From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 323 Madness
The night was past midnight.

The river was calm, with no wind or rain, reflecting the shimmering moon.

Hua Suzhi somehow produced a fishing rod, cast the line, and became a fisherman on the awning boat.

Seeing Hua Suzhi's state, Meng Yuan and Lin Yan were about to take their leave, but unexpectedly, Elder Miaoyin stopped them again.

The elder, Miaoyin, was alluring beyond words. She held Meng Yuan's hand with her fair, delicate hand, gently scratching it while asking about Meng Yuan's experience as a castrator.

After Meng Yuan explained the method of castration, Elder Miaoyin came to ask Meng Yuan about his daily life and diet, and what kind of women he preferred, showing no demeanor of a superior person.

It sounded like an elder asking a question, but the person asking was charming and seductive, with a hint of flirtation in their words. Although Meng Yuan wanted to discuss it in detail, he still had his pride and didn't dare to talk about these trivial matters in front of Xiangling's godmother and Xuanjizi.

Lin Yan, on the other hand, was quite engrossed in the conversation. When Elder Miaoyin mentioned that there were many beautiful women among the demon race, he readily agreed.

"When I came, I heard from Lord Cangshan that the wind and rain just now were because of my sister." Meng Yuan had already changed his form of address out of helplessness, and simply started asking around randomly. "I didn't expect that someone as gentle as my sister could cause such a storm when she was angry."

"It's just a small pond causing a commotion," Elder Miaoyin said modestly. "If it were a true dragon, the world would be turned upside down, and the landscape would be transformed."

"I wonder why you're angry, sister?" Meng Yuan's hand was still being held, but he suppressed the ripples in his heart and continued to probe: "If you ever need my help, sister, I'll go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Lin Yan glanced at Meng Yuan, stroked his chin, and echoed, "It's my duty!"

Elder Miaoyin listened to the hypocritical words of the two brothers, and it was unclear whether she believed them or not. In any case, she smiled and placed Meng Yuan's hand on her chest, saying, "Good brother, you are such a good person."

"Actually, it's nothing." Elder Miaoyin's smile remained unchanged as she said, "It's just that Li Weizhen arrived too late."

At this point, Elder Miaoyin looked at Meng Yuan and continued, "Little fellow, women don't want men to come early, but they also don't want them to come too late. Women are willing to wait, but they don't want to wait too long."

Elder Miaoyin's voice lost some of its gentleness and gained more of a sense of helplessness. She released Meng Yuan's hand and said, "What a pity, what a pity. Most of the men in this world who understand romance don't have much ability; those who have real ability, however, don't understand romance."

What is all this nonsense? Meng Yuan was at a loss for words.

The awning boat swayed gently, and the distant sound of boatmen's chants could be heard.

"Is there a way to have it all?" Lin Yan had something to say. "Elder, I've been bored in the monastery lately and have been reading a lot of Buddhist scriptures. Other than that, they are all fine, but the principle of abandoning greed, anger, and ignorance is not wrong. In life, the more greedy you are, the less you get what you want."

Lin Yan spread her hands, making perfect sense. "Wanting to fall in love with a peerless hero, and also wanting him to understand romance and poetry? Where can you find such a good deal?"

At this point, Lin Yan pointed at Meng Yuan and asked, "Junior brother, have you ever met someone like this?"

"Right in front of you," Meng Yuan boasted shamelessly.

"See? There's nothing at all..." Lin Yan stopped himself in time, stroking his chin and looking Meng Yuan up and down. "Junior brother, I thought you were good at coaxing the red-cloaked man because of your skills, but it turns out you're good at talking!"

"Senior brother is too kind," Meng Yuan said shamelessly.

"Sigh." Xuanjizi, who had been in meditation, finally opened his eyes. He looked at Lin and Meng, his eyes filled with helplessness. "How did the Ying family disciples become like this?"

"..." Lin Yan and Meng Yuan exchanged a glance, and neither of them dared to make any more jokes.

"It's getting late." Elder Miaoyin looked into the distance and saw fishing lights slowly approaching. "The pangolin has come to pick you up."

