Don't be clouded

Chapter 77

Even though Zen Master Jueming passed away and the abbot changed, Xuanqing Temple quickly returned to its former peace.

Buddhists look down on life and death, but there is an endless stream of pilgrims who come to pray for peace and prosperity, less illness and less pain.Today the temple is still full of incense, and there are countless people kneeling over those futons in the Manjusri Hall alone.

Now kneeling on it is Ji Bieyun.

It wasn't that he had a sudden epiphany and wanted to convert to Buddhism.But after he fled to Xuanqing Mountain, he walked halfway up the mountain path before recovering, even if he stepped into the temple gate, he still couldn't see Guanchen.

Today is not the past, no matter how famous Guanchen was in the past, he was only a disciple of Xuanqing Temple, he could meet whenever he wanted, but now Ji Bieyun has no name to meet the abbot of the National Temple.

Even if he wanted to see the lotus flowers in Xuexiao Lake, he could only do so alone.

Having figured it out, Ji Bieyun didn't go back, but went up the mountain anyway, trying to take advantage of this trip to pretend to be obsessed with Buddhism.In the future, he will come to offer incense a few more times. If rumors of his belief in Buddhism spread, it will be good for him. At least he will have a reason to come to Xuanqing Temple often in the future.

So he bought joss sticks at a small stall outside the temple gate, and after entering, he worshiped all the way from the Daxiong Hall to the Manjusri Hall, acting like a devout believer.But his heart was far less pious than his face, it was a mess, and what he thought about most was Guan Chen.

He deceived the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and others, but in the end he was a little shaken in his heart.

When I think of the two lanterns I once offered, I feel that it is not a bad idea to believe in Buddha. If it can really protect Guan Chen's safety and let the real Ji Yao rest in peace, worshiping Buddha can also be regarded as a thought.

After kowtowing to the gods, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Ji Bieyun felt that his clothes were covered with the smell of fireworks.

The monk in the hall was knocking on the wooden fish, and the sound echoed in the empty and tall room. When it came to his ears, it seemed that more than a dozen people were knocking, like the sound of magic, as if accusing him of having distracting thoughts.

Ji Bieyun got up slowly, and when he turned his head away, he met Miaoci's gaze outside the Manjusri Hall.

The little novice had been watching him outside for some time, and couldn't hide his unexpected and eager expression. When he met his eyes, he smiled brightly and waved to him.

He hadn't seen the child for a long time, and when he came, he was worried for a while, thinking that the death of Zen Master Jueming might hurt Miaoci.Now it seems that he was overthinking, not because the other party sees through life and death, but simply because the child has a great forgetfulness, Miaoci and lively nature, so it is still the same as before.

To put it bluntly, it is naive. If someone wants to criticize, they can say that they are heartless.But there's nothing wrong with being heartless, he thought.

Seeing the child's smile, Ji Bieyun became happy too, walked out with a smile, and was about to speak when Miao Ci led him back.

"The benefactor, come quickly."

I thought I was just looking for a secluded corner to talk, but unexpectedly, the little novice took him to the house where he had peeked at the Thousand Monks Association before.

Ji Bieyun walked behind, and as soon as he closed the door, Miao Ci couldn't wait to say: "Master Ji, how dare you come to Xuanqing Temple!"

He was taken aback for a moment, turned his head and asked, "What did I do?"

Miao Ci was happy for him to come, but couldn't help worrying, "My senior brother hates you so much now that he is not even happy to hear your name. If he hears someone talking about it, he would like to throw you to the precept hall. If you are found by him When you come to Xuanqing Temple, he will definitely drive you out personally!"

"What?" Ji Bieyun asked and quickly realized that Miao Ci should be talking about Miao Wu.

Miao Wu felt that he was the chief culprit who led Guan Chen astray, and they didn't wait to see him when they first met, but now that Guan Chen has taken on a heavy burden, Miao Wu might be even more opposed to getting close to Guan Chen.

"Master Ji..." Miao Ci suddenly approached, and asked hesitantly, "Senior brother said, you forced Guan Chen to go to Chongzhou, and made him forget Uncle Jueming and the whole Xuanqing Temple. My brother and I Said that you are not that kind of person, and the senior brother scolded me, saying that I was also deceived by you... So Ji Shizhu really disturbed senior brother Guanchen's Zen mind?"

Ji Bieyun was left speechless by the question.

"I..." He opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to answer this harmless question.

Miaoci's eyes were full of innocence and trust, as if she really only regarded him as an older friend and wanted to get a negative answer from him.

But Ji Bieyun suddenly realized that he had indeed disturbed Guan Chen's Zen mind.

And it can't be said that he did it unintentionally, or that Guan Chen acted on his own will, because he has no right to stay out of it.

When he was young, he often persuaded Huizhi to return to the vulgar, saying that there are all kinds of bad things about practicing Buddhism, but there are only three things he can say.One is not fun, the other is that it is not good to eat and wear, and the third is that it is not good to grow up with him.

At that time, Tong Yan had no taboo and didn't think it was selfish. Instead, he thought he was trying to persuade Huizhi to get out of the sea of ​​suffering.He said it too many times, but Huizhi never wavered in the slightest. He never mentioned the matter of returning to vulgarity, and read or copied scriptures every day.

And after the reunion, he also said that Guan Chen didn't seem to want to become a Buddha, and he was willing to help hide the heart of the world.

