It's dawn.

After the war, the magnificent holy city became a ruin, with broken walls and ruins everywhere. The magnificent gilded palace gate was burnt black in the fire.

But everyone survived.

Outside the city, snow and mud were flying. Letters of news of victory were sent back to the Holy City. The ten-mile-long streets were crowded with the people who survived the disaster. The shouts of victory and songs praising the Buddha swirled and echoed in the bright morning light, stopping the moving clouds.

As the trumpet sounded, the crowd became excited and everyone rushed to the city gate excitedly, waiting to welcome the return of the Buddhist disciple.

The avenue was crowded with people, shoulder to shoulder, with almost no place to step.

The ground beneath my feet was shaking slightly, and the sound of horses' hooves could be heard. In the front were hundreds of soldiers wearing black clothes and silver armor, riding armored war horses. Behind them followed the five armies of the army, carrying bows on their shoulders and long swords on their waists. They looked neat and majestic.

At the end of the army formation were teams of tribal soldiers wearing animal skin jackets. They came from different tribes and had no battle robes. They all had disheveled hair and were covered in blood. They were unruly and unruly, with a dishevelled look, just like thousands of demons crawling out of hell.

No one laughed at their barbarity and vulgarity.

The people looked at them with gratitude, clenched their left fists and placed them on their chests to express their sincere gratitude to them.

The battle array entered the city, passed through the long street piled with rubble, and spread out to the long roads on both sides.

The sound of drums boomed like thunder exploding in everyone's heart.

In the center of the formation, a man on horseback rode slowly. He was wearing a bloodstained monk's robe and holding a pitch-black long sword. His eyes were as green as the clear sky after the rain, deep and cold, without any sadness or joy. He had a handsome face and a graceful demeanor, as if he was standing on a high Buddhist temple overlooking all living beings. He was solemn and holy, pure and unworldly, and would not tolerate any desecration.

He fought ruthlessly, like a sharp sword forged from ice and snow, cutting off all the evil spirits and monsters. With a furious look in his eyes, he subdued all the demons.

His faint smile was like a pure snow lotus blossoming in the midst of a forest of swords and knives; with his brows lowered, he was merciful and benevolent, yet still out of reach.

This is their son of Buddha, holy and noble, who has brought them peace in the chaotic world, and kept the Northern Rong army that was ravaging various countries outside the royal court, so that they can live and work in peace and sing songs.

The morning sun was shining brightly, and he was riding a horse, bathed in brilliant golden light, his monk robe fluttering, like a god.

The sound of drums stopped, the sound of wind also stopped, and everyone held their breath, looking up at Tanmaragha.

After a while, a cry with a sobbing voice broke the silence, and someone knelt on the ground, kowtowed and thanked. This sound made other people come to their senses one after another, and followed suit and knelt on the ground. Countless people rushed forward, shouting the Buddha's name of Tanmarajya and crying loudly.

Tanmarajiva turned a deaf ear to it, with an indifferent expression and without saying a word, he walked towards the royal temple.

The believers knelt behind him and bowed devoutly with their hands clasped together.

Behind the military formation, Li Zhongqian looked at the crazy people in all directions with a frown, then looked at the soldiers who were looking at Tanmarajiva with the same fanatical eyes, his face became even gloomier, and he turned around to look at Yao Ying.

Yao Ying was wearing a military uniform and a felt hat that covered her face. She walked side by side with him. When she saw him turn around, she smiled at him.

Li Zhongqian said with a sullen face: "Look, these believers regard the Buddha as a god, even the soldiers in the army do the same. Why do you like a monk when you can like anyone else?"

Yao Ying smiled and said, "Brother, didn't you tell me to take Sultan Gu back to Gaochang? And you told him to take good care of me..."

Li Zhongqian frowned and glared. These days, whenever he thought of the fact that he sent Yaoying, whose eyes were injured, to Tanmarajiva, he became furious.

"How could I know at that time that Sultan Gu was Dammaraka!"

Yaoying blinked at him, her eyelashes fluttering, and a cheerful smile sparkled in her dark eyes, as if sunlight was blended into them, flickering and shimmering.

Li Zhongqian was stunned.

