Under the sky

Chapter 159

When the news of Xuanxu's death came, Yu Jien was shocked.But he was not panicked. In fact, for more than a year, the ships on the Han River were flying the Qingcheng flag, the Xiangyang Gang had good relations with the Three Gorges Gang, and they had access to Yangtze River water transportation, and their income was richer than before.

The money he earned did not fall into his pocket. He spent more money than before to please several important people in Wudang. Even those who were unwilling to curry favor with him before have been extraordinarily attentive for more than a year.

He still remembered that more than a year ago, Qingcheng Crown Prince Shen Yuqing came to visit. That night, Xie Gubai came to him alone and suggested that the Xiangyang Gang leave Wudang and merge into Qingcheng, so that the Xiangyang Gang's status in Qingcheng would be like that of the Peng family to the Beggar Gang. , Songshan is to Shaolin, it has become the world's number one water gang that controls the two major water transports of the Yangtze River and Han River.

He believed that Xie Gubai had a bigger plan. Although Xie Gubai didn't say it clearly, he knew that it might be the entire Hubei...

Wudang was completely hopeless. He knew very well that he was just a centipede, dead but not stiff.

He doesn't believe in empty talk either. He also has requirements. At least one of the Shen brothers and sisters must marry into the Xiangyang Gang before he can truly join Qingcheng. It doesn't matter whether Yu Jinglian marries into Qingcheng or his son marries Shen Weichen.

This is the agreement between him and Xie Gubai. Xie Gubai must fulfill it before the Xiangyang Gang can safely join Qingcheng.With this relationship, even if Wudang pursues the case, Qingcheng's fight with Wudang will be more justified by virtue of their in-law relationship.

Is Qingcheng capable of challenging Wudang?Based on the current situation in Wudang, once the Xiangyang Gang is lost, the territory in western Hubei is lost, and the Yangtze River and Han River are cut off, it is still unclear who will win.What's more, Wudang Mountain is no bigger than the Xiangyang Gang. If we send out troops in the morning, we can surround Wudang Mountain before noon.

But this was the last resort. According to his opinion, when the Xiangyang Gang left Wudang and joined Qingcheng, it would be best if they could fight without bloodshed.This is thanks to the current corruption of Wudang. He has taken care of Tongjizi and Huayangzi a lot. This matter needs to be carefully planned and cannot be rushed.

He heard about the Chen Bing border in Huashan. Xie Gubai was indeed capable. He had let the Qingcheng fleet enter the Han River in the name of driving away the river bandits long before the Kunlun Conference.This fleet is holding Huashan down. If the Xiangyang gang is included, Huashan will not dare to move rashly.On the other hand, if Wudang really breaks up with the Xiangyang Gang in the future, Qingcheng will be able to help immediately.

But there was one thing he didn't understand. Yu Jien remembered that night, Xie Gubai gave him a thunderbolt and asked him to set fire to Butian Tower.He was the leader of the Xiangyang Gang, and many people in Zhenwu Temple recognized him. He just pretended to be taking a walk, and went to Butian Tower without telling the patrol. The guard had been knocked unconscious. He threw a thunderbolt on the second floor and left quickly.

Why does Xie Gubai have to deal with Ming Wuxiang and Yang Yan?He couldn't figure it out, but he didn't ask.Maybe it was a personal grudge, but he didn't interfere anyway.

Xuanxu's body returned to Wudang, where everyone mourned.Although the old Taoist is incompetent in governance, it is true that he is easy-going. Besides, Wudang's incurable illness did not start with his generation. This staleness has long been rotten into the bone marrow. No matter how difficult it is to cure, it can be seen from the selection of the next leader. Clues.

Xuanxu had already established an heir, and he hid it in the mechanism behind the forehead of the statue of Emperor Xuanwu in the North Pole Hall.Although it was kept secret, Yu Jien bribed many disciples around Xuanxu and found some clues from Xuanxu's mouth.

He looked at the machine in front of him and slowly put down his tea cup.

