From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 371 Shuo Rat
After a long time, Xiangling's big eyes were still bright and sparkling, full of curiosity as she blinked. However, she seemed to have gained some weight, perhaps because of the good food she was eating.

Her little bundle was still floral-patterned, bulging inside, and who knows what good things it contained.

Xiangling was very happy. She stood on Meng Yuan's shoulder, carefully looked at Meng Yuan, and then looked at everyone.

"Oh!" Xiangling only then noticed Dugu Kang. She was stunned for a moment, then stared wide-eyed, trying hard to make out who he was, before happily exclaiming, "Dugu Kang?"

Dugu Kang is now dressed in tattered clothes and has short hair, not much different from when he was in Songhe Prefecture.

"Greetings, President." Dugu Kang lowered his head slightly and spoke with a smile.

Xiangling immediately jumped onto Dugu Kang's shoulder, "You're finally back! I've missed you so much!"

“I also miss the president.” Dugu Kang was a respectable man, and he immediately took out the gift he had prepared in advance. “I’m traveling far away and don’t have anything good to give the president. This is a sachet made from herbs from the country of Xiangji. It’s the best for helping you sleep.”

Xiangling had no idea about the Kingdom of Fragrance, but she was still very happy. She took the sachet and examined it carefully, then pressed her face against it and took a deep sniff. "It smells really good!"

She makes a good point. "It's just that the stitching isn't very good. I'll teach you tonight; there's a lot to learn about it!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, President," Dugu Kang said with a smile.

Xiangling nodded happily, clutching the sachet in her little paws. She then looked at Mingyue and asked curiously, "Grandma, why do you look even more beautiful now? Why is your hair styled like you're getting married?"

Mingyue didn't reply, but frowned and said, "I haven't seen you for a few days, how come you've gained weight?"

"I'm not afraid of the cold even though I'm fat!" Xiangling was not ashamed. Seeing that Mingyue didn't want to pay much attention to her, she bowed to Jiujie again and then tilted her head to look at Jie Kaiping.

"Are you a monk too?" Perhaps because she had seen so many monks, Xiangling was able to tell whether someone was a real monk or not.

"Benefactor Xiang has discerning eyes." Jie Kaiping was always polite. "This humble monk is Jie Kaiping, and I am the senior brother of your esteemed sect's Dugu Kang."

Xiangling had obviously heard of this name and knew he was not someone to be trifled with. Being timid, she quickly jumped onto Meng Yuan's shoulder, tilting her head to look at Jie Kaiping and then at Dugu Kang.

Jie Kaiping immediately bowed to Lin Yan and Yuan Yaoniang, saying, "I have long heard of your virtuous couple. Seeing you today, I can say that you are truly a match made in heaven, a perfect couple!"

"This guy has a rather pleasant way of speaking!" Lin Yan chuckled, then looked at Meng Yuan again.

More than half a year had passed since they last met, and Lin Yan felt that his junior brother had not changed much, but had become more harmonious, as if he could blend into the trees, the sound of the wind, and even the chirping of cicadas in this mountain forest.

However, upon closer examination, Lin Yan felt that Meng Yuan was different again. Compared to when he was at Lanruo Temple, he was more reserved, but his vitality did not become more vigorous. Instead, he was like a spark, seemingly extinguished by a gust of wind, yet seemingly immortal.

Lin Yan vaguely felt that he saw a similarity between Meng Yuan and Wang Er; this was the intuition of a subordinate towards a strong person.

Moreover, Lin Yan sensed that his junior brother was probably even more outstanding than Wang Er in terms of temperament and willpower. He was determined to follow in Li Weizhen's footsteps and prove his Dao by defeating three ranks above his own.

Lin Yan then looked at Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang. The two bald men had similar temperaments, except that Jie Kaiping had seen more of the world and experienced more things, so he had a certain calmness and wisdom.

Looking at Mingyue again, Lin Yan felt that this noble lady was clearly different. Her aloof temperament had not changed much, but she was standing next to Meng Yuan and her hairstyle had also changed, which showed that her innocence had been taken by her junior brother.

"It's done?" Lin Yan looked at Mingyue before turning to Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan smiled and nodded, "It was definitely worth the trip."

"You don't shy away from this at all." Lin Yan sighed, bowing to Mingyue. "My junior brother has this one shortcoming, please bear with him."

