[Fantasy] Li Benfeng's Three Palaces and Six Courtyards (Complete) - 4-6

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-28

Chapter 15

The three empresses of the Northern Zhou Dynasty—Chen Yueyi, Yuan Leshang, and Yuchi Fanchi—slowly walked from the mountaintop to the foot of the stone pagoda. With their hands clasped together, facing Yang Jian—the enemy who had destroyed their dynasty and clan—they chanted in unison: "What is desire? It is the arising of all actions in the desire realm. Actions in the desire realm are defiled and desired. From this arises the suffering of the desire realm. What is form? It is the arising of all actions in the form realm. Actions in the form realm are defiled and desired. From this arises the suffering of the form realm…"

Yang Jian was stunned!

Yi Xuan and Tian Qin knelt on the ground, still staring intently at the void…

Suddenly, a cry of alarm

came from below the mountain! Daoist Yunqing—Yuwen Yunzhong, dressed as a warrior, wielding a long sword, rushed up the mountain. Wherever he passed, heads rolled like beans, and blood gushed like waterfalls. The clear Haotian Peak was instantly shrouded in blood mist.

Yang Lihua cried out in anguish, "Yun Chong, you..."

"Yang Jian, you have been ruthless in your pursuit of the Yuwen clan. I, Yuwen Yun Chong, spared your life not out of fear, but because of a promise from Aunt Shen, who acknowledges you as a wise and compassionate ruler. Today!" Yuwen Yun Chong unleashed another sweeping attack, decapitating over twenty soldiers. Their bloodied heads tumbled in the air, their headless bodies still wildly brandishing weapons, colliding with the charging soldiers, sending pillars of blood soaring into the sky.

Yi Xuan, her mind sharp, leaped into the air, soaring to Yuwen Yun Chong's side. She coiled herself into a cloud, carrying Yuwen Yun Chong to the summit of Haotian Peak. Yuwen Yunzhong's hatred was hard to quell. "Yang Jian, Aunt Shen died because of you... You... You won't leave Tianlai Mountain alive!"

"Yunqing, wake up! Your tribulation is the tribulation of separation and hatred!" At this moment, Yi Xuan finally understood the wisdom and Zen meaning of Shen Wuhua, who had always accompanied her like a senior sister. From the bottom of her heart, she looked up to the sky and cried out, "Master, your disciple is willing to enter the mortal world to resolve this tribulation of love!"

Tianqin suddenly stood up and glared at Yang Jian. "How do you want to die?"

Yang Lihua threw herself on Yang Jian. "Lihua is wicked and incompetent. I have witnessed the tragic death of my own flesh and blood, but I am helpless! These days have been worse than death. However, people are not plants or trees. Lihua cannot watch her own father die tragically. Please, just remember that Yin'er is Aunt Shen's disciple, and let my heartless father live a few more days so that he can see Yin'er... Lihua only asks for this..." Before Yang Lihua finished crying, she grabbed the short sword in her sleeve and stabbed it into her chest!

"You are the most foolish woman in the world!" Tianqin knocked Yang Lihua's short sword away with a single strike. "You risked your life for Tianyin, but did your father ever think of Tianyin even once? All he wanted was the throne, the power to unify the world and rule over the people!"

...

The three empresses, now deceased, persuaded Tianqin to stay.

Yang Jian ordered the withdrawal of 30,000 elite troops and knelt before the stone pagoda. At this moment, Yang Jian truly understood the meaning of "there are always people more powerful than you, and heavens beyond heavens."

Even with 100,000 elite troops, not to mention Shen Wuhua, any one of the two women and one man before him could easily take his head.

Tianqin, on behalf of her teacher, listed over twenty capital crimes committed by Yang Jian. Then, Yi Xuan declared: Within a hundred li of Tianlai Mountain, the Sui Dynasty would not appoint any officials or soldiers, and the people at the foot of Tianlai Mountain would not pay taxes or serve in the military. Although the conditions were harsh, Yang Jian still agreed.

Yang Jian descended the mountain alone and returned to Chang'an with great inner turmoil. He wanted to tell Yang Lihua to go back, but she insisted on staying at Jinglian Nunnery.

...

Yi Xuan, Tianqin, and Daoist Yunqing returned to Jingtu Mountain together.

The people on Jingtu Mountain were busy packing their luggage. Old Man Hua, who missed Jiangnan, had already given them travel expenses and arranged for people to send them to the official road to Lingnan or further south to visit their relatives. Those who were determined to go north to Tianlai Mountain were each provided with a wheelbarrow by Daxin Dayi. Only about thirty horse-drawn carts were available, so they could only take care of the elderly and women and children first.

When Benfeng heard that his master had turned into a lotus, he was stunned for a long time. He sullenly drove the deer alone to the back mountain. Tianxiang saw that Benfeng's expression was not right and called Dazhi and Zhengxi to follow at a distance.

In the following days, Benfeng silently drove the deer to the back mountain, sometimes sitting and sometimes standing on the grassy slope where he had met his master. Tianqin called him "stupid" and "dumb goose," but he did not react at all.

…

A rumor spread in Jiankang that Empress Shen, terrified of the Sui army's might, had retreated to the mountains and died.

This news caused the Southern Dynasty generals who were still resisting the Sui army to give up, and they all surrendered to the Sui court.

These things were irrelevant to Jingtu Mountain. This place was neither Chen nor Sui; the people in the caves of Jingtu Mountain were simply one more, one more, one less, sentimental soul asking themselves why they came and why they would go. You fight to the death, either out of blind loyalty and patriotic fervor, or out of resentment that the country had fallen to the traitors, seeking the fleeting pleasure of drinking the blood of the Huns and feasting on the flesh of the barbarians in this chaotic world—winning gives you leverage for bargaining; losing simply means submitting to fate, a so-called "abandoning darkness for light."

Those who understand the times and the trends are the true heroes.

The only concern for the young and old on Pure Land Mountain was finding a peaceful place free from the dangers of war, where they wouldn't have to worry about how long their heads would remain. The men were busy packing and bundling their belongings, while the women meticulously sewed and hid their hard currency and silver notes—their life-saving money. Old Man Chunshan was already adept at managing the family relocation, directing everyone with order and efficiency, demonstrating his ability as a head steward. Pure Land Mountain was busy but not chaotic; they were just waiting for everyone to be ready before beginning their northward migration to Tianlai Mountain.

However, the usually obedient Tianyin was furious. Hearing the Sui soldiers constantly circling Pure Land Mountain gossiping, she devised a remedy to combat the rumors.

Tianyin's intention was not only to deflate the Sui army's arrogance but also to make her senior brother, Benfeng, happy and prompt him to set off for Tianlai Mountain as soon as possible. If Benfeng didn't want to leave, then no one could. When Tianyin was watching the sea with her master at Tianlai Mountain, her master mentioned that in the future, she would have a senior brother who would practice swordsmanship with her at Tianlai Mountain and together they would go to the seventeenth-level stone pagoda on Haotian Peak to comprehend the seventeenth level of yoga.

"Master must still be at Tianlai Mountain. There must be a deeper meaning to what Master is doing." Tianyin thought for a long time and finally had an idea.

After dinner, she hid in her room alone and kept busy until midnight.

...

The Sui army's garrison soldiers were patrolling inside and outside the city as usual.

Two officers who loved to drink went to the city gate, told the other soldiers to be on guard, and then hid under the gate tower to have a couple of drinks to warm themselves up. Slightly tipsy, one of them suggested going to Jilong Mountain to tease Chen Shubao.

The two staggered up Jilong Mountain, carrying a lantern, followed by a dozen newly recruited soldiers.

Halfway up the mountain, a sharp-eyed soldier suddenly cried out, "Empress Shen, Your Majesty... the Golden Bodhisattva seated on a lotus throne! The Golden Bodhisattva has manifested!"

His shout startled the dozen or so soldiers, who stared wide-eyed!

Indeed, there it was, Empress Shen, seated on a lotus throne, bathed in golden light, her countenance dignified and solemn. Several clouds floated beneath the throne.

The Golden Bodhisattva held a shepherd's whip, chanting Buddhist prayers: "Amitabha, you have unjustly committed murder; your sins are unforgivable."

The soldiers hastily knelt, pleading, "Please forgive us, Bodhisattva! Please forgive us, Bodhisattva!"

Soldiers patrolling the streets, hearing the cries, gathered at the foot of Jilong Mountain. Upon seeing the Golden Bodhisattva, they too involuntarily knelt.

The people of Jiankang City, hearing the commotion, dressed and gathered in small groups at Jilong Mountain. Soon, the chanting of prayers for the Bodhisattva's protection echoed throughout the entire city of Jiankang.

"Thus have I heard. There are countless Bodhisattvas, named Lion Bodhisattva, Lion's Intent Bodhisattva, Peaceful Intent Bodhisattva, Incomparable Intent Bodhisattva, Earth-Holder Bodhisattva, Paradha Bodhisattva, Divine Deity Bodhisattva, Reality Bodhisattva, Gahula Bodhisattva, Virtuous Power Bodhisattva, Brightness Bodhisattva, Love and Joy Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Wisdom and Practice Bodhisattva, Exclusive Practice Bodhisattva, Manifest Without Hundred Bodhisattvas, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and so on, twelve thousand Bodhisattva Mahasattvas in total. There are also twenty thousand Devas, including Devas of Good Realm and Devas of Good Abode, who serve as their leaders, all abiding in the Mahayana…"

Seeing so many people kneeling in worship, Tianyin felt a slight panic. Just as she was wondering how to end this, she suddenly remembered a saying of her Master: "My Master possesses the physical form; through mindfulness and upholding the Dharma, it is as if the Master is present."

As if the Master were present. Why not recite the verses of the Buddha that her Master loved to preach, so that the hearts of the bloodthirsty soldiers might turn to good thoughts?

With a focused mind, the Heavenly Sound chanted: "In that world, a magnificent altar... Sumana flower, Jambhala flower, Parasambhava flower, Atimanta flower, Rani flower, Dharani flower, Mandala flower, Maha Mandala flower, Porusha flower, Maha Porusha flower, Manjusha flower, Maha Manjusha flower, Vairocana flower, Maha Vairocana flower..."

For six consecutive days, at midnight each night, on Jilong Mountain, the golden-bodied Bodhisattva, seated on a lotus, appeared, reciting Buddhist scriptures in a clear, sandalwood voice.

The people, filled with resentment at the loss of their kingdom, flocked to Jilong Mountain, devoutly praying to the golden-bodied Bodhisattva for protection, hoping the Sui army would not invade and their homes would be safe and peaceful. On

the night of the final manifestation of the golden-bodied Bodhisattva, hundreds of golden deer surrounded him, and as he moved with cloud-like steps, lotus flowers bloomed beneath his feet, one lotus with each step, until he reached the riverbank.

The next day, those who went early to gather herbs saw that Pure Land Mountain was deserted.

...

After hearing Tianyin's words, Benfeng felt somewhat relieved. He then heard from Yixuan and Senior Sister Tianqin that his master was actually in seclusion on the seventeenth-story stone pagoda of Haotian Peak in Tianlai Mountain. His troubled and conflicted feelings gradually dissipated, and he happily made the "Lotus Steps" prop with Tianyin, calming the minds of the people of Jiankang.

He also took some time to drink with Han Qinhu at Yixiang Tower twice. Speaking of the Bodhisattva's miraculous appearance, Han Qinhu said with great pride: "In ancient times there was Huang Feihu of Dongyue, and now there is a Han general who can capture tigers. Li Benfeng on Pure Land Mountain, the Master is revered in heaven and man."

After showing off his martial arts poetry, Old Han skillfully introduced Benfeng to an old friend who held a sixth-rank military position but was actually a merchant.

This man's name was Liu Changfeng, and he planned to return to the north to do business in furs and horses. Liu Changfeng loved to predict good and bad fortune for people; his side business was more fulfilling than his main job, earning him the nickname "Iron-Mouthed Master."

Liu Changfeng and Benfeng hit it off immediately, drinking and chatting all night. They discussed everything from military affairs to current events, culminating in a lengthy discussion of the principles of divination for good and bad fortune. Liu Changfeng openly stated that he knew the Empress Shen on Jilong Mountain was not the real person. He even made a bet with Benfeng: within ten days, the Huai River would flood, killing most of the people of Jiankang City. Liu Changfeng's bet was his Five Star Array, which he used to predict good and bad fortune. If Benfeng lost, he would have to accompany Liu Changfeng to Chang'an to infiltrate Dugu Jialuo's palace and retrieve a treasure for transmitting messages.

Benfeng accepted the bet. Liu Changfeng's Five Star Array was said to have been used by Old Master Jiang.

...

The people of Jingtu Mountain, young and old, were divided into two groups. One group, young and strong, rode sturdy horses and accompanied Old Man Chunshan and Dazhi to Tianlai Mountain to select an auspicious site for their residence and garden. Another group, escorted by Yi Xuan, Tian Qin, and Tian Xiang, traveled first by water, heading north through Jiangdu.

Ben Feng, Zheng Xi, and Daoist Yun Qing brought up the rear, eager to see if Liu Changfeng's ironclad prediction would come true. Daoist Yun Qing examined the river valleys from Zhongshan to Fuzhoushan, Jilongshan, and finally to Shitoushan. If there was indeed a great flood, they needed to find ways to open more waterways to minimize casualties.

Ideally, no one should die.

Zheng Xi, quite skilled in divination, added another wager to Liu Changfeng's stakes: "If Jiankang City is unharmed, how about Liu Tianshi becomes my steward?"

Liu Changfeng gritted his teeth for a long time, "Zheng Xi, you're too ruthless! You underestimate me! If Jiankang City is unharmed, I, Liu Changfeng, will resign from my lowly sixth-rank official position and go with you to Tianlai Mountain to farm and tend the gardens."

...

As he spoke, the sky darkened with ink, and soon, rain began to fall in torrents. Benfeng looked at the sky. "Master Changfeng truly possesses the ability to predict rain and wind. Judging from this, the rain will last at least two days."

Liu Changfeng said, "Three days and two nights. If it drags on for even one more day, I'll pay an additional five hundred taels of silver."

At that moment, a deafening roar echoed across Pure Land Mountain. A bolt of lightning, piercing the heavens and earth, tore through the dark clouds, twisting and turning like a silver snake. Boom! A crimson thunderbolt crashed down upon the cave where Benfeng had meditated and observed. Bang! Bang! Bang! Sparks flew from the rocks, and in an instant, the mountain crumbled in two!

Chapter 16 From Buddhism to Taoism

As the mountain crumbled, a jade-like figure stood eerily in the crevice, mimicking the posture of a Dunhuang flying apsara. However, its elegance and grace were head down and feet up.

Flying backwards.

Perhaps, like Old Yama, the Judge, and the Black and White Impermanence, when reincarnated according to the predetermined fate of Heaven in the Three Realms and Five Elements, they all assumed this posture. This posture, with its somersaults and 720-degree turns, was several times more difficult than the human anatomy gymnastics practiced by the people of the era I lived in. The

jade-like figure, flying backwards, remained in my sight for only two or three seconds before disappearing into the vast, undulating earth.

Alas, my Shahua, my other shore, flashed back again like a film reel. This journey should have been filled with beautiful days and nights, but alas, life is often filled with regret as the river flows eastward forever.

Recalling the past, the first melancholy of this sentimental man was expressed to Sha Hua, who held a paintbrush and meticulously painted the portrait of the virtuous empress and favored concubine: melancholy, time travel, cave sculptures, the first exploration of the other shore, the timeless lament of the broken sword piercing the chest amidst the flowing clear stream, the encounter with his master on the grassy slope, his pursuit of the throne at Pure Land Mountain with his lotus hand seals to repel a powerful enemy, the desperate search for Yu Ying's whereabouts in Jiankang City, gazing up at his master's Nine Lotus Heavenly Sword, and the departure of the faded beauty of the disbanded court to leave Jiangnan in search of a peaceful place... Images flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but feel that he, a mere mortal, was only fit to envy beauty in vain.

...

After the thunder and lightning, a torrential rain poured down, and the clear stream swelled. Liu Changfeng, with a refined taste for watching the rain and water, summoned four sedan chairs with rain canopies, carrying four people, and had the sedan chair bearers carry them shakily up Zhongshan Mountain.

Zhongshan Mountain, the Purple Mountain of Nanjing. The golden powder and beautiful shadows of the Qinhuai River of the Six Dynasties, but temporarily stopped at the rear of Yushu—the Southern Dynasty of the Later Chen Dynasty.

After alighting from the sedan chair, the four men each took an umbrella to shield themselves

from the rain. Liu Changfeng led the way, and after walking along several sections of stone path, they arrived at Kaishan Temple on the East Peak. "How about climbing the tower for a look?" Liu Changfeng glanced at the towering pagoda standing in the wind and rain and casually said, "I've been to Jiankang three times, not for money, but to see the dynasty's fortunes."

Daoist Yunqing looked at the pagoda and said, "Zhongshan, this is probably the last time I'll climb it."

As they walked and talked, the four men reached the top of the pagoda.

Liu Changfeng glanced at Daoist Yunqing, smiled meaningfully, and then said to Benfeng and Zhengxi, "You two climbing the mountain can observe the weather in Jiankang. Perhaps you will gain some enlightenment from the workings of nature."

Zhengxi smiled and said, "The Celestial Master wants to use the wind and rain in the sky to reveal heavenly secrets. Look at Jingtu Mountain and Sanqing Mountain, the flood has been resolved."

"I need to check the time now." Liu Changfeng, however, seemed not to be too interested in the fissure in the ground caused by the lightning strike on Jingtu Mountain that had absorbed water. He held the Five Star Array Disc in his hand, which was pointed directly at Xuanwu Lake.

"Let's be clear from the start. If I were to lecture Master Yunqing, it would be like showing off my limited skills before an expert... However, judging from Master Yunqing's appearance, I believe he will soon be troubled by worldly affairs. Haha..." Liu Changfeng turned around a few times to settle his position, then looked up at Benfeng and Zhengxi and said, "Enough of this nonsense. You two outstanding individuals, please look at the two stones that fell from the sky on Xuanwu Lake. They are like children asking Buddha questions. Could you two tell me why those stone children didn't ask Laozi and Zhuangzi, but instead asked the Bodhisattva?"

"Master, you're mistaken. I was just about to hear people say that it was a child worshipping Buddha... In my opinion, that child should have asked Heaven. As the saying goes, Heaven's will is not in accordance with human feelings. Haha, the dark clouds in the sky are about to disperse, and your treasure for predicting good and bad fortune should change hands." Benfeng

interjected, "Change of hands, the empire changes hands, human feelings are like dirt and Heaven is silent... Painted railings and jade trees hang with autumn fragrance, the thirty-six palaces are covered with green moss... Withered orchids bid farewell on the road to Xianyang, if Heaven had feelings, Heaven would also grow old."

"Hahaha, even Heaven grows old if it has feelings, and the long wind sends guests off on the road to Xianyang. I didn't expect that my brother, Brother Feng, had already seen through my little trick." Liu Changfeng handed the Five Star Array Plate in his hand to Benfeng. "This thing is useless to me, just for show. Since we've already made a bet, let me use it to my advantage—this thing was originally won from Daoist Yunqing..."

Liu Changfeng then revealed the secret behind Han Qinhu's seemingly casual bet with Benfeng over drinks and conversation. Han Qinhu had already received Empress Dugu's order to bring the old and young from Pure Land Mountain to Chang'an. Liu Changfeng's father-in-law had once been in charge of supplying silk and tea for the palace and had many connections with various people in the palace. This task was naturally perfect for Liu Changfeng.

His father-in-law was from Xingyang in the Southern Dynasty and had business dealings with several officials in the Southern Dynasty who held positions in the palace. Liu Changfeng, with his advantageous position and fondness for making friends from all walks of life, frequently traveled north and south to manage his business, making him a well-connected and influential figure.

Han Qinhu's 500 elite cavalry entering the capital and capturing Chen Shubao was a carefully orchestrated operation by Liu Changfeng, demonstrating his ability

to navigate both domestic and international affairs. His strategic acumen and interpersonal skills were Liu Changfeng's secret to success in all situations. Han Qinhu, having received Empress Dugu's decree, had gone to great lengths with Liu Changfeng to establish this subtle and intimate connection.

Although brief, a mutual trust and friendship had already formed.

In truth, Liu Changfeng hadn't bothered to hide his discussions about relocation with Old Man Chunshan and Daoist Yunqing. With three or four hundred people, including children, and lacking military experience, secrecy was futile. Since He Ruobi had also dispatched 10,000 elite troops to escort the imperial concubines and maids back to Chang'an, the two sides simply decided to go their separate ways.

There's a secret here that can't be revealed openly: Tianyin's identity.

Tianyin herself is unaware that she's the grandson of the Sui emperor, and neither does Benfeng. Benfeng is unaware that Tianyin is the biological child of Yang Lihua and Daoist Yunqing. Daoist Yunqing is unusually patient, acting as if nothing's wrong—he wants Tianyin to grow up carefree for a few more years, and when the time is right, he'll explain the whole story.

With Tianyin's identity among the migrating crowd, Yang Jian, who has already gained some insight, certainly won't allow his fierce army to run rampant.

