At that moment, Chai Qingshan and his entourage happened to approach the memorial archway. Standing at the foot of the steps, the old man nodded in greeting, while Qi Xianxia beside him remained composed and dignified.
Compared to Chai Qingshan, a true martial arts grandmaster renowned throughout the court and the martial world, Feng Zongxi and Lu Jiejun—now prominent figures in the jianghu—were considered “rising stars.” At this moment, both respectfully cupped their fists and bowed to the young prince, announcing their names in clear voices.
Xu Fengnian raised a hand slightly and chuckled, “Today, I am merely a pilgrim to Wudang Mountain. There’s no need for formalities.”
Li Dongxi secretly made a funny face.
Xu Fengnian smiled knowingly.
She coughed lightly and blinked at him.
Suppressing his amusement, Xu Fengnian said with mock seriousness, “Allow me to introduce you all. This is Miss Li, renowned for her chivalry and formidable martial prowess. In the jianghu, she is known as…”
He paused briefly, then swiftly turned to glance at her, blinking in return.
Back when they roamed the jianghu together, their favorite pastime had been coming up with grandiose nicknames. Back then, aside from Old Huang, the three fledgling martial artists had rather shallow imaginations—most of the titles they devised were along the lines of Feng Zongxi’s “Divine Fist of the Central Plains.” The more intimidating, the better. The runaway Miss Li had given herself no fewer than twenty nicknames and had lectured Xu Fengnian and the wooden-sword-wielding fellow with an air of authority: “In the martial world, a name might be wrong, but a nickname never is. So, one must be extremely careful when choosing one!”
After reading her lips, Xu Fengnian seamlessly continued, “In the jianghu, she is known as the ‘Transcendent Immortal Maiden,’ for she has mastered blades, swords, spears, and staffs, fusing them into a unique style that could found its own school…”
The girl, forgetting her martial artist’s poise, urgently reminded him, “My lightness skill! Don’t forget to mention my lightness skill!”
Xu Fengnian obediently added, “The Immortal Maiden’s lightness skill is also unparalleled, unrivaled in the martial world.”
Seasoned veterans like Feng Zongxi and Lu Jiejun, sharp-eyed as they were, couldn’t quite grasp what the young prince was playing at. Still, they played along, performing the full set of jianghu courtesies for the young girl.
After returning the formalities with exaggerated solemnity, she was so delighted she couldn’t stop grinning.
Suddenly, she whispered, “Xu Fengnian, do you remember our old promise?”
Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile.
*In life, if you can lie down, never stand.*
*In the jianghu, if you can fly, never walk!*
She unceremoniously patted Xu Fengnian’s shoulder.
Xu Fengnian announced to the crowd, “Apologies, but I must take my leave first.”
Then he crouched down, hoisted her onto his back, and soared into the air like a rainbow rising from the earth.
Upon reaching the summit of the Great Lotus Peak, Xu Fengnian continued carrying her, just as he had when she grew tired in the old days.
Resting her head against his back, she murmured, “Xu Fengnian, you’ve always treated me like a little sister, haven’t you?”
Xu Fengnian hummed in affirmation.
She suddenly laughed. “That’s fine!”
Xu Fengnian turned slightly, feigning distress. “That hurts my feelings.”
She bumped her forehead against his.
Xu Fengnian turned back, smiling.
She tightened her arms around his neck and asked cautiously, “Xu Fengnian, if I take Ben Nanbei away from Beiliang, will you be angry?”
Xu Fengnian shook his head gently. “Of course not. War is no place for a wandering heroine like you or a vegetarian monk like Nanbei.”
She sniffled.
Xu Fengnian consoled her, “I’ll definitely come visit you both for a meal someday.”
She said nothing.
Amidst the mountains and rivers, a young girl’s thoughts surpassed all poetry.
As they neared her home—a hastily built thatched hut—a white-robed monk, who had been sighing on a small stool outside, suddenly stood up upon seeing them. The middle-aged monk, who had been washing his wife’s clothes, abandoned the washboard and strode purposefully toward the hut.
Li Dongxi quickly jumped down and shouted to Xu Fengnian, “Time to scram!”
Without hesitation, Xu Fengnian bolted.
The white-robed monk soon stormed out of the hut, brandishing a kitchen knife, scanning the surroundings with murderous intent.
