My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion
Chapter 157 - 137 Bodhisattva Sword

Chapter 157: Chapter 137 Bodhisattva Sword

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire Capital Region. The curfew in the city had rendered it almost entirely silent and dim, but the outskirts were not entirely the same.

Min Ning rode her horse and spotted a luxurious guesthouse from afar. This location was less than half a mile from the Joyful Sect’s mountain gate, yet the Wuyong Guesthouse was brightly lit inside, with bustling shadows.

At the forefront, Chou Gang spoke when they were about thirty zhang away from the guesthouse:

"Dismount."

The embroidered guards exchanged glances but followed suit. Min Ning swiftly dismounted, instinctively placing her hand on the hilt of her Brocade Spring Blade, ready to draw it at any moment.

Min Ning looked up at the guesthouse sign – Wuyong Guesthouse – and immediately realized that it was now part of the Wuyong Building. Previously renowned in the Capital Region, it was later acquired by Wuyong Building. Being close to the Joyful Sect’s mountain gate, countless Martial Arts masters had stayed here.

The Joyful Sect, a minor second-tier sect, rose to fame worldwide not based on martial arts. Who didn’t know? Joyful Sect once thrived on offering flesh and bone as charity to the top martial artists under the rule of Great Yu.

Within Great Yu, this sect, resembling a demonic faction, hadn’t been eradicated for two reasons. First, the government feared backlash from the Central Plains Martial Arts community following their removal. Second, the Joyful Sect had been docile since its growth, managing estates and paying generous tribute to the national treasury.

Yet the current annihilation of Joyful Sect didn’t seem to be orchestrated by the Central Plains Martial Arts. It was evident to those with sharp eyes that Tang Kumai, Yin Sword Mountain’s Peak Master, was not the mastermind behind it.

Chou Gang led the group, with Min Ning and other embroidered guards following closely. Each was an elite among the embroidered guards, skilled in martial arts above the eighth rank. They gathered outside Wuyong Guesthouse, where Min Ning peered inside. The decor was lavish, the screens elegant, and the grand space full of tables and chairs occupied by guests.

Western monks, forest martial artists, young heroic couples, Beggar Sect experts, Yin Sword Mountain disciples... Inside Wuyong Guesthouse, people from across the five regions gathered in abundance. Despite some convivial drinking and camaraderie, the atmosphere remained cold and heavy.

Min Ning took a deep breath, astonished to realize her skills felt embarrassingly inadequate amid the masters assembled in Wuyong Guesthouse.

Chou Gang gave the guesthouse a glance and led his group inside.

After taking their seats, Min Ning inquired and soon understood that the gathered Martial Arts figures had varied agendas, but the common thread was the Joyful Sect. The reasons capable of drawing Jianghu elites from far and wide were only three: martial arts tournaments, secret manuals, and divine artifacts.

As for the Joyful Sect, it was rumored they had accidentally unearthed the vestment robe of Wuxiang Zen Master, wielder of the Bodhisattva Sword, whose reputation was as great as that of the current world’s top True Martial figure.

Many years ago, two individuals had dominated the Northern and Southern Jianghu for twenty years, standing atop the Martial Arts pinnacle: Wuxiang Zen Master of the Bodhisattva Sword in the North and Xu Qi, the True Martial in the South.

Over those two decades, the two had crossed swords only once, battling atop True Martial Mountain. No one knew the exact outcome, only that the presiding master of True Martial Mountain remarked: both were half a step from ascension.

Unfortunately, ten years ago, Wuxiang Zen Master suddenly vanished from Jianghu, leaving no trace. Countless masters searched for him, with the most believable rumor suggesting he had traveled to Tianzhu Ling Mountain to become a disciple under Shakyamuni.

"I’ve heard the vestment robe records the Infinite Formless Skill, the signature cultivation technique of the Bodhisattva Sword."

"Of course! Why else would Joyful Sect face extermination?"

"The Bodhisattva Sword was indeed on par with Xu Qi, the True Martial. Xu Qi even decisively defeated Sword Demon Wu Buxu at Dangyang Lake!"

"Kid, you truly don’t understand the glories of those days in Jianghu. Let me tell you something: there was one True Martial, one Bodhisattva – splitting North and South equally; one Broken Swordman, one Sword Armor – dividing East and West discordantly. The latter two refer to the Broken Swordman and Yin Sword Mountain’s Sword Armor; you must’ve heard of them. As for the former two, they are the True Martial and the Bodhisattva Sword."

"Wind and Rain Pavilion has put forth a massive bounty—two thousand taels of gold—just to acquire that vestment robe. That Wind and Rain Pavilion, cunning indeed."

Though lively inside Wuyong Guesthouse, Min Ning couldn’t shake a feeling that an invisible threat loomed over the gathered Jianghu fighters, keeping everyone restrained.

