The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 597

Yue Buqun also met with Feng Qingyang, the once-famous martial arts master, before Feng Qingyang's death.

Neither of them said much. Feng Qingyang simply nodded slightly to Yue Buqun before passing away.

Jiang Ning fell silent upon hearing this.

He had only met this grandmaster uncle a few times, but he respected him greatly. Now, upon hearing that the uncle had passed away due to the end of his lifespan, he felt a sense of melancholy.

"In fact, if one can die without regrets after living a hundred years, it is a blessing in life."

Yue Buqun suddenly laughed.

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong and Jiang Ning couldn't help but look at Yue Buqun.

They suddenly realized that Yue Buqun was almost eighty years old.

"Master..."

Linghu Chong looked at Yue Buqun, who, despite being over fifty years old, still couldn't help but let out a sob, like a child who hadn't grown up.

"Why are you crying?"

Upon seeing this, Yue Buqun chuckled and said...

Although Linghu Chong had been Yue Buqun's son-in-law for many years, he still habitually called Yue Buqun "Master".

"nothing."

Linghu Chong quickly shut his mouth and shook his head.

Yue Buqun glanced at him, then at Jiang Ning, and laughed.

"I know what you're thinking."

"I am almost eighty years old, and one day I will pass away like your great-uncle."

Yue Buqun, however, was quite carefree, and laughed, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural laws. As long as it is natural, why be sad?"

Upon hearing Yue Buqun's words, Linghu Chong composed himself and bowed.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"Let's go."

Yue Buqun said.

"Ning'er is back too. It's been a long time since our family has had a meal together. Today, your teacher will cook."

Although Yue Buqun has been the leader of the Huashan Sect for many years, he was a master chef when he first took over the sect.

Yue Buqun's words also lessened the sadness of their previous conversation.

Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong also laughed.

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Huashan Martial Arts Training Ground.

"Today is the day for you, the disciples of Mount Hua, to descend the mountain for your travels. After you descend the mountain, you must remember the rules of the Mount Hua Sect. You must not bully the common people or do evil. Do not think that you can be high and mighty just because you are a disciple of Mount Hua. Do not think that you can do whatever you want just because no one is watching you after you descend the mountain. Do not do things that no one knows about. If you do something, you will definitely be found out. Once it is verified, I will not let you off lightly."

Jiang Ning addressed the group of Huashan disciples who were about to descend the mountain for training in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, all the disciples of Mount Hua trembled and quickly agreed.

"Yes, Master."

Twelve years ago, during the massive purge of the Huashan Sect, Jiang Ning dealt with many Huashan disciples. The lightest punishment was the abolition of their martial arts and expulsion from the sect. The results of that purge continue to have an impact to this day.

Jiang Ning looked at them.

“I know that even if I say this, some of you will still lose control. I won’t tell you anything about God watching what people do. I only have one thing to tell you.”

Jiang Ning paused for a moment before speaking.

"You are doing it, and I am watching."

Chapter 810: Old Friends Pass Away One by One

Jiang Ning's last few words were extremely cold, and all the Huashan disciples trembled upon hearing them, and they all replied.

"I will follow the sect leader's teachings."

Jiang Ning waved his hand, and the disciples immediately descended the mountain.

Jiang Ning remained calm as he watched the Huashan disciples descend the mountain.

He won't be leaving the mountain so soon; he'll stay on Mount Hua for a while to teach the disciples.

Not long after, Liu Zhao also returned.

"Master."

When Jiang Ning saw Liu Zhao again, he found that Liu Zhao seemed to have changed a lot.

At this moment, Liu Zhao always had a slight smile on his face, and his eyes were brighter than ever before.

Moreover, Jiang Ning also noticed something different about Liu Zhao.

"Ok?"

Jiang Ning glanced at Liu Zhao and asked in surprise, "You've already practiced the Supreme Dao Scripture?"

It should be noted that since he created the Supreme Dao Scripture, there have been no restrictions; any disciple of Mount Hua can practice it, but no one has been able to master it over the years.

This technique places the greatest emphasis on one's temperament. Without a temperament that matches the Supreme Dao Scripture, it is extremely difficult to cultivate. Unexpectedly, Liu Zhao, after traveling down the mountain for so many years, has actually mastered the Supreme Dao Scripture.

Jiang Ning sensed Liu Zhao's aura and confirmed that it was indeed the Supreme Dao Scripture.

Liu Zhao's aura was quite strong at this moment, indicating that he was already a first-class expert, and not just any first-class expert. Compared to other experts, Liu Zhao was now not much different from the deceased Zuo Lengchan.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Liu Zhao smiled and said, "Over the years of my travels through the martial world, I have had some insights and have finally lived up to my master's trust by mastering the Taishang Daojing to the point of mastery."

Jiang Ning smiled and nodded upon hearing this.

"good."

At this moment, Liu Zhao bowed deeply to Jiang Ning.

"Master, your disciple wishes to enter the Dao, please grant my request."

This time, Jiang Ning still didn't agree immediately, but asked instead.

"What is Tao?"

At this moment, Liu Zhao was no longer as confused as he had been back then, and instead smiled.

"The Way is ever-present."

Liu Zhao replied with those three words that Jiang Ning had said back then.

Jiang Ning remained silent upon hearing this, as if waiting for Liu Zhao's next words.

Liu Zhao paused slightly, then continued.

The Tao is infinite.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning glanced at him and nodded.

