From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 65 Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Martial Arts
The river breeze blows to the mountains, feeling exceptionally cool.

Meng Yuan noticed Xiang Ling's words and asked, "Why can't you go back home?"

Xiangling smiled triumphantly, hugged her two short arms together, and said with a wise look, "I heard from Sister Zhu that someone was looking for an old matchmaker, so I ran away immediately. I'm very smart!"

"You're so happy even though you can't go home?" Meng Yuan smiled.

"My godmother said that if I can laugh, I won't cry!" Xiangling's words made a lot of sense.

"Your godmother is very wise." Meng Yuan smiled, "If you can't go home, where will you live?"

"I went down the mountain to live in the village. They have a family school. I attended classes during the day and slept in a manger at night. It was great!" Xiangling was very serious, but she couldn't change her habit of being a teacher. She frowned at Meng Yuan and said, "If you don't study for three days, Xiangling will send you there. You have to study too!"

"I study every day." Meng Yuan nodded with a smile, and then said: "But we can't burn paper on the mountain today, you should go back and study first."

"Why? My godmother can come here and stick her butt out, but I can't burn paper?" Xiangling stood up straight, with her two paws propped up as a shelter, and looked into the distance curiously, her head turning slowly, looking smart and naive.

"There are important people here, don't disturb them." Meng Yuan pinched her ears and said seriously: "When things here are settled, I will bring you here to burn paper."

"Okay." Xiangling listened to the advice very well, but she felt a little disappointed. She whispered, "It's a pity that I didn't bring a head wrap today, otherwise I could have competed with you to see who is more fashionable!"

Let's not compare now, shall we? Meng Yuan thought she was upset because she couldn't burn paper. As expected, Hua Guzi and Xiangling, mother and daughter, could not be judged by common sense.

"Next time, tell me what kind of head wrap a noble wears." Xiangling reminded him, and then she smiled as if she remembered something. She untied the bundle a little more, reached in and took out a few mulberries. "I picked them up on the road. Try them."

Mulberries usually ripen at the end of March, but it is only the beginning of March now and they have not yet fully grown.

Meng Yuan took it and saw Xiangling tighten the small bag and jump twice. She was very experienced and it was obvious that she was trying to see if the bag would fall apart.

"Then I'm leaving. Don't forget to study!" Xiangling was very capable and quick-tempered.

"Don't leave so quickly. Listen to me." Meng Yuan pinched the back of her neck and said, "Go back to class or go to Muzhuang to find Zhao Datou. Don't go back to your home in Lao Biekeng for now. I'll find you when I'm done."

"Then remember to bring your poetry collection! I will write poems for you!" Xiangling reminded solemnly.

"I've already bought it. I'll bring it to you when the time comes." Meng Yuan smiled.

"Little gelder, you're so nice!" Xiangling jumped happily, "Then I'm leaving!"

After saying this, she slid down the mountain. After walking a few steps, she turned back and bowed with both hands, "You have to return the gift!"

Meng Yuan could only stand up and return the greeting.

Seeing that Xiangling had disappeared into the grassy path, Meng Yuan withdrew his gaze.

Meng Yuan wiped the mulberries and swallowed them in one gulp. When he turned around and was about to go back, he saw someone in the distance.

It was none other than the princess and the old Taoist priest Xuanjizi.

I saw that the princess had changed her ruqun attire into a black Taoist robe.

Xuanjizi was still wearing his tattered Taoist robe that had turned white from washing, and holding a whisk in one hand.

"Miss Third, old immortal master." Meng Yuan stepped forward and saluted. Meeting Xiao Xiangling in private was not a big deal, after all, Master Nie knew that he had saved Xiangling. But now that he was following the princess, he still had to see what the princess said.

Meng Yuan felt that this princess was extremely intelligent and not easy to fool. However, he was loyal to his heart, so he thought his only sun would not say anything.

The princess folded her hands in her wide sleeves and said nothing.

