Chapter 3: The Truth

  The following is:

  Last time, the three ghosts of the Yellow River came to kill Concubine Yao and were blocked by a small eunuch. Moreover, the small eunuch actually used the "Surprise Snake Rush" from the Yang family gun method!

  Only to see this little eunuch make a flying tackle, over a zhang away, avoiding the combined attack of guns and arrows, and arrive in front of the black-clad man with the gun, punching him right in the face.

  The man in black with a gun was caught off guard, unable to defend himself, and was punched. A dull thud sounded as his head and face were smashed into a pulp, splattering colorful fragments everywhere. It seemed he wouldn't survive.

  The man in black with a bow on his head suddenly became hot-headed and, without caring about anything else, threw away his bow and kicked the little eunuch with one foot.

  Just as the foot was about to kick the little eunuch, the black-clad man slapped his thigh root, and a crossbow arrow suddenly shot out. The little eunuch had no time to react, and the arrow shot into the little eunuch's abdomen.

  What a "leg-born arrow", this is the killer of the black-clothed archer. It's surprisingly identical to Shi Guardingxin, the founding father of the Great Song Dynasty and the Duke of Weiwu, 's signature move "hiding in the stirrup, leg-born arrow".

  Gentlemen, among the founding generals who fought alongside Emperor Taizu to conquer the world, Shi Shouxin's martial arts were the weakest. However, relying on his "hiding in the stirrups and shooting arrows from between his legs" technique, he achieved countless brilliant military exploits and was injured the least number of times. Legend has it that Shi Shouxin not only had "arrows born from his legs," but also "crossbows in his sleeves" and "back crossbows," making him unpredictable. In those days, there was even a saying: "Rather receive three spears from Gao HuaiDe than one arrow from Shi Shouxin." Gao HuaiDe was the strongest warrior under Emperor Taizu's command at that time; fighting him to the death would be a glorious end. However, facing Shi Shouxin as an enemy often resulted in an unclear and unjust death.

  After being shot by the little eunuch, his face showed no signs of pain. He stood firm, straightened his body, and with a sudden movement of his abdomen, a small black arrow was ejected from his body and fell to the ground.

  "Has your strength been refined throughout your entire body?" Seeing this scene, the man in black turned pale as death and couldn't help but ask out loud:

  The little eunuch didn't answer, his body suddenly shortened, and he pounced forward, arriving in front of the man in black. His right hand flashed like lightning, grasping the man's throat. His right foot was already pressed against the back of the man's leg, and with another push, he sent the man tumbling to the ground.

  This is obviously the "Snake King's Hand" in Tai Zu Chang Quan.

  It is said that Emperor Taizu used to travel to Jiangxi and had nothing to eat, so he wrapped a snake around his stomach and practiced a move called "Snake King's Hand" which specialized in pinching poisonous snakes at the seven-inch mark, and repeatedly succeeded. Later, when applying this move to fighting enemies, pushing forward became "Snake King's Hand", specializing in pinching the throat; changing upwards became "Two Dragons Fighting for the Pearl", snatching people's eyes; changing downwards became "Immortal Plucking Peaches", snatching people's lower abdomen. Extremely vicious and abnormal.

  Ladies and gentlemen, please note: "Immortal picking peaches" is from top to bottom, relying on speed and strength to take by force, which is a tyrannical move; while "Monkey stealing peaches" is from bottom to top, relying on unexpectedness, which is a sneak attack. The two are different but have the same goal.

  It is said that in the Qing dynasty during the Kangxi period, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, Chen Jinnan, changed this move "Snake King Hand" to "Grabbing Dragon Claw Hand", changing it from a single-handed attack to using both hands together. He also passed it down to his disciple, Wei Xiaobao, the leader of the Green Wood Hall, who used this move to win over Kangxi's sister, Princess Jianning. This is another story.

  The little eunuch pinned the black-clad man to the ground, grasped his throat and demanded: "Who sent you?"

  "Do you want to know?" The man in black sneered back:

  "Speak!" The little eunuch increased his grip.