He knew that Mingyuenu had always been worried. She had to be wary of Li De and Li Xuanzhen. She considered everything for him. Every time she sent him to war, she was afraid that he would never come back. She repeated her instructions over and over again, never getting tired of it.

She had been sensible since she was young. He did not ask her to marry a man from a wealthy family. He only hoped that she could be safe and happy, without any worries, laugh whenever she wanted, and no longer have to worry about being harmed by Li De and Li Xuanzhen.

Ming Yue Nu was now free and unfettered. When Haidu Aling led a coalition of 100,000 troops to besiege the Holy City, she immediately thought of using this opportunity to attack his suzerain state, trap him in the royal court, and wipe out his remaining troops in one fell swoop, completely eradicating the problem, while at the same time allowing the Western Army to establish its prestige and clear away obstacles to the Western Army, rather than rashly bringing the Western Army to rescue.

Ming Yue Nu had grown up a long time ago. In the past, he protected his younger sister, and later, it was his sister who protected him as her brother.

Li Zhongqian couldn't explain what he felt: relief, pride, and a hint of melancholy.

The anger dissipated little by little.

He snorted coldly: "With your current status, you can choose any husband you want. If you really like him, you can come to the royal court to see him if you have nothing to do. Forget about the rest. My brother-in-law cannot be a monk!"

Yao Ying said nothing.

Yuanjue rode forward and took the two of them to a separate courtyard to rest first.

"Where is the wizard? It's time for him to rest." Yao Ying said.

Yuanjue replied, "The monks in the temple have set up a temple in the square in front of the main hall of the temple to worship the Buddha. This afternoon, the king will go there to preside over a ceremony and lead the monks to pray for the dead soldiers and liberate their souls. All the people in the city must go there to pray."

Yao Ying nodded. She remembered that it was the same in the past. After a war, Tanmarajiva would preside over a ceremony, chanting scriptures and praying for blessings.

She and Li Zhongqian went to the other courtyard, gathered troops, counted the number of people, collected intelligence from all sides, sent letters one after another, instructed Bodhidharma, who was far away in Gaochang, to issue imperial edicts and arrange troops to go to various places to bring back the detained refugees.

An hour later, fate came looking for me.

"Princess, the king asks you to go to the royal temple."

Li Zhongqian frowned and asked, "What are you going to do in Wang Temple?"

Now everyone in the royal court knows that Tanmarajiva has developed romantic feelings for Yaoying and asks her to go to the royal temple. What should we do if those believers go crazy?

Yuan Jue bowed and said, "Please be patient, Duke Wei. There are guards inside and outside the royal temple. The monks in the temple and the common people present will never dare to embarrass the princess."

Yao Ying was worried about Tanmarajiva in her heart. After writing a letter, she clapped her hands and said, "You lead the way."

…

Wang Temple.

There was an altar in the square, with prayer flags fluttering, garlands of flowers lingering, incense burners emitting smoke, a thin mist, and hundreds of silver candles burning, illuminating the altar brilliantly.

The Buddhist bells, golden drums, chimes, gongs and cymbals rang out one after another, with waves of Buddhist chants.

On the altar, Tanmarajiva sat in front of the Buddha statue, wearing a snow-white cassock with gold patterns, chanting sutras for the salvation of souls. His body seemed to be surrounded by Buddha's light, his demeanor was noble and elegant, and his voice was clear and melodious.

Monks in robes stood under the platform and chanted along.

There was a huge crowd of people under the altar, a huge black pressure, and all the people in the city came. They put their hands together and bowed, silently reciting the names of their deceased relatives, with tears in their eyes.

The generals in the army, the officials who stayed behind in the holy city, the chiefs of various tribes, the lords who came from various places with the reinforcements, and the envoys from other countries also knelt down and recited scriptures under the stage.

The sound of chanting scriptures is like thousands of rivers flowing into the sea, condensing into vast waves.

The solemn ritual ended and everyone bowed their heads and wiped their tears.

Tanmarajiva stood up and looked around with his blue eyes, his gaze was calm and gentle. Under the gaze of believers and monks, he put down the staff in his hand, walked down the platform step by step, and walked towards the Buddhist temple.

The people looked around in confusion, looked at each other, and then followed him, calling out his Dharma name.

