I am a fairy in Journey to the West

The young man left and returned the knife to the old Taoist priest. Perhaps he thought the old Taoist priest was ridiculous, so he only left a silver ingot when he left without saying anything.

The old Taoist priest put away the silver. At this time, Zhuang Yan walked over and said to the old Taoist priest, "I want to have my fortune told."

The old Taoist priest looked towards Zhuang Yan, then asked with a smile, "What do you want to calculate?"

Zhuang Yan said, "I want to calculate when I will be promoted."

The old Taoist priest sat up and looked at Zhuang Yan's face carefully, only to find that Zhuang Yan's face remained the same without any flaws.

The old Taoist priest was greatly surprised. This facial feature revealed no secrets at all. It seemed that the person in front of him was very extraordinary.

"Stretch out your left hand." said the old Taoist priest.

Zhuang Yan stretched out his left hand again. The old Taoist grabbed his palm to look at the lines, but found that there were only four thick lines on the palm, and they were consistent from beginning to end without any changes, and there were no forks or other lines around them.

The old Taoist scratched his scalp. The lines on his palms were all integrated and there was no trace of any secret at all.

"Let's do a fortune telling." The old Taoist priest took out a piece of white paper and handed over a pen. "Write a word, write it carefully."

Zhuang Yan smiled slightly, raised his hand and wrote the word "Zhuang" on the paper.

"Zhuang?" The old Taoist's expression froze, and the smile on his face gradually faded. He stared at the word "Zhuang" for a moment, and finally raised his head and looked at Zhuang Yan.

"May I ask you a question?" the old Taoist priest said to Zhuang Yan, "Your boss is the emperor?"

Zhuang Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Why do you say that?"

The old Taoist pointed at the word "Zhuang" and said, "It is vast and boundless above, and covers the earth below. Only the emperor can be worthy of such a large hexagram."

"Haha." Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Then can you tell when I will be promoted?"

"I can't tell." The old Taoist shook his head and said, "You don't show any divine secrets at all. I can't tell."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "It's okay, thank you for your help." Then he took out a purple coin and placed it in front of the old Taoist priest, then was about to leave.

But the old Taoist's eyes lit up when he saw the purple coin, and he quickly asked Zhuang Yan, "What's your name, Taoist friend?"

"My surname is Zhuang." Zhuang Yan said with a smile.

The old Taoist laughed, stroked his long beard and said, "What a coincidence, my surname is also Zhuang, and my Taoist name is 'Nanhua'."

"Oh?" Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows, bowed and smiled, "So you are Fellow Daoist Nanhua. I'm sorry, but I don't have a Taoist name. My name is just 'Yan'."

Taoist Nanhua nodded, and then asked, "You just got promoted, which means you are now an official. I wonder what kind of official you are?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "It's Sima Ming."

Taoist Nanhua stood up, bowed to Zhuang Yan and said, "Mr. Zhuang, I am honored to meet you."

Zhuang Yan returned the greeting with a bow, then asked Taoist Nanhua, "I am going to Dong'ou Temple to listen to Zen Master Jin Guang's lecture. Do you want to go with me?"

Taoist Nanhua sat down, waved his hand and said with a smile: "The Great God of Destiny will go first. I will see two more predestined people, and then I will go."

"Okay." Zhuang Yan nodded, then turned and walked along the street straight towards Dongou Temple.

As soon as Zhuang Yan left, a couple came in front of Taoist Nanhua.

"Master, can you tell me about our marriage?" Sun Youlin asked.

Taoist Nanhua raised his head and glanced directly at Sun Youlin and Ao Yan, then smiled and said, "Okay, whose marriage do you want to calculate?"

Sun Youlin said: "It's mine, oh, it's for both of us." Sun Youlin pointed at himself and Ao Yan.

Taoist Nanhua asked back: "Young man, have you ever considered becoming a monk and practicing Buddhism?"

"Huh?" Sun Youlin was stunned for a moment, then quickly said: "No, no, no, Taoist priest, I don't want to become a monk, I just want you to look at my marriage."

Taoist Nanhua smiled and said, "I am just talking about fate. Zhengyi Dao does not prohibit marriage, and Taoists can also marry. Are you interested, young man? I happen to know a master of a Zhengyi Dao temple, and I can introduce him to you."

Sun Youlin felt a little puzzled and said, "Master, I want you to take a look at our marriage compatibility."

