491 The Kung Fu Devotees (2/2)

Xuanzhen chanted in a low voice, then said slowly, ”Everyone has something of Zen Philosophies in them, it is only that for much of the time it is occluded by various artificial imagery, making it all the harder to see the Buddha. Those of us in Buddhism do not insist that the general public converts to Buddhism, yet desire to explore mutually the means to getting past their various difficult predicaments in life.

Everyone frowned slightly, is this to say that the Crown Prince's way did not entirely exclude those with differing views?

That said, one exchange of views was hardly sufficient to eradicate the rift that existed between the sects and the aristocratic families. Each figurehead of the aristocratic families looked away with blank looks on their faces.

This was despite the fact the sects had, for many years, wished to get someone inside the imperial court. Yet when it came to such a big fish as the Crown Prince, it took only one time to put the palace on alert. The sects had no option but to remove him from their wish list.

To be fair, some years back if it was not for the quisling monk at the Crown Prince's side who had announced and prostrated his devout beliefs, thereby exposing the intention of building a Buddhist nation, then maybe he might have bought it all.

As for now, hmmph, the conception was in its death throes!

After Xuanzhen walked back to the Crown Prince's grandstand, those that were willing to take the floor were now even fewer and far between. All eyes turned to the Ruan family, as there was never a better time for the 21st Lady of the family, a beauty of River East, to take the floor.

All of a sudden there came a chuckle. Someone stepped through the air and landed in the center of the floor. It was the Super Purple Sword Cui Zhe.

He smiled as he bowed, in his hand was a purple flute made of jade. He placed the flute at his lips and started to play a mellow and classic sounding melody.

The sound of the flute gradually swung outwards and spread across the waters. It was gloomy and lonely in its cadence. It was like the tide ahead was surging, waves rising and falling. Like one was standing on the bows of a ship floating with the stream on a body of water.

All the eyes could see were the sea and the horizon, there was nothing else in sight. In all this vastness one could not help but be alone on such a boat.

The sound of the flute got lower and lower and the seas calmed, the emotion in it began to build and surge.

Atmosphere, charm and melody all sewn together exquisitely, it moved more than a few people with its sadness.

The river's flow seemed to slow down, and the lake became tranquil. The birds ceased singing in the forest. All was stillness around them.

The remnants of the tune lingered and twisted through the hearts of the crowd, nobody spoke as they had all entered into the trancelike state-of-mind that the music had evoked in them.

”Tomorrow I'll Send out a Shallop… It's fully portrayed and embodied by the flutes far off sounding melody...” Wang Zai gave a sentimental little sigh. ”If we consider artistic excellence alone, then Brother Cui's demonstration has surpassed that of Buddhist Monk Xuanzhen and Brother Yan. Yet the atmosphere, where each of you takes us, makes it very hard to decide between you.”

He looked across at Meng Qi and said, ”I would not be inclined to enter the floor and show myself up.”

Meng Qi was about to chime in when he suddenly thought of something else. ”Since it's not limited to the 'four accomplishments', I'd like to give it a try.”

Wang Zai was slightly startled. ”What do you intend to do? Whistle?”

Meng Qi took a start, feeling a little embarrassed. How did things get so serious when they were so light-hearted just a second ago?

”Brother Wang Zai, you're too L7!”

Cui Zhe returned to his seat after the Emperor gave his opinion. Then as the crowd turned to Ruan Yushu, another figure entered the floor with rapid intricate movements. In void flight the clothes flapped about which made the figure appear like an immortal.

”Su Ziyuan, what can you demonstrate for us?” The old Emperor was a little taken back. He had obviously not considered that Meng Qi would take the floor.

The names Thunder Blade Furious Monk, Reckless Monk, and Killing Blade were not particularly in keeping with someone who possessed any artistic ability.

Meng Qi remained silent under the surprised onlooking gazes. He went across and picked up a piece of driftwood from the riverbank. He then sat down cross-legged and allowed his palms to form and mimic blades as he went about shaving the surface layers from the wood.

He had thought of the Holy Sword Puppet just a moment ago, he had recalled how Master Lu had gone about carving puppets. The feeling of tranquility one felt watching him, the concentration involved was not something that could be described in words very well.

Carving was also an artistic talent!

Those that learn from me what I have to give shall continue to prosper, but those who just blindly copy what I do will perish... Meng Qi soliloquized this sentence. He allowed his mind to be calm as a peaceful lake and allowed his hands to go about his carving unhurriedly.

Today, he was attired in green which when compared to his usual upright and masculine black clothes seemed a little more fitting for what he was doing. Although he was sat on the ground, it did not seem out of place considering, instead his posture was one of being very at ease with the world.

Wang Zai and the onlookers did not know what to think at first. Meng Qi's carving was nothing extraordinary, nor was there any atmosphere to be felt from its artistic conception. It just came across as livening things up a little.

However, they gradually felt something was a little amiss as they followed the progression of his carving. Their gazes were drawn to Meng Qi's hand movements. He was so focused and devoted that they found themselves similarly focused and engaged.

This focus allowed one to leave their worldly worries behind. All those that had caused them worry, concern or anguish were all washed away. Their mental and physical states were entirely transfixed by the carving that they felt they were engaged in.

This was not just a feeling that existed in the enlightenment of the Apertures, but one which those of the Half-step or experts of the Exterior also feel, just not to such an extent.

Nobody spoke. There was but the sound of water babbling and that of the nearby birds, making for a restful scene.

His blade-like palms and knife-like fingers were naturally fluid and changed as needed. His devotion and his focus seemed to somehow go about washing clean the audience's souls.

He stopped after some time, the carving in his hands completed. It felt like the Emperor to look at and had its own unique charm about it.

The audience was calm and relaxed. Smiles emerged on their faces as they gradually understood.

Meng Qi set the puppet flying towards the old Emperor. It moved through the air silently, as if it too was dedicated to something, its journey.

After receiving it he played with the puppet in his hands a while, then he gave another sigh and said, ”Those with focus, who are calm and dedicate themselves to Kung Fu truly are truly rewarded for their efforts.”

Meng Qi bowed and returned to where he had been sitting. Wang Zai looked at him for a moment and said cordially, ”A moment ago I still thought that an expert of the Exterior with perfect Half-step upgrades every 'blade' or 'stroke' was what the word 'focus' meant.”

Meng Qi smiled and nodded as he openly accepted Wang Zai's compliments. Whilst he was not in the league of Master Lu, he was however capable of imitating his momentum and the rudimentary steps to a good degree. Then factoring in his ”return to one's original state” standard, it was certainly impressive to behold.

The only problem is that he had never studied carving before himself and did not feel he had carved it all that well at all. It did however have charm and at a push one could say it was lifelike.

The crowd went still, as Ruan Yushu walked slowly down from the grandstand with a long zither in her embrace.