The next day.
The Ancestor took Jiang Yuan and sent Laozi into the storage room to stand guard, departing from Luoyi and heading west, intending to go to the Lingtai Fangcun Mountain in the West Niuhezhou.
On the journey, Jiang Yuan, with a clear mind, understood that Laozi allowed him to leave the game in order to comprehend the situation of the Eastern Zhou and the various feudal states, to discern its meaning, and whether the beings of the South Zhanbu Continent could understand and resolve it.
Jiang Yuan provided the answer: the beings of the South Zhanbu Continent could indeed understand.
However, he was unclear about why Laozi cared so much; he did not understand and asked the Ancestor.
The Ancestor walked along the path and smiled, saying, “In the past, Boyang had an agreement with the heroes of the South Zhanbu Continent. The Zhou lost its teachings, and Boyang was meant to leave a path; his entry into the world was mostly for this reason.”
The emperor lost his office, and the teachings were among the four barbarians.
The Zhou Dynasty was on the decline, gathering the four barbarians.
Thus, the feudal states grew strong, while the Eastern Zhou existed in name only.
Jiang Yuan asked, “Master, what is the difference between the beings of the South Zhanbu Continent in the past and today?”
From the Ancestor's words, he could hear that there were many heroes in the South Zhanbu Continent in the past.
Now it was the Zhou Dynasty, and looking back, it was only the Xia and Shang, and then to the ‘Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.’
The Ancestor simply said, “I intended to speak of this once you entered the Dao, but since you, a child, have asked, I will tell you a thing or two. In the past, the beings of the South Zhanbu Continent had many heroes, and the divine beings favored them. Heaven was pleased with the qi of the South Zhanbu Continent. When the ‘Emperor’ did not comply, resistance arose, the qi of the South Zhanbu Continent was depleted, and many perished prematurely, leading to great chaos.”
In the Ancestor's few words, it seemed he had glossed over countless matters.
Jiang Yuan pondered, as if understanding much; this was the ‘Journey to the West,’ with the Heavenly Court above, the Buddhist sect in the west, and the Underworld below.
The South Zhanbu Continent may not have always been like this, but due to many entanglements, it had come to this state today, with short lifespans.
In the past, he had glimpsed at the Yu Ding and saw those who entered the world, achieving great deeds and becoming great sages, yet still facing punishment.
What a pity.
Perhaps ‘Heaven’ felt he posed a threat, forbidding the existence of the ‘Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors,’ thus teaching him a lesson, sending him to hell for severe judgment.
The Ancestor extended a hand from under his sleeve and lightly patted Jiang Yuan's mud palace, saying, “Do not think too much; prioritize entering the Dao.”
Jiang Yuan lowered his head in realization, knowing that this matter could not be changed, and he was powerless to alter it.
He should take care of himself and ensure his heart's monkey returned to submission as soon as possible.
He said, “Master, the disciple understands.”
The Ancestor nodded and said, “This matter arises from Heaven. If in the coming years you attain the Golden Core, it will be for seeking justice, and whatever else it may be, you must have the ability to act.”
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, “Master, you do not teach me to accumulate virtue and do good, but rather to seek justice through violence.”
He understood from the Ancestor's words that once one had the ability, they could seek justice; if justice was not given, they could take it by force.
The Ancestor replied, “I understand the principles of Dao and Buddhism; how can I be constrained? Accumulating virtue and doing good is also possible, and seeking justice through violence has its own methods; it all depends on oneself.”
Jiang Yuan deeply agreed.
Having spent much time with the Ancestor, he knew the Ancestor's nature was carefree, not one to be fixated on every word and action.
Jiang Yuan gazed westward and asked, “Master, how far is it to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain?”
The Ancestor smiled and pointed westward, saying, “To the end of the golden light.”
As he spoke, the road beneath their feet rose with golden light, dazzling and bright.
Looking far ahead, one could not see the end of the golden light.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuan turned back to look; the outline of Luoyi had disappeared, and once again, the sky began to brighten, with golden light illuminating the path ahead.
Indeed, it was ‘the eastern sky slightly brightening white, the western route's golden light shining brightly.’
The Ancestor said, “Child, let us go.”
Jiang Yuan responded and accompanied the Ancestor as they walked westward.