Meng Yuan then remembered the important matter and quickly bowed to Xuanjizi, saying, "Old Daoist, Lanruo Temple is not a peaceful place. I wish to go to Yunshan Temple for seclusion. Please grant me your protection."

Xuanjizi realized that Meng Yuan's decision to bring this up at this time clearly indicated that he had been misled by women.

However, Xuanjizi was Yingru's senior brother, and Mengyuan was Yingru's closest disciple. Xuanjizi had no reason to refuse, but he sighed helplessly and finally agreed.

Over there, Lord Cangshan had already arrived in a small boat. He was wearing a straw hat and a raincoat, standing on the boat, rowing with both hands. If he were to shout a couple of times, he would truly be a ferryman.

Seeing Hua Suzhi fishing at the stern of the boat, Cangshan Jun smiled and said, "Elder, Meng Feiyuan wrote a poem tonight that goes, 'The ducks are the first to know when the spring river warms.' It speaks of the fish being plump in spring, which is quite fitting..."

Before he could finish speaking, Cangshan Jun saw Hua Suzhi lift the fishing rod, but the hook was empty, clearly indicating that the fish had been scared away.

Lord Cangshan dared not say anything more, and lowered his head without uttering a word.

Meng Yuan and Lin Yan bid farewell to the three and boarded Cangshan Jun's small boat.

"Good brother, come find me when you come out of seclusion. Let's talk about the warming of the spring river in private." Elder Miaoyin said reluctantly.

Meng Yuan dared not refuse, and reluctantly gave a perfunctory reply, but then urged Cangshan Jun to row the oars.

Returning along the same route, after being several miles away from the awning boat, Lord Cangshan finally stretched his back.

"Are you very afraid of Elder Fox?" Lin Yan asked.

"Keep your voice down!" Cangshan Jun was startled and whispered, "Just because the elder is kind to you doesn't mean she has no temper."

"Besides captivating hearts and minds, what other supernatural powers does she possess?" Meng Yuan inquired.

"I don't know, I don't know." Cangshan Jun simply shook his head. "If Brother Meng wants to investigate further, he can go to the elder one day and try it himself. I noticed that the elder looks at you differently; she clearly thinks highly of you. If you are fortunate enough, you might even receive personal instruction from the elder."

Lord Cangshan is making me sell again! Meng Yuan ignored him, thinking he'd deal with it another day.

Rowing against the current, one cannot see how much effort the mountain god puts into rowing, yet the small boat seems to float on the river surface.

Before long, they saw the Azure Dragon Pagoda. A small boat approached the shore, and Meng Yuan and Lin Yan disembarked. Cangshan Jun waved goodbye.

Arriving at the foot of Lanruo Temple, they found it guarded day and night. Wang Buyi and the monk Xuanbei were already waiting there, and upon seeing Meng Yuan and Lin Yan return, they quickly came to greet them.

"Chief, there's a letter for you." Wang Buyi took out a letter and handed it over; a circle was drawn on it.

Meng Yuan took the letter, opened it, and sure enough, it was a letter from Mingyue. She questioned Meng Yuan about why he didn't go to see her and Dugu Ying.

"Junior brother, I believe what you said on the ship earlier." Lin Yan leaned over to take a look at the contents of the letter and clapped his hands in praise to Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan put away the letter, and the monk Xuanbei stepped forward and bowed to the two of them.

“Benefactor Meng’s slaying of the evil monk is a great act of merit. I was busy at noon and did not have time to congratulate you. Please forgive me.” Xuan Bei said this politely before continuing, “My uncle has prepared a vegetarian meal and invites you to the gathering.”

This was invited by Master Jueming.

Previously, Meng Yuan had received instructions from Wang Er, who said that Abbot Zhiguan had asked him to seek out Jueming, as he was going to meet an old friend.

Without further ado, Meng Yuan and Lin Yan, led by the monk Xuanbei, headed towards the Chijie Temple.

Upon arriving at Jueming's meditation room, one finds the lights and candles dim. As expected, Master Jueming has prepared a tofu feast, accompanied by a monk in his forties or fifties.

