Under the sky

Chapter 287 Volume [-] "The Brightness Before the Buddha" All Living Beings
Kunlun August Autumn 90

The assassination attempt on Peng Qianqi failed, and Cao Qiyan immediately informed Peng Naner about Xuanqing's hiding place.This was a way to survive in danger. No one was sure whether Peng Naner would kill the donkey and execute him.

He said to Peng Naner: "Young master is brave and must be surrounded by wise men and women. Shi Ting has received the grace of immortality and is willing to do the hard work of dogs and horses."

Peng Naner gave him a stern look and accepted him as an aide without holding him accountable for his complicity.Cao Qiyan ordered the arrest of Yu Xuanqing's relatives, and falsely accused him of being an accomplice. He personally supervised and executed them.

Being so cruel and ruthless, in addition to showing his loyalty, Cao Qiyan also had an indescribable hatred for Xuan Qing. He not only lamented his weakness, but also hated his self-proclaimed innocence.

If it hadn't been for Yu's pedantry that day, which led to the failure, how could he have been accused of being ungrateful and disloyal in order to save his life?He remembered what Ming Wuxiang said: The rock is not the habitat of the phoenix. One day it will spread its wings and fly high, and the future is limitless.It was these words that reminded me that if I wanted to fly up the branch, Yu Xuanqing was that stinking stone and I had to kick it away.

After giving up the old employer, it is time to find out what the new employer wants.When Peng Qianqi was rescued, he only had one breath left. His left arm was broken and he had dozens of sword wounds on his body. Everyone knew that if he left it alone, he would die in a short time.This is a good thing for the Peng family, the people of Jiangxi, and even the entire Beggar Clan, and of course it is even better for Peng Naner.Cao Qiyan asked tentatively: "The boss is seriously injured, the eldest son has been missing for a long time, and no one has taken on the important responsibilities. Government affairs in Jiangxi cannot be neglected for a day. The second son should be in charge of internal and external secrets, just in case."

The words were spoken in a reserved manner, but the undertones were loud and clear. I don't know if Mr. Peng could understand it.He took the risk to speak out in order to secure his life. After all, he entered the official position as a traitor and was rarely trusted. If Peng Naner listened to his advice, he would have the merit of following the dragon.

Peng Nan'er only replied: "Find a good doctor and save the chief helmsman at any cost."

Cao Qiyan was taken aback and couldn't figure out whether Peng Nan'er was just pretending to be a fool or if he really wanted to save him. Until Peng Nan'er said again: "If the chief rudder is not alive, the doctor and you will die together." Cao Qiyan then went to look for it. Good doctor.

At that time, it was only said that Peng Naner was still concerned about the relationship between father and son, and was worried about causing trouble by making false statements. But after he inquired more about it, he felt strange again.Not to mention anything else, Peng Naner never visited Peng Qianqi when he was seriously injured and comatose. He only asked the doctor: "Can he survive?" So Cao Qiyan asked the talkative, frivolous and impetuous Peng Nansan.

Peng Nansan is a idiot. Although he is not as ruthless and brutal as Peng Qianqi, he is also a drunkard and a womanizer.He had the best relationship with Peng Nansi, but Peng Nansi died at the hands of the third master. He didn't dare to fart. It is said that he was secretly sad for a few months before the sky cleared.Like most of his brothers, he fears his father like a tiger, but he is also the most sympathetic to his father. This is why Peng Qianqi took him and Peng Nansi with him when he wiped out the Peng family.

"We brothers were all raised by our grandfather and uncle." Peng Nansan took a few sips of wine and said, "When I saw my father when I was a child, I wouldn't say anything except say hello, and I would avoid him if I could."

Peng Nansan thought for a while and said: "We used to live in the same wing as dad in Peng's house. But then, I don't know what happened. My second brother was seriously injured by dad. He raised him for almost a year, so we moved to the other wing. , We rarely even see each other on weekdays."