……
Luoyi.
The Zhou royal family, in the storage room.
Laozi sat in front of a table, looking down at the chess game he had played with Jiang Yuan yesterday, all laid out before him.
The ‘Horse Rear Cannon’ was indeed a strange move, using the general as bait to lure the pieces forward, seizing the opportunity to determine the entire game.
“Chess begins with the orthodox and ends with the strange victory.”
“What Guangxin said makes sense; to break the endgame, one must use this principle to find a good opportunity.”
“However, the current Zhou royal family lacks Guangxin.”
Laozi gazed at the chessboard for a long time, sighing aloud.
He knew that if he focused on this game, he could break it in an instant; the situation was merely a matter of five or six moves.
Yet what he sought was a good opportunity to break the game, not merely a win or loss.
The beings of the South Zhanbu Continent could break this game.
Unfortunately, Jiang Yuan was decisive, leaving the world and entering under the Bodhi, along with the Jiang surname's karma being resolved, counted as the ‘Jiang Ancestor’ of the Upper Capital Mountain, with no further ties to the mortal realm.
Bodhi was indeed cautious.
He also saw that Bodhi favored this disciple.
Entering the door severed karma, and it was done thoroughly.
“The Zhou royal family's ancestor was the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor and the Flame Emperor have always been friendly and harmonious, and historically, the Ji surname and the Jiang surname have mutually supported each other. Who would have thought the Zhou royal family would reject the Jiang surname?”
“Even if Guangxin's Jiang surname still exists, it cannot sway the Zhou royal family.”
Laozi knew well the fluctuations of the mortal world.
For those who do not leave the world, this game is difficult to resolve.
Laozi pondered for a long time and said, “Enough, enough, enough! Let us wait here for two hundred years. If the Zhou royal family remains unjust, I shall have to give up.”
……
All the way west, the golden light formed a path.
Time flew by, and several months passed.
Jiang Yuan accompanied the Ancestor, drinking dew by day and dining on wind by night, continuously chanting spells.
His body grew lighter, leaping fifty-six zhang, and his heart's monkey was often under his control, becoming less unruly and more settled.
As he walked, he often conversed with the Ancestor.
The Ancestor's teachings on the principles of cultivation often enlightened him, clearing his mind.
He shared insights from various schools of thought, and each doctrine also brought the Ancestor some gains.
Months later, the master and disciple arrived at the entrance of a deep valley and paused.
The Ancestor saw it and pointed to the deep valley, saying, “This place is a marvelous land, deep and perilous like a box. From the east, it stretches to the Xiaoshan, and to the west, it reaches Tongjin. If a pass were built here, it would allow a single cart to pass through, and one man could guard it against ten thousand.”
Jiang Yuan looked ahead and then toward the east, saying, “Master, there is a pass to the east, quite far from here, difficult to see.”
The Ancestor focused his gaze and replied, “That is a peach forest pass. In the past, during the Zhou and Shang conflict, the Zhou king exited the pass and met with the feudal lords here.”
Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and realized that this perilous valley might be the later Hangu Pass, yet at this time, the Hangu Pass had not yet been established.
This was a battlefield, and no one had passed through.
He knew that later, one of the feudal lords, the Qin state, would build a great pass here called ‘Hangu Pass,’ also known as ‘Qin Hangu Pass.’
Jiang Yuan pointed to Hangu and smiled, saying, “Master speaks so wonderfully; in the coming years, there will surely be military strategists who will build a pass here.”
The Ancestor shook his head and said, “Let us not speak of this matter for now. Child, upon exiting this Hangu, you will enter the West Niuhezhou. That West Niuhezhou is filled with demons and monsters; remember to keep your mind steady and do not let the two spirits find a weakness. If the two spirits find a weakness, your heart's monkey may cause trouble.”
Jiang Yuan responded, “Yes,” feeling vigilant in his heart.
He wanted to see what kind of demons and monsters were in the West Niuhezhou, and how he, with the Yu Ding in hand, was not a weakling to be bullied.
The Ancestor smiled and nodded, continuing along the golden light path.
Jiang Yuan glanced ahead once more, remembering that the Buddhist sect was in the West Niuhezhou, wondering if he would encounter those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on this journey...
(End of Chapter)