Hongde Temple, at night, only the lights of the old temple on the top of the mountain are left, making it particularly conspicuous.
Even though a "program" has been scheduled for tonight, there are still only a few lights on in Hongde Temple, and it seems that the visitors are not taken seriously.
Loose on the outside and tight on the inside, that's probably it.
After ringing the bell for the last time, the monks began to put down their work in groups of twos and threes and gather in the backyard of Hongde Temple, either to prepare evening classes or to take a bath and rest.
"Is there another female benefactor coming to ask for a child tonight?" a monk asked.
He looked normal, as if it was just an unimportant and even disgusting job.
"Yes, two, one larger and one smaller." The other person replied.
"Age?"
"Otherwise, what do you think it is? Do you think the person who comes here to ask for a child is a model or a beautiful woman?"
As soon as he said this, the monks who were traveling with him all laughed.
Obviously for them, this is no longer a secret that needs to be kept secret.
There is nothing wrong with doing things that make you shudder, which is convenient for others and for yourself.
But their playfulness still aroused a voice of dissatisfaction.
"presumptuous!"
With this gentle shout, the monks immediately became silent and did not dare to laugh loudly anymore.
One of the monks nudged a new face with his elbow, "I remember you just came last week?"
"That's right, brother."
The monk bowed to him and said, "I just entered the temple and I still don't understand many rules."
The monk who was called senior brother was obviously an old man, so he just glanced at him lightly as a greeting.
"I can tell, what's your name?"
"Wujing."
"Wujing?"
"Yes, Wu Jing who has done all his evil deeds."
"Hey, do these two get along? Forget it, forget it, anyway, remember to talk less and do more when you enter the temple. If brothers and masters don't ask, just don't say anything, you know?"
"clear."
Wu Jing nodded and said with a smile: "I've never been willing to talk too much, and I will blush when I see strangers."
"Blushing?" The monk laughed, "If you are so careless, how can I take you to those big events in the future?"
"A big scene?"
Wu Jing also laughed with him, looking very vulgar, "Master said that I am in good health and asked me to learn two skills from you tonight, senior brother."
"Oh? Are you here to steal a teacher?"
The monk smiled lewdly and patted Wu Jing on the shoulder, "But it's okay. Buddha said that if you have something, give it to others, and if you know it, teach it to others.
We are all brothers. I will teach you my 36 postures tonight. You should keep your eyes wide open to watch. "
"sure."
Two people who were strangers before are now as close as brothers, just talking and laughing.
Just as Wu Jing was respectfully following the monk, he was grabbed by his collar by a dirty hand.
"Hey! Why are you back! The monk thought you weren't coming!"
The speaker is Ah Dian, the crazy monk who lives in the back hill of Hongde Temple.
He was holding on to Wu Jing's collar and chanting excitedly.
"I remember you. You invited me to drink last time. Have you forgotten? That time at the well, you called, called..."
"Wu Jing!"
"Yes! Wu Jing! Wu Jing?"
Ah Dian seemed very confused, but still stood in the way.
The monk who was walking with Wu Jing looked at him with great contempt, "Wu Jing, when did you get involved with this crazy monk and give him wine?"
Wu Jing smiled awkwardly, "Just last time, I thought he was a certain master in the temple, so I didn't dare not give it."
The monk glanced at him and said, "Don't tangle with this lunatic, so as not to get into trouble. Also, we have very strict rules here. You are not allowed to eat meat or drink alcohol. If you want to drink, just go outside and drink. You are not allowed to bring it in." ,Understand?"
"understand."
Wu Jing nodded, "How about you leave first, senior brother, and I will follow you later."
"Okay, then hurry up."
The monk covered his mouth and nose and walked away quickly, for fear of being contaminated by his scent.
Seeing the monk walking away, Wu Jing turned around.
"Ah Dian, why don't you stay in the back mountain?"
Ah Dian was still frowning at this time, very confused, and seemed to be thinking about something.
Then he became happy and jumped to the top.
"I remember, you are Yin Xiu! Yin! Xiu!"
Wu Jing, no, Yin Xiu quickly covered his mouth at this time, "Shh! You just know, don't say it."
"Why?" Ah Dian asked.
"Because if you say it, I will be beaten to death."
