"Who would have thought that Lingyou, the crazy monk who single-handedly banned Buddhism, would end up like this?"
With a slight sigh, Zou Qiwu told Pei Wende about Zen Master Lingyou's great achievements in his youth, while recalling the astonishment he felt when he just saw him.
Even now, it is difficult for Zou Qiwu to imagine and accept it.
The crazy monk who advocated "reclaiming the land of temples and Taoists to replenish the national treasury" has now turned into a weak, skinny old monk.
Every time he thinks about this, Zou Qiwu can't help but feel sad.
"Twenty years ago, not long after you were born..."
"Emperor Wenzong suddenly ordered that all babies born on the third day of March that year should be found."
Although Zou Qiwu, who was only a mortal, did not know what happened at that time, he vaguely heard some rumors such as the soul boy offering sacrifices to heaven and the elixir of longevity.
What followed was a great purge and the defection of Zen Master Lingyou, Wenzong's right-hand man.
In order to repay the kindness of Zen Master Lingyou, Zou Qiwu, who was already rich at that time, resolutely decided to help him, rescued Pei Wende from the interception of the Imperial Guards, and sent him out of the crisis-ridden Chang'an.
Only then did Zen Master Lingyou and Pei Wende escape to Mount Zhongnan, successfully escaping from Kyoto despite being pursued by various forces.
"After that, Wenzong, who had no way to retreat, launched the 'Nanlu Rebellion' and was eventually seized by the eunuchs and placed under house arrest in the palace."
Sighing softly again, Zou Qiwu's words, although brief, painted a thrilling picture of the times to everyone present.
"It wasn't until the current emperor ascended the throne and began to worship Taoism and suppress Buddhism that a new era began."
Perhaps because of the experience and lessons learned by Emperor Wenzong, the current emperor Li Yan has taken a clear stance on advocating Taoism and suppressing Buddhism since he boarded the plane. He even directly issued the "Edict to Exterminate Buddhism" not long ago.
It was not until that time that Zou Qiwu learned that the mad monk who disappeared twenty years ago was living in seclusion in this dangerous place in southern Hunan due to the aftermath of "Dan Chenzi's attack on the mountain".
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"Is this what happened twenty years ago?"
Although I have long known about Zen Master Lingyou's forced invasion of Zhongnan Mountain.
But after hearing the whole story from the person involved, Zou Qiwu, Pei Wende couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt.
For this unrelated baby, Zen Master Lingyou really gave up too many things.
Identity, status, power, and even his own life...
If Zen Master Lingyou had not chosen to disobey Wenzong at that time, he might still be the unruly mad monk today, still running to realize his ideals.
On the other hand, today's Zen Master Lingyou not only can only survive in Tongqing Temple, but also has to endure the severe pain of the heart chakra every day.
This sharp contrast between one after another, one up and down, even Pei Hong, who was silent on the side, didn't know what words to use to describe his state of mind.
[So, did so many things happen in the first place? 】
His father's old face flashed through his mind.
Pei Hong, who originally thought that "bringing Pei Wende home to recognize his ancestors" was a matter of course, suddenly felt that Zen Master Lingyou acted more like a father than his own father.
[Is this why the old man has been reluctant to force them? 】
All kinds of thoughts kept echoing in Pei Hong's heart, and he who was originally confident suddenly lost the reason to take Pei Wende back.
"It turns out that dad went through so many things when he was young!"
Pulling Zou Qiwu's sleeves affectionately, Yue'er, who listened to the whole process, looked at her father with admiring eyes.
"Haha, these are just adult memories!"
Laughing and rubbing Yue'er's head, Zou Qiwu looked at Pei Wende, who was almost as tall as himself, and sighed sincerely.
"Pei Wende, you are much better than I thought!"
Before going up the mountain, Zou Qiwu heard some stories about Pei Wende from nearby villagers.
After this detailed observation and conversation, Zou Qiwu was even more certain that he had not saved the wrong person.
Just as the villagers said, Pei Wende may have a hot temper, but in other aspects he undoubtedly meets the standard of "Bodhisattva-hearted".
Apart from anything else, it can be seen from the fact that the other party chose to go down the mountain with Pei Hong without hesitation this time to solve the haunting incident that is happening in Ningxiang.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
At the foot of Weishan Mountain, near Anxiangyi.
"You think...which wave is this?"
Heavily armed people blocked the entrance of the post station, and several familiar post officers were seen whispering and watching warily to see if there were any refugees passing by outside.
"At this age, who would count these things?"
Angrily, he retorted in a low voice. When one of the post officers noticed a wave of unfamiliar refugees approaching, he immediately raised the weapon in his hand to threaten them.
It can be seen from the clothes of these refugees that they are not local villagers living in Tanzhou.
After realizing that the post officials refused to allow their people to approach, the wandering refugees were stunned for a moment, then numbly turned around and walked in the other direction.
For these refugees who have lost their homes and everything, being ostracized by the locals is a matter of course.
They have long been accustomed to all this, and now they just want to move on, continue walking, and find a new home that is willing to accept them and allow them to live.
"It's all because of the hateful locust plague!"
Upon seeing this, a post officer who was obviously a little intolerable could only gnash his teeth and curse.
Since the beginning of this year, the weather in various places has begun to experience various abnormalities.
Although the terrifying locust plague has not swept across the entire land of China, signs have already appeared in some places.
Coupled with the "Edict to Exterminate Buddhas" passed down from above some time ago, even the remote area of Tanzhou began to be affected.
"This is the result of both natural and man-made disasters..."
"Don't forget what happened to Old Man Cao. If you don't want to die, don't have any unnecessary pity."
There was a slight pause in his tone. The post officer who spoke first clenched the steel knife in his hand and spoke in a tone of suppressed panic.
"After all, no one knows whether these hungry people and refugees are good or bad, and whether there are any monsters hidden among them."
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