Sword Snow Stride Book 1 Chapter 37

Book 1 – White Horse Out of Liangzhou
Chapter 37 – Old Cow, Tender Grass

For ordinary people, there were two things about Lantuo Mountain that lured the heart of the people’s the most. One was that one could become a Buddha on the spot [idiom: instant rehabilitation], and the other was that men and women could cultivate together. As for whether it was true or false, because the people around the world were too far away from Lantuo Mountain, inevitably during the passing on the scripture and the sermons, errors were piled on top of errors, the truth has long been blurred. In addition, no one has ever come out from Lantuo Mountain to provide an explanation, so that it became an unsolved mystery worthy of scrutiny. Contrary to expectation, Xu Fengnian was very much in favor of Lantuo Mountain’s silence. Instead of saying everything to death, it would be better to leave something to ponder over. _{Translated by foxs}

Xu Fengnian first went to the third floor of the armory to find the Jiu Dou Mi [nine dou of rice] old Taoist priest guarding the pavilion, Wei Baoxiang. On this floor, there was a list of figures that was regularly updated. Xu Fengnian looked for Buddhist scrolls first. There were twenty some Buddhist schools, big and small, Lantuo Mountain ranked the first among the Tantric Buddhism. Consequently, Tantric scroll was at the top, Xu Fengnian could easily flip through the scroll to find the tantric Shangshi [upper master]. The title was very long, such as Da Ci Fawang [the Great Compassionate Dharma King (Sakyamuni)], Bu Chu Pusa [the Bodhisattva of Restoration]. Looking at her position, her status did not differ much from the two old monks listed before her.

She was born into the royal family of Central Tianzhu [the Indian subcontinent (esp. in Tang or Buddhist context)]. At a young age, she accompanied a senior monk traveling to more than ten kingdoms, and translated countless ancient records, the most famous belonged to the ‘Dasheng Qi Xin Lun’ [Theory of Awakening of Faith in Mahayana] category. Historical data recorded that in addition to studying the Dzogchen Dharma[1] under the kshatriya [warrior or ruling caste; often considered pre-eminent in Buddhist circles] Ji Xiang Zi [lit. auspicious son, famous epithet of the character Swet, the extremely lucky son in the Bengali folk tale ‘The Story of Swet-Basanta’[2]], she also went to the Central Plains to study astronomy and calendar science, and had contact with the Central Plains Buddhist School’s Five Families and Seven Clans. From this, it could clearly be seen that she was absolutely not a person sitting on a mountain and looking at the sky. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

There was a portrait of the female Bodhisattva in her youth specially inserted in the book, vivid and lifelike, indeed she had bright countenance and was very touching. Xu Fengnian handed this secret record to the old Taoist priest surnamed Wei, with sighing voice, waling breath, he sighed, “Forty-two. Just a bit too old.”

Sighing all the way out of Ting Chao Ting, Qing Niao was waiting respectfully for him on the library platform, wearing a dark green garment. In Shizi Dianxia’s opinion, this Da Yahuan only short of one good sword, with Qing Niao’s bearing and demeanor, practically there was no way any nuxia [female knight] outside could compare with her. Seeing Xu Fengnian, respectfully she spoke softly, “That Sengren [monk] is standing at the Wangfu’s gate.” _{Translated by foxs}

Xu Fengnian walked towards the pavilion in the center of the lake, he laughed and said, “Bring him here, I want to meet this Tantric Heshang [also monk]. By the way, let the servants prepare some food [zhaifan, food given to Buddhist monks as alms]. No other people are allowed to draw near this side of the lake randomly.”

While waiting for the guest, Xu Fengnian closed his eyes and focused his spirit. First, he pondered over the private matters of the Lantuo Mountain collected by the Wangfu’s spies. Even though there were only two or three hundred people on Lantuo Mountain, their sects stood in great numbers, each had believers numbered in millions. Like the Mizong Hong Jiao [Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism) Red Cult (Religion/Sect, as in Ming Cult in Jin Yong’s Yi Tian Du Long Ji)] branch where the Long Shou Heshang [dragon guard/guardian monk] belonged. Lantuo Mountain only had three spokespersons [or ambassadors], but there were several million believers outside the mountain.

