Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 74

It was a gloomy spring morning, and he walked across the academy square with a face full of disappointment and despair. He saw a child practicing swordsmanship earnestly under a big tree. Despite the gloomy weather, her focused face seemed to be bathed in a strange halo.

He walked over without thinking. The child sheathed his sword, looked at the stranger's face full of sorrow and despair, and smiled, "Is something bothering you?"

It was a cloudy day, but for a fleeting moment, he suddenly felt that everything before his eyes, in his heart, and in everything he could see was bathed in radiant light, and a silent, beautiful hope was revived within him. The person before him did not seem to be a child, but rather a pure cloud or a god who governs all flowers and hope.

The moment he learned the child was an orphan, he made up his mind that, now free from all ties, he would do everything in his power to protect this precious life. Thus, his initial visit to Mr. Zhu, born of admiration, led him to stay and become a teacher at the academy. Then, watching the little girl, dressed as a boy, resolutely leave the academy in the dead of night to embark on her long journey through life, so too did he leave the academy without saying goodbye, protecting her along the way, providing her with shelter from the storms of life, and watching her grow into a towering tree.

Seeing his joyful yet thoughtful expression, Junyu felt the same joy and gratitude in her heart. She bowed deeply to the ground. Mr. Nongying did not help her up, but waited for her to get up on her own before smiling and saying, "Junyu, your eyes are finally healed."

“I didn’t realize how important eyesight was until I went blind. I realized that it would be a terrible thing if I could never see my husband again in this life.”

"Every cloud has a silver lining. If you hadn't been in danger, how would you have known that Tuosang was still alive?"

With a joy that felt like a flower blooming in her heart, Junyu chuckled and said, "Yes."

The air above Tiema Temple was thick with heat; it was less than 30 li from Xining Prefecture.

Junyu's eyes have been restored for almost twenty days. Mr. Nongying has already returned to Phoenix City. In the days since, she has not been in a hurry to go to Xining Prefecture, but has used various means to spread the news that she is still alive around the border, hoping to find Sun Jia's whereabouts or make Sun Jia come to her.

However, there was still no news from Sun Jia, so she had no choice but to head to Xining Prefecture first.

The horse was panting heavily, its tongue lolling out. Tuosang had found it during their escape, probably snatching it from a lone Crimson Gold Clan soldier. Although the horse was quite strong, it was still inferior to "Little Handsome," who had been poisoned by the Crimson Gold Clan assassins.

Junyu thought of "Little Handsome" and couldn't help but feel regretful and sad. She stopped for a while at the entrance of Tiema Temple, then mounted her horse, gently cracked her whip, and prepared to leave.

"Marshal Jun..."

A voice sounded behind him. Jun Yu reined in his horse and turned around, only to see Xia Ao, a disciplinary monk from the Holy Palace.

Xia Ao still dragged his long iron rod, but his robe was very tattered, as if he had been wandering for a long time.

Since Tuosang's "death," Junyu has never paid any attention to the affairs of their sect. Not only is it because of the distance and lack of communication, but also because she is afraid of being reminded of the past and worried that Tuosang might be "reincarnated." So she has been like an ostrich, ignoring everything.

Xia Ao's voice was filled with surprise: "Marshal Jun, it really is you!"

Junyu dismounted: "Master, what brings you here?"

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Chapter 250: The Temple of Wisdom and the Soul Flower (1)

Xia Ao's eyes blazed with fury: "It's a long story. After I, 'Bokdo,' passed away, ambitious figures within the sect and the Chilahan sect planted their own henchmen and ruthlessly suppressed dissent. They found a puppet somewhere to impersonate 'Bokdo,' and neither I nor the Chiba chief steward, nor the abbot of Tiema Temple, were willing to submit. But we were outnumbered and outmatched, and now we've all been forced into exile..."

Junyu was a little surprised: "They found a candidate for 'Bokdo' so quickly?"

