From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 324 Xiangji Kingdom

It was springtime, but the spring breeze arrived a little late because of the heavy snow.

In the past two days, the snow has melted and the ice has disappeared, and all things are reviving. Although the thatched hut is dilapidated, tender buds are sprouting all around, and from a distance, it looks like a vibrant green spring.

The small fence was crooked and looked like it couldn't keep out wild animals in the mountains.

Fortunately, the thatched hut was not collapsed by the snow, which is the only one that survived.

This place is not far from Yunshan Temple, and you can see smoke rising from the chimneys.

After the snow melted, the four disciples of Chongxu Temple wanted to come and show filial piety to Xuanjizi, but they were driven away again.

Now, Meng Yuan sits cross-legged in his thatched hut, with Xuanjizi guarding him outside, enjoying a very peaceful time.

It was already afternoon when Meng Yuan sat cross-legged. His dantian was full, and his body felt as one with his inner self.

Meng Yuan was not in a hurry. He first reflected on the gains and losses of yesterday's battle with Monk Jin Hai, and then he couldn't help but think of the matter between Jie Kaiping and Monk Juesheng.

The monk Juesheng was extremely learned, not only knowledgeable in Buddhism, but also possessing profound insights into Confucianism and Taoism.

Although he had a wise mentor behind him, Monk Juesheng was of good character and had a compassionate heart.

Moreover, Juesheng had secretly contributed to the last ambush of Ding Chonglou, so he should have known that Meng Yuan and Jie Kaiping were working together.

Now that the screen has been untied and stuck to by the monk Juesheng, it's likely that Juesheng isn't trying to rid the people of this scourge, but rather has other motives.

Meng Yuan couldn't help but think of Xuan Hui's words. If that monk Jue Sheng was truly insane, what kind of intentions might be hidden beneath his calm exterior? Only after seeing him again could he find out.

Or rather, once Monk Juesheng reveals his fangs, we will naturally know.

"Is it because of Miss Ying? According to Wang Er, Monk Juesheng and Miss Ying have corresponded, but they would never overstep the bounds of propriety."

"Of course, scholars cannot be judged by common sense. They may fall in love after exchanging just a few letters."

“Buddhism speaks of emptiness, but if it is ‘full,’ like a tank filled with water, wouldn’t it also be ‘empty’ for the fish? This is in line with the Taoist principle of waxing and waning, yin and yang…”

"After the death of Miss Ying, Monk Juesheng was filled with resentment. But when his mind is empty, he no longer feels resentment; instead, his state of mind changes, and he goes mad? Shouldn't we go and execute the ringleader?"

Meng Yuan pondered for a long time, but he still couldn't understand the bald monks' thoughts. These monks spent all day seeking "emptiness," yet they talked about "not getting what they wanted." In any case, the more they focused on seeking the Way, the more easily they fell into a state of fanaticism.

Just like Qing Guangzi, even if he slaughtered a city to become a Buddha, he felt that this was how one should attain enlightenment, without feeling the slightest bit ashamed.

After thinking for a long time, Meng Yuan was no longer worried about Jie Kaiping's safety, so he closed his eyes and calmed his mind.

But for some reason, I couldn't calm my mind and kept thinking about Hua Suzhi on the Qinglong River and that fox spirit.

Meng Yuan was like a monk caught in a trance; the more he tried not to think about it, the more he thought about it. A multitude of emotions lingered, impossible to shake off. Even Xiang Ling intervened, first leading Meng Yuan to find Nie Qingqing, where he witnessed her beauty, then being taken by Xiang Ling to the red cloak, and finally discovering Mingyue's goodness.

Her distracting thoughts grew deeper and deeper. After finally managing to shake off the turmoil caused by the Dugu sisters, Xiangling jumped into Jiang Tang's arms again, but Ying Rushi's figure appeared beside her again.

It was as if they had returned to the Jingyuan Garden in Songhe Prefecture. Ying Rushi was wearing a loose Taoist robe, her jade feet lying across her body, exuding a lazy air.

"Amitabha." Seeing that his mind was unstable, Meng Yuan quickly drew his Wisdom Sword and opened his eyes.

The hut was pitch black inside and out, clearly indicating that night had fallen.

Meng Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. Seeing that he could no longer meditate, he pushed open the door.

The stars and moon were nowhere to be seen, but a fire was burning in the courtyard, and a nun in black robes was brewing tea.