"..." Only then did Meng Yuan realize that Lin Yan hadn't asked about his cultivation level, but rather about his relationship with Mingyue.

Mingyue held her sword in her arms and ignored Lin Yan.

"Come in and talk." Lin Yan was as happy as if she had just given birth, and immediately grabbed Meng Yuan's arm and walked into the Taoist temple. The veiled Yuan Yaoniang said, "Junior brother's family is safe and sound, and both sisters are well, so there is no need to worry."

"Thank you, sister-in-law," Meng Yuan said.

The group entered the Taoist temple and sat down in turn. Yuan Yaoniang seemed to have become a virtuous wife and loving mother. She immediately poured tea, and Xiangling helped to clean up the eggshells on the low table.

"Have you found the Kingdom of Xiangji?" Lin Yan was very curious. He didn't mention anything about the country, but instead asked about Meng Yuan's trip abroad. "Have you found the pretty nuns from Yunshan Temple?"

"It went fairly smoothly." Meng Yuan didn't have time to talk about these things, and simply said, "With their help, I have finally achieved something."

At this point, Jie Kaiping added, "Benefactor Meng beheaded Prince Xin, Dugu Sheng, and obtained the Fire of Transformation, thus completing the three stages of ascending to heaven."

The Lin couple had already realized that Meng Yuan was already at the fourth rank, but they never expected that he would also kill Dugu Sheng.

"It can be considered as avenging some of the people of Songhe Prefecture." Lin Yan said with emotion, then glanced at Dugu Kang and asked, "Has Master Liaokong met Qingguangzi?"

"I guess I've met him." Dugu Kang said as he watched Xiangling stuff the sachet he had given him into her bundle, "Your junior brother has already helped me escape from this sea of ​​suffering."

Seeing Meng Yuan nod slightly, Lin Yan said, "Since that's the case, there's nothing to hide."

He stroked his chin, looked at Meng Yuan, and said, "The Grand Eunuch sent me to meet you, and the Third Miss also wants you to go back as soon as possible."

"I saw that a Buddha statue is to be erected in Yongshui Prefecture. I wonder what has happened in the country?" Meng Yuan then asked the main question.

"That's why the Third Miss wanted you to go back early." Lin Yan sighed and said, "There was an old saying that when a third-rank martial artist appears, chaos will surely break out in the world. Li Weizhen's sword killed the Arhat Wusheng, and his name resounded throughout the world."

He pointed north, “Since you left, the border has been in dire straits, and uprisings have sprung up everywhere, creating utter chaos.”

"So, a Buddha has come?" Jie Kaiping curiously stretched her head forward, and casually pinched Xiangling's small bundle, asking in a low voice, "Which Buddha is it?"

“The Holy Buddha of Light,” Lin Yan said.

"Qing Guangzi has only recently attained the third rank of Dao, how dare he enter the capital?" Mingyue was very surprised. "Although there are no third-rank martial artists in the country to suppress him, the Imperial Preceptor is here, and the three major Daoist families also have experts. Do they not care?"

"I heard from the Third Miss that the Imperial Preceptor has disappeared, and the King is in a state of confusion. A wisp of Qing Guangzi's avatar entered the capital and persuaded the King to make the whole country worship Buddha, so that the Dugu family will be revered for ten thousand generations," Lin Yan said.

Upon hearing this, everyone was at a loss for words.

"A third-rank Arhat dares to presume to protect a nation and suppress the three schools of Confucianism, Taoism, and martial arts?" Jie Kaiping was also shocked. He never expected that his former mentor would have such great abilities.

"The Third Miss said that Qing Guangzi is seeking a method to break through to the second rank and attain the Bodhisattva realm." Lin Yan looked at Meng Yuan and said, "You are already at the fourth rank now. I wonder if your blade is still sharp?"

"I am willing to rid the world of demons!" Meng Yuan said.

Lin Yan nodded with satisfaction, "The Third Miss said that since Daoist Li Weizhen is not here, only your Spark can suppress the rat."

"Where's my sister?" Mingyue suddenly asked.

"You mean Miss Ying?" Lin Yan chuckled. "I heard she went to rebel. Hehe, your Dugu family is quite interesting!"

Everyone reacted differently upon hearing this.

Jie Kaiping frowned, scratched his head, and looked at the two Dugu clan members on the field, not knowing what to say for a moment.

(End of this chapter)