The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 227 Buddha is the Tao
No one cares for the clear breeze and bright moon; the moon sets over the Zen temple, and the wind blows past the eaves.

In the stillness of the night, a bell suddenly rings, the sound of the wind and the bell reaching the ears, bringing clarity and peace to the mind.

"The morning bell and evening drum awaken those who seek fame and fortune in the world; the chanting of Buddhist scriptures calls back those who have lost their way in the sea of ​​suffering."

Zhou Yan suddenly thought of a sentence, and his thoughts spread out like flowing moonlight. He also thought of some of the words spoken by the Sweeper Monk in the world of Tianlong.

The 72 Shaolin Arts are all fierce and ruthless, defying the natural order. Therefore, each art requires a corresponding Buddhist teaching of compassion to temper its power. This principle is not universally understood. Consequently, even the most intelligent individuals, upon mastering several of these arts, will naturally encounter obstacles in their understanding of Buddhist principles. This is called the "martial arts obstacle." It must be understood that Buddhism seeks to liberate humanity, while martial arts aim to kill; the two are diametrically opposed and mutually restraining. Only with a higher level of Buddhist understanding and a stronger sense of compassion can one truly master martial arts.

Since arriving in the world of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, he has killed quite a few people. Wouldn't that be considered "greater than the heavens and the earth"? Zhou Yan thought to himself, and then said to the Indian monk, "Master, I have a question to ask you."

“Amitabha, Chief镖头 speaks frankly.”

"I am a镖师 (bodyguard/escort), and the镖局 (escort agency) has a rule that we must not cause trouble during the镖师 (escort/escort) period. However, every time I am on a镖师 (escort/escort), trouble inevitably comes my way, and thus I have caused a lot of killing. Qiu Qianren and Ouyang Feng have become my enemies. I am afraid there is no other镖师 (bodyguard/escort) like me in the world. A few days ago, Brother Diaosou jokingly said that I have many enemies. Master, do you think I will have karmic obstacles in my heart in the future?"

The Indian monk said, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare to speak so presumptuously, but if it were the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), I certainly wouldn't."

"Why?"

"From the Western Regions to Jiangxi, from Poyang Lake to Shaoshi Mountain, you've gotten to know the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) well, and you're well-versed in Taoist thought. Taoism cultivates the self, Buddhism cultivates the mind. Self-cultivation and character refinement are like enlightenment in Buddhism, the traveler has no bounds, so how could the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) possibly harbor karmic fire?"

"As you sow, so shall you reap; I have a strong desire to kill."

"As long as one has the seed of enlightenment, even after eighty-four thousand kalpas, one will eventually attain Buddhahood."

"Master, do you see if I possess the seed of the Dao?"

"Buddha is the Way."

"Thank you, Master."

"Good, good, good"

What a wonderful saying, "Buddha is the Way."

This is a classic Buddhist maxim, meaning that the essence and truth of Buddhism are profoundly connected with the essence and truth of Taoism. In other words, I have long practiced Buddhism, helping others and myself, and have already transcended my own limitations.

As the Indian monk departed, a smile blossomed on Zhou Yan's face.

The mountains and rivers stretch far and wide, the world is filled with the smoke of human life, and human relationships still cling to old views, but fate has already brought about a new order. Unbound by my heart or by my form, I am simply a镖师 (bodyguard/escort), an ordinary person who adheres to his own path, delivering what should be delivered and helping those who should be helped.

Zhou Yan withdrew his gaze, went to the guest room, took a futon, sat cross-legged, and guided his qi with his mind. Pure internal energy warmed up from his dantian, flowing through the Yang Meridian like a surging river, beginning to temper the "Belt Meridian" of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Of the eight extraordinary meridians, Zhou Yan still has the Dai Meridian, Ren Meridian, and Du Meridian yet to be refined. The Dai Meridian has the function of restraining various longitudinal meridians. Its route starts from under the ribs, circles around the waist, and is shaped like a belt. It helps to relieve stagnation of Qi and blood stasis.

With his meridians tempered and unblocked, if Zhou Yan were to encounter a situation where his meridians were damaged and his qi and blood were stagnant during a fight with Qiu Qianren and Ouyang Feng, he could use the warm and pure qi of the Jade Guanyin to treat his internal injuries, which would be twice as effective with half the effort.

