Infinity: Our Zhongzhou team is really amazing!

Chapter 472 Ghost Buddha! Great Ci'en Temple (33)

The next morning, Zhuang Boshi and Zhang Xiaojing arrived in Chang'an in the misty dawn.

Looking at the majestic city in the distance, Dr. Zhuang exclaimed with emotion, "I am finally fortunate enough to witness the splendor of Chang'an."

This city, which was the greatest in the seventh century AD, was destroyed by war two years ago.

At this moment, it stands majestically before me.

People from the Western Regions with high-bridged noses, Turks with braids, and Goguryeo and Fusang people who were not much different from the Tang people.

The tall neighborhood.

The Dragon Warriors, clad in gleaming armor.

A plump young woman, and scholars singing on the ninth floor.

After the chaos of the Republic of China and the despair of the late Qing Dynasty, there is such a magnanimous and peaceful world.

It is completely inconsistent with the tone of despair, as if the human world were a prison.

why?
Why is it like this?

Shouldn't there be evil spirits everywhere?

In the previous world, the evil god sealed off time and space, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse almost killed him. They were also implicated in a terrifying suppression.

But what about the second deity?
Did He create such a peaceful and harmonious world so that He could nurture all people like the Goddess of the Luo River?
Or were they truly suppressed by the Tang Dynasty?

Surely the gray-robed monk wouldn't invite himself on a tourist trip.

Reverse 10,000 characters.

Reverse Tai Chi.

Ghost Buddha.

Ghost Celestial Venerable.

Bosch had too many questions.

Upon arriving in Chang'an, Zhang Xiaojing went to the government office to report on matters. After settling Zhuang Boshi in, he left.

Zhuang Boshi then began to search the streets of Chang'an alone for clues to the reversed ten thousand characters.

It must be said that Chang'an's prosperity was well-deserved.

Peddlers and itinerant merchants from all over the country.

Everyone speaks fluent and proper Chang'an dialect.

I learned from them that there were several famous temples in Chang'an.

Hongfu Temple belongs to the Pure Land School of Buddhism.

Ximing Temple, Yuhua Palace.

The Li family revered Taoism, but during the Wu Dynasty, Buddhism flourished.

As Zhuang Boshi walked down the road, he noticed that many people were heading in one direction.

They excitedly shouted, "Master Xuanzang is giving a sermon!"

"At the Great Ci'en Temple, Master Xuanzang is about to give a sermon!!"

Xuanzang?

Wasn't he a high-ranking monk from the Zhenguan era?

Out of curiosity, Zhuang Boshi pulled aside a scholar beside him and asked, "How old is the great Master Xuanzang now?"

The scholar replied with admiration, "The Venerable Master Xuanzang is already 160 years old. He is a true living deity, a national saint, and the people of Chang'an respectfully call him the Living Buddha."

A woman dressed in brightly colored clothes beside him also smiled and chimed in, "Young master, you must be from out of town."

“Since the Zhenguan era, after the Grand Master brought back the true scriptures from the Western Paradise, he lived in the Great Ci'en Temple to study the classics. The temple has been a place of constant incense offerings and has become the most prominent temple in Chang'an.”

It's second to none. Why didn't those peddlers and laborers mention it earlier?

"However, the great master Xuanzang often secluded himself in a quiet room to study Buddhist doctrines. The last time he gave a sermon was in the fifteenth year of the Tianbao era, which was two years ago."

The scholar also said with great enthusiasm: "On that day, news of An Lushan's rebellion came, and the people of Chang'an were in a state of panic. But after the Grand Master gave a sermon, the rebels were quelled."

"The Great Master is truly the pillar of our Great Tang Dynasty!"

The young woman was also excited: "Hehehe, I heard that the Great Ci'en Temple is very effective in matters of marriage."

"Yes, yes, brother, look, so many young ladies have come to listen to the sutra."

