The Empress bowed and thanked him. "If you really help me, I'm willing to rebuild my golden body for the Buddha and serve him forever."
"I don't dare, I don't dare." The monk waved his hand and said slowly.
The monk went up to the highest pavilion and watched the Empress leave on her sedan chair. She went straight to the ancient city of Chang 'an.
The smoke had disappeared, but there was another kind of gloominess pressing on the city of Chang 'an. Not only did it not dissipate, but it also became thicker. He frowned and shook his head with a smile. "What does it have to do with me?"
At this time, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. A young acolyte panted as he rushed in front of the monk. He forced himself to pay his respects and pointed to the direction of the main door and said, "Abbot, there is a Shitai who came to visit."
The monk was surprised and said, "Is there such a thing?"
Although they were all disciples of Buddhism, monks and nuns had their own places and could not live together. How could a nun come to a monk's temple? Wouldn't it cause a lot of gossip?
"It's true. Senior Brothers are all surrounding her!"
In front of the mountain gate, an old nun in clean clothes was putting her palms together, her eyes were tightly closed, as if she was meditating. Her face was crisscrossed with wrinkles, just like a withered old tree, really like a wood carving or a stone carving, completely disregarding the many monks around her who were pointing at her.
Fortunately, the Empress was coming and the temple did not accept tourists. Otherwise, there would be many people watching.
The receptionist monk tried his best to persuade her. "Nun, a small temple really can't let female guests stay overnight."
The old nun finally opened her eyes and said, "Female guest?
Monks are still lustful. I don't see the equality of all living beings.
I'm not only here to stay, but also because I heard that Abbot Fa Shan of the Mercy Temple has a profound Dharma. I'm here to learn a thing or two. "
Someone realized and said, "So you're not here to stay. You're here to discuss Dharma."
In this day and age, discussing Dharma was like a challenge in Jianghu. People in Jianghu competed with martial arts, but this was a competition of Dharma. But the loser would also lose face.
Such a behavior immediately provoked the monks to fight against a common enemy. Someone could not help but mock, "If you're not a woman, can you be a man?
Our abbot has a profound understanding of Buddhism and is worshipped by the royal family. Her Majesty the Empress has just left. How dare a wandering nun like you come to ask for advice? "
As soon as these words were spoken, it immediately drew a wave of mockery. All sorts of mockery and ridicule emerged endlessly, proving that not all monks were pure of heart and few desires.
"You are not allowed to say it!"
The old nun raised her eyebrows and pointed her finger.
The monk who spoke just now was immediately tongue-tied, unable to say a word.
"Don't laugh!" the old nun said again, and all the monks started to cry.
"Everyone be careful, this damned nun knows yao arts!"
"Quick, quickly restrain her."
…
The group of baldies shouted. Some of the more impatient ones had already stepped forward and raised their fists to attack.
"Don't hit him!" the old nun said again.
His fist involuntarily deviated and landed on the monk beside him.
"Ouch, you f * cking hit me!"
"It's me, it's not me!" Those who were unconvinced became even more furious. Their punches and kicks all landed on their own people.
Angry shouts and cries of pain rose and fell. The situation in front of the door was chaotic!
Only the old nun stood at the same place from the beginning to the end, not saying a word.
"All of you stop!"
The monks were stunned. They quickly separated into two sides and stood with their hands by their sides, revealing the good monk who was at the back of the stairs. He looked at the crowd with a solemn expression. He looked at the monks who were all bruised and dejected, and suddenly grinned.
The young novice monk quickly pulled the monk's clothes and whispered, "Abbot, this is not the time to laugh."
The monk coughed lightly and stopped smiling, "Let this nun come in!"
In the meditation room, a monk and a nun were sitting and discussing Dharma.
Without waiting for greetings, the old nun said, "How is Zen!"
"This …" The monk scratched his head.
"How is the Eye of Justice?" The old nun's face flashed with contempt and asked again.
"That …" The monk scratched his armpit.
