Estranged

Chapter 58: Strength is the easiest thing to be resp

There is almost no monk who has not heard of Jiufang Changming's name.

It was once a light or a sword hanging over everyone's head, or an inspiration, or a threat.

Compared with others, Jiufang Changming still has a lot of connections with Qingyun Temple. Although Ku He, an arrogant and unscrupulous master, had long since defected from Buddhism when he entered the sect, there have never been fewer legends about him. So that later some people pointed to the well where Kuhe fetched water and said that Jiufang Changming once realized the powerful Buddhist mantra beside this well.

After many years, I did not expect that someone would mention these four words.

Ku He suspects that this person is a fake, after all there are always some people who want to imitate the famous seniors, and he has seen many such people.

But he stared at Chang Ming and looked at it again and again, but he couldn't see why for a while.

Ku He's abnormality also attracted the Queen Mother's attention, she wondered: "Zen Master, what's the problem?"

"No, it's the poor monk who lost his mind. The queen mother will forgive me." Ku He clasped his hands together and looked away.

Chang Ming ignored Ku He's opinion, since he returned to the human world, such things will only happen frequently in the future.

"I have something to ask, and I ask the Queen Mother to answer it truthfully."

The queen mother made up her mind.

"Really, please speak."

"The Eight Treasures Langhuan Pagoda, is it really built by the emperor's dream of the gods?"

"No. It will be my birthday in two months. The emperor is filial and said that he wants to build a pagoda to enshrine the five grains and treasures. He prays for my long life, and also prays for a good harvest of five grains and prosperity for the country."

"So, is it true that the folklore of immortals entrusting dreams?"

"It makes the real people laugh. It is indeed a rumor. It must be that the common people like mysterious stories, so they add fuel to the story."

"Then has the Emperor been to that tower?"

"No, since the completion of that pagoda, the emperor and I just looked at it from a distance, but never entered the pagoda. The emperor originally planned to invite the eminent monk Dade of Qingyun Temple to enter the temple to consecrate it on the second day of December, which is my birthday. , The emperor and I came to worship in person, praying for good weather, and then on the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, the people are allowed to enter and offer fresh fruits."

"That is to say, there is no one in the tower now?"

"No." The Queen Mother paused, "Probably not."

She looked at Ku He again, as if she wanted to get confirmation from him.

Ku He said: "No indeed, except for the day when the utensils were transported into the pagoda, there were monks from the Buddhist monastery accompanying them. Now there is no one in the pagoda, but there are people stationed outside. Do fellow Taoists suspect that there is something wrong with the pagoda?"

Chang Ming: "Winds come from all directions in Luodu, and this pagoda is built right at the place where the winds converge. If it is said that everything is flat and stable, and the sky and the earth are connected, this Langhuan Pagoda is right in the center of the connection between the sky and the earth. It is like a crown jewel, dazzling, but also attractive Yin gathers yang."

The queen mother became nervous: "What will happen then?"

Ku He continued Chang Ming's words: "The gods like this place, and the evil things will like it too."

The Empress Dowager's complexion changed slightly.

"The site selection for this pagoda was decided by Han Ye that day. Zen Master and Head Teacher Xie both looked at it and said there is nothing wrong with it."

Ku He sighed: "It's the poor monk's negligence. Judging from the site selection, the tower itself is indeed fine. I just didn't expect Han Ye to have a problem."

Chang Ming said: "I don't know when the Donghai School is also good at the art of yin and yang?"

Ku He: "Although Han Ye is an elder of the Donghai School, his Feng Shui knowledge is passed down through his family, and his aunt is a disciple of the Vientiane Palace."

After going around and going around, they were all connected.

Chang Ming stopped talking, and only said to the Empress Dowager, "I want to go to that tower to have a look."

The queen mother was hopeful: "Will the emperor's living soul be there?"

Naturally, no one can guarantee this issue.

Ku He also said: "I'll go with fellow daoists, there are fellow daoists Lao Yue and Daoist Xie in the palace to continue searching."

