Chapter 236: Fish and shrimps under the water, dragons on the waves

Chapter 236: Fish and shrimps under the water, dragons on the waves

Chapter 236: Fish and shrimps under the water, dragons on the waves

Between the mountains in the southwest of China, there is a plain. This place is surrounded by dangerous terrain on all sides, embraced by mountains, and has fertile soil for thousands of miles. It is like the bottom of a basin. Ancient classics called it: "The Great Plain".

With "Duguangzhiye" as the core, it radiates to the surrounding mountains and forests within two thousand miles, including both the "bottom of the basin" and the "edge of the basin". This is the so-called "Bashu" area, sometimes also referred to as "Shu land", or "Western Shu" or "Shu".

To the west of this "Duguan Wilderness", that is, on the western edge of the basin, there is a north-south river called the Minjiang River. On the east side of the Minjiang River, there is a long mountain range, also running north-south, called Longquan Mountain.

Between the river and the mountain, there is a huge city that has stood since ancient times.
"Chengdu".

Chengdu is divided into two constellations, Well and Ghost, which represent the prosperity of civilization. This is what is recorded in the Astronomical Records: "The Vermilion Bird in the South and the Well Ghost represent Shu."

When the ancients built the city here, they saw the Big Dipper's Jade Star shining between the river and the mountains, and felt that "the sky formed an image and landed on the ground to become a capital", so they named it "Chengdu".

As a big city in the starry sky, Chengdu is full of worldly life and even more so than the giant cities of Nanchang in the East and Luoyang in the North.

Moreover, the Xuanmen in Shu advocates practicing in the world and does not regard the worldly energy as a disaster. Instead, they advocate using the worldly energy to refine the primordial spirit. As for the physical body that is worn away by the worldly energy, it does not matter and can be discarded after the primordial spirit is fully developed.

Therefore, based on Chengdu's excellent feng shui and the pursuit of spiritual cultivation in the mortal world, the mountain gates of many major sects in Shu are located on the edge of Chengdu city.

In the western suburbs of Chengdu, there is such a mountain force.

Most of the immortal sects for seeking the truth and practicing cultivation are built on top of high mountains, so the mountain is often used to represent the sect of cultivation, and the mountain below is used to represent the world. But in this place in the western suburbs of Chengdu, there are no high sacred mountains, and the terrain is very flat. This sect is built on the edge of a sacred lake.

All I saw was this sacred lake with boundless blue waters, surrounded by green curtains, hazy lake mist, and heavy bamboo shadows.

Sometimes a sword flashed out from the forest, like lightning or rainbow, skimming across the water, and then sank into the bamboo sea in a moment. Sometimes a mysterious Taoist in white clothes, with his sleeves and collar fluttering in the wind, walked on the waves, and disappeared in the depths of the mist in a flash.

It really has an immortal atmosphere.

At this time, two rays of light came from the west, sweeping quickly and stirring up a gust of wind. The bamboo waves surged, the rustling sound was like a dragon's roar, startling a group of white cranes on the branches, and causing a swarm of green leaves to fly.

Strong winds blew into the lake, reflecting the sun and causing ripples on the lake, layer upon layer of gold.

On the north side of the lake, there is a gentle slope with green tiles and flying eaves visible from the gaps in the woods. The most majestic and imposing of all is the huge gate tower facing north and south at the beginning of the slope.

Two beams of light landed in front of the gate tower.

Wu Mei looked up at the magnificent gate tower and felt disgusted. Biyun Lake was such a quiet and secluded place, but they had to build such a ostentatious and gaudy gate tower. It was really a waste of time and ruined the scenery.

There were four big characters written on the plaque of the gate:

"Tenko Beppu".

Behind this tall gatehouse made of jade and gold, there is another gatehouse, but it is only two people tall and much smaller than the previous one. It is made of green bamboo and is simple and elegant. There is also a plaque hanging on it with four characters:

"Biyun Qizhen".

