The first Buddha in history

Shenxiu has been having a dream since she was very young.

In the dream, there was an incredibly beautiful flower. Every time I saw it, I felt that the whole dream came alive.Later, when Shenxiu learned how to read, he saw the word "Peony" and suddenly thought that the plant in his dream was a peony flower.

It's just that the scene in the dream is not very good.

Sometimes, the peony is white, and every time I see him, I will stick to it happily, and from time to time, I will stretch out a branch and leaf to hook his hand.Even if the other party is a flower, Shenxiu can clearly feel the other party's emotions.

But sometimes, peonies turn black.Every time I see him, I am also very happy, but for some reason, I always look unhappy and ignore him.

Shenxiu couldn't accept it at first, but she got used to it later.

All creatures have good moods and bad moods, and every time he can dream of that peony, he is already very happy.

Of course, there were times when Shenxiu couldn't see that peony.

When his parents were still alive, they loved his only son very much. Seeing that he often drew peonies on paper, he thought his son liked it, so he went to a famous flower farmer in the town and bought some pots of peonies and put them in Shenxiu's room. , to make my son happy.

Shenxiu originally thought that even though these peonies were not as beautiful as the ones in his dream, the peony in the dream was always one, and seemed a bit lonely.As the saying goes, if you think about it every day and dream at night, if you raise more pots of peonies, you will be able to dream of more pots of peonies in your dreams. At that time, the peonies will not be lonely.

The young Shenxiu thought very simply, so she didn't reject her parents' kindness, and even watered the peonies in a good mood, and bought special books to learn how to raise them.

This is a big mess!

For several days, Shenxiu never dreamed about his peony.

Shenxiu is used to being accompanied by Peony every time she falls asleep, but she suddenly disappears, which is really hard for Shenxiu to understand.Shenxiu's parents thought that their son might have been working too hard recently and was sick, so they quickly reduced his homework.

Shenxiu couldn't figure it out.

Until I saw a few friends from the neighbor's house arguing in the yard.

"Xiaohua, why don't you play with me?"

"Hmph, go play with Xiao Cui, I'll ignore you."

"Wait, Xiaohua, why don't I stop playing with Xiaocui?"

"We pull the hook!"

"Okay, hook!"

Shenxiu, who watched the whole process from the sidelines, gasped. He turned his head and looked at the two pots of peonies on the balcony, and felt a sense of disbelief in his heart. Could it be that the little peony in his dream was also angry, thinking that he had Don't want him for other flowers?

The more Shenxiu thought about it, the more she felt it was possible.

He put the flowers in his parents' room on the grounds that he was sick and couldn't take good care of the flowers sent by his parents.

The next night, he really saw his little peony again in his dream.

Shenxiu couldn't laugh or cry, and never mentioned the matter of growing flowers again.

It's just that I love Wu and Wu, so I can't help but pay attention to Peony.Even as she got older, Shenxiu felt that the peony in her dream actually existed.It's just that I can't find it now, and it can't find itself.

Such thoughts came in such a rush that it was almost impossible to suppress them.

But Shenxiu was young, even if he was smart and sensible, his parents could not rest assured that he would look for flowers everywhere, so they had to look at the peonies raised by the neighbors nearby.By the way, I help those living beings within the scope of my ability, and do good deeds, but I hope that before I find Peony, it can live better.

After that, many things happened one after another.

His parents suddenly fell ill and left, and his uncle and aunt took over his property and drove him away.But all this didn't make the young Shenxiu feel good, because every night after falling asleep, his little peony would comfort him well.

As for her parents' illness, Shenxiu had already anticipated it.

From the moment he was able to perceive the outside world, he has noticed the deep and lingering death energy of his parents. It is really luck that he can sustain it until now.As for the uncle and aunt, they have been haunted by black energy all their lives.

There's nothing wrong with being alone now.

