PDLP Chapter 154 Why must bones be buried in one's hometown? Green hills are everywhere in life.
Chapter 154 Why must bones be buried in one's hometown? Green hills are everywhere in life.
Four or five years ago, in autumn.
The old locust tree outside Qingfeng Temple has turned mostly yellow.
When the wind blew, it rustled down and fell onto the bluestone steps, covering them with a thin layer.
As dawn broke, the mountains were shrouded in mist.
The mist rose from the valley, drifted over the mountain path, over the mottled walls of the Taoist temple, and finally into the courtyard, turning everything into a pale grayish-white.
In the courtyard, a small, thin figure squatted beside the well.
At the age of eight or nine, he wore a faded gray cloth robe with the sleeves rolled up several times, revealing his thin wrists.
He was clumsily fetching water.
When I lowered the bucket down, the rope slipped in my hand and almost slipped out.
He quickly grabbed on, biting his lip, and pulled upwards little by little.
The bucket was lifted up, wobbling and spilling half of it.
He wasn't annoyed; he simply wiped the water splashed on his face and continued walking towards the kitchen.
A lame old Taoist priest stood at the kitchen doorway.
The old Taoist priest wore an old robe covered in patches, was blind in one eye, his eyelid drooping, and a deep scar remained.
But his other eye was very bright, like a mountain spring, crystal clear.
At that moment, that eye was watching that small, thin figure.
Watching the child clumsily carry the bucket of water, step by step, towards the kitchen.
The old Taoist priest's lips slowly curved into a smile.
"Shouqing," he said, his voice a little hoarse but very gentle.
The young Taoist priest stopped and turned around.
"Master?"
The old Taoist priest walked over and took the bucket of water from his apprentice.
"Go and get that bundle from inside the house."
The young Taoist priest was taken aback.
"burden?"
"Hmm." The old Taoist priest nodded. "The blue cloth by the bedside."
The young Taoist priest ran into the house.
A moment later, he ran out carrying a blue cloth bundle.
The bundle wasn't big, but it was bulging and tied with hemp rope.
"Master, are you going out?"
The young Taoist priest looked up and asked.
The old Taoist priest took the bundle and slung it over his shoulder.
He looked down at his apprentice, and there was something indescribable in his single eye.
"Um."
He responded.
Then, he squatted down and gently patted his apprentice's head.
"Shouqing."
The young Taoist priest blinked at him.
The old Taoist priest opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But the words stuck in his throat.
In the end, he just smiled.
That smile was very kind.
"You're not allowed to cry while Master is away."
The young Taoist priest was taken aback.
Then, he saw his master stand up, turn around and walk towards the courtyard gate.
"Master!"
The young Taoist priest chased after his master and grabbed the hem of his robe.
The old Taoist priest stopped and turned around.
"Master, where are you going?"
The old Taoist priest looked into his disciple's dark, bright eyes and remained silent for a moment.
"Take a long trip."
"Where to?"
"A very far place."
"When are you coming back?"
The old Taoist priest did not answer immediately.
He raised his head and looked out of the mountains.
The morning mist is dissipating, and the outline of the distant county town is gradually becoming clear.
"soon."
He lowered his head and looked at his apprentice.
"When Master comes back, I'll buy you some braised pork hock from down the mountain."
Braised pork knuckle.
These three words made the young Taoist priest's eyes light up immediately.
He had eaten braised pork hock from Butcher Wang's family down the mountain once.
It was during the Chinese New Year when his master took him down the mountain; it was given to him by Butcher Wang.
With its bright red skin and tender, juicy meat, every bite is bursting with flavor.
He craved that taste even in his dreams.
"real?"
The young Taoist priest looked up and asked.
"Really." The old Taoist priest nodded with a smile. "When has your master ever lied to you?"
The young Taoist priest thought for a moment.
It seems his master really hadn't lied to him.
He loosened his grip on the hem of his clothes.
"Then Master, please come back soon."
"it is good."
The old Taoist priest responded.
He turned around and continued walking out.
He stopped again as he walked outside.
Turning back, I looked at the small, thin figure that had followed me out.
The disciple stood there, his Taoist robe making him appear even thinner and smaller.
He was staring at him expectantly.
The old Taoist priest suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his eyes.
He quickly turned his head away.
"Take good care of yourself while your master is away."
He spoke with his back to his apprentice.
"Remember to practice your skills every day, don't be lazy."
"There's still half a bag of rice in the kitchen, enough for you to eat for a while."
"If there's anything you need, just go down the mountain and find your Uncle Wang."
"..."
He went on and on, giving instructions.
After saying that, without waiting for his apprentice's response, he stepped onto the mountain path.
The fallen leaves on the mountain path rustled underfoot.
The old Taoist priest walked very slowly.
It wasn't because of that lame leg.
He'd been lame for over a decade, and he was used to it.
He walks slowly because he wants to look back every few steps.
The gate of the Taoist temple was still open.
At the doorway, that small figure was still standing there.
I watched him through the morning mist and through the fallen leaves.
The old Taoist priest took a few more steps.
Turn back again.
That small figure is still there.
Take a few more steps.
Look back.
Still.
Every time I turned around, the child was standing there, motionless.
Just looking at him.
The old Taoist priest's heart felt as if something was gently tugging at it.
He took a deep breath and forced himself not to look back.
Keep going down.
But after walking a short distance, he couldn't help but turn back.
The Taoist temple is now somewhat indistinct.
Obscured by the morning mist, only a faint outline remained.
The small figure at the doorway has also become blurry.
All you can see is a tiny, grayish dot.
The old Taoist priest stood on the mountain path, looking at that small dot.
for a long time.
He looked back.
Turn around and continue walking down.
This time, he didn't look back.
……
The entrance to the Taoist temple.
Xiao Shouqing stood there, watching his master's figure grow smaller and smaller as it receded into the distance.
Getting smaller and smaller.
Finally, it disappeared at the end of the mountain path.
He stood there, motionless.
Just staring at that empty mountain path.
The morning mist slowly dissipated.
Sunlight peeked out from the eastern hilltop, shining on the Taoist temple, the old locust tree, and on him.
warm.
But he suddenly felt a little cold.
He tucked his hands into his sleeves and continued standing there.
Looking at that mountain path.
I watched it for a very long time.
Master said he'll be back soon.
How fast is "very fast"?
he does not know.
But he knew that his master never lied to him.
If it says it will be fast, it really will be fast.
He might be back tomorrow.
Maybe the day after tomorrow.
At most... at most the day after tomorrow.
Xiao Shouqing thought to himself.
But as he stood there, he suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
He took a deep sniff.
I didn't cry.
He promised his master.
don't cry.
He stood there for a while longer.
Then, he slowly walked to the doorway and sat down on the smooth bluestone.
He rested his chin on his hands, gazing at the mountain path.
Waiting for Master to return.
The sunlight is getting warmer.
When the light shines on you, it makes you drowsy.
But he dared not sleep.
He was afraid that if he fell asleep, he wouldn't know when his master returned.
He just sat there, watching.
Watching the fallen leaves on the mountain path being blown up by the wind, swirling around, and then falling again.
Watching the tits fly to and fro, chirping among the branches.
Watching the sun rise higher and higher.
suddenly.
He remembered something.
Master hasn't had breakfast yet.
He got up early today, made porridge, and was waiting for his master to get up and drink it.
But the master didn't drink it.
He just left with his bag on his back.
Xiao Shouqing suddenly stood up.
He wanted to go after him.
Master walks slowly, but if he chases now, he'll definitely catch up.
He rushed down the mountain path a few steps.
