Embers of Sword

Chapter 373 Chu People
The moonlight shines on Yuanguang Temple.

Everyone looked quietly at Facheng, the skinny and shriveled monk, who was gesticulating vigorously.

He pointed to the bright moon in the sky and then to the door lintel on the ground.

"..."

The monks looked at each other, not quite understanding what Facheng meant.

A young monk cautiously speculated, "Does the abbot mean that the golden body of the Bodhisattva is as inviolable as the bright moon in the sky?"

Facheng shook his head.

He came to the rusty Buddha statue that had been enshrined for a long time and knocked gently.

珰!
珰!
The golden body of the Buddha made a crisp sound.

Yuanguang Temple has a long history. This Buddha statue already existed before Facheng went to Fanyin Temple for further studies. Yuanzhou was poor and could not afford to build a real golden statue, so this is just a bronze statue. However, it did not prevent believers from coming here to offer incense and make wishes and fulfill them over the years.

Weathered by wind and rain, the bronze statue has developed a faint, mottled rust on its surface.

But the majesty remains.

This is a statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

In troubled times, the great power of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva can eliminate karma, protect the elders in the clan from harm and safety, and allow the deceased to be reborn in paradise soon.

Facheng looked sincere, bowed, and then made a pushing gesture towards everyone.

Everyone was shocked.

"Abbot?"

An old monk said in a trembling voice: "Do you really want to tear down the temple and the statue of the Bodhisattva?"

Facheng nodded calmly.

He picked up a dry branch and slowly wrote neat and straight words on the ground.

Halfway through writing.

Miyun took a glance and then spoke directly, reporting what Facheng wanted to write.

“Although the golden body has fallen, the Bodhisattva still exists.”

Facheng looked surprised and looked at the ragged child with joy and admiration. This was what he wanted to express.

Buddhism exists in our hearts.

Tearing down a Buddhist temple is nothing.

Temples are just dead things that can be rebuilt.

But once a person dies, he will never be resurrected.

If Nalan Xuance really wants to "destroy Buddhism", then Yuanzhou will face an unprecedented baptism of iron cavalry... Rather than sticking to the old rules and defending Yuanguang Temple, he would rather take the initiative to tear it down in exchange for a glimmer of hope for the monks in the temple.

“If you have Buddhism in your heart, even if you don’t live in a temple or wear a monk’s robe, you are still a Buddhist monk and you are practicing in the world.”

“If you don’t have Buddha in your heart, even if you live in the main hall and enjoy the incense of thousands of people, you still can’t cast a golden body.”

"Now that a catastrophe is imminent, push this golden body aside, take off this monk's robe, and save your life."

"If the Bodhisattva knew, he would not blame me, but would be relieved."

Miyun lowered his brows and spoke word by word.

Although his voice was small, it echoed clearly throughout Yuanguang Temple.

Until then.

The monks of Yuanguang Temple only then noticed the child that Mr. Xie was bringing.

This child is a "miserable man". He broke both legs at a young age, but what he said makes a lot of sense, which is inconsistent with his age.

The old monk repeated it silently several times with a trembling voice.

Eventually he was speechless.

The positions of other monks also gradually changed.

Finally, a monk looked at the statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva with a look of regret, and asked carefully to confirm: "Push?"

The old monks who had expressed their opposition stopped talking and retreated silently.

Facheng, who was standing in front of the statue, nodded.

……

……

Yuanguang Temple was founded a hundred years ago when a wandering monk from Fanyin Temple came here.

People in this world are like flowers.

When the wind blows, the branches and leaves spread out.

The cause and effect of Buddhism has blossomed all over the country in recent years.

Yuanguang Temple collapsed overnight.

This is just like a flower: it blooms and withers in just a moment.

That night, no one in Taoyuan could sleep. The refugees, who had finally lived a "good life", came to Yuanguang Temple one after another. They watched with complicated expressions as the majestic statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva collapsed with a loud bang, and smoke and dust flew everywhere.

The faint light of the moon was mixed in with the billowing smoke and dust.

When the long night passed, the dawn broke, and the dust settled, Yuanguang Temple was razed to the ground.

At the end of the long night, a team of cavalry "just happened" to arrive on the other side of the horizon.

This team of cavalry was not the elite from the Yu Camp or the Cang Camp, but just ordinary cavalry from Yuanzhou.

This is a scout battalion.

Due to the invasion and famine, the villages marked on the Yuanzhou map often changed. This scout team was obviously ordered to investigate the situation... The appearance of this scout team proved that the saying of "destroying Buddhism" was not groundless. The monks who took off their robes looked pale and lived in a thatched cottage. The scout team did not ask them in detail. Yuanguang Temple was already dilapidated. After it was demolished, only rubble remained. In addition, the most conspicuous Buddha statue was buried in a deep pit overnight. The small village with only broken walls and ruins was not worth staying in. After a hasty questioning, the scout team left.