This is the original gate tower of Biyun Temple.

Wu Mei and Cui Qi passed the gatehouse and walked towards the nunnery.

"Sister!"

"Senior Sister!" "Senior Sister Cui!"

……

Along the way, young disciples kept greeting the two of them.

Wu Mei and Cui Qi nodded. As the direct disciples of the master of Biyun Temple, Zui Daoren, they had a very high status in the temple.

Although Emei sent people to garrison Biyun Temple, Miaoyi Zhenren still valued Zui Daoren very much. At the same time, in order to ease the resistance of Biyun Temple, the head of Biyun Temple was not changed and was still Zui Daoren.

The Drunken Taoist has only three direct disciples: eldest sister Wu Mei, junior brother Yan Renying, and youngest sister Cui Qi.

Now the Drunken Taoist is wandering outside with no news. Yan Renying, who was trained as the successor to the abbot, has changed his sect and was accepted by Emei. As the abbot's eldest disciple, Wu Mei naturally has a high status.

"Big sister, Senior Sister Zhou is here and will be waiting for you at Yantian Temple."

At this time, a Kun Taoist saw Wu Mei and stepped forward to remind her.

Wu Mei nodded, indicating that she understood and was not surprised.

Wu Mei and Zhou Qingyun are the two most outstanding people in the younger generation of Xuanmen who practice Jianxiadao. They are both women, so they have close contacts and often discuss Taoism and have heart-to-heart talks with each other.

Wu Mei looked at Cui Qi.

The latter shook his head and said,
"Although I respect Zhou Qingyun and have no ill will towards her, I don't want to meet her in private. Sister, please go by yourself. I will return to my Shuyue Temple."

Wu Mei nodded, then walked up the stone steps on the mountain road and returned to her Yantian Temple.

As you enter the temple and turn around the screen wall, the view in front of you suddenly opens up. There is a ten-acre square pond in the temple. The water is greener than the lake outside and is bottomless.

The pavilion in the pond is winding, like a dragon lying on the waves. In the center of the pond is an octagonal pavilion, made entirely of green bamboo. A jade bell is hung on each corner, swaying gently in the wind, making a clear sound. White gauze is hung on the eight sides, and a human figure can be vaguely seen through the gauze.

Wu Mei lifted the white veil, stepped into the pavilion, and said,

"Qingyun is here."

The woman in the pavilion was naturally Zhou Qingyun. She was still wearing a goose yellow gown and her hair was tied up with a red rope. Her temperament became even more ethereal and cold.

At this moment, she smiled when she saw Wu Mei striding in.
"Ah."

"Why didn't you tell me in advance? I guess you've been waiting for a long time."

Wu Mei asked.

"Not long ago, I came back from the West Sea and passed by Chengdu, so I thought of coming to see you. In the next period of time, my master has arrangements, so I am afraid that I can't meet you often and talk about the world."

Zhou Qingyun replied.

"Xi Hai, are you going to Xingxiu Sea to cause trouble for the Five Ghosts Sect?"

Wu Mei asked.

Zhou Qingyun replied,
“Yes and no. The main reason is that the Five Ghost Heavenly Kings and the Xuanyuan Dharma King of the Xuanyin Sect of the Black Water River in Longyou broke through the fifth realm one after another. The two have been very close recently and have been wreaking havoc in the north, with the Blood God Sect fanning the flames from behind.

"Now, the righteous forces in the Xihai and Longyou areas have either retreated or been destroyed, and the area has become entirely dominated by the evil forces.

"The sect is now building strongholds at Baihekou, where Bashu meets the West Sea, and at Minshan, where Bashu meets Longyou, to prevent the northern faction from moving south.

"We have made arrangements in the mountains. I will be stationed at Baihekou for a period of time in the future. This time I was sent there to check the situation in advance. When I return to the sect to pack up, I will move into Baihekou. I cannot leave without an imperial decree."

Zhou Qingyun said.

"Is it that serious already?"

