Chapter 226: The Joys and Sorrows of the World (Final Chapter)

The spring breeze blew across the north of Yongqiu, allowing the lingering coolness of winter to permeate Yangdun.

At dusk, the evening mist gathers in the west, and beside the official road outside the city, there are both slanting plum blossoms and new green grass buds.

However, compared with the vibrant scene in spring.

The most eye-catching thing for passers-by in front of Yang'e City is an old man dressed as a butler and the young man next to him.

It was none other than Steward Sun of the Cao Mansion in Yang'e and Cao Chengxian, the most outstanding successor of this generation.

The Cao family was a merchant family and was originally only slightly famous near Yongqiu.

Now, he has reached a height that others could not imagine.

When the Zhou emperor was unknown, Cao Ruinian, the old man of the Cao family, had a keen eye for talent and sent people to follow him to Nanyang very early.

The person who was sent was naturally Cao Chengxian.

Almost everyone in Yang'e knew that this young master of the Cao family had always been helping the emperor and was in the emperor's favor.

In the first year of Kaiyuan, he went to various places to collect precious medicinal materials.

Seeing that he was particularly careful in selecting the herbs, the mountain medicine dealer asked about the destination of the herbs. Later he learned that they were all sent to Ziwei Palace in Dongdu.

There are many drug dealers in the world whose businesses are larger than the Cao family, but only a few of them can deliver medicine to Ziwei Palace.

The Cao family of Yang'e is one of them.

Knowing the details of the Cao family, he couldn't help but feel surprised and suspicious when he saw Cao Chengxian and Steward Sun waiting for people at the city gate for several days in a row, wondering who was worthy of such a big move.

What is even more unexpected is that.

As the sun was setting, a white-haired old man with a cane, escorted by a large number of guards, quickened his pace towards Butler Sun and Cao Chengxian.

When they saw this person, everyone in the city looked incredulous.

Old Master Cao actually came to greet him in person!

As the discussion grew louder, a carriage was approaching from the north of the city.

The people in Yang'e City had no time to react, and the people of the Cao family rushed forward collectively with expressions of panic and excitement.

"Cao Ruinian pays homage to His Majesty!"

The old man's powerful voice not only stopped the talking of the people around him, but even their breathing stopped at that moment!

Everyone couldn't help but wonder if they had heard it wrong.

On the other side, Cao Ruinian had already brought Cao Chengxian and others to show great courtesy.

However, the old man suddenly found himself being held up by a force and unable to bend his waist and legs.

Just as I was getting excited, a voice came from the carriage.

"Excuse me, Mr. Cao, please get in the car and have a chat."

After saying this, the carriage curtain opened, revealing a young boy and girl.

Yan Qiu and Xia Shu jumped off the carriage, greeted Cao Ruinian with a smile, and helped the old man into the carriage.

During the time the two stayed at Cao's house, Cao Ruinian treated them very well.

Therefore, when they met the old man again, they were very enthusiastic.

It is conceivable that once this scene spreads, the status of the Cao family in people's hearts will change again.

In full view of the crowd, Cao Ruinian got on the carriage.

Soon, the sound of laughter and talking could be heard in the carriage.

The carriage continued to move forward, with Steward Sun, Cao Chengxian and others leading the way while others followed behind.

Soon after, the entire Yang'e City, whether it was the common people or the people of the martial arts world, was caught up in a frenzy of atmosphere.

Zhou Tang was only built one year ago.

However, the prosperous atmosphere of all nations returning to the Nine Provinces has been undoubtedly demonstrated.

Compared with the previous Sui Dynasty, it took only a short period of time for Zhou and Tang Dynasties to make many common people feel a sense of belonging.

Whether it was reducing taxes and levies, building academies and opening up the imperial examination system, a more complete supervision system, or various policies that benefited the people and increased production, they all made people feel the changes in their lives and the desire to strive generated by expectations for the future.

For the common people, the emperor of the Eastern Capital was already an extremely ideal wise and benevolent monarch.

so.

