13: Chapter 13 Yin Susu's Obsession

Zhang Sanfeng and his party traveled south and, in a few days, arrived at Jiaxing, by the shores of the East Sea.

The Disciples of the Wudang Sect branch had already received the news.

They had prepared three large seagoing vessels in advance, along with ample fresh water, food, medicinal supplies, and all other necessities for the long voyage, waiting at the port.

Moreover, the area around the port was crowded with people from the major sects of the Jianghu in the south.

The news that Zhang Sanfeng was personally traveling south to head to Ice and Fire Island in the East Sea had already spread throughout the Jianghu of the south.

Everyone wanted to see this Ancestral Master of the Wudang Sect with their own eyes and witness the demeanor of this legend of the Martial Forest.

When Zhang Sanfeng and his party arrived at the port, a chorus of greetings erupted from all around.

"The Jiangnan Thunderbolt Hall pays respects to Grandmaster Zhang!"

"The Jiangnan Bagua Sect pays respects to Grandmaster Zhang!"

"The Prefect of Jiaxing, along with all the officials of the prefecture, pays respects to Grandmaster Zhang! We respectfully welcome Grandmaster Zhang to Jiaxing!"

From the government officials down to the Jianghu sects, everyone bowed in salutation, their attitudes respectful to the extreme.

Zhang Sanfeng sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and nodded slightly to the crowd as a greeting. Without lingering, he led his Disciples directly onto the largest seagoing vessel at the head of the fleet.

He knew clearly in his heart that these people had come to pay their respects simply because they feared his strength and wanted to attach themselves to the Wudang Sect.

The Wudang Sect of today was no longer the precarious School it once was, but the undisputed leader of the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World.

Just as Zhang Sanfeng and his party were preparing to inspect the ships, finalize the course, and set sail, a rapid sound of hoofbeats came from outside the port.

A group of riders galloped up, led by an old man with white hair and beard, exuding a majestic Aura.

Behind him followed over a hundred men in sturdy attire, each exuding a fierce presence; one could tell at a glance they were top-tier experts of the Jianghu.

The old man leading them was none other than the leader of the Heavenly Eagle Cult, the White-Browed Eagle King, Yin Tianzheng!

Following him were the Left and Right Envoys of the Heavenly Eagle Cult, the four Hall Masters, and all the Core Disciples were mobilized; the display was grand.

The people from the Jianghu at the port were in an uproar the moment they saw Yin Tianzheng arrive with the members of the Heavenly Eagle Cult, and they scrambled to make way.

Everyone knew that the Heavenly Eagle Cult was a branch of the Ming Cult, regarded by the Jianghu as a side branch of the Demonic Cult, and had always been at odds with the Six Major Sects.

Especially with the Wudang Sect, because his daughter Yin Susu and Wudang's Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan had disappeared together, and the two sides had previously had many conflicts while searching for them.

Now that Yin Tianzheng had come here with such a large force, could it be that he intended to confront Zhang Sanfeng?

Just as the crowd was whispering, thinking a great battle was about to erupt, Yin Tianzheng dismounted and walked quickly to the front of the ship.

He bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng on the ship and said in a clear voice: "Yin Tianzheng of the Heavenly Eagle Cult pays respects to Grandmaster Zhang!"

This scene stunned everyone around.

No one had expected that the unruly White-Browed Eagle King would show such great respect to Zhang Sanfeng!

Yu Lianzhou and Zhang Songxi on the ship exchanged glances, both feeling quite surprised.

They had originally thought that Yin Tianzheng had come with ill intent, but they had not expected his attitude to be so respectful.

Zhang Sanfeng stood at the bow, looking down at Yin Tianzheng, and spoke calmly, his voice carrying clearly on the sea breeze to everyone's ears: "Cult Leader Yin, you have traveled from afar. What brings you here?"

Yin Tianzheng bowed again, his tone sincere: "Grandmaster Zhang, I have come this time, firstly, to pay my respects to you."

"My daughter, Yin Susu, was young and ignorant back then and accidentally injured Third Master Yu Daiyan, causing immense trouble for the Wudang Sect. My Heavenly Eagle Cult cannot shirk its responsibility, and I am here today specifically to apologize to you!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng once more, his attitude incomparably sincere, without a hint of falsehood.

He knew clearly in his heart that regarding the events of that year, his daughter Yin Susu was indeed to blame.

For the past few days, he had been worried day and night that when Zhang Sanfeng's party brought Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu back, his daughter would suffer retaliation from the Wudang Sect.

As it turned out, not only had Zhang Sanfeng identified the true culprit who harmed Third Master Yu Daiyan, but he had also publicly stated that he would personally go to Ice and Fire Island to bring his daughter and son-in-law back to the Wudang Sect. It was only then that he learned his daughter had married Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan after her disappearance.

This magnanimity and stature made Yin Tianzheng admire him from the bottom of his heart, and he completely let go of the concerns in his heart.

He had come today, firstly, to sincerely apologize, and secondly, to cooperate with the Wudang Sect in bringing his daughter and son-in-law home.

Zhang Sanfeng looked at Yin Tianzheng below and nodded slightly.

