Chapter 51: Don’t Look Outside for Help
Along the way, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but glance at the little monk from the side.
Is he the legendary Tang Xuanzang?
Master Tripitaka, the most eminent monk of the Tang Dynasty in official history, and the reincarnation of the golden cicada that made countless female fairies infatuated in "Journey to the West", Tang Monk?
Although Journey to the West is just a novel, Li Daoxuan did not travel to the Tang Dynasty in official history. There are many demons and monsters here, and those high and mighty immortals and Buddhas have long disappeared.
Recalling the young monk's natural wisdom, Li Daoxuan could not help but suspect that he was really the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, the Tang Monk who could achieve immortality .
I don’t know if he can just peel off the skin on his hands or feet, I can leave it for Master to eat…
"Master Li, why are you looking at me?"
Xuanzang touched his smooth head and asked in confusion.
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he always felt that the way Taoist Li looked at him was the same as when his master saw silver.
Li Daoxuan coughed and said, "It's nothing, it's just that you look like an old friend of mine."
After a pause, he asked tentatively: "Xuanzang, have you ever thought about going abroad... leaving the Tang Dynasty and going to the West to have a look?"
Hearing this, Xuanzang's master, Master Sanle, was slightly startled and glanced at Li Daoxuan without leaving a trace.
Xuanzang frowned and asked in confusion: "Why do you want to leave the Tang Dynasty?"
He shook his head and said firmly: "I am a Tang Dynasty native, so I will never leave the Tang Dynasty. Taoist Li, please stop joking with me."
Li Daoxuan laughed in his heart. Tang Seng said that he didn’t want to travel west. This was the biggest joke.
However, Li Daoxuan saw that he was sincere when he said this, and there was no trace of yearning in his eyes when he mentioned the West.
This is good, after all, now that the gods and Buddhas have disappeared, who will organize the party for them?
Without the protection of Monkey King and his companions, it would be difficult to leave the territory of the Tang Dynasty, let alone overcome the eighty-one difficulties. After all, there are many demons and monsters hiding in the Tang Dynasty now.
As they talked along the way, Li Daoxuan also understood their situation.
Master Sanle was the abbot of Dacheng Temple in the north of the city, and Xuanzang was his only disciple. The two settled in Yuzhang City.
At first, Li Daoxuan was puzzled as to why a temple abbot would fall to the point of performing on the streets?
It was not until he saw Dacheng Temple that he understood the reason.
It’s broken, it’s really broken!
The entire Dacheng Temple was in a dilapidated state and had fallen into disrepair. The walls were covered with ivy, many of the wood had rotted, and there was a musty smell.
The plaque at the door has faded and the words can no longer be seen.
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but sigh that the level of misery was almost catching up with his master's Zhenyang Taoist Temple.
When we entered the temple, it was empty. In the entire Dacheng Temple, there were only two monks, Master Sanle and Xuanzang.
Master Sanle sighed, "Donors, don't look at this place as shabby. It was quite prosperous ten years ago. Unfortunately, the last abbot, Master Huihai, made a mistake in choosing me as his successor. As a result, Dacheng Temple became increasingly desolate. Later, even the disciples fled. I almost starved to death."
He touched Xuanzang's bald head and said with a smile: "Fortunately, one day, when I was releasing water from the river, I found a wooden basin with a baby boy in it. He is the current Xuanzang."
As he said this, he hit Xuanzang's bald head hard.
"Why are you still standing there like an idiot? I'm hungry, go and cook!"
Gu~~
Master Sanle's stomach made a loud noise. He chuckled and said to Li Daoxuan, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, benefactor."
Xuanzang gave his master a blank look, then rolled up his sleeves, walked into the kitchen, and began to skillfully light a fire and cook despite his young age.
Master Sanle took Li Daoxuan to visit Dacheng Temple.
The temple is not big, with only three rooms. Sakyamuni is enshrined in the middle, Amitabha is enshrined on the left, and Maitreya Buddha is enshrined on the right.
What surprised Li Daoxuan was that the statues of the Three Buddhas were very worn out, with the gold paint almost falling off, and they looked as if they had been taken off by someone.
