When Shenxiu was very young, he started dreaming all the time.

There is a beautiful flower in the dream, and every time I see it, I feel that the whole dream comes alive. Later, when Shenxiu learned to read and write, he saw the word "peony", and suddenly thought that the one in his dream was a peony flower.

It's just that the scene in the dream is not very good.

Sometimes, the peony is white, and every time I see him, I will be very happy to stick to it, and from time to time I will stretch out a branch and leaf to hook his hand. Even if the other party is a flower, Shenxiu can clearly feel the other party's feelings.

But sometimes, the peony turns black. Every time I see him, I'm happy, but for some reason I always look unhappy and ignore him.

Shenxiu was a little unacceptable at first, but later he got used to it.

All living beings have good moods and bad moods, and every time he can dream of that peony, he is already very happy.

Of course, there are also times when Shenxiu can't see that peony.

When his parents were still there, they were very fond of his only son, and when they saw that he often drew peonies on paper, they thought that their son liked them, so they went to a famous flower farmer in the town to buy a few pots of peony flowers and put them in Shenxiu's room to make his son happier.

Shenxiu originally thought that even if these peonies were not as beautiful as in his dream, the peony in the dream had always been one, and it seemed to be a little lonely. As the saying goes, if you think about it day and dream at night, he raises a few more pots of peonies, and he can dream of a few more pots in his dreams, and when the time comes, the peonies will not be lonely.

The young Shenxiu thought very simply, so he did not refuse the kindness of his parents, and even watered these peonies in a good mood, and bought special books to learn how to raise them.

This is a big stab!

For several days, Shenxiu didn't dream of seeing his peony.

Shenxiu is used to the company of Peony after falling asleep every time, but the other party suddenly disappears, which is really incomprehensible to Shenxiu. Shenxiu's parents thought that their son might have been working too hard recently and was a little sick, so they quickly reduced his homework.

Shenxiu was puzzled.

Until I saw a few friends from the neighbor's house next door arguing in the yard.

"Xiaohua, why don't you play with me?"

"Hmph, go play with Xiaocui, I'll ignore you."

"Wait, Xiaohua, can't I stop playing with Xiaocui?"

"Let's pull the hook!"

"Good, good, retractor!"

Shenxiu, who watched the whole process, gasped, he turned his head to look at the two pots of peonies on the balcony, and felt an incredible feeling in his heart, could it be that the little peony in his dream was also angry, thinking that he didn't want him if he had other flowers?

The more Shenxiu thought about it, the more he felt that it was possible.

He put the flowers in his parents' room on the grounds that he was sick and couldn't take good care of the flowers given by his parents.

The next night, he saw his little peony again in a dream.

Shenxiu couldn't cry or laugh, and never mentioned raising flowers in the future.

It's just that I love the house and Wu, and I can't help but pay some attention to the peony. even

Such thoughts are so hot that they can hardly be suppressed.

But Shenxiu is young, even if he is smart and sensible, his parents can't rest assured that he is looking for any flowers, so he has to take a look at the peonies raised by his neighbors. By the way, I help those living beings within the scope of my ability, and I just hope that before I find the peony, it can live a better life.

And then a lot happened.

His parents suddenly fell seriously ill and both left, and his uncles and aunts seized his family property and drove him away. But this qiē didn't make the young Shenxiu feel anything, because every night after falling asleep, his little peony would comfort him well.

As for his parents' illness, Shenxiu actually expected it.

From the moment he was able to perceive the outside world, he sensed the thick and undissipating dead air in his parents, and it was lucky that he was able to support it until now. As for the uncles and aunts, they have been entangled by black gas all their lives.

Now that I'm alone, there's nothing wrong with that.

"Peony?" The words of the monk woke up Shenxiu from his memories. He felt a little curious, within this radius of 100 miles, the most important thing for every household is this peony flower. When the powerful people of the dynasty loved peonies, peonies in good condition could be sold at sky-high prices. The town is suitable for raising peonies, and the craftsmanship of the flower farmers is also first-class, and every year or two they will raise a good peony to sell to the powerful. The inhabitants of the town were not greedy, and the prices were not high, and the officials were pleasing to the top, and they did not want to embarrass the poor people.

Now, this person who is suspected of being a spirit child says that he wants to find a peony in this peony township, which is really curious.

"There are so many peonies, didn't the little donor find that one?" Lifan asked.

Shenxiu shook his head, "No." ”

"It's a shame." Lifan sighed, "Then why does the little donor want to look for it in the mountains?" "It stands to reason that you can only see more peonies when you go to the peony flower club in the county seat, and the possibility of finding them is greater.

"I don't know." Shenxiu continued to shake his head.

"I think he must be in a place where others can't find it." There is no reason for such a premonition, but Shenxiu has such an intuition, in addition to himself, the peony must have been waiting for him, except for him, it will not be poached by anyone, and it will not be raised by anyone. That's why he ran into the mountains again and again.

