Qiao Feng went down to Shaoshi Mountain and disappeared from his adoptive parents. Although he didn't know their identity, he expected that the person who took away his adoptive parents would use this to blackmail him. Instead of slowly searching for a needle in a haystack, it would be better to wait for the enemy to come and notify him to come.
meeting.
So after two days of searching, Qiao Feng stopped wandering aimlessly and rushed directly towards Wutai Mountain to find Monk Zhiguang to confirm the true identity of the leading brother.
Along the way, Qiao Feng did not deliberately hide his whereabouts. He changed his cautious and low-key style when he was the leader of the Beggar Clan, and walked through the streets wearing bright clothes and angry horses.
In three days, Qiao Feng rushed from the foot of Shaoshi Mountain to Yanmen County, Daizhou. Qiao Feng entered the city and asked about the location of Monk Zhiguang. Someone told him that there was a Wenshu Monastery thirty miles away, and Master Zhiguang was there.
Place the order there.
Qiao Feng thanked the man and galloped all the way. After a while, he arrived at the foot of Mount Wutai.
Qiao Feng tied his horse under a big pine tree and followed the stone steps up the mountain.
It is said that Mount Wutai is the monastery of Manjushri Bodhisattva, and later generations call it the first of the four famous mountains of Buddhism. In fact, Mount Wutai is not a mountain, but a series of mountains.
For hundreds of years, Wutai Mountain has been prosperous with incense and chanting. There are at least hundreds of large and small temples on the mountain, including many imperial temples, many of which have been visited by emperors of the past dynasties. From here, head north thirty
Yuli is the famous Yanmen Pass.
In the past, Li He of the Tang Dynasty had an ancient poem "The Journey of the Governor of Yanmen" that was passed down to later generations. In the Tang Dynasty, the status of Yanmen Pass in the north was not as important as it is now. After the defeat of the Turks by Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Yanmen Pass became more and more popular.
It serves as a logistical supply pass for the frontier army.
However, due to the fall of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun during the Five Dynasties, the entire north except Yanmen Pass was almost undefendable. If Yanmen Pass was broken, hundreds of thousands of Liao troops could take advantage of the trend and move south, with a vast plain, and the troops would reach Taiyuan.
Ma Huanghe will burn the entire Central Plains with flames of war.
Therefore, since the Taizong Dynasty, officials in all dynasties of the Song Dynasty have attached great importance to the defense of Yanmen Pass. The entire Yanmen area is said to have hundreds of thousands of soldiers. It is truly a prosperous mountain and river, and the key to the Northern Kingdom.
Qiao Feng climbed up the steps and felt a sense of relief for no reason. He seemed to have a feeling in his heart: once he came here, everything would eventually be answered.
Qiao Feng walked a few hundred steps, and in a pavilion halfway up the mountain, a Zhike monk came forward and bowed: "May I ask this donor why you came up the mountain?"
Qiao Feng thought for a while and felt that if he said that he was Qiao Feng, he would inevitably be in trouble. In order to avoid any complications, he said: "Xiao Feng, I came here this time to ask for a meeting with Master Zhiguang. I ask the young master to pass it on for you."
One sound."
Although the surname Xiao is the surname of a descendant of the Liao Dynasty, since the Song-Liao Chanyuan Alliance, the border Han people and the Khitan people have gradually exchanged and integrated over the past hundred years. Nowadays, there are many Han people in the north with the surname Xiao.
The young novice monk didn't feel surprised after hearing this. He also saw that the big man in front of him was tall and extraordinary in appearance, and his every move showed a generous and heroic demeanor. He knew that the person who came was definitely not an ordinary person. He did not dare to neglect at the moment, and
He bowed to Qiao Feng and said, "It turns out to be Almsgiver Xiao. I'm too far away to greet you, so please sit here for a while while the young monk goes to inform Master Zhiguang."
So the young novice left Qiao Feng waiting in the pavilion and went into the temple gate to find Monk Zhiguang.
Qiao Feng sat alone in the pavilion, looking around. The bells in the temple came from time to time, which added a bit of silence and solemnity to this ancient temple in the mountains. At the door of the temple, two Vajra warriors waved their fists and opened their eyes.
I opened my mouth wide and looked outside the mountain gate. In the air, the aroma of Xinxiang came from time to time, which made me feel refreshed.
About half the time it took to burn the incense, the young monk came back. He came to Qiao Feng, bowed respectfully and said, "Donor Xiao, Master Zhiguang is already waiting for you. Please come with the young monk."