He glanced at Master Sanle.
Master Sanle smiled and said, "I was the one who deducted the gold and lacquer. During that time, Xuanzang was starving and all the valuable things in the temple were sold out, so I could only deduct the gold and lacquer to exchange for money."
After a pause, he smiled and said, "In fact, it doesn't matter if there is no gold paint. The Three Pure Ones can be sculpted with clay, so why can't the Buddha be sculpted with clay?"
Li Daoxuan was stunned, thinking that this sentence had some Zen meaning, but the next moment, Master Sanle broke this Zen meaning.
"Hehe, I see that you like Xuanzang very much. I'm sure you won't bear to see Xuanzang starving with me..."
He pushed the donation box and said, "Donor, since you are here, how about giving some more money?"
Li Daoxuan laughed and took out three taels of silver and put them into the merit box.
"Just a little token of my appreciation. Thank you Master for hosting me tonight."
"Hey, you're welcome, you're welcome. I wish you could come every day!"
Master Sanle's eyes lit up and he couldn't stop smiling.
After a while, Li Daoxuan finished visiting the three temples and saw a plaque hanging outside the courtyard with four large characters written crookedly on it.
Don’t look outside for help!
Li Daoxuan suddenly understood why the Dacheng Temple was abandoned. The pilgrims had made a circle of worship and donated money, but when they walked out the door and looked up, they realized, "Oh my god, don't ask for help from outsiders!"
If you don’t go bankrupt, who will?
…
evening.
The vegetarian dishes made by Xuanzang were very delicious. Master Sanle ate them with great relish. Li Daoxuan was also greedy when he saw them. It was a pity that he was still in the early stage of fasting and could not eat them.
After the meal, Xuanzang consciously cleaned up the dishes, washed his hands, held a Buddhist scripture, sat under the statue of Sakyamuni, and began to recite softly in the dim candlelight.
His voice was pure and clear, his expression was peaceful and serene, and despite his young age, he already had the temperament of a great monk.
The Buddha lowered his eyebrows, as if he was looking at the little monk who was chanting the scriptures.
Ancient temples, Buddha statues, bright candles, novice monks...
As beautiful as a painting.
Listening to his chanting, Li Daoxuan felt himself become calmer.
An hour later.
Li Daoxuan came to his room, which Xuanzang had already tidied . Although it was simple, the dust and other things had been cleaned away.
He sat upright on the bed. At this moment, Xuanzang and Master Sanle had already fallen asleep. He could even hear Master Sanle's thunderous snoring.
Li Daoxuan did not sleep, but held the Five Thunder Talisman in his hand, secretly alert.
When night falls, that is when the dirty stuff is most active, and the enemies hiding in the dark may take the opportunity to strike!
…
Outside the Dacheng Temple, an old man with a cane, hunched over, stood quietly outside the door.
Under the moonlight, his shadow was very strange, with a long fluttering tail and a pointed face, just like a weasel standing on two feet!
There was some hesitation in his eyes, and he had been lingering at the door for a long time.
After Li Daoxuan entered the Qingyi Temple, he didn't dare to follow him anymore. He didn't even dare to set foot near the Qingyi Temple.
Fortunately, Li Daoxuan soon left the vicinity of Qingyi Temple and walked alone on the street.
During that time, he followed him again and was ready to take action. After all, it was just a clone, and at worst he would die in Yuzhang City.
However, what he didn't expect was that the two monks suddenly appeared.
The little monk was fine, but he couldn't figure out the fat monk. He didn't dare to take action for a while. He wanted to wait until they separated before taking action, but he didn't expect that they actually lived together!
The hatred of killing a son is irreconcilable!
Moreover, as Huang Daxian who has been practicing for 800 years, although he is only an incarnation, he is also proficient in many magic arts and has a deep level of Taoism. Even if this fat monk really has some skills, he would probably not be willing to fight with him for a stranger!
After hesitating for a moment, he finally made up his mind.
Tonight, revenge!
He wants to make that little Taoist priest pay for his blood debt with blood!