Chapter 5 I said: Flowers will bloom

The Infinite Celestial Sovereign

Ning Feng seemed to have gained some insight, yet there appeared to be another crucial point that he could not comprehend

The Great Anger Zen Master raised his long eyebrows and sighed, saying: "The monks mean no harm; they merely wish to keep you, scholar, forever through those trivial matters."

The morning light spreads out, flowing over the surface of the lake, warming him, washing away all the chill.

When he confronts the demons, pondering such monstrosities, there will indeed be those who slay demons and eliminate evil, and there will truly be individuals who wield swords to subdue the demons

The scholar is tired

In the blink of an eye, another year has passed

At night, gazing at the lake, he initially thought he could see nothing. However, with a gesture from the lake maiden, the surface of the water shimmered brightly, as if it were releasing all the accumulated moonlight, allowing him to clearly see the southeastern part of the lake.

Ning Feng felt as if there were colossal waves roaring through his heart. Dreaming was one thing, but he still remembered that while eating fish, he had thought that if such a beautiful lake were to gain sentience and transform into a monster, it would also be a form of beauty.

He had not yet finished his thought when the sound of water "whoosh whoosh whoosh" came from beside him. The sound of the water was not loud, yet it was clear enough in the tranquility of the night, akin to a whisper in his ear

The woman by the lake had not yet reacted when a shocking scene unfolded

Master Da Nu, it has been many years since we last met

Amitabha Buddha

Ah ah ah ahーーーーー

Ning Feng is still smiling, a smile that is weary

Looking at these extraordinary individuals who are almost like deities in legends, one cannot help but be amazed; Ning Feng's past decade or so has been quite fulfilling

What exactly do you want me to do

He smiled to himself, opened his hand, and indeed there was not a trace of blood at all

In a place where life has vanished, a scholar climbed breathlessly to the summit

to become the most beautiful lake in the world

"Wait, why is it a monkey again?"

Stop

Ning Feng remained silent, countless events from the past decade flashed through his mind

The young lady may go in search of the Jingwei bird, and have a good discussion with it. Who knows, it might change its habit of filling the sea; after all, filling the lake is not much different.

With a few exclamations of surprise, several shamans who had relied on the method of invoking spirits fell from the sky, headfirst, with their feet pointing upwards, landing upside down in the snow.

Once he finished speaking, he seemed to realize that something was amiss

I want all the gods and Buddhas in the sky to vanish into thin air

Ning Feng was coping with the situation; he genuinely did not see the issue with the lake's shape being irregular. After all, a lake is still a lake, and he wisely chose not to argue about this matter

What breaks the wooden fish, what polishes the divine sword, what fills the lakes

Scholar, I have the honor to greet you

The old monk has kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, speaking in a harmonious tone

In fact

The woman by the lake showed a look of difficulty, shook her head, and then, seemingly afraid that Ning Feng would refuse, continued to speak incessantly:

If I can't get out of here, I will jump down from here

It no longer matters

Hmm?

It is also for this reason that the heavens do not allow us to impart the path of transcendence to scholars

Bang

The travels of scholars extend across lakes, seas, streams, and rivers, as well as famous mountains and great rivers. Within these, how many events and stories have been lost in the passage of time over the years

Swish, swish, swish, I do not know how many gazes are focused here, is there nothing going on? Are they just playing with them? Some of the irritable ones have already begun to get angry

I once had a dream, in which an old Taoist priest unfurled his sleeve, covering the entire sky, and a mighty monkey wielding a staff was swiftly drawn in.

In the final glow, Ning Feng spread his arms and soared into the air as the snow peak collapsed, his garments vanishing completely

The girl by the lake has sparkling eyes that blink incessantly, not knowing what the scholar is saying these things for

There is no firelight, no starlight, no moonlight; it is truly so dark that one cannot see one's own fingers. Yet, there is a hazy shimmer of water, creating a dreamlike clarity.

As he spoke, he unfurled his sleeves, spreading them wide against the wind

Lake Demon ah

This time, Ning Feng did not give them a chance to speak. Taking a deep breath, he recited loudly

If that is the case, then I...

result

Ning Feng casually responded, thinking to himself: "I thought so, that fish swims over so willingly, not afraid of people and not knowing how to hide, making it quite easy to catch"

Ning Feng stood at the highest point of the snow-capped mountain, gazing up at the sky and letting out a long howl, which provoked an avalanche in fury, cascading down in torrents, engulfing the entire world within the reach of vision in a cloud of snow and mist

Whether it is the furious monk, the sword immortal Wuwang, or the various deities and demons that have appeared over the past decade, none can escape

In the meantime, whether there are events such as a mouse moving house like a teacher, a female ghost wanting to swing on the peach mountain, or a fisherman catching fish, or a beautiful lake, only heaven knows

... ...

A vast expanse of white, truly clean

Ning Feng did not look at her at all, continuing to gaze up at the sky, feeling a strong impulse to burst into tears: "Once again..."

