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

Chapter 276 Reincarnation
The journey back was not fast, and everyone was quite disappointed. Zhao Ti said, "Judging from this, Wanqing is probably not in this mountain anymore. She must have crossed the mountain and gone to the other side."

Zhong Ling asked, "Your Highness, since that's the case, how should we find Sister Wan'er?"

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment and said, "The other side of the mountain is the territory of Tibet, with countless snow-capped mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. We should search among the snow-capped mountains."

Upon hearing this, everyone remained silent. They were all aware of the situation on the other side of the mountain. The mountain range was endless, covered with ice and snow, and it was not within the territory of the Song Dynasty or Dali. Everything was difficult, and their hopes were probably slim.

Zhao Ti said, "Let's go back and discuss this further."

He looked at Zhong Ling as he spoke: "When we get back, I'll ask Madam Gan to persuade Wanqing's mother not to wait here anymore, but to go and stay in Dali City."

Zhong Ling nodded, then hesitated and said, "Mother can accompany Master Uncle to live in Dali City, but I don't want to go there..."

Zhao Ti asked in bewilderment, "Why not? The Prince of Zhennan is your biological father; he certainly wouldn't mistreat you."

Zhong Ling blushed and said, "No, it's not about that. The first two times I went to my father's house, he wanted to arrange a marriage for me. I disagreed and even ran away once. My mother was unhappy, and my father seemed a little displeased as well..."

"The Xu family?" Zhao Ti looked thoughtful and stroked his chin.

Zhong Ling is naturally romantic, innocent and cute, but she is not young. She was already around sixteen years old when she was in the Sword Lake Palace of Wuliang Mountain.

That was the eighth year of the Yuan You era, and now it is the third year of the Shao Sheng era, another three years have passed.

At her age, she would have been married long ago in Dali, and it was hard to say how many children she might have had, so it's no wonder Duan Zhengchun was anxious.

Among Duan Zhengchun's daughters, Mu Wanqing and Wang Yuyan are about the same age, both older than Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling and A Zhu are about the same age, with Zhong Ling being older than A Zi. Only A Zi is the youngest, about one or two years younger than A Zhu.

Actually, Zhao Ti is the same age as Zhong Ling, but his birthday is older than Zhong Ling's and also older than A Zhu's.

At this moment, he smiled and said, "Men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they come of age. The Prince of Zhennan has done nothing wrong."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling's face paled slightly. She didn't know what Zhao Ti meant, but she didn't want to argue. She said in a low voice, "Your Highness is right."

Zhao Ti said, "However, if Ling'er is willing to stay by my side, I will discuss this matter with the Prince of Zhennan."

Zhong Ling's cheeks immediately flushed red. She dared not answer, and then she thought to herself, "We've come here to find Sister Wan'er. I'm the younger sister. How could I possibly stay by my brother-in-law's side?"

Seeing that she remained silent, Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Silence is an admission."

Zhongli looked up at Zhao Ti, her eyes somewhat unfocused: "Your Highness, Ling'er..."

Zhao Ti blinked: "There are too many people here, so it's better not to say anything. It wouldn't be good if they heard us."

Zhong Ling quickly lowered her head again, her face burning even hotter.

Upon returning to the Dali army's encampment, they found Chu Wanli and Zhu Danchen and explained the situation. Both of them were dejected.

Zhao Ti ordered the two men to withdraw their troops and return, saying there was no need to continue the search. He said he would write a letter to Duan Zhengchun, and the two men agreed, beginning to gather their soldiers and set up camp.

The group went ahead and returned to Qin Hongmian's residence by the mountain a few days later.

Qin Hongmian had become even thinner. Zhao Ti told her what had happened and comforted her, telling her to move to Dali and not wait there any longer. He would also go to the snowy mountains on the other side to search.

Qin Hongmian looked blank when she heard Da Xueshan's expression and refused to agree. Zhao Ti didn't try to persuade her further and then talked to Gan Baobao.

Zhong Ling wasn't around at the moment, so when Gan Baobao heard Zhao Ti ask her to persuade Qin Hongmian, she naturally agreed and then prepared the meal.

After dinner, as the sun set, Zhao Ti walked out of the courtyard, his hands behind his back, and looked towards Kufan ​​Temple.

Kufan ​​Temple had already closed its gates, and it was deathly silent, like a thousand-year-old abandoned temple in the mountains.

Suddenly, something came to his mind: the young novice monk Tongqin had said that Mu Wanqing had taken something out of the temple that day, which was left behind by Abbot Juefa.

Tong Qin didn't know what this thing was, but Mu Wanqing opened the box and looked at it, saying, "So the master gave me this scripture."

Tong Qin speculated that it was the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra. Kufan ​​Temple compiled three sutras, namely the Lotus Sutra, the Shurangama Sutra, and the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra Commentary.

