Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 42
>Chapter Title: Temple
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In Li Huowang's impression, the vast majority of temples were built on mountains, and temples built in cities were relatively rare.
But that wasn't what he cared about. What he cared more about right now was the name of the temple the pilgrim had just mentioned. “Zhengde Temple?”
Li Huowang immediately recalled what Zhengkun had said to Danyangzi before dying. It seemed they had been chased and killed by the monks of this Zhengde Temple back then.
His heart began to beat faster. He had found the right place. After going through so many things along the way, he had finally arrived.
Just then, with a turn of the corner, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
Clean and tidy stone slabs stretched all the way to the base of wide steps, and at the top of these hundreds of steps, a solemn temple with date-red walls shrouded in curling incense smoke came into view.
Above the tall temple gate hung a black plaque inscribed with three large characters in vermilion red: Zhengde Temple.
Upper couplet: Cultivate virtue, sow the seeds, Dharma body perfectly round and marvelous.
>Lower couplet: Clear waters reflect the moon, jeweled canopy dignified and solemn.
Under the flourishing incense smoke, the entire temple was enveloped in white mist, giving it an exceedingly ethereal air.
“Little Daoist priest, I won’t go in with you. Feel free to look around. Oh, right—Xijing City isn’t like Jianye. There’s a curfew at night, so make sure to come back before dark.”
Li Huowang took a deep breath and headed toward the crowded steps teeming with people.
Following the pilgrims, he made his way into the temple, where several grand halls loomed before him.
At this moment, Li Huowang stood there like a rock amid the surging tide of people, taking in everything around him.
He had found the temple, but the next problem stumped him: how was he supposed to make contact with the temple’s monks?
Should he just say outright that he was Danyangzi’s disciple? They’d probably slap him dead on the spot.
Before Li Huowang could come up with a plan, a Zhengde Temple monk approached him first. After all, even in the packed crowd, the Daoist robes on Li Huowang were far too conspicuous.
The moment the other man spoke, the pure Buddhist demeanor was leagues beyond that of the old monk from before. “Amitabha. This poor monk Jian Dun offers greetings.”
Seeing the plump monk before him clasp his hands in greeting, Li Huowang promptly returned the gesture. “Greetings, Master. This one is Xuanyang.”
“As a disciple of the Xuanmen coming to our temple, I presume you’re not here just to burn incense and pay respects to the Buddha? This way, if you please.”
Glancing at the lively crowds around them, Li Huowang nodded and followed him toward a side door nearby.
Watching the precept scars on the monk’s shaved head ahead of him, Li Huowang began mulling over what to say next.
The two wove continuously through the majestic temple buildings, the clamor of the crowds at the entrance gradually fading behind them. They finally stopped before a stone table and benches beneath a brilliant golden ginkgo tree.
“Please, donor.” Monk Jian Dun sat down, slowly turning a string of prayer beads in his hands without haste.
He asked no further questions about Li Huowang’s sect or lineage, nor anything else, embodying to the fullest the pure-hearted detachment of a Buddhist disciple.
After pondering for a moment, Li Huowang looked at the monk before him. “Danyangzi is dead.”
With a “pa da,” the yellowish-brown prayer beads scattered in all directions.
Seeing the fat monk before him rise to his feet, Li Huowang nodded to himself.
No mistake—the monks here had indeed crossed paths with Danyangzi.
“That bull-nosed old Daoist is truly dead? This matter concerns grave matters. Please recount every detail, donor.”
Since he wanted answers, Li Huowang naturally had to provide enough information.
Aside from concealing that he had taken the so-called Heavenly Book, Li Huowang told the monk before him everything that had happened at Clear Wind Temple.
“Master, under those circumstances, could Danyangzi really achieve immortality?”
Leaning slightly forward as he spoke, Li Huowang pressed on with a grave expression. “Or perhaps he became something else?”
A gentle breeze blew past, rustling the golden ginkgo leaves nearby.
“You truly heard Danyangzi speaking in your ear, donor?” Jian Dun confirmed once more, his own expression equally solemn.
“Yes, beyond any doubt. And it wasn’t merely a hallucination—there was also the anomaly with the Joy God.”
Recalling the scene from back then, a flicker of irritation appeared in Li Huowang’s eyes.
“That Joy God, impossible to gaze upon directly, was on the verge of crawling out from the darkness to devour me. But its body, concealed in the shadows, seemed to be tugged by something.”
“There’s no logic to it, but I have a hunch in my heart. Whatever pulled the Joy God from the darkness—it was Danyangzi. Danyangzi, after achieving immortality.”
Jian Dun pondered gravely for a moment before standing. “Donor, please wait just a moment. This matter is of utmost importance.”
With that, he clasped his hands toward Li Huowang and hurried away.
Though the monk had said nothing explicit, his attitude had already conveyed certain information.
Lifting his head, Li Huowang gazed at the clouds drifting overhead. “Sure enough, things with Danyangzi aren’t going to end so easily.”
Jian Dun returned even sooner than Li Huowang had anticipated—no more than half a stick of incense. Clutching a fresh string of prayer beads, he hurried back.
“Donor Xuanyang, this way please. The abbot wishes to see you personally.”
Zhengde Temple was vast. After weaving through the temple buildings for quite some time, they arrived at last before a grand and imposing hall.
Through the eight-paneled doors of the hall, Li Huowang beheld five enormous, majestic golden Buddhas within—each over ten zhang tall, seated in lotus position, each with distinct postures.
Before the five golden Buddhas, upon a meditation cushion, sat a figure clad in kasaya robes, a five-Buddha crown reminiscent of Tang Seng’s atop his head.
As Li Huowang entered, he heard the monk chanting sutras. The hall’s vast emptiness lent the recitation an ethereal echo.
Under the watchful gaze of those five colossal golden Buddhas, Li Huowang found his steps slowing of their own accord.
The chanting ceased, and the monk seated cross-legged on the cushion slowly turned around.
Seeing the monk’s appearance, Li Huowang was taken aback.
He was an old abbot with brows and beard entirely white. The surprise lay not in his unexpectedly kindly face, but in his eyes.
They were pink eyes. After spending so much time in close company, Li Huowang recognized them at a glance—he suffered from albinism, just like Bai Lingmiao.
“Amitabha. This old monk Xin Hui offers greetings.” Abbot Xin Hui pressed his palms together, his tone serene.
“This one is Xuanyang. Greetings, Abbot.” After completing the rite, Li Huowang sat down facing him.
“Abbot, regarding Danyangzi—”
Li Huowang had barely begun when the other raised a hand to stop him.
“Donor Xuanyang, do you recognize these five Buddha ancestors within this hall?”
Seeing Li Huowang shake his head, Xin Hui lightly stroked his long white beard as he explained. “At the center: Diamond Realm Vairocana. East: Fragrant Accumulation World Akshobhya Buddha. South: Joy World Ratnasambhava Buddha. West: Ultimate Bliss World Amitabha Buddha. North: Lotus World Amoghasiddhi Buddha. Together, they are known as the Five Wisdom Tathagatas.”
Li Huowang couldn’t help growing anxious. What was this monk getting at with all this irrelevant talk?
“Abbot, we can discuss that another time. Pray tell—what exactly has Danyangzi become?”
Xin Hui pressed his palms together once more, gazing calmly at Li Huowang. “He has become a Buddha.”
End of this chapter.