"Your Majesty's display of power today has truly broadened this humble monk's horizons," Master Jueming remarked upon meeting him, showing none of the demeanor of a high-ranking monk. He said, "When we first met in Qingtian County, Benefactor Meng already displayed remarkable talent, while this humble monk was like a frog in a well, unable to recognize a true master. It was my grand-uncle who was wise and insightful; although he had not seen your true face, he praised you highly and transmitted the Bodhi Path to Extinction." What wisdom and insight? Meng Yuan knew full well that Master Zhitong had not transmitted the Bodhi Path to Extinction because of his own abilities, but rather because Dugu Kang had exerted his influence.

However, seeing Jueming's continuous praise, Meng Yuan could only offer a few humble words before looking at the monk beside Jueming.

The monk had no ordination scars on his head, wore a hemp robe, had a refined appearance, and a kind smile on his face; he was clearly a gentle and kind person.

“This is Senior Brother Xuanhui,” Xuanbei explained from the side.

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuan and Lin Yan were taken aback, and the two stepped forward to bow.

Before coming to Ping'an Prefecture, Zhao Wannian and the others had said that after the Ying family's turmoil, one of their brothers came to Lanruo Temple to become a monk. He belonged to the "Xuan" generation and had the Dharma name Xuanhui.

Knowing that Meng Yuan would be going to Lanruo Temple on official business, Zhao Wannian and the others advised Meng Yuan to seek out this old friend of Master Nie if he encountered any difficulties.

However, after Meng Yuan arrived at Lanruo Temple, he inquired about Xuan Hui with Lin Yan and learned that this person had always followed Abbot Zhiguan and had already gone into seclusion.

But to everyone's surprise, the person Abbot Zhiguan arranged for Meng Yuan to meet was none other than the monk Xuanhui.

“Benefactor Nie has indeed taught two outstanding individuals.” Monk Xuanhui clasped his hands together and bowed his head slightly.

Perhaps he was thinking of Nie Yannian, for the monk Xuanhui showed a slight change in expression.

"The three of you may chat here; this humble monk will not disturb you any longer." Seeing this, Monk Jueming led Xuanbei away.

After the monk Jueming had gone far away, Xuanhui invited Meng Yuan and Lin Yan to sit down.

“We’re all family, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony.” The monk Xuanhui was very refined, not like someone who had entered the Buddhist order, but more like a scholar who adhered to Confucian teachings.

"Does Abbot Zhiguan have some deeper meaning in sending his junior brother to see you?" Lin Yan asked immediately.

“No, not at all.” Monk Xuanhui smiled slightly and said, “I just came out of seclusion, that’s all. But he knows I’m an old friend of the Ying family, yet he specially arranged for us to meet, so he must be trying to say that he supports the Ying family.”

"The bald monks of Lanruo Temple were involved in the destruction of the Ying clan. Can they be trusted?" Lin Yan pressed.

“I have been to Lanruo Temple for many years and have traveled to Ping’an Prefecture many times.” Xuan Hui did not respond, but instead talked about other things. “I think Buddhist scriptures are good, and Confucian and Taoist classics are also good. It’s just that the practitioners are different, their states of mind are different, so their gains are different, and their words and actions are naturally different.”

The monk Xuanhui smiled slightly and said in a gentle voice, "The abbot is a highly virtuous monk, so you don't need to be wary of him."

Meng Yuan and Lin Yan exchanged a glance. After spending so many days at Lanruo Temple, they realized that Abbot Zhiguan was indeed acting without fault and had the demeanor of a high-ranking monk.

Xuanhui didn't dwell on these matters, but instead inquired about Ying Rushi.

"I hope the Third Miss is well." Meng Yuan knew Ying Rushi's situation best.

“Nie Yannian…” Xuan Hui paused, then asked, “Is Qingqing alright?”

Lin Yan chuckled and said, "Master Nie is the most cunning. He betrothed Qingqing to Junior Brother long ago! Junior Brother is no pushover either. He slept with Qingqing before they were even married!"

"You are a promising young man." Monk Xuanhui nodded with a smile, looking at Meng Yuan with great satisfaction, and said, "With you under the Ying family's wing, there may be a turning point in the future."