But then it stopped.
The master told him to guard the Taoist temple well.
If he leaves, who will guard him?
He stood there, looking down the mountain and then at the Taoist temple behind him.
I've watched it several times.
Finally, he slowly walked back.
He sat down on that blue stone again.
Sit down, sit down.
My eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
He held it in with all his might.
I'm holding it in.
But I couldn't hold it in.
Tears streamed down my face.
He buried his face in his knees, his shoulders shaking.
No sound.
She just kept crying.
I cried for a long time.
……
Down the mountain.
A black car was parked at the intersection leading to the county town.
The car was covered in dust, and the tires were covered in mud, indicating that it had come from a very far place.
Four people were standing next to the car.
They were all dressed in drab gray clothes, looking no different from ordinary people.
But standing there, his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes were so sharp they seemed to pierce.
One of the older ones kept looking up at the mountain path.
"Why haven't they arrived yet?"
A young man next to him whispered.
"What's the rush?" The older man glared at him. "That's Master Xuanzhen. What's wrong with waiting a bit?"
The young man shrank back, not daring to utter another word.
At this time.
On the mountain path, a figure slowly appeared.
He limped on one leg and walked slowly.
But every step was steady.
The four of them immediately stood up straight.
The older man quickly went to meet him.
"Master Xuanzhen!"
He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, speaking in a deferential tone.
The old Taoist priest nodded.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No, no," the elder quickly replied. "You flatter me, Daoist Master. It's my duty."
He turned to the side and gestured for them to proceed.
"Master, please get in the car."
The old Taoist priest did not move immediately.
He stood there, turned around, and looked at the mountain path.
Looking towards the end of the mountain path, there was a Taoist temple hidden behind the trees.
I watched for a few moments.
Then, he looked away.
"Let's go."
He lifted his foot and walked towards the black car.
The car door closed.
The engine starts.
The car slowly drove away.
……
On the mountain.
Xiao Shouqing has cried enough.
He looked up and wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve.
Its eyes were red, like a rabbit's.
He glanced down the mountain.
I can't see my master.
But he still watched.
I watched it for a long time.
Then he stood up.
Brush the dust off your bottom.
He turned around and walked back into the courtyard.
In the kitchen, the porridge in the pot had already gone cold.
He filled a bowl, sat by the stove, and drank it in small sips.
Only when we are full will we have the strength to wait for our master to return.
After finishing his porridge, he washed the bowl.
Then he went into the courtyard and began practicing his skills.
Those were the basic skills his master taught him.
Practice horse stance, boxing, and breathing exercises.
He practiced each move very seriously.
Master said that you can't be lazy when practicing kung fu.
He never slacks off.
yard.
The sun is shining brightly.
A small, thin figure practiced slowly, one move at a time.
……
The black car drove for a long time on the bumpy dirt road.
It runs from daytime to evening.
It runs from evening until daytime.
The old Taoist priest leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.
But those around him knew he wasn't asleep.
That tranquil atmosphere is not something a sleeping person can possess.
The car stopped at a simple inn.
Someone brought us dry food and water.
The old Taoist priest took it and ate it slowly.
Not much, but they ate carefully.
After finishing our meal, we continued on our journey.
On the evening of the third day.
The car drove into the provincial capital.
This is a place the old Taoist priest hasn't visited in many years.
There were many more people on the street than he remembered.
The car didn't stop; it drove directly into a closed-off, open area.
There was a large iron bird parked in the area.
The old Taoist priest knew what it was.
airplane.
This thing can fly in the sky, higher and faster than birds.
airplane.
This thing can fly in the sky, higher and faster than birds.
He used to lead men to bomb the Japanese.
"Taoist Master, please."
The old Taoist priest nodded and followed the others onto the plane.
The airplane is very cramped.
He found a seat by the window and sat down.
The young man next to him leaned over and quietly explained the rules to him.
How to fasten a seatbelt.
When can't you move?
What if something goes wrong?
The old Taoist priest listened, nodding occasionally.
After the young man finished speaking, seeing the old Taoist priest's calm demeanor, he couldn't help but ask:
"Master, are you... not afraid?"
The old Taoist priest glanced at him.
"What are you afraid of?"
The young man opened his mouth, as if to say, "I'm afraid the plane will crash."
But the words stuck in his throat.
He just scratched his head and smiled.
"No, it's nothing."
The plane made a loud rumbling sound when it took off.
The entire fuselage was shaking.
The young man and several others turned pale and gripped the handrail tightly.
The old Taoist priest remained calm.
He looked out the porthole.
The ground was getting farther and farther away.
Watching the houses turn into matchboxes, the people into ants, and finally nothing at all, only the churning sea of clouds.
He suddenly remembered the small figure at the entrance of the Taoist temple.
What is that child doing now?
They should have finished eating by now.
You've finished practicing, haven't you?
Will she still be standing at the door, waiting for him to go back?
The old Taoist priest's lips curved slightly.
I think so.
That child is very stubborn.
……
The plane flew for a very long time.
It was already late at night when we landed.
Outside the porthole was an unfamiliar land.
The mountains stretched endlessly, gleaming silvery-white in the moonlight.
The old Taoist priest knew they had arrived at their destination.
……
Edge of the Kunlun Mountains.
Inside a large courtyard.
Bright lights.
Several trucks were parked outside the yard, and people were constantly going in and out, walking in a hurry.
But no one made a fuss.
They speak in hushed tones and walk quietly.
There were many people standing in the courtyard, dressed in various styles.
Some were wearing Taoist robes, some were wearing Zhongshan suits, some were wearing long gowns, and some were wearing ordinary cotton-padded jackets.
They are all different ages.
There was an old man with white hair and beard.
There are middle-aged people in their thirties and forties.
They gathered in small groups, talking in hushed tones.
"Have the people from Maoshan arrived yet?"
"We arrived early. Master Zhenyi and his disciples are resting inside."
"What about Longhu Mountain?"
"Master Zhang, leading the team himself, has also arrived."
"Who came from Wudang?"
"Master Chongxu."
"Complete Truth..."
"..."
The old Taoist priest stood at the door, watching this scene unfold.
suddenly.
Someone saw him.
He was a middle-aged Taoist priest wearing a gray Taoist robe.
The other person paused for a moment, then quickly walked over.
"May I ask... are you Senior Xuanzhen?"
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
do not know.
But he nodded nonetheless.
The middle-aged Taoist priest's face immediately lit up with a look of surprise.
"Senior Xuanzhen! It really is you!"
He turned around and shouted into the courtyard:
"Everyone! Senior Xuanzhen has arrived!"
The courtyard fell silent immediately.
All eyes turned to the doorway.
I looked at the old Taoist priest who had a limp, was blind in one eye, and was wearing a tattered Taoist robe.
then.
One by one, they came over.
The clasped fists.
The act of bowing.
"Fellow Daoist Xuanzhen!"
"Brother Xuanzhen!"
"Senior Xuanzhen!"
The terms of address vary.
But the respect they felt was exactly the same.
The old Taoist priest stood there, looking at those unfamiliar faces.
He didn't know most of them.
But he could sense the goodwill of these people.
He raised his hand and returned the greeting with a fist salute.
"This humble Taoist priest, Zhang Xuanzhen, greets all fellow Taoists."
The sound wasn't loud.
But everyone present heard it clearly.
The crowd gathered around.
Someone pulled the old Taoist priest inside.
Someone brought him a chair and asked him to sit down.
Someone brought him hot tea and placed it beside him.
The old Taoist priest was somewhat taken aback by this enthusiasm.
