Xu Ziling's trip to Shu was not too perfect, because when his little master Anne had sneaked away alone and did not know where he ran, Shi Qingxuan suddenly changed his mind for some reason and said that he was going to go there first. She will stay in the small secluded forest for a while, and then go to Yuhang to meet friends next time she has a chance. Will she not go back with Xu Ziling this time?
In the end, there was no other way. Although he felt a little resentful, Xu Ziling still refused to be troubled by the powerful beauty. He had to bite the bullet and stay for one night. He said goodbye early the next morning and set off to the east alone, preparing to He returned to Yuhang as alone as when he came.
After all, including the time spent on the road, he has been tossing around Sichuan and Sichuan for nearly two months. At present, the Lingnan army led by Song Que, the "Heavenly Sword", and the Shuanglong Army led by his brother Kou Zhong Having conquered the two important areas of Jizhou and Qianzhou of the Chu State respectively, and having successfully joined forces not long ago, Lin Shihong's Chu State will soon disappear like Lin Shihong himself. At this time, of course, he, the young commander of the Shuanglong Army, is Need to rush back as soon as possible.
Furthermore, winter is coming soon. If we don’t leave Shu soon, it will be snowy and freezing. I’m afraid it will be even more difficult to travel on the Shu Road, which is already difficult to reach the sky.
Otherwise!
Just after leaving Shu along the waterway to Jingzhou, Xu Ziling faintly noticed an abnormality from some rumors and intelligence. It seemed that Wang Shichong of Luoyang, who had an alliance with their Shuanglong Army, was involved in some kind of trouble. Someone was trying to attack Wang Shichong and Luoyang takes action?
Originally, Xu Ziling didn't want to cause trouble. He just wanted to rush back to Yuhang as soon as possible.
However, when he got more information along the way and discovered that the matter was vaguely related to Cihang Jingzhai and the Li clan, he was afraid that it was some kind of city-capture plan carried out by Li clan or Cihang Jingzhai against Luoyang or something else. After that, he couldn't sit still anymore.
Although I don’t know whether it is true or not, given that the Shuanglong Army still needs the existence of Wang Shichong and Luoyang City, Xu Ziling, who does not want to see the Central Plains being interfered with by someone or the Li clan too early, after thinking again and again, hurriedly found a Shuanglong in Jingzhou After establishing the secret contact point of the army and having someone bring word of mouth back to Yuhang, he resolutely turned north and finally returned to Luoyang before winter.
"ah!"
“It’s just winter and there’s so much snow!”
"It is indeed very different from Jiangnan."
And when Xu Ziling finally returned to his old place and quietly returned to the city walls of Luoyang City, it was already snowing heavily in the sky.
Although the Luoshui River was not frozen at present, the magnificent sight of the frozen ground that day still made him sigh with emotion.
After all, this is his third visit to Luoyang.
When he first came here, it was during Wang Tong's birthday banquet. At that time, although he and Kou Zhong had already achieved some success in martial arts, in the final analysis they were just two little gangsters wandering around. And if they hadn't happened to meet each other at that time, Their little master Anne, I'm afraid that by that time, he, Xu Ziling, would have already been defeated at the hands of that terrifying Ba Fenghan.
Thinking about it now, he suddenly became curious about the situation of Ba Fenghan and his godmother's sister Fu Junyu. After all, he hadn't heard from those two people for a long time, and he didn't know what their situation was like. , has he returned to Goryeo and sent the news about him and Kou Zhong back at the same time?
The second time I came here was of course the time when the 'Heshi Bi' was born and the concubine of Cihang Jingzhai 'selected the king' for all the people in the world.
At that time, they had gone from two little gangsters to the overlords of the large area of land along the river from Yuhang to Jiujiang, and owned Lin Shihong, Zhu Jie, Xiao Xian, Li Zitong, Shen Faxing and Du Fuwei of the Jianghuai Army. The forces and heroes were capable of confrontation and challenge, and their military strength reached one hundred thousand and was claimed to have two hundred thousand soldiers. It could be said to be the most dazzling emerging force among the heroes in the world at that time.
