Chapter 102: Comfortable or Uncomfortable

After Xu Fengnian finished speaking, he finally noticed that the Guanyin Bodhisattva beside him was slightly taller than himself, despite walking barefoot. Xu Fengnian’s height was already quite remarkable; most men from the North were tall and strong, and he never appeared short. In the Jiangnan region, he seemed slender. Among the women around him, Jiang Ni was still growing, but even tall women like Yu Youwei and Shu Xiu were half a head shorter than him. Yet, this female Dharma King was actually taller than the Crown Prince. Setting aside her unusual attire and temperament, her towering height alone was quite striking.

As the two brushed past each other, Xu Fengnian, rather ungracefully, turned his head to stare at the Red Sect Dharma King from Rantuo Mountain. The stoic Dragon Guard monk passing by once again pressed his palms together, greeting the Crown Prince individually. The two had met twice in Beiliang City. Despite Xu Fengnian’s notorious reputation, he was known throughout Beiliang for his affinity for Buddhism. Therefore, the Dragon Guard monk, a renunciant, held no aversion towards Xu Fengnian.

The great monk in the red kasaya extended a courtesy, and Xu Fengnian reciprocated with a slight nod. Due to his mother’s devotion to Buddhism, Xu Fengnian had a thorough understanding of Buddhist doctrines and sects, his affection extending even to the things she cherished. This was not to say he disparaged Taoist principles; he still agreed with the notion that Taoism formed the foundation of the Central Plains. However, having grown up witnessing Xu Xiao’s animosity towards Taoist sects, he inevitably held certain opinions about some Taoist figures when making comparisons.

In fact, Buddhism had long been referred to as "Western Teaching" by scholars in the Central Plains, a term laden with derogatory connotations. After the Spring and Autumn National War, many former nobles who were initially uninterested in fame or fortune chose to withdraw from society. Once they embraced Buddhism, they were widely condemned by the public, labeled with the four characters "fearing death and escaping to Zen," and monks were derided as inherently being actors. Only with the current emperor’s reverence for Buddhism did this perception begin to change. In the capital alone, there were over ten thousand wandering monks. However, Buddhism traditionally lacked a clear leader, unlike the Taoist lineage which clearly revered Dragon Tiger Mountain.

The black-robed old monk Yang Taisui was a tutor to two emperors, possessing ample skill and experience, making him the ideal candidate to lead Buddhism. Unfortunately, the old "Sick Tiger" monk was like a rootless water duckweed, having severed ties with his family long ago. He would maintain a stern expression even while teaching the royal children a diverse range of subjects. Rumor had it that he had broken countless feather dusters in the palace. Princes and princesses alike were terrified of this old monk; even the notoriously unruly Princess Sui Zhu claimed to fear only "Black Burnt Rice." Furthermore, the black-robed old monk had refused visitors for over a decade. So, how could Monk Yang possibly form factions? Without factions and acting alone, what influence could he wield?

The white-robed Guanyin gracefully departed, completely disregarding Xu Fengnian’s shameless plea for freedom. Once she was gone, the Dragon Guard monk, who had been willing to wait for thirty years, no longer had a reason to confine himself and returned to Rantuo Mountain. Except for Liangchan Temple, monks yearned to say, "This humble monk comes from Rantuo Mountain," yet barely one in a hundred could truly make it to Rantuo Mountain. Xu Fengnian glanced at Jiang Ni, who was staring blankly at the female Dharma King’s retreating figure, and couldn't help but tease, “Want to go to Rantuo Mountain? Do you want to be a consort or a nun? I’m telling you now, being a vegetarian and chanting scriptures is much harder than studying to earn money.”

Li Chungang, gently reattaching the divine talisman to his topknot, playfully remarked, “Does that Rantuo Mountain woman intend to dual cultivate with you?”

Xu Fengnian replied with a look of regret, “Before, I was afraid she was an old cow eating young grass and refused vehemently. Now, it’s her turn to disdain me. Ah, what a world!”

The old sword god, having finally found an opportunity to mock Xu Fengnian, naturally didn’t miss it. He said sarcastically, “Young Xu, she said in front of a large group of people that you’re unworthy of dual cultivation. Can you, the dignified Crown Prince of Beiliang, tolerate that? Wouldn’t the world laugh themselves silly if that got out?”

Xu Fengnian grunted in response, “It’d be best if they laughed themselves to death. Then I wouldn’t even need to learn the blade. If I see someone I don’t like, I’ll just tell them this joke, and they’ll laugh themselves to death as they listen.”

Old man Li was momentarily stunned. Jiang Ni, who had finally recovered her wits, heard such rogue-like words and retorted angrily, “You’re truly shameless!”

Xu Fengnian helplessly said, “Then tell me a way to save face? Should I have a hundred men rush up and beat this Guanyin Lady? Or should I kneel on the ground and cry, begging her for joyful dual cultivation with me?”

Little Ni-ren, perhaps delighted to see Xu Fengnian being looked down upon by her “goddess sister,” turned her head, smiling, and repeatedly mumbled, “Unworthy, unworthy, unworthy…”

Xu Fengnian deliberately distanced himself from Jiang Ni, looked towards the city wall, and sighed, “Tonight is a good night for a hundred thousand wild ghosts to leave the city.”

