Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 217 A Dream of Yellow Millet, the Ultimate Innate Meaning

"What shady stuff?"

In some ways, Lu Wubing even admired the old eunuch's persistence.

From fifteen years ago until now, he has been focusing on one thing, quietly observing and patiently working towards his goal, and gradually achieving results.

If I hadn't suddenly intervened, this old eunuch might have actually been able to slowly plot his way back to a new opportunity.

He is both resourceful and capable, yet he also knows how to act with discretion.

It's impossible not to like her.

This can be seen from the fact that he obtained half of the incomplete character "形" (shape) seal from the monk Wuxiang.

His underlying logic is cooperation and mutual benefit, not necessarily to seize by force or trickery. In fact, he is incapable of doing so.

By carefully assessing the situation and patiently waiting, he knew that as long as he was perceptive enough, one day he would be able to achieve even greater success.

Moreover, the old eunuch knew how to secretly gather dirt on others. It was quite possible that the three lucky individuals who received such an incredible opportunity would all face failure, while he would have the last laugh.

Because if he doesn't step onto the field, he will never lose.

"To talk about what the monk Wuxiang has done, we must start with His Majesty."

For so many years, this old servant has served Your Majesty. Every time I hear Your Majesty issue an edict to execute defeated generals and rebels, or to exterminate the entire clan of those convicted of treason, I can sense a sinister and gloomy atmosphere that lingers around Your Majesty for a long time.

At first, the old servant thought that this was due to the Ji family's Phoenix Cry Technique causing mental instability and resulting in disordered breathing, but later he found out that it was not.

On one occasion, when I met the Prefect of Chaotian, I was able to sense a similar aura emanating from them.

Even the civil and military officials in the court occasionally experience similar feelings.

After secretly investigating, this old servant discovered that anyone who had taken a life, directly or indirectly, would be enveloped by this aura. This old servant calls it resentment…”

"I never knew you had this kind of skill, Lao Huang?"

Lu Wubing was surprised, and could only say that all things in nature have their own unique characteristics.

Huang Chengzong likely possessed a unique talent; spending so much time in the dark and treacherous environment of the court could have led him to develop a strange perception—that's plausible.

"Then check if I have that kind of aura?"

"Of course, that's true. As long as one kills and harbors murderous intent, one will inevitably be haunted by resentment and entangled by karma. This is an explanation I read in Buddhist scriptures."

However, this power is invisible and intangible to ordinary people, yet it can subtly change a person's state of mind.

"You mean to say that the monk Wuxiang also possesses this aura?"

Lu Wubing suddenly realized.

"It's not just that he has that aura; the gloomy aura emanating from this person is even comparable to His Majesty's."

If there were truly a pair of eyes that could see, they would surely discover that he was haunted by vengeful spirits and filled with resentment.

But this is strange... Master Wuxiang is said to be a born Buddhist, and after becoming a disciple of Fayuan of Dayuan Temple, he was kind-hearted and compassionate, healing the sick and saving lives, and his hands were never stained with blood.

His name of compassion is even more renowned than that of the Venerable Master Fayuan. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he "sweeps the floor for fear of harming the lives of ants, and cherishes the moths by covering the lamp with gauze."

How could someone like that be filled with resentment?

It's easy to draw a dragon or a tiger, but difficult to draw their bones; it's easy to know a person's face, but difficult to know their heart.

Lu Wubing strongly agreed with this statement. Even though his mental strength was now extremely powerful, and he could even keenly sense the fluctuations in other people's minds.

However, for ruthless individuals who can even deceive themselves, this kind of mental probing is basically of little use.

For example, some people, when wielding a butcher's knife, shout, "Killing is to protect life; cutting off karma is not cutting off people."

He not only shouted that, he actually thought that way.

Therefore, if one's mind is clear and bright like the sun, can you say that one has done anything wrong?

But here's the question: what is a person, what is a profession, and who can judge them?

Different perspectives lead to different interpretations.

Sometimes, killing indiscriminately is considered a merit.

Sometimes, killing indiscriminately is a crime.

