Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 239 An Opportunity on the Island

For a spiritual practitioner, "having affinity" refers to a serendipitous encounter, which could be a treasure, a fellow practitioner, or a sacred place.

At this time, the Yangtze River had not yet shifted northward, nor was it connected to the land on the south bank. An isolated island stood in the middle of the river.

Rowing a small boat into the Yangtze River is a rather daring operation; most people wouldn't dare to do it, even if it were early in the morning or late at night.

As the view suddenly opened up and the current became rapid, Xu Xuan knew that he had entered a new water system.

The abundant and powerful water vapor, carrying the history and culture of 12,000 miles, rushes down with such force that it is overwhelming and leaves one in awe.

The small boat entered the river and floated gently towards the center.

"The clouds are light, the breeze is gentle, the moon shines bright over the river, and I, adrift in this life, am filled with so much emotion."

A touch of melancholy... a touch of melancholy, leaving me alone to pity my reflection in the water.

In high spirits, Xu Xuan hummed a little tune and soon rowed to the island in the middle of the river.

The island is small and low in elevation. There is only one abandoned Buddhist temple on it, with dilapidated buildings and overgrown weeds, having been abandoned for a long time.

You can vaguely see that there used to be halls, pavilions, towers, kiosks, and platforms, all of which were present, making it a well-organized temple.

One has to admire the dedication of the monks and Taoist priests; they truly don't care about the lives of others when building their temples.

If one didn't have some skill, ordinary people wouldn't even have the chance to come and offer incense.

Without the worshippers and the warmth of the temple, it is just a dilapidated temple.

It used to be a place where water-based Buddhist ceremonies were held, a proper Zen Buddhist site, but I never expected it to fall into obscurity in just a few decades.

The way to engage with the world is to adapt to changes in human affairs, and to abide by this rule for everything from tangible to intangible things.

When the world changes, rivers change course, and the islands connect with the south bank, this place will flourish again.

At this moment, Xu Xuan is the only person on the island.

Pushing aside the half-collapsed plaque of Zexin Temple, I arrived at the ruins in the very center. The main hall had collapsed, and the golden statue of Buddha was covered in dust.

Truly, fallen flowers cover the ground, yet no one passes by; spiderwebs climb freely from the eaves. The lecture hall is quiet, yet no monks are seen; the meditation room is still, yet birds are frequently encountered.

If Sanzang were here, he would surely take a broom, clean his entire body, and sweep carefully to show his sincerity.

Master Fahai, however, chose the time-saving method. With a flick of his sleeve, he let the river wind blow across the broken walls and ruins, carrying away the dust and cobwebs. The bewildered little animals in the ruins also got a makeover.

Since we were already there, we even found half an incense burner and lit three sticks of incense for the eldest brother.

"I don't know where you are, but I hope this incense can carry our wishes and help you."

It seemed that Buddha could easily accept such a small blessing; Xu Xuan had never offered incense so easily before.

Next comes the work report, hoping for an opportunity to advance.

"As a junior monk in Buddhism, I am quite outstanding. To this day, I have not caused any trouble in the world, nor have I committed any evil deeds. I have deeply suppressed my own demonic nature."

"They have made outstanding contributions to the stability of the world."

"So please bless this humble monk to smoothly and peacefully attain Buddhahood and become an ancestor, and then marry... um... that's not convenient for you to do."

Master Fahai was still very devout. Knowing that he did not practice the Joyful Meditation lineage, he didn't say anything more.

I was just about to turn around and leave when I was suddenly blinded by a golden light.

"what?"

"It really worked?"

"Why isn't it a Buddhist treasure?"

Right next to the temple ruins, they found several yi of gold on the surface of the soil.

One yi is equivalent to twenty liang, so there must be at least several dozen yi here, and they're gold.

If it were a highly virtuous monk, he would surely hand it over to the governor of Yangzhou, and such a noble act would be reported to the imperial court.

Moved by the virtue of the people, the officials would also order gold to be bestowed upon the eminent monks for the repair of the temples, and would also decree that Zexin Temple be renamed "Jinshan Temple".

But the holy monk would not.

The holy monk glanced around and saw that no one was on the island. He quickly put the item away, intending to use it elsewhere.

After Baoan Hall, whether it's free clinics or expansion, the money will be flowing out like water. Sitting around and spending all your savings is not a good habit.

The Buddha's reward is, of course, decided by the monks; there's nothing wrong with that.

This also effectively severed the subsequent cause and effect, making the action very appropriate.

