Xu Zhi and the three of them waited for nearly a stick of incense, and when they saw Monk Chen, they returned from the temple in a panic, walked to Zhixin, and replied in a low voice: "Master Yu, the abbot said, they are all guests from afar, since the three donors have come from thousands of miles away, it means that they have a fate with my Shaolin in this life, and quickly invite them into the temple!"

Zhixin then loosened his tightly locked brows, and still said indignantly: "Three donors, since my abbot and senior brother have passed down the decree, this dispute will be put aside for the time being, you should first go to the temple with Lao Qu to meet the abbot and abbot!", after speaking, let Chen and a few warrior monks lead the way in front.

Xu Zhi replied tactfully: "Master Zhixin, we were offended by our words just now, and I ask for forgiveness from all the masters!"

Zhixin held the Buddha beads in his hand and replied: "Amitabha, sin and sin!"

He didn't look back, and snorted from his nose: "It's easy to say!"

Xue Atan saw that there was still some injustice in Chen's words, and his heart suddenly became angry, and he also followed with a "bah", Xu Zhi was afraid that he would cause something, so he hurriedly held his and An Jingsi's hands, signaling them to be patient for the time being.

Besides, the three of them followed Zhixin and Lichen and others, turned around a valley, and came to the main gate of Shaolin Temple. The three of them saw that the door of the temple was closed, and the plaque was engraved with four gilded characters of "Shaolin Zen Temple", but it was the imperial pen of Emperor Wen of this dynasty. The dust stepped forward and called open the temple door, the three of them followed the monks to climb the steps, entered the mountain gate of Shaolin Temple, only to see the pine and cypress in the temple towering to the sky, the plum bamboo is dense, the bell chime rings in unison, the sound of Zen worship Buddha comes and goes, it is very pleasant, it is a paradise in the troubled times.

Xu Zhi secretly sighed: "Although this Shaolin monk is in troubled times, his heart of worshipping Buddha and practicing has not slackened at all, and he is really very hard to practice!"

Zhixin led Xu Zhi and the three of them through the Heavenly King Palace, An Jingsi saw the Buddha statue for the first time, he saw the four heavenly kings in the hall holding swords, pipas, umbrellas and sables and other things, their faces were hideous, which made people very awe-inspiring, and quietly asked Xue Atan: "Xue Aniu, do you know who these statues are for, so fierce and evil?"

Xue Atan hurriedly covered An Jingsi's mouth and said with a smile: "Brother An, don't talk nonsense, don't blaspheme the gods." Although the younger brother does not know where they are sacred, it is common for people to come to worship them, praying for good weather and peace in the four seasons!"

The three of them didn't have time to take a closer look, so they followed Master Zhixin through the Tianwang Hall and came to the main hall of Shaolin Temple.

Master Zhixin instructed a few small novices around him to entertain Xu Zhi and the others, and he turned around and went to the inner hall to invite the abbot to come out to meet the guests. Xu Zhi saw that the Mahavira Hall was enshrined in Shakyamuni Buddha, and the Venerable Guanyin holding a water purification bottle was standing beside him, and the two rows were eighteen Arhats with different expressions and vivid expressions.

An Jingsi was the first time to see so many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats with different expressions, he couldn't hold back the curiosity in his heart, and took Xu Zhi and Xue Atan's hands and asked this and that, but Xu Zhi and Xue Atan didn't know much about the honorific names and stories of these Buddhas, so they had to perfunctory him again and again: "This is the pure land of Buddhism, outsiders are forbidden to make noise, we are new to the city, or don't talk nonsense, lest these monks laugh at us for not having etiquette and disturb their Buddhist cultivation!"

An Jingsi replied as if he didn't understand: "That's the case! If you don't let me speak, won't you be dumb?"

Xue Atan comforted: "Brother An, it's like this, everyone in the Shaolin Temple has to hold their breath, even if the emperor Lao'er comes, he can't give orders, because only in this way can he concentrate on cultivating Buddhism!"

The three of them were talking, and with a sound of "Amitabha", an old monk with white eyebrows and a face full of vicissitudes of life, holding a tin staff and Buddha beads, wearing a crimson robe, walked over, this person is the abbot of Shaolin Temple.

