I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"In short, I only share common interests with you on issues related to illusory deposits."

"I don't care about anything except for the illusion of the atomized sediment."

"As far as identity is concerned, I am still irreconcilably opposed to you."

"After this is all over, we'll go our separate ways and leave each other alone."

Nishino's remarks immediately drew the ire of the "hot-tempered old man" Akutsu.

Just as Akutsu was about to have an attack, Ebina reached out and pressed down on his shoulder.

Akutsu froze on the spot, looking just like a toy whose wind-up mechanism had been removed.

He turned to look at Ebina beside him, and their eyes met.

Akutsu, calm down—Ebina said this silently with her eyes.

Seeing this, Akutsu silently swallowed the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

That's enough.

My grandson grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth.

The upturned corners of his lips and his slightly narrowed eyes combined to form a gentle and harmless smile.

“When we choose allies, we never consider their age or status.”

"In this world, there are neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

"An alliance formed out of common interests—there is no stronger bond than this."

My grandson had barely finished speaking when Hai Laoming softly added:

"This is the precious experience that we...the Great Salt Party have accumulated bit by bit after more than 20 years of hardship, like rats crossing the street."

……

……

Since its introduction to Japan, the Buddhist forces have grown wildly and caused considerable trouble for various regimes, including the Kyoto Imperial Court and the Kamakura Shogunate.

To avoid repeating the mistakes of the previous dynasty, the Edo Shogunate adopted a politically astute strategy towards Buddhism.

On the one hand, there was a fierce crackdown, such as prohibiting temples from keeping private soldiers, thus turning the long-standing monk-soldiers into a historical term.

On the other hand, they went to great lengths to win them over and turn them into tools of their own rule.

During the Edo period, there was a system called the "Danke system," which required everyone to register with a particular temple as a Danke. These temples were called Dana-ji or Bodai-ji.

The register used for this registration is called the "Principal Persons' Register". It records names, ages, family structure, etc. for each family.

In addition, when someone passes away, the funeral is also held at the temple.

The deceased were removed from the general register and placed in a register that only recorded the names of the deceased, called the "Ghost Register".

The modern Japanese term for a person's death, "入鬼籍" (rù guǐ jí), is based on this historical reference.

Furthermore, the funeral arrangements for the deceased are also handled by Dana Temple.

There is a cemetery behind the Dana Temple.

After the funeral rites are completed for the deceased, their remains will be buried directly in the cemetery of the Danna Temple where the deceased had been a disciple.

At this very moment—

Edo, Hatchobori, a certain Tannaji Temple——

Qingdeng stared blankly at the tombstone in front of him.

The tombstone is inscribed with six neat Chinese characters in regular script: "Tomb of the Tachibana Family of the Genji Clan".

Only a tamarisk stick was stuck behind the tombstone.

On this relatively new stupa was written a string of names that were both familiar and unfamiliar to Qingdeng—

Tachibana no Sakimune

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Leopard's parents will be back tomorrow, and then Leopard won't have to work so hard helping out at the shop anymore. You can't imagine how hard Leopard has worked these past few days (crying Leopard head.jpg).

Because Leopard's family owns a supermarket, I have to use my phone to type out these past few days' chapters bit by bit during the gaps when I'm at the cashier... Not only is it very inefficient, but my eyes are almost worn out (Leopard crying.jpg).

Chapter 448 The Buddha's Protection! Benevolent King, Charge! [4200]

Zhūta-po: A transliteration of a Sanskrit word. Originally meaning a mausoleum or stupa, in Japan it evolved into a long, straight wooden plaque, serving as a memorial tablet for blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It contains the name of a Buddhist scripture or Dharma assembly, the name of the person to be liberated, and information about the donor.

The inscription on the stupa bearing Takayuki Tachibana's full name... it's easy to guess what this place is—this is Takayuki Tachibana's burial place.

It was the dead of night, and apart from Qingdeng, there was no one else in the vast cemetery.

Neither Sanako nor Souji were by his side.

Qingdeng, all alone, seemed out of place with his surroundings.

Solemn, serious, nonchalant, calm... all the words that can be used to describe "solemnity" can be applied to Qingdeng at this moment.

Aoto stared intently at Tachibana Ryuji's tsuttara, his handsome face expressionless, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Just then, an aged male voice suddenly sounded behind him:

"Hmm? You are... Tachibana Aoto from the Tachibana family?"