When the news came that the Zhou emperor had arrived and entered Cao's mansion, no one could control themselves.

However, there was a lot of heated discussion in the city, and no one had the courage to visit Cao's mansion at this time.

This was a special night for the Cao family.

Cao Ruinian felt infinite emotion in his heart.

When it comes to the most blessed people in the world, he is definitely one of the most fortunate.

In the past, when celebrating birthdays and receiving blessings, Zhou Yi personally preached and performed rituals with Xia Shu and Yan Qiu.

Time has passed, let’s look back.

To describe it as "blessed" is too understated.

Zhou Yi has been in trouble many times, but the only one who can bring blessings to a living person is Old Master Cao.

Therefore, he left Cao Ruinian with four words with beautiful meaning: "May you have a long and prosperous life."

The next morning.

At dawn, a carriage came out of Cao's mansion and headed south towards Yongqiu.

Zhou Yi left early, but there were people on both sides of the road.

The enthusiastic citizens of Yangcheng used the simplest way to express their respect and admiration for the wise monarch.

Along the way, Yan Qiu and Xia Shu chattered about the various changes in the city.

Zhou Yi was listening in most of the time.

It is not difficult to hear from the two people that "Yang'e has become better."

In short, he was a far more successful emperor than Guangshen.

In this world, martial artists are also productive forces. As long as one has the power to govern the world and doesn't cause chaos, the people won't live a good life, but at least they won't starve to death.

"Brother, do you think Master is still in Yongqiu right now?"

"exist."

Yan Qiu didn't say anything. Xia Shu, who was standing beside him, asked curiously, "Brother, how did you know? But Old Master Cao kept it a secret from us and only told you quietly."

Although it was Bu Tianzhi who brought the news to Dongdu.

But the source of the news was in Cao's mansion, so it was normal for Xia Shu to ask this question.

Zhou Yi pointed out:

"Master deliberately showed up to wait for us to find him. He will naturally wait in Yongqiu."

Yan Qiu and Xia Shu both looked anxious.

They hadn't seen their master for a long time and missed him very much.

I have many more questions to ask.

The carriage was speeding up. The three brothers and sisters had a tacit understanding. After entering Yongqiu, they didn't care about anywhere else and went straight to Fuzi Mountain.

The Taiping Taoist Temple was burned down that year and no buildings remained.

Later, when the world was pacified, some officials proposed to build a palace on Confucius Mountain. After all, this place was of great significance.

Zhou Yi didn't want to waste time and money, so he refused.

They just asked people to do some simple repairs and build a few small wooden buildings.

If nothing unexpected happens, the master should be on Fuzi Mountain. The three of them all thought so.

However.

When they arrived at the village eight miles down the mountain, the three of them stared blankly at the bamboo fence of a small farmyard through the carriage window.

There, there was a thin, white-haired old man carrying a medicine box on his back.

Next to the old man was a middle-aged couple.

The village woman was holding a child in her arms and kept thanking the old man.

"Boil the medicine over a low fire. Don't let your child get cold for the next half month."

"Yes, thank you, Taoist Priest, thank you, Taoist Priest~!"

The three people's sight was not obstructed. The old man who was giving instructions to the couple reacted and turned to look at the carriage parked under the big willow tree on the side of the road. He saw the three people in the carriage at a glance.

His long eyebrows drooped to the corners of his eyes, and at this moment he had a kind smile on his face.

Waving to the couple, the old man reached out to stop the three people who wanted to come down.

"Master~!"

Xia Shu and Yan Qiu couldn't help choking up when they saw that the old man looked even older.

Kakugoko came to the carriage and prepared to get on.

"Master."

Zhou Yi also called out, and seeing the deeper wrinkles on the old man's face, he understood.

He jumped off the carriage and helped his master up.

Jiao Wuzi entered the carriage. Zhang Chi, who was in charge of driving, integrated himself with the horse, making the three horses pulling the carriage move slowly without any bumps.

