The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 633

Chapter 633: Chapter 629: Let it Be Chapter 633: Chapter 629: Let it Be “Over a hundred years ago, a wandering monk with a deep level of cultivation stayed in our temple. That night, the temple suddenly revealed a golden brilliance reaching up to the heavens, which lasted half the night before dissipating. This monk told the old monks of the temple that our Golden Mountain Temple has a correlation with Buddhism, and that it would surely produce a great virtuous high monk who would awe the world. Hence, he decided to stay here. The old monks in the temple naturally welcomed him. The monk then stayed, joining our ranks, and changed his name to Fa Ming.” Abbot Hai Shi continued.

“Elder Fa Ming!” Shen Luo's gaze stirred. Lu Huaming had previously mentioned this person to him, so this was his background.

“Master Fa Ming had a profound level of cultivation. Not long after he entered the temple, the previous Abbot quickly conceded his position to him. After Elder Fa Ming took over, he greatly supported his peers and spread his Buddhism Dharma to everyone. Only then did our temple begin to flourish again. Master Fa Ming has reinvented our temple, and everyone in the temple respects him. However, he did not take in disciples, saying there was no affinity. This disappointed many in the temple. Until ten years after he had entered the temple, one day while he was playing the qin by the foot of the mountain, he suddenly heard the cry of a baby. A wooden basin drifted from downstream with a baby and a blood letter in it. The Master saved it and learned from the blood letter that this was the posthumous child of the Liuzhou champion Chen Guangrui. He took the milky name of Jiang Liu'er, raised him, and took him as a disciple.” Abbot Hai Shi said.

“This person is none other than Master Xuanzang, right?” Lu Huaming had been listening for a long time, his expression gradually becoming focused and devoid of anxiety, he said.

Shen Luo realized, Master Xuanzang's name had long been well-known throughout the world. However, he only knew about Master Xuanzang's journey to the west for scriptures but was unclear about his background, so this was his origin.

“Correct, just as Elder Fa Ming predicted long ago, Master Xuanzang later entered Chang An, was recognized by Emperor Taizong as his figurative brother, then braved the dangers to journey to the Western Sky, enduring seventy-two trials to retrieve the real scriptures. Only then did our Golden Mountain Temple's name spread throughout the world, achieving its current reputation.” Abbot Hai Shi glanced at Lu Huaming, nodded, and continued.

“Abbot Hai Shi, pardon my interruption, but according to the timeline when Master Xuanzang went to the Western Sky to obtain the scriptures, shouldn't you have already met him?” Shen Luo suddenly interjected to ask.

“When I joined the temple, Master Xuanzang had already journeyed to the Western Sky for the scriptures. However, when he returned to the Golden Mountain Temple later, I had the opportunity to meet him once. Master Xuanzang had expressed to the monks in the temple a few of his experiences journeying west to Ling Mountain. The widely circulated tales of the Pilgrimage to the Western Sky originated from our Golden Mountain Temple.” Abbot Hai Shi glanced at Shen Luo and nodded.

“When Master Xuanzang recounted his experiences from his scripture retrieval journey, did he ever mention a woman with a plum blossom mark on her wrist and a monk from the Western Regions?” Shen Luo immediately asked again.

“A woman with a plum blossom mark on her wrist? Master Xuanzang is a man of Buddhism and seldom mentions the women he encountered on his journey to the Western Sky. As for the many Buddhist countries in the Western Regions, Master Xuanzang has mentioned some of the monks he met. I don't know which monk the benefactor is referring to?” Abbot Hai Shi showed a surprised expression and asked.

Lu Huaming was also surprised by Shen Luo's sudden question and turned to look at Shen Luo.

“This person probably has demonic Qi, and caused a lot of trouble for Master Xuanzang's journey to the Western Sky to obtain the scriptures.” After hesitating for a moment, Shen Luo said.

“A monk tainted with demonic Qi? I have never heard Master Xuanzang speak of such a thing.” Abbot Hai Shi thought for a moment and shook his head.

“Really…” Shen Luo's face showed disappointment. Could it be that Master Xuanzang and his troupe did not encounter those five reincarnated demon souls during their scripture retrieval journey?

