Chapter Ninety-Four: A Fortunate Encounter in Qingyang

Page (1/3)

The Sky Fury was a treasured weapon of unparalleled sharpness; riding it, one could travel at incredible speed. Ye Sansi flew on his sword, moving twice as fast as ordinary disciples. Yet, two formidable adversaries pursued him closely, flapping their iron wings with a speed rivaling the Sky Fury.

Ye Sansi shouted over his shoulder, “Brothers, stop chasing—it’s exhausting! Hurry back and rest.”

One armored figure replied, “If we don’t kill you, how can we report back?” The wind was strong, and though Ye Sansi didn’t catch every word, he understood that these iron warriors would not give up easily.

Though Ye Sansi knew roughly where the Fangcun Immortal Island lay, heading straight there would only make it easier for the iron warriors to catch him, making escape nearly impossible.

He thought: Each of these iron warriors was stronger than me, and their iron feathers were razor-sharp and could be launched in an instant, making them difficult to detect or counter. If I fight them directly, I will surely be at a disadvantage and might lose my life.

Fighting inside the temple gave Ye Sansi some peace of mind, knowing that a senior elder was present who would surely come to his aid if he were in trouble.

Ye Sansi initiated the attack, concentrating his power into his sword and slashing downward. The iron warrior blocked with his iron wings and feathers, their offense unchanged, barely scratching each other. The other iron warrior, seeing Ye Sansi was manageable, stood aside with hands on hips, watching the spectacle.

Although Ye Sansi’s strike landed, it failed to suppress his opponent. The iron warrior counterattacked with a flurry of wing and claw strikes. Ye Sansi parried with the Sky Fury, but still fell behind. He was puzzled—how could this iron warrior be so formidable? His attacks were fierce, and Ye Sansi found himself powerless to respond.

Suddenly alert, Ye Sansi seemed to conceive a clever plan. He quickly changed direction, employing the Eight Treasures Technique to better discern his surroundings and guard against underhanded moves by the iron warriors.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ye Sansi said proudly to himself, “At last, we’ve arrived.” With that, he descended on his sword.

Below lay Qingyang City. Ye Sansi flew his sword to Qingyang Temple within the city, with the iron warriors close behind. Ye Sansi laughed, “You thieves actually chased me all the way here? Fine, today I’ll fight you both.”

The battle noises drew the monks’ attention, but fortunately, the abbot was wise and considerate, quickly dispersing the incense-offering visitors from the main hall to avoid trouble.

One iron warrior swiftly attacked Ye Sansi, but after using the “Punishing Qi” technique, Ye Sansi’s strength was drained and recovering slowly; he feared he lacked the energy for a fight.

The monks stood at a distance, silently praying for Ye Sansi’s safety, hoping the Buddha would lend him strength.

“Heaven and Earth Lock!” Ye Sansi cast a spell, successfully restraining the iron warrior. With a fierce stroke to his neck, the watching iron warrior realized the danger but was too late to intervene.

Ye Sansi’s sword, enhanced by “Punishing Qi” and his full strength, struck with overwhelming force, one even the iron warrior could not withstand.

With several metallic clangs, the iron warrior collapsed, blood gushing from his neck, pooling on the ground.

But the iron warrior was impatient. Ye Sansi had slain two hundred iron-armored soldiers in the city; their bodies lay strewn about, blood flooding the courtyard. Now, coming after him alone would not suffice for a report. The commander would surely blame him and might even execute him in anger. Ye Sansi’s pursuer intended to kill him and bring his body back to claim credit and avoid death himself. Though the iron warrior had the upper hand, Ye Sansi’s evasions kept him from inflicting any damage.

After a dozen exchanges, the iron warrior grew anxious, his moves disorderly. Ye Sansi seized the opportunity to slash at his lower abdomen, but it was powerless against the iron armor, unable to pierce even skin.

The iron warrior’s entire body changed: from silver-white to a dark silver-black. Ye Sansi struggled to use “Heaven and Earth Lock” to restrain him, hoping to buy time to recover and then finish him with “Punishing Qi.”

Page (2/3)

However, to Ye Sansi’s surprise, “Heaven and Earth Lock” was ineffective against the iron warrior—likely due to his dark silver-black armor, which negated Ye Sansi’s spell.

Unable to counterattack, Ye Sansi dodged repeatedly. Fortunately, two extraordinary spiritual energies within his body helped him recover swiftly. Using the “Scorching Wingstep” technique, he evaded with ease.

He kept a close eye on the iron warrior’s moves, anticipating his revenge. He quickly controlled twelve Sky Furies hovering in the air to intercept the iron feathers.

One, two... the iron feathers were powerful. Without Ye Sansi’s grip, the Sky Furies’ force was weak and could be knocked away by the iron feathers, though they did alter the feathers’ trajectory.

Unexpectedly, the iron feathers were launched in rapid succession, so fast that the Sky Furies could not block them all. Five iron feathers sliced across the sword, heading straight for the monks.

After the strike, Ye Sansi nimbly circled behind the iron warrior, swinging his sword several times, but to no effect.