Finally, his mind was fixed on the female Tantric Shangshi’s [lit. upper master] portrait. Xu Fengnian shook his head, he put this matter aside momentarily. Now that he already went down the mountain, he must start to make meticulous planning and careful accounting for himself. The armory is dead, but the person is alive. Learning from Bai Hu’er Lian reading all the martial arts secret books, he should not be afraid of biting off more than he could chew. When facing enemies in the future, the more he knew about the moves and routines [sequence of movements in martial arts], the higher his chance to save his life. In principle, this is similar to most beginners needed to mechanically memorize the opening pattern in a game of Go, the more routines and tricks, naturally the better. Xu Fengnian did not dare to say how good his perception was, his memory, indeed even his Er Jie Xu Weixiong was unable to match. Otherwise, he would not be able to play chess in the air with Li Yishan without chess pieces or a chessboard. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Xu Fengnian said to himself, “To read all the books in the entire armory like Bai Hu’er Lian is not realistic, but for him to select and give me two or three books every day, it’s not a difficult matter. Inevitably there will be one day I will read all the guarding-the-school secret books of all the sects in the world. When going down the mountain, the bull rider passed on Zhangjiao Wang Zhonglou’s message, Da Huang Ting, turtle breathing within the body must be transformed entirely for my own use. To cultivate the San Huang Ting [Three Yellow Courts] by myself, I will need a few books on Longhu Shan. Borrow? All are secret things that can’t be passed on to the outsiders; most likely cannot be borrowed. Steal? With my current saber technique, it is difficult. Rob? In these two Buddhist and Taoist holy places, without six or seven thousand elite, valiant Beiliang cavalry, practically I can forget about rushing up the mountain. To flatten them, I will need thirteen, fourteen thousand manners. Before going up Wudang, I thought that ten thousand cavalry could crush the entire Jianghu many times over, I underestimated the heroes [yingxiong] under the heavens. Even Xu Xiao, without the decree from the Capital, to mobilize more than 500 troops out of Liang territory without authorization is tantamount to rebellion.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

If Jiang Ni were around and heard such crazy talk linking the cavalry with Jianghu, eight or nine parts out of ten [most likely] she would be unable to bear the urge to pick up the Shen Tu and poke holes in Shizi Dianxia’s body.

Hong Shu’s graceful, well-endowed and beautiful figure brought over some exquisite vegetarian dishes. The vicinity of the lakeside was already without any shadow of human figures. Shizi Dianxia’s order, no matter how much of a bastard he was, within Wangfu, it was more effective than an imperial edict. _{Translated by foxs}

Xu Fengnian was not suspicious and jealous of this yahuan jiejie [maid elder sister] with whom he grew up together. Talking to himself, he said, “It’s time to train henchmen. Without any team that is a bit more reliable, how can I wander the Jianghu and find an opportunity to talk to Xu Xiao?”

Mount Lantuo’s Long Shou Shengren was led by Qing Niao to the pavilion. Xu Fengnian stretched out his hand to signal the monk to help himself. The big monk in the big kasaya was not polite, he simply picked some food and put it in his mouth, and chewed it extremely slowly. Forget about eating until he was full, even stuffing the gap between his teeth was difficult. Practicing Tantric Buddhism, this point alone was indescribably painful.

All fourteen kingdoms, large and small, in the Western Regions rejected a hundred schools of thought, learning methods, and only revered Tantric Buddhism. There were three Jiao [religions]: Red, Yellow and White. The chaotic war of the nine kingdoms in the Central Plains in the past could be traced back to the Confucian School of Shangyin Academy’s verbal sparring over there, while in the Western Regions it was the Red, Yellow and White – Romance of the ‘Three Kingdoms’, which was more like a fight between the immortals. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The two Jiao, Yellow and White have always been powerful, while the Red Cult tended to follow the ancient, the doctrine of Nine Vehicles Three Divisions [Tantric terms], not one thread loose [idiom: strictly according to the rules]. The most important part was to practice the Da Yuan Man Fa [Dzogchen Dharma, lit. big circle full law (dharma)]. Long Shou Heshang’s Shangshi was precisely the first female Dharma King to be established in the history of Tantric Buddhism. No matter how majestic the status of those bright imperial concubines, they practically could not be discussed on equal terms with her.

Xu Fengnian got straight to the point [lit. open the door and see the mountain], “Liu Zhu Shangshi [upper master six pearls] wants to practice double cultivation with me?”

