novelhk Page 392
Page 392
After all, Tibet suffered heavy losses this time. Several major temples had thousands of people, including at least a thousand warrior monks, and there were at least five top-level masters among them.
Moreover, there were those lost national treasures; how could Tibet possibly suffer such a huge loss?
Those with such strength must be experts from the Central Plains. Considering that he had just come out of seclusion, Zhang Xiaoshan was not surprised at all by his suspicions about Tibet.
"Young master, would you like to...?"
Seeing the murderous intent in Liu Sheng Piaoxu's eyes, Zhang Xiaoshan shook his head.
Killing these people would be tantamount to admitting guilt without being asked, wouldn't it? Although Zhang Xiaoshan was somewhat wary of the Empress, he also believed she wouldn't fall into the trap set by these Tibetans; he was confident she would understand by tomorrow.
Then these Tibetan delegations will understand the Grand Master's wrath.
"By the way, have Master Mingchen put away the image of Guru Padmasambhava. I'm afraid that monk will come to test us later."
The Zhang family wasn't afraid of those monks, but Zhang Xiaoshan didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.
After all, the court could not ignore the consequences of the matter being exposed, and the Tibetans would also launch a joint attack, showing great hostility towards the Zhang family.
Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoshan had a thought, remembering a treasure—
Elixir of Immortality!
The allure of the elixir of immortality would surely be irresistible to the Tibetans.
He was not afraid of Tibet, but he was not strong enough to destroy Tibet directly. The best way was to show enough 'sincerity' to make the Tibetan king lower his guard.
A quarter of an hour later, Liu Sheng returned, but this time he was followed by Kumārajīva and the monk Faming.
Talk about Cao Cao, Cao Cao is here!
Kumārajīva's actions were absolutely lightning fast, aiming to catch Zhang Xiaoshan off guard.
To this end, they even invited the abbot of the royal temple, Wang Faming, clearly worried that Zhang Xiaoshan would be killed to silence him after being exposed.
However, Zhang Xiaoshan showed no intention of turning around and continued to quietly watch the water.
The two men were not surprised at all when they saw Zhang Xiaoshan fishing, because everyone in Kyushu knew that Zhang Xiaoshan usually loved fishing.
I go deep-sea fishing almost every year, which is how I get the precious seafood from the Red Mansion and the Empire State Building.
"This humble monk Faming (Kumārajīva) greets you, sir!"
"Please have a seat, esteemed masters. It is a rare treat to have such leisure time. You are truly exceptional guests."
At this moment, Liu Sheng Piaoxu also took out a carpet and placed it next to Zhang Xiaoshan, so that the two monks could sit cross-legged and rest.
Faming and Kumārajīva looked at the fishing rod in Zhang Xiaoshan's hand, and then at the many river delicacies beside him, and couldn't help but sigh:
“Amitabha, young master, you fish at this rate, catching at least a hundred catties at a time. Since you can’t eat that much, why bother fishing so much?”
After all, the young master lacks nothing; his life of luxury is incomparable to these things. On the contrary, for those fishermen whose livelihood depends on their catch, every extra hundred catties the young master catches means a hundred catties of lost harvest for them.
Zhang Xiaoshan glanced at Kumārajīva, who was advising her to stop, and couldn't help but chuckle:
"…|| Have you ever heard the story of the oil-drinking old man and the butcher Ding who dissects an ox? Skill is close to the Tao, so why do you covet those unique skills from the Central Plains?"
After all, even the master's Flaming Saber and the seventy-two Shaolin skills didn't reach the level of 'Buddha.' Didn't he know that trying to do too much at once leads to failure?
Zhang Xiaoshan's words left even Kumārajīva speechless, his head bowed in silence.
A strange turn of events?
But Zhang Xiaoshan knew his background too well. He wanted to persuade Zhang Xiaoshan to stop, but Zhang Xiaoshan responded in kind!
"Amitabha Buddha, Master Kumārajīva means to advise the young master not to kill too many living beings, after all, these fish are also living beings."
"Given your status, young master, you're one in a hundred. Why not spare the remaining fish?"
“Master Faming is compassionate, and I, Zhang, should not have ignored his advice.”
Although Zhang didn't eat the fish himself, he sent most of them to the dockside canteen to supplement the nutrition of the laborers.
The law of nature is survival of the fittest.
