Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 51 Bravely Ventures into the Pleasure Boat
"Junior brother, just say what you're wondering."

"Senior brother, you mentioned your own realm before, so what does it mean to have your mind outside your body?"

After pondering for a moment, Ruoxu said.

"It's not that the heart is outside the body, but that the heart is outside the door."

“In the Surangama Sutra, the Buddha and Ananda asked each other seven questions about the mind. They said the mind is inside the body, the mind is outside the body, the mind is hidden in the sense organs, the mind is between inner and outer light and darkness, the mind is wherever it is attached, the mind is between the sense organs and their objects, and the mind is in a place where it is not attached. All of these are wrong.”

"Do not be deceived by these seemingly profound ideas; they are merely the illusions of Madangha."

"The mind is outside the door" is very simple. It means that I observe the various delusions and attachments in my own heart and learn to let them go. It is a profound insight and transcendence.

These words are profound Buddhist teachings, which put Xu Xuan at ease. His senior brother has truly seen through things with great wisdom.

"Ahem, Senior Brother's realm is truly awe-inspiring. I happened to have recently learned a minor technique by chance, and I'd like to receive some guidance on some of its challenges."

What technique?

"The art of tearing paper into butterflies."

The air on the back mountain was a bit chilly, and the wind was a bit noisy.

"Junior brother, there's no need to worry. My heart is outside the gate."

Ruoxu remained unmoved, his all-encompassing smile still on his face, inspiring deep respect in everyone.

He raised his sleeve and said something.

"Let's see."

A blue butterfly fluttered out, dancing around Xu Xuan.

Then one after another flew out.

Butterflies linger and dance, while orioles sing freely.

It's clearly a creation of magic, yet it seems to be full of life. This little spell has such high potential!

More and more butterflies eventually dragged Xu Xuan into the air, creating a surprisingly beautiful scene under the moonlight.

Ruoxu sat on a boulder by the stream, recounting the process of creating the Dharma and its secrets.

"I see, it's so simple."

Xu Xuan was quite delighted; the Butterfly Transformation Technique had so many wonderful uses, it was truly interesting.

He had somehow ended up on top of the waterfall.

As he fell from the sky, Xu Xuan realized that his senior brother's heart was outside the gate, but his body was inside.

Pfft!
After a short period of training, Instructor Xu began to receive the students from impoverished families who were returning one after another.

Currently, only Ji Rui, Ning Caichen, and Qiao Feng are missing from arriving.

Ning Caichen's family wasn't the furthest away, but he was the poorest. He was on par with Qiao Feng, yet he had no childhood sweethearts to help him, and he refused the academy's advance funding, so he couldn't afford to hire a carriage.

There is also an elderly mother at home who needs to be taken care of, and there are many trivial matters to handle.

Ji Ruiming was studying in Qiantang County, but he delayed until the last minute. There's a reason why this guy couldn't come.

Ji, the head of the Chamber of Commerce of the Seven Southern Provinces, arrived from his hometown with several convoys of goods, complete with tinkering and banging.

A grand banquet was held right there in Qiantang.

Regardless of age or gender, anyone who says a compliment to Young Master Ji can participate in the banquet, which includes plenty of chicken, duck, fish, and even seafood, and is of extremely high standard.

Xu Xuangang thought it was Zhao Tianba when he heard it.

Even he received an invitation, but since nothing is more important than spiritual practice, he declined.

I won't go into detail about Qiao Feng's marriage.

The dozen or so students who have returned have already begun to integrate into the academy.

With guidance and suppression from above, friction remains within a controllable range.

The enrollment of students from poor families has also brought about a new trend, namely, increased competitiveness.

The new students also witnessed the extraordinary nature of Instructor Xu, and all the students felt a sense of fear wherever he went.

On this day, Xu Xuan, who was practicing tearing paper, was called out by Professor Gu.

"There's not much of a problem with the new students, but something has happened with the returning students. After thinking it over, I think it's the most appropriate person to handle this."

It turns out that Qian Zhongyu had gotten into trouble.

Xu Xuan originally planned to offer some guidance to the unfortunate scholar after the admissions process was over, but then Ruoxu returned and devoted himself to studying Buddhism for a few days, so he skipped the matter.