But he searched all the surrounding mountains, but still couldn't find his peony.

Perhaps, it was time for him to get out of here.

"I wonder if the little donor wants to leave here with me?" Li Fan asked tentatively, "The world is so big, I'm afraid the peony that Xiao Shi is looking for is not here." If the little benefactor is willing to leave with the poor monk, the poor monk is willing to ask the brothers and sisters to help pay attention. There are 3,000 disciples in my Huguo Temple, and there are countless lay disciples. ”

Shenxiu stood in place and thought about it, "Then there is Master Lao." ”

"Don't dare to be." Seeing that Shenxiu readily agreed, Lifan was also relieved in his heart. If you are willing to go with him, if you don't want to, he probably has to think of wishing for this little boy's wish first!

The rain had stopped, and it was getting late, so the two decided to go back to the house in the mountains for the night and then go down tomorrow.

"The benefactor of Shenxiu is kind-hearted." Lifan pushed open the door and saw the kitten lying on the place sleeping loudly, and couldn't help but praise, "I'm afraid this kitten was picked up by the little donor on the side of the road." ”

"Well, I picked it up in the mountains." Shenxiu nodded.

"Does the little benefactor often do these things?" Lifan asked happily, this is a great thing to accumulate virtue. It is really good that the other party has the name of the Buddha without any restraint of the rules and precepts, and the other party has the name of the Buddha.

"I'll take a hand when I meet him." Shenxiu's expression was calm and replied indifferently.

"Good, good." "The little donor is really amazing, and he doesn't ask for ......anything in return."

"It's not that you don't want anything in return." Shenxiu interrupted Fan and said, "I have something to ask for, that's why I will save them." ”

“…… What do you mean by that? "It's hard to understand.

"Birth, old age, sickness and death, whether it is a human or an animal, must go through this experience. Occasionally, I saw some ladies who had good hearts and did not want to eat rabbits and dogs, so they let them go, and they were called bodhisattvas. But chickens, ducks and fish, isn't it life? Those ladies didn't eat rabbits, so they naturally ate chickens and ducks to make up for it. In my opinion, these good deeds are not merit at all, but at most they can only be regarded as self-righteous peace of mind. ”

Lifan was a little ridiculous, "The donor is right, all beings are equal, all beings are equal." ”

"But I saved them anyway." Shenxiu lowered her eyes, her voice was surprisingly indifferent, and she was almost not like a child, "Because I have something to ask for, I hope that my accumulation of virtue and good deeds can allow me to find my little peony as soon as possible." I hope it can live well before I find it. So even though I know that these good deeds don't really work, I am willing to do them whenever it is possible. ”

"Therefore, I am willing to go to Huguo Temple with you." Shenxiu raised his head, and a pair of eyes could almost see through all the things that he didn't say, "Master Fan, what I said is straightforward, please don't mind." I'm willing to follow you immediately, but if I want to stop on the way, I ask the master not to stop me. ”

"Amitabha, poor monk, poor monk understand." Seeing Shenxiu close his eyes and rest, he realized that he was already sweating profusely.

He was suppressed by the momentum of such a small child?

Lifan was surprised.

He was even more surprised by the child's indifference and calmness.

And everything he said, he believed.

Shenxiu barely glanced at the kitten from the moment she entered the door. If it is really those who have a good heart, they should be anxious to make sure that the kitten is okay. But Shenxiu is different, he knows that the kitten is alive, and the others don't care much.

If it weren't for hearing Shenxiu say that he was looking for a peony and seeing the persistence and determination on his face, Lifan almost thought that the other party was emotionless.

Li Fan pressed the doubts in his heart, and the two were relatively speechless, and stayed in the small room for one night.

When he woke up the next day, he saw the kitten nesting next to Shenxiu, and seemed to be a little cautious.

Shenxiu occasionally touched the kitten's head, but never hugged it, but in time, the kitten liked Shenxiu more than he liked the old man.

Monk Lifan touched his bald head, and had to put down his previous thoughts.

Even if this Shenxiu has a strange temperament, since the kitten likes him so much, I think he is still very kind in nature. Maybe it's because of my childhood experience that I see things so coldly.

Shenxiu didn't have any relatives and friends in the town, so he just said hello to his neighbors, gave away the things he couldn't take away, packed up a small bag and followed Fan.

On the contrary, Fan couldn't bear it, so he took out some money to buy a donkey and gave it to Shenxiu for his next step. He is used to walking on mountain roads, but if a child wants to follow him all the way to Huguo Temple, he thinks he can't do it.

After Shenxiu thanked him, unless necessary, he usually led the donkey and walked with Lifan. And the kitten was given to a girl who loves cats to raise on the way. Resign from the long distance, this big and small have no experience in raising cats, why toss a life?

