Chapter 387: The True Form of the Mingwang Buddha

“Mr. Ji, does your sight tell you that the golden statue of the Mingwang Buddha at our Daliang Monastery is almost complete?”

Monk Huitong asked again eagerly. In fact, he had noticed the change in the Mingwang Buddha of Inscription in the main hall of the temple a couple years ago. Otherwise, he would not have remained rooted in this location ever since he had returned from the country of Tianbao.

Normally, Huitong would spend less than half the year in the monastery. It was also quite common for him to be away for several years at a time.

Ji Yuan didn’t keep him in suspense, and nodded in confirmation.

“The Dharma and Buddhist power transmitted from the void have begun to intertwine with the power of faith and incense, shaping the golden body of the Mingwang Buddha of Daliang Monastery. Daliang Monastery’s efforts over the years were like water grinding down stone, but now it is almost complete.”

“Praise be to the Great Mingwang Buddha!”

Huitong’s chanted Buddhist prayers excitedly. This was his master’s dream before his passing, and also the dream of all the monks of Daliang Monastery throughout the ages.

The fact that a monastery could cultivate a true incarnation of the Mingwang Buddha meant that they must have received the Mingwang Buddha’s approval, which first and foremost acknowledged the monastery’s potential.

“Knock knock knock…”

“Uncle-Master, shall we have the evening meal delivered to your meditation hall?”

The voice that sounded was still that of the same burly monk from before.

Huitong had mentioned in their conversation before that although the monk looked rugged and strong, and appeared to be much older than Huitong, he was actually someone Huitong had watched grow up, just like many other monks from that man’s same cohort.

In the past, whenever Huitong returned from his travels, these young monks would always pester him to tell them about his experiences outside, so they were quite close.

“Mr. Ji, how about we dine here? I’m afraid the princess might not have left yet. If we don’t leave the room, we can create the illusion that we’re about to have a long conversation by candlelight.”

“Alright, alright. I really don’t know if you’ve been tempted by worldly desires, and that’s why you’re so afraid of her…”

“Oh, Mr. Ji, your Tao is so profound and unfathomable, but this is no laughing matter!”

Huitong was startled by Ji Yuan, not because he felt guilty, but because the person in front of him was so unfathomably powerful. Huitong next to nothing about the Tao of Immortals, but if such a cultivator’s words suddenly became law, it would be disastrous.

Ji Yuan shook his head and stopped talking. He poured himself some tea and started eating the pastries on the table. Judging from the exquisite quality of the candied fruits and pastries, the snacks must have been brought by the princess.

“Zhixing, bring the vegetarian meal over here later. Remember to include Mr. Ji’s portion. Also, prepare some of the monastery’s signature dishes. Mr. Ji and I are going to have a long, intimate conversation by candlelight.”

1

Even through the door, the monk still clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

“Yes, I’ll bring it to Master-Uncle as soon as it’s ready.”

“Go ahead, go ahead!”

Monk Zhixing left, headed towards the monastery kitchen. It was already dusk, and the number of worshippers in the temple had decreased sharply, with more monks than visitors now.

However, after informing the monastery’s kitchen staff, Zhixing was stopped by the female official, who questioned him directly at the kitchen door.

“Has Master Huitong finished receiving his guests?”

“My uncle is having a long discussion with Mr. Ji by candlelight, and even the vegetarian meal will be delivered to his meditation hall.”

“Hmm, you may go.”

“This humble monk shall take his leave!”

Zhixing quickly left. This female benefactor was not someone to be trifled with. At least, to the monks who were of slightly lower seniority, they feared this female official more than the princess.

A moment later, the female official arrived at a corner outside the temple, where a carriage was parked against the courtyard wall, with some well-dressed guards and two maids standing guard beside it.

Upon seeing the female official approach, everyone bowed. However, she did not return the greeting, and instead moved closer to the carriage by the road.

“Miss, Master Huitong is going to have a long talk with Mr. Ji, so we will not be eating our vegetarian meal in the monastery dining hall. Let’s go back.”

The princess inside pouted.

“Does he really have that much to say? When he’s with me, all he does is chant scriptures…”

The lady-in-waiting outside smiled. Although she and the princess were mistress and servant, they had always been close, and there was no need for reservations in terms of what they shared aloud.

“Miss, please don’t be so stubborn. It will be dark soon, and the food at the villa should be ready.”

“Ah, what a pity about that exquisite vegetarian meal… Oh! Right, what do you think about me going to the kitchen here to cook a vegetarian meal for Master Huitong?”

“Pfft… Miss, you are a noble lady, you’ve never lifted a finger to do housework. You want to cook a vegetarian meal? Do you even know how to cook rice?”

Faced with the lady-in-waiting’s blunt sarcasm, the princess inside the carriage sighed.

“Never mind, it was just a casual remark. Let’s go back to the Tongqiu Residence.”

Upon receiving the order, the coachman started driving, with the others following behind or attending him.

On the next day, and the day after that, the princess arrived as promised, but Ji Yuan remained at the monastery. Each time, the princess was told that Master Huitong was catching up and chatting with Ji Yuan.