The queen mother hurriedly said: "There is one more thing. According to the rules of previous years, this time when the envoys of You Country and Zhaoyue Kingdom enter the palace, they must bring monks with them. They want to compete with us. We won last year, but this year You Country will definitely Not giving up, wanting to save face, I heard that their grandmaster brought two of them this time, and asked them to come back before dawn as much as possible, I feel really uneasy if you are not here!"

After going through all kinds of things just now, the Queen Mother's trust in Chang Ming has surpassed the other three. Ku He also knew that she was talking about the two of them, but in fact they were all looking at Chang Ming, so she didn't speak out to make a statement.

Chang Ming said: "If there is really a problem with Langhuan Pagoda, it is still unknown whether we can leave safely, and we cannot promise when we will come out."

The Empress Dowager turned pale: "Is it so dangerous?"

Ku He felt that Chang Ming's words were exaggerated, but he was kind by nature, and he didn't tear down the situation in front of the queen mother, so he echoed: "I don't know what's going on in the pagoda, so I can't guarantee it to the queen mother. There are two masters, Xie and Yue, in the palace. No problem."

After finishing speaking, he took out a copper token from his sleeve.

"If there is something urgent, the Empress Dowager can send someone to the monastery to find my junior brother to listen to the rain."

This is an extra layer of protection.

The Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you Zen Master, thank you Daoist, I wish you two good luck, I hope that the Luo Kingdom will be safe, and the world will be peaceful."

The imperial city is not far from the Langhuan Pagoda, and with the way of the two of them, it can be reached in a short time.

Before entering the pagoda, Ku He frequently looked at Chang Ming, hesitant to speak.

In the end, I couldn't help but ask: "A Buddhist disciple was born in Qingyun Temple in the past. This person's surname is Jiufang and his name is Changming, dare to ask you..."

Chang Ming was too lazy to listen to his ramblings, so he interrupted directly.

"it's me."

Kuhe: ...

Chang Ming glanced at him: "You came from the same school as Sun Buku, so I can be considered your uncle. Why are you so different from him? If you had his smooth smile, you would be in Qingyun Monastery now." The head of the hospital is yours."

Ku He smiled wryly again and again: "Don't dare to be that! Senior's words are serious, how dare I compare with Brother Buku!"

Changming hummed: "If you are like this, no wonder you will be thrown to Luodu to eat ashes."

Ku He wanted to test a few more words, but unexpectedly, he was choked up by the words one after another, so he simply shut up.

There were indeed monks stationed outside the Langhuan Pagoda, but these stationers were not of high cultivation level. They didn't know Changming, but when they saw Kuhe, they all saluted.

Hearing of Ku He's intentions, they quickly opened the tower door.

But Chang Ming didn't rush in.

He looked up, and the spire seemed to be soaring into the sky from such a perspective, and the windows on each floor were dimly lit, as if someone was copying scriptures inside overnight.

If someone stays up at night, put on clothes and get up, and look at the tower from afar, it feels like a comfort to the soul, and a little warmth is born.

But these are appearances.

In the eyes of cultivators, the turbulent clouds above the spire, and the crimson looming, is an ominous omen.

Langhuan is the legendary place where the Emperor of Heaven kept his books, but this tower not only did not bring auspiciousness, but after it was built, the empire began to experience frequent problems.

Tiny fissures may be unremarkable, but when they join together, they form larger gaps that eventually fall apart and fall apart.

The accident of the emperor was precisely one of the conspicuous gaps.

Even Ku He could see something was wrong.

As soon as you enter the tower, it is unexpectedly calm.

There is no demonic energy rushing towards us, and no imaginary enemies.

Ku He's eyes moved from the statue of God to the left and right, looking up at the dome and looking down at the floor.

Everything is as usual, nothing different.

"This statue is engraved with Xu Tianzang?" Chang Ming asked.