"These past few days, we have been organizing the funeral of Head Xuanxu, so Taoist Priest has been busy." Yu Jien waved, and the servant brought a mahogany box to him, "A little gift to comfort Taoist Priest for his hardships. I sent someone to buy it from Yunnan."

Tong Jizi opened the wooden box and saw an agate as red as blood, and his eyes lit up.

"One more thing." Yu Jien said, "I think the Taoist Master's alchemy furnace is worn out, so I specially hired a skilled craftsman to recast the alchemy furnace for the Taoist Master. I hope the Taoist Master will not refuse."

Tong Jizi hurriedly said: "How can this be so embarrassing?" Then he thought about it and asked, "Is there anything you can do for me, Gang Leader Yu?"

He is the master of the Yuyu Palace, in charge of human affairs and internal and external affairs. Although he is addicted to alchemy, he is not ignorant of the ways of the world, so he can't help but be suspicious.

Yu Jien smiled and said: "No. I just feel that the Taoist priest is busy with political affairs and has delayed his practice with some worldly affairs, which makes me feel sad."

"I guess you want to know who the next leader is." Tong Jizi raised a cup of tea and said with a smile, "The leader keeps secrets very closely. According to me, it should be Senior Brother Yangtai."

"Maybe it's you, Taoist Master Tongji." Yu Jien said with a smile.

"No!" Tong Jizi waved his hand quickly, "As you said, Yu Yudian is too busy with political affairs, so you still want to be the head? Won't the alchemy furnace you gave me become useless?"

"The former head of Lian Taishang's Seventh Level Pill of Return to Heaven did not delay political affairs." Yu Jien said with a smile, "Those who can do more work."

"Whether it's me or Senior Brother Yangtai, we can tell the difference by taking down the Golden Book and Alchemy Deed on the day when the leader is buried." Tongjizi paused for a moment, put down the teacup in his hand and said, "It's okay if it's not Senior Brother Xingzhou."

"That's not true." Yu Jien said with a smile, "The master didn't like the master of Dachi Palace before he was alive."

After seeing a ghost, Yu Jien thought to himself that Xing Zhouzi was vigorous and resolute and was one of the few pragmatists in Wudang. However, Xuanxu said that he was "busy worrying about gains and losses too much" and said that he was "difficult to let go of worldly affairs and was not in line with the Xian family's way of maintaining health."Before the Kunlun meeting, Xing Zhouzi ordered the shipbuilding and mobilization of men and horses. Perhaps he smelled something was wrong, but was blocked by Xuanxu.

Treat hometown wishes as generosity and incompetence as inaction.When Wudang reaches this state, even if the founder is resurrected and Zhang Tianshi comes again, he can only cry out in vain.

"Anyway, we will know tomorrow." Tong Jizi said, "The North Pole Palace has opened a golden book. Will Gang Leader Yu come here?"

"Of course. The Xiangyang Gang belongs to Wudang, so I should go and visit the new leader." Yu Jien said with his hands in hand, almost treating Tong Jizi as the leader.He continued: "Besides, I still have something to inform the new leader."

Tongjizi asked curiously: "What's the matter?"

"Last year, the Xiangyang Gang's ships were repeatedly robbed in the Han River. Huashan just offended Qingcheng. Qingcheng sent people to sweep the Han River. The Xiangyang Gang took the opportunity to borrow a flag from Qingcheng. The Palace Master should know about this."

Tong Jizi nodded and said: "I know that. With the Qingcheng flag, firstly, there is no need to send people for protection, and the Qingcheng fleet can protect it, which saves money and effort. Secondly, the ship bandits rape women, Qingcheng division is well-known, and Huashan has a reputation It’s hard to say that Wudang doesn’t need to get involved, they can just work on their own.”

"Thanks to Qingcheng's help, the river is now calm. Qingcheng's fleet has returned to the vicinity of Xiangyang Gang and has not been disbanded for a while." Yu Jien said, "Recently, there seems to be something going on at the Chen Bing border in Huashan. I am thinking of letting this fleet be delayed for a few more days. , firstly, by blocking Huashan, it can keep the Han River flowing smoothly; secondly, if there is really something wrong with Huashan, this fleet can also guard the gates of Hubei, killing two birds with one stone, which is beneficial to Wudang."

