I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 361 Ritual, Holy Monk

Dynasties rise and fall, and life is like a game of chess.

Xu Qing, who was in charge of the coroner's shop, had seen all sorts of people, from ordinary citizens to high-ranking officials; even the top scholar and the monarch of a country had stopped by his shop.

The weather is perfect today.

Outside the shop, another handsome monk with a halo of Buddha's light appeared.

Looking at the other person's rosy lips and white teeth, Xu Qing thought, "She could debut right away at the Elephant Maiden's Pavilion!"
"Sir, long time no see."

Chen Liuer smiled and bowed respectfully to Xu Qing with his palms together, his words and actions showing great respect.

"That beggar monk did abduct you. Tell me, what's so good about being a monk? You'd be better off coming to my Mourning Gate; you can still embark on a spiritual journey there."

“Look at Shiyue, hasn’t she also shed her filthy and demonic nature and become a pure and untainted immortal?”

Xu Qing felt somewhat regretful, as he had never had a good impression of monks, after all, they were the local goddesses of life protection.

If they all become monks, how can he continue his business?

For the funeral business to thrive, it also needs to grow its population, right?
Upon hearing this, Chen Liuer smiled slightly and said, "Sir, you possess great magical power and a grand vision. It is undoubtedly a blessing and good fortune that Shiyue is able to follow you in her previous life."

"But this humble monk is different."

Chen Liuer clasped his hands in reply: "The karma of all beings is like the sea, and each has its own destiny. People are attached to worldly affairs, and even if they shave their heads, it is difficult for them to escape the entanglement of love and hate. Those whose six senses are impure will find it difficult to escape the entanglement of love and hate."

"Those who truly awaken the Bodhicitta, even in the ten directions and three times, are but a single thought of purity."

"This humble monk feels that his karmic connection to Buddhism from past lives has arrived, like the moon reflected in a cold pool—a natural progression, a result of cause and effect, leading to enlightenment and Buddhahood. Sir, you should be happy for this humble monk."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow. This mischievous kid who used to run around naked in the streets has really grown up in the blink of an eye!

"Does Master Liu'er think I have any affinity with Buddhism?"

Xu Qing played with the walnuts that had been oozing corpse oil, and looked at Chen Liuer with a smile.

Beside him, Xuan Yu on the counter would glance at Chen Liuer's bald head for a moment, then at Xu Qing's forehead, as if he were trying to picture what Xu Qing's bald head would look like.

Chen Liuer smiled and said:
"All beings have a connection to Buddhism, but those who have a connection do not necessarily have to enter a monastery and become Buddhist disciples."

"Sir, you possess great spiritual power, a grand vision, and a compassionate heart. It is my destiny to know you, but you are not suitable to become a Buddhist disciple."

Xu Qing was puzzled: "Why is that?"

Chen Liuer put his hands together and said, "The Nirvana Sutra says that all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, and the Tathagata is always abiding and unchanging."

"Meditating monks, ascetic hermits, hermits practicing asceticism, wandering Taoist priests—all sorts of people, all have their destination. They are Buddhas, they are the Tao, they are people, they are all sentient beings."

Chen Liuer seemed to be radiating a Buddhist light, and he said with a compassionate expression, "Buddha has no form, like the grass in the courtyard, an ordinary thing. Although I have shaved my head today, who knows whether the beggar by the roadside, the gentleman before me, or the black cat on the counter are Buddhas?"

On the counter, Xuan Yu blinked repeatedly. Had this child gone mad from chanting scriptures?
How could a great demon with nearly a thousand years of cultivation, the head of the Jinmen Immortal Clan, possibly be a Buddha?
Xu Qing smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Chen Liuer, observing the situation, couldn't help but ask, "Sir, do you think there's something wrong with what I said? If there is, please enlighten me."

Looking at Chen Liuer, who was well-behaved and sensible, completely unlike his usual unruly self, Xu Qing still offered a word of advice:
“Your understanding of Buddhist principles is profound, and your knowledge of scriptures and commentaries is exquisite, which shows that you have put in a lot of hard work, and that is not wrong. However, you have been so focused on cultivating your nature that you have forgotten to cultivate your life force.”

