Chapter 72

Ye Yu took this opportunity to take in the grand hall in full view. A venerable monk in his sixties stood solemnly to one side, with a kind and benevolent face. He knew that this high-ranking monk in front of him should be the abbot of Langya Temple, Master Huizhong.

However, what puzzled Ye Yu the most was whether all the monks in the Song Dynasty liked to use the character "Tong" in their names?

This made him think of the monk Yuan Tong from Longshan Temple, and he wondered why the names Yuan Tong and Hui (Hui) Tong sounded so much like the names of modern logistics companies?

Ye Yu pondered in the corner of the grand hall, wondering if there were also Zhong Tong, Shen Tong, and Yunda. It would be perfect to have the four major logistics companies and one express service of the modern era...

Just as Ye Yu's thoughts were wandering, a commotion came from outside the Great Hall of the Great Hero. He, like the other pilgrims, turned to look.

Two middle-aged men dressed as scholars walked into the hall. Ye Yu recognized the younger one, who was none other than Yang Wanli, the official of the tea monopoly office in this state.

Seeing the two men enter, Master Huizhong, who was in the hall, hurriedly greeted them with a solemn expression. He came close, clasped his hands together, and bowed: "We did not have the honor of welcoming you from afar, but please forgive us!"

The two men quickly walked a few steps to return the bow. Yang Wanli smiled warmly and replied, "I heard that the master is seeking painters to create Buddhist paintings to celebrate the Buddha's birthday. Today happens to be the Buddha's birthday, and I and my friend have each painted one. I hope the master will not hesitate to give us your guidance!"

"Amitabha, Master Yang is too modest. If we talk about painting skills, how dare I give guidance! Please, gentlemen!" Master Huizhong, with a calm and peaceful demeanor, gestured for the two men to hang their paintings on one side of the hall.

As the two men passed, the crowd made way for them. Ye Yu, still sitting in the corner, listened to the murmurs of the crowd and learned that Master Huizhong of Langya Temple was seeking Buddhist paintings to celebrate the Buddha's birthday.

At this moment, he wanted to see Yang Wanli's painting. He was familiar with the names of the four great painters of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Yang Wanli was one of them.

"Brother Shi, you go first!" Yang Wanli humbly gestured for the gray-robed man beside him to display his painting first.

The gray-robed scholar did not dare to overstep, and humbly said, "How dare I!"

"Ah! Brother Shi is a master painter, why be so modest!"

"Then I, Shi Wansong, will take the liberty to show my humble work!" The gray-robed scholar bowed slightly to Yang Wanli and Master Huizhong, and then instructed the child who followed him to hang his painting on the left side of the hall.

Swish!

Then the two paintings were unfolded like waterfalls, and the crowd gathered their attention on the hanging scrolls.

As the scrolls were unfolded, the onlookers marveled and showed respect, with some pilgrims clasping their hands together and reciting the Heart Sutra. For a moment, the hall was filled with whispers and discussions.

Standing beside the painting, Shi Wansong gently stroked his three-inch beard and praised Yang Wanli's painting: "Master Yang's painting of the Eighteen Arhats is vivid and lifelike, as if they are leaping out of the paper. It is truly extraordinary! Extraordinary!"

Yang Wanli, however, laughed heartily and said, "Brother Shi, my work is not as good as your 'Damo Crossing the River on a Reed'! Your portrayal of Patriarch Damo is truly exquisite and vivid!"

Shi Wansong, flattered by Yang Wanli's praise, felt a bit elated, his goatee slightly raised, and he bowed with a smile, "Master Yang is too kind!"

The onlookers, unable to judge the quality of the paintings, all nodded in agreement. However, Master Xuanhui, who had been silent, showed a hint of disappointment.

Sitting in the corner, Ye Yu also saw the two paintings. After looking at them, he shook his head slightly, then turned his gaze away and stopped listening to the scholars' flattery.

At this moment, a commotion in the hall startled Ye Yu, as he heard Su Yueyun's cry of alarm.

Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a commotion in the crowd, but the people in front blocked his view, making it impossible to see what was happening.

In a hurry, Ye Yu wheeled his wheelchair and pushed through the crowd. When he finally reached the center, he saw Su Yueyun being helped up by Qiulan. Her white dress was stained with dust, clearly indicating that she had fallen.

Beside her stood a young man, who, with a smile, tried to help her up but was angrily pushed away by Su Yueyun, who was in pain.

After regaining her balance, Su Yueyun signaled Qiulan to help her leave, but the young man reached out to stop her.

Seeing this, Ye Yu became angry. He recognized the young man immediately—it was Ye Mingzhi.

Frowning, he coldly said to Ye Mingzhi, "Ye Mingzhi, what do you want?"

