Thousands of miles away, in the Fengfu Temple pagoda of Youdu Mansion in Nanjing, Xiao Fengxian was supervising the project with some soldiers at the behest of the emperor.

More than a dozen Buddha halls, red bricks and green tiles, magnificent and abnormal, and more than 100 houses, orderly distribution around the main hall, in front of the main hall, a half Buddha statue with a height of 2 meters stands where, there is still half of the upper half has not been repaired, only the lower body of the Buddha, but can not recognize which Buddha it is, but it is also magnificent, golden light.

This temple is very famous in the Liao country, more than 40 years ago, a monk named Fa Zheng came here, felt that the feng shui of this place is excellent, so he built a temple here, the original temple and its simple, only two thatched houses, but this Fa Zheng master is a monk who has attained the Tao, but also comfortable.

This master, also proficient in medical skills, free for the local people to see a doctor, treated a lot of people, in the folk gradually has a fame, also has incense, and this master lives simply, there is a year of local drought, the people are not living, this master of the law will be a few years of accumulation of incense money to rebuild the temple to take out the relief of the people.

Liao Shengzong knew about this and was deeply moved, and went there in person, but saw that there were only two thatched huts in this temple, the facilities were simple, and the Buddha statue was damaged.

Liao Shengzong was very surprised and asked Fa Zhengdao: "What made the Buddha live in such a humble house?" Why did the money for the construction of monasteries be used to help the people? ”

Fa Zheng said: "The Buddha will never be disgusted because of the simplicity of the temple, and the Buddha will only be disgusted because of people's unkindness." ”

The Holy Sect was very satisfied, gave it the name of the Bongbokuji Pagoda, and funded its construction.

Year after year, day after day, the Bongboksa pagoda gradually became the magnificent sight it is today.

There was a small stream outside the door, but there was a thin layer of ice on it. A handsome and honest-looking, thin monk is fetching water, this person is wearing a simple monk's robe, there are a few patches on it, when he fetches water, a little clumsy, a lot of water is splashed on his monk's robe, thin shoulders carrying two large buckets of water, a little shaky, staggering, but his face is firm, step by step gritted teeth and walks back to the temple, this person's name is Daoming, is the monk of this temple.

At the same time, in the main hall of Fengfu Temple, Xiao Fengxian was talking with a middle-aged monk, this monk was short, fat, dressed in gorgeous Taoist robes, very neat, with a smile on his face, and his eyes were rolling around, revealing shrewdness and cunning.

Xiao Fengxian said respectfully: "Master Daoyuan, I don't know if Master Fazheng is still there?" ”

The monk who called Daoyuan suddenly looked painful, a few tears appeared in his eyes, sighed, and said sadly: "My master has traveled all over the world, and he has long been missing, and I haven't seen my master for a few years. ”

Xiao Fengxian nodded and said with a smile: "The master is really a high-ranking monk, who values love and righteousness, and is also very admired below. ”

Xiao Fengxian then said: "Master Daoyuan, this time we spent a total of 50,000 taels of silver to repair the temple, and this is the remaining 50,000 taels of silver, so let's use it as incense money for the master." As he spoke, he raised his hand, and the soldiers behind him brought up boxes of silver with white flowers.

Daoyuan saw the boxes of silver, his eyes narrowed into a slit, his face was full of smiles, he swallowed his saliva, but pretended to be embarrassed and said: "Lord Xiao, I have worked hard all the way, I think I took out 30,000 taels to buy wine and meat for Lord Xiao and your subordinates, what do you think?" ”

Xiao Fengxian also smiled and said, "Master Daoyuan has a heart, then I might as well be respectful." ”

The two looked at each other, and they both laughed.

"Is there anything else going on with the Master?" Xiao Fengxian said politely:

Daoyuan smiled and said, "Nothing's the matter." ”

Xiao Fengxian said: "Then I will leave." ”

When the soldiers were withdrawn, a tall monk behind Daoyuan was Daoyuan's protégé, named Huiming. He said to Daoyuan with some flattery: "Master, how much money did you get this time. ”

Daoyuan smiled and said, "That's all the emperor's gift." ”

Then he whispered to Daoyuan: "Hide these silver taels for me, don't let others see them, and then let's take out some and go to Nanjing Xijin Mansion at the bottom of the mountain, and be happy." ”

When the young tall monk in the back heard this, he was overjoyed and said with a flattering face: "The master is still wise." ”

Daoyuan smiled and walked out of the main hall. ‘

Then, he looked around and suddenly changed his face when he was still cold, and said, "What are you still doing in a daze, don't you hurry up and move things, quickly." ”

The monk in the back hurried to carry the silver taels.

