The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 362

Fang Zheng calmly replied.

Fang Sheng still felt it was a pity: "But the Yi Jin Jing..."

Fang Zheng laughed and said, "The Yi Jin Jing is indeed a secret treasure of Shaolin, but is it really that easy to master?"

Fang Sheng thought of the difficulties in practicing the Yi Jin Jing and nodded.

The Yi Jin Jing is a martial arts manual from Buddhism. To comprehend it, one must possess extremely profound Buddhist cultivation and be able to practice it. One must transcend the illusions of self and others. For hundreds of years, countless eminent monks from Shaolin Temple have tried to comprehend the martial arts in the Yi Jin Jing, but none have succeeded.

"The Yi Jin Jing is the supreme martial art of our Buddhist sect. Apart from Bodhidharma and the Second Patriarch Huike, only this old monk has mastered it. What difference would it make if we gave him half of it?"

"After Bodhidharma created the Yi Jin Jing, only Huike mastered it. Huike did not understand its secrets at first. It was not until more than 20 years later that he met a Buddhist monk and the two studied the Yi Jin Jing for 49 days and 70 days before they understood the Buddhist teachings within. Twelve years later, he met a young man and talked with him for three days and three nights before he fully understood the Yi Jin Jing. This shows how difficult the Yi Jin Jing is."

Fang Zheng smiled faintly.

Fang Sheng lowered his head: "My senior brother, the abbot, is a genius. He has mastered the Yi Jin Jing, which no one in Shaolin Temple has been able to master for hundreds of years, to the highest level."

Fang Zheng smiled slightly and said nothing.

This is why he was willing to hand over half of the Yi Jin Jing. He was the one in the world who understood the Yi Jin Jing best. Without his personal guidance, no one in the world could master the Yi Jin Jing.

Fang Zheng and Fang Sheng were on their way back to Shaolin Temple at this time.

"Abbot Brother has mastered the Yi Jin Jing and his martial arts have reached a state of perfection, unmatched by anyone in the world. Although Senior Feng is equipped with the Dugu Nine Swords, in my opinion, Abbot Brother may not be weaker than him."

Fang Sheng said.

Fang Zheng replied, “What use is it to be strong or weak? Why bother arguing over that moment? As long as we can continue the Shaolin Temple tradition, that will be my greatest achievement.”

Fang Zheng didn't care about this. Although he had mastered the Yi Jin Jing to a high level, he wasn't actually interested in fighting and killing. He was past the age of fighting and killing, and he didn't care about these empty titles.

Fang Sheng lowered his head: "Junior brother is too attached to appearances."

After returning to Shaolin Temple, Fangzheng began to write down the original text of the Yi Jin Jing, and soon finished writing several hundred words.

These are the introductory techniques of the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic), which are extremely obscure and difficult to understand. Even highly accomplished monks who have cultivated themselves find it hard to comprehend this scripture. Unless one is a genius with a true understanding of Buddhism, it is completely incomprehensible.

Fang Zheng wasn't kind enough to provide annotations for Feng Qingyang; he had already written the original text, and whether Feng Qingyang could understand it was none of his business.

After Fang Zheng finished writing, he placed it in a scroll of the Lankavatara Sutra, then went outside, where Fang Sheng was already waiting.

"Please personally deliver these two volumes of the Lankavatara Sutra to Elder Feng at the foot of the mountain."

Fang Sheng solemnly accepted it.

"Yes, senior brother."

Fang Zheng waved his hand and went inside. The young novice monk in charge of guarding the door closed it, and soon the sound of chanting came from inside.

Fang Sheng looked at the two scrolls of the Lankavatara Sutra in his hands with utmost solemnity, and then left respectfully.

Fang Sheng didn't dare to linger for a moment and headed straight down the mountain. By the time he arrived, it was already dark.

"Senior Feng, here are the two volumes of the Lankavatara Sutra you requested."

Fang Sheng placed the two scrolls of the Lankavatara Sutra on the table with both hands, and then clasped his hands together in prayer for Feng Qingyang.

"Thank you for your help, Master Fang Sheng."

Feng Qingyang nodded slightly.

"Senior Feng, you flatter me. If it weren't for your help back then, I would not be alive today. I dare not accept being called a master by you."

Fang Sheng said in succession.

Feng Qingyang smiled slightly. "What great favor? Forget about it from now on."

Fang Sheng said nothing more: "This humble monk takes his leave."

Feng Qingyang nodded.

After Fang Sheng left, Feng Qingyang opened the two volumes of the Lankavatara Sutra and found a piece of paper in one of them.

Feng Qingyang looked at the scriptures above.

After a while.

"can't read."

Feng Qingyang shook his head.

"It all depends on whether Chong'er has the right fate."

Feng Qingyang sighed inwardly, then got up and returned to Mount Hua.

Actually, before coming to Shaolin, he originally planned to question Fang Zheng, but after arriving, he changed his mind. He realized that it was useless, so he changed his purpose from questioning to demanding the Yi Jin Jing, and at the same time completely severed his ties with Fang Zheng and Fang Sheng.

"Who among the heroes of the world can truly laugh and roam the martial world with pride..."

The room was empty, yet the echoes still reverberated.

Feng Qingyang thought he had lived in seclusion on Mount Hua for decades and no longer cared about anything, but at this moment he still found that he couldn't let go.

……

The river rushes on, its waves crashing, and a boat sails on its surface.

