The four of them walked quickly eastward for three to five miles and encountered a clear spring flowing into a creek. They suddenly felt their mouths were dry and their thirst was even worse. Master Mingzhi stopped happily, took off the empty wine gourd from his waist and gave it to Liu Qing to fetch water. He found a shade spot and sat down on the spot. Zuo Tuming and Dugu You also sat there.
After a while, Liu Qing brought the spring water. Master Mingzhi took it and drank a few sips. After quenching his thirst, he handed it to Zuo Tuming who was sitting beside him. In order to break the silence, he asked: "Zuo Tuming, you are in the rivers and lakes. People from the southeast and northwest have been hanging around for so many years, but have you figured out what Jianghu is?"
Zuo Tuming took the wine bottle, quenched his thirst, handed it to Dugu You, and replied softly: "Mr. Li, I forgive this junior for my shallow knowledge. I really don't know what the world is. I only know that when walking in the world, many people talk about fighting and killing. Many people talk about chivalry and tenderness, some people talk about being aboveboard, and some people even talk about conspiracy. Many times, when dealing with others, one cannot tell what is good or bad, and cannot distinguish between right and wrong. It is obvious that one is living for oneself, but it always feels like Living for others, I feel dizzy. When I was young, I mistakenly thought that pleasure and revenge were one of the joys of life. Now that I am older, I know how bitter and tiring it is. I don’t know why these things come from and where they should go. Go anywhere."
Master Mingzhi smiled slightly, looked at Duguyou, and saw that he was much more energetic after drinking water, and asked: "Duguyou, what about you?"
Dugu You smiled lightly and replied: "Mr. Li, the Jianghu in my eyes is just a kind of order that is different from the official one hidden in the streets, mountains and villages. People who walk in it want to grow up from a young age. When a weak person becomes strong, he must advance when it is advantageous and give in when it is unfavorable. He should be favored by gentlemen in the open world and make friends with villains in secret. If he wants the strong to be respected and the trees and cypresses to be immortal, he must rely on his power to suppress others and use his power to undermine others. He should speak well and do good things in the open world. , secretly scheming and sneaking; if you want to lose all your fame and fortune, and retire after your success, you have to be powerful, difficult to use, and unreasonable, killing animals in the tiger's mouth openly, and kneeling in the lamb's breast secretly; once the ambition to pursue fame and wealth is put into practice, no matter whether it is successful or not, Few people can follow their heart and have a good beginning and a good end.”
Master Mingzhi smiled warmly and said, "It seems that you two have thoroughly understood the life of your eldest brother Liu Zhanxiong."
Zuo Tuming said sadly: "I miss my elder brother Liu Zhanxiong. He came from an unknown family and struggled all the way. He was finally revered as the Saint of Thieves by people in the martial arts world. He can gain both fame and fortune, and has unlimited glory. Millions of people seek him out. It was unavailable. Who would have thought that he would suddenly lose all his wealth and disappear into hiding."
Master Mingzhi said: "This is unexpected. With good intentions and bad deeds, you can escape from suffering. It is better to escape into Buddhism and use the Buddha's mind as your own mind to save your sins during your lifetime than to cover up evil with evil and become entangled."
Duguyou asked: "Old Li, do you know about my eldest brother's escape into Buddhism?"
Master Mingzhi sighed: "That dilapidated temple was not introduced by me, but it would have dared to house a famous thief in the world."
Zuo Tuming said angrily: "Old Li, what are you doing wrong? Why do you insist on instigating him to become a monk?" He thought to himself, if a monk had not shown compassion and had the courage to save the world, how could he have died in vain at the hands of his brother? Under the palm of ice, let yourself bear the name of killing your brother.
