After being easily defeated by Ye Ling, it took Fayun a long time to calm his emotions and stabilize his shattered state of mind.
He had accepted reality.
The monks of Tianyin Temple, upon regaining consciousness, understood that a formidable demon had arrived. Each martial monk began to selectively forget that Ye Ling had destroyed all the temple's Buddha statues. They dispersed, cleaning up the devastated temple, and not a word was spoken about seeking revenge against Ye Ling.
"Benefactor, I am convinced by this defeat. I will keep my promise and introduce you to City Lord Shi Ming of Cangyue City. If you wish to further enhance your reputation, you can challenge him in Cangyue City," Fayun said weakly to Ye Ling after recovering.
"Thank you, Abbot," Ye Ling replied with a smile. "Also, I have one more matter I'd like your help with."
"Please speak, Benefactor. If it is within my capabilities, I will do my best to assist," Fayun said. Having witnessed Ye Ling's strength, he no longer wished to antagonize him.
Instead, he wanted to find ways to build a good relationship with Ye Ling.
With Ye Ling's power, Fayun was certain that Ye Ling could have destroyed the entire Tianyin Temple by himself.
Once one befriended such a powerful individual, the benefits, both overt and potential, would be immeasurable.
Ye Ling did not intend to be polite. "I hope the abbot can instruct the monks to exaggerate what I did here at Tianyin Temple today, to spread the name of the Azure Demon Swordsman."
Hearing Ye Ling's request, Fayun was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Benefactor, I do not understand... why are you so fixated on fame and fortune?"
"With your current realm, shouldn't you have long since cast aside such empty fame?"
Indeed, given Tianyin Temple's influence in the martial world, if Ye Ling's deeds were publicized, experts from the entire Wuchao and even other empires would soon know of the Azure Demon Swordsman.
But Fayun couldn't comprehend why Ye Ling was so eager for fleeting, meaningless fame.
Logically, someone with Ye Ling's impetuous nature would easily fall into cultivation deviations and could not possibly have reached such a high realm.
Ye Ling naturally did not tell the truth. He smiled and said, "Life is but a fleeting hundred years. I spent the first half of my life cultivating divine skills in the deep mountains. Now that my skills are perfected, I naturally must venture into the martial world and leave a lasting legacy."
"Otherwise, wouldn't my time in this world be in vain?"
"I see..." Fayun nodded thoughtfully, feeling a slight sense of relief.
In his opinion, Ye Ling's personality was easy to control. As long as one catered to his desires, he wouldn't pose much of a threat and could even be used to get things done.
With this thought, Fayun smiled and said to Ye Ling, "Rest assured, Benefactor, I will have the monks help spread the word. With Tianyin Temple's influence, within three days... your name will resound throughout Wuchao, and you will enter Bai Xiaosheng's rankings. It will only be a matter of time before you become known as the number one under heaven."
"Then I thank the abbot in advance," Ye Ling said, beaming, as if he hadn't noticed Fayun's subtle intentions.
"It is my honor to be able to help you, Benefactor. I am feeling rather tired, I'm afraid..." Fayun smiled weakly. His face then turned pale, and he finally couldn't hold on. His eyes darkened, and he collapsed straight down.
His bones had been shattered by Ye Ling, and his vital energy was severely depleted. Furthermore, Ye Ling had not fully healed his injuries. His ability to hold on until now was already remarkable.
"Abbot!"
The other martial monks in the main hall immediately rushed forward, placed the unconscious Fayun onto a prepared stretcher, and quickly carried him to the temple's medical hall.
Wu Mei watched as Fayun was carried away on a stretcher by the monks of Tianyin Temple, her expression still dazed, as if she were dreaming.
She had never seen the renowned "Raging Sea Mad Monk" in such a state.
Everything that had just happened was too surreal.
As Fayun was carried away, Wu Mei looked at Ye Ling again, "Husband, you..."
Her curiosity about Ye Ling was now at its peak, mingled with a touch of anticipation and a hint of fear.
She had held the martial arts competition to find a husband from the common folk, hoping to show the court that she had no intention of vying for power, thereby allowing her to escape the vortex of conflict.
