Chapter Thirteen: The Sutra of Tranquility
轉碼失敗！請您使用右上換源切換源站閱讀或者直接前往源網站進行閱讀！Qin Sang went into the city many times to investigate and found that Bai Jianglan had not lied to him. Fuhu Changquan was indeed a common technique. Several large escort agencies in the city, such as the Wuwei Escort Agency, all practiced this style of martial arts.
One doesn't necessarily have to join a guild to learn martial arts, you could just pay for lessons. But learning the Tiger-Suppressing Fist alone would cost forty to fifty taels of silver, and Qin Sang's purse immediately became half empty.
However, the fate of the Underworld Sutra is unknown. He definitely needs to learn this fist style for protection.
Seeing the old Taoist not answering, Qin Sang secretly felt strange and asked, "Taoist Master, you wouldn't want to let Mingyue learn martial arts, would you"
“He has practiced with you for two months. Has the poor Taoist ever stopped you”
The old Taoist stopped, turned around and asked a question. He sat down on the roadside bluestone, took a sip of water, looked at the vast sky, and sighed: "This year's snow came so much earlier than in previous years. In this world, natural and man-made disasters follow one after another. Things are unpredictable. It's a good thing that Mingyue has a martial art to rely on."
Qin Sang sat down beside him and smiled, "What are you afraid of Qingyangguan isn't your ancestral property. Even if the Great Sui Dynasty falls into chaos, at worst you can pack your bags and seek refuge in another country. Mingyue has your skills passed down to him, he can make a living anywhere."
Qin Sang made friends with some merchants and learned that the world was vast. To the south of D Sui, there were a dozen small countries similar to Ningguo. Even further south lay an endless expanse.
To the north of the great Sui dynasty lay another vast nation called Heng. It was said that its territory stretched far and wide, while in comparison, the Sui could only be considered a mere speck.
To the north of Hengguo, legend has it that there is a country even more powerful than Hengguo.
An ordinary person, traveling from south to north, or east to west, will never reach the edge even until death.
Qin Sang also helped harvest the medicinal herbs he knew. The old and young worked tirelessly, filling a basket by the afternoon. As night approached, the two found a cave to rest in, built a fire, and cooked dinner.
Although he had temporarily put aside his desire to seek immortality, whenever Qin Sang went foraging for herbs, he couldn't help but peek into caves and springs.
The old Taoist sighed, “You still won’t give up. I told you long ago that I’ve walked every mountain peak within a hundred miles of here, and lived in every cave on them. I’ve never seen any immortals. But I have seen quite a few skeletons left behind by those who sought immortality, and even helped bury a few.”
Qin Sang could only smile wryly, flipping the steamed buns roasting over the fire. Seeing the old Taoist sitting cross-legged beside him, eyes closed in meditation, still for a long time, his heart suddenly moved. Could it be that Daoist Ji Xin had already reached the state of tranquility like still water
The living example is right before our eyes, yet I have failed to see it. How blind I am!
Qin Sang regretted deeply and hastily asked for advice, "Master Daoist, how did you manage to discard all distractions and achieve a state of calmness"
Jixindian closed his eyes and asked, "How much of what you've read in the scriptures do you remember"
Qin Sang blushed. He was devoted to the immortal way and looked down on ordinary Taoist scriptures. He only flipped through them because he wanted to learn the characters so he could ask the old Daoist for advice. He read one sentence from the east and another from the west, never truly reading them carefully.
"Have something to eat first."
The old Taoist didn't comment, picked up a steamed bun, and chewed it slowly.
Qin Sang was looking anxiously.
The old Taoist glanced at him, "Be still, be calm. Writing and eating are also forms of cultivation."
Qin Sang forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and finished his meal, finding that his mind had calmed down considerably.
After Ji Xin Dao Ren finished washing up, he spoke, "Do you still remember the Diamond Sutra"
Qin Sang nodded hurriedly, "I remember part of it."
“Follow me as I utter... look inward, the heart has no heart; look outward, the form has no form; look afar, objects have no objects...”
