The light of the sword is like the moon reflecting on Kyushu

Chapter 2022 The Father and Daughter on a Pilgrimage

Wang Sheng said, "Mengyan, if he hasn't come up the mountain by today, are you still going to wait?"

Xiong Mengyan's eyes shimmered, as if veiled by a layer of mist. "If he doesn't come, we'll leave. After all, his final destination is Haixin Mountain!"

Duanmu Yan said, "Then let's wait a little longer."

Xiong Mengyan waited for Feng Jiuxiao here simply because she wanted to get closer to him. As for whether they could travel together like before, that was still unknown.

Wang Sheng and Duanmu Yan understood each other implicitly. Xiong Mengyan loved but couldn't have him, and so did they; both suffered for love, yet both were devoted lovers. They had plenty of patience and could wait until Xiong Mengyan's heart was weary and she completely let go of her obsession with Feng Jiuxiao. Then, their opportunity would naturally come.

As for the competition between the two, it's simple. There will be no underhanded tactics. Everyone will rely on their own abilities, their attentiveness, patience, thoughtfulness, and care. Whoever perseveres to the end will win her heart!

The Mingzun once asked Duanmu Yan, "Xiong Mengyan is good, but not to the point of being obsessed with her, is she? There are plenty of fish in the sea, why insist on hanging yourself on one tree?"
Duanmu Yan's answer was straightforward: "Once you've seen the ocean, other waters are nothing; once you've seen the clouds of Wushan, other clouds are nothing!"

Having seen the vast ocean, all other waters pale in comparison; having witnessed the clouds of Wushan, all other clouds are insignificant. Of all the beauties in the world, none can capture my eye except for Xiong Mengyan!
Wang Sheng's master had asked him the same question, and Wang Sheng's answer was similar: "Going out of the east gate, there are women like clouds. Although they are like clouds, none of them are what I desire."

Even though I am surrounded by beautiful women, none of them are the one I'm looking for.

Because of this sentence, Wang Sheng was expelled from the Shu Mountain Sect!

According to the old sword immortals of Mount Shu, Wang Sheng is clearly possessed! He has been bewitched by a demonic woman from the evil sect and has lost his true self!
He didn't want to be a disciple of a prestigious sect, but instead chose to be a lackey of the daughter of a demonic cult leader! It's an utter disgrace! A disgrace unseen in a century!
The mountains and fields were filled with groups of martial arts heroes, some in groups of three, some in groups of five, searching for traces of magical beasts!
They dared not split up. In this foreign land, splitting up would be tantamount to digging their own graves! The world is a dangerous place, and caution is essential! Especially when faced with enormous profits, everyone is a competitor, and the slightest misstep could lead to betrayal! The death of one competitor means one less rival!
Feng Jiuxiao and his party of three carriages finally arrived at the foot of Nianboyeze Mountain.

Horses and carts were everywhere, their reins either tied to tree trunks at the foot of the mountain or weighed down by large rocks. There wasn't a single person in sight at the foot of the mountain!
Pang Shiwu asked, "Brother, shall we go up the mountain?"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "We're not going! Look how many people are on the mountainside. If that ferocious beast were really on the mountain, it would have been alerted long ago!"

"You mean the ferocious beast isn't on the mountain?"

"At least we're not on the mountain now!"

Where would it be?

Mount Nyenpoyeze, 1,700 zhang high, belongs to the Bayan Har Mountains. Its Tibetan meaning is "the sacred peak of the right wing".

Tibetans consider the "sky burial platform" on the pilgrimage route to be the closest place to heaven. Vultures often circle there.

A few Tibetan figures walked sparsely along the road in the distance.

Sanjay's forehead was bleeding. He was a free man. But soon he wouldn't be.

On the hard ground, his figure resembled a broken prayer flag, each fall producing a dull "thud".

The sheepskin apron was worn through, revealing purplish-black calluses scabbed over his knees. Ten miles behind, more than three hundred bloody marks remained, the marks from his forehead, like a string of prayer beads gnawed by wind and snow.

The short and thin Droma followed behind her father, spinning the prayer wheel.

Her chapped lips softly recited the six-syllable mantra.

She had lost count of how many times she had made a pilgrimage by stepping on her father's bloodstains.

Intuitively, this is the last time.

She seemed to hear her father and mother whispering that their already meager and barren land had now become the property of Baiyu Temple.

She couldn't understand why her land had become the temple's property. She also couldn't understand why her mother, who hadn't shed tears during previous pilgrimages, had cried so bitterly this time when she and her father went out together!

Suddenly she heard the sound of wheels running over her, but she dared not look. Her father said that one must be focused and single-minded during pilgrimage! Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to the gods!
Suddenly, a clear, melodious, and gentle voice, like heavenly music, rang out: "Little girl, can I ask you something?"

Zhuoma paused, turning her head to look at the carriage on her left. The curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. "Little girl, don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person. Can you speak Chinese?"

Zhuoma looked at her father's back in front of her, a back that never stopped moving.