Ning Feng suddenly raised his head, covering his nose with his hand

Nosebleed flows continuously, and one falls back while looking up at the sky

I have a wish

There, a woman in a white floor-length dress, like a lotus flower emerging from the water, gracefully walked over, swaying gently in the breeze

Ah

Ning Feng looked up and gazed at the sky, feeling that this phrase was particularly familiar

that's all

Ning Feng is laughing, laughing heartily, while the extraordinary individuals soaring in the sky across from him appear pale as if made of earth

I would also like to know, what exactly is that Nine Aperture Stone?

In the lake, there are lake pearls, which are the most precious treasures in the world, bringing immense wealth to those who possess them

The lake goddess appeared sorrowful, reaching out to pull Ning Feng.

Ning Feng turned around and looked over.

It was all just a dream

... ...

A personal shadow, resembling bamboo shoots sprouting out after the rain, truly continues to emerge, suspended in the air before the snow-capped peaks

In fact, there is nothing much to discuss with you...

"Alright, a lake spirit that loves beauty." Ning Feng thought to himself as he stood up and stood side by side with her

Why are there monkeys?

In the southeast of the lake, there is a bay, adorned with fine white stones and sand, delicate and lovely. If a scholar could fill the southeast of the lake to make it round, I would be endlessly grateful and would comply without hesitation

The wind rustles the hem of the cloak, resonating with a vibrant sound, just like the state of mind at this moment

The campfire beside me had unknowingly extinguished, and Ning Feng did not feel the cold, for the dawn had arrived

Endless

Ning Feng's face was ultimately not thick enough, and he quickly sealed his lips, falling silent.

Ning Feng stood up, straightened his clothes, and glanced back before leaving

The lake girl is pitifully delicate

Ouch ... ... it hurts ... ...

Ning Fengxiao resembled a great Buddha, one hand raised high, turning palm down, the chanting of mantras endless, as the enormous palm came crashing down, as if to crush the entire world.

Ning Feng delivered a punch directly to the nose

Above his head, the stars and moon have vanished; beside him, the campfire has dimmed.

By the campfire, Ning Feng suddenly raised his head

As winter departs and spring arrives once more, the snow-capped mountains stand tall. The spring breeze, sharp as scissors, cannot cut through the glaciers that have endured for millennia

In the direst circumstances of life, blossoms bloom abundantly

A year after the lake spirit entered the dream.

I say that flowers will bloom atop this snow peak

The bookcase, which was never far from my side, tumbled down and shattered before it had even fallen halfway, scattering its contents everywhere, which were soon covered by ice and snow

In the lake resides a clam maiden, enchanting and alluring, a treasure bestowed upon men

The woman from the lake, as she herself stated, has never interacted with outsiders and is momentarily at a loss for words on how to begin

Ning Feng shouted loudly, as if he wanted to release all the pent-up frustration accumulated over the past ten years with that one cry

I believe that when it happens, it will happen

... ... is indeed delicious, but regrettably has many thorns

As soon as these words were spoken, whether by coincidence or not, the avalanche happened to come to a halt, and the entire world fell silent, as if it were all stunned by his words

The scholar casually tossed a set of nine linked rings onto the ground, exclaiming, "Is my path of seeking merely a set of nine linked rings?"

The figure gradually recedes, the sound of the woodcutter's song faintly lingers

Ning Feng looked up at the sky, a vast expanse of clear blue, and the heavens remained silent, "... ... Do you have any intentions? !"

If I jump, what nonsense wooden fish, what nonsense Taoist scriptures, just knock it and copy it myself

Let us go, let us go

If there were tea at hand, Ning Feng would certainly have served tea to the guests effortlessly

Ning Feng greeted with a smile

What the heart desires, it will achieve

Not doing it

I also had another dream

At the lakeside, a faint white mist floats, surrounding the tranquil breeze nearby

"There really is a lake demon, and it even directly entered my dreams. Can this be considered a case of inviting misfortune upon oneself?"

This is a straightforward threat

Ning Feng smiled, feeling as if something as heavy and immense as two snow-capped mountains had been lifted from his shoulders

"Rest assured, rest assured." Ning Feng smiled brightly, with a kind of lightness, an unprecedented ease, "I am not here to seek guidance from you."

I am not playing anymore

You all come out ... ... come out ... ...

Ning Feng sighed deeply, filled with a sense of weariness, "If you are not leaving, then I shall take my leave."

Ning Feng interrupted the words of the woman by the lake and sincerely said: "I have learned from ancient texts that there is a bird in this world called Jingwei, which delights in carrying stones to fill the sea"

He took a deep breath, tightened the bookcase on his back, and climbed step by step towards the snow-capped mountain

He sighed and asked in a routine manner: "Can you teach me how to cultivate immortality?"

