Daxuannv's sentence

Chapter 87 Xiangguo Temple

After restraining the bones, everyone in the Judiciary was also like Ye Ke, with a heavy heart.

On the same day, Zhu You gave an order to thoroughly investigate all the brothels, brothels, and brothels in the capital to find out if any people were missing. However, under Ye Ke's instruction, the deaths of these human bones were obviously different. The time span in the middle is very large, and the longest can be speculated to be several years ago.

In other words, the murderer had a very long timeline for committing the crime, so Zhu You generally arranged for people to find clues about the missing persons in brothels in the capital, while Zhu You and Ye Ke were busy with other things.

The time has passed the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month, and it is the time to prepare for the New Year and prepare for the New Year.

As the New Year's Eve is approaching, the incense in the temple is more vigorous, and there is an endless stream of people seeking peace, children, in-laws, and future.

Cigarettes are lingering, Sanskrit sounds are heard, bells are loud, and pilgrims come and go. This is the most incense-filled temple in the capital: Xiangguo Temple!

Xiangguo Temple is located on the Xiangshan Mountain in the southeast of the capital. It takes about an hour's walk from the east gate to arrive. It is prosperous, but quiet and far-reaching. It is only connected by a stone bridge called Linqiao in front.

According to legend, it was built during the time of Taizu. The bridge body is made of marble with a span of more than [-] meters. There are many Buddhist Arhats and Bodhisattvas carved on the bridge body, and [-] stone lions are carved on the railings. , set the atmosphere in one place, and accept the majesty in one.

Standing on this majestic bridge, looking at the rushing Anxi River below, Ye Ke looked up at the Buddhist monastery halfway up the mountain in front of him, and suddenly felt a sense of insignificance.

"This Xiangguo Temple is the largest temple in the capital. We have already searched for the rest of the temples these days. If there is no clue here, it will be very difficult." Zhu Youli stood beside Ye Ke. Beside her, she lightly pulled up the cloak to face the cold wind for her.

Ye Ke's eyes flickered, his face was indifferent.

"Sister-in-law, what are you looking for?" Zhu You's business was blown away by the cold wind, but it actually reached her ears. These days, Ye Ke took Zhu You to wander around various temples repeatedly, Zhu You knew what she was looking for, someone, or something. Although she didn't say anything, Zhu You still followed and accompanied her without complaint.

Her decision, her action, if she speaks, he will listen, if she does not speak, he will accompany.

Ye Ke's eyes flickered. She actually didn't know how to explain the origin of the custom of sky burial to Zhu You, and she couldn't explain this far-reaching religious and folk funeral custom in one or two sentences. However, now some people use this To kill people in a similar way, she can only investigate in this direction as much as possible.

"Forget it, it's windy on the bridge, let's go up." Zhu You's voice was soft, pleading.

The two walked across the bridge and stepped up the stairs facing up to the mountain. The bluestone steps were so long that they could not see the end at a glance. The sunless morning of the twelfth lunar month was always surrounded by mist. Covered by the mist, they couldn't see their true faces. The pale white mist flowed around them, and the two of them seemed to be walking on clouds.

There are pines and cypresses and weeds on the left and right. I don't know where the road leads, but the bluestone road under my feet guides the way.

The two stopped for a while, and there was a little fire on the side of the road ahead. Zhu You's expression was serious. It was dry in winter. I was afraid that pious pilgrims would burn incense candles beside the road and ignite the dry grass, which would trigger a wildfire. The consequences would be disastrous. Three steps They took two steps up the stairs, Ye Ke followed closely, and they were relieved to be able to walk in.

Beside the road is a small shrine. In front of the shrine is a small stone tripod filled with burnt incense candles. At this moment, a pair of half-burned incense candles are burning. Ye Ke took a closer look. , What is enshrined in the shrine is a Buddha statue holding a Zen staff and pinching the magic formula, and there is a small dog-like animal beside him.

"The King of Earth Store."

"It's a lion again, and it's Ksitigarbha, hmph, it seems that the thing that Xiangguo Temple wants to suppress has a lot of resentment." Ye Ke snorted coldly, his eyes not without sarcasm.

Although he doesn't believe in ghosts and gods or worship gods and Buddhas, Ye Ke knows a lot about folk religions.
Where is Ksitigarbha often enshrined?
A place where ghosts often haunt, or a place where the gates of ghosts are always open.

Where is often suppressed with stone lions?

Nearby with strong Yin Qi or a place where evil spirits with poor Feng Shui gather.

Therefore, there are often big families with high gates and deep courtyards to use stone lions to town their houses, and more exquisite people, the stone lions in front of the door need to go to temples with strong incense, donate some sesame oil money, and ask the enlightened master to consecrate them Please come back in order to seek good fortune and avoid evil, and to keep the family home safe.

Before the words fell, there seemed to be the sound of footsteps coming from the straight stairs ahead. The two stopped and watched. In the hazy mist ahead, a tall figure was slowly coming down, but his speed was amazing. Slow, as if walking step by step.

When the fog dissipated, the two realized that a tall and thin monk was sweeping the steps step by step with a broom in his hand, and was walking backwards.

Ye Ke glanced at the invisible stairs in front of him. He didn't know when the monk started cleaning. It was only around [-]:[-] in the morning. If he started from the gate of the temple, he would probably start cleaning at the climax of the moon. He seemed to be tireless, and he didn't know how to be irritable. He took one step, one sweep, one step back, and slowly came to the steps where the two of them were.

He also found the two people who were standing and watching, and chanted a Buddha's name, "Amitabha, two honored guests, I'm sorry."

Ye Ke didn't have a good impression of monks, but he had a good impression of polite people. He bowed down and apologized: "I interrupted Master's cultivation."

The monk had thick eyebrows, and although his cheeks were sunken, he looked benevolent and kind-hearted. He squinted his eyes and bowed to the Ksitigarbha King, then turned to Ye Ke and said, "You two benefactors have sorrowful brows, they must be haunted by worries." , there is a glow on the top, it must be an official, I don't know the two officials, why come?"

Zhu You handed it to Ye Ke with her eyes wandering. She understood, just shook her head and said, "Where is there anything I want, it's just what my heart wants, and I just have time to worship the Buddha."

But the monk smiled slightly, "Amitabha, the light of the merits of the two donors is added to the body, but they are people with good fortune. Wherever the heart goes, the Buddha will definitely bless the two of you."

After finishing speaking, the monk didn't stay any longer, and continued to wave the old broom in his hand and continued his homework step by step.

Ye Ke's heart moved, and he said softly: "Master, may I ask if there are any guests who came from the snow-capped mountains in this temple?"

The monk's hands paused slightly, and then he continued to walk down. When his body was about to disappear, a faint voice came: "There is a huge rock in the back mountain, and there is something in the heart of the honored guest."

(End of this chapter)