Jiang Tong'er understood that to achieve 'enlightenment,' one must personally experience it; otherwise, one cannot grasp its essence.
Jiang Yuan did not expect that the five would request Huang Po in such a manner.
Gan Mu bowed again and pleaded, "Please, Master, teach me about the Baoliang Kingdom."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan regained his composure.
He did not immediately agree but asked, "What need do you have for me to teach you about the current state of the Baoliang Kingdom?"
Gan Mu replied, "Master's words are profound wisdom. If the Baoliang Kingdom receives your teachings, it will surely benefit."
Jiang Yuan questioned again, "If I teach the Baoliang Kingdom, the position of your king will surely be shaken. Are you truly willing for this?"
Gan Mu bowed his head and said, "If Master can teach the Baoliang Kingdom, that is enough. Let alone a mere shake, if Master desires, the king can yield his position to you without hesitation."
Jiang Yuan was moved.
He agreed to stay for three years, after which he would depart.
Gan Mu bowed three times and left, overjoyed.
Jiang Yuan turned to Li Xing Shi and smiled, "Li Xing Shi, are you willing to stay here with me for three years to teach?"
Li Xing Shi replied, "How could I refuse? Very well, very well! As long as there is tea and millet, three years it shall be."
Jiang Yuan smiled without speaking.
Time passed swiftly, and before they knew it, three years had gone by.
Jiang Yuan understood that he needed to 'enlighten' Huang Po, so he taught her to rid herself of her malevolence and to embrace the abilities of others.
During these three years in the Baoliang Kingdom, he instructed the people on how to identify medicinal herbs and food, how to build sturdier houses, how to better start fires, and so on.
He never taught the people of the Baoliang Kingdom the doctrines of Daoism or Buddhism; he only imparted common knowledge, allowing them to discern right from wrong on their own.
Through this process of enlightenment, the malevolence within Huang Po gradually washed away.
After three years, Jiang Yuan and Li Xing Shi prepared to head east.
Over a thousand citizens of the Baoliang Kingdom came to see them off, reluctant to part ways, with some even shedding tears.
Gan Mu fell to the ground in a bow, saying, "Master has taught our country for three years; this is a great kindness! Please, Master, leave your name so that the Baoliang Kingdom may remember you."
Jiang Yuan declined, saying, "In the past, the elders did not leave their names; why should I? If there are wise ones, then that is me; there is no need for remembrance."
Having said this, he picked up his jade whisk and headed east.
Li Xing Shi followed with the Demon-Slaying Staff in hand.
Gan Mu bid farewell.
At the moment of parting, thirty young people from the Baoliang Kingdom stepped forward, wishing to follow Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan smiled and politely declined, saying they should help their families remain stable and had no need to follow him.
The thirty young people had no choice but to give up.
Then, a young boy stepped forward and asked, "Master, I have a question; please teach me."
Jiang Yuan looked at him, having a deep impression of the boy, who often asked very interesting questions.
For instance, when he taught about the division of time, the boy frequently inquired about the changes of the sun and moon.
There is a saying: 'Seeing obstacles brings wisdom, seeing doubts brings contemplation.'
He bent down and asked, "What is your question?"
The boy looked up and said, "Master, when I was young, I went to another country and saw their ignorance. They followed the teachings of Buddhism, allowing demons to devour them, claiming it was extinction, that feeding tigers in this life would lead to nobility in the next. What is Buddha?"
What is Buddha?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment, gently stroking the boy's head, and said, "Buddha is you; you are also Buddha. Buddha is all of you; you are all Buddha."
The boy asked, "Master, how could I possibly be Buddha?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head and smiled, saying, "How can you not be Buddha? Everyone is Buddha. When you awaken, that is when you become Buddha."
He said no more, lightly patting the boy's crown before continuing eastward.
Li Xing Shi followed.
The boy stood in place, murmuring the words 'awakening.' He did not understand their meaning, but those two words were deeply engraved in his heart; one day, he would seek their meaning.
...
Meanwhile, in the Xieyue Sanxing Cave.
The Ancestor sat high on the platform, expounding the Great Dao.
Apart from the true disciples, there were still two or three others present.
Just as he was lecturing on the scriptures, the Ancestor's voice suddenly stopped.
