Two Taoists walked through the bustling streets.
Mao'er walked in front with cheerful little steps. He seemed to have memorized the way back. He stopped from time to time and looked back at Song You behind him, then at the Imperial Master, and at Song You's clothes again. The clothes on the Imperial Master's body were on, and she glanced at Song You's feet, then at the Imperial Master's feet. She didn't know what she was thinking, but when they got closer, she continued to move forward.
Behind him were the voices of two Taoists talking.
"I wonder if Master Duoxing is okay?"
“It was still going strong when it came down the mountain.”
"When I was young, I followed my master. Oh, he is also my father. I was lucky enough to meet Taoist Master Duoxing." The national master showed a nostalgic look, "I still remember the style of Taoist Master Duoxing."
"She is getting older now. She usually stays in the temple. She neither goes down the mountain nor sees guests." Song You replied in a low voice, "When I leave, I'm afraid the door to the Taoist temple will rarely be opened again."
"Really?" The Imperial Master seemed a little surprised, "I heard that Taoist Master Duoxing loved making friends back then."
"Maybe it's because I ran out of friends when I was young."
"rational……"
"As you get older, things will change."
"Who in this world is immortal?"
"yes……"
Song You paused and looked at him again: "I wonder how the Imperial Master recognized me?"
"Although my talent is not very high, I am favored by His Majesty and am regarded as a national advisor. In his position, he will naturally seek to achieve his political goals. Naturally, I have to pay more attention to worldly affairs." The imperial advisor said with a smile, "I have heard this since I heard that. After Cui Nanxi met an immortal in Yunding Mountain, he was curious, so he looked up the legends about immortals in the world in recent years, and found some obvious connections. Mingde was in Yizhou in the first year, Xuzhou in the second year of Mingde, and Nan Hua in Pingzhou The rumors in the county were in the early summer of the second year of Mingde, and in the Yunding Mountain in the late summer and early autumn of the third year of Mingde. Finally, there were also rumors in Jingzhou and Angzhou. Until this year, the Changjing City God and the demons outside the city, think about it, they are almost the same. It’s time for another generation of Fulongguan descendants to come down the mountain.”
"I see."
"One night on the mountain and one year on the mountain. Fellow Taoist is truly an immortal." The Imperial Master glanced at him, "Then Cui Nanxi is lucky enough to meet fellow Taoist."
"It's just a coincidence." Song You shook his head, "The National Master's plan was brilliant."
"The poor Taoist guild is just a small way, and the big way is in Fulong Temple. The Tiansuan Taoist back then was the true immortal that I admired at Fengtian Temple in Luming Mountain." The Imperial Master complimented him, "But then again, in Fulong Temple, In front of Longguan's inheritance, which inheritance in the world is not a small path?"
"What the National Master said is wrong. All the laws in the world can reach the extreme, and there is no way to distinguish between great ways and small ways." Song You paused for a moment, "I have heard that the National Master can govern the country with martial arts and bring peace to the country. He is knowledgeable and able to calculate, and he has assisted the people of Dayan to make the people rich and the country strong. This is worthy of admiration."
"Don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously. People in the world don't scold Pindao. Thousands of years later, no one will say that Pindao's demonic laws are ruining the country. Pindao will burn high incense." The national master looked ashamed, "If Pindao is really capable, then We won’t let those monsters outside the city cause chaos for many years without being able to do anything about them. We have to wait until fellow Taoists arrive in Changjing to calm them down.”
"Everyone has his or her own strengths."
"It's still early in the morning, and Pindao's Star Observation Tower is not far from here. I still have a few taels of tea given by His Majesty at home. If my fellow Taoist appreciates it, I'll go sit down and have a long chat with my fellow Taoist."
"..."
Song You thought for a moment, then nodded and said:
"Then I'm sorry to bother you."
The reputation of this Imperial Master among literati and ordinary people was indeed more positive than negative, but after all, he was too deeply involved in power. A lazy person like Song You should not have a close relationship with him. However, meeting is fate. They are both Taoists and have had a relationship with the master. Now, if they are invited warmly and it is just a casual chat between Taoists, there is nothing wrong with it.
"this way please……"
The Imperial Master pointed to the right of the alley ahead.
The calico cat had already walked to the left. He turned around to look at them when he heard the sound, and ran back again, but this time he was walking behind.
About a quarter of an hour later.
Song You and Mao stopped under the star observation tower and both looked up.
This is a pavilion specially built by the emperor of the current dynasty for the imperial master to observe the stars at night. It is located in a secluded place and the terrain is high. The pavilion is also built high and has a majestic posture. It is nearly twenty feet high and the bottom floor is more than ten feet wide. It has five floors of cornices and a glazed tile roof. Perhaps thousands of years later, if this pavilion is not destroyed by natural disasters or man-made disasters, it will also be a famous building in the world and a place where future generations will check in when they come to Changjing.
Maybe it will also be written in poetry and prose.