Qiulan and Su Yueyun, seeing Ye Yu approach, hurriedly walked to his side, glaring angrily at Ye Mingzhi, "Brother Yu, he... he..."

"What did I do? I just wanted to offer incense with you, young lady..." Ye Mingzhi, seeing Ye Yu, was taken aback but then sneered.

Qiulan, hearing this, was indignant, "Master, don't listen to him. He tried to take advantage of Miss Su, and that's why she twisted her ankle!"

"Little sister, don't say more..."

Su Yueyun, being a well-bred young lady, did not speak as directly as Qiulan. Her face turned red, and she turned her head, quietly asking Qiulan to stop.

Hearing this, Ye Mingzhi felt the crowd's disapproving gaze and tried to defend himself, "Lying! I am a scholar, how could I do such a frivolous thing!"

Hmph! The more educated, the more blatant they are in such matters, and they even call themselves romantic! After hearing the accounts, Ye Yu guessed what had happened.

Today is the Buddha's birthday, and he did not want to ruin the two ladies' mood, so he frowned and said sternly, "Ye Mingzhi, there are some women you should never touch! If it happens again..."

"So what if it happens again?" Ye Mingzhi, hearing Ye Yu's threat, became furious.

"I hope it doesn't happen again, or you will regret it!" Ye Yu said, then ignored Ye Mingzhi and signaled the two ladies to finish their incense offering and leave.

"Hold on!" At this moment, Shi Wansong, who had come with Yang Wanli, stepped into the crowd.

Seeing him, Ye Yu knew that anyone who could accompany Yang Wanli must be no ordinary person, so he respectfully bowed and asked, "What is it, sir?"

"You can't just leave like this?" Shi Wansong glared at Su Yueyun with anger.

Oh! Ye Mingzhi, who caused trouble, has retreated, and now you, Shi Wansong, are stepping in.

At this moment, Yang Wanli also stepped in, nodded to Ye Yu, and patted Shi Wansong's shoulder, "Brother Shi, let it go, it was unintentional!"

"Master Yang, how can this be let go? The loss to me is small, but the disrespect on the Buddha's birthday is great!" Shi Wansong was still furious and did not back down despite Yang Wanli's persuasion.

Hearing this, Ye Yu was puzzled and asked, "If we have offended you, please speak up!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Wansong's face turned extremely dark, and he pointed at Su Yueyun, scolding her, "You are truly reckless, ruining my 'Damo Crossing the River on a Reed'! How disrespectful!"

He then turned away, his face full of anger.

Hearing Shi Wansong's words, Ye Yu and the crowd turned their attention to the hanging scroll.

They were surprised to find that the painting had changed. A black dot had appeared precisely on the brow of Patriarch Damo...

A black mole on the brow, causing everyone to be shocked! No one expected that the three incense sticks that Su Yueyun had dropped when she fell would hit the painting.

Seeing this, Ye Mingzhi smiled coldly, then pretended to be indignant and accused, "Today is the Buddha's birthday. In this public place, this woman's ignorance has desecrated the Buddha's image. Even if Mr. Shi does not pursue it, it will be hard for the pilgrims here to let it go!"

His words stirred up a wave of anger. The crowd, who had been looking at the scene with strange expressions, now turned their anger towards Su Yueyun.

For a moment, the hall was filled with accusations and condemnation. Even though Su Yueyun tried to explain that it was unintentional, her voice was drowned out by the wave of criticism.

Shi Wansong, hearing this, became even more furious at Su Yueyun for ruining his painting. Ye Mingzhi, seeing the fire he had ignited, felt a sense of satisfaction.

He thought, "In the face of public anger, I wonder how Ye Yu will defend his beloved."

He glared at Su Yueyun and thought to himself, "If you don't know your place, it's your own fault! What I can't have, I'd rather destroy!"

Yang Wanli, at a loss, could only use his official position to calm the crowd. In the end, he had to rely on Master Huizhong for help.

Yang Wanli knew that at this moment, Master Huizhong, as the abbot, was the most persuasive.

Master Huizhong, with a calm demeanor, held his prayer beads and said to the crowd, "Amitabha, all of you making such a commotion in the Great Hall of the Great Hero, is no different from desecrating the divine."

His words hit the point, and the crowd in the hall fell silent.

"Master..."

Shi Wansong, still unwilling to let it go, was interrupted by Master Huizhong, "Buddhists are compassionate. If you have no Buddha in your heart, why be so attached? If you have Buddha in your heart, why be so attached?"

Due to Master Huizhong's persuasion, the crowd could not say much more.

Shi Wansong, still angry, glared at Ye Yu and the others and said, "Since the master is compassionate, I will not pursue the woman's offense of defiling the painting!"

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