Chapter 42: The Strange Old Man
The three of them went down the mountain to say goodbye to the Chuyun faction naughty boy Weng Weng without concealing it, and walked on the way down the mountain. Yi Dan looked up at the sky and asked Jiang Suyue, "Sister Suyue, look at the sky, can we still rush to the Jingyu Sect today?"
"The Jingyu Sect is still more than two hundred miles away from here, and I'm afraid I won't be able to make it today. But there's a place close to here called Mount Yuelu, and I can take you to play today."
"Yuelu Mountain, what's there to do there?" asked Youming.
"I'll tell you a secret, in fact, the former head of the Jingyu faction, my uncle and grandfather Sun Yandeng, he lived in seclusion on Yuelu Mountain, let me take you to see him."
Youming said in surprise: "Eldest Sun Yandeng, isn't that the elder Sun Yandeng, the elder of the Jingyu Sect who is rumored to be of noble character and self-denial?"
"Yes, he is my uncle. My uncle's internal strength is unfathomable, and his swordsmanship is unbeatable. It's just that he rejected that Sumo's invitation back then, so he didn't have his ranking on the "Zhige Famous Spectrum". However, if he is willing to make a move, I am afraid that the title of the number one in the world may not be able to be pointed out," Jiang Suyue said.
"I once heard my father say that he said that the eldest grandson of the Jingyu Sect is truly unparalleled in the world in moral character, but his old man is long gone, why would he?" Youming asked suspiciously.
"You don't know, my uncle has a strange personality and doesn't like to come into contact with people. So deliberately spread rumors that he had passed away. In fact, he lives in seclusion in Yuelu Mountain, cultivating books, practicing skills, planting flowers and painting, and doesn't interact with the world, don't tell others, otherwise I will be scolded again" Jiang Suyue said with a smile.
"Okay, well, we definitely won't tell others, Sister Suyue, don't worry," Yi Dan said.
"Well, of course I believe you Sister Dan'er, that's why I told you. I've never told anyone else about this," Jiang said.
"Great, so that's the case, if we can have the honor to visit the gentleman of the world today, it is really a blessing for three lives" Youming said happily.
"I've also heard of the name of the eldest grandson's predecessor, but I didn't expect him to be alive. I really want to meet him and see him for real," Yi Dan said.
"Hey, I'm afraid that when the time comes, he will keep picking on your thorns, and you will know that it is powerful," Jiang Suyue said helplessly.
"Why did Sister Suyue say that?" Yi Dan asked.
"Hey, you'll find out when you go. However, my uncle doesn't care about the grievances of the rivers and lakes, and it's best not to mention your affairs to him," Jiang Suyue said.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, don't mention it if you don't mention it. Anyway, it's a good thing to pay a visit to the martial arts seniors by the way," Yi Dan said.
"It's not early, let's hurry up and go to Yuelu Mountain" With that, Jiang Suyue rode on her horse and ran forward quickly. Yi Dan hurriedly chased after him and shouted, "Sister Suyue, wait for us."
The three of them rode horses and ran for dozens of miles and finally came to the rumored Yuelu Mountain. Yuelu Mountain is one of the seventy-two peaks of Nanyue Heng Mountain, although it is not high, but it is beautiful and natural. There are many Taoist temples and temples built on the mountain, and you can occasionally see people holding books and writing and playing. The three of them placed their horses at the bottom of the mountain, and the group climbed up the mountain. Because the mountain is not high, I climbed to the top of the mountain in one go. Seeing the beautiful mountains and rivers here, the vegetation is lush, and you can also overlook the whole picture of Tanzhou City, it is indeed a good place for Confucian scholars to live in seclusion. Those who study in this place are hidden in the mountains, and there is a basis for advancing and retreating.
The three of them climbed to the top of the mountain and came to an inconspicuous thatched hut - Lu Yaju. Looking out of the fence, the courtyard is full of different flowers and plants.