Wu Mei was a little surprised.

Bashu is a place surrounded by demons, and the bordering Longyou, Xihai, Xikang, Dianwen, Miaojiang, Wuling and Guanzhong all have demonic sects.

Among them, Wuling is just a minor problem. Although there are evil sects in Xikang, Dianwen, Miaojiang and Guanzhong, they are also restrained by righteous sects. In the past, the same was true for Longyou and Xihai.

But now, if Longyou and Xihai have been completely occupied by the evil sect, then Bashu will be the first to bear the brunt.

Moreover, recently a monk named Chuanxin founded a religion in Xikang, and the Tubo Maha Sect behind it is eyeing it covetously. Dianwen and Miaojiang have been oppressed too much by the Southern Sect, and it is also hard to say when the world will be completely dominated by the Demon Sect.

By that time, this vast land would be attacked from all sides.

Zhou Qingyun nodded and said,
"Master said that the spiritual atmosphere of heaven and earth has changed. The pure air is thin, and the turbid air is surging. From the perspective of astrology, the Purple Star is dim, the Seven Evils are rushing into the palace, and the Greedy Wolf is devouring the Dragon. These are all signs of a catastrophe from heaven and a world of chaos and demons.

"Look, in recent years, there have been many giants in the Demonic Path who have broken through to the fifth realm, while only a few in the Righteous Path have been promoted to the fourth realm. This is a clear proof." Zhou Qingyun looked at Wu Mei and said,
"Master has ordered that Senior Brother Yan will go to look after Tubo, Yingqiong will go to Minshan, Yingnan will go to Dianwen, and Junior Brother and Junior Sister will also go to Miaojiang. I think it won't be long before all Xuanmen disciples in Bashu will receive the imperial edict to rush to the front line."

Wu Mei nodded solemnly.

"It is our duty as a disciple of Xuanmen to slay demons and eliminate evil."

Zhou Qingyun sighed quietly.

"The tide of good and evil is so great and mighty, and when the killing calamity comes, many fish and shrimps under the water are killed. I wonder how many people can ride the waves."

Wu Mei laughed when she heard this.

"What's the joy of living, and what's the pain of dying? In order to eliminate demons and defend the Way, I, Wu Mei, am not afraid of death, but I will never die like a fish or shrimp in the water. I want to be a dragon on the waves. Either die gloriously, or take advantage of the situation to turn into a real dragon!"

Zhou Qingyun looked at her friend's high spirits and was touched. She smiled and said,

"Your daughter Feixiong is a trend-setter. You should become a real dragon."

Wu Mei smiled and nodded, suddenly remembering what happened today, and said,

"By the way, Qingyun, today I met a wanderer from Qingzhou, he's from your hometown."

"Oh?"

Zhou Qingyun looked over with interest.

"Kun Dao Qian Dao?"

"Qian Dao, she is very pretty!"

"Where is he from?"

"He said he was from Yicheng."

"Yicheng, is he from Tianzhu Mountain?"

Wu Mei shook her head.
"I didn't ask that many questions, but he's a very interesting person."

Zhou Qingyun was a little curious. She knew her friend's vision. It was rare for her to mention a man and praise him for being interesting. So she smiled and asked,
"What an interesting way?"

Wu Mei smiled and said,

"We met at the wine table. He drinks very well and has good drinking habits. Moreover, he can write poems. Let me read you a few lines."

Zhou Qingyun smiled and nodded.

"This man came from afar, wanting to settle down in Bailongqi. He passed the literary examination and wrote a poem called "Ode to Bailongqi Mountain".

The wind from the sky turns the snow into dragon scales, and the silver light pours down and causes the earth and mountains to collapse.

It must be the place where the immortals plant jade, and where the idle clouds and wild cranes visit the Jade Capital.

How about it, not bad, right? By the way, he called himself Yunlai Sanren, and later when he was drinking, he wrote a short poem about wine, which was:

Mo Xiao's farmhouse is full of wine and drunk, and he stays with chicken and dolphin in good years.

