OBS Chapter 355 Benefits overshadow hardship
Chapter 355 Benefits overshadow hardship
Chapter 355 Benefits overshadow hardship
The official road, like a ribbon, winds its way through the towering mountains of northern Fujian. A procession is traveling south along the road, with carriages and horses rumbling and dust billowing.
Jiang Wen once led his disciples on the Fuyan Ancient Road, which is more than 700 li from Chong'an to Fuzhou. It was probably the aftermath of an earthquake in the ancient city of Minyue that caused the mountain to flood. The entire journey could only be done on foot. The mountain road was rugged and quite arduous. They suffered from wind and rain and slept in the open along the way. When they arrived in Fuzhou, they looked like beggars. The many dangers along the way were indescribable.
During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the safest way for officials and merchants to travel between the two places was by waterway.
Normally, if the main mode of transport is water, the entire journey of more than 700 li downstream would take only five or six days, and upstream would only take more than ten days. The so-called land route is only used as a supplement when the waterway is impassable.
Previously, Jiang Wen was short of money and naturally could not afford the round-trip boat fare, but this time it was different. With the ostentatious banner of the Prince of Jingnan's Mansion, Guan Shengjun and the wealthy families of Chong'an quickly assembled a fleet of boats. They planned to board the boats at Changping Water Station in Chong'an County, then travel south along the Chongyang River, merge into the Jianxi River, and continue south to Yanping, where they would merge into the Minjiang River and finally arrive at Sanshan Station in Fuzhou, thus reaching the provincial capital.
The cost of the boat was secondary; the provisions for the entire journey were a major problem. However, traveling with the main force had another advantage: along the way, they could stay at post stations that provided lodging, food, and boarding for officials, messengers, and passing officials. If all else failed, there were inns every ten li and every thirty li for temporary rest.
The reason why Jiangwen's people and horses are now traveling in a meandering manner is because they are passing through the most treacherous section of the Jianxi River. According to the description by Gu Zuyu, a scholar of the same era, in his "Reading History and Geography", "From Shuikou to Yanping, it is more than a hundred li. All of them are shoals and rocks, which stand in a dense forest. Boats have to travel through the gaps. The shoals are high and the current is rapid. There is hardly any calm current. The boats are light and fragile. The rocks are hard and sharp. If you are not careful, you will sink."
Therefore, when crossing dangerous shoals, all the passengers had to go ashore and walk, leaving only the experienced boatmen to steer the boat across. However, this time, it seemed that even the boatmen were not very confident, and before setting sail, they went to the nearby Tianfei Palace to burn incense and pray for blessings.
Jiang Wen expressed his understanding, saying that the small boats sailing on the Chongyang River could only carry a maximum of forty or fifty loads. Now, it was the spring flood season, and the river currents were becoming increasingly rapid. Although the sailing speed was faster, it was also more dangerous. The boatmen could only take the risk for the sake of their livelihood.
At this moment, the group of people and horses were walking between dangerous cliffs and banks. The rapids below the mountain were surging and the rocks were lurking. Since ancient times, it has been a natural treacherous place where "nine out of ten boats capsize". All they could see was the surging river. The journey was long and arduous. Apart from the sound of horses' hooves and the wind, there was nothing else. Jiang Wen was bored, so he turned his gaze to the disciples following behind him.
Besides Hong Wending, the disciples accompanying him on this trip were actually missing one person: Xiao Shitou.
Just one day before the Wuyi Sect members were about to set off, Manager Fang rushed to Dawang Peak, saying that he had received news that his wife and father-in-law had set off after receiving his letter the previous month and would soon arrive in Xiamei Town to see their beloved son.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wen felt embarrassed to take the man's beloved son away, so he instructed Manager Fang and his family to reunite on their own and come to Fuzhou City with the caravan after they finished their business. In any case, this trade route was not unfamiliar to the silk merchants.