Where did Pennanda go?This is also a mystery of the Peng family. Cao Qiyan tried to ask, and Peng Nansan said: "The eldest brother is very kind to us brothers. He is polite and polite, and he is good at kung fu. When he was 20 years old, his grandfather arranged a marriage for him. After getting married, I moved out, but within half a year my sister-in-law died. My eldest brother suddenly disappeared and I couldn’t find him. I’m old and can still remember some past events, but the fifth child was still young at the time, so I’m afraid I won’t remember too much.”

"But this matter has nothing to do with my father." Peng Nansan seemed to know that others would definitely misunderstand, and explained, "At that time, my father was under house arrest and could not get out. My eldest brother moved out after getting married, and I have never seen him. Sister-in-law." He sighed again, "He is also the only one among our brothers who has ever married a wife, and the others are so envious of him."

Despite this, Peng Nansan still had several forced concubines.Perhaps as rumored, Peng Nan was so ashamed of his surname that he left the Peng family. This may be evident in Peng Nanwu.

Peng Nan Wu is a mediocre person. Although he is mediocre, he is easy to get along with. He neither treats his subordinates harshly nor puts on airs. He is not like Peng Nan Sanhui who forcibly marries concubines. He only goes to Qunfang House at most and never mentions family affairs on weekdays.Cao Qiyan knew that this man was not good at anything. He would be content with the Peng family's remaining wealth and wealth for the rest of his life, and he could leave the rest alone.

Going back to Peng Naner, Cao Qiyan was still undecided about this new boss.Peng Nan was a man of few words, shrewd and capable, strict in running the army, and clear in rewards and punishments. He always had a stern face that was almost pale.After Peng Qianqi was seriously injured, he took charge of Jiangxi affairs in an orderly manner and showed his extraordinary talents.He didn't even go to Qunfang Tower, but if you thought he was a gentle person, you would be wrong. He didn't even bat an eyelid when he killed everyone in his family.He used harsh punishments, and anyone who made a mistake would be severely punished. For such a ruthless person, since he was not a loving father and a filial son, why did Peng Naner have to save the stinky wolf?
There was another thing that Cao Qiyan couldn't keep away from, and that was that the Xu Gang was mainly attacking Hengshan and leading troops to Changsha. Jiangxi had to ensure grain routes, and it fell to the Peng family to supervise the grain and grass management.Peng Naner left the matter to him. Cao Qiyan was about to make a contribution and did not dare to neglect, so he was not in a hurry to clear up the doubts.

Less than ten days after Peng Qianqi was assassinated, Peng Zhenwen came to Fuzhou from the Peng family and took charge of Jiangxi in person. This was the first time that Cao Qiyan met the second-largest figure in the Peng family.

As the name suggests, Peng Zhen Literati is different from other disciples of the Peng family who emphasize martial arts over literature. They dress like scholars, wearing a light blue Sichuan brocade robe, with wide ears, mottled white hair, restrained and calm.He is nearly sixty years old, about the same age as Peng Qianqi, but he is Peng Qianqi's uncle in terms of generation.In fact, Peng Qianqi has no ability to manage the sect. Almost all affairs of the Peng family are under his control. It is said that after the death of the previous head, even the secret books and formulas of the Seven Forms of Fuhu were taken over by him. This shows that the former head relied heavily on him. deep.

On the second day after Peng Zhenwen came to Jiangxi, Cao Qiyan was preparing for grain and fodder. In the evening, he came to Jiangxi General Helms and planned to give the accounts to Peng Nan for a second look so that the grain truck could take the order.Cao Qiyan showed his token and the guard said that the acting general helmsman was discussing important matters with the acting headmaster and ordered him to wait in the study.

He was thinking to himself in the study when he suddenly heard someone speaking on the corridor outside the window.The argument was a bit loud. Cao Qiyan pricked up his ears and walked to the door. He only heard a deep voice that seemed to be Peng Zhenwen said: "You can become the leader."

