From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 262 Annihilation
The snowstorm became more severe.

"Amitabha." Jie Kaiping saw Meng Yuan kneeling motionless on the ground, holding Nie Yannian in his arms. Both of them were about to be buried in the snow. He finally couldn't help it and stepped forward and said, "Donor Meng, we have to go."

Jie Kaiping was a man of profound Buddhist knowledge and insight into the world, so he advised: "Donor Nie died to protect Donor Ying in order to repay his old master's kindness. He has now closed his eyes."

"good."

Meng Yuan responded, picked up Nie Yannian's knife, tied it to his waist, then slowly stood up while holding Nie Yannian.

But he had been cold for too long and was exhausted, so he fell to the ground again.

"Let me lend a hand." Jie Kaiping said enthusiastically.

"No need." Meng Yuan refused.

Seeing that he couldn't carry or lift him, Meng Yuan simply carried Nie Yannian along.

"Where are you going?" After walking a few steps, he asked again after Jie Kaiping.

This question stumped Meng Yuan. He was born a refugee, without a home or a job. His closest relatives were the grandfather and grandson of the Jiang family and the father and daughter of the Nie family.

Now, Uncle Jiang died in the city, Master Nie died outside the city, and the two women were far away. Meng Yuan didn't even know where his home was, let alone where to go.

Meng Yuan looked far to the north, but saw only the enchanting snow and wind, and no traces of either human or animal.

"Donor Ying has probably already passed by." Jie Kaiping seemed to know what Meng Yuan was thinking, "I saw Daoist Fellow Ke Qiuxian. I don't know what method he used, but a breeze took him away."

Jie Kaiping consoled them, "You two, master and disciple, have completed your mission."

"Then let's go back to Muzhuang." Meng Yuan said.

"Ah?" Jie Kaiping was confused at first, but then understood, "Mr. Xie should have left. We can go and take a look."

Meng Yuan made up his mind and without giving it much thought, he carried Nie Yannian with him and headed west.

The sky and earth were pale, covered with snow for miles, and the road was barely visible, but Meng Yuan determined the direction and went his own way.

The three of them walked together, Meng Yuan held Nie Yannian in front, and the master and apprentice walked forward in the wind and snow, fearless. Unbuttoning the black robe and showing a bald head, he was also lawless.

"Brother Meng, there is a donkey cart here!" Jie Kaiping stood five steps behind Meng Yuan, pointing at a donkey cart covered with snow.

There was a gray donkey on the donkey cart, but the donkey had already died and was frozen stiff.

Meng Yuan untied the reins and lasso, put Nie Yannian on the cart, then put the lasso on himself and pulled the cart forward.

Jie Kaiping followed beside the cart, helping to push it with one hand, clasping his hands together with the other, and reciting scriptures.

"Alas." After reciting the funeral sutra for a while, he untied the screen and sighed. He did not have the air of a great monk at all, not at all like the Peacock Venerable who calmly discussed Taoism in the middle of the river.

"Your master has passed away. I, your master..." Jie Kaiping looked back at Songhe Prefecture, and saw a ray of Buddha's light shining in the gray snow, which seemed to be upright and honest.

But that beam of light could not penetrate the flying snow and the endless strong wind. It could only shine in a corner above Songhe City and could not illuminate all directions.

Around the Buddha's light, there was a ray of purple light that grew larger and smaller, and a dark cloud was always pressing down on the purple light.

"Nirvana, nirvana," Jie Kaiping seemed very confused, "Donor Meng, you know I am cultivating nirvana, but now I don't even know what nirvana is."

Meng Yuan ignored it.

"In Buddhism, the fundamental meaning of extinction is actually Nirvana. It is said that the true nature of all dharmas is the cessation of mind, action and speech, without birth and death, and extinction is like Nirvana. What is Nirvana? Most people who do not know the true meaning of Buddhism say that Nirvana is disappearance, which is a secular view."

Unbuttoning the screen, he pushed the cart with both hands, saying non-stop, "In Buddhism, there is a saying that when the firewood is exhausted, the fire will go out, which means that the three poisons of greed, anger and ignorance will be burned to ashes."

He then shook his head and continued, "But all the pain and joy in the world come from the three poisons and seven thoughts, and all kinds of desires. Who can really cut them off?"

Jie Kaiping continued to talk endlessly, "So in my opinion, nirvana is not cold and heartless, but the great compassion after seeing through the pain, and the great enlightenment after the great compassion."