On the left hand side of the abbot of Zhicheng is a tall old monk with a bitter gourd face, Xu Zhi saw that he was wearing a light red robe, his face was serious, which made people awe-inspiring, but the pace of his body was very steady, and he landed silently, this person was the first Zhide Zen master in the Dharma Hall.

Behind the abbot of Zhicheng is the highest senior monk of Shaolin Temple, such as Zhixin, Zhiqing, Zhijing, and Zhimei.

The abbot of Shaolin Zhicheng is well-read and knowledgeable, proficient in Sanskrit, and can refer to all kinds of Buddhist scriptures and comprehend in detail; Zhixin Master is well versed in internal cultivation, and is very good at light internal strength; and Zhide Master is good at Shaolin's boxing and blades, and these three elders are collectively called "Shaolin Three Uniques".

Zhixin first replied: "Senior brother Abbot, it is these three little donors who intruded on my Shaolin forbidden land, disturbed the Qing cultivation of the sect, and wanted to steal the life-saving melons and fruits behind our mountain.

The sincere abbot was kind and kind-eyed, and did not pay attention to Zhixin's impatient temper, but asked softly: "Three little Tanyue, who came thousands of miles to my Shaolin, what is the matter?"

Xu Zhi bowed to the abbot of Zhicheng, bowed and replied: "Back to the abbot, my name is Xu Zhi, from the Jinshan Temple in Runzhou, Jiangnan, and under the order of the abbot of the temple, I traveled thousands of miles to meet the senior monks of Shaolin Temple. ”

The abbot of Zhicheng asked, "The current abbot of Jinshan Temple is the best Zen master?"

Xu Zhi hurriedly replied: "It's the Supreme Elder Elder !", and after speaking, he took out the degree voucher and a letter handed over to him by the Supreme Abbot from his body.

The abbot of Zhicheng took the over, looked at it carefully for a long time, and Zhide, Zhixin and others also approached, carefully looked at the official text on it, and sighed. The sincere abbot opened the letter again, read it again and again, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

Zhiqing and Zhijing saw the abbot holding the letter tremblingly, with tears in his eyes, bowing his head and saying nothing, and he couldn't help but lose his temper in front of everyone, and coughed at the same time, which was a reminder.

Abbot Zhicheng came to his senses and continued: "We senior brothers are several different from each other, and we haven't seen each other for 20 years! I didn't expect the three donors to bring a message from my senior brother today!"

Master Zhiqing recited "Amitabha", and then asked, "Master Xu, how is my Zhishan senior brother's health?"

Xu Zhi replied: "Back to the master's words! Abbot Zhishan is very healthy, and his hands and feet are also very sharp, but he misses the masters very much in Jiangnan, so he repeatedly instructed his disciples: I want the disciples to go to the Shaolin Temple in person and meet the masters! Say hello to the masters!"

At this time, Zhixin knew that Xu Zhi was wrong, and he was a little embarrassed, so he had to laugh at himself: "It turned out to be the three teachers and nephews, it was the water that washed the Dragon King Temple, the family didn't know the family, the misunderstanding of the melon field and plums, please forgive the three of them!"

Xue Atan saw that the arrogant Zhixin had admitted his mistake to himself, and he was very relieved, and said with a smile: "Master Zhixin, a little misunderstanding, why worry about it, everyone should stop dwelling on these little things! We have long forgotten!"

An Jingsi has been pretending to be deaf and dumb, and he didn't dare to speak, he saw Xu Zhi, Xue Atan and the monks talking a lot, knowing that they had deceived him, he was angry in his heart, and clamored for tea and dinner.

When Master Zhicheng heard this, he hurriedly instructed the little novice next to him to go to the back mountain to pick some melons and fruits and come back, while explaining: "The three masters and nephews don't know, our Shaolin Temple has long been out of food, and we can only rely on picking some melons, fruits and wild vegetables behind the mountain to survive, and please forgive the three nephews!"

Xu Zhi then understood, why Master Zhixin called those melons and fruits behind the mountain life-saving fruits, why would they be regarded as thieves and bandits, it turned out that this Shaolin Temple had already run out of food, if these wild fruits were also picked by outsiders, then the monks of Shaolin Temple would be trapped and starved to death, and the foundation of Shaolin Temple for nearly 400 years would be destroyed!