Outside the main hall, Daoming, who had just finished carrying the water, was covered with water stains, and Daoming, who was a little out of breath, suddenly heard an old voice from behind: "Is it Daoming?" ”

Daoming looked back, only to see an old monk dressed in rag monk's robe, holding a wooden fish appeared in front of him, this old monk had white hair and wrinkles on his face, but he was very kind, looking at Daoming with a smile.

Dao Ming's face was joyful, and he shouted, "Master, you are back." ”

Fa Zheng smiled and said, "Yes, I'm back, let's go, kid, follow me to the main hall to meet my apprentices." ”

Daoming nodded, wanting to reach out to support Fazheng, but found that his hands were covered with water stains, and he rubbed his hands on the monk's clothes, which looked very funny.

Fa Zheng laughed and said, "Haven't I aged to that extent? Let's go, my little apprentice. ”

Daoming scratched his head in embarrassment, followed behind Fazheng, and walked into the main hall.

In the main hall, the tall apprentice of Daoyuan was arrogantly directing his monks to carry the silver taels.

Fa Zheng walked into the main hall, saw the monk, and said, "Huiming, what are you doing?" ”

Huiming saw Master Fazheng, his face was a little unnatural, and he scolded secretly, it's really unlucky, why did the old guy who hasn't come back for more than ten years come back at this time?

However, he still said respectfully: "It turned out to be Master Fazheng, you are back, and I am carrying the silver taels that His Majesty the Emperor gave us from the temple." ”

Fa Zheng looked at the temple and said with a smile: "Huiming, the temple can have such incense, you have made a great contribution." ”

Hui Ming hurriedly said: "This temple can have today's scene, it must be the merits of the master and Master Fazheng, the disciple has only done a small effort." ”

Fa Zheng smiled and said: "Now, the people of Nanjing Xijin Mansion City have just entered the winter, and this year's harvest is not good, I think some of them will be relieved of the people." ”

Huiming thought for a while and said, "Master Fazheng, you better tell my master, I'm just a small third-generation disciple, and I can't be the master." ”

Fa Zheng said a little angrily: "Don't you know who the abbot here is?" Go ahead, I'll talk to TD in a moment. ”

Huiming said a little unkindly: "Master Fazheng, you have been away for ten years, but my master Daoyuan is presiding, I think you should ask for his old man's consent to say, I want to carry the silver, I will not accompany you." ”

As he spoke, he turned his head and instructed the monk to carry the silver taels, completely leaving Master Fazheng aside.

At this time, Daoming, who was standing behind, said indignantly: "Master Fazheng is the abbot here, why are you talking to the abbot?" ”

Huiming looked at Daoming and said disdainfully: "You finished drawing water, hurry up and go to chopping wood, why are you everywhere." ”

Fa Zheng suddenly slapped Huiming in the face, and said indifferently: "Huiming, how can you speak?" He is also your uncle in terms of seniority, and I am your ancestor in terms of seniority. ”

Huiming screamed and covered his face.

At this time, a voice came from outside: "I think who is coming, it turns out that Master has returned." ”

Fa Zheng turned around, saw Daoming, and said angrily: "You have to discipline this apprentice of yours well, you have no respect." ”

Daoyuan frowned, looked at Huiming, and said respectfully to Fa Zheng: "Master, where did I, an unassuming disciple, offend you?" ”

At this time, as if he had found a life-saving straw, Huiming covered his mouth and said, "Master, Master Fazheng, let me use this money to help the people, I said that it must be agreed by Master, and just like that, Master Fazheng beat me." ”

Dao Ming hurriedly said at this time: "No, he has no respect for his superiors, and he is not rude to his master."

Fa Zheng didn't care about this, and said to Daoyuan: "Daoyuan, now the people outside the city of Nanjing Xijin Mansion have a bad harvest this year, and I plan to use these silver taels to relieve the people." ”

When Daoyuan heard this, his face changed, and he said, "Master, this money is the emperor's money for the construction of the temple, how can anyone use it?" ”

Fa Zheng frowned and said: "The temple has been repaired very well, this money is taken out to help the people, Buddha Zeng Yun, saving people's lives is better than building a seventh-level floating slaughter, this is our duty as a monk." ”

Dao Yuan said disdainfully: "How can those untouchables deserve this money, Master, you may be mistaken, we are a royal temple here, and only the nobles of the royal palace can come."

