When Jiang Li and Xuan Qing returned to the gate of the Jiaqing Temple, the little novice who was sweeping the floor in the courtyard saw the two of them, the broom in his hand paused for a moment, and after realizing it, he shouted: "Senior Brother Xuan Qing?!"
Xuan Qing stepped into the yard, nodded to him: "Xuan Ming."
Xuan Ming was only twelve or thirteen years old, and his face was still obviously childish. Hearing Xuan Qing calling himself, he said "Hey" and said, "You are back! I will inform the abbot!"
After speaking, he quickly bent down towards the two of them, and ran away with the broom in his arms. His voice was heard shouting from a distance: "Senior brother Xuanqing is back!"
Hearing the excited voice of the little novice, Jiang Li couldn't help laughing, and jokingly said to Xuan Qing: "Little master, you feel like you're coming home."
Xuan Qing: "...don't talk nonsense."
Jiang Li nodded, with a serious look, clasped his hands together to show that he understood.
The scale of Jiaqing Temple is not large, together with Xuanqing, there are only eleven monks. However, the construction of the temple is very simple, with reassuring Zen everywhere, which makes the minds of people here very open.
Although Xuan Qing was not close to the brothers in the temple, they all ate fast and recited Buddha together in the temple since they were young. Knowing that he came back, many brothers put down what they were doing and came out to say "I'm back".
Xuan Qing had never been down the mountain before, and when she came back this time, she always felt that her mood was different from before.
Seeing faces smiling and greeting him, an indescribable feeling slowly developed in his heart, and his heart gradually became hot, but he didn't feel uncomfortable, instead, he felt a kind of unobtrusive joy.
After greeting everyone, Xuan Qing took Jiang Li to the backyard. After the two left, the rest of the monks looked at me and you, with expressions of surprise.
"Um... Did Junior Brother Xuanqing laugh just now?" A tall and thin monk asked hesitantly.
"It seems so?" Another monk with a lot of pockmarks on the tip of his nose nodded, then turned to ask another monk, "Are you clear?"
"See it clearly!" The chubby monk nodded, "Senior Brother Xuanqing laughed so hard that I panicked."
The little novice who was sweeping the floor just now said unconvinced: "Nonsense, Senior Brother Xuanqing looks really good when he smiles!"
"I have never seen Junior Brother Xuanqing smile at me in so many years." The tall and thin monk said with emotion, "I don't know why, but I feel sad and happy."
"Stop being so sentimental." Monk Xiao Mazi glanced at him, "You're obviously smiling at me."
The little novice raised his broom: "To me, to me, to me!!"
The chubby monk slapped him on the head, and said with a stern face: "Why are you joining in the fun, hurry up and sweep the floor! Everyone has gone back to work!!"
"Okay!!"
The monks dispersed in a rush, doing what they should do.
In the backyard, Xuan Qing took Jiang Li to the tea room that was usually used to receive pilgrims in the temple, and then went to see the master himself.
This point is the time for Abbot Xuanmin to chant sutras, and Xuan Qing didn't bother him when he was outside the Zen room, but waited in the courtyard.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, a voice came from the room: "Is Xuan Qing back?"
It was only three months since he went down the mountain, and when he heard the master's voice again, Xuan Qing felt in a trance after a long time.
He collected himself and stepped forward to answer: "Master, it is the disciple who has returned."
With a sound of "squeak", the door of the meditation room opened from the inside, and a kind-eyed old man appeared at the door, looking at Xuan Qing standing in the courtyard, with a gentle smile in his eyes, he nodded and said: "Just come back, come in Bar."
Xuan Qing followed him into the room.
The furnishings in the meditation room were still the same as before he left, and there was a faint scent of rosin inside, which made people feel relaxed.
There is a small stove for boiling water on the table, with tea leaves and cups on the side. As usual, Xuan Qing made tea for Abbot Xuan Min and himself, and the master and apprentice sat around the stove.
