Seeing that Master Xu Yun did not deny it, Song Wei was once again shocked, "Mr. Liu is actually a monk?"
Master Xu Yun said frankly, "Abbot Cunxin was often ill as a child, and many doctors could not cure him. His biological parents had his fortune told, and the fortune teller said he wasn’t a person of the secular world and couldn’t bear the pollution of the mundane world. Because of this statent, he was sent at the age of five to a high monk who traveled around, and later, when the Monarch ordered the establishnt of the Huguo Temple, the high monk was invited to reside there permanently, and Cunxin beca a disciple of the Huguo Temple.
At the age of twenty-five, Cunxin’s family experienced a great upheaval, and all the clan mbers were wiped out. Only he, having beco a monk from a young age, escaped the disaster. In order to pass down the Atlas of Divine Weapons painstakingly drawn by the Family Head, he requested to return to secular life, married, and had children among the people, and from then on lived in the world under the na ’Mr. Liu’.
After the four paintings were published, Mr. Liu’s offspring had grown up, his body was also increasingly frail, but he still took monastic vows again before his death, returned to the Huguo Temple, and finally passed away in the Dharma Hall."
Speaking of this, Master Xu Yun lanted, "Abbot Cunxin is the only disciple in our temple who returned to secular life and took monastic vows again, yet everyone admires him."
Song Wei pondered, "No wonder the nas of the four paintings are so strange, it turns out they refer to Abbot Cunxin."
Coming back to his senses, Song Wei looked at Master Xu Yun, "May I see the statue of Abbot Cunxin?"
"Of course you may." Master Xu Yun nodded in agreent.
As Song Wei left the ditation room, he noticed Su Yaoqi holding a broom, sweeping the snow in the courtyard, his expression particularly focused and serious. Standing there, he exuded an unprecedented sense of peace.
Seeing Song Wei staring at Su Yaoqi, Master Xu Yun murmured an "Amitabha Buddha," "Do you believe in past lives?"
Song Wei realized sothing and looked towards Su Yaoqi, his pupil shrank, "Could it be he is..."
Master Xu Yun returned a smile that could only be understood but not explained in words.
Imdiately following, Master Xu Yun called to a disciple, "Shikong."
Su Yaoqi put down the broom, walked over with his hands joined together, his eyes clear, "Master, what are your instructions?"
"Take these two patrons to see the statue of Abbot Cunxin on the back mountain," Master Xu Yun instructed.
Su Yaoqi hesitated, "Didn’t Master say that place is off-limits to anyone other than you and the disciples?"
"Those who are destined to see the statue naturally are the predestined," Master Xu Yun kindly replied, "Go ahead."
"Disciple obeys."
Su Yaoqi turned to Song Wei and Wen Wan, "This way, please, patrons."
After speaking, he led the way.
Wen Wan walked side by side with Song Wei, recalling the half sentence Song Wei didn’t finish earlier, she quietly asked him, "Husband, did you an that Su Yaoqi is the reincarnation of Abbot Cunxin?"
"Perhaps!"
Soone often sick, soone the family couldn’t afford to support, both entered the Buddhist path and began to transcend and understand.
Reincarnating in one lifeti, he ended up walking the sa path as in his previous life again.
In his contemplation, Song Wei unwittingly found himself outside a secretive and heavy stone gate on the back mountain.
Su Yaoqi said, "This place is a restricted area of Fahua Temple. Usually, only Master and I enter for cleaning. Master has instructed that the statue of Abbot Cunxin can only be viewed from a distance, not touched up close."
The Song Wei couple both nodded, "Please rest assured, little monk."
Su Yaoqi smiled, used his hand to turn the chanism, and opened the stone gate.
Inside was very spacious, arranged like a Buddha hall, except that it was not a Buddha statue that was worshipped, but a statue of Abbot Cunxin, covered in robes, sitting just like a Buddha.
A wooden fence surrounded the statue, impossible to touch.
Unlike the grand and solemn Buddha statue, the statue of Abbot Cunxin was life-sized, much smaller than the Buddha statue.
Song Wei asked Su Yaoqi, "Little monk, do you know who made this statue?"
Su Yaoqi shook his head, "Master didn’t say, and I’m not particularly sure either."
Song Wei did not question further but carefully observed the statue up close, failing to discern anything, and eventually followed Su Yaoqi back to Master Xu Yun’s ditation room.
Master Xu Yun asked, "Did you find the answer, patron?"
"Not yet," Song Wei said truthfully, "perhaps I haven’t gathered enough clues."
Master Xu Yun nodded, "Old monk can only help you this far, the rest is up to you."
Song Wei expressed his gratitude, then turned to talk about the baby in Wen Wan’s belly, "I think this child is destined with Master, can we ask you to grant it a na?"
Master Xu Yun graciously bestowed a single na "Fu".
The couple thanked the Master and soon descended the mountain.
In the carriage on the way back, Wen Wan gently stroked her abdon, softly murmuring the na Master bestowed, "Song Fu, it sounds like bringing fortune."
"The first two brought you wealth and treasures, what’s wrong with this one bringing fortune?" Song Wei’s voice clearly carried joy.
