Jinyang City is still prosperous, and the wide streets are bustling with traffic.
There are rows of shops on both sides of the street. Guys are shouting and selling in the early morning sunshine. The fresh air is mixed with the aroma of various snacks, making it a noisy scene.
When I first entered the East City Gate, the street was bustling with people, and suddenly, people stepped aside to make room in the middle, because a firewood pile two people high was slowly moving.
Under the firewood pile was a young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slim build, medium height, a long face, and a few pimples on his chin. He was walking slowly with a solemn look on his face.
The top of his head was bright and there was not a hair left. When the morning sun shone, it shone brightly. The six ring scars were clearly visible. He was actually a monk.
Wearing a brown short coat, a string of purple beads are tied to the wrist, and a short ax is tied to the waist. He bows his waist slightly and takes a steady step step by step.
The firewood on his back was like a small mountain, which ordinary people could not carry, but he was able to carry it with ease. Such amazing strength naturally attracted people's attention.
"Who is this? Such strength!" asked a man next to him holding a fried dough stick and drinking soy milk.
A dry and thin little man next to him spoke up: "He——? You don't recognize him?...Haha, you are not a local, are you?"
"Hey, I've just arrived two days ago, and I'm planning to come to Jinyang to do a small business." The man smiled. He was in his forties, with a round face, wearing a blue shirt, smiling and looking friendly.
"No wonder..., his name is Li Muchan, his Buddhist name is Zhan Ran, he is not an ordinary person!" said the little man.
"What's unusual?"
"He is extremely powerful. Even though he is a monk, he cannot be offended by anyone who has killed someone before!"
"Ever killed anyone?!" The man in blue shirt's expression changed.
The little man looked over there, came over, and lowered his voice: "There were two guys who didn't open their eyes and tried to rob him, but he killed one of them!"
"Is he highly skilled in martial arts?" The man in blue shirt stared wide-eyed.
The little man shook his head: "In my opinion, he has never learned martial arts, but he is extremely powerful and can knock someone flat with one punch. What's the difference between him and someone who has practiced martial arts?"
"That's right!" The man in blue shirt nodded and looked over carefully, just as the young man's eyes swept over him, he hurriedly avoided it and pretended not to see it.
Li Muchan withdrew his eyes and smiled slightly.
His expression was calm and his eyes were peaceful. Even though he was in a busy city, he felt as if he were walking in the mountains. He was calm and focused as he walked east along the street, crossed a bridge, and came to a tall building beside the bridge.
There is a long plaque hanging in the middle of the building, with three golden characters "Transcendence Building" written on it, shining brightly.
A large river passes through the bridge, and the Chaoran Building is located right by the river. Sitting on the upper floor, you can overlook the wide river. When the south wind blows, it directly passes over the river and blows into the building, giving you a refreshing breeze.
This Transcendental Building is one of the largest restaurants in Jinyang City. It is three stories high and towers over the clouds. The entire building is painted in dark brown, giving it a solemn and solemn appearance.
A young boy came running quickly from the building. He was about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was dressed in short brown clothes and had a body shape similar to that of a boy carrying firewood. He had an oval face, small eyes, narrowed to a slit, and a smiling face. He looked friendly.
He came closer and said with a smile: "Mu Chan, you are here!"
He didn't say much. As he spoke, he turned around and led the way, going around to the back of Chaoran Building and entering a courtyard.
The courtyard is flat and wide, paved with blue bricks and kept clean. There is a weapons rack on the south side, complete with swords, guns, swords and halberds.
A straw shed was built in the west corner of the yard, filled with firewood.
After stacking the firewood in the shed, Li Muchan straightened up, patted his clothes, and said, "Li Jian, it's going to rain in the next two days, so I'll send some firewood in advance."
The oval-faced boy said with a smile: "Mu Chan, you said it was going to rain, so of course it will rain. Come on, let's go have a drink!"
This young man knew that Li Muchan was well versed in astronomy and could read the weather very accurately.