Then, fortunately, their Master Anne was also in Luoyang at the time. So, relying on their little Master Anne's unparalleled martial arts and shelter, they survived one crisis after another without any danger, and finally succeeded. Winning the 'He's Bi' in one fell swoop not only greatly improved their martial arts, but also made their 'Double Dragon Army' unintentionally become the so-called 'Chosen Ones' circulated in the world, making Cihang Jingzhai's Shi Feixuan and others stole the chicken without losing the rice, but also lost a lot of face. They damaged the opponent's reputation in one fell swoop. It was really a great pleasure!
And next, they and the three of them secretly went to Chang'an to retrieve Yang Gong's treasury and the 'Evil Emperor's Relic'.
The 'Evil Emperor's Relic' there not only greatly increased their skills, but also laid a solid foundation for the future development of the Shuanglong Army, especially the various weapons, armors, large amounts of copper coins, pearls, gems, jade, etc. in the treasure house. The value of gold, silver, ritual utensils, antiques, etc. can completely allow their Shuanglong Army to almost not have to worry about military resources in the next few years. It can be said to be even more powerful for them.
But...
I thought of my third visit to Luoyang, and of the many dilapidated towns, displaced people, deserted fertile fields, starving people on the road, and corpses strewn in some places on the way here. Then I thought of the scene in Bashu just ten months ago. That night when he was at Duzun Castle, Xu Ziling couldn't help but feel a layer of gloom in his heart when he thought of what the master concubine Xuan had said to him.
At present, it is a certain fact that the Lingnan elite of their Shuanglong Army and the Song Clan will destroy the Chu Kingdom. Next, I am afraid that Xiao Mian and Zhu Jie will also be exposed to the powerful front of their Ssangyong Army and the Song Clan's coalition. By then, If the Duzunbao of Bashu can really respond to them, then the ownership of Bashu will not change much. In that case, in the end, the only one left with the Ssangyong Army to fight for hegemony in the Central Plains and then seize the world is the current unity. They have entered the pass and are sweeping the north. At the same time, they are also eyeing Luoyang, Hetao and other splendid places in the northwest.
When the time comes, when the two powers are fighting each other, is it possible that the scenes he saw when he came all the way to Luoyang will only become more common?
And then, once the worst-case scenario that Shi Feixuan mentioned actually happens, it might really be another round of disaster for China!
When the time comes, Xu Ziling simply cannot imagine what terrible things will happen in this land!
"cough……"
As I thought about it, I recalled everything I had experienced and grown up over the past two years. I thought about the time when I and Kou Zhong were just two thieves and gangsters in Yangzhou City, and they had to make a living under the hands of that bully boss. I just thought about it every day. I wish I could get a few more copper coins from those rich people, look at Sister-in-Law a few more times, and wait for me to collect enough money to go to the land of fireworks and willows for a happy night. I think that now I have become a young man of a certain force. The sharp contrast between being handsome and thinking about the well-being of all people in the world made Xu Ziling sigh with emotion again.
Although Xu Ziling also knew that what Shi Feixuan said that night was just working as a lobbyist in Li clan, it cannot be denied that the situation mentioned by the other party is indeed very likely to happen, and once it finally leads to In that case, all of them will really become sinners through the ages, there is no doubt about that!
Therefore, he didn't know how to avoid that situation or how to break the situation, and he became more and more confused.
"..."
Now, when I think about it carefully, the fate of Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong seems to have started from the day they had the audacity to reach into the pocket of their little Master Anne and successfully steal the bag of gold coins.
Thinking about it now, it was a good thing that the person they met and stole at that time was their Master Anne, a man with a broad mind who did not care about them and had great magical powers. But if it had been replaced by someone else, such as Du Fuwei, Yu Wenhuaji or Han Gaitian, I'm afraid their two brothers have already lost their bones now, right?
