Chapter 2553 Qingdeng Ancient Temple, Ten Years of Life and Death

A group of three people left the hidden cave and quietly returned south. At night, they had left the border and entered an isolated ridge. At this time, the sky was dark, there were no stars or moon in the night sky, and the clouds were so dense that it was hard to see without any light.

It's June now, and the weather changes suddenly. It rains heavily, and the road is muddy, making the journey difficult. Although the three of them have true energy to protect their bodies, it is still difficult to move forward. After all, there are too many hidden dangers under the night sky.

Mu Yunle looked around, with a somewhat solemn look on his face, and sent a message to Liang Jiuzhou, who was still pale. The rain was so loud that if he didn't send a message, he wouldn't be able to hear what was being said.

"Senior Liang, it's raining heavily at night and it may be difficult to move forward. Why don't we find a place to take shelter temporarily."

In the past ten years, monsters and beasts have often appeared in the mountains and wilderness. It is very easy to encounter danger when it is dark and rainy at night.

Liang Jiuzhou nodded, looked forward, and a light appeared in front of him. He stretched out his hand and said to the two young people.

"There are lights there."

Mu Yunle and Wang Tong looked intently and saw only dark shadows in the night. The weak and dim lights illuminated circles of halo, and they could vaguely see a temple.

"Qingdeng Ancient Temple..."

Mu Yunle's pretty face looked thoughtful, nodded, and agreed without any opinion.

"It should be a shelter built by ascetics for passers-by. We can go and have a look."

Wang Tong naturally had no other objections, and the three of them cautiously approached the ancient temple together. When they got close, they saw that the temple was in dilapidated condition, with the mountain gate collapsed and a broken lamp. Only the main hall was intact and there seemed to be a pond next to it.

"Tuk, Tuk, Tuk..."

In the dark night, in the temple, the sound of tapping wooden fish came in waves, monotonous and silent, penetrating the sound of the rain. It penetrated into the ears of the three of them. For some reason, Mu Yunle, Wang Tong and Liang Jiuzhou all felt peaceful in their hearts.

Beep, beep, beep, the sound of wooden fish echoed far away in the rain curtain. There was a kind of purity and a kind of loneliness.

Mu Yunle took a deep breath, walked to the door, and planned to knock on the door. After getting really close, her eyes lit up, because through the collapsed mountain gate, she could see lotuses blooming in the pond next to it, bathed in the light of the remaining lights.

The lotus leaves touching the sky are infinitely green, and the lotus flowers reflecting the sun are uniquely red. The sound of rain is falling, the wooden fish is distant, quiet and peaceful, and otherworldly.

Mu Yunle walked through the collapsed mountain gate and walked to the front of the temple. Reflecting the dim light of the remaining lamp, he felt as if he had walked from night to day. The lights were not bright, and it seemed small and lonely in the thousands of miles of lonely mountains. There was still darkness and blur in front of my eyes, but compared with the darkness and the pouring rain outside the temple, it was extraordinarily warm, extraordinarily peaceful, and extraordinarily bright. The blossoming lotus flowers are covered with a layer of halo, which is better than bathing in the sun, making people sigh that "the lotus flowers are uniquely red in the sun".

Tuk, Tuk, Tuk...

Mu Yunle's mood suddenly became peaceful. Disciples of the Huanhua Sword Sect have always been full of poetry and painting. Under the influence of the sound of wooden fish, her mood seemed to have gone from the heroic spirit of killing one person in ten steps and leaving no trace behind. The light behind the moon and the shadow of the flowers are the traces of ten years, the faint sadness and purity of the heart.

Mu Yunle's face softened and his eyes were warm, but his inner vigilance remained unabated. He raised his right hand and planned to knock on the door. At this moment, the door of the crumbling main hall creaked open, and at some point, the sound of wooden fish stopped. Behind the door is a gray-robed monk with a haggard face. It's hard to tell his age. He's in his thirties, maybe forty.