"That's a puppet manipulated by ambitious individuals. Because no one in our sect recognizes him, he hasn't been able to officially become 'Bokdor.' Our only option now is to do our utmost to find the reincarnation of 'Bokdor,' and we absolutely cannot let the ambitious individuals' plot succeed..."

Junyu remained silent, vaguely understanding why Tuosang dared not admit his identity. She hadn't expected that even after dying once, he still couldn't completely break free from his shackles. These past few days, Xia Ao and the others had been searching for him relentlessly! She sighed inwardly; someone like Tuosang, even in death, belonged to the cult. But this was probably not the only reason he dared not show himself. Before the new "Bokdo" was confirmed, any leak of his information would unleash a bloodbath. And the ambitious figures secretly supporting a puppet would likely accelerate their actions even further.

"Marshal Jun, I have a request..."

"Speaking!"

Xia Ao paused for a moment, seemingly unsure how to begin, before finally saying, "Could I see your flower?"

Junyu immediately understood what he meant by "flowers," and vaguely guessed something was amiss. She simply asked, "What's so strange about those flowers?"

Xia Ao said, "We have been investigating for a long time. Some time ago, we discovered that there was the aura of the soul of 'Bokdo' at Tiema Temple. If that flower were still there, we could sense the aura of 'Bokdo' within a radius of several hundred miles... However, about a month and a half ago, this aura completely disappeared."

The flower had withered a month and a half ago. Junyu's heart skipped a beat: "What if it had withered?"

Xia Ao was shocked: "The flowers withered? When did that happen?"

"I don't know when it happened."

Xia Ao's eyes dimmed, and he murmured, "How could this be? These flowers won't wither for at least three years. If they wither, we'll lose all clues..."

What is the connection between those flowers and the soul of "Bokdor"?

“We consulted some ancient records from the Wisdom Hall, which said that after the death of a Bokta, his spiritual wisdom might accumulate and transform into flowers. However, according to the history of our religion, only this one Bokta's spiritual wisdom transformed into flowers, proving his profound understanding of Buddhism. Therefore, we must find him and properly pass on the profound and extensive Buddhist teachings of our religion.”

It turns out that this flower was transformed from the wisdom of "Bokdo," and naturally there is a special connection between them. Even if they are thousands of miles apart, they will know where the other is.

Junyu pondered that he had rushed to Tiema Temple on the anniversary of Tuosang's death, and that night, in a half-dream, half-awake state, he had sensed a strange atmosphere, which he figured was because Tuosang was nearby. In the following days, Tuosang probably sensed his trouble from the scent of these flowers and came to his rescue in time.

But how did he escape death? What kind of suffering did he endure? Where is he now? What promises does he still have to keep? When will he be able to truly return to his side with a completely new identity, free of any burdens? All sorts of questions raced through Junyu's mind.

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Chapter 251: The Temple of Wisdom and the Soul Flower (2)

Under what circumstances will these flowers wither?

“Normally” Bokdo will wither after reincarnation. Once withered, he is of no use.

How long does it typically take for a Bokdo to be reincarnated?

"It usually takes three years."

Tuosang didn't die at all, so there's no question of "reincarnation." Junyu's mind raced: "The flowers have long since withered, doesn't that prove that this 'Bokdo' can no longer be reincarnated?"

“How could ‘Bokdo’ not be reincarnated?” Xiao stared at her, seemingly finding her words unbelievable. “The flowers have withered, so it’s possible that ‘Bokdo’ has been reincarnated early. I hope Buddha will bless my ‘Bokdo’ to be reincarnated soon…” He suddenly showed a look of joy. “I have to hurry and go find it according to the instructions.”

Junyu closed his eyes and prayed to Buddha with such devotion: "Thank you, Buddha, for your kindness and compassion. He is now a mortal and will never be reincarnated."

She took out the flower and reverently handed it over: "This flower belongs to your esteemed religion and should have been returned to you long ago. I am truly sorry that it has withered today."