Li Muchan waved his hand: "Next time, the second sister is back today. You can buy some food and drinks for me to take back. It's a long way, so we can't delay."
The oval-faced boy's eyes lit up: "Second sister is back, okay, I'll get ready right away!"
He ran out in a hurry, leaving only Li Muchan behind.
Li Muchan shook his head and smiled. This childhood friend has indeed made a big difference when he comes out to do things. Now he no longer procrastinates.
He turned around and looked at the courtyard, which had high walls and blue tiles, and was very majestic.
It has been seventeen years since I came to this world, and I have already adapted to it.
In his previous life, he was forty years old and accomplished nothing. He graduated from the philosophy department of a third-rate university and then found a job to make ends meet. His ideals in college disappeared and he was integrated into society and could only drift with the tide.
Later, as I got older, I got married, and was forced to buy a house before marriage, and then got divorced.
The mortgage was like a huge mountain, weighing him down. Although he was living like a year in the company, his boss was harsh and always found trouble, but he didn't dare to resign, so he could only endure it. He was poor and short-minded and had no choice but to do anything. Finally, a car accident ended
all of these.
Everything in the past life is like a big dream, gradually fading away and becoming more and more blurred. High-rise buildings, computers, televisions, airplanes and cars are no longer within reach.
The world he lives in has two thousand years of civilization. After ten dynasties, the current Dayan Dynasty is at its peak and in its prime.
The Dayan Dynasty was vaguely similar to the Tang Dynasty of his time. The martial arts was extremely strong. Even the scholars all wore long swords on their waists and knew a few swordsmanship. The people were brave and brave.
However, this world is highly hierarchical and martial arts skills are precious, but some powers are kept secret.
Children from poor families who have no foundation and want to practice martial arts have three ways: to join a sect, to join a big family, or to become a master.
The former can come and go freely, but it requires a huge fee. For a large family, certain qualifications are required, and it is difficult for mediocre people to enter. However, apprenticeship is something you can meet but cannot ask for.
He is now a commoner with an average family background. He cannot afford to pay tuition and cannot enter the sect, and the idea of becoming a disciple is even more unrealistic. The only way is to enter a big family.
Not long ago, he met a robber and killed someone in anger. He also understood a truth. If he wanted to live well in this world, he could not rely on meditation skills, but martial arts.
If the two robbers were smarter and knew some martial arts, I would never be lucky!
When he was six years old, his eldest brother Li Mufeng entered the Mei Mansion at the age of eighteen and was now a powerful deacon.
It is not difficult for him to get in, although the eldest brother is selfless and his own qualifications are enough.
But he was used to being carefree, and he was a member of later generations. He didn't like to be a servant, so he never wanted to go. After meeting the bandits that time, he changed his mind and decided to enter the Mei Mansion, learn martial arts, and live above the rest of the world.
Be at ease.
With his thoughts surging, he strolled to the weapons rack, picked up a sword, and looked at it carefully. Under the sun, the sword's blade shone with a cold light.
He raised his hand to touch his head and suddenly laughed. He was bald and had no hair, so there was no way to verify whether the sword had broken his hair.
He waved his hand a few times and turned around to look.
"Haha, Mu Chan, you look like a layman at first glance!" The young man ran back and said with a smile.
Li Muchan smiled and said: "I have never practiced kung fu, so I am naturally a layman. Have you started learning martial arts?"
"Hehe, I just started practicing!" The young man smiled sheepishly and said hurriedly: "The day before yesterday, I happened to have completed three years of training, so I am qualified to practice martial arts!"
"Congratulations then." Li Muchan said, putting back the sword and saying, "After learning martial arts, your career will be just around the corner!"
The young man looked proud and waved his hand: "Hey, no matter how successful you are, you are still not just a waiter?!"
Li Muchan said: "I heard that Shopkeeper Zhao appreciates you very much. Once you practice martial arts, you will be promoted to the Mei Mansion."
