Chapter 73

Qin Yu is still quite trusting of Master Zhi Ren. The fact that he could guard Zhui Ying for so many years without secretly peeking at it, this level of integrity alone earns his admiration.

Qin Yu also has a good impression of the monks at Guangxiao Temple. For so many years, they have guarded Zhui Ying for centuries based solely on the words of a certain generation's master, without knowing the specifics. In terms of human relationships, he owes them, so if Guangxiao Temple encounters any trouble, Qin Yu will definitely not stand idly by.

"I didn't expect that the scene of the twin dragons soaring a few days ago was actually because of Layman Qin. It turns out that Layman Qin is a practitioner of the esoteric arts."

After hearing Qin Yu's words, Master Zhi Ren's face still showed deep shock. The ability to obscure the will of heaven, something Qin Yu could actually achieve, is truly beyond imagination.

"Does this mean that the two karmic ties on Mr. Qin are formed by these two hidden dragons?"

"That's right. The fall of these twin dragons can be said to be caused by me, and naturally, heaven will attribute this karmic debt to me."

"This is a bit difficult." Zhi Ren frowned. Although Buddhism preaches "lay down the butcher's knife, and instantly become a Buddha," Zhi Ren is very clear that this is just a means for Buddhism to promote its teachings and encourage people to do good. Karmic ties cannot be resolved, and one cannot become a Buddha.

"Let's do this. Layman Qin can go to our temple's lighthouse and light a perpetual lamp. Then, I and the other monks in the temple will recite scriptures and pray for Layman Qin. I believe this can resolve some of the karmic ties." After a long moment of contemplation, Zhi Ren said to Qin Yu.

"How can I accept that?" Qin Yu hurriedly refused.

The more famous and ancient the temple, the more they value perpetual lamps. For example, at Mount Emei and Mount Wutai, these Buddhist holy sites, a perpetual lamp can be priced at millions, and even then, it's not just a matter of money; one must be a sincere follower of Buddhism.

Qin Yu himself is not a Buddhist, and he has not made any significant contributions to Guangxiao Temple. He truly does not deserve such treatment from Master Zhi Ren.

"It's a pity that this poor monk has shallow cultivation and cannot offer more help to Layman Qin. I can only pray for Layman Qin through the perpetual lamp." Master Zhi Ren's words left no room for Qin Yu to refuse.

"Thank you, Master." Hearing Master Zhi Ren's determined tone, Qin Yu stood up and bowed deeply to him. Master Zhi Ren's words were clearly a sign of humility. A high monk like him would not easily recite scriptures and pray for others, even if they donated a large amount of incense money; at most, they would receive a word of thanks.

"Haha, Layman Qin is too polite. You have a connection with our Guangxiao Temple and have enlightened this poor monk. Reciting scriptures and praying for Layman Qin is something this poor monk should do."

Master Zhi Ren laughed. In fact, he was not without his own motives. He remembered the words of Master Jue Ming before his passing. Qin Yu would be the one to resolve the calamities that Guangxiao Temple would face in the future. By reciting scriptures and praying for Qin Yu now, he would ensure that Qin Yu would not stand idly by when Guangxiao Temple is in trouble.

The perpetual lamp tower of Guangxiao Temple is inside the Great Hero Hall. Master Zhi Ren led Qin Yu to the tower, where a novice monk was already waiting with an unlit perpetual lamp and a red paper.

Nowadays, many temples have perpetual lamp towers to attract incense offerings. As long as one donates a certain amount of money, they can obtain a perpetual lamp. These towers usually have a wooden plaque with the donor's name hanging above each lamp. When the lamps are full, some monks might remove the old plaques and replace them with new ones to collect more incense money.

Some temples, for convenience, have even created perpetual lamp towers with small light bulbs. As long as one donates a certain amount of money and presses a button, a perpetual lamp will light up. Such lamps are purely a way to deceive donors and have no real effect.

A true perpetual lamp requires the donor's birth date and time to be written on a red paper, which is then burned in the lamp, with the ashes falling into the lamp's oil. The lamp must be lit by the donor themselves and then blessed by a high monk before it can be hung in the perpetual lamp tower to receive the incense offerings.

