Joyful Reunion

Chapter 19: Empty

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This is an ancient temple with a history of 400 years. In the past, Master Mojia came from the west and east, sow the seeds of Buddhism on the grasslands, entered the Central Plains, taught scriptures and passed on karma, and when he was old, he left the fortress again, leaning on a cane. , cross the westernmost section of Xianbei Mountain on foot, and want to go to the farther north.

For some reason, he stopped here and built such a temple on the top of the mountains. In the ancient legends of the Liao people, this is a place where birds cannot go, and the ancient temple has also been called "North Temple" for hundreds of years.

Then Liao Tai | Ancestor went south, prayed at the North Temple several times, and marched into the Central Plains. After the victory of the Battle of Huai Shui, Daliao established capitals in Shangjing and Zhongjing, and even invited the scriptures and monks of the North Temple to Zhongjing, and established the North Daming Temple as the temple of the state. However, there were still a few monks from the North Temple who stayed here in the past.

At this time, the North Temple was on fire, and the corpses were everywhere. The Yuan army searched the temple, and a few monks held Dharma-protecting pestles and guarded in front of the Mahavira Hall.

A horse neighed, thousands of miles to the sky, four hooves flying across, leaping through the sea of fire and crashing into the main gate. The Yuan army was suddenly startled and shouted loudly. Then Li Jianhong turned to the side of the horse, fired four arrows, and then waved his hands in succession. Two arrows, overturning the Yuan army outside the main gate.

"Block the door!" Li Jianhong shouted.

When Li Jianhong came to help, the Yuan army was shocked at first, and then saw that there was only one adult man with a child, and immediately rushed forward without fear. When a man behind him slashed at Li Jianhong's shoulder with a knife, Duan Ling rode his horse and turned sharply at the side of the courtyard. on the ground.

"Amitabha—" A long sigh came from the hall.

The two dismounted and entered the courtyard. Li Jianhong guarded Duan Ling in the courtyard and fought and retreated. The attacking Yuan army was obviously the backbone, and the force was not comparable to that of the scouts under the mountain. Li Jianhong turned his head and Duan Ling shouted: "Dad, watch your head!"

A wooden rafter was burning and fell towards Li Jianhong. Li Jianhong caught it with his backhand. He danced around the huge fire-filled rafter in the courtyard, making a whistling sound, and wherever he clicked, Yuan Bing was hit by the weapon. , Immediately sprayed blood from the mouth and fell out of the hospital!

Duan Ling fired arrows one after another on the steps, and the monks who guarded the temple came forward to cover up with pot lids, wooden boards and other objects to protect Duan Ling. As soon as Li Jianhong leaned over, he played the giant rafter in a circle, all the Yuan troops retreated, and Li Jianhong shouted angrily again.

The sound gathered true energy, like a crack in Mount Tai, which shocked everyone's eardrums. Li Jianhong pushed with both palms, and the wooden rafter pushed out against several Yuan soldiers, and the huge force swept away all the enemies. Outside the courtyard, Li Jianhong slapped another palm. After a loud bang, the wooden rafters collapsed and turned into sparks. Yuan soldiers couldn't resist and fell off the cliff.

The screams were heard frequently, and Li Jianhong turned around and said, "Go up to the wall, prepare bows and arrows, and if you dare to attack again, you will be killed!"

The few remaining monks who guard the temple each occupy the top of the wall in the courtyard, and the rest of the handymen pick barrels and put out the fire. The north temple is in a mess.

"Which general is outside?" an old voice said, "The war is about to start, and the day is at stake. There are still people who remember the old man. Feeling warm, please come in and talk."

Duan Ling turned to look at Li Jianhong, remembering that Li Jianhong took him on the road because of "meeting an old friend", Li Jianhong nodded tacitly: "Yes, it's him, the old man has a bad temper. Talk less, if you want to scold him, hide behind your father's back first and then scold him."

Duan Ling nodded in disbelief, Li Jianhong arranged Duan Ling's robes, held his hand, and entered the inner hall.

The inner hall of the temple was dark, and embers were still crackling in the distance. Li Jianhong and Duan Ling entered. A young novice first held a copper basin and asked them to wash their hands. The father and son washed their hands, took the burning incense, and bowed three times to the Buddha statue.

The monk of precepts held a wrapped hammer and struck the copper bowl, making a "dang" sound, and the sound was melodious and melodious.

