Chapter Nine: The Rescue of the Beauty at Hengshan

On this day, upon reaching the territory of Hengyang County, the majestic peaks of the Southern Yue Hengshan range towered impressively, stretching over 72 peaks for 800 li, traversing more than ten counties. Wu Tiande was walking through a mountain when suddenly a heavy rain began to fall. He noticed a cave above and hurriedly ran over to stand at the entrance to take shelter from the rain

The person outside the cave let out three hearty laughs, which infuriated Tian Boguang. He reached out to press on Yilin's acupoint and rushed out with his sword drawn. As he charged out, Wu Tiande quickly leaped down from the rock and rushed over to support Yilin. In that moment, he caught sight of the young nun, whose skin was exceptionally fair, with willow-like brows and apricot-shaped eyes, exuding an indescribable gentleness, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Tian Boguang watched as Linghu Chong carried Yilin away, yet he did not intervene, appearing like a solitary man. However, his gaze towards Wu Tiande flashed with a fierce glint, and his killing intent surged. He spoke slowly and deliberately: "You brat, you are doomed. This mountain will be your burial ground."

Yilin nodded and said, "Yes, after an hour, the acupoint will be released"

This voice emanates, clear and melodious, exceedingly soft and pleasant, surprisingly belonging to a young girl

Wu Tiande's face flushed, and he stammered, "Uh... where is it? Is it enough to just press the 'Jian Zhen' and 'Da Zhui' acupoints?" It turns out that although Xiao Wu had learned the most advanced internal martial arts and was well-versed in the locations of acupoints, he did not know how to press or release them.

Yilin let out a chuckle, but immediately felt it was inappropriate to laugh at others. She looked apologetically at Wu Tiande and said, "Brother Wu, while it seems simple to apply and release acupoints, the techniques of finger strength and the flow of true energy in the body each have their own nuances. Even someone skilled in acupoint application may not necessarily be able to unlock another's unique acupoint techniques. Since you have not studied acupoint application, it will be quite difficult for you to unlock them."

With this thought, I felt a sense of calm. Turning my head, I saw Linghu Chong still watching. I thought to myself: "Damn it, I remember how much effort Linghu Chong put into getting Yilin to leave. I never expected that now it would be my turn to drive him away. I said irritably: 'To hesitate is to invite chaos. Is your loyalty and reputation more important, or is Yilin's integrity more important? Why aren't you leaving quickly?"

In fact, Wu Tiande has somewhat underestimated himself. He has now cultivated the Primordial Qi Gong to the fifth level, and this exceptionally advanced martial art, when practiced to the fifth level, has already begun to reveal its formidable power.

At present, Wu Tiande's experience in the martial world is far inferior to that of the battle-hardened Tian Boguang. In terms of actual skills, he is still above him. Now, even if he were to engage in combat with him, although he may not win, self-preservation would definitely not be a problem.

The man in the yellow robe laughed heartily, raising an eyebrow with a hint of lewdness: "Little He, what is your name? Put down your sword and behave, or else my 'sword' will soon pierce you, hahahaha..."

At the moment of departure, Princess Jingyue could not accompany him. It was only after Wu Tiande had driven out of the city that he saw Zhu Jingyue waiting for him outside the long pavilion, tearfully bidding him farewell. Before he left, she presented him with the third volume of "Hunyuan Qigong," urging him to practice diligently.

Wu Tiande thought: "One shichen, that is two hours, it is better to take her away first. Since I have encountered them here, it seems it is time for Liu something Feng of Hengshan to wash his hands in gold. Now that I am in Hengyang, I might as well let this little nun take me to have a look." In his previous life, he had watched the film "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" starring Xu Guanjie, and he greatly admired the character played by Wu Ma, Liu something Feng, as well as the performance of Lin Zhengying as Qu Yang, who sang the 'Smiling, Proud Wanderer' theme song with great enthusiasm, amidst the flames and sinking ships. Knowing that he had coincidentally encountered this, he couldn't help but feel tempted to take a look.

With a sudden leap forward, Yilin swung her palm to strike, but her martial arts skills were lacking. Both of her hands were seized by Tian Boguang, who pulled her into his embrace and said with a teasing tone: "My beauty, save your strength; let us celebrate our wedding night right here."