“Ah, when the benefactor mentioned demonic Qi, I remembered something. Master Xuanzang once mentioned that when they journeyed through the Black Chicken Kingdom of the Western Regions, his senior disciple had once felt a very strong demonic Qi.” Abbot Hai Shi's white eyebrows suddenly moved as he spoke.

“Oh, where did Master Xuanzang encounter this demonic Qi? What happened later?” Shen Luo's eyes brightened and he immediately asked for more details.

“Master Xuanzang did not elaborate on this matter, just briefly referenced it because while journeying to the west countless demons were encountered, but demonic Qi was rarely felt. This powerful demonic Qi made him feel uneasy, instructing us to be careful of demons in the future.” Abbot Hai Shi continued.

Shen Luo made a sound of acknowledgment, his eyes flickering but he said no more.

“Elder Hai Shi, I also have a question. Back then, not long after Master Xuanzang returned from retrieving the scriptures, he mysteriously disappeared. Do you know what happened? People say he has already reincarnated, is this true?” Lu Huaming at the side also asked.

“We are also not sure about this issue. After Master Xuanzang returned from the scripture retrieval journey, he reported back to his Majesty before returning to the Golden Mountain Temple to cultivate in peace. However, not long after, he suddenly disappeared. The monks of our temple scouted around but found no clues.” Abbot Hai Shi shook his head.

“If that's the case, then why is there talk of his reincarnation?” Lu Huaming asked curiously.

“Not long after Master Xuanzang disappeared, I assumed the position of the Abbot. I practice Dry Zen, emphasizing purity of mind and few desires, often going to deserted places to sit in meditation. One time when I was meditating by the river at the foot of the mountain, a wooden basin drifted downstream, carrying two babies wrapped in swaddling clothes.” Hai Shi Elder continued.

“Oh, another two babies floated down?” Lu Huaming's eyes widened.

“These two are Jiang Liu and Chan'er. At the time, Jiang Liu had a string of Buddhist beads hanging around his neck. I had once attended Master Xuanzang's teachings in person, and recognized that the Buddhist beads were actually the ones worn by Master Xuanzang. The monks in the temple all believed he was the reincarnation of Golden Cicada and gave him the secular name Jiang Liu from Golden Cicada's previous life.” Hai Shi Elder continued.

“So, that's where the claim of Golden Cicada's reincarnation came from.” Lu Huaming slowly nodded.

Shen Luo, on the other hand, didn't pay attention to anything else. Hearing Hai Shi Elder finally mention Jiang Liu, his eyes instantly focused.

“What happened afterward?” He asked.

“Once Jiang Liu got older, he started to comprehend Buddha's teachings and was able to eloquently express his insights during our Dharma discussions. However, he never participated in the scriptural debates within the temple. Despite being very familiar with Golden Cicada, his mannerisms weren't at all like Master Golden Cicada – flamboyant and dominant, favoring luxury and extravagance. Much of the resplendent construction within the temple was due to his insistence on changes.” Hai Shi Elder said with a sigh.

“Abbot Hai Shi, you are the chief abbot of Golden Mountain Temple. Why have you let Jiang Liu run amok? As the temple now stands, it will surely invite much criticism. Moreover, I observe that quite a few monks in the temple are frivolous, arrogant and proud, seemingly imitating Jiang Liu. If this continues, it will be detrimental to Golden Mountain Temple.” Lu Huaming said.

“Jiang Liu has a profound understanding of the Dao and has a flamboyant personality. Moreover, because of his status as the reincarnation of Golden Cicada, most of the elders in the temple admire him greatly and heed his every word. Although I am the Abbot, I can no longer restrain him.” Hai Shi Elder said.

Hearing this, Lu Huaming was left speechless.

“Abbot Hai Shi, might it be his personality that prevents Master Jiang Liu from wanting to go to Chang An?” Hearing Hai Shi Elder reveal up to this point without mentioning the reason why Master Jiang Liu refused to go to Chang An, Shen Luo couldn't help but ask.

Lu Huaming had been distracted by Abbot Hai Shi's words and only remembered the reason for their visit that night when he heard Shen Luo's question. He immediately looked at Hai Shi Elder.