Yin Xiu lowered her voice, "You also know that I don't deal with the monks here. So, you don't want me to be beaten to death, right?"
Ah Dian heard what he said and quickly covered his mouth, "Of course the monk doesn't want you to be beaten to death, because you are the only person here who is friends with the monk."
"Then, help me keep the secret now?"
Yin Xiu stretched out her little finger and waved it in front of Ah Dian.
Ah Dian immediately understood and stretched out his hand with a smile, "Definitely, definitely!"
"By the way, Ah Dian, was there any grandma brought in here yesterday?" Yin Xiu asked.
"There are a lot of women coming and going here. They scream like slaughtered pigs every night, and in the morning they leave with smiles on their faces. What are the characteristics of the women you mentioned?"
"It's not a woman, it's a grandma! She's the kind of old grandma who rolls her eyes and scares you so much that you can't sleep!"
"Yes, there really is one!"
Ah Dian jumped up again, "Last night, I saw two monks taking an old woman to the Sutra Pavilion."
"Tibetan Scripture Pavilion? Do you know how to get there?"
"Of course the monk knows. I can run around here with my eyes closed."
Yin Xiu grabbed his arm and said, "Take me there!"
Ah Dian became a little nervous at this time, "Yin Xiu, aren't you going to steal something? Monk, I can't take you to steal the Yi Jin Jing or the Tathagata Palm?"
Yin Xiu sighed, "Ah Dian, have you read too many comics? Who would steal the Yi Jin Jing? Everyone knows that the most valuable thing in a Buddhist temple is the account book, not the scriptures or the exercises.
Moreover, I want to save people. "
Seeing that Ah Dian was still hesitant, Yin Xiu grimaced.
"Ah Dian, do you think we two are friends?"
"Of course!" Ah Dian nodded repeatedly, fearing that Yin Xiu might misunderstand. "Then if the two of us are friends, should my friend also be considered your friend?"
Ah Dian nodded again.
"It's now clear that grandma is my friend, and those cartoons have been drawn. If a friend is in trouble, if he doesn't save her, he will be struck by thunder from heaven.
As my friend, you certainly can't watch me get struck to death by lightning because I didn't save my friend, right?
Having said that, your friend's friend is also your friend, so if you don't come with me to save that friend, will you also be struck by lightning? "
Ah Dian was confused and dizzy after hearing this, but when he heard that he would be struck by lightning, he was still startled.
"I understand, I understand, the monk will go with you to save your friend, that grandma!"
"You don't need to save me, just lead the way." Yin Xiu grinned.
……
The Sutra Pavilion is a five-story pavilion erected on the ground. Each pillar is a beam held by two people. It is spectacular and simple.
At this time, there was only a solitary lamp and two figures in the pavilion that had gone through so many storms.
"I'm sorry, Lan Po, originally, this was irrelevant to you."
Mokong pushed over a cup of hot tea and lowered his head to Lan Po.
"But there's nothing I can do. You know the world is hard and dangerous, and it's difficult to navigate."
Lan Po rolled her eyes to the sky, "Is it possible that the reason why the world is rough is precisely because there are so many people like you. If you don't do good things, it will be a stumbling block, so the road is difficult and justice is not shown."
"Lan Po, this is none of my business."
Mokong took a sip of tea and said slowly: "The wind is strong and the rain is heavy. I just want to preserve the century-old foundation of Hongde Temple and not let it break in my hands.
This is not only my goal, but also the long-cherished wish of the other three juniors. "
"But your wishes are piled on other people's bones. If the Bodhisattva hears about this, I'm afraid it will cause the entire Hongde Temple to collapse, and I don't want it to continue to stay in this world."
Lan Po never touched the tea.
There is no other reason, I just feel dirty.
"Bodhisattva? Lan Po, others say that you are the messenger of Bodhisattva and a believer. I don't know about others, but if it is you, what you say will definitely not be false."
"What? Do you mean to ask me not to mention it to Bodhisattva?" Lan Po raised her eyelids.
"Do not."
Mokong shook his head, "Why don't you tell me? When you get to Him, you should tell the truth truthfully, so that the Bodhisattva can open his eyes and see that this world is muddy, the Three Jewels are covered in dust, and the demons are dancing around.