There was a recliner nearby, where Xuanjizi was sleeping soundly, snoring loudly.

"You've come out of seclusion?" The nun was Suwen. She was sitting on a small stool, but when she heard the door open, she quickly stood up.

"..." Meng Yuan walked slowly forward with his hands behind his back and sighed, "My mind is troubled. I can't calm down when I think of the Western Arhat Wusheng in Lanruo Temple."

Suwen was introverted by nature, and she didn't have any opinion on Meng Yuan's righteous words. She just said softly, "Then let's rest for a while."

She brought over a small stool, invited Meng Yuan to sit down, and poured him some tea.

After Meng Yuan sat down, Su Wen followed suit. The monk and the layman faced the stove, and an old Taoist priest was asleep on a reclining chair beside them.

"How did you get here?" Meng Yuan reached out to warm his hands by the fire.

"Master Xuanjizi said that you, my senior brother, are in seclusion and something might go wrong, so he asked me to come and keep an eye on things." Suwen spoke very softly, as if afraid of waking Xuanjizi.

Meng Yuan could see clearly that the old Taoist priest was too lazy and had tricked the young nun into helping him. Of course, the old Taoist priest might have had other motives as well.

However, Meng Yuan had always been interested in Suwen, not because he wanted to entice others to break the precepts, but because he wanted to inquire about the cultivation methods of physicians.

Unfortunately, he never had the chance, and Suwen was timid and taciturn, and was always protected by her elders, so Meng Yuan was unable to make the proposal.

Now the little nun sat by the fire, holding a fire poker in her hand, poking at the fire here and there, not looking at Meng Yuan or saying a word.

The faint flame reflected on Suwen's rosy face, making the little nun look quite pretty.

"Sigh." Meng Yuan sighed, but Su Wen ignored him and just glanced at Meng Yuan curiously.

This young nun wasn't aloof; rather, she was timid, rarely interacted with outsiders, wasn't very talkative, and dared not speak.

"I was injured in my previous battle with Jin Hai, and I had to ask a high-ranking monk from Lanruo Temple to help me." Meng Yuan could only urge the other person to speak.

As expected, Su Wen, having known Meng Yuan before, showed concern upon hearing this and quickly asked, "Are you feeling better now? You seem full of energy and don't appear injured. After yesterday's battle, you didn't seem to suffer any damage..."

Suwen carefully examined Meng Yuan, as if searching for something out of place in him.

"..." Meng Yuan didn't expect this medical disciple to have such sharp eyes, so he said, "The external injuries are gone, but I feel depressed. Every time I close my eyes, I see the Red Lotus Karmic Fire."

"I see." Suwen's voice was very soft, not even as soft as the crackling of a match. She nodded and said, "The Red Lotus Karmic Fire burns away sins. Perhaps you were burned by the karmic fire, Senior Brother. Although the karmic fire went with Jin Hai, there are still remnants of fire in your body."

Suwen, at this point, couldn't help but ask curiously, "But you were clearly not afraid of karmic fire back then..."

"Anyway, can you take a look at this for me?" Meng Yuan stretched out his hand.

Su Wen didn't shy away from it, leaning forward slightly and reaching out to touch Meng Yuan's wrist.

In an instant, Meng Yuan smelled a faint medicinal fragrance, and then felt a very subtle, peaceful and balanced aura enter his body.

As the energy circulated within his body, Meng Yuan felt a sense of comfort, as if his fatigue had vanished and his mind had become increasingly peaceful and relaxed.

“Senior brother, my cultivation is insufficient, and I cannot find the source of the illness.” Suwen withdrew her hand, her face flushed with shame. She whispered, “However, senior brother is robust and full of vitality, so there should be nothing serious.”

"Then I'll keep him here for now." Meng Yuan sighed, then asked, "How did you join the medical family, Junior Sister?"

“This…” Suwen picked up the fire poker again, fidgeting, and said, “It was taught to me by my master.”

Meng Yuan remembered that Su Wen's master had long since passed away, so he became even more curious and asked, "The night is long and I have no desire to sleep. Why don't we chat to pass the time? I'll tell you about my experience as a castrator, and you can tell me about your experience in cultivating the Tao."

"Amitabha." Upon hearing Meng Yuan's past, Su Wen immediately dropped the fire poker, chanted a Buddhist prayer, then picked it up again, her face genuinely showing some curiosity. This young nun often practiced in the mountains and rarely came down. Although she was rather serene, she was still quite young and very curious.