Whether it's merit or crime to commit the same mass killings, who gets to decide?
Hearing the old eunuch Huang speak of the monk Wuxiang in this way, Lu Wubing's mind raced, and he asked:

"Is this person ever alone?"

"In the past, before this person's medical skills were fully developed, he was a frequent guest in the mansions of powerful and wealthy people in the capital, and was often invited to treat the ladies and young women of the city."

The monk was indeed extremely polite on the surface, and his medical skills were also very advanced.

Once you have his help, even the most serious illness can be alleviated after he has treated your pulse.

However, in the past year or so, Monk Wuxiang has rarely gone out.

He always followed the Venerable Fayuan, preaching and practicing Zen. Normally, he was never seen.

No, he does have times when he's alone... Every Buddhist festival, the monks tirelessly treat the sick, provide porridge, and chant sutras for the believers.

At this point, he would be a full three hundred zhang away from the Great Yuanguang Temple.

When is the next Buddhist festival?

Lu Wubing shook his head. He didn't plan to make a move during the Buddhist ceremony. That would definitely be like pulling hairs off Monk Fayuan's head, and it would be a fight to the death.

But what could possibly motivate a monk who is not usually keen on going out to see doctors to work tirelessly on the front lines to treat the sick and needy?
Is it because of compassion?

not necessarily.

If it weren't for Huang Chengzong's theory of "resentment," he might have really thought that way.

But if what Huang Chengzong said is true, then there must be a reason why such a compassionate monk, who is filled with resentment and whose hands are stained with blood, would do such an abnormal thing.

Sometimes, one has no choice but to act in secret.

Lu Wubing usually follows the rules in his daily life.

It's because he believes that in the world, an environment with order is definitely better than one without order.

But he doesn't necessarily have to rigidly adhere to the rules and never cross the line.

If the situation really comes to a head, a temporary measure is not out of the question.

If this Master Wuxiang is truly a kind-hearted and honest monk, then it's not impossible to cooperate with him for a win-win situation.

But if you don't, and you rashly go to them seeking cooperation, you might alert them.

Not only will they fail to get what they want, but they may also bring about unpredictable troubles.

At the very least, he didn't want to face that monk Fayuan when he was unprepared.

And a mysterious, possibly even more powerful, mastermind behind the scenes.

My grandfather, Lu Chengyun, practiced the Yuanling Sword Technique and was known as the Southern Heaven Sword.

Having also grasped most of the [Form] seal, his swordsmanship and cultivation are incredibly powerful...

As a result, he was beaten so badly that he fled the capital in disgrace and never returned.

It is easy to imagine how skillful the person who leaked the image of the character "形" must have been.

They are by no means easy to deal with.

The challenge was to capture the seemingly invincible monk Wuxiang without alerting the two masters, and to interrogate him thoroughly. This required exceptional micro-management skills.

……

After dealing with Huang Chengzong, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Horse Administration, the Princess's residence seemed to be in danger but was actually safe, and many things seemed to be getting better.

This can be seen from the smile on Princess Wenxiu's face.

Her mood immediately improved.

"Phew, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Brother Wubing is truly remarkable, unlike that Master Qingyun, who's as idle as a lord all day. He can't do anything right, except drink—he's number one!"

Ji Wenxiu stretched lazily, revealing her beautiful figure. Seeing Lu Wubing's gaze fall on her delicate body, her face flushed slightly, and she felt a hint of secret delight.

He took Lu Wubing's hand and walked towards the backyard. "Come on, let's go see the old Taoist priest. He's almost finished the newly brewed 'Dream Yellow Millet'."

"Let him freeload... Putting everything else aside, when it comes to brewing wine, the old Taoist priest is unmatched."

"Is it really that powerful?"

Lu Wubing still remembered that when he first met the old Taoist priest, the man was dressed in tattered clothes and looked like he couldn't even afford to eat on a regular basis, yet he had such an elegant hobby.

"Of course, you haven't seen it. Back then, my mother practiced Taoism with an old Taoist priest. In the end, she didn't master Taoism, but her winemaking skills became famous in the capital. If it weren't for that jar of pear blossom wine, she wouldn't have..."

Recalling the rumors, Ji Wenxiu felt a pang of melancholy in her eyes.

