Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 225: Flying Mountain Golden Lantern
As the sun sets, the two young men regain their spirits. On holiday, one should act like one on holiday. They haven't had a good time strolling around today, so they take advantage of the day and take a quick walk around.

The ceremony by the pond for releasing animals took a short break at about noon. The monks of Jubao Temple wore their robes and chanted at the scripture platform with great devotion. They showed no intention of taking a break. The chanting had a unique rhythm and was quite pleasant to hear.

A canopy was set up next to the scripture platform. Madam and daughter Liu were kneeling in heavy mourning attire. It looked very strenuous just by looking at them. It was such a hot day, and even though it was cool in the mountains in the mornings and evenings, they still suffered a lot. They were truly an old-fashioned family that followed rules.

Wang Heng and Xiaocai stood far away and watched for a while. Just as they were about to leave, they saw a young monk coming towards them. It was the same one who had delivered the message to Mr. Zhang at noon. The young monk put his hands together and said, "Two donors, the abbot has opened the Sutra Library for Mr. Zhang to read. Mr. Zhang invites you two to study together."

The two young men looked at each other, and had to force a smile as they followed the young monk into the temple.

The Sutra Repository is located to the south of the Abbot's Square and southwest of the Foguang Pavilion. It is a three-story wooden building.

The young monk pushed open the door and saw a stern-looking middle-aged monk sitting under the paper window. He bowed and said, "Brother Guangwen, you are back."

Monk Guangwen raised his eyebrows and pointed at Wang Heng and Xiaocai and said, "Wuming, the Sutra Library is a very important place, why did you bring outsiders in?"

The young monk Wu Ming said: "Brother Guangwen, the abbot has specially allowed Master Zhang to come in and out. These two donors are Master Zhang's followers."

Monk Guangwen snorted, glanced at Wang Heng and Xiaocai out of the corner of his eye, ignored them, and walked away.

Wu Ming said: "Brother Guangwen is the head of the Sutra Repository."

Xiaocai asked, "Guangliang, Guangheng, Guangwen and the others are all disciples of Abbot Zhihai, right?"

Wu Ming nodded and said, "Senior Brother Guangwen is the eldest senior brother, Senior Brother Guangliang is the second senior brother, and the third senior brother is Guangheng."

Xiaocai said: "Guangheng, the governor of Foguang Pavilion, does look younger than those two."

Wu Ming said: "Third Senior Brother is young, but he has the highest prestige among the Guang generation in this temple."

Xiaocai asked playfully, "Why did Monk Guangheng come out on top?"

The young monk Wuming smiled but did not answer. He made a "please" gesture, and the wooden stairs creaked, leading the two of them to the south window on the second floor.

Wuming said, "I am just downstairs. Please call me if you need anything." Then he went downstairs.

Zhang Xiru was leaning against the window, holding a scroll of scriptures in his hand, reading with great interest. He looked up and saw Wang Heng and Xiaocai coming in. He smiled and said, "You can choose whatever you want. This scripture pavilion has a rich collection. Old Monk Zhihai treasures it very much and doesn't allow anyone to come in."

I secretly wondered whether Master Zhihai had any ulterior motive for being so courteous to Mr. Zhang.
After teaching for a long time, one will develop an illusion that it is a sin to see students not studying for a day. One will only feel gratified when one sees students reading books all the time and studying hard.

Zhang Xiru could not see the two men complaining in their hearts, so the two of them responded and went to select a few volumes that interested them. They were not well-read and did not know much about Buddhist scriptures, so these old scriptures naturally did not arouse their interest.

After walking around for a while, Xiaocai accidentally found an old and yellowed volume of "Six Scenes of Jubao Mountain", the author of which is Master Liao Yin, who was probably a monk in the temple of the previous dynasty.

The evening bell of Huayang, the sea of ​​clouds, the flowing light of Buddha, the waterfall of Beiguo, the clear snow of Nanshan, and the golden lanterns of Feishan.

I had already appreciated the Huayang Evening Bell when I went up the mountain yesterday evening. I heard about it from the maid of the Liu Mansion during the lunch break at Sheshen Cliff. I also went to Foguang Pavilion once in the morning. Beiguo Feipu and Nanshan Jixue are the north and south peaks, but I don’t know where Feishan Jindeng is?

