Zhike, the chief, and the supervisor of the temple were all dumbfounded when they heard what Elder Zhizhen said, not knowing who this "distinguished guest" was. Elder Zhizhen did not talk nonsense to them, got off the cloud bed, and asked the young novice to open it.

Take out a wooden box and take out a cassock.

The first one saw that the cassock was something that Elder Zhishen would not bear to wear on weekdays. He clicked his tongue and said, "Zhishen made a big fuss in the previous meeting. The elder clearly said that this temple is a Bodhisattva's dojo, a place where pure incense has been purified for thousands of years. How can it be tolerated like this?"

Dirty? Now that Zhishen has come back without any reason, can he be worthy of being welcomed by the elder himself?"

The supervisor of the temple also said: "This cassock is the elder's treasure. It has not been worn for many years. How can Zhishen afford it?"

"Who do you think I am talking about?" Elder Zhizhen laughed and scolded: "You short-sighted people have ears, and you know that the imperial court sent a large army to exterminate the Tian Hu rebels, and now you have completed your merits; Zhishen also

I am serving in the army, and I am accompanying your distinguished guest up the mountain today. I have just entered Dingding and have already saved it."

When the monks heard this, they just didn't believe it and asked Zhike carefully. The Zhike only heard a sentence from the disciples, so how could he get the answer?[

At this time, Elder Zhizhen had already put on his cassock, and his whole body was neatly arranged. He said with a smile: "If you don't believe it, you can go out and look west, and you will know."

The monks rushed out of the abbot's room and looked to the west. Sure enough, they saw a five-color auspicious cloud that changed dramatically with the mountain wind. They were all shocked and knew that what Elder Zhizhen said was true.

It turns out that five-color auspicious clouds occasionally appear in Wutai Mountain. It is said that the Buddha's light shines everywhere. There is also a legend that these five-color auspicious clouds are in front of Manjushri Bodhisattva's throne. They only appear when noble people come; now five-color auspicious clouds

In the west, all the monks looked solemn and chanted the Buddha's name in unison.

"Let's go!" Elder Zhizhen also came out of the abbot's room, full of energy.

"Where to go?"

"Mountain Gate!"

All the monks woke up from a dream and followed Elder Zhizhen to the front. The first monk ordered the disciples to open the mountain gate and prepare to welcome the distinguished guests.

When the two disciples reported the news, they thought they should close the mountain gate tightly to keep Lu Zhishen out. When the leader said this, the two disciples said that they had heard wrongly and looked at each other. Later, they saw Elder Zhishen coming in person.

, then I realized that we really had to open the mountain gate to welcome Lu Zhishen.

Ximen Qing and Lu Zhishen were chatting and laughing. How did they know so many things along the way? When they turned not far outside the mountain gate, they heard bells and drums beating in the temple. All the monks came out to greet them and went forward to salute Ximen Qing, Lu Zhishen and others.

Ximen Qing saw the swarm of bald heads and was so full of attitude that he almost laughed out loud; Lu Zhishen was quite surprised as he had never expected such a generous reception.

When I was young, the bald people separated into two groups. In the middle, there was a monk wearing a golden cassock. He saluted and said, "I've seen this distinguished guest!"

When Ximen Qing saw the monk, he was in his sixties, with white eyebrows and hair, and strange bones. He had the bearing of a senior monk, so he hurriedly returned the gift. He didn't know if it was Elder Zhizhen, but when he was about to ask, he heard Lu Zhishen bluffing next to him.

Said: "Why did the elder come out in person?"

Only then did Ximen Qing realize that the eminent monk in front of him was indeed Elder Zhizhen, a famous living Buddha in the Water Margin, who knew the past and the future. If not, Lu Zhishen would not have stayed with him when he went to Mount Wutai, and would have personally presided over his ordination.

Lots of maintenance.

"It turns out he's an elder!" Ximen Qing sincerely gave him another salute: "I am a good friend of Lu Zhishen, and my surname is Ximen with the character Qing in it."

Elder Zhizhen smiled and returned the salute: "Sir Ximen is conquering the military supervisory army. If Tian Hu can be wiped out, it must be Sir Ximen!"

Only then did all the monks know who Ximen Qing was, and indeed he was a distinguished guest. Elder Zhizhen took the lead and supervised the temple. The first monk respectfully led Ximen Qing to the abbot's room. He was also polite and respectful when meeting Lu Zhishen.