Then a shrill voice said: "Do you still want to wait for the eldest brother to come back? If he doesn't come back, will the third or fifth child be the leader? Isn't it enough to produce a generation of waste in the Peng family?"

This voice belongs to Peng Naner.Cao Qiyan was confused. Although the Peng family had the habit of passing down the eldest son, there were no rules. As long as he was directly passed down, he could inherit. Peng Nan Er was far more skillful than his two younger brothers, but Peng Zhenwen didn't seem to think so?

"Brother You is still here. Let's wait until we find your eldest brother."

"I am also the legitimate son!" Peng Naner could be heard suppressing his anger, "I can also inherit the Peng family!"

"You can't." Peng Zhenwen replied decisively, and then there was silence.

"So you are not willing to let him die?" Peng Zhenwen suddenly asked.

"He also has to taste the suffering I suffered!" Peng Naner replied.

"I don't know who I am torturing." Peng Zhenwen said with ridicule.

Cao Qiyan listened to the approaching voice and slowly exited the door.Soon after, Peng Naner and Peng Zhenwen came to the study. Cao Qiyan stood guard outside the door and handed the account to Peng Naner respectfully. He caught a glimpse of Peng Zhenwen standing next to Peng Naner.

The Peng family still has some secrets, maybe that will be his way to promotion.

"Are there any clues about the murderer who plotted to assassinate the chief helmsman?" Peng Zhenwen asked seemingly casually.He still didn't know his relationship with Yu Xuanqing, so Cao Qiyan respectfully replied: "There are still two people at large who have been wanted."

"What's your name?" Peng Zhenwen asked.

"One is named Li Jingfeng. His origin is unknown. He has assassinated many important people. He has a reward of 600 taels. The other is named Ming unknown. He is a Shaolin disciple and has a reward of 400 taels."

Peng Zhenwen raised his eyebrows. He had heard the name Li Jingfeng before, but who was it?

■

Although she had heard the news early, Xiao Qinggu did not expect that Shaolin would become like this. It was only when she stepped into Shanxi that she realized how absurd the situation was.In temples everywhere, you can see monks who are still bald and wearing casual clothes preparing to return to secular life... Maybe it is not right to call them monks now, because they have all returned to secular life.

Although they have returned to secular life, they are still conducting affairs in the temple. Some lay disciples simply changed into casual clothes. All of them were well-dressed and wore bald heads that had not had time to grow hair to receive donors and guests in the temple.He heard that some temples with lay monks as abbots had begun raising chickens and ducks in their backyards to recruit new cooks so that they could provide meat dishes to the lay disciples stationed in the temple.

A brothel opened and lay disciples filled the temple. Xiao Qinggu suddenly remembered what Master Jue Ru often said was inappropriate.He used to think that his master was too prejudiced and too obsessed, but now he felt that what his master said made some sense. Such a temple was really unseemly. If he allowed it to continue, he would be afraid that these lay disciples would have children in the temple.

He really didn't know how angry the master would be.

Jueru was already furious. For two whole hours, he pointed at the sky and cursed the earth, starting from the abbot Juejian, Woli Daojueguan, and the three monks of Wenshu Monastery all the way to Mantou's certification.The scolding once was not enough, so I started scolding Abbot Juejian all the way back to Juejian, saying that he misunderstood Juejian. He originally thought that Juejian and Juekong had always been at odds, and they should be able to protect the righteous Dharma, but they didn't expect to sink to this point and end up with Juekong. Become a bird of prey.

Xiao Qinggu saw another thing.

"In the past six months, I have found that the abbot is very popular among the public." Xiao Qinggu said, "Nowadays, lay monks are grateful to the abbot, and their momentum is as strong as ever. Perhaps the dispute between the orthodox and the secular can really be ended."

"Without the rectification of the Dharma, what's the use of gaining the public's hope? The public's hope is only temporary, the Dharma is like a lamp that will never be extinguished. What is happening now is that Bo Xun's disciples are destroying Buddhas with Buddhas!" Speaking of Bo Xun's disciples, Xiao Qinggu's heart skipped a beat. .He was always wary of these four words, and whenever he mentioned these four words, he would think of that person.

