The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 437

Jiang Ning nodded, then asked, "How are the senior brothers doing?"

Lin Pingzhi quickly replied, "It's similar to what we have here; quite a few beggars have already starved to death."

After Jiang Ning met with the Beggar Clan elders a few days ago and told them to get out of Shaanxi, they left the next day without delay, ignoring even the beggars who had been sent to harass the villagers.

Yue Buqun was very pleased to learn of this, thinking that Jiang Ning had handled the matter very well. Just two days ago, he had said that they could return to the mountain and that there was no need to care about these beggars anymore; they could simply be allowed to leave.

However, Jiang Ning did not agree and continued to imprison them. In the past few days, beggars have been begging for mercy and admitting their mistakes, wanting to be like the beggar who was guaranteed to live by the villagers before, but Jiang Ning ignored them all. Now, only a few are still barely surviving.

"Senior brother."

Lin Pingzhi then said, "Since those Beggars' Clan members have already left and don't care about these beggars anymore, should we continue? Or should we just kill them now?"

The reason he hadn't touched these beggars before was because he was worried that the Beggars' Sect would use this incident against them. Now that the Beggars' Sect had left, these beggars had become expendable pawns. It didn't matter whether he released them or killed them. Continuing to imprison them would only be a waste of time, since they were all going to die anyway. Lin Pingzhi preferred to kill them all to avoid wasting time.

Jiang Ning, however, said, "Continue."

Jiang Ning disliked cruelty and killing, but these beggars had to bear the consequences. They disturbed the peace of the people, so let them die like this.

Lin Pingzhi had no objection to Jiang Ning's arrangements. Since his senior brother had said so, it wouldn't matter if he wasted a few more days.

"That's right, Senior Brother."

Lin Pingzhi added, "Master wants you to go back to the mountain. He has something to tell you, and it seems to be urgent. He wants you to return as soon as possible."

Urgent?

Jiang Ning was somewhat surprised, then nodded.

"I understand."

Since Yue Buqun has urgent business to discuss with him, Jiang Ning should go back now.

Not long after, Jiang Ning immediately set off back to the mountain. Upon arrival, he inquired with other Huashan disciples and learned that Yue Buqun was in the main hall. Jiang Ning then headed towards the main hall.

"Master."

When Jiang Ning arrived, Yue Buqun was holding a letter in his hand.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning return, Yue Buqun put down the letter in his hand, grunted, and asked, "How were things down the mountain?"

Jiang Ning replied, "Everything went smoothly."

After saying a few words, Jiang Ning inquired.

"I heard that Master Lin urgently needs to speak with his disciple. May I ask what it is?"

When serious matters were mentioned, Yue Buqun's expression turned serious. He didn't speak immediately, but instead handed the letter in his hand to Jiang Ning.

“A letter has arrived from Master Dingxian of the Hengshan Sect. It says that Ren Woxing is spreading rumors throughout the martial arts world that the Wudang Sect’s most prized possession is in your hands, causing a great uproar in the martial arts world.”

Chapter 594: Old Yue, you've gotten too cocky!

Oh?

Jiang Ning took the letter and read it. In the letter, Abbess Dingxian wrote that it was rumored in the martial arts world that the Zhenwu Sword, the treasure of the Wudang Sect, had recently fallen into the hands of Ning Yanwang of the Huashan Sect.

This news immediately caused a huge uproar in the martial arts world, with everyone speculating whether it was true or false.

Not long after releasing this news, Ren Woxing released another piece of news.

That is another treasure of the Wudang School, a Tai Chi classic handwritten by Zhang Sanfeng, which is currently on Blackwood Cliff.

More than 80 years ago, the Demonic Cult stormed Wudang Mountain and stole the Wudang School's Tai Chi Classics and Zhenwu Sword. For many years, Wudang had been unable to retrieve them until recently when the Zhenwu Sword came into the hands of Jiang Ning.

