Chapter 1834

Hu Xiaotian having achieved his goal, naturally he felt satisfied; actually Rong Shi was just a minor figure, but why did Huo Xiaoru rescue him? Even using it as a condition to meet himself? In Hu Xiaotian's impression, she and Rong Shi should have no connection; if forced to say there is, it's because of Xue Shengjing, Xue Shengjing and Ren Tianqing are secretly colluding; could it be that Ren Tianqing, through Xue Shengjing, made Huo Xiaoru do this?

Ahead was Fengyi Shan Zhuang; Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi discussed and decided to go directly to sweep the tomb, not go to the manor. The manor had once been searched by the court; after Hu Xiaotian accepted the throne, this place was restored and rebuilt, but from beginning to end Xu Fengyi's tomb suffered no impact. Qiqi let others not follow, lest disturb Xu Fengyi's spirit; only she and Hu Xiaotian went up the mountain to pay respects and sweep the tomb.

After sweeping the tomb of their deceased mother, they did not linger at all, directly heading to Heaven Dragon Temple.

At dusk their party had already arrived at Luojia Mountain Heaven Dragon Temple; unlike last time accompanying the old emperor to pay respects to Buddha, this time Heaven Dragon Temple did not make a big show, also in response to Yongyang Princess's request; Qiqi did not want this affair to disturb the whole temple up and down, Heaven Dragon Temple side also meant that; Qiqi also did not choose to enter through the main gate, but she and Hu Xiaotian et al brought thirty guards up the mountain via the West Gate, entering Universal Virtue Hall via a small path. Rather than like other imperial family members coming through the Five Bright Bridge to enter the main gate.

Although Qiqi deliberately chose to act low-key, Heaven Dragon Temple side did not dare be negligent; Abbot Tongyuan Grand Master was already waiting at the West Gate; accompanying him were one person, the Discipline Hall's enforcement elder Tongji, and another, the Heaven Dragon Temple Supervisor's Hall Tongjing; these two are the abbot's martial brothers, holding high status in Heaven Dragon Temple; Hu Xiaotian had also interacted with them during his previous visit.

After the three had greeted Qiqi, they came over to pay respects to Hu Xiaotian, who smiled and said: 'Venerable masters, no need for formalities; we are old friends, I have been to this Heaven Dragon Temple before, I am familiar with every place.'

Hearing him say that, Tongji and Tongjing exchanged a glance, both their expressions unpleasant; Hu Xiaotian, when he previously accompanied the old emperor Long Xuan'en to chant sutras and pay respects to Buddha, stayed for a full month, during which he certainly caused no little trouble; Bu Wu also, that time he set fire to the Sutra Pavilion, and speaking of it, he got this fellow's help. Although several people were rather displeased with Hu Xiaotian, constrained by his current status, none could openly show their true feelings.

Abbot Tongyuan respectfully said: 'The Princess's residence has already been arranged, it is in Universal Virtue Hall; the poor monks have already cleared the area around Universal Virtue Hall of martial law, no idlers may enter; the Princess need only rest well.'

Qiqi nodded and said: 'Thank you for your trouble, venerable masters.'

Tongyuan led the way ahead for Qiqi, who followed Tongyuan up the steps.

Hu Xiaotian walked side by side with Tongjing, laughing and saying: 'It's been years, Master Tongjing still as vigorous as a dragon and tiger, has your temper improved compared to before?' He said this entirely because Tongjing has an explosive temper.

Tongjing blushed and said: 'Prince, please forgive my foolishness; my understanding is poor and my mind is full of distracting thoughts.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Having many distracting thoughts is not a bad thing, as long as you don't think about women!'

Several monks hearing this fellow's outrageous words, each showed an embarrassed expression; others listening couldn't help but laugh; Liang Da Zhuang, walking behind Hu Xiaotian, grinned so wide his mouth almost split to his ears.

Qiqi couldn't help but smile, and softly chided: 'In this pure and quiet Buddhist place, nonsense is not allowed.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Then I'll just have to be mute; my surname is Hu, so whatever I say is nonsense.'

Now Qiqi couldn't help but laugh, giving Hu Xiaotian a glare, yet the tenderness in her eyes was evident even to a blind person.

Several senior monks pretended not to have seen anything, accompanying them to Universal Virtue Hall; according to Qiqi's request, the guard of Universal Virtue Hall was handed over to this group of palace guards; to be absolutely safe, Abbot Tongyuan also specially arranged thirty-six warrior monks to guard all roads leading to the West Courtyard, ensuring no accident tonight. However, Tongyuan also understood in his heart that they could only guarantee not even a bird could fly into Universal Virtue Hall, but could not guarantee a bird could not fly out of it, because with Hu Xiaotian, anything could happen.

After arriving at Universal Wisdom Hall and settling down, Tongyuan asked Qiqi; they had originally prepared a vegetarian meal for them, but Qiqi had no intention of eating vegetarian, so she had Tongyuan arrange the evening vegetarian meal for the attendants, while the others ate vegetarian she, accompanied by Tongyuan, walked around Universal Wisdom Hall.

Qiqi said: "Coming to the sacred temple tomorrow morning to burn incense and fulfill a vow is one reason; another is that I wish to visit Master Yuanmu and speak a few words to him face to face."

Tongyuan said respectfully, "I will convey the Princess's intention on her behalf; it's already late today, so Master Uncle's visit to the Princess should be tomorrow."