He always felt that Abbot Juejian's change was not simple, especially after learning that Ming Wuxi had visited Juejian.Last time he asked his master to call all the senior brothers to come to Shanxi, but now he thought it was wrong to do so. He should leave a few senior brothers in Shaolin to inquire about the news, so he asked: "Have all the senior brothers come to Shanxi?"

"Didn't you ask me to call you?" Jueru asked.

"Master, does he still have an informant in Shaolin? I would like to know some news."

"Are you stupid to be a master?" Jue Ru said, "I have been in Zhengyu Hall for so many years, and I always have a few confidants."

Xiao Qinggu felt relieved and asked again: "Has master met Abbot Juejian?"

"Before I left, Juejian sent me a decree, saying that the war was about to begin, and that I should be stationed in Shanxi and not leave without authorization. It was clear that he wanted to trap me here and not let me go back!"

Jueru was thirsty due to the scolding, so he took the teapot from the table and drank it. Xiao Qing knew that he was very angry and advised: "Master, be more dignified."

"If the Buddha doesn't become a Buddha, how can he be solemn?" Jueru slammed the teapot onto the table, making a loud "Bang!"He took a breath and asked: "You just came here in April, why are you here now? What news do you want to find out for Songshan? I heard that you transported a batch of silver to Huashan via Gufendi, and you also wrote a letter saying that Songshan refused to accept the Kunlun consensus. , what is your identity, why would you not accept your turn?"

"Master, calm down," Xiao Qing said, "Disciple, I have something to inquire about. I heard that Shaolin is allocating food, grass, soldiers and horses, and will send [-] disciples to assist Hengshan?"

"There is such a thing. Juekong said that it is a thousand miles away from Henan to Hunan. The grain road needs to be smooth, and it has to pass through the Wudang boundary. It needs to say hello to the boat leader. Look, even the Qingcheng fleet was driven out. It is not so easy for the leader of the boat to open the door to convenience. This will take some time. I think he is planning to delay and wait and see what happens. However, the abbot asked him to first mobilize the disciples stationed in Zhengzhou to set off as soon as possible. It is estimated that only these two It’s about the moon.”

"You said it was the Chief Juekong who delayed?" Xiao Qing was surprised, "I thought he persuaded the abbot to rescue Hengshan."

"It was Abbot Juejian's idea, but Juekong was against it."

Xiao Qinggu was puzzled: "Didn't you say that Chief Juekong had a close personal relationship with Master Li? Why..." He pondered, feeling that Juekong might have other plans, but was disturbed by Juekong.

"You're just here to inquire about this matter?" Jueru asked, "Don't you have a messenger in Songshan?"

Xiao Qinggu sighed: "My disciple is also on guard in Songshan Mountain."

"Because you were born in Shaolin? You've already married into a wife. How can that old boy Su Changning still trust you?"

Xiao Qinggu smiled bitterly: "Disciple is also in a dilemma."

"Speaking of which, let me show you something." Jueru suddenly thought of something and took out a wanted notice. "There is news about the person you have been thinking about. Look."

It was a wanted order from Jiangxi, for an unknown assassination of Stinky Wolf, with a reward of 400 taels.

"Also with him is Li Jingfeng, who made a vendetta against the Nine Families in Kunlun Palace and took on many major crimes."

Xiao Qinggu's eyes widened.It's no surprise that Li Jingfeng assassinated Stinky Wolf. What's surprising is how Ming Wuxi could be involved in this matter?This guy can also do justice?It's unbelievable.

However, he thought that since there was a wanted order and there were many people traveling from north to south to pick melons, and he was not a famous expert, there might be many people who would come to him for trouble. When he thought about it, he suddenly felt that those sea arresting yamen I'm just afraid of something bad happening.

It's unknown...where is he now?

