Chapter 45: Golden Lion King

  Zhang Cuishan saw that his younger sister had understood his meaning so quickly and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, reaching out to pat Yin Liting's shoulder.

  "Sixth brother, Fifth Brother knows you're not good at lying. If Third Brother asks, just let Little Shifu answer for you."

  Yin Liting was naturally gentle and warm, not good at speaking, nor very opinionated, used to listening to others' arrangements, and subconsciously nodded in response when Zhang Cuishan said so.

  "Got it, Fifth Brother."

  Yao Guang couldn't help but laugh and asked back with a smile: "Fifth Brother, what do you mean by this? Am I really good at telling lies?"

  Zhang Cuishan also smiled and said: "My intention is that, little sister can speak well and clearly understand people's hearts, will definitely let third brother not think wildly or worry excessively."

  Yao Guang bit her lip and continued to ask: "Not to mention being eloquent, what is 'clearly understanding people's hearts'?"

  Zhang Cuishan intentionally raised an eyebrow and said: "Oh, that's where Big Brother was wrong. Little Sister isn't someone who understands people's hearts clearly, but rather someone whose heart is connected to others."

  In the "Shan Hai Jing", it is recorded that there is a kind of rhinoceros with three horns, one on the top of its head, one on its forehead, and another on its nose. The horn on the nose is short and full, the horn on the forehead is straight, and the horn on the top of the head is piercing. This horn on the top of the head is also called "Tongtian Xi", which can be split open to reveal a white line-like pattern running through the entire horn, making it seem like a spiritual object, hence the name "Ling Xi". Li Shangyin once wrote in his poem: "My body has no colorful phoenix wings, but my heart has a Ling Xi that understands everything", referring to this very concept. It is said that if one has a Ling Xi in their heart, they can communicate with others spiritually. This spiritual connection can refer to the deep understanding between lovers, or the mutual empathy between family and friends.

  Zhang Cuishan's words implied the latter meaning, saying that Yao Guang was feeling uneasy because she sensed Yu Dairen's painful emotions after being injured.

  It should be known that being sensitive to stimuli and having a spiritual connection are not the same thing. A cultivator who is highly perceptive and has some foreknowledge of fortune or disaster is one thing, while having a spiritual connection is another. Those who are good at observing the heavens and the earth may not necessarily understand human hearts, but those with a spiritual connection will not be too dull-witted.

  Although the crowd on Mount Wudang wasn't entirely clear why Yao Guang was so "restless", they mostly attributed it to her cultivation. Zhang Cuishan's words at this moment were largely sarcastic - if she and Yu Daoyan had a spiritual connection, and Yao Guang could sense his emotions one-sidedly, then it would be easy for him to come up with an excuse to deceive her.

  Yao Guang listened and couldn't help but say with a mix of anger and amusement: "If Fifth Brother continues to talk, I'll ascend to heaven in broad daylight."

  Zhang Cuishan and Yin Liting burst out laughing at the same time.

  A few people walked to the kitchen to decoct medicine, and on the way, they were still discussing in a low voice how to shift Yu Daishan's attention, so that he could put down his burden and rest assured.

  The three of them walked along this road, and Zhang Sanfeng and Song Yuanqiao watched with satisfaction in their hearts.

  Song Yuanqiao said: "Master, Wudang has five brothers and a younger sister, it is indeed the blessing of heaven."

  Zhang Sanfeng smiled warmly, "Wudang has you, it is a blessing for Wudang and also a blessing for me."

  Song Yuanqiao was taken aback, lowering his head to stroke his beard and conceal a hint of warmth in the corners of his eyes.

  On Mount Wudang, a peaceful atmosphere prevails. Yu Dailong is gradually calming down and recovering from his injuries. Every day, he has the company of his fellow disciples, and sometimes his female disciple would bring their master over to chat with him about old times in the martial arts world, such as the Five Greats of yesteryear, or the husband-and-wife duo of Guo Jing and Huang Rong who guarded Xiangyang, or the legendary hero Yang Guo. These events from a bygone era have become almost mythical today, even for someone as long-lived as Zhang Sanfeng, who can only recall them with a mix of certainty and reliance on hearsay.

  Zhang Sanfeng spoke with humor, Yao Guang listened with relish, and Yu Dairen also heard these stories for the first time. He couldn't help but comment on those characters' deeds several times, and gradually threw away his previous sorrow, worry, and self-blame, restoring his usual spirit and vigor.

