Liaozhai Great Sage

In a gazebo in the courtyard.

Bai Yun made tea for Li Xiuyuan and Master Shi Kong. The two sat opposite each other, drinking tea and talking, with a bit of elegance like visiting monks asking questions.

Li Xiuyuan smiled and said: "The world is so big, I have to go around. If I stay in the south all the time, the ghosts and gods in the north will live a bit too moist. I heard that the evil ghosts and gods in the south now all run away after hearing my name." , Although the ghosts and gods in the south are governed and pacified, what about the north? I don’t want to say some perfunctory lies in front of the master, I came to Beijing this time to rectify the ghosts and gods in the north.”

"Master is practicing in Xiangguo Temple, so he should know the situation in the capital very well. Are you willing to be puzzled for the next solution?"

Master Shikong clasped his hands together and said: "Amitabha, the poor monk is really ashamed, ashamed. After nearly a hundred years of practice, except for some superficial abilities, he has nothing to do with these ghosts and gods in the capital. If Xiangguo Temple has not received the blessing of Buddhism, I'm afraid that those demons and goblins would have murdered them long ago, and Mr. Li's intention to rectify the ghosts and gods in the capital is really a blessing for the people and a blessing for all spirits."

"It's just that the poor monk has lived in Xiangguo Temple for a long time and rarely goes out. He doesn't know much about the ghosts and gods in the capital."

Li Xiuyuan said: "The master has practiced here for more than a year and doesn't know anything about it? Is it not convenient for the master to say it, or is there a taboo in his heart? With the master's cultivation of mind, I don't think he will care about those things."

Master Shi Kong smiled slightly and said: "The time for the poor monk to stay in the world is coming. Today is the last time for the poor monk to open the altar to give lectures. After seven days, he will be sitting in the vat. I have already let go of the worldly things. Mr. Li is concerned about it." This is a good deed of good intentions, but the poor monk is really helpless, but there is a foreign monk who practiced in this temple. He came to Xiangguo Temple more than ten years ago and saw a demon in the capital. He only travels inside and outside the capital, subjugates demons, exorcises evil spirits, knows the situation in the capital well, and is deeply loved by the people."

"It is thanks to him that Xiangguo Temple is today. If Mr. Li has any questions, you can ask him. His philosophy is the same as Mr. Li's. I believe he can help Mr. Li a lot in the capital." Master Kong said.

"What? Master is going to die?" Li Xiuyuan was surprised when he heard that.

It's hard to imagine that this seemingly energetic Master Shikong is going to sit down soon.

Master Shikong laughed and said: "Shouyuan is determined by the heavens. Since the time stipulated by the heavens has arrived, why doesn't the poor monk die? It is precisely because the time for residing in the world has already arrived that he can't help Mr. Li walk around the capital. , Baiyun, go, call the monk Kasyapa and say that the sage from the south is drinking tea here, please come and see him."

"Yes, Master." Bai Yun replied and turned to leave.

Li Xiuyuan said: "I really didn't expect that Master's lifespan has come to an end. It is a loss for the world to die of an eminent monk like Master."

"You are enough to have Mr. Li in the world. The poor monk has completed his practice in this life. It is time to convert to my Buddha. Moreover, the poor monk's sitting down at the moment is a happy thing. On the contrary, Mr. Li still needs to stay in the world for at least For decades, he has worried about all living beings in this world, Mr. Li's compassion and benevolence have surpassed Arhats, comparable to Bodhisattvas, Amitabha." Master Shikong said with a smile.

"In this way, it's easy for the master to come now? Don't you need to worry about the mundane world? At that time, I will have to continue to work hard in the world." Li Xiuyuan shook his head and smiled: "But the master's words are also reasonable. Do something for this world."

"Eat, drink, have fun, have fun, and have a handful of loess after death. This is not what I should pursue. What I pursue is the realization of the ideal in my heart. No matter how hard it is, it is worth it."

"Amitabha, good and good." Master Shikong sang the Buddha's name.

He was also impressed by Li Xiuyuan's belief.

Perhaps it is for this reason that others cannot become natural saints, but he can be.

God arranged for him to come to this world for no reason.

"Master, Master Kasyapa is here." At this time, Bai Yun came over after something unknown, and saluted.

At this moment, he was followed by a monk. This monk was bareheaded and wearing a monk's robe. He was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, and he was an ordinary existence in any temple.

The only thing Li Xiuyuan cared about was the monk's eyes.

What kind of eyes are those? There is an unusual sharpness revealed in compassion, graceful like a goshawk and like a fierce tiger, making people dare not look at them.

"Is this the look a monk should have?" Li Xiuyuan wondered inwardly.

