Chapter 636: Attaining the Way

Wudang Mountain has several sacred paths for pilgrims entering and leaving the area. After Xu Fengnian and Yu Dilong left Lesser Pillar Peak, they were on their way to the main peak when they encountered an acquaintance in Thunder God Ravine, a deep gorge. The old Taoist master Chen Yao was leading a master and his servant along the North Sacred Path. Upon asking, Xu Fengnian learned that the two outsiders, admiring the flourishing pilgrimage at Wudang, had lingered in the mountains and wandered off the main path, getting completely lost.

Fortunately, Chen Yao found them. On the way out of the mountains, the old Taoist and the middle-aged scholar conversed animatedly. Luckily, it was the night of the full moon, and with the abundant moonlight, the night journey was relatively easy. Xu Fengnian was not in a hurry to return to Elephant Washing Pool, so he joined Chen Yao in escorting the master and servant onto the straightforward Sacred Path. The scholar was clearly unaware that Chen Yao was the disciplinary master of Wudang Mountain, simply thinking he was an elderly Taoist from a humble temple. However, seeing the old Taoist's refined speech, the scholar, who introduced himself as being from a family of scholar-farmers in Jiangnan Province, treated him with genuine respect.

Xu Fengnian, with his keen insight, immediately noticed something. The scholar was dressed simply, and the young attendant carrying his satchel did not flaunt any air of wealth. However, the jade pendant hanging from the boy's waist was extraordinary: a reclining deer looking back, intricately carved with fine lines, lifelike, and truly a rare artifact thousands of years old. As for the bamboo book box, it was polished to a shine, clearly passed down through generations, earning them the title of a family of scholar-farmers. The true foundation of an influential family was evident in such subtle details. Along the way, the middle-aged scholar consulted Chen Yao about his doubts regarding scriptures such as "Dao Shu Qi Zhen Pian" and "Zuo Dong Zhen Jing An Mo Dao Yin Jue." Xu Fengnian could see that these scriptures, though introductory texts for Taoist cultivation, were orthodox and profound, endorsed and meticulously annotated by Taoist immortals throughout history, especially suitable for busy individuals to "steal leisure from their busyness," allowing them to pursue both worldly achievements and health.

After Chen Yao saw the master and servant to the main road, they parted ways amicably. The old Taoist and Xu Fengnian stood side by side, watching the Jiangnan scholar, who had traveled thousands of miles to Beiliang, depart. Chen Yao chuckled softly, "Has Your Highness figured it out?"

Xu Fengnian nodded and smiled, "It should be the Lu Ming Song clan from Jiangnan Province. Their accent matches, and the snippets of information about their family's scholarly traditions are similar. Although the Song family was at the bottom of the Ten Great Aristocratic Clans during the Spring and Autumn period, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Moreover, because their family roots are north of the Guangling River, and they allied with the court early on, they are less implicated than other families. Nowadays, they are considered a top-tier noble family in Liyang. Even the Beijing Song family, which produced two great masters, had to claim to be a distant branch of the Lu Ming Song clan to gain a foothold in Tai'an City before they rose to prominence. I hear the Lu Ming Song family has many private complaints about that Song family, who crossed the river and then burned the bridge."

Chen Yao stroked his beard and chuckled, "If this humble Taoist is not mistaken, this person should be Song Dongming, the youngest son of Song Yepin of Lu Ming. Legend has it that an auspicious white deer ran into their mansion before his birth, and Song Dongming was born in response to this omen."

Xu Fengnian frowned, not having expected Song Dongming himself to come to Beiliang. "This person is one of the hidden chancellors favored by someone in the imperial court. On the surface, after his defeat with Yin Maochun during the Spring of Yonghui, he spent years enjoying nature, but in reality, he has been dormant, accumulating strength. These aristocratic families like the Songs have always been opportunistic, but sending such a significant figure as Song Dongming to Beiliang seems overly risky."

