We decided to set off early the next morning.
Hantan Temple is located on a mountain on the other side of the Huangpu River, far away from the hustle and bustle. We only arrived by boat at noon.
The strange thing is that there are many pilgrims here in such a remote place, and the incense is very popular. After asking about it, I found out that three days later is the Buddha Day of Hantan Temple, and many lay people and nearby people have come here early to pay homage.
After a few of us followed the young novice (monk) in, we discovered that the entire temple is the "Jialan Seven Hall System" of the Song Dynasty. The central axis from south to north is the Maitreya Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Three Holy Halls, and finally the abbot's room, Sutra Pavilion, Zen room.
The most important treasure of the temple is probably hidden in the abbot's room or the Sutra Pavilion!
After a few of us finished offering incense to Maitreya Buddha, we expressed our wish to stay and participate in the Buddha worship day soon, and revealed that we were Mr. Zhang’s friends.
This is what Lao Jiang meant. Although we cannot openly ask for the statue in the name of Zhang Baiju, there is no problem in eating and drinking based on his reputation.
The little novice monk had obviously heard of Zhang Baiju, and exclaimed: "That is a very kind person!"
His attitude towards the rest of us became more and more respectful, and even the meditation room arranged by Jushi Lin was the best.
Lao Jiang and I share a room, and He Lanxue and Yin Ling'er share a room.
It seems that even Hantan Temple has received more or less favor from Zhang Baiju.
In the evening we had dinner with the monks in the temple in the dining hall. There was a couplet engraved on both sides of the dining hall: "How many people in the world know that rice is cooked? Look at the Buddha on the throne, and you can only recognize Tian Zixin." ".
I couldn't help but add another sentence: "Why isn't there a poem about everyone working hard and advising everyone to cherish food?"
He Lanxue said calmly: "This is because the Zhaitang is actually the Five Views Hall. When Buddhist disciples eat, they must comprehend the five realms while eating. Firstly, they must know that food is hard-earned, and secondly, they must think about whether their virtues are lacking today, etc. Wait, and this couplet embodies this idea.”
At the moment, He Lanxue is wearing a black Hanfu. Her daily habit is either making incense or drinking tea. It does have a Zen feel!
Thinking of this, I glanced at Lao Jiang with amusement. He really has a long road to pursue his wife...
But I couldn't stop laughing when I was eating. The dishes here are all vegetarian, not to mention a bit meaty, and there are no eggs.
A plate of green vegetables, a plate of shredded potatoes, and a bowl of tofu soup, it’s really vegetarian!
Yin Ling'er pursed her lips and said gloomily: "How do you eat this?"
Lao Jiang also put down his chopsticks: "I'm a good boy, I'm not a rabbit."
I pretended to be calm and picked up a chopstick of green vegetables, but when I put it in my mouth I couldn't eat it. There wasn't even a drop of oil in the dish.
Unlike the three of us, He Lanxue really likes the vegetarian food here and eats it very well.
I can only silently pray that this mission can be completed smoothly, otherwise if we stay in the temple for a few more days, Yin Ling'er and I may starve and lose weight. After all, we are still in the age of growing up. As for Lao Jiang, it will be a matter of whether we starve to death. !
I was reluctantly grabbing the rice, but suddenly I noticed three strange people sitting at a table not far away!
One was wearing white clothes, with a pale face, and an aura of the underworld about him.
The other one was dressed in black, his face was like the bottom of a pot, and his chopsticks for picking vegetables were flat and steady. At first glance, he was a hidden master of martial arts.
The last one was dressed in red, but she was a woman. There was a touch of blood-red makeup on the corners of her eyes, making her look like a female ghost.
Although they were two or three meters away, I could clearly smell the earthy smell of the three of them. There was no doubt that they all made a living by robbing tombs.
"Three Lingnan ghosts? Why are they here too?" Lao Jiang's soliloquy fell into my ears, and I quickly asked him: "Do you know them?"
Lao Jiang shook his head and said he didn't know them, but the three of them were all on Qilin's wanted list.
"Tell me the important point!" I knocked on the table to tell Lao Jiang to let go.
Lao Jiang told me: "The one in white is the Hanged Ghost, the one in black is the Impermanence Ghost, and the one in red is the Weeping Ghost. These three people have average martial arts, but they are moody and vicious. They have robbed many ancient tombs in the Lingnan area. Known locally as a scourge.”
"How could the three ghosts come to worship Buddha so well? There must be something fishy!" He Lanxue's cold voice came out slowly, reminding us that we must pay more attention.
I pointed to the entrance of the dining hall and whispered: "Did you see a foreigner coming in?"
The blond, blue-eyed, middle-aged foreigner first glanced around the dining hall after entering, as if he was looking for someone. After seeing the Three Lingnan Ghosts, his eyes returned.
There is no doubt that what he is looking for is the Three Lingnan Ghosts!
Lao Jiang frowned: "Yes, they are all in the same group. Hantan Temple may not be peaceful anymore..."
He Lanxue added: "Furthermore, their purpose of coming is the same as ours, both for the clay statue."
I have to admit that He Lanxue's guess is very possible.
I suggested informing the abbot immediately, but Lao Jiang waved his hand: "Walls have ears, let's talk when we get back!"
Although our voices were very small, they might not be heard by interested people. After noticing the strange look in their eyes, the Three Lingnan Ghosts looked at us warily. Fortunately, we moved to another location in advance and talked about how unpalatable the food was. Muddle through.
When you don't know the details of the other party, you must not alert the enemy!
The vegetarian food here is really not to our liking. Fortunately, we bought some pastries when we went out and planned to go back to the meditation room to satisfy our appetite.
In the Zen room, I asked Lao Jiang again if he wanted to inform the abbot?
Lao Jiang shook his head: "Not to mention whether they have any problems, at least we don't have any evidence in our hands. If we go to the abbot rashly, we are afraid that we will be accused of being a thief! What's more, the important place of Buddhism has always emphasized the equality of all living beings. Put down the butcher knife. If they become Buddhas on the spot, even if it turns out that they are tomb robbers, the abbot will think that they are qualified to pay homage to the Buddha.”
"It's best to wait and see what happens." He Lanxue then spoke.
I think what they said does make sense, but I have a vague premonition in my heart!
Lao Jiang reminded us that although now is not the time to deal with the Three Lingnan Ghosts, we must be alert and take action immediately if we notice something is wrong.
However, what we never expected was that they would act so quickly. A murder occurred in the temple that night!
The victim was a young novice who guarded the Sutra Pavilion. He was killed in a secret room in an extremely horrific way, leaving no footprints at the scene.