And looking at the monk's hands, full of calluses, as wide as cattail leaf fans, thick and powerful, and with big arms and round waist, it seems to have undue courage. If he took off the monk's clothes, he looked more like a general than a monk.

"This benefactor is very polite, poor monk Kasyapa." The monk Kasyapa saluted.

Master Shikong said: "Jiaye, you have been in Xiangguo Temple for more than ten years. You are a very wise and powerful monk. Your practice in Buddhism is even inferior to the poor monk. Now the poor monk is not ashamed. The sun is about to die, this Mr. Li is a sage in the south, he came to the capital to save the world and save the people, and do great things with immeasurable merit, are you willing to help him do it?"

He didn't say so many reasons, he just asked Kasyapa if he was willing.

Monk Kasye glanced at Li Xiuyuan and said, "He is the person I have been waiting for, and I am willing to help him."

Master Shikong laughed, "I'm relieved now, Mr. Li, you can ask him about the capital, he knows better than anyone else, and with his help, it's much easier for you to do anything in the capital. Now it’s almost time to open the altar to give lectures, and the poor monk has gone, Mr. Li, please do what you want.”

After explaining the matter, he gave a salute, got up and left slowly.

The disciple Bai Yun at the side hastily supported him and left with him.

Li Xiuyuan stood up and watched Master Shikong leave. Don't worry about seeing this eminent monk again today.

"Does the benefactor know that Master Shikong's lifespan didn't end in a few days? If we really counted it, he can still live for half a year."

Suddenly, the Kasyapa monk on the side clasped his hands and lowered his head slightly and said slowly.

"If that's the case, why did Master Shikong say that he would sit down after the lecture?" Li Xiuyuan frowned and looked at the burly monk.

Monk Kasyapa said: "That is the Shangyuan Festival is coming soon. Compared with the Zhongyuan Festival, this is the worst time for ghosts in the capital. In previous years, Master Shikong guarded the mountain gate of Xiangguo Temple. It is already very good. So Master Shikong knows that he cannot die, once he dies, Xiangguo Temple, the last pure place of Buddhism, will also be occupied by evil spirits, and then the people in the capital will suffer even more."

"Now this is the last lecture, Master Shikong is bound to give blessings to every common people who listen to the scriptures, and protect their safety this time on the Shangyuan Festival, but this will exhaust all his thoughts, but The reason Master Shikong did this is because he trusts you, Donor Li."

"Trust me?" Li Xiuyuan was silent for a while.

"Really, it is precisely because of trusting in your abilities, Master Li, that Master Shikong is willing to donate all his life's cultivation to do a little bit for Mr. Li in the capital." Monk Kasyapa said.

Li Xiuyuan was immediately in awe when he heard the words.

Now he understands why Master Shikong took Baiyun to ask those immortals for the magic weapon with the cheek, because he was preparing for the afterlife, and wanted Baiyun to become an eminent monk who subdues demons and demons, and supported Xiangguo Temple. .

But I'm afraid Master Shikong himself didn't expect that he met himself in Tianmu Mountain.

Perhaps it is precisely because he sees hope in himself that Master Shikong has this scene of giving up his life today.

Li Xiuyuan didn't try to stop it, nor did he praise it, but couldn't help but sighed: "The fearless spirit mentioned in Buddhism may refer to Master Shikong, I'm not as good as him."

"Since it is Master Shikong's last lecture, how could I miss it?"

Immediately, he invited four of his former friends, Zhang Bangchang, Qian Jun, Gao Fan, and Zhu Yu, to listen to scriptures in front of the treasure hall of Xiangguo Temple.

really.

At this moment, there is a sea of ​​people in front of the mountain gate of Xiangguo Temple, and the people are surging. I don't know how many people came to listen to Master Shikong's lecture.

"Oh my god, there are too many people here. Brother Li, we are afraid that we will be squeezed out of the mountain gate." Seeing so many people, Zhang Bangchang exclaimed, and some of them dared not move forward.

Li Xiuyuan said: "Today is Master Shikong's last lecture. I will cast a spell and take you to heaven to watch."

"God? Brother Li, when did you have this ability?" Zhu Yu opened his eyes wide: "Why haven't I seen you use me before."

"I didn't know the new spells before. Even now, it's a little bit reluctant to use them. Be careful." Li Xiuyuan first used a cover-up to avoid attracting people's attention, and then cast Teng Yun's spells.

Immediately, a white cloud gushed out from under everyone's feet, dragging them into the air.

The white cloud is like a real thing, it is soft under the feet, but because the turbidity in their bodies is too heavy, even if Li Xiuyuan casts a spell, he can only fly them into the air less than two feet away.

No matter how high it is.

This has nothing to do with Taoism, it is due to the limitation of spells.

Spells such as flying into the sky are the most difficult to practice, especially when flying with people.