Jiang Suyue walked into the courtyard with the two. Across the courtyard, I saw an old man in his nineties sitting in the room, with a silver-white beard but a red face. This person is the martial arts hermit master, the eldest grandson Yandeng. I saw him sitting on the straw mat, his waist straight, his eyes slightly closed, and he raised his hands with a determined expression, and launched his true qi on a porcelain bowl filled with water in front of him. I saw that a foot away in front of me, the water in the bowl was all boiling under the urging of the inside. How many years of internal force does it take to reach such a point? Yi Dan and Youming were stunned for a moment.
The old man saw that the water in the bowl was already boiling, so he put away his internal strength. Grab the bowl that was still boiling and pour it into a dish with red powder next to it. Then pick up the saucer and stir gently with a brush.
"Uncle Shi" Jiang Suyue shouted at the door.
The old man took the cinnabar plate, glanced at the door, and asked unhurriedly, "Why didn't you knock on the door and come in?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I saw that Uncle Shi wasn't in the courtyard, so I came in directly," Jiang Suyue explained.
"Whether it's anyone or not, you have to knock on the door before you can come in, so it's not in order, what kind of deed?" The old man didn't look at her, but continued to lower his head and stir the red liquid.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot," Jiang Suyue said.
The old man did not speak. Jiang Suyue only needed to exit the door again, and knocked on the door three times with her hand.
"Who knocked?" asked the old man solemnly.
"Jiang Suyue, a disciple of the Donghu faction, has come to visit his uncle," Jiang Suyue said solemnly.
"Oh, it turned out to be Pei Yao's apprentice, please come in" The old man put the prepared cinnabar aside.
Jiang Suyue cautiously walked into the house, and the old man looked down the mountain and said, "Look at your clothes, why did you come to see me without washing them?"
"I'm sorry Uncle Shi, this is accidentally soiled on the road today," Jiang Suyue hurriedly explained.
"A daughter's family, if you don't dress cleanly, it's no wonder that you can't get married when you're so old," the old man said.
"Master Bogong, the disciple just wants to practice martial arts and act chivalrous and righteous, and he hasn't thought about these problems yet," Jiang Suyue explained.
Yi Dan saw this funny scene, and looked at Youming in amazement, the two looked at each other, and they couldn't understand the reason.
"Don't talk about this, why did you come to me?" the old man asked Jiang Suyue.
"The disciple passed by Yuelu Mountain and came to visit the master, and by the way, the friends of the two disciples came to visit the master," Jiang Suyue said.
"Didn't I tell you that I was dead, and why did I bring outsiders here?" asked the old man.
"Uncle Shi, these two friends are heroes of the rivers and lakes, and this girl is the sworn sister of her disciple, she is not an outsider," Jiang Suyue explained.
The old man put the black ink pen on the table string, picked up another paintbrush, dipped it in some freshly mixed cinnabar, and began to paint on the painting flowers on the table. While drawing, he said: "Well, it's a good thing to like making friends, I hope you make more useful friends, don't make bad friends." Don't be like Weng Dajiang, who is still like a child when he gets old, do you hear?"
"Well, yes, yes, Uncle Shi is right" Jiang Suyue nodded again and again.
The old man looked at Yi Dan and Youming at the bottom of the mountain with his head sideways, and asked, "Who are you two?"
Yi Dan and the others cautiously stepped over the knee-high threshold and entered the house. The smart and clever Yi Dan saw that the old man liked polite people, so he said respectfully: "Junior Yi Dan, meet the eldest grandson and senior!
Eldest Sun Yandeng glanced at Yi Dan here, nodded with a smile and said, "Well, good, there is etiquette." Yes, much stronger than this girl. Where did you come from?"
"If you go back to the old-timers, the younger ones are from Songshan," Yi Dan said respectfully.
"Well, since you are a martial artist, please don't publicize the old man's life, the old man doesn't want to be disturbed by those vulgar people," the old man said as he painted.
At this time, out of curiosity, Youming stepped forward, looked sideways at the painting of the eldest grandson Yandeng, and said, "This is the hibiscus flower in the painting?"
