Chapter 266: Better to Go Home
Looking at the bowl of sobering soup in front of her, Qiao Wan's face couldn't help but blush again. But considering Meng Guangze behind her, she silently gulped down the soup and placed the bowl on the table, barely able to contain her inner excitement.
She was really, really happy!
In her forty-plus years of life, she had never been this happy before!
After drinking the sobering soup, Qiao Wan immediately fell asleep, sleeping until early the next morning.
Even though the banquet had ended, there were still many thank-you notes waiting for her reply.
Qiao Wan first tidied up her appearance and met with the elders of Chongde Ancient Garden and the Lu family. After leaving, the sun was already setting in the sky. On her way to the Cen family, she suddenly caught sight of two or three disciples of the Great Hall of Light.
As soon as Qiao Wan thought about Venerable One, she hesitated for a moment and approached the three disciples of the Great Hall of Light. "Excuse me, taoist friends, may I ask about Venerable One?"
"Taoist Friend Qiao?" The two disciples of the Great Hall of Light smiled warmly. "You've come at the right time."
She came at the right time?
But then, the next half of the sentence from the disciples of the Great Hall of Light left Qiao Wan bewildered.
"Venerable One is about to enter seclusion. Won't you come and visit Venerable One, taoist friend?"
Qiao Wan was suddenly frozen, her excitement from yesterday till now was washed away like a bucket of cold water. She heard herself ask dryly, "Seclusion...what seclusion?"
The two disciples of the Great Hall of Light sighed suddenly, their voices sounding a bit melancholy. "In this battle, many of our fellow practitioners have already attained Nirvana, even though Venerable One doesn't mention it."
But they knew that this sharp-tongued but tender-hearted Venerable One was actually feeling upset.
This thought suddenly occurred to Qiao Wan, and she couldn't help but tighten her lips.
Yes, this conflict with the demon realm, resulting in the sacrifice of so many disciples, can hardly be considered a cause for celebration.
She even... she was so overjoyed that she forgot about the tragic deaths of the disciples in the Great Hall of Light.
"The Venerable One came to Kunshan this time for the ghost market and the sacrifices made by humans. Yesterday, he contacted all the sects and together with Elder Gong from the Cloud Mist Fairy Mansion, he uprooted the remaining Xiao family's influence. Now that the situation is resolved, the Venerable One is worried that the demon realm will inevitably come back, so he has decided to go into seclusion." The disciples of the Great Hall of Light were a bit puzzled. "Miss Qiao, you have the best relationship with the Venerable One. Didn't he tell you about this?"
Qiao Wan hesitated for a moment and softly replied, "Um."
The two or three disciples of the Great Hall of Light glanced at her and comforted her kindly, saying, "Perhaps the Venerable One didn't want to disturb you, Miss."
Qiao Wan suddenly looked up and asked, "When will the Venerable One... when will he set off?"
"We're about to leave now," said a disciple of the Great Hall of Light. "A few of us are here to take care of the final matters. Do you want to accompany Venerable One, taoist friend?"
After the disciple of the Great Hall of Light left, Qiao Wan silently stood in place, gazing at the majestic mountains under the clear blue sky. She looked for a while and stood there for a while.
Until Meng Guangze's surprised voice rang out, "Venerable One Miaofa is in seclusion. Aren't you going to see him, Little Wan? You have a good relationship with this Venerable One, don't you?"
Qiao Wan felt somewhat frustrated and covered her face. "Senior... I... I don't know either."
Meng Guangze looked at her quietly, as if he understood something. He sighed gently and rubbed her head. "Go check on him."
As for the matter of his own daughter falling in love with a prominent Buddhist monk, Meng Guangze couldn't say much. He looked at the young girl, who seemed a little gloomy, and felt a bit distressed. He sighed, feeling hopeless about his daughter's love life... or rather... loveless.
"I was thinking. Yesterday's happiness was completely extinguished, and Qiao Wan sighed with boredom: 'Maybe it's better to avoid the senior.'"
She couldn't control this kind of emotion at all.
Qiao Wan knew very well that there was no possibility between her and Venerable One Miaofa. It might be better to... reduce their interactions.
The surprised voices of a few disciples from the Great Hall of Light echoed in her ears.
"Miss Qiao, you have the best relationship with Venerable One. Didn't Venerable One tell you about this?"
Maybe, just maybe, he was troubled by his admiration for her, so he deliberately didn't tell her!! The thought made Qiao Wan's face feel hot, and she felt as if she was being swallowed up by embarrassment like a tidal wave.
But how could she respond to those disciples from the Great Hall of Light?
Perhaps unable to bear seeing her in such torment and boredom, Meng Guangze kindly offered to break it down for her.
The Venerable One has been in seclusion for a while, and we don't know when he will come out again. Little Wan, are you sure you don't want to go visit him before he wakes up?
It might be a good idea to go see him. Longing only grows stronger with time, and avoiding it won't make it go away. Instead, it becomes more intense and overwhelming.
Qiao Wan looked at Meng Guangze in shock and said, "Senior...?!"
How come her dad knows him so well!
Meng Guangze chuckled and ruffled her hair, saying with a smile, "That's because ever since I entrusted Little Wan to the Qiao family, your father has been thinking of you every single moment."
His large, rough hand landed on top of her head, making Qiao Wan's face turn red again.
Enough! This charming old man who is always exuding charisma.
However, after Meng Guangze analyzed it like that, Qiao Wan hesitated for a moment, but then tightened the sword at her waist and rushed down Kunshan
This time, Venerable One didn't return to the Great Hall of Light. Instead, he headed north towards the direction of the Great Snowy Mountain.
