【Wine Ci】Ksitigarbha Statue

It was already bright when the little monk cleaned to remove the smell of blood.He couldn't sleep much, and had nothing to do left and right, so he flipped through some paper and pen to write scriptures silently.Ibaraki cleaned himself up and saw this scene as soon as he returned to his room.He sat on the side without making a sound, just staring at the little monk.His gaze was on fire, with warmth and substance.The little monk was annoyed by his looking, put down the pen, turned around and asked him: "Monster, don't you have nothing to do?"

The monster grinned at him: "Little friend's business is my business."

That sounds too much like flattery.The little monk is no stranger to this kind of praise, it seems that he is not lacking in it, not to mention that those guys are more eloquent, and the words are extremely ingenious, how can this monster be so straightforward.But he is the only one who can take such stupid words so earnestly and sincerely.It's like he has accumulated a lot of flowers that he has planted sincerely in his heart, no matter how he picks and picks them out, they will always overflow.It’s just that the little monk still feels distorted, not just the complete delivery of the monster’s unknown origin. The flow is going in the wrong direction.

But he remained calm.The little monk asked him, "What do you think?"

"what?"

"The 'birth' of that woman, and the demonization of the dog in the yard. People become ghosts, and animals become monsters. Is it that simple?"

Ibaraki thought about it, and told him frankly: "I don't know."

"Ok?"

"I also seem to have changed from a human to a ghost, and it seems that I was born a ghost. It's been too long, and I can't remember much. But logically speaking, anyone can become a ghost Yes, as long as the obsession is strong enough. It may be easy to transform a ghost, but it is not so easy to live." Ibaraki's pair of gilt eyes raised upwards.When he squinted at people, he always looked indifferent, and when he watched people and the world, he looked down like an ant, "Not to mention the dog who has worked so hard to get a ghostly aura, just that woman is weak. If it really turns into a ghost, I'm afraid it will be eaten by other monsters soon."

The little monk said: "Your recipes are really unscrupulous."

The sarcasm he spoke became more and more proficient.Ibaraki looked at him, and those demon eyes that were arrogant enough to look down on all sentient beings instantly suppressed all their aura, and turned into a one-inch candle lighted by the table.The little monk stared at Ibaraki with a smile that was not a smile, his brows and eyes were full of youthful sharpness like a blade - he was more and more like the Shuten-douji Ibaraki had met for the first time, showing his sharpness, arrogant to fearless, from dark to dark. The place still feels glowing when you look at it.

Ibaraki was stunned for a moment, and the question had already blurted out: "Your friend asked this...does he also want to transform into a ghost?"

The little monk fell silent as if he was hit by this sudden question.

Ibaraki seemed to have grasped an important joint point.

"Little friend, let's turn into a ghost!" He said, "If my little friend turns into a ghost, he must be the king of ghosts. All the ghosts and monsters in this world will lie down and submit to you; the chaotic ghost way will be wiped out. If you turn into a ghost No ghost in the world is as strong as you." As he spoke, he seemed to see the scene, his eyes seemed to be lit up, "I will submit to my little friend! Fight with you, fight for you, and help you Climb to the pinnacle! My little friend can make the sentient beings of the six realms tremble for your strength!"

The little monk twitched his mouth and moved closer to Ibaraki.He rested his elbows on the table, tilted his head with his chin half propped up, squinted his eyes at Ibaraki and laughed: "Want to see me transform into a ghost?"

"Little friend will become a ghost sooner or later."

"Wow, are you sure about that?"

But Ibaraki stopped - he didn't notice the sullenness under the smiling little monk's surface.The big ghost asked cautiously: "Don't tell me...you don't want to become a ghost?"

"My lord is good in front of people, no disease, no disaster, no pain, what kind of ghost?"

Izuku froze for a moment.He thought about the little monk's short words very carefully, then blinked in confusion, and asked, "Why don't you want to become a ghost? Becoming a ghost can become stronger. Very strong... those human beings I don't dare to wantonly frame my little friend."