Following the crowd, Zhuang Boshi entered Xiangguo Temple, where hundreds of prayer cushions were densely packed inside, with the innermost area reserved for high-ranking officials and nobles of Chang'an.

Dozens of plump and round young women and men sat there.

They didn't whisper among themselves; instead, they clasped their hands together in a very devout manner.

Many more people sat on the ground, completely unconcerned.

The square was packed with at least tens of thousands of people.

Zhuang Boshi was speechless; the incense at the Great Ci'en Temple was indeed so abundant.

Those peddlers and laborers actually forgot about this great temple.

clang!
clang!
clang!
As the three distant chimes rang out, Zhuang Boshi looked towards the main hall.

A young monk stepped across the threshold of the main hall, wearing a faded gray robe.

His face was as handsome as a young man's, but his brows were etched with a cold, desolate air, like frost and snow.

As he walked past the candlestick, the flickering flame suddenly stopped. He stood there like a walking Buddha, not because of his golden body or dignified appearance, but because of the perfect harmony and ease that emanated from his very being, as if he himself were the most natural being in the world.

Who would have thought that these eyes have witnessed 150 years of history?

Accompanied by the young woman's scream.

Zhuang Boshi stroked his chin.

This is not the kind of enlightened monk I imagined.

And this gray robe.

Zhuang Boshi thought of the gray-robed monk who had saved him twice during the gaps in history.

Could it be... Xuanzang?!
Zhuang Boshi frowned slightly, pondering to himself, but something still felt off.

"All things are impermanent; they are subject to arising and ceasing."

A voice as clear as a spring rang out, as if Xuanzang were standing in front of everyone, explaining the scriptures in a gentle and persuasive manner.

We'll talk to him about what role he played in it later.

As the sound of sermons flowed past his ears, Zhuang Boshi pondered silently.

By the time he came to his senses, his fingernails had already dug into his palm.

Xuanzang had disappeared, and the square was mostly empty. The remaining pilgrims knelt on prayer cushions with their backs to him, prostrating themselves on the ground, seemingly in devout prayer.

It was already close to afternoon.

Zhuang Boshi then realized with a start that he had not noticed the passage of time at all, and had been in a daze for an hour.

What exactly did Xuanzang say?
But the next moment, his intuition told him not to think about it!
Only then did he realize that his earlier "complete immersion" was not an obsession, but some kind of more terrifying instinct.

His consciousness was actively sealing that memory, which seemed to be something extremely terrifying, something that would bring immense fear whenever he thought about it.

I never expected to encounter such a strange thing so soon after arriving in Chang'an.

“Young man, is this your first time visiting Ci’en Temple? All the young ladies and gentlemen have gone to the back courtyard,” said an older man in a gray robe standing nearby.

Zhuang Boshi asked casually, "What are they going to the back hall for?"

"Go make a wish."

"Make a wish?"

"That's right. It's said that there's a golden osmanthus tree in the backyard that's especially effective for praying for marriage, career advancement, and military achievements."

The gray-robed man smiled and said, "Young ladies seeking marriage, gentlemen seeking official careers, and generals seeking military merits, write your wishes on a letter and hang it on a tree, and it will always work."

"Is it really that magical?"

"That's natural. However, the backyard of Da Ci'en Temple is not usually open to the public. It was only opened when the Venerable Master Xuanzang was giving a sermon."

The golden osmanthus tree where you can make a wish.

The young ladies and gentlemen, their faces flushed, were busy hanging letters on the tall laurel tree.

This laurel tree is tall and straight, with thick letters hanging from every branch. At first glance, it looks more like a street lamp.

Zhuang Boshi's face twisted slightly as he looked at the scene.

He wrote his wish to remove the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from his body on a letter.

Legend has it that if a letter is hung on a tree, the wish will come true.

If it can't be installed, it can't be achieved.

Zhuang Boshi tossed the letter gently, and it landed perfectly on the tree.

At the same time, a coin that someone had thrown up fell down.

