Chapter 848 The Emperor departs, the Buddha arrives, and the 108 bells toll.
He stuffed the two boxes of ink sticks and the small bottle of ink essence into his sleeve.
Ouyang Rong, holding Dongmei's hand, who had already been fed by Shisan Niang, walked alone through the bustling city, ignoring Miaosi.
During this time, I glanced at the sun and estimated the time.
He planned to reach Xunyang Ferry before the curfew in Xunyang City.
Before their departure last night, Hu Zhongshi and his entourage had originally planned to board a boat at Xunyang Ferry, but they changed their destination at the last minute and ended up at Shuangfengjian.
Therefore, Ouyang Rong's originally planned low-key trip to Tanlangdu in Longcheng also stopped at Xunyang Ferry.
However, Ouyang Rong wasn't in such a hurry as they were.
He slowly walked out of the market and led his horse along the official road on the outskirts of the city.
The sun was setting in the west, and the sky was darkening.
Looking back, the golden waters of the Xunyang River in the distance dimmed, and from Ouyang Rong's perspective, only a faint black shadow of the sunken Buddha head could be seen.
As Ouyang Rong was lost in thought, a group of travelers approached from the road ahead.
Most wore bamboo hats, while those who didn't had shaved heads with incense scars on their heads. They wore uniform gray monk robes, all with ordination pouches hanging from their waists and carrying wooden walking sticks.
Unlike the people of Jiangnan, their faces are more like those of northerners.
Ouyang Rong looked up at the dusty procession of monks approaching, then tugged on the reins, intending to make way for the main road.
The group of monks stopped at the fork in the road ahead. The leader was a thin, middle-aged monk who was holding a map and studying it carefully in the afterglow of the setting sun, occasionally looking around.
Hesitating in place.
His companion curiously approached, seemingly urging him to ask for directions. The thin monk, with a serious expression, gestured for silence, but his eyes also showed confusion.
As a transportation hub in the southwest of Jiangnan Road, Xunyang was a bustling commercial center with a large ferry traffic. Countless travelers from other places passed through Xunyang every day, and Ouyang Rong did not find it strange to see people dressed in strange clothes wandering around.
He led his horse past the monks, and after a few steps, a polite voice suddenly came from behind:
"Amitabha, please wait, please wait."
Ouyang Rong paused slightly.
The leading, slender monk had already put away the map, stepped forward, and bowed to him with one hand raised in a gesture of respect.
"Esteemed benefactor, may I have this opportunity to speak to you..."
It's an accent from north of Guanzhong.
Ouyang Rong made a gesture of reaching into his robes to search, then pulled his hand out empty-handed and shook his head.
"I apologize, Master, but my family is poor."
The thin monk and his companions were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other and gave each other a wry smile.
The thin monk took three copper coins from his sleeve and handed them to him:
“You misunderstand, benefactor. That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to ask for directions. Would you like to buy a bowl of wine to quench your thirst?”
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"Alright, I cannot refuse a gift from an elder."
The monks: ...
He accepted the three copper coins with a clear conscience, and under the rather speechless gazes of the younger, grey-robed monk and the others, casually asked:
Where have the masters gone?
The thin monk remained calm and asked kindly:
"Does the benefactor know how to get to Xunyang Grottoes?"
This time, it was Ouyang Rong's turn to be stunned.
He asked directly:
"What do you want with the Xunyang Grottoes?"
Upon seeing this, the thin monk smiled, but then suppressed it.
"It seems you know, that's good. Here it is, my fellow monks and I come from Dayun Temple in Jingzhou, Longyou, having traveled a long way."
"I've heard that Ouyang Lianghan, the governor of Jiangzhou, built a magnificent grotto on the banks of the Xunyang River, a place of unparalleled grandeur. Besides the Donglin Buddha, there are over a hundred other grottoes available. I've come here out of admiration..."
He spoke slowly, and from behind, a gray-robed novice monk, outspoken and quick-witted, poked his head out and interjected:
“Are you a local, benefactor? Xunyang City truly lives up to its reputation as a place of outstanding natural beauty, with its winding paths and eighteen interconnected routes. It is a wonderful place. For a hundred years, our temple has been trying to spread Buddhism to the south and transfer our relics here.”
