Chapter 5, Tian Boguang

Linghu Chong covered Yue Po's mouth and said, "If there is any principle, just draw it out." Yue Po quickly replied, "Senior Brother, this is against the rules; we should also inquire who the other party is." The two were left speechless, but Yilin kindly took over Yue Po's words and said, "His name is Tian Boguang, known as the Wanderer of Ten Thousand Miles." However, Yue Po fell into his professional habit and immediately extended his hand, saying, "A pleasure to meet you." Linghu Chong hurriedly slapped his hand down, vowing in his heart to report to the Master when they returned to the mountain, insisting that this fellow should learn the rules of the martial world for a month.

Yue Po immediately realized he had made a mistake; it was not feasible to engage with villains in the open. Next came the negotiation, a skill Yue Po was adept at from his previous life. He cleared his throat and said, "In the current situation, the bargaining chips are in the hands of the scoundrel Tian. Name your price; we won't flinch if we can secure it. However, I advise you not to be too greedy; if we can't manage it, we will part ways. My senior brother and I are absolutely confident in ensuring your survival here. I've said all I needed to say, so make your offer!" With that, he casually tugged at his collar and leaned back slightly, exuding an air of nonchalance.

Yue Po, feeling triumphant, said, "As soon as you arrive in Hengyang City, come here. The antidote is also with you; wouldn't it be enough to just kill you?" Tian Boguang fell silent for a moment before saying, "Do you know that I have dozens of vials of medicine on me?" Yue Po shook his head and replied, "I don't know." Tian Boguang, seeing that he had not reacted, continued to instruct, "You can randomly give her a medicine; it could be an aphrodisiac or it could be poison." Yue Po, realizing the implication, angrily retorted, "Why do you carry so many medicines with you if nothing is wrong? Are you opening a pharmacy?"

Linghu Chong said sternly, "How can this be? The Five Mountains Sword Alliance is like branches of the same tree..." Yue Po hurriedly replied, "Saving a life is the priority. Why don't we take him to Liu's residence first? If he dies there, it won't matter much to us." Linghu Chong agreed with the first part of his statement, but was hesitant to accept the latter. At this moment, Yilin had already brought the antidote and held out a jar, saying, "This is our sect's Heavenly Fragrance Healing Ointment, which is very effective for treating knife wounds." The three of them, including Tiansong, nodded in agreement. After some treatment, it seemed that Tiansong would not die anytime soon. Yue Po then found a cart and placed Tiansong on it.

Tian Boguang wanted to explain that it was because the person next to you was ignorant of the rules that things turned out this way, but he felt too embarrassed to say it. He awkwardly sheathed his sword and said, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I didn't ask the two of you..." Yue Po, upon hearing this, became furious and said, "You were standing next to us for so long yesterday, how could you not have heard what we were called?" Tian Boguang, even angrier, replied, "I was just being polite according to the ways of the Jianghu." Yue Po glanced at Linghu Chong, seeking confirmation of the truth of this statement. After receiving an affirmative answer, he said, "Oh, so it was a Jianghu custom. I am Yue Po, and he is Linghu Chong, both disciples of Mount Hua, but from different sects. I am from the Ning Sect, and he is from the Yue Sect. Don't look at me like that; although I also share the surname Yue, I have joined the Ning Sect. Oh, the Ning Sect is actually my senior brother's master, who is also my master's wife. Additionally, I am not a Ning Sect swordsman..."

Yue suddenly realized and asked, "So what should we do now?" Tian Boguang deeply regretted his lack of sharp insight, as this fellow did not understand any of the rules of the martial world. He had initially intended to make a friend and do a favor by letting the young nun go, but now he truly did not know what to do.

In a fierce counterattack, Yue Po noticed that Tian Song was struggling to withstand the swift blade. He called out, "Senior Brother Tian Song, I am here to assist..." As soon as Tian Song heard the term 'senior brother,' his mind was momentarily shaken, and he was struck by a blade, sustaining serious injuries on the spot. Linghu Chong quickly held his sword protectively and whispered, "It is the Master Uncle!" Seeing that Tian Boguang had stepped forward to assess the injury, he said, "That is my junior brother, making his first outing. He is unaware of the hierarchy, so Master Uncle, please bear with him." However, Yue Po looked at Tian Song with no trace of understanding and softly said, "Senior Brother, I see that this person has a narrow temperament and will surely attribute his injury to us, seeking trouble with our sect. It would be better not to involve ourselves with him..."

At the moment when the three were at a standstill, Linghu Chong approached and, seeing the scene before him, exclaimed, "You, Tian Boguang, are at least a person of some standing; how can you resort to such means?" Tian Boguang, feeling a surge of tears and cursing inwardly, thought, "Isn't this all because of your disciple's coercion? ... How pitiful is my once illustrious reputation..." Yue Po, sitting nearby, grabbed a chair and said, "Senior Brother, please take a seat." Linghu Chong sat down and asked, "What is going on?" Yue Po replied, "That person has given our junior sister a unique poison..." Before he could finish, Linghu Chong slammed the table and said, "Well, you, Tian Boguang, have resorted to this despicable method of poisoning. Since you have poisoned her, why do you still have a knife at her throat? Do you not understand even a little of the rules of the martial world?"

