Embers of Sword

Chapter 333: Karma and Buddha's Fate
The farewell carriage finally stopped at the foot of Tailing Mountain.

Because Jiang Qihu instructed Tietong to slow down, when they arrived, the Fanyin Temple delegation was already resting and waiting at the foot of the mountain.

This westward journey was grand and majestic.

But the number of monks sent by Fanyin Temple was not large, only thirty or forty people in total, less than ten carriages, and several carts of scriptures.

"I'll send you a thousand miles away, but I'll have to say goodbye in the end."

Jiang Qihu said in a low voice: "I won't accompany you on the road ahead."

"Master Jiang, it's just a diplomatic mission."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and shook his head, saying: "Don't worry about my safety, but you. There are many monsters in Southern Xinjiang, so you have to take good care of yourself. We will see each other again soon."

"……Too."

Jiang Qihu nodded.

He knows it too.

It was just a diplomatic mission.

But when it came to parting, I couldn't help feeling a little sad... How could I, the second in command of the Imperial City, become like this?
Is it because of the Beihai case ten years ago?
Some irreparable regrets, instead of disappearing with the passage of time, turn into thorns that penetrate deeply into the heart.

"Take care of yourself and me."

Jiang Qihu took a deep breath, said this, and never looked back.

He stepped out of the carriage, took the reins of the horse from Tietong, and rode away alone.

……

……

"Jiang Qihu also knows your identity?"

not far away.

Miaozhen's voice swept into the lake of his heart.

"No...he doesn't know."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head. He sat in the carriage, opened half of the curtain, and watched Jiang Qihu's back as he rode away alone.

Miaozhen, who was sitting in the center of the crowd at Fanyin Temple, slowly stood up.

He also stared at the receding figure and raised his eyebrows and said, "Xie Xuanyi, I am a little curious... How many friends did you make back then?"

The Jiang family is now the number one family in Qingzhou.

After Emperor Chu passed away and the Holy Empress came to the throne, most of the descendants of military families were settled in the imperial city. The Jiang family was one of the very few "lucky ones" who could own a state.

Although Jiang Qihu now only sits in the second seat in the Imperial City Department.

But the future of the Jiang family belongs to him.

Before Miaozhen sailed west, Fanyin Temple presented a list of Chu State forces that needed attention. The influence of the Jiang family was second only to Taoism and Dasui Sword Palace, and could be compared to holy places with hundreds of years of history.

It is said that Xie Xuanyi has enemies everywhere.

But you can really get in touch with it.

Miaozhen discovered that this guy had as many friends as enemies.

“Not much, actually.”

Xie Xuanyi closed the car curtain, lowered his brows and smiled: "But I exchange sincerity for sincerity, and the people I make are all true friends."

"Why do I hear some boasting in your words?"

Miao Zhen suddenly changed the subject and said, "Since you are here, take this annoying guy away."

The tone of this reincarnated Buddha at this moment was somewhat helpless.

He looked to the rear of the delegation's convoy.

The carriage with the scriptures was surrounded by the golden light of the formation. Several young monks stood in front of the formation, and they did not slack off even though they were only staying in Tailing for a short time.

Xie Xuanyi walked over.

Those young monks subconsciously blocked the way.

Miaozhen conveyed a message from his heart.

Only then were they allowed to go.

……

……

The last carriage of the Fanyin Temple delegation was decorated with several array patterns.

This is where Miyun went into seclusion.

The biggest purpose of this mission's journey to the west is to bring back the "Tanluan Buddha Bones". Miaozhen has already used his luck to awaken the Buddha bones. This journey eastwards back to the country... is exactly the process of Miyun integrating the Buddha bones.

The news of Tanluan's Buddha bones is top secret.

Even the monks who were on guard in the delegation were not aware of this.

They only knew that this golden formation was extremely important. Before leaving, the Buddhist disciples reminded them not to let outsiders disturb Miyun's practice.

But now...

Three outsiders have entered the formation.

Sure enough, when Xie Xuanyi lifted the car curtain, he saw a familiar face.

The last carriage was particularly spacious. The young monk Miyun sat in the middle, with neatly stacked scriptures, as well as Junshan and Deng Baiyi on both sides.

Junshan Zhenren stared at the little monk with sharp eyes, looking him up and down, and making clicking sounds continuously.

Deng Baiyi lowered his head and immersed himself in the annotations of Buddhist scriptures.

"Benefactor, you are finally here!"

Miyun, who was sitting in the middle position, was looked up and down by Junshan. How could he concentrate on his practice? He clasped his hands together, recited Buddhist scriptures silently, and prayed silently in his heart that someone would come to "save him."

Finally, he waited for Xie Xuanyi's arrival.

The little guy breathed a sigh of relief and stood up subconsciously, but the next moment Junshan held his shoulders and made him sit back down.

"Sit!"