Those are love stories from our parents' generation, which may sound beautiful. But in reality, aren't they also a kind of cruelty?

Hidden behind the sweetness and gentleness is nothing but cold scheming.

"Senior Sister Xinzhu, you should join us too. Come and try the old Taoist's wine. Most people don't have the chance to taste it."

"Then we should definitely give it a try."

Shen Xinzhu replied with a smile.

He thought to himself that this little princess wasn't as unapproachable as the rumors suggested. In reality, her tough and harsh exterior was just a mask she wore to protect herself; her heart was actually quite soft.

Huang Chengzong leaned forward, took a deep sniff of the wine, and seeing that no one was inviting him, he smiled awkwardly, bowed, and took his leave.

Since things have already come to this point.

So, it's better to share happiness than to enjoy it alone...

The commanders of the twelve imperial guards all need to be summoned. We need to come up with a good excuse to drag them all into this mess.

"The Taoist priest is still living such a carefree life. Even the immortals wouldn't trade this kind of life for it."

As soon as Lu Wubing entered the back garden of the princess's residence, he saw an old Taoist priest dressed in a blue robe, reclining on a soft couch. He was pouring a pot of wine, picking up some exquisite side dishes from a plate, squinting his eyes and breathing out warm air, looking incredibly smug.

"How about I let you live this life, and I, the old Taoist, go travel the world?" Upon hearing this, the Taoist Qingyun lost his appetite for wine.

He slammed the wine glass down and sighed.

“Young Lu, you have no idea how stubborn this girl is. Has anyone ever heard of a woman ascending the throne? It’s clearly a thankless task, but she’s acting like a puppet and she’s really into it.”

"Wouldn't it be much more pleasant to be my Taoist acolyte, traveling and enjoying the scenery?"

"I'm not aiming for the throne, I'm just unwilling to accept this fate."

Ji Wenxiu's expression froze, and she pouted as she tried to snatch the wine cup from the old Taoist priest's hand. "Drink, drink, drink! If you get drunk and Wenxiu gets killed, you won't even know."

"how come?"

The old Taoist priest protected the wine cup but not the wine pot, which Ji Wenxiu snatched away, his face full of heartache. It was like a grandfather seeing his granddaughter tear up his best piece of Xuan paper.

But he just couldn't bring himself to hit her.

“Come on, you two, each have a cup. Giving this wine to the old Taoist priest is a complete waste.”

As she spoke, Ji Wenxiu took out two clean, large porcelain cups from under the table, which made Qingyun Daoist's eyebrows twitch, but he did not stop her.

The golden liquor, like viscous honey, dripped into the glass in a thin stream.

The pot was empty after just two cups were filled.

A delicate fragrance, almost imperceptible, wafted to my nose...

Just by smelling it, Lu Wubing could feel the surge of true energy within his body, as if it were churning and leaping, with a faint sense of solidification.

"Good wine, then I shall accept your kind offer."

Lu Wubing and Shen Xinzhu exchanged a glance, picked up their wine glasses, and drank them down in one gulp.

Not stopping it is an invitation.

Lu Wubing chuckled, showing no politeness whatsoever.

He was now quite familiar with Ji Wenxiu and knew that although the little princess sometimes seemed to act eccentrically, everything she did was aimed at the root of the matter.

I would never do anything meaningless.

Sure enough, the wine was sweet and refreshing.

First, a scorching heat shot straight to the top of the head; then, an icy chill spread throughout the body.

It elevates one's spirit, as if a myriad of colors are blooming before one's eyes, and one's body is transformed into a piece of eternal, unmelting ice, existing forever.

When the mind moves but the body remains still, the body dies but the spirit lives.

After drinking the beverage.

Upon entering the abdomen, it immediately transformed into clouds and smoke, spreading like rain within the vast true energy in the dantian and sea of ​​qi.

The water droplets form naturally and then dissipate naturally.

It goes on and on, endlessly, with a sense of contentment.

Lu Wubing's spirit stirred slightly, and he immediately sensed a trace of strange Dao essence contained in the wine.

An endless sea of ​​blood flashed before my eyes, and enemies surged like a tide...