Zhuang Boshi caught it casually.

He looked down. It was the seventeenth year of the Kaiyuan era.

Those around him offered their congratulations upon seeing this.

But Zhuang Boshi felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.

As darkness fell, he sensed the place growing increasingly eerie, and hastily turned and left the Great Ci'en Temple.

Surprisingly, nothing else seemed amiss after he left.

It seems he was overthinking everything.

When they returned to their residence, they found Zhang Xiaojing already waiting at the door.

"Master, where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you." Zhang Xiaojing walked up with a happy expression, it seemed that good things were about to happen.

Zhuang Boshi sat down and said, "I went to the Great Ci'en Temple in the west of the city for a visit."

"Da Ci'en Temple?" Zhang Xiaojing's expression changed slightly.

"But the Venerable Master Xuanzang was giving a sermon there?"

“That’s right.” Zhuang Boshi gave Zhang Xiaojing a deep look.

"What are your thoughts?" Zhang Xiaojing took a step back and placed his hand on the hilt of the knife.

"Nothing special, just made a wish at the laurel tree."

Zhang Xiaojing's body stiffened, and he had already drawn his sword halfway out.

next moment.

Zhang Xiaojing was pinned to the ground again.

The sword was left aside.

"Don't worry, I'm not a vengeful ghost, nor am I a ghost in disguise." Zhuang Boshi glared at him.

He casually pinched out a piece of gold and smashed it on his head.

Why do you always try to use knives and guns on me?!

As she spoke, she released him.

Zhang Xiaojing scrambled to his feet in a disheveled state, ignoring the footprints on his body, and gave Zhuang Boshi another careful look.

"Brother Zhang, is there any history or story associated with that place?" Zhuang Boshi asked.

"That makes you so afraid."

"Taoist priest, words are not enough. I will take you to a place."

Zhang Xiaojing immediately led Zhuang Boshi eastward again.

The familiar road.

But the further east you go, the more desolate it becomes.

It didn't look like the person he had just passed by at all.

The two soon arrived at the entrance of the Great Ci'en Temple.

When Zhuang Boshi saw the gate of Chengen Temple, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The temple was dilapidated, and the four characters "Da Ci'en Temple" were already faded and worn.

Zhuang Boshi entered the temple. In the main hall, the golden statue was nowhere to be seen. The square, which should have been bustling with people, was now overgrown with weeds.

All the Buddha statues either lost their heads or had their faces gouged out.

Zhuang Boshi took a deep breath and went to the backyard, only to find that the osmanthus tree had completely withered, with no more blooming osmanthus flowers, only a bare trunk.

Only a brand new letter was fluttering in the wind.

With a wave of his hand, Zhuang Boshi sent the letter back into his hand.

Look at the wishes above.

It was indeed his own letter.

Commit sin!

He muttered a curse under his breath: "Damn it, there really is something fishy going on."

Looking at that tall tree trunk now, it seems even more like a gloomy street lamp.

Zhuang Boshi walked out of the temple, where Zhang Xiaojing was waiting for him at the entrance.

"Brother Zhang, is this an illusion?"

He questioned, "Didn't you say that there were almost no ghosts in the three hundred prefectures of the Tang Dynasty?"

"How come I encountered a ghost the moment I arrived in Chang'an and was just strolling around the streets!"

Zhang Xiaojing quickly pulled him out of the Great Ci'en Temple: "Daoist, I really don't know whether to say you're lucky or unlucky."

"The Venerable Master Xuanzang did indeed preach the true scriptures at the Great Ci'en Temple, but that was more than forty years ago!"

“This place has been abandoned for decades. During the Wu Zhou period, Empress Wu suppressed Taoism. At that time, the Da Ci’en Temple was very popular.”

"But the abbot of the temple was involved in the Shenlong incident. After the current sage ascended the throne, he ordered the destruction of the Da Ci'en Temple. The heads of the Buddha statues were all dug out, and the great master Xuanzang disappeared without a trace."