The iron warrior, enraged and humiliated, flapped his iron wings and soared five zhang (about 16 meters) high. Ye Sansi sensed danger and immediately cast the Sword Rain technique, summoning twelve Sky Furies swirling in the air, ready to strike.

As Ye Sansi had anticipated, the iron warrior folded his wings before him and flapped fiercely, launching dozens of iron feathers—not at Ye Sansi but directly at the monks.

However, as the iron feathers neared, they transformed into smoke and dispersed into the air. The once-sharp blades became intangible, their murderous aura vanished.

Finally, a voice rang out from the clouds above the temple: “How dare someone harm others within Qingyang Temple?”

The iron warrior recognized this voice as formidable and, knowing the vast difference in strength, descended, folding his wings and clasping his fists in salute. “Senior, I dare not disturb you. I have urgent matters and had no choice.”

Ye Sansi panicked. A mortal wielding such weapons would surely die.

Now he could only hope for the elder’s intervention. The iron feathers were close to the monks, who remained oblivious, mesmerized by the soaring iron warrior, unaware they were hovering on the brink of death.

Ye Sansi stared at the iron blades, his heart heavy, fearing the elder’s intervention might come too late and innocent lives would be lost.

The iron warrior laughed loudly, “You’re just a monk, yet you dare slander the king. I think you don’t want to live. I will report back to the king. I doubt Qingyang Temple will be spared. Farewell!”

With that, he flapped his wings and leapt into the sky, rising a hundred zhang (over 300 meters). Ye Sansi looked up, clearly seeing the iron warrior dissolve into smoke and vanish like the feathers before.

Ye Sansi reflected: The elder’s words made sense. One should not kill within a Buddhist hall, and these iron warriors, who conspired with rebels and wreaked havoc, had gone beyond the temple’s sanctity. Destroying them now was justifiable.

“Urgent matters? What urgent matters?”

“I am from the royal guard of King Qingjianxi. This villain slaughtered my entire city’s garrison—nearly two hundred soldiers fell to his sword. Blood flowed like a river in the courtyard. We arrived late and tangled with him. One slip let him escape, and we chased him here. Senior, as you can see, one of my brothers already died here a brutal death. You must seek justice for us.”

“Seek justice? What justice can I offer? I have lived in this temple for over ten years. Though seldom venturing out, I have heard of King Qingjianxi’s tyranny—oppressing the people, harming the loyal, and ravaging the countryside. You are no better. But since you reside in the temple, I will not kill you. Leave quickly!”

Ye Sansi carefully stepped back into the room, wary of making noise or disrespecting the senior monk, then gently closed the door behind him.

A hearty laugh rang out: “Ha ha ha, Sansi, it’s only been a month since we last spoke in this temple. I never expected you’d grow so much.”

Page (3/3)

Hearing the voice, Ye Sansi looked toward a familiar thin curtain, behind which a figure stood. Ye Sansi bowed respectfully and said, “Senior, you have saved my life twice. Such great kindness, I have no way to repay.”

With the crisis resolved, though Ye Sansi did not see the elder clearly, he turned to the monks and bowed, “Thank you, senior, for saving my life.”

“Sansi, come inside the hall and speak,” came the voice again from above.

The abbot led Ye Sansi to the senior monk’s room, bowed with hands clasped, and then withdrew.

“Who is he?”

“Uh, oh, him? I mean your master. Knowing you understand righteousness and justice, he must be proud of you.”

Mentioning his master reminded Ye Sansi he needed to return quickly to Fangcun Immortal Island. He could not afford to linger and worry them. He bowed again, “Senior, I have urgent matters and will not stay long.”

“I never expected that after a month away from the mountain, you’d learn the worldly courtesies. That’s good, but you need not be formal with me. Besides, today I saved the ordinary people in the temple. Why should you thank me?”

“Senior, these two formidable enemies were drawn by me. If anyone dies because of me, I bear that guilt. Even if these iron warriors kill innocents, they will come for me in the end. You simply saved all present ahead of time. I am truly grateful.”

The senior monk laughed heartily. “Good, very good. If he heard those words, he’d be delighted.”

“Medicine to save your friend.”

“Medicine to save my friend?”

The senior monk said calmly, “Yes. You have a friend named Xiong Gang, right? He was struck by heavenly lightning some days ago and has been unconscious. This medicine will restore his mind; after a few days’ rest, he will awaken.”

After speaking, Ye Sansi waited for the elder’s permission. The senior monk continued slowly, “Sansi, no rush. I will send you back. It won’t take an incense stick’s time. But first, I will give you something. Hold out your hand.”

Ye Sansi stretched out his palm, and a beam of light fell into it. Upon closer inspection, it was a pill of brownish color, emitting faint glimmers.

“What is this, senior?” Ye Sansi asked.

Filled with gratitude, Ye Sansi carefully took the pill, bowed to the senior, and said, “Thank you, senior, for your great kindness. I can never repay such a debt in this lifetime.”

“I do these things not for repayment,” the elder said.

“Then...”