An old Daoist with graying hair stopped Yuan Tiangang and said in a deep voice to Yun Ye, “You’ve achieved your goal of humiliating the Daoist school, so tell us—what kind of matter is worth Cheng Xuanying’s tongue?”
“Actually, I should have demanded one hand from each of you eight as well. This news was sold too cheaply. Cheng Xuanying’s tongue merely offset his own sins. Daoist tongues are valuable—I can’t afford to compensate for them. What a pity that I’m the kind of person who eats only as much as my stomach can hold, and I happen to be able to swallow this bowl of rice from the Daoist school. Old Yuan, this world must have some fools and simpletons, otherwise there’s no saving it.”
The several old Daoists said nothing more but drew their swords. Yuan Tiangang’s face twitched as he looked at the seemingly smiling yet not smiling Yun Ye, then glanced at Dan Ying over there holding a horizontal blade, eager to try it out. Suppressing his rage, he asked again, “Tell me about that matter.”
Knowing Old Yuan was in a difficult position, Yun Ye stopped teasing them. He pulled out a piece of paper from his bosom and handed it to Yuan Tiangang. Yuan Tiangang opened the paper and asked in bewilderment, “Who is Xuanzang? Is his return that important?”
From this question, Yun Ye could hear just how arrogant and ignorant the Daoist school was. He walked two steps toward the cliff edge with his hands behind his back—this was the place where those bastards from the academy jumped off the cliff with parachutes. Just looking at the churning clouds and mist below, one could tell how crazy those students were. That bastard Meng Youtong was now suffering through seniority in the military—who knew if he still had the courage to jump off cliffs now.
“Yun Ye, this poor Daoist believes you wouldn’t speak recklessly, but you must tell me why his return marks the decline of our Daoist school. As old friends of many years, are you truly so heartless?”
“You bastard, now you want to talk about friendship with me. The Daoist school has had it too easy these years, hasn’t it? Every one of you, besides grabbing wealth and deceiving ignorant common folk, has no other skills. Who is Xuanzang?”
“He’s a monk who walked ten thousand miles on foot to finally reach Tianzhu, the birthplace of Buddhism, where he received a tremendous welcome. He debated scriptures and convinced countless eminent monks there, rode a white elephant through the streets while believers showered him with flower petals falling like rain. He’s bringing back countless Buddhist scriptures and is about to spread his teachings across our land.”
“You’ll counter the Mercy Relief Society with even grander soul-summoning rituals, but what will you use to counter a great virtuous eminent monk like Xuanzang? Walking ten thousand miles on foot shows his sincerity; his unyielding perseverance shows his strong will; convincing Tianzhu’s eminent monks shows his great wisdom; bringing back original scriptures shows he benefits all living beings. You barely have one Cheng Xuanying who’s passable to look at, and even someone like him likes to throw children into the sea. Do you think the Daoist school’s future days will be easy?”
“Refusing a kindness offered—I help you and you think I have malicious intent, drawing your swords, preparing to do what? Stab me? Do you have the guts? As long as Cheng Xuanying goes to the East Sea to resolve his sins, I’ll pretend not to know about throwing children in. You can record this great merit for yourselves, then come back and use your own tongue to make your case. When you encounter Xuanzang, debate if you can win, and if you can’t, play dumb. Putting on appearances is your old profession—surely you understand even this?”
“Is there really such a figure? Why does no one in the Chang’an marketplace know of him?” The eight old Daoists exchanged glances, unable to hide their terror. Only Yuan Tiangang pursued with another question.
“Old Yuan, if you have no food to eat in the future, come to the Yun family. I’ll build you a small Daoist temple. Given our many years of friendship, I can still afford to provide meals for you master and disciples.”
Having said this, he very rudely pushed aside the old Daoist blocking his way and passed through their midst. Dan Ying chuckled, leaped up to grab the pine branch overhead, and in two or three moves crossed over the old Daoists’ heads, laughing as he chased after Yun Ye. The big yellow dog, seeing its master had left and hoping for more delicacies, squeezed out from between the old Daoists’ legs and, wagging its tail, raced wildly down the mountain.
The old Daoists all sighed in unison and quickly walked toward Zhuifeng Pavilion. Whether Cheng Xuanying lived or died was now very important.
The mountain path was shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland. The days without clouds and mist on Yushan could be counted on one hand. Strangely, the clouds and mist only encircled the mountain peak, like a giant cloud ring draped around the mountain body. Among the recently emerging Eight Scenic Sights of Chang’an was the saying “Yushan Ring of Mist,” as famous as “Bidding Farewell at Ba Bridge Willows.”
Yun Ye most enjoyed this section of the mountain bridge. The clouds and mist were neither too high nor too low, just reaching the waist. The newly built vermilion railings appeared and disappeared in the clouds and mist. Yun Ye and Dan Ying were like two immortals riding clouds and mist, happily fanning the clouds with their hands, watching them roll around their bodies—extremely elegant and interesting. The yellow dog waded through the clouds and mist, struggling to keep its head above them, preparing to get closer to its master.
“Infinite Life Buddha, why is Marquis Yun so joyful? Could it be that seeing the Buddhist school’s destruction is Marquis Yun’s greatest joy?” A breeze passed, and a bald head appeared in the clouds and mist. It looked like Daoxin. The clouds and mist had soaked his gray monk’s robe, his bald head was covered with water droplets, and his long white eyebrows were also full of water droplets. The old monk didn’t know how long he’d been sitting in the clouds and mist.
“Not at all. I merely wanted Cheng Xuanying’s tongue to settle a karmic debt. Having no choice, I had to borrow some secret information from the Buddhist school. Buddha is compassionate and surely won’t mind.”