Meng Yuan did not shy away from the topic and immediately began to talk about his strengths.

"Amitabha." Suwen murmured a few words of the sutra for deliverance before recounting his origins, "I probably come from the land of Xiangji."

Perhaps? The Kingdom of Xiangji?
There are many small countries surrounding Qing Kingdom, and there are also small countries in the Western Buddhist Kingdom, but there is absolutely no Xiangji Kingdom. This so-called Xiangji Kingdom is mostly recorded in ancient books. It is rich in spices, with many fragrant trees and flowers. The people are happy and mostly handsome. It is a peaceful and prosperous land.

There are also rumors that Xiangji Kingdom was the place where the founder of medicine lived in seclusion after leaving the world.

For many years, many people have tried to find the location of the Xiangji Kingdom, but to no avail.

"Xiangji Kingdom?" Meng Yuan was genuinely curious.

Seeing Meng Yuan's curiosity, Su Wen quickly shook his head, "I don't know where Xiangji Kingdom is either."

She held a fire poker in her hand, wanting to stir the fire, but felt it would be impolite, so she only dared to hold it in her hand and said softly, "My master brought me here. She told me about it. I was too young then to remember anything. But on the swaddling clothes she was left with, there was an embroidered herb and the words 'Xiangji' (fragrant food)."

"Is this also the reason you joined the medical profession?" Meng Yuan asked.

“It was my master who taught me.” Suwen nodded slightly, then said dejectedly, “My master told me to worship the Medicine King Bodhisattva and to focus on learning medicine, but I still couldn’t save her.”

"How did she die?" Meng Yuan asked.

“Poisoning.” Suwen looked bewildered. “It’s probably poisoning, but I don’t understand.”

"Would it be convenient for you to tell me about the methods of advancement for physicians?" Meng Yuan only knew that the methods of cultivation for physicians were different from those of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and martial arts, and that it seemed to be about attaining enlightenment by ingesting medicine.

Suwen did not hide anything and said frankly, "I'm not quite sure."

"..." Meng Yuan rubbed his temples. "Aren't you a healer?"

"I was born with a high level of cultivation, and as I grew older, my cultivation level gradually rose," Su Wen said softly, seemingly a little embarrassed.

Meng Yuan frowned and asked, "Did your parents 'give birth' of their cultivation?"

"That's roughly it." Even Suwen wasn't quite sure.

“This is the unique aspect of the medical profession,” Xuanjizi, who was reclining on the nearby chair, said. “Their cultivation relies on two things: taking medicine and practicing medicine. Taking medicine is like taking poison. If too much of it accumulates, the ‘poison’ will be expelled with the fetus. Isn’t that also a way of treating illness?”

Meng Yuan had interacted with Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist people. He only knew that the descendants of those who entered the ranks of cultivation might have stronger physiques or more outstanding talents, but it was absolutely impossible for them to be born with cultivation.

“Actually, there are also such cases among demon cultivators, but they need to be powerful demons. However, it is difficult for powerful demons to have offspring, so this situation is rare.” Xuanjizi spoke slowly, sighed, and said, “It is the same for physicians. The fetuses born may seem to have gotten a good deal and entered the Dao early, but in fact, only one in ten, or even one in a hundred, can survive.”

Xuanjizi remained lying on the recliner. He turned his head slightly to look at Suwen and said, "This girl is fortunate. In her childhood, it was Liaoxian who extended her life."

Suwen lowered his head and remained silent, his thoughts unknown.

"Medicine practitioners are not skilled in aggressive tactics, but they can observe the life force of a person, and can use medicine and poison at will. They are naturally close to mountains and rivers." Xuanjizi smiled slightly and looked at Suwen, saying, "What do you think of Meng Feiyuan?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen looked at Meng Yuan and said, "Senior Brother Meng is full of vitality, with strong bones and muscles and abundant blood and qi, far surpassing others of the same level."

"He wasn't injured, nor was he affected by that Red Lotus Karmic Fire. He was just trying to get you to talk. Remember that?" Xuanjizi instructed.

Upon hearing this, Suwen slightly raised her head to look at Meng Yuan, only to find that her usually polite senior brother Meng seemed somewhat embarrassed, clearly admitting it.

"Amitabha." Suwen dropped the fire poker, put his hands together in prayer, but ultimately did not curse.

"Master Daoist, where is the Kingdom of Xiangji?" Meng Yuan asked.

