Chapter 3 Looking up at the Bright Moon

The dining hall of the errand hall is simple and old, with wooden tables and benches, and green lights shining on people's faces.

You don't know until you see it. You will be shocked when you see it. Meng Qi entered the dining hall and found that there were fifty or sixty errand monks. From this point of view, the monks in Shaolin Temple may be counted in thousands.

In the gray monk robes, no one noticed Meng Qi and other new monks. They sat on benches and waited for the errand monks on duty to come in with food boxes.

"Little brother, sit here." Meng Qi was holding a big secret and was trapped in a strange place. It was rare for him to have a silly Zhenhui to accompany him. Therefore, he was quite caring for Zhenhui with an adult mentality, which could be regarded as a way to relieve his fear of strangers.

Zhenhui's expression was always serious, and there was no sign of shyness. He sat opposite Meng Qi with his eyes fixed on the food box nearby.

"This kid must have been hungry and stupid before, right?" Meng Qi whispered quietly, suspecting that Zhenhui's IQ was defective, otherwise he would not be so dull.

The monks on duty finally carried the food boxes to Meng Qi's table. When the lids were opened, the aroma filled his nose and penetrated his heart.

"What a nice smell!" Meng Qi couldn't help but exclaimed, wondering suspiciously: "Is the level of Shaolin's 'chef' really high? Or am I too hungry?"

The monk bent down to take the food out of the food box and placed it on the table one by one. Meng Qi looked at it and was stunned. This, this seems to be meat?

In the simple bowl in the center, the fat and greasy block should be meat, right?

But this is a Buddhist temple!

Meng Qi picked up the chopsticks with disbelief and planned to pick up a piece to taste, but after a few whooshes, chopsticks were stretched out from the left and right sides, and the meat in the bowl was immediately reduced by a whole layer. The monks at this table were all extraordinary in grabbing food.

Seeing Zhenhui's mouth full of grease, Meng Qi became more and more certain of his guess. While sighing that they were really good at snatching, he picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth.

Fatty but not greasy, melts in the mouth, and has an excellent taste. It is really delicious!

But it's really meat!

Meng Qi felt that only swear words could express his current mood. One is to cheer for his own appetite, and the other is to express his incredible mood.

"Hey, little junior brother." Meng Qi called Zhenhui softly.

Zhenhui used chopsticks quickly, his mouth kept moving, and his delicate face was full of concentration: "Hmm?"

"This is meat!" Meng Qi felt that he had an obligation to remind his little junior brother not to fall into the trap and violate the precepts.

Zhenhui nodded sincerely and said vaguely: "It's meat."

I'm not asking you... Meng Qi felt that it was a bit difficult for him to communicate with Zhenhui.

At this time, someone next to him said coldly: "Before you 'open up', only avoid meat and spicy food."

"Isn't meat just meat?" Meng Qi asked subconsciously, and then he realized that the person sitting next to him was his "roommate" Zhenguan.

Zhenguan did not stop eating, and said with a hint of sarcasm: "You seem to be a son of a rich family, but you don't even understand the word 'hut'?"

This hit Meng Qi's soft spot, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment. Suddenly, a young monk with a clear face in front of him smiled and said: "Hut and spiciness refer to things with strong flavors such as onions and garlic, not specifically meat. But in the past hundred years, people have often replaced meat with huts. It's normal that you don't know."

Meng Qi nodded gratefully, and the young monk continued: "My Buddhist sect originally only banned killing and huts and spiciness, but not meat. Later, out of compassion, it was gradually banned. However, our Shaolin is a major martial arts sect in the world, and disciples mostly do things to strengthen their bodies. If they don't eat meat and don't have magical herbs and elixirs to make up for it, they will inevitably damage their bodies. Therefore, the Shaolin Discipline states that before opening up, disciples should follow the original intention and only abstain from huts and spiciness, but not killing."

