Fu Shifeng

Chapter 43
The towering peaks are hung with clouds, and the high cliffs are like walls. In the clear autumn of Kongtong Mountain, the vegetation turns yellow.Looking from a distance, it seems that an immortal spread a piece of golden silk and satin among the undulating mountains, with a touch of dark blue blooming on the edge, adding a bit of vivid color to this golden silk and satin.

"It is indeed the most blessed place in Longliang. When you come here, you will naturally be open-minded and open-minded." Su Wangting looked into the distance: "Although I don't know the Fa, I feel that I will benefit greatly by breathing and breathing and practicing internal strength here. "

"That's natural." Mr. Changqing said with a proud look: "Cultivation in Taoism is nothing more than refining qi and preserving spirit. Throughout the ages, qi refining practitioners prefer quiet mountains and forests. It is also convenient to collect ginseng, fruit and sesame, and combine medicines to make alchemy. Kongtong Mountain is the holy place where the emperor asked to seek immortals in ancient times, and the weather is mysterious. My teacher Daguan Daoist also practiced Taoism in Zhonghuangguan back then."

"Sir, Taoism is profound, and if you think about it, Huangguan here is like a cave in a fairy mountain." Su Wangting said.

Cheng Sanwu took a few deep breaths, and asked, "I don't think there's any difference? It's not as good as the Tianchi that was previously occupied by Ankuti."

"In terms of the vastness of the atmosphere, Kongtong Mountain is indeed not as good as Tianshan Mountain. But the Tianchi Lake is where the cardinal of the Tianshan Mountains is located. Thousands of miles of earth energy gather here, and there are black dragons buried in it, which breeds dragon energy. There are very few people in the world who can compare with it. .” Mr. Changqing frowned slightly:
"But everything can't be compared like this. The Western Regions, the Central Plains, Bashu, and Jiangnan have different mountains and rivers, and they cannot be generalized. Moreover, a Taoist sect has been passed down for a long time in a certain place, and it has gradually formed its own pattern with the influence of Qi and the blessing of mana. It is necessary to deliberately go to a distant place to find another blessed place.”

While everyone was talking, they arrived at a small town. Looking to the north, a Taoist temple was built against the mountain. High in the mountains and forests, one could vaguely see the cornices of the buildings.

The Taoist temple at the foot of the mountain is full of incense, and there are many pedestrians in the small town. They must be believers from nearby villages and villages who come to offer incense and pray for blessings.

The influence of Taoism in the Western Regions is shallow, with only a few Taoist temples, which are far less prosperous than Buddhism and Zoroastrianism.But back to the Central Plains, the number of Taoist temples increased visibly with the naked eye.

According to the law in the early years of Daxia, there are only two Taoist temples in each state. If there is no decree to seal them, no additional ones are allowed.

However, as successive emperors believed in Buddhism and Taoism, the number of temples and temples in various states in the world has increased greatly. There are many private constructions by the people.

Mr. Changqing looked at the Taoist temple with brick exterior walls, sparkling green tiles, and flying eaves and arches, which was comparable to a princely mansion, and he knew that it had already violated the regulations.Not to mention that it takes a lot of money to build such a temple, so it is impossible to earn it all by the Taoist priests in the temple doing things and giving water?
But the others didn't seem to care. Afu got out of the carriage and strolled over, with a bit of admiration: "I heard that the Taoists in Zhonghuangguan are good at playing the rhythm of bells and drums. Every time there are religious ceremonies, they parade with bells and drums. Fangyuan, all monsters and ghosts, hearing the sound of bells and drums, must have their livers and gallbladders torn apart, and they will never return from afar."

"Ringing the bell and beating the drum is just a convenient way to show it to the outside." Mr. Changqing said: "The real sound of the bell and drum is not outside the inside, it is the kung fu of knocking the teeth to keep thinking and slightly inward feeling. As the saying goes- ——'Violent people are afraid of the sound of the sky bell, ghosts and gods are afraid of the movement of the sky chime, and dragons and snakes are afraid of the earthquake of the sky drum'. If you practice to the depths of the essence, you will destroy the five mountains by screaming, and the rivers and seas will be wiped out by breathing."

"You're too good at talking." Cheng Sanwu couldn't help retorting: "What about Wuyue Jianghai? If it's really that powerful, why didn't Master Zhou Lian just open his mouth and spray Naang Ti to death?"

Mr. Changqing kept silent, Su Wangting blamed: "Old Cheng, if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. Master Zhou Lian killed many demons in the Western Regions, and he made great achievements. How can you be so offensive?"

Cheng Sanwu was about to explain, but Mr. Changqing lowered his head and said: "The skills are not as good as others, and if you lose, you lose."

After saying this, Mr. Changqing led the carriage and went silently to Zhonghuangguan. Anyone could see that he was depressed, so it was hard to say anything else.

The news of Zhou Lianshi's death has already been sent back to the Zhonghuang Temple. This time, Mr. Changqing helped the spirit back, and the Taoist priests in the temple were well prepared and carried the coffin to the back mountain.