"I have already discerned the Karma of this matter. The masterminds were the Diamond Sect and the Ruyang Princes Mansion. Although Yin Susu was at fault, she was not the primary culprit."

"She is the wife of my Disciple, which means she is one of my Wudang Sect's own. You need not have any more concerns."

With this single sentence, the heavy weight on Yin Tianzheng's heart finally lifted.

His eyes grew hot, and he kowtowed to Zhang Sanfeng again: "Your magnanimity is vast, Grandmaster Zhang; I admire you with all my heart! Words cannot express my gratitude for this great kindness!"

He stood up and continued: "Grandmaster Zhang, Ice and Fire Island is located in the far north of the East Sea. The route is complex, and there are many storms and hidden reefs along the way. Few people from the Central Plains have ever been there."

"My Heavenly Eagle Cult has roamed the seas for many years and is extremely familiar with the East Sea routes. I have specifically brought the best guides and sailors of the Heavenly Eagle Cult."

"Additionally, there are three seagoing vessels and ample supplies. We wish to accompany you to Ice and Fire Island to bring my daughter and son-in-law home. I hope you will grant permission, Immortal Master!"

He had already made full preparations—guides, sailors, ships, and supplies; he had everything, all to be able to follow Zhang Sanfeng and go retrieve his daughter.

Zhang Sanfeng smiled faintly upon hearing this: "Very well. Since Cult Leader Yin has such good intentions, then let us travel together."

He knew clearly in his heart that Ice and Fire Island was located in a remote area with an unknown route. Having Yin Tianzheng, an old Jianghu hand familiar with the East Sea, accompany them would save a lot of trouble.

Furthermore, with Yin Tianzheng as Yin Susu's father accompanying them, it would be better for resolving the guilt in Yin Susu's heart.

"Thank you, Immortal Master!" Yin Tianzheng was overjoyed and immediately bowed to express his gratitude.

The people from the Jianghu of the south were even more in an uproar when they saw this scene.

No one had expected that the Wudang Sect and the Heavenly Eagle Cult, enemies who should have been at daggers drawn, had actually become in-laws.

Zhang Sanfeng not only did not hold Yin Susu accountable but also allowed Yin Tianzheng to accompany them to Ice and Fire Island to bring back Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan and his wife.

This magnanimity and stature made everyone admire him completely.

That evening, Zhang Sanfeng hosted a banquet for Yin Tianzheng on the ship.

During the banquet, after a few cups of wine, Yin Tianzheng looked at Zhang Sanfeng and couldn't help but sigh, his tone full of worry: "Immortal Master, I will not hide it from you. All these years, I have been worried about whether my daughter is doing well."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Zhang Sanfeng asked, putting down his wine cup.

"My daughter, Yin Susu, has a stubborn nature and is very set in her ways."

Yin Tianzheng said with a bitter smile, "Back then, she accidentally injured Third Master Yu Daiyan. Later, when she entrusted the Longmen Escort Agency to escort Third Master Yu Daiyan back to the Wudang Sect, something went wrong, and she has felt guilty ever since."

Zhang Sanfeng nodded upon hearing this, understanding in his heart.

As expected, it was just as he had anticipated.

In the original story, Yin Susu eventually committed suicide, which seemingly happened because the major sects forced her into a corner with nowhere to turn.

But the true root cause was the guilt she felt toward Third Master Yu Daiyan in her heart and her obsession with not wanting to implicate Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan.

This knot in her heart had been buried from the moment she accidentally injured Third Master Yu Daiyan, eventually leading to the tragedy.

To completely rewrite the tragedy of Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan and his wife, simply bringing them back to the Wudang Sect was not enough; one had to untie the knot in Yin Susu's heart.

"Cult Leader Yin, rest assured." Zhang Sanfeng said calmly, his tone resolute.

"I have thought about this matter carefully. I will be the one to untie Yin Susu's knot. When we see her, I will let her know that Third Master Yu Daiyan has recovered and has already let go of this matter."

"She is the daughter-in-law of the Wudang Sect. Returning to the Wudang Sect is returning home; there is nothing to worry about."

Hearing these words from Zhang Sanfeng, Yin Tianzheng's eyes instantly turned red, and he bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng: "Immortal Master! On behalf of my daughter, I thank you! For Yin Susu to encounter a Master like you in this lifetime and to be able to enter the Wudang Sect is her greatest blessing!"

The heavy weight on his heart was completely lifted at this moment.

With this statement from Zhang Sanfeng, his daughter would never be in any danger again upon returning to the Central Plains.

The next morning, the sky was bright.

Zhang Sanfeng led the Wudang Sect Disciples to rendezvous with Yin Tianzheng's Heavenly Eagle Cult fleet. A total of six large seagoing vessels hoisted their sails and, facing the rising sun, sailed into the vast East Sea, speeding toward the Ice and Fire Island in the far north.

At the bow of the ship, Zhang Sanfeng faced the sea breeze, looking at the boundless ocean, his gaze deep.

Yin Susu's obsession and the tragedy of Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan would all be completely resolved on Ice and Fire Island.