He looked eastward and scolded with a smile, "Indeed, an unruly one! The five are not yet complete, and you dare to teach the Western Saint Elder, making it difficult for him. That Ling Mountain's blessed realm has put in so much effort, teaching Lao Jun's works to return to emptiness, and you, child, have made the fire grow larger."
"What a good awakening! This one statement rivals Lao Jun's transformation of barbarians into Buddhas, not to be outdone."
"I predict, child, that one day when you achieve the elixir, you will surely cause trouble in the underworld. In the past, the underworld made mistakes and formed grudges. I did not expect you to first cause trouble in the blessed realm of Ling Mountain."
"Enough, enough, enough!"
"Just take a stroll."
The Ancestor left his seat, dispersing the assembly, and went outside the cave.
...
Jiang Tong'er was unaware of what he was doing and continued walking east.
Although Huang Po's malevolence had diminished greatly, there was still a significant portion remaining, and he needed to carry out more enlightenment.
One day, as the moon rose in the east, Tong'er was walking when he saw Li Xing Shi standing still beside him, causing him to stop.
Jiang Yuan asked, "Li Xing Shi."
Li Xing Shi regained his senses, his eyes shining, and pointed to a high mountain ahead, saying, "Master, I feel something; my fated method may be in that mountain."
Jiang Yuan looked toward the mountain, using his qi to enhance his vision, and indeed saw a clear aura within the mountain, as if true cultivators resided there.
He said, "If that is the case, why not hurry, Li Xing Shi? We shall part ways here."
Li Xing Shi, upon hearing this, was overjoyed.
He grasped his Demon-Slaying Staff and headed up the mountain in search of a good teacher.
After taking three or four steps, he turned around, knelt down, and bowed seven or eight times without saying another word, heading into the mountain like a monkey.
Jiang Yuan watched Li Xing Shi leave, and once he was far away, he turned back.
He needed to carry out enlightenment and could not return to the mountain.
When Huang Po was fully enlightened, he would return to the mountain to cultivate and teach the five to be complete.
As Jiang Yuan looked back on the road, he understood that enlightenment was very difficult.
This was because when he followed Laozi westward in the past, he knew that this land was filled with barbarians who feared the Dao like a tiger.
If he were to teach, it would be extremely challenging.
Yet, no matter how difficult it was, he had walked this path.
When the four returned to the right path, who did not find it difficult? Who found it easy? If one feared difficulty and retreated, how could they cultivate the true path?
Having thought this, Jiang Yuan picked up his jade whisk and continued on his way.
...
Time flew by, passing through summer and autumn, witnessing the cicadas chirping among the withered willows, and the great fire flowing westward.
Before they knew it, twenty years had passed.
Jiang Yuan exerted great effort and finally taught four kingdoms, imparting skills and knowledge about clothing, food, and etiquette.
The difficulties here need not be elaborated.
Many kingdoms knew of his teachings and feared him like a tiger, often bringing forth weapons against him.
There were also demonic obstacles blocking his path, causing Tong'er to suffer greatly.
Later, the Wood Mother emerged, teaching Jiang Yuan how to carry out enlightenment.
If an entire kingdom did not comply, he would naturally leave.
If there were citizens willing to follow, he would teach the king about his abilities.
Only then did the four kingdoms receive enlightenment.
After the enlightenment of the four kingdoms, Huang Po was finally cleansed of her malevolence and achieved completeness.
Jiang Tong'er knew that she was complete and returned to Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, preparing to invite Huang Po to teach the five to return to their positions.
On this day, Jiang Yuan returned to Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, entered the Xieyue Sanxing Cave, and walked into the Yao Tai, wishing to see the Ancestor.
However, he heard that the Ancestor had left the cave, so he could only enter the quiet room and invite Huang Po.
Jiang Tong'er entered the quiet room, calming his restless heart and mind, summoning both the Golden Public and Wood Mother.
He placed the jade whisk beside him and held the Yu Ding for protection.
This was crucial when the five returned to their positions; he could not be careless.
If Huang Po were to be invited, the five would support the primordial spirit, and he would have hope for his elixir path, with the two deities no longer having the opportunity to covet power.
He was worried about the two deities, so he needed to make thorough preparations before inviting Huang Po.
Jiang Yuan adjusted himself, rested for a while, and called his heart and spirit into meditation to invite Huang Po...
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(End of this chapter)