White Bone Monkey King

This night I had a long conversation with Master Shan Neng.

Jin An learned many secrets.

Small drought demon.

The ancient Four Symbols Bureau.

Mountain god.

Luo Geng Jade Plate.

Cave heaven and blessed land.

And, the age of great strife is coming...

According to the deductions made by Jin An and Master Shanneng, the group of antique dealers should be eyeing the Cave Heaven Paradise in Wuzhou Prefecture.

That Cave Paradise was either in the Cave of Thousand Corpses, or it was related to the Dragon King under the Yinyi River, so the other party went to such trouble to bring about a series of incidents.

While discussing with Master Shanneng, Jin An thought of another thing...

Master Shanneng said before that he had been copying scriptures for thirty or forty years but could not understand the Buddha's teachings. Later, when he was forty years old, he became enlightened overnight. Could it be that... Master Shanneng's overnight enlightenment was the result of being shackles of the world more than ten years ago? He is the first person to be affected after the breakthrough and receive the blessings of heaven and earth, right?

"Taoist Master Jin An, what do you think of Sakyamuni Buddha's Dharma?" Master Shanneng, who was wearing cassock, looked at Jin An, who was sitting opposite, with a smile.

Jin An was confused: "Why did Master Shanneng say this?"

"Amitabha." Master Shanneng just put his hands together and chanted a Buddha's name, smiling and saying nothing.

Everything seems to go without saying.

Just at this moment, the aroma of food came from the kitchen, and the old Taoist priest's voice came from the kitchen, interrupting the continued conversation between the two: "Little brother, Master Shanneng, you can start dinner."

In the main room, the old Taoist priest has already laid out the dishes and chopsticks.

There are four sets of bowls and chopsticks in total.

Jin'an.

An old Taoist priest.

Sharpened sword.

Master Shan Neng’s.

Tonight's meal, it can be seen that the old Taoist priest made it very carefully and prepared a large table full of food.

Stir-fried tofu skin with carrots,

Carrot stewed tofu soup,

spicy tofu,

Fresh ground food,

Vegetarian fried loofah, cold bamboo shoots, fried eggplant, fried tofu skin, braised beans, and dry pot cabbage.

A total of ten dishes were placed on the table, nine dishes and one soup, all delicious and delicious. It was obvious that the old Taoist priest had really worked hard tonight.

Except for the fried tofu skin with carrots, it looked dark and burnt at first glance, just like the sharp sword following the old Taoist priest at this time. There was a lot of pot ash on the face and clothes, making him look stale.

Jin An looked at the table of dishes with a surprised expression on his face.

There were only three people and one sheep in the Taoist temple. How could there be so many vegetables in the Taoist temple so that the old Taoist priest could make so many kinds of vegetarian dishes?

And now it's night again, and there's a curfew outside, so even if I go out to buy vegetables, I can't buy them.

Jin An pondered for a moment and then figured out the reason. It seemed that the old Taoist priest had borrowed these vegetables from his neighbors door to door.

The old Taoist priest put a lot of thought into this table of food.

"Master Shanneng, I will give you a glass of water instead of wine, and I will not drink tea in the evening."

After the four people sat down, the old Taoist priest took the initiative to toast Master Shanneng. Master Shanneng, who was ruddy in energy and blood and did not look senile at all, also raised his hand to toast the old Taoist priest in return.

"Today, the poor monk came to Tao Lao Wu Zang Taoist Temple. He came empty-handed. He forgot to bring the courtesy and only brought a mouth and an empty stomach. Instead, he asked Taoist Master Chen to cook in person. The poor monk came unexpectedly and shamelessly tonight."

Master Shanneng had a regretful look on his face.

Facing Master Shanneng's politeness, the old Taoist priest said with a carefree personality: "There is a saying that guests come from afar. There are not many people I admire in this life, Master Shanneng, and you are one of the few." one person."

"Master Shanneng, just because you spent several days and nights reciting sutras for those innocent fetuses in Lingqian Township, Master Shanneng, you are an eminent monk worthy of my respect. You, my distinguished guest, my dear brother, I am committed to you for the rest of my life."