Seeing that Meng Yuan didn't respond, he stopped pushing the cart and pulled it back. Meng Yuan had no choice but to turn around and say, "Liao Kong also told me this, and I have seen many deaths and lives. Of course there are sorrows, but they are not so severe that they burn my heart."

"The donor really has Buddha nature!"

He untied the screen and started pushing the cart again. He wiped the snow off his bald head and said, "Snowflakes flying around are life. Snowflakes falling on my head and melting are death. At this moment, the snow is the Buddha nature, which has no birth or death, but appears and disappears according to fate. What a great donor!"

"..." Meng Yuan didn't know what to say, so he just said, "I heard there is a case in Zen Buddhism, where a monk asked, 'What is Nirvana?' The Zen master replied, 'A broken straw sandal on the crossroads.'"

After untying the screen and pondering for a while, he said, "This is consistent with the Taoist theory of the ruthlessness and compassion of mortals and saints. The so-called ultimate nirvana is in the midst of the most miserable world."

After saying this, Jie Kaiping looked back at Songhe Prefecture City, and saw the Buddha's light was endless, becoming more and more magnificent and bright, so he said: "There is no happiness without suffering, and there is no light without brightness."

Jie Kaiping pushed the cart forward with all his strength and said, "Brother Meng, come and practice Buddhism with me!"

Seeing that Meng Yuan was about to refuse, he said, "My Buddhist sect is divided into the gradual cultivation sect and the sudden enlightenment sect, which are further divided into countless schools. Those who seek Buddha and truth can indulge in wine and meat, and women are a wonderful way to cultivate the mind!"

Jie Kaiping did not care whether Meng Yuan was willing or not, he was really excited, not caring about the fact that Meng Yuan had just lost a relative, he fantasized: "I plan to go to the Buddhist country to see why they rule the country with Buddhism, but why the people live in misery. I also want to go overseas to ask for help from the immortal mountain cave."

He looked at Meng Yuan expectantly.

"Do you know the identity of the man in black?" Meng Yuan asked.

Jie Kaiping shook his head, then nodded and said, "Donor Ying must know."

"Why did Dugu Sheng help Qing Guangzi?" Meng Yuan asked again.

Jie Kaiping shook his head, "I don't know. I always thought he was at the fifth level."

"Who is that Zi Guang?" Meng Yuan asked again.

"Maybe..." Jie Kaiping didn't shake his head anymore, "Maybe it was Taoist Xuanjizi?"

He put his hands together and said, "Master doesn't believe in anyone, and his actions and words are all over the place. We really can't see through him at all. Due to the limitations of our realm, we can't see through the figure of the master. Donor Meng should go and ask Donor Ying."

"Is Lord Cangshan Qingguangzi's man?" Meng Yuan asked.

"No." Jie Kaiping finally understood clearly this time, "Lord Cangshan is a free and easy person, wandering around everywhere, and he is best at finding people to discuss the Dao. We promised him something, and he agreed to come."

Jie Kaiping said helplessly: "In fact, I have already seen that Lord Cangshan does not distinguish between good and evil. He just likes to watch the fun. He should be the root of the demon country."

"Who will help Qing Guangzi this time?" Meng Yuan asked again.

"The Buddha of Freedom in the West, Elder Qingque of the Demon Country, and someone from Lanruo Temple also seem to have helped." Jie Kaiping sang a Buddhist chant, "In fact, there are not many people who really want to stop the master."

The two talked in the wind and snow, and finally arrived at Muzhuang in the middle of the afternoon.

The farm was on fire, and the former bustle was gone. Everyone lived in their own house, but the north wind blew sparks and burned most of it.

The place where Sun Zhuangtou lived was behind the village, but he stayed there.

When Meng Yuan went in to check, he saw that Sun Zhuangtou and his son were dead, and his daughter-in-law had been stripped of her clothes, obviously having been raped to death.

While I was stunned, I suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves.

"Your little red horse!" Jie Kaiping shouted outside the house.

Meng Yuan went out to see, and the little red horse nudged Meng Yuan affectionately.

After a brief inspection, Meng Yuan found a letter from the saddle, which was left by Dugu Kang.

There is only one sentence on it: Don't ask who is awake or drunk in the world, there is nothing beside the old turtle pit. Take care, President, take care, Brother Meng.

(End of this chapter)