At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 313
When Gao Bufan returned to Ji County from Yuyi Town, it was already New Year's Eve, and tomorrow will be the first day of the ninth year of Daye.The weather was fine and the sun was shining. The city of Ji County was quite lively. There were many people walking on the street, and the air was filled with the smell of rice cakes and incense.

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was not popular to set off firecrackers during Chinese New Year, and even posted Spring Festival couplets from time to time, but there were many faithful men and women who prayed to God and worshiped Buddha. .

Shuiyue Nunnery is the only nunnery in Jixian County. The incense is very prosperous in ordinary times, and it is even worse on New Year’s Eve. Early in the morning, pilgrims flock to the nunnery, almost breaking the door of the nunnery, and there is only a blank space on the roof. The smoke is lingering and pervasive all day long, which can be seen from the prosperity of the incense.

"Master Bufan, shall we go in and burn incense?" Gao Ren asked Gao Bufan when he saw Gao Bufan reining in his horse in front of Shuiyue Temple.

Gao Bufan hesitated for a moment, got off the horse, threw the reins into Gao Ren's hand, and ordered: "You take the horse back to the animal husbandry office first, I have something to do, and I will walk back by myself later."

Gao Shou and Gao Ren didn't ask any more questions, and led the horses back to the Animal Husbandry Supervision Office first.

"Amituofo, is this benefactor burning incense and praying for blessings, or praying to Buddha for a lottery?" A middle-aged nun stopped the way, looking suspiciously at Gao Bufan, who was empty-handed.

There are many good men and women who burn incense and worship Buddha in Shuiyue Nunnery, among which female pilgrims are naturally the most numerous, there are cardamom girls, young women, mature women, some idle hooligans, or playboys love to gather in these places, squeeze Squeezing and bumping take advantage of some hands and feet.Gao Bufan was alone, and he was empty-handed. It is estimated that the middle-aged nun had automatically classified him into this category.

Gao Bufan bowed his hands politely and said: "I don't burn incense or pray for Buddha, but I just want to visit a friend, her name is Bai Yunshang, and she has been practicing in Gui'an recently."

It is said that Bai Yunshang lived in the Songtao Bieyuan outside the city for three days and then went back to Shuiyue Nunnery to recuperate. Gao Bufan only found out after the fact that he was busy with official business and building a horse farm during this period, so he never had time to visit Baiyun again. Chang's injury happened to pass by Shuiyue Nunnery today, so he planned to go in and have a look.

The middle-aged nun looked Gao Bufan up and down and asked, "Is the benefactor's surname Gao?"

Gao Bufan nodded and said, "Gao Changqing is in Xiacheng County."

The middle-aged nun clasped her hands together and said: "Amituofo, it turns out to be the high priest, please come with the poor nun." After she finished speaking, she turned and went to the nunnery.

Gao Bufan thanked him, and hurriedly followed behind the middle-aged nun, bypassing the bustling hall, and came to the back courtyard, where it was suddenly much quieter, this should be the place where nuns live and eat on weekdays.

"Gao benefactor, please wait here for a moment." The middle-aged nun led Gao Bufan under a bodhi tree, bowed together, turned around and walked into a moon gate by herself.

Gao Bufanku waited to be bored, so he wandered for a few steps, and while looking at the surrounding environment, he found a stone tablet standing under the Bodhi tree, which looked very new and clean, and there were four lines of verses engraved on it: Bodhi does not have a tree, and there is no bright mirror. Non-Taiwan.There is nothing, where is the dust.

A strange look flashed in Gao Bufan's eyes, and he immediately understood why the middle-aged nun was so respectful to him. The problem of daring is here. Once these four sentences came out, I'm afraid I'm already famous in Buddhism, Amituofo Inadvertently stealing the limelight from the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, what a sin!
"Cough, cough, cough!" A cough suddenly sounded from behind, Gao Bufan turned around quickly, and immediately met a pair of extremely unique eyes, and couldn't help but feel a little shivering.

Standing behind Gao Bufan at this moment is a young man, about sixteen or seventeen years old, born very thin, wearing a wide cloak on him like a skeleton, as if a gust of wind could blow him away, His face is pale and blue, and his lips are slightly black. He looks sick and wilted at first glance, but his eyes are piercing, as if two groups of weak flames are burning, which reminds people of weeds with extremely tenacious vitality.

Gao Bufan recognized at a glance that this person was Li Xuanba who had met once in Dou's mourning hall that day. But he didn't dare to underestimate it at all.

"Just now I looked familiar from the back, so it's really Brother Gao." Li Xuanba smiled and cupped his hands.