The eldest grandson Yandeng raised his head and saw Youming approaching to look at the paintings, and immediately scolded: "There are no rules, who let you come over?"
Youming apologized again and again: "I'm sorry, I think this painting is a good painting, so I just want to see it"
"How is the old man's painting, do you need to comment? There are no rules for juniors, it's really rude, hum" The old man said angrily.
You Ming knew that he was messing with this strange old man, so he turned around and retreated, his sleeve accidentally swept to the brush on the table, and the light brush turned over from the inkstone and fell right on the flowers of the painting.
Seeing this, the eldest grandson Yandeng hurriedly picked up the pen and threw it aside angrily. But the black ink had stained the hibiscus flowers depicted in cinnabar. The eldest grandson Yandeng opened his mouth and reprimanded: "You kid, why are you so careless?"
"I'm sorry for the eldest grandson, I didn't mean to, please don't be angry, I'll clean it up for you, clean it up" Youming apologized again and again, wanting to reach out to wipe the stolen ink on the painting.
The eldest grandson Yandeng stretched out his hand, patted Youming's lightly, and stopped: "No need, the more you wipe it, the dirtier it gets, don't you know?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry old-timers! I didn't mean to," Youming said guiltily.
"Of course I know you didn't mean it, and if you did, I would have blasted you out a long time ago. I'm really angry, what I painted for half a year was broken like this. Hey, the children of today are so unruly? It's really not as good as the generation, how can this world be handed over to you with confidence? I think sooner or later it will be destroyed in your hands, it's really annoying, it's really infuriating," the eldest grandson Yanden muttered to himself.
And Yi Dan looked at all this blankly, not knowing why this old man would make such a fuss. But when he saw that his junior brother was in trouble, he could only apologize for him and said: "Elder grandson, you are a martial arts senior with noble character, please don't deal with the juniors." At your age, if you get angry, it's not good."
When the eldest grandson Yandeng heard this, he seemed to remember something, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, you are right, I have to guard against arrogance and rashness, and I have to guard against arrogance and rashness."
With that, he reached out and slowly pulled out a booklet from his bosom. Gently open the booklet, and see that each page is divided into two halves, the table of contents on the left has the word "gong", and the table of contents on the right has the word "pass". And the page he opened had no other record except for writing "Flower Seeds, Wonderful" under "Gong".
He picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote in the column "Through" under the right side of "Get flowers and plants, wonderful": "Be angry, restraint." While writing, he also said: "I have a mistake today, I hope I won't make it again in the future."
Yi Dan was stunned and said: "I didn't expect the eldest grandson and the elder to work hard to discipline himself, and the younger generation really admires and admires."
"The old man has always disliked those who are morally corrupt, and naturally he doesn't allow himself to make the slightest mistake, but today he made a mistake again, hey, it really shouldn't be" Changsun Yandeng looked at the merits, shook his head and said.
"It's all my fault for letting my seniors break the vows, and I ask my seniors to forgive me," Youming said.
"Forget it, it's none of your business, it's all your fault, it's all this ghost girl, every time she comes, she will make me angry. Can you stop coming next time?" said Eldest Sun Yandeng as he pointed at Jiang Suyue.
"Uncle Shi, I'm sorry, I just passed by here to see you, but I didn't expect to make you angry again," Jiang Suyue said aggrievedly.
"Hey, forget it, don't talk about it. It's a pity that my picture of hibiscus and autumn chrysanthemum has been painted for half a year, and it seems that it is going to be redrawn again," Changsun Yandeng shook his head.
Yi Dan looked at the painting of the eldest grandson Yandeng, and said, "The eldest grandson, I wonder if you can agree to let the younger generation come and save this picture of your hibiscus and autumn chrysanthemum?"
"Okay, how are you going to save it?" asked the eldest grandson Yanden.
Yi Dan didn't speak, just picked up the pen and gently traced it on the petals that Youming had soiled just now. Soon, I saw a lifelike butterfly, which landed on the petals and looked very beautiful.
