From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 378 On Poetry
It's cool and refreshing in the mountains.

Perhaps because she hadn't been back to her hometown for a long time, Xiangling was very affectionate towards her old friends. After distributing all the pine nuts and copper coins, she originally wanted these piglets and puppies to come and listen to the master discuss poetry. However, when they saw that there were no more candies and copper coins, and that Meng Yuan and Jie Kaiping were only talking about boring things, they simply scattered.

Xiangling couldn't get the student to come no matter how much she called, and she stomped her feet in frustration, "I've never taught such a bad student before!"

There was nothing Xiangling could do, so she picked some lotus leaves from the old turtle pit and gave one to each person as shade.

I wanted to wash the melon that Yuan Jingfeng gave me again, but I couldn't find it. When I asked, I found out that Dugu Kang had stolen the melon, ate half of it, and given the other half to the piglets.

Xiangling could only lecture Dugu Kang on the principle that taking things without permission is theft, and then she went off on a tangent, saying that Dugu Kang should not do such things when he travels the martial arts world.

The group sat by the old turtle pit, with the big black dog standing respectfully. After opening the screen, they saw Xiangling instructing Dugu Kang and asked Meng Yuan what happy event had happened.

There's not much to say about that, Meng Yuan changed the subject and started talking about the recent changes in Songhe Prefecture.

“I didn’t enter the city, but I took a walk along the river and heard that the Ying family is now in charge of the Songhe Prefecture area.” Jie Kaiping stroked his chin, looked at Meng Yuan, and said, “Miss Ying is naturally famous, but she is, after all, a woman and a cultivator, so she is somewhat lacking.”

“Indeed.” Dugu Kang had already finished listening to Xiangling’s instruction and was now interrupting. He looked at Meng Yuan very carefully, and seeing that the usually confident and high-spirited Meng Yuan was unwilling to meet his gaze, he couldn’t help but frown. “You wouldn’t…”

Dugu Kang didn't finish his sentence, but his face showed an incredulous expression.

Unable to discern the truth behind the screen, and seeing that neither Dugu Kang nor Meng Yuan remained silent, he approached Xiang Ling and asked, "Xiang Shixian, where did Fellow Daoist Meng stay last night?"

"Third Grandmother said that a master craftsman is going to teach the young castrator." Xiangling was not very willing to talk to Jie Kaiping, but since Jie Kaiping was too good at talking, Xiangling did not hide it from him.

"Brother Meng is indeed an extraordinary person." Jie Kaiping smiled slightly and said no more.

Seeing that the two monks with hair didn't look like monks at all, Meng Yuan didn't say anything more and said directly, "I plan to go to Shenjing."

Upon hearing this, Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang naturally understood Meng Yuan's meaning: he was going to find Qing Guangzi to test his sword skills in order to reach the third rank of martial arts.

“I am willing to follow Brother Meng.” Jie Kaiping, who always loved watching the excitement, immediately said, “Our master is called the Holy King of Light, and Brother Meng was born from a spark. This humble monk would like to see whether the Holy King of Light can illuminate all directions, or whether Brother Meng’s spark can illuminate the heavens and the earth.”

"This humble monk is the same!" Dugu Kang felt that Jie Kaiping had said all the nice things.

"I was just about to take advantage of the presence of these two virtuous monks." Seeing their sincerity, Meng Yuan readily agreed.

The big black dog had been listening the whole time, but when it saw that Meng Yuan and the other two were about to embark on a long journey, it knelt down in front of them with a thud and said in a fearful voice, "Three immortals, could you please guide this little demon to the path of cultivation?"

This big black dog, who guarded Datou Mountain on behalf of Xiangling, not only raised its own offspring but also took care of Aunt Pig's children. It truly deserves credit.

“She’s also a tragic figure. She was pregnant before, but was abandoned by a heartless man, so she ran here to survive.” Meng Yuanchao pointed to the big black dog at Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang, and then said, “The three of us can’t be considered immortals, but we can indeed give you some guidance.”

Meng Yuan looked at the big black dog and asked, "Which of the three of us would you like to follow in your cultivation? I can decide."

The big black dog looked left and right, and finally knelt down in front of Jie Kaiping, saying, "I am willing to be your slave or concubine and serve the immortal."

After speaking, he even stuck out his buttocks.

"..." Jie Kaiping had seen a lot of things, but he was still a little bewildered. He was a real monk after all and did not want to accept such a big gift, so he quickly helped the big black dog up and said, "I have no sect or school and I am a monk, so I am not allowed to take nuns, but you are different."

Uncovering the screen, she said seriously, "But you must know that to become my disciple, you must sever all worldly love and affection. You will have no parental ties with your children and descendants, and you cannot indulge in lust or even eat meat."