"Today I want to have a long talk with Master Shanneng all night long. It will be useless if anyone comes."

"Master Shanneng, come here, eat vegetables, eat vegetables. Don't just chat with me, Taoist Taoist. How about trying my craftsmanship, Taoist Master." As the old Taoist priest said, he kept adding vegetables to Master Shanneng's rice bowl.

He picked up each dish, and soon Master Shan Neng's white rice was piled up to the top.

"I'm not boasting. I've been traveling all over the country for so many years. I've never tasted any delicacies from mountains and seas, or famous dishes from all over the world. But after going around for a while, I finally found that home-cooked food is the most delicious, healthiest and longest-lived. So I've been wandering around all over the world. For most of my life, when I often couldn’t find a place to stay in a town, I would drink from mountain springs when I was thirsty, pick wild vegetables to make a pot when I was hungry, use the sky and the earth as a quilt when I was sleepy, and developed a good home-cooking skill... If my cooking skills are placed in Jixian Building in Fucheng, which is the favorite place for scholar-bureaucrats, I will be a great chef after all."

While the old Taoist priest continued to pick up vegetables, he kept urging Master Shanneng to eat, eat vegetables, and taste his cooking skills: "Among these dishes, this fried tofu skin with burnt carrots is the perfect choice for you, Master Shanneng." I made it by sharpening the sword four or five times, and it turned out to be the best-looking vegetarian dish. I know the weak point of sharpening the sword."

When it comes to sharpening the weak point of the sword, the old Taoist priest bursts into laughter.

A third junior brother sharpened his sword and almost called him out of his psychological shadow.

This time I finally found the weak point of sharpening the sword.

No matter how good a man is in martial arts, he is still afraid of cooking.

"Amitabha."

"Ever since the poor monk was sent to Bailong Temple by his parents since he was a child, the temple has always been a big pot of rice and he has never had home-cooked food."

"When the poor monk was sent to Bailong Temple, he was still very young. He couldn't even remember where his home was or where his parents were. He also never had a home-cooked meal with his parents and relatives."

"Later, the poor monk got old. He only chanted Buddha's name and chanted sutras every day, and he had no chance to taste home-cooked food."

"I didn't expect that today in the Taoist temple, along with Taoist priests Jin An, Taoist Chen, and the sword-cutting donor, I could actually eat home-cooked food for family reunion... Amitabha, the poor monk began to envy every brick and tile in this five-viscera Taoist temple. , not fighting against the world, free and easy, free and easy.”

Master Shanneng was very sad.

Then, the eminent monk picked up the rice bowl and began to eat the rice with great gusto.

This is home cooking.

Got a home.

Only then can there be warmth and excitement.

No matter it is windy or rainy, the wind blows or the sun shines, there is a destination in the heart, and the distance between the world is only a short distance away. Because the mind travels thousands of miles, the soul always has a destination that can protect it from wind and rain.

"Old Taoist, thank you for your hard work today."

"And it's your first time to cook and sharpen a sword. It's been a hard day for you too."

Jin An put vegetables into the rice bowls of the old Taoist priest and the somewhat disgraced Xiejian. The four people at the table ate happily.

What——

BAA Baa baa--

The silly sheep outside the main room chewed carrots from time to time and squealed with pleasure. Even it was enjoying its dinner. The carrots crunched loudly in its mouth, and just listening to it made people's appetites increase.

A bright full moon hangs high, shining on the world

The lights in the Taoist temple hall were like daylight.

There is the crisp sound of goats munching carrots at night.

The old Taoist priest and Jin An bickered from time to time.

There was a time when Chi Jian, who was a bit disgraced after cooking for the first time, ate in silence.

Master Shanneng, an eminent monk, found the taste of his childhood with his family in this home-cooked meal. Although he didn't have enough to eat and was often hungry as a child, the taste of his childhood home-cooked food will never be forgotten for the rest of his life. It was from home. Warmth and care.

In this small Taoist temple.

The atmosphere is harmonious.

warmth.

Everyone was talking and laughing.

