The copper coin stopped on the table. Zhang Fubao leaned over the table and looked at it attentively for a long time. She nodded solemnly and said to herself, "I knew it. With the Wuzhen Sutra, I would have the chance to become an immortal and achieve the Great Way. Why would I get married?
According to this divination, if I marry him, there will be a bloody calamity. This is very inauspicious. This means that he and I are not fated to be together. Don't worry, I can be at ease now. Hehe, it seems that choosing the path of Immortal Cultivation was the right choice. "
A heavy snort came from behind her, and a man's voice said, "Become an immortal, become an immortal. I think you're going to become a demon soon."
Zhang Fubao was shocked. She screamed and jumped up. She turned her head and couldn't help but say, "Brother, why are you walking like a ghost? There's no sound at all. Are you trying to scare me to death?"
Taoist master Zhang touched his nose and said innocently, "No sound? The sound of my footsteps is almost as heavy as a cow's, and I even knocked on the door frame. Who knew you were so engrossed? You're studying that heretical technique again? I don't know who passed it down to you? "
"What heretical cultivation method? This is a superior cultivation method for becoming an immortal," Zhang Fubao said, unconvinced.
Taoist master Zhang snorted disdainfully. "You've really entered the devil's path, girl. Mount Longhu, Mount Mao, and Mount Gezao have talismans side by side, and Mount Longhu is the leader. If people find out that my sister, Taoist master Zhang, is so devout in the Danding Sect's cultivation method, wouldn't we be a joke to the world? "
It turned out that Taoist cultivation had the "Three Sects and Five Secrets", which included Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation, Life Dual Cultivation, and Buddhism and Taoism Dual Cultivation. Mount Longhu was the representative of the Talisman Sect. Although they also focused on refining Jindan internally and using talismans externally, they had their own emphasis. They believed that practicing the Taoist talisman secret method was the only way to achieve the Great Way.
On the other hand, the Pill Cauldron Sect paid more attention to the cultivation of an Inner Core. They believed that cultivating an Inner Core and nurturing a Nascent Soul was the foundation of becoming a Celestial Immortal. The Pill Cauldron Sect was divided into the Pure Cultivation Sect and the Dual Cultivation Sect.
Different Daoist sects naturally regarded the skills passed down by their own ancestors as orthodox, and viewed others as crooked, especially the Dual Cultivation Sect. Even the Pure Cultivation Sect of the Pill Cauldron Sect was somewhat biased against them.
Zhang Fubao was strolling around the mountains when he accidentally discovered an ancient cave from hundreds of years ago. There was a Jade Disc Sutra in it. Of course, she would not hide it from her brother. The Little Celestial Master was the one who helped her retrieve the jade disk from the cave. The Taoist master Zhang casually flipped through the Daoist scripture and saw that the Daoist techniques recorded in it followed the path of the Danding Sect.
The Taoist master Zhang was a grandmaster of the Talisman Sect, so he was naturally repulsed by it and abandoned it. Unexpectedly, Zhang Fubao treated it like a treasure. She was already very distressed about learning how to draw talismans, but she was very interested in the Inner Core cultivation method. She actually wanted to learn the sutra and cultivate to become an immortal.
Zhang Fubao wasn't annoyed that her brother had poured cold water on her. With a sweet and innocent smile on her face, she said, "It's fine if brother doesn't believe me, but I feel that this grimoire is extremely profound. Hehe, then just wait for me to ascend to become an immortal, then I'll enlighten you."
Zhang Fubao's figure was slender and slender, and she had a fresh and meaningful temperament. When she smiled, a pair of big eyes and two deep dimples could be seen, which was very lovable. The Taoist master Zhang was in charge of everything on Mount Longhu, and his status was extremely respected. However, he could not do anything about his sister, so he could only shake his head helplessly.
Zhang Fubao asked, "Brother, why are you looking for me?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm going to Shangqing Palace, so I wanted to see you." The Taoist master Zhang casually signed.