  "We've been on the knife's edge, prepared for a long time, you don't need to threaten me." The black-clothed man said with a wry smile. "I've cultivated 'Refining Spirit and Returning to Void' for over ten years, my spiritual power can be released more than twenty times in succession. But until now, I haven't made any progress. If the strong warrior can dispel my doubts, how can I make 'Refining Spirit and Returning to Void' clear to me, I will tell you everything without reservation."

  The little eunuch thought for a moment, then whispered to the man in black: "Listen carefully, the path of cultivation is divided into three realms by the Taoist school: 'Refining essence into energy', 'Refining energy into spirit' and 'Refining spirit back to emptiness'. Above 'Refining spirit back to emptiness' lies the Great Way of the Golden Elixir. The Buddhist school also divides it into three realms: 'Refining bones', 'Changing tendons' and 'Washing marrow'. Above 'Washing marrow' lies the Great Way of Prajna Paramita."

  The little eunuch looked at the man in black and the man in black nodded, indicating that he understood.

  The little eunuch continued: "Whether it's 'Lian Shen Huan Xu' or 'Xi Mao', both must use the response of sound, using sound to shake the bone marrow."

  "What sound?" the man in black asked.

  "Hu Bao's thunderous voice," replied the little eunuch.

  "I see," said the man in black, sighing. "Ask your questions, and when you're done, send me on my way."

  "Who sent you?"

  Cai Jing, Grand Preceptor

  "How many people have come?"

  "One hundred brothers, and the leader is one of our three brothers"

  "Is Long Er in?"

  "Yes, Long Two will take care of it"

  "Is there another way?"

  "The prefects and magistrates within a radius of fifty li are all disciples of Master Cai."

  "How can I get out of here?"

  "The surroundings have been besieged, and it's hard to escape now." The man in black paused for a moment, then continued: "Follow the Yellow River downstream to the border of Daming Prefecture, you may still have a glimmer of hope."

  "Are you from Shijiazhuang?" The little eunuch asked again:

  The little eunuch saw the man in black close his eyes and stop responding, so he shook his head, stretched out his right hand with two fingers, and pointed to the man's heart. The man in black convulsed violently for a few times, then stopped breathing altogether. He was dead.

  The little eunuch immediately stood up, took off his eunuch uniform, and wore a Taoist robe underneath. He bowed to Princess Yao and said: "Wang Chongyang, a Taoist from Zhongnan Mountain, has been entrusted by the Venerable Qiu Chuji to come and protect Your Highness."

  Wang Chongyang was also just one step ahead of Chen Taiwei.

  Ladies and gentlemen, when a Taoist cultivator reaches a certain level, they will have the choice of "entering the world" or "leaving the world". Those who "leave the world" feel that their worldly connections and karma have been severed, their merits are complete, and they no longer set foot in the mundane world. They ascend to immortality and leave, which is called transcending the three realms and being beyond the five elements. On the other hand, those who "enter the world" still have unbroken worldly connections and unfinished karma, and need to enter the mundane world to accumulate merits. Establishing a Taoist lineage and guiding people towards the Tao is one of the great merits. This is why Wang Chongyang later established the Quanzhen School, taught the Seven True Disciples, and made Quanzhen the largest school in the north. Chen Tuan's merits were already full, but his karma was not yet severed, so he occasionally appeared in the world, like a divine dragon whose head is seen but not its tail. This is a digression.

  When Yao Fei heard the conversation between the man in black and the little eunuch, she found it so astonishing and unbelievable that she couldn't help but feel as if she was in a dream.

  Princess Yao was hesitating when she heard Wang Chongyang speaking again. It turned out that it was a messenger sent by the Kind Master to escort her, and her heart suddenly relaxed. Just as she was about to comfort Wang Chongyang with some words, she suddenly felt severe abdominal pain. It turned out that Princess Yao had gone through days of boat and carriage fatigue, coupled with the intense fright earlier, and was going into premature labor.

  To know what happens next, wait and see the next episode.