Xiaocai waved at Wang Heng and turned the old book over to him. "Feishan Golden Lantern?" Wang Heng was confused, but he saw a poem written by the author in the book: "Looking at the mountains in the world, Feishan is the smallest, with a cave opening high above it, and golden lanterns all over the ground, the most precious."

It seems that this Feishan is a small and exquisite mountain with a cave in the mountain and golden lanterns everywhere, but no one knows what they point to.
Xiaocai held the old book in his hand, turned around and walked down the stairs, calling softly, "Master Wuming, Master Wuming."

The young monk Wuming was sitting cross-legged in meditation on the first floor. When he heard Xiaocai's call, he stood up and walked over to Xiaocai.

Xiaocai smiled and asked, "Excuse me, where is the Feishan Golden Lantern, one of the eight scenic spots in Jubao Mountain?"

Wuming opened his eyes, which were clearly black and white. His clear eyes showed some confusion, and hesitantly said, "Among the eight scenic spots of Jubao Mountain, the flying mountain and golden lantern? This scene is not included."

Xiaocai showed him the old book. Wuming saw that the author was Master Liaoyin. He nodded and said, "I have heard of this Master Liaoyin. He was a great monk in our temple. He lived about a hundred years ago."

Xiaocai was suspicious and said, "If a magnificent view like a courtyard or pavilion could be destroyed without a trace in a hundred years, how could a mountain disappear without a reason?"

"Your words make sense, benefactor." Wuming closed his eyes and meditated for a while, then said, "I have never heard of this Feishan Golden Lamp. You may as well ask Brother Guangheng. Brother Guangheng has profound and extensive knowledge. He was a famous scholar before he became a monk. He managed the Sutra Library for many years and was recently transferred to be the governor of the Foguang Pavilion."

Xiaocai nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go ask Monk Guangheng for advice later."

Xiaocai went upstairs again. Zhang Xiru's posture of reading had not changed and he was still concentrating on it.

Xiaocai advised, "Mr. Zhang, it's getting late, please save your eyesight. Anyway, the abbot has given us permission to enter and exit the Sutra Library, so you can wait until tomorrow to have a look."

Zhang Xiru looked out the window and saw that it was indeed dusk and the sunlight had dimmed. If it were an ordinary day, he would be so absorbed in reading that he would read by lamplight at night.

He thought again and remembered that this was the Sutra Repository of Jubao Temple. It was common sense to be careful with fire. He put down the scriptures and went downstairs with Xiaocai and Wang Heng.

There are smooth stone paths from the Sutra Repository to the Fo Guang Pavilion. The Fo Guang Pavilion is built on a high stone mountain. Zhang Xiru repeatedly invited Wang Heng and Xiaocai to go up and have a look. The Fo Guang Pavilion has a great view, with green mountains all around and clear and rapid streams, which will surely make their trip worthwhile.

However, the row of tall and wide stone steps still frightened Wang Heng and Xiaocai. They said it was getting late and they would wait another day.

The three were about to go their separate ways when Monk Guangheng came around the corner. Guangheng was about to climb the stone steps when he saw Zhang Xiru and the other two and stopped.

Xiaocai walked forward and bowed, saying, "Master Guangheng, I saw the "Eight Scenes of Jubao Mountain" written by the previous eminent monk of your temple, Master Le Yin, in the Sutra Library today. There is a "Flying Mountain Golden Lamp" in it. I wonder where it is? Please tell me."

Guangheng was stunned for a moment, then said, "The scenery of Feishan Golden Lantern has disappeared. According to legend, Feishan flew from the sky, and it is 170 feet high and 250 steps around. There is a deep cave in the mountain. Legend has it that immortals live here. Every summer and autumn, golden lantern flowers bloom all over the mountain, bright red like brocade. Just like Feishan came mysteriously, it also left strangely. No one knows when it suddenly disappeared and no one knows."

Xiaocai was stunned and said, "How could a mountain disappear for no reason?"

Guang Heng shook his head and sighed, "There is no record in the classics, so I have no way of knowing."

Zhang Xiru was listening at the side and said, "I'm afraid we need to look up the Jiangning County Annals. Maybe I can go to the Jiangning County Office with you guys to borrow it and have a look."

Everyone thought it made sense.