Chapter 343: He disappeared without a trace after waving his hand
Mr. Dong stood in the corridor and clasped his fists. “Master Dong Qian, the Taoist priest of Chifeng Dangyang, is here to greet you.”
I stepped forward, clasped my fists, and said, "Junior Wan Shanhong greets you, sir."
He took my hand and walked into the room.
I looked at Mr. Dong and found that he was fatter than before, his movements were slower, and his face was rounder.
Looking at the room again, it was simple, with a bed and a table. There was a coffee table by the window, with two stools beside it. He extended his hand and said, "Please sit down."
I didn't dare sit down until he did.
He turned and brought a cup of tea. I took it with both hands. Only then did the host and the guest sit down to talk.
"You're fatter than before."
"Yes. It has something to do with an illness I developed in middle age."
"Did you have an illness in your middle age?" Although I once told Sister Yu that Mr. Dong was fat because of his illness, at this moment, I would rather listen to him talk about the past in detail.
He stroked his thick beard and slowly recounted his past.
From Mr. Dong's narration, I learned that Mr. Dong came from an extraordinary family. His ancestor was a Jinshi in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, China was suffering from bullying by the great powers.
His ancestors were also passionate people. They wrote a letter to Emperor Guangxu, emphasizing the importance of reform. However, they were disliked by Empress Dowager Cixi, who stripped them of their titles and forced them to retire to the countryside.
However, his family had been scholars for generations, so when it was his turn to go to school, everything changed. His childhood and youth were spent in a repressive environment.
Fortunately, his family had a collection of books, and his father provided him with meticulous education, making him one of the most learned men of his time. He later found work as a factory worker, spending his leisure time with books. Around his thirties, he contracted a strange illness, leaving him completely weak and unable to engage in manual labor.
After years of treatment, he sought medical help everywhere, but to no avail. Losing all hope, he headed to Mount Zhongnan to study Taoism, hoping to find solace in the righteousness of the Way. Unexpectedly, he met an old Taoist who cured his illness, but left him with obesity.
During his time studying with the Taoist master, he made great progress. He also lost interest in worldly affairs, devoting himself entirely to the Dao, and studied the Mysterious Arts with the Taoist master. Five years later, the Taoist master ascended to heaven. He remained in Mount Zhongnan.
I asked again, "Then how did you get to know Master Shi Yanfeng?"
Mr. Dong continued:
One day, he went down the mountain to buy rice. On the way, he encountered a group of snakes, about a hundred of them, blocking his way. Just as he was about to retreat, he saw a man coming down the mountain, carrying a bag and walking with his head down. He was afraid that the man would accidentally walk into the snake group, so he shouted, "Snakes!"
The man took a closer look, stopped, and muttered something. Then he saw the snakes avoid him and hide in the bushes on both sides.
Dong Qian clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you, hero, for driving away the snakes. May I ask where you are from and where you are going?"
The two men sat cross-legged on a rock and talked. Dong Qian learned that the man was Shi Yanfeng, a Shaolin monk who had entered the Shaolin Temple at the age of sixteen and had won a national martial arts championship.
Because his father was bullied by a bully at home, he returned home to ensure safety. One day, his family had a conflict with the bully again. He did not fight back and let the bully break into the house. Later, he could no longer bear it and stood up to resist, beating the bully to death with one punch.
Because the bandits were causing trouble in the area, local neighbors filed a complaint with the government, arguing that Shi Yanfeng had been forced to resist and was acting in a just and righteous manner to eliminate harm. The government, however, considered Shi Yanfeng's past record of saving people from a pond and his history of charity, and therefore acquitted him.
From then on, Shi Yanfeng traveled around the world, abandoning Buddhism and pursuing Taoism.
After hearing this, I sighed deeply, "So there's such a legend behind the hero Shi Yan. Then, if he studied Taoism, why did he still use the name Shi Ran?"
"In fact, he has changed his name to Red Wind Nanyang Taoist. However, old friends and acquaintances who are unaware of his renunciation of Buddhism and conversion to Taoism still call him Shi Yanfeng."
