Chapter 6: Seven Steps to Poetry for @neilseven's additional content

  "After Huang Xin's death, Tian Shou, the Grand Minister of Agriculture at that time, heard about the book "Tianwen Qiguan" and personally led his entourage to ask for the book. He was refused by another four sons of Huang Xin on the pretext of burying it with their father. In fact, the book was not buried with him, but was not completed at that time. This book later renamed "Kangcheng Huang Tingguang Ji" became a family treasure and until the end of Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, editing, supplementing this book was a secret task passed down through generations in the Huang family."

  Another Yu family in Kangcheng has a similar history to the Huang family, and their genealogy is compiled into "Yu's Spring and Autumn". Originally, it was only a book for the Yu family, including the clan's pedigree, family rules, etc. The Yu and Huang families have intermarried many times throughout history. During the Qing dynasty's Shunzhi period, Yu Chongyuan, the 38th generation grandson of the Yu family, inherited the Huang family's business at the request of his maternal grandfather Huang Shide and obtained "Kangcheng Huang Tingguang Ji" in 29 volumes. The book contains all the historical events, legends, national prosperity and decline, agriculture, salt production, human relationships, natural disasters, and other aspects of the past 5,000 years of Jinshanwei. From then on, "Kangcheng Huang Tingguang Ji" was incorporated into "Yu's Spring and Autumn", becoming one book. However, many years ago, a movement to destroy old ideas and establish new ones, the Cultural Revolution, caused both "Yu's Spring and Autumn" and the incorporated "Kangcheng Huang Tingguang Ji" to be burned, and almost no one had a chance to read this magnificent book. In addition, this book has always been kept secret and never made public, and the few readers in history have also sworn not to disclose it, so it is rarely seen in historical records.

  Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but clench my fist and sigh. In the Cultural Revolution, being burned to ashes was the ultimate fate of many great books - it's a pity that can't be changed no matter how much one laments. After feeling a wave of emotion, I asked Master Xujian: "If these events were so secretive, then how did you find out about them?"

  "There is no wall that doesn't let wind through. I'm fortunate to have met a descendant of the Yu family, who had read 'Yu's Spring and Autumn' and 'Kangcheng Huangting Guangji' in his youth. Due to his lifelong love for learning and diligent note-taking, he recorded many key points about historical materials. Now he is also the leader of that folk organization you mentioned that researches ancient Kangcheng history."

  I asked weakly: "Sir, would it be convenient for me to visit him?"

  Jian Dashi smoothed his robes and said, "It's not impossible, but he once told me that if someone wants to find him through me, aside from being able to make me believe in them, they must also pass a test of his."

  It's another test. I had no choice but to grit my teeth and say: "Please proceed, Master."

  The Master of Continuation closed his eyes for a moment and said: "Seven steps make a poem. Young donor, are you brave enough to try?"

  I was stunned on the spot. What rhythm is this? Still want to make a poem in seven steps? Hurriedly said: "Master, I don't understand, why do we need this rule?"

  The Master of the Continuation smiled and said, "It's not intentional to make it difficult. In fact, this old gentleman is compiling the history of Kang City and has entrusted me to find someone who can help him compile it. So I set this topic to select a person with quick wit."

  I was at a loss for what to do, this matter of composing poetry in seven steps, I had actually performed it at my high school graduation party. The glory of that time, when I got to university and graduate school, everyone around me had excellent talents, and I had already become ordinary among them. Challenges are acceptable, but listening to the master's words, it seems that if you want to see this old gentleman, you have to help him revise history. In fact, I just wanted to ask about the two stories that Li Yubo didn't tell me, and now I'm really in a dilemma.

  The master seemed to understand my difficulty, and chuckled: "Sir, don't be troubled. If you hadn't planned on it, you could still go see the old gentleman, only... this rule, since I promised him, is still necessary."

  I put down my mind, took a deep breath, stood up and walked into the sunlight, saying: "Master, please give us the topic."

  "Very well," said the Master of Continuation, "a five-character absolute verse, a seven-step poem. Take 'sunlight' as the title, but do not use the words 'sunlight'."

  Seven steps to poetry, apart from the speed of spitting out words, every second counts and taking the initiative is also crucial. Since I knew that Master Continuation often came up with topics on the spot, I deliberately stood in the sunlight, using this to make him come up with this topic. Seeing my clever plan succeed, I calmed down, quickly stirred up the ink in my belly, and said: "Master, please."

