Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 448 - 45 The Sixth Son of the Gu Family_2

Chapter 448: Chapter 45 The Sixth Son of the Gu Family_2

Rage consumed his heart, to no avail despite the overwhelming worries.

"Alas, think thrice before you act, how can you risk danger for a little strength?" Gu Sanyou squatted on the ground, disheartened and said, "With some strength, you think you’re the best in the world, but in the end, you’re just a brute."

"Do you know how strong that old monk is? What if you win against him? What then?"

"To win is to win, why need so many reasons?" Gu Ernu clenched his iron fist, his voice like a bronze bell, "If I am the best in the world, what can’t I do, where can’t I go, and what can’t I achieve?"

"You can’t achieve, can’t achieve."

Gu Sifu suddenly spoke up.

"The more you do, the more mistakes you make, the less you do, the fewer mistakes. Have you forgotten, big brother, the trouble you brought upon yourself when you killed the magistrate’s son?"

"That damned Zhao family bullied me, how could I not repay blood with blood?"

"But why not bide your time, wait for Liul’s fiancée to return? The Yu family is a remarkable family from beyond our realm, surely they have the means to subdue the Zhao family."

"To hell with your grandma!"

Gu Ernu cursed, fitting with his rough martial appearance.

"Never mind how the Yu family is, even if they die, what matters is living with spirit."

As soon as he uttered the word ’spirit,’ Gu Ernu’s figure swelled another three and a half feet, like a small giant.

His overpowering aura subdued everyone else in the Gu family, with even Gu Daxi unable to contend.

"Enough!"

Mr. Gu stood up, and in a flash, Gu Ernu’s aura was suppressed.

"What dignity is there in all this noise? Thinking thrice before acting is mistake-free,if not for Sanyou’s caution, how would the Gu family have repeatedly turned peril into safety? Striving for spirit is also not wrong, who with ten thousand taels of gold would continue to beg?"

He looked meaningfully at Gu Wen.

"If Liu wants to go, then let him go."

Gu Ernu dragged Gu Wen away, and they rode two great horses, barging out of the Gu family residence and galloped toward the city’s outskirts.

-----------------

Outside the city, a temple.

The temple was simple, with a gate that only allowed one person to pass, through which one could see a Mud Buddha enshrined, a small incense burner with only three sticks, and no more than three steamed breads as offerings.

On an ancient signboard was written [True Temple].

Two tall, spirited horses galloped up, yanked by the rope, their forehooves rearing high.

Gu Ernu dismounted, his military attire as imposing as a tiger, standing with a spear in hand and bellowed, "Bald Donkey, come out and fight me!"

A gentle breeze brushed by, carrying fallen leaves, as a distant tolling of a bell echoed.

"Amitabha Buddha."

From the temple’s small door, a gaunt monk came out, resembling an old tree with white eyebrows and squinted eyes, with a serene smile on his lips.

"Benefactor, you’ve come back and forth 98,300 times, once daily, and we have battled for nearly a thousand years, losing a millennium’s worth."

The history of the Gu family spanned a thousand years, and from the first day the Gu family appeared, Gu Ernu challenged the old monk.

"Pah! This old monk doesn’t have much flesh on him, but his words are not few. Today I’ll defeat you, a thousand years be damned, ten thousand years be damned!"

Gu Ernu brandished his spear, with one step, sand whirled and stones flew, and his nearly nine-foot-tall figure moved as fleet as a hare.

With a single thrust, like a fierce dragon crossing the river.

The old monk’s smile remained unchanged; he slightly lifted his hand and pinched the tip of the spear,

"Benefactor Gu, you are filled with killing intent, but you lack Buddha Qi. Perhaps spending a few days in the temple in deep reflection will allow you to become the Buddha, and transform this method of killing into the wrathful aspect of Vajra."

"Get lost!"

Gu Ernu retrieved his spear, pressing again into close combat with the monk for thirty rounds, attacking relentlessly while the monk only defended.

In this world of fists and kicks, their every move seemed to trigger extraordinary phenomena.

In the end, Gu Ernu was defeated, exhausted of his strength, unable to inflict harm on the old monk.

He could only collapse to the ground, waving his hands, "Enough for today, we’ll fight again tomorrow."

"You rascal, when you’re tired, you stop, and yet you never step half a foot into my temple."

The old monk snorted coldly, then turned his gaze to Gu Wen, who had been watching without any reaction.

With a smile, he said, "It seems this is the young layman’s first visit, would you care to sit a while in this old monk’s temple?"

Gu Wen replied indifferently, "Not interested."