Upon hearing this, the big black dog immediately agreed, "Raising children is too hard. Fortunately, they've all grown up and can go out to find food on their own. If all else fails, they can still find some excrement and urine down the mountain!"

Xiangling had traveled far and wide and had met the monks of Lanruo Temple. She was very knowledgeable and immediately said, "Sister-in-law Lao Hei, once you become a nun, you can't get married anymore. If a handsome stray dog ​​comes along, you can't stick your butt out either!" "That's right." Jie Kaiping nodded, "Once you enter my Buddhist order, you can no longer go looking for handsome stray dogs to mate with."

Upon hearing this, the big black dog paused for a long while, as if making a decision, before finally saying, "From now on, this disciple will only have Master in his heart, no handsome wild dogs, and will not mate with them for pleasure!"

"Sigh," Xiangling sighed first, "I was even thinking of finding you another lover!"

“In that case, you will first become my disciple and be tested for three years. If your will is firm, then you can formally become my disciple.” Jie Kaiping nodded upon seeing this and added, “From now on, you should no longer be called ‘Big Black Dog.’ I will name you Wu Hei, which means that although your body is black, you yearn for the other side of light.”

The big black dog Wuhei bowed down again, "Wuhei greets Master."

He unveiled the screen, nodded and smiled, and truly resembled a highly enlightened monk. He said, "I am preaching here at midnight today, so don't be late. You should study hard and contemplate it. When Brother Meng and I return from the capital, we will test your knowledge."

Wu Hei respectfully agreed.

Meng Yuan and Dugu Kang congratulated Jie Kaiping on taking on such a fine disciple, a truly flourishing career; Xiangling, however, was not so pleased and wanted to teach the big black dog the art of poetry, but the big black dog simply didn't like such trivial matters.

Seeing that it was past noon, Xiangling suggested that the Laobiekeng Poetry Society should resume its activities and write poems.

Jie Kaiping was also skilled in this area, but he knew that Xiangling didn't like him, so it was difficult to discuss his joining the society. Therefore, he specifically asked Dugu Kang to speak on his behalf.

Dugu Kang was, after all, a veteran of the poetry society, and he had a lot of face in front of Xiangling.

Xiangling realized that Kaiping's recommendation was too much, so she had no choice but to agree. "To be a poet, one must know how to write poetry; one must have real talent. My godmother said that a true expert can be known as soon as they make a move. I'll say one line: 'The scenery on Datou Mountain is beautiful,' and you can finish the next line."

Jie Kaiping asked him the test question. He paused, looked at Meng Yuan and Jie Kaiping, and then pondered for a moment before saying, "The fish and shrimp in the old turtle pit smell delicious..."

"You've got some skills!" Xiangling exclaimed, recognizing Kaiping's genuine talent and praise.

She took out a booklet from her small bundle and personally wrote down Jie Kaiping's name, thus making Jie Kaiping a member of the Laobiekeng Poetry Society.

Since they were going to compose poetry, they naturally needed wine. Meng Yuan took the wine gourd given to him by Hua Suzhi, and opened the screen to take out the gourd ladle to hold the wine. However, Meng Yuan and Xiang Ling each had a small cup, while Jie Ping and Dugu Kang used water from the pool as wine.

“The young castrator is going to the capital, so let’s each write a line on the theme of parting.” As the head of the club, Xiangling naturally set the topic.

No one objected; on the contrary, they praised Xiangling's topic.

"I'll go first." Dugu Kang looked around and said cheerfully, "Water smoke rises by the Old Turtle Pit, old friends and relatives walk in the mountains."

"How wonderful!" Jie Kaiping was still in a daze when he heard the president praise him. Then the president looked at him and clearly wanted him to take over. Without thinking, he quickly said, "This humble monk is meeting friends at Cuiping. Half a ladle of water from the pool is a substitute for sweet wine."

"Great! It's my turn!" Xiangling praised again, and after a moment's thought, she said, "If I get drunk, I'll go home and sleep. When I wake up, I won't be drunk."

"It embodies the Taoist concept of the unity of all things," Dugu Kang boasted forcefully.

"The one who truly embodies the profound principles of the Way is the president." Jie Kaiping already knew the atmosphere of the Laobiekeng Poetry Society: everyone lacked talent, but everyone was willing to praise each other.

Meng Yuan, lacking in literary talent, found these three fellow members' remarks too outrageous and too far off-topic. After a moment's thought, he said, "The clear light shines on the mountains and rivers, but nothing can surpass a drunken revelry with an old friend."

Sure enough, as soon as they finished reciting, the two monks who were presidents of the Laobiekeng Poetry Society took the lead in praising them enthusiastically. Xiangling even carefully wrote it down on paper, and the onlooker Wu Heihu really thought that these four people were the poetry immortals of the world.

(End of this chapter)