She mustered her courage and nodded, saying weakly, "I know a little!" Although this was Tibetan territory, there were many Han Chinese living or doing business here, and many Tibetans in the area also spoke Mandarin.

Zhuoma didn't stop walking, maintaining a steady distance from her father.

Pang Shiwu controlled the horse's speed, keeping pace with Zhuoma.

Yuan Zishan asked softly, "What's your name?"

"My name is Zhuoma."

"Oh, Zhuoma, that sounds so beautiful. What does Zhuoma mean in Chinese?"

"The character 'Zhuo' means liberation and salvation, while 'Ma' is a suffix in a woman's name, equivalent to the 'Nu' or 'Na' in the Han Chinese women's names. Together, Zhuoma means Tara or the woman of salvation."

"So that's what Tara means, how wonderful. Droma, let me ask you, some people say that wild animals roam this area, is that true?"

“I don’t know. But I do know there are snow leopards on this mountain. Every time we go up the mountain, we go in groups of at least seven or eight people.”

"If there aren't enough people, we might not be able to defeat the snow leopard, right?"

"Correct!"

Looking at Zhuoma's chapped lips and cheeks flushed with the rosy hue of the high altitude, her tattered clothes, and her small, delicate body, I couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy! At such a young age, she had to accompany her father on a pilgrimage! The temperature was already quite low, and the white breath puffing from the nostrils of the horses pulling the cart was becoming increasingly noticeable and elongated!
"Zhuoma, this is candied fruit, it's delicious, take it!"

At this moment, the father who had finished kowtowing finally turned around, his face showing some anger: "Take it away, we don't want it!"

Yuan Zishan immediately apologized: "I'm sorry to have disturbed your pilgrimage."

Sanjay looked somewhat displeased: "I've already circled the mountain once and completed today's pilgrimage. Ask me whatever you want to ask!"

Yuan Zishan sensed that the other party must have something on their mind, so she sent a telepathic message to Feng Jiuxiao to ask him.

Sanjie suddenly noticed a young man in white walking towards him. It was strange; the young man had appeared just a few feet away, and in a few steps he was right in front of him. But when exactly had he appeared a few feet away? It seemed like he'd been standing there all along, yet he clearly remembered there being no one there. What was going on? He was a little confused!
Feng Jiuxiao clasped his hands in greeting and asked with a smile, "Brother, what is your honorable name?"

"Sanjay!"

"My name is Feng Jiuxiao! Brother Sangjie, have you heard any rumors of wild animals roaming around here?"

"I heard it!"

Yuan Zishan and the others immediately became interested!
Feng Jiuxiao asked, "Could you tell me about it?"

Sangjie asked, "Why are people asking about this?" Feng Jiuxiao laughed and said, "We're just asking around. If that wild beast hurts people, we'll try to get rid of it. If it doesn't hurt anyone, we'll just leave it alone."

Sanjay's eyes were empty and lifeless, but for a moment they brightened. "You came here to eliminate a menace?"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "Yes!"

Sangye clasped his hands together and bowed slightly: "May you all be blessed with Tashi Delek, and may you all be blessed with Karma La Chichen!"

Feng Jiuxiao laughed and said, "You mean you wish us success, right?"

Sanjay replied, "Yes!"

"You look worried and distressed; it seems you've encountered some trouble. Could you tell us? Perhaps we can help you resolve it!"

Sanjay shook his head, his eyes becoming empty again. "You are all Han Chinese from the Central Plains. What can you do to help me here?"

Feng Jiuxiao laughed and said, "What do you seek in your daily pilgrimage? You might as well imagine me as an envoy sent by Heaven! Your daily prayers and daily prostrations have finally moved Heaven, moved the gods, and touched the great Tara!"

Sangjie was taken aback, staring intently at Feng Jiuxiao with a strange look in his eyes, "You..."

Feng Jiuxiao laughed and said, "Let me tell you a story. There was a man from the Central Plains who was very devout in Buddhism. He prayed and burned incense every day. One day, he accidentally fell into the water and struggled desperately. At this time, a boat passed by and someone on board reached out to pull him aboard, but he refused, saying that he had to wait for the Bodhisattva to save him! This happened three times. After the three boats passed, he was exhausted and drowned! After his death, his soul came to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and met the Bodhisattva. He questioned the Bodhisattva: 'I was so devout, why didn't you save me?' The Bodhisattva said: 'I sent three boatmen to save you, but you refused them!'"

Sanjay's eyes flickered, and his throat was a little dry: "I understand what you mean. Anyway, our whole family will become serfs after tomorrow. Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well take a gamble!"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "That's right! From what I'm saying, brother, your land has been seized by the lord, and you are about to lose your freedom?"

"Yes!"

Who is the lord?

"It's the lama from Baiyu Temple on this mountain!"

"Is Baiyu Temple located on this mountain?"

"Yes!"

"That's great! I have the money, I'll buy it for you!"

“They might not sell!” Sangye looked dejected. The lamas here aren't short of money! They're not after his land!

