Over the years, Ji Yuan has traveled to many places and seen some temples, but I have to say that in terms of scale alone, no temple in his impression can compare with Daliang Temple.
In Ji Yuan's blurry vision, the buildings of Daliang Temple in the distance were connected together, stretching for a long distance on both sides of the line of sight. The tallest part among them should be a building similar to a pagoda.
“Ding… Ding… Ding…”
The bell continued to ring. Ordinary people who heard the bell also had a feeling of the long-lasting Buddhist rhythm. Ji Yuan could even vaguely hear the sound of chanting along with the bell.
With his mind calm and focused, the Buddhist music even briefly drowned out the noise of the surrounding pilgrims and passers-by, lingering alone in Ji Yuan's ears.
"Yes, this Daliang Temple is indeed quite special. It is worthy of being a Buddhist temple that can produce a great monk like Hui Tong. Although it is not the Mingwang Dharma Field, it is indeed extraordinary!"
Ji Yuan whispered this admiration, but he didn't expect that in such a noisy environment, a middle-aged man with sensitive ears nearby heard it.
"Sir, you are right. This Daliang Temple is a 200-year-old temple. It is the number one Buddhist temple in our Tingliang Kingdom. Master Huitong is a famous monk and a signature of Daliang Temple!"
Ji Yuan walked without intention or magic, but the breeze brushed his face as he walked, and his sleeves and hair fluttered as he tossed his head and lifted his collar, showing his bearing, which was by no means comparable to that of an ordinary scholar, nor did he have the dignity of an official.
Such an extraordinary man in white clothes walking on the road actually attracted a lot of attention. Some discerning people had already guessed that he must be a famous scholar, but they were afraid of offending others, so most people just took a few more glances and didn't pay too much attention to him.
This man was the one who was closer. When he saw Ji Yuan's gaze coming over, he bowed slightly as he walked.
"From the sound of your accent, you seem to be from the vicinity of Nanshan Prefecture?"
In Tingliang State, the official language is based on Nanshan Prefecture, which is the prefectures near Tingqiu Mountain. It is recognized as the language with the most correct and accurate pronunciation in the country. Although it is very popular to learn that way of speaking, unfortunately, although the language is similar in most parts of Tingliang State, the local accent is very heavy, and it is difficult for people who are not truly from the south to speak so standardly.
Ji Yuan saw that although the man was wearing a wide robe, he had arm guards with round nails wrapped around his wrists, and his steps were neither long nor short and very powerful. If he was not a soldier, he must be an expert in hard skills.
Ji Yuan also kept walking, slightly bowed in return, shook his head and smiled.
"I am neither from Nanshan Prefecture nor from Tingliang, but from Dazhen. I have heard of the great reputation of Daliang Temple for a long time, and I have come here today to visit."
When the man heard that Ji Yuan was actually a Dazhen man, his eyes widened slightly. He looked up and down at Ji Yuan and then looked left and right to confirm that he was alone, then clasped his fists and introduced himself.
"So you are the elegant scholar from Dazhen. I am so sorry for my disrespect. I am Tiefeng, the iron of iron, the wind of violent storms, and I am from Tingliang Kyoto!"
"Fate, fate is in my heart, fate is thousands of miles away."
Ji Yuan responded briefly and looked towards the Daliang Temple in front of him. Less than a hundred steps away, there were many vendors setting up stalls outside the temple, and many people even built sheds, making it look like a market outside the temple.
Tiefeng was obviously very curious about such a faraway place as Dazhen. After getting familiar with each other, he and Jiyuan talked and laughed together as they traveled together.
They were all sensible people, and their chats were superficial. They did not delve into anything, but mostly talked about the customs and practices of their hometowns. Tiefeng also introduced the Daliang Temple to Jiyuan, from the several pagodas inside to the eminent monks in the temple, and when the monks would give lectures.
When passing by the market in front of the temple, Tiefeng bought a small bundle of incense, but Ji Yuan did not buy any incense or candles. In Tiefeng's opinion, this might be because this great scholar did not believe in ghosts, gods, immortals or Buddhas.
Compared to the bustling market outside, although there are also crowds of pilgrims and a bustling crowd inside the temple, it is obviously much quieter and more orderly. There are very few people making loud noises, and there are monks everywhere in the temple to help pilgrims solve their problems.
No matter if you are lost and can't find the exit or the toilet, which temple you want to go to, which monk you want to see, or if your behavior violates the taboos of the temple, there will be monks to help or stop you.
The liveliness of Daliang Temple can be seen from this.
"Hey, Mr. Ji, Daliang Temple is pretty good, right? Is there a similar famous temple in Dazhen?"
After entering the temple, Tiefeng saw Ji Yuan looking around frequently and stopping from time to time, and he felt a little proud in his heart.
"Haha, there is no temple of this scale in Dazhen. From what I have seen, this Daliang Temple is not only the largest temple in your Tingliang Kingdom, but can also be regarded as the largest temple in the three kingdoms of Tingliang, Zuyue, and Dazhen."
"Oh? Sir, have you been to Zuyue?"
Tiefeng seemed even more curious, and to be able to say that, it must not be possible by just taking any random route.
"Yes, I've been there. Except for a few places, the people there are living in poverty!"
Ji Yuan looked at the prosperity here, and then thought about the situation in Zuyue Kingdom, and couldn't help but sigh.
