Unknowingly, Li Xiuyuan was the young and carefree young monk who practiced with his master since childhood under the snowy mountains of the Tang Dynasty.
From the time they first met him, to when the young monk followed Sanzang to the Western Regions to obtain Buddhist scriptures, he told him the story of how he named him Jin Wuliang.
Finally, he said quietly: "The little monk Wuliang and I met on the way were both adopted by the master and had never met their parents. Then they started practicing Buddhism in ignorance..."
The old woman smiled slightly and asked, "Isn't this good?"
Shaking his head, Li Xiuyuan replied: "I don't know... I told Wuliang's master back then that Wuliang was not Tripitaka. Tripitaka was born to be a Buddha, and the young monk had not yet entered the world and seen the human world."
The old woman sighed softly, with a puzzled look on her wrinkled face.
She looked at him and said, "Isn't it all about spiritual practice to be born in and out of the world?"
Li Xiuyuan looked up at the sky. Half of the autumn sky was also black and white.
Thinking about what I said to the old monk back then, I couldn't help but say: "Since you haven't entered the world yet, how can you talk about being born out of the world? If you haven't experienced the joys and sorrows of the world, how can you understand that Bodhisattvas also suffer?"
After hearing this, the old woman sighed and closed her eyes silently.
It seems as if he is recalling some of the past, and he seems to be thinking about whether what Li Xiuyuan said makes sense, and to what extent does it make sense?
Li Xiuyuan continued: "Even Tripitaka, who devoted his whole life to the Buddha and studied and translated sutras, thought of his mother who had left him long ago in the moment before his final nirvana..."
Thinking of Sanzang's appearance when he left, Li Xiuyuan felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
Regardless of whether the old woman could understand it or not, or whether she would jump up and curse at others, she said to herself: "In my opinion, even an eminent monk like Tripitaka was once a human being, and then he went towards becoming a Buddha. ..."
Having said this, Li Xiuyuan stopped talking.
Sitting on the bow of the boat, thinking about Tripitaka, I unconsciously recited the Mahaprajna Sutra.
"...The light is revealed to man and heaven, encompassing the true and the common. Sincerity enters the divine house, and has the spirit of the country. Since it is not a holy virtue, it is far away from Tan, and the philosopher is alone..."
The old woman didn't make any noise to disturb him, she just closed her eyes and listened quietly, as if she had fallen into trance at this moment.
As the boat sailed on the water, a Buddhist sutra floated on the water, neither fast nor slow, neither high nor low. The shopkeeper and the waiter became quiet for a while and stopped whispering.
Mountains are one step away, and water is one step away. After leaving Tianshui, the East China Sea in front is not far away.
...
Although Haiyun Town is under the jurisdiction of the Queen, the business and money earned are from the Central Plains Dynasty, but half of it is from the East China Sea Islands.
Because Helian Mingyue's anger towards the East China Sea has never been eliminated, he has been restricting transactions between the Inland Sea and the East China Sea Islands in recent years.
Therefore, businessmen from the Central Plains who wanted to do business with traders from the East China Sea had to travel thousands of miles to Haiyun Town at the mouth of the sea.
Over time, this small town turned into a water transportation hub and a place of commerce.
There are countless merchants and monks who come here every year, and the population flow is also increasing. It is not unusual for this place to be an important town.
There are many large and small car shops and boat owners in the town. There are even more car drivers, coolies and boatmen engaged in this business, tens of thousands of them.
Originally, merchants and monks from the Central Plains could easily take the big ships from the East China Sea to go out to sea to find opportunities or do business.
Until last time when Shanggui took Pianpian and Peacock home, after setting up a stone monument on the beach, anyone who wanted to can go to the East China Sea.
In the words of the coolies and guys on the local docks, it depends on luck and the boat.
Why do you say that?
Because small boats cannot go to the distant sea, after Laogui returned, he restricted the number of large ships. Currently, there are only two large ships that can carry people to the depths of the East China Sea.