Liu Changfeng laid things out with Benfeng, then mobilized his troops, and they traveled by land along the river with several merchant ships hired by the elderly and children of Jingtu Mountain who couldn't travel long distances. Benfeng also had Daxin and Dayi drive a horse-drawn carriage and thirty-odd strong young men push wheelbarrows loaded with chests and trunks from various households, traveling alongside the ships.

After several days, the ships arrived in Jiangdu, where they happened to encounter several Left Generals under He Ruobi disembarking the royal family members they were escorting.

As night fell, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the riverside villages.

Those far from home, in this atmosphere, couldn't help but shed tears. Liu Changfeng, quite familiar with the generals on the boat, chatted and laughed for a while before issuing an order to spend the night in the riverside villages, instructing his soldiers to patrol only outside the villages.

Princesses Chen Zhen and Chen Wan, upon seeing the palace concubines and familiar maids, embraced and wept bitterly. After their grief, they, like peasant women, began to cook and boil water.

Benfeng also cooked a few rustic dishes, intending to sit with his two senior sisters, Yixuan and Tianqin, to observe their elegant dining manners. Before he could even sit down, Liu Changfeng arrived mysteriously.

He summoned Benfeng to a music house on the outskirts of Jiangdu City to listen to music.

Judging from Liu Changfeng's demeanor, it was clearly not just about listening to music.

Walking along the road, Liu Changfeng told Benfeng some bad news: Although Jiankang City was spared from natural disasters, it suffered from man-made calamities. Fearing that the Sui generals would become decadent and indulge in excessive drinking, Duhu Shi ordered Yuwen to destroy the Jieqi Pavilion and Wangxian Tower in the Southern Dynasty's royal gardens, as well as ancient buildings like Kaishan Temple and Xuanwu Lake, and the brothels and entertainment venues along the riverbanks in the city. Countless civilians died.

"Duhu Shi is hardly a woman," Benfeng frowned. "I even wonder how that poor Emperor Yang Jian managed to stay awake all night with such a woman in his arms."

“Even the royal family has its troubles. Brother Benfeng, I’m already fifty, at the age of knowing one’s destiny. Dominating the Central Plains and revitalizing the dynasty is the Yang family’s business. What I truly love is to fathom the principles of heaven and earth, to approach the secrets of heaven. A person’s life is but a fleeting moment, like grass in autumn. Whether one is an emperor or a small farmer tilling the fields, we are all treated equally by heaven and earth. Understanding the way of heaven is the foundation of a living person.” Liu Changfeng’s words came from the bottom of his heart.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Zhengxi suddenly jumped out, holding the broken sword in one hand and a copper coin in the other.

“You brat, Benfeng and I are going on a confidential mission. What are you doing following us?” Liu Changfeng and Zhengxi had only known each other for a few days, yet they seemed to be so familiar they could exchange underwear.

Zhengxi twirled the copper coin stone he held aloft with his fingers. "Your secret is worlds apart from the heavenly secret I discovered. If you're keeping it a secret, then I'll only consult with Brother Benfeng about this immense heavenly secret."

"What heavenly secret? Let me see it." Liu Changfeng reached out and took the copper coin stone in his hand.

Upon looking at it, Liu Changfeng's eyes widened. "My god, I've searched for half my life and couldn't find it! Benfeng... Heaven is so unfair! This kid Zhengxi actually found the Star-Fixing Stone! Quick, bring out the Five Dipper Star Array Plate!"

It was a round stone that looked unremarkable. Liu Changfeng took the Five Dipper Star Array Plate from Benfeng and placed the stone on it. The Five Dipper Star Array

Plate emitted mysterious star veins, like the crisscrossing meridians of the human body. In the star plate of the Northeast Region, several faintly glowing lines appeared.

The heavenly secret, unexpectedly, manifested on a stone the size of a copper coin.

As the Five Dipper Star Array flickered faintly, it first revealed the seven stars of the Big Dipper, then the six stars of the Southern Dipper, followed by the three stars of the Eastern Dipper, the four stars of the Western Dipper, and the five stars of the Central Dipper

. East, West, North, South, and Center corresponded perfectly to the positions of celestial bodies.

Most strangely, the Star-Fixing Stone also displayed four faintly visible ancient characters: "Half the Country."

Upon closer inspection, a line representing the sun and moon could be seen within the Five Dipper Star Array. However, only the pulse line of the seven stars of the Big Dipper

glowed faintly; the other four Dipper positions and pulse lines showed no sign of life. Benfeng felt as if he had been struck by lightning; the protective lock on his body seemed to freeze solid, the bone-chilling cold forcing him to cry out in pain.

Zhengxi noticed Benfeng's abnormality and was about to reach out when Liu Changfeng stopped him. Liu Changfeng pulled Zhengxi aside.

Benfeng sat cross-legged, enduring the chill, and pointed his left middle finger towards the constellation Spica in the east, using the pulse line displayed on the Star-Fixing Stone. At this moment, the constellation Spica twinkled in the sky.

From Buddhism to Taoism, the stars reflected in his heart. Benfeng's still-unopened microcosm was already faintly glowing—advancing from the dark stage of foundation building to the semi-dark stage.

His body gradually warmed, and the "Intentional Circulation of the Three Gates," a skill he hadn't achieved in years of practicing internal medicine, began to manifest. He felt a swirling sensation in the three acupoints: the coccyx, the spine, and the occipital bone.

Benfeng's perception of this intentional swirling of the acupoints became increasingly clear, and what surprised him even more was that he could sense it in all the meridians.

Normally, the circulation of energy practiced by ordinary Taoist disciples was merely the circulation of the Yin and Yang meridians in their hands. Sensing the hundred meridians was a superior level of cultivation that he wouldn't even dare to dream of. If his master were by his side, he could have these questions explained.

Now, he had no choice but to leave his meditation.

Benfeng had no idea what the origins of his own Daoist practice, "Star Reflection of the Heart," were, or what its gradual, step-by-step procedures were.

Chapter 17: Substituting a Plum for a Peach -

Let's go listen to the music first.

Benfeng, with his pure heart, knew that Master Changfeng's true intentions were not what they seemed. If it were merely about appreciating beauty, in Yangzhou in April, with its pavilions, terraces, painted boats, and bridges, a casual stroll along the willow-lined banks might just lead to some romantic encounters.

Benfeng's current attire was all made at great expense by Old Man Chunshan at a prestigious shop in Jiankang. If it weren't for the fact that Benfeng was still fourteen or fifteen years old, and if it weren't for the chaos of war, if he were walking down the street with Zhengxi and Dazhi, some carrying fans, others carrying wine, they would have a certain dashing and unrestrained air of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

Besides, at fourteen or fifteen, given the early maturity of people in those days, getting married and having children wasn't considered unusual.

—Liu Changfeng's refined taste in music and poetry could hardly be considered abducting an innocent young man.

"Instead of going to the city, you're going to trek over mountains and valleys to the riverside villages." Zhengxi, unsure of Liu Changfeng's intentions, whispered to Benfeng, "I think Old Liu has ulterior motives. You need a suitable weapon for self-defense. I'll gladly give you this broken sword."

Benfeng laughed, took it, and casually tucked it into his backpack. "You've accepted this generous gift, but what should I give you in return?" Knowing Zhengxi had his eye on the Five Star Array, he deliberately dodged the question. "When we get to Tianlai Mountain, we'll find some fine black iron in that monkey cave and forge you a fine sword. A scholar deserves a fine sword. This broken sword, consider it a memento of the past."

The broken sword, in Benfeng's heart, had truly become an indelible memory. A broken sword ignited Benfeng's passion, leading him to kill a powerful figure from a second-rate Daoist sect. This instantly forged a life-or-death bond between him and the three brothers, Chunshan, Zhengxi, and Dazhi… and of course, the lingering melancholy of missing Qingxi's jade-like figure.

Fisting the jade belt folded in his backpack, Benfeng planned to buy some fine materials in Jiangdu City tomorrow and have Tianxiang make a larger one. He would then neatly organize his serpent-shaped staff, his master's shepherd's whip, medicine bags, herbs, and other items, making them more convenient to use.

Zhengxi, not waiting for Benfeng to continue, had no choice but to speak his mind: "Brother Benfeng, as you know, we... well, on Sanqing Mountain, after eating the peaches, we became true brothers. As your elder brother, I'm good at judging people, so I have a favor to ask..."

Liu Changfeng interrupted, "You have quite the appetite, kid. Is that something you can use? That thing has been with me for half my life. Do you know how many days it took Daoist Yunqing and Duhu Xin to dig it out of the Seven Star Spring at Yunti Pass ten years ago? A divine object recognizes its master—but you're quite eccentric, kid, you actually saw through the mystery of the boy worshipping Buddha at Xuanwu Lake. You actually stumbled upon the secret of heaven by accident."

"It wasn't a fluke. Didn't you see the boy's eyes? He was staring at the Bodhisattva's large hand. You all only know how to talk about metaphysics, but you don't know the Bodhisattva's great wisdom. He holds the secrets of heaven in his hands... I, Yuan Zhengxi, have the proper hand that touches the eyes. I obtained that item and was originally going to consult it with Brother Benfeng." Zhengxi followed Liu Changfeng's lead and finally got to the point: "Hehe, let's consult it together..."

Benfeng listened to the two of them singing in unison, took out the Five Star Array Plate, and handed it to Zhengxi. "You went to so much trouble, even asking others to help you. We're brothers, why would I keep anything from you... However, this thing might really have some evil properties. With my current level of cultivation, I really can't be sure... We still need to be cautious."

Liu Changfeng also said to Yuan Zhengxi seriously: "I've looked at that Star-Fixing Stone, and I feel that it's not quite perfect. Do you think that stone plate is flawed?"

If it is truly a divine gift from heaven, it shouldn't have any flaws. Benfeng couldn't quite put his finger on the strange feeling; the phrase "half the country" on the astrolabe was utterly baffling.

Zhengxi, however, said, "Heavenly secrets are unpredictable; who knows, maybe Benfeng and I, working together perfectly, will seize half the court's concubines, overthrow that old bastard Yang Jian's empire, and establish the Kingdom of Heavenly Joy, fulfilling the 'half the country' prophecy on this astrolabe."

"You're so outspoken! Have you forgotten that I, your older brother, am still a sixth-rank military advisor in the Sui Dynasty… Hurry up and go consult your Heavenly Joy divination; Benfeng and I have important matters to attend to." Liu Changfeng affectionately kicked Zhengxi's butt, and Zhengxi yelped and headed towards a hill by the river.

Liu Changfeng and Benfeng each rode a military horse, traveling several miles before entering a village. Most of the villagers were surnamed Cheng, hence the village's name, Chengjiazhuang (Cheng Family Village).

Chengjiazhuang was surrounded by mountains, with only a dozen or so households. Most of them made their living by hunting, unlike the villagers on the outskirts of Jiangdu City, where the sounds of string and wind instruments could often be heard.

Benfeng wondered to himself: Was Liu Changfeng going to deal in contraband mountain goods, or perhaps, in addition to making money, he wanted to enjoy some traditional Qinqiang opera with the villagers?

"This gift, Brother Benfeng, will certainly accept it with pleasure... Come." Liu Changfeng led Benfeng to a stone house and knocked on the door.

The door opened slightly, and a middle-aged village woman holding a lantern peeked in before opening the door completely.

The middle-aged village woman led the two into the west wing, coughed lightly, and called out to the inner room, "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, Manager Fan has come to see you."

"Coming, Sister-in-law Zhou." A soft voice replied.

The curtain was lifted, and two graceful young women walked out.

Benfeng's eyes widened when he saw the two girls. He was a little incredulous, blinked, and carefully examined the two women.

Liu Changfeng waved to the middle-aged village woman. The middle-aged village woman withdrew.

"This… Brother… Manager Fan, you're practically a strategist! How could you… This is wonderful!" The two women Benfeng saw looked exactly like Princesses Chen Zhen and Chen Wan.

Benfeng's original plan was to use a substitution—taking advantage of the journey from south to north, he would find two courtesans along the way to impersonate Chen Zhen and Chen Wan, and secretly send them to Chang'an, so that Yang Jian and his son Yang Guang could indulge in their fantasies of sleeping with the Southern Dynasty princesses, whichever one of them was in it.

Anyway, the Northern Sui barbarians had only heard of the two princesses, never seen them. Even Han Qinhu, the greatest contributor to the conquest of Chen, probably hadn't even seen the beauties.

—Liu Changfeng, this iron-mouthed celestial master, was truly a stroke of genius, foreseeing a future crisis.

"Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, I must tell you today that the man who paid a hefty sum to redeem you is this dashing young master before you. If you follow Young Master Li, your lives will be filled with luxury and wealth. However, you two must remember this well: from now on, the elder sister will be called Chen Zhen, and the younger sister Chen Wan—no matter who you meet, even your own parents, you will always be Chen Zhen and Chen Wan." Liu Changfeng exchanged a glance with Benfeng, knowing Benfeng already had his intentions, and then gently instructed the two beautiful women from the mountain village, more affectionately than a brother.

Heaven truly has a way of bringing good fortune.

This trip was definitely worthwhile.

After dismissing the two beauties, Liu Changfeng said to Benfeng, "Bringing beauties to Chang'an seems dangerous, but actually, there's a lot of room for maneuver. We've only traveled a short distance, and some friends who travel north and south have asked me to think of a way to bring a few people into the palace—this deal is profitable, which is exactly what I've been thinking about, Brother Benfeng. We might as well make a list now and, along the way, use our connections with officials, gentry, and wealthy people in the prefectures and counties we pass through."

Benfeng said, "I'm a complete novice when it comes to these things. As long as we can settle the two princesses, the rest can be left to their own devices. Once we get to Tianlai Mountain, those who want to enter the palace and enjoy wealth and luxury can be arranged by Brother Changfeng. Those who want to follow me, Li Benfeng, to farm and grow crops in Fusang, just put in some effort and find some who can sing and dance, and that will be enough."

The matter of the two princesses finally had a complete solution.

Liu Changfeng was indeed skilled at creating a convincing illusion. The middle-aged village woman was originally a palace maid in the Later Chen imperial palace, who trained the two beautiful women from the mountain village to have the air of noble ladies in every gesture.

After a simple meal, Liu Changfeng dressed Si'er and Wu'er in men's clothing and sent them back with him. When they set off the next day, they would stay by the two princesses' sides, learning their manners and speech. With a few months of this exposure, he could be completely at ease.

Liu Changfeng, of course, knew that deceiving the emperor was a capital offense. Having taken on this hot potato from Han Qinhu, Liu Changfeng constantly weighed the pros and cons. He couldn't offend either side, and placing his bets on either was risky; he could only take a calculated and risky approach.

His few thousand old, weak, and disabled followers were already overwhelming, especially the two phoenixes of the Phoenix Palace, Tianqin and Tianxiang. Not to mention, with Tianyin's flawless disguise as Empress Shen, if she were to raise a call, countless former Chen dynasty officials would be drawn in, not to mention Daoist Yunqing and Yi Xuan, who had single-handedly swept through Northern Zhou ten years ago.

According to Liu Changfeng's divination, if Yang Jian couldn't defeat Li Benfeng, he would likely only gain half the country.

...

Benfeng didn't think much of it. As long as there weren't any major conflicts with the Sui Dynasty soldiers along the way, once they reached Tianlai Mountain and had a place to settle down, Yang Jian and his iron-fisted woman would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains.

Back at the village house by the river where they stayed overnight, Benfeng saw Tianyin and Tianxiang fiddling with something in the house.

Hearing Benfeng's voice, the two quickly hid the thing.

"Brother Benfeng, I heard from Sister Tianqin that you went to listen to the country women's folk songs?" Tianyin asked with a stern face.

"I was busy with important matters and didn't have time to listen." Benfeng glanced at Tianxiang. He still had one of Tianxiang's handkerchiefs hanging from his waist. Ever since he fell asleep in Tianxiang's arms that night, Benfeng had felt something strange when he was alone with her.

“Liu Changfeng is a scoundrel.” Tianyin nudged Tianxiang with her elbow as she saw Tianxiang making the bed for Benfeng with her head down. “Didn’t you have something to ask?”

“What do I have to ask? He’s no longer the little Benfeng from Pure Land Mountain who was starving and couldn’t even afford steamed buns.” Tianxiang’s words were loaded with meaning.

“I’m still the same little Benfeng, Sister Tianxiang… I’ll make the bed myself.” Benfeng had something on his mind, but he didn’t know how to tell Tianxiang.

He couldn’t very well tell Tianxiang that he had brought back two convincing substitutes from Cheng Family Village to ensure that Princesses Chen Zhen and Chen Wan could stay without worry.

The matter wasn’t settled yet, so he had to be careful. He might as well let Tianxiang and Tianyin carry some confusion until they reached Tianlai Mountain, and then they could talk things out.

He, Li Benfeng, also had to keep a little secret of probing their intentions.

Chapter 18. Lian Dian

sat in the bathtub that Tian Xiang had prepared long ago, scooped up some warm water with a wooden ladle, and slowly poured it over himself. He closed his eyes and soaked in the bath for about half an incense stick's time, lost in thought. He got up, changed his clothes, and lay down on the bed.

The clothes he wore underneath were also prepared by Sister Tian Xiang and still had a

lingering fragrance. Ben Feng thought, when would it be possible to bathe with Sister Tian Xiang standing gracefully beside him, slowly pouring water, the water fragrant and sweet? That would be a truly comfortable and blissful life.

"Sister Tian Xiang, little Ben Feng has you in his heart..." Ben Feng murmured from the bottom of his heart before drifting off to sleep.

This unintentional murmur of Ben Feng's was overheard by Tian Yin, who was eavesdropping from the outer room.

Tian Yin tiptoed out of the room and ran towards the earthen mound where Tian Xiang practiced her sword. Standing on the earthen mound, Tianyin waved to Tianxiang, who was piercing the stone with her flying sword. "Sister Tianxiang, come, sit for a while, let's chat about everyday things."

"Why aren't you starting to practice your swordsmanship with incense?" Tianqin flew over, carrying her wooden zither. Back in Fengque Palace, Tianqin had been the one to teach the skills on behalf of her master. Every midnight, Tianyin, who was fast asleep, would be woken up by Tianqin to set up three rows of foot-long incense sticks in front of Fengque Palace. Tianyin would then use her wooden sword, as thin as a needle, to pierce through the incense.

By the age of ten, Tianyin, relying on the unique "Lotus Canon" of Zhexing Pavilion, had mastered the wooden sword for shooting incense as easily as using her own arm. In just over a year, she had progressed from using incense sticks as thick as her little finger to sticks as thin as willow branches. After arriving at Pure Land Mountain, Tianqin supervised even more strictly. After the incense was shot, a swirling wooden lotus seat was released. The wooden lotus seat had three hundred and thirty-three fine holes. The wooden sword, thinner than a needle, released by Tianyin, pierced through the incense stick and embedded itself in the swirling wooden lotus seat. Moreover, the incense remained intact.

This was the initial stage of the "Lotus Canon," a practice of pointing objects with intention. Benfeng, still asleep, was unaware that the first of the four basic stages of his sect's "

pointing objects with intention" training was the wooden sword piercing the incense. The "Lotus Canon" was the intermediate-level training method of the Zhexing Pavilion's swordsmanship. Even those of duller talent might not be able to pass this initial hurdle of the needle-sword piercing incense, even after a lifetime of effort.

Even Tianyin, with her exceptional intelligence and the Lotus Hand Seal technique, had taken three years to reach the initial stage.

"Senior Sister, please make an exception. I have a few words to say to Sister Tianxiang, very important words. Please give me half an hour. After we finish, I'll have Senior Brother Benfeng practice together. Please, Senior Sister, make an exception this once." Tianyin knew Tianqin was always strict, and her pleading tone was utterly devoid of humor.

Tianqin solemnly agreed.

Tianyin ran to Tianxiang's side, pressed down on her sword-wielding arm, and pulled Tianxiang towards the village house where Benfeng lived.

"Sister Tianxiang, let's take out the treasured robe we wove for Brother Benfeng and strike while the iron is hot." The two ran to the outer room and took out the treasured robe woven from the silk netting and vines from Xuanwu Lake in Jinling from a wooden cabinet.

"Didn't we agree to give it to him when we got to Tianlai Mountain?" Tianxiang hesitated.

"Come here, come closer." Tianyin waited for Tianxiang to bend down, then leaned in and imitated Benfeng's voice, saying, "Good sister Tianxiang, little Benfeng has you in his heart... How could little Benfeng not know his good sister's feelings?"

"Oh..." Tianxiang blushed, stuffed the treasured robe into Tianyin's hands, and ran out the door.

Tianyin covered her mouth and ran out, catching up with Tianxiang. "This is a golden opportunity! Old Man Chunshan said long ago that the continuation of my Hua family line is all thanks to my efforts. Such a righteous and resourceful young talent is hard to find even in several lifetimes. Heaven has blessed me with a daughter, Baixiang, who is a perfect match for me. This is my way of repaying you."

"I'll hit you..." Tianxiang was at a loss, reaching for her meticulously sewn clothes, unsure whether to push or pull. Yet, her heart was filled with sweet tenderness, secretly admiring Tianyin's cleverness.

"Go quickly, Senior Sister Tianqin will probably wake up Senior Brother Silly Goose to practice his sword soon." Tianyin covered her mouth and laughed.