This is the human world.

This is the right way in the world.

This kind of free and easy life on earth would not change even if it were a palace in the sky, a beautiful palace or a jade palace, because the place where the gods live is too high to survive the cold.

…

"Thank you so much to Taoist Jin An, Taoist Chen, and Chi Jian Don for treating this poor monk to a home-cooked meal tonight."

"As this person gets older, it becomes easier to reminisce about the past. The poor monk has been nagging you for too long tonight, so I won't disturb you, Taoist Master Jin'an, for your rest. It's time for the poor monk to leave."

"Thanks again for the home-cooked meal tonight."

When you are full.

Master Shanneng began to say goodbye.

The old Taoist priest said with a look of reluctance: "Brother, it's getting late tonight and the road at night is difficult. Why not stay in the Five Zang Taoist Temple for the night before leaving."

"Today, my brother and I hit it off like old friends, and I can't bear to see you leave now."

Master Shanneng clasped his hands together, pronounced the Buddha's name, and said with a smile: "There is no such thing as a feast that lasts forever. I hope that the poor monk's investigation about Xiao Hanbao can help Taoist Jin'an. This can be regarded as fulfilling the promise he made to Taoist Jin'an. I have no worries in my heart. Taoist priest Jin An, fellow Taoist Chen, and the benefactor of Sharp Sword, please say goodbye and cherish them."

BAA Baa baa--

At this time, the silly sheep who had been eating carrots in a basket in the yard outside the hall also barked a few times at the right time.

"Sheep donors also take care."

Master Shanneng smiled kindly.

He said to the gifted goat in the courtyard, clasped his hands and bowed.

What——

Jin An: "Master Shanneng, have a good trip."

Old Taoist priest: "Brother, please take care of yourself along the way."

Jin An, the old Taoist priest, and Xi Jian stood at the door of the Taoist temple, watching Master Shanneng leave. Master Shanneng's figure gradually moved away under the moonlight, and his body became lighter and lighter until it disappeared.

The look in Xiejian's eyes was a little gloomy, and he asked Jin An in confusion: "Master, why do good people not live long? My uncle is dead, and Master Shanneng is also dead."

Facing the problem of sword sharpening, Jin An had a complicated expression on his face.

For the first time, he was stumped by the words of Chi Jian: "Master can't answer this question of my disciple for the time being. All I can do is leave a message to my disciple, 'but do good deeds and don't ask about the future.'"

Xiajian followed Jin An as if he didn't understand.

When the three of them returned to the main room, among the four rice bowls on the dining table, the other three were empty, not a single grain was wasted... only one bowl of rice remained untouched.

There were two chopsticks stuck on the bowl of rice. The vegetables picked by the old Taoist priest were piled high on top of the rice, leaving one mouthful untouched. The bowl of rice was cold, moldy, and gray. It didn't look like the hot food cooked tonight. , it seems like it has been there for ten days and a half...

Even the glass of water next to the rice bowl has become cold, moldy, and turned gray.

Some tea becomes weak as you drink it.

Some people dispersed while walking.

Even though we know that there is always a banquet in the world, it is still difficult to get rid of the loneliness and sadness that comes after the banquet is over.

Just like the table of nine dishes and one soup made by the old Taoist priest, it means that all nine beauties must be missing. In life, everything cannot go as planned, and there is always one regret.

But for Master Shanneng, this is not perfect.

He promised Jin An that he would help Jin An investigate clues about the ghost fetus.

Now he keeps his word and goes to the appointment, fulfilling the promise he made that day.

This life has come cleanly.

Walked cleanly too.

I have not lost my integrity and cannot protect it in my old age.

So I left without any regrets.

Put two chopsticks in the rice. This is the rice of the dead. Master Shanneng has passed away. Tonight is his obsession to fulfill the promise he made that day.

Perhaps the passing away of Master Shanneng is related to the case of the Buddha incarnate.

However, Master Shanneng did not explain the cause of his death in the end.

Jin An raised his head and looked at the full moon above his head. Why does the moon above his head only become full when people are leaving? Is this because the gods and Buddhas in the sky are too far away from the human world and can no longer see the suffering of the people?

