Chapter 136 – Returning South, Crossing the River, and Dragging the Mountain

Can’t talk about coming here on a good day, can’t say it’s a bad day either. Xu Fengyen is still in the same costume of a traveler with a book case, and the red-robed shadowy creature is still hidden and sneaking around, but with a head that died with a smile on its face. Row out of three hundred miles, see two horseback galloped to the weak water river thatched cottage, one of the horseback man on the back of the jade tree, the North’s body, the South’s appearance, see Xu Fengnian immediately pale, dismounted and staggered to line, kneeling to cover his heart and bite his teeth choking, repeated recitation on the mouth of the “know that it is so”. Xu Fengyen knew it all too well, and did not console him, looking down with a cold face on this commoner’s descendant who Xu Huainan had pinned high hopes on. Such a grim first meeting, is really a great scene, which has half of the history books of those wise ruler and famous ministers meet each other hate each other’s excellent atmosphere. One of the remaining riders was a young man who looked like a scholar, seeing his master in such a state of despondency, he was also extremely hostile to Xu Fengyen.

The man has long been crown, but not yet thirty, after a moment of disoriented, they converge to hide their feelings, not sad, not happy, waved away the boy’s arm trying to help, stood up on their own, let the boy let out a horse, master and servant ride a horse, three people and two horses together in tacit agreement to the south. Along the way through the various cities and passes, warm and gentle as jade man can and along the way lieutenants arm in arm, but fewer call brother and brother of the pretentious scene words. Through a small half of the southern end of the bottle state, around the royal court capital city, about to enter the golden toad state, in a small city of the barren side of the inn stopping to rest, cold-eyed both sides finally have an open and honest conversation, the inn business is cold, the large side of the courtyard only lived in their line of three, the night is as cool as water, surnamed Wang Mengxi’s boy boy crouched in the courtyard door on the stone steps, to the sky full of stars sighed, inside the courtyard there is a Inside the courtyard, there is a wooden table with missing corners, a few broken bamboo chairs that will creak when you sit down, Xu Beihao doesn’t drink alcohol, but when he stayed at the inn, he purposely purchased a pot of the store’s own wine from the inn, which is now resting in front of Xu Fengyen who is sitting opposite to each other, and watched as he poured the wine into the ceramic cups, Xu Beihao flatly opened his mouth and said, “They say that the turbid wine is happy to meet each other, but it seems like you and I are not destined to meet each other.”

Xu Fenian calmly said, “This name was personally chosen by your grandfather?”

Xu Beihao pulled the corner of his mouth, “At first it was not called this, when I was six years old, I was memorizing in the private school of the Xu family, and my grandpa happened to go through the window, and called me to the front, and there was a question and answer, and it was changed to Beihao later on. Orange is born in the south for orange, born in the north for Hovenia. In the past, I did not know the meaning of my grandfather’s name, and now I know that I want to migrate to the south, from Hovenia to Orange. My grandfather had good intentions, and as a grandchild, I couldn’t let the old man down. I changed my name for three years, and since I was nine, I’ve been reading history and copying books with my grandfather, and my relationship with my parents has faded. Perhaps Your Highness doesn’t know that grandpa has been keeping an eye on you for many years, especially from the time the King of Northern Liang refused to allow you to enter the capital to the time when you traveled twice, grandpa spent a lot of manpower and resources to intercept first-hand news, I dare say that his old man was the first one to take the lead in guessing your identity within the Northern Mang.”

Speaking here, Xu Beihao’s line of sight was cast towards the room where Xu Fengnian was, one hand resting on his knee, his five fingers trembling slightly. A hand on the desktop was no different.

Xu Beihao took back his sight for a moment, his tone was unperturbed: “Grandpa has had a knot in his heart for so many years. The bell must be tied, naturally, the knot must also be tied, the son of the world personally to go to the North Mang, compared to the King of the North Liang also come to let the following feel unimaginable. To be honest, I once suggested that grandpa not wait for you to approach the weak water, you will be killed. Since it is a dead end, it will end with one side going to death.”

Xu Fengnian laughed and finished the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Xu Beihao finally showed a forlorn face, looking down at the empty desktop in front of him, “I just didn’t expect the death knot to end in death, replaced by his old man going to his death. Before grandpa also said that even after seeing your face, who lives and who dies is still between fifty-fifty.”

Xu Fengnian frowned without revealing it as he lowered his head to drink his second cup of wine.

