The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 383

Jiang Ning did not deliberately conceal his footsteps. The old monk opened his eyes, saw the book in Jiang Ning's hand, and smiled slightly.

"Are you interested in the Prajna Palm technique, benefactor?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

He wasn't exactly interested; he just wanted to have a discussion with the old monk.

The old monk smiled and said, "This palm technique is the most profound palm technique in our Buddhist school. The Prajna Buddhist teachings emphasize that form is emptiness and emptiness is form, but when using the Prajna Palm, it is neither emptiness nor non-emptiness. Only by truly understanding that form is emptiness and emptiness is form can one unleash the greatest power of the Prajna Palm, turning the palm force into nothingness, making the strike seem powerless, but it is the greatest force."

Jiang Ning was completely baffled when he heard this.

He could quickly grasp and understand Taoist martial arts, but he couldn't understand Buddhist martial arts because the two schools of martial arts had different theoretical foundations.

The old monk continued, "If you want to practice the Prajna Palm, you must first practice the Weituo Palm. It takes at least several decades of martial arts training to progress step by step. Since this palm technique was created, only a handful of people in Shaolin have mastered it."

With a history spanning a thousand years, the martial arts manuals that Shaolin has left behind are far from simple. In particular, the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts are extremely difficult to master, and even within Shaolin itself, very few people can master them, let alone in the martial arts world.

Jiang Ning and the old monk talked for a long time, discussing the Prajna Palm technique.

The old monk had no intention of keeping anything secret and explained this unique skill to Jiang Ning step by step, as if he wasn't worried at all that Jiang Ning would master it.

After a long time.

Jiang Ning stood up.

"Thank you, Master, for your guidance."

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, the old monk laughed and said, "I only have a superficial understanding of these martial arts. Since you are interested, I am happy to exchange ideas with you. I am also enjoying this."

Jiang Ning smiled and then put the Prajna Palm back.

The Prajna Palm is indeed profound. Even with the old monk's explanation, it remains obscure and difficult to understand. The old monk only briefly mentioned a few points, yet it was enough for him to feel how profound the Prajna Palm technique is, making him want to practice it and comprehend it.

It truly lives up to its reputation as one of the 72 Shaolin Arts.

Jiang Ning picked up the Dragon Claw Hand technique again, studied it for a while, and then walked over to the old monk to discuss it with him.

Time passed slowly, and Jiang Ning settled down in the Sutra Repository, where he stayed for a full month.

……

On this day, Bu Huo was in the meditation room of Zen Master Ling Xuan.

At this moment, Zen Master Lingxuan was sitting in meditation on a futon, chanting scriptures.

He sat at the table when he was no longer confused.

After a while.

The chanting stopped.

Zen Master Lingxuan opened his eyes and looked towards Bu Huo's direction.

"You've been restless lately, what could be the reason?"

Bu Huo originally sought out Zen Master Lingxuan to discuss Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong's affairs, but after hearing Zen Master Lingxuan's words, he was taken aback, not understanding why his master would say such a thing.

Seeing him like this, Zen Master Lingxuan gently shook his head and whispered something.

"That's all."

The voice was very soft, and Bu Huo didn't hear it.

"Is there something you need from the temple that you've come to see me about?"

Upon hearing Master Lingxuan's words, Bu Huo gathered his thoughts and shook his head, saying, "Nothing happened in the temple today. I wanted to report on Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong's matter."

"Ah."

Zen Master Lingxuan nodded and asked, "Didn't those two go into the Sutra Repository to read books a while ago? What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Reporting to Master."

Bu Huo said, "A month ago, Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong entered our temple's scripture pavilion to read books. Linghu Chong's behavior was quite strange. In the past three days, he only read those martial arts manuals once and then stopped. I don't understand what he meant by this."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Lingxuan's eyes showed a hint of surprise, then he suddenly understood, laughed, and said.

"It seems that Linghu Chong has the ability to remember everything he sees."

He was taken aback.

Have a photographic memory?

He originally thought that even if Jiang Ning and the other two went into the Sutra Pavilion to look at the martial arts manuals, they wouldn't remember much. He didn't expect that Linghu Chong would have the ability to remember everything he saw.

"This……"

Bu Huo was quite surprised. He thought that Linghu Chong was just casually flipping through those martial arts manuals because he thought they were beneath his notice.

"Go ahead and look."

Master Lingxuan was also very open-minded and didn't care that Linghu Chong had memorized and taken away those martial arts manuals.

"Where is Jiang Ning?"

Bu Huo said, "Jiang Ning hasn't come out since he entered the third floor of the Sutra Pavilion. A month has passed. His meals are brought in by the monks of the temple. The monks who bring him meals say that they often see Jiang Ning discussing Buddhism with Uncle Gui Wu. He probably wants to learn the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin."

He's been staying in the library for the entire month without stepping out once.

Master Lingxuan was quite surprised to hear this, but he didn't say anything.

However, Bu Huo laughed at this moment.

"In my opinion, Jiang Ning may have been so attracted to the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin that he is unable to extricate himself. Perhaps he will be able to enter the Buddhist order in the future."

Each of the 72 Shaolin Arts is incredibly profound, and mastering even one of them is extremely difficult. To master all of them would be even more challenging. It is believed that a genius like Jiang Ning would find it difficult to resist such a skill as the 72 Arts and would not leave the Sutra Pavilion until he has mastered them all.

If that's the case, Jiang Ning might stay in his Southern Shaolin Temple and never leave the Sutra Repository.

