bullyxtreme Chapter 244 Monk
Chapter 244 Monk
Chapter 244 The Monk (Part 2)
The place where the "prisoners" were held at Chong Sheng Temple was a dilapidated Buddhist hall, damp, cold, and drafty. It just so happened that rain and snow were falling on the river, making the prisoners in the old Buddhist hall shiver with cold.
At this moment, only one wandering monk remained in the Buddhist hall. He was tied to a chair, his hands and feet tightly bound with hemp rope, and a purple mark had appeared on his wrist.
This person was in fairly good spirits. Even though he hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day and his lips were cracked in several places, there wasn't much fear in his eyes. He just lowered his head and muttered something.
The monk Huizhi stood to one side, holding a string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand, rubbing them together until they creaked. As he rubbed them, he sighed inwardly.
The "prisoner" was detained by the monk in charge of receiving guests.
The man in front of me claimed to be a wandering monk from Jiangning who had come to stay overnight at the temple on his way to Suzhou.
Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any problem. Even if a temple or monastery is struggling to make a living, it will try its best to provide food and lodging and make proper arrangements. But the Chong Sheng Temple in Ma Tuo Sha has changed. It is no longer the Chong Sheng Temple of the past. You came here, but you still had to ask questions. That's why trouble happened.
"Whoosh—" The wind outside picked up for a while, then suddenly stopped.
Footsteps came from outside; it was more than one person.
As the door was pushed open, a gust of cold, fishy wind rushed in, and the ever-burning lamp suddenly dimmed, almost going out.
The first to enter were two burly men with swords around their waists, dressed in tight-fitting clothes with straps tied around their cuffs, their bodies carrying the chill of the outside air and the smell of the water.
After they entered, they stood on either side, leaving a path in the middle.
Shao Shuyi entered, surrounded by Hui Yong, Tie Niu, and others.
After entering, he did not immediately look at the bound monk. Instead, he looked around the Buddhist hall, his gaze lingering on the statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva for a moment, before slowly walking up to the monk, squatting down, and looking him in the eye.
"From Jiangning?" Shao Shuyi asked.
The voice was soft and calm, like asking what to have for dinner.
The monk glanced at him briefly, then lowered his eyes again: "Amitabha, this humble monk is indeed from Jiqing Road."
Before he could finish speaking, Shao Shuyi stuffed a piece of salt into the monk's mouth.
The salt was coarse and hard, its sharp edges scraping against the tender flesh inside his mouth. The salt seeped into the tiny wounds, like countless needles piercing in at once. The monk groaned, his body tensing abruptly, a fine layer of sweat instantly appearing on his forehead, and the veins on his neck bulging like earthworms.
He tried to spit out the salt, but Shao Shuyi pressed down on his chin with one hand, his thumb and forefinger wedged into the crevices of his cheekbones like an iron clamp that could neither close nor open.
"Suck it slowly." Shao Shuyi released his hand, stood up, pulled a piece of coarse cloth from his sleeve to wipe his fingers, then walked to the Buddha altar, casually picked up three incense sticks, lit them with the flame of the ever-burning lamp, and put them into the incense burner. His movements were natural and skillful, as if he did this often.
Tie Niu looked at him in surprise.
Shao Shuyi smiled, too lazy to answer.
Even the Heavenly Princess needs to rest. If she doesn't work, will she not receive blessings from others?
The smoke curled up, and the scent of sandalwood masked the musty and sweaty smell in the room, as well as Tie Niu's doubts.
The brothers Fu Jian and Fu Yong remained motionless, like two pillars.
The prayer beads of the monk Huizhi had stopped ringing. He stood in the corner, looking down at the surface of his shoes.
The wandering monk had a block of salt in his mouth, so he dared not move, nor could he.
The coarse salt mixed with saliva gradually dissolved, and the incredibly salty water flowed down his throat, causing his stomach to contract in waves. He couldn't help but gag, but nothing came out.
