Chapter 35

Lantoshan?

In Lantoshan, there is an extreme reverence that commands respect. Before entering Lantoshan, many of the figures were of exalted status in the secular world, perhaps the king of Gannuluan, or the prince of Shiziguo, or the royal family of the Peacock Dynasty, each more illustrious than the last. However, after entering Lantoshan for ascetic practice and then re-entering the world, they would fall into the dust, no different from ordinary monks. Lantoshan has numerous rules: no silk or satin, no wrinkles in the robes, no full stomachs, and only squatting on a square meter of mat for sleep. The multitude of rules is enough to make people from the Central Plains gape in astonishment. The prince heard legends about Lantoshan, such as a traveling monk who, upon finding lost items by the roadside, would draw a circle around them and sit beside them, often waiting for days without success. However, things circled by Lantoshan monks generally wouldn't be coveted by outsiders. More incredibly, there is still a monk in Lantoshan who has been in self-imposed confinement for thirty-four years. The question is, what is this living Buddha, this enlightened master, waiting for?

Therefore, monks who have practiced in Lantoshan are like having a golden seal, respected wherever they go. Some fake abbots, who have shaved their heads to look like monks, often start their conversations with, "This poor monk comes from Lantoshan."

The ascetic practice in Lantoshan is extremely arduous, and the criteria for accepting disciples are very strict. Thus, despite having only about three hundred monks, the temple can stand on equal footing with the Two Chan Temples, which have disciples all over the world, one in the east and one in the west, complementing each other.

This red-robed monk said he came from Lantoshan, and Xu Fengnian believed him, partly because of the monk's recitation of scriptures earlier, and partly because he sensed the monk's energy flowing like a great river. From the monk's demeanor, he appeared as still as a mountain, but inside, it was like a river rushing to the sea.

Xu Fengnian, though he had a good impression of Lantoshan and the monks, was not about to be forcibly taken to the Western Regions. He asked with a chilling smile, "What if I don't go?"

The Sword of Xiudong was about to be drawn. Xu Fengnian was confident that his first strike after descending the mountain would shatter an entire wall.

He never expected the monk to simply say calmly, "This poor monk can wait."

Xu Fengnian, his thumb habitually rubbing the hilt of his sword, asked, "Wait?"

The solemn-faced monk walked around Xu Fengnian once and then quietly retreated to a distance, showing no intention of kidnapping or blocking the prince.

Not only did Xu Fengnian find it absurd, but even the little girl watching the scene found it incomprehensible. She thought the monks who freeloaded at her home were more interesting, and Lantoshan seemed too dull.

The little girl finally came to her senses and asked Xu Fengnian in a low voice, "Xu Fengnian, are you the son of someone? Then aren't you the prince?"

The "someone" must be Xu Xiao.

Whether in the Daoist or Buddhist communities, regardless of gender or age, no one in the martial world dared to call the Grand Marshal Xu Xiao by his name.

Xu Fengnian, secretly observing the energy flow of the Lantoshan monk, asked with a smile, "Scared? Regret meeting me?"

The little girl laughed three times, but it seemed more like she was trying to bolster her courage. Xu Fengnian found it amusing and didn't expose her. In the past, when they traveled together, this girl never backed down in a crisis, cursing the loudest and running the fastest.

The little monk weakly said, "Dongxi, let's go. We've already seen the person. If we don't return to the temple, Master and Mistress will fight with the abbot again."

The little girl looked at Xu Fengnian and then at the little monk, seemingly torn between staying and going home. Her eyes, however, were unconsciously drawn to the fragrant beef. Xu Fengnian, not wanting to make the simple-minded girl feel difficult, handed the beef to her and turned to leave, "Wait a moment. Eat the beef first, and then let Xu Fengnian escort you. There's no reason to leave the city with an empty stomach in Liangzhou."

Xu Fengnian walked to the Yanzhi shop in the east of the city, passing by the beef shop, where he saw a girl who had grown taller but still had a youthful face, sitting on the threshold with a bamboo branch in her hand, looking at him.

The prince, eager to buy Yanzhi, didn't greet her. The famous Yanzhi was due to his second sister Xu Weixiong's poem. In the shop, Xu Fengnian took the Yanzhi for free, and the shopkeeper was willing. After all, when the prince brought the courtesans of Liang to the shop to pick out Yanzhi, if they were genuinely happy with their choices, the prince would give the shop some silver as a reward. In the end, the "Qingmei" Yanzhi shop made more profit than loss. Xu Fengnian picked a box of Yanzhi and two boxes of Gui Feitao, and left with a swagger. Everyone in the shop was silent, and the wealthy men who brought their concubines to spend lavishly were also speechless.