However, with his remaining three apprentices, Lin Pingzhi was busy taking care of the Fuwei Escort Agency's team, Fu Ningdie was lazy and cunning, and Hu Fei was taciturn. This deprived Jiang Wen of much of the joy of being a teacher, so he had to come up with another idea.
"Ningdie, go down and pick up two better-quality black stones."
Jiang Wen pointed to a few rocks on the riverbank below the cliff and instructed Fu Ningdie.
Fu Ningdie, who was carrying a small bundle and following behind the crowd, stood on tiptoe to check the height and estimated her own distance. She nodded when she judged that she could reach the top, put down the bundle, and jumped out.
Fu Ningdie lightly touched the slippery cliff with her toes, used the force to glide sideways, and then leaped up like a startled swan, landing on a reef protruding from the water.
"Master, is this the area?"
A dark stone is embedded in the riverbank not far away, repeatedly washed by the waves, gleaming with a warm luster, standing out conspicuously against the backdrop of the beach full of bluish-gray rocks.
Seeing Jiang Wen nod, Fu Ningdie picked up the stone and prepared to cross back to the cliff. She stood steadily on the reef, her figure as firm as a rock, her skirt fluttering in the river wind.
Lin Zhennan stroked his beard and praised, "Zilu, I didn't expect your female disciple to be so skilled. If Yue Ru knew, she would probably complain that you are biased."
Jiang Wen laughed heartily. With Fu Ningdie's current cultivation of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, her energy recovery efficiency was already incredibly fast. Furthermore, the Flying Thief Lightness Skill taught by Hongdou placed great emphasis on movement techniques. With her current agile and lithe figure at the age of eight or nine, she was at the perfect age to move like the wind.
"It's alright, Brother Lin. I said I would take your son and daughter under my wing. However, Ru'er has a fiery temper, and I'm afraid she won't be interested in these light-body skills. When we get to Fuzhou, I will teach her the Golden Hammer of the Drum and the Overlord Spear Technique, and I guarantee that her bravery will be unparalleled throughout the ages."
Lin Zhennan glared and said, "This is outrageous! Who would dare to marry her when she grows up?"
Jiang Wen calmly comforted her, "Haven't you heard of the term 'martial arts contest for marriage'? But you only have one daughter, so just don't cry when she gets married."
Just as the two were chatting, a large wave crashed in. Fu Ningdie seized the opportunity, spun around in the air to avoid the splashing water, and at the same time, pushed off the boulder with her toes, shooting forward like an arrow, and soon landed safely on the riverbank.
"Master, here's a stone for you."
Fu Ningdie raised her hand to brush away the water droplets from her hair, and brought the black stone close to Jiang Wen's face. She could see that there were faint silver stars shimmering on the black stone surface, and it carried the coolness of the river water that had been soaking for thousands of years. It was extremely warm to the touch.
"This is no ordinary stone. This item is called Jianxi Andantan Stone Inkstone, also known as Nanjian Stone Inkstone. Wang Yi, a scholar of the Imperial Academy who came to Jianxi to serve in the government during the Song Dynasty, once gave an inkstone made of Andantan Nanjian Stone to his friend Su Dongpo."
Jiang Wen held it in his hand and introduced it to his disciples.
Su Shi (Dongpo Jushi) cherished it dearly, writing in his inscription on the Kong Yifu Phoenix Beak Stone Inkstone: "I once obtained it from the Dragon's Nest at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, and now you have obtained it from the dark, barren beach of Jianpu. It is as harmonious as music, as firm as gold, as lustrous as jade, and as eloquent as a spring."
After the introduction, he patted the inkstone into Lin Zhennan's arms and said generously, "This treasure is given to someone who is destined to receive it. Brother Lin, you can use it to make an inkstone, and use it as our travel expenses."
Lin Zhennan, both amused and exasperated, handed the stone into the baggage of the accompanying bodyguard. Fortunately, he was already used to Jiang Wen's flamboyant and unrestrained manner. Years ago, when they were escorting goods in the Jianghu, he once pointed to a wild land full of reeds in Songjiang and said that they should quickly buy this area, because one square meter here could sell for 200,000 yuan in the future.