"All beings harbor desires, how could there be any lack of interest?" The old monk shook his head, "Layman harbors a Mixed Element Daoist heart; you should aim to achieve the supreme Dao. Yet you remain tied to the mortal world, look at your relatives, each consumed by greed, anger, and ignorance."

"That second brother of yours is like a Demon in his rage, every word and action influenced by external forces. And your father, as rigid as they come, esteemed by all for his virtue, and yet here are the unruly sons he has raised."

The old monk scolded a son for berating his father, and Gu Ernu, boiling with rage, stood up and once again lifted his spear to strike. But this time, he lasted only ten rounds before he fell out of the fight.

Gu Wen appeared much calmer. He took a glance at the temple and said,

"You claim to be a World Honored One, with such a resounding title. How is that not a form of greed, anger, and delusion?"

The old monk shook his head and replied, "This humble monk bears the title of the World Honored One while residing in a Mud Buddha Temple. If it were not for the title of the World Honored One, how could my little temple seem so splendid?"

"Makes sense."

Gu Wen nodded in agreement, took a step forward, but was pulled back by Gu Ernu in the next moment.

"This bald donkey has ill intentions; there’s no need to rush in now, even if we have to go eventually."

The two left, but before they did, Gu Ernu couldn’t help but leave some harsh words behind.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed, "Bald donkey, the first time you managed to take me down in one move. Now, you can’t defeat me in thirty rounds; what will become of you in a thousand years?"

After speaking, he mounted his horse and left.

The old monk stood in place, speechless for a long while, when suddenly a fair arm wrapped around his neck from behind, and a gentle breath tingled his ears.

A voice seductive beyond measure whispered into his ear, hearing which would plunge one into an endless sea of desires.

"True, he’s not wrong. A thousand years won’t tame him; it will only make him stronger. Who can guarantee that in a thousand years, you won’t have your head twisted off by him?"

"Moreover, he’s just one of the many emotions and desires. If he can already fight thirty rounds with you, this bald donkey might really end up trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it."

"Hehe."

The old monk laughed deeply and said, "If he didn’t have such ability, why would I bother trying to tame him?"

Put down the butcher’s knife, and you can become a Buddha on the spot.

Some say it’s about putting down the butcher’s knife in your heart and establishing your own Buddha.

But if the True Buddha were to say, all that is nonsense, how can one chant Amitabha Buddha without creating karmic slaughter?

In the Nifo Temple outside the city, the Buddha Ancestor is revered, with a beautiful woman behind the temple.

-----------------

The next day.

Gu Daxi came to see him with a Red Book, smiling as he said, "Sixth brother, here is your marriage arrangement. Take a look and see if there’s anything wrong. If there’s no problem, we’ll send it along with the three letters to the Yu family."

"You’ve all arranged it; what’s the point in asking me if there’s a problem?"

Gu Wen remained languid, simply finding a new position to continue resting with closed eyes.

His brother was not annoyed but explained very thoughtfully, "After all, it’s a major event in your life, just give it an extra glance. It won’t take much time."

Gu Wen opened his eyes and saw the bright red marriage book, with neatly written characters and the names of him and Yu Hua.

[The union of Gu Yu, an agreement made in one hall, a blessed match to last eternally, well suited and equally yoked. Witness this day with peach blossoms bright, fit for home and family, predicting prolific years to come, prosperity and thriving. Herewith the vow of eternal companionship, recorded on grand paper, to celebrate the pact of Autumn leaves, inscribed in the mandarin duck register, this certifies.]

"The vow of eternal companionship, recorded on grand paper, hehe..."

An untimely laugh sounded as Gu Wuzeng, limping, walked in, his face scarred by wagon wheel marks like a centipede.

In a strange tone, he repeated the marriage book’s contents.

"Well written, it must be our eldest brother’s handiwork. But can writing this well really lead to growing old together?"

Gu Daxi frowned and said, "I’m not the matchmaker god; naturally, I can’t guarantee it."

"If you can’t guarantee it, then why write it? It’s all false sentiments and pretense."

Gu Wuzeng spoke sharply, disliked by the family; only Gu Wen would talk to him.

Many times, it was him speaking while Gu Wen listened quietly, listening to his complaints against the world.

Silly, yet also all too human.

That night.

Gu Wen was sleeping when he suddenly heard knocking at the door.

Thud, thud, thud, it sounded continuously. Every night, someone would knock on the door; it had been going on for a very, very long time.

There were rumors that if someone knocked on your door at night, don’t open it, or else...

Finally, Gu Wen got up and opened the door. Bathed in moonlight, a delicate figure came into view and crashed into his arms.

At the same time, a fist landed heavily on his stomach.

"Goddamn it, I’ve waited so long, and you finally open the door, granny."

Getting hit upon opening the door at night convinced Gu Wen of its certainty.