At this point, the monk Xuanhui brought up the important matter, saying, "The abbot has instructed me to lead the way and has granted my nephew permission to visit the Sutra Repository at any time."

There's no rush now. Meng Yuan just wants to quickly settle his worldly affairs and then go into seclusion to cultivate in peace so that he can break through to a higher level as soon as possible.

"I will come to bother you again after I have gone into seclusion," Meng Yuan said.

Xuan Hui nodded slightly and said, "The warrior monks of Lanruo Temple are famous throughout the world. They possess many profound and wondrous methods, as well as many techniques they have acquired outside. Nephew, you may visit them when you have time. It is fine to do so at any time and broaden your horizons."

After finishing their business, the three of them, by the dim light of candles, asked the monk Xuanhui about the upheaval in Songhe Prefecture.

They chatted until dawn before Xuan Hui realized that Meng Yuan was about to go into seclusion, so he didn't linger any longer.

"Be careful of Juesheng." Xuan Hui saw Meng Yuan and Lin Yan out before giving them this advice.

"What did he do wrong?" Lin Yan knew that Monk Juesheng was wrong, and the higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Bureau also knew it.

Meng Yuan even knew about Juesheng's past with the second young lady of the Ying family, as well as Juesheng's dream of killing Ding Qianyun.

“He may seem like a high-ranking monk, but he’s actually gone mad.” Xuan Hui said very seriously and with absolute certainty, “He’s even madder than Qing Guangzi.”

"How so?" Meng Yuan asked curiously. He had dealt with Juesheng many times and knew that Juesheng had been bewitched, but that memory had been erased and he was now considered a normal person.

He was a very upright person and could be considered virtuous. However, when he untied the screen, the bald monk said that Juesheng showed signs of slight madness.

“He was bewitched, but he wasn’t actually tricked. He just asked for it,” the monk Xuanhui said slowly. Seeing that Meng Yuan and Lin Yan remained silent, he continued, “Ever since I entered Lanruo Temple, he knew that I came from the Ying family and became friends with me.”

Xuanhui spoke gently, “I shared a meditation room with him, and I know best that he has changed.”

"What is he asking for?" Meng Yuan asked. "Who is the person behind him?"

“I don’t know about that. I’m just a martial monk, I don’t practice Buddhist arts.” Xuan Hui shook his head slightly. “I heard you were close to him, that’s why I told you.”

Seeing this, Meng Yuan and Lin Yan knew they wouldn't get any information out of them, so they took their leave.

Lin Yan went to report to Wang Er, while Meng Yuan went directly down the mountain to search for Mingyue and the red cloak in the city.

Last night's letter clearly urged Meng Yuan to go quickly, but when they met, Mingyue only asked if Meng Yuan was injured and then said nothing more.

Dugu Ying was even less inclined to speak to Meng Yuan, only asking where he had gone to cultivate in seclusion. Upon learning that Meng Yuan had gone to Yunshan Temple, she sneered a few times, saying things like the nuns at Yunshan Temple were all highly accomplished.

Meng Yuan left the villa in a daze and headed south out of the city, where he was met by a little beggar.

"Give me money!" the little beggar demanded as soon as he arrived.

Seeing that the little beggar was very serious, Meng Yuan actually took out some loose silver and handed it over.

Having received the silver, the little beggar quickly said, "An old friend from the Jiangxin Forum asked me to pass on a message: he's been harassed by a bald monk, and he told you not to get involved!"

After speaking, the little beggar seemed to wake up from a dream. He saw Meng Yuan, noticed the silver in his hand, quickly thanked him, and then ran away in a flash.

This must be a method to unlock the screen! And that bald monk who's stuck on is probably the monk Juesheng!
Since Jie Kaiping didn't want to be involved, Meng Yuan didn't interfere. After all, Jie Kaiping was best at running around and hiding, so there was no need to worry too much.

Upon arriving at Yunshan Temple, Meng Yuan found Xuanjizi's courtyard and decided to retreat there for quiet meditation.

(End of this chapter)