Mu Yunle was startled. This monk looked ordinary and haggard, but upon closer inspection, you will find that his facial features are very outstanding. When he was young, he was a handsome man with a jade tree facing the wind. Now his spirit is like a rotten tree, and his eyes have an unconcealable look of exhaustion and fatigue. Burnout.

This was a judgment made at a glance. Mu Yunle was in the top five in the list of people in his early twenties. He was by no means a shallow person. He had unparalleled vision and astonishing knowledge. He bowed slightly, clasped his hands in front of the monk, and his voice was as clear as a stream. Quiet and pleasant.

"I'm bothering you late at night. Please don't take offense, Master. When it rains late at night, I'm afraid of encountering monsters. I also saw the lights of your temple illuminating the darkness, so I came to stay overnight. I ask Master to be merciful."

"Amitabha, just a few donors can do as they please."

The gray-robed monk returned the gift with a calm tone and concise words, giving people the feeling of a withered body and a dry well in his heart.

Mu Yunle looked past the gray-robed monk and looked at the Buddha statue in the hall. It was made of stone. It had lowered eyebrows and lowered eyes, full of sorrow. Under the illumination of the green lamp, it was dyed with a layer of dim yellow and reflected a faint light. There was something difficult about it. The spirituality of speech.

Only if the Buddha statues are carved by ascetic monks and are extremely pious, can the Buddha statues possess some Buddha nature and can eliminate evil intentions. As long as the monsters and monsters are not deliberately provoked, they will subconsciously stay away from this place.

Mu Yunle took in all this and made a judgment in his heart. This Buddha statue is enough to serve as a place to stay and shelter from the rain.

In the past ten years, monsters and monsters have been active. If there are monks left in temples in the wilderness, either the Buddha statues have their own spirituality or the monks have extraordinary strength. Other temples have been destroyed by monsters.

After Mu Yunle eliminated the danger, he turned his head and nodded slightly to Liang Jiuzhou and Wang Tong, indicating that they could enter.

"Thank you, Master."

Liang Jiuzhou and Wang Tong approached and bowed. The gray-robed monk said no more, clasped his hands together, turned around slowly, walked to the Buddha statue, and sat down cross-legged, with withered grass under him and a tattered wooden fish in front of him.

Seeing this, Mu Yunlebi frowned slightly, and Liang Jiuzhou and Wang Tong also had doubts in their eyes. It was not because of anything else, but because the gray-robed monk was sitting in a strange position. Normally, the monks were either facing each other or with their backs to each other. Sitting next to the Buddha statue, this monk is sitting sideways, facing the left wall. There is a big hole in the wall. Outside the hole is the pond we saw before. The lotus leaves are deep green and almost black, and the flowers are fresh and refined, emerging from the mud but not stained.

And precisely because of the existence of this big hole, the light of the remaining lamp shines on the lotus without any hindrance.

"You don't see the Tathagata, but you behave strangely towards the lotus. Are you a Zen monk who scolds the Buddha and your ancestors?"

Wang Tong spoke to Mu Yunle, with a look of confusion on his face. Mu Yunle shook his head slightly, indicating that he was not sure.

"To scold the Buddha and scold the ancestors" is a koan in Zen Buddhism. It is said that one day, Zen Master Deshan Xuanjian went to the Dharma hall and said to all his disciples.

"My views are different from those of our ancestors. I have no ancestors or Buddhas here. Patriarch Bodhidharma is an old fox, Shakyamuni Buddha is a excrement pout, Manjushri and Samantabhadra are dung-bearers, and the enlightened and wonderful Enlightenment is an ordinary person who has broken away his obsessions, Bodhi and Nirvana are the stakes for tying donkeys and horses, Twelve Points of Religion is the book of ghosts and gods, and paper for wiping abscesses, the Four Fruits, Three Virtues, and the Original Intention and Ten Grounds are the ghosts guarding ancient tombs. Save yourself.”

This statement by Zen Master Deshan Xuanjian is a typical example of "reprimanding the Buddha and scolding the ancestors". In his heart, he has no ancestors and no Buddhas, only the reality of his original nature remains.