However, Juefa's lectures mainly focused on the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, which was also the sutra that Mu Wanqing listened to, so it was very likely that this book was given to her.

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment, thinking that this scripture was indeed somewhat unusual. The scripture was not widely circulated in the world and was only found in some extremely remote temples in the Northwest. However, the sweeping monk knew about it and even used it to guide Li Qiushui. Mu Wanqing took this scripture with her when she went out and disappeared. Could there be a connection between them?

He pondered for a moment but couldn't figure out what the connection was. However, thinking that it was still a clue, he decided to go to the temple the next day to ask for it.

He then returned to the courtyard to say goodbye to Qin Hongmian, and went to rest in the tents set up by the people from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands. Zhong Ling saw him off, and he returned home as soon as it got dark.

The next morning, just as they were about to leave after breakfast, Huo Linglong entered the tent to report that Kumārajīva had arrived.

Zhao Ti asked Huo Linglong to lead him in. A few moments later, Kumārajīva, looking travel-worn, entered the tent. He seemed to have recovered somewhat in physique. He put his palms together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, saying, "Benefactor Zhao, this humble monk is late."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Not too late, not too late. How did things go with the old monk's matter?"

Kumārajīva shook his head and sighed: "When I heard what Benefactor Zhao said, I wanted to find him to take action, but the old monk did not appear the next day. I waited for several more days, but the old monk still did not appear. I sent people to inquire, but there was no news. I thought he must have left, so I came all the way to Dali to find you, Benefactor. I went to Dali City first, and after being guided by the Prince of Zhennan, I came here."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti pondered for a moment. Where would the old monk go after leaving? He had said that when the seven luminaries were in the same palace, the world would change, and great chaos and darkness would arise. The Buddha of Infinite Light in the West would project his Pure Land of Shambhala from afar into this world. At that time, the Shambhala Buddhist Kingdom would open, shining with immeasurable light in the snowy mountains, opening a convenient door for all beings in the world. Anyone who believes in Buddhism can go there to seek refuge.

It is also said that true Buddhist disciples are gradually awakening and searching for the location of Shambhala. Shambhala is hidden in the immeasurable snow mountains and will not appear in the world until the day of the great dark change. They are still searching for it and want to find it in advance to enter the pilgrimage, but there is no news.

So, could it be that the old monk gathered some of those old monks and went to the snowy mountains to find Shambhala?
And with the emergence of the demonic monk in Changchun Valley this time, after years of planning, and with so many people climbing out of the abyss, could it also be a plan to find the Shambhala Buddhist Kingdom?
Otherwise, although Changchun Valley has many experts, they are actually trapped inside the valley and imprisoned there. It seems pointless to waste time and die fighting these people.

Zhao Ti said, "I will discuss the matter of this old monk with the Great Monk later. The Great Monk, please come with me to a certain place first."

Kumārajīva asked in bewilderment, "Where is Benefactor Zhao headed?"

Zhao Ti said, "You should have seen that place when you came; it's the small temple across the street."

Kumārajīva said, "I do see it. Could it be the Kufan ​​Temple?"

When Mu Wanqing was in Tokyo, she mentioned the Kufan ​​Temple and the Great Wisdom Sutra several times, which Kumārajīva heard and knew about.

Zhao Ti said, "This is the place. Wanqing took the Great Wisdom Sutra, which was given to her by the abbot there, with her on the day she disappeared. I wonder if there is any connection between them. I'll go and ask about the sutra."

Kumārajīva said, "That would be best. This humble monk has long admired this sutra and has been eager to hear it and write it down."

Zhao Ti nodded, stood up, called Tong Guan, Zhu Chuyi, and Huo Linglong, and then walked outside.

A moment later, they arrived at the gate of Kufan ​​Temple. It was quiet today, with no one inside offering incense. The young novice monk Tongqin was sitting on the threshold, dozing off.

Tong Guan stepped forward and kicked his shin: "What a little monk! How dare you sleep in front of the hall? Aren't you afraid the Bodhisattva will be angry if he sees you?"

Tong Qin jumped to his feet, stammering, "This humble monk is not asleep, this humble monk is not asleep, this humble monk is reciting scriptures..."

After saying that, he saw Zhao Ti and the others, and quickly put his palms together and said, "So it's you, young master. You scared this humble monk to death."

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Will I really be punished by a Bodhisattva?"

Tong Qin said in a low voice, "Bodhisattvas certainly exist, and so does Buddha. This humble monk has been disrespectful and has displeased the gods and Buddhas, who will surely punish this humble monk."

Seeing his trembling expression, Zhao Ti asked, "Have you ever seen a Buddha or a Bodhisattva?"

Tong Qin hurriedly shook his head: "Although this humble monk has never seen him, Master has." "Oh?" Zhao Ti glanced at Kumārajīva upon hearing this and smiled slightly.

