Chapter 225: The Vajra Sect’s Southward March, A Dispute Between Two Buddhas
“‘From afar, mountains have color; up close, water has no sound,’ what a place blessed by nature’s marvels.”
Zhou Yan, Liang Xiaowu, and Yanbo Diaosou galloped their horses from Baishui Temple in Xiangyang, arriving at Cuya Mountain in Caizhou several days later. Before their eyes lay a magnificent scene of towering peaks, deep caverns, ancient trees reaching for the sky, verdant vines dripping with dew, and the reflections of the lake shimmering in a harmonious display.
This made even Yanbo Diaosou, who loved to express his feelings through nature, unable to refrain from a sigh of admiration.
Before his transmigration, Zhou Yan had visited Cuya Mountain and knew of its historical sites and cultural charm. He also knew it was a filming location for Journey to the West. He recounted with familiarity, “The lake’s surface reflects the mountain’s colors. Here, there are many lakes such as Xiù Mì Lake, Pipa Lake, Baihua Lake, and Tianmo Lake. Brother Diaosou can fish to his heart’s content and enjoy leisurely pleasure.”
“Haha, absolutely!” Yanbo Diaosou replied with great interest.
Diaosou chuckled twice, and suddenly, someone emerged from the dense forest ahead, moving with incredible speed.
“Lord Zhou!”
Zhou Yan followed the sound and chuckled, recognizing him as Shi Yizhu, a minor leader. The last time he was here, this person had sent a carrier pigeon to the mountain, and Yang Miaozhen had come down to meet them.
He dismounted, “Brother Shi.”
Shi Yizhu said joyfully, “Miss Qiu and the High Monk have already arrived at the mountain stronghold. The leader sent me to wait here to meet you.”
“Thank you.”
“I will lead Lord Zhou to the mountain stronghold.”
“Alright!”
Shi Yizhu waved his hand, and his subordinates in the forest released a carrier pigeon. With the flapping of wings, the white dove soared into the sky towards the mountain stronghold. Zhou Yan and his two companions slowly rode forward with the minor leader.
As they passed a valley, dust billowed, and faint sounds of training could be heard.
“What is this?” Zhou Yan asked.
Shi Yizhu replied, “This valley is spacious, over ten li long. The leader uses it to train troops.”
“How does it feel?”
Shi Yizhu said, “It’s only after Lord Zhou visited that the leader reformed the training methods. The intensity was high, and many brothers couldn’t adapt. It’s much better now.”
Zhou Yan saw this as a normal outcome. Yue Fei’s Wumu’s Military Writings were naturally based on the training methods of the Yue Family Army. Throughout history, the Yue Family Army was a renowned iron-blooded force. “They would rather freeze to death than break into houses, and starve to death than plunder,” which demonstrated their strict discipline. At that time, Yue Fei was facing the peak of the Jin Dynasty, with countless formidable generals. Even so, the Jin people said, “It is easier to shake mountains than to shake the Yue Family Army,” which showed the quality of the Yue Family Army.
If Yang Miaozhen’s troops could be transformed in just a year or half a year, it would be against the natural order.
“Are there any difficulties at the mountain stronghold?” he asked casually.
“Horses,” Shi Yizhu explained. “In the past, we could still buy mules and horses from the surrounding areas. Now, the Jin Dynasty and Mongolia are fighting in Hebei Province, and horses are scarce. We can’t resort to looting. Other than that, things are fine.”
Zhou Yan nodded; it was a very realistic problem.
Not only the mountain stronghold lacked horses, but the Lin’an court also lacked them, needing to purchase them from Guangxi and transport them over long distances.
Zhou Yan thought he could discuss with Yang Miaozhen about purchasing several hundred mules and horses from the horse market in Zhongdu. The fine horses at the market came from the Western Regions and were no inferior to Mongolian horses.
As they conversed, the mountain stronghold came into view. Two fine horses, one red and one black, galloped towards them. The red one was fiery red, and the black one was like a thundercloud. It was Yang Miaozhen on a chestnut horse and Qiu Qianchi on a Wuzhui horse.
Their hoofbeats thundered like thunder. As the two horses approached, they landed gracefully, one in black clothes and the other in red.
“Brother Zhou,” Yang Miaozhen said, approaching with heroic spirit.
“Youngest Sister Yang,” Zhou Yan greeted, his gaze falling on Qiu Qianchi. He felt that her condition had improved significantly since he saw her at the Xiangyang wharf. This was likely due to Yang Miaozhen’s comfort. Yang Miaozhen, with her cheerful and eloquent personality, was indeed suitable company for Qiu Qianchi, who was in low spirits.