In other words, can we ask lay disciples or farmers down the mountain to slaughter? Meng Qi roughly understood what was going on. As a martial arts Buddhist sect, Shaolin must consider the condition of its disciples in the physical training stage, so it borrowed the original meaning of Buddhism and made a break.

Seeing that the young monk was very eloquent and clear in his speech, Meng Qi felt a liking for him and asked with a smile: "May I know your Dharma name, brother?"

"Zhenyan." The young monk's wooden chopsticks did not stop.

Meng Qi then asked: "Junior brother Zhending, may I ask what does 'opening up' mean?"

He relied on his young body and could completely excuse himself by saying that he had not been taught by his family to force the question.

Zhenyan laughed and pointed to the wooden table with his left hand: "You will know in the future, just take care of your appetite first."

Meng Qi looked in the direction of his finger and saw that the seven or eight large bowls of dishes on the table were half empty!

Damn! These bitches, they didn't even wait for me!

After cursing inwardly, Meng Qi picked up the wooden chopsticks and joined the team that was scrambling for food.

…………

After finally eating his fill, Meng Qi wiped his mouth and returned to the Zen room with Zhenhui as if he was taking a walk after dinner.

"Well, to be honest, the quality of this meal is still a little bit off. I thought it was delicious at first, but it was probably because I was too hungry." Meng Qi touched his stomach, burped, and commented on this dinner.

Zhenhui thought seriously: "What I ate before was not as good as this time, but since you think it's a little bit off, then it must be a little bit off."

"Ah, do you trust me so much?" Meng Qi saw that Zhenhui spoke quite logically and felt that he seemed to be saved, so he asked curiously along with his words.

Zhenhui raised his hand and touched his bald head, a little embarrassedly said: "I think you are a good person, not like others who hate me, so I believe you."

"On the Relationship between Childhood Encounters and Mental Illness"... This content came to Meng Qi's mind for some reason.

Just when he was about to brag again and establish a glorious image of his senior brother, Xuan Xin came over with a shy belly: "Hey, you two, go clean the yard, and I will expand your knowledge in the world. "

Expand your knowledge of the world? Meng Qi suddenly became interested. After asking where the brooms were stored, he called Zhenhui and went to the utility room in the corner of the yard.

As a handyman monk, you must be aware of being assigned things at any time. Meng Qi does not object to this, as long as it is not too excessive and not specifically targeted. Just like when studying or working, the class teacher or boss assigns tasks and arranges It’s not uncommon to do some general cleaning.

Brushing, brushing, the broom swept across the gray stone tile floor, raising dust and removing fallen leaves.

Meng Qi and Zhenhui's underdeveloped bodies were a bit reluctant to swing the brooms, but it was relatively easy. After all, the yard was cleaned frequently and it was not too dirty.

While sweeping, Meng Qi suddenly came up with a strange and interesting idea. He immediately smiled and pretended to be old: "Junior brother, are we Shaolin sweeping monks?"

Tsk, the path to advancement for a generation of masters.

"Well, sweeping monk." Zhenhui continued sweeping without raising his head.

Meng Qi's smile stuck on his lips, he sighed, and thought to himself: "It's boring if you don't understand the meaning!"

After gathering his mood, Meng Qi cooperated with Zhenhui to clean the yard before dark. Then he saw the gray-clothed monks carrying the stools from the dining hall into the yard, and they went about their business in a chaotic and orderly manner. Place and sit down.

"Very skilled..." Meng Qi wondered if Xuan Xin often enriched everyone's knowledge?

At dusk, Xuanxin, who was slick with food, walked out of his meditation room without any hesitation. Immediately, several monks came to greet him, setting up stools and lighting lamps. They were very attentive.

"Senior brother, what is Jianghu knowledge?" The dull Zhenhui seemed to be a little interested in this.

"This, this, it's a long story. After Uncle Xuanxin talks about it, I will explain it to you slowly." Meng Qi, who had just arrived, had no intention of explaining "complex" terms to Zhenhui and sat down on the bench. , waiting for Xuan Xin to start.