Having come from Poyang Lake, Zhou Yan focused on refining this meridian. After a conversation with the Indian monk, he felt clear and serene, without a trace of thought, and was in an excellent state, ready to enter the gate.

As dawn broke, wisps of white mist floated in the air.

Zhou Yan's body was also enveloped in a faint white mist. The "Dai Mai" acupoint, Wu Shu acupoint, and Wei Dao acupoint along the Dai Mai meridian were first solidified. The powerful internal force gushed out from the major acupoints like a spring. The Dai Mai meridian instantly snapped. The internal force circulating in the meridians and the internal force emanating from the major acupoints merged into one, surging and continuously expanding.

The familiar, sharp pain, like being tempered in a hundred times, spread throughout his body. This state lasted for nearly an hour. Then, with the sound of a morning bell, Zhou Yan suddenly felt a warm and gentle feeling enveloping his waist. As it flowed through his body, the internal energy circulating in his meridians, whether they were being tempered and cleared or not yet tempered, suddenly became several times faster than usual.

Dai Mai Tong.

With a "whoosh," Zhou Yan exhaled a breath of condensed white air. The belt meridian has the function of regulating qi and blood and clearing the longitudinal meridians. Blood can also generate strength. With the successful tempering of the belt meridian, he felt that his internal strength had also undergone obvious changes, becoming more condensed. His every move was much stronger.

Despite not having slept all night, Zhou Yan was not tired at all; on the contrary, he was full of energy. He went out of his room to wash up, without disturbing the Indian monks, and went to the temple's scripture hall. He found a meditation cushion and listened to the monks chanting sutras.

Three days passed in a flash at this pace. The Indian monk began reciting the ten volumes of the Lankavatara Sutra, while Zhou Yan took the four volumes of the Lankavatara Abhidharma Sutra to read. During this time, he practiced the true scripture, the Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian. His current practice mainly focused on the Ancient Tomb Lightness Skill, the White Camel Mountain "Instant Thousand Miles" movement technique, and the improvement of his internal strength.

Because he had sent messages to Shaoshi Mountain twice and was escorting Indian monks to Zhongdu, Zhou Yan was allowed to stay in the temple. Except for a few places such as the Sutra Repository, no one stopped him from going anywhere else.

Zhou Yan's figure was spotted in the Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest and the back mountain. The temple was also making preparations and stepping up its defenses. Abbot Kucheng issued a decree that all monks and lay disciples within a 500-mile radius should return to the temple for command, in order to deal with the Vajra Gate's provocation.

Outside Shaoshi Mountain, the number of lay disciples has obviously increased.

……

Withered vines, old trees, and crows at dusk; an ancient road, a west wind, and a lean horse.

The man was handsome and refined, with an elegant and aloof demeanor, and a serene and divine presence.

The woman had long, flowing hair, dressed entirely in white, with a gold ribbon tied in her hair that shone brilliantly in the spring sunlight. Her beauty was beyond compare. She resembled the goddess described in the "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River": "Her beauty is like light clouds veiling the moon, like swirling snow in a gentle breeze; from afar, she shines like the rising sun at dawn; up close, she glows like a lotus emerging from clear water." Suddenly, the sound of a flute arose, clear yet not mournful, simple yet elegant, as if splashing vibrant colors onto the unfinished twilight painting in the sky. The flute music flowed, first plaintive, then sighing, layered and three-dimensional, rising and falling, until it dissipated into the twilight. The young girl said, "Father, are you missing Mother?"

“Your mother is doing well; she is thinking of an old friend.”

The father and daughter in this world look so alike and have such a conversation; they must be Huang Yaoshi and Huang Rong.

Huang Yaoshi burned and copied the Nine Yin Manual at his beloved wife's grave on Peach Blossom Island, thus resolving his mental obstacles. Huo Du hosted a grand banquet for heroes, where he and Hong Qigong appeared together, enjoying drinks and conversation.

After leaving Zhongnan Mountain, Hong Qigong learned from Zhou Yan about the Vajra Sect's southward journey to Shaoshi Mountain in the Central Plains. The two met in Zhongdu, and he told Zhou Yan about it, inviting Huang Yaoshi to go to Shaolin Temple together.

Shaolin Temple had been far removed from the martial arts world for a long time, and Huang Yaoshi, who also wanted to observe Shaolin martial arts, gladly accepted the invitation.