Kumārajīva immediately said, “Young monk, I am Kumārajīva, the Great Wheel King of the Great Wheel Temple. I have been practicing for many years, but I have never seen the true form of the Buddha or Bodhisattva. Who is your master, that he dares to claim to have seen the Buddha and Bodhisattva?”

Tongqin glanced at Kumārajīva and shook his head, saying, "This humble monk has never heard of the Master's Dharma name, nor does he know anything about the Great Wheel Temple, but Master said he had seen it, so he certainly wouldn't be lying."

Seeing that the other party did not know his origins, Kumārajīva was not angry. He nodded and said, "Since you say that your master would not lie, then why don't you tell us how your master saw the Buddha and Bodhisattva?"

Tong Qin scratched his bald head: "Master, Master forbade this humble monk to tell anyone..."

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "Haven't you already said it?"

Tong Qin paused for a moment, then said, "That's true."

Zhao Ti said, "But if you start a story and don't finish it, wouldn't that be contrary to Buddhist teachings? Your master would be even angrier if he knew."

Tong Qin nodded: "Indeed, it is incompatible with Buddhist teachings..."

Tong Guan said, "Then hurry up and speak. Falling asleep in front of the hall is already a sin against the Bodhisattva. If this is also contrary to Buddhist teachings, wouldn't that be adding sin upon sin?"

Tong Qin shuddered immediately: "Please don't frighten this humble monk, I will tell you."

Kumārajīva said, "Please tell us the story again, young master, so that we may be satisfied with our anticipation."

Tong Qin said, “I remember once when I was a child I was lazy and didn’t memorize the scriptures. My master was unhappy when he saw this. He said that if I studied hard, I would have the opportunity to worship the Buddha and Bodhisattva in the future. I was not convinced at the time, so I asked my master if he had ever seen the Buddha, since he knew so many scriptures.”

"Oh?" Zhao Ti smiled and asked, "What did Abbot Juefa say?"

Tong Qin said, "Master said he had seen them before, and that he was once a Bodhisattva. At that time, he not only met with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas often, but also had contact with Dharma protectors such as the Eight Heavenly Dragons."

“Little monk, you mustn’t lie. How could your master say such a thing? He claims to be a Bodhisattva himself. If he is a Bodhisattva, why does he live in this remote temple and worship other Bodhisattvas?” Tong Guan said at this moment.

“This humble monk did not lie. If anyone is lying… it is Master who is lying.” Tong Qin shook his head and said, “That is exactly what this humble monk asked Master back then.”

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes: "How did Abbot Juefa answer your question?"

Tong Qin said, "Master... didn't speak for a long time, just stared blankly at me. I was scared and hurriedly apologized to Master. Only then did Master speak, saying that those were things from the previous life, and that I need to cultivate again in this life to attain enlightenment."

"Why must you cultivate anew in this life, given the events of your past life?" Zhao Ti asked slowly. "Having already attained the status of a Bodhisattva, why reincarnate?"

Tong Qin said, "This humble monk doesn't understand either. Seeing that Master wasn't angry, I asked again, just like you did, and Master said, Master said..."

Zhao Ti asked, "What did you say?"

Tong Qin said, "Master said that reincarnation is better than lingering on in misery, and it's better to start over than to start over again... He stopped there and said no more."

“Is reincarnation better than lingering on in misery? Is it better to start over than to…” Zhao Ti glanced at Kumārajīva.

Kumārajīva frowned, thought for a moment, and shook his head, saying, "Benefactor Zhao, this humble monk does not understand the meaning."

“It’s alright.” Zhao Ti then looked at Tong Qin and asked, “Did Abbot Juefa say that he is some kind of Bodhisattva?”

Tong Qin said, "I was too scared to ask at the time, and I guess even if I had asked, Master wouldn't have told me."

Zhao Ti pondered, "Did he say what the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas he associated with in his past lives looked like, and what magical powers they possessed?"

Tong Qin said, "He did say a few words..."

"What did you say?" Zhao Ti asked with a smile, "Do you know how to fly, teleport, move mountains, or overturn seas?"

Tong Qin nodded vigorously: "That's exactly what they said, that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have boundless power and are omnipotent."

“This…” Kumārajīva said, “Benefactor Zhao, this humble monk thinks that Abbot Juefa is probably obsessed with becoming a Buddha, which is why he spoke to his disciple like that. It is true that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have great power, but how could he see them? That is unlikely.”

Zhao Ti remained silent for two breaths before slowly saying, "Is it impossible that he was reincarnated, or that he was a Bodhisattva in a previous life and interacted with other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas?"

Kumārajīva asked in bewilderment, “Benefactor Zhao, isn’t this the same thing? Didn’t he say that in his previous life he was a Bodhisattva who associated with gods and Buddhas, and then he was reborn into the mortal world to cultivate again?”