Xu Beihao pursed up his lips and gazed at Xu Fengyen who was slowly drinking the turbid wine, almost questioningly opening the door and saying, “Since you don’t want to be the emperor, what are you doing in Beimang? Why did you come to see my grandfather who has not asked about the world for many years? Which vassal king’s first son is as crazy as you are? How about you handing over the military power of Northern Liang to Chen Zhi Bao?”

Xu Fengnian glanced at him, took an empty cup, poured a glass of wine, and slowly pushed it to his table.

Xu Beihao shook his head, not going to raise the cup, his expression paused, even vaguely crying, muttering to himself, “Right, if I don’t drink, I don’t know the taste of wine.”

Xu Fengnian then said, “I returned to Beiliang for my second tour, before I came to your Beimang, the night before I left, Xu Snapdragon told me frankly, the first time I went out with an old servant, a fat man named Chu Lushan sneaked after me, secretly contacted no less than fifty people from the old Beiliang clan. Beiliang 300,000 iron horsemen of the counter and not counter, in Xu Snapdragon between a thought. Born in the chaotic world, did not do the chaotic dog, Xu Snapdragon laughed that the dog anxious also know to jump over the wall, he this stinky chess basket, really want to be pulled by the emperor to play chess, in case of loss on the board, the big thing is to flip over the chess piers, to see who is more flipping out of the face. The second grand tour of the rivers and lakes, I just peeped the tip of the iceberg of the potential power of Northern Liang, Xu Snapdragon said afterwards that this family, Chen Zhi Bao can not afford to take. When he stepped on the six kingdoms of spring and autumn, Xu primrose was named king of northern Liang, Chen Zhi Bao could have gone to the southern border to set up his own house, and rushed to the south with nearly 80,000 full-fledged troops of northern Liang to split the land and divide the borders, and became the second king of a different family name in Liyang, since he refused the present day Zhao family’s son of heaven at that time, there is no reason to complain about his miserly rightful father, who had long ago given him the opportunity to be stingy, and in northern Liang, the family has its own family rules, which have to be preceded by the state’s law of the land.”

Xu Beihao pondered in silence.

After a long time, he silently recited, “Qi is born from a broken place.”

Xu Fengyen changed the topic to an idle and written one and asked with a smile, “Can you tell me the identity of the Wizened Years Taoist Child? I always feel uncomfortable if I don’t ask clearly.”

Xu Beihao glanced at Xu Fengnian, who was twirling the empty wine glass in his fingers, and said frankly and rustily, “I don’t know the inner mystery either. I only know that ten years ago, the Taoist child came to the Xu family, and ten years later, he still looks like a child.”

Xu Fengnian tsked, “Doesn’t it fulfill that esoteric saying?”

The two uttered two words in unison, “Eternal life.”

After this statement came out of their mouths, the two looked different, Xu Fengyen harboring hostility, while Xu Beihao was filled with curiosity to find out what was going on. Xu Beihuan since young, following his grandfather immersed in the public cultivation, this is a long-sleeved exquisite people, good at observing the words, see Xu Fengyen reveals the clues, stayed in mind, but did not ask, did not expect Xu Fengyen initiative to penetrate the bottom of the said: “I’m hiding in the dragon and tiger mountain certified a small longevity of the old wangzhi have a grudge, if you really came to the north of the Liang, happy to lower the frame for the tiger as a helper, you wait for the future! Just wait and watch the fun.”

Xu Beihao didn’t pick up on this.

Xu Fengnian got up and said, “We’re about to enter the Golden Toad State, I’m afraid that with your grandfather’s infiltration, traveling there won’t be as easy as it was in the Treasure Bottle State, so all of you should rest early.”

Xu Beihao wanted to speak but did not make a sound until Xu Fenian turned around, it was not until Xu Fenian took a few steps out that he could not help but open his mouth, his voice raspy, “You took my grandfather’s head to return to Beiliang, only then did you not live up to this trip.”

An elegant-faced Xu Fengnian stopped his steps and turned to look at this scholar who was far too much more genuine than himself.

Xu Beihao’s hands were placed on his legs with dead fists, not going to look at Xu Fengyen, “I also know that grandpa is trying to help you boost your prestige in the army, after all, cutting away the head of the titular erstwhile Beiyuan Da Wang, is even more rare than leading an army to exterminate 100,000 Beimang troops. I just want to take a look, just one look!”

Xu Fengnian asked, “Xu Beihuang, you don’t hate me?”

The extremely elegant and quiet man laughed ruefully, “How could I dare to hate you, is it to make my grandfather die in peace?”