"How is it empty?" the old nun asked again.
The monk scratched the sole of his foot with a strange expression on his face, as if he was enduring an itch. The young novice monk next to him turned his head and snickered.
The old nun was furious and was about to teach him a lesson when the monk kneeled on the ground and said, "Nun's Dharma is profound, I am far inferior to you."
The old nun sighed and said, "In Buddhism, there are many people who pass fish eyes as pearls. Even this Mercy Temple is the same.
But you did not overestimate yourself, and you are much better than others. "
"Of course, of course!"
The monk's face was full of shame. He personally brewed tea for the old nun, and his admiration for her was endless. Seeing that the old nun's expression was getting better, he "carefully" asked, "Nun seems to be quite proficient in Dharma."
"Two hundred years ago, I obtained the Dharma from a master in Mount Qilian. I traveled around the world and used it to avoid poisonous insects and fierce beasts. It is not a big deal."
"Nun, you have lived for two hundred years!" The monk exclaimed.
"You don't believe me?"
"Yes, I believe you. Nun is really a master, not a mortal like me. Then why did you come to the capital city …"
"I came to find my disciple."
"I wonder who is so lucky to be chosen by you?" The monk's face flashed with a strange expression.
"Her name is Pan Yu."
"Ah!
Isn't that the son of Prince Pan? She can enjoy endless wealth, how would she be willing to be a nun! "
"I have an agreement with her father, and I will not violate it." The old nun was very sure. Obviously, she did not believe in Prince Pan's reputation, but her own methods.
"I think it is better not to force this kind of thing!"
"What do you know?
This is a good deed to help people out of the fire and sea of bitterness. It is better than building a seven-story pagoda. "
"I think that if people like to live in the fire and sea of bitterness, then let them be!"
"You really are a foolish monk!" The old nun was unhappy and walked away.
"Abbot!" The young novice monk clenched his fist, and his face was red with anger.
"This kind of person, it is fine to bluff, but why fight with her!"
The monk smiled slightly, "It is just that I have lost something there. Everything that has happened for thousands of years will happen at this moment."
"Master, did you predict all of this?"
…
Xu Xian looked up at the bright sky, and remembered Yu Xuanji's prophecy. He must accompany Pan Yu today.
But the purple fire in the Heaven and Earth Square Cauldron beside him was rising. Hu Xinyue adjusted the fire from time to time, and stared at the cauldron like a fox watching its prey.
If I am not here, this guy will not take the things and run away!
"What are you looking at?" Hu Xinyue suddenly turned around.
"Nothing!"
Xu Xian answered, and said tentatively, "Xiao Yue, if I go out for a while, you will guard the elixir well, and you will not disappear so easily, right?"
"I will!
And I will disappear with the elixir and the cauldron. "
Xu Xian choked, "You must be joking!"
Hu Xinyue said, "Joking?
The Heaven and Earth Square Cauldron is a rare magic weapon in the world. No matter which cultivator obtains it and uses it to make elixir, their cultivation will be twice the result with half the effort. "
Xu Xian was helpless. The magic weapons in this world did not have a high-level function like dripping blood to recognize their master. Whoever obtained it would own it.
The value of this Heaven and Earth Square Cauldron could be said to be immeasurable.
If he believed that Hu Xinyue would not be tempted by wealth, then it would be like the Jade Emperor believing that Sun Wukong would not eat peaches.
Xu Xian felt a headache coming on. The plan that he had drawn up just had to happen at this time to refine elixir. It was really unfortunate.
"Xiao Yue, although we are not friends, we are still acquaintances.
And my wife is like a sister to you. Do you have the heart to hurt such a sincere relationship for a mere magic weapon? "
"I see!"
Hu Xinyue thought for a moment with her hand on her cheek, and a gentle and amiable expression suddenly appeared on her jade-like face, "Prince Xu, if you have something to do, go quickly. This servant will guard the elixir well and wait for you to come back."