"At this time in the Sa family, these bald donkeys were in trouble everywhere, but this time they are so polite!"

Lu Zhishen sneered in his heart, did not say anything, returned the courtesy slightly, then went to the abbot's room and sat down with Ximen Qing.

Zhike asked the young novice monk to serve tea. Ximen Qing smelled it and the aroma was fragrant. After taking a sip, he knew that this was the best tea, and he was afraid that the temple would not be willing to bring it out.[

"I have heard for a long time that the elder is pure and virtuous, but due to my shallow social connections, I paid my respects to him on the way. Now I have been summoned to conquer Tian Hu, and I have completed my work. I am here to pay homage to the elder. I am very lucky in my life."

If people respect me one foot, I respect others one foot.

Ximen Qing received good treatment, so he naturally spoke politely: "After Zhishen came down from the mountain, he never forgot about the elder and specially invited the young man to see the master."

Elder Zhizhen said: "Eminent monks often come here, and they have also experienced the cycle of world affairs. I have heard for a long time that the supervisor is thinking of the people, supporting it alone, and all the generals working together, so this expedition will not fail. My disciple Zhishen will follow you,

Is there any mistake?"

Ximen Qing thanked him profusely and asked him to take the sesame oil book and add a stroke.

When the supervisor secretly took it over to look at it, he was immediately stunned. It turned out that Ximen Qing was so happy that he promised a thousand guan with a stroke of his pen. This thousand guan was nothing to Ximen Qing, but as far as Wenshu Monastery was concerned,

I can't get so much money for sesame oil after all these years.

Lu Zhishen asked the Chuixue soldiers to bring a package of gold and silver colored satin and offer it to the division.

Elder Zhizhen said: "My disciple, where did you get this thing? I will never accept righteous money."

Lu Zhishen reported: "The disciples have accumulated many merits and rewards, and the things they have accumulated are used by the disciples. They will be specially presented to me in the future for public use."

Elder Zhizhen insisted and refused, Ximen Qing said: "Elder, this is a reward for the military merits of Senior Brother Zhishen. It is clear and clear, why not?"

Elder Zhizhen called out the Buddha's name and said to Lu Zhishen: "Since Lord Ximen has spoken, that's all. It's just that it's hard to get rid of the crowd. I'll give you a sutra to eliminate evil and achieve good results early."

Lu Zhishen bowed and thanked him. Ximen Qing said again: "I have something to do on the mountain today. I hope the elder can help me."

Elder Zhizhen clasped his hands together: "If you have anything to say, sir, just tell me."

Ximen Qing then told the story about Lu Zhishen's return to secular life. Elder Zhizhen listened for a long time without saying a word. After a long time, he said: "Zhishen has not left the mortal world. We will have more to say in the Dharma Hall after the fasting tomorrow."

On that day, Ximen Qing, Lu Zhishen and others stayed in the Wutai Mountain Temple for a night's rest. The elders set up a vegetarian meal to treat each other.

Let us also say that the fasting was completed the next day, the bells and drums were ringing in the Dharma Hall of Wutai Mountain Temple, and Elder Zhizhen gathered the monks in the Dharma Hall to practice Zen.

After a while, all the monks in Hesi Temple, wearing cassocks and sitting on chairs, came to sit down in the Dharma hall. Ximen Qing, Lu Zhishen and other soldiers stood on both sides.

At the place where the chime sounded, two bowls of red gauze lanterns led the elders up to the Dharma throne. Elder Zhizhen went to the Dharma throne. He first picked up the incense stick and praised it: "With this stick of incense, I wish that the Emperor's longevity will be as long as the sky, and that all the people will be happy and prosperous."

. Picking up another stick of letter incense, I hope that the owner of this fast will be happy in body and mind, and his life will be prolonged. I will pick up another stick of letter incense, and I hope that the country will be safe and the people are peaceful, the years will be peaceful, the three religions will be prosperous, and the four directions will be peaceful."

After congratulating and praising him, he sat down on the throne of the Dharma.

After two rounds of questioning, the monks all stood up again.

Elder Zhizhen said: "Where is my disciple Zhishen? Please bring me the ultimatum."

After Lu Zhishen went forward, held some incense and bowed, he clasped his hands and approached Elder Zhizhen to respectfully present the ultimatum. Elder Zhishen took it in his hand and took a look at it, then asked the supervisor to take it away, and sighed: "Zhishen, do you know what I am doing?"