At this time, it only belongs to one person.
It is said that the imperial master usually lives in the Star Observation Tower, and he does not have a residence in Changjing.
"please……"
The Imperial Master should go in first.
Naturally, such a famous building is not comparable to a small street building like Song You. Once you walk in, there is a huge space on the first floor, which is used to receive guests. There are many rooms on the second floor, which are used for Taoist boys under the Imperial Master. The third floor is full of bookshelves, full of books and scrolls. The fourth floor is where the Imperial Master lives. There is also a room in the middle of the fifth floor with tables, chairs and coffee tables. I think the Imperial Master occasionally invites people up to drink tea and talk. , there is a corridor surrounding the floor, which can be used for stargazing.
The imperial master invited him to the top floor and personally found a charcoal stove to light a fire and boil water for tea.
"I haven't introduced you to the Imperial Master yet. This is the Sanhua Empress. I met her after we went down the mountain and traveled around the world together." Song You paused for a moment, then looked at the Sanhua Cat, "This is the Imperial Master. "
"It turns out to be Empress Sanhua, disrespectful and disrespectful."
"It turns out to be the Imperial Master, disrespectful and disrespectful~"
The calico cat imitated people's tone of voice, but it didn't sound like it. The imperial master couldn't help but smile, lowered his head and hammered tea leaves, and added charcoal to the small stove.
"The Lord Chenghuang of Changjing has been more and more diligent in the past two months, and Changjing has also become more peaceful. This is all due to fellow Taoists."
"I just gave him a push, no credit at all."
"The Lord Cheng Huang, who is a poor Taoist, also has some understanding. At that time, Queen Pei was well-educated and well-behaved. She managed the harem in an orderly manner. To be able to raise such a daughter, she is not a mediocre person. She just didn't dare to act lightly without virtue and prestige. Secondly, he is timid and lacks courage. He has always been timid, fearing to anger the powerful and be deposed. Thirdly, he does not know what the popular feeling of the people is. He only thinks that being the city god is a gift from His Majesty. He can live on forever in such a muddle-headed way. When he comes back to his senses, Come on, when you find that your spiritual body is in danger, it is no longer as easy to make up your mind as it was before."
Crush the tea leaves with a mallet and grind them in a tea mortar. The sound coming and going is very quiet, accompanying the sound of his voice.
"Pindao also thought about helping him make up his mind. However, Pindao only knows divination and calculation. He has neither the ability to scare him nor the magic power to help him get rid of demons. Fortunately, fellow Taoist friends are here. Now it seems that, then, After the City God has experienced the true love and incense of the people, I am afraid that if someone forces him to go back and lie down, he will not be able to lie down anymore."
"The things I have done are actually very small."
"But sometimes it's just like this. In just one thought, a step to the left or a step to the right can make a huge difference. But not everyone is like fellow Taoist and has the ability to make him take a small step to the left."
"Each has his or her own strengths."
Not long after, three cups of tea were placed in front of me.
"please!"
"..."
Song You picked up a glass and took a sip.
With good tea leaves, good water, and good tea art, the tea that comes out will also be good tea.
The calico cat also lowered his head and took a lick, looking thoughtful.
"how?"
“Good tea.”
"Meow~"
"That's good."
The Imperial Master smiled, then looked at Song You, and said with a smile: "Taoist people are casual by nature, especially in Fulong Temple. Poor Taoists will not go around the bush. Have you ever heard of reincarnation in the underworld?"
"I've heard it a lot."
"Since fellow Taoist disciples of Fulong Temple, you naturally know where the Heavenly Palace came from, and where did the gods and Buddhas in the sky come from." The Imperial Master also raised his cup to drink tea, "Nowadays, people are gradually convinced that there is an underworld underground, just like back then. They are convinced that there are gods three feet above their head, and they are also gradually convinced that they will enter reincarnation after death. I wonder what you think of this?"
It turned out that he invited himself here because he wanted to talk about this.
Song You raised his cup and sipped tea again.
I don’t know if what Beishan Taoist said about “the underworld of reincarnation is being fueled by the national master” is true or false. I don’t know if the national master is asking this question because he is not sure whether these beliefs can unite the underworld to create reincarnation. I would like to hear what the descendants of Fulong Temple think about it. How do you think about this? Or maybe he has some thoughts on this and wants to hear Fulongguan's opinion, or maybe he needs his own help.
"Let nature take its course."
Song You put down the tea cup and said.
The Imperial Master listened calmly and poured half a cup for him: "Speaking of it, the theory of underworld and reincarnation has something to do with Buddhism. I went to Tianhai Temple today to visit Abbot Zhenghui and discussed it with him. Regarding the theory of reincarnation in the underworld, Abbot Zhenghui is very knowledgeable and insightful, and I have benefited a lot from it."
"What does the Imperial Master think?"