He had grown accustomed to peace and quiet over the years, and suddenly being surrounded by so many people was quite unsettling.
But he did not refuse.
Just then, the crowd automatically parted to make way.
A tall, middle-aged Taoist priest slowly walked over.
The middle-aged Taoist priest was dressed in a purple robe, wore a jade crown, and had a long sword hanging at his waist.
His face bore a resemblance to the old Taoist priest.
But he looks younger.
More majestic.
He just stood there, saying nothing.
But all eyes were on him.
The contemporary Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.
Zhang Xuanxiao.
The old Taoist priest's elder brother.
The two brothers stood not far apart, facing each other.
A man dressed in a purple robe, dignified and imposing.
A man dressed in an old Taoist robe, weathered and worn.
At this moment, Zhang Xuanxiao's dignified face was filled with complex emotions.
He looked at the old Taoist priest sitting there.
Looking at that face that was clearly much younger than hers, yet already covered in wrinkles.
Looking at that blind eye.
Looking at that leg, which was clearly shorter and could only be half-curled up.
Looking at that old Taoist robe, covered in patches and faded from washing.
He stood there, silent for a long time.
The people around also quieted down.
Everyone was watching this scene.
Looking at the current Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, and his younger brother who left the Celestial Master's Mansion thirty years ago.
at last.
Zhang Xuanxiao made a move.
He walked up to the old Taoist priest and stopped.
She looked down at her younger brother, who was almost ten years younger than her.
His face had more wrinkles than his older brother's.
His white hair was even whiter than his older brother's.
But that one eye remained clear.
I still look at him the same way I did when I was a child.
"These years..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
He paused.
Then, he took a deep breath.
"You've suffered."
Three words.
It's very light.
But everyone present could hear the hidden meaning in those three words.
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
Looking at this Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.
Seeing the complex emotions in his eyes, I felt heartache and guilt.
and also……
There are so many things he can't explain.
then.
The old Taoist priest smiled.
His laughter came somewhat abruptly.
There was no resentment or bitterness in her smile.
There is only one...
Free and easy.
A pure and unrestrained spirit.
The old Taoist priest raised his hand and patted his lame leg.
"Master Zhang, you flatter me."
He spoke, his voice calm.
"Compared to those who shed their blood on the front lines, I am already quite fortunate to still have this crippled body."
Zhang Xuanxiao was stunned.
He looked at his younger brother, who was clearly younger than him, yet looked so old.
Looking at the nonchalant smile on his face.
Listen to him say "Zhang Tianshi".
Zhang Xuanxiao's eyes suddenly stung.
He opened his mouth.
What do you want to say?
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
The people around were also stunned.
The courtyard was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.
"Master Zhang! Junior Brother Xuanzhen!"
At this moment, an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard walked over with a young man.
He was dressed in purple robes, holding a whisk, and exuded an extraordinary air; he was none other than Master Zhenyi, the leader of the Maoshan sect.
"You two brothers haven't seen each other for years, why are you standing there talking?"
"Come in, come in and sit down!"
As he spoke, he pulled Zhang Xuanxiao into the house.
Zhang Xuanxiao did not move.
He just stared at the old Taoist priest.
The old Taoist priest didn't move.
He just stood there, a faint smile on his face.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Master Zhenyi looked at this one, then at that one, and sighed inwardly.
The specific reasons why Zhang Xuanzhen left the Celestial Master's Mansion back then are unknown to outsiders.
But given the current situation...
"Come on, come on!"
Master Zhenyi pulled the young man behind him and pushed him forward.
"Junior Brother Xuanzhen, Celestial Master Zhang, let me introduce you."
"This is the old Taoist's disciple, Qingwei."
The young people were pushed to the front, looking somewhat awkward.
He looked to be under twenty years old, thin, with delicate features, and wearing a brand-new Taoist robe.
Being stared at by so many seniors made her blush.
But he still gritted his teeth and bowed with clasped hands.
"Junior Qingwei greets Celestial Master Zhang and Uncle-Master Xuanzhen."
Zhang Xuanxiao nodded in response.
The old Taoist priest looked at the young man, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
"Senior Brother Zhenyi, your disciple seems quite promising."
Master Zhenyi smiled and stroked his beard.
"He's alright, just too shy and inexperienced."
"I brought him here this time so he could see something."
The old Taoist priest nodded.
He looked at Qingwei and suddenly asked:
"Little one, how old are you?"
Qingwei was taken aback, and answered honestly:
"Reporting to my uncle, I am nineteen years old."
"Nineteen..." the old Taoist priest murmured.
He remembered that small figure in the Taoist temple.
That child is eight years old.
If all goes well, in another ten years, he should be able to follow his elders out and broaden his horizons, just like Qingwei.
The old Taoist priest snapped out of his reverie.
He looked at Qingwei and asked again:
"Little one, do you know why we're going to Kunlun this time?"
Qingwei nodded.
"I know, kill the Japanese devils."
"Do you know how dangerous this trip will be?"
Qingwei nodded again.
"Know."
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Qingwei raised her head.
He looked at the lame and blind old Taoist priest in front of him.
Looking at that kind face, those gentle eyes.
Then, he mustered up his courage and spoke.
"Uncle-Master, I'm not afraid!"
"I will go to Kunlun for the sake of the country, even if it means death!"
These words were spoken.
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
Everyone looked at the young man.
Look at this young Taoist priest, who is not yet twenty years old and has delicate features.
He stood there, head held high, meeting everyone's gaze.
There was no backing down.
There was no attempt to dodge.
Just standing there.
A few breaths later.
"good!"
Some people applauded.
"Well said!"
"The Maoshan sect has a worthy successor!"
"Master Zhenyi, you've taught your disciple well!"
Everyone praised it.
Master Zhenyi stroked his beard, his eyes crinkling with laughter.
But he said:
"Oh, no, no, the child is just being silly, please don't take offense."
The old Taoist priest looked at Qingwei with admiration in his eyes.
He turned to look at Master Zhenyi.
"Senior Brother Zhenyi."
Master Zhenyi looked at him.
"Um?"
The old Taoist priest said earnestly:
"Maoshan has produced a promising talent; the future is bright."
Master Zhenyi was stunned for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Thank you for your kind words, Junior Brother."
He patted Qingwei on the shoulder.
"Kid, aren't you going to thank me?"
Qingwei quickly bowed again.
"Thank you for the compliment, Uncle-Master."
The old Taoist priest waved his hand.
"You're welcome."
He looked at Qingwei, his tone gentle.
"Cultivate yourself diligently, and don't let your master down."
Qingwei nodded vigorously.
"Yes! I've got it!"
The hall became lively again.
After what just happened, the atmosphere has become noticeably more relaxed.
The group continued their conversation.
Those who know each other catch up.
The first meeting, the acquaintance.
"My name is Chongxu of Wudang."
"I've heard so much about you! Master Chongxu's Tai Chi swordsmanship is renowned far and wide!"
"Haha, Daoist Chongxu, it must have been ten years since we last met, hasn't it?"
"That's right, it's been ten years..."
"This is Master Qianming of the Quanzhen School."
"Greetings, fellow Daoist."
"..."
The old Taoist priest sat in the corner, quietly drinking tea.
People would come over from time to time to greet him.
He responded to each and every one of them.
Neither enthusiastic nor indifferent.
It was just an ordinary, uneventful life.
evening.
People gradually gathered in the courtyard.
A rough count.
Thirty-six people.
The leader of Maoshan Sect, Zhenyi, was accompanied by his disciple Qingwei and three elders.
