harleyscars Page 11
Page 11
I won't go into the details of that trip.
Calling it budget travel is a rather respectable way of putting it; it's practically like wilderness survival.
They lived in dilapidated temples and ate wild game hunted by their disciples in the mountains. They saved money wherever they could. Even so, they sometimes couldn't afford the travel expenses and had to hike across the mountains. In the end, they only traveled around Shaanxi Province before returning. If they had gone any further, they probably wouldn't have even had the money to return.
Was Yue Buqun poor?
They are not poor; it is the Huashan Sect that is poor.
Is the Huashan Sect poor?
poor.
Very poor.
They were so poor they were practically starving.
The entire Huashan Sect disciples exuded an air of poverty and shabbiness, including Linghu Chong.
Yue Buqun would sometimes give his disciples pocket money, but not much. Even Linghu Chong sometimes couldn't even take out a tael of silver.
Although Yue Buqun himself was not poor, he had to support the entire Huashan Sect, dozens of people, all of whom were martial arts practitioners, which consumed even more energy.
These dozens of people dragged him down to a state of financial hardship. He had to be frugal in his daily life, washing and mending his clothes repeatedly, reluctant to replace them.
Logically speaking, a prestigious sect like the Huashan Sect shouldn't be so impoverished. Although it doesn't own any property, the tuition fees it receives from taking on disciples can still be considered a source of income.
However, most of the disciples Yue Buqun accepted came from impoverished families and couldn't afford tuition. Some were even beggars, like Du Lanyin, while others were orphans, like Linghu Chong.
Where would someone like Du Lanyin get the money to pay her tuition? Before entering Mount Hua, she ate only what she could get by begging.
Given the current economic situation of Mount Hua, does Yue Buqun's desire to travel mean he's suddenly become rich?
Jiang Ning shook his head and said, "Please forgive me for not being able to travel with Master, Mistress, and my fellow disciples."
The cheers of Gao Genming and the others paused.
Yue Buqun frowned and asked, "Why?"
Liang Fa earnestly advised, "Junior brother, it would be better if you stayed with us. That way, if anything happens, we can help each other out."
Jiangning already has an excuse.
"My purpose in coming down the mountain to see the world is secondary; the most important purpose is to train myself and break through my limitations."
"If I were with Master and my fellow disciples, I would certainly be safe with your protection, but there would be no point in going down the mountain for training. In that case, what difference would it make whether I am on the mountain or down at the foot of the mountain?"
Jiang Ning went down the mountain mainly to find the Innate Skill, as it would be inconvenient to travel with Yue Buqun and the others.
Moreover, he had made up his mind that if he couldn't find the Innate Skill in the Tomb of the Living Dead in Zhongnan Mountain, he would travel all over the country, searching for traces of those divine skills and also seeing the world.
The experience he told Yue Buqun wasn't entirely fake.
Lu Dayou, Gao Genming, and the others remained silent.
Yue Buqun remained silent, his eyes filled with hesitation.
It wasn't that he disagreed, but Jiang Ning had never traveled far before, and he was afraid that something might happen if Jiang Ning went on his first long trip without anyone to accompany him.
Seeing Yue Buqun deep in thought, Linghu Chong's eyes darted around, and he felt that he had guessed Yue Buqun's thoughts, so he volunteered to step forward.
“Master, since Junior Brother wants to train alone, why don’t I accompany him down the mountain? That way, I can look after him. I will never intervene unless Junior Brother is in danger. Junior Brother can train however he wants, and I guarantee nothing will happen.”
Linghu Chong held his head high, thumping his chest loudly.
Yue Buqun didn't even look at him, treating his words as nothing at all.
Of all his disciples, only Jiang Ning was somewhat reliable and ambitious. If Linghu Chong were to take Jiang Ning out for a trip and he came back to indulge in all sorts of vices, he would skin Linghu Chong alive.
"Alright."
Yue Buqun said to Jiang Ning, "It's good that you have this idea. I have no reason not to support you. Since you want to train alone, then go ahead. The outside world is not like Mount Hua. Remember to be careful after you go down the mountain. Think thrice before you act. If you are wronged outside, do not act impulsively. Find out the other party's strength. If the other party is powerful, be patient for the time being. Come back and tell me. I will go and ask for justice for you."
"Although my Huashan Sect is not as powerful as it used to be, we will not allow our disciples to suffer injustice at the hands of others."
Chapter 20: Cliff of Repentance
"Yes, Master."
Jiang Ning bowed his head and agreed.
Linghu Chong, who was standing to the side, became anxious.
If he were to go down the mountain with the main group of Huashan people for sightseeing, Yue Buqun would definitely keep an eye on him, making him feel very uncomfortable.
"Master, I..."
Before Linghu Chong could finish speaking, he saw Yue Buqun glance at him sideways, and the meaning in that look frightened him so much that he dared not speak again.
"Humph!"
Yue Buqun snorted coldly, then asked Jiang Ning, "Since you have decided to go down the mountain alone, when do you plan to set off?"
Jiang Ning thought for a moment.
"Tomorrow."
Better sooner rather than later.
Yue Buqun nodded without saying anything.
"That's right, Master."
Jiang Ning then said, "Before I leave the mountain, I have a request that I would like Master to grant."
Yue Buqun looked at him with suspicion.
"what's up?"
"I want to go up to the Cliff of Contemplation and take a look."
Linghu Chong was taken aback.