"I said you had ulterior motives for this gift." Tong Jizi chuckled, "But you are right. Ji Shaoguang is a Qingcheng general. He can guard the waterway for us without us spending any money. It is very beneficial and harmless. , but this matter still needs to be decided by the new head.”

"No matter who is the leader, I would like to ask the palace master to say a few kind words in front of the master." Yu Jien handed over his hand again, "Thank you, palace master."

Tong Jizi just smiled and said: "Of course, of course."

■

Early the next morning, Yu Jien rushed to Wudang.Xuanxu's corpse has been buried. Sansidian Tongjizi, Yang Taizi, Xing Zhouzi and other Wudang elders lined up in four rows in the hall. Sansidian took the lead and burned incense and kowtowed three times to the statue of Emperor Xuanwu.Yu Jien is the leader of the Xiangyang clan. He is at the end of the procession. This is because he has enough status, otherwise he would have to stand with the three thousand disciples outside the hall.

After burning incense and praying, the three masters of Xingzhou, Yangtai, and Tongji simultaneously jumped up and jumped to the top of the statue of Emperor Zhenwu. A red lacquered wooden box that is one foot long and more than one foot long.The three of them fell down again. Yang Taizi held the wooden box in both hands and took a step forward. A tall and thin old man walked out of the team. It was Gao Pingzi. In terms of seniority, he was also Master Xuanxu. He was the most virtuous among the people present. If the person is a bad person, he will read the order from the head personally.

Gao Pingzi opened the red lacquer wooden box and respectfully took out the book inside.It was an open-page book about the size of two palms, wrapped in a gold-lacquered hardwood cover and as thick as a knuckle.

Yang Taizi, Tong Jizi, and Xing Zhouzi stepped aside and bowed their heads to listen respectfully to the instruction.

"'The red dust and the white waves are boundless. Patience and gentleness are the best tips. You can extend the years wherever you go, and spend your time peacefully throughout your life.' Although this sentence comes from a paraphrase, it does not coincide with our generation's way of cultivating one's health and living in the world. It should be noted that a person's life will last for hundreds of years. If there is liberation and a lifetime of honor and disgrace, how can we fight day and night..." Gao Pingzi recited Xuanxu's edict, and this was only the first page. Considering the thickness of this edict, he might not be able to read it for even half an hour?

Even if Master Xuanxu passes away, he is still very stubborn.

Yu Jien listened. Most of the first half of the paragraph was about Xuanxu's advice on how to live in the world and teach his disciples to practice diligently. Only in the second half did he mention Wudang's grand ambition to establish a place in the world, not to compete with others, but to provide a pure land for monks in the world. To create a fairyland on earth, I hope that fellow practitioners will work hard and have the spirit of compassion that "there are thousands of fairy mountains to shelter all the practitioners in the world."

"Now that I may have passed away as an immortal, or traveled far away, or died in the middle of the journey, or something has happened and I am no longer able to take care of my affairs, I order the position of Wudang Sect Leader to be passed on to..."

Having said this, Gao Pingzi's eyes widened and he was speechless for a moment.

what happened?Yu Jien was puzzled, and everyone looked up at the old Taoist.

As if realizing that he had lost his composure, Gao Pingzi blushed, and then said slowly: "The position of the leader of the order will be passed on to Xing Zhouzi, the master of Dachi Palace."

Everyone was shocked. Yang Taizi and Tong Jizi looked at each other, everyone whispered to each other, and whispers echoed in the hall.It is truly unbelievable that Taoist Master Xuanxu, who has been practicing immortality and health care all his life and is addicted to alchemy, will finally pass the mastership to Xing Zhouzi...