This disaster has been overcome.

When the smoke and dust completely dissipated, the sound of horse hooves also faded away.

The monks who had been hiding gradually emerged.

They were still frightened and recalled the argument last night, and were glad that they finally made the decision to "tear down the Buddha statue" in time.

Some people wanted to visit Mr. Xie and Doctor Xiao Chu to thank them, but found that they were not in the village.

……

……

Behind Taoyuan Village.

A breeze blew, and butterflies fluttered across the hillside.

Deng Baiyi held Miyun in her arms, sat on the grass, and watched the dawn light emerge from the sea of clouds.

She was pushing a wheelchair, but it was not Xie Xuanyi's wheelchair.

"Miss Deng."

Old Zheng sat in a wheelchair, breathing the fragrant air, and suddenly said, "You guys are not from Liguo, right?"

"I……"

Deng Baiyi was stunned for a moment.

She wanted to find an excuse to get away with it.

“It doesn’t really matter where you were born.”

Zheng Fengsheng smiled and said, "The important thing is that you are kind people and you just saved a lot of people."

Old Zheng turned around.

On the other side of the hillside, there were more than a hundred people in the small village who escaped the disaster safely.

"It's mainly because Abbot Facheng has wisdom and courage."

Deng Baiyi shook his head and said, "These days, there aren't many monks who are willing to tear down a temple and abandon old rules just because of a word."

When the Buddha statue was toppled last night, some monks raised questions and expressed their opposition.

But they were all suppressed by Facheng.

"Too……"

Zheng Fengsheng smiled and said, "But there is one thing I am very sure of. You and Mr. Xie are definitely not ordinary people."

These few days, he has broadened his horizons.

Mr. Xiao Xie's methods of treating diseases have exceeded his understanding. Just by taking the pulse gently, he can relieve all the pain.

If the guess is correct.

This is most likely... the legendary "Immortal Master".

Another point is that Miss Deng always dresses herself in a simple and ordinary way on weekdays.

Is there any young woman in this world who doesn’t love beauty?

Even though Deng Baiyi deliberately got her cheeks covered in dirt and mud, she still had a transcendent and elegant temperament.

Zheng Fengsheng is not stupid.

The news that Yuanzhou is now under blockade has spread.

Coincidentally, it is said that the envoys from Fanyin Temple disappeared completely after entering Yuanzhou... Even ordinary people in Li Country know that there is an extraordinary young genius in the envoys from Guili this time!
"Xie Zhen", who is now number one on the list of geniuses!
And this Mr. Xie happened to have the last name Xie...

Think about this.

Zheng Fengsheng changed the subject and looked towards the other side of the hill: "What do you think they are talking about over there?"

……

……

Chu Guo pushed Xie Xuanyi's wheelchair and walked on the other side of the hill.

"Thank you for saving them today." He lowered his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking, and thanked in a low voice.

"No need to thank me."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly: "If you want to thank someone, you should thank the 'Qianzhou Traveling Merchant' who leaked the news."

If it weren’t for Chu Guo’s lies.

Last night's proposal to tear down Yuanguang Temple might not go so smoothly.

Xie Xuanyi was a little curious. Where did this young man get the confidence to be so sure that what he said was trustworthy?

"If I'm not mistaken, you won't stay here for long."

Chu Guo smiled and said in a serious tone, "You are from Chu Country, right?"

"Oh?" Xie Xuanyi raised his eyebrows.

"Pingzhi City is a small city in Yuanzhou, but because it is located on the northwest border of Li State and not far from Qujiang River, it often welcomes merchants from both countries." Chu Guo said calmly, "A few years ago, Lao Zheng opened a clinic and received many guests from all over the world. He told me that the Chu people have a different temperament. You can feel it after talking to them for a while."

Xie Xuanyi became more interested and asked with a smile: "What temperament?"

"Hard to say."

Chu Guo thought for a moment and said, "Let me give you an example. If the person who comes into the clinic is a person who has left the hospital, they will most likely ask for treatment first, and then discuss the price after the treatment. Nine times out of ten, they will bargain."

"What if it's Chu people?"

"Ask the price first."

"No bargaining?"

"No bargaining is usually done... Although Chu and Li have opened up trade, the relationship has been tense in recent years, and it is said that a fight will break out sooner or later. So when these Chu people come to Li, even if they come to the clinic for treatment, they don't want to be laughed at and lose their integrity." Chu Guo smiled and said, "I didn't believe it at first, until I saved a few Chu people. Old Zheng has a good eye for people, and these Chu people are very stubborn."