One is a large black iron ship. It is not easy to get on this ship. It depends on luck and the identity of the merchant monk must be checked. Anyone from the Imperial City is not allowed to get on it, and people from the Zoroastrian Cult are not allowed to get on.
There is also a kind of big ship, which comes less often and the color of the ship is much brighter, not as dark and ugly as that one.
When encountering such a ship, monks and businessmen who have never been to the East China Sea can board it casually. There are basically no restrictions.
After autumn, many businessmen and monks have gathered at the dock of Haiyun Town, everyone is waiting for the ship to go out to sea.
Even if they can't come back in the winter, they can still earn enough to cover their expenses for one to two years when they come back next spring.
In the afternoon of this day, while a group of monks were waiting on the edge of the pier, everyone was chatting until their mouths were dry and they were frothing.
Suddenly, a coolie exclaimed: "A big ship is coming..."
After a shout, a group of businessmen and monks were chatting happily and turned their heads to look towards the seaside.
On the calm seaside, suddenly colorful flags were fluttering, and high sails soared into the sky. Under the gaze of everyone, they were slowly lowered and headed for the pier on the shore.
"This is the boat we are waiting for!" some monks shouted.
"Oh, you can get on this boat as you like, there are no restrictions." The coolie at the dock said.
"We have finally waited for this moment." These were the excited voices of a group of businessmen.
"Woooo..." Just as the horn sounded, the big ship docked.
While a group of businessmen, monks, and even coolies were crowding onto the big ship, the small boat Li Xiuyuan and his party were riding was still half a day's waterway away from Haiyun Town.
Not to mention Xiaodie'er and Crow, even Huajiao has never been to Haiyun Town on the East China Sea, which is also a mysterious place for Huajiao.
But the old woman looked at Li Xiuyuan, who was as quiet as an old monk, and said seriously: "The East China Sea is not as good as you think..."
Xiao Die'er on the side was stunned, glanced at the master who lowered his head and said nothing, thought for a while and asked: "Old lady, have you been to the East China Sea before?"
The old woman looked at her with a doting smile on her face: "Of course I've been there before, otherwise I wouldn't be old enough to still want to see it."
The crow doesn't care about any danger. For it, as long as Li Xiuyuan is there, it will fight through even if it is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire.
Thinking of this, Crow couldn't help but ask: "Master, do we want to stay in that town for one night?"
Li Xiuyuan thought for a while and replied: "It depends on the situation. If there is no boat, it's okay to just rest in the town for a few days."
Huajiao thought about it and it was the same. Without a large ship, how could we go to sea?
However, the old woman couldn't help but drink a basin of cold water and said, "That's not necessarily true. Maybe you won't encounter a big sea ship in ten and a half days."
Li Xiuyuan smiled when he heard this: "I guess it's not the four of us, master and apprentice, waiting to go to sea. There should be many people who arrived earlier than us and are already waiting at the beach."
At this moment, the shopkeeper interjected: "Sir, you are right. The most indispensable things in Haiyun Town throughout the year are vendors and coolies."
Xiao Die'er clapped her little hands and said with a smile: "Just right, Xiao Die'er can go shopping slowly with Junior Sister, don't be in a hurry."
...
Just when Li Xiuyuan and his party were about to arrive at a small town on the edge of the East China Sea, Helian Mingyue from Furong Town was also preparing to take two maids and return to the imperial city with Helian Ruoxue.
The Queen, who originally only came here after the Mid-Autumn Festival, this year arrived in Furong Town as early as early autumn because of Li Xiuyuan.
Coupled with the changes that have occurred, the day for her and Gongyang Bo to go to the mountain forest was much earlier this year.
For her, although this year is an unexpected year, it is also a year of surprises and even possible changes.
The young man's intentional or unintentional words planted a seed in Helian Mingyue's heart.
Just after she and Gongyang Bo left the mountain forest, when they returned to Furong Town, a small bud tip had quietly sprouted, waiting for the next spring rain to grow upward.
