Chapter 1461 - 2-in-1)

Chen Yi spent some time gathering his thoughts.

Back then, he heard a few things about the Six Emperors from the Holy Emperor, but it was all fragmented information, and that Heavenly Master, who had long stopped concerning himself with worldly matters, preferred speaking in philosophical terms, remaining secretive about many ancient affairs.

Impressions of the Ninety Battles still lingered in his mind; he recalled the Blind Arrow's invocation of the Mother of Non-Birth, transforming into a Heavenly Person, and then Zhou Yitang's sword that summoned gods from all dimensions to observe the Dao.

The two experiences confirmed the truth of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's words.

After a brief reorganization, Chen Yi asked again: "Second question, since gods and buddhas know the heavens are about to collapse, why don't you take action yourselves?"

"Your question is quite broad." Samantabhadra Bodhisattva pressed his palms together, speaking slowly: "In fact, we are taking action."

"Where is the action?"

"In you, in him, in all beings." Samantabhadra continued: "Just like Medicine Buddha seeks the ascension of monks and Daoists to avoid heavenly disasters, acquiring infinite merits, and thus reshaping the Medicine Buddha's fruit position. It's also like the Mountain and River God selecting you against public opinion, and like the Green Emperor leaving his legacy to Yin Sword Mountain... All these are methods of salvation."

"What I asked was, why don't you take action yourselves." Chen Yi repeated the question.

Samantabhadra glanced at him, his gaze was compassionate yet helpless, then he said: "Not unwilling, truly unable."

"Unable in what way?"

"Ksitigarbha once said, until hell is empty, he vows not to achieve Buddhahood, yet after so many years, when has hell ever been empty? Despite Ksitigarbha's great power, he cannot empty hell, why is that?" Samantabhadra suddenly gave an example, then explained: "Hell has become a part of the world's great Dao, how can it be empty? People will die, so there will be people in hell; with reincarnation, people will die, do you understand the principle among these, benefactor?"

Listening to these words, Chen Yi realized he had never deeply considered what Samantabhadra Bodhisattva said. Gods and buddhas indeed possess great powers, yet even Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva cannot make hell vacant. If explored further, even the Buddha cannot enlighten all beings instantaneously, though the Buddha has infinite power, clearly possesses the ability to enlighten beings instantly, just like Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva could empty hell unless, unless...

The unenlightenment of beings is a part of the Dao.

"You, the myriad gods and buddhas, cannot change the world's great Dao?"

"Correct, we have long become part of the Dao,"

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva sang a Buddhist chant, continuing:

"Though there are differences between Buddhism and Daoism, sometimes they lead to the same destination. Our Buddhist school speaks of Nirvana, it is a realization within, it is establishing True Suchness.

Thus, gods and buddhas cannot truly change heaven and earth until the final moment; we cannot destroy heaven and earth, we are already within the Dao.

Have you ever seen anyone committing suicide to save themselves, benefactor?"

"Even if you know the heavens are collapsing, you cannot change heaven and earth, destroy heaven and earth... because you cannot commit suicide, you rely on external force to save the world, wait... you are part of the Dao, so you cannot personally save the Dao."

Chen Yi was already enlightened, his gaze surpassed Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, as if his eyes contained ninety thousand levels of heaven, hundreds of millions of levels of earth,

"Even the decline of the Dao is a part of the Dao."

......…

Min Ning never imagined that this journey across Jianghu would last nearly five years, traveling from the Southeast to the Northwest, then from the Northwest to Sichuan, entering the Southern Border, and now heading back towards the Northwest. She once knew Jianghu was vast, but when it transformed from a storyteller's three-inch tongue to the road beneath her feet, she was startled by the wide heavens and broad earth.

Walking and observing, she became accustomed to the merchants, martial artists of Jianghu, government officials, witnessing countless enmities and friendships, as well as grand heroism. Traversing from north to south, her martial arts grew increasingly stronger, with fewer rivals on Jianghu. Her name spread like a storm.

Her swordsmanship became increasingly powerful; each person fortunate enough to survive her hands felt the change after a few days. Even she was astonished, realizing she had reached a point where today's self could not match tomorrow's potential.