Soon, a month passed.

A month is enough time for anyone to know a lot of things. For example, what kind of person is Shenxiu!

In the end, the abbot of Huguo Temple is a recognized unfathomable person.

He never accepted apprentices and rarely appeared in temples. But he was very valued by the emperor, and I don't know how many dignitaries and nobles were proud to see him. His consecrated Buddha beads were sold at sky-high prices. Such a person, in the eyes of the other monks of Huguo Temple, is undoubtedly extremely mysterious.

When Lifan first arrived at Huguo Temple, the abbot was already famous.

The age of the abbot has always been a secret.

It wasn't until three years ago that the white-haired abbot suddenly appeared and said that he would choose one of several outstanding disciples of Huguo Temple to become the next host. Lifan is exactly among these disciples. And the condition for these disciples to become the next abbot is to find a spirit boy to come back. But the abbot didn't say a word about who this spirit boy's surname was and what his characteristics were. Instead, let them draw a few lots, and in which direction they draw, they will always look for it, and if they find someone who thinks it may be a spirit child, they will bring it back and let the abbot judge it himself.

After looking for three years, he finally found Shenxiu.

He felt that there would be no one more suitable for the title of spirit child than Shenxiu. This is especially true after exposure.

He knew very well that there were no temples in the town at all, and the monks who came to visit rarely stopped, in other words, it was impossible for Shenxiu to have the opportunity to learn any Buddhist scriptures. But along the way, all the scriptures he memorized when he was doing his homework, Shenxiu could recite them word for word.

Although it is rare to see something that is not forgotten, it has been there since ancient times. The people of the capital are outstanding, and there are also such prodigies. But Buddhism has always been obscure, and almost everyone who is proficient in this path is a famous master, and anyone who has studied Buddhism for many years only feels that he has only learned the surface.

But Shenxiu is different.

He has almost a natural comprehension of the Dharma, and as soon as he learns it, he can draw inferences from one another, and in a month, he feels that the other party knows much more about the Buddha than he is a monk who has practiced for more than 20 years.

It turns out that there really are people in the world who can compare you to the dirt!

It took a while for Li Fan to calm down his feelings, but he was also happy in his heart. This makes it even more foolproof.

"Master, I want to go to that mountain." Shenxiu said suddenly.

Li Fan followed Shenxiu's gaze, couldn't help but be a little surprised, and shook his head again and again, "Shenxiu, I know that mountain, it is very dangerous, there are countless beasts, and experienced old hunters nearby will not enter it lightly, I heard that there are cliffs and cliffs." You're too young now, so it's better to wait a few years and be ready to go in again. ”

Shenxiu stared at the mountain and didn't speak.

Lifan knew Shenxiu's temperament, and hurriedly persuaded, "It's better for you to go back to Huguo Temple with me first, and then invite someone to come with you, which is safer." ”

"Master, you go first, I want to go to the mountain to have a look." Shenxiu shook his head.

"Shenxiu!" Lifan was a little angry, "I know you're smart and clever, but you can't joke with your own life." That mountain is not something that can be entered lightly. ”

"That's why I'm going in." Shenxiu looked at Fan and replied seriously, "The master can take the first step, and when I go down the mountain, I will go to the Huguo Temple to find the master." ”

"Nonsense!" Fan Fan was furious, "Can you be sure that the peony you are looking for is on that mountain?" ”

"Not sure."

"Not sure? Not sure why you're taking the risk? Fan smiled angrily, but calmed down a little, children at this age will always be a little disobedient, so he softened his tone and said, "You are still young, and the time is still very long, don't be too anxious." ”

"Master, I have made up my mind." Shenxiu got up and bowed to Fan, "I won't miss anything if there's anything I can." ”

"The poor monk is not stopping you, it's just that you are too young now, and you have no power to protect yourself, it is better to wait a few more years, the mountain is dangerous, and no one will enter it all year round."

"Master." Shenxiu looked at Fan's bitter face, and suddenly smiled, "Master, thank you." It's just that I can only live up to your kindness. ”

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I'm afraid he won't be able to wait." Shenxiu replied softly, "Master, if I were you, I wouldn't be going back to Huguo Temple at this moment. ”

"Huh?" Lifan was distorted by Shenxiu's sudden change of topic, "Where do you start with this?" ”

"It's just a gut feeling." Shenxiu said with a smile, "It's rare for the master to come out, so it's better to go to other famous temples to have a look, and it's not too late to go back a few years later." ”

After saying that, Shenxiu bowed to Fan, and walked towards the mountain alone.

"Hey, Shenxiu, you wait, you wait!" Lifan wanted to say something more, and was about to catch up, when his feet suddenly began to cramp and he couldn't move.

When Shenxiu's figure slowly disappeared, his feet were restored to their original state and he could move freely. But where is the shadow of Shenxiu in front of you?