Jiang Ni immediately shut up, instinctively drawing closer to Xu Fengnian. Xu Fengnian led the way onto the drawbridge. Xiangfan was a classic strategic city in military texts, with protruding bastions along its outer walls. As Xu Fengnian crossed the moat, recalling the initial attack and defense of the ancient national war, he couldn’t help but remember the "wooden horse ox" siege engine. He turned to ask the old sword god behind him, “What is the origin of the name ‘wooden horse ox’?”

Xu Fengnian seemed to realize the question was inappropriate only after asking it. For a swordsman, having one’s sword broken was the greatest humiliation of their life, especially when it was severed by Wang Xianzhi with just two fingers. Unexpectedly, Old Man Li was quite nonchalant, merely nodding calmly and saying, “The ‘wooden horse ox’ was indeed named after the siege engine you guessed, symbolizing that all enemies are cities, and there’s no city it cannot breach. The forging of the ‘wooden horse ox’ is identical to the divine talisman; both originated from an extraterrestrial meteorite. The previous emperor sent people overseas to seek immortals, and encountered a falling meteor that caused huge waves when it hit the sea. It was recovered from the seabed; half was forged into the ‘wooden horse ox,’ half into the Talisman General Red Armor. The remaining essence was made into the divine talisman dagger on my head. The three objects, though different paths, lead to the same destination. These three can be called siblings.”

Xu Fengnian teased, “Then the old senior and Little Ni-ren are truly fated.”

The old sword god chuckled.

The formidable city of Xiangfan had a strict night curfew, but only for ordinary citizens. For top dignitaries like Xu Fengnian, who dared to confront the Qingzhou navy, and "god-like" figures such as the Six-Jeweled Guru from Rantuo Mountain, entry and exit were naturally unimpeded. The city gate captain had most likely received instructions from Prince Jing'an Zhao Heng not to obstruct them; otherwise, a confrontation would only enhance Xu Fengnian's prestige. One could hardly expect the Crown Prince of Beiliang to suffer a setback over such trivial matters. The farce at Lake Chun-shen still hasn't definitively led to Xu Fengnian's punishment. Unlike before, the King of Beiliang, wearing a blue silk nine-dragon python robe, was currently in the capital. During his first morning court session at the Golden Imperial Hall, this non-royal king entered with his saber. Faced with accusations from Zhang Julu, Gu Jiantang, and several other meritorious ministers (besides the top civil and military officials), along with successive interrogations from three Grand Academicians, the Human Butcher merely stood alone, dozing, ignoring everyone. This infuriated the two rows of ministers. Whether their righteous anger concealed apprehension and fear was unknown. Whispers in the capital claimed that the Lower Mawei Inn, where the King of Beiliang and his cavalry were stationed, was deserted, which delighted everyone in the capital. They applauded, saying it was divine justice, that those who stray from the path would find little support, and that Beiliang's destiny was at an end.

At the Lower Mawei Inn, the inner courtyard was indeed deserted. Inside, the King of Beiliang, dressed like a wealthy old man, was drinking green ant wine with a black-robed old monk. The wine was specially brought by Xu Xiao from Liangzhou to Tai'an City. The old man before him, nicknamed "Sick Tiger," had been forcefully brought by Xu Xiao. In fact, over the years, "Green Ant Wine" had been widely sold in the capital, thanks to his second daughter Xu Weixiong's poem "Brother Appreciates Snow." However, the King of Beiliang personally carrying strong liquor over thousands of miles was a modest gift but heavy in sentiment. This was Xu Xiao's way of expressing himself to an old acquaintance in a foreign land: "You, Yang Taisui, may not consider me, Xu Xiao, a friend, even having to monitor me for the emperor upon my arrival. But I, Xu Xiao, still consider you, old bald monk, a friend. You treated me to wine as a farewell then; this reunion, I must treat you to a pot of green ant wine."

The spring chill in the capital had long disappeared, cicadas chirped endlessly, yet Xu Xiao still seemed to fear the cold. He raised a hand, breathed into it, and sighed, “When I left the capital, I remember the dynasty had 1,864 post stations. Now, after annexing so many states, instead of increasing, they’ve decreased. Will even half remain?”

The black-robed old monk calmly said, “Tai’an City, Tai’an City. The world is peaceful and stable. Why would there be a need to restore the sight of numerous post stations and urgent dispatches flying everywhere? Isn’t this a good thing?”

Everyone knew Xu Xiao had an inseparable affection for post stations. When the Liyang Dynasty initially paid little attention to their construction, Xu Xiao, after gaining military command, proposed ten policies. Among them, post stations and horse administration developed most under his purview. Other policies, due to the end of the Spring and Autumn period, failed before widespread implementation. The reduction of post stations was just a microcosm. During the Liyang Dynasty’s peak military power, it was said that there was a post station every ‘yi’ (unit of distance), post stations were as dense as fish scales, and cavalry relays were like shooting stars. Thus, at the end of the national war, almost all captured emperors, while being escorted to Tai’an City, were astonished by Xu Xiao’s methods upon seeing a post station every thirty li. Many famous generals, who had blamed only fate and terrain for their defeat, were then convinced. This was because even small post stations involved numerous complexities, such as postal roads, each incredibly troublesome. Just the planting and maintenance of vegetation along post roads alone consumed how much national treasury silver annually? At the height of war, not to mention incompetent emperors, even enlightened ones focused mostly on armor and training, eager for immediate results from today’s expenses. What minister could persuade an emperor to invest heavily in a century-long project like Xu Xiao did?

