Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

"That Commander Duan is in charge of the troops in Luzhou. He has 8,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry under his command. He is no small figure."

"Ah, these villagers, which family hasn't suffered from war? Humph, when they start looting, they're not much different from the Jurchens!"

Yang Kang returned to the Prince of Zhao's residence, changed his name to Wanyan Kang, and went on a diplomatic mission to the Southern Song Dynasty with Wanyan Honglie.

Legend has it that Yue Fei left behind a military treatise, known as the "Wumu's Testament," before his death, which was hidden in the Lin'an Imperial Palace.

Fifteen days later, Duan Yi, the commander of the Luzhou garrison, was ordered to escort the Later Jin envoys to Lin'an, but was captured and killed by Lu Guanying at Taihu Lake.

Su Yuchen glanced at the narrator, already having his own plans. He said, "I wish to exhume my father's coffin and rebury him, taking him back to the north to return to his roots. I would appreciate it if you could arrange all the necessary rituals and ceremonies for me."

Niu Santong nodded and said, "Of course, of course. Young Master Su's filial piety is surely gratifying to your father in the afterlife. But does Young Master Su have any requests?"

Su Yuchen pointed to the butler next to him and said, "For everything, the father-in-law and the butler can discuss it. There's no need to be stingy."

Upon hearing the words "no need to be frugal," Niu Santong knew he had encountered a truly wealthy family. Moving a coffin over a thousand miles without sparing any expense—such a wealthy family was not someone an ordinary person could meet. A hint of joy appeared on his face as he thought to himself: "If I act as the middleman, I can make a lot of money off them."

He then suppressed his smile, after all, it was someone else's funeral, and he shouldn't show it too obviously.

Butler Su could easily see through his feigned joy. His face immediately turned cold, and he reached out to invite him downstairs for a detailed discussion. Niu Santong knew he was in the wrong, and for the sake of money, he couldn't hold it against him. He gave an awkward smile and took the opportunity to back down. The two of them went downstairs together.

After a long time.

Butler Su returned upstairs and replied, "It's all been arranged. Niu Santong will take care of everything, including the coffin and the funeral rites. We can go to the south of the city tomorrow to bring back the master's remains, and then hold a seven-day funeral ceremony to pray for the master's soul to rest in peace."

Su Yuchen nodded.

Butler Su said, "Since Master did not die in an accident but in the ravages of war, shall I go and deal with that Commander Duan?"

Su Yuchen reached out and touched the remaining tea on the table. With a flick of his finger, the tea instantly steamed and churned, like waves. He said, "No rush. I've already made a plan for this. We'll deal with him when the time comes."

Butler Su nodded and said, "Then I'll go arrange accommodations now. The coffin will be placed there tomorrow." With that, he turned and went downstairs to arrange accommodations.

Chapter 477: Exhumation and Reburial

Early the next morning, Niu Santong arrived at the inn with a dozen laborers and a group of seven Taoist masters and disciples.

“Young Master Su, the road is long and the mountains are difficult to traverse. We must set off early today, otherwise we will suffer greatly when the sun is blazing. If your father knew this in the afterlife, he would surely not be able to bear it.” Niu Santong bowed apologetically as soon as he entered the door.

Su Yuchen nodded, acknowledging his kindness, and said, "It's kind of you, sir. We'll pack up and set off."

Niu Santong nodded and said, "Young Master Su, rest assured, I have taken care of everything. You two get ready, and we'll set off. Shall I go ahead and wait for you?"

Steward Su personally escorted them to the front and thoughtfully arranged for the inn to prepare food. Although Niu Santong had certainly already taken care of things, the little devils were difficult to deal with, so he wanted to prevent them from not putting in the effort when it came time to work.

The laborers were surprised by this unexpected joy and thanked them profusely.

Niu Santong whispered from the side, "Don't worry, Steward Su, the birth dates of these people have all been checked beforehand, and they will definitely not clash with Old Master Su's."

Butler Su nodded in satisfaction and invited him to have a meal on the side.

After finishing their meal, Su Yuchen and his servant went outside. As soon as they stepped outside, they saw four sedan chairs with canopies parked at the entrance.