"It is indeed the Buddhist statue of Xutian Zang." Ku He bowed his head and saluted the statue.

Xu Tianzang is the person who founded Buddhism. Legend has it that the Buddha descended into the world and was revered as the patriarch of Buddhism after his death. There is also a standing statue of Buddha in Qingyun Temple.

However, because it is in the pagoda, it is different from the standing statue in the Buddhist temple. This statue is a seated statue. The Buddha sits cross-legged, holding a bead in one hand and the palm of the other hand up, holding the void.

In fact, there is still a controversy about this statue.

Originally, Luo State was different from You State’s reverence for Buddha. It respected both Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, which meant that all rivers and rivers were inclusive. Therefore, when Langhuan Pagoda was established, the two families had been arguing about whether the statues in the pagoda were Buddha or Tao. Ku He and Xie Chunxi almost fell out, and later Confucianism joined in, insisting on hanging portraits of several sages of Confucianism in the pagoda. The first floor is made of Buddhist statues, the third floor is hung with portraits of Confucian sages, and the top of the highest floor is dedicated to Taoist magic weapons. In this way, the three schools are compatible, and everyone has nothing to say.

Although Buddhism expressed dissatisfaction later on, how can Daoist and Confucian things be on top of their heads, and Confucianism is not happy, feeling that they are caught in the middle, but these are minor details, and Kuhe doesn't want to say it just to make Changming a joke.

But I heard Chang Ming ask: "What is the statue trying to lift?"

Ku He took a look, smiled and said: "No, this is the original gesture."

There are many statues of gods holding the void in their hands, and Chang Ming didn't get entangled anymore. The two turned to look around the first floor. The enamel wall tiles shone brightly under the candlelight, like a glass world, and the ground was covered with lotus flowers and gold bricks, blossoming. It is ecstatic, and has touched the threshold of Western bliss in a trance.

Accompanied by the visual gluttonous feast, the sound of music faintly came from upstairs, and the chimes of pipa and harp were melodious and graceful.

But there was obviously no one in the tower except them, so how could music and dance be born out of thin air?

Ku He's heart trembled slightly, and she suddenly came to her senses, and couldn't help but look at Chang Ming.

The latter has already picked up the steps and walked up to the second floor.

"senior!"

Ku He subconsciously stretched out her hand, slowed down by half a step, and only caught the corner of the opponent's robe.

Chang Ming's figure had disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Ku He couldn't help it, so he had no choice but to hold the Zen staff tightly in his hand and follow.

The second floor is another world.

The beautiful and enchanting dancers dance lightly, both men and women, with fluttering belts and half-transparent gauze.

Chang Ming had already stood in the middle at some point, a dancer was clung to his body naked, her **** moved down little by little along his contour, her red lips were close together, exhaling like blue.

Ku He almost blushed and couldn't bear to watch any more.

"Where is the evildoer, dare to cause trouble! All living beings have no form, and the demons are all retreated, go!"

He squeezed the mantra with his hands to turn the spiritual power into golden light and shot it at the demons, but he saw that the dancers not only retreated without panic, but laughed and snickered, as if they were laughing at his fuss, they rushed over and surrounded him.

Why doesn't my spell work? !

Ku He was in shock and was pushed away involuntarily. These male and female dancers also entangled him with their enchanting and colorful bodies, making Ku He unable to move. No matter what spells he recited or any spells he used, it didn't work. He found that No matter how much I want to go out, I will eventually be circled back to the original place.

The bell on the dancer's ankle seemed to have a kind of magical power, and the jingling of the bell made Ku He unable to control herself, and she wanted to dance along.

Once you jump up, you can't stop until you die.

This is the demon dance!

He was sweating profusely, and suddenly realized that the long bright hair had already danced with the female dancer, and even reached out to hug her. The two of them were entangled together, their bodies twisted. And beyond the modalities of intercourse, it is simply impossible to look directly at.

Jiufang Changming has been bewitched!