Thinking about it, while Xu Ziling was in a daze facing the slow flowing water and falling snow on the river that was so calm that it was almost freezing, while he was sometimes melancholy, sometimes reminiscing about the past, and sometimes thinking wildly with a sad face...
"!!"
Suddenly, he felt a shiver in his heart, and when he woke up and recovered, he immediately raised his head and looked towards the other end of the wooden bridge.
"Well?"
"It's him?!"
Then, after seeing the person clearly, Xu Ziling's expression couldn't help but change, and at the same time, he couldn't help but exert a little force with his left hand holding the scabbard of the Shattered Snow Sword.
"Amitabha!"
"Good, good, good..."
"Almsgiver Xu, I haven't seen you for a long time. Are you okay?"
That's right!
The person who was walking over step by step and saluting Xu Ziling was no one. It was the abbot of Jing Nian Zen Temple, the one who had been stolen by them and their Master Anne...well, by their Master. After taking away the "He's Bi", he was so angry that he broke his twenty-year silence on the spot, and then he was beaten innocently in Luoyang City. It is said that Master Liao Kong almost died!
"you……"
"ah!"
"I wonder what your master is doing?"
After confirming that the person who came was none other than the great monk Lukong, Xu Ziling exclaimed in his heart and said something bad in his heart. He quickly tried his best to put on an awkward smile and returned the salute, while secretly raising his inner strength and silently being vigilant.
He knew without guessing that this time, the other party would definitely come with bad intentions and good intentions!
Anyway, he didn't believe at all that the other party could be so generous that he would ignore past grudges and go out on this snowy day with a cold bald head to talk to him and have a friendly chat.
Originally, he was just thinking about how the other party knew that he came to Luoyang, but when he thought that Jing Nian Chan Monastery was just outside Luoyang City, that the other party had been here for who knows how many years, let alone how many informants and influence there were, he was very worried. Almost relieved.
"Amitabha……"
"Donor Xu!"
"I wonder if the donor can follow the poor monk back to the monastery and stay for a while?"
Under Xu Ziling's slightly shocked, uneasy and vigilant gaze, the monk Ling Kong did not hide the purpose of his trip at all, and he was not long-winded. He made it clear from the moment he opened his mouth that he came here to bring Xu Ziling to purification. Chanyuan and placed under house arrest.
Of course, 'house arrest' doesn't sound good, so what he said was that he hoped Xu Ziling would 'stay for a while'. As for how long the stay was, and what they would do during the 'stay', that was what they wanted to do. The masters of the Zen monastery have the final say.
"!!"
Hearing this, Xu Ziling's heart skipped a beat and he thought to himself, "Oh no."
"Ashamed!"
"Master Liao Kong, Zi Ling has important things to do when he comes to Luoyang this time, and the master must be very busy, so Zi Ling won't bother you?"
Then, while Xu Ziling refused without a smile, he also sighed a little, secretly thinking that what was supposed to come would eventually come. Knowing that sooner or later, he would have to pay back what he said. He was right, so he said vigilantly. Staring at the opponent, he was mentally prepared to have a fierce fight with the opponent at any time.
No matter what, he is no longer the Xu Ziling he was when he last came to Luoyang.
As the saying goes: You should treat each other with admiration after seeing each other for three days?
After obtaining various benefits from the 'He's Jade' and the 'Evil Emperor's Relic', although he thought that his skill might be slightly inferior to the old monk in front of him who had been practicing for at least several decades, and he also lacked experience in fighting the enemy, but , to the extent that he struggled with the other party and calmly retreated, he believed that he could still do it easily.
"Amitabha!"
After walking over and standing five steps away from Xu Ziling, the monk Lokong, who was wearing cassocks and had a handsome face and looked like a thirty-year-old handsome man, pronounced the Buddha's name again, and then He continued to persuade:
"Donor Xu!"
"The poor monk observes that you have a lot of wisdom. It seems..."
"Donor still can't let go?"