You see, it can sing the greatness of the mountains and praise the smallness of the wine. It has the fun of free clouds and wild cranes, and also the feelings of farmers' wine. What do you think? "

Zhou Qingyun looked at his friend's burning gaze and smiled.
"Yes, but in my opinion, the charm of the first grand poem is not as sincere as the short sentence at the end."

Wu Mei laughed and clapped her hands, saying,

"Exactly! Exactly! Qingyun understands me the best. It is precisely because of this short sentence that I think highly of him."

Zhou Qingyun smiled and nodded, but in his heart he couldn't help but think of the first time he met that man. He thought he was a thief, so he hid in the sunset glow to watch him. At that time, he heard him chant a poem, which was about his own Wenbi Peak. He was afraid that he would never forget that poem.
The sharp edges of the rocks have a unique atmosphere, and the twisted pines are like green brocade clouds.

Nature has a brush that can paint all the strange peaks into a picture.

Zhou Qingyun recited this poem again in his heart and still felt that this one was better. However, this was reasonable. How could that unknown Qingzhou wanderer compare to him?
Wu Mei then said,

"Also, I had a sword fight with him, and he used the fire from his sword to break my glow. That's the most important thing. Otherwise, I would have just treated him as a useless figure."

"Oh?"

This time Zhou Qingyun was really surprised. She knew her friend's ability, but someone broke her glow? So she asked,
"How old is this guy, Old Jindan?"

Wu Mei shook her head.

"No, I've already said that he is very handsome, and his gestures don't look old at all. Judging from his magical power, his realm is comparable to ours, and he is not an old monster who puts on makeup to look young."

“That’s not easy!”

Zhou Qingyun praised.

"That's why I came to ask you, is there such a person in Yicheng, Qingzhou, who is called Yunlai Sanren?"

Zhou Qingyun frowned and thought for a while, then shook his head.

"I haven't heard of it, but you know, I was sent to Emei when I was very young, and I only stayed in Huangshan when I went back to visit my relatives. In fact, I am not familiar with the people in Qingzhou."

"Too."

Wu Mei nodded and said,

"Moreover, his swordsmanship is very powerful, swift and erratic, like wind wrapped around fire, hard to grasp, and no one knows where he came from."

Zhou Qingyun's eyebrows jumped. Why did this sword technique sound so familiar to him?

"Also, Renying was present when they were drinking and fighting with swords. He even said that this sword technique looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where it came from."

Is it...

An absurd thought suddenly emerged in Zhou Qingyun's mind: when Bai Yujing was fighting with swords, he used the "Lihuo Jiji Sword Sutra", and Senior Brother Yan was present!
"What does the Yunlaisanren you mentioned look like?"

Zhou Qingyun asked, pretending to be calm.

"Ok?"

Wu Mei looked over curiously.

"Such a sword technique inheritance should not be simple. It may not be a simple wanderer. Tell me what it looks like. I want to see if it matches with the familiar Qingzhou fellows. Maybe Yunlai Wanderer is just a nickname that he took on a whim."

"Oh yes."

Wu Mei nodded, recalled it, and said,

"He was dressed like a hermit, wearing a green robe and often holding a whisk in his hand. He had a gentle face and a pair of almond-shaped eyes."

Zhou Qingyun sighed inwardly, but then he thought, how could there be such a coincidence? There are so many swift and erratic fire sword techniques in the world. Senior Brother Yan may have encountered a similar one when he was fighting with others before, and was left with this impression.

It must be Wu Mei's mention of reciting poetry just now that made me think of him, which led to further wild thoughts.

She pretended to think for a while, then shook her head again.
"It's true that they don't match, but there are many hidden talents in Yicheng. During the Qin and Han dynasties, many Qigong practitioners practiced in seclusion in Yicheng. It's not surprising that a powerful one has come out now."

"That's true."

Wu Mei nodded.

(End of this chapter)