Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 896 Finally Reaching the Yangtze River
Not to mention the "experimental field" outside the city, which was developed under the leadership of Baoan Hall. If it is successful and the yield per mu is increased, it will be a great feat that will change the history of agriculture in Kyushu and will be of immeasurable merit!
Therefore, Prefect Song readily accepted the advice and only briefly revealed the approximate date of Xu Xuan's arrival and the possible docks.

Then, the docks of Suzhou were plunged into a state of bustling excitement.

All of this was entirely spontaneous, requiring no instigation or organization from any prominent families or powerful clans within Suzhou.

The reputation of Baoan Hall in Jiangnan, especially in the heart of Wu County, is unparalleled.

Here, Baoantang did much more than just provide medical treatment and medicine; it also regularly distributed porridge year after year, saving countless dying refugees and disaster victims.

Among the recent flood victims were those who flocked to Jingzhou last year, and even more displaced people who fled from war-torn northern regions.

Many people survived the most difficult days thanks to the bowls of thick porridge at Baoantang.

The people will always remember this life-saving grace.

This is also why unified dynasties did not allow private relief or mutual assistance, as it would seriously undermine their rule and stability.

When Xu Xuan's boat docked, he saw countless eager and grateful faces, and the wild vegetables and chickens they held in their hands, which were probably the most precious things in their homes. In order not to disappoint their kindness and to encourage them, he did not refuse this time.

He accepted these heartfelt gifts with a smile; though they were not valuable, they weighed more than a thousand pounds.

He then performed a set of powerful yet agile palm techniques in front of everyone on the open ground of the dock, as a way to entertain and thank the villagers.

The whistling sound of the palm strike drew cheers. Among the onlookers, some whispered smugly:
"If you ask me, the people of Qiantang are too narrow-minded! This is clearly 'Iron Palm Suppressing Wu County'! Why is it only called Qiantang?"

“That’s right, that’s right! It should be ‘Xu Xuan of Wu County’, not just ‘Xu Xuan of Qiantang’!”

The people of Suzhou know perfectly well that if it comes down to "local affinity," they certainly can't compete with Xu Xuan's hometown of Qiantang.

So they simply broadened the scope and cleverly "upgraded" Xu Xuan's reputation to the pride of the entire Wu Commandery.

This way, you'll have much more confidence when bragging to distant relatives and friends in the future.

"You know, our Wu County has produced an extraordinary figure, right? It's Xu Xuan! His pair of earth-shattering iron palms can make demons flee in terror, and his poetry and prose are simply unparalleled, blah blah blah..."

Just imagining that scene makes one feel proud and happy.

With all the hammering and banging along the way, and amidst the increasingly enthusiastic farewells from the people along the route, the boat finally passed through Suzhou and arrived in Zhenjiang.

The noisy and bustling scene finally quieted down a bit.

Xu Xuan's journey north was exhilarating, with the force of his palm strikes almost echoing throughout the waterways of Jiangnan.

The name "Iron Palm" became truly famous throughout Jiangnan, known to everyone.

He always said he "didn't want to disturb everyone" and "didn't want to delay important matters," but whenever he saw crowds gathered on both sides of the strait and heard the deafening cheers, a little bit of pride deep in his heart couldn't help but surface.

Look, this is the good result of the good deeds we planted at Baoan Temple!

They've done so many truly good things; this is what people want, and no one can deny it!

When people encounter happy events, their joy doubles, and they naturally want to find someone to share these delightful moments with.

He turned to look at his most loyal listener beside him, the Stone King.

After gathering his emotions, he spoke in a tone that was a mixture of regret and humility: "Alas, let me tell you, the thing I regret most in my life is that I founded Baoan Hall..."

He paused, bracing himself for the questioning or reassuring look in the other person's eyes, before continuing his Versailles-style literature of "most missing the days when I was just an ordinary scholar, carefree and without worries."

However, the Stone King listened in silence, then nodded very seriously and sincerely, and gave a solution in a deep voice:
"Oh. Then, turn it off."