Liao Kong was not in a hurry to take action immediately, but just stared at Xu Ziling with bright eyes. Listening to his tone, it seemed that he wanted to persuade Xu Ziling to surrender and not bring trouble to himself?
"Why let it go?"
"ha!"
"Master, I'm afraid you don't know yet, right?"
"My Master Anne once said that eating, drinking and having fun are the most important things in the world. Zi Ling also agreed with this. He still wanted to continue to be carefree, but he didn't really want to go back to the Zen monastery with the master to eat, fast and chant the Buddha's name. ."
After shaking his head with a sneer and raising the name of his Master Anne as a threat, Xu Ziling continued to be wary and casually started chatting with the other party.
"Moreover!"
"Zi Ling has a beautiful unmarried wife, and he has made many close friends recently. How can he be willing to follow the master at such a young age?"
Yes, Xu Ziling had a lively fight with Shi Qingxuan Shi during his trip to Bashu. The two of them hit it off and had many topics in common. Even Xi Jing's temperament was mostly the same. They barely held hands and talked to each other sincerely. It's too late to meet each other.
So, how could he possibly go to Nalaoshizi's Jing Nian Temple to 'stay' with the monk in front of him?
Not to mention anything else, Xu Ziling could vaguely know from the determined expression he looked at the other party that he could not refuse. The "stay" mentioned by the other party would definitely not be as simple as three or five days.
"Amitabha!"
"The donor has spoken."
Monk Liao Kong was originally here to capture Xu Ziling, so how could he let Xu Ziling leave with just a few words?
"Don't you know that only when you have no love for life, no fear of death, no pursuit of the Buddha, and no fear of demons, you are at great ease?"
"Moreover..."
"Don't you hear that form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from color, form is emptiness, emptiness is color, and the same is true for feelings, thoughts, and awareness?"
"The women and beauties in this world are all skeletons, and the whole country and city will eventually turn into bones..."
“Donors must not make mistakes!”
Therefore, while he casually retorted and said a few Buddhist principles, he quietly took a step forward and pressed on the vigilant Xu Ziling step by step.
"No!"
"Zen Master Kong, Ziling thinks he has no Buddha nature, so he won't bother Master to save him."
"Why don't you and I just say goodbye?"
Shaking his head, seeing the opponent approaching again, Xu Ziling's left hand naturally held the scabbard a little tighter, and at the same time, his right hand began to rest on the hilt of the sword, making his attitude clear to the opponent.
"Good!"
"The world only sees the Buddha's appearance but not the Buddha's nature. Where is the nature?"
"Every word, every gesture, every gesture, is of wonderful use..."
"Who picks up flowers? Buddha nature is also there. Who picks up flowers? What is the World Honored One picking up? There is only one solid and dense body, which appears in all dust. All appearances are the truth appearing according to the circumstances. Nature is the appearance, appearance is the nature, and the nature is the same. ."
"Just as the green bamboos are all dharma body, the gloomy yellow flowers are all prajna... When the World Honored One picks up the flowers, it turns out to be true and true..."
"Purity is Zen, Zen is purity..."
"Amitabha!!"
After saying that, Monk Naukong retorted Xu Ziling and talked about Buddhist principles before taking a step forward again.
"!!"
Xu Ziling seemed to understand but was speechless.
Then, he had to take the initiative to take a step back. As he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position in the confrontation with the opponent's words and momentum, he couldn't help but slowly exert force on his right hand resting on the hilt of the sword.
He was about to draw his sword out of its sheath. He was not going to continue talking about Buddhism with the other party, but to see if he could get out of trouble by force.
After all, the other party is an old monk who has practiced Buddhism for decades. Xu Ziling spent the past ten years living in the market. I am afraid that the books he has read in his life are not as many as the Buddhist scriptures that the other party has read in a month. If an old thief like the other party continues to be a bastard, he is just humiliating himself.
"!!"
However, before Monk Kong could take action, Xu Ziling was startled again, and then hurriedly turned his head and looked behind him.
The next second!