Fa Zheng said angrily: "The Buddha would never reject a devout believer because of his status. ”

Daoyuan didn't think so, and said, "Master, you see how prosperous this temple is, it's much more prosperous than you were ten years ago, and it's all my credit." When you left, there was only this big hall, and a few thatched houses, do you look at the present? ”

Fa Zheng frowned and said: "Even if it is a thatched house Buddha hall, as long as you have good thoughts and Buddha hearts, the Buddha will bless you, even if it is a big Buddha hall, if you don't have good thoughts, you will not be blessed by the Buddha." ”

Dao Yuan shook his head and said, "Then you can do your good thoughts, as for the money, you don't have to think about it." ”

A mouthful of blood spurted out, covering his chest, and coughing up blood.

Daoming hurriedly helped the master up and said to Daoyuan, "Senior brother, how can you talk to the master?" ”

Daoyuan didn't care, glanced at Huiming who was snickering next to him, and walked out of the hall.

Huiming looked at Daoming and said, "Don't think that when Master Fazheng comes back, you can turn over and give me a good job." With that, he walked out on his toes.

Fa Zheng looked at the two of them, and a mouthful of blood spurted out angrily, and he looked up to the sky and sighed: "Buddha, I don't know anyone, but I let this criminal be so rampant. ”

Daoming said, "Master, the matter has come to this, you better sit down first and take a rest." ”

Fa Zheng sat down with Daoming's support, Fa Zheng looked up with great effort, saw the golden Buddha statue, sighed, and said, "The Buddha statue has actually been changed." ”

Recalling that in the past, when the temple was first built, he built a crude Buddha statue out of stone, and I don't know why, he actually felt that this golden and lifelike Buddha statue did not have the appearance of a Buddha at all, but his simple Buddha statue carved from stone was shining with Buddha light.

The elderly Fa Zheng sighed and said to Daoming: "I have calculated, your Buddha fate is no longer here, but in the north, let's go, go to the north." ”

Daoming shook his head and said, "Master, I'm leaving, what should you do?" ”

Fa Zheng smiled and said, "My time is running out, you don't have to take care of me, there is a dark grid behind the Buddha statue, and there are some scattered silver taels in the dark grid, not too much, and a small Buddha statue."

When I came here, I saw a broken Buddha statue here, and I planned to stay for one night, but Ming'er continued to hurry. At night, I dreamed of the Buddha's guidance, which told me that this place was my Buddha's destiny and asked me to repair the temple here.

I stayed here, and under the guidance of the Buddha in that dream, I also found a small Buddha statue carved in stone in the dark grid behind the stupa. As he spoke, the old monk trembled and took out the Buddha statue from the pagoda slightly.

It was a small Buddha statue made of stone, and the frame of the Buddha statue was already a little blurred, probably because of the age. The old monk handed over the Buddha statue to Daoming.

Daoming took it with both hands and put it in his arms, but said sadly: "Master, I'm not leaving, I'm going to stay and take care of you, I can't leave you behind." ”

Fa Zheng smiled, touched Daoming's head, and said: "What a good boy, I remember that when I took you as an apprentice, you were only 5 years old, and you were still a child with a crying nose, and now you have grown into an adult, okay, after I pass away, you can go again, and after I die, don't alarm anyone, find me a place to bury me in the back mountain." ”

Tears flowed from the eyes of Dominion,

Fa Zheng smiled and said: "There is always a time when people die, you don't have to be sad, you still have a long way to go, and there are many things to do." There are still many trials left for you.

You'll have a lot of choices, a lot of struggles, a lot of hesitation, but remember, when you decide on something, don't forget why you chose this path in the first place. ”

Daoming nodded, Fa Zheng smiled, patted Daoming's head, and said, "Daoming, this is the last time I will take you to zazen, come on." ”

Fa Zheng sat upright on the futon and began to meditate with his eyes closed, and so did Dao Ming.

And the monastery returned to its former peace.

Time flies, time flies.

Five days later, in the middle of the night, Master Fazheng passed away, Daoming carried the master's body out of the temple, and none of the disciples in the temple knew the news of the great monk's death, so he died plainly, just like he had come here plainly, without a sound, Daoming buried him in a remote place in the back mountain according to what he said. No one knows where it is, he walks so ordinary, maybe this is what Zhuangzi said, "To the man has no self, the god has no merit, and the saint has no name".

Daoming also left quietly, he walked all the way north, he was going to find the place that the master said belonged to him.