Tian Boguang was speechless, while Yue Po sat down quietly and asked, "What are you talking about?" After pondering for a moment, Tian Boguang waved his hand and said, "I forgot." The two fell silent, but the lovely Yilin spoke up, saying, "You just said you poisoned me." "Yes! That's how it is. I, Tian Boguang, greatly admire you brothers and wish to be friends with you," Tian Boguang said, looking troubled, "but right now, I really dislike you."

In a moment of helplessness, he pressed the knife against Yilin's neck and said, "Don't move, or I'll kill her." Yue Po stood up, pointing at Tian Boguang in anger, "You are truly despicable, resorting to hostage-taking. You can only hope for leniency if you lay down your weapons." Tian Boguang's face flushed, thinking to himself: It’s not like I wanted to be forced into this. However, Yilin spoke up, "Yue Po, you don’t need to worry about me." This exchange seemed to often occur in such situations; now Yue Po realized that her words were merely a declaration on behalf of the kidnapper. He then asked, "What do you want?" But Tian Boguang first questioned, "Why did you attack me as soon as you heard she was poisoned? Aren't you afraid there’s no antidote?" Yilin spoke again, "Yue Po, you don’t need to worry about me." This exchange seemed to often occur in such situations; now Yue Po realized that her words were merely a declaration on behalf of the kidnapper. He then asked, "What do you want?" But Tian Boguang first questioned, "Why did you attack me as soon as you heard she was poisoned? Aren't you afraid there’s no antidote?"

This transformation led the two to believe it was an illusion. The young nun Yilin spoke, saying, "Heaven has a benevolent nature; why not spare him a life?" What a devout and good person she was. Linghu Chong immediately raised his hand and said, "My junior brother is right. Brother Tian, name your price; whatever you want, just say it, as long as I have it on me." Yue Po reminded, "It is us." Tian Boguang pondered for a long time and said, "Actually, I, Tian Boguang, just want to make a friend with you, no, I mean with you." He pointed at Linghu Chong and continued to explain, "I, Tian Boguang, do not keep wealth in my heart. If you, Brother Linghu, acknowledge me as a friend and clarify that this young nun is your beloved, I will immediately give her the antidote."

Yue Po exclaimed, "Is it really that simple? Can I agree to it?" Linghu Chong immediately pressed Yue Po down and said, "Nonsense, how can we tarnish the reputation of our junior sister Yilin? If Brother Tian releases Junior Sister Yilin, we will naturally be friends." However, Yue Po knew that Linghu Chong was serious and urgently said, "Senior Brother, that won't do. Associating with scoundrels and colluding with evil is one of the seven prohibitions." Linghu Chong asked in confusion, "Why can you do it, but I cannot?" Yue Po replied, "I was just trying to trick him, but you are being serious."

Yilin said, "Why do you dislike Brother Yue Po? He is a good person." Tian Boguang replied, "What does it matter to me whether he is a good person or not? A novice in the martial world is being excessively arrogant and has even plotted against me twice." Yue Po curiously asked, "Then why did you admire me so much the last time I plotted against you?" Tian Boguang responded, "A reputable sect can certainly have one or two individuals who seek results regardless of the means, so they are worth associating with." "Then why do you dislike me now?" Tian Boguang fell silent for a moment and said, "If I still like you after being plotted against twice, wouldn't that make me foolish?"

Tian Boguang took out a small jar and placed it on the table, closing his eyes and saying, "Enough, I have a headache and do not wish to speak with you any longer. This is the antidote; we shall part ways here." The three stood up, and Yue Po was about to inquire about the credibility of the medicine when Linghu Chong stopped him with a hand, saying, "Thank you, Brother Tian, please take care on your way." Just then, someone rushed up from downstairs, shouting, "Tian Bo..." Before the sentence was completed, he was split in half; such a swift blade. Tian Boguang did not expect that in his anger, his knife would possess such power. He then saw an old Taoist approach, drawing his sword to attack, and declaring, "Tian Boguang, I will make you die clearly. I am the Taishan Tiansong Daoist, and I will take your dog life."

Tian Boguang angrily said, "How can you still claim to be a disciple of a prestigious sect?" Yue Po innocently replied, "What is there to be embarrassed about? The Seven Precepts do not prohibit lying." Yi Lin said, "Yue Po, it is absolutely unacceptable to lie; it would lead to being cast into the Tongue-Pulling Hell. This is all my fault, so I will bear the responsibility for your words." She then softly recited a sutra. Yue Po was bewildered by the people around him, not behaving like normal individuals, yet he did not realize that this era was inherently like this; he himself did not think in a conventional manner.