Chen Yao shook his head, turned to face Xu Fengnian, and asked, "Does Your Highness believe that if Northern Mang invades with its entire nation, Beiliang will suffer more defeats than victories?"

Xu Fengnian did not hide his thoughts, calmly stating, "If the Northern Mang Empress only uses half of her nation's strength, invading solely with Southern Dynasty troops, I am fully confident we can defend Beiliang's borders. But if the Northern Mang Empress's royal tent personally arrives at the frontier, bringing all Northern Mang's marshals and great generals, Beiliang, even with its two inner and outer defensive lines, still cannot withstand the Northern Mang cavalry. To be frank, if Chen Zhibao had not been enfeoffed as King of Xishu, allowing my Beiliang Xu family to build Xishu and Nanzhao into a third major defensive line, we would still have the confidence to wear down Northern Mang, even if they invaded with their entire nation. In my master Li Yishan's plan, the over 200,000 border troops on Beiliang's frontier, plus the territories of You, Liang, and Ling provinces, and finally the pocket of Liuzhou, the Western Regions, and Xishu-Nanzhao, would form layered defenses, capable of trapping Northern Mang's million-strong army. However, the imperial court, first by sending Prince Zhao Kai with the bottle to the Western Regions, and then by enfeoffing Chen Zhibao as a feudal lord, disrupted Beiliang's painstakingly built strategy. Otherwise, with Xishu and Nanzhao providing thousands of miles of strategic depth, even if we lost at the border, we could still attack and defend. Not to mention five years, even if Northern Mang had ten years, they wouldn't be able to enter the Central Plains!"

Xu Fengnian rarely confided in others, especially regarding military and national affairs, never actively mentioning a word. However, he had always been close to Wudang Mountain, and Chen Yao was a highly respected elder there, the junior brother of the old sect leader Wang Chonglou, and the senior brother of Hong Xixiang. Xu Fengnian harbored no reservations. Moreover, a person with pent-up emotions that even wine cannot wash away always needs to speak them aloud. Under the sparse stars and bright moon, as he slowly walked back on the sacred path with Chen Yao, Xu Fengnian continued, "Unfortunately, after Master passed away, I couldn't preserve his established strategies. At that time, after defeating Wang Xianzhi, I had two choices: one was to go to Xishu nearby and kill Chen Zhibao, who had ruined Beiliang's grand plan, and even if it meant being branded a rebel, I would take Xishu, which has always been easy to defend but hard to attack, into my hands. The other was to travel far to Longhu Mountain and kill my enemy Zhao Huangchao. Out of personal feelings, I still chose the latter. Although I had a vague premonition at the time that killing Zhao Huangchao would be easier than killing Chen Zhibao, looking back now, it was ultimately due to personal feelings. Whenever I think of it now, I feel uneasy."

Xu Fengnian smiled, seemingly a little embarrassed, and whispered, "Of course, I haven't thought about it much, only twice, including now."

Chen Yao smiled knowingly. "My master once told us that cultivating the Tao is both easy and difficult; it's simply about 'being one's true self, speaking from the heart, and acting with compassion.' In this humble Taoist's view, cultivating the Tao is for attaining enlightenment, which is understandable. Everyone in the world is cultivating themselves and making choices, which is why there's the saying, 'Those who lose the Tao have little support; those who gain the Tao have much support.' Since Your Highness has been so candid, this humble Taoist might as well speak his mind. If there is any disrespect... well, this humble Taoist trusts that Your Highness will not take out your anger on Wudang Mountain, as your actions over the years show a trustworthy broad-mindedness. A house with many doors lets in much wind; this is common sense, and Beiliang is just like that. Your Highness is stationed in the northwest of the dynasty, facing the Northern Mang cavalry alongside Great General Gu Jiantang on the eastern front. Whether you are an un-dynastic king or accused of being a 'second emperor,' this is the responsibility that the eldest legitimate son of the Xu family should bear and cannot be shirked because of a few sarcastic remarks. Several generations of Wudang Taoists have been willing to be close to Great General Xu Xiao, not only because the Great General treated the Taoists on the mountain well, but more importantly, because our masters respected the Great General's sense of responsibility. As the new head of the Xu family and the new King of Liang in the dynasty, Wudang Mountain, where this humble Taoist resides, is generally satisfied. However, there is one point that this humble Taoist truly cannot overlook, and I must speak it today, if Your Highness permits."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Master, please speak freely. Good words I will heed, bad words I will not dwell on."