More remarkable was her ability to recall the sensation of each duel.

The good and bad, strong and weak, complete and incomplete, drunk and awake, one among many or surviving against all odds, exhilarating or dragging, images would leap from her mind, replaying the events. Even she was surprised, and Zhu Yu told her this was her listening to the voice of the sword.

Indeed, the sword is alive and has a voice.

Some swords roar, some swords lament, some swords thirst for blood, while others only wish to return to their sheath. Some swords are self-restrained and adhere to principles of propriety like a gentleman, while others are as lascivious as Chen Yi, longing to seek pleasure.

She shared these nonsensical words with Zhu Yu,

Zhu Yu remarked that she was speaking in the style of Ancient Dragon, Min Ning asked who Ancient Dragon was,

Zhu Yu replied: "A hero heard of from a Taoist friend."

Min Ning had not heard before, but Zhu Yu had crossed more bridges than the roads she had traveled. Knowing unknown heroes was not uncommon, for Jianghu ages easily, the mountains remain, but people are forgotten.

A long boat with a canopy drifted downstream, passing through the layers of green mountains.

The old boatman at the stern rowed, his wooden oar cutting the water, making a sound of "ai nai," except for occasional bird chirps from the shores.

Qing Li sat at the bow, her legs hanging outside the boat's edge, swinging leisurely.

Being young, she couldn't sit still. After watching the trees and cliffs speed by on the shores, she turned her head to look at her master sitting with her knees hugged.

"Master, where are we going?"

Min Ning did not answer, still gazing at the river, her gaze somewhat drifting. After a long time, she said, "Heading north, to see the land of Central Pass."

"Central Pass?" Qing Li blinked, "Isn't it close?"

"Hmm, it's some way ahead."

Qing Li uttered an "oh," shifted her body slightly, accidentally bumping against Min Ning's left shoulder, which was wrapped in thick, clean bandages, with a faint scent of herbal medicine.

Qing Li immediately withdrew her hand, saying, "Master, does it still hurt? It must hurt!"

"It's nothing." She paused, speaking lightly, "Anyway, I won."

Upon hearing this, Qing Li's eyes brightened with admiration and excitement, momentarily forgetting the pain. She clearly remembered the battle in Meishan City over ten days ago.

That was a peculiar person.

Qing Li still finds it somewhat incredible when she thinks about it. That person looked young but was in ragged clothes, carrying a long sword wrapped tightly in coarse cloth on his back. The strangest thing was that he couldn't speak, only emitting low growls and sounds like a mountain ape, yet his eyes shone fiercely like two burning wildfires.

They first saw him from a distance when entering the city, and then he stopped them in front of the largest tavern in the city, "Drunken Immortal Tower."

He didn't know from where he had snatched a jar of wine, rumored to be aged for thirty years, and obstinately blocked Min Ning with it, tossing the jar at her chest while his other hand gestured in invitation for battle. The surrounding drinkers and pedestrians were all frightened to back away, not daring to approach.

Thus, a battle began.

The specifics of that battle left Qing Li dazzled. Later, she heard people adding embellishments at tea houses and wine shops, saying how the sword light sometimes rose like lonely smoke, sharp and decisive; other times it was like dense spring rain, infiltrating every gap. From the long street, they fought to the outskirts, from afternoon until dusk, exchanging more than three hundred moves...

She wasn't sure if it was accurate; she couldn't remember clearly. She only remembered in the end, it was that strange man who staggered back, his cries of discontent mixed with resignation, randomly folded his fists to salute Min Ning, and then disappeared into the dusky mountain forest without a trace.

Later, Qing Li heard that the strange man seemed to be a "Lonely Smoke Sword," a single transmission lineage, conducting himself eccentrically, yet his swordsmanship was highly regarded, and he had some reputation in Jianghu. Qing Li felt it was natural for her master to win, but she also shared a sense of honor.

"Master is the best!" Qing Li said sincerely.