As for Helian Ruoxue's love for Qingfeng, she didn't know when the seed in this idiot's heart would sprout.
Fortunately, she got the Buddhist scriptures given to her by Li Xiuyuan and quietly broke through two realms. This trip was full of rewards.
I had no choice but to follow my aunt home honestly.
The white dew has passed early, it is already the autumnal equinox, and the fog is heavy in the morning.
Qingfeng and Gongyang Bo sent the queen and the princess to the outside of the town.
Helian Mingyue looked at Gongyang Bo and said with a smile: "It's not easy for you to stay here all these years. Why don't you follow me to the imperial city?"
Gongyang Bo thought for a while and replied: "The abbot has not yet been found in the temple. Qingfeng may not be able to see a mountain by himself. Just wait. There is no rush."
Gongyang Bo, who has regained his vitality, has also let go of some worries like Helian Mingyue.
It's not easy for him to leave this place immediately. I'm afraid it will take another year or two to let the flow of time dilute the sadness in his heart.
Helian Mingyue nodded and thought we would talk about it next year.
Helian Ruoxue thought for a moment, looked at Qingfeng and waved her hand, saying: "Qingfeng, you are also a great monk now. Remember the swordsmanship left by Mr. Xian. I will come see you next year."
Qingfeng's heart trembled, and she had to cup her hands and reply: "The mountains are high and the road is far, your Majesty, Princess, go all the way."
Helian Mingyue looked at the two of them and sighed, waved her hand and said, "Then let's go on our way."
Helian Ruoxue waved her hand, her face full of affection, but she couldn't show it in front of her aunt, so she could only say, "Qingfeng must not forget Ruoxue."
When Qingfeng heard this, he was so frightened that he almost fell down.
Gongyang Bo sighed, immediately supported him, and said with a smile: "Go back and cook porridge to replenish it for you."
Helian Mingyue in the carriage had already left with the slowly moving carriage, but she also heard Gongyang Bo's words.
He couldn't help but blush on his face, looked at Helian Ruoxue and spat: "You are so thick-skinned, you don't even know how to be ashamed."
Helian Ruoxue sighed and said quietly: "Auntie, what should I do in the future?"
...
"Sir, what can we do?"
At dusk, the boat finally docked at the shore of Haiyun Town. Huajiao looked at the empty dock and said to Li Xiuyuan beside him in a daze.
Not far away, a man looked at the master and apprentice and said with a smile: "You guys are a little late. There are still big ships going out to sea today... we can only wait for the next one."
Xiaodie'er looked at the silent master, held his hand and smiled: "Master, I'm hungry."
Li Xiuyuan smiled faintly and said to the old woman beside him: "Senior, why don't you go to the inn with me to rest first, and wait until there is a boat before going out to sea?"
The old woman smiled slightly: "Okay."
Huajiao came up and helped the old woman with a smile: "Sir, there is a carriage in front of you. Let's go over and ask. We will find an inn to stay first, and then we will feed senior sister and junior brother."
The crow croaked and said with a smile: "Sister, your eyes are hungry, but the crow is not."
No matter how reserved the old woman was, she was off guard by Wu Wu's words. She couldn't help but smile and even squinted her eyes.
It wasn't until he got on the carriage that he sighed to Li Xiuyuan: "Young gentleman, with these two precious disciples, I think even if I go to that boring place in the East China Sea, I won't be lonely."
I don't know at what moment, even the old woman changed her tune and called Li Xiuyuan Mr. Xiao.
Or maybe it was because Li Xiuyuan had recited the Mahaprajna Sutra all the way, which made the old woman feel something, thinking that it would be a pity for the young man in front of her not to become a monk and become a monk.
Li Xiuyuan didn't take it seriously. Thinking of the hardships Xiao Die'er had endured before, even if he was a bit willful, he would not restrain her.
Thinking of this, Li Xiuyuan smiled: "When we find the inn, I will let Huajiao take you two shopping."
...