That warm and affectionate look even made Xu Xian think of Bai Suzhen for a moment. But Hu Xinyue immediately restored her cold expression, "Is this okay?"
"Absolutely not!"
…
In Prince Pan's Residence, Prince Pan leaned against a jade chair.
Initially, he did not believe it. The world was in chaos, so how could he make wild guesses?
But yesterday, the smoke signal had appeared in the capital. Such a sign was something that he could not ignore.
If the world was really in chaos, then the entire situation would develop in an unpredictable direction.
Great chaos was coming, so he had to be prepared.
Soldiers and rations were indispensable, but if it was just a rumor, such preparations could very well attract disaster and throw away the current good situation.
When the world was at peace, no matter how much power one had, gathering soldiers and buying horses was akin to inviting trouble and seeking one's own death.
Thus, although he was the Minister of War, he tried his best to control the military power, so that the Emperor would not be wary of him.
But from the looks of it now, perhaps it was really time for him to make preparations.
Speaking of which, it was funny. Compared to the opinions of cultivators like Xu Xian and Yu Xuanji, the smoke signal formed by thousands of bats was more convincing to mortals, and they thought it was a sign from heaven.
Just as Prince Pan was deep in thought, an old voice came from behind, "Your Highness, long time no see. I wonder how your daughter is doing recently?"
Prince Pan turned around abruptly. It was the haggard old nun. Just like a decade ago, she ignored the high walls, the courtyard, and the numerous guards, and walked straight into the Inner Residence.
"It's you!"
"It's me!"
Prince Pan quickly regained his composure, "So it's Immortal Nun. Servants, serve tea!"
"There's no need. I'm here today to fulfill the promise I made that day!"
Back then, Prince Pan was anxious to have a child and turned to any doctor he could find in a desperate situation. He never intended to let Pan Yu become a monk. If that was the case, it would be better to raise her as a daughter, and if she married into a good family, they could still see each other often.
That day, he made a promise, but he never thought of fulfilling it.
"Immortal Nun, it's all thanks to your treasures all these years. I'm very grateful and have already prepared ten thousand taels of silver to give to you as a gift. Of course, it's not a problem to build a temple or a nunnery!"
The old nun interrupted, "Your Highness worries too much. I'm all alone and don't need these worldly things. I only need your daughter to follow me."
"Immortal Nun, I only have one child. I hope she can inherit the family business and take care of me in old age. It's really …"
The old nun said, "I knew it would be like this. But a promise is a promise, how can it be broken so easily!
If Your Highness is unwilling, I can only look for that Pan Yu myself. "She then turned around and left.
Prince Pan ordered loudly, "Stop her!"
The guards rushed over upon hearing the order, but the old nun disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye, leaving them no time to react.
"Quickly send someone to Hanlin Academy, let Master hide for a while."
The sunlight shone through the leaves of the Dragon-clawed Locust trees. Pan Yu sat under the tree, leaning against the trunk, enjoying a leisurely time.
However, there wasn't much leisure on her handsome face. Strangely, there was a hint of bitterness, as if she was a little depressed.
It wasn't easy for them to meet, and she thought that they would spend a lot of time together, but she had to refine pills at this time.
"Repentant husband seeks the title of marquis."
She put this poem in her mouth and savored it for a while. Then, she broke into laughter. At this moment, did she look like a resentful wife?
Sometimes, she really wished that he was just an ordinary scholar who didn't know any immortals or monsters.
That way, she could hold him firmly by her side and treat him to live off her for a lifetime.
However, would she fall in love with him like that?
After thinking about it, she still couldn't find an answer.
A gust of wind blew, and every leaf trembled. The crown of the tree changed shape in the wind. In the shadow of the dancing tree, the scattered sunlight shone like stars.
Pan Yu narrowed her eyes. The wind entered her heart and she felt comfortable.
However, she suddenly stood up straight and turned around. She saw that an old nun had appeared under the tree and was staring at her.