Zhang Xuanxiao, the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, was accompanied by two Dharma Protectors.
Two Taoist priests came from Wudang, and three came from Quanzhen.
There are also other sects and independent cultivators from the martial arts world.
Thirty-six people stood in several rows.
No one spoke.
Only the sound of the wind blowing.
The older man who had gone to Luxian to pick up the old Taoist priest walked in from outside the courtyard.
He looked at these people.
He knew some of these people, and he didn't know others.
But whether we know each other or not, we're all standing here right now.
For the same purpose.
The older man took a deep breath.
"Gentlemen."
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear him clearly.
"You all know where you're headed on this trip."
He paused.
"I thank you all!"
After saying this, he clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed.
He bowed deeply.
Thirty-six people simultaneously returned the greeting with clasped hands.
No one speaks.
But there is light in everyone's eyes.
The old Taoist priest stood in the crowd.
His other eye was also looking at these people.
Looking at these comrades who were about to share life and death.
Suddenly, he smiled.
He smiled calmly and nonchalantly.
The True One Sect Leader stood beside him and whispered:
"Junior Brother Xuanzhen, what are you laughing at?"
The old Taoist priest shook his head.
"It's nothing."
"I just remembered a sentence."
"What did you say?"
The old Taoist priest looked at the distant, continuous snow-capped mountains.
"Why must one's bones be buried in one's hometown?"
"Green mountains are everywhere in life."
Master Zhenyi remained silent.
He looked at the old Taoist priest's blind left eye and his lame right leg.
Suddenly, he smiled too.
"it is good."
He said.
"What a wonderful saying: 'Life is full of green hills everywhere.'"
……
the next day.
It was still dark.
The courtyard was bustling with activity.
The group checked their equipment, replenished supplies, and made final preparations.
The old Taoist priest sat in the corner, quietly watching all of this.
The blue cloth bundle was placed next to him.
Inside the bundle, besides a pen and a few materials for the ritual, was a yellowed copy of the Tao Te Ching.
This has been his habit for many years.
I take this book with me wherever I go.
"Uncle-Master Xuanzhen."
A young voice rang out.
The old Taoist priest looked up.
Qingwei stood in front of him, holding an oil paper package in her hand.
"This is what my master asked me to give you." Qingwei handed over the oil paper package. "These are freshly steamed buns, still warm."
The old Taoist priest was taken aback.
He took the oil paper package and opened it.
There were four white steamed buns inside.
It was still steaming.
"Please thank your master for me."
Qing smiled and nodded.
"Please enjoy your meal, Uncle-Master. I'll go help out now."
After saying that, he turned and ran away.
The old Taoist priest watched his retreating figure, a slight smile curving his lips.
This kid is really good.
He picked up a steamed bun and took a bite.
It's still warm.
It's soft.
Really fragrant.
……
Its daybreak.
Everyone gathered in the courtyard.
Thirty-six people stood in three rows.
There were old and young, men and women.
But everyone had the same expression on their face.
dignified.
Yet they remained steadfast.
Master Zhenyi stood at the front of the line, his gaze sweeping over each person.
"Gentlemen."
He spoke.
"I won't say anything more."
"This journey is fraught with danger, as I'm sure you all know."
"But some things have to be done."
"Today, we are here to do this."
"I do not seek fame or merit."
"I only ask for..."
He paused.
"Don't leave yourself with regrets."
Everyone fell silent.
After a while.
"Walk!"
Master Zhenyi waved his hand.
Thirty-six people filed out.
They boarded several trucks.
The truck started and headed towards the Kunlun Mountains.
The old Taoist priest sat in the carriage, leaning against the wall.
Through the gaps in the canvas, he could see the continuous snow-capped mountains outside.
Under the rising sun, the snow-capped mountains gleamed with golden light.
Very beautiful.
But it was also very cold.
He wrapped his tattered Taoist robe tighter around himself.
Then he took out the Tao Te Ching from his bag.
Turn it over.
On the first page, there is a line of small characters he wrote many years ago.
"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."
He looked at the line of text.
Suddenly I remembered the child in the Taoist temple.
That child has only just learned to read.
I had planned to teach him to read the Tao Te Ching once he could recognize all the characters.
but now……
The old Taoist priest closed the book.
His gaze fell upon the vast snowfield outside the car.
Shouqing.
Wait for Master to return.
I will definitely teach you properly.
……
At the same time.
Kunlun Mountains.
In the middle of a snow-capped mountain.
Snowflakes are falling.
Dozens of tents are scattered in the sheltered mountain valley.
A campfire was burning between the tents.
The firelight illuminated the faces around them.
sinister.
Cold and hard.
exhausted.
These people are the elite of Shintoism and the Onmyōryō (Yin-Yang Bureau) in Japan.
A group of more than sixty people.
At this moment, they are sitting around the campfire.
No one speaks.
The atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it had frozen in time.
In the very center of the camp, there is the largest tent.
Inside the tent, two people sat facing each other.
A man dressed in a white hunting robe, wearing a black hat, with a thin face.
The Great Onmyoji, Abe Yuuji.
A man dressed in priest's robes, with a crescent-shaped sash and a mustache, had a gloomy expression.
The chief priest of Shintoism is Shinya Yamamoto.
In front of the two men lay a coded telegram that they had just received.
The secret message is very short.
But the content above left the two speechless for a long time.
The ritual to awaken Lord Iwasaki Yuichi... failed.
The two weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the New World... caused unimaginable casualties and panic.
The domestic situation... can't hold on any longer.
Surrender was only a matter of time.
At that moment, Yuji Abe raised his head and looked at Shinya Yamamoto.
Shinya Yamamoto's face flickered in and out of the candlelight.
a long time.
Yuji Abe broke the silence.
"Yamamoto-kun."
His voice was soft, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
"Will our trip... really be of any use?"
Shinya Yamamoto looked up at him.
"What do you mean?"
Yuji Abe paused for a moment.
"Now, God no longer answers us."
"Extraordinary power is also getting further and further away from us."
"So what if the so-called dragon vein is severed?"
"Will this really have an impact on Great Xia?"
He paused.
"Or rather, even if it has an impact, so what?"
"Our land of cherry blossoms..."
He didn't finish speaking.
But Yamamoto Shinya understood the meaning.
Yamamoto Shinya's face instantly turned extremely gloomy.
"Abe-kun!"
He suddenly stood up.
"Do you even know what you're saying?!"
Yuji Abe looked at him without saying a word.
Shinya Yamamoto took a deep breath.
He walked to the tent entrance, lifted the curtain, and glanced outside.
Outside, the subordinates sitting around the campfire remained silent.
He lowered the curtain, turned around, and walked back.
Sit down again.
When he spoke again, his voice was filled with suppressed anger.
"Abe-kun."
"This is our last chance for the Great Sakura Empire."
What we are doing now is not for the present.
"It's for the future!"
Yuji Abe looked at him.
"future?"
"Yes!" Yamamoto Shinya's voice was low and urgent. "You are an expert in the history of the Great Xia, so you should know very well what the people of the Great Xia are like!"
"Based on what we've done in Great Xia over the years..."
"Once the Great Xia recovers, the consequences of 'plundering the court and sweeping away the enemy' will befall us!"
He paused.
"Therefore, even if it has only the slightest effect, we must accomplish it!"
"Since you've come here, you should be prepared to die for the Empire!"
"Once I leave this tent, I don't want to hear any more of these demoralizing words!"
Yuji Abe remained silent.
He looked at Yamamoto Shinya's face, which was flushed with excitement.
Looking into his eyes, which burned with a mad flame.
for a long time.