The guards stopped them outside the palace.

Tanmaraka said nothing.

Several candles were lit in the main hall, with green smoke filling the air. Venerable Vinatido stood in front of the temple, leaning on a bronze staff, his old face revealing a hint of sadness.

Tanmaraka walked into the hall, the golden light flashing on his robes like rippling water waves. He raised his head, looked up at the golden Buddha in the hall, and clasped his hands together.

"I led the army to kill the enemy and committed countless crimes, so I should be punished."

Master Titus sighed and said slowly, "King, the people and monks already know your identity as the regent. You have saved the people from danger and are still a son of Buddha in the hearts of the people. You should not be punished."

Tanmaraka's face was expressionless. He looked at the Buddha statue and said calmly, "As long as you are a monk, you should abide by the precepts."

He paused for a moment. "This is my last penalty."

Master Titus was stunned. His wrinkled face trembled a few times and he almost couldn't stand steadily.

"Your Majesty..." He reacted with a sad expression, "General Saisang'er was killed by the monks in the temple... The temple master and others didn't want to repeat the same mistake, so they panicked after learning that you were the regent. They believed Princess Chima and others and thought that you had lost your mind and killed innocent people... The people were kept in the dark. They didn't understand the government and the internal disputes of the royal family. Naturally, they couldn't understand the king's painstaking efforts..."

Master Titus sighed deeply and bowed to Tanmaraka.

"Are you going to give up the path you have practiced for many years just because people don't understand you? You are a very intelligent person, the most gifted and intelligent person I have ever met, and the most proud disciple of Pāraliuzhi. If you can concentrate on studying Buddhist principles, you will become a great figure in Buddhism in the future. It is a pity to give up halfway!"

Tanmarajiva looked calm, but his eyes were firm: "All things are in the mind. One thought is in the mind, and all actions are in the mind. When you understand the mind and see the nature, you will become a Buddha. The paths I have chosen and those of the monks in the temple are different. Since we are on different paths, there is no need for us to follow the same path."

"When I was young, I saw the ministers in the court fighting against each other, only caring about the immediate interests, and the people living in hardship and suffering from war. I once said to my master that I would devote my life to pacifying the chaos and keeping the royal court away from the flames of war."

"If I don't go to hell, then who will? End war with war, even if there is war."

"The world doubts me and hates me, the monks despise me and laugh at me, but to me, they are just like passing clouds."

He remembered his belief, put an end to the war, ensured long-term peace and stability in the royal court, and put an end to the war.

Master Titus trembled all over and asked, "Why would the king abandon his teaching?"

Tanmaraka folded his hands and crossed his legs: "What is the Tao?"

Master Titus was stunned.

Tanmarajiva looked at the Buddha statue and said slowly: "There are thousands of rivers and thousands of moons. The moon is like the Buddha nature, and the thousands of rivers are like all living beings. The Buddha nature is in people's hearts. The moon shines on the rivers, reflecting everything. Every river can reflect the bright moon. I am like the thousands of rivers, and I also have my Buddha nature, my bright moon, and my Tao."

"For more than twenty years, I have shouldered the responsibility of the royal court, devoted myself to cultivating the Dao, and have not dared to slack off in the slightest... I am worthy of the royal court and my beliefs, but I am ashamed of only one person."

"She knows me, understands me, and has been with me through thick and thin. When I face her, my lust is endless, greed and anger arise, and my mind is not at peace. Even when I recite the sutras, I cannot control it. I once thought that I would be condemned to hell in this life, and that I could only fulfill my selfish desires after death. The moment she came back, I knew that this obsession had penetrated deep into my heart and was engraved in my heart."

"Life is like morning dew. Even if I am not a monk, I can still practice my way."

"If I were to give up my desire and never see her again, my life would be like an empty shell, devoid of any joy."

He had already sunk into love and lust, longing for her all the time, and there was no need to deceive himself any more.

Master Titus heard Tanmaraka's determination and will.

He took the lives of all the people in the world as his own responsibility and shouldered the entire royal court by himself. The Buddhist beads in one hand and the steel knife in the other did not make him waver or doubt. He always remembered his beliefs and responsibilities, so when he was moved by love, his will was also firm.