Xuan Xin looked around and was satisfied with the eager expression. She coughed and said, "Today I will continue to tell you about the battle I experienced in Jiangzhou City."

"Speaking of it, the 'Flying Yaksha' Yan Wuwo and the 'Ice Fairy' Ye Yuqi are both famous figures on the Earth Ranking. That battle was fought over a hundred miles of red land and the river was frozen. I, Master, have mercy on you. Huai, how can I bear to see all the people suffer? So I proclaimed the Buddha's name in order to resolve the personal grudges between the two people..."

He spoke with great joy, but the monks below had different expressions. Most of them were half disdain and half anticipation.

"Uncle Xuanxin is so powerful?" While listening to the anecdotes of Jianghu, Zhenhui was much more active than usual, and seemed to be as interested in it as food.

The snoozing monk in the front row really didn't even look back, and said as thinly as a mosquito: "'Feitian Yaksha' Yan Wuwo is the leader of Jiangzuo's Zombie Boxing, and 'Ice Fairy' Ye Yuqi is the master of Thrushcross Villa Lu Da in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. My husband’s wife and sister are all in the top thirty on the earth rankings, similar to the first ones in my Shaolin Bodhisattva and Bodhi Houses.”

The head of Bodhidharma and Bodhi Houses, the deacon monk of the Miscellaneous House... Meng Qi immediately understood that Xuan Xin was bragging. Of course, he was bragging very skillfully, and he cleverly grafted the major events that had happened onto himself.

This sleepy monk Zhenying is more knowledgeable than the cold and cold monk Zhenguan?

Zhenhui continued to ask blankly: "Uncle Xuanxin is so powerful!"

He couldn't understand the underlying meaning of Zhen Ying at all.

Meng Qi tugged on his monk's robe and whispered: "The first one is much more powerful than Master Xuanxin."

"But..." Zhenhui wanted to ask why Uncle Xuanxin could stop this battle if he wasn't very powerful, but Meng Qi waved his hand to stop him and asked him to go back and ask again so as not to be overheard by Xuanxin. Anger and punishment.

Xuan Xin was frothing at the mouth, and it took a long time to finish telling the anecdote about "all the families were born Buddhas". Finally, she looked at Meng Qi, Zhen Hui and other new novice monks: "Do you have anything to ask? ? Master, I know everything about Jianghu."

Meng Qi hurriedly said: "Uncle Xuanxin, we know very little about the affairs of the Jianghu. When you talk about it like this, many of them can't be understood."

"It makes sense. If you don't understand, you won't be able to truly feel my authority." Xuanxin nodded and cleared his throat, "Then let me introduce you to the common sense of the world, starting with our four major Buddhist temples."

"Thank you, Uncle Xuanxin." Meng Qi said happily.

Xuanxin said proudly: "Although there are many martial arts sects and sects in the world, when it comes to those who are the leader in martial arts, today there are only four Buddhist temples, three Taoist sects, six sword-holding sects, six masters in the world, nine demons, and aristocratic families. Fourteen, and the inheritance left by each of the six heretic masters."

When talking about the Six Masters of Hereticism, he looked unsure, but this did not prevent him from continuing: "The four Buddhist temples are Shaolin Temple of the Jin Dynasty, Shuiyue Temple of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Jingang Temple of the Western Regions, and Lanke Temple."

When mentioning Lanke Temple, he paused again, showing a look of uncertainty, and then said angrily, "Actually, uncle, I have never understood why Lanke Temple is included in the four Buddhist temples. Their No one knows where he is, his descendants rarely travel around the world, and he has no world-famous deeds. "

It seemed that the other monks were also hearing this for the first time, and they all asked curiously: "If that's the case, why is Lan Ke Temple included in the four major Buddhist temples?"

Xuan Xin began to be proud again, and said in a boastful manner: "It is said that when the abbot was young, he traveled around the world and met the heir of Lan Ke Temple. Later, he only said one sentence about this matter: 'If there is a destiny, Lan Ke Temple is close at hand. If there is no destiny, it is close at hand and far away.'"