"Peony?" Monk Liao Fan's words awakened Shenxiu from her memories.He felt a little curious. Within a hundred miles, the most indispensable thing in every household was the peony flower.The dignitaries of the dynasty loved peonies, and peonies of good quality could be sold at sky-high prices.The small town is suitable for growing peonies, and the craftsmanship of the flower farmers is also first-class. Every one or two years, they will grow a good peony and sell it to the rich and powerful.The residents of the small town are not greedy, and the price is not high. Those officials are pleased with the higher-ups, and they don't want to make things difficult for these poor people.

Now, this suspected soul boy said that he wanted to find a peony in this Peony Township, which is really curious.

"There are so many peonies, didn't the little benefactor find that one?" Liao Fan asked.

Shenxiu shook her head, "No."

"It's a pity." Liao Fan sighed, "Then why did the little benefactor look for it in the deep mountains?" Logically speaking, only by going to the peony flower fair in the county can you see more peonies, and the possibility of finding them is also greater.

"I don't know." Shenxiu continued to shake her head.

"I think he must be in a place where others can easily find it." There was no reason for such a premonition, but Shenxiu had such an intuition that besides herself, that peony must have been waiting for him. Being poached by anyone will not be supported by anyone.That's why he ran into the mountains again and again.

But he searched all the surrounding mountains, but still couldn't find his peony.

Perhaps, he should leave here.

"I don't know if the little benefactor wants to leave here with me?" Liao Fan asked tentatively, "The world is so big, the peony that the little benefactor is looking for may not be here. If the little benefactor is willing to leave with the poor monk, The poor monk is willing to ask the brothers and sisters to help to pay attention. There are three thousand disciples in my Huguo Temple, and there are even more lay disciples. If you accumulate a little, you may be able to help the little benefactor one or two."

Shenxiu stood there and thought for a while, "Then Master Lao is here."

"Don't dare to do it." Seeing Shenxiu readily agreeing, Liao Fan also breathed a sigh of relief.It's fine if you're willing to go with him, if you don't want to, he probably has to find a way to make the boy's wish first!

The rain had stopped and it was getting late. The two decided to go back to the house in the mountain to stay for one night, and then go down the mountain tomorrow.

"Shenxiu's benefactor has a kind heart." Liao Fan pushed open the door and saw the kitten lying on the ground sleeping soundly. He couldn't help but praise, "I'm afraid the little benefactor picked this kitten on the side of the road."

"Yes, I picked it up in the mountains." Shenxiu nodded and said.

"Does the little benefactor often do these things?" Liao Fan asked happily, this is a great thing to accumulate virtue.To be able to do this without any rules and regulations, and the other party has the name of Buddha, it is really great.

"I'll give you a helping hand when I meet you." Shenxiu replied indifferently with a calm expression.

"Goodness, kindness." Liao Fan joined hands together, "The little benefactor is really amazing, he doesn't ask for anything in return..."

"It's not that I don't ask for anything in return." Shenxiu interrupted Fan's words, "I asked for something, so I saved them."

"...What do you mean by that?" Liao Fan couldn't understand.

"Birth, old age, sickness and death, no matter whether it is a human or an animal, they must go through this experience. Occasionally, I see some ladies who are kind-hearted and don't want to eat rabbits and dogs, so they let them go. They are called Bodhisattvas. But chickens, ducks and fish , Could it be life? Those wives didn’t eat rabbits, so they would naturally eat chickens and ducks to make up for it. In my opinion, these kind deeds are not merits at all, and at best they can only be regarded as self-righteous peace of mind.”

Liao Fan was a little embarrassed, "The benefactor is right, all living beings are equal, and all living beings are equal."

"But I managed to save them." Shenxiu lowered her eyes, her voice was surprisingly indifferent, her voice was so calm that she almost looked like a child, "Because I have something to ask for, and I hope that my good deeds will help me find my little peony as soon as possible. I hope that it can live well before I find it. So even if I know that these good deeds are of no use, as long as there is a little possibility, I am willing to do it."

