Chapter 60: The Final Showdown (Part 2)

  Seeing that the poison in his senior brother Ma Yu had been resolved, Qiu Chuji let out a long sigh and then said to Peng Lianhu and others: "You are all famous figures on the Jianghu, we Quanzhen Seven Sons have long heard of your names, but unfortunately, we have never met before. I didn't expect that this time we would meet in this northern country. Today's victory or defeat is still undecided, unfortunately, both sides have people injured, it seems that we need to make an appointment for another day to gather again."

  The implication is clear, after this battle, the feud between the two sides has been established. People in Jianghu have always remembered their debts of gratitude and revenge, since they have already formed a grudge, they must settle it, so they need to make another appointment to fight again with Peng Lianhu and others, to determine who is superior or inferior, and to fight to the death.

  Peng Lianhu exchanged a glance with Sha Tongtian and Liang Ziweng, then turned to Qiu Chuji and said: "That's even better. The reputation of the Seven True Men of the Complete Truth is also well-known to us. This time, meeting the three Taoist priests is indeed not in vain, but unfortunately, we can't meet together, which is a bit regrettable. Since Master Qiu has made this proposal, we naturally won't refuse, so please tell us the time and place."

  Qiu Chuji thought to himself: "Both Ma and Wang were poisoned and injured, neither of them is a light case, I estimate that they will need several months of rest to fully recover their energy. As for Tan and Liu, they are also scattered in different places, it's impossible to notify them in time, at least several months of preparation time is needed."

  Thinking of this, Qiu Chuji said to Peng Lianhu and others: "Half a year later is the Mid-Autumn Festival in August. If Master Peng's camp has no objection, we will meet on the Mid-Autumn Festival, appreciate the moon, and discuss martial arts skills at the same time. What do you think?"

  Peng Lianhu thought to himself: "When the time comes, all seven of the Quanzhen Sect will arrive together, and more than half of the Six Freaks of Jiangnan will also lend a hand. This way, their number of skilled fighters will be even greater than ours, and we'll have a hard time resisting them. We must find additional help. Half a year from now is just the right time. Coincidentally, Prince Zhao has asked us to go to Jiangnan to steal Yue Fei's lost book, so let's take advantage of this opportunity to meet there."

  Peng Lianhu said, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is a great opportunity to gather and make friends through martial arts. Shi Daochang's idea is truly elegant and refined. We'd be delighted to join in. However, since Shi Daochang has such a refined intention, we should find a place that matches his elegance. I think the hometown of the Six Heroes of Jiangnan would be perfect."

  Qiu Chuji said: "Wonderful, wonderful! Let's meet at the Smoke and Rain Pavilion in South Lake, Jiaxing Prefecture. You can invite a few more friends to join us."

  Peng Lianhu said: "It's settled then, it will be like this."

  It seemed as if there was an unspoken agreement between them that neither of them mentioned Ling Muyun, as if he had nothing to do with the matter at hand.

  This is actually a consideration for both parties. For Qiu Chuji and his group, although Ling Muyun single-handedly forced the complete withdrawal of Wanyan Honglie's side with his sword, this time they have already won. However, this victory can be said to be entirely due to Ling Muyun's efforts alone, and Ling Muyun is not a member of their Quanzhen Sect. Therefore, the grudge of their fellow disciples being injured this time cannot be considered avenged, so they want to challenge Peng Lianhu and others again on another day.

  Peng Lianhu and others did not mention Ling Muyun because after this battle, they had seen the ferocity of Ling Muyun and were secretly afraid of him in their hearts. They thought that even if they fought against Ling Muyun again, they would have no chance of winning, so they simply glossed over the fact that they had been defeated by Ling Muyun this time. It's not to mention avenging themselves on Ling Muyun, lest they provoke him and he wouldn't let them leave, which would make them cry to death?