What's so interesting about that shabby place? He goes there all the time and is tired of seeing it.
Yue Buqun became increasingly puzzled.
What are you going there for?
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "This disciple would like to take one last look at the beautiful scenery of Mount Hua before descending the mountain. Since arriving at Mount Hua, this disciple has seen all the scenery of Mount Hua, except for the Jade Maiden Peak, which this disciple has not yet visited. Moreover, this disciple has often heard the senior brother talk about that place, but has never had the opportunity to see it."
For some reason, Linghu Chong always felt hurt when he heard those words.
Does that mean he has many opportunities?
Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Yue Buqun glared at Linghu Chong, then frowned and said, "What's so interesting about that place? Don't listen to Chong'er's nonsense. He's always been lazy and has a wild personality; he just loves to talk nonsense."
Linghu Chong: ...
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "That's what I mean, but I've often heard my senior brother mention it. Now, before I leave, I want to see what's so special about the place that makes my senior brother so reluctant to leave."
Linghu Chong's eyes widened.
What does it mean to linger and never want to leave?
Junior brother, why are you still acting so sly and mischievous?
Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun glared fiercely at Linghu Chong.
Linghu Chong wanted to cry but had no tears.
Yue Buqun said helplessly, "Since you want to go, then go."
"Yes."
Jiang Ning smiled and nodded.
The purpose is achieved.
Yue Buqun glared at Linghu Chong again and said coldly, "You often go to the Cliff of Contemplation, so you know the way there well. You take Ning'er there later."
Linghu Chong: "...Yes."
Upon hearing the mention of the Cliff of Contemplation, Yue Buqun seemed to recall something and said to Linghu Chong, "You went down the mountain without permission this time, disobeying your master's orders. After you return from this trip, I will punish you by making you face the wall at the Cliff of Contemplation for half a month."
Linghu Chong stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.
However, Yue Buqun stopped looking at him and instead said to the disciples of Mount Hua, "Go back and make good preparations. I will arrange the travel arrangements and vehicles, and we will set off in three days. This time we are going to Xiangyang. I heard that there will be a lantern festival in Xiangyang on the fifteenth of next month. It is very lively, so we will go there to visit."
"Alas!"
The Huashan disciples shouted excitedly and swarmed around Yue Buqun, chattering about what the lantern festival in Xiangyang was like, whether it was fun, and what delicious food was available.
The noise was driving Yue Buqun crazy.
Ok?
Jiang Ning, who was pushed out of the crowd, was somewhat surprised.
Did Yue Buqun really become rich overnight after his trip?
This is already across provinces, and they even ordered vehicles. When has Huashan ever been this wealthy before?
What did he go out to do this time?
"Let's go, junior brother."
At this moment, Linghu Chong walked over, looking utterly hopeless.
He was also squeezed out.
"Okay, senior brother."
Jiang Ning nodded and walked towards Jade Maiden Peak with Linghu Chong.
Linghu Chong didn't say much along the way. Jiang Ning remembered him as a chatterbox, so why had he become so quiet?
"What's wrong, Senior Brother? Is something on your mind?"
Linghu Chong stiffened for a moment, then turned to look at Jiang Ning, seeing a face filled with both confusion and concern.
Linghu Chong slowly shook his head, revealing an ugly smile.
"No."
After saying that, he continued walking forward, like a walking corpse.
His voice was desolate, and his silhouette exuded a sense of loneliness.
Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Ning smiled slightly.
He had no interest in distinguishing right from wrong between Linghu Chong and Yue Buqun in the original work, nor did he care.
However, if Linghu Chong in this world dares to betray Yue Buqun or do anything detrimental to the Huashan Sect, he will kill Linghu Chong with his own hands.
As Linghu Chong was walking ahead, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He instinctively turned around and saw his junior brother behind him, who still had that same smiling expression on his face.
illusion?
Linghu Chong shook his head, turned around and continued to lead the way. Before long, the two arrived at Jade Maiden Peak.
The towering Jade Maiden Peak resembles a sharp sword piercing straight into the clouds.
“Junior brother, the rest of Mount Hua is full of beautiful scenery with clear waters and lush vegetation, but the Cliff of Contemplation on Jade Maiden Peak is different.”
As Linghu Chong climbed the peak, he said to Jiang Ning, "That place is barren, with no flowers or trees, and is surrounded by stone walls. There's nothing there except for that stone cave; you can't even see insects or birds."
At this point, Linghu Chong smiled at Jiang Ning and said, "That's a good thing. If you're on the Cliff of Contemplation in the summer, you won't get bitten by mosquitoes."
"But be careful when you go up. When you're almost at the Cliff of Contemplation, there's a big, smooth rock about a meter to your right. Be careful not to step on it, or you might slip and fall."
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "I understand. Thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother. Hearing how familiar you are with the place, remembering the location of even a single stone so clearly, it feels like coming home."
Linghu Chong's smile vanished instantly. He rolled his eyes at Jiang Ning and remained silent for the rest of the journey.
These mountains, several hundred meters above sea level, are indeed difficult to climb, and the road is extremely rugged. It took us almost half a day just to get there.
"Hey!"
Linghu Chong leaped left and right, then took a step to the top, with Jiang Ning following closely behind.
Just as Linghu Chong had said, this place was completely bare, with nothing but a stone cave.
Linghu Chong put his hands on his hips, looked around at the place with emotion, and looked around to see if there was any difference between this place and the place he had left home last time.