The thin monk turned and glared at the gray-robed novice, who then fell silent. Only then did he speak seriously:
"Our abbot has long heard of the Xunyang Grottoes project and specially sent me and my fellow monks to inspect the grottoes. We plan to discuss with the local government whether we can borrow an empty grotto to facilitate our temple's storage of the reliquary for the propagation of Buddhism in the south..."
As Ouyang Rong listened, he fell silent.
The thin monk pressed on with the question:
"Benefactor, do you know how to get to this cave?"
The gray-robed novice monk behind muttered, "Why is he so taciturn, never saying a word?"
Ouyang Rong was not annoyed. After a moment of silence, he turned around and pointed to the road he had come from:
"This way."
Everyone looked in that direction.
In the direction it pointed, the dark river water was tirelessly washing over a Buddha head, but it was too dark to see with the naked eye.
The monks finally found the way, their faces beaming with joy. The lead, thin monk bowed to Ouyang Rong, then suddenly asked:
"Thank you, benefactor... By the way, have you ever met Ouyang Lianghan, the governor of Jiangzhou?"
Ouyang Rong asked, "What's wrong with this person?"
"It's nothing. I'm just a little curious about this gentleman from the South. Everyone says he is upright and incorruptible. The abbot of this temple heard about his deeds and said that he has the appearance of a Buddha and can promote the spread of Buddhism from the North to the South. His merits are immeasurable... If I could meet him, this trip would not have been in vain."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and said seriously:
"What Buddhist or Taoist appearance? They are all just human appearances, and all who see them are vulgar."
The grumbling gray-robed novice monk immediately became displeased and said in a dissatisfied tone:
“This is no ordinary person. If you knew what he had done, you wouldn’t have spoken so arrogantly. You are a scholar dressed in a Confucian robe. If you knew that he would still say such things, then you would truly be a madman.”
Ouyang Rong gently shook his head again:
"I'm not a madman, I'm just an ordinary person."
"Alright, Yikong, don't be rude."
The thin monk stopped his companion and smiled apologetically.
But they couldn't agree on anything, and without even asking his name, they passed by this "eccentric and vulgar man" and headed off on their pilgrimage to that place they longed for.
Ouyang Rong remained where he was, watching their figures disappear.
After that, he stood in silence for a long time.
The gaze seems to linger on the Xunyang Grottoes on the north bank.
However, it was not clear. The dark, Buddha-less grottoes standing on the north bank had been overshadowed by the lights of the Shuangfengjian ferry crossing on the south bank.
At this moment, Ouyang Rong unconsciously recalled Master Shandao, the first person to come seeking help from the empty grotto.
"Immeasurable merit... It has indeed increased too much... Master, you are right, although the Buddha statue was destroyed, there is still a Buddha inside..."
By this time, it was completely dark. Both Xunyang City and Shuangfengjian Ferry at the two ends of the official road were brightly lit, but the official road itself was dark and the faces of the pedestrians could not be seen clearly.
The young man in the scholar's robe came to his senses and seemed to smile slightly.
He raised his hand to adjust the white hairpin in his hair, smiled, led his horse, and slowly drove away, his back to the Xunyang Grottoes, which he described as "like a Buddha coming from ruins."
Ahead lay the lights of countless homes, which appeared as light in his eyes.
...
The morning bell at Donglin Temple still rings 108 times.
The evening bell is the same.
One hundred and eight days and nights.
After a fresh rain today, the air in the mountains and fields is crisp and clear.
The morning bell echoed through the mountains and forests, green leaves swayed, and the whole forest was in motion, faintly revealing the eaves of the temple hidden among the lush green leaves.
"Your Excellency has come from afar, and I am truly ashamed that I have failed to greet you properly."
"It's alright."
Inside the temple, along the long corridor, Ouyang Rong and Master Shandao walked slowly, one in front of the other, chatting casually.
"This old monk was planning to go to Xunyang in a couple of days to visit the main grotto and ask when Your Excellency would be coming to recuperate. I didn't expect Your Excellency to arrive so soon, and this time alone... Would Your Excellency like to go in and ask for a stick of incense?"
Master Shandao stopped in front of the Mahavira Hall, smiled and spread his hands in greeting.
Ouyang Rong glanced at him, then stepped into the hall first, took three sticks of incense, lit them, and bowed.