Unexpectedly, this young master of the Qian family, who cared a lot about his reputation, went down the mountain and wandered around Qiantang County to escape reality.

Xu Xuan could only sit in the car and get out to arrest the person, speechless. The professors' intention was that it was understandable for the child to be somewhat dejected due to the emotional blow he had suffered, so they asked Professor Xu to use appropriate methods to rekindle his fighting spirit.

"These old men just want me to do something drastic."

"Then I'll take this opportunity to attend Brother Ji Rui's banquet."

After descending the mountain and asking around Zhao Hu, the county magistrate, they learned that Qian Zhongyu, a scion of a prominent family, had been lingering on pleasure boats for several days.

A pleasure boat for lovers?!
That makes it difficult to get in.

Xu Xuan always remembered that place as having a somewhat eerie atmosphere, even though the White Lotus Descends to Earth Scripture was related to the entanglement of cause and effect and destiny.

However, such places lack righteousness, are rife with trouble, and are rife with desires.

Many heroes and protagonists in novels have caused great trouble in these brothels.

It's hard to say based on one's own luck.

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant. I felt that I had made some progress in my cultivation, and there were still powerful figures on the mountain. I should use my Vajra strength to overcome my fear and dispel my inner demons.
Besides, I had no choice but to go for the sake of the students.

At night, Xu Xuan changed into an ordinary long robe and came to the outside of the painted boat, of course still carrying the Seven Star Big Dipper sword.

Bringing a sword onto a pleasure boat may seem unconventional, but safety is more important than saving face.

Looking at the ornately decorated cruise ship in front of me, I was filled with mixed emotions.

It's not convenient to go into details about what a "romantic pleasure boat" is, but it was simply a pleasure boat used by wealthy young men for leisure, and one of the legal entertainment venues in ancient times.

Xu Xuan straightened his hair and decided that tonight they would not talk about romance, but only about education.

Watch as I, without looking to the side, plunge straight into the dragon's den and the tiger's lair!

"Oh my, Lord Xu, it's been a long time."

"I didn't."

"I heard you went to Chongqi Academy as a teacher. That's quite a meteoric rise!"

"that."

"Little Yue misses you so much! She's talking about the poems you wrote, huh? Here they are."

"not me"

Stop talking, stop talking. Memories began to attack me relentlessly.

I forgot that my predecessor and classmates were all self-proclaimed refined and elegant scholars, and I had indeed come here several times with my generous classmates.

As a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, he was considered a celebrity in Qiantang, so it shouldn't be a big deal for him to frequent brothels.

But not today.

Forget about Miss Xiaoyue, I'm here to find someone.

"Ahem, you're looking for someone, where's Qian Zhongyu?"

"Young Master Qian, I'll take you there to the Bright Moon Pavilion on the second floor of the rear cabin."

Xu Xuan followed, glancing around as he went, and offering his critique of the feudal society's cannibalistic nature.
The interior of the pleasure boat is decorated with a certain charm, which suggests that it was designed by professionals.

Wealthy merchants and scholars were among the many guests, and some were familiar faces.

Oh my goodness, there are some poor little girls dancing in the middle.

Cough cough, boring.

Quite refined.

The madam leading the way kept chattering on and on.

"So that's why Young Master Qian ordered so many girls by himself, they were waiting for you."

"It's strange, we ordered so much but didn't do anything."

"Lord Xu, you'll have to patronize our business more often in the future, back in the day..."

Xu Xuan was exasperated. "What am I supposed to take care of? I'm a Buddhist!"

Pushing open the attic door, one finds three or four young women inside, neatly dressed, either idly warming wine or lost in thought.

It was much better than I had imagined. I had been making assumptions and thought it would be like the scenario in the study materials.

At this moment, Qian Zhongyu, who was in the middle, was sipping his wine, and he noticed that the porcelain bottle lying on the ground next to him had drunk quite a bit.

Has this kid been driven mad by a series of shocks? He came to a pleasure boat, ordered a girl, and ended up drinking alone?
Qian's son raised his somewhat hazy eyes and looked towards the door.

"Ha, it's Instructor Xu. I knew those old men would come looking for you."

(End of this chapter)