I said, "So, Shi Yanfeng's surname should be Deng, and the surname Deng is also called Nanyang."
Mr. Dong said, "That's quite right. As for Master Hongyi and you, both were described to me in detail by the Nanyang Taoist. But the Nanyang Taoist seemed particularly fond of you. He said you had a profound wisdom, and seeing you in Jiangxi, I can see it's true."
"That time in Jiangxi, when we first met, how did you know it was me?"
Mr. Dong laughed heartily. "The Taoist from Nanyang mentioned your characteristics. There's a mole on your left earlobe and a mole on your right earlobe. It's rare to find someone with these two moles in a hundred thousand people."
In addition, since you predicted the word "see", I concluded that this person is a fellow traveler. Since there are moles on both ears, the age is consistent, and the face is suitable, I immediately determined that it is you."
"Since you recognized me, why didn't you acknowledge me then?"
Mr. Dong said, "The time has not come yet. I had planned to meet you in four years, but soon after we parted, I felt my health was declining. I am seventy-one years old now, and I am afraid that what I have learned in my life will be lost.
The world is vast, but those with wisdom are few and far between. Seeing you in Jiangxi, I felt I had found my successor, and I wish to pass on all I have learned. Seventy-three, eighty-four, the King of Hell will not call me to go. So I settled down and met you.
I immediately prostrated myself and said, "Master, please accept my disciple's greeting."
"There's no need for the ceremony. I'm truly devoted to the Tao and only want to save the hearts of the people in the world. Please stand up." Mr. Dong bent down and helped me up.
Mr. Dong said: "I have written down everything I have learned and understood in my life in a notebook. I would like to give this notebook to you.
The subtleties of Taoism cannot be understood by one person. You are young and can inherit the mantle. Study slowly and you will gain your own understanding.
After that, he took out a notebook from the box and handed it to me.
I bowed down again.
He said: "Deep love does not last long. I hope you can control your emotions. I will have lunch with you and then say goodbye to you and go to Xishuangbanna. Don't ask me where I will go next, and don't miss me.
Those who truly understand the Dao live for the great Dao of the world, love those around them, solve problems around them, and help those with whom they are destined. Everything in the past is but a passing cloud."
I was a little excited: "How can that be possible? Master taught me to fish. I should know your limits, understand your message, and always be grateful. Only then can I be called a disciple."
He shook his head. "The Dao is passed down from generation to generation, and emotion alone is absolutely not an option. If you want to thank me, treat me to lunch and I'll fulfill your wish. I don't ask for any thanks, I just hope that the Dao can be passed down for generations to come."
When you are old and your strength is declining, you must also learn from me and find someone to teach you, so that the flame of Chinese culture can be passed on from generation to generation, and it will continue to flourish."
I nodded seriously.
Mr. Dong said, "Let's go, I'm packing my bags too. We'll say goodbye after dinner."
I quickly took the room card and went down to the fourth floor, paid the bill for him, and asked the front desk where there was a good hotel.
She told me to turn right and there was a "Zhongmeng Avenue Restaurant" which was clean and served delicious food.
I accompanied Mr. Dong out and had lunch at a restaurant. He said he needed to go to Xishuangbanna, so I took him to the station.
He said, "You don't have to send more. I can just wait here."
I wanted to say something more, but the train was about to depart. He followed the crowd into the station.
I stood there and waved to him.
He left without looking back. With a wave of his hand, he disappeared without a trace.
The mountains are high and the road is long. Apart from Xishuangbanna, where will his next stop be? He won't tell me, so I don't know.
My meeting with Mr. Dong was like a dream.
I came and went in a hurry. It was as if I had just entered a dream and then woke up. I stood there in a daze, as if I was in a dream, but also as if I was outside the dream and in the mortal world.
Cars kept coming in and out, and I didn't know which car leaving the station he was on.
He didn't stick his head out again to say goodbye to me.
I stood there for a while, then left the exit and headed towards customs.
Yes, that's what life is like. True feelings can't be expressed in words. They're before our eyes, in our hearts, and in the blink of an eye.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