Xia Ao took the flower, which was indeed withered, and sighed, "Now, this flower is of no use to my sect. Alas, could it be that my sect is destined to suffer such a great calamity? Is it something we cannot avoid?! Why don't you keep this flower for yourself?"

Junyu shook her head resolutely. She knew that by handing over the withered flower, Tuosang had relinquished all his Buddhist wisdom and spiritual insight, thus severing all ties with the sect. She secretly prayed that from now on, Tuosang would just be an ordinary man, even if he lost all his martial arts skills and spiritual insight, just like any other common person in the marketplace.

Xia Ao suddenly remembered something. After Bokdo's death, they learned Junyu's identity, but everyone knew that the two were completely innocent and there was absolutely no illicit affair between them. This was because Bokdo's spirit transforming into a flower was the best proof. This also brought a complete end to Bokdo's trial in the "Discipline Hall," except that the girl named Yangjin was wrongfully killed.

However, "Bokdo" and Junyu had a deep bond that was beyond ordinary people. He stared at Junyu with surprise and asked, "The flowers have always been on you. Have you ever felt the presence of 'Bokdo'?"

"Please forgive me, I am not a religious person and cannot understand such a strange thing as reincarnation! I have never sensed his presence at all." Junyu shook his head, realizing for the first time that lying was not a difficult thing.

Xia Ao muttered a few words to himself in great disappointment, dragged the iron bar, and walked away blankly.

Junyu watched him walk away, a slight sense of apology and guilt welling up inside her. She had received Xia Ao's help when she was in the Northwest Army, and she also had a good relationship with several high-ranking abbots currently in exile. Now, seeing them embarking on a perpetually fruitless search, solely to avert the sect's great calamity and uphold their eternal faith, she felt a deep sense of guilt. She resolved that if she ever had the chance, she would do her utmost to help them, as a form of compensation and gratitude. Suddenly, she wondered if Tuosang's desperate concealment of his identity was also a covert effort.

……………………

On the golden palace.

Meng Yuanjing hurriedly went to see the emperor with the urgent military intelligence he had just received.

Upon reading the official document, the emperor was overjoyed and stood up from his dragon throne: "Junyu actually returned to the Northwest Army on his own?"

Meng Yuanjing stated truthfully, "The letter only mentioned that the news was widely circulated that 'Flying General Fengcheng' had returned to the Northwest, but it did not mention her return to the Northwest military camp."

The emperor pondered for a moment: "This Junyu is truly unpredictable. I sent people to invite her three or four times, but she resolutely resigned. Now, when the Northwest Army suffers repeated defeats, she actually took the initiative to secretly run off to the Northwest."

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Chapter 252: Returning to the Military Camp (1)

"Your Majesty, even if Junyu arrives at the Northwest Army, there is still General Mei there. I'm afraid Junyu will be hindered at every turn and unable to make any progress."

Two months ago, General Mei personally led a large army in a major battle against Zhu Yu at Huangfeng Mountain. As a result, his 50,000 troops suffered more than 30,000 casualties and returned in disarray. General Mei had served in the military for over twenty years. Although he was not a decorated general, he was experienced and generally won more battles than he lost. However, since taking command of the Northwest Army, he had suffered a major defeat every time he encountered Zhu Yu's troops.

The Emperor nodded: "General Mei is old and frail, and has suffered repeated defeats. He is no longer suitable for the Northwest battlefield. Immediately order his return to the capital. Currently, the military situation in the entire North is urgent. All troops in the thirteen northern provinces are under the command of Junyu. This is the imperial warrant for troop deployment. Lord Meng, this time, you will personally go incognito to deliver the imperial decree. Tell him that no matter what her identity is, I will not pursue the matter further. I only hope that she will do her utmost to protect the peace of our northern border."

Meng Yuanjing hesitated and asked, "Then, the military supervisor?"