  Watching Yu Daoyan getting better day by day, another thing happened on Mount Wudang.

  Zhang Cuishan originally reported to the Wudang Sect every ten days, but suddenly lost contact in late June. Everyone felt uneasy because of Yu Dairen's affair and asked Yao Guang, but Yao Guang couldn't explain clearly either. She didn't seem as restless as before, nor was she completely at ease.

  After waiting for another ten days, a piece of news spread throughout Jianghu.

  Jin Mao Shi Wang Xie Yun created chaos on Mount Wangpan Island and stole the Dragon Slaying Knife, his whereabouts are unknown.

  If this news had come in the past, it would have only made the Seven Heroes of Wudang take note of the name and intentionally capture the murderer when they went out to do good deeds. However, Zhang Cuishan's investigation down the mountain was originally related to the Dragon Slaying Sword, and now that he has lost contact, everyone on Mount Wudang turned pale in an instant after making this connection.

  "Brother Five... he's definitely all right, isn't he?"

  Zhang Songxi had a comforting heart, but he was also uneasy and hesitant, looking at Song Yuanqiao.

  This middle-aged man, who had been in charge of Wudang for many years, also lost his composure at this moment. His right hand pressed a palm print on the armrest of the chair, and it took him a while to come back to his senses. He said, "This matter is of great importance, I need to report back to my master."

  Yu Er and Zhang Si were both deeply shocked, unable to calm down at this moment, they could only nod their heads. One of them went forward to comfort Yin Li Ting, while the other followed Song Yuan Qiao to Yu Dai Yan's residence.

  At this time, Zhang Sanfeng was usually at Yudaiyan with a few people talking about some old martial arts affairs.

  Song Yuanchao saw from afar the white-haired Taoist embracing a blue-clad Taoist youth, chatting with an elderly young man and a reclining young man on the couch, all of whom had smiling eyebrows and eyes. The harmonious atmosphere between the master and his disciples almost brought tears to Song Yuanchao's eyes.

  Third brother is about to recover, but fifth brother fears he will meet with disaster. Our venerable master is advanced in years, yet must repeatedly suffer such blows. Why does Heaven treat Wudang thus?

  Zhang Songxi silently grasped Song Yuanqiao's arm.

  Song Yuanqiao turned his head to look, and the fourth younger brother also had a worried and painful expression in his eyes, but he still had a few points of determination. He quickly calmed down and didn't say much, adjusting his expression before walking out of the house and bowing down.

  "Master, I have something to ask you."

  Zhang Sanfeng was just talking about how Yang Guo, the Divine Eagle Hero of old, had used his flying stone to kill the Great Khan of Mongolia. Hearing a noise outside, he put down the Jade Light and walked to the door with a pleased expression, asking: "Yuanqiao, Songxi, you two have come together - is there something urgent?"

  Song Yuanqiao took a look at Yu Dailin in the house and knew that if it was his younger brother and others who went out to find the fifth brother, this matter would be difficult to hide from the third brother, so he told Wang Panshan about it directly.

  The atmosphere in the room changed instantly, Mo Sheng Valley's youthful face turned pale with a hint of green, and Yao Guang's heart skipped a beat. She immediately looked at Yu Daiyan, and saw that his face was alternating between red and white, clearly his blood was churning. She anxiously didn't care about anything else, stepped on the stool, stretched out her hand to press his acupoints, but it was already too late with just one slap.

  Yu Daishan spat out a mouthful of blood, and it was Yu Zheng who had stained the sleeves of his clothes and Yao Guang's shoulders completely red.

  Yao Guang ignored the blood splattered on her face and neck, and quickly pressed several acupoints on Yu Daiyan's body. Just as she was about to help him circulate his Qi, someone approached from behind and gently pulled her aside. A pair of hands had already been placed on Yu Daiyan's back, with wide sleeves fluttering in the air, revealing that the person who had intervened was Zhang Sanfeng.

  Yao Guang looked at the two Shixiong and cupped his hands in respect, thought for a moment, then said loudly: "Third Shixiong, don't think too much, take care of your body, we'll go down the mountain to find Fifth Shixiong."

  After finishing speaking, she signaled Seventh Brother Mo Shenggu and herself to go out together, so as not to disturb the two of them.

  Four people gathered outside the door, all attention focused inside.

  Song Yuanqiao felt a little guilty, "If I had known this earlier, I would have still told Master privately..."