Just then, the morning bell outside finished ringing out, and the last chime echoed in the hall.
Ouyang Rong focused intently as he inserted the three incense sticks into the ash one by one.
The voice of Master Shandao came from behind:
"Does Your Excellency know why the bell tolls 108 times day and night?"
"I don't know, please ask the master."
Master Shandao chanted a Buddhist prayer:
"The seventh volume of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra says that each of the six senses has six kinds of afflictions, which, when multiplied by the three times, are called the 'one hundred and eight afflictions'... There are one hundred and eight kinds of afflictions in people. Ringing the morning bell one hundred and eight times is to awaken people and help them get rid of the one hundred and eight kinds of afflictions."
He gestured to the prayer beads in his hand, smiling:
"The rosary for reciting the Buddha's name is considered the best if it consists of 108 beads. Reciting it day and night is also a way to remind oneself to break free from defilements."
Ouyang Rong clasped his hands in greeting:
"Been taught a lesson."
Master Shandao asked:
"Does Your Excellency have something to say to this old monk?"
Ouyang Rong glanced at the old monk:
"Why do you say that, Master?"
Master Shandao, dressed in a purple and gold kasaya, holding a fine Buddhist rosary, stood with a smile, exuding the demeanor of a high-ranking monk.
He didn't answer, but changed the subject:
"Does Your Excellency send word in advance that you are not preparing a vegetarian residence? Are you planning to live in the Sanhui Courtyard with Aqing's family?"
"Um."
"Your Excellency climbed the mountain at dawn, right? Did you visit Sanhui Temple after entering the temple?"
"I've gone. I left my luggage in the yard."
Master Shandao stroked his beard slowly and sighed:
“Benefactor Aqing will surely be happy to see Magistrate Ming.”
“Aqing isn’t here. Yunniang said she went to the Deer Park to clean yesterday and spent the night at the foot of the mountain.”
"It's alright, you'll be able to see Aqing tonight. Every time she comes back, she brings Xiufa and the others some snacks from down the mountain. Sometimes she even helps the old monks at the temple mend their robes... She's truly kind and virtuous."
Ouyang Rong walked out of the main hall quietly, followed slowly by Master Shandao, who talked about Aqing's family, such as the recovery of Liu's mother's illness.
Ouyang Rong listened silently, and at a moment, he suddenly turned around:
"I want to visit the Pure Land Palace."
Master Shandao immediately nodded:
"Please follow me."
As he passed Ouyang Rong, the old monk glanced down at the box of pastries he was carrying and sighed.
“Amitabha Buddha, Xiuzhen has been in the underground palace for many years. Many of his fellow disciples in the temple have forgotten him. It is rare that Your Excellency still remembers him.”
Ouyang Rong glanced at the old monk's retreating figure but did not reply.
The two arrived at the Beitian Nursing Home.
As a benevolent policy presided over by Ouyang Rong, the charitable home was still strictly implemented by Magistrate Diao after his departure, and the poor, disabled elderly and children were indeed taken in.
Ouyang Rong followed Master Shandao silently across the courtyard and arrived at the dry well in the backyard.
Three years have passed.
The backyard hasn't changed much, except that it's even greener now.
The wellhead remains surrounded by a tall stone railing... Ever since that day when the young county magistrate and two or three patients fell into the well late at night, Donglin Temple has strengthened its security.
The two stopped at the wellhead. Just as they lowered the ladder, Ouyang Rong turned back and stopped Master Shandao from going down:
"Master, go ahead and get busy. Just leave a ladder here, I'll go down and take a look around myself."
"good."
Master Shandao hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"Is there anything else, Master?"
"Your Excellency, the Lantern Festival is here..."
Ouyang Rong changed his tune at this moment:
"I won't go, and Master, please don't spread the word that I'm recuperating at Donglin Temple."
Master Shandao glanced at the young man's somewhat calm expression and nodded without saying a word:
“I understand. Your Excellency has come alone, which means you prefer quiet… I will instruct the monks to stay away from Sanhui Temple and take a detour for morning prayers so as not to disturb you. Your Excellency should rest well. If you have any instructions, you can inform Xiufa or me.”