What is the purpose of this Dharma name of yours?” [

Lu Zhishen vaguely remembered that he was ordained and ordained in this Dharma hall at that time. All the past events came to his mind. He still remembered the verses of Elder Zhizhen that day, so he replied: "Yes. A little inspiration is worth a thousand gold. The Dharma is vast, and it is named Zhishen."

"

"You have a great destiny in Buddhism, and your future achievements will not be inferior to mine." Elder Zhizhen sighed: "Now you are wallowing in the world of mortals, and the three refuges and five precepts are just like the public. In this case, what is the difference between becoming a monk and becoming a householder?"

"

Lu Zhishen listened and remained silent.

Elder Zhizhen uttered a verse: "The six roots have been bound for many years, and the four major entanglements have been entangled for a long time. I turned several somersaults in the light of the stone fire. Hey! All the sentient beings in the Jambu world roared frequently in the mud piles."

He also said: "You are wise, sooner or later you will convert to Buddhism, so I will accept this ultimatum for you first."

Only then did Lu Zhishen know that Elder Zhizhen had promised to return to secular life. He was filled with sadness and joy. After burning the incense and all the monks retreated, he invited him to go to the Yuntang Hall to have a fast.

After everyone finished fasting, Ximen Qing and Lu Zhishen followed the elder to the abbot's house.

Lu Zhishen said: "I don't know when my disciple will be able to come back after leaving. What does my master have to say?"

Elder Zhizhen said with a smile: "I have four verses that can describe your whole life. But you are already with a person of great luck. You can only control your future and destiny by yourself."

Lu Zhishen seemed to understand, but Ximen Qing understood clearly: Elder Zhizhen's four verses were originally meant to be captured in summer, held on to when encountering wax, rounded up when listening to "tide", and silent when seeing faith, and as expected they have all been said.

Lu Zhishen lived his whole life, but now his future and destiny have been changed because of himself, so the elder said this.

"This old monk is quite capable, so why don't I ask for a few words?" Ximen Qing thought, then he saluted and said, "The elder was a senior monk at that time, but I am a little confused. Please give me some advice."

When Elder Zhizhen heard this, he laughed before he said anything: "Master Ximen is joking about the old monk, isn't he? You are a man of great luck. My disciple Zhishen has followed you, and your future is in your own hands. Instead, you come to ask me about my future."

?”

Ximen Qing naturally refused to let it go easily: "Just a few words would be good."

Elder Zhizhen groaned for a long time: "Forget it, let the old monk enter meditation and help you take a look."

Then he asked the young monk to burn a stick of incense, and the elder got on the cloud bed, sat cross-legged, recited a mantra, and entered meditation.

After a stick of incense, he came back, his face turned earthy, he shook his head to Ximen Qing and said: "Ashamed! Not only is your future a cloud, but also the back is unclear. The old monk tried his best to clear the clouds and see the sun, but he was almost killed by the sky.

Wounded by thunder.”

As he spoke, Elder Zhizhen spread out his hands. As expected, there were two scorch marks on his palms, as if they had been struck by lightning. He looked at Lu Zhishen in shock.

Ximen Qing was secretly angry and said: "This must be Master Naluo's fault again. When I have time, I will go to Erxian Mountain to confront him and see what else he has to say!"

Elder Zhizhen was exhausted mentally and physically and could not treat guests well, so Lu Zhishen accompanied him to serve him. The elder called Zhike and took Ximen Qing to play around in the temple.

Knowing Ximen Qing's identity, Zhike wished he could use all his strength to explain everything to Ximen Qing in detail. He was more dedicated than the tour guides of later generations.

Ximen Qing saw that he was frothing at the mouth and his veins were popping out, and he secretly chuckled in his heart. After wandering around, he went to the Manjushri True Face Hall, where the statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva was enshrined.

"This was erected during the Jingyun period of the previous dynasty. It is said that Manjushri Bodhisattva manifested his true body. After seventy-two appearances, craftsmen molded the true appearance of Manjushri Bodhisattva, hence the name Zhenrong Hall."

Zhike kept talking, but Ximen Qing didn't bother to listen to him. He just nodded slightly to indicate that the statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva was indeed vivid, but Ximen Qing had no interest in it. He glanced around at the altar table and was suddenly attracted by something.

caught sight.
Chapter completed!