Xu Qing sighed, "Eminent monks, as well as Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, can clearly distinguish right from wrong and see the ghost realm of people's hearts."

"You only practice Zen, but you can't recognize demons or good people. Even if you have profound Buddhist principles, you will find it difficult to prescribe the right medicine, let alone enlighten others or teach by example."

Chen Liuer asked in surprise, "Why do you think I can't recognize demons or good people?"

Nonsense! There was such a huge zombie standing right in front of you, and you didn't even recognize it. Do you need me to tell you?
Xu Qing glanced at the overconfident Chen Liuer, then walked up to him, pointed to Cheng Caiyun who was standing on tiptoe looking in their direction from the incense and candle shop diagonally across the street, and said:
"See that? That widow across the street is a real monster!"

Chen Liuer stared wide-eyed at the opposite door until Cheng Caiyun, who was full of gossip, felt embarrassed and spat as she retreated to her shop. Only then did he look away.

"Is she a demon?"

"Absolutely true!"

Chen Liuer was now truly unsure of himself, and he pressed on, "Then, sir, do you know what kind of demon that female benefactor is?"

"It's a badger spirit! It steals melons from the neighbors every day, what a terrible thing to do!"

"."

Chen Liuer asked in confusion, "But this humble monk didn't see anyone growing melons."

Xu Qing blurted out, "Didn't she steal all the melons?"

"So, little Liu'er, you can't just cultivate Zen principles and not the true Dharma of discerning demons and protecting yourself!"

As he spoke, Xu Qing reached into his sleeve and pulled out a stack of cultivation manuals from the Mountain and River Map. Among these manuals were the Embracing the Divine Child Skill, which could lead to the Martial Dao Celestial Realm; the Qi Observation Technique, which could see through illusions; and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, Vajra Prajna Mantra, and Immovable King Seal, which he had obtained while performing rituals to liberate the monks of Cizhao Temple.
Finally, Xu Qing also found a palm technique that fell from the sky.

These techniques were not chosen randomly by Xu Qing, but rather carefully selected.

Chen Liuer entered the Buddhist order, locking all his yang essence within his body without releasing a single drop, making him a perfect virgin, ideally suited for the "Embracing the Vajra Boy Skill".

Other spells such as the Prajna Mantra and the Vidyaraja Mudra are also supremely yang and holy supernatural powers and spells that are specifically designed to subdue demons.

Xu Qing had no use for these cultivation techniques, and he was unwilling to give them to ordinary people, fearing that he might give them to the wrong person and end up raising a tiger that would cause trouble.

But Chen Liuer was different. The child's name was written in the Living Man's Book, and it could be said that he grew up under his care, just like his own child.

Now that his child has grown up and wants to become a monk, he, as an elder, naturally wants to help him out.

"Since you call me 'sir,' I must teach you something. I am not as good as you in Buddhist scriptures and Zen principles, so I can only teach you some techniques for identifying demons and protecting yourself."

Chen Liuer was deeply moved. Most of these techniques were in line with Buddhist principles. He did not believe that his master had obtained them by chance. It must have been something his master had specially found for him during his twenty years of travels!

"gentlemen."

Chen Liuer's eyes were red and his lips trembled. Even though he was eloquent and had never lost a debate on Zen, he couldn't utter a single word at this moment.

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but if you keep going, you will reach your destination! I believe that one day you will be able to reach the other side."

Xu Qing smiled slightly, a seemingly ordinary smile, but in Chen Liuer's eyes, it conveyed the care and love that only an elder could give.

That's a feeling you only get when you're facing the Goddess Baosheng enshrined in the Baosheng Temple.

"This humble monk has remembered it!"

“I will certainly keep your words in mind, Master, practice the Dharma, and help all people.”

Chen Liuer bowed to the teacher and was about to leave when Xu Qing called her back.

"Here are a few protective talismans and a Seven Treasures Kasaya, which I obtained by chance when I was traveling in Quyang County. You can take them. Also, you must not let your master know that I am giving you the cultivation technique. If you want to cultivate, you need to find a quiet place and not let others find out."

"If anyone asks, do not mention my name; consider it as your own understanding."

