Chapter 47: The Ancient Buddha Temple

  The great name of the ancient Buddha Temple, I had never heard of it before. At least in my impression, neither my parents nor the uncles and aunts in the village mentioned the three words "Ancient Buddha Temple" when they were chatting.

  At first, when I heard my master Zhushan Laodao say so, I felt from the name that this ancient Buddhist temple should be a very powerful temple. The reason why I think so is simple. My master Zhushan Laodao is quite famous among Taoist priests, and the monks he personally invited must also be high-ranking monks who have attained enlightenment.

  It is said that people rely on their clothes, and temples rely on their packaging. For example, a famous and prestigious high monk, the temple he lives in should naturally be a magnificent temple that can hold its own. Therefore, before I and my master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, arrived at the Ancient Buddha Temple, I had always thought that the Ancient Buddha Temple was a grand and majestic temple with a thriving incense business.

  But after trekking for four or five hours, walking over ten miles of mountain roads, and crossing two big mountains with my master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, to arrive at that ancient temple, I was immediately stunned.

  In front of me, this ancient temple was just a dilapidated earth wall house. There wasn't even a sign at the entrance. Not to mention a sign, but one of the two doors that made up the large gate was also missing, leaving only one door. Looking through the gate, with the faint light, I could barely see a stone Buddha statue placed in the center of the room.

  After seeing these scenes, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart. "What kind of temple is this? It's not even as good as a land temple!"

  Of course, no matter how I feel about it, I couldn't change the dilapidated appearance of this ancient temple, nor could I alter the reality that this is indeed an ancient temple.

  However, after seeing the true appearance of the ancient temple, I had some distrust towards the monk that my master Zhangshan Lao Dao was going to invite. Can a monk who has turned his own temple into such a dilapidated state be a capable one?

  "Is Master Hui Zhi here?" My master, Zhang Shan Lao Dao, seemed to be not very concerned about the dilapidated scene of this ancient temple. It was clear that he had mentally prepared himself for this scene, which means my master must have been here before.

  My master, Zhang Shan Lao Dao, shouted for half a day, but no one came out to talk to him.

  "Master, aren't you mistaken? This place is so run down, it can't be the ancient temple, right?" I saw Master yelling for half a day with no one responding, and I thought he really was mistaken. This place, although it looks like a temple, is completely a broken-down temple! It doesn't look like a place where a high-ranking monk would stay at all. So, I expressed my doubts to Master.

  "What a load of crap!" My master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, cursed and then said: "That Hui Zhizhe monk is just a good-for-nothing, he can ruin even the best temple. He can only live in this broken temple."

  My master finished speaking and stopped shouting randomly, instead directly stepping into that half-opened big gate.

  "Since we can't wake up that wise monk, I'll just have to enter uninvited." My master, the old Daoist of Bamboo Mountain, comforted himself with a sentence.

  As soon as I heard my master say the two words "poor way", I couldn't help but want to laugh. Someone like my master who is greedy for wealth and good at accumulating it, actually dares to call himself poor? You know, just my master Zhushan Laodao's own wealth is more than that of the entire Shimavillage, yet he still dares to call himself "poor way", truly having a thick face.

  One moment I was silently scolding my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao in my heart, the next moment my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao had already entered the great hall of the ancient Buddhist temple.

  My master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, has already gone in. As his apprentice, I couldn't just stand outside waiting. Besides, it's still dark outside and the sky is pitch black, which can be quite frightening for one person to stay alone. Therefore, I followed my master from behind and walked through that door.

  As soon as I entered, I found a bald old monk crouched in the corner of the wall. If he hadn't been bald, I would have taken him for a beggar.

  "It's daylight, get up!" My master, the old Taoist priest Zhangshan, walked to the monk's side, shaking his body and shouting loudly.

  The monk yawned and opened his eyes with great effort, looking at my master, the old Taoist of Bamboo Mountain, with a drowsy gaze.