His aura was no less intimidating than when Deng Tai’a had wielded the Tai’a Sword at the mountain’s base.
In the past, it was said that Cao Changqing’s Heavenly Phenomena realm was the most elegant, Deng Tai’a’s Finger Mystic swordsmanship the most divine, and Li Dangxin of the Two Zen Temples’ Diamond realm—the most invincible!
Li Dangxin’s presence was that of a Buddha, whether lying, sitting, or standing.
In all the world, only two people feared him not: his wife and his daughter.
The girl, being one of them, ignored her father entirely. Hands behind her back, she hummed a tune and strolled leisurely away.
This daughter, who knew not how to spare her father’s heart!
The white-robed monk sighed heavily, put away the knife, and returned to his stool to resume washing.
When the little monk Nanbei returned to the hut, he found his master muttering to himself.
Grabbing a stool, the little monk asked, “Master, are you reciting scriptures?”
“Something like that. Just a particularly difficult one. Every household and temple has its own hard-to-recite scripture.”
“But the old abbot always said scriptures are the easiest things to recite.”
“That’s why he’s the abbot, and you’re just the abbot’s disciple’s disciple.”
“Master, what if I can’t find a disciple in the future?”
“If our temple weren’t sealed off, it’d be simple. On a dark and windy night, we’d grab a sack and snatch a little bald kid. But now, it’s tough.”
“Master…”
“My disciple is far inferior to the old abbot’s disciple.”
“Master, just say I’m not as good as you.”
“That wouldn’t do. What kind of shameless master would say that?”
“Master, today Yu Fu helped some folks with divination and even wrote a letter home for them. They insisted on paying, and no matter how I refused, they stuffed the money into my hands, saying we monks have expenses. I’ll return it to him.”
“Nanbei, having a disciple like you… Master is truly proud.”
“Master, I’ll definitely give this money to Shiniang. Speaking of which, where is she?”
“Your shiniang? She’s sleeping. The world loves sleep, but few grasp its essence. Why else would the ancients say, ‘Of all friendships, sleep is the wisest’? Your shiniang is even more profound than Master.”
“Master… I only know Shiniang’s snoring is… impressive. That Master can sleep through anything is even more impressive.”
“Oh? Stupid Nanbei, you’re improving.”
“Heh.”
Two bald heads, one large and one small, rubbed their scalps almost simultaneously.
The white-robed monk stroked his head, gazing into the distance, and said softly, “Each strand of your shiniang’s hair is a temple in Master’s heart. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes are scriptures I never tire of reading. Her snores are the Buddhist chants I never tire of hearing…”
The little monk gaped, bewildered by his master’s sudden poetic eloquence.
Then, from behind them, Shiniang snorted and teased, “You old fool!”
The little monk glanced back at her retreating figure, then at his serene master, and sighed, “Master…”
Without turning, the white-robed monk lowered his head and resumed washing. “Your shiniang thinks she doesn’t look good with makeup. She just wants to hear me say she’s beautiful. But she doesn’t know—in my eyes, she’s always beautiful. Couldn’t be more beautiful.”
The little monk stammered, “Master… Shiniang’s already gone inside.”
The monk murmured, “How far is affliction from purity? Not far. How far is the marketplace from the Western Paradise? Not far. How far is life from death? Not far. Then how far is Shiniang from Master? Naturally, very close.”
The little monk, still half-understanding, said admiringly, “Master, you truly have wisdom!”
The white-robed monk rapped his stupid disciple’s head. “Nonsense! Since when does a disciple praise his master for having wisdom?”
The little monk looked aggrieved.
Keeping his voice low, the monk asked, “Is she really gone?”
The little monk turned and confirmed in an instant—a move he’d perfected—nodding gravely, “Shiniang even closed the door!”
The monk hummed.
The little monk sighed and moved the wash bucket and board.
The white-robed monk smiled approvingly. “Disciple, you too have wisdom.”
The little monk stayed silent.
The monk folded his hands on his knees, leaned back slightly, and gazed at the sky.
*All the scriptures and teachings of Buddhism, this humble monk has comprehended.*
*All the wonders and beauties of the world, this humble monk has witnessed.*
*Only that face, often thick with rouge, remains eternally captivating.*
The white-robed monk chuckled, rubbing his head.
“Instant enlightenment.”
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