He sighed.
"I see."
He lowered his head and looked at the coded telegram in front of him.
The candlelight flickered, casting deep shadows on his face.
……
On the third day after entering the Kunlun Mountains, the Xia people entered the Kunlun Mountains.
The team has ventured deep into uninhabited territory.
All around was snow and ice.
Occasionally you can see a few rocks, which are also dark gray and have been weathered into strange shapes.
The sky was grayish-white.
The ground was grayish-white.
Even the air I breathe smells of ice.
The group moved slowly along the ridge.
No one speaks.
The only sounds were the soft crunching of footsteps on the snow and the occasional gasp of breath.
The old Taoist priest walked in the middle of the procession.
That lame leg struggled to walk on this kind of road.
But he didn't fall behind.
Every step was taken very steadily.
A young Taoist priest nearby, seeing that he was having difficulty walking, wanted to reach out and help him.
The old Taoist priest waved his hand.
"Need not."
The young Taoist priest was taken aback.
He glanced at the old Taoist's lame leg, then at his calm face.
I want to say something.
But the old Taoist priest continued walking forward.
The young Taoist priest watched his retreating figure.
That figure was limping.
But for some reason, it gives people a feeling of...
It felt as stable as a mountain.
The young Taoist priest withdrew his gaze and followed.
……
At the very front of the line.
Master Zhenyi and Zhang Xuanxiao walked side by side.
The two men each held a map, stopping from time to time to check the terrain and confirm their direction.
"According to intelligence, the Japanese have been in the mountains for some time now."
Master Zhenyi lowered his voice.
Zhang Xuanxiao nodded.
"Dragon vein nodes are not so easy to find."
"They entered the mountains earlier than us, but they may not be faster than us."
Master Zhenyi remained silent for a moment.
"Master Zhang, you said..."
He paused.
"What exactly do those Japanese devils want to do?"
"Sever the dragon vein of my Great Xia?"
"Do they really think that severing the dragon vein will cripple my Great Xia Dynasty?"
Zhang Xuanxiao did not answer immediately.
He looked at the vast snowfield ahead.
for a long time.
"They believe this."
He said slowly:
"In the past, they wanted to win."
"Now……"
"They are afraid of losing."
Master Zhenyi was stunned.
Afraid of losing?
He looked at Zhang Xuanxiao.
Zhang Xuanxiao offered no explanation.
Just keep moving forward.
……
The procession continued onward.
No one knows how much longer the journey will take.
But nobody asked.
No one stopped.
Just walk.
go straight.
……
Fourth day.
The team set up camp in an icy valley.
Although it's called an ice valley, it's actually a low-lying area between two snow-capped mountains.
The surrounding area is surrounded by steep ice walls, with only one narrow passage for entry and exit.
The old Taoist priest sat in the tent, wiping a short sword with a cloth.
The sword is not long.
About two feet.
The sword was old, covered with numerous scratches.
Those are the marks left by years of fighting.
He wiped very slowly.
Very meticulous.
Every scratch was wiped away.
At this time.
The tent curtain was lifted.
Qingwei crawled in, carrying an enamel mug.
"Uncle-Master, have some hot water."
He handed the jar over.
The old Taoist priest accepted it.
The jar was very hot, but it warmed my hands when I held it.
He took a sip.
The water didn't have much taste, but as it went down my throat, I felt much better.
"How's it going outside?" he asked.
Qingwei sat down next to him.
"Master and Zhang Tianshi are discussing the route."
"It seems... we're getting close to our target."
The old Taoist priest nodded.
He looked at Qingwei.
After a few days, the child's childishness faded considerably.
There was something more in his eyes.
calm.
Or rather...
Repressed.
"Are you afraid?" the old Taoist priest asked.
Qingwei was taken aback.
He looked at the old Taoist priest.
The old Taoist priest's one eye was looking at him.
Very peaceful.
It's like asking a very ordinary question.
Qingwei paused for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"I'm not afraid."
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
"Are you really not afraid?"
Qingwei opened her mouth.
He wanted to say he wasn't afraid.
But those two words were stuck in his throat, and he just couldn't say them.
Finally, he lowered his head.
"I...I don't know either."
His voice was a little hoarse.
"I'm afraid of dying."
"But I'm even more afraid of..."
He paused.
"What I fear even more is that I won't be able to do anything."
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
Looking at his young face and those complex eyes.
Suddenly, he smiled.
"Being afraid of death is not shameful."
Qingwei raised her head and looked at him.
The old Taoist priest continued:
Who in this world is not afraid of death?
"Those who shout that they are not afraid of death either have never died or are already dead."
"Those who are truly unafraid of death are those who know why they are going to die."
Qingwei was stunned.
Knowing why you died...
He kept repeating those words to himself.
The old Taoist priest didn't say anything more.
He lowered his head and continued wiping the sword.
Qingwei sat beside him, remaining silent for a long time.
……
into the night.
The campsite was quiet.
The only sounds were the occasional whistling of the wind and the distant howls of some unknown animal.
Qingwei lay in the tent, unable to sleep.
He was thinking about what the old Taoist priest had said during the day.
Knowing why you died...
He rolled over.
Outside the tent, the moonlight was very bright.
The sunlight shone on the snow, making it appear as a vast expanse of white.
suddenly.
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside.
Immediately following was a low shout:
"Enemy attack!"
Qingwei suddenly sat up.
He grabbed the sword beside him and rushed out of the tent.
The outside world is in complete chaos.
Dozens of figures were moving around the camp.
The glint of swords flashed in the moonlight.
Shouts of battle and screams of agony mingled together.
Qingwei gripped her sword tightly, wanting to rush forward.
But a hand pressed down on his shoulder.
He turned around.
The old Taoist priest stood behind him.
"Follow me."
The old Taoist priest said.
Then, he lifted his foot and limped forward.
……
The battle came suddenly and ended quickly.
It took no more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
By the time Qingwei came to her senses, it was all over.
Around the camp, there were more than a dozen corpses lying haphazardly.
There were Japanese devils there.
There are also our own people among them.
The air was thick with the stench of blood.
Qingwei stood there, her hand holding the sword trembling slightly.
He was not injured.
The old Taoist priest kept him protected behind him the whole time.
None of the Japanese soldiers who rushed at him could get within three feet.
He only saw the old Taoist priest wielding his sword.
With each swing of the sword, a Japanese soldier fell.
The movements are slow.
It's even a bit slow.
But every sword strike landed precisely on the most vital spot.
Clean and neat.
Not a single bit is superfluous.
After the battle, the old Taoist priest sheathed his sword.
He crouched down and looked at the corpse lying on the ground.
He was a young Taoist priest from the Wudang School.
Qingwei remembers him.
The two exchanged words on the way.
"Little Qingwei, don't be afraid, your senior brother is here."
Now, he lies there.
A hole was pierced through his chest.
The blood had already clotted.
His eyes were still open.
Looking at the night sky.
Qingwei walked over and squatted down.
He reached out and gently closed those eyes.
"Senior brother..."
He opened his mouth.
But I didn't know what to say.
The old Taoist priest stood to the side without saying a word.
I just watched quietly.
a long time.
He patted Qingwei on the shoulder.
"Let's go."
Qingwei raised her head.
"Walk?"
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
When someone dies, they must be buried.
Qingwei was stunned.
He looked around.
Those who are still alive are cleaning up the mess.
Someone is moving the body.
Someone is bandaging a wound.
Someone is cleaning up the battlefield.
Everyone is doing what they are supposed to do.
Just do it quietly.
Qingwei suddenly understood.