After attending a cultural class on a whim, Jiang Wen set his sights on Hu Fei.
Jiang Wen felt somewhat guilty towards Hu Fei.
If Zhao Banshan hadn't met his relatives, he would have guided Hu Fei in the "Chaotic Ring Technique" and "Yin Yang Technique" of the Tai Chi School. But now Zhao Banshan's mind is focused on his adopted grandson Hong Wending. Isn't this the same as Jiang Wen taking Hong Wending and stealing Hu Fei's opportunity for nothing?
"Hu Fei, come here for a moment."
Jiang Wen summoned the fourteen-year-old boy with a large forehead and tiger-like eyebrows. He was wearing a long robe, with a wood-chopping knife at his waist. His hair was messy and hanging down in front of his face, obscuring his otherwise handsome features. He looked more like a hunter from beyond the Great Wall than a young swordsman.
"Master, what brings you here?"
Hu Fei originally only had his tattered fur coat and the Cold Moon Sword for protection. Now that the Cold Moon Sword had been confiscated by Jiang Wen, he looked completely lost and dejected. However, he still spoke as concisely as ever.
Jiang Wen raised an eyebrow and asked him:
"That night, were you hiding inside the Tongtian Palace?"
Hu Fei paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and nodded, his expression calm but his hands trembling slightly.
Jiang Wen had no intention of punishing or scolding him; he simply patted him on the shoulder gently.
"Having witnessed this person's martial arts, you are already considered an outstanding individual since your Dao heart has not yet been shattered. It is a pity that his martial arts style is too domineering, almost to the point of exhausting all paths and then disappearing into thin air. You must not let this make you too ambitious and lose your way."
In fact, Jiang Wen had noticed that Hu Fei was secretly spying on him from the back room that day, but he did not expose him. After all, it was normal for him to be curious since Yuan Chengzhi and he himself were hiding here mysteriously.
In the past few days, Jiang Wen has never stopped studying Luo Chunyi's "Heavenly Man Martial Arts". The more he studied it, the more he realized that this skill was not a martial art that ordinary people could learn, let alone pass on to others. He estimated that only a master like himself who had already faced the sharp edge could truly grasp its essence.
Luo Chunyi's description of "Heavenly Man" in "Heavenly Man Martial Arts" is that "he sleeps without dreams, wakes without worries, eats without relish, and breathes deeply." Its highest realm is "not trembling when climbing high, not getting wet when entering water, and not getting hot when entering fire." These are not supernatural powers, but rather the instinctive immunity to physical damage after martial arts have reached a state of perfection—if the mind is still, the body will not be injured.
This vague concept is actually quite frightening, because ordinary people do not have the "Azure Bird" talisman seed with them. They cannot generate more than a thousand extra meridian points to nourish their internal energy for no reason, nor can they disappear into the void for no reason.
It can be said that this is a martial art created by combining extreme obsession and delusion with the incredible supernatural powers of Xi Yi. It is even different from the "Celestial Realm" that Jiang Wen once entered. If you insist on learning it, it may turn a promising talent with extremely high martial arts talent into a delusional person who only thinks about defeating others with no moves.
Jiang Wen pondered for a long time, but only vaguely figured out a method that could stimulate internal energy by severing some meridians, allowing one to exert extraordinary martial arts skills for a short period of time.
Given Hu Fei's current state, Jiang Wen could only use some special methods to bring him back to his former state.
"Disciple, don't let your mind wander. Do you know who this expert is?"
Hu Fei said, "Master Dongxuan of the Xiandu Sect."
"No and no."
Jiang Wenze said mysteriously, "Others may not know, but I know very well that he is a person who has been punished for his crimes."
"A person who has been released from prison...?"
Hu Fei was dumbfounded.