"Please speak inside," said the discipline monk.

Li Jianhong stepped through the two doors, and saw that deep in the temple, there was an inner hall at the end of the steps, the door was open, an old monk sat on the futon in the middle, and eight Dharma guardian monks lined up on both sides, each holding a dharma tool, muttering. Chant the scriptures.

"It turned out to be the prince." The old monk said coldly, "It is inconvenient for the old man to get up and greet him. Please forgive me."

Duan Ling was immediately shocked when he heard the title of "Prince". When he looked at Li Jianhong, Li Jianhong was unmoved and said, "This is my son. Son, go up and see Master Kongming."

Duan Ling stepped forward, following the teacher's instruction, raised his hands above his head, and gave a proper salute.

The old monk's robe, known as "Master Kongming", was burnt to small pieces, and he stretched out his hand. Duan Ling looked back at his father. Li Jianhong motioned him to move forward, and Duan Ling knelt down. On the ground, approaching Kongming a little, Kongming pressed his hand on his forehead.

"I will give you blessings." Kong Ming said, "You will give the people blessings, and God will bless you. That's all, that's all."

Duan Ling: "..."

"Your Highness, please tell me if you have something to say." Kong Ming said again, followed by a gesture, and the Dharma guardian monks got up each, exited the door, and closed the door with their backhands. Only Li Jianhong, Duan Ling, and Master Kongming were left in the hall. three people.

Duan Ling noticed that Kong Ming's left hand was burnt to black, his skin was cracked like charcoal, showing the red flesh inside, but Kong Ming didn't feel any pain at all. Handing out the futon with one hand intact, Duan Ling took it and let his father sit down while he knelt down behind him.

Li Jianhong said: "Coming from a long way, the master still refuses people thousands of miles away as before. Anyway, he also serves a cup of tea to let Li soothe his throat."

"At this time, I will see the prince again." Kong Ming said, "The grievances and grievances from the past are like a lifetime. The prince has let go, but the old man has not yet let go."

"A monk." Li Jianhong said again, "What should be put down should always be put down. Master should keep an eye on it, isn't it just a sword?"

Li Jianhong took the tea cup offered by the little novice, took a sip, and handed it to Duan Ling. Duan Ling was so thirsty that he drank half a cup of tea in one go. Hearing the conversation between the two, he still thought about his father's words." Lord" title.

"Your Majesty" didn't really deter him. After all, the people in the hall were either royal relatives or foreign relatives, Helianbo, Batu... It was said that they were all royals. However, my father said that they are Han people, the princes of the Han people, that is to say, the father of the father is the emperor? !

This is what shocked Duan Ling the most. However, his father has an additional identity. In Duan Ling's eyes, it is not much different. He is still him, and he is still himself, so there is no change.

Kong Ming was violent when he was young, but did not show restraint when he was old.

"I have done one thing, let the tiger return to the mountain. I don't know whether it is a blessing or a curse. I think it's time to come." Li Jianhong said, "I was thinking of asking the master three things."

Master Kongming said: "The lord asked the old man three things, but the old man wanted to ask the lord one thing first, what's the point of letting the tiger return to the mountain?"

Li Jianhong replied: "Send the protons of the Buerchijin family to Shangjing."

Master Kongming knew after thinking about it, and said: "Well, the Yuan people attacked Liao, and the victory of the king of the northern courtyard was not good enough. He should not be able to resist the army of Okuotai. After returning, he will kill Qi Chi to vent his anger, which is also a merit. It's time to wash your hands full of blood."

Li Jianhong sighed and said, "Before the time comes, I will use the lives of Qi Chi's father and son in exchange for his return, and I will ask Tiemuzhen for a team of soldiers and horses. Forming an alliance, at worst, would have to block Nanchen's reinforcements... If there is, this would be beneficial to the Yuan people. After all, Wo Kuotai didn't want to be attacked by the enemy. After the Yuan people besieged the capital, I was able to negotiate with Yelu Dashi, Assist him in resisting the Yuan people, and promise that he will form an alliance with the Liao Kingdom when I return to Xichuan to resettle, in exchange for the opportunity to borrow troops to pacify the South, otherwise it will be difficult to win the trust of the Liao people."

"So, does the lord make up his mind to go back to the south?" Master Kongming raised his eyes and looked into Li Jianhong's eyes.

"I was undecided. I came to the North Temple and asked the master to name my son by the way." Li Jianhong said.

