Chapter 66: One Morning Seeing All the Flowers of Chang'an

  (Volume 2, new beginning, Dye Finger will try his best to change the bad habits that have been criticized by book friends, starting from punctuation marks)

  "General, would you like to go in and take a look?"

  Tang Guan Gang was about to step into the temple when he turned his head and smiled at the leading soldier.

  The general heard this and shook his head, clasped his fists together and said: "This is a Buddhist sanctuary, we are clad in armor, it would be disrespectful to the Buddha to set foot here."

  "In that case, I'll trouble you to wait a moment." Tang Guan heard this and didn't think much of it, shaking his head with a smile.

  Immediately under the leadership of the old monk, together with Xiao Qi, they stepped into the temple.

  The monk who was receiving guests glanced at the horse team in front of the gate, bowed his head and clasped his hands together, then slowly closed the large gate.

  Tang Guanyi entered the temple and didn't look around like Xiao Qi, but instead chatted with the abbot as if he were a refined scholar.

  "Little donor, nine-year-old champion, old monk has long heard of your great name, didn't expect to actually visit our temple."

  "Master is overpraising me, I'm just a humble person from a small village, I don't dare to show off in front of such an enlightened person like you."

  Tang Guan was very serious at this time. Although he didn't quite believe in religious sayings, he respected this culture that encouraged people to do good.

  Chinese religion is not like Western control of political power, but rather helps the ruler to control the people. Tang Guan, as a scholar, understands this point very well.

  Moreover, what makes Tang Guang even more convinced is that everyone has fear in their hearts and confusion. When encountering things that cannot be explained, they can only entrust them to their own beliefs.

  Faith can sometimes give a nation an unimaginable centripetal force, but it can also backfire.

  Tang Guanbian walked alongside the old Zen master on the stone path, who looked advanced in age but was full of energy, with his wide sleeves fluttering and wafting the scent of sandalwood as he moved.

  "Hmm, I wonder if you're any different from that fake master?" Tang Guan secretly sized up the host, and his mind couldn't help but think of some fake monks in later generations.

  "Oh, I haven't asked for your Dharma name yet?" Tang Guan immediately asked the old monk.

  The old monk heard this and smiled slightly: "My Dharma name is Shi Yongxin, but I'm not the abbot. The abbot of our small temple passed away last year."

  Tang Guan heard this name and was taken aback at first, then almost burst out laughing, forcing himself to say: "Sorry."

  "Shi Yongxin, have you also traveled through time?" Tang Guan couldn't help but smile secretly as he sized up the old monk, seeing that he was frail and elderly, already in his twilight years, and thin, completely unlike the fat man he had imagined.

  Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly. The Buddhist naming conventions and generation ranks were not something he was familiar with. As they walked, the group would occasionally stop, and Shi Yongxin would introduce the surrounding buildings to Tang Guan.

  Xiao Qi was also excited beside him. The place they used to live in was a temple, although it was a Taoist temple, but everyone was an immortal, and he thought it must be very familiar.

  "Brother Guan, did Mom also ask Buddha for our peace charms?"

  Tang Guan was taken aback by the words and suddenly remembered the amulet hanging from his waist, which had accompanied him through many hardships along with the silver ingots.

  Can't help but say that he and Xiao Qi are really blessed, the most dangerous thing for both of them was that shipwreck, but for Tang Guan himself, this neglected peaceful symbol has always accompanied him to face Wu Zetian several times unscathed.

  As he thought of this, he couldn't help but reach out and untie it, and Rui Yongxin also smiled and looked over.

  Upon seeing the Peaceful Seal in Tang Guan's hand, he smiled slightly and said: "So it was the Buddha's light from the Lingyin Temple masters. No wonder the young donor had such a talent."

  "Lingyin Temple?" Tang Guan was slightly stunned upon hearing the words. Although he lived in Hangzhou, he had only gone out a few times to see the famous West Lake and hadn't visited any of the other famous scenic spots.

  Yongxin pointed to the left side of the Peace Symbol with his hand and said: "Little donor, don't you think there is a white mark here?"

  Tang Guan fixed his eyes on it and looked away, Xiao Qi also took out her own to examine it carefully. Sure enough, there was a white mark that could be seen by borrowing the sunlight, but sometimes it was hidden and sometimes it appeared.

  Yongxin smiled and said: "The Xianling's concealment, this Buddha's opening light method, only the masters of Lingyin Temple are good at it."

  Tang Guan heard this and his eyes paused for a moment, indeed, he was a top scholar in every subject, with a vast knowledge of books and a self-proclaimed omniscience, yet he still didn't understand certain things.

  "Indeed, believing everything in books is no better than having no books at all."

  Tang Guan slightly shook his head and put away the amulet, continuing on his way. Suddenly, he remembered a legendary story about this place.