"Therefore, I am willing to go to Huguo Temple with you." Shenxiu raised her head, her eyes were able to see through everything that Fan had not said, "Master Fan, I'm speaking bluntly. Mind. I am willing to go with you immediately, but if I want to stop on the way, please don't stop me, master."

"Amitabha, poor monk, poor monk, I understand." Seeing Shenxiu close his eyes to rest, Liao Fan realized that he was already sweating profusely.

He was suppressed by such a child's aura?

Liao Fan was surprised.

He was even more surprised by the child's indifference and calmness.

Liao Fan believed everything he said.

From the moment Shenxiu entered the door, she almost never glanced at the kitten.If it was really those kind-hearted people, they should be eager to make sure that the kitten is okay.But Shenxiu was different, he knew that the kitten was alive, so he didn't care much about other things.

If he hadn't heard Shenxiu say that he was looking for a peony, and saw the persistence and determination on his face, Liao Fan would have almost thought that the other party had no feelings.

Liao Fan suppressed the doubts in his heart, and the two of them stayed in the small house for one night in relative silence.

When he woke up the next day, Liao Fan saw that the kitten was nestling beside Shenxiu, seeming to be cautious.

Shenxiu would occasionally touch the kitten's head, but never hugged it, but in time, the kitten liked Shenxiu much more than he, the old man.

Monk Liaofan touched his bald head, so he had no choice but to let go of his previous thoughts.

Even though Shenxiu has a weird temper, since the kitten likes him so much, he is still very kind in nature.Maybe it's because of my childhood experience that I see things so coldly.

Shenxiu didn't have any relatives or friends in the small town, she just said hello to her neighbors, gave away the things she couldn't take with her, packed a small bag and followed Fan.

On the contrary, Liaofan couldn't bear it, so he took out some money and bought a donkey for Shenxiu's contemporary walking.He was used to walking on mountain roads and it was fine, but if a child followed him all the way to Huguo Temple, Liao Fan thought he couldn't do it.

After Shenxiu thanked her, unless necessary, she usually led the donkey and walked with Liaofan.And the kitten was given to a girl who loves cats halfway to be raised.It's a long way to resign, and this senior and junior have no experience in raising cats, so why bother with your life?

Soon, a month passed.

One month is enough for Fan to know many things.For example, what kind of person is Shenxiu!

After all, the abbot of Huguo Temple is a recognized and unpredictable person.

He never accepts apprentices, and rarely appears in temples.But he was highly valued by the emperor, and many high-ranking officials and nobles were proud to see him.The prayer beads consecrated by him were even sold at sky-high prices.Such a person is undoubtedly extremely mysterious in the eyes of other monks in Huguo Temple.

When Liao Fan first arrived at Huguo Temple, the abbot had already become famous.

The abbot's age has always been a secret.

Until three years ago, the gray-haired abbot suddenly appeared and said that he would choose one of the outstanding disciples of Huguo Temple to be the next abbot.Liao Fan happened to be among these disciples.And the condition for these disciples to become the next abbot is to find a soul boy back.But the abbot didn't say a word about this soul boy's name and what are his characteristics.Instead, let them draw lots, and keep looking in whichever direction they draw. If they find someone they think might be a soul boy, they will bring them back for the abbot to judge.

After searching for three years, Liao Fan finally found Shenxiu.

He felt that there would be no one more suitable for the title of soul boy than Shenxiu.Even more so after contact.

He knew very well that there were no temples in the town at all, and the monks who came to visit rarely stayed there. In other words, it was impossible for Shenxiu to have the opportunity to learn any Buddhist scriptures.But along the way, Shenxiu could recite every scripture he had memorized while doing his homework verbatim.

Although it is rare to have a photographic memory, it has existed since ancient times.There are outstanding people in the capital, and there are also such child prodigies appearing.But Buddhism has always been obscure and difficult to understand. Almost everyone who is proficient in this way is a famous master. After studying Buddhism for many years, he only feels that he has only scratched the surface.

