Elaborate on the world of mortals

Chapter 820 Don’t Try to Hide from Me

When Jiang Lang walked up to the gate of Daqiu Temple, he saw that it was quite lively inside. From a distance, he saw that since there were soldiers guarding it, ordinary pilgrims could only walk to one side and could not go further inside.

Needless to say, it must be some prince or noble who came here to offer sacrifices during the New Year. However, Jiang Lang did not come here to find a monk, nor did he come to worship the Bodhisattva in the temple.

I have to say that Daqiu Temple is indeed very popular. It was such a cold day early in the morning, but there were still many pilgrims in the temple, coming and going in an endless stream, and the smell of incense was everywhere.

Jiang Lang stood in the open area in the front yard of Daqiu Temple and observed the surroundings. He could vaguely sense a trace of residual dragon energy. It must be the little white dragon without a doubt, but it was covered by the strong smell of incense, making it seem as if his sense of smell had been desensitized.

Jiang Lang's arrival also attracted some people's attention. Of course, it was not because they could see through him that he was the Dragon King, but his clothing and unique temperament made people feel that he was extraordinary, not to mention his handsome face, which attracted many pilgrims to look back frequently.

Although there were many pilgrims and monks coming and going, Jiang Lang did not step forward to stop a thin, elderly monk until he passed by. The aura of this monk was different from that of ordinary monks, and he was a real practitioner.

"Excuse me, Master, where is the little white dragon in your temple now? Please take me to see him."

Originally, the monk was just passing by here, and when Jiang Lang opened his mouth, he was ready to give directions or help. But after hearing what the other party asked, the monk's eyes widened a little, and his pupils dilated slightly, but he immediately concealed it after a short while.

"Donor, I don't know what you are talking about. Oh, but you want to ask about Baibotan in Daqiu Mountain? It's not in the temple."

Even within the Daqiu Temple, only a handful of monks who had experienced what happened that year knew about what happened on the snowy day. Suddenly someone came and asked Xiao Bailong directly, and the monk was naturally shocked.

Jiang Lang smiled, thought for a moment and continued.

"Then I'll explain it more clearly. In the thirteenth year of Hongxing, the land was sealed by ice and snow. Since then, there has been a little white dragon in your Daqiu Temple. He is the one I'm looking for!"

The monk was shocked and looked at the visitor with wide eyes. The monk was also knowledgeable. The visitor was talking about the thirteenth year of Shan Hongxing, which was actually the time when the Dayan Dynasty was destroyed.

"May I ask who the donor is and where did you hear about this?"

"Hehehe. My name is Jiang Lang, and I come from Changfeng Lake in Changfeng Prefecture, Dayong. I am here to visit you as a friend. I hope this master can go find him, or notify your abbot, so that I won't get impatient and cause some misunderstandings!"

Although Jiang Lang had always been polite, his tone left no room for doubt, so the monk hurriedly bowed again.

"Donor, follow me to the backyard."

Jiang Lang grinned and followed the monk away, stopping only at a meditation room in the backyard where there were relatively few people.

"Please wait here, while I report to the abbot!"

"Okay, time to work!"

Jiang Lang was not in a hurry, nor was he worried that the monk would play tricks. He watched the other party leave in a hurry. After the latter walked away, he looked back at the meditation room. He had a feeling in his heart that the donor might not be an ordinary person.

The monk's thoughts couldn't help but go back to those days.

At the end of the Dayan Dynasty, the whole country was in turmoil and the people were living in misery. The Daqiu Temple now has many pilgrims and looks very lively, but there were many more people in the Daqiu Temple back then, and it was even crowded at one point. Many refugees fled here to seek shelter.

Many people witnessed the snowstorm that year, but in the blink of an eye, almost forty years have passed. The young monks at that time have grown old, and most of the older generation of monks in the temple have passed away. In fact, there are not many people who can still understand what happened back then. However, there are legends in Anguo.

It is only in recent years that people have started walking around the temple on snowy days.

