Chapter Seven Strange People Hidden in Ancient Temples and Old Temples
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"Qingge. There's no one inside. Let's go back."
After waiting for a long time, no one responded. Xue Xichen became impatient. She wanted to go back.
"Tongtong. It seems that I have never told you my story."
Feng Qingge stood quietly in front of Yufeng Temple. She stared quietly at the bright red plaque of Yufeng Temple. The quiet voice sounded quietly in the empty mountain forest.
Xue Xichen tilted her head with a look of determination on her face. "Qingge, I know you. Although you are accomplished in martial arts and have great military skills, you are not inferior to Fenglong Xiang in everything. However, in the end, you did not inherit the throne. It was because of the late emperor. The son you care about most is not you at all."
"That's right... Feng Qingge was once the most glorious 'Prince of War God' in the world. Now he kills his brother and seizes the throne to dominate the world. But, who would know that Feng Qingge actually has his own secret past..."
"The hidden past."
"Tongtong. Do you know how Qingfei and I met?"
Xue Xichen shook her head. She had never heard Feng Qingge say this before.
"It's here...in this Yufeng Temple..."
Xue Xichen's eyes widened. Obviously, she never expected to get such an answer.
"Tongtong has never told you... In fact, when I was very, very young, I had acne..."
"Pox"..Smallpox..
Xue Xichen was startled and blurted out, "That time in Lintong..."
In an instant, she realized that she had made a mistake and immediately fell silent.
Damn it. When Lintong suffered from acne, the person there was Xue Xichen, not her Xue Meitong. What she just said undoubtedly revealed her identity. I really hope Feng Qingge didn't hear what she just said clearly.
Feng Qingge didn't seem to notice what Xue Xichen blurted out. He said calmly: "At that time, Lintong was plagued by acne. I didn't tell Xichen that I actually had acne... because I didn't want her to know. I don’t want anyone to know that... the world-famous 'Prince of War God' actually had acne..."
"Qingge. People who have had acne will be left with scars all over their body. Their faces are also bumpy. But, I have never seen any bumps and bumps on your body..."
"Because I met a miracle doctor. Not only did he cure my acne, he also didn't leave any scars after the recovery..."
"What a miracle doctor."
"He is Qingfei's master..."
"Huh.."
Mu Qingfei's master...
"Master Lingxu..."
"Lingxu." How does it sound like a monk's name? Recalling that Feng Qingge said that she met Mu Qingfei at Yufeng Temple, Xue Xichen couldn't help but think of it. "Could it be that... Master Lingxu is the abbot of Yufeng Temple... …”
"That's right. Tongtong is really smart as ice and snow."
Feng Qingge nodded. She was indeed the woman he liked. Xue Xichen had already guessed the answer without the need for more words.
Xue Xichen was surprised. At the same time, she also understood Feng Qingge's special feelings for Yufeng Temple. She said: "Since Master Lingxu has saved your life and is Mu Xiang's mentor, why don't you find someone to cultivate it?" Let’s take a lease on Yufeng Temple.”
"Qingfei and I have mentioned it to Master Lingxu many times, but were rejected one by one. Master Lingxu gave us a poem... Silently on the moss steps. The mud is peeling off and no one comes. If you have a heart, It's so hard to survive the world. It's funny that ordinary people have not opened their eyes. The master is so insistent. Qingfei and I don't dare to force it. We can only come to visit the master from time to time and donate some incense money to Yufeng Temple."
"Silently on the moss steps. The mud is peeling off and no one comes. He has the intention to save the suffering of the world. It's ridiculous that the common people have not opened their eyes." .It’s a pity that the world doesn’t understand the master’s good intentions.”
"Tongtong. I want you to meet the master."
Xue Xichen nodded and said seriously: "I must meet such an eminent monk. I think the master may be giving lunch lessons. Let's go in directly."
After saying that, she reached out and pushed open the temple door.
Walking through the door, Xue Xichen saw that the quiet courtyard was covered with weeds. Although it was deserted, it was not dirty. It was obvious that people were cleaning it frequently. There were only three or two fallen leaves occasionally, which brought out a bit of desolation.
In the inner hall, there were waves of rhythmic wooden fish sounds. The sound was very quiet, very thin, but very sacred.
As she took a step, her dress was caught by a bush protruding from the edge of the path. Threads were pulled out of the gauze chiffon. A valuable skirt was ruined just like that.
Xue Xichen lifted up the corner of her skirt and pulled it down. She stared at the obvious gap. She couldn't help but think of the insights she had in the mountains during her days of recuperation. She said casually: "The heart should not move rashly. People should not move rashly. If they do not move, they will not move rashly." Is this the way to practice Zen without harm?"
The sound of wooden fish in the inner hall paused for a few seconds. Then, it sounded thinly and rhythmically again.
"Tongtong."
Feng Qingge stepped forward and carefully checked whether Xue Xichen had any scratches. Xue Xichen shook her head and walked slowly while holding the hem of her skirt. Feng Qingge thoughtfully moved the branches of the bushes aside for her. There were only The sound of wooden fish and the rustle of clothes brushing against the grass.
There was nothing on the confession table in front of me. Not even the incense that the pilgrims brought themselves was placed. Or rather, no one came here to offer incense, so there was no need to prepare any.
Xue Xichen looked around. In the corner beside the Bodhisattva statue, an old monk in gray robe was beating the wooden fish slowly and rhythmically.
The old monk's eyes were lowered, and he was twisting Buddhist beads in his hands. His robe was covered with patches, but his expression was calm and peaceful. He was holding a wooden fish in his skinny hands. He lifted it gently and slowly, giving him a pleasant feeling of being out of the world.
The old monk seemed to be completely immersed in his sutras and did not know anyone was coming. Ever since Xue Xichen and Feng Qingge stepped into the door, his brows had not trembled even a little. He was still muttering his sutras in a low voice.
"Master. Disciple is here to disturb you again."
Feng Qingge clasped her hands together and bowed respectfully to the old monk.
The sound of the wooden fish remained unchanged. It seemed as if it was not disturbed by Feng Qingge at all. It still struck rhythmically.
Xue Xichen tilted her head and asked Feng Qingge with her eyes. "This is Master Lingxu."
Feng Qingge lowered her head and bowed again to the old monk and said respectfully: "Master, please forgive me for being presumptuous. I brought a friend here to disturb you today."
"The little girl Xue Meitong has met Master Lingxu."
Xue Xichen was blessed with good health. She saw that Master Lingxu was still banging the wooden fish and reciting his own scriptures. His voice was smooth and smooth. He didn't mean to pay attention to her at all. She was annoyed. She opened her mouth and looked at her. Look at the Buddhist altar.
"The bodhi tree has no tree. The mirror is not a stand. There is nothing in the beginning. How can it cause dust."
Xue Xichen clasped her hands together and bowed deeply to the Bodhisattva on the Buddhist altar. She closed her eyes and bowed before saying something in her mouth.
The sound of the wooden fish was steady and powerful. It echoed in the empty Buddhist hall.