The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 259 Zhong Lingyuxiu
The group continued up the mountain. When they got closer to the dwellings of the mountain people, the path split into two, with one side leading to Kufan ​​Temple.

Zhao Ti gestured for them to turn around, and Chu Wanli hurriedly led the way, arriving at the small temple in a moment.

The temple was in a state of disrepair, and the soil seemed to have been overturned. There should have been a large blue stone there, but it was smashed to pieces by some heavy object, and the stones were scattered everywhere.

Zhao Ti glanced around a few times and realized that Duan Zhengchun's claim of digging three feet into the ground was indeed true; if it was like this outside the temple, it was even more so inside.

Chu Wanli said, "Your Highness, at first the Prince of Zhennan suspected this place and searched it inside and out several times. He dug up almost every inch of the ground and even thoroughly examined the statues of Bodhisattvas and Dharma protectors inside, but he found nothing."

Zhao Ti nodded, and Chu Wanli continued, "Later, King Huo brought people from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands. At first, they also felt that this temple was the most suspicious. After investigating again, they still found nothing and then ruled it out."

Zhao Ti said, "Wanqing disappeared after coming here, so starting the search from here is a good idea."

Chu Wanli said, "That's right. But after searching several times and questioning the monks inside, it was finally determined that it didn't seem to be a forgery. So the Prince of Zhennan left some money and ordered the temple to be repaired."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti said, "Since you left money for the other party to repair, why is the area outside the temple still in such a mess?"

Chu Wanli said, "There are only four monks in this small temple. The abbot, Monk Juefa, went on a trip before this matter was discussed. The remaining three said they couldn't make a decision and would wait for the abbot to return before deciding how to repair the temple."

Zhao Ti said calmly, "It's obvious that he's holding a grudge. Otherwise, the repairs could have been decided when the abbot returned. But the fact that they haven't even cleaned up outside the temple shows that he's complaining."

Chu Wanli said, "I think so too, but the novice monk Tong Qin, who is in charge of cleaning, said that the large blue stone outside the temple is where Abbot Juefa sits when he preaches to the villagers. He wants to wait for the abbot to return and see it broken before cleaning it, otherwise he is worried about being punished if he removes it..."

At this moment, a man and a woman emerged from the temple. Judging from their attire, they were hunters from the mountains. Upon seeing Zhao Ti and his group, they quickly lowered their heads and hurried away.

Zhao Ti said, "This Kufan ​​Temple is remote. Even if all the dozens of mountain residents came to offer incense, there wouldn't be much incense offering."

Chu Wanli said, "Some Tibetan residents from the other side of the mountain also come here, but there are not many of them, and most of them give alms. The monks in the temple usually go to the mountains to dig wild vegetables and mountain products to make a living."

Zhao Ti nodded: "It seems to be a place of ascetic practice. Let's go in and take a look."

As they spoke, the group walked into the temple. Upon entering the temple gate, they were greeted by a small hall. At this time, all the windows were open, allowing them to see the scene inside.

There stood a young novice monk leaning on a broom, looking rather drowsy, while inside the hall, two figures appeared to be offering incense and praying.

Both were women, one of whom was rather robust, dressed in coarse cloth, with a deerskin bag hanging from her waist, and with her head down, clearly a woman from the mountains.

Zhao Ti's gaze fell on another figure, a slender and petite woman wearing a pale yellow shirt, with two small hairpins draped over her shoulders, making her look quite adorable.

Chu Wanli glanced at it and couldn't help but grin: "Your Highness, it looks like Miss Zhong. Why did Miss Zhong come out on her own?"

Zhong Ling? Zhao Ti stroked his chin; he had met Zhong Ling before.

At that time, while watching the martial arts competition between the disciples of the East and West sects at Jianhu Palace in Wuliang Mountain, Zhong Ling hid on the beam diagonally above.