Xu Zhi said: "Abbot, now the imperial court has secretly set up a lot of checkpoints around the Shaolin Temple, if the Shaolin Temple is trapped like this, and now there are some melons, fruits, vegetables and vegetables in summer and autumn to satisfy hunger, if it is the turn of winter and spring, the grass and trees are withering, then how is it good?"

Zhicheng listened to Xu Zhi's words and sighed: "Amitabha! We monks have jumped out of the Three Realms, are not in the Five Elements, and have been visiting the Buddha all our lives, and we have no quarrel with the world, and we did not expect that the pure land of Buddhism would also cause such a catastrophe! If we want to break through the current predicament, we must go on a killing spreamy, and the Buddha is in front, isn't that a greater sin?"

Xu Zhi defended: "Master Abbot, since ancient times, there have been Buddhas and demons, and my Buddha's compassion cannot subdue demons, if you blindly keep yourself alone, how can you promote Buddhism?"

Master Zhide also persuaded: "Senior Brother Abbot, what Nephew Xu Xian said is right, even if my Shaolin monks can't subdue demons and eliminate demons, they can't sit still and let others slaughter them, I hope Senior Brother Abbot will make a decision as soon as possible!"

Master Zhixin saw that the abbot had not spoken for a long time, and said hurriedly: "Senior brother abbot, now the situation is urgent, according to the reconnaissance of the monks of our nursing institute, since the Yellow King Yijun left the Central Plains, the imperial court has continued to increase troops to Dengfeng and Yuzhou near the Shaolin Temple, and they want to take the opportunity to take revenge on us for secretly helping the righteous army. Now my Shaolin Temple has been besieged for a month, the temple has long been disheartened, full of complaints, if you can't make a decision, then Shaolin's hundreds of years of foundation will be destroyed in our hands!"

The sincere abbot thought for a while before expressing his worries: "Two junior brothers, three virtuous nephews, you don't know, since ancient times, the people do not fight with the officials, now my Shaolin Temple is besieged, the temple has long been hungry all over the place, not full of food, the monks are not neat; but outside the temple, there are tens of thousands of officers and soldiers eyeing each other, secretly peeping. If, as you say, taking the lives of hundreds of monks in our monastery and confronting the imperial court, it is like a flock of sheep driving a tiger and hitting a stone with an egg, and there is no return, isn't it the same kind of killing that cannot become benevolence, and sacrificing one's body cannot become a Buddha?

An Jingsi saw that the sincere abbot was too compassionate and had too many concerns, so he interjected: "Abbot, Xiao Jingsi is still a child, and he doesn't understand the big truth! I only know that when I am hungry, I have to eat; when others beat me, I have to fight back, otherwise I will escape from the predicament for the rest of my life, when will it be the end?"

Xu Zhi then persuaded: "The abbot master is merciful and does not want to make senseless sacrifices, this idea is admirable! But hundreds of monks in Shaolin endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, have no anger and no greed, and should not suffer this great calamity." The ants are still stealing life, not to mention the hundreds of living beings in Shaolin, it is better to gather the strength of the whole temple to fight against the imperial court, even if it dies, it will die upright and vigorous!"

Xue Atan also shouted: "What Brother Xu said is reasonable! Abbot, Shaolin Temple has always supported justice and is admired by the martial arts, but you can't blindly escape, you have no backbone, and you are laughed at by the world!"

Master Zhiqing and Master Zhijing also said: "Senior Brother Abbot, the three senior nephews said very well, this is also the idea of all the monks in the temple, and please listen to the voices of all the monks in the temple!"

The sincere abbot pondered for a while and said: "Since it is everyone's opinion, this abbot cannot go against the wishes of the monks, I hope that the Buddha will be merciful and can save the lives of hundreds of monks in my Shaolin!"

Seeing that Xu Zhi was young and promising, Zhide Zen Master was very insightful, and said with relief: "The three teachers and nephews are brave and courageous, and they are far-reaching, much stronger than us old decay, I don't know how your martial arts are?"

Xu Zhi replied: "The abbot and several masters are all eminent monks, how can this be compared with the younger generations." The younger generation has learned some Wudang Sect kung fu from the Lingkong Daoist of Wudang Mountain, and I also asked the abbot and a few masters to give me some advice!"