Feng Jiuxiao's eyes flashed. "You mean, the fact that they stole your land was just a cover, and the real target is her, right?" He looked at Zhuoma.
Sangjie was stunned, staring blankly at Feng Jiuxiao, "You... how did you know?"

Feng Jiuxiao's lips curled into a cold smile: "I've heard of some lamas who do bad things all over the Central Plains. They use the skin of young girls to make magical artifacts. As for what they do to the girls before skinning them, only heaven knows!"

Sangye said, "This Baiyu Temple belongs to the Nyingma school, also known as the Red Sect. Do you think you can afford to offend it?"

Feng Jiuxiao smiled slightly, "I've always preferred to reason with people. I usually appeal to their emotions and lure them with benefits. I reason with them first, then offer money. If they still won't listen, this young master also knows a bit of martial arts!" As he spoke, he raised his fist and shook it!
Looking at the refined young man in white, Sangjie couldn't imagine whether he would tremble with fear when facing the group of burly red-robed lamas from Baiyu Temple.
Feng Jiuxiao naturally saw the worry in Sangjie's heart and said with a smile, "Come on, I'll accompany you up the mountain. Give him a silver note on the fifteenth."

Pang Shiwu immediately came over and handed Sangjie a silver note.

Sanjay recognized it; it was three thousand taels of silver!

Feng Jiuxiao said, "If the lamas of Baiyu Temple absolutely refuse, brother, you can take the silver notes, bring your whole family, and go to the Central Plains to live. Three thousand taels will definitely be enough for you to start a small business! There are quite a few Tibetans in the border areas between Tubo, Xiazhou, and the Song Dynasty. You can integrate quickly! This is my backup plan for you. Do you have some confidence now?"

Sangjie's eyes seemed to come alive, no longer empty and lifeless. Suddenly, he clasped his hands together and knelt down before Feng Jiuxiao!

Tashi Delek!

"Hey, get up! Let's go up the mountain! Oh right, we missed the entrance to the mountain path earlier, so we have to turn back, right?"

Sanjay said, "No need! There's another path leading up the mountain ahead, let's just keep going!"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "Good, good, it's best that we didn't take a detour! By the way, brother, get in the car!"

Yuan Zishan also waved to Zhuoma, "Come here, Zhuoma!"

Seeing her father get into the carriage at the back, Zhuoma obediently got into the carriage in the middle as well.

Feng Jiuxiao asked, "By the way, Brother Sangjie, what's the situation with that wild beast that's been appearing lately?"

Sanjay naturally answered all questions at this point, after all, three thousand taels of silver notes were not heavy, but three thousand taels of pure silver could crush a person!

"It is said that a few nights ago, it snowed, and it was extremely quiet. The old herdsman Danzeng from the east village was awakened by the screams of yaks. When he rushed out of his tent, he saw many ink-like bloodstains on the snow, stretching all the way to the distant mountain valley. The three strongest yaks were gone, and only half of their broken horns remained in the snowdrift, still steaming from the cut, as if they had been torn off alive. Then the village shaman Karma saw a handful of blood-stained red hair left on the ground and said it was a ferocious beast! The next day, the herdsman Tashi's body was hanging on the icefall."

Feng Jiuxiao frowned and asked, "How many people died in total?"

Sanjay said, "At least five! Judging from experience, it seems to only appear on snowy nights! It is said that some people have seen it; it has a single horn and five tails, and when it moves, it is as fast as the wind, and when it is still, it is as steady as a rock!"

Feng Jiuxiao looked up at the sky and said, "It doesn't come out when it's not snowing?"

Sanjay said, "I'm not sure, but I've heard that they always appear in snowy weather!"

Feng Jiuxiao pondered, "All in the snow? Is it afraid of people? People rarely leave their houses when it snows!"

Pang Shiwu said, "Really? It's already eaten five people, and it's still afraid of people?"

Sangye said, "If it weren't afraid of people, it could come out in broad daylight, and we herders wouldn't be able to fight it!"

Feng Jiuxiao asked, "Has anyone ever fought against the Ferocious Beast? Or has any hunter shot at it? I want to know how strong this Ferocious Beast is at hunting and how tough its hide is!"

Sanjay shook his head. "I don't know!"

After traveling for another half an hour, they found a road leading up the mountain. There were quite a few horses and carriages tied up around it, but not as many as the one they had missed at the previous road.

Pang Shiwu said, "These people have nothing on their horses, so they're not afraid of them taking advantage. We have a lot of good stuff in our cart. I'm worried, brother. I'll stay down the mountain and keep watch. You guys go up the mountain!"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "Then Zishan, you all stay here. Brother Zeng and Brother Wolf can come with me to Baiyu Temple if they are willing."

Zeng Yong said, "What's so interesting about all those lamas? I'll just wait down the mountain." Since that ferocious beast only appears when it snows, there's a high chance we won't see it on this mountain, so why bother going up?

Bigwolf said, "Go ahead, I'll rest in the car for a while. You've been lying down the whole way, it's my turn to lie down!"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "Let's switch later." He turned around but didn't see anyone. Big Wolf's snoring had already started!
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