The eldest grandson Yandeng nodded with satisfaction and said, "Well, it's good, it's a bit of craftsmanship."
"The eldest grandson has won the award, this is just a little bit of learning from my master, and I am ugly in front of the old-timers," Yi Dan said.
"Dare to ask what kind of faction your master is?" asked the eldest grandson Yanden.
"My master was originally a cultivator on Dangshan," Yi Dan said.
"Originally, the Shangxiu faction, could it be that your master was Zhu Wen? It is unlikely, Zhu Wen is so happy and has fought for the world. It shouldn't be him," the eldest grandson Yanden muttered to himself.
"If you go back to the old-timers, the master of the younger generation is Lixian," Yi Dan said.
"Who is Lixian? Why haven't I heard of it?" asked the eldest grandson.
"Oh, back to the old-timers, my master Lixian is Zhu Wen's junior brother, the second apprentice of Qinghe Daoist," Yi Dan hurriedly said.
"Oh, you mean Yuan Chongli, right? Oh, I remember, that little Taoist boy's Dao name seems to be called Li Xian, I didn't expect his apprentices to be so old. However, his master's 'Qinghe Lao Dao' are all my descendants, but it's a pity that 'Qing He Lao Dao' doesn't live as long as the old man. The Shangxiu Sect has declined, but it's a pity, hey..."Eldest Sun Yanden said.
"The eldest grandson and the elder are highly respected in the martial arts..."
"Needless to say, I'm already dead, and I don't want to associate with those worldly people anymore," the eldest grandson Yanden stopped.
"Oh, I'm sorry, that junior won't mention it anymore" Yi Dan hurriedly stopped.
"You hold out your hand and let me see," said the eldest grandson.
Yi Dan gently stretched out his left hand, and the eldest grandson Yandeng put it on her wrist, checked the pulse for her and said, "That's right, there is a little internal strength of the cultivation school" After that, he frowned, looked up at Yi Dan's forehead and arms and said, "You have also practiced the martial arts of the Shaolin School and Tingfeng Tang, right?"
"The eldest grandson is really a god, can you see this?" Youming asked in surprise.
"When the old man was young, he also stayed in Shaolin for a few days, of course he could see the qi of your palm, and he knew what martial arts he had practiced when he looked at your bones."
"The eldest grandson's predecessor is really powerful, worthy of being a martial arts senior," Yi Dan praised.
"Huo Yingguang of Jiaowutang and Qin Zhengao of Tingfeng Hall, in terms of generation, they are all my juniors, is Qin Zhengao still turning behind Zhu Wen's buttocks?"
"Eldest grandson, Tingfeng Tang has long since changed its name to the Knife Sharpening Gang. Hall Master Qin has also been dead for many years, don't you know yet?" You Ming asked.
"What kind of knife sharpening gang? How can you change the things of your predecessors? Tingfeng Tang is the name set by Emperor Taizong himself, and these descendants are really thick," the eldest grandson Yandeng reprimanded.
"After Zhu Wen usurped the Tang Dynasty, the Qin Hall Master changed the name of Tingfeng Hall, which was also a matter of last resort, and I also asked the eldest grandson not to blame," Yi Dan said.
"This Zhu Wen is ugly and despicable, and he messed up the world, I really didn't see that he was such a person at the beginning. Back then, he sold the martial arts secrets of the Shangxiu Sect to... Hey, forget it, don't talk about him," the eldest grandson Yanden said again.
"I have long heard of the eldest grandson and the old-timers, with deep internal strength, unparalleled swordsmanship, noble morals, and incomparable, but I didn't expect you to live in seclusion in the Yuelu Mountains here, not immersed in the world. With such a state of mind, there is really no one in the world's martial arts," Yi Dan praised.
"Haha, haha, the girl has won the award, I didn't expect you, a little woman, to be so knowledgeable. What books have you read?" asked the eldest grandson Yanden.