After paying their respects in the main hall, the Crown Prince of Anguo and the envoy of Dayong went to the meditation room where the monks did their practice. The abbot and several senior monks in the temple accompanied them, and they discussed scriptures and chatted about some elegant matters.

In order to entertain the envoys, a charcoal basin was placed in the Zen room, making it much warmer inside than outside.

Whenever an envoy from Dayong came to Anguo, he would come to Daqiu Temple. The envoy who came this time was more knowledgeable and had a deep study of Buddhism. He was obviously excited to meet Monk Wufa, and he couldn't help talking about the past when he was so excited.

"I have long admired the master's name, and I have even heard that the abbot once became a monk in Dayong. Is this true?"

This happened too long ago. Sixty or seventy years can cause a dynasty to decline and eventually perish. Even the eldest prince of Anguo was hearing such talk for the first time. The Anguo officials and eunuchs around him were also shocked.

According to the knowledge of the Anguo dignitaries, the monk Wufa has been the abbot of Daqiu Temple for decades.

Looking at the look in the eyes of Dayong's messenger, Monk Wufa fell silent. Then he slowly stood up and walked to the door, opening one of the doors of the Zen room.

A gust of cold wind blew into the room, causing the people inside who had already gotten used to the warmth to shiver.

"Buddha has mercy on me. It is rare that the envoy knows this. According to Dayong's calendar, it was the sixteenth year of Chengxing. I officially became a monk in Xiangshan, Suzhou."

Envoy Dayong couldn't help but get excited. He had studied a lot of relevant materials and Buddhist texts, and his speculation was confirmed!
"The Xiangshan Treasure Temple bestowed by Emperor Mingzong?"

"It is indeed there!"

Monk Wufa's voice was filled with emotion as he looked out the door, as if his eyes were looking through thousands of mountains and rivers, towards the ancient temple where he had lived for many years. There was his mentor, his former fellow disciples, and a special fellow practitioner.
In the distant Dayong Suzhou, the climate is also cold in Xiangshan, Sanxiang County. At this moment, there is a breeze and snow in the Xiangshan Temple.

There was white snow on a palm tree in the front yard. A monk in a cassock, holding a rosary, stood under the tree, looking into the distance to the north. After so many years, the monks of Xiangshan Temple have been replaced more than once, and there are only a few monks left from that era.

Teruri still occasionally compares her own practice with Monk Wufa, but she has no idea how he is doing now.

We listened to the sutras together in the temple in the past, and were so happy to have gained enlightenment here. Now I am the only poor monk left under the tree. I wonder where I am now?
But at this moment, Teruri felt a slight shock in her heart, as if, for a brief moment, she could feel the monk's gaze, just like the occasional glimpse she had in the temple back then.

"Perhaps he is still alive?"

At Daqiu Temple, Monk Wufa withdrew his gaze from outside the meditation room and looked at the dignitaries in the meditation room with a smile on his face.

"I feel sad when I recall the past, I am sorry to make you laugh!"

"No, no, Master is a true master. It is my great honor to meet you! Since you have become a monk in Xiangshan Temple, why don't you come back to Dayong to have a look?" When the Dayong envoy said this, Crown Prince Anguo and several officials were shocked.

"Alas, the envoy is wrong. Master Wufa is a sacred monk in the hearts of the people of An. Daqiu Temple cannot be separated from Master Wufa. During every national sacrifice and important festival, my father also wants to see Master Wufa."

"That's right, I was not considerate enough."

The Dayong envoy was not stupid, so he naturally went along with what the other party said. However, his enthusiasm remained unabated, and he respected all true great monks.

"I heard that Daqiu Temple sheltered many people in distress in the past."

When talking about this, Prince Anguo also changed the subject.

"Yes, when the world was in turmoil, Daqiu Temple opened its gates and sheltered tens of thousands of people. That's why our country designated Daqiu Temple as the national temple."

