Chapter - 536 Refusing to Acknowledge Zhang As Husband (13)

Zhou Zhiruo sighed and said, "It's all my fault. I harmed her so bad that she turns crazy."

Yet Zhang Wuji thought, "She might be a little confused, and that was because of me. But compared to a clear-minded person, she is not necessarily less happy."

Zhao Min, however, had another matter in her mind. Yin Li had gone, but what about Zhou Zhiruo? Yin Li had not died, Xie Xun had been found, safe and well, the martial art manual concealed inside the Yitian Sword, as well as the military strategy manual inside the Tulong Saber, along with the Saber itself, had been recovered and returned to Zhang Wuji. In short, it appeared that Zhou Zhiruo's offenses and mistakes had not turned to the worst. While it was true that Song Qingshu had killed Mo Shenggu because of her, but it was Song Qingshu's own crime; Zhou Zhiruo actually did not have any foreknowledge of the matter, also, she certainly did not instigate the incident. Zhang Wuji had had an engagement with her before, and he was not the kind of man who would abandon trust and uprightness.

Zhou Zhiruo stood up. "Let's go!" she said.

"Where?" Zhao Min asked.

Zhou Zhiruo replied, "When I was at the Shaolin Temple just now, I saw monk Peng Yingyu came in a hurry to look for him," she gestured toward Zhang Wuji. "Apparently, there is some important matter within the Ming Cult."

Zhang Wuji's heart turned cold. "I must not neglect important Cult business for the sake of my feelings toward women," he mused, and then hastily said, "Let us quickly find out what happened."

They set off at once, and after walking quickly for a short while, they arrived at the Ming Cult's encampments. Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, Peng Yingyu, and the others were just about to dispatch their subordinates to look for their Cult Leader. Everybody expressed their delight and relief to see him come back, but when they saw Zhou and Zhao, two women returning with him, their faces all showed surprised looks.

Zhang Wuji noticed that everybody looked dejected, immediately he knew something was amiss. "Peng Dashi," he asked, "Were you looking for me?"

Before Peng Yingyu even answered, Zhou Zhiruo dragged Zhao Min away by the hand while saying, "Let us go and sit over there."

Zhao Min understood Zhou Zhiruo was trying to avoid any suspicion; she was not willing to listen to the Ming Cult discussing their internal affairs. Thereupon Zhao Min accompanied her going out the room. Yang Xiao, Fan Yao and the others were even more amazed. They all thought, "In Jiaozhu's wedding day in Haozhou that day, these two young ladies fought ferociously one against the other; but now they look as close as sisters. I wonder how Jiaozhu reconciled them. He is indeed able to achieve the impossible. The 'Qian Kun Da Nuo Yi' skill truly deserves other people's admiration."

Peng Yingyu waited until Zhou and Zhao, two women left before saying, "Reporting to Jiaozhu: We suffered a major defeat in Haozhou; Han Shantong, Han Xiong has fallen."

"Aiyo!" Zhang Wuji cried. He was deeply grieved.

Peng Yingyu continued, "Presently, the military affair around the Huai Si River is under Zhu Yuanzhang Xiongdi's control. As soon as Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, two brothers learned about the news, they deployed their troops to render their assistance. Han Lin'er Xiongdi is also coming with them. The situation is urgent; we did not wait for Jiaozhu's order."

"That's how it should be done," Zhang Wuji replied.

While they were in the middle of discussing military situation, Yin Yewang rushed in and said, "Reporting to Jiaozhu: The Beggar Clan is sending their people to inform us that Chen Youliang, that traitor's whereabouts has been discovered."

"Where is he?" Zhang Wuji asked.

Yin Yewang said, "Unexpectedly, that traitor mingles in the midst of our Cult as a subordinate of Xu Shouhui Xiongdi. I heard he has won Xu Shouhui Xiongdi's favor and trust."

Zhang Wuji pondered for a moment and said, "If that's the case, it is inappropriate for us to act rashly. Jiujiu [maternal uncle], I must bother you to send someone to warn Xu Xiong: this traitor Chen Youliang is extremely treacherous and crafty. By letting him staying by his side, Xu Xiong is just waiting for a great disaster to happen; he must by all means not let Chen Youliang stay close to him."

Yin Yewang complied, but then he continued, "It would be better to eliminate him completely with a blade. Please assign me to handle him!"

Zhang Wuji was still contemplating the proposal when a Ming Cult disciple came in to deliver an urgent letter from Xu Shouhui.

Yang Xiao knitted his brows and exclaimed, "Terrible! It's terrible! He has beaten us by taking the initiative."

Zhang Wuji unsealed the letter and read. Turned out it was a long report Xu Shouhui submitted to his superior. In it he explained how Chen Youliang admitted his offense to the Cult Leader, how he understood that he had committed a serious crime, how he deeply regretted his sins and wanted to repent. Right now he sincerely wanted to join the Ming Cult and was determined to completely turn from his wicked ways. He was asking the Cult Leader to give him an opportunity to tread the new way.

Zhang Wuji handed the letter over to Yang Xiao, Yin Yewang and the others so that they could read it themselves. Yin Yewang said, "Xu Xiongdi has fallen under this man's spell; he will certainly suffer misfortune in the future."

Yang Xiao sighed and said, "This traitor Chen Youliang is extremely wicked, but if we kill him at this moment, the public is bound to find out. It would appear that we are only settling a long-standing grudge without giving any consideration to other people's qualities. We will inevitably turn the hearts of the world's heroes cold."

"What Yang Zuo Shi said is correct," Zhang Wuji said, "Peng Dashi, you are a good friend of Xu Xiong. Why don't you advise him to be careful and rise up his guard against Chen Youliang? He must not let the authority over the troops to fall into his hand." Peng Yingyu gave him his consent.

Unfortunately, Xu Shouhui dismissed Peng Yingyu's advice. Chen Youliang had won his full confidence and in the end he lost his life under Chen Youliang's hands. Afterwards, Chen Youliang seized control of Ming Cult's western rebel army. He declared himself 'Han Wang' [King of Han], and fought for control over the land under the heavens [i.e. China] against the eastern Ming Cult rebel army. They fought great battles as far as Lake Poyang, until finally his troops were defeated and he lost his life in battle. During the dozens of year's fierce civil war, the heroes and warriors of the Ming Cult suffered very heavy casualties.

That very evening, Zhang Wuji had a discussion with Yang Xiao, Peng Yingyu and the others. They agreed to dispatch Ming Cult disciples to various army units to coordinate their movements. By the time they finished their meeting, it was already very late at night.

Early next morning, Zhao Min said, "Zhou Jiejie left last night. She said she did not wait to take her leave from you."

Zhang Wuji was depressed for half a day. Then he remembered that the number of days he had been separated from Zhang Sanfeng was simply too great and he missed him. Therefore, taking Zhao Min and Song Qingshu along, he decided to come to Mount Wudang with Yu Lianzhou and the others.

The distance between Shaoshi Peak and Mount Wudang was not too far; in just a few days they have reached the mountain. Zhang Wuji accompanied Yu Lianzhou, Zhang Songxi and Yin Liting as they entered the inside hall to pay their respects to Zhang Sanfeng, also to see Song Yuanqiao and Yu Daiyan.