Zhao Ti shook his head: "It's different. Reincarnation is reincarnation. Don't you esoteric sects have this concept?"

Kumārajīva suddenly realized, “Indeed, our sect has such a saying, but it is different from what he said. Our sect is about the reincarnation of Buddhas in this world, while his saying… sounds exactly like the reincarnation that is said in the world.”

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment, then looked at Tong Qin: "We have nothing else to ask today, so please tell us about the Great Wisdom Sutra, little master."

"Would you like to hear the Great Wisdom Sutra, young master?" Tong Qin looked surprised. "But this humble monk only knows the text and cannot explain it. Neither of my two senior brothers can explain it. Only Master himself can reveal its true meaning."

"No need for explanation," Zhao Ti said with a smile. "Just recite the scriptures."

“That makes things easy.” Tong Qin nodded. “I have memorized this scripture since I was a child, and I am more familiar with it than with any other scripture. I will now recite it for you all.”

He began reciting the sutra, and it took him almost half an hour to finish. Zhao Ti looked surprised after listening to it. The sutra was mostly about the Eight Heavenly Dragons, and the true meaning and methods related to their cultivation.

The remaining small part discusses the affairs of other god-kings besides the eight classes of beings, explaining their merits and demerits in practice using Buddhist principles, and how they can further attain perfect enlightenment and achieve Buddhahood.

Kumārajīva said, “Nagarjuna’s Mahaprajñāpāramitā Sūtra mentions many things about Dharma protector kings. I didn’t expect that this sutra is almost entirely about them. It’s quite puzzling.”

Zhao Ti said, “The Eight Heavenly Dragons, whether human or non-human, this scripture is the method for beings without Buddha-nature to become Buddhas.”

Kumārajīva said, "Does the benefactor mean that most of the Dharma protector kings lack wisdom and Buddha-nature?"

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "Most of them came by fighting, and some even argued with Buddha, doubting him from beginning to end and never accepting his authority. Buddha was helpless, so where does this talk of Buddhahood come from?"

Kumārajīva thought for a moment and said, “That is true. Just like the Asura King, who has always doubted the Buddha and does not believe in the Buddha at all. In addition, there is Mara, the lord of the sixth heaven of the Desire Realm, who opposes the Buddha at every turn and even disrupts the Buddha’s practice.”

Mara means death, obstacle, evil, temptation, destruction, etc., representing the many obstacles on the path of spiritual practice. He is also often referred to as Mara, the Demon King Mara.

It is said that in his previous life he was a devout Buddhist who built temples, received precepts, and even made offerings to a Pratyekabuddha. Because of this good karma, he was reborn in the Six Desire Realms. However, his strong attachment and pride caused him to lose his way in cultivation and eventually become a demon king in the heavens.

Mara often opposed the Buddha, pursuing him and his disciples, causing disturbances and difficulties, urging the Buddha to enter Nirvana, and threatening to destroy the Dharma. He even sent three demonesses to tempt the Buddha when he was a prince, leading a host of demons, poisonous insects, monsters, poisonous lightning, and poisonous arrows to threaten him. When the Buddha was about to become a Buddha, he mobilized all his followers to go to the Bodhi tree to destroy it, but the Buddha thwarted them all.

However, according to the Buddha, Mara will also become a Buddha in the future. When the Dharma perishes, Mara will exhaust his blessings and fall into the Avici Hell. After 40,000 asamkhya kalpas, he will attain Buddhahood in the Pure and Established World of the future Pure Kalpa, and will be named the Buddha of Wonderful Abode and Attainment of Dharma Light.

Zhao Ti nodded: "That's right. This sutra is a Dharma gate outside of Buddhism. All those in the world who do not have Buddha-nature can cultivate and become Buddhas based on it. However, most of these beings do not want to become Buddhas by nature and only cultivate their own methods, so this sutra is quite awkward."

Kumārajīva said, "I see. It is Benefactor Zhao who has a thorough understanding."

Zhao Ti smiled and asked Tong Qin to recite the Great Wisdom Sutra again. Then he looked at Tong Guan, Zhu Chuyi, and Huo Linglong behind him and saw that the three of them were also silently memorizing it.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Ti asked Tong Qin to recite it again. Tong Qin said in confusion, "If you really can't remember it, I'll write it down. It's a pity that there's no complete copy in the temple anymore, otherwise I would just give it to you."

Zhao Ti shook his head: "It's just fate, but just memorize it, and remember as much as you can."

Tong Qin had no choice but to recite the scripture again. Then Zhao Ti turned around and led the others away, heading back to the camp.

As soon as he entered the tent, Wu Xiong rushed over and said, "Your Highness, someone from Xingzhou has come to report an urgent matter."

(End of this chapter)