Master Mingzhi said: "What can't be done! What can Liu Zhanxiong do? Looking at the world of the Song Dynasty, although there are many industries, it is difficult to escape the four words of 'scholars, farmers, industry and commerce'. Liu Zhanxiong came from the poor and learned He is skilled in martial arts and is a thief and a Taoist. He is dedicated to dealing with those profiteers and corrupt officials. His path as a scholar, farmer, industry and commerce has come to an end. In order to escape from suffering, he has the courage to wash away his sins and even becomes a Taoist priest to cultivate immortality. There is no way to go, so if you don’t become a monk and wash your heart with the Buddha, what else can you do?”
Dugu You said: "You have already said that my eldest brother only has trouble with those profiteers and corrupt officials, so how can he have any criminal karma?"
Master Mingzhi sneered: "Where does the crime come from? Duguyou, don't forget, there is also a way to steal. If the act of stealing is not evil, then let's forget about it if everyone in the world just steals. Life is so easy and comfortable, so why should we be so obsessed with production, so busy and laborious all our lives?"
Zuo Tuming thought to himself that his elder brother had always been proud of being a thief, and suddenly he had the idea of retiring. There must be something that he couldn't let go of, and he couldn't let it go, so he came up with the idea of seeking relief. . Master Chao Mingzhi asked: "Mr. Li, do you know that my elder brother's sudden change of temperament was due to something that he couldn't think about?"
Master Mingzhi said: "More than 20 years ago, we met on the edge of the Wei River. He said that he wanted to get rid of the suffering in his heart, and asked me to recommend a good place for him, which would not only allow him to live the rest of his life, but also help him. Wash away his sins. I asked him what was so hard to think about. He said that he saved a kind and beautiful woman a few days ago. In order to repay his great kindness, the woman was willing to give herself to her and become his wife. Before the wedding, That night, he asked about his wife's past, only to find that all the sufferings her wife had experienced were due to him, but he had become his wife's benefactor, which is really the most ridiculous thing in the world."
Although Zuo Tuming and Duguyou knew that their eldest brother Liu Zhanxiong ran away after their wedding, they didn't know why. When they heard this, they were confused.
Duguyou asked: "What on earth is going on?"
Master Mingzhi said: "There was a local official who asked his subordinates to take the pearls he collected from the people to express their goodwill to the high officials in the capital, in order to find a way to enter the capital to serve as an official. Unexpectedly, the news leaked, and your elder brother learned about this So he went and stole the pearl, which made it difficult for the local official to wake up from his sleep."
Zuo Tuming said: "Why does this matter have anything to do with my sister-in-law?"
Master Mingzhi said: "The woman Liu Zhanxiong married is the daughter of the official who escorted the pearl to Beijing. Do you think it has anything to do with it?"
Liu Qing said next to him: "Master, you are saying that Liu Daxia stole the pearl, and the government official knew that the matter was serious and that he could not escape the blame. In order not to be framed by the corrupt official, he took his family and fled, and they have been living in exile ever since. The rivers and lakes. And because his daughter is beautiful, evil people care about her, so she brings disaster, resulting in the destruction of her family."
Master Mingzhi sighed: "Alas! Liu Zhanxiong stole the pearls and sold them to help the poor. It seemed like an act of great benevolence and righteousness by robbing the rich and giving to the poor. Who knew that he was using the suffering of the Yachai family to nourish himself? Kind heart and good deeds. On the wedding night, I learned that I was the cause of all the misfortunes of my wife. Then I fully understood that a fire at the city gate could affect the fish in the pond. I began to regret everything I had done in the past. In order to prevent the woman from knowing her tragic story, His whole life was given by the heroes he admired, but he chose to commit suicide. Liu Zhanxiong chose to leave quietly and asked someone to send a letter home saying that he was dead to end the matter."
Zuo Tuming said angrily: "But my sister-in-law is still living alone. Don't you think this is inappropriate?"
Only then did Dugu You realize that his second brother Zuo Tuming, who had always valued love and righteousness, dared to do the following and was so treasonous that he slapped his elder brother. It turned out that he was asking for compensation for his sister-in-law who had lived a lonely life for more than 20 years. Apparently, apart from the eldest brother who endured the palm, even the second brother himself may not know how much of his internal energy was used in the palm strike.
