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

Page 404

Bu Jie paused for a moment, then said.

"But I also owe it to him that I have such kung fu skills."

"Later, until my last year away from the Southern Shaolin Temple, my martial arts skills improved greatly, and I would seek out that old monk to fight on the same day every year. But at that time, people from the Songshan Shaolin Temple came and were talking to the old monk in the meditation room."

"People from Shaolin Temple on Mount Song? Who are they?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's expression shifted slightly, and he asked a question.

Bu Jie frowned and pondered for a long time.

"I don't know. Several people came from Shaolin Temple on Mount Song at that time, one of them was named Miao... Miaojue, yes, Miaojue."

"Which is more wonderful? Which is more enlightening?"

“Wonderful wonder, enlightened awakening.”

"He's still alive?"

"I don't know, but if he were still alive, he would probably be over ninety."

After noting down the name, Jiang Ning nodded, signaling the other person to continue.

Bu Jie continued, "I originally wanted to just push the door open and go in, but at that time there was a conversation inside. It was someone from the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song talking to Ling Xuan. They had been talking for a while. When I heard it, all I heard was that the monk from the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song said that the Huashan Sect had undergone a drastic change because of the Sunflower Manual incident. Many people died in the sword qi dispute, and the Huashan Sect had declined. Now is the opportunity for Shaolin to infiltrate the Five Mountains Sword Sects and control this force. They hope that the Southern Shaolin will also help. They will support the Songshan Sect, and the Southern Shaolin will support the Hengshan Sect, so that together they can control the Five Mountains Sword Sects."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning remained silent and continued listening.

Bu Jie shook his head and said, "However, the old monk refused. He said that the Southern Shaolin Temple would no longer interfere in any matters of the martial arts world, nor would it do such things again. Not long after, those monks from the Songshan Shaolin Temple left."

At this point, Bujie glanced at Jiang Ning.

"When you went to the Southern Shaolin Temple last year, you mentioned the Sunflower Manual to that old monk. I'm afraid it wasn't because you heard in the martial arts world that this manual was once in the hands of the Southern Shaolin Temple and asked out of curiosity, but because you already knew that the sword qi dispute in your Huashan Sect was caused by the Sunflower Manual, which is why you questioned that old monk, right?"

Jiang Ning glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Bu Jie received no reply and continued talking.

“I didn’t fight with the old monk that day. A few days later, the old monk came to me and wanted to fight me. That time I beat him.”

At this point, Bu Jie's expression darkened slightly.

"Actually, I didn't beat that old monk. He let me go. He knew I overheard their conversation, but he never said it. He let me go."

"When I was leaving, the old monk said that I had the potential for enlightenment and was destined to be a Buddhist disciple. I was closer to the Buddha than anyone else, but I had to experience the greed, anger, and ignorance of the world before I could attain true freedom."

Bu Jie's tone was indifferent, but one could clearly sense the sadness in his heart.

"Actually, that old monk was a good person, but there were too many things that were beyond his control. These things were not done by him and had nothing to do with him, yet he chose to end them by suicide."

Although he has been away from the Southern Shaolin Temple for many years, Bujie still knows Master Lingxuan very well.

After doing so much, Zen Master Lingxuan chose to pass away, which meant that this matter would end with him.

After listening to Bu Jie's entire account, Jiang Ning's expression remained calm, without the anger or other emotions that Bu Jie had imagined.

"A bit wordy."

Jiang Ning commented on Bu Jie's narrative ability.

Bu Jie burst into laughter.

"Isn't it normal for older people to be a little long-winded?"

Jiang Ning remained silent.

After revealing the secret he had kept hidden in his heart, Bujie seemed much lighter and looked relaxed.

He looked at Jiang Ning. Although the other party did not swear that he would not be implicated in this matter, he believed that Jiang Ning would not do it, even if the other party was the ruthless King Ning.

I don't know why, but he just believed it.

"I know you."

Bu Jie looked at Jiang Ning.

“You kill without hesitation, but you have never killed anyone who shouldn’t have been killed. However, you are too extreme and too bloodthirsty. I know you are a person who hates evil, so you are extremely ruthless to those evil and crooked paths. But you are too obsessed with eliminating evil. Extremes will backfire. Being too extreme is not good for you. The old monk once said something to me, and I want to give it to you to prevent you from eventually falling into the demonic path.”

"Let go of attachments, and you will find freedom."

Jiang Ning chuckled.

"I insist on doing it this way."

Chapter 544: Re-entering the Capital

Bu Jie was speechless for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Yes, isn't that what he insisted on? Isn't that what he was so devoted to Yilin's mother? Even though she disappeared for so many years, he kept searching for her and never gave up. Now their family is finally reunited. Isn't that what persistence is all about?

"That's all I know. Now that the old monk is dead, no one in the entire Southern Shaolin Temple knows about this. Even if you and the Huashan Sect go to the Southern Shaolin Temple again, you won't find any clues."