...

Benfeng was sleeping soundly when he suddenly heard a penetrating voice transmission: "You've finished listening to the country folk song, it's time to get up and practice your sword. Clear the ground, level the foundation, and cultivate your primordial energy."

Hearing this, Benfeng's mind was sharp, and he knew it was Senior Sister Tianqin who had sent it.

Having entered the Dao, midnight cultivation was unavoidable.

Benfeng threw off the covers and got up, feeling something slip down to his legs. He lit a lamp, picked it up, and saw it was a short, gray-black garment. Moving it to the lamp, he saw that the character "香" (fragrance) was embroidered on each side of the collar.

...Sister Tianxiang had been here. Without thinking further, he put on the garment, then a tight-fitting black robe, grabbed his broken sword, and rushed out of the house .

There were figures on three mounds.

On the southern mound was Tianxiang, with the Three Yang Immortal sitting on an old tree. On the western mound was Zhengxi, sitting cross-legged. Daoist Yunqing and Senior Sister Yixuan stood beside him. On the nearest eastern mound were Senior Sister Tianqin and Tianyin.

"It's already late," Benfeng muttered to himself.

Rushing to the earthen mound where Tianqin and Tianyin stood, Benfeng drew his sword and bowed respectfully: "Senior Sister Tianqin, Junior Sister Tianyin, I am dull-witted and carefree. If you are even more stupid than a silly goose, feel free to point your finger at me. I can take the blame."

Benfeng saw the foot-long incense stick in front of Tianyin.

The method of severing incense with a sword is probably common practice in most Taoist sects... Finally, I've begun practicing my sect's swordsmanship. If I practice like this every night for two or three months, by the time I reach Tianlai Mountain and my master emerges from seclusion, he should see a slightly improved version of Benfeng.

"Junior Brother Benfeng, watch Junior Sister Tianyin practice first. In a moment, we'll prepare your wooden sword and incense burner." Tianqin moved her left hand, producing a clear, ringing sound, and released a wooden lotus seat with her right. Tianyin plucked the strings with both hands, and more than twenty needle-like wooden swords pierced through the incense sticks, embedding themselves perfectly into the wooden lotus seat. Benfeng's mouth gaped open

.

My God, it wasn't slicing incense, it was shooting incense—wooden swords as thin as needles, incense sticks as thin as willow branches, and tiny holes barely discernible on the wooden lotus seat, swirling a hundred meters away in the darkness.

If it weren't for Benfeng's Starry Heart's ability to discern minute details, he wouldn't have been able to see the winding, tiny holes on the wooden lotus seat at all.

Clang! The broken sword in Benfeng's hand fell to the ground.

Benfeng quickly bent down to pick it up.

Tianqin ignored him, using her music to make the wooden lotus seat fly faster and faster. Tianyin focused her mind and flicked the sword, releasing all 333 wooden needle swords in her hand.

The wooden lotus seat flew back, and Tianyin looked at it, frowning, "Eleven are missing."

Tianqin seemed not to hear, and after Tianyin retrieved the wooden needle swords, the wooden lotus seat spun again. Tianyin flicked her fingers repeatedly, releasing another wave of wooden needle swords.

After the second wave, ten were missing. The third wave, nine were missing.

...

It was Benfeng's turn.

The incense was replaced with a little finger-thick sacrificial incense, and the wooden swords were made from thin jujube branches found on the hill. A total of thirty jujube branch swords were made.

Benfeng swung his arm and shot ten, hitting three. The incense broke, and the other seven flew into the ditch. He shot ten more, hitting two. The third time, only one of the ten hit.

He quickly lowered his head, ran to the ditch, and retrieved the long and short jujube branch swords.

He was mortified…

After practicing ten times with extreme shame, he saw Senior Sister Tianqin wave at him, and Benfeng, his face covered in sweat, returned to his room. He wiped his sweaty face with Tianxiang's handkerchief, closed the door, and bolted it shut.

…

Benfeng sighed inwardly: his current level of cultivation was something even Tianyin, who was so many years younger than him, had to look up to. He knew there were countless difficult steps to take to enter the inner sanctum of the Innate Daoist path, and each step required absolute certainty.

“The difficulty of cultivation is like an ant trying to see the sky.” Lying in bed, Benfeng couldn't sleep: even if he tried his best to catch up now, it would be like trying to build a mountain nine ren high, but only managing to pile up a single ren of earth.

Well then, let fate decide whether it succeeds or not. Every midnight, I'll spend time with my senior and junior sisters, creating a romantic atmosphere of flying swords under the moon, and playing the melodious tunes of the zither... My ambition lies in the mulberry garden, hoping to make the whole world a fertile land... Holding a farm hoe, watching my senior sister with her flawless face move through the fields with her sword flying like clouds, the joy is boundless.

...

After passing Jiangdu, Liu Changfeng requested two more large boats, allowing the thirty-odd strong young men pushing carts on the shore to board as well. I also boarded a boat, while Daxin and Dayi still rode on horseback, escorting the carriage caravan northward along the ancient Han Canal built by King Fuchai of Wu. Standing on the boat, I humbly and somewhat nervously echoed the laughter and chatter of my junior sister Tianyin and senior sister Tianqin about the fireworks of Yangzhou in April.

If it weren't for the fact that my wooden sword always hit the mark two or three times out of ten, I might have, to win your heart, recited a romantic poem: "You are the April day of the human world; your laughter lights up the four winds; your lightness dances and changes in the brilliance of spring. You are the clouds and mist of early April, the soft breeze blowing at dusk," or perhaps a more modern, nostalgic version: "I must be a kapok tree beside you, standing with you as a tree," a tribute to the oak tree.

For some reason, the officials of the counties along the river were showering these ships with colorful brocades, and some of the daily necessities on board were simply gleaming gold ingots and gleaming silver.

Moreover, they didn't hide it from anyone, making a big show of it.

To accept these unavoidable gifts, the ships had to dock after only a short distance. Benfeng asked Liu Changfeng, who replied, "It was sent by the palace. The extraordinary woman you mentioned, who made the Emperor worry about how to stay up until dawn, flipped her wrist and I heard that she was bestowed the title of 'Compassionate and Greatly Free Bodhisattva' upon Empress Shen. People were also sent to various places in Lingnan to build temples and sculpt golden statues for Empress Shen."

"Is this true?" Benfeng pulled Liu Changfeng to the stern of the boat.

"Indeed... Brother, you calculated that Empress Dugu acted only after careful planning... She was patching up a miscalculation... The golden Buddha statue you displayed in Jiankang attracted a huge crowd of worshippers, forcing the Empress to use her 'cloud-turning hand' technique. Look, another large group has arrived." Liu Changfeng glanced at Princesses Chen Zhen and Chen Wan, who had followed the other concubines out of the cabin. "If His Majesty had realized that after a million soldiers conquered Jiankang, he would only have gained half the country, and from then on, he would sincerely worship Buddha and Taoism, and the unification of this country could rival that of the Han Dynasty."

Devout men and women knelt in a continuous stream of worship, forcing Liu Changfeng to have the boatman drop anchor again, and Tianyin, in the guise of a master, recited several passages of Buddhist scriptures. That evening, Liu Changfeng, Tianqin, and Tianxiang worked in perfect harmony, having Tianyin reside on a cloud, her movements creating lotus blossoms, fulfilling the pious wishes of the people on the shore.

...

"Buddha manifests on the river, lotus blossoms in the clouds" became Empress Dugu's "auspicious" cloud-turning hand for ruling the country. When Yang Jian returned to the capital from Tianlai Mountain, he initially had no intention of revealing the truth about the place. However, he couldn't resist the gentle whispers of Empress Dugu, coupled with her deliberate manipulation of the bedchamber, and Yang Jian finally told her about Shen Wuhua's transformation into a lotus and her passing

. Upon hearing this, Empress Dugu swiftly dispatched people throughout Jiangnan to spread the news that Empress Shen had died in the mountains out of fear of the Sui Dynasty's might. This propaganda was quite effective, and the generals of Jiangnan surrendered to the Sui army.

However, before the spies who had been gathering information with the Empress's orders could relay the news back to the palace, Tianyin's act of "the master possesses a physical form, and if the master is present, widely recite Buddhist chants" shifted public sentiment again.

The generals of the Southern Dynasty once again raised the banner of rebellion.

If Yang Jian had told Empress Dugu that Tianyin was their grandson, she would surely have been furious.

With the empire newly unified, winning over the hearts of the people was of paramount importance. Dugu Jialuo, with her far-sighted vision, briefly discussed the matter with Yang Jian and immediately, in accordance with public opinion, commissioned the construction of a grand Buddhist temple to enshrine the golden statue of the Bodhisattva Ciyou.

Chapter 19: The Great Pure Cave True Scripture of

Chang'an, Daxing Hall.

Yang Jian solemnly issued an edict entitled "The Law of Peace and Prosperity." The main purpose of the Law of Peace and Prosperity was to end war and allow the people to rest and recuperate. This edict proclaimed the emperor's boundless grace in ceasing hostilities and allowing the people to recuperate, and also proclaimed the Confucian principles of "the proper order between ruler and subject, father and son, elder and younger, superior and inferior" throughout the land. Yang Jian's actions, of course, had a deeper meaning—to use the Law of Peace and Prosperity to pacify the people, to demonstrate the divine mandate of the Sui Dynasty, and next, to ascend Mount Tianlai to perform the Fengshan ceremony, praying for the eternal reign of his Yang family descendants.

This proposal for governing the people and bringing peace to the land was strongly advocated by Su Wei, the Left Minister whom he relied upon. Su Wei was renowned for his erudition, the son of Su Chuo, an indispensable figure in Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei's policy of banning non-Han clothing and promoting Sinicization. Father and son, known for their frugality and incorruptibility—having neither greed nor wealth—served Northern Wei, then Northern Zhou. After the Sui dynasty unified China, Su Wei, with his family's scholarly tradition, became a key minister. His father died before completing the compilation of the *Zhou Li* (Rites of Zhou), and a memorial archway was erected in his honor for his son's dedication.

Su Wei rose from Inner Historian to Left Minister, becoming comparable to the Grand Secretary Gao Jiong. Standing in the Sui court, he was practically one of the Three Dukes, often engaging in court discussions with Gao Jiong, with the courtiers only able to nod in agreement. He commanded great respect in the court, and secret reports were frequently submitted to Emperor Yang Jian.

After listening to the court reports from the officials, Yang Jian issued several imperial edicts. After the court session, he went to a side hall, received Su Wei's secret report which the eunuch had been holding in his hands, read it once, and then went to see Dugu Jialuo.

"The common people are born unable to govern themselves, therefore a ruler must be established to govern them. A ruler cannot govern alone, therefore ministers must be appointed to assist him. From emperors to prefectures and kingdoms, the appointment of virtuous ministers leads to order, while the absence of virtuous ministers leads to chaos. This is a natural principle that no king can change." Yang Jian read Su Wei's "Six Articles of Edict," which he had inherited from his father and the previous dynasty, glancing occasionally at Empress Dugu standing to one side.

Su Wei's secret memorial was not related to governance, but rather to numerous cases in the Hedong region of wicked practitioners using male and female spirits to concoct elixirs and kill people.

After Empress Dugu finished reading Su Wei's secret memorial, Yang Jian slowly said, "In the prefectures and counties of Hedong, taking Tianlai Mountain as an example, numerous Taoist sects have sprung up, a chaotic mix of good and bad. I intend to use the pretext of offering sacrifices to Heaven to eradicate these heretical sects, build temples to honor Buddha, and thus unify the hearts

of the people." "Your Majesty," Yang Jian replied, "the matter of eliminating Taoism should be handled with caution. In Hedong, the Langya King, the Qin family of Mingtang Mountain, and other powerful clans and factions have gathered, their influence deep-rooted. Wang Bo of Changbai Mountain, who promotes Taoism among the common people, is not one to be content with a life of idleness. We need a minister well-versed in both Buddhism and Taoism to persuade him, and only by governing with Taoism can we ensure stability." Empress Dugu's real concern about Hedong lay with Tianlai Mountain. She already had several memorials in hand, stating that dozens of Buddhist and Taoist sects planned to gather there. Empress Dugu had long harbored the idea of uprooting them completely—if the disciples of Shen Wuhua's Zhexing Pavilion were allowed to grow too powerful, they would surely become a major threat to the Sui Dynasty.

"Excellent, Your Majesty is astute; she shares my worries." Yang Jian had weathered many storms with Empress Dugu, both in and out of court, so how could he not know her thoughts?

...

Five days later, Su Wei, traveling light and with only twelve imperial guards personally selected by Empress Dugu, left the capital and headed towards Tianlai Mountain.

Before Su Wei, He Zuyang and He Daoyang of the Shangqing Sect, along with their most outstanding disciples, had already arrived at Tianlai Mountain day and night.

As fate would have it,

Old Man Chunshan and Dazhi were searching for a suitable place to live between Tianlai Mountain and Yingfo Mountain. Yingfo Mountain, located south of Tianlai Mountain, had a gentle slope and fertile soil on its eastern foothills, suitable for both farming and grazing. There were also a few hunter families in the mountains, who could be neighbors. This was Old Man Chunshan's first choice.

North of Yingfo Mountain lies the undulating Tianlai Mountain, only thirty li away, yet perpetually snow-capped. Its nine peaks pierce the clouds, forming a continuous, sheer cliff. Even the gentler southern slope requires a trek, its slopes filled with strange rocks, with only ancient pines and cold-resistant wildflowers growing in the crevices.

Tall coniferous forests dot the mountain ranges, where birds frequently take flight.

Old Man Chunshan was about to take Dazhi to see Haotian Peak, the central peak of Tianlai Mountain, when he unexpectedly spotted He Zuyang, He Daoyang, and their group.

"Father, what should we do?" Dazhi gripped the iron rod he had just forged at Qin's blacksmith shop in Qin Family Village at the foot of Yingfo Mountain.

"Don't cause trouble. Let's wait for Benfeng and the others to arrive. I reckon He Zuyang and his followers are just scouts... Let's take a detour back." After arriving at Tianlai Mountain, Old Man Chunshan had already arranged for the dozen or so strong men who had come with him to stay at a hunter's house.

The two followed a stream from the East Peak, walked through several tall forests, and then walked more than ten miles of mountain road until they reached the gate of a Taoist temple. The Taoist temple, atop nine high steps, was surrounded by incense smoke and the sound of bells and chimes. More than thirty Taoist priests stood in rows. A middle-aged Taoist priest wearing a crimson robe and a golden crown offered incense with both hands, paying homage to the Yuanyang Ziwei Emperor.

Six blood-red banners bore the same yellow characters: "The Precious Proclamation of the Heavenly Official of the Upper Yuan, with sincere devotion, I take refuge in the Yuanyang Ziwei Palace of Xuandu. The thirty-six departments, together with ninety million followers, examine the vast world. Record the deeds of the ten directions. Bless all spirits. Preside over the records of good and evil of all beings. Grace extends to the three realms." To the immortals, to grant their ascension and descent. To avert unwarranted calamities. To resolve karmic debts. To liberate from the cycle of birth and death. To rescue from the suffering of the dead. All living beings depend on this. All creatures find peace and health. Great compassion and great vow. Great sage and great mercy. Heavenly Official of the Nine Qi of the Upper Primordial Era. Great Emperor of the Radiant Spirit and Primordial Yang, Emperor Ziwei.

"Father, what kind of Tao is this? It looks so sinister to me." Dazhi looked at the six blood-red banners and felt a chilling aura.

"A place for the salvation of the dead. Idle people, stay away." Two young Taoist priests, about eleven or twelve years old, holding white banners, persuaded the villagers who had come to watch the commotion near the Taoist temple to come down to the temple grounds.

"Don't look at other people's business, let's go." Old Man Chunshan also felt that this Taoist temple was not proper. He called to Dazhi and went down the bluestone path in front of the temple, crossed the stone bridge over the stream, and walked onto the main road.

After walking several miles along the official road, Old Man Chunshan's unease grew stronger—he guessed he was being watched by He Zuyang. Could this old rascal be coming to settle old scores because He Zaiyang died at Benfeng's hands?

Having fought He Zaiyang, Old Man Chunshan knew that his years of practice in the Hua Family Staff Technique were no match for a second-rate Taoist sect like the Shangqing Sect, so he had to avoid it. Having chosen a suitable place to live east of Yingfo Mountain, he immediately sent Kaishan and Kaiyuan to meet Benfeng. They had been traveling for two days, and he should have received a reply in a day or two.

Unexpectedly, he had bad luck today, encountering He Zuyang at the foot of Tianlai Mountain.

There was no way to leave now.

He Zuyang was already standing on the stone mill, five hundred paces away from Old Man Chunshan.

"Hua Chunshan, you couldn't make it in Jiangnan, so you want to find a place to hide at the foot of Tianlai Mountain?" He Zuyang, dressed in a dark yellow Taoist robe, asked. Embroidered on his back was a delicate pagoda, surrounded by auspicious seven-colored clouds embroidered with silk thread. Above the clouds were two emerald cranes, and below were two flying phoenixes, each supporting a golden dragon.

His attire was so elaborate that it didn't seem like he was about to fight to the death.

No one expected that He Zuyang would attack so soon after finishing his sentence. The stone mill beneath his feet, carrying intense qi, spun upwards, crashing towards Old Man Chunshan.

He Zuyang didn't use his Heavenly Net Sword Control against Old Man Chunshan. He was confident in his blood qi and inner energy, condensed at the Core Formation stage, believing that killing someone who only knew a few moves of his family's staff techniques would be overkill.

Given Old Man Chunshan's current strength, he certainly couldn't withstand it.

However, Old Man Chunshan roared and unleashed a punch! Old Man Chunshan's roar shook the mountains; several old pine trees by the roadside dropped their needles, which seemed to stick to his hand as his fist struck the stone mill!

Boom! The stone mill overturned, its pine needle-covered surface slicing through the air in a sharp arc as it struck He Zuyang.

"Sect Leader, be careful!" cried He Daoyang, standing behind He Zuyang.

He Zuyang realized his carelessness! His body shuddered, and his Daoist robe fell from his body.

The robe instantly turned crimson, splitting into three pieces, and swirled around the stone mill. The mill shattered into dust!

"Still courting death!" a fierce shout rang out. Then, the pine needles on the ground suddenly rose like a whirlwind, coalescing into a foot-long sword. Its clear light flashed, and He Zuyang's left hand was abruptly severed from his arm, wildly grasping at the air. The pine needle sword flew again, pinning He Zuyang's left hand to a tree.

Old Man Chunshan only saw a blur before his eyes; a clear figure leaped from the tree and disappeared into Tianlai Mountain.

He Zuyang roared, "What kind of demon are you? Give me back my hand!" He Daoyang, standing beside him, realizing the danger, immediately sent out a communication signal.

Second-rate Taoist sects rely on the imperial court and government officials. He Daoyang has close ties with the prefectural and county governments and is quite familiar with the Taoist sects near Tianlai Mountain.

The Mingxu Valley north of Tianlai Mountain and the Five Thunder Sword Sect of Mingtang Mountain should know the signal of the three Azure Dragon Flames of the Shangqing Sect. Unfortunately, the Valley Master of Mingxu Valley, Jin Shengfawang, and the Sect Master of the Five Thunder Sword Sect, Ling Wuxing, suffered their primordial spirits explode in the battle at Pure Land Mountain and are currently in seclusion to rejuvenate their spirits. Even being close by cannot help them.

Old Man Chunshan, wondering who helped him, was puzzled and did not want to leave. He glanced at Dazhi, took out the copper staff from his back, and whispered to Dazhi, who was still standing there dumbfounded, "This is none of your business, hurry up and go."

"Father, how can I leave you alone?" Dazhi came to his senses and, knowing that a master was helping him, felt more confident. He turned to He Zuyang and shouted, "He Zuyang, He Daoyang, your Shangqing Sect is a persistent ghost, chasing us from Jiangnan to Jiangbei. In every battle, we either lose our lives or our hands. A scoundrel sect like yours should disband as soon as possible to save ourselves from further disgrace!"

"Well said. The Shangqing School originated in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The Shangqing Great Cave True Scripture is one of the three wonders of Taoism. If one obtains the Great Cave True Scripture, one need not pursue the Golden Elixir. Reading it a thousand times will make one an immortal... You greedy and delusional people are sitting on a mountain of treasures, yet you seek them elsewhere." The voice seemed to come from ten miles away. Before the words were finished, the person was already standing in front of He Zuyang.

"He Zuyang, as the head of the Shangqing School, I ask you, 'The Nine Emperors do not enter the Crimson Palace, but pass through the coccyx acupoint and ascend to the Niwan Palace; the Nine Emperors also descend through the Crimson Palace and enter the Lower Pass realm; the Nine Emperors also enter the Middle Pass realm. They allow the sunlight to shine on their bodies, penetrating the Niwan Palace and shining down into the five internal organs and intestines, making them feel illuminated inside and out, so that their bodies can unite with the light of the sun and moon...' Can you understand the meaning of this scripture?" The person standing in front of He Zuyang spoke like a child, but his face was as old as a hundred-year-old tangerine peel.