"Go, go, I'm going back to the inner room to cultivate." Zhang Fubao opened the jade disk, and as she walked towards the inner room, she recited softly, "To refine Golden Liquid and Huandan, it's hard to come by, but easy to succeed. It requires a clear understanding of Yin and Yang, and a deep understanding of creation. Only then can one pursue the two Qis in the ecliptic, meet the three natures in the Yuan Palace, gather the five elements, and harmonize the four images.
"Hmm, the Jade Cauldron broth, the Golden Furnace Fire blazes, then the Xuan Pearl forms an image, Taiyi returns to its true form. Everything comes in a short period of time, to ensure endless happiness forever … Hmm, I still don't understand this part, I have to carefully study it, carefully study it … "
The Taoist master Zhang smiled bitterly and shook his head. Suddenly, he remembered that he heard an important sentence just now, and hurriedly asked excitedly, "Sister, wait, who did you say you're going to marry just now? Could it be that you've already understood the four-word gatha that father gave you? Who is my brother-in-law going to be? "
Zhang Fubao stopped, and rolled her eyes at him, and said, "A person's fate changes according to time and situation, there's no such thing as a fixed principle. Father's words back then might not necessarily come true. I just did a divination, me and … that person is definitely impossible. Sister's Taoist heart is firm, and you're determined to be a devout cultivator. Get married, get married, don't mention it to me again! "
The Taoist master Zhang watched as his precious sister, who had completely sunk into the nightmare of becoming a celestial, entered the inner room, and helplessly shook his head and sighed, "Deliberately mystifying things! Forget it, a person can't fight against fate, let her be. What's going to come will come. I don't have to be too hasty. "
Thinking of this, the Taoist master Zhang brushed his sleeves and left.
He was in a hurry to go to Shangqing Palace to discuss with the Taoist officials about the meeting with Emperor Zhengde. Since the Emperor had arrived in Nanchang, how could he not pay a visit as the Grand Preceptor?
Kong in the North and Zhang in the South. Qufu's Kong family had been sought after by the imperial court since the Song Dynasty, and their status suddenly became extraordinary. The Zhang family of Mount Longhu was the same. Although Mount Longhu's Shangqing Palace had been built since the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was only during the Song and Yuan Dynasties that they received the emperor's favor, and they had a supreme status in Taoism.
The Talisman of the Three Mountains was established at the beginning of the Song Dynasty, and after a few hundred years of development, the Longhu Sect became the leader, and this was inseparable from the imperial court's support. Now, the Kong family of Qufu was still in the imperial court's favor, and the Longhu Sect had only seen them once when the new Emperor ascended the throne.
Moreover, Emperor Zhengde was now more interested in Buddhism. As the leader of Taoism, and the true successor of the Longhu Sect, he had to be vigilant in times of peace, and think of ways to expand his influence in the imperial court and the Emperor's heart.
A sect that had been passed down for a thousand years was not something that could be maintained by people who only knew how to study behind closed doors. Interpersonal relationships were crucial, especially with the imperial court. The little Taoist master had a heavy burden on his shoulders!
* * *
"Are you sure? Did they really escape to Mount Jindan? "
Yang Ling sat in the spacious carriage, and asked the secret agent of the Imperial Bodyguard, who was standing in front of the carriage with his hands cupped.
Before Zhengde's army reached Jiangxi, the spies of the Three Depot and One Guard had already spread out, forming a tight investigation network to investigate the whereabouts of Crown Prince King Ning. It was reported that Crown Prince King Ning and a few of his trusted aides had absconded with a large number of gold, pearls, and jade treasures. Their original route was straight to Mount Wuyi, but the imperial court reacted quickly and set up an inescapable net in Fujian. Crown Prince King Ning changed his route halfway and disappeared without a trace.
"Duke, we are not familiar with the people and the place, and none of us are fluent in the Yao language, so we do not dare to go deep into the Yao District. That place is the same as the Miao District. The tribes near the mountains have been educated by the imperial court, but if we go deeper into the mountains, many of the tribes practice slash-and-burn farming, and they are still uncivilized barbarians.