Chen Liuer nodded and said, "Don't worry, sir. I will soon be going to the capital with His Majesty the Prince of Yan to preach the Dharma. My master is fond of peace and quiet and does not wish to go to the capital. Even if I practice the wonderful Dharma taught by you, sir, it will not be a problem."

"If Master asks about it someday, I will keep quiet and will never disappoint you."

Xu Qing frowned slightly. Following the emperor to the capital? When did Zhu Huai'an bring Chen Liu'er onto the boat?
Xu Qing couldn't help but ask.

Only then did they learn that Zhu Huai'an had met Chen Liu'er after divining at the Tanggu Bridge.

At that time, the emperor intended to establish a state religion to counterbalance or even replace the Celestial Master's Mansion, and Chen Liuer's words and actions were very much in line with Zhu Huai'an's wishes.
Xu Qing understood that Chen Liuer was exceptionally intelligent and born with Buddhist wisdom. Before he was ordained, he had already studied the Nirvana Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, and the Vimalakirti Sutra.
After being ordained, he followed the monk Xinyuan to various temples to debate Zen and Buddhist principles. Even scriptures and treatises he had never studied before, such as the Madhyamaka-karika, the Sastra, and the Dvadasanikaya-sastra, were understood immediately upon hearing them.
Zhu Huai'an, a founding emperor who conquered the world, happened to meet Chen Liu'er, who could talk about all the great temples and monasteries with his words and never lost. It was a case of meeting a great talent and he appreciated him very much.

Before leaving, Chen Liuer asked Xu Qing whether going to the capital was a good or bad thing.

“My master has been telling me these past two days that it is easy for a spiritual practitioner to enter the world but difficult to leave it, and that once I go to the capital, it will be difficult for me to leave again. But I think to myself, if I can spread the Dharma to the people of the world and guide them with the Emperor's approval, what does it matter if I cannot leave?”

Xu Qing answered irrelevantly, "When you met the Emperor at the Tanggu Bridge, was your master there?"

"exist."

"Did the Emperor invite your master to the capital that day?"

Chen Liuer was silent for a moment, then said, "When we met the Emperor, my master abandoned me and disappeared without a trace."

"."

Xu Qing clicked his tongue and said, "Don't listen to your master's nonsense. If he really didn't want you to go to the capital, he should have blocked your way. Why would he run away alone?"

"."

Chen Liuer recalled the things his master had done in the past, his gaze turning melancholy.

Aside from not being averse to women and refraining from murder and arson, the monk Xinyuan violated almost every precept he could.

But whenever Chen Liuer tried to persuade his master, his master would always say, "This humble monk is now of a higher seniority than you. If you try to control me again, I'll sell you the next day to pay for wine!"

Even so, Chen Liuer still regarded the other party as her master.

Perhaps this is what Buddha meant by karmic debts from past lives.
Not long after Xu Qing saw Chen Liuer off, another customer with a fair complexion and no beard came into the shop.

Xu Qing recognized the man; he was the chief eunuch by Zhu Huai'an's side. The man had come for no other reason than that the current emperor wanted to pay homage to his late father, who was later posthumously honored as the Hongren Zuzhao Emperor, at the mouth of the Baishui River.

"His Majesty trusts you, sir. We will need your help with the sacrificial ceremony at Baekgangkou."

Xu Qing was secretly delighted. He had thought the eunuch had come for some reason, but it turned out he was just here to support his business!
"Please convey to His Majesty that I will do my best to handle this matter well."

"So good."

Seeing that the chief eunuch was about to leave, Xu Qing hurriedly reminded him, "Has Eunuch Sun forgotten something?"

"What is it?" Sun Mingli asked, puzzled.

"This deposit"

"."

Grandpa Sun was speechless.

You're really treating what His Majesty instructed as a business transaction?

But there was nothing he could do; His Majesty respected the other party, so Sun Mingli had no choice but to take out a stack of silver notes from his own person to cover the cost.

“We didn’t bring much silver with us when we left home. We only have these three thousand taels of silver notes. Consider this a deposit. If there is any shortfall after the ceremony, we will make up the difference for you, sir.”