In the heavy snowfall, he only saw four strong figures, and he knew from a glance that they must be older than the four Vajras in Jing Nian Temple. At the same time, their aura and skill were also extremely terrifying, even more powerful than those in Luoyang. Ning Daoqi, the top Taoist master of Middle-earth Taoism that he saw at that time, and Shi Zhixuan, the "evil king" who almost kidnapped the two brothers. Are there even more powerful monks descending from the sky?
The four tall old monks first landed lightly behind him as if there was nothing, and then they all stepped forward without saying a word. They just cooperated with the monk Liao Kong in front and surrounded him from front to back. On this unknown small wooden bridge.
"this!!"
"You are……"
Seeing this, although he didn't recognize them, Xu Ziling roughly figured out who the four people were as soon as they looked at each other.
"!!"
"Four Holy Monks?!"
Xu Ziling took a deep breath and exclaimed.
He had heard rumors in the world that the most terrifying master in Cihang Jingzhai was actually not the fairy Fan Qinghui or Shi Feixuan, but the man with superb cultivation and extremely high seniority who never set foot in the world easily. The quarrelsome—the four holy monks!
It is said that their only exception was when they encircled and suppressed the "Evil King" Shi Zhixuan more than thirty years ago!
At that time...
The four holy monks surrounded and suppressed the "evil king" Shi Zhixuan in his peak period and fought for seven days and nights. In the end, Shi Zhixuan was defeated and fled. The four holy monks were also seriously injured and had to go back to practice for many years?
But now, in order to deal with Xu Ziling, a mere newcomer, Monk Liao Kong from Jing Nian Monastery actually moved the four holy monks out. Doesn't this look down on him too much?
Anyway, Xu Ziling couldn't believe that he would receive such treatment. In his opinion, this treatment must be at least at the level of Shi Zhixuan, Song Que or their master Anne?
"Amitabha!"
"Donor Xu!"
"I wonder if the donor can follow the poor monk back to the monastery and stay for a while?"
Seeing the four holy monks, Master Daoxin, the fourth ancestor of the Zen Sect, Master Wisdom of the Tiantai Sect, Master Jiaxiang of the Sanlunzong Sect, and Venerable Emperor Xin of the Huayan Sect, they had all surrounded and blocked Xu Ziling's retreat to ensure that nothing was lost. After a while, he stepped forward again, pronounced the Buddha's name, and asked with a half-smile.
"..."
In this situation, what else could Xu Ziling say besides slowly releasing his right hand from the hilt of the sword that was about to be drawn out with an ugly look on his face?
The four great holy monks plus Monk Kong Da. With such a configuration, let alone a rising star like him, Xu Ziling, even if any famous figure in today's martial arts world comes, even if he is of the level of "Evil King" Shi Zhixuan, I'm afraid they can only surrender or run away, right?
certainly!
Xu Ziling knew that if his Master Anne was here, he might not really be afraid of these five people or there might be more people secretly there, but it was a pity that a month ago, he and Shi Qingxuan had already fought in Shuzhong His little master Anne was separated, and now he didn't know where she was.
"Lead the way!"
Xu Ziling sighed softly and gave up resistance completely. He had no choice but to hand over his sword to Monk Liao Kong who took a step forward again and stretched out his hand, and motioned for him to lead the way.
"Amitabha……"
"Almsgiver Xu."
"please!"
Nakong was unambiguous. He just took Xu Ziling's sword with one hand, then slung it behind his back and pointed to the side with the other hand.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
In this way, under the leadership of Monk Likong, and escorted by the four great holy monks such as Cihang Jingzhai and the most luxurious master lineup in Buddhism, Xu Ziling and several great monks and a group of six people walked silently in the snow. He walked silently in a certain direction, leaving only a line of black footprints on the white land with a layer of snow.
But soon!
As the snow became heavier and heavier, the footprints, like the six of them, completely disappeared into the ice and snow soon, and there was no trace anymore.
——————————
Monthly ticket Monthly ticket~ヽ(ωゞ).
(End of chapter)
