Chapter 227: The Buddha Was Originally a Daoist
A gentle breeze and bright moon, no one to manage; the moon sets over the Chan courtyard, the wind blows past the overhanging eaves.
In the quiet night, a bell suddenly rang, the sound of wind and bell entering the ears, making one’s heart clear and pure.
“The morning bell and evening drum awaken the worldly seekers of fame and fortune; the Buddha’s name and sutra chants call back the lost souls in the sea of suffering.”
Zhou Yan suddenly thought of such a sentence, his thoughts spreading like flowing moonlight. He then thought of the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils World and some of the sweeping monk’s sayings.
The Shaolin Temple’s Seventy-Two Unique Skills, each martial art is fierce and ruthless, greatly benefiting heaven and earth. Therefore, each unique skill must have corresponding compassionate Buddhist teachings to dissolve it. Not everyone knows this principle, so intelligent people who cultivate a few peerless skills will naturally encounter obstacles in their understanding of Buddhist principles. This is called “martial arts obstruction.” One must know that Buddhist teachings seek to save the world, while martial arts are for killing. The two are diametrically opposed and mutually restrictive. Only when Buddhist teachings are higher and compassion is stronger can peerless martial arts be cultivated to a greater extent.
Since arriving in the Legend of the Condor Heroes world, I have killed quite a few people. Does this count as “greatly benefiting heaven and earth”? Zhou Yan thought this way and said to the Tianzhu Monk, “Master, I have something to ask you.”
“Amitabha, Head Escort, please speak freely.”
“I am an escort, and the escort bureau has regulations that during escorts, one must not provoke trouble. However, every time I escort, trouble always finds me, thus I have caused much killing. Qiu Qianren and Ouyang Feng have both become my enemies. There are probably no other escorts like me in the world. A few days ago, Brother Fishing Old Man joked that I have many enemies. Master, do you think I will have karmic fire in my heart in the future?”
The Tianzhu Monk said, “If it were anyone else, this monk would not dare to speak rashly, but if it is the Head Escort, surely not?”
“Why?”
“From the Western Regions to Jiangxi, from Poyang Lake to Shaoshi Mountain, I have become familiar with you, Head Escort. You are well-versed in Taoist thought. Taoism cultivates the body, Buddhism cultivates the mind. Cultivating the body and nurturing the mind is like a great awakening in Buddhism. The path of the practitioner is boundless. How could the Head Escort have karmic fire in his heart?”
“As you sow, so shall you reap. I have a strong killing intent.”
“As long as there is the seed of Tao, even after eighty-four thousand kalpas, there will be a day when one becomes a Buddha.”
“Master, do you see the seed of Tao in me?”
“Buddha is originally Tao.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“Goodness, goodness.”
A fine saying, “Buddha is originally Tao.”
This is a classic Buddhist saying, meaning that the essence and truth of Buddhism have a deep connection with the essence and truth of Taoism. In other words, I have long cultivated Buddhism, helping others and myself, and have already surpassed myself.
The Tianzhu Monk departed, and a smile bloomed on Zhou Yan’s face.
The mountains and rivers are vast, the world is full of life, human emotions are still attached to old acquaintances, but heaven’s will has already changed the situation. Unbound by the heart, unbound by form, I am a steadfast escort, an ordinary person, delivering those who should be delivered, and guiding those who should be guided.
Zhou Yan’s gaze returned. He went to the guest room, took a meditation cushion, and sat cross-legged. Guiding energy with his intent, pure internal force warmed up from his Dantian. After circulating through the Du Meridian, it was like a rolling great river, beginning to temper the Dai Meridian of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
Of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, Zhou Yan has yet to temper the Dai Meridian, Ren Meridian, and Du Meridian. The Dai Meridian has the function of restraining various longitudinal meridians. Its circulation route begins below the ribs and circles around the waist, resembling a waistband, benefiting stagnation of qi and blood.
Once the Dai Meridian is tempered and unblocked, if Zhou Yan were to encounter a situation like fighting Qiu Qianren or Ouyang Feng where his meridians were damaged and qi and blood were stagnant, he could use the gentle Qi of Jade Guanyin to treat his internal injuries, which would have a twice-as-effective result.
Having come from Poyang Lake, Zhou Yan’s focus has been on tempering this meridian. After a conversation with the Tianzhu Monk, he felt clear and pure, without a trace of thought, in excellent condition, ready to break through.