Zhide replied: "It's good to say, please show your nephew Wudang mastery!" Xu Zhi listened, did not dare to slack off, boldly conceded to the monks, and then stood in the hall, in front of everyone will Wudang Taijiquan, Taiji Sword with slow blows, with the essence of overcoming rigidity, all practiced.

Zhide first praised: "Xu Xian's nephew is young, and he has such a cultivation in martial arts, which is very rare, but there is still some fire in the internal force, and there are still some deficiencies in the moves. ”

Zhixin waited for Zhide to comment, and nodded and praised: "The old man thinks that Master and Nephew Xu can also be regarded as a martial arts wizard, but there are still deficiencies in the internal strength of the nephew, and the martial arts pay attention to the first to win the people, what is said is that the strength must be superior to others, even if there are some flaws in the tricks, you can also rely on the internal skills of the strength to win!"

Xu Zhi since the practice of martial arts, although diligent practice, but feel that his progress is limited, hard thinking can not understand, today heard the Shaolin three unique guidance, suddenly enlightened, mouth suddenly, said: "The little nephew is dull, but also ask a few masters to be able to take in as disciples, in the martial arts to guide the younger generation!" After speaking, he pulled Xue Atan and An Jingsi and fell to the ground.

Zhide and Zhixin nodded silently, and both looked at the abbot Zhicheng, waiting for his instructions.

The abbot of Zhicheng hurriedly helped Xu Zhi and the three of them with his hands, and said with a slight smile: "Xu Xian's nephew, you don't know, my Shaolin martial arts since the Bodhidharma Patriarch, never spread out, although the current situation is urgent, the old man does not dare to make an exception, at present, the temple is fluctuating, the day is not safe, every day many monks starve to death, and some monks can not stand the hunger, escape from the temple to join the strong enemy. The monks of this temple are facing such a great calamity, and they are still evading, and the three teachers and nephews are outsiders, so why should they risk their lives and burn the jade of this temple?"

An Jingsi saw that the Shaolin abbot refused to take him in, with tears in his eyes, and said: "Our three brothers came from thousands of miles away, along the way in the wind and rain, over the mountains and rivers, and endured all kinds of hardships, but our will to come to the Shaolin Temple did not waver, just said that we were forced by the officers and soldiers on the Wuru Peak that day, jumped off the cliff, and finally came to the gate of the Shaolin Temple, and now the masters refuse to contain us, so how can we be good?"

Xue Atan continued: "Brother Jing Si is right, the Shaolin Temple refuses to take us in, where can we go?

Seeing that An Jingsi was still a childish child, Master Zhimei was full of sorrow, and his heart was unbearable, and he said to the sincere abbot: "Senior brother abbot, the Buddhist scriptures have clouds: all those who can be crossed. Since the three donors came from thousands of miles away, our Shaolin Temple can't turn people away from thousands of miles away. I think it's better to take them in for now, right?"

Master Zhijing also persuaded: "Senior Brother Abbot, now that there are many officials and soldiers outside the temple, if they are not contained, they will not be able to get out of this Shaomu Mountain, won't it harm them?"

The sincere abbot sighed and said, "A few junior disciples have misunderstood the meaning of the old man, the old man originally wanted to let the three junior nephews fall into the predicament of my Shaolin and sacrifice with us. Since the two junior disciples opened Chrysostom, let the three of them stay in the Shaolin Temple temporarily. Although it is said that the four major members of the family are empty and compassionate, but now that my Shaolin rice grain offering is limited, let them be responsible for the daily cleaning, carrying water, chopping wood, cooking and other menial work in the temple! The three of them cannot claim to be my Shaolin disciples to the outside world!"

After hearing this, Zhide and Zhixin also nodded silently.

Xu Zhi listened, pulled Xue Atan and An Jingsi again, and thanked the abbot and several masters for taking them in again.

Abbot Zhicheng then said, "Senior Brother Zhixin, you quickly gather all the monks in the temple to the martial arts field to discuss how to deal with the current predicament. By the way, don't leave the three virtuous nephews, after all, you are from outside the temple and have a better understanding of the situation outside, so please help Shaolin!"

Xu Zhi replied: "Abbot, don't worry, the juniors are willing to contribute to Shaolin!"