The little monk sneered and said, "You just said that the madam has turned into a ghost, and I'm afraid she will be eaten by other monsters soon."

"Little friend and that woman can't be generalized!"

"Better than her, huh? She was driven to a desperate situation, and she wanted to become a ghost to get rid of it. Okay, just seeing me being expelled, do you think the master will be forced to this point?!"

"Of course my little friend wouldn't be in such a mess—and my little friend turned into a ghost, and he certainly wouldn't be in such a flustered state. My little friend is very free and easy, and no one will interfere with his path! The future must be for the pursuit of new power and clear ambitions!"

"You mean I will turn into a ghost in order to become stronger?"

Izuku stared at him.The confusion on the big ghost's face clearly reads "Isn't it?"

The little monk tapped his fingers on the table twice, and he said with a half-smile: "Monster, no one would turn into a ghost just to become stronger. Just this 'desire' is too far away from turning into a ghost. No Creatures don't want to become stronger...mayflies and moths also want to become giant elephants. If so, the ghost road would have been overcrowded."

His expression was flamboyant and arrogant: "Besides, why do you have to turn into a ghost to become stronger? What logic. Even if I'm just a mortal, sooner or later, a big ghost like you will be defeated by my master."

Izuku looked at him blankly.For a while, the atmosphere was silent, and no one spoke.The candlelight flickered slightly, but it was already dawn, and the egg white-like morning light enveloped them vaguely.The light of the candlelight reflected a diluted orange patch on the side of the little monk's face.The gray-blue light of dawn fills the rest.The young man's brows and eyes are sharp, like pine resin that has been exposed to the sun, or the shadow of a fir tree. His breath is hot and he is rushing towards him. He is alive and beating, and he is rushing towards him from the bushes. scratched into Ibaraki's shoulder.

"Little friend is also very strong now." Ibaraki said in a low voice, "A person can become a ghost, but no ghost can become an adult again. That woman—she has been 'born'. This process is difficult even for an onmyoji like Abe Seimei. reversed..."

"I didn't reverse it." The little monk said, "It's just a pause. I exported part of the ghost energy in her body and sealed the rest. If her obsession persists and her thoughts continue, it won't take a few days She will turn into a ghost again. She has become a ghost, her consciousness is completely confused, and she thinks I am someone else; in this state, it is impossible to ask her."

Ibaraki said: "Sure enough, it's Xiaoyou's style." His tone was much lower than the previous few times when he said this sentence, and his eyebrows were lowered, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

After a while, he said again: "But little friend is still very powerful. I can feel it. Maybe when you become an adult, you can really fight against me."

The little monk laughed, leaned back against the wall, and spread his hands leisurely: "Maybe you don't have to wait until you are an adult."

"If you don't turn into a ghost..." Ibaraki said softly, reluctantly, interrupted in half.

If Shuten-douji doesn't turn into a ghost, is Shuten-douji still Shuten-douji?

Izuku was a little dazed.He felt more void.Candle tears dripped down, as if dripping against Ibaraki's chest and lungs.His best friend now refuses to transform into a ghost, why does he refuse?Now just leave the temple, it is a good time to transform ghosts.If the appearance of Ibaraki Doji breaks up the sequence of development that should have been, it makes sense.But if this is the case, if Shuten never becomes his Shuten-douji or his ghost king, what should he do?

Ibaraki imagined such a future.Undoubtedly, Jiu Tun is the most powerful existence in his heart, he is perfect everywhere and worthy of admiration, and the current predicament may be extremely easy for him to solve.Even if he takes on the status of "Son of God" in such a smooth manner, he will certainly be able to do it with ease.He will still be strong.Ibaraki himself is very clear that Shuten-douji's strength is not because he chose the ghost way.No matter which day this man walks on the road, he will be the king, and he is equally free and easy.

So even if he was always a monk, he would be the strongest one.His ability will surpass Monk Kukai or Master Domo, and he will surpass Abe Seimei.He will still have monstrous power and awe-inspiring status.He will still be the one that scares all the demons.