Xu Qing casually took the silver note without even glancing at it, saying, "That's enough. Good steel should be used where it's needed most. There's no need to be too extravagant with the sacrificial ceremony. This three thousand taels of silver is enough to prepare a grand ceremony."

Sun Mingli was skeptical. If the sacrificial ceremony were to be jointly organized by the Celestial Master's Mansion and the Ministry of Rites, it would cost at least 100,000 taels of silver.

What can be accomplished with three thousand taels of silver?

However, since His Majesty specifically named him and wanted him to make all the arrangements, he couldn't say anything.

Sun Mingli turned to leave, but was stopped by Xu Qing.

"Father-in-law, please wait a moment. I have a few 'funeral pre-sale packages' here. Would you like to take a look?"

The so-called funeral pre-sale package is a funeral insurance for widowed, orphaned, and lonely people. The package includes regular visits from bereaved families, delivery of rice and oil, handling of funeral arrangements after death, free hiring of mourners to play the role of filial sons and daughters, and various humanistic care, as well as after-sales service.

People like eunuchs, who have no children and worry about having no one to bury them after their death, are the target customers of the funeral service.

Sun Mingli was stunned. What the other party said made perfect sense and was very reasonable, but he still realized that they wanted to ask him for money in advance so that they could arrange his funeral.

Ultimately, it all comes down to financial gain.

But when Sun Mingli heard that there was such a service as funeral loans, he fell completely silent.

Has the funeral industry become so humane these days?

But what exactly is the other party's motive for doing this? Do they really just like the funeral business?
Sun Mingli unknowingly purchased several set meals, and when he left the shop, he found himself holding an extremely prestigious membership voucher.

If it were anyone else, he definitely wouldn't have given them a friendly look, much less offered this kind of funeral pre-sale package.

But since the other party was someone even His Majesty respected, he had to arrange it, let alone a single package, even if it meant five generations of people being buried together.

That's not all. What Sun Mingli found most unbelievable was that he felt no aversion at all. In fact, when he heard about the comprehensive services, he even felt a sense of good fortune, as if he had a safe place to live in his old age and that his funeral arrangements were doubly guaranteed.

It's really weird!
Inside the coroner's shop, Xu Qing, who had transformed sound into law and was wielding the power of verbal justice, slowly finished his practice.

The "White-Mouthed Heavenly Enlightenment" relies on eloquent speech to educate people and subtly influence their minds.

Even at the gravesite of the dead, with ghosts and spirits right in front of you, you can still use this method to educate them.

Three days later, at the mouth of the Baishui River in Tianjin.

The ancestral rites for the emperor's father were a major event, especially since he was a renowned and loyal minister and general during his lifetime.

This was the first time Xu Qing had organized such a grand sacrificial ceremony, so he naturally put in his utmost effort.

Led by the porters from Linjiang County, a large group of porters from Tianjin, more than half of them, arrived at the banks of the Baishui River.

As the presiding priest, Xu Qing specially wore the new robe made for him by the embroiderer and put on the seven-jeweled lotus purple-gold crown.

The robe was embroidered with the Twelve Symbols of the Ornament in gold thread, adorned with pearls and gemstones, and featured wide sleeves with drooping clouds and the Big Dipper constellation on the lapel. It was truly an extraordinary and solemn appearance!
Once the temple is completed, the relief efforts will begin.

Xu Qing then recited the eulogy and asked the emperor to offer incense and pay his respects.

Tens of thousands of people gathered below, and Chen Guangrui, the prefect of Tianjin, led more than a hundred officials to proclaim the emperor's name.

In addition to the worship, monks, Taoist priests, and nuns took turns chanting scriptures. Chen Liuer, who led the chanting, wore a seven-jeweled kasaya and recited the Amitabha Sutra. The entire Baishui River was shrouded in a sacred and solemn atmosphere.

This is precisely why the sea of ​​suffering is so vast and full of self-inflicted suffering, yet the deluded remain completely oblivious. If people do not recite Amitabha's name, they have wasted their lives in this world.

Zhu Huai'an was already very satisfied as he watched Xu Qing mobilize all the funeral services in Tianjin to arrange the best funeral rites for his father!

He really did choose to trust Xu Qing!

(End of this chapter)