On the other side, the little monk looked at the little girl with greasy hands and mouth and reminded her, "This is Xu Fengnian? He is the prince, and his reputation seems quite bad."

The little girl, tearing at the beef, said generously, "I'm not pretty either, so Xu Fengnian wouldn't like me."

The little monk became anxious, "Who said that?!"

The little girl ignored the little monk's anxiety and said, "Mother told me that when I look for a close friend, I shouldn't choose someone too beautiful, as they might steal my man. When I look for a husband, I shouldn't choose someone too handsome, as they might attract too much attention. I'm half a nun, so killing too much isn't right."

The little monk had to bring up his support, "Dongxi, have you forgotten what Master and Mistress said about people outside the temple?"

The little girl said seriously, "Of course I remember. Father said that men outside the temple are all fierce and violent. Mother said that women outside the temple are all venomous and treacherous. Dumb Nanbei, are you stupid? Father and Mother said this to scare me."

The little monk, who was both dumb and foolish, remained silent.

The little girl tilted her head and asked, "Do you dislike Xu Fengnian?"

The little monk shook his head, "If Dongxi likes, I like."

The little girl hummed twice, finding the words pleasant, and didn't mind the name "Dongxi" being unattractive.

Xu Fengnian brought the Yanzhi, saw the little girl wiping her face with her sleeve, and handed the items to her, smiling, "Here, for you."

The little monk, seeing the little girl's joyful expression, wasn't annoyed but sighed deeply.

The little girl hesitated, "Xu Fengnian, is that someone at the mansion?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "He'll return from the northern border in a couple of days."

She jumped, "Then can I come to your house to take a look?"

Xu Fengnian was speechless.

What followed showed Xu Fengnian the resilience of this little female hero. At the entrance of the Beiliang mansion, she glanced at the two guardian lions and said, "Too bad we don't have any at our house."

Entering the mansion, she saw the grand buildings stretching to the top of Qingliang Mountain and murmured, "It's quite big, about half the size of our house."

Seeing the live water lake and Tingchao Pavilion, she giggled, "I like this pond. Our pond doesn't have this grandeur. Dumb Nanbei, you should learn from Father and learn the skills to move mountains and seas, and then move this pond back home."

Xu Fengnian laughed generously, "Take it."

The little monk softly said, "Dongxi, our temple is your home, but not your family's home."

The little girl glared, "Is there a difference?"

The little monk, clearly not someone who could stand his ground in front of her, said softly, "I guess not."

The little girl asked, "Then I'll ask you, is a white horse a horse?"

The little monk, who thought he had been misled into following his master to learn Buddhism, was even more uncertain, repeating, "I guess so?"

Xu Fengnian placed the children in a courtyard near the Wutong Garden, showing his high regard for the little girl. On the way, Xu Fengnian didn't dare to look at her much, fearing he might scare the little female hero who always talked nonsense. Not looking at the little girl, he observed the little monk instead. The green and light red robe, not draped over the right shoulder but the left, was the attire of a lecturer in the Buddhist community. Though not as prestigious as the red and purple robes bestowed by the court to enlightened masters, it was still quite rare. Those who wore such robes had three great virtues, protected by the heavenly dragons, revered by all beings, and respected by the asuras. Xu Fengnian became even more curious about the temple the little girl called home.

Xu Fengnian sat in the courtyard, the little girl was delighted with the accommodation, running around excitedly in the room. The little monk, whose robe was draped over the left shoulder, squatted by a swing, gazing at the clear sky.

Sweet Potato quietly approached behind the prince.

After descending the mountain, Xu Fengnian learned that the white-haired old master had defeated the heroic Wei Beishan, who wielded a horse-cutting saber, and both had left Beiliang. The martial arts family of Xuanyuan was barely surviving under the suppression of Yuan Zuozong and Lu Qiuer. The little butcher Chen Zhiliao had earned tremendous military merit on the border.

Xu Xiao was about to return to the mansion.

Xu Weixiong, his second sister, seemed to be coming home for the New Year.

Xu Fengnian was certain that this trip was specifically to scold people, scolding Xu Xiao for poor discipline and scolding himself for practicing the sword when he had nothing better to do.

Xu Fengnian rubbed his burning forehead and said to himself, "Sweet Potato, we can prepare the cotton."

Sweet Potato smiled and agreed.

Who in the mansion wasn't afraid of Xu Weixiong?

Xu Fengnian turned and saw the little girl, holding the hem of her dress, shyly walking out of the room.

Her face must be covered with half a pound of makeup?

The little monk's eyes widened.

Sweet Potato turned away, it was truly a sight too pitiful to behold...

Xu Fengnian stood up and smiled, "You look beautiful."

{Piaotian Literature}