  As for Ling Muyun, since Peng Lianhu and others didn't mention finding him to avenge this time, he was happy to relax. After all, with his current strength, he could already look down on Peng Lianhu and others. If these people knew their place and didn't come to find trouble with him, then that would be the end of it. But if they really didn't know their place, he wouldn't mind taking care of them easily. This is the mindset change brought about by increased strength. The saying "the higher one's skills, the bolder one becomes" actually means that when one's strength reaches a certain height, what was originally seen as a threat can no longer constitute a threat.

  With the duel between Qiu Chuji and Peng Lianhu already set, Zhu Cong, the second of the Jiangnan Six Freaks, laughed and said: "This way, we Jiangnan Seven Freaks have become the local snakes. We can't avoid taking out our wallets to treat you! Your two families' calculations are indeed precise, not choosing a thousand or ten thousand, but precisely choosing Jiaxing, determined to come and eat the white rice of the Jiangnan Seven Freaks. Alright, alright, it's rare for all of you to come and visit us. As the host, we can still afford to do this. Let's meet at the Smoke and Rain Tower in Jiaxing that day."

  "Farewell!" Peng Lianhu and others bowed their fists to Ling Muyun and others, turned around and left with Wanyan Honglie. Among them, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but take a lingering look at Huang Rong as he was about to leave, clearly still having covetous intentions.

  "Ouyang Ke, you really are courting death. One of these days, I'll have you accompany Yin Zhiping on a trip!" Ling Mu Yun's eyes flashed with cold light, his heart filled with icy laughter.

  If it weren't for the fear of Western Venom Ouyang Feng, he would not have let Ouyang Ke, this lecherous villain, leave alive! However, Ling Mu Yun has already recorded this account, and as soon as his strength reaches the level of the Five Absolutes, he will be the first to use Ouyang Ke as a sacrifice for his sword!

  When Wanyan Honglie and others had withdrawn, Qiu Chuji came with Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi to Lingwuzi's presence, bowed deeply and said: "Today if the young hero hadn't lent a hand to save us, we three brothers would certainly have lost our lives. The favor of saving one's life is like being reborn. From now on, if the young hero needs our help in any matter, just send someone with a message and we three brothers will surely obey your orders, and will not shrink from going through boiling water or walking into fire!"

  "The three Taoist priests are too polite, your moral character and martial arts skills can be called a model for the Jianghu, I am also deeply respectful. How could I just watch you three in danger and ignore it?" Ling Mu Yun hastily reached out to help the three up, saying "To be honest, when I was young and arrogant, I had some misunderstandings about your sect. It wasn't until I met the three Taoist priests that I truly understood the chivalrous spirit of the Quanzhen Sect."

  Ma Yun and the other two heard that Ling Muyun's words were not simple, and a hint of doubt flashed in their eyes. Ma Yun asked: "But I don't know what misunderstandings Young Master Ling had about our Quanzhen Sect before?"

  Ling Muyun was waiting for them to ask, and as soon as Ma Yun came up, he was overjoyed in his heart. He immediately took advantage of the situation to tell the story of how he had clashed with Yin Zhiping and Zhao Zhijing at the foot of Mount Zhongnan that year. Of course, Ling Muyun could not admit that castrating Yin Zhiping was intentional, so he fabricated a reasonable explanation.

  Because he knew that all the seven sons of Quanzhen had already heard the reports of Yin Zhiping and Zhao Zhirong, Ling Yunzi did not hide or deceive anything in the process of narrating the course of events, but only explained his motives, saying that because he was from Jiangnan like the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, he admired them deeply, so when he heard Yin Zhiping and Zhao Zhirong speaking ill of the Seven Freaks behind their backs, he felt a sense of solidarity with them, which led to the conflict and ultimately resulted in Yin Zhiping's tragic fate.

  After hearing Ling Muyun's words, Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi, the three brothers, looked at each other in dismay, only to realize that Ling Muyun was actually the young man who had clashed with Yin and Zhao two years ago, whom they had been secretly investigating for over two years without success. But now that things were clear, what could they say?

  Not to mention that Ling Muyun saved their lives this time, even if there was no such thing, according to Ling Muyun's words, the conflict back then could not be blamed entirely on Ling Muyun, it could only be said that it was a misunderstanding caused by different stances and mentalities. Ma Yun and others had no choice but to use the phrase "misunderstanding" to get over this matter, they owed their lives to someone else, how could they still have the face to go find trouble with them? Whatever grievances they had could only be swallowed by themselves.

