Chapter 436: Chapter 217: The Majesty of the Master
Inside the Library Pavilion of Hanshan Temple.
Dongfang Xinglan continues to peruse the books, but his focus is not as concentrated as it was before he saw Pei Wanyu.
’Every time returning from outside the border... it’s not just me, others must first visit the Divine Temple to worship their respective Martial Gods. Is it truly a kind of ideological examination?’
Dongfang Xinglan doesn’t know, but he clearly knows that every year during the New Year, Divine Temples in the Imperial City, and Martial Temples across the land open, giving everyone in the Eastern Dynasty the opportunity to see the temples dedicated to the renowned ministers and military generals, centered around the Three Great Martial Gods.
Is it merely for sightseeing?
Dongfang Xinglan really doesn’t know, but thoughts such as ’Is this an outside-the-border conspiracy?’ still surface in his mind.
Because she also understands the principle that ’fortresses are most often breached from within.’
The former Three Great Dynasties were all vanquished and annexed by the current Three Great Dynasties due to internal belief issues.
Dongfang Xinglan purses her lips, glances at the myriad of books on the shelves of the Library Pavilion, and lightly bites her lower lip, temporarily focusing her attention on the book’s contents.
In any case, she must first understand the situation beyond the border before making plans.
Ideally... she can find a solution that satisfies both sides.
While she reads in the Library Pavilion, Lu Jin’an strolls through the temples within the monastery with his Master.
"Emperor Shitian represents the Linji Sect, one of the five major Buddhist sects. Simply put, it’s ’heart to heart, heart and heart are not different.’" Pei Wanyu explains softly: "His approach is sharp and his reprimands strict, several times even the Great Infinite Buddha found him formidable."
"Simply put, it’s ’putting oneself in another’s place’, right?"
"Yes." Pei Wanyu nods: "Saying ’putting oneself in another’s place’ is easy, but it’s hard to practice."
"Indeed." Lu Jin’an stops at the entrance of Hanshan Temple’s main hall, looking at the sign ’Great Hall’ hanging above: "Does this senior understand marriage fate?"
Pei Wanyu ascends the steps: "Reportedly, it’s quite accurate."
Lu Jin’an steps forward and enters the main hall, and the first thing that catches his eye is a brazier with a bronze cauldron, inscribed with ’earnest’ on the front and ’tempered into steel’ on the back.
Lu Jin’an lifts his gaze to the statues being worshipped inside the hall.
The statue, wearing a precious crown, draped in jewels, holds a Vajra Pestle, and rides a six-tusked white elephant, is in fact one of the twenty Deva of the three Buddhist branches, the second-ranked Great Buddha, Emperor Shitian.
Truly a mighty presence within the Divine Concealing Realm.
"Master." Lu Jin’an draws close to Pei Wanyu and whispers: "Those of the Buddhist Sect’s twenty Deva are only eligible starting from the Mid Divine Presence Realm, right?"
"Actually, one can start from the Early Divine Presence." Pei Wanyu, having more information, says: "Thinking of comparing it with the Wandao Sect, so among the so-called ’Twenty Deva’, apart from the top five Great Buddhas, many are exaggerated."
"But even twenty Buddhas are not few."
Pei Wanyu smiles indifferently; indeed, twenty immortals are plenty, but compared to the Wandao Sect, it’s still far behind.
The Wandao Sect openly has more than thirty immortals.
Lu Jin’an steps towards the altar, reaching for the cylinder labeled ’Fate’. "Master, you go first."
Pei Wanyu shakes out a lot slip first, and Lu Jin’an follows suit. After reading it, he laughs and says: "An upper slip."
"What’s written?"
"A suitable wife." Lu Jin’an smiles, looking at his Master’s suddenly charming face: "And yours, Master?"
"An excellent upper." Pei Wanyu hands over her slip, and Lu Jin’an looks, seeing "It speaks of phoenix flying, singing harmoniously."
"How come I didn’t draw an excellent upper?"
"Clearly because you’re fickle." Pei Wanyu gives him a sidelong glance: "How many parts has your heart divided into?"
"It’s all because you spoiled it, Master." Lu Jin’an replies obediently.
"Indeed." Pei Wanyu pats him on the head: "It’s all because Master indulges you... let’s go."
The master and disciple duo turn to walk outside the hall. An old monk sitting in meditation on a mat opens his mouth: "Two donors..."
"No need to trouble you with interpreting the lot." Lu Jin’an replies.
"Amitabha, I meant to say the lot cannot be taken..."
"Hmm?" Pei Wanyu glances at the old monk with disdain. The old monk’s expression stiffens, and he mutters a Buddhist chant and then shuts up.
Pei Wanyu snorts coldly and strides out of the Great Hall.
"The lots of Hanshan Temple are replaced every morning." Pei Wanyu hooks Lu Jin’an’s arm, glancing at the two slips in his hand: "They transform themselves."
"Transform themselves?"
"Yes." Pei Wanyu nods: "Hanshan Temple is the place Emperor Shitian achieved Buddhahood, and in the unseen, destiny governs this Hanshan Temple... that bald old monk earlier, is not a disciple of Emperor Shitian."
Lu Jin’an realizes: "Are you looking to investigate through these two slips?"
"Yes, but no rush." Pei Wanyu smiles: "First, accompany Master to wander the city."
Lu Jin’an nods without hesitation: "Alright."
"Afraid?" Pei Wanyu teases lightly, smiling.
"Afraid of what?" Lu Jin’an smiles slightly: "I am delighted with Master."
"Master means, how will you explain to Nanzhi?" Pei Wanyu looks at him with a smile: "When she came to Taichu Hall before, I didn’t mention my relationship with you yet."
"Nanzhi will understand... you helped me, Master."
Pei Wanyu smiles, thinking she indeed doesn’t need to worry about her good disciple’s feelings.
"Where does Master want to wander?"
"Anywhere." Pei Wanyu squeezes his arm: "Master just wants to walk with you."
"Alright."
Although Jiuhua City is large, because it is a place of the Buddhist Sect, there is nowhere particularly worth visiting, yet even so, the day passes by quickly.