Next.

Jin An asked the old Taoist priest to find a brazier, paper money, and paper ingots. The three of them squatted at the entrance of the Taoist temple, burning paper money and paper ingots in the direction of Bailong Temple to see Master Shanneng off and pay homage.

When all the paper money is burned, it is already Haishi.

Jin An returned to the house and unexpectedly saw a Buddhist sachet on his table. He opened the sachet and found a piece of broken jade inside.

It was the broken jade from Luo Geng's jade plate.

Jin An now has a total of three pieces of jade from Luo Geng's jade plate.

This is a generous gift from Master Shanneng to Jin An.

This is such a generous gift.

It was beyond Jin'an's expectation.

If Jin An didn't know the origin of Luo Geng's jade plate, he might not have paid much attention to the sense of these broken jade.

But tonight's candle-lit night talk with Master Shanneng made him fully aware of how precious the broken jade from the Luogeng jade plate was.

"Uncle Master, Master Shanneng, how can I be so virtuous as to be able to bear this great gift from you?"

"farewell."

That night, Jin'an was in a confused mood and had no intention of practicing.

Unexpectedly, when I met Master Shanneng again, there was already a difference between yin and yang.

impermanence of life.

…

…

The next day.

early morning.

Today, Jin An had no intention of stealing peaches or apples. He came to the coffin shop opposite the Taoist temple empty-handed.

At this time, a new day of construction work has begun in the Wu Zang Taoist Temple. Masons, carpenters and stonemasons are continuing to build the Wu Zang Taoist Temple in full swing.

According to the construction schedule, it will be completed in about ten days.

It could have been completed a few days ahead of schedule, mainly because Jin'an added a new merit hall in the Wu Zang Taoist Temple to erect human statues for the Wu Zang Taoist and Yu Youzi, so it was postponed for a few more days.

"What? Taoist priest Jin An is in a bad mood today?" Uncle Lin was folding paper money in the coffin shop. Looking at Jin An who walked into the shop, he could tell at a glance that Jin An was in a bad mood today.

Jin An nodded: "Uncle Lin, I came here today to ask something."

Uncle Lin kept folding the paper money in his hand. Practice makes perfect, and he quickly folded the paper money. While folding the paper money, he looked at Jin An in confusion: "What's the matter?"

"Uncle Lin, I wonder if you know that Master Shanneng of Bailong Temple has passed away?" Jin An said his purpose.

"Master Shanneng has passed away?" Uncle Lin was shocked when he heard this and stopped moving his hands.

"Taoist Master Jin'an, where did you hear this? Is this absolutely true? When did Master Shanneng pass away?"

"Master Shanneng is a very famous and enlightened monk in Bailong Temple. If Master Shanneng passes away, Bailong Temple should announce it to all the temples in Wuzhou Prefecture. I have never heard anyone talk about such a big thing. Pass."

Uncle Lin pondered: "Perhaps Master Shanneng passed away not long ago, and Bailong Temple has not had time to notify the temples."

Jin An was silent.

This is what worries him the most.

"Last night was Master Shanneng's first seventh soul night. Master Shanneng returned to his soul and came to Wu Zang Taoist Temple to find me."

Next, Jin An told Uncle Lin roughly what happened last night.

The first seven soul nights.

It shows that it has been seven days since Master Shanneng passed away.

"Master Shanneng is a famous and enlightened monk in Bailong Temple. It has been seven days since Master Shanneng passed away, but Bailong Temple has been uncharacteristically calm. It's strange, why did Bailong Temple hide this matter?"

Uncle Lin's problem is exactly what Jin An can't figure out.

But because the matter of the Buddha incarnate was related to the reputation of Buddhism, it was not easy for Jin An to mention it to Uncle Lin, so he could only keep it to himself.

Is there something wrong inside Bailong Temple?

Or is there something wrong with the physical Buddha? It is related to the reputation of Buddhism. Bailong Temple does not want the family scandal to be publicized and deliberately downplays the impact of the incident?