"Okay, okay! I miss Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Guixiang, too."
Song Shouye immediately cheered.
"Oh no! It seems that I can't. Master and my brothers will miss me if I leave. Besides, I still have things to do in the temple. I have to clean the rooms for my brothers and burn incense in the morning and evening."
Song Shouye wanted to follow Zhang Shuguang home, but he couldn't bear to leave his master and fellow apprentices. It was such a difficult choice!
"Help the brothers clean the room? They have hands and feet, they are not incapable of moving, why should they ask you to clean the room? Shouye, is someone bullying you here?"
Zhang Shuguang frowned, feeling a little angry inside.
Could it be that bullying also exists in such a peaceful Taoist place?
"No, Xiao Guangzi, the brothers I want to serve have already ascended to heaven.
All my senior brothers have become memorial tablets, how can I clean my room by myself?
Oh! Xiao Guangzi, you are so stupid, I can’t explain it to you clearly, I will take you to see it.”
Song Shouye didn't know why Xiao Guangzi suddenly became unhappy. In a hurry, he pulled Zhang Shuguang and ran out.
"Junior brother, why are you so flustered?"
The two disabled middle-aged Taoist priests smiled knowingly when they saw their impetuous junior brother.
"Senior Brother Tianjizi, Senior Brother Yuhengzi, I will take Xiao Guangzi to see the other brothers."
Song Shouye kept running and pulled Zhang Shuguang past the two Taoist priests.
"Junior brother, don't let outsiders disturb the rest of our fellow disciples."
When talking about their fellow disciples, a trace of pain and nostalgia flashed across Tianjizi and Yuhengzi's faces.
"Got it, we'll come out after taking a look."
Led by Song Shouye, the two passed through the Laojun Hall and the Sanqing Hall and stopped in front of a hall with a plaque that read "Hall of Heroes".
On the pillars at the entrance to the main hall, there is an inscribed couplet. The first line reads: Mountains and rivers are broken, and the wind blows catkins. The second line reads: The Taoist priest descends the mountain to determine the fate of the world.
"Xiao Guangzi, this is where my brothers and sisters enjoy the incense. Please keep your voice down when you go in!"
Song Shouye lowered his voice, as if he was afraid of disturbing the spirits of his fellow brothers in heaven.
"Okay, I won't talk."
Zhang Shuguang also lowered his voice to cooperate with Song Shouye.
"Master, why are you here?"
The two pushed the door open and entered the hall, only to see a distinguished figure.
"I miss your brothers. Come and see them, Chi'er. Come and burn incense for your brothers."
True Man Yuxu turned around so that Song Shouye wouldn't see his red eyes.
Even after practicing for a lifetime, he still couldn't help feeling sad when he saw the golden bodies and tablets of several of his disciples.
They are all his disciples who he raised from childhood and trained carefully for many years. They are his children!
Zhang Shuguang looked up at the center of the hall, his body couldn't help but tremble, and his expression immediately became serious.
There are five golden statues enshrined in the Hall of Heroes. Unlike the regular statues, these five golden statues are all wearing the national flag of the Celestial Empire over their Taoist robes.
The five statues have different faces and expressions. Some are ethereal and otherworldly, some are like angry diamonds, some are as gentle as jade, and some are as hateful as an enemy.
But the five Dharma images have one thing in common, that is, they are all righteous.
In front of each golden statue, there is a tablet with their Dharma name written on it.
In front of each of the five tablets, there is a tray with many military medals placed on it.
On both sides of the five golden statues, there are two empty seats, without golden statue images or tablets, but the two trays are also full of military medals.
In prosperous times, Buddhism flourishes.
The Taoist hides alone in the deep mountains.
In troubled times, Bodhisattvas do not care about things.
Laojun carries a sword to save Cangsang.
No wonder there were two middle-aged Taoist priests outside, one with scars all over his face and the other with a broken arm. I guess these were the scars left when they fought down the mountain.
"Master, excuse me, can I light a stick of incense for the Taoist priests?"
Zhang Shuguang looked solemn, bowed to the old master and asked questions sincerely.
"Yes, they deserve it."
The old master made a gesture of invitation to Zhang Shuguang.
Zhang Shuguang took the lit sandalwood from Song Shouye, bowed to the golden bodies of the five Taoist priests, and then inserted the sandalwood into the incense burner.
"I have had eight direct disciples in my life. Aside from Chier, the other seven have followed me for decades.
In 1937, the country was in ruins, bandits came to the door, and the empire was on the verge of collapse.
The seven direct disciples of Laojun Temple knelt down in front of me and petitioned to go down the mountain to eliminate demons and defend the way.
I told my disciple that two of his sons would be disabled and the fifth would die. This hexagram is extremely dangerous and is indeed a sign of great misfortune.
I asked them if they were afraid, and they said that eliminating demons and defending the way is the duty of those who practice Taoism, and eliminating invaders and saving the country is the mission of every Chinese citizen.
For the sake of the country, they are willing to die bravely, but they are afraid that they will no longer be able to serve their master in the future.
My seven disciples kowtowed to me three times, then floated away with three-foot-long swords on their backs.
After coming down the mountain, they joined the front line of the battle, and their tasks were to kill generals, seize flags, and enter the city to eliminate traitors.
After the restoration of our homeland, my two remaining disciples, dragging their mutilated bodies, brought back seven red flags and numerous medals of honor."
"My disciples, I am proud of you!"
As he spoke, True Man Yuxu was already in tears.
"So, after they came back, I changed their Dharma names and named them after the Big Dipper. They deserve this honor."
Taoist practice has never been about being ruthless, and there is no need to cut off the seven emotions and six desires.
Taoism is about cultivating the mind and oneself, and clearing one's thoughts.
Caring about the people of the world, family and country.
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