The man, around thirty-five or thirty-six years of age, was quite tall, with bright eyes and handsome features, yet he bore a hint of cunning in his demeanor. He held a knife in his right hand, and with a relaxed left arm, the person he had under his arm fell to the ground, causing his gray cloth hat to tumble aside and reveal a shiny bald head.

Suddenly, three long bursts of laughter echoed from outside the cave. Wu Tiande was taken aback, but quickly steadied himself. He then noticed Tian Boguang also froze in place and shouted towards the outside of the cave, "Who is it?"

Wu Tiande chuckled and said, "I am Wu Tiande, and I have just unblocked your acupoints." He concentrated his energy at his fingertips, watching Yilin in a daze, his face showing a hint of embarrassment. Yilin looked at this man in surprise and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Wu?"

Wu Tiande originally had a tall wild chestnut tree standing in front of him, while Ling Hu Chong was intently watching Tian Boguang. Although Tian Boguang wore a look of disdain, he did not dare to underestimate Ling Hu Chong's sword, and for a moment, neither of them noticed him.

Wu Tiande was astonished, not knowing the relationship between the two individuals. He saw the man in the yellow robe bend down and strike the acupoint of the man in gray, who immediately leaped up and ran towards the cave entrance. Suddenly, the man in the yellow robe flashed like a ghost and was already in front of the man in gray, raising his knife to block the way, laughing heartily: "You think you can escape from me?"

Wu Tiande laughed heartily, and all fear vanished from his heart, replaced by a surge of boldness: "Linghu, my dear brother, quickly take Miss Yilin from m.hetushu.com away. Today, I shall face Tian Boguang, the lone traveler, one-on-one with my sword."

Wu Tiande strode forward and stood a distance of about three meters in front of Tian Boguang. He slowly drew the narrow-bladed saber from its sheath, gripping it firmly with both hands. He raised the saber slowly above his head, encouraging himself in his heart: "The martial arts I practice are at least as renowned as the 'Sunflower Manual'; I will certainly not be unable to contend with a mere Tian Boguang." As he thought this, his tense emotions gradually eased. With his mind stabilizing, his internal energy began to flow smoothly, and soon his vision focused solely on Tian Boguang, his energy firmly locking onto him. He encouraged himself again: "The martial arts I practice are at least as renowned as the 'Sunflower Manual'; I will certainly not be unable to contend with a mere Tian Boguang." With this thought, his tense emotions gradually relaxed, and as his mind steadied, his internal energy flowed more smoothly, leaving only Tian Boguang in his sight, his energy firmly locking onto him.

Yilin was embraced in his arms, a faint blush rising on her fair face as she softly asked, "I have chosen 'Jian Zhen' and 'Da Zhui', who might you be?"

Wu Tiande walked along with great spirit, and having indeed grown a beard, he appeared quite imposing. Later, Comrade Xiao Wu discovered that regardless of whether he was staying at an inn or shopping, the common people kept their distance from him with respect. He couldn't help but lament the poor awareness of military support among the people of the Ming Dynasty. Upon arriving in Jiayu County, Hubei, he purchased a set of ordinary clothing to wear, wrapping his military uniform in a bundle on his back

She gently placed her down on the ground, gripping the single knife in her hand, took a deep breath, and strode forward with determination

Wu Tiande looked at the beautiful and enchanting Yilin, feeling that her bald head appeared quite strange. He thought it was truly a pity for such a flower-like beauty to be accompanied by the dim light of an ancient lamp and a Buddha, engaging in Zen meditation and cultivating some illusory afterlife. However, he could not afford to ponder this further at the moment, and he whispered, "Do not be afraid, I am here to save you. Which acupoint did he strike?"

Tian Boguang stood still, perfectly composed, his feet unmoving, while his upper body swayed left and right, evading three sword strikes. With a single motion, he seized the long sword from Yilin's hand, holding it horizontally in front of him. He pinched the sword tip with his left thumb and index finger, and with a snap, he broke off a section. He chuckled and said, "Light beauty, I told you that you are not my match"

Wu Tiande, upon hearing his words, felt a stir in his heart and suddenly thought of the renowned Bixie Sword Technique, which, at its core, is simply about speed. Similarly, Tian Boguang's knife technique also emphasizes speed. Practicing a thousand sword moves is not as effective as mastering speed. How can I defeat him? The only way is to counter speed with speed

Across from me stood a young man in a green robe, appearing to be in his early twenties, with an oval face and delicate features. His clothing was stained with considerable blood, and it was unclear how many injuries he had sustained. At this moment, he leaned on his sword, one hand pressed against his side, gasping as he said: "The Five Mountains Sword Sect, united by a common bond, you have abducted the junior sister of the Hengshan Sect. I, Linghu Chong, cannot stand idly by."