Ku He's heart sank, thinking that his famous name might be ruined here, and when others opened this tower in the future, they could only see him and Chang Ming lying on the ground with disheveled clothes and stupid faces. But the mind is clear, but the body sinks involuntarily, and even has the urge to hug the dancing girl in front of her.

Snapped!

He heard a pop.

The warm liquid was splashed on the face, and it flowed into the mouth, which was still a little salty.

Ku He took a closer look, Chang Ming passed a hand through the body of the dancer who was sticking to her body, filled with spiritual power, the dancer let out a scream, the bones of her body shattered and burst apart, her head fell off her neck, and rolled When he reached Ku He's feet, he stared at him with wide open eyes, his eyes were full of unwillingness, and he opened his mouth to bite Ku He, he subconsciously took half a step back, his feet were empty, and half of his body fell into the pool of blood.

The head rumbled and sank, replaced by countless pairs of ankles pulling on him in the pool of blood, trying to pull Ku He down completely.

The blood in the pool of blood splashed onto Ku He's face from time to time, and his nostrils were filled with a fishy smell. Countless people shouted in his ears that he died a miserable death, and asked Ku He to accompany them.

The resentment is deep, and the sea of ​​blood is overwhelming.

But in Luodu's prosperous place, where do so many innocent souls come from?

Ku He was startled inwardly, his whole body was almost pulled into the water without paying attention, the pool of blood covered his nose, he took a big mouthful of blood water by accident, almost didn't spit it out, but his mind became dizzy.

In a blur of consciousness, he vaguely recalled it.

Luodu was originally the former capital of the former dynasty. In the last years of the Hong family’s rule, the rebellious officials rebelled. The emperor refused to open the city gate. People, except for a few people who got the news in advance and escaped, most of the people, together with the nobles of the previous dynasty who had no time to escape, all died under the butcher's knife. Treat it like a two-legged sheep, cut the meat alive and grill it, and use it as a delicacy for the rebellious officials.

It was only after the first emperor of the Luo Kingdom defeated the rebellious officials and entered the capital that he sent people to collect the bones and bury them underground in the capital. However, how could time be able to appease so many resentments of untimely deaths?

As if in response to his speculation, many murmurs rang in Ku He's ears, telling how she had died miserably in the past, how painful she was and how she wanted to return to the human world.

If Ku He was really easily bewitched, it would be impossible for him to hold up the facade of Qingyun Temple in Luodu.

He clenched the Zen stick in his hand, no longer caring about the skeletons sticking out from all directions to grab his body, closed his eyes, and put an end to all confusion in visual appearance.

"All living beings in the world suffer more than enjoy themselves, and are obsessed with falsehood, so there is a law that transcends all appearances and returns to dignity. Break!"

Ku He suddenly opened his eyes, his hands were filled with light!

All the dead bones turned into nothing, all the wronged souls were purified and saved in the Buddha's light, the blood pool gradually receded, and the resentful spirits let go of the hands clinging to his body and floated away.

Years of obsessions were wiped out in the chanting of compassion, and even if there were still obsessions that refused to dissipate, trying to catch Ku He, they were unsustainable in his sutras.

Ku He didn't forget their purpose of coming in. He was chanting scriptures and at the same time secretly searching for the emperor's soul with the spirit search technique, but when these resentful spirits turned into light **** and flew out, he did not find the whereabouts of the emperor.

nothing.

When the light dissipated, Ku He was on the second floor of Langhuan Pagoda again, and found that the original colorful murals on all sides had turned into a blank.

"Heavenly demons are transformed into creatures, and they use paintings as their idols. Congratulations to Zen master for breaking the karmic barriers and improving his cultivation to a higher level."

Ku He looked at Chang Ming's eyes with a smile that was not a smile, and he felt that there was nowhere to escape.

"I'm ashamed, the poor monk is not good at learning, and the seniors laughed at him!"

No matter how the teacher and the outside world evaluate it, in Ku He's view, Jiufang Changming deserves to be the number one person in the world in the past. Watching myself struggling and sinking.