He Zuyang, upon hearing this man's words, paused for a moment, then knelt down on both knees: "I wonder which immortal mountain the Immortal Master cultivates on? Today, after hearing a few words of the true scripture, I realize that the scriptures I follow are no longer the orthodox canon. I beg the Immortal Master to enlighten me."

He Zuyang's arms were dripping with blood, but he ignored it and kept kowtowing to the strange man with the childlike voice and old face. 10-06
Chapter 20 External Alchemy Daoist Methods, Scheming for Wealth and Power

Several yellow horses galloped along the official road.

The young men riding on the horses were all dressed in brocade robes with jade faces, and jade swords without sheaths hung at their waists. They rode as if racing horses, and arrived in front of He Zuyang. The first boy, about eleven or twelve years old, glanced at He Zuyang kneeling on the ground, then turned to the strange man with the childlike voice and old face and said: "Xuan Dongzi, you're really enjoying your leisure. Are you here to see our Shangqing Sect make a fool of itself?"

The boy spoke to the strange man in a condescending tone, as if he thought the strange man was meddling in his affairs.

“Xuan Dongzi was unaware that Young Master Qingyang was here; his actions just now were truly unnecessary.” With that, the strange man waved to He Zuyang and gracefully departed the official road, heading northeast towards the Taoist temple.

He Zuyang, upon being waved, felt as if lifted by a cloud and involuntarily stood up. Having heard the young man's words, he had already guessed his identity. His face was sorrowful as he respectfully asked, “May I be so bold as to ask if you are the young master of the Langya Wang family?”

“Indeed, just now, was it someone from your sect who gave the signal?” Wang Qingyang, the beloved grandson of Wang Yizang, the hereditary Duke of Langya and the head of the Langya Taoist sect, looked at the blood-stained He Zuyang with arrogance and disdain.

The Langya Taoist sect originated from the Shangqing sect, but was a branch. Logically, the Shangqing sect, being the orthodox lineage, should have been condescending towards the descendants of its branches—He Zuyang was well aware of the complexities involved. He Zuyang inherited a fragmented Taoist family fortune, with only a few so-called treasured scriptures that were nothing more than insignificant cultivation texts. He Zuyang had spent over a decade collecting them, yet hadn't obtained a single genuine scripture. Meanwhile, the Qin family of Yingfu Mountain in Hedong and the Wang family of Langya, with their hereditary traditions, were subtly rivaling the Sanqing Taoist sect of Jiangnan.

He Zuyang, from the main branch, had fallen so low that he was being looked down upon by the younger generation of the branch sects.

Wang Qingyang, mounted on his horse, said no more. He drew his sword with his right hand, opened his mouth, and a white jade-like talisman flew out, enveloping He Zuyang's severed left hand. With a flick of his jade sword, a clear, jade-like light emanated from it, and He Zuyang's bleeding limb flew away and gently returned to its original position. The young master of the Wang family released another dark green talisman with one hand, covering He Zuyang's severed limb. He glanced coldly at He Zuyang, then turned to the young man beside him and said, "Lend me a Qingling Dragon Essence Pill."

"Heh, so you've got a need to ask me for help now." The boy, even less handsome than Wang Qingyang, stuck out his tongue at Wang Qingyang and turned to He Zuyang, saying, "Open your mouth, this is a precious pill my father spent seven days refining."

He Zuyang opened his mouth, and the boy flicked a pill into his mouth. The boy then laughed, "Go to the Hidden Immortal Temple to recuperate. A dignified sect leader can barely protect himself. After you've mastered the Great Cave Scripture, you can come out and show off your power again." The boy spoke quickly, then turned to Wang Qingyang and said, "Alright, the good deed is done. It's time to go to Zhengyang Mountain to celebrate Old Man Zhenyi's birthday."

Before Wang Qingyang could speak, the boy cracked his whip, urging his yellow horse to gallop along the official road. "You impatient monkey, wait for me!" Wang Qingyang and the four boys beside him shouted and chased after him.

...

Old Man Chunshan and Dazhi had already left the official road and hurriedly ran for more than ten miles before stopping at Luofeng Peak on the eastern slope of Yingfo Mountain.

"The Hedong area truly lives up to its reputation. The children we saw today are quite remarkable. We must be extra careful in the future," Old Man Chunshan sighed repeatedly.

"Father, the government's troops have arrived." Dazhi stood on the high cliff, watching the imposing twenty-odd government horses surrounding He Zuyang on the official road.

"Let's go back and see if Benfeng has sent back any news." Old Man Chunshan called to Dazhi, and they hurried along the mountain path towards the few thatched huts in the forest that could be seen at a glance.

Seeing Tianqin and Tianxiang standing on the earthen embankment outside the forest, Old Man Chunshan finally felt relieved.

...

He Zuyang felt relieved upon seeing the government officials. He suppressed his anger and got into the carriage that had arrived later with He Daoyang. His group of disciples who had gone out to gather information finally showed themselves. He Zuyang sighed inwardly: Of the nearly one hundred disciples, only He Qingfeng and He Qinggai were truly loyal. They were ordered to monitor that young man surnamed Li, and they should meet in the next few days.

A constable from Langya County led the way, leaving the official road and finding a slightly wider mountain path to the Yinxian Taoist Temple. He Zuyang planned to recuperate at the Yinxian Temple for a period of time. After hearing what Xuan Dongzi had said, he was determined to go up the mountain to sincerely worship, and with some money and jewels, he should be able to copy a copy of the Great Cave True Scripture.

The carriage traveled five or six miles along the mountain road, passing disciples from five or six Taoist sects along the way. Some of them he had encountered on Pure Land Mountain. Knowing his own strength, He Zuyang had stayed the furthest away during the battle at Pure Land Mountain. Unharmed, he had made acquaintances with several rising stars from the Qingwei Sect, Jinding Sect, and Taiyu Sect.

The Shangqing Sect, renowned for its reputation, was a second-rate Taoist sect whose true nature was unknown. Openly, however, they subserviently acknowledged the Shangqing Sect as the leader of the Taoist tradition in Jiangbei and Hexi. Upon witnessing He Zuyang's wretched state at the foot of

Tianlai Mountain, their contempt was immediately aroused. He Zuyang, shamelessly, reluctantly accompanied them to the Yinxian Temple on the eastern peak of Tianlai Mountain. Inside the temple, a young Taoist priest arranged his quarters with great respect. He Zuyang felt slightly relieved and wrote a message, sending it to Minister Su through his disciples.

His mission had gone awry, and he worried that Su Wei would reprimand him for meddling.

Upon hearing the report from his guards that the Shangqing Sect was in danger, Su Wei immediately rode at full speed to the foot of Tianlai Mountain. He was suspicious. What had He Zuyang been busy with at Tianlai Mountain? The messages he received were all irrelevant, merely mentioning which Taoist temples were around Tianlai Mountain, and who was in charge of Mingtang Mountain and Zhengyang Mountain.

Which temple was harboring filth and committing murder?

Su Wei, inheriting his father's will, was intolerant of any wrongdoing in governing the country. Having received the imperial decree, his trip to Hedong was to cleanse the country of corruption and give an explanation to the people and the emperor.

Seeing He Zuyang's face, which looked worse than if his father had died, Su Wei refrained from reprimanding him. He inquired about He Zuyang's injuries, offered a few words of comfort, and then got into the carriage. He instructed his guards to first go to the Qin family in Yingfu Mountain to register their names.

Empress Dugu had specifically instructed that upon arriving in Hedong, the courtesies when visiting the Qin and Wang families must be impeccable. Wang Bo of Changbai Mountain should also be treated with respect and his talents should be cultivated to win him over and appease the people.

Old Madam Qin had served four emperors and was highly respected. Of her four sons, three served in the imperial court. Her youngest son, Qin Tong, was the head of the Longmen Taoist sect, with three thousand disciples. Some locals compared him to the Confucius family of Qufu.

Su Wei had prepared a generous gift—warm jade from Gaochang in Western Liang, Ferghana horses from the Turks, and the Tianluo Qin from Kucha—most importantly, the thirty-nine-volume ancient *Seven Treasures Golden Dragon Great Bright Cave Scripture*.

He knew that only with a specific purpose could he act. Su Wei had already learned that Old Madam Qin had recently acquired a thirty-seven-volume *Shangqing Great Cave True Scripture*. Having obtained two of the three wonders of Taoism, Old Madam Qin, who was known for her collection and practice, would naturally cherish it greatly.

Five li from Old Madam Qin's Qin Family Village, Su Wei told the driver to stop the carriage.

After alighting, Su Wei strolled up Yingfo Mountain.

Yingfo Mountain, since the Qin and Han dynasties, has been the site of imperial sacrifices to Heaven and the Fengshan ceremony at Tianlai Mountain. The Fengshan ceremony reflects the Buddha's heart, and Yingfo Mountain truly embodies the saying, "A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals who dwell

there." Legend has it that the Qin family ancestor ascended to heaven at the Flying Stone on Yingfo Mountain, his flying sword transforming him into a phoenix, revealing the Dragon Gate of the mountain. His descendants then passed down the teachings of the Shangqing Dragon Gate, surpassing even the orthodox lineage of the Shangqing School, and the Dragon Gate School's reputation soared.

Lost in thought, Su Wei suddenly heard a guard's alarm.

A flash of white light appeared, and he was lifted into the air, hearing the whistling wind. Terrified, he fell silent, his eyes tightly shut.

Only after hearing the clear, melodious cry of a crane did Su Wei slowly open his eyes.

He saw solid ground beneath his feet, surrounded by swirling clouds, unlike anything in the human world.

A figure stood atop the clouds. Su Wei, trembling, was about to ask a question when the figure on the clouds said, "The foundation of governing the people lies first in governing their hearts. One must cultivate a pure and harmonious mind, and a tranquil and steadfast will. A ruler must have a heart as clear as water and a form as pure as jade. He must practice benevolence and righteousness, filial piety and brotherly love, loyalty and trustworthiness, courtesy and humility, integrity and fairness, and frugality. Then, he must continue with tireless diligence and keen insight. By practicing these eight virtues, he can instruct his people."

Hearing this, Su Wei knelt on both knees, weeping, "Father, is this divine intervention to enlighten me regarding my efforts in governing the country and promoting Buddhism? Father, you have devoted yourself to governing the nation, working tirelessly until your death. As your son, I should take you as my example, working diligently and conscientiously, never daring to be negligent in my duties when I am in the court."

"Fool! You've followed your father in seeking enlightenment for years, yet you're like a blockhead. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, have you ever seen an emperor rise to power? So-called dragons among men are nothing but weeds inside, empty shells. Do you know what the purpose of a person's life is?" The voice of the man on the cloud was like a Buddhist bell, sweet as spring water. Though there was a hint of reprimand, it refreshed Su Wei's mind.

"To reside in the court, be loyal to the emperor and benevolent to the people, to bring good to the world." Su Wei often heard his father's teachings; his voice and appearance were vivid in his mind.

"Come with me." Before the words were finished, Su Wei was already standing on a withered leaf, gracefully descending with the man on the cloud.

They landed in a cave in the cliff face, and as they entered, Su Wei saw two elderly men with faces like centuries-old dried skin. Only then did he realize that his father was not dead, but a living person.

Su Chuo stood beside a lifelike jade statue, looking at his son who was still shaken. "Your father was brought back to life. Do you know what I relied on?" "

Does Taoism really have the art of bringing the dead back to life?" Su Wei stared wide-eyed at his handsome, dashing father, who looked even younger than himself.

"There are thousands of Taoist sects in the world, each with its own unique and secret methods. Those who rely on their natural talents naturally focus on arduous meditation to form an inner elixir and emerge as a nascent soul, ultimately becoming a Great Luo Golden Immortal. However, most people don't know that the external elixir of Taoism can transform the body and meridians, turning impurities into essence, which is the same path as the internal elixir... Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are interconnected; the three teachings have always shared a common origin." Su Chuo's appearance in Tianlai Mountain was not merely to enlighten his son about the path to immortality.

Su Chuo entered the Daoist path in his later years, already terminally ill. On his deathbed, he found a Daoist manual on external alchemy in an old cabinet at home. Not only did it prolong his life, but it also rejuvenated him, gradually transforming his external alchemy elixir into an immortal body.

The so-called external alchemy path begins with using herbs and elixirs containing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to open the meridians and soothe the blood vessels. Even the dull-witted can continuously improve their Daoist cultivation.

The external alchemy path, along with the internal cultivation of the nascent soul through the formation of the elixir and the building of the mysterious gate, are both inherited from ancient Daoist sects. The external alchemy path, with the help of rare herbs and roots, can quickly elevate one's Daoist realm. If the spiritual herbs are plentiful, the elixir refined in a few days can be equivalent to several years of arduous meditation by minor sects. However, finding these spiritual herbs on one's own is extremely difficult. Most of the immortal mountains in the world are occupied by superior Daoist cultivators; risking one's life for a single herb would be a huge loss.

But there is a shortcut to obtaining herbs. With wealth and power, it is not difficult to buy the medicinal materials needed for cultivation in pharmacies.

The pursuit of wealth and power is an unspoken secret of external alchemy. Su Chuo, having survived death, reflected deeply on his past and unexpectedly became a self-taught master of external alchemy, diligently breaking through the limitations of acquired cultivation.

After achieving minor success in the art, Su Chuo schemed to leverage his son Su Wei's powerful position in the imperial court to acquire wealth and obtain all the world's spiritual herbs, creating the unprecedented Nine Palaces Ascension Secret Scripture of the External Alchemy School. Chapter

21: Leaving the Water's Edge, Benfeng

stood on the bow of the boat, comfortably stretching.

He had slept well last night—Senior Sister Tianqin had received a carrier pigeon from Kaishan and Kaiyun and left with Tianxiang ahead of time. Therefore, Benfeng had leisurely sat with Tianyin on the side of the boat, barefoot, counting the stars for a while. After playing for an hour, the two went into the cabin and, together with Senior Sister Yi Xuan, finished drawing the navigation map. Ben Feng meditated for half an hour before falling into a deep sleep early, amidst the gentle breeze and rippling waves.

Senior Sister Yi Xuan didn't seem to care much about Ben Feng's sword-shooting and incense-piercing practice. She would often stand gracefully at the bow of the ship at night, gazing at the sky.

Ben Feng also simply enjoyed gazing at the sky. Even without the progress of entering the Daoist realm through stargazing, Ben Feng would innocently blink his eyes, watching the twinkling stars and letting his mind wander…

Gazing at the starry sky, someone from a certain country said that a certain country, where decay and wonder coexist, needed many more people who could frequently gaze at the stars.

Ben Feng felt that he was no longer decaying—he was a fairytale-like, magical immortal—knowing that Old Man Chunshan had found a large piece of land, a fertile land where he could grow melons and beans, Ben Feng began to daydream.

Having his own land, he planned to build a large estate with his brothers, including Old Man Chunshan, Zhengxi, Dazhi, Daxin, and Dayi, constructing a dozen or twenty houses with front and back yards. After three to five years of managing the estate, the garden would be overflowing with fruits, plums, and dates. In his leisure time, he could cultivate chrysanthemums and mulberry trees, nurturing a tranquil, rustic lifestyle.

Watching his fairy-like senior and junior sisters flitting among the flowers and willows in his own estate, he truly wouldn't trade it for anything less than divine favor.

The boat traveled along the Han Canal into the Huai River and then onto the Si River, a journey that took four or five days. Whenever the boat anchored at an ancient bank, with the moon high in the willows, Benfeng would habitually sit at the stern, gazing at the pale moon and bright stars, and then at Senior Sister Yixuan standing at the bow.

“No wonder Tianqin said you were a silly goose…” Yi Xuan waited for the moon to hang high in the sky, then floated ashore and stood among the willows, beckoning to Ben Feng, “Come with your senior sister.”

Hearing Yi Xuan’s call, Ben Feng immediately grabbed his master’s shepherd’s whip, tucked the broken sword and snake-shaped staff into his Hundred Treasures Robe and the brocade pouch skillfully crafted by Tianyin, and hopped and skipped after Yi Xuan.

“Do you know where this is?” Yi Xuan asked softly.

Ben Feng shook his head. From Jiankang to Jiangdu, and then changing routes, all along the way, only the newly drawn map allowed Ben Feng to vaguely discern the fragmented remnants of ancient artifacts from a thousand years later in modern geography.

Mountains were not mountains, rivers were not rivers, cities were not cities—the workings of nature, a thousand years of time, things and people were no longer the same.

Yi Xuan told Ben Feng that this was the first place she arrived at after leaving Ying Shui Zhou.

Crane Cry Cliff—Leaving the Water's Edge—Broken Sword Tomb.

Listening to Senior Sister Yi Xuan's words, Ben Feng felt as if he were a child sitting on Tianlai Mountain, holding a children's book about Sun Wukong's havoc in the Heavenly Palace, looking at the seventeen-story stone pagoda and the Heavenly Pillar Stone standing in the empty valley, anxiously waiting for the old Taoist priest with his whisk to appear and turn stones into gold.

Senior Sister Yi Xuan was born in Ying Shui Continent, and at the age of eleven, she would be led to the Li Shui Shore by the guardian elder.

The Li Shui Shore was not a place of the mortal world, but a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and Taoists, a place of transcendence and engagement with the world.

"The realm of inner observation, the transformation of intention into matter, allows one to step onto the Li Shui Shore," Senior Sister Yi Xuan said softly, the three sword lotuses in her hand swirling, the sword tip trembling slightly, flashing with brilliant light, and sword lotuses growing again, the internalized sword in Yi Xuan's hand now surrounded by six lotuses.

From three lotuses, to six lotuses, and then to nine lotuses, that is the ultimate realm of the Lotus Scripture. Ben Feng's current cultivation level is that not even half a lotus has grown.

Senior Sister Yi Xuan told Ben Feng that Ying Shui Continent is divided into the Three Pure Ones True Body Daoist Cultivators and the Secular Daoist Cultivators. The Three Pure Ones True Body Daoist Cultivators must enter the world three times. Upon entering the world, they step off the water's edge and enter the mortal realm; upon returning to the water's edge after the tribulation, they sever their worldly roots with their swords. The only secular object on the water's edge is the Broken Sword Tomb, where internalized swords and divine weapons of the world are gathered to form a mound.

"Do you want to know how Tian Qin arrived in Ying Shui Continent and how she was expelled from the sect?" Yi Xuan sheathed her sword and sat on an old tree beside the cliff. "Come, don't stray so far from your senior sister, sit together."

Ben Feng obeyed, walked to the old pine tree, and sat down next to Senior Sister Yi Xuan.

"Tianqin was discovered by Master on Tianlai Mountain. At that time, Master was like Senior Sister, entering the world through the form of six lotuses. He saw Tianqin, who was naked and entirely red. Master spent three months extinguishing the flames of resentment in Tianqin. He originally intended to take her back to the palace to raise her, but unexpectedly, Tianqin broke through her seclusion and entered the shore of the Li River... A mortal cultivator, entering the shore of the Li River at the age of three, Tianqin was actually of ice-like jade quality. Elder Fanqin of the Guardian Continent was amazed by her talent upon seeing her, so he gave her a purification ceremony. At the age of nine, she entered the world with the Wisdom Heart Qin Sword... At Phoenix Ridge at the foot of Tianlai Mountain, Tianqin encountered disciples of the Flower Sect and saw her birth mother's grave. The flames of resentment suddenly flared up, and in one night, she slaughtered the Flower Sect!"

Yi Xuan gently grasped Benfeng's hand: "Human emotions are truly unfathomable. Will Senior Sister be like Tianqin in the future, impulsively killing for the sake of human emotions?"

"In this world, killing is commonplace. What's more terrifying is that some people kill in the name of justice and upholding morality. I know that Old Man Chunshan was quite carefree as a bandit, killing as a way of saving lives. In this world, you can't find anyone who doesn't kill." Only then did Benfeng understand why his usually serene and tranquil Senior Sister Yixuan's heart had fluttered—she had been driven to murder by love.

"How can Master manage to not kill a single person even in such chaotic times?" Yixuan looked troubled. These past few days, she had been observing the stars every night, knowing that no matter how she tried to avoid it, she couldn't escape the calamity of human relationships.

"This… Master, hehe, there's a mystery to it. I'm too dull to figure it out, so I'll just stop thinking about it." Benfeng wanted to tell his senior sister that Master had said on Pure Land Mountain, "I will fight for the deer," which, in modern terms from a thousand years later, meant fighting for the deer across the Central Plains, leaving corpses strewn everywhere.

Every dynasty rises and falls, each one acting on divine mandate, killing without restraint.

If one truly didn't want to think about it, one could reach the Buddhist state of non-attachment. What Benfeng meant by "not wanting" was that there's always a way out; perhaps the difficulties of life would truly be resolved by divine intervention.

...

After traveling by water for two more days, they disembarked at Lianshui. The cargo was loaded onto carriages and wheelbarrows, and Liu Changfeng found over a dozen sedan chairs for the weaker passengers. They then began their journey by land. Liu Changfeng led the way, while Benfeng and Zhengxi each pushed a wheelbarrow. Together with the strong young men pushing the carts, they traveled over thirty li (approximately 15 kilometers) of mountain road. After a short rest, they crossed two mountains and arrived at Langya territory.

They found an inn, settled everyone in, and Liu Benfeng asked the innkeeper for a pot of good tea. He went to Benfeng's room and took out a register of those going to Chang'an.