Junshan frowned and scolded: "Now is an important time for your cultivation, how can you act rashly? This Buddha bone is of extraordinary good fortune... Comprehend it carefully and digest it well!"

Miyun was gloomy but helpless.

He could only look to Xie Xuanyi for help.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi sighed.

He looked at Miyun and felt that the little monk had undergone a "dramatic" change compared to seven days ago.

The Tanluan Buddha bones brought out from the Great Pudu Temple merged into Miyun's body, emitting a faint golden light. As long as one used the soul to explore, one could feel this mysterious fluctuation -

I can see the difference myself.

What’s more, he is a reincarnated immortal of Junshan’s level.

"You also know that he is at an important moment of cultivation..."

After a long sigh, Xie Xuanyi reached out and grabbed Junshan by the collar.

"Hey, Mr. Xie, why didn't you tell me such important news as the Buddha's bones?"

Junshan lifted his feet off the ground and tumbled around, but he was too young and was dragged out of the car.

From beginning to end, his eyes never moved away: "Let go! Let me take a closer look. This is the first time I have seen a person who was reincarnated after birth!"

……

……

After a while.

The Fanyin Temple delegation set off again.

In the carriage driven by the special envoy Tietong, there were two figures with aggrieved expressions.

"We are on a diplomatic mission after all..."

Xie Xuanyi sighed and said, "Even if you don't care about your own face, you should also consider the face of the Chu Kingdom, right?"

Junshan Zhenren and Deng Baiyi broke through the formation of Fanyin Temple and entered Miyun's retreat carriage.

This matter caused a sensation in the delegation.

Due to Junshan's identity as the "reincarnated yang god" and to save face for Xie Zhen, the Buddhist did not stop him but simply ordered a crowd to watch. As a result, the several young monks who were guarding the formation dared not say anything but give way.

Until Xie Xuanyi appeared and took them away...

The disturbance finally subsided and the carriage was completely silent.

Xie Xuanyi said unhappily: "Don't you have anything to explain?"

“…You can’t blame me for this.”

Deng Baiyi, who was holding a stack of scriptures, whispered, "It was Senior Junshan who asked me to break the formation. I just wanted to see the annotations of the Buddhist formation pattern."

"You can't blame me for this... It's said that the Buddhist formation technique is exquisite, who knew it was so terrible?"

Junshan Zhenren's eyes widened: "Speaking of which... Mr. Xie, you are the one who should explain."

"Miao Zhen has no intention of competing for the Tianjiao Ranking. This time the delegation is traveling west for the Tanluan Buddha Bone!"

The young boy in Taoist robe stood up quickly.

He asked in a deep voice, "Buddhism will soon have a second reincarnation! It's fine if you kept this news from me, but you even kept it from the library?"

"Calm down..."

Xie Xuanyi closed the car curtain to make sure the formation pattern was correct.

He explained leisurely, "I know what you are worried about... This time, the Tianjiao Ranking has not taken into account the luck of the reincarnated. Even if there is one more reincarnated person in the Buddhist sect, it will not affect the foundation of the Taoist sect, right?"

Although Junshan Zhenren looks "free and easy".

But in fact, he cares more about the Taoist heritage than anyone else, and he cares more about Da Chu's fortune than anyone else.

"A reincarnated Yang God can at least influence the fortune of a holy land for a hundred years!"

Junshan said solemnly: "Do you know? The holy monk Tanluan three hundred years ago comprehended the most profound cause and effect!"

"so?"

Xie Xuanyi said calmly: "If you think Miyun is a bad guy...you would have drawn your sword a long time ago, right?"

"..."

Junshan fell silent.

Yes.

This is also what he is struggling with. Although he has been fighting with Miaozhen for many years, he still admires this opponent in his heart.

Fanyin Temple is located in Li State, and the dispute between Chu and Li lasted for hundreds of years.

Buddhism has saved countless lives...

Three hundred years ago, Tan Luan also made many contributions to the peace between the two countries.

There was no way he could draw his sword against Miyun.

Therefore, after seeing Miyun's identity as a "reincarnated person", Junshan chose to stay in the formation to protect Miyun. He carefully stared at the golden light emitted by the Buddha's bones, feeling this extremely rare breath of cause and effect.

However, this method of protection was a bit strange and caused Miyun to feel uncomfortable.

"Before Tanluan passed away, I once met him."

Junshan lowered his eyebrows and sighed softly: "I was still very young at that time..."

"Have you met Tan Luan?"

Xie Xuanyi was subconsciously stunned for a moment. This sentence sounded a bit incongruous.

But if you calculate carefully, it is really possible.

Three hundred years ago.

The holy monk Tanluan crossed over to the west and built the Great Pudu Temple. The holy monk secluded himself in the Great Pudu Temple for nearly a hundred years, and the two countries welcomed unprecedented peace... and then came the turbulent times. The battle of Chuli was repeated, and the Taoist Xiaoyaozi, Dasui Sword Palace's Zhao Chunyang, and the young geniuses of the holy places all emerged in this era.