That place... is the most important passage between the demon realm and the cultivation world.
Without much thought, Qiao Wan understood Venerable One Miaofa's intention to meditate here.
They galloped nonstop along the way, and finally, at the ferry crossing, Qiao Wan caught a glimpse of a few quiet figures amidst the reeds, through the drifting cattail fluff.
The evening glow reflected on the cold autumn water, and the reeds swayed in the autumn wind, creating waves of snow-like fluff.
The figures of the monks appeared somewhat thin and lonely, standing in the cold autumn water. The wind blew their long indigo hair and filled their blue robe sleeves.
Extremely beautiful, yet extremely sorrowful.
There weren't many people bidding farewell, perhaps because they had already exchanged greetings at the mountain gate. Now, at the ferry crossing, there was only Venerable One Miaofa, two or three disciples, and a white horse.
Venerable One Miaofa glanced up with sharp eyes, almost frighteningly, and looked at Qiao Wan in the reeds.
"Qiao Wan?" he furrowed his brows like distant mountains, "What are you doing here?"
Qiao Wan took a few uneasy steps forward, "Senior..."
Under that stern and righteous gaze, she murmured, "I... came to see you off."
As soon as the words fell, the severe gaze suddenly softened.
Just then, the sky started drizzling softly with misty fog in the horizon. The reeds swayed in the wind, resembling scattered snowflakes.
The rainwater was thin, creating ripples in the water.
In that moment, meeting the gaze of the lotus-eyed figure deep within the reeds, Qiao Wan's mind unexpectedly recalled the phrase, "A silver bowl holds snow, a bright moon hides a heron."
"Senior..." Qiao Wan paused and asked tentatively, "How long will you be in seclusion this time?"
"Until my inner demons find peace."
Qiao Wan silently paid her respects as a junior, "With the chaos in the world, it's rare to have this opportunity. Senior, please focus on your cultivation."
"Please let me... uh... please let me accompany you for a while," Qiao Wan said nervously.
Venerable One Miaofa silently glanced at her, without refusing.
Taking the initiative, Qiao Wan slowly fell behind the monk, holding onto the white horse.
To her surprise, Venerable One Miaofa said kindly, "Come to me."
"Have you gained any insights these past few days?" Qiao Wan asked cautiously.
Qiao Wan pressed her lips together and responded carefully, "Everything in the world is impermanent."
"I hope you can let go of attachments, desires, and impurities. Do not be bound by sights, sounds, or thoughts. I hope you can stay true to your original intentions and diligently practice amidst the magnificent world," Miaofa said.
Suddenly, Qiao Wan's mind became calm. Walking side by side with the monk, they continued their journey in the gentle rain.
Qiao Wan asked, "Sir, may I inquire about the similarities and differences among the three teachings? I have been studying Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, but I have yet to fully grasp their practices."
Miaofa replied, "If you use them in the same way, they are similar. If you cling to them, they are different. The confusion and awakening lie within oneself, not in the similarities or differences among the three teachings."
Qiao Wan, after a moment of thinking, asked, "So, what is the 'Dao'?"
Venerable One Miaofa replied, "The Dao is simply having a peaceful mind."
Qiao Wan then asked, "Many people aspire to achieve enlightenment and become immortals. How do you view this, Venerable One?"
Venerable One Miaofa responded, "Having the desire for enlightenment leads to attachment, which deviates from the path. If you follow the path, your heart and mind will be open and free, like the vast clear sky and the gentle breeze. You will have a broad and unobstructed mindset."
Venerable One Miaofa continued gently, "Remember, let go of all attachments, thoughts, and concerns. Let your body and mind be at ease. Cultivate a mind like that of an unmoving rock or piece of wood, without judgment or discrimination."
Qiao Wan then asked, "But how can one achieve a mind like that of an unmoving rock or piece of wood?"
Venerable One Miaofa explained, "In reality, all things are empty and without intrinsic nature. They are not inherently good or bad, and they do not have the power to bind us. It is the delusions and interpretations that people impose on them, creating various opinions, knowledge, and attachments. One must realize that all things arise from their own thoughts."
"All things do not arise on their own, but from a single thought. Qiao Wan silently pondered, and when she lifted her eyes, she couldn't help but be stunned.
The Venerable One's eyebrows relaxed, and her cold and beautiful face seemed to have gained a touch of gentleness.
It turns out that Miaofa senior can be so gentle.
Qiao Wan was speechless. With respect and courtesy, she bowed once again and solemnly accepted the Venerable One's patient and earnest teachings.
After walking side by side for a while longer, Venerable One Miaofa turned around, not allowing her to accompany him any further.
Venerable One Miaofa nodded slightly, and a few strands of blue hair fell like wisps of reeds, as if he had aged. His long hair flowed freely, and his gaze softened as he said, "Qiao Wan, go back now."
Qiao Wan did not refuse, she just took out a flute from her pouch and said, "Let me bid farewell to you, senior, with this melody."
The sound of the flute lingered in the air. Within the melancholic notes, the autumn water turned cold, and in the reflection of the white fabric, a desolate sunset appeared."
On the plain, the grass was knee-high and the Buddha did not turn back. With graceful robes, Qiao Wan and her three disciples vanished into the vast marshes, hidden by a misty drizzle.
In a silver bowl, snow was piled high, and a bright moon revealed herons hiding in the marshes. A white horse trotted among the reeds.
Qiao Wan paused, her gaze fixed on the departing Buddha. Silently, she bowed respectfully as a disciple.
Where will they meet again today? The ringing of a clear bell echoed through the marshes.