This world is truly so fake

"I can ... ..." The woman in the lake took two steps forward, wanting to make a promise again. God knows how many things she still has in the lake.

Is the scholar unwilling to assist me?

I was born and raised here, without parents, without seeing any living person, and no one has ever given me a name

In an instant, everyone's expression changed

Who are you?" Ning Feng returned the greeting and scrutinized the other party

In the desolate snowy expanse, Ning Feng speaks eloquently all by himself

Ning Feng lowered his head, his voice became subdued, then he raised it again, regaining his composure.

The lake woman looked at Ning Feng with anticipation

It is said that this is the highest point in the world.

I have an idea, and I want to give it a try

Su Tingyu, with her youthful innocence, and the pipa fish, overly enchanting, while the woman before me seemed to possess skin that glistened with a dewy sheen, as if she were made of water

Amitabha

Hmm?

Scholar, I would like to ask you for a favor

The sound of the gentle wind reverberates, the pristine white snow, in an instant, comes to life, with vast expanses of vibrant colors unfolding.

Behind Ning Feng, the entire world is consumed by darkness, leaving one speechless

Then it shall be so, without delaying the young lady's time

As long as Ning Feng fills the lake with white stones, making the lake round

Are you intentional? Or ... ...

The woman in the long skirt extended a finger, pointing towards the direction of Mirror Lake

A tremendous roar shook the heavens and the earth, and everything in sight sank like islands, plunging the entire world into darkness

Uh, I almost forgot, that was a dream

I believe it exists, and it truly exists

Everyone nodded

That ... ...

Like Su Tingyu, like the Pipa fish

The universe is vast within the sleeve, and the sun and moon are eternal within the pot

Ning Feng did not wish to ask how the lake maiden had entered his dreams without permission

Well, taming demons is also acceptable

I ... ... just want to verify one thing

The entire Snow Peak suddenly fell silent

After a moment of silence, the lake maiden turned around and, facing the lake, spoke in a soft tone

Ning Feng shook his head decisively

Bang bang bang bang——

He looked up, extended his hand, pointed, and drew a circle, encompassing everyone within it

Ning Feng did not feel that there was any problem and continued to shout loudly

Perhaps, in a certain year and month, the scholar will take the stage again as a teacher, and may recount everything in detail, eliciting a chorus of admiration

The shimmering water of the lake extended into the sky, stretching as far as the eye could see. He gazed deeply, as if he wanted to take in the entire lake within his sight.

Unfortunately, the shape of the lake is not sufficiently rounded. Scholar, look, there is a protruding corner in the southeast, which is quite disheartening to behold

After a moment, he chuckled softly, shook his head, shouldered the bookcase, and began to hum an unknown lumberjack's song as he headed towards the depths of the mountains and waters

I do not want you to leave

Is there something the scholar is looking for from the monk and others

The girl by the lake has eyes that are sparkling with tears, making it impossible for anyone to have the heart to refuse her.

Is the question that has entangled him for over ten years finally going to be resolved

So it turns out it is like this

It is like that, and it is like that, it has always been like that

How to get there

She kept enumerating the things in the lake, almost writing three words on her face: "All for you"

Ning Feng suddenly realized

In the dream, there is a large monkey beating its chest and roaring, with a great Buddha smiling above its head, and then a giant hand comes crashing down

The awkward silence lasted for a considerable amount of time

I am tired

Someone kindly offered you fish to eat, yet you still nitpick and complain about the bones being too many, this... is quite ungrateful

As he strolls up the mountain, contemplating the lofty heights and deep waters, when there are fox spirits, there truly are fox spirits

The lake maiden chuckled lightly, feeling no offense at all. Instead, she asked with great interest, "In the evening, the fish that I delivered to the scholar, were they still delicious?"

The woman by the lake blinked her eyes, unsure of how to proceed. Should she simply say it was delicious, or mention that she would pay more attention next time and choose something with fewer flaws?

Master Da Nu and Yan Wuwang, among others, looked over as if about to speak

There is a palace at the bottom of the lake, which is said to have been left by the previous Dragon King, and it can serve as a separate abode for scholars

The woman's long dress flowed like water, enveloping her delicate and curvaceous figure, yet it was not the frail beauty of a wilting willow. On the contrary, she had a round face that Ning Feng found remarkably familiar.

Continuously soaring upwards, flying towards the highest place

Boom boom boom boom—boom boom boom boom boom boom—

Continue walking, regardless of when it will end

... is not round enough

He greeted each one in turn, including monks, Taoist priests, shamans, and all manner of demons and spirits

Uh. After he blurted it out, he said somewhat apologetically: "My apologies, my apologies, it is a lake woman, a lake woman."

Strange, I was just thinking whether the lake would turn into a spirit, and it really did transform into one, even coming to me in a dream that very night

Beneath the glacier, a scholar stands

Ning Feng could sense the surreal feeling of everything around him, "How can I be so awake in a dream?"