Gao Bufan cupped his hands and returned the salute: "So it's Brother Xuanba, why is it here?"

"My mother's coffin is temporarily stored in the Shuiyue Nunnery, and I will help her to go back to her hometown for burial in the spring of the next year. I came here today to offer incense and worship. I didn't expect to meet Brother Gao here. It is a kind of fate." Although Li Xuanba was sick and wilted Withered, but the conversation is quite good.

Gao Bufan suddenly said: "So that's it, brother Shimin didn't come with brother Xuanba?"

Li Xuanba smiled and said: "The people of the world are offering incense in the front hall to pray for my mother. Xuanba is suffering from a disease, and he can't stand the smoke and dust. He is afraid that the disease will pollute the clean ground of the Buddhist hall, so he comes out for a walk alone."

Gao Bufan said with concern: "Brother Xuanba seems to be seriously ill, but I know a little bit about medical skills. If brother Xuanba doesn't mind, you might as well let me take a pulse."

Li Xuanba's eyes lit up and he said: "Brother Gao still knows medical skills, so I'll be able to help you." After speaking, he generously stretched out his left hand.

Gao Bufan stretched out two fingers and grasped Li Xuanba's veins with a calm expression, but soon his face changed, he looked up at Li Xuanba awe-inspiringly, and blurted out: "How could this be?"

Although Gao Bufan does not know medical skills, he can tell the strength of his pulse. Li Xuanba's pulse is almost inaudible, and it is very slow. Can you still live?But Li Xuanba stood in front of him alive.

Li Xuanba smiled calmly and said: "Xuanba's disease was brought from the mother's womb. I have seen many doctors since I was a child, and no matter how many medicines I have taken, it has not cured. Most of the doctors assert that Xuanba will not live to be five years old, but Xuanba Ba refused to accept it, but he didn't believe in this evil, so he lived for five years and five years, since Brother Gao understands medical skills, he might as well cut off Xuan Ba's life."

Gao Bufan couldn't help being respectful, cupped his hands and said, "It has to be said that it is a miracle in itself that brother Xuanba can live to this day. If I have to end my life, then I will affirm that brother Xuanba can't live for 60 years. Old, I hope Brother Xuanba can slap him in the face."

Li Xuanba was stunned for a moment, then he laughed and said, "Brother Gao is indeed a wonderful person, and the word slap in the face sounds new, but it's quite vivid when you think about it."

"Hey, Xuanba is here so, who is he chatting with so happily?" At this time, a man and a woman came from the side of the main hall.

Gao Bufan looked up and found that it was Li Shimin and Li Xiuning.At this time, Li Shimin and Li Xiuning obviously recognized Gao Bufan, and they couldn't help being stunned. The former hesitated for a moment, then quickened his pace to meet him, cupped his fists and saluted, "So it's Brother Changqing!"

Gao Bufan bowed his hand to return the salute, and said calmly: "Brother Shimin, are you here all right?"

Li Xiuning is more than one year older than Li Shimin, but half a head shorter than Li Shimin, but she has a slim figure, straight legs, narrow waist, hips, shoulders like a knife, pretty appearance, and vigorous movements. At this time, half of his body stood in front of Li Shimin intentionally or unintentionally, with a hint of vigilance hidden in his eyes.

Li Shimin showed shame on his face, stepped forward past his sister Li Xiuning, bowed deeply to Gao Bufan and said: "These days, Shimin's heart is restless, and he can't sleep at night. Since he met Brother Changqing today, it is a kind of relief. .”

Gao Bufan stepped aside, pretending to be surprised: "Brother Shimin, what do you mean?"

Li Shimin said sincerely: "Brother Changqing was assassinated on the long street a few days ago, it was actually done by Junji."

"What?" Gao Bufan immediately opened his eyes angrily.

Li Xiuning's complexion changed suddenly. She had heard that Gao Bufan's martial arts were extremely high, and she was afraid that he would violently injure others, so she immediately stopped in front of Li Shimin, and clasped her hands while concentrating on guard, explaining: "Hou Junji was not ordered by Shimin, Supervisor Gao Mu If you want revenge, go to Hou Junji by yourself, it's none of Shimin's business."

Li Shimin frowned and said: "Although Junji was not ordered by me, he assassinated Brother Changqing because of me, so the responsibility is still on me. I, Li Shimin, will bear this matter. I hereby plead guilty to Brother Changqing. If Changqing Brother, come to me if you want to take revenge, whether it's official or private, the people of the world will recognize it!" After speaking, he pushed Li Xiuning away, and calmly walked in front of Gao Bufan.

(End of this chapter)