  Ci'en Temple is the Dharma lineage of the famous Tang Dynasty's Xuanzang, but to say that people's understanding of this person is still mostly based on the mythical "Journey to the West".

  "Master, is this the Dharma lineage of Master Xuanzang?"

  Yongxin stopped in his tracks and nodded slightly: "Master Xuanzang is the founder of this temple, as well as my master."

  "Ah!?" Tang Guan exclaimed in a low voice, "Heh heh, we've caught some live ones."

  "Benefactor, just ahead is the location of our temple's main hall, the Wild Goose Pagoda. Inside, it enshrines the relics and scriptures. However, since the abbot has not been determined yet, we cannot proceed further."

  Tang Guan and Xia Qi stopped in their tracks upon hearing this, they had come just to take a look at the tower, and Tang Guan even had the thought of going up to write "I've been here" on it.

  Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi was somewhat disappointed, but Tang Guan smiled and said: "Master, it is said that the Qilin's son is in heaven, and the Zhuangyuan is among men. I am not talented, and I dare not claim to have a Qilin-like body, but since Heaven has bestowed blessings upon me, I wish to make another plea, and I hope Master will grant my wish."

  Yongxin's face showed a hesitant expression after hearing the words, and only after a moment did he say: "Our temple has six classics and eleven theories. If the donor really has such a kind heart, add some incense, and I will have someone in the temple copy a few for the donor."

  Listening to him, Tang Guan slightly shook his head, but the pagoda was in front of him and he didn't want to go back like this. He immediately smiled and said: "Master, monks open the door of convenience, and my brother will definitely be sincere in the future."

  "Yes, I'll come every day to burn incense for you!" Little Seven's words also stirred something in her heart, and she added.

  He spoke, Shi Yongxin burst out laughing and shook his head: "Forget it, since Lang Jun has this elegant interest, the old monk will accompany you on a trip. However, the road between the towers is steep, so please be careful when walking later, two little masters."

  Tang Guan saw him agree and smiled slightly, Xiao Qi was even more excited.

  The two of them followed Shiyong Xin and walked towards the tower, where two young monks at the entrance seemed to have just come out. Seeing several people, they bowed their heads and said: "Master Uncle."

  Yongxin nodded and immediately led the two into the tower with a push of the door.

  The tower looks several meters away, but it's only when you come in that you know how spacious it is. All I see are the stairs leading to the upper floor, which are indeed quite steep.

  Tang Guang did not swallow his saliva because he had indeed discovered many Buddhist scriptures, which were different from the originals of later generations. At that time, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda had not been altered.

  "Sir, would you like to go up another floor?"

  Tang Guan nodded upon hearing this and Shi Yongxin smiled as he stretched out his hand to pull up Xiao Qi and Tang Guan, walking slowly upstairs.

  The structure has several layers that are roughly similar, but the exhibits and decorations are all different. The Tang-style crown and horse-riding flower-watching, stop for a while on one floor, then hand in hand to the next floor.

  In a short while, several people climbed up to the last floor, but what entered their eyes was emptiness, with only a few tables and chairs, and pens and ink on the table.

  "What is this?"

  Before Yuexing could respond, Xiaozi ran to one side and shouted: "Guange! Come quick and take a look!"

  Tang Guan heard this and walked over, stunned on the spot.

  Through the tower boat, Tang Guanwang saw the whole appearance of this corner, which was not the hustle and bustle of later generations, nor the noise under the steel forest.

  "How beautiful!" Xiao Qi laughed again.

  Only two people saw it, a vast expanse of flowers and brocade, at this time it was spring, full of vitality.

  In the distance there are thousands of households, and on the shore there are docks and boats.

  Tang Guan had always wanted to find a commanding height, and although the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was not the highest point in the entire city, he saw the true prosperity of Chang'an from this small corner.

  Tang Guanwang arrived in the rolling red dust, a kind of noisy to quiet prosperity.

  With a favorable spring breeze, the horse's hooves are swift; in one morning, I've seen all the flowers of Chang'an.

  This year, the historically famous one-word shoulder king was only nine years old.

  At this moment, Tang Guan's heart felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.

  He slowly stretched out his hand and tightly grasped the book that had been carefully wrapped in oilcloth in his arms.

  A true gentleman has an unyielding spirit, he is a cut above the rest.

  "Whatever difficulties you have, just speak out and there will be people who can help you."

  "Grandpa, I've become a top scholar! Can you see? I'm now a respected adult!"

  Tang Guan suddenly shouted loudly towards the outside, and Xiao Qi and Lao Seng were stunned for a moment, looking at Tang Guan together.

  "Guang Ge, what's wrong?" Xiao Qi withdrew her gaze and asked softly.

  "Grandpa, I've grown up now, can you see?"

  Tang's eyes were slightly red, and all the extravagance he had accumulated over the years suddenly burst out, but no one could respond to him, nor could anyone tell him whether he was still that superior person...