It's just that Ibaraki Doji is unlikely to meet him.Maybe we can meet each other, but it's impossible to drink and fight day and night.

Thinking of this, Ibaraki felt even more sad.He drooped his head, even though he felt the little monk looking at him, he didn't say a word.

...But it should be able to fight once.

Just hit once.Hearty time.His best friend will be very serious, and he will certainly give it his all.That would be different from how they were all monsters, but it would definitely be the same earth-shattering and soul-stirring.His best friend should still win.And what about him?He is not important.

This one time is enough.

Ibaraki then had the strength to look up at the young monk.The pupils of human beings are very bright, but they are pitch black, and they are as shining as Jiu Tunyou's purple pupils.

Ibaraki said: "Humans are not bad. Even if my friend has always been a human being, he is the most powerful one among humans. For my friend——"

"Monster." The little monk interrupted him.

He fixed his eyes, stood up and leaned over.Caught off guard, Ibaraki's forehead was tapped by his fingers.Then Ibaraki saw the little monk smiling very close to him.This smile is completely different from the angry smile before.

His fingers are a little cold.Like unheated wine dripping from a wine gourd.

"Monster." The little monk smiled, "Don't worry. I won't be able to become a Buddha."

Near noon, the mistress of the house came to visit.She had already tidied up, she was wearing a colorless dress embellished with family crests, and her temple hair was neatly combed.Despite the make-up, he looked extraordinarily haggard; this haggardness wasn't just a tired, thin, unrested state.Her haggardness came from inside, as if the oil had already run out.She is so old, no matter how delicate her makeup is, no matter how bright and dignified her face can't cover it up.

She emphatically thanked the young mage Ibaraki pretended to be, and apologized to them for the inconvenience caused by poor hospitality.She didn't talk much, as if she was exhausted.She didn't pay attention to the little monk anymore—it seemed that she didn't remember much about her birth, so she naturally attributed everything to the young monk.Naruko stood behind her, her eyes still couldn't help looking in the direction of the little monk.

"For now, I have something to ask Madam." The young monk said politely, "Why is Madam bothered?"

The woman lowered her eyebrows, a long strand of bangs leaked out of her rolled up bun, and was pinned behind her ear.She shook her head wearily and said nothing.

"Madam recognized me as Abu."

The woman seemed to be stabbed by a thorn.She raised her head suddenly, and for the first time after meeting him, she took a serious look at the little monk.It took a while for her to speak, her voice hoarse: "No...you are not alike at all. Little master, you are not very popular; my Abu...he is soft and cute, and he can't leave me for a moment." But she Looking at the little monk's eyes softened, she shook her head and said with a smile, "And there is a big age difference. He is only three years old, and it will take at least six or seven years before he looks like you."

The little monk smiled and said, "Three years old? I seem to have been in Echigo Temple when I was three or four years old."

"So early?" The woman was a little surprised, "Parents, how could they send their children to the monastery so early. It must be later... ten years old, eight or nine years old."

The little monk said: "I have been in the monastery as long as I can remember. I was raised by the master alone."

"Ah..." She sighed softly.I don't know what she was thinking, but the eyes that looked at the little monk were as soft as water, and the sense of defense and barriers around her body gradually dissipated.

"I have something I want to ask Madam." The little monk said.He pursed his lips slightly, with a serious expression on his face; the action of pursing his lips made him look younger, and his demeanor changed—it was in line with his own age, and also in line with any woman's impression of a child of this age, "This matter It's important to me."

The woman said, "Excuse me."

"The ferocious dogs in the yard... I heard that they were raised by Madam's husband. Does Madam know why he raises them?"

The woman stopped talking.She bowed her head and clasped her fingers; it was a gesture of resistance.

The little monk said: "This is really important to me. I have to go back to the temple, madam. Please forgive me, Abu's disappearance... is also related to these dogs?"

The woman's shoulders trembled slightly.

