Chapter 347 - Five Ku Jue

347: Chapter Five: Ku Jue 347: Chapter Five: Ku Jue The battle in the Yang Realm had just ended, and all manner of demons and evil spirits had emerged, forcing Jiang Wang to respond cautiously.He ceased his cultivation immediately and followed Dugu Xiao to the front courtyard.

He himself did not have any good connections at the moment, and had already entrusted Zhongxuan Sheng to purchase the Channel-opening Pill on his behalf, to fulfill the promise he had made to Dugu Xiao to open her channels, which would be completed in a few days.

All the arrangements in the courtyard had been handled without Jiang Wang lifting a finger, entirely managed by Dugu Xiao.

He didn’t pay much attention to these things, but he did indeed feel much more comfortable in his eyes and ears.

The visitor was waiting in the front courtyard.

It was a gaunt yellow-faced old monk, wearing coarse hemp monk’s robes, stepping in a pair of straw sandals that revealed his toes, the dark dirt between them clearly visible.

As Jiang Wang sized him up, the monk was also taking measure of him.

“What brings the master here?” Jiang Wang asked.

The yellow-faced old monk gave a salute with one palm: “This poor monk comes upon a karmic connection.”

Jiang Wang didn’t bite on his lead, nor did he want to spar wits with him; he deliberately said, “If it is alms you seek, we can arrange for some vegetarian food.”

The yellow-faced old monk nodded: “In that case, I am grateful to the benefactor.”

Jiang Wang: …

If it was just for alms, Dugu Xiao would have arranged it long ago.

This old monk waiting until now must have some other purpose.

Moreover, his vital energy was elusive, his cultivation profound and unfathomable.

Jiang Wang did not want to create unnecessary trouble, and in the face of an unclear friend or foe, he restrained his curiosity.

He intentionally used the offer of alms to block the monk, but unexpectedly, the old monk took advantage of the excuse to dismount the slope.

He truly wanted alms!

Jiang Wang, after all, was the lord of Green Sheep Town, and he could certainly provide a meal.

But watching the bowls pile higher and higher, Dugu Xiao’s expression grew less and less pleased.

She had lived through hard times and understood the importance of thrift.

She had seen monks coming for alms before, and they usually received just a bowl of vegetarian food and a few sticks of green vegetables; who ever heard of a monk guzzling down meal after meal, devouring over twenty bowls of rice?

And he had eaten five plates of vegetables!

However, since Jiang Wang kept silent, she had no choice but to endure.

When she went into the kitchen, though, she quietly instructed to add more salt, to give this starving ghost incarnate of a monk a salty full stomach, making it difficult for him to overeat.

The yellow-faced old monk was quite devout as he ate; he didn’t speak, staring intently at the food, chewing each mouthful slowly and thoroughly.

Although he seemed careful, he did not eat slowly.

The dishes continued to stack up, and the cook even had to be replaced from fatigue.

Jiang Wang could not allow such an enigmatic powerhouse to roam freely; he maintained his patience very well, accompanying the monk at his side.

It was not appropriate to explore the dense fog of ignorance, but simply sitting there, nurturing Path Origin, was no problem.

Only after the number of empty bowls reached forty and there were nine empty plates did the yellow-faced old monk stop his chopsticks, rubbed his belly, and sighed contentedly.

“Has the master eaten his fill?” asked Jiang Wang.

“One cannot exhaust their power, nor can one exhaust their fortune,” the old monk said with all seriousness.

“It’s sufficient to be half full; one must practice restraint.”

“I am enlightened,” Jiang Wang responded.

The yellow-faced old monk gave him a glance, wearing an expression that suggested Jiang Wang was a teachable child.

Dugu Xiao couldn’t stand it and went to help the servants remove the dishes, finding an excuse to slip outside herself.

“Amitabha,” the old monk saluted with a single palm and only then seemed to remember to introduce himself: “This old monk is named Ku Jue; surely the benefactor has heard of me as well.”

In terms of etiquette, given the monk’s age and as long as he wasn’t being too presumptuous, it was improper to show him disrespect.

Although Jiang Wang had never heard of any Master Ku Jue, he still responded cooperatively: “The master’s virtue is widely renowned, and I should have heard of you.

May I know the purpose of the master’s visit this time…”

“It’s all Yuan Law!”