"Pindao believes that there are many lonely ghosts in the world who have not dissipated and have nowhere to stay. There are also many evildoers in the world who have escaped from the laws of the world for various reasons, or the laws of the world cannot punish them."
"yes."
"If there is an underworld, it can not only take in the lonely souls and wild ghosts in the world, give them a place to stay, but also prevent them from causing chaos in the Yang world. It can also set up a law enforcement department in the underworld to deal with those ghosts who cause chaos in the Yang world, and it will also help the human world. The rule of peace and law. In addition, if the soul no longer disperses naturally after death, the underworld is the destination of everyone after death. Those who have violated the law in the upper world and are not punished, whether they hide it from heaven or because of their noble status, do not receive the laws of the upper world. Those who are being punished, when they get here, they will all be tried again. If they are acquitted in the world and punished in the underworld, won't this also deter the evildoers?"
"..."
Song You thought for a while and had something to say, but he was not sure whether he had thought it through clearly or whether the Imperial Master wanted to hear it, so he gave up and just smiled and said to him:
"If the Imperial Master's words were heard by the royal nobles in the court, I don't know how many people would be unable to sleep."
"Of course I don't dare to tell them, and I don't dare to tell it outside. However, Fulong Temple is a place outside the world, and the temple owners in the past generations are human beings. Looking at the world, I only dare to tell it to fellow Taoists. "Now." The Imperial Master narrowed his eyes again when he said this, "But then again, it doesn't matter if they can't sleep. It's a good time if they can't sleep. If there is this underworld that can keep them awake, it should be a good underworld."
"There must have been such rumors among the people for a long time."
"Fellow Taoist refers to..."
"A talk about hell."
"So, even if they are afraid, they shouldn't be afraid of poor Taoists. People think so whether there are poor Taoists or not. If they can make poor Taoists dare not speak nonsense, how can they make the people of the world dare not think nonsense? "
"It doesn't sound easy."
"What Taoist fellow Taoist said is true, but from the current point of view, under the will of the people and the convergence of beliefs, the cohesion of the underworld is almost inevitable. The only difference lies in when it cohere and what form it takes. This cohesion is How does the underworld work?" The Imperial Master shook his head, "If we leave it alone, the underworld will be in chaos when it is first established."
"It's like the Heavenly Palace at the beginning."
"Exactly! The gods are fighting for position, and people are also fighting for position. On the contrary, the world is full of monsters and monsters, and the people are in dire straits!"
"What do the Imperial Masters think?"
"Make preparations early, link up with the Heavenly Palace, and the imperial court below, and prepare for the construction of the Yin Division." The Imperial Master said, "When the underworld first becomes simple, it will do simple things, and then it will gradually improve, and then it will do perfect things. From the poor point of view, the initial The underworld only needs to have the underworld to hunt down the demons and ghosts in the world. When the underworld gradually improves, and the faith and incense of living beings creates more underworld gods and brings more magical powers to the underworld, the underworld will have more responsibilities and can naturally do more things. , the most important thing is to do it naturally, step by step, without making any trouble..."
The Imperial Master had a long talk with Song You.
It was probably because there was no one else to say these words except the descendant of Fulongguan. Once he started talking, he couldn't stop. However, because the two of them had just met for the first time and didn't know each other very well, they restrained themselves.
Only talk about big things and trends, things that will definitely happen.
Small details are not mentioned.
Song You didn't ask him what his position would be in the underworld if it was built, or what the position of the current emperor who supported him would be. That was inappropriate. At the same time, Song You didn't care much. His life was short, and the only thing worth looking forward to was the completion of the underworld. He was to witness this amazing thing happen, and he had no other ideas or pursuits.
"I wonder if you think it can be done?"
"As the Imperial Master said, since the people all over the world firmly believe in this, and some people have even enshrined the statue of the Yin God, the birth of the underworld is only a matter of time." Song You thought about it and said, "The birth of the underworld is simple, but to evolve it Reincarnation, I’m afraid, is not easy.”
"My fellow Taoist sees the same thing as Pindao." The national master said, "It's just that Pindao thinks that since it is only a matter of time before the underworld can be united, it is better to let it succeed in this generation. Now that Dayan is strong, His Majesty is also a wise man. Although the emperor and prince are still undecided and fighting for power and profit, they are not incompetent. Although the world is not peaceful, it is stable, and it is a good time."
"I admire the vastness of the Imperial Master's concerns."
"What do fellow Taoists think?"
"I don't understand, so I don't dare to say anything." Song You glanced at the sky outside and cupped his hands, "It's getting late, I have to go back to cook, it's almost time to say goodbye."
"Why leave in a hurry? Why not just have dinner here in Pindao and watch the stars together at night."
"Definitely next time."
Song You had already stood up.
In the past few days, everything she had eaten was money brought back from outside by her neighbor, the heroine. The heroine provided the ingredients, and he was responsible for the cooking, sharing the company with each other, and tasting the fresh food. If she didn't go back, she might be hungry.
(End of chapter)
