Chapter 126: Attacking the Heart
Chapter 126: Attacking the Heart
Early the next morning, Mu Feng accompanied Jing Wushuang up the mountain to make a wish.
Puyang Town was located in a mountainous area with rolling hills, and Puyang Mountain was the highest peak nearby. The two set out early in the morning and did not reach the temple at the summit until midday.
From a distance, the ancient mountain temple, said to be thousands of years old, appeared majestic. It had a mountain gate, a main hall, a pagoda… everything one would expect. Though the location was remote and the path rugged, many pilgrims still came and went. Some even performed three steps and nine bows, kneeling to kowtow every few steps. Their firm will and devout faith commanded respect.
The mountains were high and the forests dense, with palaces connected together. Originally, Mu Feng was wondering where to find Master Kongwu, whom the old woman had mentioned. To his surprise, as soon as they entered the temple, a young novice who seemed to have been waiting for a long time approached them. “May I ask if you two patrons are from Jianning and have come to the mountain to visit Master Kongwu?”
“Exactly, were you sent by Master Kongwu?”
Mu Feng’s thoughts raced, and he quickly understood what was happening. He grew even more curious about Master Kongwu, whom he had never met before.
Such a miraculous prediction was almost comparable to that mysterious old man, Daoist Mayi!
“Yes, early this morning, Master Kongwu instructed this humble monk to wait here. He said a scholar from Jianning would visit today and asked me to lead the way!” The young novice pressed his palms together and bowed. “Amitabha, two patrons, please!”
“Please!”
Mu Feng bowed slightly and followed the young novice up a small path beside the millennia-old temple.
After many twists and turns and passing through a grove of pine and cypress trees, they arrived at a quiet thatched cottage. Under a tall jujube tree, an emaciated old monk had been waiting for a long time. Hearing the footsteps of the three, he slowly opened his eyes. After bringing them there, the young novice pressed his palms together in salute to the old monk and then quietly withdrew.
“Where do you come from, and where are you going?”
The old monk looked Mu Feng up and down, his tone plain but his words carrying hidden meaning. He began with a mysterious and profound riddle.
“What do you mean by coming and going?”
Mu Feng countered with a question, smiling faintly as he calmly sat down in front of the old monk. He was composed and at ease.
When faced with situations, he disliked using force directly, but as a Great Blood-Refining Sorcerer, he never feared enemies resorting to violence. At the same time, as a scholar who had studied extensively since childhood, he was not afraid of verbal challenges from foes.
With righteousness in his heart, clear distinctions between right and wrong, and lofty aspirations, he was naturally calm and self-possessed.
“Hahaha, good, good! Truly worthy of being the Jianning First Scholar. This old monk was impolite!”
The old monk laughed heartily. Though he was emaciated, his grey beard was longer than anyone Mu Feng had ever seen. Tugging at his beard, he then asked, “Young Master Mu, do you believe in fate?”
Fate?
Mu Feng pondered silently.
Fate and the Dao were equally illusory—unseen, unsmelled, and unheard. But one could not deny their existence because of that. It was like human self-awareness; even if you split a head in half, you could not see or touch it, but who could therefore deny the existence of consciousness?
“I believe, but not entirely!”
After a moment of thought, Mu Feng slowly continued, “Fate is fate, and luck is luck. Some things are destined, but they are not necessarily unchangeable or irreversible. Believing entirely in fate, resigning to it or worrying about it all day, is worse than not believing at all. Rather than spending all day searching for masters to tell your fortune, it’s better to keep your feet on the ground and use your own efforts and sweat to defy heaven and change your fate bit by bit!”
“Hahaha, good, well said—defy heaven and change fate! But Young Master Mu, can a person’s fate really be changed?” The emaciated Master Kongwu said meaningfully, then added, “Young Master Mu, do you believe that you are in mortal danger?”
“I believe it. On this journey, which day have I not been in mortal danger?”
Mu Feng smiled frankly.
At Green Kill Pass, the North Flow Twin Ghosts, Dao Duanliu…
After learning that the Blind Master beside Mu Tie was targeting him, he understood that this journey would definitely not be peaceful. Dao Duanliu was not the first cold-blooded killer, and he certainly would not be the last! The longer the Blind Master’s second scheme took to arrive, the more terrifying it would be!