"After that, for several years, people said that Chengen Temple reopened and the great monk Xuanzang gave a sermon, attracting countless tourists. But the next day, all of them disappeared without a trace."

“We’ve invited the Bad Commander’s men, and even the Imperial Guards, to come and check, but they still can’t figure out any cause or effect. This place looks like an ordinary abandoned temple.”

Zhuang Boshi was speechless: "Then why not renovate it again?"

"Something's strange here. It's best to leave it as it is and not make any rash moves," Zhang Xiaojing said as he walked.

"Over time, this place became a forbidden area in Chang'an. The people warned their children not to come here, and if they heard the sound of sermons coming from inside, they had to run away immediately."

"Therefore, only those who have just entered the border towns and the Western Regions might encounter trouble, and now it has been almost ten years since anything happened."

Zhang Xiaojing was somewhat embarrassed: "This is one of the seven taboos of Chang'an. It's my fault for not explaining it clearly to the Taoist priest, causing him to encounter danger."

No wonder Zhang Xiaojing didn't dare to step into this place. No one knows what kind of strange things are hidden here. After all, even the Bad Commander was helpless.

"So it's really hard to say, Master Zhuang, how is your luck?"

"I'm very lucky," Zhuang Boshi said meaningfully.

They were so lucky that they found a clue as soon as they entered the Tang Dynasty.

Gray robe, Xuanzang, true scriptures.

Zhuang Bobo asked, "Brother Zhang, do you know where the true scriptures that the Great Master Xuanzang brought back are now?"

Zhang Xiaojing shook his head and said, "After the chaos of the Divine Dragon, the true scripture disappeared without a trace. It is said that Master Jianzhen went east to find the true scripture, but there has been no news to this day."

"If the Taoist priest wants to know, I can report to the Bad Commander; they might know something about it."

He now strongly suspects that this Taoist priest has something about him that attracts ghosts.

When he arrived at Mawei Slope, a ghost appeared there. When he arrived in Chang'an, the Great Ci'en Temple, which had not harmed anyone for ten years, opened its doors to him alone.

Could it be that evil spirits are about to rise up and harm people again?
Thinking about this, he almost couldn't stand up straight.

"Please forgive me, Daoist Master, I have important matters to report to my superior. Please allow me to take my leave first."

now.

The sky has darkened.

Boom boom boom!
The street drum sounded six hundred times.

During the Tang Dynasty, a curfew was imposed, and the wards and markets were separated by high walls. The gates of the wards were opened and closed at set times.

After the street drum is sounded, people must return to their own neighborhood. Activities within the neighborhood are not prohibited, but people are not allowed to move between neighborhoods.

If this is violated, it is considered "breaking the night rule".

The sound of the night watchman's drum grew louder as it approached, accompanied by shouts of "Be careful with fire!" The weather was dry and the fire was burning.

Zhuang Boshi walked alone on the deserted street. Although there were still voices in the nearby market, the street was like another world, quiet and desolate.

At that moment, a faint lantern appeared from around the corner of the street.

"Heavenly Stems."

"dead."

It just drifted slowly past him like that.

"Who says there are no ghosts in the Tang Dynasty!" Zhuang Boshi couldn't help but retort.

Having only been in Chang'an for a day, he encountered two strange events in succession, though he was not harmed.

But it's so strange!
This world, this Chang'an, has an indescribable strangeness about it.

On the surface, everything is peaceful and prosperous.

However, strange occurrences happen frequently behind the scenes.

But most importantly, so far, the only supernatural event he has encountered has injured a Hu merchant.

Even when he bumped into the Great Ci'en Temple and the Ghost Lantern at such close range, they did not directly attack him, which is the strangest thing.

Vengeful ghosts always follow a pattern of killing.

But the vengeful spirits here seem unable to kill people for various reasons. Why is that?
(End of this chapter)