“The mountain roads are difficult to travel, and I was afraid that Young Master Su and Steward Su might not be used to them, so I called for two sedan chairs. They will definitely save a lot of effort. Young Master Su might as well give them a try.”

Niu Santong explained from the side.

Su Yuchen couldn't help but admire the talent and interpersonal skills of the person. Anyone else would feel that their money was well spent.

[Niu Santong showed his apprehension yesterday, fearing you wouldn't be satisfied, so he specially prepared everything overnight to ensure you spend your money to your heart's content.]

Nodding, Su Yuchen did not refuse the offer.

Niu Santong finally breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the Taoist priest beside him to introduce them:

"This is Master Xuchenzi, a high-ranking Taoist priest from Qingyun Temple. Yesterday, your steward said that the old master is a believer in Taoism, so I sent someone to invite him from Qingyun Temple, which is fifty miles away, overnight."

"Several disciples of Master Xuchenzi are skilled in performing rituals and are quite renowned in the area. Master Xuchenzi himself has not performed rituals for a long time, and this time he is doing so specifically to pray for Old Master Su."

"Amitabha Buddha, I am Xuchen, and I greet Young Master Su." The old Taoist priest had white hair and beard, and long, thin eyebrows. Standing in the morning breeze, his robes fluttered, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.

Su Yuchen nodded: "Thank you for your help today, Daoist Master."

Xu Chenzi bowed and said, "I have already calculated that noon today is an auspicious day and time, most suitable for moving the coffin and reburying the dead. We should set off immediately."

You've encountered a fake Taoist priest who lacks real skill. Noon is the time of day when Yang energy is at its peak, and he considers it the safest time, believing that even if there are demons or monsters, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble.

Su Yuchen suppressed the urge to twitch at the corner of his mouth, and boarded the sedan chair with Butler Su, the old Taoist priest, and Niu Santong, taking advantage of the morning breeze to leave the town.

………………

Five miles south of Jinze Town, on a small earthen slope.

This place, however, is a nearby mass grave.

Guided by Niu Santong, a dozen laborers searched together and finally found Su's father's grave.

Looking at the pile of weeds, there was only a low grave mound, and in front of the grave mound was a tattered wooden plaque with the words "Dingyuan Gong of the Su Family of Daxing Prefecture" written on it in a few illegible characters.

"Master, the young master and I will take you home, so you can return to your roots," Butler Su said, kneeling down and kowtowing three times.

Su Yuchen sighed as he looked at the dilapidated grave and bowed in respect.

Niu Santong and Xu Chenzi were surprised that he didn't kneel down, but they didn't say anything more; it was his private matter.

Niu Santong interjected, "Young Master Su, please accept my condolences. Most people who die far from home do so. Now that you have traveled thousands of miles to bring your coffin back to your hometown, your father must be overjoyed."

Su Yuchen nodded and said, "Let's perform the ritual."

Xu Chenzi cupped his hands in greeting, and with a flick of his whisk, laborers immediately brought out an offering table and spread a yellow cloth printed with yin-yang and eight trigrams patterns on it, on which incense, candles, fruits, and other offerings were arranged.

After Xu Chenzi offered the first incense stick, Su Yuchen and his servant offered incense in turn.

Whether it was because his cultivation was insufficient or because there was no underworld in this realm, Su Yuchen's primordial spirit did not sense anything unusual, so he shook his head and didn't take it to heart.

After the worship ceremony was completed, Xu Chenzi recited a groundbreaking inscription: "On this auspicious day and time, heaven and earth open, we burn incense and kowtow in supplication..."

After burning the yellow paper by candlelight, Xu Chenzi's disciple circled the withered grave and recited the sutra of salvation several times. Then, he scattered paper money, burned incense and candles, and set off firecrackers to send off the gods...

The entire process was completed just as noon was about 15:00.

After gesturing to Su Yuchen, Su Yuchen indicated that he had no objections, and only then did Xu Chenzi arrange for a laborer to break open the grave and lift the coffin.