This won't be the first time.
This won't be the last time.
He took a deep breath and stood up.
"Uncle-Master, let me help you."
The old Taoist priest nodded.
The two began digging a hole.
The snow was frozen solid; one swing of the pickaxe only managed to dig a small hole.
But they didn't stop.
One pickaxe, one pickaxe, and another.
long time.
The pit has been dug.
They put the young Taoist's body inside.
Cover it with soil.
There is no tombstone.
There was nothing there.
There was only one small snowpack.
The old Taoist priest stood silently in front of the snowdrift for a while.
Then he turned around.
"Walk."
Qingwei followed behind him.
After walking a few steps, he couldn't help but look back.
That little snowdrift stood all alone in the moonlight.
He looked back.
Keep going.
……
After the first encounter, the atmosphere within the team clearly changed.
No one spoke anymore.
Even when they speak, it's only the briefest, most necessary exchange.
"Walk."
"stop."
"water."
"eat."
Apart from that, there was only silence.
A long silence.
Qingwei walked in the line, looking at the people around her.
Looking at those seniors who were chatting and laughing just moments before.
They all have serious expressions on their faces now.
His eyes were deep and somber.
It looks like something is pressing down on it.
He didn't know what it was.
But he could feel that the thing was very heavy.
Very heavy.
It was so heavy that they couldn't breathe.
He wanted to talk to someone.
But I don't know what to say.
He wanted to ask.
But I don't know who to ask.
All I could do was silently follow along.
Day .
Another encounter.
This time, they were well-prepared.
The Japanese ambush was discovered in advance.
The two sides clashed head-on on the ice field.
They fought for more than an hour.
The Japanese devils retreated.
More than twenty corpses were left behind.
On our side, seven people also died.
Seven.
Qingwei remembered the faces of those seven people.
There are elders from Maoshan.
There were Taoist priests from the Quanzhen School.
There was that taciturn middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit.
There was another one, a young man about the same age as him.
That young man was from Longhu Mountain.
He kept talking to Qingwei along the way.
Ask him about Maoshan.
Ask him about his master.
Ask him what kind of kung fu he practices.
He said his name was Zhang Huaijin.
He is a distant grandnephew of Zhang Tianshi.
He said he had wanted to visit Maoshan since he was a child.
It is said that there are many legends about gods and immortals in Maoshan.
He said that when he goes back this time, he must visit Maoshan.
He asked Qingwei to be his mentor.
just now.
He lay there.
Lying in the snow.
His face was deathly pale.
Eyes closed.
Very peaceful.
It looks like she's asleep.
Qingwei stood in front of him.
I watched it for a very long time.
Then, he squatted down.
Pick him up.
They carried him to the edge of the dug pit.
Gently place it in.
Cover it with soil.
This time, he didn't say anything.
I just stood in front of that snowdrift.
I stood there for a long time.
……
Day .
The team rested in an ice cave.
Despite being called an ice cave, it's actually just a crack in the mountain wall.
Not big.
It was barely big enough for everyone to squeeze in and sit down.
Qingwei leaned against the ice wall with her eyes closed.
He fell asleep.
He has barely slept these past few days.
Every time I close my eyes, I see the dead.
I saw their faces.
See their eyes.
He was afraid to sleep.
But my body couldn't hold on any longer.
The old Taoist priest sat next to him.
Looking at his young face.
He had a stubble beard.
Sunken eye sockets.
My lips are dry and cracked.
In just a few days, the child looked ten years older.
The old Taoist priest withdrew his gaze.
He pulled a piece of wood from his pocket.
Not big.
The size of a palm.
He picked it up on the road.
I don't know what kind of wood it is.
But it has a fine texture and feels great to the touch.
He then pulled out the short sword.
Using the tip of the sword, I gently carved into the wood.
Make a cut.
Take a look at Qingwei.
Make a cut.
take a look.
The movements are very slow.
It's very light.
I was afraid of waking him.
Time passed little by little.
The outline of the wood gradually became clear.
It was an oval-shaped object.
It looks like an egg magnified several times.
This is what Qingwei saw when she woke up.
The old Taoist priest sat there, head bowed, intently carving something.
The ice cave was very dark.
Only the faint glow of the campfire remained.
But in that glimpse of the old Taoist's face, it appeared exceptionally gentle.
He carved very slowly.
Each cut was very light.
It was as if they were treating something precious.
Qingwei remained silent.
Just watch quietly.
The old Taoist priest carved for a while, then suddenly stopped.
He raised his head and looked at Qingwei.
Qingwei quickly looked away.
The old Taoist priest smiled.
"woke up?"
Qingwei nodded.
"Uncle-Master, what are you carving?"
"Carve a little trinket."
The old Taoist priest continued carving without looking up, saying:
"Qingwei, if I die, I'll give you this little thing and the Tao Te Ching in my bag as a keepsake."
He spoke very calmly.
Qingwei looked at him.
Looking at his hands, which were covered in calluses.
Looking at his worn-out short sword.
Suddenly, my nose started to sting.
"Uncle-Master."
He spoke.
The old Taoist priest raised his head.
Qingwei opened her mouth, as if to say something.
But the words stuck in his throat.
In the end, he simply said:
"Thank you, Uncle-Master."
The old Taoist priest nodded.
Continue carving.
……
Seventh day.
The team encountered the biggest crisis since entering Kunlun.
They were ambushed by the Japanese while crossing a crevasse.
Qingwei couldn't remember how many people he had killed.
All he remembers is swinging his sword.
He swung his sword.
He swung his sword again.
My hand is numb, I'll switch to the other hand.
People around me kept falling down.
I know some of them.
There are some I don't recognize.
There are older ones.
There are young people.
He had no time to grieve.
He could only keep swinging his sword.
Keep killing.
at last.
The Japanese devils retreated.
Qingwei slumped onto the ice.
He was covered in blood.
They have their own.
There are other people's.
He couldn't tell the difference.
He just sat there, panting heavily.
Then he heard someone shout:
"Master Zhang! Master Zhang is injured!"
Qingwei suddenly stood up.
He ran towards the sound.
Zhang Xuanxiao leaned against a rock, his face deathly pale.
There was a deep wound on his chest.
Blood kept gushing out.
The True One Sect Leader squatted beside him, sprinkling medicinal powder on the wound.
"Celestial Master!" Qingwei walked over.
Zhang Xuanxiao raised his head and glanced at him.
Those eyes were still very bright.
But it was so bright it was almost frightening.
"fine."
He said.
The sound was very soft.
"A minor injury."
Qingwei looked at the wound on his chest.
That can be called a minor injury.
"Celestial Master..."
Zhang Xuanxiao waved his hand, signaling him to be quiet.
Then, he looked behind the crowd.
I looked at the figure limping towards me.
The old Taoist priest walked up to him and stopped.
She looked down at him.
Zhang Xuanxiao raised his head.
Looking at his younger brother.
Looking at his face, which was younger than hers yet looked older.
Looking at his younger brother.
Looking at his face, which was younger than hers yet looked older.
Looking at that blind eye.
Looking at that lame leg.
Suddenly, he smiled.
She laughed very softly.
"Third brother."
He spoke, using a term from decades ago.
The old Taoist priest was taken aback.
Then he nodded.
"Big brother."
Upon hearing this address, Zhang Xuanxiao's eyes suddenly reddened.
decades.
After decades, he finally heard his third brother call him "elder brother" again.
"Okay..." he murmured, "Okay..."
He struggled to sit up.
Master Zhenyi quickly restrained him.
"Master, please don't move!"
Zhang Xuanxiao waved his hand.