The register was very detailed, clearly marked: Fourth son replacing Princess Chenzhen, Fifth son replacing Princess Chenwan... followed by a long list of names, including concubines and palace maids.

Benfeng glanced at it and considered putting it away. Liu Changfeng replied, "This is something you and I both know. Let's burn the written evidence. The two emperors in the palace aren't easily fooled. After this job, I, Liu Changfeng, will be living under your wing for the rest of my days."

"Are you really willing to give up the coveted position of a sixth-rank military officer in charge of granaries, all that imperial favor and wealth?" Benfeng lit the brazier and slowly burned the written evidence that might expose his crimes.

"Hahaha, the glory of a sixth-rank official? I, Liu Changfeng, think too highly of this imperial favor." Liu Changfeng slowly sipped his tea.

To dare to so blatantly deceive the emperor, Liu Changfeng truly possessed extraordinary magnanimity and courage. Benfeng thought to himself: If that day ever comes, I, Li Benfeng, will demand an explanation from Heaven regarding the crimes of Yang Jian and Yang Guang. No one but Liu Changfeng will be the one to draft the edict denouncing the Sui dynasty for its heinous crimes of extermination against the poor people of the world.

“Brother Benfeng, we should part ways tomorrow. To be honest, we’ve chatted and laughed all the way here, and I’ve almost formed a sworn brotherhood with you… Let’s skip the formalities. Come on, let’s clap our hands, make a pinky promise, and we’ll meet again someday.” Liu Changfeng and Benfeng exchanged high fives, then, with childlike innocence, hooked their fingers together and pulled hard. “I’ve already written the visiting card for Prince Yizang of Langya, and Zhengxi has taken the gift list. We’ll send it over first thing tomorrow morning.

After we pass Langya, Old Man Chunshan will be there to greet you.” Benfeng was completely inept at social etiquette; Liu Changfeng had handled all the arrangements for crossing mountains and villages and paying respects along the way.

…

The next day, Benfeng woke up early and almost burst out laughing when he saw Chen Zhen and Chen Wan dressed as men. Tianyin’s skillful hands had transformed the two beautiful princesses into ugly monsters, with large, bulbous noses, narrow, sallow eyes, and sallow complexions.

Yet, their elegant demeanor still stirred the imagination.

The atmosphere on Liu Changfeng's side was rather somber. The imposters, destined for Chang'an to achieve a life of luxury and wealth, were all loaded into prison carts. "

No pain, no gain." These people had long harbored ambitions for Chang'an.

Watching so many people disappear into the dust, Benfeng thought to himself that no matter how tightly they kept their mouths shut, it was impossible to keep a secret forever. He guessed that Liu Changfeng would still use money to smooth things over once he got to the capital. Benfeng shook his head, watching the prison carts heading towards Chang'an with their newfound happiness. He then boarded the red horse Liu Changfeng had prepared for him, summoned the strangely dressed group led by Tianyin, and they slowly made their way along the official road.

Zhengxi had left early that morning and was probably having tea at the Wang family's house by now.

Tianyin, Senior Sister Yixuan, Chen Zhen, and Chen Wan rode in a large sedan chair carried by eight men. Daoist Yunqing and True Man Sanyang followed behind, their distance barely visible.

Around noon, Zhengxi returned in a flurry of activity. Judging from his appearance, he was being treated with considerable favor.

Zhengxi nudged Benfeng with his elbow as he approached, "Wow, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude! Even the old lady of the Qin family from Yingfo Mountain, who had been in seclusion for three months, has come. At least eighteen sect leaders are with her. I, Yuan Zhengxi, have never known what it means to be highly respected since birth, but this time, on my visit to Master Wang, I've seen two!"

"Really highly respected? There must be some otherworldly air about him," Benfeng said with a grin. Zhengxi

had changed into a brocade robe embroidered with pine needles when he went to the Wang family to deliver the visiting card. His handsome features, combined with his daily midnight study of the Five Star Array, had truly transformed his demeanor.

In a wealthy family, someone Zhengxi his age would have already married and taken concubines.

"Young Master Zhengxi, does the Wang family have any suitable young ladies?" Benfeng, listening to the clatter of his horse's hooves, was in a good mood. "If you find someone you like, I'll play matchmaker."

"You rascal, these past few days you've been messing around with this with that slippery old Taoist Liu Changfeng." Zhengxi drew the Heavenly Yang Sword given to him by the Three Yang Immortal from his back. "We're interested in this, unlike you who's always thinking about being a country bumpkin, dreaming of marrying beautiful wives and concubines."

"Brother, you're mistaken. One can have both Taoism and a beautiful wife." Benfeng said seriously.

Chapter 22 Archway Forest, Exemplary Ladies

Walking on the official road, Benfeng carefully observed the scenery on both sides.

Entering Langya Scenic Area, there were jujube trees of varying heights, and the phoenix trees commonly found in Jiangbei, where phoenixes could perch. There were also peach trees just sprouting tender buds.

Seeing peach trees again felt very familiar.

When they were still more than ten miles away from the Wang family's mansion, the Wang family's servants came out to greet them. Many villagers stood by the roadside, pointing and gossiping as they watched the spectacle.

"This is where I played in the mud and ran around in the mountains when I was a kid. Maybe I'm even a descendant of Zhuge Liang!" Zhengxi jumped off his horse, ran to a pavilion by the roadside, and shouted to Benfeng, "This pavilion is where Zhuge Liang conducted his 'horse-step lessons' back then. Look, I'm the one who knocked off Old Master Zhuge's nose; it's just been repaired now." Zhengxi was very proud of his childhood creation. He reached out and picked a few peach leaves from the tree outside the pavilion, sipped them, blew on them like a bird chirping, jumped back onto his horse, and said to Tianyin, who was following Benfeng, "The peaches from our Langya Mountain are only slightly inferior to those from Jingtu Mountain. When I'm tired and thirsty from running around in the mountains, I rely on them to keep me going." Benfeng

looked at the Zhuge Liang Pavilion. There were two lines of characters on the pavilion: "Zhuge Liang's 'horse-step lessons,' a brilliant calculation that brought success to the world." To the northwest of the pavilion, there was also the tomb of Bo Ren.

At this moment, a figure appeared beside the tomb of Bo Ren. Benfeng initially glanced at it without much concern. Turning his head and seeing Tianyin, he shuddered: the two looked so alike.

Could she be Tianyin's older sister?

At first glance, the person standing by Boren's grave appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen—he never imagined that the one standing there was Empress Yang Lihua of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, who couldn't even become a nun—Tianyin's birth mother.

Yang Lihua saw Tianyin, but only glanced at her before hastily leaving.

One glance was enough; she shared the same sentiment as Daoist Yunqing, not wanting Tianyin to know now that her biological father, Yuwen Yunzhong, was a member of the Northern Zhou royal family, and her maternal grandfather was Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty, stained with the blood of the Yuwen royal family. "

I didn't kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me"—Yang Lihua was frail and delicate; without turning to Buddhism or Taoism, how could she dispel the resentment and sorrow in her heart?

She had no face to face Yuwen Yunzhong, yet she couldn't abandon her own daughter—the only bloodline of the Yuwen royal family.

Yang Lihua staggered down from Bo Ren's tomb, following the overgrown peach trees to Langya Terrace. She couldn't help but look back at Tianyin, whose figure was somewhat blurry.

If only her Aunt Wuhua were still here…

Standing on Langya Mountain, Daoist Yunqing's heart churned: with Tianyin present, even if he raised his sword, he couldn't kill Yang Jian. If he killed Yang Jian, Lihua would follow her father. How hateful! Our Yuwen family is worthless! We were tricked into losing our kingdom, and even our descendants have perished at the hands of others!

…

Yi Xuan and the Three Yang Immortals, unwilling to join the worldly commotion, escorted Princesses Chen Zhen and Chen Wan, along with concubines and palace maids dressed in coarse clothes, directly into Langya County. They found three inns and settled in.

Benfeng and Tianyin were the guests of honor welcomed by the Wang family and Old Madam Qin.

Wang Xicang, out of courtesy, and Old Madam Qin had already taken a sedan chair to Wulipu to greet them. The Wang family held deep roots in the Langya area. The villages surrounding Wangjiazhuang were all centered around the Wang family mansion, their names ranging from Qilitun to Shilipo. Even the two villages near the Langya county seat had names like "Eighteen Archways" and "Thirteen Mile Gully."

Benfeng, unaccustomed to formalities, found Wang Xicang's overly formal politeness—a man well-versed in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—particularly appealing. He found himself quite talkative with Old Madam Qin.

Wang Xicang was probably over eighty, while Old Madam Qin was nearly a hundred—almost like a fairy—yet possessing an endearing charm. Like a child, she held Benfeng and Tianyin's hands, asking about the cold of the north and the vibrant life of April in the south.

Actually, what Old Madam Qin and Old Taoist Wang most wanted to see was Shen Wuhua. They wanted to see the golden statue of the Southern Dynasty empress, revered as a benevolent bodhisattva by the Sui emperor.

Benfeng solemnly said, "My master is currently in seclusion at Tianlai Mountain and has been unable to meet with the two highly respected elders. I am a new disciple, my knowledge is limited, and I am unfamiliar with the etiquette of Jiangbei. I hope you will forgive my crudeness and not disgrace my master."

"Li Benfeng, I heard your Lotus Hand Seal is quite powerful. Show it to us." Wang Xizang's beloved grandson, Wang Qingyang, jumped out from behind the screen, already holding the Qinghong Sword.

"Yang'er, don't be rude. We've just arrived, and you're already clamoring for a sword fight. What kind of behavior is this?" Although Wang Xizang's voice was reprimanding, his face was full of affection.

Wang Qingyang's father followed Yang Jian in the massacre of the Yuwen royal family and unfortunately died, leaving only Wang Qingyang as the only male heir—the bloodline must not be broken.

As the sole heir to the Wang family mansion, he was always surrounded by attendants, who were afraid of any mishap.

"Grandpa, please let us have a match," Wang Qingyang pleaded.

"Yang'er, the morning glory is like grass that withers in the evening, while the pine and cypress remain evergreen even in the coldest winter. How can you emulate those street gamblers, so fond of fighting and brawling?" A dignified and graceful lady entered the hall with

light, elegant steps. "So dignified, so ladylike," Ben Feng thought to himself. "A lady of high birth, composed

and collected, an unparalleled display of pomp." The subtle aura emanating from this woman immediately made Ben Feng sense the hypocrisy and affectation beneath her outward elegance.

Ben Feng was unaware that his "Starry Heart" cultivation level allowed him to easily perceive the aura of this seemingly virtuous but inwardly deeply lewd Wang Fengshi.

Lady Feng, who ensured the continuation of the Wang family line, spent over a decade in seclusion, diligently studying Confucianism, upholding strict moral principles, respecting her elders, and raising her unruly son. She was repeatedly petitioned by the local authorities for recognition of her chastity and filial piety, and a memorial archway was erected in front of her boudoir. The Sui dynasty, in an effort to uphold filial piety and restore propriety, regarded Lady Feng as a model of virtuous womanhood who quelled the barbarian invasions and restored the Han dynasty.

However, Benfeng thought: this woman must be a completely different person when she's not in public.

"May I ask, is this extraordinary young talent a disciple of the Southern Dynasty's Wuhua nun?" Lady Feng swayed gracefully towards Benfeng, "Wang Fengshi greets you."

"Politeness, politeness, politeness takes you everywhere, without politeness you can't even take a step," Benfeng laughed heartily. It seemed that among the gifts Liu Changfeng had prepared, there were a pair of green ruyi scepters, two golden horses, and a painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix from the Eastern Han palace specifically for Wang Fengshi.

If I, Li Benfeng, were a penniless pauper, the Wang family would have probably shut down their gates long ago.

"Oh my, you're quite the character! Come on, don't just stand there, listen to these people from the Southern Dynasty tell you some interesting stories." Old Madam Qin pulled Wang Qingyang, who was eager to duel with Benfeng, to her side. "Look at him, the golden branch and jade leaf of our Wang family are truly exceptional, growing more and more beautiful with each passing year."

Old Madam Qin wasn't particularly close to the Wang family; their interactions were merely superficial. Her words were laced with sarcasm, praising a young man as if he were a woman. The Wang family embodied Confucian virtues of benevolence, righteousness, filial piety, and propriety; they also had a tutor in the palace who lectured the Crown Prince on Buddhist scriptures; and they had the Langya Daoist sect, gathering thousands of followers. The Wang family was a perfect blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism—a complete and complete family.

"Old Madam, you're quite the joker. Look, Master Wuhua's disciple is so beautiful, it's impossible not to find fault with her." Madam Feng gracefully pulled Tianyin to sit down next to Old Madam Qin.

Tianyin seemed to have a natural aversion to Madam Feng's ladylike demeanor. As soon as she sat down, she turned to Benfeng and said, "Brother, I'm hungry."

Tianyin's words immediately amused many people standing in the hall.

Wang Xicang and Old Madam Qin's entourage consisted of either old Confucian scholars or leaders of the Daoist sect. They were all disappointed at not seeing Shen Wuhua.

Some even thought that the empress of the fallen Southern Dynasty was probably just all show and no substance. The claim that she had used the lotus hand seal to make the leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist sects back down outside Jiankang was probably just a rumor. They

were quite curious to see the young master of the Wang family compete with Shen Wuhua's disciple.

...

Having been mistaken for a servant, Zhengxi, having nothing to do, wandered over to the west courtyard of Old Master Wang's house.

There, some people were practicing swordsmanship with great fanfare. They were mostly outer disciples, performing nothing more than the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg and the Moonlit Sea Pounce, flat thrusts and flicks. Zhengxi watched for a while, feeling bored, and was about to leave when he saw a young man practicing the Seven Star Sword of the Langya Daoist Sect among the plum trees. Judging from his swordsmanship, he should be an inner disciple.

Zhengxi, unaware of proper etiquette, found a stone bench and sat down, intending to observe the true techniques of Taoist swordsmanship.

"Who told you to peek? Where did this wild Taoist come from?" The boy wielding the Seven Star Sword suddenly leaped up, thrusting his sword at Zhengxi.

"Your sword is just for show, useless," Zhengxi chuckled, dodging to the side.

The boy swiftly thrust seven or eight times, but Zhengxi casually leaped and dodged, casually breaking off a plum branch and patting the boy's head a few times.

The boy's face flushed red with anger at the slap. Holding the sword upside down, he jumped onto a pavilion in front of him, threw the sword to the ground, and shouted, "Brother Qingyang, come quick! Someone's bullying me! A quack Taoist priest said our Wang family's Seven Star Sword is useless!"

"Who dares to be so bold!" Wang Qingyang, who had wanted to duel with Benfeng but failed, sat sullenly in the hall for a while before quietly pulling Qin Shizhao, the great-grandson of Old Madam Qin, to the west corridor, where he was playing with a hawk.

Upon hearing Feng Wei's words, he immediately leaped onto the wall.

"Little Taoist priest, when you came this morning, you looked all respectable. What makes you think our Wang family's sword is just an embroidered sword?"

"Not an embroidered sword, but a sword for cutting through earth, hahaha!" Zhengxi imitated Feng Wei's sword style, poked the ground with a plum branch, turned around and flicked it, sending up a flurry of dust and flowers from under the tree. A gust of wind blew, and it landed all over Wang Qingyang.

"How rude!" Wang Qingyang shouted, rising to his feet. His Azure Rainbow Sword emitted a blue aura, enveloping Zheng Xi.

"He's serious." Seeing Wang Qingyang draw his sword, Zheng Xi drew his own, but remained still, controlling the sword with his mind.

The Heavenly Sun Sword was forged by the Three Yang Immortals using the Samadhi Earthly Fire; it instinctively sensed sword energy. These past few days, Zheng Xi had been using his self-created Thirteen Thunder Strikes every night, controlling the Heavenly Sun Sword's earthly fire energy with his mind. After more than half a month, his own nascent internal strength had gradually merged with the Heavenly Sun Sword.

With a single strike, though not controlled by thought, it was as if the sword were an extension of his arm; even before the sword was drawn, his body was already enveloped in sword energy. The

Heavenly Sun Sword and the Azure Rainbow Sword's sword aura clashed. With a thud, Wang Qingyang couldn't withstand the Heavenly Sun Sword's earthly fire energy and cried out, falling against the wall.

Chapter 23: Sacrifice.

Wang Xizang, in the hall, heard his beloved grandson's cry and shot out like lightning.

Benfeng and Tianyin followed the others out of the gate in an orderly fashion and arrived at the west courtyard. Wang Qingyang, his face covered in dirt, had already gotten up from the ground, holding the Qinghong Sword in his hand. He angrily and defiantly shouted at Zhengxi, who was standing on the wall, "You disrespectful wild Taoist priest, who knows where you stole this broken sword from? Humph, you bully people everywhere just because your sword is good. Do you think the Wang family doesn't have good swords?"

Seeing Wang Xizang floating over, Wang Qingyang got excited, "Grandpa, this wild Taoist priest is bullying people because his sword is good. I want to have a sword fight with him!"

"Haha, no more fighting. This kid's mediocre swordsmanship is not worthy of a master's attention." Zhengxi jumped down from the wall and walked to Benfeng's side.

"We have to compete! You bullied little Wei and now you're cheating in front of me!" Wang Qingyang brandished his Qinghong sword and shouted, "If we don't compete today, you can just admit you're a coward and crawl out of our house sideways!"

Wang Xizang gently pressed down Wang Qingyang's sword. "Guests from afar are important, and our Wang family can't be petty. They've come all the way from Jiangnan and are probably starving. Let's eat first. After we finish, you can all go to the west wing and practice your swordsmanship. So many experts have come today; how can we tolerate you, at such a young age, trying to compete in swordsmanship?"

Wang Qingyang snorted, "Grandpa, you're always siding with outsiders. Look at him, he's just a little Taoist priest who runs errands. He's not worthy to sit and eat with us! He's only fit to eat hay in our Wang family's stable!"

Not hearing Zhengxi speak, Wang Qingyang curled his lip and glanced contemptuously at Zhengxi, then swept his eyes across Benfeng and Tianyin.

"A stray dog, what's there to be proud of? They just sent over a little something of value and think they can freeload off our Wang family..." Wang Qingyang's words became increasingly outrageous.

"Yang'er, how have I always taught you? Don't be saddened by poverty, don't be eager for wealth, hate enemies, be kind friends. Peace and enlightenment all come from good deeds... Hurry up and apologize to them!" Madam Feng grabbed Wang Qingyang, displaying her maternal authority.

Benfeng, with a rather mature air, cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Xicang, then faced Madam Feng and said in a clear voice, "We are all humble countrymen, and to have the honor of visiting such a distinguished family today is truly an eye-opening experience. Young Master Qingyang is straightforward and honest... Madam Feng is highly learned and knowledgeable, and every word she speaks is precious; we have learned a great deal—I think an apology is unnecessary. Our visit today is like a crow landing on a phoenix tree, and we feel quite uneasy, like trying to fill a bamboo tube with empty grass to discuss poetry and literature. I, Benfeng, was fortunate to join your school during the crisis of the Chen Dynasty, and what I have learned is only a superficial understanding. My brother Zhengxi beside me..." "My brother only knows how to chop wood and herd livestock in the mountains, and my junior sister Tianyin is not yet twenty. We are living in the late Southern Dynasty, and the three of us are truly in dire straits, desperate for survival. If we can find a place to stand and have enough to eat, we will be grateful to Heaven and Earth and all the elders for their kindness. We dare not ask to share a meal with the young master Qingyang, even if we share the same trough with the donkey in the stable, we will still be grateful and commendable

." After saying this, Wang Xizang felt a little embarrassed and stood up solemnly, saying to Benfeng, "My grandson Qingyang has no father's teachings and is spoiled by me. Please don't take offense."

"You are really insidious. You bring out poetry and books to make Grandpa and Mother teach me a lesson, but I will just do the work of a street slaughter..." Wang Qingyang flicked his wrist, broke free from Madam Feng, and swung his sword, slashing at Benfeng's thigh.

With a clang, Wang Qingyang's Qinghong sword was knocked to the ground by Tianyin's wooden sword.

"My senior brother has already tolerated it again and again, what more do you want?" Tianyin flicked her wooden sword with her left hand, while her right hand gripped the deer-herding whip. "If you keep acting up, I'll give you

a good spanking." Tianyin's tone was like a mother disciplining a disobedient child. However, her young age made her seem more like a joke.

Her flicking of the sword, however, genuinely surprised the sect leaders standing beside Wang Xicang.

Tianyin had only flicked a wooden sword as soft as a willow branch.

Wang Qingyang's face flushed red. He had never lost face so badly in front of outsiders before.

"A mere trick, you dare to show off with a wooden sword!" Wang Qingyang sneered, instantly releasing three Xuanbing Spirit Talismans.

Tianyin, with a pure heart, had only flicked the wooden sword to teach the arrogant Wang Qingyang a lesson, but unexpectedly, Wang Qingyang had used such vicious and deadly talismans.

Benfeng rushed forward to block Tianyin. Zheng Xi, his eyebrows furrowed in rage, neither dodged nor evaded, enduring the penetrating chill as his Heavenly Sun Sword aimed straight for Wang Qingyang's face.