She scanned the surroundings and quickly found the answer.

A woman adorned in a taoist robe, wearing a sword at her waist, emerged slowly from the second floor of Wuyong Guesthouse. She bore the Yanyue Crown of Yin Sword Mountain. It was none other than Tang Kumai, the publicly credited eliminator of Joyful Sect.

Her mere solitary appearance caused the guesthouse’s spirited Martial Artists to momentarily falter.

This woman, who ranked alongside Sword Armor, might lack the latter’s unparalleled greatness, but her ability to open her own peak within Yin Sword Mountain spoke volumes. Though expelled from the mountain gate, none dared underestimate her.

Outside the guesthouse, a figure dressed in all black night attire, with a bamboo hat covering his head and carrying both a long sword and blade, approached under the night.

Everyone’s eyes remained fixated on Tang Kumai, oblivious to this new arrival.

Only the sharp-eyed shopkeeper sprang forward, greeting the newcomer with a hurried apology:

"Esteemed guest, the seats are full, the seats are full, and no rooms available."

The newcomer merely showed the shopkeeper his token.

Upon seeing it, the shopkeeper immediately said:

"Ah, it’s you, sir. A room has been reserved for you, long prepared."

Despite the previously overcrowded Wuyong Guesthouse, an empty room seemingly materialized, positioned near the counter. Min Ning, curious, turned her head, then widened her eyes.

He wore a mask beneath the hat, but Min Ning recognized his frame—and more importantly, the blade at his waist, eloquently devoid of frivolity.

Chen Yi entered the guesthouse, scanning the crowd swiftly, with his gaze pausing briefly on Min Ning before moving on.

Min Ning turned back, not daring to look further. She understood his attire indicated his intent to remain incognito unless necessary.

As Chen Yi joined the gathering, the attention among the Martial Artists slowly shifted from Tang Kumai to him.

Chen Yi, upon entering, immediately sensed the sharp gazes directed his way—some vicious enough to feel like their ancestors had been slaughtered. The saying "cut off one’s financial paths, kill one’s parents" evidently rang true.

His inquiries had brought him to this guesthouse, solely because it concealed a True Disciple of Joyful Sect.

Unexpectedly, Zige Bureau had mobilized embroidered guards here. Among them was Min Ning—a neat coincidence—but also...

As Chen Yi continued to scan, he surprisingly spotted his senior sister Lu Ying seated at a nearby second-floor table. Beside her was a master of indeterminate skill and a man whose handsome but slightly gaunt appearance seemed oddly familiar—but didn’t quite match his memory.

The guesthouse was crowded, but Chen Yi spotted a vacant seat. Settling down into it, he realized his left was a monk and his right a Beggar Sect member.

The monk hailed from the Western Regions, with high cheekbones and deep eyes, clad in a crimson robe akin to the one Shakyamuni wore to spread teachings. A monk permitted such attire naturally possessed exceptional martial arts and Buddhist knowledge.

On his right sat the Beggar Sect expert, garbed in tattered clothes like an aged beggar, chewing on a chicken leg. Noticing Chen Yi’s gaze, he showed no reaction, barely sparing him a glance.

It was evident he did not think much of Chen Yi.

"Tang Peak Master, how much longer do you intend to protect that True Disciple?"

From among the Martial Artists, one figure stood and spoke out loudly.

"I am not protecting the True Disciple—I am protecting the innocent common people within this guesthouse."

Upstairs, Tang Kumai replied faintly,

"You esteemed masters have come uninvited to surround this guesthouse solely for one disciple. How, then, should the shopkeepers, servants, and guests here fare?"

At her words, some silently criticized her for her misplaced compassion—spending effort on the ordinary folks’ safety.

"Tang Daozhang, don’t you harbor old grudges against that Joyful Sect figure? Why not turn him over to us?"

A Martial Artist carrying a staff called out boldly.

"Although I had past grievances with Joyful Sect, personally exterminating them has resolved those grudges. With that Chapter closed, my mind is clear. Whether remnants escape or not is no longer my concern."

Tang Kumai responded coolly.

At this point, Chou Gang, who had been inside for a while, got up and cupped his fists, saying:

"Tang Daozhang, truly admirable for your cultivation and conduct. However, the matter of Joyful Sect occurred in the Capital Region of Great Yu and must fall under the Heavenly Family’s jurisdiction. Now, as a Zige Bureau Minister, it is my duty to secure this disciple for investigation. I ask for your cooperation in handing him over, so we may return to the capital together."

After speaking, Chou Gang turned to address the crowd:

"And to the honorable heroes here, I ask that you grant me, Chou Gang, some consideration. If not me, then surely the reputation of Zige Bureau."