Moreover, the place where they live is steep and rugged, and some places require climbing vines to get across, so it is really difficult to get detailed information. But we asked the Yao people at the foot of Mount Jindan, and they said that a few days ago they saw with their own eyes a few Han people pass by and go deep into the Yao District. From their clothes, they should be Crown Prince King Ning and his men. "
Yang Ling nodded and said, "Good, we will reach Eagle Pool Town in front of us. The army will station here first, and then we will pursue the whereabouts of Crown Prince King Ning."
Eagle Pool was only a small town, and the imperial court had set up an Inspection Yamen here to manage the place. Their Inspection Officer had not even seen officials like the prefectural magistrate or the chief judge. Now that the imperial court had sent an army here, and the one leading the army was actually a Duke, this made Patrol Officer Li very busy, afraid that he would offend the Duke in any way.
But Yang Ling was anxious to completely solve the matter of King Ning's rebellion and return to the north as soon as possible, so he did not care about the shabby living conditions and the poor food. He only rested for a day at Eagle Pool, and then led a group of elite soldiers to Mount Jindan to investigate the situation.
It was another dozens of miles of journey, and the road ahead was difficult to travel. Without a thorough investigation, it was impossible to pull the army into this dangerous place where it was difficult to advance or retreat, and difficult to supply supplies. In fact, Crown Prince King Ning no longer had an army, and only a Baihu and a few men could easily capture him. If it was not for his important status, and the fact that he had gone deep into the barbarian land where the government did not really control, there was no need for a dignified Duke to come personally.
It was said that the Yao people at the foot of Mount Jindan had lived here since the Han and Wei dynasties. There were three villages in the valley, and each had the surnames Jiang, He, Huang, Ouyang, and so on. Just by looking at the surnames, there was no doubt that they were Han people. There were about four thousand people in the three villages, and after hundreds and thousands of years, the villages had not changed much.
They gathered and lived according to their surnames, and each surname had a gate tower, forming a living pattern based on bloodline. The three villages were in the shape of the triangular shape, and the surrounding mountains formed a natural barrier to defend against external invasion. They built a solid city gate at the junction between the mountains, and there were people standing guard on the city gate tower. There were also observation towers and arrow holes. On the solid city gate hung a large bell that weighed hundreds of pounds. If there was an alarm, all the bells would ring together, and the sound would resound through the sky.
The limited land in the valley was used to grow crops, and the Yao villages were built on the hillsides. Row after row of village houses went up the mountain, and often the roofs of the houses at the front were level with the ground of the houses at the back. Looking from a high place, behind the Yao villages were continuous mountain peaks and valleys. The peaks in the valley were towering, and hundreds of peaks contended for supremacy, as if thousands of troops and horses were surging forward.
The scout of the Imperial Bodyguard stood on the hillside and pointed, "Duke, we found the whereabouts of Crown Prince King Ning in Guzhong Village Village. The villages here are very respectful to the imperial court, but if we go deeper into the mountains, the Yao people who don't have much contact with the outside world don't have a good impression of us Han people. Moreover, the residence is too dangerous, and it's difficult to go in and find out information."
Yang Ling nodded and said, "Let's go to the village to take a look, and find out more details before making a plan."
Although there were Han people coming and going, most of them were peddlers. Now there was a troop of more than a thousand people, and they were clearly the imperial court's army. This attracted the attention of the people in the Yao village. As soon as Yang Ling and the others entered the village, they attracted many Yao people to watch.
The simple faces of these Yao people were full of curiosity, and they were not afraid of the soldiers. As soon as they entered the village, they were greeted by the smell of wine. Every family in the Yao village knew how to brew wine, and every family drank wine. There was no tea to entertain the guests here, so they always used wine instead of tea and water.
What came into view were the low houses made of yellow mud and stone, the tiles made of fir bark, the quaint village, the simple villagers, and the kind smiles on their faces. The murderous soldiers unconsciously put on a kind smile and put away their weapons.
A white-haired old man with a face full of wrinkles walked over with the help of others. He opened his turbid eyes and looked curiously at the group of guests from afar.
