Chapter 3: Finding the Master Zhou Dong, A Deep Teacher-Student Bond, Sharing All Knowledge

The setting sun dipped below the horizon. The young man pulled the girl onto his horse, clamped his legs against the horse’s belly, and the steed galloped away.

“May I ask your name, Miss?”

“What did you say?”

“I said, what’s your name?”

“Guo Tong! You can call me Tong’er.”

“Miss Tong’er, my name is Zhang Yue.”

“Aren’t you Li Yuanfang?”

“I lied to you…”

“You’re bad…”

Their figures gradually faded into the distance, disappearing into the vast darkness. He knew that the arrow had left the bow, and it was time to show his skills and carve out a new world for himself.

…

Dengzhou, Jinan Prefecture.

As dawn broke, an old man hurried towards the backyard of a manor.

In the spacious training ground in the backyard, dozens of stone locks of various sizes were placed, and on the weapon rack, swords, spears, halberds, axes, and hooks were neatly arranged. Eighteen types of weapons, all complete, and next to them were dozens of strange-looking short spears, neither arrows nor spears.

A strong young man, bare-chested, was practicing martial arts with great vigor. A long spear danced in his hands, spinning like a wheel, the spear tip flashing in the air, cutting through the sky.

“Young Master, Young Master, Miss Tong’er is making a fuss again.”

The young man spun in the air, and with a clang, the long spear was firmly inserted into an empty space on the rack.

“Young Master’s Hundred-Step Flying Spear has reached the peak of perfection.”

The young man turned around, and the first rays of dawn shone on his handsome face. A faint smile played on his lips, as if he had remembered something good.

“I wonder how my spear technique compares to Lin Chong, the famous instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards?”

The old man, who had come in a hurry, heard the name Lin Chong, and his face turned pale for a moment. His eyes darted around, but he quickly recovered.

Seeing the old man’s unnatural expression, he knew that the old man must be hiding something from him.

The old man’s name was Chen Ming. He was a loyal servant of the young man’s father and now a capable assistant to the young man.

The young man’s name was Zhang Yue. He was originally an excellent traditional martial arts enthusiast from China. In an international martial arts competition with heavy armor, he was framed by a despicable Japanese player. In a fit of anger, he unleashed his primal power and dragged the despicable Japanese player down the cliff.

Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, his soul crossed over and occupied the current body. What was even more strange was that the full set of armor he wore during the competition, which was airtight, also crossed over with him.

After waking up, Zhang Yue received the memories of the original owner and learned that he had crossed over to the world of Water Margin in the Song Dynasty.

This year was the ninth year since Zhang Yue came to this world. He had become familiar with everything here. He knew that in this world where the government was incompetent, only strength could guarantee his own safety and the safety of his family.

After much inquiry, Zhang Yue learned that Zhou Dong, the most successful master in Chinese history, was currently on Mount Wutai in Shanxi.

Therefore, when he was only eight years old, he decided to persuade his family to go to Mount Wutai to become Zhou Dong’s disciple.

As the saying goes, “Poor people study literature, rich people practice martial arts.” After Zhang Yue revealed his intentions to his father, he immediately received his father’s strong support. His father sent Chen Ming with a full cart of wealth to accompany Zhang Yue to Mount Wutai to become a disciple.

They set off in the spring of that year and arrived at Mount Wutai before May.

Zhang Yue finally met Zhou Dong, who was then known as Master Zhizhen.

At first, Zhou Dong refused to accept him as a disciple. However, when he heard about his arduous journey in search of a master, especially when he heard that they had eaten and slept outdoors, saved every penny, and delivered a cart of wealth to Mount Wutai without spending a single penny, Zhou Dong was moved by Zhang Yue’s spirit and reluctantly accepted him.

Zhang Yue immediately stated that the cart of wealth was only a gift for meeting his master. Whether his master accepted him or not, he had already decided when he left home to give this cart of wealth to his master. He would write to his father every month about his living expenses on Mount Wutai and the gifts for his master, and his father would send someone to the temple every month.

Zhou Dong laughed heartily and said to the young monk beside him, “Last night, I dreamed that Buddha told me that a spiritual child would come to Mount Wutai. It seems that Zhang Yue is truly a good disciple bestowed upon me by heaven!”

Therefore, Zhou Dong unreservedly taught him all his martial arts skills. Zhang Yue was diligent and hardworking, and he studied for nine years without complaint. Not only did he inherit Zhou Dong’s excellent martial arts skills, but he also memorized all of Zhou Dong’s knowledge in astronomy, geography, medicine, and Buddhist principles.

Until three months ago, in August of the third year of Xuanhe in the Song Dynasty, 1121 AD, Master Zhizhen suddenly said to Zhang Yue, “I have recently gained a deep understanding of Buddhist principles. I think heaven sent you to break through the boundaries, there must be a reason for it. You should go down the mountain!”

“Break through the boundaries? Master, why do you say that?” Zhang Yue was puzzled.

“Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed.” Master Zhizhen finished speaking, closed his eyes slightly, and looked at Zhang Yue mysteriously, smiling but not speaking.

Zhang Yue thought to himself, “Break through the boundaries, perhaps it means breaking through the boundaries of time and space. Then, breaking through the boundaries and coming here probably means crossing over!”

Zhang Yue thought about it and felt that it made sense. He nodded silently.

On the day he bid farewell to Zhou Dong and left Mount Wutai, Zhang Yue was reluctant to leave. He looked at Master Zhizhen with tearful eyes and lingered.

Master Zhizhen sent him to the side of the road, waved his hand, and told him to hurry along.

Zhang Yue thought to himself, “The journey is long and winding, I don’t know if I will ever see my master again in this life. I want to ask my master to give me some prophetic words.”

Seeing that his master was silent, Zhang Yue pouted and complained, “When Master Zhishen went down the mountain, you told him, ‘When you meet a forest, you will rise, when you meet a mountain, you will be rich, when you meet water, you will prosper, when you meet a river, you will stop.’ Why are you silent now that I’m going down the mountain?”

“It’s because Zhishen is pure in heart and has a strong affinity for Buddhism. I can clearly see his past and present lives. But you, you are like a mist, I can’t see clearly, and I dare not make rash judgments!”

“Humph, Master, you’re lying. I think you just favor Master Zhishen!” Zhang Yue was a little childish and continued, “Capture in summer, hold in winter. Round when you hear the tide, silent when you see the letter. You said that to Master Zhishen, didn’t you?”

As soon as Zhang Yue finished speaking, he realized that he had slipped up, because Master Zhizhen hadn’t said these words to Lu Zhishen yet. He quickly glanced at his master’s face.

He saw that his master’s eyes were closed, and there was no expression on his face. Zhang Yue was anxious and nervous.

“I knew you would talk nonsense. Fortunately, I have already dismissed everyone. Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed. Yue’er, when will you learn?”

Master Zhizhen said earnestly.

Zhang Yue was ashamed and embarrassed. He could only silently bid farewell.

“Zhang Yue is unworthy of your teachings, Master. I will definitely remember your teachings from now on.”

“Wear when you compete, come because of the Japanese, kill because of Gao, rise because of Tong. Go! Our teacher-student bond ends here.”

Zhang Yue looked up, but Master Zhizhen was gone. There was a bundle on the ground. He opened it and found that it was the armor he wore in the competition before he crossed over…