"Back to the words of the elders of the eldest grandson, the younger generations have read the "Tao Te Ching", "Analects", "Historical Records", "Book of Poetry", "Book of Rites", "Book of Filial Piety"..."
"Well, enough, enough, it's good for a girl to be able to read so many books. Do you know why you study and why you practice martial arts?" asked the eldest grandson Yanden.
"Reading is to understand things and etiquette, and practicing martial arts is to strengthen the body and help the poor and weak.
"Good, good, good. I like you like a good boy like you, who knows things and etiquette, not like those naughty and unruly people," said the eldest grandson Yandeng.
"Thank you for the praise of the elders, the juniors are flattered," Yi Dan nodded again and again.
"I look at your bones, there should be twenty, right? But your hair ornament is not coiled, I wonder if you can be married?" asked the eldest grandson Yanden.
"Looking back at the eldest grandson, the younger generation has indeed wasted twenty years. I haven't been married yet," Yi Dan said respectfully.
"No, why aren't you married at such an age?" asked Eldest Sun Yanden in a slightly questioning tone.
"Thank you for your concern, there are still some things that have not been done and the wishes of the younger generations have not been completed, so I don't want to think about these problems for the time being," Yi Dan explained.
"Hey, when a woman reads too many books, her heart grows, and she forgets the nature of her husband and children, three obedience and four virtues. If you want me to say, a woman's lack of talent is virtue, it still makes sense, having children, having many sons and blessings, should not learn martial arts, let alone come out to explore the rivers and lakes..."The eldest grandson Yandeng muttered to himself.
Yi Dan listened to the words of the eldest grandson Yandeng and was speechless. I feel embarrassed, but what can I do. After all, in this world where men are inferior to women, people think like this. Although she was not convinced, she saw that the old man was old and had already recognized this Confucian principle, so it was inconvenient to argue with him anymore, so she tried to follow him.
"We're kind of fateful, and I like you too. It's a pity, you're a woman. If you are a man, I will pass on all the skills of this body to you. Fortunately, someone will inherit my mantle," said the eldest grandson.
"Thank you for the love of the elders, but the younger generations feel that men and women in the world are the same, as long as they have a kind heart and a wise heart to distinguish between right and wrong, even if the world is big, they can find the direction in their hearts," Yi Dan said.
"Well, you seem to have some truth in what you said, moral kindness is the first. Hey, but it's still a shame... It's a pity..."Eldest Sun Yanden shook his head uncontrollably.
At this time, Jiang Suyue took out the book from her arms, and handed it to the eldest grandson Yandeng, who had been invented by Youming, and said: "Uncle Shi, I know that you like to plant flowers, this is a book I found for the cultivation of hibiscus flowers, and I specially brought it to you, do you like it?"
Eldest Sun Yandeng looked down and asked with a serious face, "Where did this come from? I don't want those things of unknown origin?"
"Uncle Shi, don't worry, I bought it from the street, and I am dedicated to honoring you," Jiang Suyue said.
The eldest grandson Yandeng slowly took the book and said, "Well, since it is above board, then I will accept it." It just so happened that yesterday, the Taoist of Tongxian brought me some seeds of hibiscus flowers, and I can also ponder and ponder."
"Thank you, Uncle Shi, you won't be bored now" Jiang Suyue said happily, and the eldest grandson Yanden frowned and said: "Girl's family, don't shout, you are not too young, hurry up and find a Ruyi Langjun to get married and start a family, don't be like this anymore, otherwise you will not be allowed to come to my elegant house in the future."
"Yes, Uncle Shi" Jiang Suyue lowered her head and shrugged.
The eldest grandson Yandeng put the book aside and said to the three of them: "Oh yes, the hour is not early, I have no place to live here, you should go back early, otherwise you will have to walk at night."
"Okay, Uncle Shi, then let's go," Jiang Suyue said with a smile.
"Oh yes, I heard Weng Dajiang say that you like to steal other people's fruits, is there such a thing?" asked the eldest grandson Yandeng.