After Bu Jie finished speaking, he prepared to leave, while Linghu Chong came over after seeing that the conversation had ended.

"Master, are you leaving?"

Bu Jie looked at Linghu Chong, then at Jiang Ning, and laughed, saying to Linghu Chong, "Stupid boy."

Linghu Chong scratched his head, looking puzzled.

Bu Jie didn't say anything more, and turned to leave.

"I've been gone for so long, Yilin's mother must miss me. Goodbye."

Watching Bujie's figure disappear into the night, Linghu Chong scratched his head and laughed, "Master Bujie is truly a remarkable person."

Jiang Ning smiled and nodded.

"Ah."

"Oh dear, it's getting late, I should get some rest."

After glancing at the sky, Linghu Chong prepared to go to sleep.

Linghu Chong wasn't interested in the private conversation between Jiang Ning and Bu Jie, nor did he bother to ask.

Looking at Linghu Chong, who was already lying on the ground with his legs crossed and a blade of grass in his mouth, Jiang Ning suddenly laughed.

"I've heard that Fenjiu from Shanxi is very famous, but I haven't had the chance to try it before."

Oh?

Linghu Chong's eyes snapped open and lit up instantly. He sat up abruptly and looked at Jiang Ning.

"Junior brother, are you also interested in Fenjiu?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "We can give it a try. After all, it's not easy to come to Shanxi, so we should at least try it."

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up.

If Jiang Ning wants to drink, then can't he drink too?

Seeing the barely suppressed smile on Linghu Chong's face, Jiang Ning gave him some instructions.

"Don't get drunk."

Linghu Chong nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"Don't worry, don't worry."

Having received Jiang Ning's promise, Linghu Chong lay down comfortably, humming a tune.

"When sober, I sit before the flowers; when drunk, I sleep beneath them..."

……

As February arrived, Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong finally reached the capital.

"As expected, you really have to come to Shanxi to drink Fenjiu. The Fenjiu I drank at the restaurant in Xi'an Prefecture is nothing compared to what I drink now."

Linghu Chong lay half-reclined on the oxcart, muttering a sigh.

Jiang Ning sat to the side, looked at his intoxicated expression and the several jars of wine beside him, and shook his head, but didn't pay any attention to him.

After Linghu Chong confessed that night, Jiang Ning stopped interfering with his drinking, treating it as a reward for his contribution. Linghu Chong drank to his heart's content this time, enjoying himself immensely every day.

The old man driving the oxcart turned around and looked Linghu Chong up and down.

"Are you two gentlemen from Shanxi? Your accents don't sound like it."

"Oh? Grandpa, you can understand the Shanxi accent?"

Linghu Chong asked curiously.

The old man chuckled and said, "I did some business in Shanxi a few years ago, so I know a bit about it."

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "We are from Shaanxi."

The old man asked in surprise, "Shaanxi? That's so far! Have you two come to the capital to visit relatives?"

"That's it."

Jiang Ning said something brief and didn't say anything more.

"That's really far."

The old man smacked his lips.

The capital was not far away, and the oxcart arrived in the afternoon.

"Gentlemen, we have arrived in the capital."

Looking at the city not far ahead, Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong got out of the carriage.

"Thank you."

Jiang Ning took some copper coins and handed them to the old man.

Linghu Chong took the wine from the oxcart, leaving only one jar.

"Grandpa, this jar of wine is for you."

The old man, who was already beaming with joy at the prospect of making some money along the way, quickly refused when he heard Linghu Chong say that, but Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong had already left.

"These two gentlemen are truly kind people."

The old man couldn't help but show his delight as he looked at the wine on the oxcart.

……

"Wow, is this the capital? It's huge."

Before even entering the city, Linghu Chong was astonished by the sheer size of the city.

People were coming and going at the city gate, and the soldiers guarding the gate were checking people entering the city.

"stop!"

When Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong finally got to the front of the line after waiting for half a day, the soldiers stopped them.

"What's your name? What brings you to the capital? Do you have a travel permit?"

"What travel permit?"

Linghu Chong had never needed a travel permit when he went to other places; he could go wherever he wanted, and the local governments couldn't interfere. When Linghu Chong heard about the travel permit, he subconsciously asked a question.

No travel permit?

Upon hearing this, the soldiers were about to take action when Jiang Ning, who was already experienced, handed over the gold medal.

"The Great Hero of Guanzhong?"

Just like when Jiang Ning first came to the capital, these soldiers had never heard of any Guanzhong hero. After carefully verifying that it was indeed issued by the imperial court, their attitude immediately became upright. They hurriedly escorted Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong into the city, without even checking Linghu Chong's travel permit.

Linghu Chong looked bewildered.

"Your gold medal has this function?"

Jiang Ning laughed and said, "That's all it's good for."

"I'll get one someday."

Linghu Chong was very interested.

Jiang Ning smiled but remained silent.