"Isn't it all thanks to big brother?!" the young man said with a smile.
Li Muchan smiled and said: "Brother praised you for your cleverness when I came back last time. You have made a lot of progress these days and your eyesight is very good. You have a great future. You will surpass him in the future."
"Brother is really..." The young man smiled and shook his head, disapprovingly, but the corners of his mouth turned up.
Li Muchan lowered his head to look at the sword, shook his head, and sighed.
The young man smiled and said: "Mu Chan, you don't have to worry. With your natural power, once you learn martial arts, it will be more effective than others who have practiced it for more than ten years!"
"I just have a little more strength, how can I be so evil!" Li Muchan shook his head and said with a smile, "Auntie has been looking forward to your return for a while."
"What happened?" the boy asked.
"Auntie has arranged a marriage for you and wants you to go home and see her." Li Muchan said with a smile.
The boy opened his mouth wide: "Ah——?!"
He kept stamping his feet: "My mother is the same, I'm still young!"
Li Muchan smiled and said, "You are already nineteen, it's time to get a wife and take care of things."
"No, I won't go back!" The young man shook his head.
Li Muchan smiled and said, "I've checked it out for you. She is a girl from the Zhang family in Dashi Village. She is pretty and virtuous. I don't know what kind of blessings you got from this life... You really don't want to go back? Don't regret it!"
"...Really?!" The young man hesitated.
Li Muchan laughed and scolded: "Did I tell lies?"
The young man scratched his head and smiled: "Hey, you might as well go back and take a look. My mother has gone crazy right now. She insists on marrying me a wife, and she almost puts a knife to my neck!"
Li Muchan laughed loudly and waved his hand: "Go and have a look at my dishes."
"I'll urge you again!" The young man ran out.
After a while, he brought over a wooden box, gleaming with red paint, and put it down in front of Li Muchan.
He pointed towards the box: "Braised lion's head, crystal elbow, braised lamb, honey-rolled chicken legs, and four vegetarian dishes, which is enough for a meal."
"Well, that's right, the money will be deducted from my firewood money." Li Muchan picked up the wooden box and walked out, saying, "Don't forget to go back, my aunt is urging you."
"I know!" The young man followed him and walked to the front of Chaoran Building. He watched him calmly walk into the crowd and disappear.
Li Muchan carried the wooden box and followed the flow of people to the east, heading out of the city.
Today's emperor worships Buddhism, and monks have a very high status. There are several large temples in Jinyang City. The largest one, Daguangming Temple, covers an area of 100 acres, has a thousand monks, and is majestic and majestic.
The monk Li Muchan is the real deal.
The village where he lived was called Lijiacun, surrounded by mountains. The mountain at the east end was named Aishan. Halfway up Aishan there was a ruined temple called Chengjing Temple. There was originally an old monk named Faxing.
At the beginning, Li Muchan's family had three children and was too poor to survive.
When he was three years old, he went to Chengjing Temple with his parents to offer incense. He met the old monk Fa Xing.
Being a monk means you can be exempted from paying taxes. He deliberately made this strategy in order to reduce the burden on his family.
Although their parents were unwilling, they couldn't bear to be poor. Moreover, the temple was very close to their home and they could come and visit at any time. They thought that they would stay there for four or five years and then take the eldest son back when he was able to work.
After becoming a disciple of the old monk Faxing, he still stayed at home all day long, playing with his eldest brother and two sisters, and only returned to the temple when it was time to eat and sleep. The old monk Faxing allowed him to let him go and did not control him.
When he was ten years old, the old monk Dharma passed away. He was the only one in Chengjing Temple. He was free and lived mostly at home. However, this monk was formally admitted to the "Traveling Monk Record" with a degree of ultimatum.
.
In the midst of the commotion, he was calm and leisurely, carrying the wooden box and walking leisurely. Suddenly he frowned, stopped and looked to the roadside.
Under the bridge, a gray-robed monk was lying bent over, motionless. The people coming and going around him went their separate ways, and no one paid any attention to him.