To master the 72 Shaolin Arts, one needs extremely profound Buddhist cultivation. Jiang Ning must understand Buddhism to learn them, but comprehending Buddhism is not something that can be done overnight; it requires years of accumulation. When Jiang Ning's understanding of Buddhism is deep enough, it will be time for him to enter the Buddhist order.

Chapter 514: A Night Visit to Lingxuan (Louis Likes Oranges 9/16)

Upon hearing Bu Huo's words, Zen Master Lingxuan did not speak, but simply shook his head slightly and uttered a Buddhist saying softly.

"One thought of ignorance ends prajna, one thought of wisdom gives rise to prajna."

……

While Bu Huo was talking to Zen Master Lingxuan.

Sutra Pavilion.

A figure walked out of the library.

Linghu Chong and Lin Pingzhi, who were waiting outside the Sutra Pavilion, were overjoyed to see the figure they had been waiting for.

"Junior brother!"

"Brother!"

It was late October, and the weather was starting to cool down. Even the sun in the sky wasn't very hot, but its warm light shone on the earth and on Jiangning.

Jiang Ning raised his hand to shield his eyes as he looked up at the sky. Having not left the Scripture Pavilion for a month, he found the outside light a little too bright, but it got much better after a while.

Upon hearing Linghu Chong and Lin Pingzhi's voices, Jiang Ning looked over, quite surprised.

"Junior Brother Lin, what brings you here too?"

Linghu Chong and Lin Pingzhi ran over.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Lin Pingzhi quickly said, "Senior brother, you and senior brother haven't returned to Fuzhou for many days. I was worried about you and senior brother, so I came here. Later, I heard from senior brother that you were reading in the Sutra Pavilion, so senior brother and I have been waiting for you to come out here every day."

At this point, Linghu Chong laughed and said, "Junior brother, I thought you weren't coming out."

Jiang Ning smiled.

"Let's go, let's go back quickly. Junior brother, take a good shower when you get back. You haven't been out for a month."

Linghu Chong greeted him.

Jiang Ning hadn't showered in the Sutra Repository for a month, and his body already smelled.

"Ok."

Jiang Ning nodded, and then left with Linghu Chong and Lin Pingzhi. But before leaving, Jiang Ning looked back at the Sutra Repository. He saw an old monk smiling at him from the shadows inside the Sutra Repository. When Jiang Ning looked over, the old monk put his hands together in greeting. Jiang Ning nodded in return, then turned and left without lingering.

"How are the children?"

Jiang Ning asked.

Lin Pingzhi replied, "They are living very well now. They are basically all healthy, except for their physical disabilities. They have been doing well for the past month."

Jiang Ning nodded and said nothing more.

After returning to the guest house, Jiang Ning first washed up and changed his clothes before feeling refreshed.

By the time Jiang Ning finished doing all this, it was almost night.

Jiang Ning said, "Senior Brother, let's go and say goodbye to Zen Master Lingxuan."

"Huh? Are we getting ready to leave?"

Jiang Ning nodded: "I'll tell Zen Master Lingxuan today that I'll take my leave first thing tomorrow morning."

Linghu Chong exclaimed in surprise, then nodded.

"Very well, it's time to leave."

The two, along with Lin Pingzhi, headed towards Master Lingxuan's Zen temple.

They were not stopped on their trip and the three of them soon met Zen Master Lingxuan.

The current Lingxuan Zen Master looks much older than when Jiang Ning and Linghu Chong last saw him.

"How has Young Hero Jiang's experience been in my Scripture Pavilion over the past month?"

Zen Master Lingxuan smiled and looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "I've gained a lot."

He has indeed gained a lot from the third floor of the library over the past month.

"That's good."

Lingxuan nodded, then suddenly asked, "Are the three young heroes preparing to leave?"

Jiang Ning nodded. "Indeed, my two fellow disciples and I have been fortunate to receive your care these past few days, and we will be leaving tomorrow."

Master Lingxuan nodded and looked at Jiang Ning, saying, "Young Master Jiang, our temple's promise still stands. If you ever come to our Southern Shaolin Temple again, our Scripture Pavilion will still be open to you."

Jiang Ning nodded: "Thank you, Zen Master."

Lingxuan glanced at him, then at Linghu Chong, and finally at Lin Pingzhi. His gaze faltered for a moment, but quickly returned to normal before finally looking at Jiang Ning.

"I wonder if Young Hero Jiang has found a martial arts technique he likes during his visit to the Scripture Pavilion?"

Upon hearing Master Lingxuan's words, Jiang Ning said, "To be honest, Master, among the Shaolin skills I have seen in the past month, I am quite interested in the Buddhist Lion's Roar Skill."

Master Lingxuan was surprised and nodded slightly.

"Actually, I am also very interested in a martial art. I heard that this martial art was once in the possession of your temple. I wonder if it is still there now."

Jiang Ning suddenly said.

Master Lingxuan smiled and asked, "What is the name of the martial art that Young Hero Jiang mentioned?"

"Sunflower Collection."

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Zen Master Lingxuan's smile faded slightly. His cloudy eyes turned to Jiang Ning, scrutinizing him intently, as if trying to discern something from his expression.

Jiang Ning's face remained expressionless, making it impossible to discern his inner thoughts.

Zen Master Lingxuan smiled and said softly.

"I see."

Master Lingxuan's voice was very soft, and his lips barely moved. No one else knew the four words he was saying.

Master Lingxuan said nothing more, but said, “This martial art was indeed once owned by my Southern Shaolin Temple. However, the original of this martial art was burned before the death of my former abbot, Master Hongye. My temple did not keep any copies, so my temple does not have this precious manual.”

Upon hearing Master Lingxuan's words, Jiang Ning nodded as if he had just asked casually, and then stood up.