"Dare to ask, have you ever found the remnant soul of the emperor?"

If Ku He originally called Senior Chang Ming because of his own self-cultivation and the other party's title, this time his address became very sincere.

Strength is the easiest thing to be respected, and Chang Ming knows this very well.

"No, go up and have a look."

The third floor of Langhuan Pagoda, as Ku He said before, enshrines the portraits of Confucian sages, a total of sixteen.

Ku He is not a member of Confucianism, so he can't recognize all the people in the portraits. He only sees whether there are demonic energy and remnant souls hidden in these portraits.

Judging from the experience on the second floor, he also found that the pagoda was weird. The pagoda was supposed to be a good place to enshrine treasures, but there were statues of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism to suppress it, and there was actually a pool of demon blood. If he hadn't been a master for many years, he would have I'm afraid it has already been said.

From this point of view, it is not impossible for the other party to use the painting as an obstacle to trap their soul in the painting.

Ku He carefully inspected each painting with great care.

But every painting is normal. Although these paintings are fine, detailed, and lifelike, they have no magical powers.

This place seems to be a real place where the sages paid their respects.

Ku He frowned and looked at Chang Ming.

Chang Ming seemed to know what he wanted to ask, and shook his head, indicating that he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

The two continued to go up.

Four floors, five floors, six floors, seven floors.

The view of the pagoda is excellent. Standing at the window overlooking the imperial city and the imperial capital, you can have a panoramic view.

The calmer it is, the weirder Ku He feels.

He always felt that there was something hidden under the surface, ready to emerge.

"Is the Taoist magic weapon offered on the top floor? Which magic weapon?"

"It is the fly whisk used by the previous headmaster of the Shenxiao Immortal Mansion. It is called the Vast Sea Returning Dust. It is also treasured by the royal family. His Majesty attaches great importance to this tower and ordered people to bring many treasures into it."

While talking, the two stepped up to the top floor.

As Ku He said, a dust whisk is enshrined on the glazed platform in the middle, with streamers flickering hidden, which seems extraordinary.

Chang Ming has seen the vast sea return to the dust, and with his eyesight, it is not difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.

The dust whisk in front of him is indeed a fake return to the vast sea.

This magic weapon was used by the ancestors of the Shenxiao Immortal Mansion in the early years. It is also considered a good magic weapon, but it is not a masterpiece. The symbolic meaning is far greater than the actual meaning. admit.

The problem is not with the vast sea returning to the dust.

Chang Ming looked away and landed on the scattered treasures next to him.

Huge pearls full of several dendrobiums, gemstones of various colors, magic weapons attached to weak spiritual power in the shape of the moon.

"What is this?"

Chang Ming bent down and picked up a white ivory round basin from the treasure.

The side of the basin is inlaid with gemstones in the shape of stars, which is so precious that the night can not hide its brilliance.

Ku He probed to see.

"This should be a cornucopia, right?"

This ivory is really too white, and it is still glowing blue, smooth and delicate to the touch, like a beautiful woman's skin.

"No." Chang Ming said suddenly.

Ku He: "What?"

Chang Ming: "This is not ivory."

Ku He also started to touch, "What is that?"

He also felt that it didn't have the texture of ivory, but he couldn't say what it was.

"It's a human bone."

Ku He was startled when he heard these three words, but saw Chang Ming reach out and pick out the ruby ​​in the middle of the cornucopia.

It was too late to say it, but it was so fast, black clouds filled the air, and the demonic energy roared, and the eyes of the two fell into complete darkness, as if there had never been light in ancient times!

The author has something to say:

ps, some friends want to know the level of cultivation in this article, in order to facilitate everyone's understanding and memory, the level has been simplified to the maximum, that is, low-level, middle-level, high-level, master, and grand master.

It is no longer possible to measure the progress of the great master, so there will be no specific calculations, and he has to judge by his opponent.