Since ancient times, humans have been raising livestock and have stood at the top of the food chain. Fish are food for humans, just as pests are food for birds.
Buddhism values life, that's true, but equally true is the necessity for people to eat fish for survival!
"Humans need to eat to survive, but they don't necessarily have to eat fish; they can eat wild beasts that pose a threat to humans."
Fish, they just want to swim freely; they are innocent to humans (okay, okay)!
"The master is wrong!"
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the astonished Faming and Kumārajīva, and couldn't help but chuckle:
"Do the two masters know the story of the wolf and the sheep?"
"Please enlighten me on the story of the wolf and the sheep, young master!"
Faming listened respectfully to the teachings; there was no conflict between them, it was merely a simple debate.
"There was once a shepherd who was herding sheep in the mountains and forests. The sheep ate grass and leaves, while there was also a pack of wolves in the mountains and forests who ate the sheep. In order to herd the sheep, the hunter killed all the wolves in the mountains and forests with crossbows. Without the threat, the sheep ate the grass and leaves in the mountains and forests without restraint, and the number of sheep increased year by year."
What did the two masters think of the outcome?
"Amitabha Buddha, is it really possible that the sheep have eaten all the grass and leaves on the mountain?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Faming in surprise, thinking, "He truly lives up to his reputation as a great monk."
At the same time, Kumārajīva also understood Zhang Xiaoshan's meaning: if the number of sheep is limited, their numbers will increase, and they will inevitably eat all the grass, leaves, and bark on the mountain.
In the end, the mountain became barren.
"The Way follows nature. What is the Way?"
Even with the laws of nature, the five elements generating each other, yin and yang complementing each other, and nature having its own cyclical laws, the carnivorous chain!
If the shepherd intervenes forcefully, he is wrong!
The shepherds here are not the fish farmers, but those who are targeting them, and who just tried to get Zhang Xiaoshan to release the river fish he caught.
Chapter 463 Kumārajīva's Test: The Perfect Crime Scene
"Please have a seat, both masters!"
Upon arriving at the Zhang family's villa, what they saw and heard along the way, while not as magnificent and classically elegant as they had imagined, revealed a simple yet luxurious style that made them marvel at the Zhang family's extraordinary nature.
Inside the study, Liu Sheng Piaoxu brought over the cat poop coffee that Zhang Xiaoshan had ordered.
"This is musk coffee, exclusively supplied to the Persian royal family!"
Coffee is like tea in the Central Plains. However, ordinary coffee tastes extremely bitter, but it can refresh the mind. Therefore, it was very popular among ascetics in Persia, to the point that it became the 'tea' of Persia!
Tea also varies in quality, just like the famous teas of the Central Plains that were exclusively supplied to the imperial family. This musk coffee was a famous tea that the Zhang family supplied to the Persian imperial family.
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's introduction, even Kumārajīva and Faming couldn't help but become curious.
They were naturally aware of the Zhang family's business dealings with Persia, but they never imagined that the Zhang family was so powerful that they could supply coffee exclusively to the Persian royal family.
This is like the rouge of the Yuezhi people, which is extremely rare and expensive in the Central Plains!
"Thank you for your hospitality, young master!"
Faming didn't feel anything, savoring the slight sweetness amidst the bitterness, finding it endlessly enjoyable.
Anything that can withstand the test of time is a good thing, no matter where it is.
Kumārajīva's mind was elsewhere; he was looking at the furnishings in Zhang Xiaoshan's study, which were filled with rare and precious treasures.
However, he didn't see what he wanted to see.
"The Imperial Preceptor seems to be searching for something? Could he be looking for the stolen Buddhist treasure?"
Zhang Xiaoshan's deep voice boomed in Kumārajīva's ear, startling him awake. Kumārajīva looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with a fearful expression.
"This humble monk would not presume; I merely wish to admire your collection, young master."
I don't think that the scheme set up by Tibet this time is obviously aimed at the Zhang family.
Mr. Zhang had some knowledge of the culture of the Western Regions and had also heard of Tantric Buddhism. After all, there was a great master in the Zhang family practicing the Anuttarayoga Tantric Buddhism in the Buddhist hall.
323 I heard that the expert who protected the treasure this time was a Dharma protector monk who was close to the Living Buddha. He was forced to steal the treasure because he was threatened.