In the cave, the sound of one old and one young chanting scriptures rose. After reciting a quiet scripture once, Qin Sang opened his eyes, just about to speak, but saw the old Taoist immediately begin to recite the second time, and hurriedly followed suit.
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Having recited the Quiet Sutra several times, Qin Sang seemed to have gained some understanding. He sat there quietly for a while, then got up and bowed deeply to the old Daoist, "Dao Chang, can I join you in evening prayers from now on"
Ji Xin Dao Ren let out a chuckle, "Whether or not you recite scriptures is of no concern to this poor Daoist."
That night, although Qin Sang didn't practice the Netherworld Sutra due to the old Taoist sleeping beside him, he felt unusually excited in his heart. He might have found the right path.
After that, Qin Sang followed the old Taoist priest and Mingyue to recite morning and evening lessons every day. Time flew by, and the year was coming to an end.
This was Qin Sang's first New Year's celebration in this world. He had many feelings, but no one to tell them to.
The Daoist temple's festivals were rather ordinary, the only notable event being when Jixin Daoist took out a portrait of his master, Yunyouzi, for worship. Qin Sang saw a more ethereal and refined old Taoist with a long nose painted on it.
Although the refugees were like a tide, Sanwu City was still as bustling as ever. Qin Sang followed his master and his apprentice into the city to join the competition.
Qin Sang still hadn't cultivated that 'qi', but his persistence over the past two months hadn't been in vain. His meditation skills had improved significantly, and sometimes he would unknowingly meditate all night long. The next day, he wouldn't feel tired, but instead, he would be refreshed and energized. This boosted his confidence more and more.
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Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!
Sān Wū City was a bustling hub, with traffic flowing north and south. Commerce thrived, and escort agencies were plentiful.
The Wuwei Escort Agency wasn't the largest in Sanwu City, but it enjoyed a very good reputation. Qin Sang had spent quite some time investigating and learned that the Wuwei Escort Agency had a master bodyguard named Yang Zhen. He was highly skilled and of impeccable character. All his disciples were also skilled fighters.
As the year end approached, most鏢 (bodyguard/protector) masters had already returned to town. Yang Zhen's escort mission took him all the way to Beijing, and it took him over three months to return. Qin Sang heard the news and immediately bought gifts to visit him.
Fifty taels of silver for a set of Tiger's Fury Fist techniques, that was expensive even in the major鏢 bureaus of San Wu City. The accountant at Wuyi Bureau received the money and told the errand boy to take Qin Sang to find Yang Zhen.
Following the servant into a small courtyard, Qin Sang saw that there were already dozens of young men waiting inside. He whispered to the servant, "Are they all Master Yang's disciples"
The fellow nodded and said, "Master Yang is highly skilled in martial arts and renowned. He never holds back when teaching his disciples. If you have enough talent, Master Yang might even take you as a formal disciple. Many people in the city want to learn from Master Yang, so young master Qin, you'll be learning with them. Master Yang is currently speaking with the head of the guild. Please wait here for a moment while I deliver your name card and gifts."
The man entered the inner room. Qin Sang stood in the courtyard, observing Yang Zhen's disciples. He could tell that dozens of young men were divided into several groups.
There were a dozen or so young men wearing identical tight cotton clothing, with waist bands and leg bindings. Their bodies were particularly strong, and their playful gestures showed that they had solid foundations in martial arts. They were probably the formal disciples the clerk mentioned earlier.
There are young masters from wealthy families, dressed in fine clothes and with light steps, here to pass the time.
Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!
There was also someone standing alone in the corner, looking very restrained. Perhaps like myself, they had just become a disciple.
Qin Sang thought for a moment, then walked to the corner and waited quietly.
Not long after, the main gate swung open and a tall man walked out. The young boys in the courtyard immediately stopped their laughter and loudly greeted their master.
Upon meeting Yang Zhen in person, Qin Sang felt a heavy pressure emanating from him.
This man was about fifty years old, with a beard and wearing the uniform of the Wuwei Escort Bureau. He was tall and imposing, easily a head taller than Qin Sang. He was the most burly person Qin Sang had ever seen in his life.
Bai Jianglan's men were all strong men, and they were also a head shorter than Yang Zhen.
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