It wasn't until Gao Pingzi coughed lightly that the noisy and restless atmosphere calmed down.Xing Zhouzi's expression remained unchanged, he walked up to Gao Pingzi, knelt on his knees, and greeted him respectfully with both hands: "Disciple of Wudang, Master of Dachi Hall, my Taoist name is Xing Zhouzi, following the orders of my former master, I will lead Wudang and work conscientiously from now on. If we do not go against the teachings of our ancestor Sanfeng Zhenren and live up to the achievements of previous leaders, we will surely make Wudang strong and prosperous and the people live in peace."

Yu Jien knew that his face looked ugly.He spent a lot of silver on Tong Jizi and almost threw it into the Han River with a bang.What's even more troublesome is that Xing Zhouzi is one of the few people in the martial arts that he can't control. This person is not only pragmatic, but also tough-minded, and he begins to feel uneasy.

The new leader did not give any political orders, but only asked everyone to go back individually.Yu Jien was about to leave, but Xing Zhouzi ordered him to stay and wait in the master's study.

Yu Jien's heart suddenly crossed and he followed the instructions and came to the master's study.This place used to be Xuanxu's office. The bookshelves are full of books on alchemy, nourishing energy and cultivating immortality. Many valuables were given by Yu Jien, including the jade sculpture of Lu Dongbin on the desk and the golden incense burner with relief Tao Te Ching.

Yu Jien waited for a while. First, eight Taoist priests entered the study, took down the alchemy scriptures from the bookshelf in order, and threw them all into a sack. Then Xing Zhouzi came in.

"See the leader." Yu Jien saluted respectfully.

"What things in this room were given to you by you?" Xing Zhouzi asked.

"They are all gifts to the former leader." Yu Jien said respectfully, "They are gifts from me personally and have nothing to do with official business."

"I don't need it," Xing Zhouzi said, "take it away together and see if you want to transfer it to the treasury or donate it to the treasury. Wudang's inner treasury is empty and it is in need of silver."

"Then just give it to the warehouse. I'll ask someone to appraise it and buy it for silver." Yu Jien replied.He thought to himself, how could he be the leader?This was impossible. He knew very well that what was written in the Golden Book and Dan Deed was clearly Tongjizi.

Xing Zhouzi sat down behind the desk and said, "Then please go to Gang Leader Yu and try your best to sell it for a good price. Gang Leader Yu, please take a seat."

Yu Jien sat at the crescent table. After the eight disciples finished sorting the books and left one after another, Xing Zhouzi said, "I heard that Qingcheng's fleet is still on the Han River?"

"Yes. Qingcheng used to clean up the ship bandits, but now he stays in Wudang to resist Huashan..." "What happened to Huashan?" Xing Zhouzi asked.

"The Chen Bing border in Huashan seems to be intending to invade Qingcheng." Yu Jien said, "They are not convinced by Kunlun's consensus."

"Is that related to Wudang?" Xing Zhouzi asked, "Wudang has its own border defense."

"Qingcheng is assisting in the defense because the two factions are on good terms." Yu Jien said, "Letting them defend Wudang will also reduce military expenses. The leader also said that the internal treasury is empty."

"The Han River is at the foot of Wudang Mountain!" Xing Zhouzi raised his voice, "You let these people stop in front of your house?"

Yu Jien did not dare to reply.

"The border defense commander will make arrangements. Gang Leader Yu, from now on, all warship movements of the Xiangyang Gang must be reported to this commander and follow my instructions. Within three months, no Qingcheng fleet is allowed in Wudang. From now on, the Xiangyang Gang will also Don’t fly the Qingcheng flag anymore.”

Yu Jien went home with the order, went into the angry room, picked up the gold cup and silver bowl and smashed them, picked up the silver stick and beat the cloth-wrapped dummy. Not satisfied with this, he wrote a note signed by Xing Zhouzi. , with Xing Zhouzi’s birthday and horoscopes on the back, pasted on the dummy’s face, and was beaten again.

He sent someone to privately invite Xuanxu's follower, Taoist Jingsizi, and asked him what was going on.A few days later, Jing Sizi came to the Xiangyang Gang, also looking in disbelief.