■

Three corpses fell on the wilderness. The young man covered in blood was shaking his hands, and the knife was still stuck in one of the corpses.The woman on the side sat down on the ground with her eyes wide open in horror, and kept uttering meaningless exclamations.

How did it become like this?The young man's mind was in a mess.Just yesterday, my group saw the key criminal with a bounty of 400 taels, which was a huge bounty. Although assassinating the Stinky Wolf was a righteous act, many people in the Haidu Yamen did not want to accept it, and they were worried that this man had great martial arts skills. He said that the stinky wolf was also stabbed and seriously injured. With such martial arts, even the five of them would not dare to attack easily.

But 400 taels... such a big sum of money...

It was obviously so easy to succeed. It was so easy to let the sister-in-law pretend to be a woman in distress and numb him with a bowl of anesthetic.The boss said it well, if we don't do the work, others will do it. It doesn't matter whether his reputation is good or not. After collecting the money, the gang will be disbanded. Are we still afraid of people seeking revenge?
He woke up before he could do anything, and convinced the boss that there would be more bounties for sending him to Jiangxi. The boss believed him and tied him up. Then, only one night passed...

The young man didn't know why Jian Laoer suddenly wanted to kill the boss, nor why the boss wanted to kill his sister-in-law, nor why Xiao Lu wanted to kill himself after killing the boss.Only he and his sister-in-law were left. The young man looked at his sister-in-law, who turned around and ran away with panic in her eyes.

Why run?The young man was at a loss.The wanted criminal suddenly jumped up.What's going on? Wasn't he tied up? How did he break free? Who helped him untie the rope?
The young man heard the man whisper in his ear: "Three people died here, and the sect will definitely pursue them. What will your sister-in-law say?"

His voice was gentle, but it spoke directly to the bottom of my heart.What would my sister-in-law say?How would you explain yourself if you were caught?The young man jumped up and shouted: "Sister-in-law, don't run!" He chased into the grass with a knife.

After leaving Fuzhou in the unknown Ming Dynasty, he headed north. He wanted to return to Shaolin and left Jiangxi along the waterway to Jiangcheng.Although he and Li Jingfeng both headed north, Li Jingfeng set off later than him and went to Xiangyang Gang, so the two did not meet again on the way.

The last time he came to Wudang was just a few months ago, when Xing Zhouzi had not yet succeeded as the leader.It is said that during this period, Xing Zhouzi was vigorous and vigorous in sweeping away bandits within his jurisdiction, but with little success.The local sects have been tired for many years, and most of them colluded with road bandits. They got the order, but it was just a formality to make the road bandits calm down recently. Even if a few sects were serious, it was better than nothing.

When passing near Xiangyang, I heard about Qingcheng's visit and the fleet leaving Xiangyang Gang, and then entered Henan.

Shaolin has really changed. The girls in the newly opened brothels greet guests with all their beauty, and some lay disciples still wear monk uniforms and go in and out of the brothels without any taboo.In the temples, there is a mixture of monks and laymen. Some temples even have only two or three true monks, and the rest are all lay disciples.

Most of the lay disciples greatly admired Abbot Juejian's reform drive and firmly believed that there would be no distinction between the secular and the orthodox in the future. As for the Buddhist disciples with orthodox beliefs, they all just twisted the Buddha beads in their hands, lowered their eyebrows and chanted the Buddha's name.

Make every effort to avoid crowded places.Since he was wanted, he has met three groups of people from the Haidu Yamen along the way. One group just said hello to him, praised him a few words, and asked if he was short of silver. The other group just looked at him without asking or caring. Just leave.

Of course, there are also those who want to attack him.

He chose deserted paths to avoid crowds, and tried to stay up day and night.He didn't want to make it public, especially he didn't want news of his return to spread to Shaolin.

The author says:

At the beginning of this volume, the perspective may jump at any time for the sake of plot progression, and the entire volume may not stay at the same perspective.

(End of this chapter)