Qiao Feng stood up, cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, little master."
So Qiao Feng followed the novice monk all the way through the corridors and alleys, and after walking for about a cup of tea, he arrived in front of a side courtyard.
The young novice monk stood in front of a room, bowed and said: "Master Zhiguang, Donor Xiao has already invited us."
In the room, an old voice came out: "Please come in, Master Xiao."
The young novice monk turned around and saluted Qiao Feng again, signaling Qiao Feng to go in on his own. Qiao Feng did not hesitate, bowed slightly in return, and pushed the door open.
The door opened with a creak.
As soon as Qiao Feng entered the door, he saw an old monk with a gray beard, wearing a gray monk's robe, kneeling on a futon. The old monk closed his eyes and said nothing, as if he was meditating. His face was crisscrossed with grooves, just like the yellow color washed away by a heavy rain.
The land and the whole person look extremely old.
When Qiao Feng saw the man, he was a little stunned for a moment: This man was obviously the monk Zhiguang whom he met last time in Xingzi Forest. However, it had only been so long, how could he have become like this?
Hearing the sound of pushing the door open, Monk Zhiguang slowly opened his eyes, as if he had slept for a while and finally woke up from his dream. Seeing that the person who came was Qiao Feng, Zhiguang was not surprised or panicked, but his face showed
There was a hint of relief on his face.
"Almsgiver Qiao came from afar, but I was unable to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me."
Zhiguang leaned over and thought about it, but for some reason, he failed to succeed. He shook his head slightly, with a helpless expression on his face.
Qiao Feng saw Zhiguang's aging and decadent appearance, and for some reason, he felt inexplicably sympathetic to him. He originally thought that he would be extremely angry when he saw the enemy who participated in the murder of his biological parents, but now he feels a little pity for the old man in front of him.
Qiao Feng bowed: "Qiao Feng, the former leader of the Beggar Clan, pays homage to the master."
Zhiguang sighed softly: "Since you know your life experience, why do you call yourself Qiao Feng? Qiao is a fake. Life is like a dream, like dew and like lightning. Things in the world, whether true or false, are nothing more than a big event in the end.
Dream."
Qiao Feng leaned forward and said, "This junior is here to ask the master to answer my questions."
After Zhiguang finished speaking, he coughed a few times: "That's good, that's good. Since you already know your life experience, why should you cling to the past?"
Zhiguang paused and continued: "Back then, your father left writings on the stone wall outside Yanmen Pass. He claimed that his surname was Xiao and his given name was Xiao Yuanshan. He called you "Feng'er" in his legacy. We have retained your original name.
Because you were entrusted to the Qiao family to raise you, you must take their last name. Xiao Feng is your original name."
Although Qiao Feng had already gotten some information about his biological father from Murong Fu, after all, he came here to inquire about it and not personally experienced it. Now that he heard it from the person who had experienced it in person, it felt very different. He immediately bowed down with tears in his eyes.
Said: "Thank you, Master, for informing me."
Zhiguang said: "Since you have arrived at Yanmen, have you ever gone to the Rock Valley outside Yanmen Pass to see your father's remains?"
Xiao Feng shook his head and said: "Never."
Zhiguang summoned a young novice monk and whispered a few words into his ear. After a while, the young novice monk took out a huge old piece of cloth and handed it to Zhiguang. Zhiguang took the piece of cloth, unfolded it gently, and handed it to Xiao Feng.
: "Donor Xiao, this is a rubbing of the words your father left on the stone wall."
Xiao Feng felt a shiver in his heart. He took the old cloth and unfolded it. He saw that the big cloth was made of many rags of robes sewn haphazardly. Each one of the cloth had hollow white characters with strange strokes, and the appearance was not the same as the Chinese characters.
It was very similar, but I didn’t know a word. I knew it was Khitan writing, but I saw the majestic strokes of the handwriting, like a knife and an ax. When I heard Zhiguang said that day, this was carved with a short knife by his father before he died, I couldn’t help but feel sad and said: "
I also ask the master to interpret it."
Master Zhiguang said: "We expanded it back then and asked people in Yanmen Pass who knew the Khitan script to explain it. We asked several people and the meaning was general. It must be good. This line said: 'Feng'er is one year old, and his wife is
I was going to my grandma's house for a banquet, and on the way I suddenly encountered a Southern Dynasty robber...'"
