When the cold winter passed and spring returned, a monk named Bian Zhener went to Foguang Temple in Mount Wutai alone.
The abbot there asked him, "You are a wandering monk, already close to the secular world , no different from ordinary people. Why do you want to convert to Buddhism again?"
Bian Zhener bowed with one palm and said, "I have violated the Buddhist rules, I have fallen in love with women and started killing, and I have made the people of Lingqiu County live in misery. I do not ask for Buddha's forgiveness, I only ask that I live with a green lamp and a wooden fish in the future, not caring about worldly affairs, and end this remaining life."
"How can you not care about worldly affairs when you have worldly affairs in your mind? Well, what is your secular name?" asked the abbot.
Bian Zhener thought for a long time, as if he was recalling a story. Then he knelt on the ground and said, "Liu Wuduan."
"From now on, there will be no more Liu Wuduan in the world. There will only be Wangchen in Foguang Temple. Calling you Wangchen means that I want you to forget your past in this world."
"Thank you, Abbot."
…
Forget Chen, forget Chen. I'm sure he will be able to forget it.
A month ago, Bian Zhener transferred the cold poison in Liu Zhuiyi's body back to himself. He left the Jiaoweiqin to Liu Zhuiyi, and entrusted Liu Zhuiyi to Yun Yao for care, and asked Yun Yao to take Liu Zhuiyi back to Chang'an City. He asked Yun Yao to tell Liu Zhuiyi that Bian Zhener was dead, dead in the mortal world.
Yun Yao asked Bian Zhen'er if he had thought twice and decided to become a monk. Bian Zhen'er told him: "The consequences I caused are irreversible. A person who has committed sins for half his life cannot bring happiness to Liu'er. Yun Yao, Liu'er is in your hands. Tell her that it is her misfortune to meet me in this life."
After saying that, Bian Zhener left them.
Yun Yao drove back to Chang'an with Liu Zhuiyi. After Liu Zhuiyi returned to Chang'an, she missed Bian Zhen'er day and night and cried while holding the Jiaoweiqin. Yun Yao felt sorry for her miserable life and finally gave up his feelings. In the third year after returning to Chang'an, he told Liu Zhuiyi where Bian Zhen'er was.
Liu Zhuiyi brought the Jiaowei Qin all the way to Mount Wutai. Outside the Foguang Temple, the little monk who reported the news ran out and said to Liu Zhuiyi: "Female donor, Senior Brother Wangchen asked me to bring you a message."
Liu Zhuiyi nodded and said, "You go ahead."
The young monk bowed and said, "He said, 'In my life, I have seen everyone in the world, except my beloved. Please go back, female donor.' Amitabha."
Liu Zhuiyi smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, little master."
Then, she really left.
Since Bian Zhen'er refused to see her, she would just stay with him. Liu Zhuiyi built a thatched house at the foot of Mount Wutai and planted a red plum tree at the door. When winter comes, you can see the scene of red plum blossoms and snow.
Day after day, year after year, Liu Zhuiyi listened to Bian Zhener's morning and evening drums, and Bian Zhener listened to the sound of the zither coming from the foot of Mount Wutai. They spent their lives like this, not seeing each other but still missing each other.
From being young and frivolous to having gray hair.
…
This is the whole story the old woman told me. I sat beside her, wiped the tears from my face, and said, "Bian Zhen'er... he loved you. He said that there were only two people in his heart in this life, one was the master, and the other was Miss Liu. You also loved Bian Zhen'er, and you still do. If you were both human beings... it would be great."
I couldn't help but sigh. The old woman smiled, with wrinkles in the corners of her eyes. She said, "The world... Bian Zhen'er is not a worldly person, and I have never loved a worldly person."
I remained silent and said nothing more.
The evening drum and morning bell are still there, the sound of the scorched-tail zither is still there, the feelings are still there, the people are still there, so what is missing? Probably... the long years.
After bidding farewell to the old woman, I returned to Chang'an City by the same route. Later, I heard that the Mr. Zhangguo who told the story in the Lujiufang was Yun Yao, the second son of the Yun family in Chang'an City.
I heard that he never married in his life.