The dawn light was faint, and a misty white vapor floated in the air.
Zhou Yan’s body was also enveloped in a faint white mist. The “Dai Meridian Acupoint,” “Wu Shu Acupoint,” and “Wei Dao Acupoint” along the Dai Meridian’s path were first solidified. His profound internal force surged out like a spring from the major acupoints. The Dai Meridian instantly vibrated, and the internal force circulating through the meridians merged with the internal force emanating from the major acupoints, vast and mighty, continuously solidifying and expanding.
The familiar stinging sensation, as if being forged into steel, spread throughout his body. This state lasted for nearly an hour. Accompanied by the sound of the morning bell, Zhou Yan suddenly felt a warm embrace around his waist, circulating throughout his body. Whether it was the meridians being tempered and unblocked or those not yet tempered, the circulation of inner qi within them suddenly became several times faster than before.
The Dai Meridian is unblocked.
“Hoo,” Zhou Yan exhaled a breath of white mist that did not dissipate. The Dai Meridian has the function of regulating qi and blood and unblocking longitudinal meridians. Blood can also generate strength. With the successful tempering of the Dai Meridian, he felt a noticeable change in his internal force, becoming even more condensed. With every movement, his strength increased significantly.
Having stayed up all night, Zhou Yan felt no fatigue at all; instead, he was full of spirit. He left the guest room to wash up, not disturbing the Tianzhu Monk. He went to the scripture hall in the temple, found a meditation cushion, and listened to the monks chanting scriptures.
Three days passed in this rhythm. The Tianzhu Monk began chanting the ten scrolls of the Lankāvatāra Sūtra, while Zhou Yan, holding four scrolls, read the Lankāvatāra Sūtra. During this time, he practiced the true scripture, the Yijin Forging Bone Chapter. His current practice was mainly focused on the Tomb Lightness Skill, the White Camel Mountain “Instant Thousand Li” agility technique, and the improvement of his internal force.
Because he had delivered messages to Shaoshi Mountain twice and would escort the Tianzhu Monk to Zhongdu, Zhou Yan resided in the temple. Except for a few places like the Sutra Depository, which he could not enter, no one obstructed him elsewhere.
Zhou Yan’s figure could be seen in the Shaolin Temple’s pagoda forest and the back mountain. Preparations were also being made in the temple, with increased vigilance. The Abbot, Master Ku Cheng, issued a decree that all monks and laity within a five-hundred-li radius were to report to the temple for orders, in anticipation of the Vajra Sect causing trouble.
Outside Shaoshi Mountain, the number of lay disciples had visibly increased.
…
Withered vines, old trees, evening crows; ancient roads, west wind, lean horses.
The man’s demeanor was handsome and refined, his bearing elegant, and his presence divine.
The woman’s long hair cascaded down her shoulders. She wore white robes, and her hair was tied with a golden ribbon, which shone brilliantly in the sunlight. She was incomparably beautiful, as if described in the Rhapsody of the Luo River: ethereal as clouds veiling the moon, graceful as the swirling snow in a flowing wind. Seen from afar, she was as bright as the sun rising in the morning glow. Observed closely, she was as radiant as a lotus emerging from green waves.
Suddenly, a flute melody sounded, clear but not mournful, simple yet elegant, as if adding moving color to the unfinished sunset painting in the sky. As the flute melody flowed, first with emotion, then with sighs, it was layered and three-dimensional, with ups and downs. As it faded into the twilight, the young girl said, “Father, are you missing Mother?”
“Your mother is well. I am thinking of an old friend.”
With such appearances and such a conversation between father and daughter in this world, they were naturally Huang Yaoshi and Huang Rong.
Huang Yaoshi burned and transcribed the Nine Yin Manual at his beloved wife’s tomb on Peach Blossom Island, and his inner demons were resolved. Huo Du held the Heroes’ Banquet, and he and Hong Qigong appeared simultaneously, naturally engaging in drinking and conversation.
After Hong Qigong left Zhongnan Mountain, he learned from Zhou Yan about the Vajra Sect’s southward movement towards Shaoshi Mountain in the Central Plains. They met in Zhongdu, and he told Zhou Yan about this matter, inviting Huang Yaoshi to go to Shaolin Temple together.