After Zhou Botong left Peach Blossom Island, Huang Yaoshi, who was practicing the Nine Yin Manual, suddenly remembered this matter and took Huang Rong with him, leaving the island and heading north to Zhongdu.

Without the old rascal on the island, Huang Rong felt even more bored.

She overheard Huang Yaoshi talking to himself in Feng Heng's tomb, mentioning the Chongyang inscription on Zhongnan Mountain. She then thought of going to Zhongdu and tricking Zhou Yan into going there to explore the mystery.

Before they could even put their plans into action, Huang Yaoshi wanted to take them to Zhongdu to pay respects to Hong Qigong before heading to Shaoshi Mountain. Huang Rong was overjoyed, knowing that once the Vajra Sect monks arrived at Shaolin Temple, Zhou Yan would surely be there, and she could simply wait for him.

The father and daughter left the island by boat, arrived at Taihu Lake, rested for a few days, and then rode north on horseback.

Huang Yaoshi, thinking of Wang Chongyang, played a tune called "Remembering an Old Friend." Huang Rong, however, thought it was her father missing her mother. When she heard Huang Yaoshi say this, she said, "Father, tell me about it."

Huang Yaoshi was about to speak when he suddenly heard a metallic clanging sound coming from the evening light.
"Is that Brother Yao?"

The sound grew louder as it approached, and several snow-white camels galloped closer. The man in the lead, dressed in a white robe with a high nose and deep-set eyes, was none other than Ouyang Feng. Beside him, riding a white camel, was a handsome and elegant man, none other than Ouyang Ke.

"That annoying lecher is here." Huang Rong saw Ouyang Feng and his nephew, pouted, rolled her eyes, and said, "Father, I'll be waiting for you at Shaoshi Mountain."

Huang Rong didn't allow Huang Yaoshi to say anything, and spurred her horse to gallop away.

Ouyang Ke had seen Huang Rong long ago. At first glance, he thought she was like Li Mochou, and was amazed by her beauty. Upon closer inspection, he suddenly remembered that this was the woman who had fought him at the Heroes' Banquet in Zhongdu and whose identity had been revealed.

Ouyang Ke hurriedly straightened his clothes. Huang Rong had already ridden away in his sight. He was very disappointed. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. Could this woman be Huang Yaoshi's daughter?
The more he thought about it, the more certain he became, and he hurriedly said, "Uncle, that woman sparred with me in Zhongdu, and during the ten moves, she didn't recognize anyone from her sect."

Ouyang Feng had also seen Huang Rong long ago and was equally shocked by her appearance. When he heard Ouyang Ke say this, he knew what was on his mind and laughed, "Let me ask Huang Yaoshi."

Ouyang Ke was overjoyed.

Under the setting sun, with a white camel and a lean horse, Ouyang Ke bowed first: "This nephew greets Uncle Huang."

"No need for such formalities." Huang Yaoshi turned to Ouyang Feng and asked, "Brother Feng, where are you going?"

"Where is Brother Yao at Shaoshi Mountain?"

Huang Yaoshi's mind raced. He thought to himself, "What a coincidence! My seventh brother said that the Vajra Sect members from the Western Regions are coming to Shaolin Temple. Could it be that Ouyang Feng's trip is related to this? If so, wouldn't it be convenient for me to wait for him at Shaoshi Mountain?"

He smiled slightly: "I wish to visit Mount Song."

Ouyang Feng laughed heartily, "It's truly fate that I meet Brother Yao everywhere. Shall we go together?"

"Very good!"

A horse and a camel rode side by side. Ouyang Feng asked, "That girl from earlier..."

"It's my daughter."
Ouyang Feng clicked his tongue in admiration: "Brother Yao, you're really something. It's amazing that you could give birth to such a beautiful girl."

Huang Yaoshi was pleased to hear Ouyang Feng praise Huang Rong, and said, "She's just unruly."

"Wouldn't that be even better, Little Eastern Heretic?"

Huang Yaoshi smiled slightly.

Ouyang Ke, who was following behind the two, was overjoyed.

Peach Blossom Island and White Camel Mountain have no deep-seated hatred for each other. If they can't have the woman from the Ancient Tomb, they can't even get Huang Yaoshi's beautiful daughter.

The east corner is lost, and the mulberry elm is harvested.

Brilliant!

(End of this chapter)