Ouyang Rong suddenly said:
"Prepare a set of ordinary monk's robes, new or old doesn't matter, or the clothes of the temple's pilgrims and laborers are also fine. Prepare them today and send them to Sanhui Temple."
Master Shandao glanced at the young governor with some surprise.
Their gaze fell on his faded blue scholar's robe.
Master Shandao nodded slowly:
“I understand. Since Your Excellency is practicing meditation and keeping everything simple, I also have a suggestion.”
"What."
"Ring the bell 108 times a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, to dispel afflictions and realize one's true nature."
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes, and after a moment, he nodded.
Master Shandao departed leisurely.
Ouyang Rong went down into the underground palace.
He approached the taciturn monk who had risen and come to advise him against going to the hell above, sat down on the ground, and opened the food box.
He laid out several plates of pastries and gestured with his hand.
"It's not wedding candy, I didn't know you'd make do with it, Master. I'll definitely eat it next time."
Xiuzhen sat down happily and began to eat heartily.
Ouyang Rong rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought for a long time.
After a short while, he stood up, walked to the north stone wall, and touched the murals on the wall.
He reached his arm into the wall without any obstruction.
Next, he walked directly into the mural in front of Xiuzhen, who was engrossed in eating.
Golden light enveloped his entire body.
However, he soon emerged from the wall and gently shook his head.
There is no Yunmengze behind the mural.
Having found nothing, he gave up and went outside.
From passing through the wall to returning, it took about three breaths before the golden sword energy dissipated.
This golden sword energy is one of Emperor Wen's versatile sword techniques, belonging to the defensive type.
Ouyang Rong discovered that with the help of the golden light, not only could his entire body become ethereal like a bubble, but also parts of his body could become ethereal like bubbles, and even objects he touched, such as clothing, could bear the sword energy.
Ouyang Rong is still a bit unfamiliar with using it and is still figuring it out.
Ouyang Rong turned around and looked back at the empty underground palace.
I don't know what he's thinking.
Xiuzhen was still engrossed in eating her pastries.
Ouyang Rong closed his eyes and entered the Pagoda of Merit.
I glanced at the cyan-gold characters above the small wooden fish.
[Merit: 3218]
After bidding farewell to the traveling monk who had asked for directions that day, his merits unexpectedly increased significantly.
This time, however, Ouyang Rong finally understood the source of the recent surge in merit.
It was Pei Shisan Niang who oversaw the Xunyang Grottoes... He couldn't help but recall the beautiful woman who hesitated to speak when he reported it to her. It turned out that what she wanted to say at the time was that the Xunyang Grottoes were quite popular.
Ouyang Rong stayed in the underground palace all day, only leaving in the evening.
Alone, I travel westward, ascending the bell tower to strike the bell one hundred and eight times, one sound after another.
Then, in the afterglow of the setting sun, I turned and went downstairs.
He returned to Sanhui Temple all alone.
From afar, a lamp burns brightly in the Sanhui Courtyard, and the aroma of food wafts from within.
An elderly woman confined to bed and a young woman were waiting at the door.
Ouyang Rong saw a pretty young girl sitting on the threshold, her chin resting on her hand, looking on with longing eyes. When he entered the courtyard, she jumped up and ran straight to him.
"Brother!"
It's Aqing.
Long time no see.
Ouyang Rong was unsure how to begin.
Upon seeing the clear-cut girl rushing towards him, he instinctively opened his arms in embrace.
Aqing came up to him, but then stopped. She looked up at him, stood on tiptoe, and then jumped lightly to show how tall Ouyang Rong was compared to her.
Ah Qing smiled brightly: "Brother, you haven't grown taller, you've just lost weight."
Ouyang Rong helplessly patted her head:
"Ah Qing has grown taller; girls really do change a lot as they grow up."
"You've lost weight, so your clothes will have to be a size smaller. Never mind, I'll take your measurements again tonight."
Aqing grabbed Ouyang Rong's sleeves with both hands and pulled him into the main room.
What comes into view is a table of steaming home-cooked food.
Liu's mother and Yunniang sat down to the side, offering words of comfort and concern.
Aqing smiled broadly, ran to get the food, and stuffed it into his hand.
Ouyang Rong held the bowl in one hand, slowly sat down, listened to the laughter of the three, and silently ate his rice.
Just like three years ago.
(End of this chapter)
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