But as far as Zhang knew, if the Living Buddha did not die, these Dharma protectors would never leave his side, let alone threaten him with his life or death.
Now that the Living Buddha has passed away, it's even less likely that he would threaten them with his death.
not good!
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's eloquent speech, Kumārajīva felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
Faming, in particular, looked at Kumārajīva with curiosity.
He just watched, without getting involved.
If the Tibetan Tantric sect was truly targeting the Zhang family, he could only mourn for the sect, completely unaware of how terrifying the Zhang family was.
"Young Master Zhang is joking. Tibet has no grudge against the Zhang family, so how could it possibly target the Zhang family?"
These Dharma protectors are escorting the relics of a Living Buddha, a supreme Buddhist treasure of Esoteric Buddhism. They are acting on the Living Buddha's orders to personally deliver them to the Empress for consecration and enlightenment!
"Is it?"
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Kumārajīva, and even Faming felt that this was a far-fetched argument.
Moreover, how could the Tantric sect possibly part with such a precious Buddhist treasure as the relics of a Living Buddha? Even if they did, it would likely be the Tantric sect itself that was stealing them, with no outsiders involved.
"Zhang has some connection with Buddhism. The first generation of elders in the Zhang family were the five great monks of Buddhism."
Since the Tibetan Tantric sect has set a trap for the Zhang family, there must be some misunderstanding. Why don't we talk it out? If they're plotting something behind our backs, then don't blame the Zhang family for being ruthless.
Zhang Xiaoshan's oppressive aura, which arose without warning, was so strong that even Faming couldn't help but feel immense pressure.
At the same time, he looked at Kumārajīva, also wondering why Tibet was suddenly targeting the Zhang family.
All of the previous events clearly contained huge flaws, which Zhang Xiaoshan had pointed out correctly.
"Amitabha Buddha, young master, you've misunderstood..."
"In that case, see them out!"
Upon hearing this, Faming quickly got up to take his leave!
He was only accompanying Kumārajīva to visit a friend and had no intention of getting involved in the Zhang family's mess.
Now it's clear that Kumārajīva isn't telling the truth; he doesn't want to offend the Zhang family, who are currently enjoying great influence, for the sake of the Tibetan people.
"Amitabha, young master, please wait."
Since you've gotten straight to the point, young master, I'll venture to ask: did you emerge from seclusion recently, and if so, what was the purpose?
"Leaving the pass? The master is referring to the matter of Zhang and the princess leaving the pass."
During that journey outside the pass, Zhang stayed with the princess. Their purpose was to explore the mysterious Kunlun Mountains, where the Queen Mother of the West is said to have refined the elixir of immortality.
As he spoke, to the astonishment of Kumārajīva and Faming, Zhang Xiaoshan opened the secret chamber and took out three treasures from it!
Dragon vein, elixir of immortality, black snake jade disc!
"These are the spoils from the last trip; these two items are burial objects of the Queen Mother of the West:"
The box contains a piece of Hetian black jade of the "Spiritual Treasure" grade, carved with the totem of the Queen Mother of the West's kingdom—the nine-headed serpent; inside is the elixir of immortality refined by the Queen Mother of the West; and this spine is the remains of the Queen Mother of the West.
what?
Upon hearing that Zhang Xiaoshan had destroyed the tomb of the Queen Mother of the West, both Faming and Kumārajīva showed expressions of shock.
They didn't even spare the corpses of others.
"Amitabha Buddha, does the young master mean that his journey to the border is for the tomb of the Queen Mother of the West?"
"That's right. At that time, besides the imperial court, there were also four factions of tomb raiders. After all, such things require professional people!"
“Amitabha, this humble monk knows about this matter.”
Some time ago, members of four different tomb-raiding factions arrived from beyond the Great Wall, bringing with them millions of gold coins, causing a great uproar!
Even with the testimony of the monk Faming, Kumārajīva never expected that the Zhang family had actually gone to rob tombs.
It even brought in a massive amount of gold, amounting to millions.
“Master Faming is mistaken. This gold was not obtained from an ancient tomb, but was excavated from ruins near the Longmen Inn.”
The story goes like this: The three of us met at the Dragon Gate Inn. Zhang, having nothing to do that evening, searched the ruins near the inn, for the Dragon Gate Inn was located there to await the treasure that appears only once every sixty years!