flstandardbreds Chapter 980 Li Ming's Buddhist Name
Chapter 980 Li Ming's Buddhist Name
As Li Ming and the old monk took their leave, the Hall of Mental Cultivation returned to silence, with only the occasional crackling of the stove fire remaining.
Li Lin did not leave. Holding the slightly cooled tea in his hand, he leaned back in his chair and remained silent.
Seeing his expression, Li Che put down his vermilion brush and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sorry for him? Don't worry, although he has become a monk, he can't endure much suffering."
Upon hearing this, Li Lin slowly sat up straight, his tone tinged with a hint of regret: "I didn't have much of a relationship with Lao Ba to begin with, and he deserved his fate. He has no one else to blame but himself."
"It just suddenly occurred to me that back in the palace, even if the ten of us brothers didn't get along with each other, we were still a big, lively family when we gathered together for holidays."
"But what about now? Some are dead, some are scattered, some are imprisoned... the only ones left who can still sit together and talk are you and me."
"The only ones still alive are you, me, Third Brother, Eighth Brother, and Tenth Brother in Fengguo."
He sighed, his voice lowering: "The brotherhood in the royal family... is truly cold and fragile."
Li Che also knew that his fourth brother valued loyalty and affection, especially the blood ties of family.
Seeing his sentimentality, she changed the subject in a lighthearted tone: "Since you feel it's too quiet, then call one back. I'm planning to establish an 'Academy of Sciences' in the capital, dedicated to scientific research and promotion, and we're in need of a director who can oversee the whole situation."
"My tenth brother has been in Fengguo for several years and is very keen on studying this subject. What do you think about having him return to head the Academy of Sciences?"
Li Lin's eyes lit up immediately, and the gloom on his face vanished: "That's great! This kid has always loved tinkering with all sorts of weird things since he was little!"
He pressed on eagerly, "Will he be able to come back for the Chinese New Year this year?"
Li Che chuckled and shook his head: "It will take some time for the imperial edict to be issued. Considering the journey and the handover in Feng State, it won't be ready before the New Year."
"But it doesn't matter if it's one more year, we can reunite next year too."
Although Li Lin felt a little regretful, he knew it was the right thing to do and nodded: "That's right, safety is the most important thing."
He suddenly remembered something and stood up abruptly. "I have a vacant courtyard in the capital. I'll have someone clean it up so that when my tenth brother comes back, he'll at least have a place to stay."
Seeing his hurried manner, Li Che couldn't help but laugh and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Would I mistreat him? He will be given a mansion built by imperial decree, and he will certainly have a place to live."
Li Lin, however, had already strode out of the hall. Upon hearing this, he turned back and laughed heartily:
“What you bestowed is your own gift, it’s the emperor’s grace. As the fourth brother, it’s just a matter of brotherly affection for me to prepare a place for my younger brother to stay. We can’t neglect either of us!”
Before the words were even finished, the person had already lifted the curtain and stepped out, their footsteps quickly fading into the distance.
Li Che looked in the direction he disappeared, shook his head helplessly, but a warm feeling involuntarily crept onto his lips.
To sit atop the cold throne and have such pure and passionate brotherhood by my side, I am already incredibly lucky.
. . . . . .
Then came the two old monks who had just left the palace gates.
Upon arriving on the streets of the capital, the bustling atmosphere of the city hits you like a completely different world from the imperial palace.
Li Ming followed the white-bearded old monk silently forward, still feeling uneasy.
Unbeknownst to them, the two had walked to the vicinity of Dongshikou.
The place was bustling with noise, more crowded and noisy than other places, and there seemed to be a bloody smell in the air.
Li Ming subconsciously looked up, and after just one glance, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
Then my stomach churned violently, and I almost vomited on the spot.
On the high platform in the center of the square, Qin Huizhi was tightly bound to a wooden frame, his body wrapped in fishing nets, and he was no longer recognizable as a human.
The executioner was precise, slicing through flesh piece by piece, the pieces falling to the ground like snowflakes.
Among the surrounding crowd, some shouted excitedly, some watched numbly, and some turned their faces away in unbearable sorrow.
Li Ming glanced at it, his face turned deathly pale, and he lowered his head, not daring to look any further.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the old monk beside him and found that the man remained calm, holding prayer beads and gazing serenely toward the execution ground.
It was as if I wasn't watching a brutal torture, but just a passing cloud or a gust of wind.
A strange emotion welled up in Li Ming's heart, and he couldn't help but lower his voice: "Master... Buddhism emphasizes compassion. Don't you think this scene is too cruel?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately realized he had misspoke. Wasn't he accusing his sixth brother, who had ordered the execution, of being cruel?
He hurriedly fell silent, filled with anxiety.
The old monk was not angry, nor did he even look away. His voice was calm and normal: "Amitabha. The Buddha has the gentle brows of a Bodhisattva, and also the fierce glare of a Vajra."
“Compassion is to guide good karma, and thunder is to sever evil karma. These people plotted rebellion, causing widespread suffering. This is boundless karma, which must be cleansed with severe punishment.”
"Your Majesty's swift and decisive actions may seem cruel, but in reality, they are intended to prevent the growth of more evil deeds. Isn't this a great act of compassion? It's just that the common eye cannot see its profound meaning."
He paused, then slowly turned his head, his worldly-wise eyes landing on Li Ming's face, his tone suddenly becoming deep and serious:
"But you, Li Ming, His Majesty spared your life and granted you a new life out of consideration for our blood ties. Now that you have become a monk, you should diligently cultivate yourself and sever all worldly desires."
"If one still clings to past identities, is entangled in gains and losses of power, and resents one's current circumstances... in the future, due to the cycle of cause and effect, one will inevitably follow in this person's footsteps, suffer the torment of being torn to pieces, fall into the Avici Hell, and never be able to be reborn."
These words struck Li Ming like a thunderbolt, making him tremble all over, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt.
He seemed to see himself truly bound to that wooden frame, the horrific scene of his flesh being sliced off piece by piece by the executioner.
He quickly grabbed the old monk's sleeve and said urgently, "This disciple is foolish and begs the master to guide me. How can I sever ties with this past life?"
The old monk's gaze was profound as he said, word by word, "To truly sever ties with the past, one must bury it with one's own hands."
"In this life, you were once a wealthy and powerful prince, so you should bury that body of glory and wealth; later, you were a puppet emperor, so you should bury that body of power and desire; and then, you were a prisoner, so you should bury that body of sin and misfortune."
"Only by burying all three lifetimes can one be reborn today and find a chance to transcend."
"Today, I bestow upon you the Dharma name—Sanzang."
"I hope you will always remember that you need to bury the past in your heart with Buddhist teachings in order to attain peace and freedom."
"Tripitaka, Tripitaka," Li Ming murmured, his heart surging with emotion.
"Disciple Sanzang greets Master!"
The old monk accepted his bow without hesitation, gently placing his withered hand on the top of his head:
"Now that you have entered the Buddhist order, your past is over. Rise, Sanzang, and come back to the temple with your master."