  "Ling Shaoye, let's just forget about the misunderstanding and consider it a small punishment for their improper words and deeds. However, I have one thing that I don't understand, and I'd like to ask Ling Shaoye for clarification, hoping he won't mind." Ma Yun suddenly changed his tone and spoke to Ling Muyun.

  "Ma Daochang, go ahead and say whatever you want."

  "I saw that the young hero had just used a martial art similar to the Nine Yin White Bone Claw of the Black Wind Twin Evils when fighting with Liang Ziweng, and Mei Chaofeng seemed to call him 'Benefactor', I wonder..."

  "It turned out that Master Ma had been puzzled by this matter, and it was like this: I once obtained a fragment of the Nine Yin Scripture by chance, and thus understood some of the martial arts training methods in the Nine Yin Scripture. The Nine Yin Divine Claw happened to be among them, but my energy was limited and I didn't practice much, nor did I reach a high level of proficiency." Ling Mu Yun explained to Ma Yun.

  "As for Mei Chaofeng calling me 'Master', it's because a few months ago on the Mongolian grasslands, we had an unexpected encounter. I knew she was going to find the Six Heroes and my brothers, the Guos, to take revenge, so I fought her once and luckily won. Seeing that she was a blind girl with no one to rely on, I spared her life. Also knowing that her practice of the Nine Yin White Bone Claw was incorrect and would lead to evil consequences, I softened my heart and taught her the correct method, hoping she could change her ways. Who knew today she almost ruined everything?"

  "No wonder that day I and the six heroes discovered Mei Chaofeng's trail but waited for her in vain, it turned out that she was blocked by Young Master. Young Master is kind-hearted, I admire him." Ma Yun's doubts were resolved, and he bowed to Ling Muyun with respect.

  Although Ma Yun was surprised that Ling Muyun had actually practiced the martial arts of the Nine Yin Scripture, she didn't suspect anything. After all, the Nine Yin Scripture had been out in the world for many years, and although it was finally obtained by their master Wang Chongyang after suppressing the heroes, before that it had passed through many hands, and some remnants of the martial arts had been circulated, which wasn't surprising at all.

  The Six Freaks of Jiangnan were also suddenly enlightened and finally understood the reason behind it.

  After the matter was explained, everyone was about to return to the guest house to rest and recover from their injuries. Suddenly, Qiu Chuji looked at Guo Jing and let out a long sigh. He walked up to the Jiangnan Six Freaks and bowed, saying: "Six Heroes, you have traveled to the great desert for many years, and it has not been in vain. I saw that this child's martial arts skills when fighting with Mei Chaofeng earlier were superior to mine, and far surpassed my disciple Yang Kang. Moreover, as martial artists, our character and moral integrity come first, while our martial arts skills are secondary. My disciple's character is so despicable, it can't compare to your noble disciple. I am ashamed of taking him on as a disciple. The agreement we made at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Jiaxing has been fulfilled today. I willingly admit defeat and will spread the word throughout Jianghu that Qiu Chuji was defeated by the Jiangnan Seven Heroes, and I am truly convinced.

  The six freaks of Jiangnan were delighted to hear Qiu Chuji's words, feeling that after eighteen years in the vast desert, they had finally achieved a perfect ending. Ke Zhen'e humbly said a few words. But the six freaks immediately thought of Zhang Asheng, one of the five heroes who died miserably in the desert, and couldn't help but feel sad in their hearts, regretting that he could not hear Qiu Chuji's words of surrender with his own ears.

  Ling Muyun, who was standing by, also couldn't help but sigh at the sight. Although the Six Freaks of Jiangnan had won the bet, where could they find back the eighteen years that had been wasted and their dead brothers? All for a verbal agreement, so much heart and soul had been spent, such a great price had been paid. The integrity of the ancients was indeed admirable, worthy of respect, and praiseworthy!