The two pieces of news released by Ren Woxing were indeed shocking, leaving everyone in the martial arts world stunned.

It should be noted that both of these items are symbols of the Wudang School. The Zhenwu Sword goes without saying; it was Zhang Sanfeng's sword when he was young. The Taijiquan Manual is even more important; it is a martial art created by Zhang Sanfeng and is the most important thing in the Wudang School. Unexpectedly, the Wudang School has even lost the Taijiquan Manual, and it has been lost for more than eighty years. How could this not surprise them?

This is the hottest topic of discussion in the martial arts world right now, with everyone speculating about the veracity of Ren Woxing's revelations about these two things.

Many people are especially looking forward to the Wudang Sect's response.

Upon learning of this matter, Abbess Dingxian of the Hengshan Sect immediately wrote to Yue Buqun to inquire about its veracity. In the letter, she mentioned that it was possible that Ren Woxing wanted to sow discord between the Huashan and Wudang sects. If it was false, she suggested that Yue Buqun should communicate with the Wudang sect and that Ren Woxing might have other plans later. She also reminded Yue Buqun to be careful.

After reading the contents of the letter, Jiang Ning put it away.

"As expected."

Yue Buqun laughed and asked, "Do you think we should communicate with Chongxu?"

Jiang Ning countered with, "What does Master think?"

"Haha."

Yue Buqun burst into laughter.

"Of course, communication is necessary."

Yue Buqun had long anticipated that Ren Woxing would make such a move, and that this day would come; he had already made preparations.

"How do you think I should write the content of my letter?"

Jiang Ning asked, "Master, have you decided how to write it?"

Yue Buqun nodded and then expressed his thoughts.

Previously, when they were at the Emei Sect, Yue Buqun had tested Chongxu, and Yue Buqun planned to make a move on this aspect.

After listening, Jiang Ning spoke directly.

"not enough."

Yue Buqun asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Jiang Ning calmly said, "My master wrote at the end of the letter that if this sword really belongs to the Wudang Sect, the Huashan Sect is willing to return it."

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Yue Buqun's eyes flickered slightly, but he was not surprised. He looked at Jiang Ning and asked, "Are you really willing to return the sword?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "If Daoist Chongxu really speaks up, what's wrong with sending it back to him?"

Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning carefully, and nodded after a moment.

"Let's do as you say. I'll write the letter right away."

Jiang Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Then this disciple will take his leave first."

Yue Buqun called out to him.

"Don't leave yet."

Yue Buqun said, "Hasn't the Beggars' Sect matter been resolved?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

Yue Buqun continued, “Since the Beggars’ Sect will not bother us for the time being, we can start recruiting disciples. You, Chong’er, and the other disciples can do it. You are in full charge of this matter. How to select disciples and where to select them are all up to you. I will not interfere in any way.”

Hearing Yue Buqun's attitude of wanting to be a hands-off manager, Jiang Ning did not refuse and nodded in agreement, asking, "By the way, Master, how many disciples are being recruited this time?"

"three hundred."

Yue Buqun answered without hesitation, clearly having already considered it.

Jiang Ning asked in surprise, "So many?"

You know, last time they only recruited about sixty disciples, and the Huashan Sect has become a Huashan kindergarten. If they continue to follow the same standards as last time, then the entire sect will have nothing else to do but take care of the new disciples' food, drink, and toilet needs.

But Yue Buqun already had a plan in mind.

"Although there are many, not all of them will necessarily join my Huashan Sect immediately."

Yue Buqun said, “This time when you go down the mountain to recruit disciples, in addition to those who are of the right age and suitable to join my Huashan Sect, those who are too young and do not meet the requirements can also be brought back. However, they do not need to join the sect first. Let them live in the village at the foot of the mountain first. When they reach the right age, they can undergo the initiation ceremony to join my Huashan Sect.”

It turned out to be the case.

Jiang Ning nodded.