Jiang Wen slapped his thigh and gritted his teeth, saying:
"That's right. The essence of this man's martial arts begins with 'To practice this skill, one must first castrate oneself,' which is extremely dangerous and difficult to describe. You must not fall for his trick!"
At this moment, Fu Ningdie also came over and asked, "Master, Master, are there any martial arts in this world that can only be learned by eunuchs?"
Jiang Wen smiled mysteriously and said, "The reason this skill requires a eunuch to cultivate is because it is extremely easy to become consumed by lust, instantly go into qi deviation, become paralyzed and die. Only by eliminating the future trouble with a single cut can one ensure safety. The pursuit of ultimate power requires paying an equal price; and the price itself will, in turn, devour the essence of the pursuer."
"That's why I say this kung fu is harmful! Hu Fei, you want to go and fight Hu Yizhi, the King of Hundred Victories, to the death, but if you cut yourself with a knife for it, you don't even need to stand in front of him, you can make him laugh to death. He probably won't be able to stop even after you've cut him."
Fu Ningdie asked suspiciously, "Master, did Daoist Dongxuan of the Xiandu Sect really castrate himself?"
Jiang Wen said confidently, "How could it be false! Taoists are people who have left home to become monks. Keeping those afflictions around is of little use. Once they are removed, they are at peace. How could anyone know the truth?"
Fu Ningdie then said, "That Taoist priest Feng from the Wudang Sect is also a Taoist priest. Did he also have his penis cut off?"
Jiang Wen solemnly replied, "You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of fish?"
Fu Ningdie covered her mouth and whispered, "Then Master, you dress up as a Taoist priest every day too..."
"You little brat, stop talking nonsense! How can you compare them? I say he is, so he is. I even tricked him out of his martial arts manual, do you think I would fool two greenhorns like you?"
Seeing that both disciples were in shock, Jiang Wencai quickly added.
"Going back to the point, after thoroughly reading the Daoist Canon, I finally discovered that the first essential point of this skill, and the most fundamental prerequisite for its cultivation, is to purify the mind and calm the will. Castration is merely a physical means of severing desires when one's heart cannot be purified and one's desires cannot be subdued; it is the lowest of the low."
The *Taishang Laojun Neiguan Jing* states: "The Dao is attained through the heart, and the heart is enlightened through the Dao. When the heart is enlightened, the Dao descends; when the Dao descends, the heart is at peace." The essence of internal alchemy cultivation is refining one's three treasures: essence, qi, and spirit, with spirit being the master of these three treasures. If the mind and spirit are not clear, and the will is not calm, then primordial qi will dissipate, and primordial essence will be restless. Regardless of the type of internal cultivation practiced, one will inevitably suffer a qi deviation and fall into demonic possession.
"If one can keep one's mind clear and still, like a mirror, undisturbed by joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hate, and grudges, and then restrain one's outward-looking mind, not chasing after external things or following the flow of things, this difficulty will naturally be resolved, and one will naturally have no worries about the future."
Hu Fei seemed to understand something and asked, "Master means that this skill requires cultivating the mind and the Tao first?"
"That is incorrect!"
Jiang Wen shook his head and said, "If we martial artists have to endure forty or fifty years just to cultivate our minds and seek the Dao before we can even come into contact with superior martial arts, what's the difference between that and becoming a monk? How can we talk about enjoying life and settling scores? We are people of the martial world, so we naturally have our own ways."
After saying this, he put his hands behind his back, adopted a haughty and aloof demeanor, and turned away to speak.
"There's a saying in the martial arts world: the Purple Cloud Manual is for beginners, while the Sunflower Manual is for those who reach the pinnacle. If Hu Fei can diligently build his foundation with the Purple Cloud Divine Skill first, he might have a chance to glimpse the perilous peaks and wondrous sights."
At this moment, the eldest disciple, Lin Pingzhi, appeared out of nowhere and asked with an expectant look, "Master, can I learn?"
Jiang Wen's face immediately fell.
"No, you absolutely can't do it!"
Warmest congratulations on the start of a new chapter!