"The former head of Xuanxu really wrote the name of Uncle Tongji." Jing Sizi was helpless. He had just been expelled from Wudang and became an ordinary garrison disciple. "I saw it with my own eyes, and I can't be wrong."

Could it be that the Golden Book and Danqi were exchanged?This is too unbelievable, not to mention how the handwriting was hidden from everyone, Xing Zhouzi stood upright, and his temper would not make him unpopular with Xuanxu. He was not someone who would do such a thing.

This is how the same thing?

■

"The disciple is leaving." Ming said uncertainly.

Xing Zhouzi recognized him. It was this young man who rescued Yang Yan from Butian Tower that night. He did not expect that the second time he saw him would be shortly after the news of the leader's death came.

That day, he did not stay at the blessed place behind Wudang—that was the residence of Wudang dignitaries.After Xuanxu's death, almost everyone thought that Tong Jizi or Yang Taizi would take over as the leader.

Xing Zhouzi didn't like these two people, nor did he like most people in Wudang.No, it should be said on the other hand, everyone dislikes Xing Zhouzi.He is strict and upright, and seems too strict among the muddle-through martial arts.

When he returned home, this handsome young man came to visit him and told him about Yang Yan.At the Kunlun Palace, Li Jingfeng, Yang Yan and Ming Wu worked together to rescue the heads of the nine families, but in the end they failed to take revenge. Li Jingfeng jumped off the cliff and Yang Yan disappeared.

It shouldn't be like this.Even if Yang Yan's revenge was against the rules, it shouldn't have ended like this.Wudang owed him, Wudang owed three generations of the Yang family, but a good man who killed an adulterer in a righteous way did not get a good death!

Xing Zhouzi's face remained calm, but his heart was churning.

"Why do you come here to tell me this?" Xing Zhouzi asked.

"I'm looking for Brother Yang, and I want to ask Master Xingzhou if he has heard about Brother Yang's whereabouts, and also want to thank him." Ming said unknownly, "Uncle Master saved us that day, but he never thanked him properly."

"I can't be saved," Xing Zhouzi said. "Yang Yan is missing. I'm afraid he has been poisoned by Huashan."

"Only Master Xingzhou in the entire Wudang is willing to lend a helping hand. None of the other Masters can help." Ming Ming sighed, "There will never be a figure like Yang Jingyao in Wudang in the future."

Xing Zhouzi felt that his chest was hit by a strong force, and he was holding back his breath and could not release it.

Will there be a man like Yang Jingyao in Wudang in the future?Even if there is, can Wudang be saved?More than fifty years ago, Yang Jingyao died in Huashan. He was a heroic hero, but Wudang failed to save him.Wudang more than fifty years later is even worse than it was more than fifty years ago.Who wants to be a righteous man in Wudang? There is a precedent set by Yang Jingyao, that is, his whole family was wiped out and he died without a burial place.

"Will Master Xingzhou take over as the next leader?" Ming asked unknown.

Xing Zhouzi shook his head, Xuanxu would not pass the headship on to him.Xuanxu is a good person, and he wants to be the successor who is "a weakling born with light in his heart", allowing Wudang to continue to fall.

He saw the sadness in Ming Wuxiang's eyes.

"What, am I letting you down?" Xing Zhouzi said with a smile, "I'm not suitable to be the leader."

"Head Xuanxu has his own reasons. The current Wudang..." Ming Wuxi stopped before he could speak, and bowed to apologize, "This disciple has overstepped his bounds."

"Just say whatever comes to mind." Xing Zhouzi doesn't like people hiding things, especially when he's mid-sentence.

Ming Wuxi quickly explained that this was not nice to say. He was from Shaolin and he really shouldn't be dictating other sects.Xing Zhouzi just wanted him to speak frankly, and then he said, "I think Wudang is very similar to Shaolin."

Xing Zhouzi said "oh".Indeed, Shaolin is trapped in the dispute between the secular and the secular, but Wudang is busy cultivating immortality.