“That was on the road, but what about now?” Master Kongwu smiled faintly, his gaze profound, as if he saw through all of Mu Feng’s thoughts and secrets at a glance.
Now?
Mu Feng was startled, and his vast spiritual sense quickly spread out. However, he detected no trace of enemies, nor even a hint of danger.
Could it be that this Master Kongwu before him was…
Mu Feng’s pupils contracted sharply. He vigorously stirred the Ancestral Sorcerer’s Essence Blood within his body, watching the old monk sitting cross-legged opposite him, ready to strike at any moment.
The Blind Master beside Mu Tie was truly terrifying!
The former leader of the Yellow Springs Sect, known as the Yellow Spring Real Person—a peerless Devil Leader—not only possessed astonishing strength but also never made a miscalculation. Who could know what his next move would be? Who could predict who the next assassin would be?
“Young Master Mu, you suspect it’s me?”
Master Kongwu saw through Mu Feng’s thoughts at a glance and smiled faintly.
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold wind blew, and Mu Feng suddenly felt a chill on his head. A jujube fruit above him, almost within reach, fell. It was so close that he had no time to dodge in that instant! The small jujube landed squarely on the top of his head. The impact was light, but it still startled him into a cold sweat.
This time, it was just a jujube coincidentally blown down by the cold wind, but what about next time?
“The ways of the world are unpredictable. Sometimes, some things are simply impossible to guard against. You never know where the real danger comes from. This is fate!”
Master Kongwu’s tone was calm as he slowly continued, “Young Master Mu, though you are upright, your killing intent is too heavy. Join our Buddhist Sect. Lay down your sword and become a Buddha on the spot. With your wisdom and learning, I believe that one day you can become the most outstanding and powerful Buddha in our sect.”
Attacking the heart!
After shaking Mu Feng’s confidence and taking advantage of his shock and unsettled state, the profoundly skilled Master Kongwu finally revealed his purpose.
“What would becoming a Buddha accomplish?”
Contrary to his expectations, Mu Feng quickly calmed down and retorted with a question. He did not immediately reject the offer, nor did he agree outright, which relieved the secretly worried Jing Wushuang.
“Great freedom, great compassion, great enlightenment!” Master Kongwu said without hesitation, his gaze profound and carrying a hint of expectation, striving to convert this gradually emerging god of slaughter.
“And after great enlightenment, what then?” Mu Feng pressed on, his expression calm.
“This…”
Hearing this, Master Kongwu was momentarily at a loss for words. His tone finally lost its flatness, and his face was no longer serene.
Great enlightenment was the lifelong pursuit of every monk, but what should one do after achieving great enlightenment? He had never really thought about it seriously. It was like after becoming a Buddha, one attained great freedom and great compassion, but what came after that? It was thought-provoking!
“If one has great freedom in the heart and compassion in the heart, one need not enter monastic life to benefit the world. Those who speak of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, or constantly preach compassion, may still harbor harmful intentions, even in monk’s robes! Master Kongwu, you are attached to form. Though your monastic name is Kongwu, you have not yet achieved true detachment from all worldly concerns!”
“Hahaha, good, good! The patron speaks rightly. This humble monk is indeed attached to form!”
Master Kongwu laughed heartily, quickly coming to his senses. His gaze toward Mu Feng held a bit more respect and admiration.
Not only did he fail to convert him, but he nearly had his own Buddhist foundation shaken. Impressive!
The Jianning First Scholar, renowned throughout the Southern Borderlands for his essay “Do Not Ask Heaven,” was indeed extraordinary!
“Thank you for your guidance, Master!”
Mu Feng smiled and bowed slightly.
Although the emaciated Master Kongwu had other intentions, his vivid explanation of fate was thought-provoking. Unintentionally, Mu Feng gained another layer of understanding regarding the so-called Dao. The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao; the world is unpredictable, and no one knows what changes the next moment will bring.
After bowing, Mu Feng was about to continue asking the old monk about the Dao and clarify some doubts. Unexpectedly, before he could speak, the young novice from earlier hurried in quickly, as if something urgent had happened.