“How would I know?” Xuanjizi pointed at Suwen and said, “The little girl comes from the Kingdom of Xiangji, she might know.”

"I don't know either." Suwen looked up quickly after hearing Xuanjizi's words, shook her head vigorously, and said, "Master told me to go back when I grow up, but I don't know the way, so I guess I don't need to go."

“We will go.” Xuanjizi smiled and said, “Someone has already discovered the way to Xiangji Kingdom.”

"They've already found it?" Meng Yuan asked curiously. "How come there wasn't a single word about it?"

“Because it’s not ripe yet.” Xuanjizi smiled disdainfully. “Those who can’t be presented properly will never be presented properly.”

Meng Yuan always felt that Xuanjizi was talking about Dugu Sheng.

"Is something bothering you?" Xuanjizi finally got down to business. "Tell me about it."

“This…” Meng Yuan was naturally willing to ask Xuanjizi for advice, so he cleared his throat and said, “Junior Sister Suwen, go to your room and tidy up.”

Suwen was very obedient and quickly got up and went into the thatched hut.

Just as Meng Yuan was about to speak, Su Wen immediately came out again, took a piece of charcoal, and then went back into the room.

Seeing Meng Yuan's expression, Xuanjizi asked, "Missing women?"

"Yes." Meng Yuan did not hide anything, but slowly said, "I first thought about the battle with Jin Hai, then I thought about Jue Sheng, but in the end I could no longer enter meditation, and just thought about women randomly."

Meng Yuan didn't dare say which women they were, let alone that he had also thought of Ying Rushi.

"Tell me in detail," Xuanjizi said, intrigued.

"It's just that... it's just that Xiangling was so eager to become my godmother, so she became my guide, and she broadened my horizons and introduced me to many women," Meng Yuan said truthfully.

"The difficulty of ascending to the third level lies in comprehension and mental state." Xuanjizi simply sat cross-legged on the recliner, pointed to Meng Yuan's chest, and said, "Buddhism speaks of three obstacles and five obstacles, and our Taoist and Confucian schools have similar concepts. If you want to go further, you just need to break through the obstacles!"

Xuanjizi stroked his beard and smiled, “Among the karmic obstacles in Buddhism, there is the obstacle of desire, which is having too strong a desire for beauty, wealth, and fame. You have fallen into this obstacle.”

"Does the Taoist priest mean that I should wield the sword of wisdom and sever my emotional ties?" Meng Yuan neither loved money nor cared about fame, but he had too many women around him, so he sincerely asked for advice.

"What 'wielding the sword of wisdom to sever the threads of affection'? Nonsense! Stop bothering those bald monks!" Xuanjizi scoffed. "It's common for people to have desires in this world, why use the sword of wisdom to sever them? Monks don't marry and have children, but who are they referring to as 'hunger ghosts of lust'?"

Xuanjizi had a very insightful point: "This is nothing more than worrying about sleeping with someone and then being clung to! Only a great hero can be true to himself, and a true gentleman is naturally romantic!"

"The Taoist priest couldn't be more right!" Meng Yuan agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "If you ask me, we should have it all!"

Xuanjizi was taken aback upon hearing this, then frowned and said, "Only a great hero can be true to his nature, and a true scholar is naturally elegant. This means that one should not lose one's true nature and should have a carefree spirit, not that you should be obsessed with getting into skirts!"

He was somewhat angry, tapped Meng Yuan's forehead, and said, "You're not actually troubled by lust, but rather you've witnessed great terror."

Xuanjizi's words made perfect sense. "You have seen the abilities of the little bald monk Jin Hai, and you have also seen the shortcomings of the middle bald monk Jue Sheng. You have been under the lingering influence of the Arhat Wu Sheng, and you are worried that the Arhat Wu Sheng will suppress you with one palm and take away all your relatives and lovers to shave their heads!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuan seemed to suddenly understand, and then nodded, saying, "What the Daoist said couldn't be more true."

As he spoke, Meng Yuan stood up and said, “The Buddha said that all loving relationships are impermanent and difficult to last. Life is full of fear, and life is as fragile as morning dew. From love arises sorrow, from love arises fear. If one is free from love, there is neither sorrow nor fear.”

Holding the knife in his hand, Meng Yuan continued, "Buddhist teachings are too soft. If you want to be free from worry and fear, you only need to sharpen your blade."

"Excellent!" Xuanjizi clapped his hands and laughed.

(End of this chapter)