Disciples of the Huanhua Sword Sect are always sensitive and melancholy. Mu Yunle's mind blends into the surrounding void, and he feels every bit of the surroundings in his mind. The lonely ridge, the lonely temple, and the broken lamp, except for this gray-robed monk. In addition, there are no signs of other people living here, and there are very few traces left by pedestrians. A person, a lamp, a Buddha, a temple, a pond of lotus, flowers blooming and falling, the monk just faced the lotus like this for who knows how long?

Mu Yunle seems to be able to feel the deep loneliness, the deep loneliness, the sadness that no matter how pure or ancient Buddha can cover it up.

"Such a monk should be hiding a past that he doesn't want to look back on, right?"

There was a little more sympathy in Mu Yunle's eyes. He withdrew his gaze, found a place, and sat down cross-legged.

The gray-clothed monk's eyes were half-opened and half-closed, his spirit was hidden in his body, he didn't say a word, and he didn't knock the wooden fish again. He sat there as if he was isolated from the world of mortals.

Liang Jiuzhou was injured, so he didn't care about anything else. He sat down and breathed and breathed to stabilize the injury. After a while, he opened his eyes this time and exhaled a breath of slightly scarlet turbid air. He smiled and thanked Mu Yunle for caring about him. road.

"Miss Mu, Mr. Wang, thank you for your help with your sword."

"I've heard of Miss Mu's name for a long time, and now I'm lucky enough to meet her. It's better to meet her than to be famous."

Liang Jiuzhou and Mu Yunle were not in the same group, but met on the way. Liang Jiuzhou had a reputation as a chivalrous person. Although his cultivation was not top-notch, he had a good reputation. Mu Yunle and Wang Tong met him on the same path. Seeing that he was being hunted in the grasslands and tracked by evil spirits, he was chivalrous and took the initiative to escort him.

"Senior Liang, have you ever heard of this junior's bad reputation?"

Mu Yunle couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, and a bright smile appeared on his face. He seemed to be happy to be recognized by his seniors, showing a bit of a girl's pride. His posture was not pretentious and coy, generous and calm.

"Mu Yunle, the 'Shuyu Sword' of Huanhua Sword Sect, is one of the most outstanding figures of this generation. He is known as Fei Kuchan of Huamei Villa and Cao Buzhi of Peking Cao Family. He has the beauty of 'Three Days of Glory' How could Mr. Liang not have heard of it?"

"As soon as you enter the world, you will grow old, and a new generation will replace the old one!"

"I'm old! I'm old! The world belongs to young heroes like you!"

Liang Jiuzhou was only about forty, but his heart was already old, and he sighed with emotion.

Mu Yunle suppressed his smile, revealing a bit of innocence of a girl, and said with sincerity in his big eyes.

"Senior Liang is a master of exterior scenes and has a long life. He is now in his prime, how can he age!"

Liang Jiuzhou looked at the innocent and generous girl, and seemed to be aroused by her words. He laughed loudly, laughed for a while, and then said to the monk sitting quietly beside him.

"I've been troubling you a lot, so please don't take offense, Master. I wonder what I should call you, Master?"

"The poor monk is truly determined."

The gray-clothed monk looked indifferent, his mood did not fluctuate at all, and his words were concise and concise. After saying the Dharma name, he fell into silence again.

Liang Jiuzhou looked startled, this name was very familiar, and he said in a daze.

"The master's dharma title reminds Liang of a great hero, which makes people sigh!"

Mu Yunle was a girl with the most curious mind. Her black and white eyes widened and she looked at Liang Jiuzhou intently, with the expectation of listening to the story. She was smart and clear, like a deer in the mountains.

"Which hero? Why didn't I know?"

"It's normal that you don't know. Many people remember his name and nickname, but the only ones who still remember that he was once an abandoned disciple of Shaolin, and the only one who really knows his name is me, are old people like me."