He looked at the old Taoist priest.
"Third brother."
"Um."
"I might... not be able to get out."
The old Taoist priest remained silent.
Just looking at him.
Zhang Xuanxiao took a deep breath.
"The Celestial Master's Mansion..."
"We cannot live without the Celestial Master."
He looked at the old Taoist priest.
"Come back."
"The position of Celestial Master is now entrusted to you."
The people around were stunned when he said that.
The position of Celestial Master?
Zhang Tianshi wants to pass on the position of Tianshi to Xuanzhen Daoist?
Qingwei opened her mouth wide.
The old Taoist priest shook his head.
"no."
Zhang Xuanxiao grew anxious.
"Why not?"
"You're a member of the Zhang family, you're my brother, you have the right!"
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
"Big brother."
He spoke.
"You'll make it back alive."
Zhang Xuanxiao was stunned.
The old Taoist priest squatted down.
He looked at his older brother.
Looking at his pale face and trembling hands.
Then he reached out his hand.
He grasped Zhang Xuanxiao's hand.
"You'll definitely make it back alive."
He spoke very softly.
But I'm very determined.
Zhang Xuanxiao opened his mouth.
What do you want to say?
But the old Taoist priest had already stood up.
He turned around and looked at Master Zhenyi.
"Senior Brother Zhenyi."
Master Zhenyi looked at him.
"Leave all the wounded here," the old Taoist priest said. "Find a safe place for them to recover."
"The rest of you, keep going."
Master Zhenyi was stunned.
"this……"
"The Japanese devils are still ahead," the old Taoist priest said.
Master Zhenyi looked at him.
Looking at his calm face.
a long time.
He nodded.
"it is good."
……
Over in the land of cherry blossoms.
Yuji Abe sat inside the tent.
The campfire in front of us was burning very brightly.
But he felt cold.
That kind of cold seeps out from the very bones.
The tent curtain was lifted.
Shinya Yamamoto walked in, his face grim.
"More news has come from China."
He threw a coded telegram in front of Yuji Abe.
Yuji Abe picked it up and glanced at it.
Then, put it down.
He had already guessed the content of the message.
The war is over.
"Yamamoto-kun."
Yuji Abe spoke.
Shinya Yamamoto looked at him.
"You mean, all that we've done..."
Yuji Abe paused.
Does it really make sense?
Yamamoto Shinya's expression turned even uglier.
"Abe-kun!"
"Let me finish," Yuji Abe interrupted him.
Yamamoto Shinya opened his mouth, but said nothing more.
Yuji Abe stood up and walked to the tent entrance.
I lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Outside, the remaining men sat around the campfire.
They all remained silent.
His face showed signs of fatigue.
Filled with despair.
With...
Fear of the unknown.
Yuji Abe looked at them.
Looked for a long time.
Then, he lowered the curtain, turned around, and walked back.
He looked at Shinya Yamamoto.
"Yamamoto-kun, there's something I'd like to ask you."
Shinya Yamamoto frowned.
"What is it?"
Yuji Abe paused for a moment.
Then, he walked to the corner of the tent.
There was a wooden box there.
He opened the wooden box and took out a sword.
The sword is about two feet seven or eight inches long.
The sword was slightly curved.
The hilt of the sword was wrapped with dark gold silk threads.
A bluish-white magatama was inlaid on the hilt of the sword.
Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Sword of the Clouds).
Yuji Abe held the sword and looked at it.
Looked for a long time.
Then, he handed the sword to Yamamoto Shinya.
Shinya Yamamoto was stunned.
"Abe-kun, what are you doing...?"
"Let's find a place," Yuji Abe said. "To hide it."
Shinya Yamamoto's eyes widened.
"Hide? Are you crazy?"
"This is the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi! It's a divine weapon of my Sakura Kingdom!"
Yuji Abe looked at him.
"I know."
"It is precisely because it is a divine artifact that it must be hidden."
Shinya Yamamoto opened his mouth.
I want to refute this.
But the words stuck in his throat.
He understood what Yuji Abe meant.
It's very likely that none of these people will ever be able to go back.
If the Kusanagi Sword were to fall into the hands of the Great Xia people...
Yamamoto Shinya remained silent for a long time.
Then he took the sword.
"Where to hide it?"
Yuji Abe walked up to the map and pointed to one of the places.
"here."
"East side of Yuzhu Peak".
"it is good."
Shinya Yamamoto held the sword and turned to walk out of the tent.
Yuji Abe stood still.
Looking at his back.
Looking at his silent subordinates outside the tent.
Looking at the vast snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Suddenly, he smiled.
His smile was bitter.
……
Day 9.
early morning.
The sunlight shone on the snow-capped mountains, turning them a golden yellow.
Zhang Xuanzhen stood on a snowy slope, looking ahead.
Ahead lay a vast, open ice field.
At the end of the ice field stands a massive ice wall.
On the ice wall, one can vaguely see the light flowing.
That's the node of the dragon vein.
At this moment, a dozen or so people were standing in front of the ice wall.
The last elite of the Cherry Blossom Kingdom.
Yuji Abe.
Shinya Yamamoto.
There were also a dozen or so warriors and onmyoji, their bodies covered in wounds, but their eyes still filled with madness.
On the Da Xia side, only five people remained.
Five pairs of more than ten.
In terms of numbers, they are at a significant disadvantage.
But no one backed down.
Zhang Xuanzhen, leaning on his wooden cane, walked down the snow slope step by step.
We walked onto the ice field.
He walked up to the dozen or so people.
"Zhang Xuanzhen".
He spoke.
They were speaking the Bactrian language, which was somewhat broken, but still understandable.
"I know you."
"Son of the Celestial Master".
"Thirty years ago, I broke away from the Celestial Master's Mansion and severed all ties."
"I never expected that a cripple like you could make it this far."
Zhang Xuanzhen looked at him and smiled.
"You've found out very well."
Shinya Yamamoto smiled as well.
But that smile was cold.
"You people of Great Xia are always like this."
"Even when you've reached a dead end, you still pretend to be fearless."
Does it make sense?
Zhang Xuanzhen remained silent.
Just looking at him.
Shinya Yamamoto continued.
"You can't stop us."
"The dragon vein must be severed."
"At that time, the Great Xia will lose the favor of Heaven and its national fortune will decline."
"And we..."
He paused, a glint of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.
"Even if we die here, there's still a chance for the future of the Sakura Kingdom!"
Zhang Xuanzhen smiled after hearing this.
"You little devils."
"Do you really think that severing the dragon vein will bring my Great Xia Dynasty to its knees?"
"Giving you a chance to start over?"
Yamamoto Shinya's expression changed.
"Without the dragon vein, the Great Xia will not receive the favor of Heaven!"
"When Heaven's will is not on your side, the nation's fate is destined to decline!"
"This is the way of Heaven!"
"No matter how strong you Great Xia people are, can you possibly be stronger than the Heavenly Dao?!"
Zhang Xuanzhen looked at Yamamoto Shinya.
Looking at his face, flushed with excitement.
Looking into his crazed eyes.
suddenly.
Zhang Xuanzhen smiled again.
That smile was tinged with sarcasm.
With a mocking tone.
With...
I am incredibly proud.
"joke!"
He said loudly.
"Since ancient times, our ancestors of the Great Xia Dynasty have fought against heaven and earth!"
"I only believe in four words!"
He paused.
Take a deep breath.
Then, with all his might, he shouted out those four words:
"Man will surely conquer nature!"
These four words, like a thunderclap, resounded through the valley!
The tremor caused snowflakes to fall in a soft rustling sound!