Qiqi said: "How could I trouble Master Yuanmu to come; I will go visit him after offering incense tomorrow."

Tongyuan said, "I will arrange everything for Your Highness." Facing the Yongyang Princess who holds sway over the court and the countryside, Tongyuan showed considerable cooperation.

As night fell upon this ancient temple, Master Tongyuan slowly entered the Hall of Buddha's Heart in Heavenly Dragon Temple.

The steady tok-tok of the wooden fish came from within the hall; Tongyuan looked up and saw Yuanmu sitting cross-legged on a futon, chanting sutras by candlelight. He did not dare disturb him, nor did he hurry to approach.

The wooden fish's tok-tok abruptly ceased; Yuanmu's eyes fluttered open and shut, his gaze falling on Tongyuan like a flash of lightning.

Tongyuan secretly admired his Master Uncle's fierce gaze, yet he felt something was off; the last time Master Uncle left Heavenly Dragon Temple, his gaze was far more serene—essence internalized, returning to simplicity and truth—but now, after returning, it was like a Bright Pearl washed clean of dust; Tongyuan wondered whether this was progress or regression? Perhaps Master Uncle had advanced another level in martial arts, but in Buddhist cultivation he might have regressed. He respectfully said, "Master Uncle!"

Yuanmu grunted and said, "Has the Yongyang Princess's entourage been settled?"

Tongyuan nodded and said, "They have been arranged to stay at Universal Wisdom Hall; the Princess requested a private meeting with Master Uncle."

Yuanmu smiled faintly and said, "She came this time just to see me!"

Tongyuan said, "Master Uncle, do you think they will return the Heart Sutra?"

Yuanmu said, "Perhaps." After saying that, he slowly closed his eyes again.

Tongyuan did not dare disturb him; just as he was about to retreat, he heard Yuanmu say again, "Hu Xiaotian might go to the Rift Cloud Valley tonight."

Tongyuan said, "Master Uncle, rest assured, I have made all arrangements; thirty-six martial monks under Mingzheng's leadership guard every big and small exit of Universal Wisdom Hall; even if they grew wings, those inside could not leave."

Yuanmu said, "Since they have come, they surely have a purpose; if you lock them all inside, how could you know what they intend to do?"

Tongyuan said, "I am also considering the Princess's safety."

Yuanmu sighed softly and said, "Although you have made thorough preparations, you will ultimately be unable to detain them; what is destined to come will come; with Hu Xiaotian's current martial prowess, even I, the old monk, could not restrain him, unless..." Yuanmu trailed off.

Tongyuan said, "Master Uncle, there is something I don't know whether I should ask or not."

"If you yourself can't figure it out, why must you ask?"

Tongyuan was speechless.

Yuanmu sighed and said, "I know you must be worried; everything I have done may well bring trouble to Heavenly Dragon Temple; you are the abbot of Heavenly Dragon Temple, you don't want the temple to be destroyed in your hands, right?"

Tongyuan nodded.

Yuanmu opened his eyes again, pointed to the futon opposite him, and said, "Sit!"

Tongyuan sat cross-legged opposite him, looking at Yuanmu with an expression full of respect.

Yuanmu said, "Some things are better the less you know."

Tongyuan said, "I don't have much curiosity; I simply feel that nothing is more important than the continuation of Heavenly Dragon Temple's incense. Although the calamity three hundred years ago is past, the wounds it inflicted on the temple have yet to heal to this day. I say this not out of fear of the court, but to prevent the temple's monks from suffering persecution by the court."

Yuanmu smiled and said, "As abbot, protecting Heavenly Dragon Temple and safeguarding the monks is originally your duty; you have done well these years."

Tongyuan said, "I am not lacking self-awareness; given my talent and virtue and cultivation, I am not worthy of my current position."

Yuanmu said, "What is position? As abbot, having cultivated Buddhism for decades, you still keep the word 'position' in your heart? Back then I refused the abbot's seat, insisting on handing it to you; in fact I wanted to shirk responsibility, not bear this burden."

Tongyuan said, "Master Uncle, don't say that; these past years, without your assistance, Heavenly Dragon Temple would not have its present scale."

Yuanmu shook his head and said, "I haven't done anything for Heavenly Dragon Temple? Even when the temple encountered trouble, I wasn't here."

Tongyuan said, "Master Uncle, although I have many things I don't understand, I still have a question: shouldn't we monastics transcend the three realms? Not being within the five elements, there's no need to get too close to the court." He had many misunderstandings about his Master Uncle's practices, but out of respect for the teacher-student bond, some things were hard to say directly, so he could only speak as tactfully as possible.

Yuanmu said, "Over the past two years, we have sent many disciples to Lingyin Temple; in fact, my original intention in proposing this was to avoid a future disaster befalling Heavenly Dragon Temple, and also to preserve the incense."

Tongyuan sensed a faint ominous portent from Yuanmu's words; today the Yongyang Princess came to Heavenly Dragon Temple specifically to see Yuanmu, not knowing what matter the two needed to discuss; if Yuanmu had indeed offended the court, Heavenly Dragon Temple would likely face a calamity—what sort of matter would cause Yuanmu to risk offending the court to handle it?

Yuanmu said, "Go on, you needn't worry too much; as the Buddha said, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' Heavenly Dragon Temple should not be implicated."

Just a few more votes to reach two thousand; still not enough, brothers with Monthly Tickets, please lend your support—just one vote will do! (To be continued~^~)