"But Wudang's predicament is worse than that of Shaolin." Ming said unceremoniously, "If we want to reform now, it will strain our muscles and bones, and greatly damage our vitality. If we fail, it will only lead to further decline."

Xing Zhouzi couldn't help but admire this young man even more for having such insight.Today's Wudang is in serious trouble and it is difficult to save it. If we want to make drastic reforms, it will definitely break our muscles and bones, and may lead to even faster destruction.

He understood, but he still lamented that this huge Wudang was once glorious and prosperous a hundred years ago. It was once the two major sects competing with Shaolin, but now it is like a candle in the wind, crumbling.

Xing Zhouzi sighed and said: "There is a certain destiny in the world, and ordinary people can't touch it."

"Master Xingzhou is really a cultivator." Ming said vaguely, "I often heard this when I was in the martial arts."

These words made Xing Zhouzi very unhappy, as it seemed to imply that he was colluding with most people in Wudang, and in the end he was resigned to depravity.He looked at Ming unknown, but could not see any sarcasm.

"The world is like this, just like Brother Jingfeng, what can one person do, but a mantis' arms can block the car." Ming said unclearly, "But the disciple still admires him for daring to express his hatred against the Nine Families."

"This is against the law and discipline." Xing Zhouzi said.

"Brother Jingfeng also knew. He knew it was illegal, but he still did it." Ming said vaguely, "This is what my disciple admires most about him. He knew it was wrong, but he made mistakes for what he felt was right."

The courage to die in peace and live in silence?
"The position of leader is not mine." Xing Zhouzi said, "I have more ambition but not enough strength."

"First you have to be determined, and then you try your best." Ming said unknownly, "Uncle Xingzhou has already tried his best."

Did I try my best?Xing Zhouzi asked himself, or...

A seriously ill person, knowing that he is about to die, should he cling to his last breath, or should he risk his life and give it a try?
"I heard that when the Wudang leader passes the throne, the Golden Book of Alchemy will be placed on the statue of Emperor Xuanwu in the North Pole Hall. Before the Golden Book is opened, no one knows who will succeed the leader. Maybe there will be an accident in the end." Ming unknown. He said, "If that day comes, I will first congratulate Master Xingzhou."

Ming said goodbye without knowing it and left. When Xing Zhouzi saw him approaching the door, he suddenly called him: "Master Ming's nephew."

Ming Ming stopped and turned around with a puzzled expression.

Xing Zhouzi hesitated for a while and asked, "Do you think Wudang can still be saved?"

Ming unknown smiled slightly.

It is too easy for Xing Zhouzi to succeed. He is the master of Dachi Palace and is in charge of all the criminal soldiers. He is responsible for the entire Wudang defense. He doesn't even need to find too many confidants to accomplish this. What's more, an unknown person is enough to defeat him. He has ten confidants.

Unknown Ming can imitate handwriting almost perfectly, no, it's perfect.Even if Xuanxu came to see the handwriting in person, he would not be able to deny it. Every stroke and every stroke was Xuanxu's handwriting.

After he put the Golden Book and Danqi back on Emperor Zhenwu's crown, he turned around and knelt down to worship Emperor Zhenwu.

If Wudang cannot be revived, it will only perish.

"You can stay a few more days." Xing Zhouzi said, "I will help you find out the whereabouts of Yang Yan."

Ming shook his head uncertainly: "If the leader finds Brother Yang, all he needs to do is protect him. I'm afraid Huashan will pursue him again."

"No matter how bad Wudang is, he can always protect his family from extinction." Xing Zhouzi said, "Don't worry."

Although it was unclear, he still declined and drifted away.

Not long after Ming Wuxi left, news came that Qingcheng had changed its owner and Dian Cang invaded Hengshan, and the 90-year peace finally came to an end.Xing Zhouzi knew that this war was just the beginning. He wanted to reform Wudang and deal with foreign enemies at the same time.

He needs to think hard about how to deal with future changes.

(End of this chapter)