"When this hero was in his prime, he was so brave and righteous that everyone in the world was beholden to him and all evil spirits were afraid of his power. But at that time, I was just an unknown person on the roadside listening to rumors about him. Alas, I was born at the wrong time. I really I regret not being able to meet him.”

Mu Yunle's eyes were blank, and he still couldn't guess who it was. Wang Tong rolled his eyes, seeming thoughtful. Wang Tong was born in the Wang family of Zhou County, and his fourth uncle Wang Zai once mentioned this person.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. I'd better seize the time to heal my injuries and recover as soon as possible!"

Liang Jiuzhou only said this, no more words, his eyes were closed, his hands were placed on his knees, and there was white mist hovering above his head.

Mu Yunle was alert to the surrounding area, and saw the sound of rain outside the temple. The rain was like weaving, making the lotus leaves drip. Inside the temple, there was an ancient Buddha with a broken lamp, and a solitary monk in gray robes. He was suddenly moved by the scenery and sang in a low voice.

"The sound of prosperity escapes into the empty door, disturbing the world. The dream is cold and wandering for a lifetime, and there are several love debts... I rush straight to the pain, a broken lamp, the collapsed mountain gate..."

The sound floats and is indescribably picturesque. At this time, she saw the gray-robed monk turning his head, opening his eyes, and his voice was low and magnetic.

"Who taught you this song?"

Mu Yunle pursed his lips and smiled, seemingly a little embarrassed, and said shyly.

"The folk songs and slang made the master laugh. I was lucky enough to meet the monk Zhenhui and heard him hum it. I liked the artistic conception and secretly remembered it."

"The Divine Monk of True Wisdom..."

The gray-robed monk Zhen Ding was stunned. It was Meng Qi. He felt inexplicably sad. Zhen Hui had become a divine monk. The past ten years had passed so quickly.

After Mu Yunle finished speaking, there was no reply from Master Zhending, but he turned around and played the wooden fish again, dunk, dunk, dunk, with his mouth slightly open, the sound of the music echoed, and he could actually sing this song.

"Listen to youth, welcome laughter, and envy many people..."

Mu Yunle was stunned. He saw the broken lamp and the gray-robed monk facing away. The clouds outside were dark and only the lotus flowers were in full bloom. The music was faint and the mood was sad.

This situation made her suddenly crazy, and she muttered in a low voice.

"The light behind the moon and the shadow of the flowers are already ten years of traces and ten years of heart."

The music subsided, and the monk in gray began to knock on the wooden fish again. The sound was low, the space was quiet, and a complex sound reappeared.

"All worries are gone, and the world of mortals is far away."

Mu Yunle was completely stunned, only to feel some impact washing his soul. The dusk drums and morning bells seemed to wash away the dust, and his soul seemed to be ethereal and clear, peaceful and pure. Since then, he has become much quieter.

All the loneliness, all the sorrow, and all the hope are buried in this sentence. The troubles are gone and the world of mortals is far away.

"Ten years of life and death are uncertain. If you don't think about it, you will never forget it!"

A clear and magnetic voice came from outside the wall. There was a faint smile in the voice, which did not match the words at all.

Mu Yunle suddenly woke up, his eyes became sharp again, and he suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the big hole in the wall. In the pond outside the wall, lotus flowers were in full bloom, and a man in a green shirt sat cross-legged on it, showing a carefree and carefree look. .

Mu Yunle felt as if she was facing a formidable enemy. She didn't realize when this person came. She stood up and stood alert, with sword intent blazing from her body, and she looked at the other person's face.

Mu Yunle was slightly startled. He had never seen such a handsome man. His sword-shaped eyebrows pierced his temples. They were thick and slender, revealing resoluteness. His eyes were clear and bright. In this dark night, they were like two cold stars, dazzling. The nose is high and straight, the lips are thin, and the teeth are white. The combination of such exquisite facial features is exceptionally harmonious and flawless.

"Little monk, are you returning to Buddhism again?!"