"Your Majesty..." Master Titus sighed, "Princess Wen Zhao's affection for you and her kindness to the royal court have spread throughout the royal court. As a son of Buddha, if you marry her, the world will no longer stop you from insulting you."

He was still a Buddhist in the royal court. The believers respected and worshipped him and could tolerate his continued relationship with Princess Wen Zhao.

Tanmaraka's lips twitched slightly: "It is enough for me to have her accompany me on my path of cultivation."

He couldn't let her continue to have an affair with him without any status and let her be secretly cursed by the world.

If he wants her, he will give her everything, making her carefree and full of joy.

Master Titus shook his head, feeling grief-stricken and helpless. Who could win an argument with a Buddhist disciple?

What a pity, the most intelligent disciple of Pololuzhi has not yet fulfilled his fate.

He raised his staff.

Tanmaraka closed his eyes.

"Buddha's son!"

"king!"

There was a cry in front of the temple gate. The people rushed into the temple, knelt on the ground, and walked forward on their knees: "King, you should not be punished!"

Master Titus closed his eyes and dropped his staff.

The first blow of the stick fell fiercely. He clasped his hands together and silently recited scriptures, thinking back to that day when she knelt in the temple and said that she had given up the idea and would never appear in front of him again.

The monks questioned her, but she didn't want to cause trouble for them, so she answered carefully.

Little did she know that she had no other thoughts in her mind at that time. Instead, he, who was high and mighty in the Buddhist temple, suddenly had evil thoughts in his heart. As a monarch, his desire for control grew secretly, and he wanted to trap her in the royal temple and keep her by his side every day.

The second stick, the third stick... one stick after another fell, and beads of sweat appeared on Tanmarajiva's forehead, but his face remained motionless and he made no sound.

More than twenty years passed by with each stroke of the stick. Her face appeared in his mind. She smiled slightly, and the gloomy sky became a little brighter.

She came all the way here, across thousands of mountains and rivers, and over towering hills and ridges, which stirred up his calm heart and made him lustful.

Perhaps this was the Buddha's test for him, and he did not pass the Buddha's test.

But he enjoyed it.

The people looked at him in amazement.

…

Outside the Buddhist temple, Yao Ying, who had hurried in, took one look at the scene in the temple. She was stunned for a moment, then rushed down the stairs and ran towards the main hall.

"Princess!"

A few people hurriedly stopped her, carried her to the front of the stairs, and whispered to her, "Princess, the king has ordered that this is the punishment he deserves... No one can take the punishment for him. Once he is punished this time, there will be no problem in the future. You must not go in, or the king will blame us."

Yao Ying stopped and stood in front of the main hall door, watching the staff in the distant hall falling on his back again and again. His heart trembled and his fingers tightly clenched his sleeves.

Li Zhongqian also followed and stood beside her, raised his eyebrows and said nothing.

Inside the palace, Tanmarajiva endured the punishment in silence, with blood stains all over his cassock.

Master Titus panted, put down his staff, sighed, and bowed to him.

Tanmarajiva raised his eyes, slowly stood up, returned the salute, turned around, and his gaze passed over the believers in the hall who were in tears, passed over the empty vestibule, passed over the fluttering prayer flags, and fell directly on Yao Ying outside the hall.

He stood in the temple.

She stood outside the temple gate.

Separated by a door, separated by the impassable barrier between the monks and the mortal world, separated by a long distance, the two people stared into each other's eyes.

Everything around him faded away, and all the memories since they met came to mind. She was the only one left in his eyes, and he was the only one in her eyes.

He called her princess again and again.

She called him Master.

Tears welled up in Yaoying's eyes.

Tanmarajiva stood in front of the Buddha statue, his face pale and sweaty, the corners of his lips slightly raised as he smiled at her.

This smile was like a gentle breeze blowing by, and by the San Sheng Pond, the noble and cool water lotus slowly opened its petals and bloomed in the wind.

Suddenly, there was a brilliant light.

Yaoying felt heartbroken.

Tanmaraka stared at her and walked out of the hall.

The believers cried loudly, climbed forward, and reached out to pull at the sleeves and hem of his monk's robe, trying to keep him.