Yue Buqun paused for a moment, then continued, "Those children who are underage can be cared for by the women at the foot of Mount Hua. The Mount Hua Sect will pay them regularly, so they will also have a way to earn money."

Yue Buqun also knew that in ordinary families nowadays, the men go out to earn money to support their families, while their wives and daughters stay at home without any source of income. As a result, some families are quite poor, and some women are not treated well by their husbands' families and are often beaten and scolded.

Yue Buqun saw all of this, but he couldn't change anything. He was a man of the martial world, capable of slaying evil spirits with his sword, but his sword was useless when it came to the affairs of ordinary people.

Therefore, Yue Buqun thought of this and had these women take care of the future disciples of the Huashan Sect. In return, the Huashan Sect would pay them. This way, they could have an income to supplement their household expenses and their husbands' families would treat them better and respect them.

"Master is very thoughtful."

Jiang Ning naturally had no objections.

"correct."

Yue Buqun added, "If the parents of those children who are underage are worried about them, they can also come to the foot of Mount Hua to live and be taken care of. The Mount Hua Sect will also give them some subsidies."

Since we've already come this far, Yue Buqun might as well tell the rest.

"When you go down the mountain to recruit disciples this time, if you encounter some families that are poor, the Huashan Sect can provide subsidies to their families. This way, the disciples who join our Huashan Sect will not have to worry too much about their families' livelihoods."

Jiang Ning was somewhat surprised.

If this is done, the Huashan Sect's expenses in this area will increase significantly.

However, Jiang Ning would not reject Yue Buqun's idea; he agreed with it.

Jiang Ning then asked, "What about the families of those disciples who had already entered the sect?"

Yue Buqun nodded.

"Nature treats everyone equally."

"The disciple understands."

Jiang Ning nodded.

Yue Buqun waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry too much about the expenses in this regard. The Huashan Sect is not short of money right now."

"……Yes."

Jiang Ning nodded and left, though his expression was slightly strange.

Yue Buqun, who was destitute just a few years ago and would walk whenever possible instead of taking a carriage, can now say with great confidence that he has no shortage of money.

Old Yue, you're getting cocky!

Chapter 595: He's incredibly cunning!

Wudang Mountain.

"Sect Leader, Sect Leader."

An old Taoist priest walked hurriedly and looked anxious as he headed toward a dwelling. Without knocking, he pushed open the door and went inside.

"Sect Leader, have you heard?"

Chongxu was meditating when he heard the commotion. He opened his eyes and looked at the old Taoist priest.

"what's up?"

The old Taoist priest said excitedly, "Now everyone in the martial arts world is saying that the True Martial Sword is currently in the hands of Jiang Ning of the Huashan Sect."

Chongxu remained calm.

"I already knew."

The old Taoist priest, oblivious to Chongxu's expression, continued excitedly, "The Zhenwu Sword has been lost for over eighty years and has remained in the hands of the Demonic Sect. Since it is now in the hands of the Huashan Sect, we can write to Sect Leader Yue and request that he return the Zhenwu Sword."

The old Taoist priest had already envisioned the Zhenwu Sword returning to Wudang.

But Chongxu remained calm, showing no sign of agitation.

The old Taoist priest also noticed Chongxu's abnormality, and after calming down, he asked in confusion, "Sect Leader, what's wrong?"

Why does Chongxu seem unhappy to hear this news?

Chongxu's expression was somewhat complicated, as if he didn't know what to say. After a long while, he said, "Do you remember the thing we proposed to forge a fake Zhenwu Sword after we returned from the Emei Sect last time?"

"remember."

The old Taoist priest nodded.

Shortly after returning to Wudang Mountain from the ceremony of the succession of the Emei Sect leader, Chongxu proposed this idea. Although they were puzzled as to why Chongxu wanted to do this, they all agreed that it was a good idea and agreed to the elder's suggestion.