Chapter 8

After a light snowfall, the mountains were still white.

A group of visitors walked along the mountain path, their wooden clogs creaking, enjoying the scenery. Occasionally, playful squirrels darted through the forest, causing the snow on the pine trees to fall with a rustle, adding a unique charm.

"The Dongshan Temple, though small and not famous for its monks, has stood for two hundred years. I didn't expect this to happen today..."

Hearing this, a young monk in the middle of the group looked down at his feet. The path was paved with pebbles, clearly a recent construction.

After two turns, they could see the open temple gate halfway up the mountain.

There were no welcoming monks, so the group, mindful of their status, entered directly. They walked around and saw only a few monks sweeping the snow.

"Where do the distinguished guests come from?"

A childish voice sounded behind them. The young monk turned to see a young novice tilting his head curiously.

"I am Xuanzang, a monk, and I have come to pay respects to your abbot." The monk squatted down and smiled warmly, "Would you be willing to lead me there?"

The young novice thought for a moment and then nodded, running ahead to guide the group to a courtyard.

"Wrong, wrong!"

"Rumors spread that the temple will be abolished and four years of taxes will be levied, but that's just nonsense."

A clear voice sounded from inside the courtyard, "Someone must have spread the news of the tax levy, waiting for the temple to be abolished before reducing it, thus reducing the resentment."

"Though somewhat devious, it's a common tactic when one understands human nature."

The group outside exchanged glances; some frowned, some looked down, and some smiled. Finally, a middle-aged man with a stern face coughed loudly.

"Creak."

The young monk pushed open the door, surprised, and bowed, "Who are you..."

"I am Xuanzang, a monk, and I have come to pay respects to your abbot." Xuanzang's gaze involuntarily fell on a young man standing ten steps away.

This was a strikingly handsome young man, dressed in simple robes but with a tall and straight figure, a high nose, and neatly combed hair. Despite the snow, he was courteous and warm, his smile as gentle as jade.

"I apologize for my rash words, disturbing you all." Li Shan bowed respectfully.

"Who are you?" A young man stepped forward with a smile, "Your methods are devious, though well-spoken, but you have offended someone."

The others behind him looked uneasy, and the middle-aged man's face darkened.

"I am Li Shan, who came to Chang'an a few months ago to seek relatives, but was turned away." Li Shan's smile remained unchanged, "In a fit of anger, I attempted suicide, and the elders brought me here, hoping that Buddhism could help me overcome my anger."

Xuanzang joined his hands in a bow, "What is anger?"

"Anger is the nature of harming others with pleasure." Li Shan sighed, "Greed, anger, and ignorance harm the body and mind, leading to endless suffering, the root of all evil."

Xuanzang was silent for a moment before softly saying, "Please lead me to the abbot."

Li Shan led the way without changing his expression, but inwardly he was cursing. To inspect without prior notice... in his previous life, he hated such surprise inspections the most.

Passing through the courtyard, Xuanzang, the young man, and the stern-faced middle-aged man followed Li Shan into a small hall.

The young man casually looked up and read a hanging scroll, "The body is a bodhi tree, the mind a bright mirror stand. Always keep them clean, lest they be stained with dust."

Xuanzang glanced at it briefly and then looked at Li Shan, "Is the abbot meditating inside?"

"Yes."

"Please lead the way."

After a few more steps, the middle-aged man was surprised to see another scroll, "The bodhi tree is not a tree, the bright mirror is not a stand. Originally there is nothing, where can dust settle?"

The young man frowned in thought and sighed, "Brother Keming, these verses are full of Zen meaning."

As Li Shan pushed the door open to report, he glanced sideways... well, this trick didn't work on Xuanzang at all; he didn't even blink!

The two outside had some insights, but Xuanzang went straight in and saw a withered old monk sitting cross-legged. He bowed, "I am Xuanzang, a monk from the Pure Land Temple in Luoyang. May I know the abbot's Dharma name?"

The old monk nodded and then turned to look at Li Shan.

"The abbot's Dharma name is Wuchao." Li Shan said softly, "The Zen master settled at Dongshan Temple years ago and has been practicing silent meditation for ten years without speaking."

Xuanzang, who had been calm, was taken aback. How could they discuss Buddhism if the abbot was in silent meditation?

How could they inspect the temple without discussing Buddhism?

How could they determine if the temple should be abolished?

As a Buddhist, Xuanzang was naturally dissatisfied with the order to abolish temples, but to encounter such a challenge on the first visit...

Xuanzang was silent for a moment, "Reducing verbal karma and avoiding disaster often involves using a sign of silence, but I have never heard of ten years of silence."

"The mouth is the gateway to the heart." Li Shan said softly, "When the mouth is closed, all sounds are superior; when the heart is calm, all things are lovely."

Seeing Xuanzang deep in thought, Li Shan handed him two books, "These are the Zen master's notes from years ago, along with copied scriptures."

Xuanzang flipped through them and suddenly his face changed, "This is the 'Diamond Sutra'?"

"Why is it different from the translations by Kumarajiva and Dharmagupta?"

Li Shan breathed a silent sigh of relief; it was effective.

"The 'Heart Sutra' is also very different from Kumarajiva's translation..."

"Zen master, where did these scriptures come from?"

Before entering, Xuanzang was cold, but now he was flushed with excitement... well, he was a Buddhist.

In Xuanzang's fervent gaze, the withered face of Zen Master Wuchao showed a hint of satisfaction. He lifted his hand and pointed with his index finger.

"Zen master, what does this mean?"

Xuanzang was taken aback. When he asked again, Zen Master Wuchao had closed his eyes.

"Mr. Li, what does the Zen master mean?"

Li Shan blinked, thought for a moment, and shook his head, wondering if Xuanzang was being foolish. Wasn't it obvious?

You have to pay for shoes; how can you expect to know the origin of the scriptures without giving anything?

When the flustered Xuanzang walked out, the two outside were surprised. This young monk, though young, was recommended by the ten great virtuous monks and was well-known in the Buddhist community for his extensive knowledge. Yet he had entered and come out so flustered.

"Zen master, how is it?" The young man couldn't help but ask.

Xuanzang nodded and then shook his head, pointing in the air, suddenly thoughtful, "This is from the South..."

"Oh, oh, in the room, that was the West!" Li Shan quickly corrected, "The West refers to..."

"It's from India!" Xuanzang's face lit up, "It must be the true scriptures from India!"

Well, you guessed it yourself, it has nothing to do with us.

Li Shan accompanied Xuanzang all the way to the foot of the mountain, but heard no hints from him.

Watching the carriage drive away, Li Shan wondered if today's performance was a success or a failure.

Xuanzang was definitely going to India during the Zhen Guan era. It was only the fourth year of Wu De now, so he should be very interested in scriptures from India... Li Shan couldn't help but speculate, could the monk already have the intention to go to India for the scriptures?

Since the first plan didn't work, he would have to use the backup plan. Li Shan called Zhu Ba, "Are you ready?"

"Long ready, I've already sent someone to follow him. We'll know where the monk is staying tonight."