Taoist Nanhua sighed and shook his head, saying, "You young man, you have no wisdom."

Ao Yan, who was standing by, seemed to understand what was said, but because her mind was on Sun Youlin, she did not think deeply about what Taoist Nanhua said.

"I don't count it." Sun Youlin said, "You just say some nonsense."

At this point, Sun Youlin said to Ao Yan, "Shall we also go to Dong'ou Temple to listen to the great Zen master's teachings?"

Ao Yan nodded and smiled: "Okay."

So the two of them left hand in hand, gradually disappearing in the crowd. Taoist Nanhua looked at their backs, snorted and laughed, and said, "What a sin."

"Master, what's the sin?" A middle-aged man came over and squatted in front of Taoist Nanhua's stall and asked.

Taoist Nanhua turned around and glanced at the middle-aged man. Seeing that he was restless, he asked, "What does the donation mean?"

The middle-aged man looked around and saw that no one was approaching. He then took out a silver ingot and said, "Master, I want to ask for a method."

"Oh?" Taoist Nanhua asked, "What method?"

The middle-aged man said: "It is a way to purify one's mind, restrain one's desires, and cultivate oneself."

Taoist Nanhua was a little surprised, "Why do you require such a method?"

The middle-aged man sighed and said, "To be honest, I am a lecher."

Taoist Nanhua laughed and said, "What's the big deal? I am also lustful."

"." The middle-aged man glanced at the Taoist Nanhua and saw that he looked like an immortal. He obviously didn't believe him, so he said, "Master, please don't tease me. I'm telling the truth. I'm lustful and I go to brothels every day to watch beautiful women dancing and posing. I feel uncomfortable if I don't watch them for a day, so I've neglected my career."

Taoist Nanhua asked, "Does it look good?"

The middle-aged man said: "To be honest, they are really beautiful. Those beauties are all white and tender, with curvy figure. Really..." When he said this, the middle-aged man began to be moved again.

Taoist Nanhua asked quickly, "Where is the brothel you are talking about?"

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why do you ask this, Taoist priest?"

Taoist Nanhua said, "To be honest, I want to see it too."

The middle-aged man stared at the Taoist Nanhua blankly, and after a while he said, "Master, don't you want to persuade me?"

"What should I advise you?" asked Taoist Nanhua.

The middle-aged man said, "You told me that lust is like a knife hanging over my head, a red skull, or a handful of yellow earth? You told me to stay away from lust and be pure in heart?"

Taoist Nanhua said in astonishment: "You haven't committed any crime, why should I advise you? Looking at beautiful women is not a big deal, just look if you want to. Don't suppress yourself too much, or something bad will happen."

"But," the middle-aged man said awkwardly, "I believe in Buddhism. Would it be unfair to Buddha to do this? Would it accumulate sins?"

Taoist Nanhua smiled and raised his hand to touch the middle-aged man's heart, saying: "As long as your mind is clear, the Dharma is in your heart, and beauty is in your eyes, what sin can there be?"

"I understand." The middle-aged man suddenly realized and understood. He bowed to the Taoist Nanhua and said, "Thank you, Taoist. I have nothing to worry about anymore." "That's good." Taoist Nanhua smiled and said, "After all, the old pervert has a strong wisdom and high understanding."

The middle-aged man resolved his worries, took out another ingot of silver, thanked Taoist Nanhua, and left.

After the middle-aged man left, Taoist Nanhua looked around and saw that there was no one else who was destined to meet him today, so he packed up his stall and carried the bamboo basket towards Dong'ou Temple.

Dong'ou Temple, outside the Main Hall.

There is a white jade carved lotus platform, on which Zen Master Jin Guang sits with his hands clasped together and a compassionate face. A golden light behind his head illuminates the majestic Main Hall behind him.

On both sides of the white jade lotus platform, the abbot, elders, dean and all the eminent monks and disciples of Dongou Temple stood in a row, with their hands clasped together and chanting Buddhist mantras.

Right in front of the white jade lotus pedestal sat the King and Queen of Bufang, the princes, princesses, royal relatives, and civil and military officials, all standing in order of status and rank, looking extremely pious.