"Yes, you three have grown up."

"Master~!"

Xia Shu and Yan Qiu sat on Jiao Wuzi's left and right. Looking at their master's skinny hands and thinking of the past, they felt extremely distressed for a moment.

Kakugo patted the backs of their hands and, just like before, he scolded them in a low voice:

"Learn more from your senior brothers. You're already grown up, you should learn to control your emotions. What's there to be sad about?"

Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask, "Master, where have you been all these years?"

“Nature is somewhere you can’t find it.”

Jiao Wuzi held his white beard with his hand. Compared with his immortal appearance in the past, he now only had a kind face.

But when he made eye contact with Zhou Yi, he couldn't help but glare at him:

"You, my senior brother, are not calm enough. I told you before I left that if I hid myself, I would be feared and would be of greater help to you. You sent people everywhere to look for me, which made it inconvenient for me to do anything. I also had to disguise myself when I went out to treat people."

There was indeed a hint of complaint in his voice.

Then he praised sincerely: "However, you have exceeded my imagination."

"Having a disciple like you makes me have no regrets in this life."

Xia Shu on the side couldn't help but said: "Master, don't we count?"

"You two are just making up the numbers."

Jiao Wuzi was in a very good mood. He made a joke and held the hands of his two little disciples, with a look of relief in his eyes.

"I'm worried about Master's safety, and I have many doubts. Over the years, the number of people I've sent out to look for Master has increased year by year, because I've gradually gained the ability to protect others."

Kakugoko understood what he meant, but still insisted on his own opinion:

"Until this moment, your master will never see you. Compared to the world's great situation, I am just an insignificant wanderer. If I stay hidden, and others know the existence of an old master, your foundation will be even deeper."

"There's nothing wrong with hiding in the market. I'm happy to be free."

Zhou Yi thought of the scene just now and looked at the medicine box held by Yan Qiu.

"Master, have you been wandering around the market these years, practicing medicine and saving lives just like you did back then at Fuzi Mountain?"

"Most of the time," Jiao Wuzi said with a smile. "A little bit of the time, I live in seclusion in Zhongnan, studying medical classics and pharmacology with Sun Simiao. Back when we, the Taiping Dao, went down the mountain to preach, the medicines we gave patients were all based on the Taiping Dan recipe. With the Medicine King, we received even more different proofs."

"The character of Medicine King Sun is somewhat similar to mine, but in terms of medical skills and pharmacology, I am far inferior to him."

"No."

Zhou Yi shook his head: "Master is a doctor who can save the world and is no less skilled than any other doctor."

Jiao Wuzi smiled heartily and suddenly asked, "Do you know where the Xuanzhen Guanzang came from?"

Zhou Yi speculated: "Master, have you ever met Xiang Yutian?"

“I have seen it, I have seen it.”

Kakugoko was a little embarrassed: "He was in seclusion, and I dug him out."

ah?

Zhou Yi opened his eyes wide: "What's going on?"

"It all started with my obsession with medicine. To obtain Daoist prescriptions, I've explored many tombs. The ancient Daoist books you see are all ones I brought out from tombs."

Zhou Yi was stunned.

When he was sorting out the scriptures, he found that many ancient books had dust particles on them. He thought that his master was a Fa Qiu Zhong Lang Jiang, but he didn't expect that his words would come true.

"In a large tomb northwest of Chengdu, I discovered Xiang Yutian. Initially, Brother Xiang harbored deep hatred for me, even intending to kill me. But after he read the medical and Taoist texts I carried with me and learned of my true intentions, his attitude underwent a dramatic change."

"He first revealed his identity, which was truly astonishing. I had no idea there was a figure from the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the tomb. So I asked him how he had lived so long, and he told me that there were such rare objects as relics in the world."

"Coincidentally, the first generation of Evil Emperor Xie Bo, while searching for a set of silk books on medicine, accidentally discovered a burial object in an ancient tomb from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It was the relic that helped Brother Xiang live."

