Raise a sword!

In the mountains and forests, Jiang Peng and Sun Yinxi traveled together with the monk Miaoyin.

The monk Miaoyin was an honest man, and he took the initiative to tell me what he knew.

"After Benefactor Jiang refined the second-tier Turtle Essence Pill that day, some unpleasant rumors began to circulate in the streets."

"What rumors?" Jiang Peng stayed indoors in Bibo Harbor all day long and was unaware of the situation outside.

Sun Yinxi whispered from the side, "It's probably something like you're the reincarnation of a powerful being, or you have some kind of extraordinary opportunity."

These past few days, Sun Yinxi has been frequently out and about. Besides the matter of Xuanxinye, she also has other sect affairs to handle, so she has been able to hear some unsubstantiated rumors.

"Telling you about this would only cause you more trouble, which is why I haven't told you," Sun Yinxi explained.

Jiang Peng couldn't help but sigh softly. Sure enough, showing off is never a good thing.

At the banquet that day, he had already explained the origins of the second-tier Turtle Essence Pill in detail. Once the mystery was revealed, there was actually nothing worth coveting.

Even the Liu family's ancestor accepted the explanation at the time, but the rumors circulating outside still managed to spread to an exaggerated degree.

"So I'm being watched?"

The monk Miaoyin nodded slightly.

"It seems that some cultivators have their eyes on you. Whether they will make a move is still unknown, but I feel indebted to Benefactor Jiang, so I am traveling with you two."

"Master, you are too kind. I am deeply grateful." Jiang Peng bowed slightly. "There is no need to mention the favor. It is your own destiny that has come. My few words are not worth your concern."

The monk Miaoyin did not dwell on the matter further.

But judging from his determined attitude, he was clearly convinced that he had received a favor from Jiang Peng.

"This humble monk was also going to the northern foothills, so please don't worry about it, benefactor."

With the monk Miaoyin by their side, the journey was smooth sailing without any trouble.

On the way, the monk Miaoyin also talked about his origins.

It turns out he was a monk from Enshan Temple in Zhongzhou. Because he did not abide by the precepts in the temple, he was expelled by Enshan Temple and was not allowed to return until he was enshrined in a golden statue.

After traveling together for several days, and having become familiar with each other, Monk Miaoyin became less formal and more casual.

When talking about what happened back then, he spoke freely and without restraint, laughing and joking.

"When I was kicked out, I was still indignant, thinking that my bald-headed master was truly unreasonable!"

Jiang Peng and Sun Yinxi, standing nearby, simultaneously glanced at the bald head of the monk Miaoyin.

The monk Miaoyin was completely unaware of what had happened back then, and was still arguing indignantly.

"The saying goes, 'Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart.' None of my fellow monks in the temple are as proficient in Buddhism as I am. In my humble opinion, that's because they lack wine and meat! They eat vegetarian meals every day, their mouths are so bland they're practically parched, and their faces are all as wilted as vegetables! Chanting scriptures with such absorption? They've just fainted from hunger!"

After saying this, as if afraid that Jiang Peng would not understand, Monk Miaoyin explained again: "The cultivation of Qi in Daoist practitioners requires drawing Qi into the body. Although Qi cultivation is only considered the beginning of cultivation, it already has some mysterious methods. With the help of the Bigu Pill, one can abstain from the five grains."

"But Buddhist cultivation is different. The first stage of Buddhist cultivation is the state of meditation. It only takes reading a few Buddhist scriptures to enter the door... But if you want to practice the Dharma, you still need to study for several years until you can achieve 'meditation' before you finally show some signs of transcending the mundane world."

"But the elders in the temple are confused. The disciples who have entered the state of Zen are all different, but they are treated the same."

"Imagine a chubby seven or eight-year-old child who eats only simple food every day. In three to five months, he will become as thin as a stick, and his parents will not even recognize their own flesh and blood when they come to visit..."

At this point, Monk Miaoyin suddenly fell silent, glancing left and right.

He was clearly in the mountains and forests, surrounded only by the chirping of insects and birds, yet he deliberately acted so cautiously.

After searching for a long time and confirming that there were no outsiders, the monk Miaoyin said angrily, "According to Buddhist teachings, those who do not worship the Buddha must have committed sins in their previous life before they will go to hell after death."

"Why go through all that trouble? Want to go to hell? Then come and worship Buddha! Abstain from meat, and the human world will be hell."

After saying this, Monk Miaoyin added, "As we spoke, I couldn't help but reveal my true feelings. You two mustn't spread these words around, or I will deny it."

The monk Miaoyin put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, looking every bit the dignified and solemn high monk.

Jiang Peng repeatedly said she didn't know.

Sun Yinxi realized something and said, "Master, your heart is sincere, it seems the time has come for you to return to the Central Plains."

The monk Miaoyin smiled and said, "It is all thanks to Benefactor Jiang's guidance that this humble monk has returned to his original nature. After traveling for nearly two hundred years, the obsession in my heart has finally been fulfilled and is no longer obstructed."

As he spoke, a look of emotion appeared in the eyes of the monk Miaoyin.

"Looking back now, I can't help but sigh at the foresight of my master... He knew that if I had stayed in the temple to cultivate myself, my little bit of wisdom would have been worn away by the years and I would have become just another ordinary person."

"When he kicked me out, he allowed me to break my vow of not eating meat, but then he asked me to spread the Dharma and do good deeds to atone for my sins. After thinking it over, I think my master probably foresaw this day would come."

"Benefactor Jiang."

"What advice do you have for me, Master?" Jiang Peng asked, looking at the monk Miaoyin.

But then he saw a smile on the face of the monk Miaoyin.

After several days of travel, the three had entered the northern foothills, and were not far from the Cangshan Sect.

The monk Miaoyin stopped at the crossroads, his eyes gaining a newfound wisdom.

"The same scriptures are interpreted differently by different monks, which is why there are debates about scriptures... The same is true of the Way."

The monk Miaoyin's voice became ethereal, echoing around Jiang Peng.

"What is the Way? If you ask this humble monk, I will say that if one can taste all the delicacies of the world, whether or not one attains the Way is not important."

"If it is Fellow Daoist Yinxi, then you are probably ambitious, eager to stand out and make a name for yourself."

Sun Yinxi, standing to the side, smiled and nodded slightly.

She came from humble beginnings, and there's no need to go into the details of her life in the mortal world, but she was a rare genius in cultivation, and finally had a chance to climb up the social ladder... She was determined to hold on to it tightly and never let go.

The monk Miaoyin's voice continued.

"Some say it's an obsession, whether for revenge, for freedom, or for striving for advancement; it's the experience of a cultivator that leads to enlightenment!"

"Some say that whether you are magnanimous or narrow-minded is predetermined, just like a towering mountain and a flowing river. This is the will of Heaven and cannot be changed."

"Who is right and who is wrong is unclear and cannot be explained."

"As for what the Dao means to Benefactor Jiang, you probably need to ponder it carefully yourself."

"With Benefactor Jiang's solid foundation, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is not difficult. However, if you can see the path ahead clearly during the Foundation Establishment stage, you will benefit greatly in the future."

The monk Miaoyin clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, and his figure slowly vanished.

"That's all I have to say. This humble monk takes his leave. Take care, benefactor."