Chen Yao looked at the amiable young feudal lord and stated solemnly, "Your Highness, you are far too world-weary!"

Xu Fengnian had not expected such a statement and was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The aged Taoist huffed, "Your Highness, you are, after all, only a young man in your early twenties, and a figure who has reached the pinnacle of the martial world. This should be your most spirited and ambitious time. How can you be so world-weary, with a mindset more weathered than this old man who has lived for over eighty years? Hmph, not to mention myself at your age, even our sect leader, my senior brother, was full of ambition and spirit. Back then, Zhao Xiyi and Zhao Tuo from Longhu Mountain came to Wudang to 'seek the Tao' and 'seek a sword fight.' Not only did Senior Brother Wang scold and beat them until they had no temper left, but he also secretly left Wudang with his sword to travel far, even ascending Longhu Mountain to retaliate, first releasing that pent-up anger. What if he was confined by our master to meditate after returning to the mountain? Our master, he would scold and rage furiously in front of our senior brother, but after he confined him, he would immediately beam with joy at us. His mouth would be open in a smile for days, laughing at everyone he saw. However, after master passed away, Senior Brother Wang became heavy-hearted until he brought our junior brother up the mountain; only then did he get better."

Xu Fengnian clasped his hands inside his sleeves, remaining silent, but felt a warmth in his heart.

Chen Yao suddenly smiled. "This humble Taoist has a slight understanding of omens and prophecies. I have two good pieces of news to share, as thanks for Your Highness's return of the Grand Yellow Court scripture."

Xu Fengnian half-jokingly said, "If they are truly good news, I promise that the incense offerings at Lesser Pillar Peak three years from now will not be inferior to Wudang's main peak. Even if Northern Mang truly invades Beiliang, I will protect the lineage of Lesser Pillar Peak."

Chen Yao glared. "Before I tell you the good news, Your Highness must remember one thing: the more sincere a person is, the more careful they must be with their words! Have you not heard that a single word can become an omen? When ancient sages created written characters, the heavens wept; there's profound meaning behind that. Now that the Zhao imperial dynasty has chosen Yu language as the official language, their intentions are even deeper. All of this involves extremely complex matters of destiny and fate!"

Xu Fengnian nodded, not arguing.

Chen Yao's expression softened slightly, and he smiled. "One good piece of news is that a benevolent white dragon's essence, signifying compassion, is traveling north from the South Sea to Liang. The second good piece of news is that a fierce black dragon's essence, signifying warfare, is entering Beiliang from the east, moving west."

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, then said doubtfully, "The former should be a Qi cultivator from the Guanyin Sect of the South Sea. The latter?"

Chen Yao maintained a serene expression, not revealing any divine secrets.

Xu Fengnian was somewhat incredulous and muttered to himself, "Could it be that they really came?"

Chen Yao smiled faintly. "With the addition of that Confucian scholar Song Dongming, Beiliang can be said to be gradually 'gaining the Tao.' Does Your Highness still believe Beiliang is sure to lose? The fate of this world has a set balance, with one rising as another falls. The Liyang imperial court first 'killed its own deer' (self-sabotaged), and then several individuals quietly left Tai'an City. For the Zhao imperial clan, these are not good omens. But for Beiliang and for Your Highness, these are rare opportunities that must not be missed!"

Yu Dilong looked at his master. His aura was formidable. Behind him, a python raised its head. Its essence soared to the heavens.