Three words, crisp and decisive, directly "killed the game".

Xu Xuan: "..."

He was instantly choked and speechless; all the emotions he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

Well, sometimes, your quiet and taciturn nature, and your tendency to only listen to the literal meaning of words... is quite good.

It was my fault; I shouldn't have tried to play word games with you.

Xu Xuan silently gave up the idea of ​​sharing, and could only digest and enjoy this "troubles of success" and "joy of being popular" alone.

When the fleet reached Jinshan Temple, it made a point of stopping there for one night.

Upon hearing the news, Abbot Guangliang came out to greet him. When he saw Xu Xuan, his chubby face broke into a wide smile.

With a cheerful smile, he clasped his hands together and called out respectfully with a hint of playfulness:
"Amitabha! Abbot, you must be tired from your journey. I am sorry for not greeting you sooner!"

Clearly, the commotion caused by this "Zen Master Fahai" traveling north was so great that his deeds along the way had already been embellished and spread back to Jinshan Temple by countless pilgrims and passersby.

In those increasingly fantastical versions, Xu Xuan is almost portrayed as a bodhisattva on land.

Having heard it so many times, Guangliang couldn't help but make a joke when they met.

Upon hearing of the arrival of the legendary abbot, the young monks in the temple put down their scriptures and wooden fish and ran over curiously to greet him, hoping to get a closer look at this elusive "Zen Master Fahai."

They crowded under the eaves, their big, dark eyes wide open, whispering among themselves:

Wow! He has hair!

"He's dressed like a scholar, looking quite refined!"

"Nonsense! The worshippers all say he's a top-tier martial arts master, his palm techniques are so powerful they can split a millstone!"

"Will the abbot teach us such a powerful palm technique?"

Xu Xuan looked at the group of innocent and carefree young monks, deliberately sighed, and put on a doting expression that said, "You kids, I just can't do anything with you." Then he smiled and said, "Want to see something fun? Then watch!"

After saying that, he moved swiftly and happily performed a set of boxing techniques in the courtyard.

Bang bang bang!
The wind howled through the palms, and the shadows of fists danced in the air.

A palm and a fist darted through the air with incredible speed and power. Each strike precisely compressed the air, producing a series of crisp sonic booms, like firecrackers exploding in one's ears.

He knew that children loved a lively and cool atmosphere, so he deliberately made the performance extremely grand.

Between the punches and kicks, there were even faint, deep rumbling sounds like the roars of lions and tigers, which made the leaves in the courtyard rustle.

After all, in children's rudimentary understanding, the louder the sound and light effects, the more powerful they are!
After finishing his final move, "Lotus Blossoms in the Pure Land," he calmly and gracefully stood still.

"How about it?" He smiled at the group of young monks whose eyes were wide open and mouths agape. "These are all the most treasured techniques of our Pure Land School. Impressive, aren't they? If you're interested, go and browse through the scriptures in the library. Anyone can read those books!"

The young monks had never experienced such a double shock and temptation of sight and sound, and suddenly found those classic texts that they usually found boring to be profound and unfathomable.

They nodded excitedly, exclaiming, "The Pure Land School's techniques are amazing!" "I'm going to the Sutra Repository tomorrow!"

Master Guangliang's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. How could the abbot of such a prestigious temple be using such charlatan tricks to fool the younger generation in his own temple!

Aren't their orthodox Zen Buddhist Arhat Fist and Tiger Subduing Fist powerful and righteous?

No... the point is that the Pure Land Buddhist scriptures don't record any of these fancy martial arts techniques at all!