The little monk said, "Brother and I can help you. I promise."

The woman looked up, she looked the other way. "Naruko," she called, "please help me see if the meal is ready."

Naruko leaned over, walked out on his knees, walked to the door and bent down again, closing the sliding door.

The woman turned her head back, she bit her lower lip, stared at the little monk in ecstasy, and after a while she replied: "My concubine's husband, it's an errand for him to keep a dog."

"Errand?"

"Errands for noble gentlemen. Gentlemen always have various occasions for recreation, and this one requires dogs. Plenty of dogs, the more vicious the better. Your husband works for them."

"But it's not an unspeakable thing."

"It's not." The woman said softly, "But they want ferocious dogs. Terrifying ferocious dogs with a bloody smell. The husbands who don't meet the standard... one day, they will start eating human flesh."

The young monk and the young monk looked at each other.The woman started to tremble, she covered her face with her hands, trembling uncontrollably: "One night, in the heavy rain, my husband suddenly came back and took Abu away. I knew it was not good at that time, and I had an ominous premonition at that time. But I can't stop it. I haven't seen Abu again, and Abu will cry when he leaves me for an hour. He can't leave me, this is something my husband can't handle. My husband didn't come back. I can't bear it, I can't bear it , I began to have nightmares day and night. I dreamed that my husband killed my son with his own hands. Later, I could also see this scene in a trance during the day. I asked the servants for help, but they all said I was crazy .No one believes, no one listens to me. They all think I'm crazy. My child, he'll cry if he doesn't see me, he won't eat or drink. But no one listens to me, no one! "

"Ma'am." The little monk stood up, and pressed his hand on her shoulder weakly, as a comfort.

The woman revealed a pair of red eyes from between her fingers.She had no tears, as if she had dried up long ago.She looked tiredly at the little monk for a long time, then she sighed and said with a choked voice: "In Changbin...the western suburb near Lake Biwa. I only know so much."

Before leaving, the woman bowed to the young monk and the young monks.She lowered her body, and her voice was as soft as a puff of smoke floating in the air, dissipated by the wind: "If you find your husband...ask him if Abu is okay, and if you have a good meal."

The little monk nodded to her, turned around and went out with the young monk.A hydrangea was planted in a corner of the courtyard, and it was in full bloom. When a gust of wind blew, the purple petals fell slightly.Naruko chased up from the shadow of the hydrangea, her face flushed.She blocked their way, and shyly stuffed a letter with flowers in the little monk's hand, turned around and ran back without saying a word.

Ibaraki's eyes widened, and he let out an "ah" in disbelief.

The little monk smiled as usual, and put away the letter paper.Some distance away from the courtyard, there happened to be burning straw to make fertilizer on the side of the field. The little monk took out the letter paper, and as soon as he let go, it was swept into the flames by the wind.The flames licked and engulfed it.And the flower pinned on the letterhead was blown to the ground, and the petals trembled in the wind, and were blown into the mud beside the field.

The little monk said to Ibaraki, "Let's go."

Flames danced behind them.Smoke and ash were blown into the gray sky, never to dissipate.

1. Regarding "becoming", the section "Becoming Ji" in Dream Pillow Tapir's "Onmyoji" is also very interesting.Excerpted from two paragraphs:

"Bo Ya, not only Ms. Tokuko, no matter who you are, there will be times when you wish to become an evil spirit. No matter who you are, there is such an evil spirit dwelling in your heart."

"Do I have it in me too?"

"Ah."

"Do you have it in your heart too?"

"Have."

Hearing what Qingming said, Boya fell silent.Soon, he said, "Man, it's really sad."

"No, no." Tokuko shook his head, "I know. I know everything you said. But even if you know everything, people still have to become ghosts. When this world can no longer find a cure for hatred and A sad way, people, there is no other way to escape except turning into a ghost."

2. The aforementioned Master Doman refers to Ashiya Doman.Also an interesting "evil" onmyoji.He and Seimei are rivals at chess.