  The Master of Continuation stretched out his hand: "Please."

  I slowly took the first step, continuing the rapid thinking that had just begun: if it was only to chant about the sunshine itself, it would be easy to come up with a poem, but if I did it that way, I would be lowering myself and not showing my skills. Now that I'm in the Buddha hall, I have to respond to the situation, using the sunshine to illustrate Buddhist principles, in order to pass smoothly.

  As he thought so, he had already taken three steps and was still in a state of confusion. Just as he was getting anxious in his heart, he saw a small table in the corner with an oil lamp on it, shining by itself, its dusty shade blocking the light, flickering dimly. Suddenly inspired, after taking the fourth step, he opened his mouth and said: "Universal illumination for hundreds of thousands of years."

  Take another step forward, and the second sentence comes out: "Raise your head and see it, but it's just ordinary."

  Taking another step forward, he said loudly: "Just like the true Buddha-nature of Bodhi."

  Taking the final step, yet still lacking the last sentence. Unable to help it, I took another step and finally said: "The worldly dust confuses the eyes, not returning to meditation."

  I stood still with both feet, awkwardly clasped my hands together in a salute to the master and said: "The junior has lost a move."

  "Ahahahaha, excellent, excellent! The patron is young and yet has such a deep understanding of ancient poetry and Buddhist teachings. Truly impressive, truly impressive! Indeed, just like the sun shines every day, people tend to take it for granted and rarely pay attention to its existence. It's just like the Buddha-nature within each person, though it's always present, it's often obscured by worldly thoughts and distractions, making it difficult to discover and comprehend, thus making it hard to follow Zen Buddhism and cultivate oneself in Buddhist teachings. Young patron, you didn't lose after all! I asked for a five-character poem, but you gave me a seven-character one; and you cleverly used the phrase '一如' (oneness) from the 《首楞严三昧经》 as a double entendre, which is no easy feat. Well done! Come forward, and I'll give you the address of that old gentleman."

  I was overjoyed and hastened to his side with quick steps, pressing my ear against his, listening attentively and remembering carefully. When I had finished listening, I bowed my head and thanked the great master.

  The Master of the Great Way said: "Young donor, no need to be too polite. The old monk likes you when he sees you. If the donor is willing, the gate of Wanshou Temple will be open for you."

  I broke out in a cold sweat the size of soybeans on my back, and Xiaolu Qi's figure flashed through my mind, unable to shake it off. I hastily bowed again and said: "Thank you for your mistaken praise, junior is ashamed and dare not accept. It's just that worldly ties are not yet severed, and I don't dare lightly take refuge in Buddhism, fearing pollution."

  The master stood up, patted my shoulder and said: "It's alright, it's alright. The donor's wish has been fulfilled, and I won't keep you here any longer. This string of Buddhist beads is a gift to the donor, as a keepsake. In the future, when the donor comes again to pay respects to Buddha, with this string of Buddhist beads, one can enter the abbot's chamber directly, without being stopped by anyone." After saying that, he handed me the string of Buddhist beads that he had been holding all along.

  I took it with both hands and put it on my left wrist. I bowed to the master for the third time, thanked him and bid farewell before leaving the door.

  Master Continuation recites Buddha's name, with a full breath, and gives me a parting poem: "A flying moth searches for light on the paper, unable to penetrate, how many difficulties. Suddenly colliding with the road of coming, only then realizing that this life has been deceived by the eyes."

  After listening to this Buddhist verse, I couldn't help but feel a thousand emotions. Suddenly, I thought of the upcoming blockbuster - Michael Bay's "Transformers", and a line from the trailer: "heeye." Translated into Chinese, it's seven words: "What you see may not be true."

  Indeed, since I met Xiao Luqi, all the people and things I've encountered, including Wang Yongshun, Mao Bin, Mingying, Qian Tu, Cao Bin, Chen Ziqi, Yinru, Li Yubo, etc., have been trying to hide something from me, wanting to lead me into a quagmire. Many times, I saw through the truth; however, I always felt that there was a huge conspiracy, which had already set up a trap with many complex details, waiting for this little moth to fly in and get stuck, drained, and torn apart.

  Or to put it bluntly, in this hypocritical society, people wearing all sorts of fake masks, how many are not putting on a show for you? The more you yearn and the more desires you have, the easier your eyes are deceived. The truest truth and the pure land in your heart disappear before your very eyes.