Qingdeng raised an eyebrow, then slowly turned his head to look back.

Behind him, an elderly monk, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared.

His wrinkled face looked just like a dehydrated orange peel.

A pair of small, old eyes were hidden beneath thick, white eyebrows.

The bald head, revealing a pale, bluish-white scalp, gives the impression that it must feel incredibly nice to touch.

His silvery-white beard, hanging down his chest, seemed quite out of place with his brisk gait and spirited demeanor.

After seeing the person's face clearly, Qingdeng's facial features relaxed slightly.

"So it's Abbot Jingwang."

Jingwang—this was the old monk's Dharma name.

He is the abbot and the most senior monk of this temple.

Japanese Buddhism has many schools. Different schools have different doctrines and practices.

While the wide variety of religious sects may seem dazzling at first glance, they can be broadly divided into two categories.

One type of monk can eat whatever he wants, just like ordinary people, without any dietary restrictions, and can even marry and have children.

Another type of monk, like Chinese monks, shaves their heads, abstains from meat and fish, avoids women, and strictly adheres to the precepts.

Master Jingwang belonged to the latter group, and was from the Vinaya School, which had the strictest precepts.

In Japan, monks who have converted to the Ritsu sect are truly rare.

The reason for this is not complicated—the Vinaya school has far too many precepts, so many that they are frightening, and so strict that they are terrifying.

As its name suggests, the Vinaya school is a sect that specializes in the study of Buddhist precepts.

From major practices like chanting Buddha's name and paying homage to Buddha, to minor things like eating, drinking, defecating, and sleeping, there are a whole set of complicated rules.

According to incomplete statistics, the original Vinaya school had at least two or three hundred precepts.

Despite continuous improvements, the Vinaya school precepts have been simplified to ten major precepts and forty-eight minor precepts, but the lives of Vinaya monks remain austere, deterring those whose faith is not firm.

In comparison, sects that allow their disciples to eat meat, drink alcohol, marry, and have children, such as Jodo Shinshu, naturally have a larger market and are more popular with the public.

“Abbot Jingwang, it’s been a long time.”

Qingdeng bowed slightly and gave Jingwang a light salute.

This temple was established by the Ju family, so Qingdeng and Abbot Jingwang naturally had met several times.

However, the last time the two met was more than a year ago at Takayuki Tachibana's funeral.

"Mr. Ju, what are you doing here?"

Jingwang opened his eyes wide and stared intently at Qingdeng's face.

His gesture was, of course, a way of saying, "Aren't you currently wanted by the authorities?"

Even now, Qingdeng still bears the heavy suspicion of "wiping out the entire Chiyu clan".

“I wish to visit Tachibana Ryū… to see my father, which I have not seen for a long time, so I have come here secretly to disturb your temple. Abbot Jingwang, if possible, please do not report this to the authorities.”

Upon hearing this, Jingwang unconsciously raised his gaze and thoughtfully observed Qingdeng's expression.

A moment later, he gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"You're already a wanted criminal, yet you still swagger around in the city... Fine, now that I'm a monk, I shouldn't meddle in worldly affairs anymore. Stay here as long as you want, just don't cause trouble for the temple."

Qingdeng nodded slightly.

“I am deeply grateful. On another note, Abbot Jingwang, I am truly surprised to meet you at this moment. I thought that at this hour, all the monks in the temple would have already gone to bed.”

Jingwang gave a bitter laugh.

"It's all because of you. I was just about to go to sleep when I suddenly saw a shadowy figure moving outside the window, so I got up to check. To be honest, I was quite surprised. I didn't expect that even in the middle of the night, a visitor would still come."

"Oh, I see... I'm sorry to have disturbed your rest."

Jingwang shook his head.

"It's alright. On the contrary, I'm quite happy to see people coming to the cemetery to visit their relatives and friends despite the late hour."

"In recent years, with constant internal and external troubles and social unrest, it is already difficult for ordinary people to just survive. How can they have the leisure and energy to sweep tombs?"

"The cemetery is becoming increasingly deserted, and the number of people who cannot find a grave is also increasing."

[Note: "Unclaimed Grave" refers to a solitary grave where no one comes to pay their respects.]

Jingwang took two steps forward and stood beside Qingdeng, shoulder to shoulder with him.

Their gazes fell simultaneously on Takayuki Takayuki's takara.