In the distance, thirty to forty stout steeds galloped over. All of the riders were monks with bald heads. Some of them wore grey robes, while others wore red robes. In the middle, there was an exceptionally handsome white horse, and on top of it was a monk. His red robes were half-naked, revealing his muscular and beautiful chest.
The monk held the reins in one hand and a wine bag in the other. As he spurred the horse forward, he raised his head and gulped down the wine. The sleeves of his red robes were like two red clouds in the wind, causing the falling yellow leaves to dance along with his figure.
These thirty to forty healthy horses suddenly occupied eighty percent of the spacious street. The funeral procession stopped, waiting for the dissolute monks to make way. Although these monks paraded the street on horses and drank to their heart's content, it was not a good way to go. But death was the most important thing, how could they not want to fight with the dead?
"Oh no, the funeral procession is still not making way. This is bad."
"Haha, look, look, that Daoist priest performing the funeral …"
Yang Fan took a closer look and saw that the Daoist priest in yellow, who had the demeanor of an immortal, calm and composed, had a look of panic on his face. He held his sword backwards and retreated step by step, as if he wanted to hide behind the coffin …
"Stop! Great monk, the dead are respected. You monks, why don't you give way when you see my family's funeral procession? Why are you barging in? "
The moment they saw the monks galloping madly towards them, and even though they reined in their horses, they still refused to give way to the funeral procession. The Yang clansmen who were in charge of the funeral were enraged, and a few of them immediately jumped out and berated the monks loudly.
Since ancient times, the dead were respected. Even if a funeral procession and a wedding procession met on the road, the wedding procession would have to make way for the funeral procession. These people in front of them were monks, and they should not be so ignorant of etiquette. Although looking at their rough and unruly appearance, they did not seem to be decent people. However, the Yang family was a family of officials, and they had the right to respect the dead, so they were not afraid.
Those monks were just about to lash their whips and berate them, but they didn't expect to be reprimanded by these people who were wearing mourning clothes. They couldn't help but laugh in anger. One of them was about to lash out with his horsewhip, but at this moment, he retracted it and said to the red-robed monk in the middle with a grin, "Master, this family wants us to make way for them!"
"Uh ~! Hmm? "
The monk in the big red kasaya burped and looked forward with his drunken eyes. When he saw the situation in front of him, he immediately frowned and said repeatedly, "What bad luck, what bad luck! Why did I run into a funeral procession? When I go out, I see a coffin, and I get promoted. Amitabha, there are no taboos!"
The monk was dressed in a large red kasaya, and it was obvious that he was a monk with a very high status. However, not only was he riding a horse and drinking alcohol, the words he spoke were no different from those of a scoundrel in the marketplace.
The red-robed monk said, "Hurry up and tell them to cross … Eh? Is the one performing the ritual a Taoist priest? "
The monk was just about to wave his hand to call the funeral procession when he suddenly saw the two little Taoist priests holding seals and flags. He couldn't help but stare at them and ask loudly.
A monk next to him said, "Master, you have a good eye. Those are the two little Taoist priests."
The red-robed monk laughed and scolded, "Good your mother! They are wearing Taoist robes, and I am not blind. How can I not see them? " As he said this, he tilted his leg and straightened his back. Without holding the saddle, he jumped down from the horse. His movements were actually very agile and neat.
The monk unscrupulously rushed into the crowd, stared at the two little Taoist priests, and asked loudly, "Just you two little guys, how can you perform the ritual? Where is your master? "
At this time, an elder of the Yang family wanted to step forward and scold them, but someone next to him suddenly pulled him and whispered a few words into his ear. This person's expression changed, and he actually took a few steps back. Yang Fan and Maqiao saw clearly from the side, and couldn't help but be more curious about the identity of this monk.
Yang Fan carefully looked at this monk, and saw that he was about thirty years old, tall and handsome, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a straight nose and a wide mouth. His clothes were spread open, revealing a body full of strong muscles, and the lines of the muscles between his chest and abdomen were abnormally healthy. Such a majestic man looked like a Vajra warrior monk from a temple.
"Where is your master, call him out!"
The monk placed his hands on his waist and shouted loudly.
In a moment, the old Taoist hiding behind the coffin was pulled out by a few grey-robed monks. Looking at this old Taoist carefully, this old Taoist was quite handsome. An apricot yellow Taoist robe, a crown on his head, a pair of green cloth shoes on his feet, a copper coin Seven-Star Sword in his hand, and a beard under his chin. His appearance was simple and unsophisticated, revealing an elegant and graceful air.
Maqiao whispered to Yang Fan, "Who is this monk? Why is that old Taoist so afraid of him? Could it be that he owes him money?"
Yang Fan shook his head, but he had already guessed something in his heart. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Watch carefully, I'm afraid there's going to be a show."
The old Taoist looked embarrassed. Seeing the big monk with loose clothes, he went forward and bowed, and said the name of Taoism, "Supreme Heavenly Lord Taiyi, I'm Yi Zhuo, the head of Hong Shou Temple. Greetings, Master Huaiyi."
