonished, "How many times have I warned you that you must never display the skills I have taught you in front of others? You keep forgetting the pain after healing each time, truly thinking that your mother would hesitate to discipline you?"
Seeing her son's face filled with a proud smile, she picked up the chopsticks on the table, gathered them into a bundle, and exclaimed: "Put your hands out!"
A Heng's mother sighed softly: "I fought desperately alongside Senior Sister Mingyue, but our cultivation levels were vastly different, and even when we joined forces, we were no match for him. In a moment of desperation, I sacrificed myself to cover Senior Sister Mingyue's escape, but I was captured by Yang Beichu. For some unknown reason, he changed his mind and brought me back to the Extinguishing Light Demon Palace in East Kunlun, where I am now under house arrest"
Yang Heng asked, "Mother, are we going to the East Kunlun to destroy the Zhaomogong and rescue Father?"
However, as time passed, her hope for Yang Nantai's safe return grew increasingly faint and weak, akin to sitting in a pot of oil, enduring a torment that is hard for ordinary people to imagine. How many times had she thought of quietly rising and returning to Menghuang Village? Yet, upon glancing at the finally sleeping Yang Heng and recalling her husband's words at their parting, she ultimately managed to hold back.
A Heng's mother, seeing the fierce approach of Yu Di, felt a chill run through her and drew her sword to defend herself, saying: "A Heng, hold on tight to your mother!"
Ah Heng's mother was also looking back at her husband, her eyes blurred with tears, heartbroken and wishing she could turn back and die with Yang Nantai. However, upon hearing Ah Heng's call from her back, her heart inexplicably tightened, and she gritted her teeth and shouted: "Nantai, you must come back alive!" Stumbling away from Menghuang Village, she did not know how she found the right path, and when the sky turned dark, she arrived outside Kongse Temple.
With a crash, the porcelain bowl in Aheng's mother's hand fell to the ground, her complexion instantly turning pale as she fixed her gaze on the seven skull-shaped black fruits, her lips trembling as if she wanted to speak but could not.
Song Yang sighed with a bitter smile and said, "You are too young; you do not yet understand that some things in this world are more terrifying and more painful than death." As she spoke, she held her son in her arms and gently patted his back, saying, "Sleep now; when you wake up, your father will be back."
Song Yang sighed with a bitter smile and said, "Silly child, if we recklessly venture onto Kunlun Mountain with just the two of us, wouldn't that be throwing ourselves into a trap? I will first take you to Emei Mountain"
The father pointed to the stool across from him and said to the little boy, "Aheng, sit down and eat."
A Heng's father shook his head and said, "Don't ask so many questions; your mother will tell you later. Remember, you must take good care of your mother, because you are a man!" After saying this, he pushed the door open and stepped into the courtyard.
Song Yang's cheeks were slightly flushed as she pouted and said, "What nonsense are you talking about, you little child"
Song Yang did not reveal his intentions, smiling as he said, "Indeed, how could I accomplish this alone?"
The little boy grimaced and shouted "Ouch," hoping that his mother would soften her heart and spare him this time
With a loud slap, the middle-aged man struck the blue-clad youth's face with a heavy backhand, sternly admonishing, "Is it permissible for you to casually call out the name of my master?"
A Heng's mother shook her head and said: "It was your father who rescued me from the Demon Palace. We feared that your grandfather Yang Weiyan and your uncle Yang Beichu would pursue us, so we had to hide our identities and take refuge in Menghuang Village. Your father changed his name to 'Jingxuan', and I also restored my surname from before I became a nun, referring to ourselves as 'Song Yang Clan' to the outside world. Nine months later, I gave birth to you"
Yang Nantai shook his head and said, "No need, let's go!" With a surge of strength in his hand, he sent his wife and children far away.
Awen, come back for dinner, and if you keep dawdling, just wait and see how I will deal with you
Yang Heng felt as if he were trapped in a terrifying and illusory nightmare. Just a moment ago, he had been happily sitting at the table with his parents, enjoying a meal. Now, however, his mother was taking him to flee their home to escape from pursuers, while his father remained behind, resolutely facing the enemy, with his fate uncertain.
Yang Heng asked again: "Will Yang Beichu kill father? They are, after all, biological brothers."
"I don't want to go, I don't want to go!" Ah Heng struggled desperately and shouted, yet could not comprehend what was happening. Why did Mother want to take him away and leave Father behind?
Yang Nantai's eyes glinted like arrows as they pierced the opponent's face, and he said: "Yang Beichu, how many years has it been since we last fought?"
A handsome little boy, about eight or nine years old, bounced into his yard, pushed open the door, and called out: "Mom, I'm hungry! What delicious food are you making tonight?"
Yang Beichu observed this but was unable to intervene due to the pressure of Yang Nantai's sword energy, and coldly commanded: "Sima Yang!"
Yang Beichu did not take the opportunity to attack; a trace of mockery and resentment flashed across his face as he coldly laughed, "Should I turn my back and let you finish this nauseating performance first?"
Yang Nantai pressed down on his wife and adjusted his true energy, saying: "You leave!"
Father, what is this?" A Heng noticed his mother's unusual behavior and turned to look at the strange fruit at the gate of the courtyard, asking curiously.
Unexpectedly, Yang Nantai did not evade or dodge, but directly took this finger. With a hand as powerful as an eagle grasping a chick, he lifted Sima Yang by the collar and said: "Get lost!"
A Heng's mother nodded slightly and said, "That year, my senior sister Mingyue and I were ordered to descend the mountain to travel and seek alms, to broaden our experiences. Unfortunately, in a small town at the foot of Mount Hua, we encountered your uncle Yang Beichu. Upon seeing that we were disciples of the Yunyan Sect, he harbored thoughts of humiliation."
The little boy sat down and, using his unhurt right hand, picked up the chopsticks joyfully, saying: "Tonight there is braised pork! It's a pity that Mom doesn't like to eat it, so it benefits me!"
"What?" Yang Heng exclaimed, his large, dark eyes wide with surprise. "Your mother was a nun? No wonder there are Buddhist offerings at home, and you never eat meat or fish."
Before his words had faded, a faint "hiss" was heard from outside the house. A glimmer of barely perceptible brilliance flashed in Ah Heng's father's eyes as he looked through the window into the courtyard