"After I learned these secrets, I got along better with him and we became friends."

"Later, I even agreed to help him do something."

Jiao Wuzi looked at Zhou Yi and said, "I'm looking for someone who can teach me the true teachings."

"Brother Xiang said he had four useless disciples, so I helped him teach his fifth disciple. Hence, I got the name Jiao Wuzi."

I see!

Zhou Yi felt as if the clouds had been cleared and the sun had finally come out: "Is Xuanzhen Guanzang the method mentioned in the first chapter of Daoxin Zhongmo Dafa to enter the Dao?"

The first chapter, "The First Step to Entering the Dao," focuses on cultivating authentic Xuanmen mental techniques to establish one's "Dao Body and Dao Heart." This chapter primarily helps practitioners lay the foundation for the Dao Heart, preparing them for controlling demonic species and future demonic transformations.

The level of demonic transformation is even higher than Yang Xuyan's alternative demonic extreme.

It is the last step to becoming a magic fairy.

Entering the Dao of Mystery is extremely important.

Jiao Wuzi nodded. "Brother Xiang thinks highly of this profound art, even he hasn't mastered it. It's said to have been collected by the peerless genius, 'Demon of Heaven' Cang Qu, and perhaps connected to the War God Temple. The line in the Xuanzhen Temple collection, 'To overcome obstacles, one must be as swift as a torrent,' is exactly what Brother Xiang noted."

Then he laughed again: "It's called a mark, but he himself doesn't know it clearly."

"When you mastered this technique so quickly, I was shocked. I never dared to share my insights with you again, for fear of delaying you. Brother Xiang once said that the formless is superior to the form. Now it seems that he was right."

Zhou Yi thought for a while and asked:

"Master, why did you choose this difficult article to pass on to me?"

Jiao Wuzi said, "Because this is the best, I have to let you try it. It took Brother Xiang two hundred years to cultivate that Dao Heart Demon, and it is extremely dangerous. The fact that you can cultivate the Xuanzhen Guanzang is, in my opinion, a great joy for everyone."

He then went on to describe the specific details.

The two of them talked at the same time.

Until they arrived at Fuzi Mountain, Zhou Yi no longer had any doubts.

Jiao Wuzi got off the carriage and said to Zhou Yi, "You are now the common ruler of the world. You should put the country first and go back as soon as possible."

Zhou Yi shook his head: "Not at this moment."

Jiao Wuzi couldn't resist, so the four of them went up the mountain together. The scene of that year seemed to be repeated on Fuzi Mountain.

Three days later.

Yan Qiu and Xia Shu stayed here, while Zhou Yi used his lightness skills to quickly return to Dongdu to get the relics. Prolonging someone's life is an extremely laborious task.

But on this point, Zhou Yi ignored his master's objection.

After the baptism of the relics, Jiao Wuzi's complexion improved a lot.

However, the absorption of essence is related to a person's own three treasures. If the martial arts level is not high enough, the life span that can be extended is very limited.

On Confucius Mountain.

Seeing Zhou Yi's worried look, Jiao Wuzi comforted him, "All mortals will eventually die, so there's no need for you to worry."

"I just want Master to see more of the world."

Jiao Wuzi flicked his sleeves and restored his usual sage-like demeanor. He smiled happily and said, "Disciple, please take a look for me."

…

After seven years of opening up, the country was stable and the world was at peace.

In this prosperous era, martial arts are particularly prevalent.

In coastal areas, shipping trade is prosperous, and there are many sailors who take pride in expanding the territory of Kyushu and fight overseas.

Three years ago, Yu Wenzhi recovered the Wa Island and sent a topographic map of mountains and rivers to the Tang Dynasty.

The Wa Kingdom disappeared and turned into Jiaoben County, which became a stop for Tang Dynasty navigators on their eastward journey.

The Zhou emperor has not been idle in recent years.

Although he is the best in the world, his ability in Qinggong is still improving day by day.