"It's, it's not... I..."Jiang Suyue was so embarrassed that she didn't know what to do.
"To be a man and do things, you must take the right path, and you are not allowed to steal other people's fruits in the future, do you hear?" said the eldest grandson.
"I know, Uncle Shi" said that, Jiang Suyue stuck out her tongue and made a grimace.
"Okay, let's go, I'm going to think about this hibiscus flower," said the eldest grandson.
"Then the junior will leave, please take care of the eldest grandson and senior!" Yi Dan said respectfully.
After the three of them bid farewell to their eldest grandson, they came down from Yuelu Mountain. You Ming couldn't help it, so he opened his mouth and asked Jiang Suyue: "Sister Suyue, why do you care about some trivial things?"
"I don't know, but I heard my master say that my uncle moved to this Yuelu Mountain because he couldn't get used to other people's various shortcomings, and he didn't interact with people in the world. He planted flowers, practiced, painted, and wrote books, and he also held the book to record the gains and losses of his words and deeds, and his requirements for himself were as high as a saint. Actually, I rarely come here to see him, but I prefer to play with Uncle Weng, hehe," Jiang Suyue said.
"It was as if he only believed in himself, was always critical of others, and was not at ease with anyone. It's weird, how can there be such a weird person in the world? Oh, oops. Am I talking bad about people behind my back?" Youming said with wide eyes.
"Hey, there's no fuss, my uncle is such a person, I'm used to it," Jiang Suyue said.
At this time, Yi Dan spoke: "Senior brother, do you remember reading the story of Guan Zhong, Bao Shuya and Qi Huangong?"
"Remember, what's wrong, Senior Sister?" asked Youming.
Uncle Bao recommended Guan Zhong to Qi Huan Gong Xiaobai, Qi Huan Gong made Guan Zhong the prime minister, and Guan Zhong helped to govern the Qi State in an orderly manner. But when Guan Zhong was dying, Qi Huan Gong took his hand and asked who could take over his burden? Qi Huan Gong asked again: Why can't Uncle Bao? Didn't he recommend you to the widow in the first place? You see how well he can identify talents, I believe that he must be like you, and can govern the Qi country very well..."Yi Dan said.
"Oh, I remembered, too. It seems that Guan Zhong said: Uncle Bao can't be the prime minister, not because he has no ability to govern the country, but because his morality is too noble, and I am afraid that he will not be able to tolerate the intrigues and tricks of the court. But a person who governs the country and the world must be generous, able to hold a boat in his stomach, and be able to tolerate anyone and anything, right, senior sister?" Yi Dan said.
"That's right, that's how the prime minister can hold the boat in his belly. However, sometimes people who are more than virtuous are not necessarily morally corrupt, on the contrary, some people may be too morally noble, so they are not very tolerant of other people's small mistakes, become easily angry, easy to be petty, and find fault with others everywhere. They are cautious, responsible, hands-on, and don't trust others to do well," Yi Dan continued.
"Senior sister, I understand what you said. A person whose morals are too high will naturally have high requirements for others in his heart. Or even intolerant of some small shortcomings of others. But there is no bare foot, no one is perfect, how can there be anyone in this world who will not have a little defect? Even if it is a sage, there are still imperfections," Youming said.
"Yes, a person whose morals are so high that he is almost harsh, just like the elders and grandchildren, if no one can reach the moral height in his mind, he will naturally feel that he is high and outnumbered, and it is difficult to find a soulmate. I had to live in seclusion in the suburbs of this busy city, obviously not making friends with secular people, but in essence, I still secretly hoped to have a soulmate to find. That Uncle Bao has high morals, but he can still tolerate some small mistakes of Guan Zhong. But this eldest grandson and old-timer can be regarded as having achieved the extreme, and he can't tolerate any small mistakes of others. Perhaps, in the hearts of the elders and grandchildren, a very perfect world has already been built. It's a pity that in that world, he is the only one alone. It's really respectable, and it's lamentable," Yi Dan said.