Xu Xiao smiled, “In the short term, it’s naturally good. Whether it will be good after a hundred years, after you and I are gone, is hard to say.”

Although the black-robed old monk was a monk, he also drank wine. He took a sip and calmly said, “Why do you worry?”

Xu Xiao laughed hoarsely, “I’m not a renunciant like you. If I don’t worry, how can I face the heroes who fought alongside me back then? Who conquered this world?”

Yang Taisui frowned, “Zhang Julu will worry, Gu Jiantang will worry. Moreover, so what if you helped the late emperor conquer the world? Without you, 'Crippled Xu,' there would always be a 'Crippled Li' or 'Crippled Wang' to take your place. You pride yourself on your achievements, yet the late emperor didn't 'kill the fatted dog after the cunning rabbit is caught.' He still allowed you to be the King of Beiliang. Isn’t that enough?”

Xu Xiao softly said, “Enough. That’s why when you invited me for drinks back then, I didn’t do anything afterwards. The debts of gratitude I owed you and him from that year are now repaid.”

At this point, the black-robed old monk felt a sense of shame and stopped speaking, his expression somewhat forlorn.

When that woman first entered the world, her sword box was only inscribed with nine characters: “This sword shall smooth out all injustices under heaven.”

Upon hearing this, the late emperor smiled and said, “Without this sister-in-law, there would be no Xu Xiao, and thus no great empire for me. The 'Great Liang Dragon Sparrow Sword' truly deserves these nine characters.”

That extraordinary woman carved the latter nine characters only on her deathbed. Every time he recalled it, the black-robed old monk felt a sense of shame, for he was the most blameworthy person in the world.

The old monk asked, “Then why do you still invite me for a drink?”

Xu Xiao snorted coldly, “If my wife hadn’t kept urging me during those years in Beiliang, saying you old bald monk had your reasons, even if I were more magnanimous, I wouldn’t bother with you.”

Yang Taisui smiled bitterly.

Xu Xiao took a sip of wine and sneered, “Next court assembly, if Gu Jiantang dares to instigate a bunch of scoundrels to pull dirty tricks again, don’t blame me for drawing my saber and splitting him.”

Yang Taisui frowned, “Even empty-handed, you couldn’t defeat Gu Jiantang. Among all who use blades in the world, he is firmly ranked first.”

Xu Xiao retorted, “If I chop him, would he dare to retaliate? Back then, when I beheaded his direct lineage and displayed them on the city wall, did he dare to stop me? He didn’t dare then, and now this lad is living increasingly backwards, so he wouldn’t dare.”

The black-robed old monk chuckled, “It seems he wouldn’t dare.”

Xu Xiao smiled, “There you have it.”

This was no King of Beiliang in a five-clawed python robe; he was clearly a street rascal.

No wonder he could raise a son as ill-behaved as Xu Fengnian.

Xu Xiao asked with a smile, “If I really cut Gu Jiantang down, what would you do this time?”

Yang Taisui calmly said, “The debts of loyalty and favor I owed were repaid back then. Since you can invite me for a drink today, I can invite you to leave the capital after killing someone tomorrow.”

Xu Xiao laughed heartily, “You old bald monk, you still have some conscience.”

The black-robed old monk remained silent.

In this world, no one was more trustworthy than this "Sick Tiger," whose word was worth a thousand gold.

The pot of green ant wine was soon empty.

The old monk softly said, “You used to cause your princess consort to live uncomfortably, and now you’re doing the same to your children, especially Xu Fengnian. Don’t you feel any guilt?”

Xu Xiao smiled frankly, “If they’re not family, they don’t enter the family’s door and don’t share its food. Comfort or discomfort, it’s all fate.”

The old monk sighed.

Xu Xiao asked, “Do you know about the Six-Jeweled Guru from Rantuo Mountain?”

The old monk nodded, “This person, in her initial cultivation, kept her ear-root from external sounds, unlike ordinary people. She early on achieved the great liberation of understanding the two states of motion and stillness without attachment. She is a person of great wisdom in Buddhism. Her leap from the First Bhumi to the Eighth Bhumi was similar to the Wudang Mountain Sect Leader’s leap into the Heavenly Phenomenon realm—both are rare 'flesh-body Bodhisattvas.'”

Xu Xiao murmured, “Oh,” and frowned deeply.

The old monk asked, “I hear this Red Sect Dharma King went to Xiangfan. Aren’t you worried?”

Xu Xiao mumbled, “How can I not worry? If she dual cultivates with Fengnian, I’ll worry. But if she doesn’t dual cultivate, I’ll also worry.”