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

Page 88

Songwen Daoren said to Jinguang Shangren.

Master Jinguang was meditating with his eyes closed when he heard this, so he opened his eyes and looked at Daoist Songwen.

"Has Benefactor Jiang descended the mountain?"

Pine-Patterned Taoist nodded: "Mm."

Upon hearing this, Master Jin Guang said nothing more.

After a while.

Unable to conceal his doubts, Songwen Daoist asked, "Sect Leader, what is the purpose of this Huashan Sect disciple's sudden visit to my Emei Sect?"

Master Jinguang also shook his head: "This old monk doesn't know either."

He was also puzzled. Mount Hua and Mount Emei are thousands of miles apart. The disciples of the Mount Hua Sect came from afar, stayed for a few days, and left without saying anything, as if they really came to visit.

"Could it be..."

Songwen Daoist pondered for a moment and asked, "Is he representing the Huashan Sect to request an alliance between our Emei Sect and the Demonic Sect?"

Everything has its meaning. Jiang Ning, as a disciple of the Huashan Sect, held a very high position within the sect. Songwen Daoist did not believe that Jiang Ning had come to the Emei Sect just to play around.

If the Huashan Sect wanted to request external assistance to fight against the Demonic Sect, and therefore sent Jiang Ning to find them, then that would make sense.

After all, the Emei Sect and the Huashan Sect were once known as the six major sects a hundred years ago, so there must be some connection between them.

However, Jiang Ning didn't say a word about requesting the Emei Sect's assistance after arriving, which puzzled Jin Guang Shangren and Song Wen Daoren.

After thinking for a moment, Venerable Jin Guang shook his head and said, "Since he has already left, we don't need to worry about him."

Songwen Daoist nodded, then smiled and said, "Even if he wants our help to deal with the Demonic Sect, I'm afraid his Huashan Sect is not qualified."

The Huashan Sect is no longer what it used to be. Although the Emei Sect rarely travels the martial arts world, they look down on the current Huashan Sect.

Due to the time-sensitive nature of information dissemination, other factions are currently unaware that the Huashan Sect's sword and qi branches have merged, as well as the fact that Yue Buqun effortlessly defeated Feng Buping. They still believe that the Huashan Sect is as impoverished as before.

Upon hearing this, Venerable Jin Guang smiled but said nothing. Instead, he began discussing scriptures with Daoist Song Wen.

Two hours later.

"Master, Master."

A Taoist priest walked in hurriedly, calling out "Taoist Songwen".

Songwen Daoist, who was discussing scriptures with Jinguang Shangren, frowned and asked, "What is it?"

The Taoist priest said, "A letter has arrived from the Qingcheng Sect."

"Qingcheng Sect?"

Jin Guang Shangren and Song Wen Daoren were somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.

The Qingcheng and Emei sects are the two most famous sects in Sichuan. Although the masters of the Qingcheng sect are not as good as those of the Emei sect, its influence is no less than that of the Emei sect.

Previously, the two factions had no contact with each other and did not disturb each other. I don't know why they suddenly sent a letter to them.

Master Jin Guang took the letter from the Taoist's hand and opened it to read it.

When Jin Guang Shangren saw the first sentence of the letter, he was stunned. He continued reading and his expression became more and more shocked.

Seeing his behavior, Pine Pattern Taoist couldn't help but feel curious.

"Sect Leader, what did the letter say?"

Without saying a word, Master Jin Guang handed him the letter directly.

After taking the paper, Songwen Daoist also began to read it. Before long, the expression on his face was exactly the same as that of Jinguang Shangren.

The letter was delivered by those Taoist priests. In the letter, they claimed to be Yu Canghai's junior disciples. They briefly mentioned that Yu Canghai had killed his fellow disciples and ostracized his junior disciples, but they also mentioned that Jiang Ning had blocked the entrance of Songfeng Temple and killed Yu Canghai and all his disciples, including the fact that Jia Renda and Xu Dazui had openly insulted the Huashan Sect.

In their letter, they mentioned that after Yu Canghai became the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, he turned the sect into a mess, doing many things that angered both heaven and man, and turning a once great Taoist sect into a place of petty corruption.

Now they mention that the Qingcheng Sect and the Huashan Sect had no enmity to begin with. Decades ago, the two sects were on good terms. Now, it was only because of Yu Canghai's personal actions that they had developed a personal grudge against the Huashan Sect. Now that Yu Canghai is dead, the Qingcheng Sect has corrected its ways and its relationship with the Huashan Sect is as it was before.

Those Taoist priests have already delivered the letters to all the major orthodox sects, informing the world.

After reading the letter, Master Songwen remained silent.

After a while.

He looked up at the Golden Light Master opposite him and found that the other man was also looking at him.

Master Jin Guang asked him a question: "Junior brother, with your current strength, can you do what he did and kill Abbot Yu and his disciples all by yourself?"

"It can't be done."

Pine-Patterned Taoist shook his head.

Killing Yu Canghai was easy, but blocking the entrance to Songfeng Temple and killing Yu Canghai and his disciples was something he couldn't do.

Master Jinguang remained silent.

Songwen Daoist is the second best in the Emei Sect; the first is him.

After a while.

Master Jinguang sighed deeply.

"Sect Leader Yue has taken on a fine disciple."

Sure enough, a long-established sect like this wouldn't easily decline; every now and then, a prodigy would emerge.

Songwen Daoist also fell silent, recalling what he had just said.

Is the Huashan Sect not qualified now?

……

As Jiang Ning walked along the road, he pondered what he had seen and heard on his trip to Mount Emei.

He originally came to Mount Emei intending to win over the Emei Sect to fight against the Demonic Sect, but after observing for the past few days, he gave up.