The joking voice of the man in green shirt came again, making Mu Yunle stunned. Did Master Zhending ever return to secular life?

The girl's curiosity suddenly aroused, and she had an urge to listen to the story. She didn't rush to ask the other person's identity, and watched quietly.

Liang Jiuzhou and Wang Tong also woke up at this time. Without saying a word, they silently watched the man in blue shirt communicating with the memory monk.

"At the beginning, I told you that you were suitable to be a monk and you shouldn't betray Shaolin!"

The gray-clothed monk showed an expression on his face for the first time, showing a bit of helplessness and bitterness. He slowly stood up and saluted, clasped his hands together and said respectfully.

"Senior Lu, why do you need to tease Xiaoseng, a loser?"

When Mu Yunle and the others heard the word "senior", they were slightly startled. The man in green shirt looked like he was only twenty-four or five years old at most, much younger than the monk. They didn't expect that he was the senior master Zhending.

"The young monk struggled, worked hard, and fought hard, but in the end he was played by the other party and applauded. He was unable to resist at all. It was just a joke!"

Master Zhending's face showed reluctance, resentment, self-blame, shame, and was extremely complicated, but all the emotions eventually turned into silence and indifference.

Tuk-tuk-tuk.

Master Zhending sat down cross-legged again, tapping the wooden fish in his hand. Silence and emptiness enveloped the temple again. His heart was like a dry well, his shape was like a withered body, there was no trace of life, and his heart was as dead as ashes.

"Young monk, you've made me upset by knocking. If you keep knocking again, I'll be annoyed!"

There was a trace of displeasure on the handsome and flawless face of the man in green shirt, his brows were slightly furrowed, and he stared at Master Zhending with an unkind look, filled with a trace of evil spirit.

Master Zhending seemed to have been hit by a restraining spell, his palm stopped in mid-air, with a look of helplessness on his face. He really didn't dare to knock any more. He understood the character of this senior, he was happy and angry. He is free and uninhibited and does what he says. If he gets angry, he will inevitably suffer some hardships.

Master Zhending understood in his heart that although he had been sitting on the wall for ten years and practiced hard, his realm had greatly improved and his body was not weak, but he was still as childish and vulnerable in front of the senior in front of him.

"Senior Lu, why do you need to be in trouble with this young monk?"

"For ten years, the young monk only has this ancient Buddha with a dead lamp and a ruined temple with wooden fish!"

There was a bit of a wry smile on Master Zhending's face, and he looked at the man in green shirt with his dead eyes, his eyes were a little more rippled, and there seemed to be a trace of life rising in them.

"Ten years ago you begged me to help you!"

The man in green shirt seemed a little impatient and glared at Master Zhending. In a flash, he entered the ruined temple and stood in front of Master Zhending and Mu Yunle.

Mu Yunle's hand moved in response, and the long sword was unsheathed three inches. The clanging sound of the sword resounded through the ruined temple. The sword's intention was fierce and directed at the man in green shirt. He was extremely shocked.

"How did this person get in? There is no way a person can pass through the big hole in the wall? Could he be a ghost?"

Doubtful thoughts arose in the girl's mind. Her big black and white eyes were full of solemnity, and her pretty face was slightly downcast, as if facing a formidable enemy. The same was true for Liang Jiuzhou and Wang Tong. Their expressions were solemn and they did not dare to move rashly.

"I am a human, not a ghost. I walked in through the gate. Don't be afraid!"

The man in green shirt suddenly turned his head and smiled at Mu Yunle, and said softly, his voice was soft and full of kindness. This little girl reminded him of his nephew, and she had a similar temperament.

Mu Yunle was horrified, his eyes widened, and his body trembled with fright at the words of the man in green shirt.

"He can actually hear my thoughts, can't he really be a ghost?!"

"Senior Lu, why do you have to tease the little girl?"

Master Zhending spoke, and the look of helplessness on his face became more obvious. This senior has not changed at all, he is still so wicked and likes to tease the juniors.