Min Ning simply smiled, not continuing the topic. A win was a win, but it wasn't easy. The Lonely Smoke Sword's methods were peculiar and ruthless, utterly defying convention. Essentially, it seemed like the Murder Sword's approach. Fortunately, Zhu Yu was knowledgeable and adept at breaking down such techniques, allowing her to gain the upper hand.

Qing Li resettled at the bow of the boat, pulling out sesame cookies bought on the road, breaking them apart and sprinkling them bit by bit into the water by the boat's side. Soon, several carps emerged from somewhere, gathering to snatch the crumbs floating on the water.

Watching the fish eagerly scramble for food, Qing Li suddenly asked softly, "Master, do you... not miss home?"

Min Ning was gazing at the distant mountains as she reached out her hand, her fingers like hooks momentarily plunging into the water. When she withdrew her hand, her fingers had already grasped a plump carp struggling fiercely.

"What," Min Ning, busy catching the fish, didn't hear clearly. After Qing Li repeated herself, she responded with a question: "You miss home?"

Qing Li looked at the lively fish in her master's hand, nodded, then shook her head, honestly admitting, "I kind of miss it. Don't you?"

Min Ning tossed the fish into the old boatman's fish basket and said, "I miss the people at home, my sister, and... a man I think of."

Qing Li nodded, saying, "I miss my brother too. Is that your brother?"

"Brother? It's a disciple, your senior brother," her smile was filled with something Qing Li couldn't comprehend, a mix of warmth, wistfulness, and something else, "He's... a troublesome guy but one that I can't put aside."

Qing Li was somewhat surprised, realizing she had a senior brother.

Curiously, she asked several questions about her senior brother, but Min Ning didn't answer much, offering many vague and dismissive responses. In the end, seeing the sky had grown dusky, she let out a yawn.

As the evening descended, the old boatman had already cooked the fish soup, the fresh aroma wafting to their mouths. Qing Li, being a child, turned around and approached.

Min Ning brushed her hand against her waist's Wind Cloud Sword, watching the reflection of mountains in the water, suddenly asking:

"Zhu Yu, after all, what kind of sword is the Sword Armor?"

"...Heartless Sword."

"I don't believe it. If she were truly heartless, she wouldn't have competed with me for a disciple."

"It's said she severed the Three Corpses, but held an obsession."

"...Perhaps. Whatever she does, I must surpass her sword in the end." Min Ning tightened her grip on the sword hilt, frowning, "How can I catch up with her?"

The more the Sword Dao advances, the more grand the mountains appear.

What once seemed bold now seems increasingly unattainable.

Zhu Yu spoke slowly: "Since you can hear the sword's voice, why cling to just one sword?"

"You're suggesting that merely relying on this sword won't surpass her?"

"She is the Sword Armor of this era; it ought to be so." Zhu Yu replied slowly, "You should gather the famous swords of the world to have the strength for a battle."

Min Ning lowered her eyes, contemplating for a long time, then slightly nodded and said, "I understand, Zhu Yu, I'll have to rely on your guidance again. When the time comes, I'll make sure to help you regain your physical form first."

"No need... Over three hundred years, I no longer know what a physical form is, long accustomed," Zhu Yu paused, sighed slightly, "It's just a pity that back then, I decomposed and transformed, leaving no legacy to pass on."

Hearing her lament, Min Ning, instead, felt inspired and laughed: "Don't say that, don't you have a True Disciple?"

"...Who?"

Min Ning pointed to herself with her thumb, without any humility,

"Taking charge without hesitation."

In a rare moment, Zhu Yu didn't offer a sarcastic comment but sighed with many feelings, silent for a while.

Perhaps she was moved.

After a long silence, she spoke softly:

"Min Ning, meeting you is my honor."

"Mm... master, better not, just call it this once, in the future keep addressing you as Zhu Yu, otherwise, it's too cheesy."

Min Ning gazed at the distant mountains, seeing one mountain higher than the other, gave a wry smile and said:

"Sword Armor, exactly which mountain?"

"Which one, you'll soon know."

Zhu Yu said calmly:

"Arriving in Chang'an, you'll achieve the name of Spring and Autumn Sword Master.

Surely not beneath her."