Yang Ling had already learned from the spies disguised as peddlers that these Yao villages, which had more contact with the Han people, implemented the Yao elders system. The leaders of the villages were elders elected by the villagers of each surname. They were respectively appointed as the Lord of the Sky, the Lord of the Head, the Lord of the Temple, the Lord of the Incense, and the Lord of the Water Release. They were in charge of managing the village's wars, disputes, arresting criminals, farming, and so on.
Lord Tianchang was the most powerful, and he was also the oldest. The old man in front of him was most likely the Lord Tianchang of this Yao village. Yang Ling hurriedly took two steps forward and modestly greeted the old man, explaining his identity.
The old man covered his ears and listened to the person supporting him shout at him. He smacked his toothless gums and grinned. He mumbled something. The strong man supporting him said to Yang Ling kindly, "I'm the head steward of the village. Lord Tianchang said that he went to Nanchang more than sixty years ago and even met the Magistrate of the Han people. I heard that your position is even higher than that of the Magistrate? Then you really are an honored guest. Lord Tianchang is very happy and wants to invite you to the Yao King's house for a drink. "
The head steward was in charge of the battles and fights in the Yao Village. He had always been a young, strong, brave, and decisive person. He was also the youngest among the elders. Yang Ling nodded with a smile, gesturing for his soldiers to wait at the entrance of the village for the time being. Then, he brought only twenty or so personal guards with him and followed behind the trembling old man, walking up the stone steps.
Yang Ling noticed that some of the Yao people's residences on both sides of the street were open. Bundles of pine branches were piled beside the doors. The rooms were dark. Most of the houses were two stories tall and had no windows, but there were many holes for arrows. Occasionally, he could see dried meat hanging from the beams of the houses, swaying gently in the wind. It seemed that the people here lived a very poor life.
Because the Yao King's house was used to handle official affairs, it was not located at a very high place. There was an empty field in front of it. In the middle of the field was a wooden frame in the shape of a bull's head. A yellow flag, which symbolized the Yao people, was stuck high on a long pole. Beside it was a long drum that was shaped like a pillar that narrowed from both ends to the middle. There were also some wooden benches fixed around it. This was the place where the Yao elders gathered to discuss the affairs of the village.
In the middle of the Yao King's house was a tall wooden chair with a tiger's head carved on the armrest. Next to it were knives, forks, and bull's horns. The Yao King and Yao Lian were no longer here, but there were still such seats. On the table at the back, the Pan King, who ruled over everything, the creator of the world, Pangu, was enshrined.
Duke Tianchang's swarthy face was filled with smiles. He enthusiastically asked someone to serve rice wine to this Han family official. The steward raised his cup and urged him to drink, saying, "This year's wine is very heavy. In order to persuade my Grandmaster, first, I have to persuade the Jade Emperor, and second, I have to persuade Yuan Li Laojun …"
He spoke very quickly. Yang Ling only heard a few words before he couldn't hear them clearly. However, this simple village custom was very touching. He smiled and raised his cup in response. Even though he didn't dare to drink too much due to official duties, he still drank a few mouthfuls. The wine was sweet and rich, with a lingering kick. It was truly an excellent taste.
The old man could really drink. After Yang Ling took three sips, he had already drunk three big bowls. The Yao family didn't have tea. They had always substituted wine for tea. They drank wine when they were farming, when they were chopping firewood, when they were watching plays. Many people drank three to four catties of wine every day, so this little bit of wine was naturally not a problem.
After drinking the wine, Yang Ling explained the purpose of his visit to the head steward. The head steward hurriedly relayed the story to Duke Tianchang. Hearing Yang Ling's story, the old man's almost bald white eyebrows knitted together. He stroked his long beard and said a few words to the head steward. The head steward translated, "Duke Tianchang said that two days ago, someone who entered the mountain to visit relatives came back and said that the people you mentioned had indeed entered the mountain. They are now guests of the Yao King who is begging for food in the mountain. I heard that the Yao King has the intention of marrying him into the family. I didn't expect him to actually be a fugitive."
Yang Ling hurriedly said, "That's right. The imperial court originally wanted to use the army to suppress the fugitive, but when I passed by this place, I saw that the people here are simple and honest, the people are happy and the old man Duke Tianchang treats his guests warmly. I really don't want to see the flames of war ignite here. The Yao King in the mountain is isolated from the rest of the world, and his residence is dangerous. Only you guys can communicate more. The old man Duke Tianchang is a person of virtue and prestige. Could you ask the old man to send someone to communicate with the Yao King in the mountain and have him hand over the fugitive?"