Shao Shuyi turned around, moved a wooden stool, and sat down three feet away from the wandering monk.
He gestured behind him, and Tie Niu understood, taking a leather water bag from his waist, removing the stopper, and handing it over.
Shao Shuyi took the bag, tilted his head back and took a swig, his Adam's apple bobbing, then handed the bag back to Tie Niu and said, "Give him a sip."
Tie Niu walked over, pinched the wandering monk's chin, forced him to tilt his head back, then stuffed the leather mouthpiece into the corner of his mouth and took a sip.
Water flowed down the wandering monk's chin and into his collar, soaking a large area of the collar of his yellow cloth robe.
Tie Niu released his grip and stood back behind Shao Shuyi.
The wandering monk finally spat out the salt from his mouth, his expression contorted in pain. After a moment, he finally managed to utter in a hoarse voice, "This humble monk—is indeed a wandering monk staying at a guesthouse—"
Upon hearing this, Shao Shuyi smiled and said, "Let me speak for you. You are a monk from Dalongxiang Jiqing Temple, right? Last year, your founding abbot, Dasu, passed away, and Zen Master Tanfang Shouzhong succeeded him as abbot, becoming one of the Five Mountains. You are one of the monks sent out to gather information, aren't you? Your Dharma name is Shouxing?"
Shouxing was startled and repeatedly murmured Buddhist chants. He didn't ask the other party how he knew—in fact, he could have guessed. He had met Mingjue, a monk from Yangzhou Tiefo Temple, on the road outside the Benniu Patrol Office in Changzhou. They had a pleasant conversation and talked about many things along the way. Now that they had both been captured, he had naturally revealed his secrets.
"Dalongxiang Jiqing Temple, what a grand Buddhist temple!" Shao Shuyi clicked his tongue in admiration twice, then said, "You came from Jiangning to Jiangyin, passing through Huashan, Benniuba, and Qinwangshan, obviously by land. So why did you come to Matuosha Chongsheng Temple? You've got some guts. Have you practiced martial arts? Tell me, what are you here to investigate? Are you perhaps a red-headband?"
Shouxing's expression finally changed.
At this moment, the monk Huiyong moved slightly.
He came to Shouxing's side, patted him on the shoulder, and then slid his hand over his shoulder to grab his right hand, which was tied to the back of the chair.
Shouxing has thin calluses on the pads of his right index and middle fingers.
Clearly, these are not calluses from years of playing with prayer beads or copying scriptures, but rather marks left from gripping knife handles and reins.
Hui Yong stepped back and nodded to Shao Shuyi.
"Speak," Shao Shuyi said, his voice lower than before, "Who sent you? Who are you here to investigate?"
What did you find out?
Shouxing lowered his head, his lips moved, and he began chanting scriptures again.
Shao Shuyi stared at him for a while, then gestured with his lip toward Gao Daqiang, who was standing to the side and behind him.
Gao Daqiang pulled a short knife from his waist, the blade flashing briefly in the light of the ever-burning lamp.
He came up to Shouxing and examined him carefully.
Shouxing got goosebumps on his neck and his body trembled involuntarily.
"Outside this room is the main hall of Chong Sheng Temple, which enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva and many other deities and Buddhas."
These clay and wooden sculptures of bodhisattvas, without eating or drinking, are naturally compassionate. They won't cut your flesh or dig out your bones. But I'm different; I need to eat." Gao Daqiang, holding a knife, like a seasoned butcher, chose the spot to strike the pig or sheep.
As they spoke, the river wind, carrying snowflakes, grew stronger, lashing against the windowpane like countless grains of coarse salt sprinkled on paper, making a rustling sound.
"What does the benefactor wish to know?" After a moment, the chanting stopped, and Shouxing asked in a hoarse voice.
Shao Shuyi smiled.
Huizhi was somewhat disappointed.
Hui Yong had an expression that said, "I knew it."