  Yao Guang sighed and shook his head, saying: "If Master and Fourth Master's faces looked that bad, how could Third Master not notice something was off if they were to call out Master again for a private conversation? Earlier, he asked about Fifth Master, I said Fifth Master went to Jiangnan to catch a culprit who committed a heinous crime. If we can find any clues related to the person who injured someone with the plum blossom needle that day, it would be even better. Third Master said there's no need to think too much about it, but if we can find that young man named Yin, we should thank him. Now... on Wang Pan Shan Island, countless people have died or been injured, many good martial artists have met with danger. The living must see the person, the dead must see the corpse. A character like Fifth Master, even if he encountered danger, wouldn't leave behind a single thread of clues. We should carefully investigate and there will be a lead. It's not time to panic and despair yet."

  Song Yuanqiao didn't expect to be comforted by his younger sister, and he felt a mix of emotions in his heart. He said in a low voice, "For this period of time, it's all thanks to my younger sister for taking care of San Ge. Now that Er Ge and Si Ge are going out again, the mountain will need my younger sister to take even more care."

  Zhang Songxi noticed the word "we" used by Yao Guang earlier, and his heart skipped a beat as he asked: "Little Shifu has intentions to go down the mountain to find Fifth Brother?"

  Song Yuanqiao and Mo Shenggu were both stunned.

  Yao Guang smiled and nodded, saying: "I reckon Third Master won't thoroughly recover this time, probably in just a few days he'll head down the mountain. I'll follow him together, first to continue serving medicine, secondly, Third Master will worry about me, after all, he won't be so impulsive as to take risks due to grief and self-blame, thirdly, this isn't a fight to the death with others, perhaps if we're searching for someone I can also lend a hand."

  Song Yuanqiao and Zhang Songxi looked at each other, both feeling reasonable, and the words of dissuasion were swallowed back.

  Zhang Songxi said: "Then I'll go with you, Seventh Brother will stay on the mountain to take good care of Master."

  "I understand!" Mo Shengyu clenched his fists and responded loudly.

  Song Yuanqiao couldn't help but reach out and hug Yao Guang, gently patting her back. His emotions were complex to the extreme, and after a long while, he said: "Little Shifu, you have a natural talent that is rarely seen in people... I won't say anything else... just one thing, no matter what, you must come back safely."

  He had a lot to say, but the words stopped at his lips as he suddenly thought that the little girl in front of him might have already thought about the things he was worried about. He wanted to keep quiet, but couldn't hide his concerns.

  It's hard to let go when you care about someone deeply, always thinking of them and unable to put it aside.

  Zhang Songxi saw the expression on Song Yuanqiao's face and deliberately smiled, saying: "Big brother still doesn't trust us? Third brother and I will definitely take good care of little Shifu no matter what. It's big brother who is staying behind in the mountains, you should pay more attention to your health."

  Song Yuanqiao also felt a sense of relief, and let down Yao Guang. Only then did he notice the bloodstains on her clothes, and hastily said: "Little Shifu, quickly go wash up and change into another set of clothes."

  Yao Guang helplessly stretched out his hand and pointed to Song Yuanqiao's shoulder, saying: "Elder Brother's body is also stained."

  Song Yuanqiao looked down and saw that because he was holding his little sister, his clothes were inevitably close together, and there were indeed a few red marks on his shoulder. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "This is really... being overly concerned leads to trouble."

  Zhang Songxi took the opportunity to push the two of them outwards, saying: "Big brother and little sister, go change your clothes, I'll take care of things here."

  At this time, Xie Xun's Lion Roar had already stunned the group of people on Wangpan Mountain into idiots, and took Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu out to sea back to Zhongyuan, but unfortunately drifted to Binghuo Island.

  On Wangpan Mountain, there were people who had been driven mad and killed by the roar of the mountain. There were also traces left behind by Zhang Cuishan. Xie Xun said that he would grant him a request if he won in a contest with him. Then, Zhang Cuishan wrote on the wall "Wulin Supreme, Treasure Sword Slaughter Dragon, Commanding the World, No One Dares to Disobey, Unmatched Under Heaven, Who Can Compete With Me" (twenty-four characters without punctuation). Xie Xun was impressed and spared his life as well as that of Yin Susu. However, he did not let them go, lest others find out about his whereabouts. As a result, the three people drifted to Ice and Fire Island at the beginning of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. It wasn't until later that Zhang Wuji appeared. If they hadn't gone out to sea, it's unlikely that Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu would have succeeded.