Xiao Feng felt even more sad when he heard this, and listened to Zhiguang continue: "...something happened in a hurry, his wife and children were killed by thieves, and Yu Yi did not want to live again. Yu Shouye's mentor was a Han from the Southern Dynasties, and Yu was his teacher
I had sworn before that I would not be enemies of the Han people, let alone kill the Han people. Little did I know that today I killed more than ten people at a time. I am ashamed and painful, and I will not be able to see my mentor after death. Xiao Yuanshan's last work.'"
After Xiao Feng heard what Zhiguang said, he respectfully put away the rubbings and said, "This is the legacy of Xiao's ancestors. I ask Master to give it to me." Zhiguang said, "I should have given it as a gift."
Xiao Feng's mind was in chaos. After realizing his father's pain at that time, he realized that he committed suicide by throwing himself off a cliff. Not only was he heartbroken and his wife and children died tragically, but he also broke his oath and killed many Han people, making him feel ashamed of his master.
After a long while, Xiao Feng said: "I met Master Zunfan in the apricot forest in Wuxi that day. I have countless doubts in my mind. I beg you to give me some advice."
Zhiguang said: "When I, the Buddha, taught his disciples in Tianzhu, the disciples asked many questions. Some of the Buddha gave detailed explanations, while others simply did not answer the questions. It was not that the Buddha did not know and could not answer, but that some of the answers were too profound.
Some of them are very involved and cannot be explained in one sentence. If you give a simple answer, it will be difficult for the disciples to understand. Some people will inevitably try to explain others, but in fact it is not a correct explanation. If it is spread, it will harm the righteousness of the Dharma. There are fourteen questions that I, the Buddha, will not answer.
, it is recorded in the Buddhist scriptures that it is the famous "fourteen no-answers". Various sects and sects of Buddhism will answer various questions, some will answer, and some will not. For example, asking: "What is the intention of the founder coming from the east?"
Great Master, many did not answer, but few answered. Another example is asking: "What sound does clapping with one palm make?" Everyone answered according to the opportunity, and there were many answers. I have a superficial cultivation and dare not imitate my Buddha. Xiao Almsgiver has something to say
When asked, I will answer if I can. If I think it is better not to answer, I will not answer. I would like to accuse the donor first."
Xiao Feng had long known the information about his biological father Xiao Yuanshan from Murong Fu, so naturally he would not dwell on it anymore. He came here today just to determine who the leading brother was.
So he bowed down and said: "Xiao Feng came here today for only one thing, and that is to ask Master, who was the leader in the battle at Yanmen Pass in the Stone Valley?"
Zhiguang shook his head slowly and said: "The donor wants to seek revenge from the leader brother, who has long ago decided not to escape. Don't say that donor Xiao has excellent martial arts, he is a person who doesn't know any martial arts at all. He only needs to hold a short knife and stab him with one blow.
Kill him. But there are countless good people around the leader. It goes without saying that they must protect the leader with all their strength. Even if the leader gives the order to stop him and is willing to die, once he dies, if his men attack in groups,
But it’s hard to resist.”
Xiao Feng's heart trembled: "Even if I kill the culprit, I will still be unable to defeat the enemy's overwhelming numbers. But is Xiao Feng a timid person who retreats when faced with difficulties? His parents are sworn enemies and they are sworn in. What kind of hardships and dangers can a man be afraid of?
?I, Xiao Feng, just want to overcome the difficulties and advance."
He immediately stood up and said respectfully: "Thank you, Master, for your advice. Xiao is stupid and still wants to meet the leader. This person has caused me to be deprived of the favor of my biological parents since I was a child. Isn't it a trivial matter?"
Zhiguang shook his head, smiled and said nothing, stood up and walked into the back hall.
After a while, a young monk walked to the living room and said, "Master, please come to the Zen room to speak." Xiao Feng followed him through a bamboo-shaded path and came to a small house. Monk Pu Zhe opened the door and
Said: "Please!" Xiao Feng walked in.
I saw Zhiguang sitting cross-legged on a futon, smiling at Xiao Feng and saying, "I didn't answer the donor's question."
After speaking, he smiled slightly, closed his eyes, and said no more.
Xiao Feng waited for a moment, but saw no movement from Zhiguang. He called "Master" several times, but Zhiguang remained motionless and showed no reaction.
Xiao Feng used his hands to check Zhiguang's breathing and found out that the monk's breathing had stopped and he had obviously been dead for a while. Looking again, he saw that monk Zhiguang's lips were purple and his face was blue, which was obviously a symptom of taking poison.
Only then did Xiao Feng realize that the other party had already taken poison and had been delaying time.