At this time, a monk came here in a hurry. When he arrived at the door of the meditation room, he saw the abbot standing in front of the door, so he quickly lowered his voice and spoke.

"Master Abbot, a special donor has come and said he wants to find the little white dragon in the temple!"

The pilgrims near Daqiu Mountain may know about the snowy day, but they will not know that there is a dragon in the temple. The monk frowned slightly, but the monk continued to speak.

"That person claimed to be from Changfeng Lake in Changfeng Prefecture of Dayong. He gave me a very special feeling, not like an ordinary person."

Monk Wufa nodded slightly and whispered a few words to the monk, who quickly left while the former turned and looked into the fog.

"Please wait for a moment, I have something important to do and will be back soon!"

After saying this, Monk Wufa bowed and left.

"Hey, Master Abbot."

Everyone in the room was shocked, especially the envoy from Dayong, who could not help but stand up. When it came to his respect for Monk Wufa, he was even more respectful than those dignitaries from the Anguo.

When Monk Wufa hurriedly arrived outside the Zen room, Jiang Lang was standing there, looking up at a peak in the direction of the back mountain, where the Zen pavilion was located.

When he saw Jiang Lang, Monk Wufa was slightly startled.

"I didn't know it was the Dragon King of Changfeng Lake who came in person. I am sorry for not welcoming you from afar. I hope the Dragon King will forgive me!"

The monks around Monk Wufa were so shocked that their eyes widened, while Jiang Lang withdrew his gaze and looked at the newcomer with a smile on his face.

"Master Wufa, I guess you also know the purpose of Jiang's coming here?"

The monk nodded.

"I will go and call Xue Tian over right now!"

Jiang Lang smiled even more. He had once given the Snow Dragon Clan the secret method. If he was really related to Bai Jun, then he could be considered to have formed a good relationship with him.

"Well, there's no rush. In fact, I don't necessarily have to look for him. I just want to ask Master, does Xue Tian have any relationship with Ao Longjun?"

Monk Wufa did not hide it.

"It is indeed related. Xue Tian is fortunate to have Bai Jun personally teach her how to practice!"

Jiang Lang's heart skipped a beat. They were indeed closely related. Could they really be related by blood?
"When did that Dragon Lord come last? When will he come next time? Can you please say a few words to him, saying that the Dragon Lord of the Four Seas wants to have a chat with Mr. Bai?"

The monk next to Monk Wufa was drooling as he heard what he heard, as the contents were too shocking, while Monk Wufa had a smile on his face.

"Then why doesn't the Dragon King Jiang go and tell him himself? Mr. Yi is at the Shangfeng Pavilion. Lord Bai is the Dragon King of the Mountain and River Realm. If you want to pass on the message to him, Mr. Yi is far more suitable than this poor monk and Xue Tian!"

Monk Wufa didn't know that Yi Shuyuan and the others had escaped, so he told them naturally.

Jiang Lang's eyes widened immediately.

"what?!"

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Lang leaped forward, and with a faint stream of light and a gust of wind and snow, he suddenly flew towards the mountain over there, and in an instant he had landed in the Zen pavilion on the peak.

Xue Tian stared at Jiang Lang who suddenly appeared, and after she reacted, she hurriedly saluted.

"I have met the Dragon King of the River on a snowy day!"

"Where's the old Yi?"

"Uh no, I haven't seen it."

Jiang Lang frowned and stared at Xue Tian. Seeing his nervous look, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and then he looked around and didn't notice anything.

"Old Yi - don't hide from me - I have something important to talk to you about -"

Jiang Lang stood on the top of the mountain and roared. His voice was so loud and sounded like a long chant that it shook the mountains and fields. The snow on many peaks and trees began to slide off.
"I am here on orders, I know you can hear me - let's forget the past -"

The rumbling sound, accompanied by echoes, reverberated in the mountains, startling the pilgrims and monks in the Daqiu Temple, who did not know where the huge sound came from.

(End of this chapter)