Junshan was born in this era.

"I was just a baby at that time."

Junshan gave a bitter smile.

"My eldest brother held me and came to the Great Pudu Temple to draw a fortune."

He looked a little sad, "Back then, Taoism was not the number one sect in the world. The Brahma Sound Temple was flourishing, and there were countless Arhats and Bodhisattvas. At that time, Buddhism was more powerful than the other two sects. Even a figure like my eldest brother had no chance to meet the 'Zen Master'. In the end, he took me to see the holy monk Tanluan... and he brought me a ray of karma and Buddhist affinity with an ancient Taoist seal that he carried with him."

The eldest senior brother that Junshan mentioned is the current Taoist leader, Xiaoyaozi who is in seclusion today!
"I don't know if it was a coincidence, but it happened shortly after that meeting."

"The holy monk Tanluan passed away..."

Junshan stretched out a finger, touched the center of his brow, and murmured, "An ancient Taoist seal in exchange for a ray of karma and Buddhist affinity. Senior Brother never told me this until I was eighteen years old and came of age. He gave me the Taoist name 'Junshan' and told me the truth."

No one knows about this past event.

Xie Xuanyi and Deng Baiyi both listened very carefully.

"What is karma and Buddha's fate?"

After listening to this, Deng Baiyi was confused: "Is this something like luck?"

"I am not sure as well."

Junshan smiled bitterly. Due to his reincarnation and cultivation, his state of mind had also changed.

He often strikes an old-fashioned pose.

But no matter how you look at it, he looks like a child.

Junshan murmured, "I only know that the senior brother that year was already qualified to fight against Yang Shen... Among his peers in the Great Chu Dynasty, the only one who could fight him was Zhao Chunyang from the Sword Palace. When he took me to the Great Pudu Temple that year, it was definitely not just to ask for a simple fortune."

"Luck is mysterious and profound."

"Fate is wonderful beyond words."

Xie Xuanyi said softly: "These two things are the most inexplicable. Perhaps you can reincarnate and cultivate again, thanks to the Buddha's fate that Xiaoyaozi prayed for you."

"It's true."

Junshan rubbed his cheek and said solemnly, "My sea of spirits has gradually awakened since I was six years old... Perhaps it is because of that Buddha's fate that my soul has made rapid progress. Other Taoist disciples are still studying how to refine Qi, but I have already successfully established my foundation. Even the most difficult Qi control took me less than half a year. Before the Yin Shen realm, I often had some bizarre dreams, and after waking up from the dream, I naturally broke through to a new realm."

"..."

Deng Baiyi felt depressed after hearing this.

Is this the so-called Yang Shen talent?
When you encounter a bottleneck, all you need to do is take a nap?

"It was only after several years that I realized that these bizarre dreams were not just dreams."

Junshan said with a complicated expression: "What I saw in my dream were all the principles of the Tao."

"Taoism?"

Deng Baiyi became even more uneasy.

With her aptitude, it would take her a long time to cultivate to the level of controlling Qi. As for condensing the Dao principles, it would take several more years.

After he was six years old, Junshan Zhenren was able to comprehend the "Tao" in his dreams?

"Oh……"

Xie Xuanyi raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice: "There is no such thing as a free gift in this world..."

"Yes."

"I asked my senior brother later and found out that the Dao fragments in this dream correspond to the Dao of Cause and Effect."

Junshan Zhenren sighed, "This should be the consequence of accepting Tanluan's Buddhist fate... Before I was eighteen years old, I comprehended the fragmented law of 'cause and effect' in my dreams... Does it sound familiar to you?"

Xie Xuanyi and Deng Baiyi both looked strange.

More than just familiarity?
It’s exactly the same!
Isn’t this a replica of Miyun?
"If I want, when I am eighteen years old, I can rely on the law of cause and effect to enter the realm of Yin God."

Junshan asked again: "Is this considered the fastest cultivating Yin God?"

"Probably."

Xie Xuanyi nodded... This speed was much faster than his own back then.

However, if one relies on gifts from dreams to achieve the great way, can this still be considered the result of one's own practice?

"Do not."

Junshan shook his head and said, "My senior brother asked me to give up the 'cause and effect' and achieve enlightenment. He told me... the function of this strand of Buddha's fate is not to condense the law of cause and effect."

Xie Xuanyi knew.

Later, Junshan comprehended the thunder method and swordsmanship, and became the only master of two halls in Taoism.

He gave up the law of cause and effect.

Then he practiced another path.

Xie Xuanyi was confused: "So...what is the role of karma and Buddha's fate?"

"I don't know. After I was reincarnated, I practiced in seclusion in the Taoist sect, waiting for the eldest brother to come out. He must know the answer."

Junshan lowered his eyebrows and murmured, "But... maybe you are right. The 'Karma Buddha Fate' given by Tanluan back then is related to my reincarnation."

(End of this chapter)