Chapter 287

Xuan Ku, this name really suits that monk; looking at his sorrowful face, he seems never to smile—he is practically the embodiment of bitter gourd.

"Om Namo Buddha, my Buddha's compassion is everywhere; wherever there are demons and heretical paths, there my Buddha will save all." Xuan Ku monk uttered a Buddhist chant, palms together.

"Heh, Monk Xuan Ku, who are you calling demons and heretics?" Before the master could speak, QingSongShu gave Xuan Ku a contemptuous smile, seemingly unafraid of this monk.

Although Monk Xuan Ku was thus despised by QingSongShu, he showed no anger, continuing in a neutral tone: "The heretical paths I speak of naturally refer to Daoist Priest Li; the Yin Mountain sect's methods are excessively yin, utterly unsuitable for this world."

"Impudent! Who gave you the gall to call the Yin Mountain sect heretical?" QingSongShu flicked his robe, exuding authority without anger.

He loudly questioned Xuan Ku, defending the Yin Mountain sect.

"The Yin Mountain teaching is a branch of the Daoist tradition. Yin and yang exist in taiji; our Huaguang teaching's method is the utmost yang under heaven, while the Yin Mountain teaching's method is the utmost yin. One yin, one yang—endlessly generating—this is the very root of the Dao; where could heresy come from?"

Having said that, QingSongShu paused, then continued questioning Xuan Ku: "Looking at your patched robe, you must be a practitioner who has traveled far; how can you not know that the Dharma has no distinction of right or wrong, only that people have good or evil? All teachings under heaven can lead to the Dao; your Buddhist Sect speaks of myriad Buddhas because one method can certify one Buddha, hence the myriad Buddhas. Now you uphold your own path to insult others'—which Buddha of the Buddhist Sect taught you this?"

"Enough." The master waved his hand, stopping QingSongShu from speaking further. He gave Wang QingSong an appreciative glance, then turned to look at Xuan Ku.

"Xuan Ku, I know you came today merely to avenge your father's death twenty years ago. If you want my life, come and take it if you're able. Why bother with many excuses and pretense? Just…"

The master glanced at me and QingSongShu, adjusted his clothes, then continued: "This is merely my grudge with you, unrelated to others; do whatever you want, come at me alone—don't drag unrelated parties into this karmic matter."

"What unrelated karma? I am your disciple, half your son; your enemy is my enemy." As soon as the master finished speaking, I red-eyed shouted.

By now, even a fool would know that this monk before us has come to seek vengeance on my master. As the saying goes, master and disciple are like father and son; a father's debt is repaid by the son. No matter how grave the master's mistake, it is only natural for me, his disciple, to bear it.

Moreover, I had just overheard their conversation and knew the master still dwelt on the past, wishing to die to end this grudge. If so, it would be better for all the sins to fall on me, as his son, to bear them in his place.

I care nothing for Buddhist or Daoist gates; whoever wants to kill my father must first step over my corpse.

Red-eyed, I threw caution to the wind, drew a yin‑thunder flower sigil on my fingertip, and turned to charge at Monk Xuan Ku.

This is the Yin Mountain sect's yin‑thunder strike: whoever is hit by the yin‑thunder flower sigil will have their body consumed by yin qi and die, far more vicious than the common five‑hundred‑coin technique. Normally, Li Feng restricts me from using this art, but now I cannot worry about that—this monk is no ordinary person, and moreover he is my master's lifelong enemy, so when I strike I must give it my all.

"Hai Sheng, no—…" the master cried out from behind.

But I had already made up my mind; how could a few words from the master stop me?

However, the master did not move, while QingSongShu beside him did. I gripped the yin‑thunder flower sigil; before I could reach Monk Xuan Ku, I heard a "Hai!" and a strong force struck my neck—pain flared, my eyes closed, and I passed out.

……………………

When I woke up, I was already on the train to Guangdong. QingSongShu sat beside me; seeing me awake, he fondly rubbed my head.

"Hai Sheng, you're awake—are you thirsty…"

"QingSongShu, where is my master? Where is my master?" Upon waking, I clutched his sleeve in panic, asking for his whereabouts.

"Ah…" QingSongShu let out a soft sigh.

My heart clenched suddenly, pain reaching straight to the five viscera and six bowels—a feeling of losing a relative, spreading through the body, making it hard to breathe.

Could it be that Master was killed by that Xuan Ku?

"Hey hey hey, Hai Sheng, don't cry—Second Brother is fine; he just needs to go to Yunnan to lay low for a while."

Suddenly, QingSongShu's words made my eyes light up.

"Really, QingSongShu, are you telling the truth?" I choked out the question, staring fixedly into his eyes.

After a moment, QingSongShu nodded. He told me that the master originally had a mind to die to resolve this grudge, but after Wang QingSong's earnest persuasion he changed his mind. The reasons for Li Feng's change of heart were two: me, and his son who had been missing for many years.

All these years, the master has regarded me as his own biological son; his reluctance to part with me needs no further explanation.

As for the master's son, that is indeed true.

More than ten years ago, my master's wife gave birth to a son. Not long after, Master Li Feng was tracked down by enemies. To protect the child's safety, he had no choice but to secretly entrust the son to a friend overnight.

Later, that friend died in a car accident, and the master's son naturally lost contact. All these years, the son has remained a heartache for Li Feng, though few know of it.

QingSongShu said that after the master heeded his advice, he pretended to arrange a duel with Monk Xuan Ku the next day, but it was merely a ruse.

After securing Monk Xuan Ku, QingSongShu that night arranged for the master to go to an acquaintance in Yunnan to lay low.

QingSongShu said he had persuaded the master in this way.

"Second Brother, even if you now have no fighting spirit and only wish to die to understand this grudge, you must still think of your ill‑fated son. Consider whether, over all these years, you have fulfilled your fatherly duty toward him. If you haven't seen him, would you really be willing to die? And think of Hai Sheng—he regards you as his father; could you bear to abandon him alone in this world?"

QingSongShu persuaded the master back in this way. At first, when QingSongShu said the master would rather flee than face Monk Xuan Ku, I didn't quite believe it, for I know my master too well—even in death he is stubborn; not even nine oxen could pull him back.

But when QingSongShu mentioned the master's son, I believed him. This matter has long been a heartache the master could not let go of, yet few know about it.

Upon reflection, the master's avoidance of the duel for his son's sake is not impossible. After all, the master has always felt guilty toward his long‑lost son. Consider: as parents, unless compelled by circumstance or unavoidable hardship, how could we bear to abandon our children?

Thus, regarding QingSongShu's words, I gradually shifted from doubt to belief.

"QingSongShu, you said that monk Xuan Ku—will he continue to seek vengeance on my master?" Knowing the master is temporarily safe, I felt relieved. Still, one can escape for a time but not forever; if Xuan Ku persists in his pursuit, the master will eventually be found by him.

"It's possible… so you must now master your skills; when your ability surpasses that of Monk Xuan Ku, go defeat him until he submits, so he dares not trouble your master again."

"All right… QingSongShu, I will certainly train hard, until Monk Xuan Ku dares not bother my master again." I clenched my fists, my whole body brimming with fighting spirit.

I never realized how naïve I was then—how could a patricidal feud be settled by a single bout? Yet I have no regret for the vow I once made; if avenging my father is destined to be irreconcilable, then let me repay his debt in his stead.

Thus, I followed QingSongShu on the train to unfamiliar Guangdong, beginning a new life.

Volume Two, Cultivation Notes