The emperor laughed heartily: "Lord Meng, you truly are a good friend of Junyu, thinking of her so thoughtfully in every way. As for the military supervisor, he should just stay there as a figurehead. You know very well that Junyu has never taken him seriously. Don't worry, he won't be able to interfere with Junyu."

"Your subject first expresses his gratitude on behalf of Junyu."

After Meng Yuanjing took his leave, the emperor looked at Wang Jun, the imperial bodyguard with a sword, who also had a happy expression on his face.

The Emperor sighed, “Wang Jun, you know me best. Nowadays, civil officials are greedy for money, and military generals are arrogant. Those who have made great military achievements and amassed powerful armies are prone to mutiny and coercing their ruler if they are not careful. But Junyu is different. If she were really a girl, she would not have the endless ambition and lust for power that those fierce generals have for their wives and children. She is afraid of having her identity exposed. In fact, she does not know that sometimes I want to expose her identity, and sometimes I am afraid to expose her identity, especially when we are suffering repeated defeats on the Northwest battlefield. After all, among all the civil and military officials, she is the one I trust the most.”

Wang Jun immediately replied, "That's right. Young Master Jun is of noble character and has never harbored any ambition or ruthlessness to scheme or deceive. Throughout her life, she has relied entirely on her true abilities to plan and strategize. She is the person I admire most. With her in the army, Your Majesty can rest assured."

Meng Yuanjing arrived at the place he had arranged to meet with the Shi Lanni sisters.

After not seeing her for many days, Shi Lanni's face showed a hint of relief and joy, because her younger sister Shi Hongni was pregnant, and the two sisters were enjoying unparalleled favor in the palace.

Shi Hongni whispered, "Brother, I heard that Consort Mei's father has suffered a series of defeats and is returning to the capital?"

"yes."

Shi Lanni sneered, her voice barely audible: "It's also thanks to Mother's brilliant plan that Consort Mei suffered a miscarriage and fell out of favor. If she had given birth to a prince, I'm afraid that even if General Mei had suffered a few more defeats, the Emperor would not have recalled him."

Meng Yuanjing glanced at Shi Hongni's protruding belly and nodded: "Now, as long as you sisters act carefully according to your aunt's arrangements, you don't need to worry about your status in the palace."

"Then, who was sent to the Northwest Army?"

Meng Yuanjing laughed: "It's an old friend of yours."

"Young Master Jun?"

The Shi sisters exchanged a glance, overjoyed.

Xining Prefecture is already in sight.

Junyu reined in his horse and stopped for a while, until the horse let out a long neigh before heading towards the city gate.

The veterans guarding the city rubbed their eyes, and one of them suddenly shouted with joy, "Marshal Jun!" and immediately opened the city gate.

Junyu dismounted, walked in, and smiled, "Is everything alright?"

The veteran shook his head in frustration, but his tone quickly turned joyful: "We've been suffering defeats lately, but it's good that the marshal is back."

Junyu noticed their tattered clothes and pale faces. In this harsh and cold Northwest, after consecutive defeats without any reward, it was easy to imagine how difficult life must be for the soldiers.

Along the way, every soldier she encountered greeted her with delight. She smiled and returned their greetings. To avoid alerting the army, she quickened her pace and quietly made her way to the commander's camp.

The guards lined up at the gate were unfamiliar faces; they were remnants of General Mei's forces. As a young man in plain clothes approached quickly, two soldiers immediately stepped forward to stop him: "Who are you, daring to trespass into the commander's camp?"

Junyu bowed and said, "Please inform General Mei that Junyu has come to visit."

“Jun Yu?” Although “Flying General of Fengcheng” was a famous figure, ordinary soldiers rarely knew her real name. Now, hearing this unfamiliar name, the two were about to frown and refuse, but seeing the composed expression and imposing presence of this commoner, they dared not refuse and immediately said, “General Mei returned to the capital yesterday…”

Junyu was quite surprised: "Then, who's in charge here now?"