  "What's all the commotion about at this late hour? Has a ghost risen?" The monk said gruffly, then closed his eyes to sleep again.

  My master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, had a hard time waking up this monk, and of course he wouldn't let him fall asleep again so easily. "Wise Old Bald Donkey, the rooster has been crowing for half a day, why aren't you getting up to do your morning lessons?" My master said while pulling that Wise Monk up with force.

  "Zhúshān's cow nose, what fart are you talking about? Hurry up and let it go! I'm still trying to sleep!" Master Huìzhì knew that my master Zhúshān had come to find him with a purpose, and it was impossible for him to have rushed over in the middle of the night just to chat.

  "Help me subdue two wild ghosts." My master, the old Daoist of Bamboo Mountain, didn't play any tricks on that wise monk Hui Zhi either, but instead directly stated his purpose.

  "Are you referring to the two wild ghosts?" Hui Zhizhang looked at my master with a puzzled expression and asked.

  My master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist's ability, that Hui Zhizhang is very clear. For a lonely soul and wild ghost who has been drifting outside for one or two years, my master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, can handle it himself and doesn't need to come and ask him. Now, my master, Bamboo Mountain Taoist, rushed over day and night, which means that the two wild ghosts should have been wandering outside for many years.

  Such a wild ghost not only damages the gong power of the person collecting it, but also greatly damages the gong power of the person crossing it. Although the damaged gong power can be recovered after a few days, this approach is suspected of altering one's fate and violating heavenly principles, whether for Taoist priests or Buddhist monks.

  Hui Zhi knew that my master, Zhu Shan Lao Dao, had never done anything against the heavens in his life. This time, he was actually going to do something against the heavens for two little ghosts, which Hui Zhi couldn't understand.

  Hui Zhi and the monk, although he called my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao "Zhu Shan Cow Nose" with his mouth, showing no respect for my master. However, he was still impressed by Master Zhu Shan Lao Dao's skills. Of course, Master Zhu Shan Lao Dao felt the same way about Hui Zhi and the monk.

  They are both high-ranking officials and also the best of friends. However, whenever they meet, it's like a dog seeing a sheep - every time they argue until the sky is turned upside down, and only after thoroughly scolding each other will they stop.

  When doing the right thing, my master, Bamboo Mountain Old Dao, is extremely serious. Seeing that Master Hui Zhi had doubts, he told him the entire story from beginning to end in one breath.

  Hui Zhi and the monk listened to my Shifu Zhu Shan Lao Dao's words, then immediately turned his head towards me.

  "Your master has given up everything for you, don't disappoint him. You must learn well from him and master all his skills, then pass them on." Monk Hui Zhi said to me with a serious face.

  At that time, I was still a little kid, so the words of Wisdom and Shang sounded to me like what my teacher or parents would say. It's all about studying hard, striving upwards every day, otherwise I would be letting down my country, my people, and all the uncles, aunties, grandpas and grandmas.

  To be honest, I've never had a good impression of such words. So at that time, I didn't pay much attention to what Hui Zhi Shang said to me either.

  The meaning of Master Hui-chi's words I did not come to understand until many years later. Only when I finally understood the meaning of his words, it was already too late for some things.

  Let's not get sidetracked, let's go back to the matter of inviting Master Hui Zhi out of the mountain. After all, my master Zhu Shan Lao Dao's friendship with Master Hui Zhi is well-known, so if my master personally comes to invite him, then Master Hui Zhi will have to give him some face.

  After my master finished talking with Master Hui Zhi, Master Hui Zhi immediately went to pack up, using a somewhat faded blue square cloth to bundle some wooden fish and Buddhist beads.

  After packing everything needed, Master Hui Zhi and the abbot simply bowed before the Buddha statue in the main hall, lit three incense sticks, and recited a scripture. After finishing these tasks, Master Hui Zhi and the abbot set off with me and my master on the road back to Zhushan Temple.