"Although this place doesn't have any particularly auspicious feng shui, it's not exactly an inauspicious location either. Your father suffered some hardships, but thankfully it didn't harm his descendants..."

"When you are reburied in the future, Young Master Su can choose a prime auspicious site from the ancestral graves and perform a ritual, so that your father's last regret will be resolved..."

A dozen or so laborers were digging up the grave and lifting the coffin. Xu Chenzi probably felt that he hadn't shown his skills enough, so he deliberately explained the feng shui and coffin relocation to Su Yuchen.

……

"Saw the coffin!"

Someone shouted from over there.

Su Yuchen, Su the steward, Xu Chenzi and others immediately went over and saw a tattered, rotten coffin at the bottom of the pit. At Xu Chenzi's signal, more than a dozen people carried the coffin up.

Upon opening the coffin, a stench immediately wafted out. After the black smoke dissipated, only a skeleton remained inside.

Butler Su stepped forward and examined him for a moment. He didn't know if Su's father had any unknown birthmarks or anything like that. Butler Su nodded with certainty.

Seeing that the wrong coffin had been opened, Xu Chenzi subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. He then called the laborers to bring a new coffin and instructed several disciples to chant the Scripture of Salvation while neatly wrapping Su's father's remains into the new coffin.

“Young Master Su, now that we’ve come this far, there’s nothing more to worry about. We’ll take the coffin and your father’s tombstone back with us later. For the next seven days, you can simply recite scriptures and pray for blessings every day,” said Xu Chenzi.

Butler Su said, "Rest assured, Daoist, we have already booked the entire courtyard in the back of the inn yesterday. All food and lodging will be taken care of by us. You only need to focus on praying for the master."

Seeing that everything was arranged, Niu Santong immediately told everyone to take their things and return to town.

That night, Su Yuchen and his housekeeper kept vigil for Su's father. The Taoist priests chanted scriptures and prayed for blessings once each morning, noon and evening. At other times, they sat cross-legged around the coffin and chanted scriptures for saving people in a low voice.

On the sixth day, Butler Su came in from outside and whispered in Su Yuchen's ear, "Young Master, Mr. and Mrs. Yang have arrived together."

Chapter 478 The Silly Girl's Fortune

Before Su Yuchen could ask, the system narrator prompted from the side...

Mu Nianci accidentally spotted Steward Su hanging around town and told Yang Tiexin and his wife.

Because you saved my life, Mr. and Mrs. Yang Tiexin came here specifically to see if they could help in any way, even though the chances were slim, their intentions were sincere.

Su Yuchen nodded, got up and walked towards the front of the inn. He soon saw the three members of the Yang family sitting in the lobby waiting, along with a girl who was grinning foolishly.

"Young Master Su..." Yang Tiexin stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

Su Yuchen cupped his hands in greeting and sat down opposite him: "I have been in mourning and have not been able to visit your residence. Please do not take offense."

Yang Tiexin hurriedly said, "Not at all, young master, you are too kind. We were not able to help you much in moving the coffin over a thousand miles. It is my fault."

Yang Tiexin was loyal and upright, and always remembered his gratitude.

Su Yuchen nodded inwardly, then looked at the girl being held in Mu Nianci's hand and said, "And this is..."

A hint of pity flashed in the eyes of Yang Tiexin and his wife, but they quickly composed themselves.

Yang Tiexin explained:

"This is the daughter of an old friend of mine. Alas! It's a pity that a disaster struck back then, and my old friend probably also perished, leaving behind only this daughter."

“When we returned to our hometown, the original Niujia Village had been deserted for a long time, and only this silly girl was left alone in the village. Since we met her, I have an obligation to take care of her.”

You met Qu Lingfeng's daughter, 'Silly Girl'.

Qu Lingfeng was hunted down by imperial guards and died tragically in his own secret chamber, leaving behind only a young woman to live on.

Su Yuchen waved, and the silly girl chuckled, tilted her head and pointed to herself. Seeing Su Yuchen nod, she pouted and leaned closer to Mu Nianci.

Mu Nianci revealed a hint of surprise and gently nudged her. The silly girl looked at her blankly for a moment before reluctantly walking towards Su Yuchen.