Zhou Lianshi lived in the mountains outside Fangwai, not at home, so the funeral was naturally arranged by Zhonghuang Guan.

According to the good and bad rituals, after the Taoist passed away, fellow practitioners offered incense and chanted scriptures for him, and performed the five-refining method of surviving corpses, hoping to go straight to the Nangong Palace.Then the Taoist's dharma clothes, talisman seals, and scriptures were incinerated together, put into coffins, and buried in a quiet and secret place in the mountains.

Master Zhou Lian entrusted the Twelve Empress Dowagers to Mr. Changqing before his death, and his master Daguan Zhenren was originally from Zhonghuangguan, so it is natural for him to preside over the funeral this time.

Taoist festival burial, there is no tedious and lengthy funeral, and no other laymen are required to pay homage, so Cheng, three or five people wandered around in the Taoist temple in front of the mountain, and enjoyed the autumn scenery in the mountain by the way.

"Miss Afu, do you really intend to let old Cheng enter the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

Walking in the secluded courtyard full of fallen leaves, Su Wangting and Afu started talking alone, but he didn't know where Cheng Sanwu went crazy.

"You don't want to let him go?" Seeing that Su Wangting hesitated to speak, Afu said calmly, "Or are you worried that I will murder him?"

"Don't dare." Su Wangting replied quickly.

"You say you don't dare, but you are full of suspicion." Afu directly pointed it out: "Are you worried that you will not be hired by Prime Minister Lu in the future, so you want to find a future for Cheng Sanwu alone?"

"Yes." Su Wangting is not as unscrupulous as Cheng Sanwu, nor as conceited and talented as Mr. Changqing. He has always been cautious when facing Afu: "Old Cheng has a life case and needs an amnesty from Prime Minister Lu." .”

Afu actually heard the conversation between Su Wangting and Mr. Changqing that night, and already knew about Cheng Sanwu's past, so she deliberately didn't ask, but said: "Human life cases? Cheng Sanwu also killed people in the Western Regions. Don't say anything else Well, just about Wu Maocai, the British Duke may not easily expose it."

"With all due respect, the British government is nothing more than an excuse to force Prime Minister Lu's influence out of the Western Regions. Wu Maocai's life or death, I'm afraid he never really cared." Su Wangting said.

"If a pardon is needed because of a crime, then Lu Xiang is not the only one who can do it." Afu stood still and looked at an ancient cypress.

Su Wangting could tell that Afu had a high status in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and her attitude towards Cheng Sanwu was not as indifferent as others.It's just that Su Wangting himself doesn't trust the Ministry of Internal Affairs very much. This is due to his self-consciousness of being born under Lu Xiang's family, and also his aversion to eunuchs playing power and acting in secret.

Although he has been in the Western Regions for many years, he is not aware of the specific struggles in the court, but now His Majesty's increasing power of the Ministry of Internal Affairs clearly has the intention of checking and balancing the court structure.

Su Wangting was too aware of how dangerous it was, he didn't even dare to get involved in it, let alone a reckless and straightforward person like Lao Cheng?

According to the original idea, Su Wangting planned to ask Prime Minister Lu to let Cheng Sanwu go to the land of Youyan in Hebei to fight with those Hu cavalry who made border disturbances. treacherous.

Most of the old men of the British Duke worked in the Longyou area of ​​the Western Regions, and they couldn't reach the Youyan area.

But if Cheng Sanwu really entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he would be involved in various deep and dangerous conspiracies.As far as Lao Cheng's mind is concerned, I'm afraid he will be manipulated by people like Afu at will. No matter how brilliant his martial arts skills are, he can't stop his schemes!

"The way you treat Cheng Sanwu is like a father and brother taking care of their children. You are not afraid of protecting them too much, but it makes him not know how to take care of himself?" Afu asked.

"Old Cheng, he...is not suitable for the peaceful world." Su Wangting's words were tactful, and he sometimes felt that Cheng Sanwu's recklessness was almost comparable to that of an untamed wild animal, and he would go straight to work as soon as he got his temper.

"Do you think the world is peaceful now?" Afu changed the topic.

Su Wangting suddenly felt a chill down his back and his hair stood on end. He quickly bowed his head and cupped his hands: "Today, the Holy Son of Heaven is governing the world, and there are loyal ministers and good generals as his shoulders, and there are ministers of internal affairs who are in charge of China and foreign countries. If this is not the way of the world, what is the way of the world?"

Afu was not very happy: "Don't you think it's too slippery to say this?"

Su Wangting didn't dare to refute, but just lowered his head, pretending to be slaughtered.

But Afu is not ignorant of good and evil, she is very clear that the person who can influence Cheng Sanwu the most is Su Wangting, considering Cheng Sanwu's great terror hidden in the depths, she should not push her too much.

"Well, let's take a step back." Afu smiled and said, "Let Cheng Sanwu choose by himself. If he is willing to come to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you can't forcefully stop him by relying on past relationships."

"Yes." Su Wangting knew that he could only go so far.