Xuanjizi smiled warmly and said, "My friend's friend's godmother is the roe deer who often comes here to listen to the teachings?"

"Yes." Meng Yuan replied honestly.

"He is indeed a naive and kind person." Xuanjizi smiled when he heard this and said, "Jingxu carried his sword and went down the mountain. If you meet him in the future, ask him to come back early."

This Jingxu is Xuanjizi's eldest disciple. Meng Yuan had heard Zhao Jingsheng mention him.

"Yes." Meng Yuan agreed immediately.

"Since you have a past relationship with the daughter of the roe deer spirit, you also have some fate with Jingxu. Jingxu is a humble person. If you are lucky enough to meet him, you can discuss martial arts with him and perhaps you will benefit from it." Xuanjizi said with a smile.

"What path of martial arts did Senior Brother Jingxu take?" Meng Yuan was very curious. This Senior Brother from Chongxu Temple did not take the Taoist path, but instead chose the path of a warrior?

"Exactly."

Xuanjizi was very kind, and he didn't look as embarrassed as he had been when he forced people to tell fortunes that day. He smiled gently and explained, "Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism each have their own doctrines, some seek to establish themselves, some seek the thought of nothingness, and some seek the fruit of freedom. Therefore, those who follow these three paths must more or less follow the doctrines of each school."

He tapped Meng Yuan with his whisk and continued, "But a warrior only cultivates himself, exploring his own abilities and unlocking the hidden secrets of heaven. He is not bound by theories or concepts, just like a blank sheet of paper."

Meng Yuan understood and said, "So, those who choose the path of a warrior can learn other schools of thought for their own benefit?"

"That's right." Xuanjizi smiled and nodded, "If you join Buddhism, you will become a martial monk. If you follow the Confucian saints, you will become a Confucian knight. If you study Taoism, you can also become a free traveler. Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are divided into different concepts and doctrines. As long as you respect the corresponding concepts, you are their disciples. Therefore, there are many people in the three religions who follow the path of martial arts, and it is no longer surprising."

"If all these theories and concepts are absorbed into the mind, wouldn't that be a shackle for warriors?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"This child is willing to use his brain." Xuanjizi smiled at the princess, then looked at Meng Yuan and said, "The path of a warrior is a path of striving, a path of perseverance, and a path of resistance. The nihilism and non-contention of Buddhism and Taoism are quite different from this. It depends on whether you practice martial arts for the sake of learning or for the sake of fighting."

"You don't have to worry too much. There are many people in this world who are good at martial arts and also study Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism." The princess suddenly said, "When you are at the low or middle level, some theories and concepts will not affect your progress much, but will be quite helpful."

The princess looked at Meng Yuan and continued, "Remember, it is not a certain school of thought or philosophy that puts shackles on people, but people put shackles on themselves. The Buddhist saying of breaking the shackles is roughly the same idea."

"Thank you for your guidance, Miss Third." Meng Yuan felt that he had benefited a lot.

"Since you agreed to discuss poetry with me, I wonder how talented you are in poetry?" The princess smiled, like a flower blooming in the spring mountains. "Let's go find Dugu Kang. He is an expert in poetry. You may as well ask him for advice."

"..."Meng Yuan thought the princess wanted to teach him how to write poetry step by step, but he didn't expect that she was going to ask Dugu Kang to teach her.

However, Xiangling’s matter has been revealed, or maybe people just don’t care about it.

After bowing and bidding farewell, Meng Yuan turned around and walked a few steps before he understood the meaning of the princess' words. Dugu Kang could only write doggerel, so what kind of poetic talent did he have? The princess asked him to ask Dugu Kang for advice, which was clearly meant to make fun of him. It was a bit mean.

"Who are you looking down on? Xiangling can write poems, so how do you know that I, Mr. Meng, can't?" Meng Yuan was the most courageous person who knew his shame. He planned to work hard in the future to impress the third lady!
(End of this chapter)