When she arrived, Su Yuchen pointed his finger at her brow, a wisp of golden light flashed from his fingertip, and then he frowned. The silly girl's consciousness was in complete chaos, like a tangled mess, with various memory fragments flashing back and forth without any pattern.

The image that flashes through my memory most is of a man on crutches dying in a dark room; that must be Qu Lingfeng. Following that are more images of him being bullied and chased.

Her normal consciousness, perhaps out of fear or terror, is hidden deep within her sea of ​​consciousness, unwilling to emerge.

"Unfortunately, it's too late! Her mind is already completely confused, and it will take a long time to clear her head," Su Yuchen said.

Hearing this, Yang Tiexin and the other two were also disappointed. They had witnessed Su Yuchen's abilities firsthand, and if even he couldn't do anything about it, then others probably couldn't either.

………………

Looking at the still cheerful and silly little girl, Su Yuchen couldn't help but ponder:

Is this a way of hiding one's true consciousness, falling into a deep sleep, and using a chaotic and disordered consciousness as the dominant force to protect oneself?

Isn't this a kind of destiny? The chaotic and disordered consciousness is actually a kind of disordered openness to the sea of ​​consciousness. If her dormant main consciousness can be awakened, she will be the person in this world with the best chance of breaking through the barrier.

But once this crucial point is opened, will she become completely lucid, or will she fall into a chaotic and insane madness?

……

Seeing Su Yuchen deep in thought, the others didn't disturb him. Only the silly girl chuckled for a while, and then boldly came over to tug at his sleeve.

Seeing the silly girl's bewildered eyes, Su Yuchen couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh. He had given her his own destiny, so what did the outcome have to do with him? Even if she went mad, it was the fate of this world.

Amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, a golden glint flashed in his eyes, and his eyes transformed into pure gold as he met the gaze of the simpleton. The next second, the simpleton's bewildered eyes narrowed, and she closed them and fell into a deep sleep.

You transmitted the Dharma with your primordial spirit, guiding her through the "Taishang Laojun's Discourse on Purity and Tranquility." Her future is uncertain; the fate of gods and demons hangs in the balance.

With a thought, Su Yuchen slowly floated down to Mu Nianci's side. He smiled and said to the curious Yang Tiexin and his wife, "I can only do my best. As for what will happen in the future, it all depends on your guidance."

"Mr. Su, can she recover?" Bao Xiruo asked anxiously.

Su Yuchen shook his head and explained amidst the disappointed looks of the crowd, "She suffered too much trauma in her childhood, which led to her mental confusion; later, she endured endless oppression, which further clouded her consciousness. Whether she can regain her senses is entirely up to her. I can only recite a scripture for her to help her calm her mind, but it's hard to say how effective it will be."

Bao Xiruo looked at the silly girl with pity, and then said, "As long as there is a chance, that's fine."

After chatting for a while, the Yang family went to the backyard to offer incense to Su's father. Seeing that it was getting late, the family got up to say goodbye.

………………

On the morning of the third day, the seven-day mourning period was over. Steward Su hired another carriage and tied it to the back of the horse-drawn carriage, preparing to escort the coffin northward. As instructed by Su Yuchen, they first detoured to the shore of Taihu Lake.

After bidding farewell to Yang Tiexin and his family, who had come to see them off early in the morning, Su Yuchen looked at the couple and said before leaving, "Madam Yang is pregnant, and this child should also be a boy. You two should cherish this opportunity."

Yang Tiexin and his wife were both surprised and delighted, and for a moment they didn't know what to say, only thanking him repeatedly. Seeing their bewilderment, Su Yuchen and his servant didn't linger and drove away from Jinze Town.

………………

Inside the carriage, Su Yuchen glanced at the narrator from earlier, then closed his eyes and sat down to meditate...

You met Yang Tiexin and his wife; they are pregnant with their second child.

[Ten days later, because of your interference in the Taihu Lake matter, the news of the deaths of three thousand soldiers from Luzhou, the Xiangjun Commander Duan Yi, and Wanyan Kang (Yang Kang) at Taihu Lake spread throughout the land.]