From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 263 Congratulations
The north wind is as sharp as a knife.

Meng Yuan looked at the letter left by Dugu Kang and felt as if he was in another world.

The poems and couplets written in front of the old turtle pit seem to be right in front of us, but now they are scattered and I don’t know when we will be together again.

The snow kept falling, and Meng Yuan seemed to be sitting under the grape trellis again, enjoying a tofu feast with Dugu Kang and Xiang Ling.

"Amitabha." Jie Kaiping saw Meng Yuan staring at the letter without saying a word, so he leaned over to take a look, then shook his head helplessly, "Junior Brother Liaokong is also a man of temperament."

"Does Qing Guangzi really want Dugu Kang to be his disciple?" Meng Yuan asked.

"Who can say for sure?" Jie Kaiping spread his hands. "We can't guess what the master is thinking."

Jie Kaiping looked at the letter and said, "It's just that Junior Brother Liaokong does have wisdom. When Master achieves the third rank, he will naturally need someone to command him."

"In other words, Dugu Kang, like you, will inevitably be planted with thoughts by Qing Guangzi?" Meng Yuan asked.

Jie Kaiping wiped the snow water off his bald head and said, "That's right."

He pointed to Songhe Prefecture in the distance and said, "The master is the best at this. He likes to live in dark and narrow places, but he practices the light aspect. One is light and the other is dark, just like there are bright places and shadows under the sun. The master's Dharma is also formed because of this, and the thoughts he planted are even more so, and are extremely difficult to eliminate."

"Why did you disappear?" Meng Yuan asked.

“I…” Jie Kaiping was stunned for a moment, “I practiced the state of tranquility and extinction, which is true nirvana. My master happened to be in the process of transcending calamity, so the Buddha’s light could not shine on me, so I naturally walked out of it.”

Meng Yuan nodded and asked no more questions.

"If Master advances to the upper third level this time, I'm afraid Junior Brother Liaokong will have a hard time breaking free." Jie Kaiping was very emotional, and then said, "Of course, there is always a way. Maybe Junior Brother Liaokong has another opportunity and is not confused by all the thoughts."

After Jie Kaiping saw that Meng Yuan didn't believe it at all, he didn't say anything more. He could only sigh and go into the room.

When he saw the miserable condition of Sun Zhuangtou's daughter-in-law, he untied the screen and chanted the Buddha's name again.

"Qie Yisheng has great ambitions in martial arts. This must have been done by Xiong Wuwei and He Jiulang." Jie Kaiping clasped his hands and bowed his head, "Amitabha, you beasts!"

Meng Yuan put away the letter and returned to his room. He did not hide his feelings but went forward to help Sun Zhuangtou's daughter-in-law straighten her clothes to cover her body.

Then Meng Yuan pushed down the house, starting a fire.

He opened the screen and stared at it blankly, forgetting even to recite the scriptures.

Meng Yuan didn't care and went to pick up some dry firewood and piled them up one by one.

He didn't help but just watched from the sidelines when he unlocked the screen.

When the firewood pile was high, Meng Yuan put Nie Yannian on it.

At this time, the sky was even darker, the north wind was blowing, the snow was dancing wildly, and the world was extremely lonely.

After the fire was lit, the north wind blew and the fire raged. The flying snow was burned into mist.

He untied the screen, clasped his hands together, faced the fire, and chanted sutras for the salvation of souls in a low voice.

The firewood was not afraid of wind and snow, but after only half an hour, the firewood burned out and the fire gradually died down.

In the distance in the direction of Songhe Prefecture, the black and purple colors have disappeared, but the Buddha's light is exceptionally bright, leaving only a bright spot in the dark sky.

Meng Yuan collected the ashes in a torn cloth bag and tied it around his waist.

His clothes were torn and covered with blood, and his hair was disheveled and stuck with blood. Meng Yuan did not bother to take care of them. He just took out Master Nie's knife and wiped it with the snow.

"You look like an ascetic in your attire." Jie Kaiping spoke again.

"Life is fleeting, and life is not as solid as gold or stone. Being born as a human being, we are meant to be travelers." Meng Yuan said.

"It is better to drink good wine, wear silk and linen, enjoy life while you can, and don't be hurt by thoughts." He untied the screen and clasped his hands together.

