Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Chapter 28: The Secret Affair of Cheng Kun and Lady Yang

After the meeting concluded, the Ming Sect arranged for emissaries to send invitations to various sects in the Central Plains, informing them that the Ming Sect would hold a Martial Arts Assembly on Mount Tai in a month to select a Martial Alliance Leader.

Just as Ling Yihan anticipated, as soon as news of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword spread, representatives from the sects eagerly confirmed their participation.

Since Ling Yihan had previously taught Dai Qisi the Peach Blossom Island’s art of Qimen Dunjia, he appointed her as the new Chief Instructor of the Five Elemental Flags, tasked with training the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation.

This Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation was actually an innovation by Huang Yaoshi, who, after studying the Seven Stars Northern Dipper Formation of the Quanzhen Sect, meticulously crafted this new formation, drawing inspiration from various ancient strategies.

Originally, he had intended to use it against the Seven Elders of Quanzhen.

However, Huang Yaoshi never had the chance to test it against the Quanzhen formation. Instead, he deployed it to protect Xiangyang City against an invading Mongolian army, where it achieved great success.

When Huang Rong recorded this formation, she included notes on how to exploit weaknesses in Mongolian combat tactics. Ling Yihan, therefore, saw great value in adopting this formation.

The Five Elemental Flags, being under the direct control of the Sect Leader, were as loyal as the Imperial Guard to an emperor, even beyond the authority of the Left Emissary of Light.

Thus, Ling Yihan felt confident in entrusting Dai Qisi with the training of the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation.

As for the Tian, Di, Feng, and Lei branches, while they were also under the Sect Leader’s authority, they frequently stayed at the headquarters to guard Bright Summit.

When the Sect Leader was busy or in secluded training, the Left and Right Emissaries of Light would often command them.

Hence, during the siege of Bright Summit by the Six Great Sects in the original story, Yang Xiao was unable to mobilise the Five Elemental Flags but could command the Tian, Di, Feng, and Lei branches.

If not for the persuasion of Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao and the Five Wanderers, urging the Five Elemental Flag leaders to return and defend Bright Summit, they might not have resisted the Six Sects’ assault.

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However, Ling Yihan did not wish for others to easily control the deployment of these forces, so he assigned members of the four branches separately under the temporary command of Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, and others.

The Tian branch was composed of Central Plains men familiar with local martial customs and ways. Ling Yihan placed them under Yang Xiao’s command.

The Di branch members were women, and Ling Yihan believed that their combat abilities differed from men’s, so he reorganised them to focus on logistics, responsible for tasks such as medical support and supplies in addition to training.

Given Hu Qingyang’s skill in medicine, he entrusted her with the leadership of the Di branch.

The Feng branch consisted of monks and Taoists, while the Lei branch was made up of individuals from Western lands. Ling Yihan assigned the Feng branch to Xie Xun and the Lei branch to Fan Yao.

In addition to the Tian, Di, Feng, and Lei branches, Ling Yihan established two new branches, “Yu” and “Dian,” led by White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng and Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao, respectively.

Yin Tianzheng, known for his steady nature, was tasked with using the Yu branch to support and rescue struggling Ming Sect allies throughout the land to prevent the sect’s influence from being eroded bit by bit.

With his exceptional lightness skills, Wei Yixiao led the Dian branch, specialising in gathering intelligence on the court and martial sects.

As for the Five Wanderers, they were nominally free agents with no major duties. In truth, each had connections to various rebel forces.

Leaders like Banghu and Zhou Zi Wang were actually their senior brothers. Hence, Ling Yihan assigned them the task of rallying heroes from across the martial world to join the Ming Sect’s righteous army in resisting the court.

After arranging all these matters, the brothers of the Ming Sect were impressed by Ling Yihan’s steady and capable leadership, feeling he had the bearing of a great leader.

Yang Dingtian, after reaching the fourth level of the Qiankun Great Shift technique, had repeatedly experienced inner turmoil due to the affair between Lady Yang and Cheng Kun, nearly driving him to madness.

Ling Yihan publicly announced that he would leave Bright Summit for several days to assist Yang Dingtian in finding a secluded place for healing and to prevent any danger of qi deviation.

Dai Qisi, the Purple-Clad Dragon King, and Xie Xun, the Golden Lion King, would accompany them to guard against intruders while he helped Yang Dingtian recover.

In truth, Ling Yihan never left Bright Summit. Instead, he quietly led Yang Dingtian, Dai Qisi, and Xie Xun into a hidden stone chamber within a secret passageway, unbeknownst to even Lady Yang.

For three days, Ling Yihan expended his energy to help Yang Dingtian channel his unstable qi.

“Master, I’ve directed most of your inner qi back to your dantian. Today, you should be able to guide your healing by yourself, while I only need to provide occasional assistance,” Ling Yihan said as he noted Yang Dingtian’s gradually improving complexion.

Yang Dingtian nodded, “Thank you, Yihan. Without your help these past three days, I’m not sure what I would have done.”

Ling Yihan shook his head and smiled, “Master, there’s no need to say that. You’ve been a tremendous benefactor to me, so this is merely a small favour. But today’s healing is particularly crucial and dangerous, so you must maintain full focus and allow no distraction, or it could all be in vain.”

“Understood, I’ll be careful,” Yang Dingtian said, settling into a meditative position and focusing his qi to start the healing process.

Ling Yihan remained nearby, guiding and supporting him, while Dai Qisi and Xie Xun guarded outside, keeping an eye out for any interruptions.

“Brother Kun…”

“Junior Sister…”

Suddenly, voices echoed from outside the chamber. Ling Yihan and the others instantly recognised the voices as Lady Yang and Cheng Kun.

They overheard Lady Yang say, “Brother Kun, I need to talk to you…”

Cheng Kun immediately interrupted, pulling her close and murmuring affectionately, “Junior Sister… I haven’t seen you in days. I’ve missed you so much…”

“Ah, Brother Kun, I mean business!” Lady Yang quickly pulled away and spoke more seriously.

“Did Yang Dingtian mistreat you?” Cheng Kun’s face darkened. “That man’s a bastard! He married you only to obsess over his martial arts and leave you alone, unhappy. He stole you away but couldn’t treat you right…”

“If I’d known how irresponsible he was, I’d have stopped your marriage to him, even at the cost of my life. Despicable! I’ll kill him right now!” Cheng Kun spat angrily.

“No, Brother Kun, that’s not it…” Lady Yang quickly held him back. “Yang Dingtian treats me well, indulging me in everything. How else would he have shown me the Ming Sect’s secret passageway?”

Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi, having expected this, were unbothered.

However, Xie Xun, upon overhearing the conversation, was visibly shocked. He had never imagined that his respected master Cheng Kun would have an affair with Lady Yang.

Yang Dingtian, hearing their exchange, looked deeply troubled but remained focused on his healing, understanding the critical stage he was in.

Cheng Kun, hearing Lady Yang’s explanation, relaxed slightly. “I see… then what did you want to tell me?”

Lady Yang’s face flushed as she replied shyly, “Brother Kun… I’m carrying your child…”