No one in the palace noticed at the time, but Zhao Ti knew about it and glanced at it a few times without being discovered.

Then Chu Wanli hurriedly entered the small hall and said, "Miss Zhong, Miss Zhong, why did you come out by yourself?"

Although Zhong Ling acknowledged her biological father Duan Zhengchun, she did not stay in Dali City with Gan Baobao and returned to Wanjie Valley instead, without changing her surname.

The girl in the yellow dress turned around and was charming and lovely. She had a bright smile, two small dimples at the corners of her mouth, and fair and delicate skin. She looked innocent, lively, and carefree.

"Uncle Chu, why are you back?" The girl's voice was clear and melodious like a silver bell.

Chu Wanli hurriedly said, "I have come back on business. Why did you come out by yourself, young lady? Why didn't your mother accompany you?"

The girl said, "While Mother and Uncle Qin were talking, I secretly slipped out to offer incense to the Bodhisattva, praying for Sister Wan'er's safety and that she can return home soon."

As she was talking, she saw Zhao Ti and was stunned. She blurted out, "I recognize you."

Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "Miss Zhong naturally recognizes me."

Zhong Ling then turned around and looked Zhao Ti up and down curiously: "How did you know I recognized you?"

Zhao Ti said, "On Mount Wuliang, in the Jianhu Palace, on the roof beams of the hall, the young lady is hiding."

"Oh dear, you..." Zhong Ling's cheeks flushed red instantly: "So you knew I was peeping back then."

Zhao Ti nodded: "That day I saw that Miss Zhong had a lot of small snakes in her hands. She was very interested in watching the martial arts competition, so I didn't want to disturb her."

Zhong Ling said, "Later I wondered why you didn't notice my hiding skills when your martial arts were so high."

Zhao Ti smiled upon hearing this. He had disrupted the martial arts competition between the East and West Sects of Jianhu Palace and killed two of the Four Evils, causing many things to change.

Duan Yanqing, in a panic after Ye Erniang and Yun Zhonghe died, cancelled his original plan and instead of poisoning Duan Yu, injured his eight extraordinary meridians. Duan Zhengming led his men to attack, and Duan Yanqing and the Crocodile God of the South Sea escaped.

When Zhao Ti went to Tianlong Temple to search for the One-Finger Divine Skill, he encountered Duan Zhengming leading Duan Yu to seek treatment from the monks at the temple, and they mentioned this matter. Chu Wanli then asked in surprise, "Your Highness, do you know each other?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "I wouldn't say I recognize him, but I have met him once before."

Zhong Ling then looked at Chu Wanli and said, "Uncle Chu, he..."

Chu Wanli said, "Miss Zhong, this is His Highness the Prince of Yan of the Great Song Dynasty. He has come in person to find the princess."

"Your Highness Prince Yan." Zhong Ling'er paused, then took a few steps forward. "You must be Your Highness Prince Yan, here to see Sister Wan'er..."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Miss Mu has been missing for so long without any clues, so I had to come here myself to find a way to locate her."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling'er hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, it's good that Your Highness has come. Please hurry and find Sister Wan'er. I miss her terribly. Uncle Qin is in tears every day and has become skin and bones..."

Zhao Ti said, "I came to Kufan ​​Temple first when I came up the mountain, and that's why I couldn't find Wanqing here, so I came here first to check."

Tong Qin, who had been dozing off by the temple gate with a broom in hand, had woken up and couldn't help but say, "Young master, I've said it countless times. Miss Mu left after burning incense at the temple that day. She didn't disappear in this small temple."

Zhao Ti glanced at him, and Chu Wanli said, "Your Highness, this is Monk Tongqin, who is in charge of cleaning the temple."

Zhao Ti stood with his hands behind his back, not saying a word, but walking around the hall. He looked at the guardian deities on both sides, then at the bodhisattva enshrined in front, and frowned, saying, "The eight classes of heavenly dragons, humans and non-humans, all saw that the dragon girl attained Buddhahood from afar."