As soon as the two of them finished chatting, they saw Cheng Sanwu trotting all the way from a distance, holding the hem of his clothes, as if he was carrying something.

"Come on, come on, I just saw a pear tree full of big pears." Cheng Sanwu was full of excitement, and stuffed the pears wrapped around his hem into the two people's arms: "I tasted one and found that these big pears The pears are all ripe, and those Taoist priests don’t pick any of them, so I’ll be rude.”

Before Su Wangting could speak, an old Taoist priest rushed out from the corner and shouted, "Pear thief, don't run!"

Cheng Sanwu took a bite of the pear and shook his head at the two: "Run!"

Su Wangting looked down at the pear in his arms, and Cheng Sanwu fled away like a smoke. He was about to cry, but Afu next to him saw this, and immediately covered his mouth and laughed.

……

It was dark at night, and Mr. Changqing was walking alone on the path in the mountains.

Ordinarily, the mountain road at night is inconvenient because you can't see your fingers, but it is not difficult for a young Taoist with magic spells and night vision like day.But at this moment, the tears blurred his vision, making his steps and figures a little dazed.

Just as Mr. Changqing was depressed and tormented, he suddenly heard quick footsteps coming from the fork in the path, and a figure passed by with the wind, holding a wooden bucket full of water in both hands.

"Cheng Sanwu? What are you doing?" Mr. Changqing saw the other party clearly and quickly stopped.

"Who?" Cheng Sanwu stood still and turned around, realizing: "Oh, it's you."

"What are you doing with two wooden barrels?" Mr. Changqing felt that Cheng Sanwu could bring him absurd and bizarre feelings at any time.

"Uh...I'm a little embarrassed." Cheng Sanwu felt ashamed rarely, and dodged.

Seeing him like this, Mr. Changqing couldn't help laughing through his tears, and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes: "Just say what you want."

"I... saw a pear tree full of ripe pears before, and I couldn't hold back all of a sudden, so I picked a few." Cheng Sanwu hesitated: "I never wanted to be smashed by a Taoist priest in the temple. , Lao Su had no choice but to apologize to the person, saying that he was willing to lose money. But the other party refused, saying that it was a pear tree planted by the patriarch, and insisted that I do a year of hard labor for the Taoist temple."

"So you're carrying buckets of water here?" Mr. Changqing laughed loudly: "You foolish man, you actually do such things as stealth! Hahahahaha——"

Cheng Sanwu wept bitterly: "Why don't you just eat a few pears from him? If it's really valuable, at least get a dog to watch it. Just plant it in the backyard like this, and others will pick it as soon as they pass by."

Mr. Changqing laughed hard, and seemed to let go of the grief and depression of his elder's death with a smile. Finally, he let out a long breath and simply sat on the steps of the mountain to rest.

"Where is the pear tree from Zhonghuangguan? You have been cheated!" Mr. Changqing raised his finger.

"Huh? How dare that stinky bastard play tricks on me?" Cheng Sanwu said angrily.

"Why don't you reflect on yourself?" Mr. Changqing laughed and scolded: "When you go to someone else's house as a guest, will you take advantage of it?"

"It's hard to say." Cheng Sanwu put down the bucket.

"Oh my god, Brother Fu has been able to bear with you for ten years. No one has such a heart." Mr. Changqing put his hand on his forehead: "You should be doing hard labor. You have nowhere to vent your energy, so you have to go everywhere. Get into trouble."

Cheng Sanwu said with his hips akimbo: "Oh, are you called 'Brother Fu'?"

Mr. Changqing shook his head and smiled wryly: "The martial arts people in the Central Plains and the knight-errants of the rivers and lakes don't call old Su Lao Su like you. They may even sing and answer when they meet. Those who know a little bit of elegant literature, before they show up to fight with others, they must Read a poem rhyme to express your heart and mind."

Cheng Sanwu was taken aback: "What, what? Singing, drinking and beating?"

"You don't even understand these?" Mr. Changqing couldn't help being curious: "You have a high level of martial arts, and you don't even know this common sense?"

Cheng Sanwu scratched his beard: "I came from a small place, so I don't pay much attention."

"No matter how small the place is, you still have to communicate with people." Mr. Changqing observed the other party carefully: "I never asked in the past, which school did you learn from?"

"I don't have any mastery, I'm just a fool." Cheng Sanwu said: "You just think I'm self-taught."

"Don't want to say it?" Mr. Changqing slapped his thigh and stood up: "Forget it, you just work here slowly."

"Don't!" Cheng Sanwu hurriedly said, "Didn't your master come out from here? You have returned to your hometown, please help me. I don't want to stay here and do hard labor."

A look of triumph appeared on Mr. Changqing's face: "I owe this favor to everyone."

Cheng Sanwu patted his chest: "Okay, if you have any difficulties in the future, come to me! Anyway, we have both passed through the Dadu Hufu side by side, so what is there to be afraid of?"

Mr. Changqing was slightly taken aback, Cheng Sanwu's straightforwardness and boldness made him a little ashamed, the little tricks he played were not worth showing in front of this reckless man.

(End of this chapter)