But did no one really see it?

A voice suddenly appeared on the island, cold, gentle, domineering, and unrestrained, a mixture of various qualities, as chaotic as the river water.

"You monk are utterly ignorant. This gold is for repairing the temple. Why covet this little bit of wealth? Aren't you afraid of offending Buddha?" Xu Xuan was startled. There was a master here, someone incredibly powerful.

Those who can discern a monk's identity from his scholarly attire are no ordinary people.

Thoughts raced through my mind, colliding countless times in an instant.

In a flash, his gaze shifted from shock to compassion, and a radiant Buddhist light emanated from beneath his feet.

“Amitabha, you are mistaken, benefactor.”

As he spoke, he turned around and saw the person approaching, his pupils contracting.

The thirty-six white lotuses within his body moved without wind, slowly retracting into white spheres like chicken eggs under the guidance of his divine soul.

Xu Xuan's physical body trembled slightly, as if he sensed a being standing at the pinnacle of all living beings, something that was definitely not human.

His bearing was majestic and imposing, his towering figure reaching for the sky. His gait was dignified and graceful, his jade belt radiating auspiciousness. He wore a jade-colored silk robe and a simple, ancient-style crown.

Even when transformed from a non-human, he becomes an incomparably domineering scholar.

Two completely mismatched styles were forcibly put together, as if the scholar didn't care whether his attire was appropriate or not.

Ahem, since it's impossible to tell how many stories high the building is, Mr. Xu moved his hand away from the jade pot and casually placed it in front of his chest with his hands clasped together, revealing a smile.

Since you are so powerful, I have no choice but to abandon my martial arts skills and instead have a serious talk with you.

"Whether Buddha would be pleased if gold and silver were used to repair temples, this humble monk does not know."

"But if the money is used to help people get medical treatment and medicine, then the people will definitely be happy."

"Furthermore, if the Buddha can cut off his own flesh to feed an eagle, or sacrifice himself to feed a tiger, then it is not wrong for this humble monk to follow the example of the great monk."

Fahai, dressed as an enlightened high monk, was surrounded by golden light resembling a pure land, and chanted Buddhist hymns. The special effects looked very impressive and authentic.

The eclectic scholar showed no surprise, as if that was the proper way for a monk to say such things.

The questions they asked were very unfriendly.

"What if Buddha is unhappy?"

What kind of talk is this, implying that you're a monk and I'm a monk?
Either Buddha was wrong, or the Dharma was wrong; it can't be that I was wrong.

Despite the alarm bells blaring in Xu's mind, he remained resolute and even awakened a fervent fighting spirit deep within him during the crisis.

A firm gaze refuted the other party's statement;
"impossible!"

“I am a direct descendant of the Pure Land School, the junior brother of Master Ruoxu, the successor of the Ksitigarbha Dharma, and a virtuous and accomplished young monk of the righteous path. I would never dare to deceive you.”

Xu Xuan took the opportunity to reveal his family background to protect himself, emphasizing his words slightly, and even took out a cassock and draped it over his body to show his legitimacy.

Hmm. Wearing Confucian robes with a Buddhist cassock is also a mixed style.

The domineering scholar felt like laughing; no wonder he only sensed a trace of energy when he arrived at the Yangtze River.

This monk's style is quite unusual.

At His level, there is little difference between Yin and Yang bodies; the only difference lies in the underlying principles and origins.

"Little monk, tell me about your Buddhist teachings. If you do well, I will give you a special opportunity."

You should say you're offering a chance.
This must be a senior master from our righteous path.

Want to hear about Buddhism? Let me tell you all about it.

Xu Xuan knew that ordinary Buddhist teachings would not be of any interest to others. Besides, his foundation was the True Scripture of the White Lotus Descending to Earth. What if he said too much and someone deduced his identity?

easy to do!

You mix and match, I mix and match too.

As long as one does not slander the founders of Buddhism and Taoism, anything else can be freely incorporated into my Dharma teachings.

I don't seek merit or opportunity, but at least I avoid a crisis.

If there's a part you don't like, I'll delete or modify it on the spot, making sure it's changed to your liking.

Therefore, the more the domineering scholar listened, the stranger his expression became.

This Buddhist teaching is like a catalog.

It includes Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, but doesn't delve deeply into any of them. Let me fill in the blanks for you.

　September is finally over. So much happened during that time that almost crushed us.

　　But now that we've made it through, I'm going to stretch my legs and get back to work in October.

　　Happy National Day, everyone!!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)