Tong Qin was taken aback and asked, "This young master is also versed in Buddhist scriptures?"

Zhao Ti smiled slightly. What he said was from the Devadatta chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which describes some things about the eight classes of beings.

Tong Qin looked at Zhao Ti, his mind racing. Almost none of the people who had come down the mountain in recent days understood Buddhist scriptures. Even the Prince of Zhennan didn't know much about them. Apart from most of them being fierce and evil-looking, there were also heretics who actually believed in some kind of Mingzun, and even said that the original form of Mingzun was also a Buddha.

Zhao Ti said, "It seems a bit irregular to worship the Eight Legions of Devas and Nagarjuna Bodhisattva together in the same hall."

Tongqin clasped his hands and said, "This humble monk is unaware that Master never mentioned this. I suppose there is nothing wrong with expedient methods? Perhaps Kufan ​​Temple is too small and doesn't have enough space for individual offerings, so it can only be enshrined in one hall."

Zhao Ti slowly shook his head: "The expedient method is not opened in this way. A small temple like yours only has one Buddha hall. How can it enshrine the Eight Legions? If you want to enshrine Bodhisattvas, then enshrine Bodhisattvas. If you can enshrine more, you must enshrine Buddhas. How can you enshrine the Eight Legions of Gods and Kings? Even the Four Heavenly Kings can be enshrined outside the hall. How can the Eight Legions of Gods and Bodhisattvas crowd together?"

Tong Qin was taken aback: "This humble monk doesn't know much about these things."

Zhao Ti said, "You seem to be a muddle-headed monk as well. Lead the way to the back of the palace and take a look."

Upon hearing this, Tong Qin walked forward, muttering as he went, "This humble monk has led countless journeys these past few days, I really don't know what else there is to see. What I'm saying is the truth. That day, I stood in the hall watching Miss Mu walk out of the temple and turn onto the road leading home before I continued working..."

Tong Guan said from behind, "Why all this noise? I think you little monk have been chanting scriptures for nothing all day. You might as well go back to secular life sooner rather than later."

Tong Qin glanced back at Tong Guan and said, "I think you have a connection with Buddhism. Why don't you shave your head and become a monk? You'll surely achieve enlightenment."

Tong Guanqi laughed and said, "You little monk should practice silent meditation. Do you need my help?"

Tong Qin said, “Don’t threaten me, benefactor. I am not afraid of death. Besides, I have done nothing wrong, so I am not afraid of anyone knocking on my door. Buddha will protect me.”

Tong Guan said, "Aren't you afraid? I have 108 sets of tortures here, enough to make you unable to live or die, never to see the light of day in the world, never to see Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in death, let alone Buddha."

Tong Qin's expression changed: "I will not argue with you, benefactor. What you say makes sense..."

Tong Guan laughed and said, "But he is still a monk who knows when to advance and when to retreat."

Upon arriving at the rear of the hall, they saw a not-so-spacious area with uneven terrain, clearly having been excavated before. Some ritual implements made of wood and stone were scattered about, along with everyday items lying to one side.

There was another row of houses ahead, about five or six rooms, and some noises were coming from one of them.

Zhao Ti asked, "Who is inside?"

Tong Qin said, "I have two senior brothers. One of them went into the mountains to pick wild fruits and vegetables and also chopped firewood. The other one is cooking in the kitchen."

Zhao Ti asked, "What are you making for this meal?"

Tong Qin said, "I am a monk who observes the evening curfew and does not eat after noon, so I am cooking now and will not eat again today."

Zhao Ti said, "Although the temple is small, it still adheres to some precepts for spiritual practice."

Tongqin clasped his hands and said, "Master said that we must always adhere to some rules and regulations, and not be too lax."

Zhao Ti glanced at the kitchen and other rooms, and said thoughtfully, "Lead the way and take a look."

(End of this chapter)