Liu Zhao entered the Daoist path at this point.

Time flies, and eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

That year, Jiangning was fifty.

During these eight years, Zhu Houzhao worked diligently to govern the country, punish corruption, actively reform, and implement new laws, thus bringing a dynasty that had begun to decline in the middle period back to a golden age.

During these years, Zhu Houzhao implemented new laws, and the scholar-official class suffered the most. Zhu Houzhao distributed the profits in their hands to the common people at the bottom of society, which enabled them to survive and increased the dynasty's tax revenue. Everything was moving in a good direction, except for the scholar-official class.

Seeing the emperor so ruthlessly cutting into their interests, the scholar-official class did try to resist. They attempted to assassinate Zhu Houzhao in secret and instigate local unrest, using any means necessary. However, all their attempts were forcefully suppressed by Zhu Houzhao, who held military power. As for assassinations, experts from various factions were stationed in the palace, and even Zhu Houzhao's daily food was tested for poison by experts. The scholar-official class simply could not find an opportunity to strike.

This gave Zhu Houzhao more confidence, and he became more forceful, which led to more intense resistance from the scholar-official class, such as the Prince of Ning's rebellion a few years ago.

That time, it was the scholar-officials who supported the Prince of Ning in overthrowing Zhu Houzhao's dynasty and installing a new emperor.

But as soon as the operation began, before the army even left Nanchang Prefecture, Jiang Ning came directly to the capital, captured Prince Ning alive in the heavily guarded Prince Ning's mansion, and massacred the scholar-official families present. Despite being blocked by 100,000 troops, he left Nanchang Prefecture and took Prince Ning to the capital.

The scholar-officials' vigorous resistance was once again extinguished.

After that, the scholar-official class realized that they could not do anything to Zhu Houzhao, whether in the court or in rebellion. With his sworn brother, the most powerful man in the world, and Jiang Ning, the reincarnation of Zhenwu, protecting him, Zhu Houzhao was completely unscrupulous and did not know what fear or compromise was.

It was under this forced implementation of the new laws that the Ming Dynasty was revitalized, and the Zhengde era of prosperity arrived.

But beneath the surface of prosperity lies a deep-seated darkness.

For the past eight years, Jiang Ning has been living in the mountains. The evil spirits and cultists hiding deep in the mountains have reappeared, and the high-ranking officials and nobles seem to have forgotten Jiang Ning's existence. They have become arrogant and domineering as before, bullying the common people.

Although Jiangning is located in Huashan, he is not completely ignorant of the martial arts world and the common people.

After learning all this, Jiang Ning entrusted the affairs of the Huashan Sect to his eldest disciple Liu Zhao and then went down the mountain again.

The newly emerging heretical sects and those nobles suffered another devastating blow.

Fourteen years have passed in a flash.

Jiang Ning, who had been roaming the world for fourteen years, received news of Yue Buqun's impending death and rushed back to Mount Hua from Jiangnan.

"Master."

The former disciples of Yue Buqun were now gathered around Yue Buqun's bedside, weeping bitterly.

Now 102 years old, Yue Buqun showed signs of aging. Upon hearing his disciples' cries, Yue Buqun sternly and softly rebuked them.

"I have lived for 102 years. Even if I am about to pass away, it will be a joyous occasion. Why are you crying?"

Upon hearing Yue Buqun's reprimand, the disciples finally stopped crying.

Yue Buqun looked around and asked, "Where's Ning'er? Has she returned?"

"Master, the sect leader..."

Just as Lu Dayou was about to reply, a voice rang out from outside.

"Master."

Jiang Ning's figure flashed by in an instant.

"The disciple has arrived."

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's voice, Yue Buqun finally smiled.

"Ning'er, you're back."

Yue Buqun, who could already feel his life force draining away, most wanted to see Jiang Ning. After releasing the message, he finally saw his most desired disciple in the last moments before his death.

"Alright, you may all leave. I have something to say to Ning'er."

"Yes."

The disciples then withdrew, leaving only Yue Buqun and his disciple Jiang Ning.

Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning, his cloudy eyes seemingly lost in thought, before speaking after a moment.

“These days I’ve been having the same dream.”

"Dream?"

Jiang Ning asked, "What dream did Master have?"

Yue Buqun looked up at the ceiling and said in a daze, "I dreamt that decades ago I took over the Huashan Sect from Master, just like back then, and struggled to maintain the sect. Later I took in some disciples, Chong'er, Fa'er, Tao Jun and Ying Bailuo."

"But what surprises me is that all the other disciples I've taken in are here, except for you."

Jiang Ning's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

"Master, what happens next?"

"later?"

Yue Buqun stared blankly for a long time before speaking.

"After that, I had a very difficult time. The Demonic Sect was too powerful, and Zuo Lengchan pressed me step by step, sending Junior Brother Feng and the others up the mountain to coerce me. I don't know why, but Chong'er got entangled with that demoness Ren Yingying. In order to avoid the crisis, I had to lead the entire sect down the mountain. Later, when I was desperate, I practiced the Sunflower Manual and did many wrong things. Ping'er and Shan'er suffered because of this. Chong'er was also bewitched by the demoness. In the end, I still failed to revive the Huashan Sect."

After speaking, Yue Buqun stared blankly at the top of his head.

“These days, I often think about those dreams. They were so real, so real, that it felt like they really happened. I was thinking that if I hadn’t saved you from the bandits back then, I might have ended up like you in the dream.”