"Of course, it’s good," Wen Wan said, "I really like this na."
Song Wei smiled faintly: "If you like it, take good care of yourself and try to give birth to it safely."
Wen Wan could sowhat discern that her husband feared the tragedy of Lin Xiaoyue might befall her as well.
"I will be fine." A smile curved on Wen Wan’s lips, "Even if sothing happens, your little lady will find a way to avoid it."
Song Wei looked at her and silently smiled.
After entering the West City Gate, Song Wei first took Wen Wan ho. Then, he asked Uncle Lin to turn around and head towards the Imperial City, intending to et Emperor Guangxi.
Upon arriving at Qianqing Palace, Song Wei was surprised to find Old Marquis Lu and Elder Qi there as well.
The Jinyi Guard acted swiftly, having brought everyone back unhard. At this mont, the few of them were all vexed over four paintings.
Seeing Song Wei, Emperor Guangxi couldn’t help but say, "Scholar Song always avoids discussing official matters during holidays, so why have you co to the palace on your own today?"
Song Wei cupped his hands, "To be frank, Your Majesty, I made a trip to Fahua Temple today and inadvertently discovered so clues."
"Oh?" Emperor Guangxi’s interest was piqued imdiately, "Quickly, tell , what clues?"
Song Wei turned his eyes towards the scrolls, his gaze especially fixed on the painting nas, "All along, we have been mistaken in our direction. The nas of the four paintings neither correspond to locations nor to the paintings themselves. They rely serve as a hint that all clues lie with Abbot Cunxin."
"Abbot Cunxin?" Old Marquis Lu and Elder Qi both turned around, looking at Song Wei in shock.
Old Marquis Lu asked, "Who is that?"
"He was the first abbot of the Huguo Temple during the Jin Dynasty."
Following up, Song Wei recounted the story of Abbot Cunxin as told by Master Xu Yun.
Of course, he deliberately concealed the relationship between Su Yaoqi and Abbot Cunxin.
He only hinted while summarizing, "If it weren’t for the excessive suspicion of the Emperor back then, the Liu Family wouldn’t have been destroyed, and Abbot Cunxin wouldn’t have chosen such a thod to pass the atlas to future generations. The Jin Dynasty also wouldn’t have perished so quickly without the aid of Liu’s Divine Weapon."
Emperor Guangxi, shocked that Mr. Liu was a monk, caught the veiled criticism in Song Wei’s words and imdiately scoffed, "You impudent brat, how dare you jump on my back and scrape scales?"
Song Wei’s expression remained calm, "I am rely summarizing the reasons for the previous dynasty’s downfall from the perspective of later generations, without implying anyone. Moreover, with a warning from the past right there, how could such a wise monarch like Your Majesty possibly follow the old path to the ruin of the Jin Dynasty?"
Veins bulged on Emperor Guangxi’s forehead, "Hmph!"
Seeing this, Old Marquis Lu quickly advised, "Let’s continue discussing Abbot Cunxin instead."
Song Wei glanced at Emperor Guangxi’s expression from the corner of his eye and silently smiled, soon focusing all his attention on Abbot Cunxin.
"There’s definitely sothing wrong with the abbot’s statue." Song Wei resolutely said, "The secret of the statue lies beneath these four paintings."
...
Emperor Guangxi spared no resources, offering a substantial reward. Many in the city claid to be skilled in deinking, but only three were selected to enter the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Guangxi assigned Song Wei to test them.
Song Wei set up many obstacles, increasingly difficult as they progressed, and none of the three succeeded even halfway through.
Song Wei shook his head, "They must have only learned superficially and cannot unveil those four paintings."
One must know that these four are unique in the world, and any slight mishap would seal the Divine Weapon Atlas forever.
On this matter, Song Wei dared not take any chances.
...
He encountered the true Master of Deinking at the Lantern Festival fair, while Song Wei was taking his wife and children out to admire the lights.
This year’s lantern tower prepared a grand finale lantern, rumored to be extrely beautiful.
With a finale lantern cos riddles.
The lantern master prepared a hundred riddles; whoever can guess the last one gets to win tonight’s grand finale lantern.
Currently gathered in front of the lantern tower were literati and scholars, all aiming for the finale lantern.
While everyone was eager to showcase their talents, a scruffy drunkard passed by unnoticed, stumbling as he accidentally knocked over a lantern from a girl selling them nearby.
The girl’s grandfather was dyeing other lanterns and, when the knocked-over lantern fell, it landed on the dye, completely covering the patterned side.
The drunkard intended to pay and leave, but seeing the girl cry, he had no choice but to squat down and pick up the lantern.
From the pavilion, Song Wei saw there were too many people and couldn’t clearly see the drunkard’s specific actions. He only saw him take sothing out of his pocket, quickly pouring it on the lantern, then taking the lantern to dry over a charcoal basin, and finally doing sothing else, like magic, to restore the previous lantern.
The girl, seeing the lantern restored, imdiately stopped crying, and a sweet smile appeared on her small face as she took the lantern.
Song Wei called Wei Qian over, instructing him, "Follow that master and find out his detailed address."
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