Xu Fengyen gave an oh, turned around and left, gently leaving behind a sentence, “It’s hard for you to see your grandfather, I’m buried on the banks of the Weak Water River.”

Xu Beihao was stunned.

Late at night, at the door with the ass to the steps are covered with hot waiter bored, heard the movement turned his head, a face of disbelief, drops of wine does not stain the master not only raised the cup and drank all the wine in the cup, seem to cry, seem to laugh, tilted his head to lift up the leftover half of the jug of wine, mumble and pour all the way into the abdomen.

※※※※–

Hand long knee-length middle-aged man in the moral clan outside the heavenly gates, had let that has always been above the chess sword Lefu more leakage son sweating, but such a lordly figure after leaving the Taoist temple to go to the far north of the ice field, before crossing the Yellow River, all the way to the Yellow River has always been no storm, close to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, but also did not have any leap across the river’s horrifying behavior, honestly to the boatman to pay over the silver money, take the raft to cross the river, he is just like a clay Bodhisattva, there is no He was like a clay Bodhisattva, no temper to speak of. Must know the world of martial arts, he can be side by side of the Wang Xianzhi that nearly fifty years back to leave the city of Wudi, Liyang dynasty will be worried with thousands of iron horsemen to stake out, for fear that this like to claim that the world’s second old man to cause right and wrong. The two dynasties and two rivers and lakes have believed that, as long as this man and Wang Xianzhi teamed up, can easily kill all the remaining eight of the world’s ten people, enough to see the surname Tuoba North Mang military god is how forceful!

If you think that as long as you are a top martial artist, you have to be the kind of young bird in the jianghu who has to shock the world and cry to the gods when he farts, even if you meet Tuoba Bodhisattva face to face, I’m afraid that you will have to meet the real Buddha and treat him as a commoner.

North Mang all know Tuoba Bodhisattva does not believe in Buddhism, but pro-Buddhist and far from the Taoist sect, especially with the national teacher Kirin real people in the same dynasty to assist the female emperor, twenty years even once have not met. It is very much like the feudal king of the deadly enemy Liyang Dynasty is not allowed to see the feudal king.

This day is light and breezy, young and extremely handsome and upright Tuoba Bodhisattva walked off the raft, feet only just step on the ferry ground, the Yellow River water surface appeared a burst of violent shaking, as if the bottom of the river has a dragon haunted, startled the boatman tighten the raft, but also jumped on the shore, do not dare to go to earn a little bit of silver, the ferry waiting for the people across the river only feel a wink, found previously alive a middle-aged man disappeared.

In the open, the unsmiling Tuoba Bodhisattva saw an old Taoist.

Hand holding a stag, hair like snow, Taoist robes without wind from the fluttering, really floating immortal, rare in the world of the immortal style.

Tuoba Bodhisattva said in a flat tone, “State Master, do you know that those who block me will die?”

The old real person waved his duster and laughed: “I am the State Master, the State Master is not me. Dead or not, it doesn’t matter if the poor Taoist dies.”

Tuoba Bodhisattva said with a look of disgust, “Pretending to be a god.”

In the next moment, a trance of thunder exploded throughout Tuoba Bodhisattva’s body, and the originally short man was nine feet tall.

That pair of long arms like apes no longer appear to have any suddenness.

It is only when the clay Bodhisattva crosses the river that he is unable to protect himself.

Tuoba Bodhisattva crossing the river, God and Buddha can not be stopped.

※※※※–

It is rumored that the Taoist Sect has a large mountain floating in the air, six hundred feet above the ground, and ten million palaces on the mountain. Li Dangxin pulled up the river to flood the Taoist Sect, and the water gushed out from the Heavenly Gate, washing away the jade steps. White monk floating to the ground, walking in a narrow mountain pass full of green, go to the end, open up, the pass does not have the world imagined the magnificent complex, there is only a Taoist temple built on the mountain, is a carving with a Tai Chi diagram of the circular square, Yin and Yang fish entangled with each other, the whole square appears to return to the basics, exceptionally simple and clear. The yin and yang fish pattern there are clouds and smoke and mist rising up to the sky, white monk looked up, there are dozens of different kinds of giant white storks circling and rising, visible Taoist priests riding, Taoist robes long shirts and wide sleeves, set off as if riding a crane to fly up to the Immortal, these Taoist Zong Taoist apparently originally stayed in the view of the priests of the Taoist, Li Dangxin hostage river visit to return the favor, forcing them to flee to the sky.

In Li Dangxin line of sight, remove the Taoist and stork, there really is a big mountain floating in the air.