When the disciples of the Three Pure Ones saluted, they often sang "Supreme Heavenly Lord Taiyi" or "Supreme Heavenly Lord Taiyi". If a good believer encountered misfortune, they would sing "Supreme Heavenly Lord Taiyi" or "Supreme Heavenly Lord Taiyi". This kind of salutation was used until the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Later, due to the work of storytelling, it was falsely called "Boundless Heavenly Lord". In fact, the word "boundless" came from Buddhism, not from Taoism. Taoism often used "Supreme", "Supreme", and "Supreme" to express the supremacy of Dao.
The big monk laughed and said, "Do you know me?"
The old Taoist said, "Master Xue is famous in Luojing, how can I not know you?"
Monk Huai Yi looked up to the sky and laughed. He asked proudly, "Old Daoist, this Daoist priest will perform rituals for people to expiate the dead. We monks will also perform rituals for people to expiate the dead. Old Daoist, tell me, are monks better at performing rituals or Daoist priests better at performing rituals?"
"This … this …"
Taoist Yi Zhuo was put in a difficult position. He knew the real identity of the monk, so he didn't dare to offend him. However, the monk's question was not just a matter between the two of them, but a battle between Buddhism and Taoism.
Since the founding of the Tang dynasty, Tang Gaozu, Li Yuan, respected Laozi as the ancestor of his family. He claimed to be the descendant of Laozi and worshiped Taoism. He regarded Taoism as the "family religion of the dynasty" and issued an imperial edict. Among the three religions, Taoism was the most respected, followed by Confucianism and Buddhism. In the first year of the Qianfeng era, Tang Gaozu, Li Zhi, respected Laozi as the "Supreme Xuanyuan Emperor".
In the end, Gaozu died of illness and Empress Wu became the emperor. Because Taoism and Li Tang were one, Empress Wu made great efforts to win over Buddhism in order to build her own power. She worshiped Buddhism and the status of Buddhism rose day by day. At present, it had already impacted the status of Taoism as the national religion. Now that the big monk had raised such a question, although the old Taoist was afraid of him, he didn't dare to give in.
Taoist Yi Zhuo thought about it and braced himself to say, "Well, there doesn't seem to be anything to compare. Buddhism and Taoism should have their own strengths."
"Oh?" Monk Huai Yi raised his eyebrows and smiled evilly. "My Buddhism mostly prays to Buddha and chants sutras to eliminate the sins of the dead. Relying on Buddhist power to save the dead, they will be reborn in the pure land of Buddhism, leaving the bitter sea of life and death reincarnation in the three realms and reborn in the Western Paradise. I wonder how your Taoism does it?"
Daoist Priest Yi Zhuo said, "When we Daoists ferry souls, we mostly use Daoist techniques to build Path Opening Dao Grounds, Lotus Lantern Dao Grounds, Wound Plucking Dao Grounds, Treasury Filling Dao Grounds, and Virtue Dao Grounds. We worship Taiyi Nirvana Heavenly Lord and ferry souls to the eastern world of eternal happiness."
Monk Huai Yi said, "My Western Paradise is a dignified, pure, and equal world built by the Western Buddha, Amitabha. The Western Paradise is 28 floors high and has Amitabha, Guanyin, and Mahasthamaprapta to help the dead ascend. The souls of the dead are attached to the lotuses in the Seven Treasures Pool and turn into Arhats. What about your Eastern Paradise? "
Daoist Yi Zhuo knew that continuing to argue with this unreasonable monk would not end well, but he had no choice but to argue. He frowned and said, "My Daoism has the Pure Land of Eternal Life. It has thirty-six layers and is specialized in saving the souls of the dead. It is the best method for the soul to be reborn."
"Oh?"
Monk Huai Yi scratched his bald head and muttered, "Why is it eight more floors than my Western Paradise? Hmm … In my Western Boundless World, one Buddhist Land is equivalent to three thousand boundless worlds. So, my twenty-eight levels contain even more people than your thirty-six levels. "
Taoist Yi Zhuo could only smile bitterly. "I've never been to the Western Paradise, so I can't verify what Master Huai Yi said."
Seeing that he didn't dare to argue anymore, Monk Huai Yi said proudly, "The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of my Buddhism are powerful and don't fall into the six paths of reincarnation. Your Taoism is only an immortal, so your abilities are naturally inferior to my Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!"
Taoist Yi Zhuo mustered up his courage and said, "The immortals of my Taoism aren't immortals of Buddhism. Taoist immortals, regardless of whether they're innate or acquired, once they become immortals, they're free from the restrictions of external objects, not to mention karma. They don't fall into the cycle of reincarnation. As for Buddhism, according to what I know, there's no such thing as the six paths of reincarnation in the ancient Buddhist scriptures. It's only after Buddhism spread to the Eastern Lands, hehe … "
Monk Huai Yi flew into a rage and grabbed him by the collar. "Preposterous! Are you saying that my Buddhism stole your Taoism's teachings and expanded the five paths into the six paths to raise our status? "
Taoist Yi Zhuo was shocked to see him so angry. He could only swallow his anger and say, "Master Xue, you've misunderstood. Maybe … maybe I'm wrong in my understanding."
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