The head steward's expression turned serious. He spoke with the white-haired old man in an extremely fast voice for a long time. Then with a troubled expression, he said, "Duke Tianchang said that he understood what you said. King Ning wanted to seize his nephew's property. Now that he has already been punished, and his son has only brought a few people to this place, why is the King of Ming Destiny still so relentless? After all, he is an uncle's brother. What's wrong with letting him go? "
Yang Ling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He replied, "The old man is kind, but he doesn't understand that a huge country can't be governed like a village. Crown Prince King Ning has escaped. He won't be willing to stay in the mountains for the rest of his life. Sooner or later, he will collude with some ambitious people to cause trouble. If he causes trouble, the flames of war will be ignited, and the casualties will be uncountable. Besides, a country has its laws, and a family has its rules. If the laws are not followed, the world will be in chaos in the future. "
The head steward whispered to the old man again. He said, "Pan Qishi is arrogant and has always looked down on others. If we ask him to hand over his guest, it will be a great humiliation to him. Although Duke Tianchang has a high status and is highly respected in the Yao Village, it is not good for him to meddle in the affairs of other villages."
Yang Ling sighed and said, "If that is the case, we can only directly ask this King Yao for the guest. If he doesn't hand it over, then we will have to fight. At that time, the army of the imperial court may have to borrow the road up the mountain from here. Don't be afraid. As long as you don't help that King Yao go against the imperial court, the imperial court will not do anything to you."
The head steward became even more nervous. He hurriedly asked, "Do we have to send a lot of soldiers?"
Yang Ling smiled and said, "Not too many. Just send twenty to thirty thousand people into the mountain."
The head steward's eyes almost popped out. He stammered, "Tens … tens of thousands of people?"
The head steward and Duke Tianchang started whispering to each other again. After a while, he said, "Duke Tianchang said that he can send someone to see Pan Qishi, but he can't guarantee that Pan Qishi will submit. Duke Tianchang said that Pan Qishi reveres Taoism, believes in witchcraft, and worships the gods. He is very respectful to the Great Celestial Master Zhang of Mount Longhu. If you can ask the Great Celestial Master Zhang to come forward, I believe that Pan Qishi will know to fear the might of heaven. "
Taoist master Zhang? Yang Ling didn't expect that these barbarians, who lived in the mountains for generations, were not afraid of the imperial court that was thousands of times stronger than them, but had such reverence for Buddhism. Just now, when he heard them singing a drinking song, they mentioned that they would first salute the Jade Emperor, then the Taishang Laojun, and finally the Miao Wang Shigong. It seemed that in the eyes of these barbarians, the Taoist master Zhang indeed had a deterrent effect that even an army of a million could not compare to.
The Yao family was not like the capital of the barbarians. As the saying goes, there is no mountain in Lingnan that is not Yao, and there are Yao people everywhere. Years ago, the Yao people in Guangxi's Da Teng Gorge and Guangdong's Luo Di had shocked the world when they rebelled. If they rashly sent troops and massacred in order to capture Crown Prince King Ning, it would cause the Yao people to unite against a common enemy. Then the gains would not make up for the losses. Moreover, looking at this place that was like a paradise, how could anyone bear to ignite the flames of war here?
Yang Ling nodded and said cheerfully, "Very well, then thank you very much, Elder. Please advise the Yao King in the mountains not to be enemies with the imperial court. Taoist master Zhang and I are old friends. I will go up to Mount Longhu to see him and hope that we can bury the hatchet and resolve this matter peacefully. "
When Yang Ling saw the two, he had mentioned his identity as a High Duke, but Tian Zhang obviously did not think of a High Duke as a great official. Now that he heard that he was good friends with the all-powerful Taoist master Zhang, the old man suddenly showed a look of awe and did not dare to be arrogant anymore.