But Shenxiu is different.

He almost has a natural comprehension ability for Buddhism, he learns it as soon as he learns it, draws inferences from facts, within a month, Liao Fan feels that the other party understands Buddha much more than he, a monk who has practiced for more than [-] years.

It turns out that there are really people in the world who can compare you to dirt!

Liao Fan took some time to calm down his emotions, but he was also happy in his heart.This will make it even more foolproof.

"Master, I want to visit that mountain." Shenxiu said suddenly.

Liao Fan followed Shenxiu's gaze, couldn't help being a little surprised, and shook his head again and again, "Shenxiu, I know that mountain, it's very dangerous, there are countless beasts, and experienced old hunters nearby won't go in easily. There is a cliff. You are too young now, why not wait a few years and get fully prepared before going in."

Shenxiu stared at the mountain without saying a word.

Knowing Shenxiu's temperament, Liao Fan quickly persuaded, "Why don't you go back to Huguo Temple with me first, and then invite someone to accompany you, it will be safer."

"Master, you go first, I want to visit the mountain." Shenxiu shook her head.

"Shenxiu!" Liaofan was a little annoyed, "I know you are smart, but you can't make fun of your own life. It's not easy to get into that mountain."

"That's why I want to go in." Shenxiu looked at Fan and replied earnestly, "Master, you can go ahead. When I go down the mountain, I will go to Huguo Temple to find Master."

"Nonsense!" Liao Fan sulked, "Are you sure that the peony you're looking for is on that mountain?"

"uncertain."

"Not sure? Not sure why you still want to take risks?" Liao Fan smiled angrily, but calmed down a little. Children of this age will always be a little disobedient, so he softened his tone and said, "You are still young, and time is still very short." Long, don't worry too much."

"Master, I've made up my mind." Shenxiu got up and bowed towards Fan, "I won't miss any possibility easily."

"The poor monk is not stopping you, it's just that you are too young and have no power to protect yourself. It is better to wait a few more years. The mountain is dangerous and no one will enter it all year round."

"Master." Shenxiu looked at Fan's earnest face, and suddenly smiled, "Master, thank you very much. It's just that I can only live up to your kindness."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I'm afraid he won't be able to wait." Shenxiu replied softly, "Master, if I were you, I wouldn't return to Huguo Temple right now."

"En?" Liao Fan was distracted by Shenxiu's sudden change of topic, "Where do you start with this?"

"It's just a hunch." Shenxiu said with a smile, "Grandmaster rarely has the opportunity to come out, why not go to other famous temples, and it won't be too late to go back in a few years."

After speaking, Shenxiu bowed to Fan and walked towards the mountain alone.

"Hey, Shenxiu, wait, wait!" Liao Fan wanted to say something more, but just as he was about to catch up, his feet suddenly started to cramp, making it difficult to move.

After Shenxiu's figure slowly disappeared, his feet returned to normal and he could move freely.But where is the shadow of Shenxiu?

It's really evil!

Liao Fan covered his forehead and let out a long sigh, he knew that the soul boy would not be so easy to find!

Well, since Shenxiu asked him to visit other temples first, then he should go.

Liao Fan didn't know why he chose to believe Shenxiu's words, maybe it was because he sensed an aura similar to that of the abbot in this little boy.

Shenxiu went up the mountain without hindrance.

He is not familiar with this mountain, so he can only follow his own feeling.

Fortunately, Shenxiu went to the mountains a lot since he was a child, so he knows exactly what can and cannot be eaten in the mountains.Walking into such a treasure mountain, one can still survive smoothly.

This mountain was much bigger than Shenxiu thought.

He continued to move forward according to his own feelings, stopping and going, and he never strayed off the road once!

When their parents were alive, they often said that Shenxiu was a blessed person.