All of the Taoist storks on the storks floating, there is a young Taoist is from the towering floating mountain gently floating down.

This negative sword Taoist landed in the yin and yang fish black and white intersection, a man.

The Taoist looked like twenty-seven or eighteen years old, extremely male female appearance, even have a few charming.

Li Dangxin only looked at a glance on the snicker: “Worthy of the saint realm of the Qilin real person, it is really good wrist, even the secret method of one gas into three clear to figure out, how, want to ask the poor monks to pull out the nine insects and chopped off the three corpses? Only the remaining two false immortals, do not go out together to welcome guests? It’s too small and petty. Nowadays, each of the three religions has produced a saint, my master and not to mention, even if the Confucian saint Cao Changqing, is also dare to treat the imperial palace as a thatched toilet of the wind, you, this shrinking head and hiding buttocks of the Northern Mang State Master, in contrast, but can not take the hand.”

The seemingly young Taoist warmly laughed: “No Zen can participate in the Li Dangxin, also want to vajra rage? The poor Taoist does not engage in verbal arguments with you, but merely stands here and waits and sees. Dragon Tree monks read the Vajra Sutra to cultivate immovable Zen, since you insist on terror, the poor Taoist is also immovable today, let you strike.”

Li Dangxin gave a simple oh sound.

Also no longer say more than half a word of nonsense, towards the direction of the floating mountain to probe out his arms, a white robe suddenly close to the great body, followed by the feet sink, the ground over the knee.

The white-robed monk pulled down the entire floating mountain!

The boom pressed down on top of that young Taoist’s head.

Li Dangxin entered the Heavenly Gate alone and exited it singly.

Skimming over nearly a thousand steps, he crouched down and carried his master, who was covered in gold.

Several of the Taoist Sect’s senior state masters didn’t dare to stop them.

The old monk was already dying.

The old monk smiled and asked, “Won the fight too?”

The white-robed monk gave a hmmm.

“Disciple ah, is there such a thing as deep love under the mountain? Master also doesn’t know whether it was right or wrong to promise you a daughter-in-law back then.”

“This is not the kind of reasoning that a monk should say.”

“Reason does not distinguish between the world and the world, if it makes sense, it is reason. The Buddha’s teachings may not be all the statements in the sutras, and the statements in the sutras may not be all the Buddha’s teachings. East and west and north and south, especially that daughter of your family, it is very good at reasoning, I can hear and understand, give willing to cheat to the sugar gourd, at that time do not understand, it is not busy to give, some time slowly figured out, remembered to give this nyonya to send some food, the little daughter also came to the temper, don’t want it.”

“Master, less say a couple of lines okay, these things you go back to the temple to talk to my daughter by yourself.”

“Too late.”

Li Dangxin’s figure was once again like a white rainbow, skimming sharply across the waters of the Yellow River.

“Light said to comprehend the depth of Buddhism, our two Zen temple many monks, than your master know more, many can also deal with the court officials, out of the world into the world are free people, master when this host, is really squatting pit not shit. Alas, all these years are worried ah, also thanks to the monk originally shaved off three thousand worry silk.”

“With the master’s generation of their ah, compared to the master less human, since not yet become a buddha, not all are still human.”

“This cannot be said, it hurts the peace.”

“Master, this is complimenting you.”

“Master knows, it’s not for fear that if you say it in the future in front of others, neither you nor Master will be able to get along.”

“Master, you are rarely confused. North and South both learned from you.”

“In fact, to speak from the heart, the extermination of the Buddha is not scary, how many Buddhist temples how many volumes of Buddhist scriptures were burned away, how many monks were driven away, master is not afraid. Fear of the Buddha’s heart and Buddha’s teachings do not long survive, a Zen of that one Zen, not at the moment or Hinayana, in the future whether it can be from Hinayana into the Mahayana, the Master is not able to see.”

“Master, I don’t want to see that day.”

“Hey, as the Master of the Master of the North and South, in fact, I don’t want to see that day either, but this is something that I can only say to you.”

After saying this sentence, the Dragon Tree Monk, who was covered in a dry golden color, chanted Amitabha Buddha once, and then fell silent.

The white-robed monk Li Dangxin stopped his body, tore off a piece of his robe, bound his master, closed his eyes and folded his hands, and headed for the nine heavens above.

On this day, hundreds of Taoist priests of the Daode sect and nearly ten thousand incense burners looked up at the Buddha’s light, and they all heard the chanting of the Diamond Sutra coming straight down from the firmament.

On this day, there were thousands of people who believed in Taoism who turned devoutly to Buddhism.