Xie Xuanyi burst out laughing.

"That Miss Deng is also from Chu."

Chu Guo looked into the distance, raised his chin, and said, "A few days ago, she carried you into the village. You were covered in blood and were seriously injured. She saw the temple and rushed in to ask Master Facheng to save you... Facheng didn't understand any of this, so he could only ask Old Zheng to help. Old Zheng prescribed a medicine, which was effective quickly, but she had to boil the medicine all night and carefully control the heat, so she didn't sleep all night."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopped.

"You are stubborn too."

Chu Guo said calmly: "You were seriously injured, but you tried to stand up. From that time on, I was wondering if you came from Chu Territory."

Xie Xuanyi could only remain silent.

"Don't worry, I was just saying that."

Chu Guo chuckled and said, "Where you are from, what your name is, it doesn't matter. Now that you are not fully recovered from your illness, I will still be your doctor. The most urgent thing is to cure you."

"The cavalry that left this morning were just scouts."

Xie Xuanyi suddenly spoke.

He pointed at the dust that was dissipating in the distance and said, "It won't be long before the cavalry will come back again... Some people in Taoyuan Village are already preparing to leave. Aren't you going to leave?"

"Where?"

Chu Guo said calmly: "Pingzhi City is in pieces. Is there another paradise in Yuanzhou? Staying here will cause trouble. Will things get better if I go somewhere else?"

The entire Yuanzhou is now being cooked in flames.

"I know you are the Immortal Master."

Chu Guo remained calm, but his voice was filled with curiosity: "When Miss Deng carried you on her back, she was holding an umbrella sword in her hand... If your injury is healed, can you control the sword and lead people straight to the sky?"

Xie Xuanyi thought for a moment and said, "Okay."

"So... you really are an incredible swordsman."

There was a lot more brilliance in Chu Guo's eyes.

He said with emotion: "Some time ago, when Pingzhi City was breached, I saw a female sword fairy standing alone in front of the city gate, fighting against bandits. She sent me and Lao Zheng on her flying sword... The city lord's mansion, which was occupied by nothing but idleness, was wiped out by the bandits. If it weren't for her help, I'm afraid Lao Zheng and I would have died. I wonder where she is now, is she okay?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi closed his eyes slightly to hide his emotions.

He had already guessed who the female sword fairy Chu Guo was talking about.

Secret service of the pelican in the library.

When Pingzhi City was breached, he stepped forward and sent Chu Guo away, but fell into the hands of Dali Hook and Pliers Master.

"Since you can control the sword, after your injury is healed, can you control the sword to send someone out of Yuanzhou..."

Chu Guo thought about it and spoke carefully.

Xie Xuanyi raised his head.

This sentence was somewhat unexpected.

Chu Guo wants to leave on his own initiative?

Xie Xuanyi said without hesitation: "Of course you can."

"I would like to ask you to send Old Zheng to a safe place. I heard that Qianzhou is peaceful, there are no bandits who kill innocent people indiscriminately, and there are no cavalry who act recklessly." Chu Guo grinned and said, "You should have seen that, right? This old guy is also a stubborn person. Before the turmoil in Pingzhi City, I tried to persuade him many times, but he refused to leave. This time he has no choice. I promised him before that he would live a peaceful life."

"...What about you?" Xie Xuanyi was a little confused.

"Me?" Chu Guo was stunned.

Xie Xuanyi asked: "You don't want to leave?"

"...I'll just forget it and stay in Yuanzhou."

Chu Guo was obviously thinking of something, and no matter how thoughtful the young man was, he couldn't hide the emotions in his eyes.

He waved his sleeves pretending to be nonchalant and said, "Old Zheng's wish is to save as many lives as possible. Qianzhou is peaceful, so how can there be so many people to save? I will stay in Yuanzhou. There are many patients in Yuanzhou, so I can be of use."

"Are you afraid of getting Zheng Fengsheng into trouble?"

Xie Xuanyi was not good at keeping people in suspense, so he revealed the secret in one sentence.

"??"

Chu Guo was stunned again.

"You suspect that the turmoil in Pingzhi City was caused by you."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "So you don't want to go to Qianzhou with Zheng Fengsheng... You think that if he is with you, he will encounter a second accident like this sooner or later. It seems that you have 'felt' that you are different from others. What kind of dreams have you had these days? Why don't you tell me about it."

"you you you……"

Chu Guo, who was usually calm, lost his composure for the first time. He looked at the young man in black in the wheelchair with shock and staggered backwards uncontrollably.

"You said you were very accurate in judging Chu people..."

"So."

Xie Xuanyi smiled softly and said, "Have you ever looked at yourself seriously?"

(End of this chapter)