The dozen or so Japanese people were so shocked that their faces turned pale!
"now!"
Zhang Xuanzhen continued:
"A new era is dawning!"
"Our Great Xia will surely rise to its zenith in the future!"
"Never fall!"
After he finished speaking, his intact right eye shone brightly.
It looked as if it were burning with flames.
Yamamoto Shinya was stunned for a few seconds by his words.
But he quickly came to his senses.
sneer.
"In that case..."
"Then why did you come?"
He stared at Zhang Xuanzhen.
"They're just scared!"
Zhang Xuanzhen looked at him with a cold gaze.
"We've arrived here."
"I just don't want you little devils to get away with this."
"On the land of my Great Xia."
"Arrogant."
As the last two words fell, the snowfield fell silent.
a long time.
Yamamoto Shinya suddenly laughed.
His smile was sinister.
"it is good."
"very good."
He raised his hand.
More than a dozen Japanese people behind him simultaneously raised their weapons.
"Then you can all die!"
The words fell.
He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the magical artifact in his hand!
hum!
The magical artifact trembled violently!
A blinding burst of blood-red light erupted!
At the same time, the dozen or so people behind him also bit their tongues!
Blood splattered!
Streaks of blood-red light shot into the sky!
The blood-red light intertwined and converged in mid-air!
finally……
It transformed into a gigantic, blood-red phantom!
The phantom had three heads and six arms, and its face was ferocious!
His body was wreathed in blood-red flames!
It exudes a nauseatingly evil aura!
"Blood sacrifice!" Master Zhenyi's expression changed drastically.
Shinya Yamamoto raised his head and looked at the blood-red phantom.
His eyes were filled with madness.
"This is the most powerful demon in my Sakura Kingdom! It has been sacrificed to the blood of hundreds of thousands of people!"
He looked at the old Taoist priest.
"Zhang Xuanzhen, what are you going to use to block this?!"
The old Taoist priest stared at the blood-red phantom.
Looking at the sky filled with blood.
Looking at Yamamoto Shinya's crazed face.
then.
He smiled again.
He smiled calmly.
At that moment, he took a step back, recalling a method that he had already engraved in his mind.
The Fragment of the Shangqing Dongxuan Zhenjing.
This was a cultivation technique he obtained by chance after leaving the Celestial Master's Mansion.
But he never practiced cultivation.
Because this cultivation technique requires too much spiritual energy.
In this degenerate age, if one were to switch to practicing this sutra, there would be no further opportunity for advancement in this lifetime.
unless……
The Dharma-ending Age is coming to an end.
And this moment.
Zhang Xuanzhen gently shook his head.
"Is the end of the Dharma-ending Age?"
He murmured:
"I can't wait any longer."
He took a deep breath.
Begin reciting silently.
Those scriptures, difficult to pronounce and obscure, each word seemed to contain endless power.
Within his body, the true energy that had been honed for decades began to stir.
It's starting to boil.
Start burning!
Zhang Xuanzhen stood there.
A faint golden light emanated from its body.
The light grew brighter and brighter.
finally……
Soaring into the sky!
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
Everyone looked over there.
He looked at the lame old Taoist priest standing in the golden light.
Zhang Xuanzhen raised his head.
His perfectly good right eye had now turned completely gold.
His body is becoming transparent.
Little by little, it transforms into specks of light.
But he had a smile on his face.
"The pure energy of the highest heavens..."
he murmured.
"So that's how it is."
He raised his hand.
Pointing to the sky.
"Ray is coming!"
boom!!!
A thunderbolt struck from the sky!
The lightning was as thick as a water bucket and as dazzling as the sun!
It struck right in the middle of that group of Japanese people!
Rumble!
Seven or eight people were instantly chopped into charcoal!
Yamamoto Shinya's expression changed drastically!
"That's impossible!"
He screamed.
"In this degenerate age! How could you possibly summon heavenly lightning?!"
Zhang Xuanzhen looked at him.
Looking at his terrified face.
Laughed.
"The Dharma-ending Age?"
He spoke.
"yes."
"So, this is what I, your Daoist master, just told you... that human will can conquer nature!"
Shinya Yamamoto was stunned.
Zhang Xuanzhen ignored him.
He simply continued to raise his hand.
"Ray is coming!"
Another bolt of lightning crashed down!
Several more Japanese people were chopped into charred remains!
Yamamoto Shinya desperately activated the forbidden technique, and a dense blood-red light surged around his body!
He wanted to fight back!
But under the heavenly thunder, all forbidden techniques are as fragile as paper!
Rumble!
Another bolt of lightning!
The blood-red aura surrounding Yamamoto Shinya shattered instantly!
He was completely engulfed by lightning!
"No……"
He only had time to let out a scream.
Then, it turned into ashes.
Yuji Abe stood not far away, watching this scene.
His face was deathly pale.
He was trembling all over.
But he didn't run.
He knew he couldn't escape.
He simply stood there, watching the figure within the bolt of lightning.
Watching the old Taoist priest gradually fade away.
suddenly.
He smiled.
That smile was bitter.
"turn out to be……"
he murmured.
"These are the people of Great Xia."
Zhang Xuanzhen heard what he said.
She turned to look at him.
"right."
"These are the people of Great Xia."
The last word fell.
The final bolt of lightning crashed down.
They swallowed up Abe Yuji and the remaining Japanese.
Silence fell over the ice field.
It only smelled burnt.
and also……
That golden figure.
Zhang Xuanzhen stood there.
The body was so transparent that it was almost invisible.
Only a faint outline remains.
He lowered his head and looked at himself.
Then, he reached into his robes.
He took out the carved object.
The size of a palm.
It's ugly.
It seemed to still carry his body heat.
He looked at the ugly wooden elbow and laughed.
"Little Shouqing..."
he murmured.
"Master..."
"There's no going back..."
The last word fell.
His figure vanished completely.
It transformed into countless golden specks of light.
It drifted away with the wind.
The wooden elbow slipped from his hands.
It fell on the snow.
It made a soft sound.
Then, I lay there quietly.
The sunlight shone on it.
Golden.
……
Kunlun.
The Night Watch Division.
Li Jun suddenly opened his eyes.
He sat there blankly, looking around.
The familiar funeral hall.
On the offering table, the phone screen had automatically turned off.
Inside the incense burner, the incense sticks had burned out, leaving only a short stick and a pile of grayish-white ash.
Outside the window, it was completely dark.
He had been asleep for a long time.
Li Jun sat on the small stool, without moving.
He was recalling the dream he had just had.
Those young faces, those gray military uniforms, those burning villages, those fluttering red flags...
The young Taoist priest standing at the entrance of the Taoist temple.
That limping old Taoist priest who kept looking back with every step.
The thirty-six people gathered in the courtyard.
The boy Qingwei who said, "There is only death."
The old man who carved wood.
The thunder that fell from the sky...
Everything gradually began to blur.
Li Jun sat there, motionless.
Then, he slowly raised his hand.
He touched his face.
It's wet.
He looked down at his hands.
Looking at the water stains on my hands.
Those were tears.
He didn't know when, but he started crying.
for a long time.
He stood up and walked to the offering table.
He looked at the mahogany box.
Looking at those few sticks of incense that had burned out.
Looking at that mahogany box.
The dream in my mind is becoming increasingly blurry, with only a few sentences remaining clear.
"Man can conquer nature!"
"The Great Xia Dynasty...will never fall."
And then there's the line, "Master, we can't go back."
Then, Li Jun spoke.
Say it softly:
"Master."
"I have remembered everything you said."