"Insolence!" A chilling voice, no less menacing than the Xuanbing Spirit Talisman, suddenly rang out. A figure blocked Wang Qingyang's path, two fingers gripping Zheng Xi's Heavenly Sun Sword.

Zheng Xi felt the space around him collapse, as if he were being sucked away. Unable to stop his momentum, he was thrown forward, crashing into his own Heavenly Sun Sword, then flying backward and crashing to the ground. *

Pfft!* A mouthful of blood gushed out.

Ben Feng, struck by two Xuanbing Spirit Talismans, swayed unsteadily, struggling to maintain his balance, glaring angrily at the black-clad Taoist who had so severely injured Zheng Xi.

Clad in black robes, his face was ashen. His hands were as thin as eagle claws, but his eyes were as sinister as a demon from the underworld, blood-red and cold, sending chills down one's spine.

"Master, teach these poor, lowly southern barbarians a lesson for me!" Wang Qingyang picked up the Qinghong Sword from the ground and, taking advantage of his mother turning to look at Yuan Zhengxi's injuries, swung the sword fiercely at Benfeng's head.

Tianyin raised her whip, trying to entangle Wang Qingyang's wrist, but the ghostly, withered-faced Taoist grabbed the whip tip and flicked it back with a single finger. Tianyin fell backward like a kite with a broken string.

"The Wang family is truly promising!"

A melody from a zither and a flying lotus appeared. Tianqin descended like a large bird, dressed in simple white robes, and caught Tianyin with one outstretched arm.

Wang Qingyang, seizing the advantage, relied on his master's presence and aimed at the swaying Benfeng, thrusting his sword into Benfeng's shoulder. "I thought you were so capable, but you're all show and no substance!"

Before he finished speaking, he swung his sword again.

A figure flashed past Benfeng, and with a cry of pain, Benfeng fell to the ground, a soft, warm body pressing down on him. It was Madam Feng sacrificing herself.

...

Tianxiang and Dazhi rushed in through the main gate. Tianxiang caught Benfeng, and Dazhi caught Zhengxi.

Tianqin's zither sword sprang from its sheath, emitting brilliant light, forcing Wang Qingyang's evil master to retreat from the battle.

"Bullying the weak with strength, even someone with sixty years of cultivation will have to lose an arm!" Tianqin's sword light intensified, and her zither music was as rapid as a sudden rain, forcing Wang Qingyang's evil master to leap up and down, but he could never escape the shroud of Tianqin's sword light. Tianqin, holding Tianyin alone, moved gracefully, like a butterfly flitting through the forest.

In the west courtyard of the Wang family, white and black figures rose and fell in an instant.

A clear shout stopped the two figures in their tracks. The black figure crashed to the ground, a severed arm falling to the ground along with the falling leaves.

"Let's go, the Wang family is a fraud, we'll settle this score later." Tianqin floated up, carrying Tianyin, and landed on a carriage. Dazhi carried Zhengxi on his back, and Tianxiang embraced Benfeng, and they ran out of the Wang family mansion.

...

Madam Feng, who had taken a sword for Benfeng from her own son, was helped up, but still tried to be strong, saying weakly, "Yang'er, if anything happens to Master Shen's disciple, I will take your life in return. You... go to the Repentance Hall and face the wall!"

Madam Feng's chest was bleeding, and she gritted her teeth, "Since ancient times, rich families have produced many spoiled children, you've angered your mother to death!"

The maids supporting Madam Feng were in a panic, "Quick... quick, go call the doctor!" "Madam... Madam..." Madam Feng fainted in the arms of a maid.

Chapter 24 The Lady's Intentions

Old Man Chunshan stood outside the Wang family mansion, seeing Tianqin land on the carriage. Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, he saw Tianxiang tightly embracing Benfeng as they rushed out of the gate.

He had originally planned to go to the Wang family for a drink—how could people in such a grand mansion turn on him so easily?

He didn't have time to ask. After Tianqin and Tianxiang placed Benfeng and Tianyin on the soft blankets in the carriage, Old Man Chunshan drove the carriage, speeding towards Langya County. Daxin and Dazhi put Zhengxi in the carriage and followed closely behind.

The joyous welcome turned into a bloody disaster.

The carriage sped to Langya City and found the best inn, Baofeng Inn, to settle in. Yixuan and Sanyang Zhenren, seeing the injuries of the three, whispered a few words to each other. The Three Yang Immortal instructed Da Zhi and Da Xin to carry Zheng Xi to the north-facing pavilion in the room. He then took a palm-shaped, jet-black stone from his backpack and placed it on Zheng Xi's chest…

Yi Xuan used the Six Lotus Spirit Immortal Sword to condense in the void, and together with Tian Qin, they unleashed six red lotus talismans that rippled like water, covering Ben Feng and Tian Yin.

Ben Feng and Tian Yin lay flat on the bed, their bodies already covered in frost.

The Yin Sha evil path's Xuanbing Spirit Talisman was made from the Xuanbing of the North Sea, condensed and refined with the five absolute Yin energies of the earth, extremely Yin and cold—the cultivation of external alchemy methods involves relentlessly searching for exotic objects in the world to supplement the internal with the external, and to replenish the deficient with the substantial.

The jet-black stone that the Three Yang Immortal placed on Zheng Xi was produced in the Fire Phoenix Spring of Black Stone Peak in Tianlai Mountain; it was an extremely Yang object, using Yang to overcome Yin, which was extremely effective. The red lotus talisman unleashed by Yi Xuan and Tian Qin circulated Yin and Yang, opening the meridians and circulating the orifices to stimulate the potential contained within their hearts. The unexpected injury was also an opportunity for advancement—the Zhexing Pavilion, by transcending worldly concerns and merging with worldly desires, found rare opportunities for cultivation when facing life-or-death situations.

Unlike conventional Taoist methods, San Yang Zhenren did not use his own cultivation to expel the Yin-cold energy from Zheng Xi—the Black Ink Stone would heat up with Zheng Xi's internal energy, absorbing the Yin-cold energy and circulating it within his body. This method was extremely dangerous, but San Yang Zhenren knew Zheng Xi's will was strong and he would overcome this hurdle. However, San Yang Zhenren dared not be complacent and remained by Zheng Xi's side… San Yang Zhenren had another plan behind this vigil.

Seven days.

The three men's faces flushed, darkened, and turned deathly pale—Old Man Chunshan anxiously wrung his hands outside the door. He had sent Dazhi and Daxin into the mountains to gather herbs, anything that could invigorate blood circulation, dispel blood stasis, and dispel cold, to be gathered as much as possible.

Old Man Chunshan was truly heartbroken—the time he had spent with Benfeng on Pure Land Mountain had made them feel like family. Without Benfeng, his family would still be forced by Tianqin to become monks, unwilling to abstain from meat or killing, and secretly practicing the Hua Family Staff Technique, making them enemies of Tianqin.

But Benfeng said that the victories and defeats of the world are like the discomfort and illness of the human body's organs; today it's the stomach, tomorrow it might be the intestines, constantly churning and turning, with no end in sight—the same is true of dynasties. Yesterday Wei was destroyed, today Jin is destroyed, the Sui Dynasty massacred the Yuwen imperial family, and in a few decades, a new dynasty will also destroy the Sui. Clans and relatives, even brothers and sisters, will kill each other out of hatred, generation after generation. If one spends their days scheming and plotting for hatred, one will find little joy in a hundred years of life.

The true joy of humanity lies in the Way of Heaven, in finding joy within oneself, in gaining enlightenment, and in transcending one's own limits—this is ultimate bliss.

Even the lowest of the low can aspire to the heavens, progressing step by step through their own circumstances, ascending to the highest realm. The wealthy and powerful, though they may use their wealth and power to cultivate both external and internal strength, rarely find a shortcut to instant success. This is what is meant by the ruthlessness of Heaven and Earth, where all things are treated like straw dogs.

Old Man Chunshan often pondered Benfeng's words. Old Man Chunshan, a bandit who believed killing was saving lives, had roamed the north and south of the country, meeting countless people, yet he had never seen anyone like Benfeng, so learned in the ways of the universe at only fourteen or fifteen years old—the more he thought about it, the more he felt he had met Benfeng too late.

…

When Benfeng opened his eyes, he saw Old Man Chunshan counting herbs from a medical book. Tianxiang, meanwhile, was holding a bowl of black rice soup, gently blowing on it.

“You’re awake…” Tianxiang glanced at Benfeng with her jade-like eyes, sat down by the bed, placed the black rice soup

on the bedside table, lowered her head slightly, stretched out her jade-like arm, and pulled Benfeng into her embrace, feeding him the rice soup spoonful by spoonful. Although Benfeng was unconscious, he could sense that for so many days, Tianxiang had been by his side, feeding him water and medicine.

Dazhi and Daxin had searched day and night in Langya Mountain for many rare and exotic herbs.

Madam Feng had visited Benfeng twice despite her injuries. When she came, she brought countless precious tonics.

…

Benfeng drank a bowl of black rice soup and gently squeezed Tianxiang’s jade-like hand. “What day is it now? I want to get up and move around.”

“Seven days.” Tianxiang had already heard Tianqin say that after seven days, he would be fine. As she helped Benfeng get up, the red lotus seal on Benfeng’s body unfolded with a certain spirituality and merged into Benfeng’s body.

Tianyin woke up, and Senior Sister Yixuan fed her a bowl of lotus seed soup.

After Tianyin got up, Benfeng took her hand and led her to Zhengxi's room next door. Zhengxi was already standing in the pavilion, holding the Tianyang Sword.

The three of them had passed the perilous ordeal.

It was noon. The three of them meditated and cultivated for an hour. When they rose again, their complexions were normal.

Benfeng remembered the elderly and children who had come from Jingtu Mountain. After lunch, he discussed with Old Man Chunshan, "We still need to find a place to settle down. So many people staying in the inn is too expensive; we can't keep relying on your savings."

Old Man Chunshan said, "Madam Wang has already come. She said that Fengjiabao at the foot of Yingfo Mountain is her maternal family's old residence, and the rooms there have been empty. We can stay there… The Wang family has covered the inn's expenses; this Baofeng Inn is run by the Wang family… I was just about to discuss this with you when the Wang family sent two boxes of silver. Madam Feng insisted on sending them, and I couldn't refuse."

“Master has gone into seclusion for cultivation. These matters should be decided by Senior Sisters Yixuan and Tianqin… Neither of them wants to get involved in worldly affairs. From now on, these matters will be left to Father. I am young and inexperienced, and I am not good at handling interpersonal relationships… There is no reason to take back what has been given by people from high-ranking families. If they accept it, they accept it… That unreliable grandson of the Wang family, I don’t know where he found that evil master. He wants to kill people with a single move. It’s their fault for paying to avoid trouble. Since Madam Feng’s family has a house, Daxin and Dayi don’t need to rush to cut down trees and build a house. They can stay there first.” Benfeng was willing to wait for Liu Changfeng to resign from his official post and return from Chang’an. With Father in charge of domestic affairs and Liu Changfeng in charge of external affairs, he wouldn’t have to worry about the food, drink, and shelter of the old and young.

“I also have a headache about these welcoming and sending-off matters. It’s most appropriate to leave these matters to Brother Changfeng when he returns.” Old Man Chunshan thought about the same thing as Benfeng.

Benfeng added, "We'll owe Madam Feng for now. It's truly unexpected that such a frail woman would risk her life to save me. If it weren't for her, I would have another wound." Benfeng had a nagging feeling that Madam Feng had ulterior motives. If this woman wasn't extremely kind and benevolent, she was either incredibly cunning.

...

Madam Feng arrived.

Benfeng and Old Man Chunshan rose to greet her at the door.

Madam Feng wore a simple silk dress, her face slightly sorrowful, yet her natural beauty was undeniable. Her figure was graceful, her steps light and delicate, her eyes, though not seductive, held a captivating charm, instantly evoking feelings of pity.

Her given name further stirred the imagination: Feng Chulian.

Upon seeing Benfeng, Madam Feng greeted him with a sweet, melodious voice: "Young Master Li, are you feeling better? I've been worried day and night, yet I was afraid of disturbing you. Seeing that you're all well today, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Madam, please come inside. My humble body is no trouble for you," Benfeng said, ushering Madam Chu Lian into the house.

Old Man Chunfeng knew that the ladies in the mansion were all clearly ranked, and even as the steward, he couldn't sit with them. He excused himself, saying he needed to gather herbs, and left.

Hearing Madam Chu Lian address him as "Young Master," Benfeng felt a tingling sensation in his heart. He felt like he was on a stage, about to engage in a dramatic exchange with this beautiful, widowed woman from the Wang family, whose purpose was unknown.

No one visits a temple without a reason. This was Madam Feng's third visit.

Senior Sister Tianqin brought in tea, giving Benfeng a stern look. That look was clearly a warning to Benfeng: don't get entangled with this secretly flirtatious woman… It seemed that Sister Tianqin had already discussed the important matter of when Benfeng and Tianxiang would get married with Old Man Chunshan.

In ancient times, people matured early; it was normal for girls to marry at twelve or thirteen, let alone Tianxiang, who was already sixteen. Benfeng felt that Senior Sister Tianqin seemed willing to make decisions about his life's major events, almost like a mother figure. If Senior Sister Tianqin were born a thousand years later, she would definitely be a powerful figure who frequently made decisions and appointed people.

…A thousand years later, in which poem can you find tenderness in your manipulative hands… Not wanting tenderness, yet possessing it all… Benfeng suddenly realized that he particularly enjoyed experiencing the seemingly cold tenderness within Senior Sister Tianqin's stern demeanor.

Madam Feng sat down at one side of the square table and told the maid beside her to open the brocade box she was carrying.

Inside the box was a land deed. It wasn't just a land deed, because the other side of the deed was a map showing the layout of the buildings, how many floors the east and west buildings had, how many courtyards the south and north buildings had, and even the number of watchtowers—Fengjiabao at the foot of Yingfo Mountain looked like a military camp.

Madam Feng pushed the brocade box towards Benfeng: "I'm not insisting on giving you this, but I have an unspeakable addiction… The land deed for Fengjiabao originally belonged to Master Wuhua; I'm merely receiving it on her behalf."

"This… I'm new to your place; it would be best if you wait until my master finishes her seclusion before presenting it to me in person." Benfeng increasingly felt that Madam Feng was not the weak, virtuous woman she appeared to be.

“Young Master Li, you treat me as someone you can’t trust. Master Wuhua passed away peacefully in Tianlai Mountain, transforming into a lotus. Must we continue to hide this forever?” Madam Feng sighed softly. “The Yang family of the Sui Dynasty deceived the world. I, with my frail body, erected a false memorial arch, using their deceitful methods to repay them!”

Benfeng was speechless at Madam Feng’s words. Now, he had to reconsider many of Madam Feng’s judgments.

He already harbored doubts: his master wasn’t in seclusion; he had truly broken through and left the mortal world. (
Chapter 25, October 6th

) Madam Feng calmly sipped her tea. She didn’t seem to be in a hurry to hear what Benfeng had to say, nor did she seem worried that Benfeng would refuse her unusually generous gift.

Benfeng remained silent, and so did she, concentrating on sipping her tea. Her jade-like hand lightly lifted the teacup lid, her jade lips slightly parted as she sipped, occasionally raising her head to glance at Benfeng.

To Madam Feng, these actions were perfectly natural. But Benfeng felt differently. Madam Feng's calm and composed demeanor, as if she possessed a mountain of treasures, could casually produce a string of precious beads and have people kneel and beg.

Or, it was like a woman of unparalleled beauty, standing delicately on a city wall, pointing at someone and saying, "This man deserves to die," and that man would immediately be riddled with arrows by soldiers.

If Madam Feng were in her prime, she could absolutely make men do anything with ecstasy.

Ecstasy—Madam Feng didn't expose her chest; her clothes were neat and proper. But her allure wasn't in the exposure; it was merely this casual gesture of drinking tea that made Benfeng sense the bewitching charm within Madam Feng, who embodied virtue, chastity, and benevolence.

"I have an elder sister who lost her to the Northern Qi dynasty. You may have heard of her, Young Master Li. Her body lay exposed on the court, and the officials were too ashamed to discuss state affairs. A beauty's beauty brought disaster, and my sister became the culprit for the downfall of the kingdom." Madam Feng stood up, her back to Benfeng.

Benfeng softly recited: "A smile can topple a kingdom, why bother with thorns to cause harm? Little Lian's body lay exposed at night, already reporting the Zhou army's entry into Jinyang. May I ask, Madam Feng's elder sister, is she Consort Feng Xiaolian of Northern Qi?"

"Indeed, Northern Qi fell, and palace women were treated like slaves. Northern Zhou also fell. My sister's beauty still lingers, yet she is now as despised as a pig or a dog, left only with her jade belt hanging in the forest, her beauty gone... The men of this world are all butchers. If Chu Lian has an afterlife, she will never be a woman again." Before Madam Feng finished speaking, the beads on her face broke.

Hearing the sorrowful words, Benfeng reached out and grasped Madam Feng's hand. "In the second or third month of spring, willows burst into bloom. A spring breeze enters the boudoir overnight, and willow catkins drift and fall to the southern house… Spring's beauty is divided into three parts: two parts dust, one part flowing water. Looking closely, it's not willow catkins, but each speck is a tear of parting. Madam is too sorrowful… Benfeng knows little of the past dynasty, but he does know that dynasties rise and fall, merely a game for men, a fleeting pleasure. Women are always beautiful but short-lived, dying with the infamy of a fallen kingdom."

"Please, Young Master Li, listen to me play a song of willow catkins." Madam Feng gently shook Benfeng's hand, suppressing her grief, and had a maid open another long brocade box, taking out a pipa.

The pipa's melody was melancholic.

Willow catkins fall, plum blossoms bloom. Flowers bloom and fall, spring returns. The world is full of vicissitudes and suffering, the river flows eastward, never to return…

Madam Feng's song of willow catkins was written by her brother, Feng Bao. Feng Bao—Baofeng. This Baofeng Inn was the name Feng Bao's wife chose to commemorate the three siblings who had spent their lives singing on the streets. Feng Bao was executed by Sui soldiers for unintentionally creating a song about the fall of Yang and the rise of Li. The more than six hundred households in Fengjiabao were all killed, the elderly and children slaughtered. The women were forced into military service as wives, while the men were forced to bow and scrape, becoming slaves watching their wives being violated by the Sui army. Feng Bao's wife, who had married into the Wang family, escaped this humiliation, and her younger brother, who had been separated from her family in the Southern Dynasties, was also spared.

"It was the nun Wuhua who lifted Fengjiabao from this utterly humiliating siege. To allow the people of Fengjiabao to live in peace, she bravely withstood Yang Su's barrage of arrows and won the Yellow Dragon Ship, carrying everyone to Jiankang."

Feng Bao's wife opened the window.

Beneath the window stood a group of men and women, their faces weathered and weathered, who had come from the Southern Dynasty. Ben Feng recognized two: one was the steamed bun shop owner who had sold his sword for a hundred taels of gold, and the other was the rice shop owner who had been bitterly cursing Chen Shubao.

The remaining people of Fengjiabao had traveled from north to south and back again, making a round trip, and had only managed a mere ten years or so of relatively comfortable life.

"Young Master Li," Madam Feng said, "the villagers of Fengjiabao are just hoping someone can give them a place to live. They can't bear to leave their homeland. With the fall of the Southern Dynasty, they followed us back because of the reputation of the nun Wuhua."

After saying this, Madam Feng suddenly reached up and unbuttoned two buttons on her blouse,

revealing glimpses of her fair skin .

"If I can't save them, I'll follow my sister's example and offer myself up at court, jumping from here." Madam Feng spoke calmly, showing no intention of jumping.

She turned around, her eyes fixed on Benfeng. "If I were to lay bare my lowly body on the street, would you, Young Master Li, shed a single tear of sorrow?"

Madam Feng had already unbuttoned the fourth button.

"Madam Feng, I agree." Benfeng, with mixed feelings, stopped Madam Feng from unbuttoning her clothes.

A naked body—if not for love, there is no such thing as a woman revealing herself naked without reason. In a fit of rage for a beauty, I, Li Benfeng, have fallen into the cliché of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress, a scenario that even the most hardened heart could not resist.

Imagine, if Madam Feng were right before my eyes, completely naked, her fair skin and delicate bones leaping out of the window, scattering like willow catkins across the street, wouldn't the Wang family devour me alive?

And then there's the forest of virtuous ladies' arches on Madam Feng's back—they would crush me to death.

The Sui Dynasty is in trouble—Benfeng sighed. Lady Feng acted with meticulous planning, displaying the unwavering composure of a woman even in the face of imminent collapse—Yang Jian had recklessly bestowed his imperial favor upon Lady Feng's sister, a woman of delicate beauty, to be relegated to fetching water and chopping wood every day—a blatant waste of her talent.

Lady Feng smiled, then frowned, mimicking Xi Shi clutching her chest with her delicate hand, "My wicked son of Qingyang stabbed me so deeply."

Ben Feng inwardly smiled bitterly: "If Lady Feng's bewitching sword were used recklessly, it would likely pile up heaps of bones for the men of the Sui dynasty who slaughtered dogs."

Lady Feng took the land deed and gently pressed it against Ben Feng's hand, her eyes radiating allure. When she withdrew her hand, her demeanor was that of the dignified and graceful woman she had first met in the Wang family mansion's hall.