At that time, he didn't know that Guanchen was Huizhi, and he didn't know that the other party was struggling in his heart, so he could say such words easily.Thinking about it now, it was really cruel, his words undoubtedly encouraged the other party to sink deeper into the world of mortals.

Guan Chen had waited for him for more than four years. After the new emperor ascended the throne and pardoned the world, he arranged everything early and waited in Lingzhou to reunite with him and bring him into Chenjing.

As a disciple of Xuanqing Temple, it is clear that what he reads every day is empty, but he is only thinking about how to send Ji Bieyun into the center of power.He should have understood a long time ago, how many struggles Guan Chen has experienced in his heart, how many times he has struggled with himself, before he can say what he said in the world of mortals, as if he has already accepted his fate.

Ji Bieyun promised Guan Chen that he would not care what the other party wanted to do in the future.

But now being asked by Miaoci, he felt a little painful.

This is really ironic.

Having reached such a field, he finally admitted that he was the culprit.

Miao Ci couldn't wait for his answer for a long time, and became anxious, "The benefactor obviously didn't, why hesitate! I asked Senior Brother Guan Chen, and he himself denied it, saying that it has nothing to do with you!"

Ji Bieyun slowed down, and finally said, "Where are you, Senior Brother Guanchen?"

The little novice suddenly regained his energy, "Master Ji is waiting, I'll go and tell my brother to come here to find you."

Miao Ci took a task for herself, and suddenly felt that she was shouldering a huge responsibility, so she rushed out the door in a flash.

However, not long after, he turned around and ran back, opened the door, and said to Ji Bieyun, "Benefactor, the candied fruit you sent earlier is delicious... Can you give it to me once a month in the future? Senior brother said good things for you!"

Ji Bieyun was originally depressed, but he felt a lot relieved when he heard this, and smiled, "You don't have to say good things for me, I promise you."

The little novice immediately became happy and left the room with a cheer.

After Miao Ci left, the surroundings became extremely quiet.

Xuanqing Mountain is like this, except for those Buddhist temples with incense in front, the whole mountain is terribly quiet.But if the state of mind is different, this tranquility is also different.

When Ji Bieyun lived here, he felt that this place was not as bustling as Chenjing, but like a pure land.

But at this time, he became more and more uneasy in the silence.Originally, he fled to Xuanqing Mountain to avoid chaos, but unexpectedly, his heart became more and more chaotic.The hug and touch from last night seemed to be still in front of my eyes, and the note that was left behind had already been memorized by heart.

Guan Chen seems to be too kind to him.

It was so good that it not only broke the precepts, but also added some unclear things.

In his eyes, the demeanor and eyes that used to be just point-and-shoot are now colored with intimacy.Those handwritings, those concerns, and the touch that was broken last night...

Ji Bieyun didn't dare to think about it.

He could admire Guan Chen, but he never thought that the other party would...

While he was anxious, there were footsteps outside the house, and then the door was pushed open.

Guan Chen walked in.

The moment Ji Bieyun met the monk's gaze, his mind went blank.

He originally wanted to tell Guan Chen that if someone came to Xuanqing Temple to find his whereabouts, they must block him.But at this moment, he couldn't say this sentence anymore, as if someone had pinched his throat.

"Has the memorial been handed over?" Guan Chen asked.

Ji Bieyun nodded blankly.

Guan Chen noticed that he was in a different mood, and frowned slightly, "What happened?"

For a moment, he had an impulse to ask the other party "Do you have other thoughts about me", but he couldn't say it when the words came to his lips.What if not?If it's... Then wouldn't he have made it clear how the two of them should get along with each other in the future?

"I..." He seemed to be stuffed with a lot of thread in his mind, he found a topic at random and blurted out, "Emperor Yuan Hui disgusts me."

"What's wrong?" The monk looked a little nervous.

He suddenly came back to his senses, and subconsciously didn't want the other party to know about the marriage, so he quickly shook his head, "It's nothing, I just haven't received the approval of the memorial. Emperor Yuanhui should have withheld the memorial, and I will submit another one tomorrow." go up."

Guan Chen still frowned, it seemed that he didn't believe it easily.

Ji Bieyun was extremely nervous, afraid of the monk asking more questions, the atmosphere in the room was a little stagnant for a while.

Guan Chen's eyes glanced over his brows and eyes as if there was substance, but finally he just said: "Did you drink yesterday, do you have a headache today?"

"Ah?" He was a little dazed. After realizing it, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and shook his head again, "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. I was a little dizzy when I got up early, but it's gone now."

"Have you taken the medicine?" Guan Chen asked again.

He quickly replied: "I ate a pair in the morning."

The monk still looked at him, and after a while suddenly said, "Your forehead is sweating."

Ji Bieyun quickly wiped it with his cuff, and was about to say "it's a bit hot today", when he heard urgent footsteps outside, it sounded like Miaoci had come running.

Sure enough, after the little novice ran outside the door, he lowered his voice and shouted to the inside: "Brother! Someone came to the temple to look for Master Ji!"

Ji Bieyun finally let go of his heart, and said anxiously: "Get out, get out!"

Guan Chen saw that his eyes became darker, but he turned to the door first and asked, "Who is it?"

The little novice replied loudly: "It is said to belong to You Xiaowei, but there are only two of them, and they are all wearing casual clothes."

Ji Bieyun was stunned suddenly.

Guan Chen's eyes turned to him, and he said softly, "Why does Benefactor Ji want to drive his own people out?"