Qin Yu wrote his birth date and time on the red paper and lit the perpetual lamp himself before handing it to Master Zhi Ren. Master Zhi Ren took the lamp and instructed the novice monk to place it in front of the main Buddha statue. He then apologized to Qin Yu and went to the back to bathe.

When Master Zhi Ren returned, he was wearing a kasaya and holding a wooden fish. Qin Yu recognized it as a magical tool at first glance.

The wooden fish was dark in color, with a large broken section in the middle, revealing the lighter wood inside. This indicated that the wooden fish had been used for a long time, at least fifty years.

"This wooden fish was given to me by my master when I first entered the Buddhist path. I have used it every time I recite scriptures and chant." Master Zhi Ren explained when he saw Qin Yu staring at the wooden fish.

"Master Zhi Ren is truly a high monk. After so many years of reciting scriptures and chanting, this wooden fish has become a magical tool. Truly, there are no ordinary things in the presence of the Buddha, and Master's Buddhist teachings are evident."

Qin Yu spoke sincerely, without any flattery. A simple wooden fish, after being used by Master Zhi Ren for so many years, had become a magical tool, which clearly demonstrated his profound understanding of Buddhism.

"Monks do not care about whether something is a magical tool or not. I have just been using this wooden fish for many years, and it feels natural. If I suddenly changed to a different one, I would feel uncomfortable."

Master Zhi Ren smiled and led Qin Yu to the center of the hall, where two cushions were already prepared. Master Zhi Ren sat on one cushion in the traditional Buddhist meditation posture, with his legs crossed.

Naturally, Qin Yu followed Master Zhi Ren's example and sat on the other cushion, bowing to the Buddha statue. Although Qin Yu is essentially a Daoist, he does not reject Buddhism. Both Daoism and Buddhism have their own unique methods and powers, and it's hard to say which is more powerful.

Master Zhi Ren maintained a meditative posture, with his eyes focused on his nose and his mouth on his heart. Behind him and Qin Yu, a row of monks stood with their hands clasped.

"Namamo Amitabha Buddha!"

The resonant sound of the wooden fish rang out as Master Zhi Ren called out the Buddha's name. The monks behind him also chanted "Namamo Amitabha Buddha" in unison.

"Please, Great Compassionate Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, have mercy and protect us!" Master Zhi Ren called out three times, and the monks behind him also followed suit.

"The supreme, profound, and subtle Dharma is hard to encounter in countless eons."

"May I now see and hear it, and hold it in my heart, wishing to understand the true meaning of the Tathagata."

The Buddhist phrases recited by Master Zhi Ren were understandable to Qin Yu. These are the opening verses of the Sutra of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, requesting the blessings of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Speaking of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the most familiar image to many is from the TV series where Sun Wukong wreaks havoc in the underworld, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva appears. In Buddhism, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is in charge of the cycle of hell and has made the great vow: "Until hell is empty, I will not become a Buddha; until all beings are saved, I will not attain enlightenment."

The Sutra of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is an important text in Buddhism, primarily aimed at eliminating the karmic ties of the person reciting the sutra or their relatives. However, Qin Yu could not understand the words that followed, but this did not hinder his understanding of the meaning of the sutra.

As the saying goes, "The greatest sound is silent, and the greatest form is formless." Qin Yu closed his eyes, entering a state of emptiness. He could clearly feel that as Master Zhi Ren recited the sutra and the monks chanted, beams of Buddhist light and spiritual energy began to move toward the perpetual lamp, gathering above the flame.

Qin Yu could clearly see that the light above Master Zhi Ren's head was the strongest, and almost half of the spiritual light above the perpetual lamp came from Master Zhi Ren. As the spiritual light slowly infused the perpetual lamp, Qin Yu could feel his connection to the lamp becoming increasingly intimate, as if he and the lamp were one.

This intangible connection was like an invisible thread linking Qin Yu and the perpetual lamp. The spiritual light infused into the lamp began to transfer through this thread to Qin Yu. Qin Yu could feel the two karmic ties on his body, the pale red auras, gradually becoming transparent, like a silkworm eating mulberry leaves, slow but perceptible.

With this discovery, a look of joy flashed across Qin Yu's face. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the pale red aura became transparent, signifying the complete resolution of the karmic tie.