However, the husband she had found through this competition possessed martial arts that had broken through the heavens. Moreover, he had challenged the entire Tianyin Temple immediately upon emerging from seclusion. If these events reached the ears of certain individuals in the court, it might lead to some unfavorable associations.
Wu Mei was worried that her situation might drag Ye Ling into unnecessary trouble, yet at the same time, she hoped Ye Ling could intervene and resolve all her troubles.
Amidst these complex emotions, Wu Mei's feelings towards Ye Ling began to shift.
Ye Ling noticed Wu Mei's emotional changes but did not point them out. He simply smiled and said, "Wu Mei, it might be a bit arduous for you next. Let's head to Cangyue City."
"Huh? Now?" Wu Mei blinked, looking at Ye Ling with disbelief.
They had been at Tianyin Temple for less than two hours, and now, after Ye Ling had just defeated the Raging Sea Mad Monk Fayun, he wanted to rush to Cangyue City. She found the pace overwhelming.
"After all, the Ten Thousand Dynasties Martial Assembly is about to begin, and I'm a bit pressed for time. If you can't keep up, you can stay at Tianyin Temple to rest. Bai Lan and I will go together."
"No... I don't need to rest. Since Husband still has the strength to fight, let's head to Cangyue City immediately."
Wu Mei quickly waved her hands and then added, "Oh, right... Cangyue City is only two days away from Tianyin Temple. By the time we reach Cangyue City, the events at Tianyin Temple might not have reached them yet. Husband might need a letter of introduction personally written by the abbot for us to meet the City Lord."
"If Mistress knows the Raging Sea Mad Monk, aren't you familiar with City Lord Shi Ming of Cangyue City?" Bai Lan asked, tilting her head.
Shi Ming was the current Emperor of Wuchao's master, possessing imperial backing. If Wu Mei were of royal blood, based on her age, she should be of the same generation as the current emperor, and thus should be more familiar with Shi Ming.
Hearing Bai Lan's question, Wu Mei's eyes flickered slightly before she lied, "How could I possibly know such important figures? My acquaintance with the Raging Sea Mad Monk was purely by chance."
"Oh." Bai Lan nodded thoughtfully and then looked at Ye Ling.
Ye Ling did not intend to expose Wu Mei's identity. He instructed Bai Lan, "Lan'er, go and ask Fayun for a personal letter. We depart immediately."
"Alright." Bai Lan responded and stopped pressing Wu Mei on the topic of Cangyue City. She immediately left the main hall to find Fayun.
"Husband..."
As Bai Lan left, Wu Mei suddenly called out to Ye Ling.
"What is it?" Ye Ling turned to look at Wu Mei and asked softly.
"I..."
Wu Mei looked into Ye Ling's eyes, opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. She merely added, "It's nothing... It's just that when we reach Cangyue City, I hope Husband will be careful. It's different from Tianyin Temple."
Ye Ling gave Wu Mei a deep look, then smiled, "Thank you for the reminder. I will be careful. Bai Lan will likely need some time. Let's go down the mountain and wait for her."
"Okay."
Wu Mei nodded obediently and walked out of the main hall with Ye Ling, heading down the mountain.
On the way down, the martial monks, upon seeing Ye Ling, all chose to take a detour, not daring to get too close.
Ye Ling smiled wryly at the way the monks looked at him. He could sense that once the monks began their propaganda, Wang Liren would be transformed into a demon.
"So be it, even if it's an evil reputation... As long as I am number one under heaven, good or evil doesn't matter," Ye Ling muttered to himself, no longer paying attention to the gazes of others.
Meanwhile, Wu Mei, following behind Ye Ling, was lost in thought.
She had tried to stop Ye Ling several times, wanting to tell him something, but each time the words reached her lips, she couldn't speak them.
Thus, Wu Mei, who usually liked to stick close to Ye Ling, remained silent all the way down the mountain.
Until a pale-faced man in a flying fish costume, with a effeminate aura, blocked Ye Ling and Wu Mei's path at the foot of the mountain.