Tian Boguang chuckled and said, "There are many who know me as a solitary traveler in the rivers and lakes, but few know me as the swift blade. You are indeed a perceptive person"

Wu Tiande lowered his head and saw Yilin's clear gaze. He sighed; under such a gaze, how could he possibly utter a word of refusal? Moreover, Linghu Chong was originally someone he greatly admired.

Wu Tiande looked up to the sky and laughed heartily, coolly stating: "In the world of martial arts, nothing is unbreakable, only speed is unbreakable. Let us see whether your blade is faster or my blade is faster"

The military department's document did not specify the reporting time, so Wu Tiande took pleasure in wandering through the mountains and waters. He found riding a horse uncomfortable, which left him with a sore backside, so he simply sold the red horse. When there were relay stations, he took a carriage; when there were no carriages, he walked. He traveled leisurely along the way, finding great joy in it. Morning and evening, he practiced diligently without interruption, and his skills gradually deepened, allowing him to glimpse the profound secrets of the higher levels.

The sudden rain in the mountains comes swiftly and departs just as quickly; after a brief downpour, it ceases abruptly. Wu Tiande looks up at the sky, which is overcast, uncertain whether this wretched weather will change again soon. However, he fears that if the spring rain continues unabated, it will hinder his journey. Young Wu, accustomed to comfort, truly does not wish to reside in a cave in the mountains.

Wu Tiande was eager to see what this legendary cute girl looked like, but unfortunately, she had her back turned to him, making it impossible to see her face. The gray robe was quite oversized, obscuring even her figure.

"Haha," the words of Yilin amused the man in the yellow robe to the point of uncontrollable laughter: "Yilin? You little nun speak quite interestingly, and you are so beautiful; it would be a pity for you to be a nun. Why not accompany me, Tian Boguang, for a nap and we can have a child together?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tiande could not help but feel disheartened, and thus said: "Well... I will carry you away first, and after a while, will the acupoint naturally be released?"

The slender figure in gray leaped backward, drawing a sword from his robe, and pointed it at the man in yellow who was blocking the way, angrily saying: "Why are you stopping me? If you do not step aside, I will stab you with this sword."

Wu Tiande turned to leave, but unexpectedly, Yilin in his arms heard the conversation between the two and turned her head to see Linghu Chong covered in blood. She exclaimed, "It's Linghu Shixiong from the Huashan Sect. Brother Wu, could you please save him?" She was convinced that Brother Wu's skills were not inferior to those of her own master, and since her master's martial arts were naturally excellent, she believed Brother Wu's abilities must also be remarkable, thus she boldly made her request.

Wu Tiande closely observed the movements of the two. He thought to himself that if he could easily subdue Yilin, then Tian Boguang's skills might not be as formidable as he had assumed, and he might not be his match after all. With a shift in his stance, he prepared to leap down to heroically rescue the damsel in distress

The cave was eerie and damp, growing darker and colder the deeper one went, with the passage becoming increasingly narrow. Wu Tiande observed his surroundings, noting the dim light, which suggested he would not be discovered. He leaped nimbly onto a protruding rock on the cave wall and crouched down to look outside. He saw a man in a yellow robe leap to the cave entrance, his breath long and steady, appearing as if nothing were amiss, which left Wu Tiande secretly astonished at the man's remarkable skill.

As Yilin called out, the two people in front turned their heads to look. Linghu Chong's eyes were filled with surprise, while Tian Boguang was taken aback, and then filled with rage, clearly seeing the beauty he had almost captured being snatched away from him

When Tian Boguang first saw him approach, he said nothing, merely brandishing his knife in a rather peculiar manner. Unable to hide his disdain, he later observed the man raise his single blade, the atmosphere gradually becoming more serious. Eventually, the man's stance resembled a mountain, imposing and steady, exuding an unmistakable aura of a master. Startled, Tian Boguang immediately reined in his underestimation, positioning his knife across his chest, and fixed his gaze on him, asking: "Who are you from the Five Mountains Sword Sect? Are you looking to wade into this murky water?"