Although Jinyang City is prosperous, there is no shortage of beggars. It is midsummer now, so sleeping on the street is not a big deal and no one will die.
Li Muchan looked at it, his heart suddenly moved, and a circle of ripples appeared in the quiet lake of his heart.
He stepped forward, squatted down and patted the monk's shoulder: "What's wrong, monk?"
As soon as he got closer, a stench hit his face, rushed straight into his forehead, and down to his internal organs. His stomach turned and he couldn't help but want to vomit.
Taking a deep breath, he held back.
The monk trembled, stood up slowly, and looked up. He had a long horse face, covered with abscesses and yellow pus flowing across it. It looked disgusting and scary.
Li Muchan was startled, no wonder no one paid attention to him, this look can really scare people away.
In this era, medicine was not very developed, and sometimes a cold could kill someone, and such a serious disease was even more inescapable.
In normal times, he would not mind his own business. People in the world are suffering a lot, so it would be a lucky thing for him to be wise enough to protect himself. Besides, he understands what death is about and doesn't think it is a big deal.
Fear is due to the unknown. If you understand, you will have no fear.
His heart was usually clear and calm, but when he saw this monk, he felt a little disturbed. He knew there must be a chance, so he stretched out his hand.
He looked into the monk's eyes and asked in a low voice: "What's wrong with the monk?"
The horse-faced monk sat up tremblingly, his eyes calm and peaceful, and he bowed: "Amitabha, I don't have much time left, this little master doesn't have to worry about me anymore."
Li Muchan returned the courtesy, shook his head and said: "Since you are sick, you need to be treated. Please wait a moment!"
There was a rejuvenation medical center a hundred steps away, and he quickly brought an old man over.
The old man has a beard mixed with black and white, and has a gaunt appearance. He looks very young. He is stroking his beard and squinting his eyes, as if he has been dozing off.
When he got closer, he covered his nose and then let it go. He looked at the monk and shook his head.
Li Muchan smiled: "Mr. Li, since you are here, please help me take a look. You are one of the few in Jinyang City who has great medical skills and can rejuvenate!"
The old man shook his head, looked at it for a few times, spread his hands, and sighed: "Mu Chan, it's not that I'm heartless. This master is so poisonous that he's seriously ill. There's nothing I can do!"
Li Muchan frowned, looked at the horse-faced monk, and said: "... Mr. Li, please prescribe medicine!"
"Mu Chan, no medicine is of any use!" The old man waved his hand and turned to leave.
Li Muchan sighed helplessly and did not stop him. He watched him go away and turned to the horse-faced monk: "What is your wish, monk?"
The horse-faced monk looked calm and shook his head: "I am a wild man outside the mountains. I traveled far away in the mortal world. Now I can shed my skin and go to the bliss of the west. I am very happy."
Li Muchan was in awe and could see through the living and the dead, which was extremely rare. He practiced Buddhism rigorously and practiced it every day.
He has experienced life and death, and it is not difficult to transcend. However, this monk has overcome his fear. Being able to transcend death is the result of practice.
He thought for a while: "Monk, I came from Chengjing Temple, where there are beautiful mountains and clear waters. Monk, why don't you go there to recuperate? How about that?"
The horse-faced monk shook his head: "No need to bother little master."
"You're welcome." Li Muchan ignored his struggle and didn't mind the stench. He turned his back directly and strode out of Jinyang City.
Go east along the official road, cross a bridge, go east again, climb a mountain, and go down the mountain to a village called Lijiacun.
He bypassed the village directly, went east along the river, and went up to Mount Ai in the east. There was a temple halfway up the mountain, with three big characters written on the plaque: Chengjing Temple.
Chengjing Temple faces south and faces north, with its back leaning against the mountain and shielded from the north wind, but it is a good place.
The place has been neatly taken care of, but it can still be seen that it has gone through many years, the walls have been repaired, and the window frames and door frames have been replaced.