Long Shou Heshang’s expression tranquil, he nodded. This monk talking about double cultivation, his face showed no expression. On the contrary, the passing-through-a-cluster-of-ten-thousand-flowers Shizi Dianxia felt even more absurd. Even Hong Shu and Qing Niao looked at each other in dismay, their faces showed disbelief.

Xu Fengnian asked in doubt, “All Mizong Shangshi masters cannot achieve Fa Shen Fo Bao Shen Fo [Dharmakaya Buddha Sambhogakaya Buddha] without cultivating male-female double body cultivation?”

The middle-aged monk in crimson kasaya’s expression was still wooden, he answered slowly, like one strong beat and one weak beat in a measure of music [two beats in the bar, idiom: following a prescribed pattern to the letter], “Only those who have renounced desire can practice Supreme Yoga. Supreme Yoga is for those who can save their superior faculties.” _{Translated by foxs}

Xu Fengnian had a headache, he asked, “Why did you look for me?”

The monk shook his head, making it clear that even he did not know the details of the inside story.

It looked like Xu Fengnian would only go to Mount Lantuo after his head was pinched by the door panel of the latrine. Forty-two years old, although to the Bodhisattva, it was just an instant of a white steed flitting past a crack, but to real women living in the human world, it was really a big deal. No matter how she took a good care of herself, it was not something Xu Fengnian could accept.

That was secondary.

The struggle between the Tantric Red, Yellow and White, three Cults has become even more critical in recent years. Since the secret records said that Liu Zhu Shangshi’s double cultivation would lead to Da Yuan Man [big circle full, great perfection], how could the more powerful White and Yellow, two Cults thoughtlessly allow the Red Cult to obtain this kind of immeasurable achievements and virtue that would cause a sensation in the Western Regions?

Maybe before arriving at Mount Lantuo Xu Fengnian would be skinned and had his tendon pulled by the monks. It should be noted that some Tantric sects like to use skulls with the Tianling Cap [top of the head] cut off as magic tools to exorcise ghosts and call back the soul of someone who has died. As for human bone kasaya, human skin tambourines and the like, they were also common occurrence in history books; hearing that, one would have the hair stand on end. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The Liu Zhu Pusa [Six-Pearl Bodhisattva] was very formidable, she was revered as the fundamental Shangshi. Moreover, the Red Cult believers firmly believed that she was the body, mouth, intention, three secrets of JinGang [Vajra] manifestation of Emituo Fo [Amitabha Buddha] and Guanshiyin Pusa [Avalokitesvara] and so on. The so-called Six-Pearl, it was rumored that it pointed to her six transformations: Guanzizai [Avalokitesvara] Shangshi, Lianhua Wang [Lotus flower King] Shangshi, Fennu JinGang [Wrathful Vajra] Shangshi, and so on. It sounded very much unequalled under the heavens, but even if they were more outstanding, wouldn’t they just be a few well-behaved old monks on Lantuo Mountain whose back was gathering dust?

Xu Fengnian distrusted the Red Cult, which was seeking survival in the crack between the Yellow and White Cults. In addition to being afraid of death, he also did not want Mount Lantuo and the female Dharma King to disrupt his preliminary arrangement.

Beaten to death still not going is one thing, but becoming enemy with the Tantric Red Cult for no reason whatsoever was another thing. It would be best to deal with it, not to mention that the monks from Mount Lantuo were all a piece of treasure.

Squeezing out a smile, Xu Fengnian explained, “For the time being, I can’t get away.”

The monk still said the same nonsense, “Xiao Seng [little monk] can wait.”

Xu Fengnian asked curiously, “Can wait for how long?” _{Translated by foxs}

The monk said slowly, “There are still thirty-one years.”

Xu Fengnian nearly coughed up blood.

What a perverted patience. In the future, he must try as much as possible not to have anything to do with Lantuo Mountain. In case someone held a grudge, there would not be peace and quiet for the rest of his life.

The Long Shou Shengren, who seemed to be willing to wait until Xu Fengnian’s children grew up and reached adulthood, did not stay in Wangfu, but he did not leave the city either. With Beiliang’s tolerant and kind treatment of the monks, presumably this strange monk from Lantuo Mountain would not die of hunger.