A young man stood on the bow of the boat, gazing into the distance without turning his head.

"Boatman, where are we?"

Upon hearing this, the boatman quickly replied, "Young Master Lin, we are almost in Yuezhou Prefecture."

The young man surnamed Lin nodded upon hearing this and then entered the cabin.

There were two people in the cabin. One of them was handsome and dashing, leaning back casually with a jar of wine in his hand.

However, at this moment he looked listless and dispirited.

The other person was sitting upright, flipping through a book.

The young man surnamed Lin said, "Senior Brother, Senior Brother Jiang Ning, we are about to enter Yuezhou Prefecture."

Linghu Chong nodded upon hearing this and continued drinking. He didn't care and was in no hurry to see where things took him.

Jiang Ning put down his book and asked, "How far is it from here to Fujian?"

Lin Pingzhi quickly replied, "Yuezhou Prefecture is nearly two thousand li away from Fuzhou."

Jiang Ning nodded upon hearing this.

Lin Pingzhi added, "Senior brothers, once we reach the shore, the land route will begin."

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong's eyes lit up, and he sat up abruptly.

"Really?"

Lin Pingzhi nodded.

"Great!"

Linghu Chong cried out in despair.

Seeing his elated appearance, both Jiang Ning and Lin Pingzhi could understand.

After descending from Mount Hua, they passed through Xiangyang Prefecture and then traveled by waterway all the way to Yuezhou Prefecture, living on a boat the entire way.

Linghu Chong was perhaps not used to it, as he looked listless ever since he boarded the boat, often saying that his head was about to spin. Now that he finally didn't have to travel by water, Linghu Chong felt that the ordeal was finally over.

"I don't think I'll ever be on a ship this long again in my life."

Linghu Chong said.

Suddenly a wave crashed in, and the boat began to rock. Linghu Chong became dejected again.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Ning and Lin Pingzhi couldn't help but smile.

Jiang Ning reminded him, "Senior Brother, Master reminded you to drink less alcohol before you go down the mountain."

Linghu Chong waved his hand: "It's not that I want to drink, it's that I have to. Only drinking can relieve my discomfort for a while. I feel even worse if I don't drink."

Jiang Ning didn't say anything more after seeing this.

If Linghu Chong continues drinking after getting ashore, then don't blame him.

Another day passed, and the ship finally docked.

With a thud, Linghu Chong practically leaped ashore from the boat, letting out a roar.

"I'm alive again!"

Ignoring his madness, Jiang Ning paid the boat fare and headed towards Fuzhou Prefecture.

After traveling for half a day, as dusk approached, Jiang Ning and his two companions saw a village not far ahead.

Chapter 485: Village

"Senior Brother Jiang Ning, let's stay here tonight and set off early tomorrow morning."

Lin Pingzhi said to the two of them.

"it is good."

Jiang Ning nodded.

There was no need to ask Linghu Chong's opinion; he had no objection whatsoever and was fine with sleeping anywhere.

The three of them walked towards the village.

The village is quite large, with rows of houses as far as the eye can see. As dusk approaches, many people are still out and about, and some houses are even still emitting smoke from their chimneys.

It's full of the warmth and life of everyday people.

"Old man."

As Jiang Ning and his two companions entered the village, Lin Pingzhi, being the junior disciple, naturally stepped forward and said to an old man on the road, "Old man, the three of us have come from afar. We have no inn to stay in today. Could you please be kind enough to let us stay for the night?"

The old man was about to refuse, but Lin Pingzhi then took out a piece of silver from his pocket and handed it over. It wasn't much, but it made the old man hesitate.

The old man glanced at Lin Pingzhi, then at Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong behind him. He noticed that all three were dressed in unusual clothes, indicating they were not ordinary people, but they also did not seem like bad people.

The fact that Jiang Ning and the other two were all holding swords made him somewhat apprehensive.

Lin Pingzhi, observing his expression, immediately understood his concerns. Without further ado, he took another piece of silver.

“Old man, the three of us brothers are just passing through and will stay for one night before leaving. We will not cause you any trouble.”

Lin Pingzhi was extremely handsome, much prettier than some women. Linghu Chong was also handsome. Among the three, Jiang Ning, who was slightly less attractive, was still quite good-looking. They didn't seem like bad people.

"Grandpa, we are all good people."

Linghu Chong then spoke up.

"Ok."

The old man finally nodded, but only took one piece of silver and returned the other.

Lin Pingzhi smiled.

"Thank you, old man."

Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong also expressed their gratitude.

The three then followed the old man into the village.

"Does the elderly still have to work so late?"

Linghu Chong glanced at the tools in the old man's hands and the mud on his legs, clearly indicating that he had just returned from working.

"hehe."

A smile spread across the old man's face. "There's no other way. My daughter-in-law gave birth to another grandson. How can I support this family if I don't work harder?"

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong found it amusing to chat and began to talk with the old man, mostly about his family.

Linghu Chong had excellent social skills and made the old man happy. Lin Pingzhi also chimed in a few words, and the conversation went very well.

Jiang Ning walked quietly to the side.

He prefers quiet and usually comes out alone. Now that his two fellow disciples are coming with him, they handle the communication, making things easier for Jiang Ning.

However, the old man kept glancing at Lin Pingzhi as they talked, leaving Lin Pingzhi completely bewildered.

"What's wrong, old man?"