"Buddha's son! You are still our Buddha's son!"

"Legend has it that Madana and Ananda were once husband and wife in one lifetime after another. You and Princess Wen Zhao were also destined to be together in your previous life. Princess Wen Zhao's stay in the Royal Temple will not damage your reputation. You will always be the Buddha we respect!"

"Buddhist son, you cannot leave the temple! You are the reincarnation of Ananda, the incarnation of gods and Buddhas!"

The believers cried, knelt on the ground, kowtowed, begged, wailed, and confessed.

Tanmarajiva pretended not to hear anything. He walked through the front yard, passed the believers who were prostrating themselves on the ground, passed the shocked courtiers, generals, and chiefs, climbed the stairs, step by step, walked out of the corridor, walked in front of Yaoying, raised his hand, and tore off his cassock.

The cassock flew across the corridor, fluttering in the wind, flying higher and higher, and then falling down.

Outside the Wang Temple, the crowd was like a web, and thousands of heads were moving.

The news of what happened in the main hall had already spread outside the temple. As the news spread, people couldn't believe it and gathered at the bottom of the long stairs, looking up, watching the robe slowly fall.

Thousands of eyes were focused on that robe.

As the cassock fell to the ground, there was a commotion in the crowd, and a cry full of pain and loss was heard, followed by another. People shivered slightly, tears flowed down, and sobs were heard from all directions, surging like waves.

Their king returned to secular life.

Long wind hunting.

Tanmarajiva looked at Yaoying, his shoulders and inner shirt had already been soaked with blood, and he was dripping with sweat, his deep blue eyes were filled with surging emotions.

"Ming Yue Nu, from today on, I am no longer a monk."

"I want to live well."

The heart is as calm as still water, life and death are just a matter of a blink of an eye, there is no need to force it. With the worry, he wants to be with her day and night, he wants to live and accompany her.

Yaoying's eyes were filled with tears.

She knew that he had been practicing Buddhism since he was young and never asked him to return to secular life. She didn't care whether he was a monarch of the royal court, a monk, or a Sultan whose identity could never be revealed. In her eyes, he was the best Tanmaragha.

But he returned to secular life.

She frowned and smiled with tears in her eyes, "You crazy guy."

Tanmarajya chuckled gently, but his tone was unquestionable and forceful: "You will not have the chance to regret it."

Now that she's back, she can't escape anymore.

He staggered, his brows slightly wrinkled.

Yao Ying saw the bloodstains on his shoulder and felt a pang of pain in her heart. She held onto his arm and said, "Even if you are a lunatic, I won't abandon you."

She will walk with him on the rest of the journey.

Tanmaraka laughed softly, raised his head, and slowly walked down the long stairs with her.

The people stared at them in amazement.

They looked calm, snuggled up to each other, and walked across the long street step by step.

A carriage inlaid with eight treasures was waiting by the roadside. Bisha and the officers of the Imperial Guard bowed respectfully to the two men.

The long street was filled with footsteps. Generals, tribal chiefs, officials, and lords in armor followed the king out of the temple, kneeling and kowtowed: "We respectfully send the king back to the palace."

Tanmaraka is their king. Only he can shock all the countries and make all the tribes submit. Regardless of whether he has returned to secular life or not, people everywhere still worship him as a god. In the current royal court, no one can shake his throne.

The people still stared at the two people in a daze, made way for them, and watched them get on the carriage.

Outside the royal temple, Yuanjue coughed twice cautiously and smiled at Li Zhongqian who had just been cleverly blocked outside the door by the guards.

"Duke Wei, look at how well the king and princess match each other. They are truly a match made in heaven!"

Li Zhongqian curled the corner of his mouth and sneered.

He didn't rush forward to stop Yao Ying, not because of the tricks of these people.

The author has something to say: “A thousand moons in the rivers… The moon is like the Buddha nature…” “All dharmas are in the mind…” These sentences about the discussion of Buddhism are excerpted from Buddhist verses and related explanations.

"If one sees me with form and seeks me with sound, that person is following the wrong path and cannot see the Tathagata." Quoted from the Diamond Sutra.

Typo correction: There was a god in the previous text, but I accidentally used "神獎" instead.