In these troubled times, we monks, although we have compassionate hearts, can only survive by resorting to thunderous means. "
Lan Po glanced at him and said, "Why, are all your thunderous methods only used on the weak?"
"Weak?"
Mokong laughed, his eyes full of coldness, "He killed three chiefs of our temple. Would such a person be a weak person?"
Lan Po shook her head, "I don't care how you deal with him, bad guy, I mean, I'm the weak one! I was at home well, and you kidnapped me without even having breakfast.
At my age, without eating, and being frightened by two tough men sent by you, do you really want me to see the Bodhisattva as soon as possible? "
Although Mokong's face was full of guilt when she complained endlessly, he had no intention of letting her go.
"Lan Po, I'll wrong you again. As long as Yin Xiu comes, you can leave."
"Regardless of life or death?" Lan Po suddenly asked.
"Well?"
Mo Kong was stunned for a moment, "What do you mean?"
"Oh, I mean, no matter whether you die tonight or not, I can leave?" Lan Po said seriously.
"Oh, interesting!"
Mokong didn't feel angry, "When the matter is settled, you can leave naturally, Lan Po, and no one will make things difficult for you. But there is one thing I don't understand, that is, do you really think I will lose to that kid?" Have you forgotten who I am? "
Lan Po still had no expression on her face, "Mokong, your three chiefs were so powerful many years ago, and this kid wasn't even born at that time."
"Do you think I'm too old?" Mokong said seriously.
"Yes, you and I are indeed too old. We live our lives day by day. If we eat one more bowl of rice today, we may die tomorrow."
Lan Po looked out at the night sky. The surrounding mountains and forests were pitch black.
"But you and I are indeed different, we are two different people.
I know to let go, I am already old, so I am happy just drinking tea with my sisters and occasionally having a meal with young people.
You are different. You carry a lot of things on your shoulders, and you refuse to let go of this and let go of that, so you are unhappy.
But I can’t judge anything. I said I’m smarter than you?I don't think so. If you die, all walks of life in Hong Kong and Kowloon, including Hongde Temple and Buddhism, will see you off and let you go in glory.
And me?I am an old woman, and I am most afraid of trouble. Because I am afraid of trouble, I only know people who do not want to cause trouble. Therefore, after I die, few people will come to bow to me or send me a wreath. "
Mokong paused and said in a low voice: "Lan Po, these are just things after death. After death, everything will be empty. I don't care about those."
"When did I say I cared?"
Lan Po snorted from her nose.
"What I mean is that the bad boy who is coming later, he said that he will take me on my last journey with another little girl."
"I think he can't do it anymore. Lan Po, you can find someone else. If you don't mind, I can also build a dojo for you and recite sutras for a few days."
"I mind."
Lan Po got up and walked to the edge of the building.
"Besides, no matter what I think, old woman, you will leave before me."
"Oh?"
Mokong also got up from his seat and walked to the railing.
By the moonlight, he saw two people standing in the open space in front of the Sutra Pavilion.
Lan Po pointed to one of them, looking quite surprised, "Ah Dian, you have been in the temple for so many years and you are not dead?"
Mokong smiled, "I raise him, and although he doesn't want help from others, I always make enough preparations so that he can find food and not starve to death.
Even if he is sick, I will ask someone to throw some herbs on the mountain road so that he can be alive and kicking in a few days. "
"You still have a conscience."
Lan Po sighed, "He was destined to be a Buddha, but it was a pity that he died at the wrong time. It is no longer the time to ascend in the daytime and become a Buddha immediately."
The night wind blew by, and a strand of Lan Po's white hair slowly fell down.
“But it doesn’t matter, this is a new era, and new people will naturally jump over the dragon gate and emerge.
The situation has only changed, not died. Kyushu's great fortune is still there. "
Mokong's eyes were fixed on the "monk" next to A Dian in the square.
"You mean, that guy will usher in a new era?"
"Why, you don't believe it?"
"Is this your fortune-telling, or is it deduced, or is it a Bodhisattva's dream?" Mokong asked.
"No, it's just an intuition, a kind of inspiration and intuition that belongs to Wen Mipo."
"Oh, then I understand. I will personally erase your so-called intuition."
Mokong tapped his foot lightly and leaped out from the attic. (End of chapter)