Having heard that this Mr. Ji had come from the distant land of Dazhen, enduring countless hardships along the way, crossing mountains and rivers, it seemed like it was truly a difficult journey for him. Therefore, the princess was quite understanding and did not disturb them. She simply stopped visiting for the next few days, allowing Monk Huitong to relax for a bit.

Ten days after Ji Yuan arrived at Daliang Monastery, the Princess visited once more.

Upon hearing from the monks at the inner courtyard entrance that Ji Yuan was still there, the princess could no longer contain herself.

“What? Master Huitong isn’t receiving guests? Is Mr. Ji from Dazhen refusing to leave? And even if he stays a few more days, won’t the two of them ever finish talking?”

“Your Highness… this humble monk has no idea, and I dare not interfere in my Master-Uncle’s affairs!”

The monk on duty complained bitterly, but only dared to respond in this manner.

“Alright, alright, I don’t blame you. I’ll go find them myself. I want to hear what they have to say!”

The princess spoke angrily and stormed off, accompanied by her female official and two maids. Without caring about anything else, she headed straight for Huitong’s hall.

Seeing that the situation was dire, the monk on guard quickly took a shortcut and rushed to his uncle’s hall. However, when he arrived at the courtyard, he saw Huitong and Ji Yuan walking out together.

“What’s wrong? Why are you in such a panic?”

“Master, Master-Uncle, the Princess is here again. She insists on seeing you. I couldn’t stop her, so I rushed here to deliver the message!”

Huitong, however, remained calm and composed.

“I know, let her be. You can continue your duty.”

“Yes!”

At this moment, Huitong’s expression was solemn and dignified, while Ji Yuan’s was elegant yet profound. The two walked out of the small courtyard and headed towards the front of the monastery.

In their ears, the chanting of scriptures grew louder and louder, and solemn Buddhist chants arose spontaneously from the void. Various Buddhist scriptures and chants appeared, streaming out from the same sound and echoing within the monastery grounds.

The princess, accompanied by her official, hurried along. Before they even reached their destination, they saw Huitong and Ji Yuan emerge. She opened her mouth to speak, but seeing the solemn expression on Huitong’s face, she changed her mind.

“Master, what has happened?”

Even at this critical juncture, Monk Huitong still stopped and bowed to the princess, patiently answering her questions.

“Praise be to the Great Mingwang Buddha! Responding to the Princess, an esteemed elder from our Buddhist sect will be arriving soon. Mr. Ji and I will go to greet him!”

“A respected elder? Then why didn’t I see any other monks react as I came in?”

Huitong smiled broadly, a smile so radiant that it momentarily stunned the Princess, and even the ladies-in-waiting beside her.

“Praise be to the Great Mingwang Buddha. There’s no need to disturb the other monks in the temple. This elder doesn’t like much fuss! Princess, please wait a moment. Mr. Ji and I will head out first.”

With that, Huitong hurriedly departed once more. Ji Yuan nodded to the two women and then left as well.

“Dong…dong…dong…”

The bell of Daliang Monastery was ringing. Pilgrims and tourists continued to stream into the temple. Some scholars and artists inscribed words in the blank stones.

Ji Yuan and Huitong walked together to the main gate of Daliang Monastery. Due to the application of some supernatural techniques, Huitong’s appearance here did not disturb the other worshippers too much. However, the princess and the female official still followed at a distance.

Outside the main gate of Daliang Monastery, Ji Yuan and Huitong stood gazing into the distance.

As the chanting of Buddhist prayers grew closer and louder, the two saw an old monk in an old robe, carrying a silver-white staff, walking towards them, He approached from the bustling market outside the monastery.

The old monk lowered his eyes and tilted his head to the side, his lips moving up and down, clearly reciting scriptures.

“The Wisdom King who cultivates the Dharma,

the Buddha’s seal manifesting in a thousand bodies;

my Buddha possesses the Dharma to guide and liberate all sentient being

The Mingwang cultivating the Dharma, a thousand bodies inscribed with his image; the Buddha guides and liberates all sentient beings through the Dharma…”

The chanting sounded like rolling thunder, growing louder and louder around Daliang Monastery. Combined with the monastery’s bells, a feeling of Zen grew increasingly pronounced. However, the surrounding pilgrims and most of the monks remained completely unaware.

Huitong stood ramrod straight, his hands clasped together in a posture more perfect than ever before.

Ji Yuan stood quietly to the side. He realized that the illusion he had cast on his eyes had unknowingly disappeared.

When he arrived about ten zhang away from Daliang Monastery, the old monk raised his head and stared intently at Huitong and Ji Yuan. He leaned on his staff in one hand, the other displaying a single palm in a Buddhist gesture.

“I pay respect to the Buddha’s great Dharma!”

Huitong put his hands together and bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“Praise be to the Mingwang Buddha of Inscription!”

Ji Yuan raised his arms and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, but did not speak. The old monk simply nodded to Ji Yuan with a Buddhist gesture of greeting, then continued to stride toward Daliang Monastery. Huitong stepped aside and then followed two steps behind.

Even as they bowed to each other, the thunderous chanting continued unabated.

Ji Yuan stood still, glancing sideways at the departing figures of the old monk and Huitong, a thoughtful expression on his face.

‘Is this… the true form of the Mingwang Buddha?’

T/n: 🙂