No matter how complicated the road is, he will never get lost, and he can always find the closest and direct road by feeling.

In this mountain, nature is no exception.

Man-eating tigers and scary jackals, none of them would come close to Shenxiu.If Liao Fan was still here, he would be even more surprised.But Shenxiu seemed to be used to it and didn't take it to heart.

"Tsk."

Shenxiu stopped suddenly, frowning slightly.

It turned out that his shoes were torn.

The clothes were fine, he found a source of water to wash and dry them.But the shoes are not so wear-resistant. After walking on the mountain road for so long, they can no longer hold up.

Shenxiu had no choice but to stop, and moved around step by step to find some withered and yellowed soft branches, and remade a pair of shoes for herself.

He had seen the good straw sandals woven by the aunt next door before, and he had seen them for fun.Now there is no dry grass here, and weaving it with soft branches can still make do.

Although I have seen the aunt make it up, it was a long time ago.

Shenxiu made it up a few times and felt that it was wrong, but at the seventh time, she finally found a feeling and started to make it up proficiently.

Straw sandals are not very well woven, and there is still a difference between soft branches and dry grass.Shenxiu took off the original shoes, threw another layer on the branch, tied a knot, and it was still able to make do with it.

He jumped on the spot twice, and continued to walk forward.

He hasn't dreamed of that peony these days.

Shenxiu got used to it.Every time he went into the mountain, the peony would not appear, but when he came out of the mountain, he would come out again.

Every time in the dream, that peony would caress the wound on Shenxiu's body very carefully, as if she was very sad.

Shenxiu didn't want to see it dejected, but she couldn't say "I won't go into the mountains anymore".

Without going into the mountains, he would never be able to hold his peony in his arms.

The rain in spring and summer is always the most.

The rain in the mountains hadn't disappeared yet, and some of it would often splash on Shenxiu's body, and the path was also slippery.When we reached the depths, there was no path left, so we had to make our own way.

In this way, the speed will be slower.

Shenxiu also had more or less wounds on her body.

The clothes were tattered, the hair was loosely draped, and there were still some red marks on the hands and feet.Almost a month passed in the mountains like this, even the experienced old Orion could not stand such torture, but Shenxiu persevered and was full of energy.

The more difficult it was, the better Shenxiu's face became. He had a hunch that he would be able to find what he was looking for in this mountain!

I don't know how long it took.

Shenxiu woke up in a daze in the morning, walked for a while, and looked up and saw something shaking in the gap of the cliff in front of him.

It is a bud that has not yet bloomed.

It is darker than the mountain wall, like the curtain of a dark night without stars and moonlight.

That is a black peony that has not yet opened!

Shenxiu suddenly woke up.

He hurriedly ran forward, the branches blocking the way drew traces one after another on his face, and he didn't even have time to stop and move away.

Closer, closer.

Shenxiu didn't know what the salty thing was left along his cheeks and left to his mouth, and he didn't know where the slight pain came from his body, and he didn't care that the "straw sandals" under his feet had already fallen apart. Know when he ran away.

He just fell down and got up again, without stopping at all, and then came to the bottom of the cliff, and moved up little by little along the unevenness of the mountain wall.

Shenxiu's good luck seems to have come to an end.

Halfway through his run, he stepped on the ground and slid straight down. The last intact part of his clothes also burst, leaving a long red mark on his waist and abdomen.There was no bleeding, but the skin was broken, and it was hot and painful.

Shenxiu grabbed a vine hanging under the cliff, fixed it again, and climbed up along it.

"You stupid idiot, get down!"

Shenxiu seemed to hear someone shouting in his ear.

He turned a deaf ear, and each time he moved forward, he was more cautious than the last time.

"Get down, get down!"

Shenxiu held the rattan tightly with one hand, it was covered with bruises, and cautiously stretched out the other hand, touching the peony leaf with her fingertips.

Eye sockets were suddenly filled with tears, a little confused.

"I found you, my little peony."