Abbot Xuan Min took a sip of his tea, and said comfortably: "Sure enough, the tea you make is what I like, Xuan Qi is always messy."
Hearing this, Xuan Qing paused slightly for drinking tea, and the feeling of guilt in his heart became heavier. He closed his eyes and gently rubbed the rim of the cup with his fingertips.
He was brought up by Abbot Xuanmin since he was a child, and all his martial arts and knowledge were taught by Abbot Xuanmin himself, so his every move naturally cannot escape the eyes of Abbot Xuanmin.
In fact, from the very first glance, Abbot Xuan Min found that his beloved apprentice was different from the past, there was a trace of fireworks and ordinary people's emotions in him.
Putting down the cup in his hand, Abbot Xuan Min smiled and said: "It seems that you have gained a lot from this trip, can you tell me about it?"
Xuan Qing knew that nothing could be hidden from his old man's eyes, and this time she came back to confess to him about her relationship with Jiang Li.
He put down the cup in his hand, put his palms together, and said to the wise old man in front of him: "Master, this disciple is guilty."
"Oh?" Abbot Xuanmin asked kindly, "Where does the crime come from?"
"Firstly, the disciple did not abide by the clear rules, secretly moved people's hearts, and violated the precepts of lust."
"Secondly, the disciple falsely wants to be with him for life and life, breaking the precept of greed."
"Third, the disciple broke the precepts but did not regret it, and I am ashamed of your teachings."
Xuan Qing looked at Abbot Xuan Min, and told him everything about herself and Jiang Li, without hiding anything.
After he finished speaking, except for the "gurgling" sound of the small kettle on the stove in the meditation room, neither of them made any sound.
When Xuan Qing uttered the first "crime", Abbot Xuan Min's expression became surprised.
Xuan Qing was brought up by him alone. Although this child is talented and intelligent, but emotionally indifferent, he is not close to others. When he brought Xuan Qing back from the mountain, it took more than half a year for him to call himself master.
For these years, although Xuan Qing lived in the temple, Abbot Xuan Min always felt that his heart was not here, he did not belong here, and Xuan Qing once said that he felt that his heart was empty and had nowhere to go.
This time when Xuan Qing was asked to go down the mountain, he once told Xuan Qing that Xuan Qing's mortal relationship was not over yet, but he still couldn't figure out where the mortal relationship was, so he could only let Xuan Qing find it by himself. When Xuan Qing returns, if he still wishes to convert to Buddhism, then he will come back Help Xuanqing point the scar.
Now it seems that Xuan Qing has already found out where his destiny lies, and he has made up for the emptiness in his heart.
Thinking of this, Abbot Xuanmin showed a clear expression, and the kindness and gentleness in his eyes have not changed. He looked at Xuan Qing, and said: "Master is very relieved that you have deserved this trip, why bother to exaggerate."
Xuan Qing's expression shook: "Master, don't you blame me?"
Abbot Xuan Min shook his head, picked up a small teapot and poured hot tea for Xuan Qing and himself, and said: "I once said that in life, one must know why one lives for one's life. Teacher should make you happy."
Xuan Qing was a little dumb, he knew that the master was tolerant to him, but he never thought that he would love him so much.
"Don't feel guilty. In this world, you have to follow your heart and feelings, so that you will not be in vain." Abbot Xuanmin smiled, with tolerance and understanding in his tone, "If you go against your heart and continue to serve the Buddha Before, how can you talk about the Dao if you are not sincere?"
Xuan Qing was heartbroken by what he said, and nodded with a serious face: "The disciple is taught."
Abbot Xuan Min nodded in satisfaction, and then asked with concern: "Have you had a heart attack these days?"
When she was in Qingshui Town, Xuan Qing suffered from heart disease twice, one was the first day when she first arrived at Jiang's house, and the other was the day when Jiang Li told the story of Tang Seng and the Queen, apart from these two times, there was nothing else.