Master Kongming turned his gaze to Duan Ling's face again and looked at him for a long time. Duan Ling couldn't understand many of Li Jianhong's words, but he could feel that Master Kongming didn't seem to agree with Li Jianhong's actions.

"From the Li family to his generation, there are very few people." Li Jianhong said, "The only one who entered the genealogy was my son. When I was young, I followed his mother's uncle's family name, Duan, and came to ask the master for a sentence. If so, bless him with no disasters and thriving growth."

"How can life be free from disasters and disasters?" Master Kongming said, "According to the seniority of your Li family, you are already a cursive character, so how about calling Li Ruo?"

Li Jianhong pondered for a moment, and Master Kongming said again: "If it is a tree, it is like a tree in the east, and it is like a tree in the west. It arrives every day, and leaves every day. It has been weathered by wind and frost, and it is not afraid of wind and rain. It will eventually become a good material for mansions and protect the world."

"Thank you, Master, for the name." Li Jianhong said, then glanced at Duan Ling, who hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Master, for the name."

Master Kongming looked at Duan Ling quietly.

Li Jianhong said again: "There is one more thing I don't understand, please ask the master."

Master Kongming narrowed his eyes and said, "But it's okay to ask."

Li Jianhong said: "This time back to the south, I wonder if I can re-establish my foundation in Nanchen and revive my thousands of miles of rivers and mountains?"

Master Kongming said indifferently: "If the old man said 'can't', the lord will not do it, will it?"

Duan Ling: "..."

Duan Ling didn't dare to speak out. He vaguely heard the meaning of Li Jianhong's words. Did he really want to go back to the south

Li Jianhong smiled slightly and replied, "Master is right, but Li is impatient."

Master Kongming said again: "Old man, let me ask the lord again, the next battle of the General Ling, the lord has disappeared from the world for three years, what makes the lord want to return to the court?"

Li Jianhong replied, "Because my son wants to return to his homeland, that's all."

Duan Ling: "Father!"

Li Jianhong turned his head and looked into Duan Ling's eyes. Duan Ling had a tacit understanding with him for a long time. He had already guessed Li Jianhong's intentions and said, "I only want us to live well, but don't force it when we go back to the south."

Li Jianhong said: "My son can rest assured."

Master Kongming said: "Your Highness is a first-class sensible person in this world. He is thorough and meticulous in his actions, leading the army to fight, and he has almost never failed, but according to the old man..."

Mage Kongming slowly shook his head.

Li Jianhong's face changed slightly, and Master Kongming said again: "There is naturally no place in the world that the prince can't go, and there is nothing that the prince can't do. I only hope that the old man is wrong, and you can only do everything you can. Half, the other half of Nan Chen Jiye in Japan must be handed over to the shoulders of the little prince."

Li Jianhong's expression turned calm, he pondered for a moment without saying a word, and then slowly said: "The cycle is repeated, everything is renewed, and the world is prosperous. This is his responsibility."

Li Jianhong added: "In this way, there is no need to ask about the third thing. There is no one in the world who can approve a person's life, let alone my son."

"Success and failure are all based on fate." Master Kongming said, "Cause and effect reincarnation has its own set number, and the fate of one person is in one's own hands..."

Li Jianhong did not speak any more. At that moment, Duan Ling felt an aura of darkness, as if a shadow would radiate out when a person was about to die. He was a little scared, so he leaned towards Li Jianhong, and Li Jianhong stretched out his hand. A hand wrapped around him.

"Master?" Li Jianhong asked again.

"Before parting, I'd like to give you a word to the lord." Master Kongming said slowly, "Just can be easily broken, strong will be humiliated, the sun will be destroyed in the middle of the day, and the moon will be full of food. Remember..."

Duan Ling fixed his gaze on Master Kongming, and Li Jianhong said, "The precious sword kept by the North Temple must be useless by the master, so why don't you just..."

"It's too late." Master Kongming closed his eyes and said solemnly, "It has been taken away by my junior brother who betrayed my sect, and the North Temple's prosperity has declined. , to get back the fate of breaking the dust... This old life, the fate of the dust is continuous..."

The words came to an abrupt end, and with a low voice from Duan Ling, Master Kongming fell to one side and fell heavily on the ground, actually dead.

The sun shines in from the dilapidated roof of the temple and falls on the body of Master Kongming.