The wrinkled, dried-up face of the yellow-faced old monk seemed to smooth out: “This old monk and you, we have a karmic connection!”

Before Jiang Wang could reply, Ku Jue the old monk continued: “All under heaven know that I am a monk who speaks reason.”

He looked Jiang Wang up and down, and the more he looked, the more delighted his expression became: “Having received the kindness of a meal from you, how could this old monk not reciprocate?”

Jiang Wang’s polite demurral “You are too kind” had not yet been spoken.

The yellow-faced monk had already said, “Then I shall pass on to you my mantle!”

“You may pack your belongings and follow me into the monastery.

I will impart to you all that I have learned in my life.

In no more than thirty years, you will be as revered as I am throughout the world!

Alas, we monks have little to pack, so off we go…”

He was already reaching for Jiang Wang as he spoke.

“Wait…

just a moment!”

Jiang Wang took a big step back.

Has he lost his mind?

After all, I am an eighteen-year-old expert of the Ascending Dragon Realm, officially titled Lord of Green Sheep Town.

I have talent, strength, potential, and my influence is growing.

Why would I abandon all that to become a monk with you for no reason at all?

If this old monk didn’t seem to possess some cultivation, not appearing to be a complete fool, Jiang Wang would have left long ago.

His mind was a mess, but he still kept up basic politeness: “Perhaps there is some misunderstanding, Master?

I have no intention of becoming a monk!”

Ku Jue, the old monk, seemed rather dissatisfied: “You don’t intend to now, but how can you be sure you won’t in the future?”

I don’t know my own mind, but you do?

Jiang Wang tried to keep his tone even: “I don’t now, and I probably won’t in the future either.”

“You can only speak for yourself now, not for your future self,” Ku Jue said, walking over.

“Don’t waste time; hurry up and pay your respects to your master!”

Jiang Wang took another wary step back, growing a bit annoyed: “Master, please maintain your dignity and do not harass me.”

“You child, why won’t you heed advice?” Ku Jue frowned deeply: “The old monk has been through it all, how could I deceive you?

Before I joined the monastic life, I, too, was caught up in the luxury of fine clothes and spirited horses, thinking I was living the life.

But all that glory is as transient as a fleeting cloud, and the affairs of the world rise and fall.

Only after converting to Buddhism did I finally achieve supreme tranquility!”

Jiang Wang couldn’t help but glance at his monk’s robe of coarse fabric and then at his straw sandals exposing his toes.

Although he didn’t pursue pleasure as much as Zhao Rucheng, he certainly didn’t want to live as carelessly as this.

If this is what counts as “tranquility”… then it is certainly unnecessary for me.

Noticing Jiang Wang’s gaze, Ku Jue’s frown deepened: “Worldly wealth and honor are like passing clouds, can’t you see through this?”

Jiang Wang said flatly: “I lack the root of wisdom.”

Finally, it was Ku Jue’s turn to fall silent.

The yellow-faced monk remained silent for a while, then forced a smile: “No matter, as a teacher, I am used to turning stones into gold.”

This man’s thick-skinnedness could rival the thickness of a drumhead; he was calling himself “teacher” before I even agreed.

“No need for you to refine it, for I am already real gold!”

The word “master” did not leave him with any pleasant memories.

Up to now, he had sincerely acknowledged only Dong Ah.

From initial wariness to later trust and finally to betrayal…

Stung by pride, Jiang Wang no longer wanted to entertain the conversation and turned to leave.

However, after several steps, his gaze fixed, and he found himself back where he started!

What trickery was this?

That it had completely escaped his notice!

Jiang Wang placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and turned: “Master, what do you mean by this?”

“Good disciple, don’t be violent with your master.

Show some respect,” Ku Jue said, reaching out.

Without moving his feet, the Longing had reached his hand.

Jiang Wang was left empty-handed before he even realized what happened!

A swordsman disarmed spells doom!

“A fine sword!

But too violent,” Ku Jue remarked as he held the sword before him, his hand lightly brushing over it: “Today I’ve found an excellent disciple.

Your master has nothing much to bestow, so allow me to bless your sword with a town’s worth.”

A buddhic light flashed over the Longing, and without Jiang Wang noticing how, his sword was back in his hands.

He and the sword were always in harmony, together day and night.

He could not see any change in the Longing, yet he did feel something was different.