It's really evil!

Li Fan covered his forehead and sighed, he knew that Lingtong would not be so easy to find!

Well, since Shenxiu asked him to visit other temples first, then he should go.

Li Fan didn't know why he chose to believe Shenxiu's words, maybe it was because in this little boy, he sensed an aura similar to that of the abbot.

Shenxiu went up the mountain unimpeded all the way.

He was not familiar with the mountain and could only walk according to his feelings.

Fortunately, Shenxiu has been running a lot in the mountains since he was a child, and he knows exactly what he can eat and what he can't eat in the mountains. Walking into such a treasure mountain, you can still survive Shun Lì.

The mountain was much bigger than Shenxiu thought.

He kept moving forward according to his feelings, stopping and stopping, and he didn't even take a fork in the road!

When my parents were alive, they often said that Shenxiu was a blessed person.

No matter how complicated the road is, he will never get lost, and he can find the nearest and direct path by feeling.

In this mountain, nature is no exception.

Man-eating tigers, scary jackals, they don't come to get close to Shenxiu so much. If Lifan is still here, I am afraid that he will be even more surprised by this. Shenxiu seemed to be used to it and didn't take it to heart.

"Tsk."

Shenxiu suddenly stopped, his brows furrowed slightly.

It turned out that his shoes were torn.

The clothes were fine, he found a water source to wash and dry. But the shoes are not so wearable, and after walking in the mountain road for so long, they can no longer support it.

Shenxiu had no choice but to stop, step by step to move around to find some dry and yellowed soft branches, and re-weave a pair of shoes for himself.

He used to see a good straw sandal made by the aunt next door, and he saw it for fun. Now there is no dead grass here, so it is okay to make do with soft branches for the time being.

I've seen that aunt make it up, but it was a long time ago.

Shenxiu made it up a few times and felt that it was wrong, but on the seventh time, he finally found a little feeling and made it up skillfully.

Straw sandals are not very well woven, and there is still a difference between soft branches and hay. Shenxiu dismantled the original shoes, threw another layer on the branches, and tied a knot, which could still be used.

He staggered twice and continued to walk forward.

He didn't dream of that peony for the past few days.

Shenxiu is used to it. Every time he goes into the mountain, the peony will not appear, and when he comes out of the mountain, he will come out again.

Every time in a dream, the peony would carefully caress the wounds on Shenxiu's body, and seemed to be very sad.

Shenxiu didn't want to see it downcast, but he couldn't say "I won't go into the mountain in the future".

Without entering the mountain, he will never be able to hold his peony in his arms.

Spring and summer are always the most rainy.

The rain in the mountains has not yet disappeared, and some of it will often splash on Shenxiu, and the path is a little slippery. When I got to the depths, there was no path left, so I had to open the road by myself.

As a result, the speed is also slow.

Shenxiu's body also has more or less wounds.

His clothes were in tatters, his hair was simply draped, and there were some red marks on his hands and feet. Almost a month passed in the mountains like this, and even the most experienced old hunter couldn't withstand such torture, but Shenxiu persevered, and he was in good spirits.

The more difficult and arduous it was, the better Shenxiu's face became, and he had a hunch that he would definitely be able to find what he was looking for in this mountain!

I don't know how long it took.

In the morning, Shenxiu woke up in a daze, walked a long way, and looked up to see something shaking in the gap in the cliff in front of him.

It was a bud that had not yet bloomed.

Darker than the mountain wall, like a dark night curtain without stars and moonlight.

It's a black peony that hasn't bloomed yet!

Shenxiu suddenly came to his senses.

He hurried forward, the branches that blocked his way streaked one after another on his face, and he didn't even have time to stop and pull away.

Closer, closer.

Shenxiu didn't know what the salty thing that ran down his cheeks and came to his mouth was, and he didn't know where the slightest pain came from his body, and he didn't care that the "straw sandals" under his feet had dispersed, and he didn't know when he ran away.

He just fell and got up again, without stopping at all, and then came to the bottom of the cliff, and moved up little by little along the bumps in the mountain wall.

Shin-so's good fortune seems to have come to an end.

Halfway through the run, he slid straight down with one foot in the air, and the last intact part of his shirt was cracked, leaving a long red mark on his waist and abdomen. There was no bleeding, but the skin was broken, and it hurt hotly.

Shenxiu grabbed a vine hanging under the cliff, fixed it again, and climbed up.

"You stupid idiot, go down!"

Shenxiu seemed to hear someone shouting in his ear.

He ignored it, and each time he moved more cautiously than the last.

"Go down, go down!"

Shenxiu held the rattan tightly with one hand, and the other hand was carefully stretched out, and his fingertips touched the leaves of the peony.

His eyes were suddenly filled with tears, and he was a little confused.

"Found you, my little peony."