If you keep doing this, how am I supposed to face reporting back to the Zen Buddhist temple in the future?
I'm afraid my senior brothers and sisters will treat me as a "traitor" sent by the Pure Land School and expel me from the sect!
Finally, after much persuasion, Guangliang managed to calm the group of excited, chattering young monks who were eager to rush to the Sutra Repository to find the "Pure Land Divine Palm" manual. Only then did he turn around and pour out his grievances to Xu Xuan, the "Abbot Fahai":
“My dear abbot! Please have mercy! The unity of Chan and Pure Land? That’s simply impossible! Our Chan school talks about sudden enlightenment of one’s original mind and seeing one’s true nature to become a Buddha, while the Pure Land school seeks rebirth in the Pure Land through reciting the Buddha’s name and liberation through the power of the other. These… these approaches are completely different!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan simply smiled, clasped his hands together, and recited four lines of verse:
"Zen and Pure Land are not two separate things; the only important thing is to see one's true nature clearly. If one discusses sectarian divisions, one is just dreaming."

His tone was calm, yet profound: "The Buddha's teachings are vast, so why be attached to sectarian views? Zen is the Buddha's mind, Pure Land is the Buddha's land, and mind and land are originally one. If you insist on dividing them and arguing about superiority or inferiority, it's like fighting in a dream, forgetting your true self when you wake up."

He pointed in the direction of the Sutra Repository, his expression calm: "The Tripitaka scriptures of the temple, as well as the treatises of the Chan, Pure Land, and Tiantai schools, are all displayed here. You may look at them if you wish, and learn from them if you wish. I have no prejudice against any particular school. If you can benefit from it, then it is a good Dharma."

These words not only clarify the ultimate unity of Chan and Pure Land Buddhism, but also criticize the falsehood of clinging to sectarian distinctions, making them extremely insightful.

Even Guangliang, a true Zen monk, was vaguely moved upon hearing this, feeling as if he had grasped something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it, so he had to suppress his grievances for the time being.

He put his palms together and said, "Amitabha, what the abbot said... also makes sense."

Next, it was Xu Xuan's turn to ask a question.

He looked around the temple and noticed that there were many unfamiliar young novices. He couldn't help but wonder, "Why are there so many young monks in the temple?"

Upon hearing this, Guangliang's smile vanished, and he let out a long sigh: "Alas, Abbot, you are unaware of the fact that last year, the natural and man-made disasters in the Nine Provinces were even worse than in previous years. In the south, there were still government agencies and charitable organizations like Baoan Hall to provide assistance, but in the northern provinces... the people mostly had to fend for themselves, and their lives were extremely difficult."

“Nine out of ten of these children are refugees from the north. Their parents can no longer support them and they are about to starve to death, so they have no choice but to send them to the temple gate and beg Buddha to give them a way to live.”

Xu Xuan listened and nodded silently.

Even though Baoantang has opened many charitable soup kitchens in Jiangnan, its capacity is ultimately limited and it cannot help everyone in the world.

Moreover, the refugees who fled from the north might not even know that such a place existed in Jiangnan.

In the south, poor families might not readily tell outsiders if they want their children to have an extra sip of porridge.

Zhenjiang is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River and is one of the important ports for northerners to migrate south, so it naturally received the most migrants and orphans.

Jinshan Temple, unwittingly, took on this heavy burden of compassion.

"By the way, where is Qingyou?" Xu Xuan looked around and suddenly asked.

Normally, I'm most afraid of seeing Kyung-woo suddenly appear in front of me, and now that I can't see him, I'm a little wary.

Last time in Yunmengze, this guy insisted on staying behind to cover the rear, and ended up getting punched from a distance by an unknown powerful demon.

The golden body, painstakingly cultivated, shattered on the spot like porcelain thrown on the ground, a truly pitiful sight.

Xu Xuan was busy severing ties with him later and didn't have time to ask in detail, so he didn't know whether his injury had healed or not.

"The injury... is healed."

When Guangliang mentioned this apprentice, his expression became extremely complicated, a mixture of relief, shock, and a hint of indescribable... self-doubt.

He described the scene at the time: Not long after Xu Xuan left, in the middle of the night, a burst of golden light suddenly erupted from the direction of Qingyou Zen Room, dazzling and bright, illuminating half of Jinshan Temple as if it were daytime!

Furthermore, a clear and melodious dragon's roar echoed throughout the temple for a full quarter of an hour, exuding majesty and sanctity.