Zen Master Jin Guang was giving a sermon, and happened to be talking about Akshobhya Buddha at this time. He said: "Akshobhya Buddha followed the command of Sakyamuni Buddha and came to Dongsheng Shenzhou to save all living beings. In the Xuanxian calamity, all living beings suffered. Akshobhya Buddha used his supreme power to eliminate the calamity, and did not hesitate to fall into reincarnation to save all living beings."

Hearing this, a voice suddenly came from below: "So, Akshobhya Buddha is dead?"

There was an uproar in the audience; even the king, queen and others frowned and looked over. Zen Master Jin Guang took a quick glance and saw accurately that he was the Taoist priest in the crowd.

Then, Zen Master Jin Guang smiled and said, "You are right, fellow Daoist. Akshobhya Buddha has indeed entered Nirvana and has been reincarnated again."

As soon as Zen Master Jin Guang said this, there was another uproar in the room. Akshobhya Buddha was the Buddha of the Eastern World, but he had actually passed away?
Facing the noise below, Zen Master Jin Guang was very calm and said in Buddhist voice: "The Buddha has passed away, but the Dharma still exists. The Bodhisattvas in the Wonderful Holy Land of Dongsheng Shenzhou are still there."

Nanhua Taoist said: "But if the Buddha is not here, what is the point of the Buddha's holy land?"

Zen Master Jin Guang laughed and said, "How do you know that there is no Buddha in the Holy Land of Bliss?"

When Nanhua Daoist heard this, he immediately laughed and said, "Could it be that Buddhism has sent another Buddha to the Holy Land of Joy so soon? Master, may I ask which Buddha it is? Can you tell me clearly?"

At this time, the monks of Dong'ou Temple below could no longer tolerate this and said, "Master, please drive this troublemaker Taoist priest out."

Hearing the monks' words, even the king could not help but stand up and said, "Where are the guards? Drive this Taoist priest out of the temple for me."

Immediately, a team of guards took the order and went straight to Taoist Nanhua.

But Zen Master Jin Guang stopped the monks and the king, "Wait a minute, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, the king immediately called the guards to a halt. Then he heard Master Jin Guang say, "Monks, please do not violate the precept of anger."

When the monks heard this, they all put their hands together, chanted the Buddha's name loudly, and bowed, "Yes."

Then Master Jin Guang said, "It is common to preach the Dharma and discuss the Dao. There is nothing wrong with what this fellow Taoist asked. You don't have to mind it. I won't mind it either."

At this point, Master Jin Guang glanced at the believers below and said, "Although Akshobhya Buddha has already died in reincarnation, his Buddhahood and Dharma still exist. Now there is indeed a Buddha sitting in the Holy Land of Joy, presiding over the Dharma of our Dongsheng Shenzhou."

As Zen Master Jin Guang finished speaking, not only Taoist Nanhua, but even the mortals below became concerned.

At this time, the ruler of Nabufang stood up and worshiped devoutly. After the ceremony, he respectfully asked, "Master, may I ask which Buddha is currently presiding over the Dharma in the Holy Land of Bliss?"

Zen Master Jin Guang paused, then pointed to the east and said, "A great sun is rising in the east. Its light is great, and its Dharma is great."

After saying this, Zen Master Jin Guang stopped talking, and the square outside the main hall became silent for a moment.

I don't know how long it took, but suddenly a voice of enlightenment came from below, "I understand."

Everyone looked and saw that it was the ninth prince of Bufang. The king asked hurriedly, "What does my son understand?"

Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince put his hands together and said, "Namo Amitabha." Then he replied, "Father, it cannot be said."

The king was startled when he heard this, but he came to his senses and stopped asking questions. Instead, he put his hands together, turned around and said to Master Jin Guang: "Master, please continue to preach."

Zen Master Jin Guang nodded and continued to preach.

Zen Master Jin Guang preached in Dong'ou Temple for three days. Three days later, a holy sun suddenly rose from Dong'ou Temple.

Soon, the whole country of Bufang was covered with sweet rain. This sweet rain was shining with divine light and fragrant. When it fell on the ground, the grass and trees grew. When it fell on the river, the water became clear and lively. When it fell on the mountain, all things became wise. When it fell on people, there was no disease or disaster, and all diseases were cured.

This is the manifestation of the Buddha, who, thinking of the piety of all living beings in the world, sent down the sweet rain to save them.

But just after the rain fell in Bufang Kingdom and one hour before the end of the Buddha's Bathing Festival, a major event occurred in the capital of Bufang Kingdom.