Shaolin Temple had been away from the Jianghu for a long time, and Huang Yaoshi also wished to observe Shaolin martial arts, so he gladly accepted the invitation.
Zhou Botong left Peach Blossom Island. Huang Yaoshi was practicing the Nine Yin Manual when he suddenly thought of this matter, so he took Huang Rong and left the island, heading north directly to Zhongdu.
With the Old Urchin gone from the island, Huang Rong felt even more bored.
She overheard Huang Yaoshi talking to himself by Feng Heng’s tomb, mentioning Chongyang’s inscription on Zhongnan Mountain. She then thought of going to Zhongdu and tricking Zhou Yan into exploring it together.
Little did she know that before she could act, Huang Yaoshi was already taking her to Zhongdu to visit Hong Qigong, and then to Shaoshi Mountain. Huang Rong was overjoyed. Once the Vajra Sect monks arrived at Shaolin Temple, Zhou Yan would surely come, and they could just wait there.
The father and daughter left the island by boat, reached Taihu Lake, rested for a few days, and then rode horses all the way north.
Huang Yaoshi thought of Wang Chongyang and played a tune called “Missing Old Friends.” Huang Rong, however, thought her father was missing her mother. Hearing Huang Yaoshi say this, she said, “Father, tell me about it.”
As Huang Yaoshi was about to speak, he suddenly heard the clanging of metal in the twilight.
“Is that Brother Yao?”
The voice approached from afar. Several white camels galloped closer. The person in front was wearing a white robe, with a high nose and deep-set eyes, precisely Ouyang Feng. Beside him, a man riding a white camel had a handsome appearance and a graceful demeanor, naturally Ouyang Ke.
“That annoying rake is here.” Huang Rong saw Ouyang Feng and his nephew, pouted, and her eyes rolled. She said, “Father, I’ll wait for you at Shaoshi Mountain.”
Without waiting for Huang Yaoshi to say anything, Huang Rong spurred her horse and galloped away.
Ouyang Ke had already seen Huang Rong. At first glance, he thought he had met Li Mochou and was amazed by her beauty. Then, it seemed familiar. Upon closer inspection, he suddenly remembered that it was this woman who had fought him at the Heroes’ Banquet in Zhongdu and revealed her identity.
Ouyang Ke hastily adjusted his clothes. Huang Rong had already galloped away within his sight. He felt quite disappointed. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him: this woman was with Huang Yaoshi, could she be the Eastern Heretic’s daughter?
As this thought settled, he became even more certain. He quickly said, “Uncle, that woman sparred with me in Zhongdu. Within ten moves, I didn’t recognize her sect.”
Ouyang Feng had also seen Huang Rong long ago and was equally shocked by her appearance. Hearing Ouyang Ke say this, he knew his intentions and smiled, “Let me ask the Eastern Heretic.”
Ouyang Ke was overjoyed.
White camels and lean horses stood in the sunset. Ouyang Ke quickly bowed: “Nephew greets Uncle Huang.”
“No need for such ceremony.” Huang Yaoshi then turned to Ouyang Feng and said, “Brother Feng, where are you going?”
“Shaoshi Mountain. Where are you, Brother Yao?”
Huang Yaoshi’s heart stirred. He wondered how it could be such a coincidence. Seventh Brother said that people from the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions were going to Shaolin Temple. Could Ouyang Feng’s trip be related to this? If so, waiting at Shaoshi Mountain would be convenient.
He smiled slightly, “I intend to visit Songshan.”
Ouyang Feng laughed heartily, “Brother Yao and I truly have fate, meeting everywhere. Shall we go together?”
“Excellent!”
A horse and a camel walked side by side. Ouyang Feng asked, “That young lady just now…”
“She is my daughter.”
Ouyang Feng clicked his tongue in admiration, “Brother Yao, you truly are something. It’s amazing you could have such a beautiful young lady.”
Huang Yaoshi, hearing Ouyang Feng praise Huang Rong, naturally liked it and said, “She’s just a bit mischievous.”
“Isn’t that better? Little Eastern Heretic.”
Huang Yaoshi smiled slightly.
Ouyang Ke, following behind the two, was already ecstatic.
There was no deep hatred between Peach Blossom Island and White Camel Mountain. If he couldn’t get the woman from the Ancient Tomb, he could still win the heart of Huang Yaoshi’s heavenly beautiful daughter.
What is lost in the east is gained in the west.
Wonderful!