Zhou Yan introduced Yanbo Diaosou to Yang Miaozhen and Qiu Qianchi. The eccentric Diaosou, before Yang Miaozhen could speak, said, “Brother Zhou mentioned that there are numerous lakes here. I am fond of mountains and waters and wish to stay for a few days. Is that acceptable?”
“How about the elder fishing for a year or a half?”
“That’s straightforward. No wonder Brother Zhou praised the leader as a woman who is not inferior to men.” Yang Miaozhen was delighted to hear this, but she said, “Elder Diaosou, you flatter me. I am not even a fraction of Brother Zhou’s equal. He is the true hero.”
“Indeed, indeed,” Yanbo Diaosou agreed. Zhou Yan chuckled.
While ascending the mountain, Yang Miaozhen mentioned that the Tianzhu Monk had entrusted the Golden Doll to the mountain stronghold. Since arriving at Cuya Mountain, he had been exploring the surroundings with several disciples who had some knowledge of medicine, identifying herbs for treating soldiers’ injuries, which had greatly helped the stronghold.
Zhou Yan inwardly sighed. In the world of the Divine Condor, the Tianzhu Monk had died at the hands of Li Mochou while searching for herbs to cure the poison of the Love Flower. In this current world, such a thing would not happen.
…
The assembly hall was simple, with a square table, ten dishes of meat and vegetables, and Du Kang wine from Luoyang.
Zhou Yan, Qiu Qianchi, Yanbo Diaosou, and Yang Miaozhen sat in the east, south, west, and north positions respectively.
The Tianzhu Monk was not present as he was out tasting herbs and was not at the mountain stronghold.
Yang Miaozhen poured wine, smiling and saying, “When we were at the Huai River, Young Master Lu of the Zhenwei Escort Agency said that Brother Zhou would be in Kaifeng, and he would treat you to Du Kang wine. So, I prepared some at the mountain stronghold for you to drink when you arrived.”
“Sister, you are thoughtful. It’s wonderful.”
“Du Kang is excellent, clear and mellow.” The conversation opened up, and Yanbo Diaosou praised the wine’s mellow fragrance. He then said to Qiu Qianchi, “I have a peculiar temperament and do not adhere to trivial matters. Outsiders may see me as neither wholly righteous nor evil, but I would never transgress major principles. Miss Qiu, I admire your actions. ‘Floating clouds and a forgotten past, always saying that forgetting worries is found in Du Kang.’ Come, let’s drink.”
Qiu Qianchi guessed that Zhou Yan had told him a little about herself and quickly replied, “Thank you, Elder.”
As they clinked glasses and spoke freely, Qiu Qianchi asked, “At the Xiangyang wharf, why did my second brother regard Head Escort Zhou as an enemy?”
“This is a long story,” Zhou Yan said concisely. “I unintentionally obtained a scroll, which was from General Han Shizhong.”
Qiu Qianchi, Yang Miaozhen, and Yanbo Diaosou were all stunned.
“Let’s drink, and I will tell you slowly.” Zhou Yan’s voice was slightly low. “That scroll had a hidden compartment, and inside it was written that General Yue’s Wumu’s Military Writings were in the Middle Peak of Iron Palm Mountain. So, I went to Iron Palm Mountain and happened to encounter Wanyan Kang, Ouyang Feng, and others visiting your brother. In fact, even earlier, Wanyan Kang had gone to Lin’an to search for Wumu’s Military Writings. I then stole the military treatise and some notes from General Yue. During that time, I had a confrontation with your brother, but he was unaware of the matter of Wumu’s Military Writings.”
Qiu Qianchi quickly asked, “Was it in the forbidden area of the Iron Palm Sect?”
“I found it from the remains of Gang Leader Shangguan. Gang Leader Shangguan was holding a wooden box, inscribed with the words ‘Key to Breaking the Jin’.”
“Heaven’s will, heaven’s will,” Qiu Qianchi murmured to herself.
“I ask for Miss Qiu’s understanding regarding this matter.”
“Head Escort Zhou, there is no need for that. What wrong have you done? If one day I fall into my second brother’s hands and he exchanges it for fame and fortune with Wanyan Kang, harming the Han people. Gang Leader Shangguan dedicated his life to the country…” Qiu Qianchi said sadly, “Perhaps he had already seen through my brother’s nature and chose to seal Wumu’s Military Writings in the forbidden area of the Iron Palm Sect for a destined person, rather than let my brother obtain it.”