Yang Ling then understood that the Taoist master Zhang's position in the eyes of the local barbarians was almost sacred. That Yao King Pan Qishi was a frog in the well and did not know the power of Ming Destiny. If he forced him to release the prisoner, it was likely that it would be inevitable that war would break out and harm the innocent. Taoist master Zhang might be a good move to make a surprise move.
* * *
In the alchemy room of the Taoist master's mansion, little Fu Bao was very busy. The fire under the alchemy furnace was boiling. Inside the alchemy furnace, she was refining the Qiankun Pill that she had made according to the secret recipe on the jade plate.
As a Taoist disciple, little Fu Bao naturally knew how to refine elixirs. But in the past, she had been served by the Taoist apprentice, so she did not need to worry about some of the rough work. Now the matter of refining the Qiankun Pill was too important. Besides, there were a few precious herbs that were not available in the alchemy room. She even stole them from her brother when he was not at home. Naturally, she did not want others to know.
Little Fu Bao was personally busy. Her face was red from being roasted by the alchemy furnace. Her hands and cheeks were covered with black ash. Seeing that the fire was ready, she extinguished the fire and took the pill. She pulled the iron chain to lift the lid of the alchemy furnace. When she opened the alchemy furnace, she saw that the Qiankun Golden Pill had become two burnt black balls. It was not refined at all. She could not help but feel a little discouraged.
At this moment, the Taoist Priest Zi Feng ran in excitedly and shouted outside, "Young lady, are you there? Come and see, come and see, it's spectacular! "
With a clatter, Zhang Fubao threw the two pills that were refined like iron marbles. She shouted outside in surprise and joy, "What's so spectacular? Did something unusual happen? "
As she spoke, she hurriedly opened the door of the alchemy room. She thought, "My grandmaster was refining the Nine Heavens Divine Pill on this mountain and something unusual happened. When the Golden Pill was refined, dragons and tigers appeared and worshiped it. Could it be that the power of my Qiankun Divine Pill is so great that even before the pill was refined, there were already ghosts crying and gods howling and strange phenomena appearing in the sky?"
Zhang Fubao opened the door. The Taoist Priest Zi Feng was stunned when he saw the black and white stripes on her snow-white skin. Zhang Fubao could not help but ask, "Tell me quickly, what kind of unusual phenomenon did you see? What was so spectacular about it?"
The Taoist Priest Zi Feng hurriedly said, "The soldiers at the foot of the mountain are coming up the mountain. The Heavenly Master has already gone to welcome them. Duke Wei Yang Ling is coming up the mountain to worship the grandmasters of the Three Pure Ones. It's a joyous occasion. The soldiers are waving their banners and their swords and spears are dazzling. It's a majestic sight. "
Zhang Fubao was greatly disappointed. "So it wasn't because of my success in refining the pill, but the unusual phenomenon happened!"
She pursed her lips and suddenly jumped up high. She turned pale with fright and said, "Stop, stop, stop. Who did you say came up the mountain?"
"Duke Wei Yang Ling." The Taoist Priest Zi Feng was baffled.
Zhang Fubao clenched her teeth and thought, "If it's a blessing, it won't be a disaster. If it's a disaster, I can't avoid it. This great disaster still came up the mountain after all."
She closed her eyes and pinched her fingers to calculate. Then, she said solemnly, "According to my calculations, today's trip will benefit from the southeast. I'm going to avoid the disaster." She then left the dumbfounded Taoist Priest Zi Feng behind and left in a panic.
This Zhang Fubao had already regarded Yang Ling as a demon on her path of cultivation. Especially after the divination that day, she predicted that it would be inauspicious if she married him and that there would be a bloody disaster. Therefore, she rejected him even more.
However, she had forgotten that the divination's prediction could be fake or real. It could be big or small, and it could be dispensable. She had already opposed it in her heart. If she interpreted the result of the divination according to what she already had in her heart, how could she not be wrong by the slightest bit and miss by a thousand miles?
What kind of ominous warning was saying that there would be a bloody disaster after marrying him? Which virgin girl didn't have a bloody disaster on their wedding night? How could she, Zhang Fubao, be an exception? What kind of divination was this?
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