Zhao Ran flashed the eyes of the old abbot and Ming Jue with the freehand splash-ink painting method of later generations. Of course, he would not immediately convince these two eminent monks. After all, this technique is too incompatible with the popular painting methods in this world.
, it’s really not that easy for people to accept.
But Zhao Ran's random painting is indeed a new painting method as he said, and it is indeed very interesting. The artistic conception in it is quite impressive, which is far beyond the expectations of the two monks of Qukong Temple.
It is always easy for people with the same hobbies to close the distance between each other. Zhao Ran showed such a trick and instantly became familiar with Abbot Zhicheng, and his relationship with Mingjue took a further step.
After talking for a long time, it was getting dark, and the old abbot said with a smile: "Please forgive me, almsgiver, but the distinguished guest is coming from far away and he is hungry. This is the old monk's fault." After that, he asked Mingjue to go out and deliver the fasting meal.
After the meal, the old abbot invited Zhao Ran to go out for a walk. Zhao Ran got up happily, accompanied by Mingjue.
Qukong Temple is not big. After walking along the pavilion corridor path for a short time, it turned to the back. The old abbot did not stop and continued to walk forward and turned out of the Buddhist temple.
Behind the temple is a bamboo forest. The bamboo forest is lush and green. It rustles softly in the evening wind of summer nights, like waves, making people feel intoxicated.
Zhao Ran sighed: "What a quiet place. To be honest with the abbot, since Cheng came to Xia Kingdom, he has seen many Buddhist temples, but none of them is as outstanding and comfortable as Qukong Temple, free from dust and cleanse from the world."
The abbot said: "My Zen sect was taught by Kassapa. I don't go near the government or go to the market. I wander in the forest and sit in meditation to purify my mind. This is the inheritance of my Qukong Temple. The bank of the spiritual spring is a quiet place, which is conducive to practice.
It’s not just for fun. The ancestors more than a thousand years ago did not even stay in the temple. When they were hungry, they begged for a meal and a bowl. When they were tired, they slept in the snow and deserted graves. They were not influenced by the outside world and did not do anything for them.
Being entangled by one's own desires is truly a great freedom and a great pleasure. However, doing so is not conducive to inheritance, and most newbies to spiritual practice will not be able to endure this hardship."
Zhao Ran thought for a while and said: "This is similar to the true immortals in early Taoist practice."
The abbot nodded: "Actually, the essence of Buddhism and Taoism is the same. It is just to escape from the suffering of the world. However, the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism became more and more intense and led to today. My Zen lineage had no choice but to move westward and came to this land.
, many things had to be changed. For example, I asked Mingjue to go to Tianlongyuan to serve. I didn’t agree with it in my heart. There were too many secular affairs mixed in. How to achieve the emptiness of all dharmas? If you want to see the truth, you must understand life and death.
, If you want to know life and death, your body should be pure, with no birth and death, no coming and going..."
Zhao Ran and Mingjue were both listening attentively. It is a great opportunity for a great monk in the Bodhisattva realm to take the time to talk to you about practice.
At first, Zhao Ran didn't quite understand what the abbot was doing talking to an "ordinary person" like himself. After hearing this, he understood a little bit and asked: "The Zen practice practiced in Qukong Temple is really unique.
,Does Tianlongyuan not care?"
The abbot said: "He will take care of his own business, and I will cultivate mine. Let Mingjue go to Tianlongyuan to do things. This is a concession from me, Qukong Temple."
Now I understand, the abbot told Zhao Ran that the Taoist female cultivator is with me. You can rest assured that her life is safe. Even if Tianlongyuan comes, I will not hand her over to them.
But this is not what Zhao Ran wants. Preserving one's life is the first level, but being imprisoned in a Buddhist temple for three to five years is not the solution. It is better to release the person.
So Zhao Ran used the same rhetoric again, but in front of this great virtuous man in the Bodhisattva realm, he did not dare to play any tricks. He was just looking for death by using any deception skills.
After hearing this, the abbot nodded and said: "My disciple also mentioned to Lao Na that the idea of becoming a benefactor is not wrong. But Lao Na kept her in the temple. In addition to her affinity with Buddhism, he still wanted to polish her temperament.
In addition, this female cultivator has a very violent temper. After breaking into my Qukong Temple, she tried to steal my elixir, so I will give her a light punishment."
Sure enough, there was a reason. It was not a "Buddhist connection". Maybe it was just a joke made by the old abbot. Zhao Ran, tired, racked his brains to make up a story.
Zhao Ran couldn't help but secretly cursed: Master Zhicheng, is it really okay for you to be joking like this?
Now that the crux has been found, the only thing left is negotiation. There is an exchange of interests everywhere. Although the old abbot has a high level of cultivation, he is not immune to vulgarity. Zhao Ran understands this very well. If you do something wrong, you will be punished. This
It's an eternal rule.
"I wonder what kind of elixir Song Yuqiao wants to steal? Has it caused any damage to your temple?"
The abbot paused, pointed to a few light yellow large-leaf orchids on the rock in front and said: "These are the fragrant orchids and fairy mushrooms. These are the treasures of our Qukong Temple. This female monk did not practice enough and touched the formation.
The law is trapped by the law formation."
It turned out that before they knew it, the three of them had reached the foot of a huge cliff. There were several clusters of green orchids growing on the cliff. The difference was that every leaf of the orchid was as hard and translucent as jade.
It looks like it's been carved by hand.
Zhao Ran couldn't help but be surprised when he heard that this was Pandan Celestial Zhizhi. This elixir ranked eighth in the "Zhilan Celestial Medicine Spectrum". Using it as the main medicine, several elixirs with outstanding effects can be refined.
It specializes in repairing and conditioning the damage of Qi Hai, and is a very cherished species.
"Did anyone get hurt?"
"Originally everything was fine, but this female cultivator pretended to faint, and when my disciples tried to rescue her, she got angry and injured Mingxin. Fortunately, Mingxin's nephew is a good cultivator, so it didn't lead to a tragedy."
Zhao Ran took a breath. The child was naughty and naughty. He did not damage the flowers, plants and trees, so he could just educate him. But now that he hurts someone, it cannot be solved by criticism and education.
"How is Master Mingxin doing now? Is he seriously injured? Cheng wants to visit him."
The abbot and Mingjue led Zhao Ran back to the temple. When they arrived at Monk Mingxin's meditation room, they saw a monk standing up from the wooden bed and clasping his hands to salute them.
Mingjue said softly: "Junior brother, master brought a benefactor here to visit you. How are you now?"
Ming Xin said: "Thank you very much for your concern. The injury has recovered and is no longer in the way."
Zhao Ran saw that the monk Mingxin was pale and haggard, and knew that his self-proclaimed "no trouble" was actually useless, so he turned to look at the abbot.
The abbot said: "My nephew has always been diligent and brave in his cultivation. He has already passed the realm of nose and consciousness at a young age. He has seen through fear and now has wisdom. All the brothers in my temple are very optimistic about him. I didn't expect that he would suffer like this."
Difficulties must be caused by fate."
Mingjue was afraid that Zhao Ran wouldn't understand, so he explained: "Junior Brother Mingxin is already a monk in the Bhikkhu realm, and his cultivation level is one level higher than that of a poor monk. He was originally the most important person in the temple, but out of his good intentions, he might have fallen into Song Yuqiao's scheme, and he was injured.
Knowing the sea of knowledge, it may be difficult to improve in the future." He couldn't help but said angrily: "She is so vicious and cruel, no wonder the mountain guests don't like her!"