Meng Yuan nodded and looked in the direction of Songhe Prefecture. He saw that the wind and snow could not block the light, and the Buddha's light was magnificent and without any filth. Looking from afar, he was truly relaxed and happy, as if it was a paradise without any worries, greed, anger, ignorance or resentment.

“Brother Meng, we have to go.” Jie Kaiping also looked over and sighed, “The master is about to succeed. We can’t stay here for long.”

"Will it affect here?" Meng Yuan asked without understanding.

"To enter the third grade from the fourth grade of Buddhism, one must set a great wish and achieve it. If it is achieved, isn't it just saying what you want to do?" Jie Kaiping had something in his mind, "When you reach the upper third grade, all the flowers will bloom, the Buddha's light will reflect the auspicious clouds, and the Dharma you have cultivated will be revealed. It will surely shine in the sun and melt the winter ice and snow. Not only in Songhe Prefecture, but even outside the city, people can hear the Buddha's name and mantra. The body and mind will be enveloped by light, sweeping away all kinds of random thoughts and distractions."

Jie Kaiping gazed at Songhefu City, "Then we may develop a heart of devout worship."

"It's still the same idea." Meng Yuan said.

"Amitabha." Jie Kaiping shook his head slightly, "Donor Meng has too deep prejudice against Buddhism. A knife can kill people, but it can also save people. It all depends on who holds the knife."

Meng Yuan did not agree, but did not refute it.

"Brother Meng, harboring hatred in your heart can certainly encourage your martial arts advancement, but don't be too obsessed with it, otherwise it will do more harm than good." Jie Kaiping still advised.

"Thank you for your advice, Brother Jie." Meng Yuan looked at Jie Kaiping and asked, "Where are you planning to go?"

"Let's go to Ping'an Prefecture and take a look." Jie Kaiping sighed, "In my opinion, the Buddha in Ping'an Prefecture is better than the Buddha in the West. Besides, I can get rid of the shackles with one move. I have seen the way to advancement."

At this point, Jie Kaiping asked sincerely, "Brother Meng, what are your plans? Where do you want to go?"

Meng Yuan thought for a moment and said, "First, cross the river to pick up my friend, then go find Ying Rushi, and then take revenge."

"I have already prepared a boat by the river. I'll take you there. Let's go!" Jie Kaiping said excitedly.

Meng Yuan didn't think much about it and followed by leading the horse.

The two men walked quickly and headed south. Soon they saw the vast river.

The wind and snow never stopped, but the water in the river was flowing mightily and did not stop for a moment because of the changes in the world.

“People only know how to sigh over the passing water; no one comes to see the tears of the common people.” He untied the screen and looked at the river. He was moved and sighed, then found a small boat among the reeds.

The little red horse had crossed the river many times. When it saw the small boat, it knew it had to cross the river again. It was not afraid but eager to try.

"Please." He untied the screen and put his hands together.

Meng Yuan led the horse onto the boat, untied the screen, waved his hand, and headed west.

Sitting in the boat, Meng Yuan took out the oars, but seeing the vast sky and earth, he couldn't even put down the oars.

Just as I was lost in thought, I saw Jie Kaiping running towards me in a hurry.

One person was on the boat and one person was on the shore.

"See you someday." Meng Yuan bowed and thought to himself that Jie Kaiping was still blaming Renyi for sending him off again and again.

"Don't go! Lend me some money!" Jie Kaiping waved his hands on the shore, anxiously saying, "It's freezing here, I don't even have a place to beg for alms, do you have any money, Brother Meng?"

"..."Meng Yuan rubbed his eyebrows and touched his waist.

The purse sewn by Jiang Yatou was dirty and had many small holes on it, but Meng Yuan never threw it away.

He opened his purse, took out a hundred-liang silver note, and threw it onto the shore.

"Amitabha, the donor's merits are immeasurable." Jie Kaiping happily took it, put his hands together and bowed his head in worship, then turned around and walked away.

“Life is less than a hundred years, yet we always worry about a thousand years. Days are short and nights are long, so why not go out with a candle!” He untied the screen and strode forward, chanting loudly, and gradually disappeared in the wind and snow.

(End of this chapter)