Sometimes she goes back to Youlin Cottage with Qingxuan, sometimes she goes west to Baidi with the Saint to visit the Three Gorges, accompanies her cousin to ride horses on the grasslands of Mobei, and goes to Qiantang with Xiuxun to explore the food desert. However, the little demon girl's favorite is her first visit to Wuzhuang Temple.

Zhou Yi just felt that his Qinggong was still not fast enough.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration this year.

Zhou Yi and Xiao Fenghuang went towards Shangcai together. The eldest prince of the Tang Dynasty was left in the palace by the two of them.

Adhering to the principle of doing what he said, Zhou Yi took Xiaofeng and wanted to take her to see the Emperor's tomb again.

When I arrived at Yucheng.

Zhou Yi then talked about the scene of the battle with the Tiger and Leopard Camp of the Yingyang Prefecture Army.

Going further south from Yucheng and passing Fule, you will reach Xihua.

When going from Xihua to Shangcai, you will pass through a village called Tusi.

"Back then, when I heard about the movements of the Demon Sect in Xihua, I didn't dare stay for a single day and rushed to this village at night. That's when I met Zhang Chi. It was thanks to his express train that I was able to reach Ruheji and see you so quickly."

A smile flashed in Dugu Feng's beautiful eyes. She held his arm, listened to him quietly, and recalled the time.

suddenly

Zhou Yi's voice stopped abruptly.

Following the small path, they came to the entrance of Tusi Village.

I had the impression that there should be a shabby wooden door here, but now I see a brand new bamboo door.

A wrinkled old man leaned against the doorway, leaning on a cane and looking unmovable. He was staring off into the distance, not knowing what he was looking at.

Zhou Yi thought of something and suddenly felt melancholy.

He stepped forward and asked, "Old man, what are you looking at?"

The old man slowly turned around and looked at Zhou Yi. His expression was quite hesitant, as if he felt that Zhou Yi looked a little familiar.

But what Zhou Yi didn't expect was...

The old man showed no worries at all, and smiled contentedly. He pointed to the sky and said, "I'm waiting for the sun to set."

"Why?"

The old man didn't say anything about the old age of life, his eyes were full of expectation:

"As soon as the sun sets, my grandson and his wife will return from the city. This kid used to wander around the martial arts world in his early years, but now he's finally settled down."

Zhou Yi's melancholy suddenly vanished, and he hurriedly asked, "Has the old man's grandson returned from Yanzhao?"

"Yes, yes. When the world is at peace, he will come back."

The old man's smile deepened the wrinkles on his face. "I have to thank His Majesty for this. No war broke out in Yan and Zhao, and my grandson who strayed into the military camp was able to escape unharmed. This is a great favor."

"Hello, His Majesty of the Tang Dynasty!"

Speaking of this

The old man reacted: "Young man, how do you know my grandson is in Yanzhao?"

Zhou Yi smiled deeply: "Old man, I know a little about divination."

"Good skill, you can calculate accurately."

The old man really believed it, and Zhou Yi said no more and left in a good mood.

After the two turned and left, Dugu Feng finally spoke: "We're meeting old friends, but the old man didn't recognize you. Why are you so happy?"

Zhou Yi told the story of how he stayed overnight here.

The little phoenix nodded. "The joys and sorrows of life are fleeting and wondrous. By chance, you have brought a ray of light to this old man's life, which was about to become dark."

Before she could make another comment, she suddenly screamed and was picked up by Zhou Yi.

"Xiaofeng, you are my ray of light."

Dugu Feng raised her eyes to look at him, her eyes smiling, and her words were gentle: "Zhou Lang is the wind that stirs up other people's worries."

Zhou Yi saw her playful wink and immediately understood.

The next moment, a white shadow, faster than Jinghong, flew through the air.

As the clouds fly by and the sunset clouds fall on the green hills, the song of the wind sounds again.

…

…

…

('-'*ゞThis book is over.

(End of this chapter)