Sitting inside the pavilion, Xu Fengnian muttered, “Weird.”

Hong Shu joked, “Dianxia, why don’t you just follow that Mizong Shangshi?”

Xu Fengnian raised his head and said with a sigh, “A forty-two-year-old Lao Guniang [old Miss] already! Even if she, the Senior, is an old cow eating tender grass [idiom: May-December relationship], this is not the way of eating.”

Hong Shu sat by Shizi Dianxia’s side, massaging him with her delicate hands, her strength was just right. Laughing charmingly, she said, “Maybe that Nu Pusa [female Bodhisattva] has some skills in maintaining a youthful appearance.”

Xu Fengnian glowered at her. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Qing Niao spoke indifferently, “Today is the day to lay out the cards.”

Xu Fengnian’s spirit was aroused, “Any big fish taking the bait?” he asked.

Qing Niao spoke in even tone, quiet qi, “There are two groups of Jianghu characters of unknown origin gathered in the city, headed by a few people of third-grade martial art power.”

Xu Fengnian spoke in regret, “If it were before, it would have been a big fish, but now this Shizi have seen the big, wider world, ay. Forget it, it’s better than nothing.”

Hong Shu smiled.

Since he was little until he grew up, Shizi Dianxia has been having endless fun ideas. Probably it was the result of Da Zhu Guo Xu Xiao failing to pay sufficient attention to discipline or deliberate indulgence, so that he showed no signs of restraint. In fact, these past dozens of years, Da Zhu Guo has only said two things. One was that he was not allowed to touch any blade for ten years. On top of that, he has never instructed Xu Fengnian how to conduct himself, how to behave. Whether he was a white-silk-pants who squandered his family fortune, or he was just idling about, either one was all alright. It was all Xu Fengnian who had to figure out by himself. The national scholar Li Yuanying did not care about trivial matters even more.

In the past, when the Er Jie Xu Weixiong was still at home, it was better, at least someone could curb Shizi Dianxia. When she went to Shangyin Academy to study, Xu Fengnian became like runaway feral horse, doing whatever he pleased. He could fondle the flowers and trample the grass [idiom: frequenting brothels] as much as he wanted, staking a thousand pieces of gold on one throw to buy poetry and literature, employing wicked slaves and a bunch of retinues, and closing the door and letting the dogs loose on his foes, he played to his heart’s content. No wonder scholars who have left Liang territory to win success and recognition derided without restraint that Shizi Dianxia was ignorant and incompetent, and extremely scoundrelly. _{Translated by foxs}

All smiles, Xu Fengnian said, “Tell the men, no need to play the trick of loose on the outside and tight in the inside tonight. Let them all in at once. Since these fish and shrimps took the bait, taking advantage of Xu Xiao’s absence to sneak into the city, they are most likely coming for me. At that time, I will just wait here. Qing Niao, please bring out one swordsman [jian shi, sword scholar/warrior] and one swordsman [daoke, saber visitor/guest] from the mansion. I want to watch the battle. The styles performed by these desperadoes when they are on the verge of death are the most flexible. Compared with the rigid written language in the secret book, they are more beneficial.”

Qing Niao left quietly. When she worked, no matter how big or small, always not one drop of water can leak out.

Hong Shu stretched out a scallion index finger, she wanted to gently caress and stroke the scarlet space between Xu Fengnian’s eyebrows.

Xu Fengnian gripped her extremely daring finger, he laughed and said, “Are you rebelling?”

Acting like a spoiled child, Hong Shu said, “Just want to touch it.”

Xu Fengnian shook his head.

Hong Shu showed a puppy sad face. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Xu Fengnian did not have tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex [idiom], pulling his face, he knitted his brows and said with a bitter face, “Er Jie is coming, there will be thunder and rain in Wangfu.”

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen

[2] http://www.purpleculture.net/the-ji-xiangzi-bangladesh-folk-tales-p-13739/

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Folk-tales_of_Bengal/The_Story_of_Swet-Basanta

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%90%89%E7%A5%A5%E5%AD%90%EF%BC%9A%E5%AD%9F%E5%8A%A0%E6%8B%89%E6%B0%91%E9%97%B4%E6%95%85%E4%BA%8B%E9%9B%86/18665992 (Courtesy of Paonakata)