"Huiyong, you ask the questions, write down everything you ask, and have this Zen Master Shouxing put his handprint on it," Shao Shuyi said.
"Alright," Huiyong replied, then walked up to Shouxing and looked down at him, saying, "Is this the kind of character the disciple of the head of all Buddhist sects in the world is?"
He chanted the Buddha's name with a look of shame on his face.
Dalongxiang Jiqing Zen Temple was converted from the former residence of Emperor Wenzong. The founding abbot, Dasu, was deeply respected by Emperor Wenzong, who bestowed upon him a sable coat, a gold robe, a yellow robe, the title of Grand Master of the Third Rank, the title of Great Zen Master Guangzhi Quanwu, the head of the Buddhist sect, and the position of leader of the Five Mountains Temple. He also co-authored the "Imperial Edict on the Pure Rules of Baizhang" with Dehui, the abbot of Baizhang Mountain, to set a standard for monasteries throughout the country and regulate the words and deeds of monks.
The disciples who emerged from this magnificent forest surrendered to the thieves' blades; it would be a lie to say they weren't ashamed.
Seeing his pathetic state, Hui Yong became even more jealous and said, "Give me your yellow robe; you don't deserve to wear it."
Upon hearing this, Shouxing's face turned even paler.
Hui Yong was about to strip Shou Xing of his yellow robe when he heard Shao Shuyi cough. He immediately realized what was happening and began to interrogate him seriously.
Shao Shuyi got up and went outside to enjoy the river breeze.
By the end of January next year, more than ten sets of leather armor will be completed. At that time, not only will Li, Gao, and Bian's three teams be fully equipped, but even his personal guards will each have a set.
Fifty-odd armored soldiers standing there would scare you to death.
As for the armor, he was increasingly eager to get his hands on it. Gao Daqiang suggested that when transporting the goods to Hangzhou, they could try to rob the Military Equipment Bureau and get a few suits of armor. Naturally, this was rejected.
Do you know where the factory that manufactures the armor is located? And where it's stored? I'm completely in the dark; it's too dangerous.
Gao Daqiang then suggested setting up a scheme to kidnap two craftsmen and have them carry sand on horses to forge iron armor. Currently, several young men from Taicang are learning blacksmithing, and they will gradually be able to take over the business, thus solidifying the foundation of the trading company.
You know what, Shao Shuyi is somewhat tempted, but he hasn't agreed yet. He plans to go to Hangzhou when he has time to see what happens.
Shao Shuyi breathed in the fresh air outside for a while before returning to the Buddhist hall.
Sometime later, Shouxing's yellow robe had been stripped off and carefully folded aside. Huiyong, meanwhile, was brandishing a whip dipped in salt water, making threats.
Upon seeing Shao Shuyi enter, Cao She scurried over and whispered, "Cao She, this man indeed knows Zhu Chen. He also said that his family members frequently visit the Dalongxiang Jiqing Zen Temple to worship Buddha and offer incense, and sometimes Zhu Chen accompanies them. And one—"
'
Hui Yong paused, then continued, "Actually, it was monks from Qianming Guangfu Zen Temple who went to the Hangzhou Xingxuanzheng Yuan to file a complaint, mentioning the murder of four monks, and even claiming that the murderer was Hong Mo'er, who was colluding with Matuosha Chongsheng Temple. The Hangzhou Xingxuanzheng Yuan initially didn't want to deal with it, but later issued an official letter to Dalongxiang Jiqing Zen Temple on Jiqing Road, ordering them to investigate—"
Shao Shuyi listened calmly.
During the uprising, various methods were employed, which inevitably led to backlash. The red headband that is now being investigated is the biggest backlash, and the Qianming Guangfu Zen Temple incident is also a backlash.
But so what?
A little hardship, and you still want to suppress me for a few more years?
"Let's have a meeting at the Great Buddha Hall tonight to discuss this," Shao Shuyi instructed.
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