Zhou Yan was taken aback; what Qiu Qianchi said seemed quite reasonable.
“If Miss Qiu says so, I can rest assured.”
“Head Escort, you need not worry.”
Yang Miaozhen said, “I am delighted that Sister Qiu, Brother Zhou, and Diaosou have come. Du Kang can dispel worries, and daylilies can help forget sorrow. I will accompany you, and we won’t return until we are drunk.”
“Good!”
As they drank, the sun descended from the zenith to the western mountains.
Qiu Qianchi was completely drunk, while the other three were sober. It could truly be said, “The wine does not intoxicate people; people intoxicate themselves.”
…
Cuya Mountain belongs to the eastern foothills of Funiu Mountain and covers a vast area. Since the Tianzhu Monk taught the disciples of the mountain stronghold the principles of medicine, Zhou Yan was also at ease staying in the stronghold for the time being.
Discussing martial arts with Yang Miaozhen and Qiu Qianchi, accompanying Yanbo Diaosou in fishing, such leisurely moments were unprecedented. “Watching the clouds in the morning and the stars at night,” he contemplated cultivation techniques, striving for perfection, and gained considerable insights.
Seven days later, the Tianzhu Monk returned. Zhou Yan happened to be with Yang Miaozhen, watching the mountain stronghold’s soldiers train.
The mountain stronghold lacked not only horses but also weapons and armor. Yang Miaozhen looked troubled when she spoke of these matters. Zhou Yan suddenly recalled something the young master of the Zhenwei Escort Agency had said.
The two rode out of the training valley. Zhou Yan said, “Lu Beihe mentioned that there are tens of thousands of remnants of the Great Qi in Tongbai and Funiu Mountains, who commit arson, looting, and all sorts of evil deeds. Since they were formerly armies of the Great Qi, they must be well-equipped with plenty of armor, weapons, and horses. If Youngest Sister Yang has any ideas, I can go to Kaifeng to discuss it with Lu Beihe and eliminate this group of bandits.”
Yang Miaozhen was overjoyed. “Can we wait for a bit longer for further training? My troops are capable of dealing with ordinary mountain strongholds and scattered soldiers, but against well-trained bandits, they are still insufficient.”
“Alright, then Sister can send a letter to Zhongdu.”
“Thank you.” As they rode forward, Yang Miaozhen was about to ask Zhou Yan if he still needed to escort the Tianzhu Monk to the Western Regions, but she saw a rider approaching at lightning speed.
The rider saw Yang Miaozhen and galloped directly towards them.
Yang Miaozhen said to Zhou Yan, “This is a scout I deployed in Kaifeng Prefecture.”
Zhou Yan remembered this. It was a suggestion he had made when he first arrived at the mountain stronghold and gave Yang Miaozhen Wumu’s Military Writings: to select clever individuals and place a few informants in Kaifeng Prefecture to monitor Wanyan Kang and others’ movements.
The rider dismounted and approached. Yang Miaozhen smiled, “Such haste, they must have gathered some news.”
“Reporting, a group of over a hundred monks and laity arrived in Kaifeng Prefecture recently and were grandly hosted by Wanyan Kang.”
“What is their origin?”
“We haven’t found out, so I dared not delay and came to report.”
Zhou Yan’s mind stirred, “Both monks and laity.”
“Yes, at least over forty monks, all burly and fierce, seemingly martial monks.”
Zhou Yan had a rough idea.
The Vajra Sect, people from the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions.
He immediately said to Yang Miaozhen, “I can guess their origin. I need to return to the stronghold and arrange some matters.”
“Alright!”
Zhou Yan was unsure if Hong Qigong knew about this. Upon reaching the stronghold, he had a runner take two horses and travel day and night to Zhongdu to inform Fu’an of his safety and then find Lu Youjiao to inform him of the matter.
Afterward, he sought out the Tianzhu High Monk and asked the latter, who was already packing his bags to leave, to stay in the stronghold for a few more days, while he himself would make a trip to Shaoshi Mountain.
The Tianzhu High Monk understood the situation and said joyfully, “The Buddhist sects of India and Shaolin of the Central Plains have a deep connection. I have longed to visit for a long time. Since this is a fortunate encounter, I shall go to seek the Way and read scriptures. I will accompany the Head Escort.”
Bodhidharma was from India and the founder of Zen Buddhism. Since the Tianzhu Monk said so, Zhou Yan naturally agreed.