...

Ben Feng stared blankly at Lady Feng's departing figure for a long time.

When Old Man Chunshan came in, Benfeng put the land deed into a brocade box and handed it to him. "This Madam Feng is unfathomable. She's given us Fengjiabao, a place of unpredictable fortune."

After Benfeng briefly explained the origins of Fengjiabao, Old Man Chunshan optimistically said, "Since we're here, let's make the best of it. It's a good thing that Madam Feng and Empress Shen have this connection."

"Madam Feng isn't after anything else. She wants to use her womanly skills to make Yang Jian restless. She wants to tie us all to the war chariot of overthrowing the Sui Dynasty... What an ambitious woman... I hope I've misjudged her." After Benfeng finished speaking, he looked at the mournful pipa that Madam Feng had deliberately left on the table.

Seeing that Benfeng was genuinely worried, Old Man Chunshan comforted him, "Let's stay at Fengjiabao for a while. Dazhi and I will work hard to finish the construction. Once we have our own house, we can return it to her."

Benfeng slowly nodded.

Having a sister whose beauty could topple an empire, one would almost expect a sister who is a

virtuous woman in public but a scheming and ruthless schemer in private. Faced with a woman as calculating as Madam Feng, I can't say whether to welcome or reject her. In the future, I fear I'll be helplessly drawn into her gentle trap…

Let

's settle down first.

Old Man Chunshan had someone gather the old and young from the three inns. Just as things were packed, Madam Feng's caravan arrived. She hadn't summoned members of the Wang family; she had specifically chosen carriages from a carriage shop.

After setting off, more and more people from Fengjiabao joined them. Some came from Chang'an, others, like the owner of a steamed bun shop, had migrated back from Jiangnan.

These people all addressed me as "Fortress Master." I felt somewhat forced into this role.

Traveling by day and resting at inns at night, the people of Fengjiabao, having left their homes and families to escape the war and return to their roots, naturally shared their sorrows and sought solace in wine. Having migrated back from the Southern Dynasties and the Guanzhong Plain, those who had returned from the south, once they entered the Langya region of Hedong, relaxed. Upon seeing the silhouettes of Tianlai and Yingfo Mountain, they chatted and laughed, their pace slowing considerably.

The journey of over two hundred li took more than four days, and on the evening of the fifth day, they arrived at Fengjiabao.

Lady Feng, dressed in a red cloak, was already waiting at the village entrance.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lady Feng ordered a grand feast to be prepared. Lady Feng's extravagance further solidified my judgment: this was a clear indication that she intended for the Sui Dynasty's spies to report to Yang Jian, and for someone in Fengjiabao to uphold justice.

The day of Yang Jian's sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was drawing ever closer. The imperial sacrifice to Heaven would undoubtedly be a grand display of imperial power. I wondered if Yang Jian's earnest kneeling in repentance before Shen Wuhua, who had transformed into a lotus in Tianlai Mountain, truly reflected his willingness to turn to Buddhism and fulfill his promise not to station a single official or soldier within a hundred li of Tianlai Mountain.

Chapter 26 The Bedchamber Cannot Fully Convey the Spirit of

the Sacrifice to Heaven. Yang Jian first needed to eliminate the border troubles of the Turks and Tuyuhun—as an emperor, if he wanted to sleep soundly, he had to secure both external and internal stability. Just as he sang in his two songs, "Heaven is High" and "Earth is Thick," "Profound is the imperial demeanor, pure is the celestial bearing…When in high place, think of the lower; when in peace, be mindful of danger…A thousand chariots rein in their horses, ten thousand cavalrymen gather like clouds…The Milky Way is arrayed, the wind and clouds look at each other…Taking the example of Heaven, bestowing upon it eternal prosperity," this national policy of securing the borders and pacifying the interior required thorough work.

At the morning court, the first report Yang Jian received was a secret report from an envoy to the Turks, stating that the daughter of Yuwen Zhao, the former Prince of Zhao of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, had persuaded the Turkic Khan to avenge her father, and that the Turkic Khan Shetu had quietly gathered troops, preparing for a southern invasion.

The second report was a victory: the Sui army had attacked Tuyuhun, the city had been breached, and they were preparing to enter the city to persuade them to surrender.

The third and fourth reports were news of Yang Su and Shi Wansui's southern expedition to Ningzhou, and the subjugation of the Huainan and Ba-Han prefectures.

Overjoyed, Yang Jian breathed a sigh of relief.

...

In a side hall, Dugu Jialuo anxiously awaited Yang Jian's return from court. She had just received bad news: Su Wei, whom she had sent to Hedong, had been kidnapped. This news truly unsettled the Empress Dugu, who had ruled the empire.

Who would dare to be so audacious!

Empress Dugu had fully believed that after Shen Wuhua's departure, no one could shake her position as the mother of the empire—Yang Jian had deliberately concealed the ruthless killing prowess of Yuwen Yunzhong in Tianlai Mountain, and had not mentioned a single word about the true strength of the successor of the transcendent cultivator of the Zhexing Pavilion in Yingshui Continent, who had reached the realm of celestial beings. This had given Dugu Jialuo the illusion that he was all-powerful.

Yang Jian did this to see if the woman of the Dugu family, who had served three emperors and still held the highest position in the harem, could, as she had helped her husband seize the throne, bring the Buddhist and Taoist sects under the control of the harem, thus countering Shen Wuhua's successor of the Zhexing Pavilion.

If Yang Jian were truly devoted to Buddhism, he wouldn't have needed to rack his brains so much—the Diamond Sutra already points out that if one understands the shore of wisdom, a single sentence is enough: all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning.

The highest state of having Dharma is having no Dharma.

How could Yang Jian be without Dharma? He still wanted to expand the territory of the Sui Dynasty to the ends of the earth.

After meeting Empress Dugu in a side hall and eating some of the carefully prepared afternoon meal prepared by the imperial chefs, Yang Jian took Empress Dugu's hand and boarded the dragon carriage.

The canopy moved slowly, and the feathered banners fluttered. On the way back to Chang'an Palace, Dugu Jialuo softly asked Yang Jian, "Your Majesty, were there any reports of plague or rebellion from the Northwest and Jiangnan during this morning's court session?"

"Fortunately, Jiangnan has been pacified, and the Tuyuhun have also submitted. Now, the only border threat is the Turks." Yang Jian lifted the curtain and looked outside.

It was noon, and the golden rays of the sun shone on the green tiles, yellow roofs, pavilions, and towers. In the imperial garden, flowers were in bloom, and leaves were tender green. Taking a deep breath, one could feel a pleasant, warm fragrance that penetrated to the core.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report." Dugu Jialuo nestled gently against Yang Jian like a young woman.

"What could possibly be difficult for the Empress, the mother of the nation?" Yang Jian asked.

"My lord Su Wei, whom I sent to Hedong, has been kidnapped." Empress Dugu glanced at Yang Jian with considerable anxiety, then continued, "When I sent Su Wei to Hedong, I felt that without the assistance of military generals, he would likely achieve little. The counties of Hedong are teeming with Buddhist and Taoist sects. If Yang Su were sent along, Your

Majesty's journey to offer sacrifices to Heaven would be worry-free." "Who would dare to act so boldly? Have the guards sent any other news?" Yang Jian was concerned that if troops were sent to Tianlai Mountain, Yuwen Yunzhong and the successor of the Zhexing Pavilion, who dared to call his master "senior sister," would slaughter Sui soldiers like popcorn. Among Shen Wuhua's remaining disciples was Tianqin, the righteous and vengeful woman who wielded a sword with the power of her zither. During the Southern Dynasty, Tianqin guarded the Fengque Palace alone, and none of the imperial guards sent by the Sui court could surpass her Daoist realm—her granddaughter Tianyin had grown to ten years old in the Tianque Palace, yet her grandfather, the ruler of the dynasty, remained completely unaware.

Thinking of all this, Yang Jian couldn't help but dwell on the heavy promise he made on Tianlai Mountain: that "not a single official or soldier would be stationed on Tianlai Mountain" after he watched Shen Wuhua transform into a lotus and kneel beneath the seventeen-story stone pagoda. This promise was now a thorn in his side.

Dugu Jialuo took out a portrait.

In the misty clouds, Su Wei stood motionless on the peak, seemingly conversing with someone. But the person conversing with Su Wei was nowhere to be seen.

"A reclusive Taoist master?" Dugu Jialuo wasn't sure of her judgment. "Once, on the East Sea, I saw an elder standing in the Plum Blossom Valley, using Taoist magic to condense flowers in his hand, casually tossing them into the air, and he could walk on the flowers."

"I hope this person is a friend, not an enemy. Let Su Wei stay in Hedong for a while longer; there's no need to rush the sacrificial ceremony." Yang Jian didn't want Yang Su and other military generals to participate. Yang Jian held the portrait and looked at it a few more times. Judging from the portrait drawn by the guard, Su Wei wasn't being coerced; rather, it seemed he had encountered an old friend or elder. If so, with the help of that master, Su Wei could easily establish connections with the Langya Wang family and the Qin family of Yingfo Mountain, laying the groundwork for the Buddhist and Taoist disciples to reach an agreement.

Yang Jian, having been raised in a temple by Abbess Zhixian since birth, naturally knew that the rules of cultivation were not bound by worldly etiquette. Using Buddhism for the sake of Buddhism, and Taoism to govern Taoism, was the best strategy for securing the country.

"Your Majesty," Empress Dugu said, "now that the Southern Dynasty has been pacified, could Yang Su be recalled and sent to Hedong to assist Su Wei?" She hadn't expected that Yang Jian, who always shared her thoughts, wouldn't consider stationing troops at Tianlai Mountain to further solidify the imperial power of the emperor in his flowing yellow robes.

Yang Jian said, "The empire has just been unified from north to south, the people are just beginning to settle down, and the foundation of the court is not yet stable. Although the nomadic tribes of the Qi Hu have submitted to our dynasty, it is only because they are intimidated by the strength and bravery of the Sui army. I am worried that the Qi Hu tribes live in scattered and disorganized places, and have been plundering for many years. I fear that there may be those who rebel. I have already discussed with Minister Gao

the matter regarding Yang Su's pacification of the south. After Yang Su returns to court and rests for several months, we will send troops to the Turks to eliminate future troubles." "Your Majesty is absolutely right. It is my ignorance that has led me astray," Empress Dugu said against her will, but she felt uneasy.

She felt that Yang Jian was hiding something.

When they arrived at Yong'an Palace, Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian listened to the song "Heaven and Earth" together again. The song Yang Jian composed was probably a recollection of the past when he and Dugu Jialuo shared joys and sorrows, and were inseparable.

Even after the bloody and brutal extermination of the Yuwen imperial family, the two of them were hardened to the bone, and could even ignore the cries of their own daughter.

...After listening to the music, Dugu Jialuo, brimming with allure, bathed with Yang Jian.

After bathing in the fragrant water, Dugu Jialuo lay naked on the bed, reaching out to pull Yang Jian down onto her meticulously maintained, supple, and fragrant body. Dugu Jialuo teased him relentlessly, their bodies intertwined, giving Yang Jian immense pleasure.

"Your Majesty...have I neglected you? I feel Your Majesty has been troubled lately, unwilling to confide in me." At the height of her passion, Dugu Jialuo suddenly placed her hand on Yang Jian's shoulder, tears welling in her eyes.

"How could that be? The Empress shares the burdens of state affairs with me, and I have always...said my best." Yang Jian, already aroused by Dugu Jialuo's teasing, was eager to conquer her completely.

But he hadn't expected Dugu Jialuo to have ulterior motives.

Dejected, Yang Jian gave up and turned to lie on his side. With his eyes closed, Yang Jian patted Dugu Jialuo, whose face was still streaked with tears. "Don't think too much. We've been through thick and thin together. I have no worries. I'm just tired..." After saying this, Yang Jian fell silent.

Dugu Jialuo looked at Yang Jian with his eyes tightly closed, hesitating to speak.

She didn't understand what Yang Jian was worried about. He could even command the border troubles with the Turks with ease. What troublesome matter could make him so worried?

Could it be...?

Dugu Jialuo suddenly remembered the southern tune she had heard in Fengjiabao, Hedong: "Willow catkins fall, plum blossoms bloom. Flowers bloom and fall, spring comes again. The world is full of ups and downs, suffering is unbearable, the river flows eastward and never returns..."

She wanted to ask Yang Jian, but she was afraid that, like before, she would make things worse and make things awkward in bed... Other things could be forced, but Dugu Jialuo knew the intricacies of the man's dominance. She

could only wait anxiously for dawn.

Dugu Jialuo lay there with her eyes open, anxiously waiting for the dawn of the next day.

Chapter 27 External Alchemy, the Extraordinary Way

When Yang Jian awoke, the first thing he saw was Dugu Jialuo kneeling at the foot of the bed.

Yang Jian had experienced Dugu Jialuo's obsession firsthand. His daughter, Lihua, had been nearly executed by the tyrannical Emperor Yuwen Yun of Northern Zhou, but Dugu Jialuo, with unwavering determination, had pleaded with the Empress Dowager of Northern Zhou, step by step, kowtowing, and managed to save her daughter's life.

Yang Jian reached out to pull Dugu Jialuo up, but she remained rooted to the ground like a nail.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty. Last night I failed to satisfy Your Majesty. I was inconsiderate and unable to share Your Majesty's burdens. If Your Majesty finds me lacking in understanding, then please strip me of my title as Empress." After speaking, Dugu Jialuo banged her head against the ground.

Yang Jian couldn't take it anymore and quickly got up, pulling Dugu Jialuo onto the bed. "Empress, we've been husband and wife for many years, so please speak your mind."

"Your Majesty, my heart is devoted to Your Majesty so that you can focus on state affairs and rule the world. No matter what obstacles Your Majesty may encounter, I would gladly sacrifice myself to relieve Your Majesty's worries." Dugu Jialuo, overcome with emotion, pressed her smooth, jade-like body against Yang Jian's chest. "Everything I have belongs to Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Dugu Jialuo slowly removed her thin clothes, half-rising up, pressing her high, firm breasts against Yang Jian's face, gently rubbing and caressing them. Her jade hands caressed Yang Jian's chest hair, and she leaned forward, her jade buttocks swaying, her eyes slightly narrowed, swaying left and right as she made up for last night's lovemaking.

The woman's tender, firm breasts rose and fell, and Yang Jian felt the heat of her increasingly rapid swaying thighs. His body flared with desire, and he pressed his hands against Dugu Jialuo's thighs, swaying them vigorously... Yang Jian's heart softened; the unpleasantness of the previous night was melted away by Dugu Jialuo's persistent, sometimes gentle, sometimes firm, affection... When the passion subsided, he touched Dugu Jialuo's breasts and said, "Empress, please don't blame yourself. If there is any fault, it is not yours, but mine... On Tianlai Mountain, alas... I almost lost my life."

Speaking of Tianlai Mountain, Yang Jian felt that being an emperor was truly meaningless. As the Son of Heaven, to save his life, he had to rely on a man's kneeling.

He sighed repeatedly as he recounted to Dugu Jialuo how Tianqin had enumerated his crimes, including the massacre of the Yuwen imperial family, at Tianlai Mountain, forcing him to promise that "no officials or soldiers would be stationed within a hundred li of Tianlai Mountain."

"The most difficult thing is that Tianyin is Lihua's own flesh and blood. It's truly unbelievable. Is Shen Wuhua really the reincarnation of Buddha...? She seems to have foreseen the inevitable downfall of the Southern Dynasty, and thus took Tianyin into the palace so early? Using Tianyin to counterbalance the Northern Dynasty makes it impossible for me to sleep soundly in my bed."

Yang Jian sighed again, "In her eyes, an emperor is less important than a poor boy who only knows how to brew medicine and treat illnesses. This must be what they call divine will!"

Dugu Jialuo was deeply shaken upon hearing Yang Jian's honest words! For a moment, she couldn't find the words to comfort him.

The Sui Dynasty was doing well in all aspects, except for the lingering troubles of the Southern Dynasty, which seemed impossible to eradicate. Dugu Jialuo wanted Chen Shubao to quietly drink a cup of poisoned wine and die, but the generals leading the southern expedition, such as Yang Su and Han Qinhu, strongly opposed this. Han Qinhu, in particular, went to Dugu Xin personally, holding a sword to his own neck, and passionately explained the dire consequences: "If Shubao dies, I, Han Qinhu, will slit my own throat. That Tianqin of the Southern Dynasty's Fengque Palace killed over three hundred soldiers who stormed the palace in three hours. If it weren't for the Three Yang Immortal, my head would probably already be hanging on the flagpole of the city wall." Surviving Tianqin's sword meant writing a blood oath: "If Shubao dies, Qinhu will also die."

Dugu Jialuo pondered for a long while, glanced at the water clock by the bedside, lifted the curtain, and looked at the sky outside the window. "Your Majesty, please go to the morning court. The matter of Tianlai Mountain need not concern Your Majesty. I will go to see my father to discuss a foolproof plan. I will depart for Tianlai Mountain in a few days."

Yang Jian nodded, and Dugu Jialuo helped him put on his dragon robe for court. When leaving Chang'an Palace for court, he bowed three times to the golden statue of Abbess Zhixian on the north table, clasped his hands together, and uttered "Amitabha."

Since the matter was already out in his hands, let Dugu Jialuo worry about it.

...

Dugu Jialuo went to see her father. After discussing for a long time, they couldn't come up with a sure-fire solution. Father and daughter, however, were of one mind and decided to take the family's elite troops to Hedong to find Su Wei first.

Before leaving for Hedong, Dugu Jialuo spent three nights in passionate lovemaking with Yang Jian. To the high-ranking officials and powerful members of the Yang family, she claimed to be slightly unwell and recuperating in the palace.

Knowing full well the dangers, she deliberately ventured into the lion's den. Dugu Jialuo even considered a desperate gamble: to exterminate all of Shen Wuhua's disciples from the Zhexing Pavilion, sparing not even her own grandson, Tianyin.

For the sake of the Sui Dynasty's eternal peace, what harm was there in another round of ruthless elimination?

Dugu Xin, Dugu Jialuo, and a group of guards traveled day and night to the Qin family at Yingfo Mountain. They first met with Old Madam Qin and Qin Tong, the leader of the Longmen Sect.

There was a reason for arriving at the Qin family first.

Dugu Jialuo had already received a report from her guards on the way: Madam Feng of the Wang family had become entangled with Shen Wuhua's disciple and openly moved into Feng Family Fortress… Feng Family Fortress was a forbidden place for the music of the fallen Sui Dynasty. This wind had heard Madam Feng sing the willow catkin song; during the Sui Dynasty, no one dared to sing it, whether in brothels or official music halls.

There are taboos surrounding personal names, lyrics, and even more so, poetry and books. If a commoner inadvertently offends the imperial court, the massacre of their entire family and nine generations is commonplace for those on the throne. "

Hmph!" Dugu Jialuo sat in the main hall of the Qin family, her heart filled with rage: If the Wang family dared to rebel, the first to be executed would be the Wang family. Even if the Wang family is powerful and deeply entrenched, I, Dugu Jialuo, will never allow them to overthrow the Sui Dynasty in the name of Buddhism or Taoism.

...

The scheming Su Chuo finally met the person he was waiting for—Yang Jian and Dugu Jialuo. Their status as two saints was no accident; they knew Tianlai Mountain was crucial to the dynasty's survival, and they knew Hedong was in trouble. Their strategy of appeasement through peace rather than force was a brilliant move. Their ability to scheme like this made them dragons and phoenixes in the mortal world. If other foolish rulers had encountered their trusted ministers being captured, they would likely have already launched an attack on Tianlai Mountain.

Su Wei led to Dugu Jialuo's appearance, and Su Chuo, with nearly two cycles of sixty years of divination experience, had been waiting for this day for a long time.

If Shen Wuhua hadn't transformed into a lotus and departed, Su Chuo would have continued to use the tortoise-breathing method, remaining secluded in a mountain cave to enhance his power with potent elixirs.

Su Chuo had calculated for years, but couldn't predict the date of the Southern Dynasty's demise. This was because Shen Wuhua, who had entered the mortal world through her otherworldly cultivation, had no calamity in her destiny. Moreover, Shen Wuhua had also entered Buddhism through Taoism, becoming the Buddhist sage of the Southern Dynasty's subjects—Su Chuo could only sigh in vain: Heaven has ordained such a thing, how can I, Su Chuo, defy Heaven?

He could only accept his fate.

Yet, he was unwilling to merely refine a few life-sustaining pills and spend his days with monkeys and apes. Su Chuo originally intended to go to see Yang Jian with the Six Edicts of Governing the State by Governing the Mind, but just as he was about to set off, he was shocked to learn that the Southern Dynasty had already fallen.

Fate had suddenly descended. Sitting atop Haotian Peak, Su Chuo watched as the twelve golden lotus seats, transformed from Shen Wuhua, concealed within the Haotian Stone Pagoda. He knew his time to seize power had arrived. Given time, with the Sui Dynasty's unification of Jiangnan and Jiangbei, he could search the world for rare elixirs and herbs, break through the barriers of the Xuan Guan Tower, attain the Yang Shen body, and achieve mastery of Daoist arts.