The world is close at hand, and the world is close at hand?

So mysterious!

Including Meng Qi, all the gray-robed monks were shocked, confused, curious and frightened.

Seeing that he had shocked the monks, Xuanxin laughed and said, "Let's get back to the point. Let's talk about my Shaolin Temple first."

"Tens of thousands of years ago, the devil and the Buddha were in chaos, and the Buddha came to suppress it. However, the Tathagata Palm was lost and disappeared. Until two thousand years ago, the founder of Shaolin, Bodhidharma, came from the southern wilderness, crossed the river on a reed, and accidentally obtained the third form of the Tathagata Palm. This supreme and unique Buddhist skill reappeared in the world."

"Although there is no general outline, the founder Bodhidharma was gifted by heaven. He faced the wall for ten years and realized the Yijin Jing and many other unique skills from the third form of the Tathagata Palm, opening up The founder of our Shaolin lineage, in just a hundred years, has become the world's martial arts sect. After generations of ancestors and monks, our Shaolin has 72 unique skills. Even the same temple treasure as the "Yi Jin Jing", there are also "Da Meng Zhen Jing" and "Mo Ke Fu Mo Quan". I will talk about which ancestor or monk created it later. "

What demon Buddha, what "Rulai Shen Zhang", what "Da Meng Zhen Jing" and "Mo Ke Fu Mo Quan", Meng Qi's mind was shaken and yearning suddenly emerged. The martial arts of this world may not be as simple as he imagined. There are gods and Buddhas! Of course, it may just be a legend.

Cough, Xuan Xin suddenly coughed and said with a smile: "It's late at night, and I will talk about the rest tomorrow."

After that, he immediately got up and flashed into the Zen room.

This, this is too appetizing! Meng Qi was just about to listen to the 72 unique skills, the Vajra Temple and other things. Now he was really scratching his head and itching, but Xuan Xin had already left.

After cleaning up the yard, Meng Qi and Zhen Hui returned to the Zen room silently. Zhen Guan and Zhen Ying were already asleep, and their breathing was long and continuous.

The two did not speak, but took off their shoes and socks and lay down on the bed, as if they were still immersed in the martial arts world described by Xuan Xin.

"Little Junior Brother, are you willing to be a menial monk forever and not be able to learn the Shaolin secrets?" In silence, Meng Qi suddenly asked in a low voice.

Zhen Hui asked in confusion: "Senior Brother, what does it mean to be willing?"

"It means to be willing, happy, like, and don't want more." Meng Qi once again felt that it was a bit difficult to communicate with the child Zhen Hui.

Zhen Hui said: "I am very willing to eat, sleep, work, eat well, and listen to Uncle Xuan Xin telling stories. It's much better than before."

Then he added: "If you can learn "Tathagata Palm", it will be even better."

Puff, Meng Qi's saliva almost sprayed out. I really don't know whether Zhen Hui is willing or unwilling.

Meng Qi paused for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly found that Zhenhui's breathing became light, and she had fallen asleep.

The whole Zen room was completely quiet, with only a few breathing sounds rising and falling, which made the night deeper and more quiet.

The bright moon was hanging high outside the window, casting a layer of silver in front of the bunk bed, like frost.

Meng Qi looked at this quiet and peaceful scene, and all the past things could not be suppressed, and they all came to his mind, and emotions such as missing, sadness, hesitation, confusion, and self-pity came one after another.

There was no time to think so much during the day, so this quiet night was particularly "ecstatic".

The past that could not be separated, the "eternal farewell" that was like a knife in his heart, made Meng Qi unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Until this moment, in this situation, he really understood the true meaning of the poem by Qinglian Jushi.

"The moonlight in front of the bed, I wonder if it is frost on the ground. I look up at the bright moon, and I look down and think of my hometown."

Looking at the cold moon outside the window, Meng Qi was stunned for a while.