He charged back and forth with his sword, yet deep within his heart remained calm and undisturbed.

The green mountains stretch endlessly, the setting sun is like blood, and the heads of enemies are endless...

Only by firmly grasping the sword in our hands and keeping our minds focused can we carve out a bright and peaceful world and bring peace to humanity.

Thinking of my past life and reflecting on this life, faces, some ferocious and menacing, others kind and gentle, flash through my mind.

Lu Wubing seemed to remember some people and things he had long forgotten, as well as the many regrets and past events he had experienced in his two lifetimes.

Finally, leave behind a vivid face.

They were two middle-aged people, a man and a woman, looking at them with warm, gentle eyes.

She was also a pretty young woman who shyly lowered her head and peeked at herself through her clothes.

She was also a woman who played the zither under the moonlight, pouring out her sorrows and lamentations throughout her life.

And there are those small figures, near and far, diligently practicing their swordsmanship, sweating profusely.

……

"Extreme emotion, extreme swordsmanship, the killing intent condensed to its extreme, is all for the sake of not killing."

A faint light flickered between Lu Wubing's brows, revealing an extreme sharpness.

A sudden hum echoed through the garden, and all the flowers withered in unison.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky with the howling wind, and the surrounding light turned as if it were dusk. It looked as if wind, rain and thunder were about to converge.

"Good boy."

The old Taoist priest, who had been reclining in his chair, jumped up upon seeing this and waved his hands repeatedly.

A green robe with long sleeves, like clouds drifting and billowing...

An invisible aura suddenly spread out, enveloping Lu Wubing entirely.

He made a series of hand seals with his ten fingers, his green robe flowing like water, and his white beard slightly curled up, showing that he was working very hard.

However, they eventually managed to suppress this strange phenomenon.

As Lu Wubing opened his eyes, a foot-long blue-purple light shone out, flashing and disappearing in an instant. The old Taoist also withdrew his hands, sighed, and said, "It hasn't been that long since we last met, and you've already cultivated to such a level. It's truly a case of the younger generation surpassing the older; you can't deny getting old."

“Old Taoist priest, you are not old at all, you are still young.”

The little princess pulled out another bottle of wine from somewhere, this time pouring out normal, clear liquor. Her face was beaming. "Once I have power, I'll gather the finest ingredients from all over the world and cook for you myself. Dragon liver, phoenix gall..."

"Alright, alright, I'll wait for that day. But, little girl, you don't need to cook for me, I'm afraid you'll get poisoned."

"This wine is truly amazing."

Lu Wubing happily glanced inward at the true energy within his body and discovered that the Primordial Chaos Qi had quietly condensed into a drop of true essence.

The sword intent in his mind had taken another leap forward...

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, a real longsword appeared, its blade adorned with the sun, moon, and stars, embodying the ultimate intent to annihilate all living beings.

At first glance, the chilling, ruthless killing intent made even myself tremble slightly.

My sword intent has finally reached the pinnacle, the third realm of the innate stage.

However, this sword intent seems to be a bit too fierce.

Once this sword is drawn, who knows how much bloodshed it will unleash.

Turning to look at Shen Xinzhu, I saw that my senior sister had a gentle smile on her face and was sitting there, seemingly lost in a deep dream.

And her aura was rapidly growing stronger.

Within one's mind, one can almost hear the acupoints being opened and the meridians being connected.

"How could it not be amazing? I spent thirty years collecting rare and precious ingredients to brew this wine, and the two of you have already drunk a little over half of it."

The old Taoist priest rolled his eyes.

"I also drank about half of it."

Ji Wenxiu said smugly.

"No wonder."

Lu Wubing glanced at Ji Wenxiu.

He had already noticed that Ji Wenxiu's cultivation was improving rapidly when he was still at the Marquis of Changxin's residence.

That inner force, as fierce as a raging fire, quietly broke through the twenty-one meridians and reached the third rank.

He has a harmonious spirit and exudes an optimistic and sunny aura.

The initial gloom I felt upon first meeting had long since vanished.

Lu Wubing thought that she had made a great breakthrough in her cultivation technique and suddenly unleashed her accumulated strength.

So that's where it should be.

……

(End of this chapter)