“Three full years—the Buddhist school concealed Xuanzang’s matter for three years, and at the final moment, Marquis Yun exposed it with a single phrase. Why doesn’t Marquis Yun know how to help others succeed? Today you planted a cause, and in the future you will surely bear the fruit it produces, but who knows whether it will be good fruit or evil fruit.”
The old monk’s words were quite vicious, seeming to contain a meaning of revenge afterward. Naturally, Yun Ye wouldn’t be frightened. He came before the old monk wanting to sit down, but seeing the wet stone slabs, he still felt standing was better.
“Buddhism’s most flourishing period was during Emperor Wu of Liang’s reign. A poem says, ‘Southern Dynasty’s four hundred eighty temples, how many pavilions in misty rain.’ In the small territory of Jiangnan alone, there were no fewer than a thousand monasteries. You indeed had the right to be proud—selling the emperor four times, you pioneered this in a thousand years of imperial history. Emperor Wu of Liang, such a fanatic believer, you watched with your own eyes as he starved to death. Great monk, your hearts are cold to this extent—do you still want people to harbor illusions about you?”
“Look again at what you’ve done. The biggest landlords are the Buddhist school, the most ruthless usurers are the Buddhist school, the wealthiest are still your Buddhist school’s temple kitchens. Tell me, if I ruined the Buddhist school’s grand plan, will I descend to the eighteenth level of the tongue-pulling hell in the future? If I’m going to hell in the future, why are you brooding about it now? Just wait to watch me suffer then. Making yourself sit in clouds and mist, getting all wet—seeking sympathy? Winning through pathos? Great monk, I do things according to my own will, not according to the environment. This set of psychological suggestions is very useful on others but useless on me.”
Daoxin slowly stood up. His withered, thin body seemed to grow larger. Yun Ye waved his hand and continued, “I’m responsible for using my mouth. If you want to use your hands, find him—he likes to use his hands. He often regrets that there are no opponents left in the world and often feels lonely.” While speaking, he quickly dodged behind Dan Ying. The old monk was terrifying, even more terrifying than that old monk Tanyin at Maiji Shan.
Dan Ying was very satisfied with Yun Ye’s flattery just now. He extended his fist and said, “Yun Ye said your One Finger Chan can pierce gold and penetrate stone with unparalleled power. It just so happens my fist isn’t bad either—I can also smash ordinary stones. Today let’s see whether your One Finger Chan is more formidable or my fist is more formidable.”
Daoxin looked at Yun Ye behind Dan Ying with a very embarrassed expression, and said in puzzlement, “One Finger Chan is a type of Buddhist doctrine. When did it become a kind of martial art? This old monk’s martial studies are merely some boxing and kicking practice. Where in the world would there be such a technique as One Finger Chan?”
Dan Ying asked doubtfully, “Then have you ever heard of these martial arts: Nine Yang Manual, Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Toad Technique, One Yang Finger, Azure Sea Tide Song, Dog-Beating Staff Technique?”
Daoxin thought very carefully and said to Dan Ying, “No, I’ve never heard of them. Martial arts are merely the result of tempering muscles and bones—how could there be so many strange martial arts?”
“You lied to me again.” Dan Ying shouted tragically at Yun Ye. When he drank with Yun Ye, during idle chat he heard Yun Ye mention these lofty and admirable martial arts. Just hearing the names, they were supreme secrets, the essence of martial arts. Now, even the oldest old monk had never heard of them—naturally Yun Ye had fabricated them, causing him to break his fingers practicing the Divine Flicking Finger technique.
The injured youth disappeared in two bounds through the clouds and mist, leaving only Yun Ye, the old monk, and a thoroughly soaked yellow dog.
Yun Ye scratched his chin and said to Daoxin, “The fight can’t happen now. Let’s talk properly again about the grudges between your Buddhist school and the Daoist school.”
Daoxin turned and walked away, causing the clouds and mist to churn endlessly. His voice came from far away: “You’re just a bastard. You did this just for fun. Chang’an is too peaceful and you’re uncomfortable with it. Forbidden by His Majesty to leave your residence, you wanted to stir up some trouble. Now you’ve made it big—this old monk will watch how you handle the aftermath.”
Soon only Yun Ye and the yellow dog remained on the mountain path. Patting the dog’s head, Yun Ye clasped both hands behind his head, whistled, and descended the mountain. Although the hem of his clothes was already soaked through, his cheerful mood hadn’t changed in the slightest.
Mentioning Emperor Wu of Liang, if Daoxin still didn’t understand that divine authority and royal authority had come into conflict, his eighty years would have been lived in vain. Li Er was not Emperor Wu of Liang—as long as even a speck of dust entered his eyes affecting his vision, he would unhesitatingly gouge out even the eyes themselves. In his decisive killing, Emperor Wu of Liang couldn’t catch up even riding a rocket.
The Buddhist school and the Daoist school were actually in a mutually dependent relationship. Li Er, who always liked to play balancing games, crouched in the shadows watching the two families fight. As long as one family dominated, he would viciously give the powerful one a club, drag them into the shadows for a fierce beating, and after their power levels were about equal, release them again to continue maintaining a peaceful scene, waiting for the next time to strike the victor with another surprise blow.
Up to now, the balance in the world had been maintained well. Officials were capable, the common people were simple and honest, the imperial family was loving between father and son—very satisfactory. Only an ugly hyena always running around outside gave Li Er a headache. Breaking its legs, his heart ached; not breaking them, it always ran around everywhere displaying its existence. So he gave it a three-month prohibition order—out of sight, out of mind.