And the seal on his heart has completely disappeared.
Xuan Qing told Abbot Xuan Min about this, and Abbot Xuan Min was quite surprised, beckoning him to come forward, then pressed his palm on his heart, closed his eyes and sensed the seal that he had formed at the beginning.
After a while, Abbot Xuanmin opened his eyes, nodded and said, "It has indeed disappeared."
"Master, why is this?" Xuan Qing was puzzled.
Abbot Xuan Min pondered for a moment, then relaxed his eyebrows, looked at him and said, "Probably you don't need it anymore."
Xuan Qing was taken aback for a moment, and after understanding what he meant, she was a little surprised: "You mean..."
Abbot Xuan Min smiled and said nothing, although he didn't say anything, but both master and apprentice knew it well. The person who filled Xuanqing's lack of heart had been found, so his heart disease would naturally disappear.
Thinking of the people who came with him, a soft look flashed in Xuan Qing's eyes.
Seeing this, Xuan Min smiled and said: "The person who can tempt you must be extremely outstanding. I heard that he has returned with you, why don't you bring him here for my teacher to see?"
Xuan Qing naturally wanted to bring Jiang Li to see Abbot Xuan Min, but before that, she needed to obtain his understanding.
"Please wait."
Xuan Qing got up, left the meditation room, and went to find Jiang Li.
Xuan Qing's master wanted to see him, which Jiang Li expected. After all, as Xuan Qing's closest elder, Abbot Xuan Min wanted to see the "tiger" who abducted his apprentice.
On the way to the meditation room, Jiang Lixuanqing: "Did your master scold you?"
"No." Xuan Qing shook his head and comforted him softly, "Don't worry about you, Master is very nice."
After the two confirmed their relationship, Xuan Qing and Jiang Li talked a lot about themselves, including Abbot Xuan Min. When he learned that Abbot Xuan Min spent ten years of internal energy drawing a seal on Xuan Qing's heart to stop his heartache, Jiang Li felt respect and gratitude for this elder who had never met, and wanted to thank him face to face.
When the two arrived outside the meditation room, Xuan Qing knocked on the door and stepped into the room with Jiang Li.
Xuan Qing had placed Xin's cup by the seat just now, and filled the cup with hot tea that was 80% full and still emitting white smoke. It looked like it was prepared for Jiang Li.
The white-bearded old man at the table put down the teapot in his hand, and looked up to see two people coming together. Although they were both men, there was no sense of abruptness between them, as if they were made in heaven.
As soon as Jiang Li entered the door, he felt a gentle gaze falling on him, with a hint of scrutiny, but it was not offensive. He followed and looked at Lao Ze at the table.
Those are a pair of wise, tolerant, calm and peaceful eyes, as if seeing all the joys, sorrows, sorrows and partings of life and death in the world, which makes people unconsciously respectful.
This is Xuan Qing's master, Abbot Xuan Min.
The three sat and drank tea, Abbot Xuan Min suddenly said to Xuan Qing: "I want to have a private conversation with Benefactor Jiang, Xuan Qing, go to the outer hall and offer incense to the Buddha."
Xuan Qing didn't know what the master was going to say, and needed to avoid herself, but as a master, she knew that he would not embarrass Jiang Li, so she nodded and retreated.
Only Jiang Li and Abbot Xuan Min were left in the room. Abbot Xuan Min reached out to grab the teapot, but Jiang Li picked it up before him, and said, "The juniors can do these things."
Xuan Min smiled as he poured tea for himself, and said, "The benefactor doesn't need to care about these small things."
"It should." Jiang Li poured the tea, put the teapot back to its original position, and then asked respectfully, "If you have anything to say to this junior, please feel free to say it."
Xuan Min looked at him for a while, took a sip of tea, and then said slowly: "The benefactor is a soul from another world?"
Jiang Li's head shook, and his hands on his knees tightened violently.