Xiao Ziqi, the richest man in Bufang State, killed his wife and then surrendered himself to the authorities.

This wife-murder case quickly caused a sensation throughout the country of Bufang, simply because it happened just after the Buddha appeared and rained rain, and one hour before the end of the Buddha Bathing Festival.

For a time, everyone from the king to the people of Bufang was shocked. This was a great disrespect to the Buddha! Seeing blood on the Buddha Bathing Festival, I wonder if the Buddha will still favor Bufang?
Therefore, people from all over the country petitioned the king to execute Xiao Ziqi as a warning to others.

But soon, after investigation by the government, it was learned that Xiao Ziqi had caught his wife having an affair with her lover during the Buddha's Bathing Festival, so he killed his wife in anger, and even killed her lover as well.

As soon as this news came out, opinions in the entire country of Bu immediately turned into two factions.

One group believes that Xiao Ziqi is not guilty. Adultery is an "immoral" crime in Bufang. In Bufang, a Buddhist country, there is no crime greater than "immorality".

But another group believes that even though Xiao's wife committed adultery and was guilty of immorality, Xiao Ziqi's murder during the Buddha's Bathing Festival was a serious crime.

If there is any sin greater than "immorality", it is killing people on Buddha's Bathing Day, which is an offense to Buddha.

However, for such a big case, the government could not help but conduct a thorough investigation. After further in-depth investigation, the Bufang government discovered that all the tableware and cups used by Xiao Ziqi were smeared with a highly toxic substance.

However, the toxicity of those poisons had not completely disappeared during the poison test, which meant that the poison had not been applied for long. Finally, according to the speculation of an imperial physician, half an hour before Xiao Ziqi caught his wife having a secret meeting with her lover, his wife and her lover had already coated all of Xiao Ziqi's tableware and cups with poison.

In other words, if Xiao Ziqi had taken action a little later, he would have been the one to die.

As soon as this result came out, public opinion in the entire country of Bufang reversed on a large scale again. After the two crimes of adultery and intentional murder of her husband were exposed, Xiao Ziqi seemed to be a victim.

As a result, the court and people of Bufang State began to get confused. Logically speaking, Xiao Ziqi should be found not guilty in this matter.

But the problem is that Xiao Ziqi killed people on Buddha's Bathing Festival.

Just when the government and people of Bufang State were worrying about how to deal with Xiao Ziqi, Taoist Nanhua and Zhuang Yan were sitting in a separate room of the restaurant, drinking while listening to the discussions outside.

“Hahaha.” Taoist Nanhua said, “The Great Sun Tathagata just appeared to offer alms, and this case of wife murder occurred. Now let’s see how Bufang Kingdom and Buddhism handle it.”

Zhuang Yan looked at the Taoist Nanhua and smiled, "You are plotting against Buddhism."

"I didn't plot against them." Taoist Nanhua said with a smile, "Everything will happen sooner or later. I just made it happen a little earlier."

"It's almost the end of the Buddha's Bathing Festival, right?" Zhuang Yan said.

Taoist Nanhua laughed, picked up the pork elbow on the table and took a bite, then said happily: "May you be blessed with infinite happiness, the pork elbow is still the most delicious."

Zhuang Yan smiled faintly, then thought of the Zen Master Jin Guang, and said, "It should be the Zen Master Jin Guang who came forward. I think his background is extraordinary."

"Zhuang Siming has good vision." Taoist Nanhua glanced at Zhuang Yan, then said casually while gnawing on a pork elbow: "This Zen Master Jin Guang is the 'Bodhisattva Baotanhua' who was reincarnated into the world nine thousand years ago."

At this point, Nanhua Taoist laughed and said, "If Buddhism says Xiao Ziqi is innocent, then it is telling the world that hatred in the world is more important than Buddha, and that putting down the butcher knife and becoming a Buddha instantly is a joke. If Buddhism says Xiao Ziqi is guilty, then it means that Buddhism has no compassion, or does not distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, and only blindly worships Buddha."

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Then you have caused a big trouble for Zen Master Jin Guang."

Taoist Nanhua waved his hand and said with a smile: "Hey! This is not looking for trouble. This is me testing his wisdom. As the reincarnation of a bodhisattva, I want to see if his cultivation in this life has been in vain." (End of this chapter)