Dugu Jialuo's dispatch of Su Wei to Hedong was like a fish in water for Su Chuo. He staged a performance of seeking enlightenment amidst the clouds atop the peak, prompting Dugu Jialuo to eagerly come to him.

Su Chuo's grand scheme to seduce the Sui Dynasty and aid his own cultivation had begun.

The external alchemy path was not the ordinary path. The Sui Dynasty's treasury was overflowing with gold and silver—sorry, but my cultivation path, Su Chuo's, was based on self-interest; with the Sui Dynasty's abundant treasury and the imperial power, I could take whatever I wanted from the world.

Dugu Jialuo and Dugu Xin had just sat down when Su Chuo and Su Wei were already standing in the Qin family compound.

Old Madam Qin initially thought she was mistaken, but upon seeing that it was indeed the living Su Chuo, she chuckled and joked, "You old codger, neglecting all your duties at court, you've hidden yourself away in Tianlai Mountain! You have a keen sense of smell, the distinguished guests have just arrived, and you're already here playing tricks."

"Old sage, I may be old, but I'm not as old as you," Su Chuo said, feigning ignorance of Dugu Jialuo and Dugu Xin.

Su Wei, however, knelt before Empress Dugu, "This humble subject greets Your Majesty."

Empress Dugu beckoned Su Wei to rise, her eyes filled with suspicion as she looked at Su Chuo beside him. How could a robust man who looked only in his thirties act so disrespectfully towards Old Madam Qin?

Hearing her son's words, Su Chuo feigned surprise and said, "This old man is blind. May I ask if you are the Empress Dugu, the mother of the nation?"

Su Wei knelt down again, "Your Majesty, my father had profound foresight. He obtained a Taoist scripture during his serious illness and cured himself, living past one hundred years old."

Empress Dugu looked at Su Chuo in astonishment, "You are truly the old Prime Minister Su."

Su Chuo said proudly, "This old man has secluded himself in the mountains, oblivious to the passing of time, becoming a recluse in the countryside. He only knows the clear breeze and bright moon, and in his spare time, he concocts a few elixirs to nourish his body and preserve his life, thus passing the rest of his days."

"So it's true, that's wonderful." Dugu Jialuo didn't mind Su Chuo's attitude. Seeing the ethereal Su Chuo, she immediately thought of a brilliant solution to the problem of not having a single official or soldier stationed at Tianlai Mountain.

Using Buddhism to govern Buddhism, and Taoism to govern Taoism.

Chapter 28 The Dharma Image Reflects on the Wall, the Pulse Connects to the Star Wheel

Ben Feng finally saw Tianlai Mountain. However, the Tianlai Mountain of today was not the Tianlai Mountain of a thousand years later, which he could easily climb up and down, with lush green grass and oxen plowing the fields.

Although it was nearly May, the nine peaks of Tianlai Mountain were still covered in snow, their summits piercing the clouds with a precipitous sheen that sent chills down my spine.

The workings of nature, that eternal force of heaven, were indeed a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

I only stayed in Fengjiabao for half an hour; the atmosphere there made me feel suffocated. With my semi-hidden spiritual awareness, I felt that Fengjiabao was overly foul—once a blood-soaked slaughterhouse, then a military camp where warlords indulged their pent-up frustrations, Fengjiabao had accumulated countless resentments and malevolent forces.

For a practitioner specializing in the Yin cultivation path, living in Fengjiabao would be most suitable.

This is not the way of Benfeng. Benfeng is the other shore of wisdom, the inner universe of the heart reflecting the essence of Yang.

It is essence of Yang, not Yang—essence. This is an insight derived from his internal medicine techniques. Essence of Yang is the energy accumulated in the heart. Perhaps, with the accumulation of stars in the heart, one can cultivate essence of Yang energy that is blue, green, red, or even purple, and thus be able to wield the sword. Benfeng only received eight words of mental cultivation from his master—transform intention outward and merge matter inward… These eight words are the key to Benfeng's accumulation of essence of Yang in the heart. Although it is only eight words, it has already given Benfeng the invaluable foundation for building the heart.

Dark week—semi-dark week—bright week, if one advances to the star gathering stage, it will be the innate realm most coveted by cultivators.

The essence of the Lotus Canon lies in the fact that essence of Yang can be stored in all the meridians and acupoints. Currently, I have not yet perceived the profound mystery of how the acupoints of the hundred meridians can connect with the essence of heaven and earth , just as the mind can. Once I advance from the state of semi-darkness to the state of light,

and transform my inner consciousness into a flying lotus and a soaring fire sword, I will have entered the inner sanctum, achieving the

transformation from one to two, and from two to three. Regarding the mysteries of the human body's inner universe, I, following my inherently easygoing nature, have already been able to connect with the wisdom and enlightenment realm described in the Lotus Sutra created by my master. Through my journey from Pure Land Mountain to Tianlai Mountain, I am grateful for my master's unintentional yet profoundly insightful wisdom, which has enabled me to subtly and silently connect my meridians and transform my intentions within a peaceful and joyful state of mind… Now that I know my master has departed as a lotus, I am no longer saddened.

Since ancient times, cultivating the Tao and attaining enlightenment has relied on one's own innate qualities, guided by the unintentional yet profound wisdom of the master, through daily practice and realization. Having received the eight-character mantra and lotus hand seal from his master, and practicing the Lotus Canon of the Daoist arts taught by Senior Sister Tianqin in the Zhexing Pavilion, this was already a level of cultivation that others could only look up to. Reaching

the heavens in one step was something only legendary geniuses could achieve. Ordinary people, making vows to cultivate, often end up with misleading and corrupt paths, becoming mere vessels for others' alchemy, wasting their lives and remaining nothing more than dung outside the Daoist gate.

After so many days, Benfeng had gradually come to understand that cultivation depended entirely on one's own heart. Even with Senior Sister Yixuan's Six Lotus Earth Immortal realm, it only strengthened his resolve to ascend to the Immortal realm; he didn't expect to master it after just a few days of practicing the Lotus Canon swordsmanship with her.

...

After drinking several bowls of rice wine with everyone in Fengjiabao, Benfeng quietly left the village and sped off to the foot of Tianlai Mountain.

Climbing the path from the southeast, scaling rocks and cliffs to reach the trail atop Haotian Peak, Benfeng discovered a graceful figure standing before him.

*Whoosh!* A streak of azure sword light!

Startled, Benfeng leaped onto the snow-covered hill beside him. His flying skills were limited, and he slipped, nearly falling into the snow.

*Pfft!* A laugh escaped him; the graceful figure sheathed her sword and darted to an old pine tree. "Senior brother, how come you didn't even recognize me?"

Tianyin's voice rang out.

Benfeng chuckled, "Once we get to Tianlai Mountain, I'll have to be a hundred times more careful. Didn't you say that if you just wander across any mountain or hill, you might just bump into a transcendent cultivator?"

"I was just trying to scare you. My master and I have been to Tianlai Mountain so many times, and apart from a few senior sisters from Jinglian Nunnery, we haven't encountered a single person, let alone any transcendent cultivator." Tianyin tilted her head and looked at Benfeng standing on the snow. "That Madam Feng is looking for you everywhere, saying she wants to give you a very valuable gift."

Benfeng said, "It's best not to accept her gift. I'm terrified of her. She suddenly handed over three or four hundred people from Fengjiabao to me. I have neither the will nor the strength. I had no choice but to come to Tianlai Mountain for some fresh air."

"I didn't run up here. Look." Tianyin took out several talismans glowing with a blue light from her backpack. "Flying Cloud Talismans. Senior Sister Yixuan gave each of us five. When I saw you running out, I released one to wait for you."

"Senior brother is such a goose, hehe, all he knows is to use his own two legs, it's become a habit." Benfeng laughed as he accepted the Flying Cloud Talisman from Tianyin.

With the Flying Cloud Talisman, they could travel to Chang'an, the capital of the Sui Dynasty, in just a few hours.

The Flying Cloud Talisman crafted by Yixuan was made using lotus leaves from the Thousand Waterfalls Pool of Tianlai Mountain as its base. When placed on the body, the lotus leaves would emit water-like ripples of magical energy—when someone approached, they would quickly heat up as a warning, the higher the magical energy, the more intense the heat.

"Senior brother, let's go take a look at the seventeenth-story stone tower on Haotian Peak." Tianyin jumped down from the old pine tree, and after Benfeng walked to her side, the two climbed Haotian Peak together.

Haotian Peak was not the highest among the nine peaks. However, because of its location in the middle of the eight peaks surrounding it, and the presence of the seventeenth-story stone tower, Haotian Peak was conventionally regarded as the main peak of Tianlai Mountain.

In fact, besides its nine towering peaks, Tianlai Mountain boasts hundreds of hills of varying heights stretching for miles, with over thirty well-known Taoist temples and more than twenty Buddhist temples.

On Haotian Peak stands a Heavenly Terrace.

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the Heavenly Terrace has been a place where emperors of some Taoist cultivation offered sacrifices to Heaven. During the Qin and Han periods, Tianlai Mountain was a forbidden royal area. From the Three Kingdoms period to the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, years of war and the emperors who promoted Buddhism and suppressed Taoism, in their whims, had long since trampled this forbidden royal sacrificial site. After Yang Jian seized power from the Zhou dynasty, Tianlai Mountain gradually returned to its former state, with the Taoist temples and temples being renovated, and it once again became a gathering place for the founding of Buddhist and Taoist sects.

Vast and inclusive, high and overlooking the heavens.

Benfeng looked up at the stone pagoda.

Calling it a stone pagoda is an understatement; it's more like a towering stone building reaching into the clouds. The stone pagoda stands atop Haotian Peak, northeast of the Heavenly Terrace, facing the Tianzhu Peak to the north.

Benfeng and Tianyin entered the first level of the stone tower. Only a faint starlight illuminated the interior. Tianyin released a Fire Lotus Talisman, illuminating a corner of the tower.

"Senior brother, Master must be in seclusion on the top floor of the tower," Tianyin said, releasing three more talismans to brighten the entire first level. The inner walls of the tower were

densely

carved with images of various Buddhas. The Buddhas varied in size and posture, some standing, some reclining. Some were solemn and dignified, others playful and unrestrained.

Just as they were engrossed in their gaze, a sudden flash of starlight appeared before them.

Bright light, as clear as day, streamed through the stone windows of the tower. Benfeng saw Master standing gracefully on the tower wall, the Buddha images carved around him reflecting the light.

"Master!" Benfeng and Tianyin cried out in unison, kneeling on the ground. Looking up, they saw a statue of their master facing each of them.

An external avatar, a reflection on the wall.

Benfeng's heart also felt something unusual. The star vein lines corresponding to the five-star array plate slowly flowed like water, passing through an acupoint, where a bright spot would appear.

This phenomenon was the meridian connection point of the three channels and seven star wheels in the Nine Lotus Mantra of the Lotus Canon. The heart has a hundred channels, and within each channel there are central, left, and right channels. Intention enters the central channel, passing through one and then three. If a star reflects the heart, then the star wheel is simultaneously connected to the intention. The seven star wheels are divided into the Baihui (GV20) Brahma acupoint star wheel, the crown of the head star wheel, the third eye star wheel, the neck and throat star wheel, the central star wheel, the abdominal sea star wheel, and the Yongquan (KI1) sea sea star wheel.

Benfeng's meridian connection point was the starting point of the Baihui Brahma acupoint star wheel.

With this understanding, Benfeng realized the profound mystery of how intention leads to the fusion of essence and yang energy with matter. What Benfeng resonated with was the essence and yang energy formed by the swirling of the star lotus. A few days ago, when I used the jujube branch sword, I hadn't yet grasped the principle of mind-body connection. Even with renewed effort and a pursuit of precision, my best attempts were only three or four out of ten, and not a single jujube branch could pierce through

the incense stick. Before the body moved, the mind had already acted. I felt that with this enlightenment, if I could achieve the opening of the central meridian of the Small Heavenly Circuit as described in the Inner Canon, not only could I pierce through the incense stick, but I would also no longer need the Flying Cloud Talisman for the Flying Cloud Arrow Step. My legs would move outwards with intention , and I could take a step in the air.

I sat cross-legged, my mind entering a state of tranquility. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, three more meridian-opening points appeared at the Baihui acupoint and the Star Wheel, and a faint blue light flickered above my head.

Chapter 29 Illusion, Demoness, Really

Light as a feather, Benfeng seemed to float in the mystical atmosphere, observing the various Buddha statues. He even saw a lotus-shaped nun statue, completely unadorned, and his breath quickened. Looking again, he was surrounded by a group of nuns, their bodies radiant and alluring.

A group of nuns, their bodies completely naked, surrounded Benfeng, creating a world of erotic allure. Bathed in divine light, Benfeng's body floated away from the stone tower, landing in a sea of snow with the mesmerizing nuns. Between

the snow sea and the sea of clouds lay a cave. The cave was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, like a paradise. Yet, it felt strangely different, as if the world he had entered was adjacent to his own world a thousand years in the future—a world where he was born into a lowly position, forced to bow his head, a world of eroticism and violence. Here was a river of pleasure and desire; there, a bloody massacre.

Following his instincts, Benfeng was happy to wade into the fragrant, powder-scented river of love.

He heard the soft, sweet laughter of the nuns—and within sight, a jade-like figure frolicked in a tranquil pool beside the cave, the sounds incredibly alluring. But as he approached, he saw only a thin mist rising, a few water lilies floating on the surface, and no jade-like figure in sight. Benfeng stopped, turning back with a sense of disappointment. A casual glance revealed a hidden paradise above the pool, where the water cascaded gently—a steaming pool surrounded by blooming peach blossoms. It was a

hot spring.

In the hot spring was a beautiful young woman. A woman with an ethereal beauty, yet captivating allure. This woman resembled the legendary, utterly bewitching Daji. Benfeng's vocabulary regarding women wasn't extensive, but upon seeing the alluring woman in the mist, a profound phrase instantly came to mind: "One glance could topple a city, a second glance could topple a nation."

The woman who resembled Daji didn't see Benfeng. She was enjoying herself immensely, caressing her breasts with her soft hands… This action was deadly; it instantly made Benfeng hard, his eyes widened, and his legs trembled with excitement.

Benfeng tried to reassure himself: since he had encountered this place while seeking enlightenment, he shouldn't have lustful thoughts. She was just a woman with breasts and legs; why were his legs trembling?… He needed to calm himself down… Benfeng tried to force himself to calm down, but he couldn't help but move closer to the hot spring… He wanted to get closer, to see more clearly.

Beside the hot spring stood two eye-catching peach trees, each over two meters tall. Beneath the peach trees grew soft water plants that connected to the bank, and between the water plants and the peach trees, scattered, lonely, unclaimed, vibrant wildflowers bloomed. Benfeng gradually moved closer to a patch of weeds only ten meters from the spring.

The alluring woman had already stirred an irresistible desire within Ben Feng—he even wished the steam from the hot spring would dissipate, allowing him to examine the enchantress up close, her every hair clearly visible! She

was too alluring, irresistibly so.

A woman's delicate fragrance filled his nostrils… Ben Feng glanced over and saw the enchantress's clothes. A woman's fine silk dress lay piled on a smooth, jade-like stone… Without hesitation, Ben Feng reached out a trembling hand and collected all of the enchantress's garments. He

intoxicated himself, bringing the enchantress's fragrant clothes to his nose, inhaling them again and again… If he could have a passionate encounter with this woman, this meeting at the mountain pool would be incredibly meaningful.

Ben Feng's lustful thoughts surged… If only he could experience that pleasure, to make love… Lost in his fantasies, Ben Feng suddenly heard the beautiful woman cry out, "You…you despicable men!"

Had they seen them? Feeling guilty, Benfeng quickly lay down... He decided it was best to leave rather than look. Clutching the demoness's clothes, he hunched over and retreated along the peach grove by the hot spring to the surface of the pool, moving towards the misty cave.

Just then, he heard a series of hurried splashes. Looking up, he saw the demoness in the water, slightly startled, rushing towards him—or rather, she was getting dressed by the pool, as if hiding from someone.

Behind her, a group of men like hungry wolves were splashing and chasing after him. The demoness, upon seeing Benfeng, froze, incredulously uttering, "I've been waiting for you for so long!"

Hearing the demoness's praise, Benfeng initially wanted to explain himself like a composed man, but seeing the dozen or so men with their erect penises, he quickly suppressed his urges, wrapped the frail demoness in his clothes, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and rushed into the cave.

The cave wound its way through countless twists and turns. Benfeng, carrying the alluringly beautiful woman on his shoulder, moved with incredible speed, navigating the labyrinthine passages in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, completely bewildering the men chasing after him.

Having shaken off the annoying men, Benfeng couldn't help but sway his head from side to side. As he did so, he felt the softness of the beauty's jade-like legs.

A feeling of suppleness like bone, warm and gentle as water…

"My benefactor… I must go down now, I must go to Chang'an. Please put me down, okay?" The enchanting woman on his shoulder spoke with a voice like a nightingale, her cheeks flushed, truly as beautiful as a peach blossom, a lotus emerging from the water.

Setting the demoness down, Benfeng deliberately turned his head away, waiting for her to rustle and dress before turning back with a manly air. "The green hills remain unchanged, the clear waters flow forever. My name is Li Benfeng. I apologize for my earlier rudeness."

"My surname is Yuchi, and my given name is Mingyue. I specialize in playing the zither. If you have the time, sir, when you arrive in Chang'an, I will play a piece for you, 'Fragrance Pervades Chang'an, Flowers Bloom Together'... I will take my leave now." After speaking, Yuchi Mingyue gave Benfeng a deep bow, glanced at him with a knowing look, swayed her slender waist, and gracefully departed.

"Yuchi Mingyue?" Benfeng stood there for a moment, then suddenly realized that she was a frail woman, and he had carried her into this winding mountain cave; she must be lost. He should guide her. With this thought, Benfeng quickly chased after her.

But Mingyue was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps… perhaps, Benfeng stared blankly for a few breaths, then suddenly realized that this might just be an illusion. "A single meeting of the golden phoenix and jade dew surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world"—his earlier recklessness had been far too much.

As he strolled out of the cave, he found himself in the snowy peaks of Tianlai Mountain.

Among several snow-covered firs stood a woman named Helan.

Madam Feng.

Benfeng sighed inwardly, "Some women are unavoidable." He wondered what connection this Madam Feng had with the alluring Yuchi Mingyue, as seductive as Daji from before. What

a stunningly beautiful scene of romance—he had been meditating in the stone tower, using his master's image as a mirror to comprehend the Lotus Sutra, only to be led here by a group of lewd nuns.

“Brother Benfeng,” Madam Feng, having drunk a few bowls of wine with Benfeng, had changed her form of address, speaking with the gentle grace of an elder sister, “I saw you were in such a hurry, not even having time to eat, so I personally made some pastries. I rode here, circling the mountains again and again, before finally finding this place.”

Madam Feng was dressed as a peasant woman, with a riding whip tucked into her waistband. As she spoke, she glanced down the mountain. Below, someone was practicing swordsmanship with rapid, leaping movements.

“To be able to find yourself so quickly amidst these towering peaks, Madam Feng is definitely not a weak woman who can't even kill a chicken.” Benfeng’s departure from Feng Family Fortress was a spur-of-the-moment decision; he hadn’t planned to go to Tianlai Mountain.

It was normal for Tianyin to notice him and follow him.

However, even if Madam Feng had someone watching him, it wouldn’t be to the point that she could even perceive an illusion and follow him so quickly—Benfeng was certain that the illusion he had experienced upon encountering the nun was a necessary stage in cultivating the Lotus Sutra.

“Was the beautiful Mingyue sister just now beautiful?” Madam Feng suddenly asked this question.

"You mean, what happened just now wasn't an illusion?" Benfeng asked, quite surprised.

"An illusion? Brother Benfeng, you sure know how to talk. You carried a woman all that way, tasted her soft and fragrant body, and you still want to call it an illusion?" Madam Feng opened the food basket. "Have some snacks first. I'm starving, it's almost dawn."

Several exquisite pastries were presented. Madam Feng picked one up, took a bite, then picked up another but didn't offer it to Benfeng. "I made these myself, would you like some?"

Benfeng couldn't refuse, so he took them and ate them in a few bites. Then he squatted down, opened the food basket, and began to devour the pastries with gusto.

"Madam Feng is meticulous in her planning. Let's give her what she wants and see what kind of earth-shattering scheme she's up to." Benfeng didn't want to play mind games with Madam Feng anymore; the more they played, the more entangled they would become.

"A distinguished guest has arrived in Chang'an. Let's go see him in a bit." Madam Feng looked pleased as Benfeng ate heartily. After Benfeng finished all the pastries she had brought, she took a handkerchief and gently wiped his mouth.

"A distinguished guest from Chang'an?" Benfeng asked.

"Empress Dugu Jialuo, the mother of the nation in the Sui Dynasty." Madam Feng replied casually, her jade-like hand lightly plucking a peach blossom.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/6735.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=6735&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Fantasy] Li Benfeng's Three Palaces and Six Courtyards (Complete) - 1-3

Next Page : [Fantasy] Li Benfeng's Three Palaces and Six Courtyards (Complete) - 13-15

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] Li Benfeng's Three Palaces and Six Courtyards (Complete) - 4-6

comment Open a new window to view comments