When he rushed to Qingyou's room, he pushed the door open and saw that Qingyou had already woken up. Not only had his injuries been fully recovered, but he had also completed the reconstruction of his golden body.

The newly formed golden body radiates a precious light, more solid and perfect than ever before, its pure and surging Buddhist power as vast and unfathomable as the ocean.

Guangliang felt at the time that all his years of diligent cultivation had been for naught, as if he had wasted his time on a dog.

This disciple unexpectedly turned misfortune into blessing, leaping through several realms in one step during his severe injury and rebirth, his cultivation level skyrocketing and his foundation becoming terrifyingly stable.

Even more astonishingly, a lifelike dragon tattoo appeared on Qingyou's chest, seemingly poised to leap into the air at any moment. The dragon's imposing presence suggested that he was protected by a celestial dragon, and that it was perfectly integrated with his Buddhist power.

Anyone who saw this scene would realize that it was no ordinary breakthrough; it was clearly the karmic merit of a great Buddhist master from a past life gradually reviving within this young body.

Moreover, judging from his solemn appearance and profound Zen spirit, he is definitely an extraordinary high monk of the Zen lineage.

"The Tao and principles contained within that immense magical power are unfathomable," Guangliang said in a low voice, with a hint of awe. "This humble monk can sometimes even glimpse the supreme state of Zen, like the 'flower-offering smile,' in the emanating Buddhist light from him... I suspect that Qingyou might be a direct disciple of some Buddha, or even... the reincarnation of a direct disciple of the Arhat who subdues dragons?"

Guangliang's guess was still not bold enough.

Why can't it be... the Arhat who subdues dragons himself?

Xu Xuan appeared calm and composed, taking a small sip of tea, but in reality, he was slightly flustered.

That guy Jianglong killed his own physical body back then, and I later, by chance, ruined the merits of his "past corpse". The two sides are even, and the grudges are hard to distinguish.

But the matter of Yun Mengze asking him to stay behind to cover the retreat some time ago... he was ultimately somewhat in the wrong.

"Fine, fine!" Xu Xuan thought gritted her teeth. "If I can teach him a lesson once, I can teach him a lesson a second time!"

Anyway, that stubborn mule has decided I'm an "enemy of Buddha," so this feud is now set in stone and can't be resolved.

Suppressing his distracting thoughts, he casually asked, "Oh? Junior Brother Qingyou went to the Southwest? What was the matter?"

Guangliang, unsuspecting, sighed, "Yes, he said the calamity in the southwest is not yet over, and Grand Scholar Yin cannot hold it up alone. Now that he has recovered, he should do his part and go to help. Alas, I've heard the situation there is even more perilous than that of Dongting Lake, truly..."

As the old monk spoke, he spontaneously sighed, "Abbot, tell me, what is wrong with this world?"

"Demons and monsters are emerging one after another, and disasters are happening one after another. Could it be... that some terrible evil spirit has descended to earth, causing these senior Buddhist monks to descend and deal with this calamity?"

Unbeknownst to him, Guangliang had become the truth-teller, revealing part of the secrets of heaven with a single sentence.

Fortunately, the "demon in person" in front of him did not like to kill people; he was only interested in teaching people to "be good" in various ways.

Xu Xuan's eyes twitched slightly upon hearing this. He put down his teacup and solemnly instructed, "Master, such insightful and profound words should be kept to yourself and never spoken to outsiders."

"So as not to... be targeted by that potential evil spirit and bring about undeserved disaster."

He quickly changed the subject and instructed, "By the way, Master, would you please prepare some fine fruits, tea, and a few bundles of incense?"

Guangliang was taken aback: "Abbot, what do you mean?"

Xu Xuan smiled slightly, a smile that held a hint of something unfathomable:
"Tonight, I will host a banquet for my dearest relatives and friends at Jinshan Temple."

　I promised to update this day, and I hope my readers, Xuan Yuan Qiu Zhen, recover soon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)