Yilin was startled to see another person emerge from the cave. Wu Tiande steadied himself and thought: The one who lured away Tian Boguang outside the cave must undoubtedly be Linghu Chong. Even if my martial arts are not a match for Tian Boguang, with Linghu Chong joining forces, I believe we can make him flee in defeat. The thought of seeing Linghu Chong filled Xiao Wu's heart with a genuine excitement, akin to meeting a superstar.

Originally, I was most adept with the bone-cutting knife I held in my arms, but that knife employed a cunning and perilous technique. Now, facing a renowned swift blade, I felt uncertain and dared not take risks. My internal energy is quite formidable, and the force I emit is a spiral energy. By infusing this spiral energy into the steel knife, I aimed to disrupt Tian Boguang's flowing and swift strikes. Furthermore, with my powerful internal energy, I focused solely on offense without defense, unleashing a flurry of chaotic slashes. As the saying goes, a flurry of random punches can defeat a master; it is not impossible to overcome him.

Wu Tiande then realized that the girl in the gray robe with a shaved head was actually a nun from the Hengshan Sect. This scene felt so familiar; in an instant, two names flashed through his mind: Tian Boguang and Yilin. Wu Tiande was so excited that he almost cried out. Indeed, the little nun with the delicate voice said, "My name is Yilin. You are clearly holding a knife; why do you say you want to use a sword to harm me? Do you want to take my sword?"

Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly saw a man in a yellow robe rushing up from the foot of the mountain, carrying a small, thin man in gray. The road was slippery after the rain, yet the man leaped as if flying, as if his feet barely touched the ground. This level of lightness in movement was such that even Wu Tiande, who prided himself on his own agility, felt inferior. For a moment, he did not know where this man had come from and hurriedly retreated deeper into the cave.

Yilin was somewhat annoyed, raised her sword and thrust it, saying, "You speak in a disordered manner, which is quite rude"

After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang conferred titles upon two immortals: one was Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of Wudang Mountain, and the other was Zhou Dian. In terms of seniority in the martial arts community, Zhou Dian is half a generation senior to Zhang Sanfeng, and his martial arts skills are so exceptional that even Zhang, the unkempt one, holds him in high regard

Linghu Chong's body trembled, and he clasped his hands, saying: "Thank you, brother, I have learned a lot from you." Having come to an understanding, he acted decisively, walking over to Yilin's side, bending down to tap her a few times. Wu Tiande, glancing over, saw that Linghu Chong's taps had no effect at all. With no other choice, he had to pick up Yilin and leave, feeling somewhat more balanced in his heart.

At that moment, Wu Tiande lifted Yilin into his arms, and Yilin, blushing and silent, found herself embraced by a man. Wu Tiande carried her out of the cave entrance, where he saw the entrance was empty. The dark clouds in the sky had dispersed, revealing a sky full of colorful clouds. Uncertain of where Linghu Chong had led Tian Boguang, he asked Yilin for the direction to Hengyang City and immediately took off, soaring away.

This unfolding of movement is surprisingly comparable in speed to that of Tian Boguang. Yilin, who had just been brought up the mountain, naturally felt this and cast a surprised glance at Wu Tiande, thinking to herself: "I originally thought he was merely somewhat skilled in martial arts, but unexpectedly, although he does not understand acupoint sealing techniques, his leaping speed is not at all inferior to that of that villain. His breath is long and seems... seems to be on par with my master's skill level."

After running for over a mile and crossing a mountain ridge, Wu Tiande couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "How painful!" He saw ahead a man in a yellow robe, with his back turned to him, carrying a sword on his shoulder and laughing heartily: "So, how is it, Linghu kid? Are you convinced now? The Huashan sword technique is no match for me. I see you are a real man, so I will spare your life. Quickly, be on your way."

Despite the discussions, how could the beautiful Zhu not let him go? It was only after Zhu Jingyue, who had suddenly turned into a nagging woman, had chattered on for a whole day and night that Wu Tiande finally managed to mount the chestnut horse, clutching the Ministry of War's official document and tucking away the Jinyiwei's badge, embarking on his journey southward

In the past, when Zhu Yuanzhang marched to Banyang Lake, Zhou Dian angered him with disrespectful words. Zhu Yuanzhang had him bound with iron chains and dragged him to the bottom of the lake. Zhou Dian entered the water with a smile, and it took two hours to pull him back up. Surprisingly, Zhou Dian danced and appeared completely unfazed, leaving Zhu Yuanzhang at a loss for what to do.