The two of them followed a group of pilgrims to the Mingwang Hall in the temple. Tiefeng was about to go in to burn incense, but after a few steps he found that Ji Yuan had not followed him. He turned around and saw that Ji Yuan had not taken a step forward.
"Mr. Ji, what's wrong?"
Ji Yuan bowed slightly.
"Brother Tie, just go and burn incense and worship Buddha. I will not go in to worship the Ming Wang. It just so happens that there is an old friend in this Daliang Temple. Let's go our separate ways now."
"This, it's so sudden. I wanted to invite Mr. Ji to visit my Tie family villa..."
Tiefeng and Jiyuan got along very well, and he also felt that he was meeting a truly knowledgeable and talented gentleman, so he didn't want to say goodbye like this.
"How about this, Mr. Ji, come with me to worship the Ming Wang first, and then I will accompany you to look for that old friend? Uh, if it's convenient!"
Ji Yuan smiled and waved his hand.
"No, no, it may be a little inconvenient. As for worshipping the Ming King..."
Ji Yuan looked at the majestic Mingwang Hall. Through the wide open hall door, he could see a huge Mingwang statue holding the Buddha's hand seal inside.
"Haha, forget it!"
After bowing again, Ji Yuan nodded towards Tie Feng, then turned around and strode away in another direction without any hesitation.
Tiefeng looked at the steps of the main hall for a while, hesitated, and finally continued to enter the Mingwang Hall. After all, Mr. Ji had said it was inconvenient.
From previous discussions with Tiefeng, Ji Yuan already knew that most of the eminent monks in Daliang Temple were practicing in the inner courtyard, and Hui Tong was no exception, so the direction was still very clear.
We walked northward around the various buildings of the temple and finally arrived in front of an archway in the courtyard wall. However, there was a horse-drawn carriage parked here. You know, no matter what their status is, other pilgrims have to get off the carriage outside the temple and then walk in. But this carriage actually drove directly into the depths of the temple.
However, Ji Yuan did not think much about this matter and walked straight towards the archway. There was a sign saying "No Pilgrims Allowed" and two sturdy monks standing there.
Seeing Ji Yuan coming, one of the monks chanted a Buddhist name and stretched out his hand to block the archway.
"Good be to the Great Ming King Buddha, donor, the area ahead is the backyard of our temple, and there are eminent monks practicing Zen there, so it is not convenient for pilgrims to go there."
Ji Yuan bowed in return.
"I am not a pilgrim, nor will I force my way in. I am here to meet a friend. Please inform Master Hui Tong and tell him that Ji Yuan is visiting. He will meet me."
Although Tiefeng had previously claimed that Master Huitong was definitely not in the temple, at such a close distance, both the induction of the chess pieces and the calculations indicated that Huitong was in Daliang Temple.
"Uh, this donor, Master Huitong is not here..."
"Master, monks do not tell lies. Please inform me."
Ji Yuan stood there calmly, with a gentle and fresh aura flowing between his words, which made the two monks subconsciously more willing to believe him. They didn't say anything more, and after looking at each other, the other monk spoke.
"Then please wait for a moment, I will go to the backyard to inform him immediately. If Master Uncle is unwilling to see him, please don't be angry."
"Thank you!"
Ji Yuan responded and watched one of the monks leave in a hurry.
. . .
In a separate monk's hall in the inner courtyard of Daliang Temple, Monk Huitong sat on a cushion with his eyes lowered, his hands clasped together, and chanted sutras in a low voice.
In front of him was a low table with a small incense burner filled with sandalwood on it, a plate of fruit, a teapot and tea sets, and a few plates of cakes.
Opposite the low table, a woman in pink clothes and wearing a pearl hairpin on her head was also sitting cross-legged, her body slightly leaning forward, her arms supporting her calves, just watching Monk Huitong chanting.
The chanting continued for a while and then stopped.
"Master Huitong, I still can't learn this Buddhist Sutra."
After the woman said this, Monk Huitong had no choice but to sigh and continue chanting from the beginning.
At this time, outside the monk hall, a sturdy monk hurried over, but before he could get close, he was stopped by a female official.
"Stop! Don't go over there!"
The monk had a strange look on his face. He was obviously the monk of Daliang Temple, but he was stopped by an outsider. However, he also knew the seriousness of the matter and understood that this person should not be offended, so he told the truth.
"Sir, there is an old friend of Master Huitong visiting outside, I need to report it."
"Old friend? Who is it? I'll go and talk to him for you!"
"Well, the donor's name is Ji Yuan, and he said that when he hears his name, Uncle Master will meet him."
The female official repeated it and asked again.
"Which calculation and which fate?"
"Uh, this, I don't know."
"You are so unreliable! Wait, I will report it!"
"Yes, yes! Thank you for your help..."
The female official nodded, turned around and walked towards the monks' hall, and reached the door in a few steps.
“Boom boom boom…”
"What's up?"
"Miss, a monk said that someone who claimed to be an old friend of Master Huitong came to visit the master. His name was Jiyuan."
Before the woman could say the next sentence, she saw Monk Huitong, who was chanting, suddenly look up.
"Mr. Ji?"
Monk Huitong's voice sounded surprised, but his heart was filled with joy. Sir, you came at the perfect time!