The Emei Sect is indeed very powerful now, but Jiang Ning found that everyone in the Emei Sect seemed to treat Mount Hua with disdain. Although they showed enough respect for Jiang Ning, the underlying meaning was undeniable.

Jiang Ning knew that if he asked the Emei Sect to take action now, they would most likely refuse, so he remained silent.

It would take an average person several hours to walk from the summit to the foot of Mount Emei. Jiang Ning, however, descended the mountain at a leisurely pace, enjoying the scenery along the way.

Due to the climate and terrain, it rains frequently here, the cloud cover is low, and the mountainous areas are often shrouded in fog, creating a scene resembling a fairyland.

Mount Emei is a famous Buddhist mountain. This famous mountain has more than just the Golden Summit Temple. It's just that the Emei Sect used to be more famous in the martial arts world. Although its fame is not as great as before, as long as Mount Emei is mentioned, people will know about the Emei Sect.

Mount Emei also has many other temples, but they are all secular temples where the monks or nuns do not practice martial arts or participate in matters of the martial arts world.

Qingyun Temple?

Jiang Ning stopped in front of a temple and looked it over.

Jiang Ning saw many temples along the way down from Mount Emei, but they were all quite grand and imposing. However, this particular temple looked rather dilapidated.

A nun in worn robes was sweeping fallen leaves in front of the gate.

Chapter 134: Night Rider

Jiang Ning looked at the dilapidated temple and curiously stepped inside.

"Esteemed benefactor, have you come to the temple to offer incense?"

When the nun at the door saw Jiang Ning approaching, she put her palms together in a gesture of respect.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded and casually asked, "May I ask, Master, Mount Emei is a famous Buddhist mountain. When I came down the mountain, I saw many temples, all of which were very popular with worshippers. Why is it that this place is a different story?"

Some people may have asked, but the nun didn't seem to mind. She simply chanted a Buddhist prayer and said, "All things follow their own course."

He then added, "If you wish to offer incense, please come inside."

Jiang Ning nodded, told Maodou to wait outside, and went into the temple himself.

The temple is quite small. Upon entering, one discovers that the buildings are very old, with cracks in the corners of the walls. There are only a few Bodhi trees in the courtyard, making it appear very desolate.

Besides the nun from earlier, there were other people in the temple, also nuns.

However, they weren't all nuns; there were also some women with long hair. These nuns or women were busy with their own things in the temple, such as chanting scriptures or taking care of the temple environment. They were all surprised when they saw Jiang Ning.

"Are you here to offer incense at the temple, sir?"

A middle-aged nun approached, clasped her hands together in a gesture of respect, and asked.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged nun said, "Please come with me."

Then he led Jiang Ning to the main hall, where a statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva was enshrined.

Jiang Ning was not surprised.

Legend has it that Mount Emei is the sacred site of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, so it is normal for this temple to enshrine Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

"Please wash your hands, benefactor."

A nun came in carrying a basin of water.

You must wash your hands before offering incense; this is a necessary step.

After Jiang Ning washed his hands, the middle-aged nun asked, "How many sticks of incense would you like, benefactor?"

"Three, please."

Jiangning Road.

There are specific rules for offering incense, usually divided into three, six, and nine sticks. Three sticks means three incense sticks, and nine sticks means nine incense sticks.

Although there is a limit to the number of incense sticks that can be offered, more is not necessarily better; most people offer three sticks.

Three incense sticks represent precepts, concentration, and wisdom, and are for praying for oneself; six incense sticks are for praying for one's children and grandchildren; and nine incense sticks are for praying for three generations of one's children and grandchildren.

Jiang Ning is all alone; burning three incense sticks is the best course of action.

The middle-aged nun nodded, then took out three incense sticks, lit them, and handed them to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning received the incense with both hands, left hand on top and right hand on the bottom, raised it above his head and bowed. Then he inserted the incense sticks into the incense jar one by one, with the first incense stick in the middle and the second and third incense sticks on the sides.

After doing all this, Jiang Ning worshipped the Buddha statue, and then it was over.

"Benefactor, did you not make a vow in your heart?"

The middle-aged nun standing nearby looked somewhat surprised.

Normally, ordinary people come to burn incense and worship Buddha with wishes in mind. When they hold incense and bow, they usually pause for a moment to make a wish in their hearts. But Jiang Ning did not pause at all just now. His movements were smooth and seamless, as if he had simply come in to offer incense.

Jiang Ning smiled upon hearing this: "I have no wishes that I need gods or Buddhas to fulfill for me."

"Amitabha."

The middle-aged nun chanted a Buddhist prayer and said, "If you do not ask for anything before the Buddha, blessings will come naturally. Your wisdom and affinity are profound, and I admire you greatly."

Jiang Ning smiled and said nothing more.

After offering incense, Jiang Ning donated some money for the incense offerings and left without doing anything else.

He came in out of sheer curiosity.

After leaving the temple, Jiang Ning went straight down the mountain. He had spent too long in Sichuan and was preparing to return to Mount Hua.

Before that, however, he needed to go to Dujiangyan again to see what the Green Gang was all about.

However, given the incident involving the cabbage, people on Jiangning Road are more vigilant than before and have even changed their routes.

night.

After traveling for four days, Jiang Ning took a temporary rest in a field.

There were no other houses for miles around, nor any dilapidated temples or caves where he could temporarily stay, so he had no choice but to spend the night outside.

Jiang Ning sat by the campfire, with a hillside not far away.

The moon hangs high in the sky, and its shimmering light falls on the ground like a layer of silver.

Jiang Ning sat quietly by the campfire, feeling the internal energy within her body.