Master Mingzhi lamented: "But at least because she was kept in the dark, her love was still full of flowers and she lived on her own free will."
All secular people do is to live. Since that woman is still alive, it is her own choice as to how to live. Others can only choose to respect her, and cannot talk too much, let alone force her to change, as long as she lives voluntarily.
Liu Qing brought another pot of spring water and handed it to Master Mingzhi. Master Mingzhi didn't pick it up. He handed it to Zuo Tuming, who didn't pick it up. He handed it to Dugu You, who didn't pick it up. I had just drank it, so I didn't need to drink anymore, so I hung it around my waist.
Master Mingzhi stood up and said, "Let's go, there should be many people waiting for us to meet them."
Liu Qing followed Master Mingzhi and asked, "Master, who wants to see us?"
Master Mingzhi replied softly: "As the great protectors of the Dragon Slaying Association, they actually betrayed the Dragon Slaying Association. If the Dragon Slaying Association dared to ignore their betrayal, wouldn't the Dragon Slaying Association have been disbanded long ago, and it would still be able to survive until now."
Liu Qing said: "But Master, Tulong is hundreds of miles away, how could he know about this so quickly."
Master Mingzhi replied: "The Great Protector has betrayed the Dragon Slaying Society, as long as the members of the Dragon Slaying Society know about it, it will be enough. To eliminate the rebellion, there is no need for the Dragon Slaying Society to give orders."
Liu Qing asked: "Why? Master."
Master Mingzhi replied: "Killing the rebellious great protector is, for the members of the Dragon Slaying Society, a feat that has never been achieved before. In the future, in the Dragon Slaying Society, if you want wind, you will get wind, and if you want rain, you will get rain. The blue clouds will rise, and you will become the leader of Dragon Slaying Society." An incredible figure."
Liu Qing turned around and asked Zuo Tuming and Duguyou who were walking behind: "Two heroes, is this what my master said?"
Zuo Tuming nodded slightly and said, "Mr. Li, how did you know?"
Master Mingzhi smiled and replied: "Isn't that how you two got to the top back then? You framed them, eliminated them, and were promoted to the top."
Dugu You said: "Old Li, don't say this nonsense."
Master Mingzhi smiled and replied: "Duguyou, if I talk nonsense, you two will never have the chance to follow me."
Zuo Tuming said: "Mr. Li, even dragon slaying is not known about such secrets. How did you know about it?"
Master Mingzhi replied: "If you don't want others to know, you have to do nothing yourself. As the two envoys on the left and right, brothers Ximen Qing and Gui Haiming are in a higher position than you two brothers. They are afraid of repeating the mistakes of others, so they must If you find out the cause of death of those two guardians, the good deeds you two did will be discovered by the two brothers."
Zuo Tuming was very puzzled and asked: "Since the two brothers knew about this, why didn't they inform Tulong?"
Master Mingzhi smiled and said: "Although you two assassinated those two Dharma Protectors for the sake of gaining power, you also have real grudges against those two people. Brothers Ximen Qing and Gui Haiming have nothing to do with you two, and they have deep feelings for each other. Knowing that the martial arts of your two brothers cannot defeat his brothers, as long as you are not given a chance to sneak attack, you two brothers will be powerless even if they want to. Besides, the two brothers joined the Dragon Slaying Association just to find out the masked man who sneak attacked his senior brother Xiu Xinwu. , it won’t hinder your future, I don’t think there is any need to expose you two, it’s better to live in peace and harmony.”
Zuo Tuming and Duguyou asked themselves that they had never thought about plotting to harm brothers Ximen Qing and Gui Haiming in order to gain power, so they could live in peace.
The sun in the sky is slowly leaning towards the west mountain, and it is orange-red.
The four of them said this and strode towards the east. They just wanted to have a good dinner and have a comfortable sleep at night.
