Lu Changhe's brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on Du Guxiaocheng.
What the brat said wasn't wrong, but Lu Changhe still felt something was amiss.
Just in case, Lu Changhe reminded Zhuo Wulie, "Military Advisor Zhuo, I will immediately take two thousand White Robe soldiers on this expedition. You will stand ready, prepared to send reinforcements at any moment."
With utmost urgency, Zhuo Wulie had no choice but to agree and began mobilizing troops on the spot.
The White Robe soldiers, a vast and imposing force, marched west out of Yanzhou, heading to the aid of the marriage procession on its way to Guizi.
Deep within the old forests behind Bodhi Temple, Liang Xiao and the other two followed Hong Ren through a winding forest path, arriving outside a simple and ancient temple.
"Junior Brother Hong Xiu was once a general in the Great Gan Kingdom. He had no children and later became a monk. He inherited his master's task, meditating and feeding horses daily," Hong Ren explained to Liang Xiao on the way.
As they reached the temple entrance, they found it crowded with monks, all staring intently at a wall, deep in thought.
"Master, what are they doing?" Yue Lian asked curiously.
"They are contemplating a verse written by my junior brother, hoping for enlightenment."
Liang Xiao and the other two walked closer, their faces filled with curiosity.
Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan couldn't help but nod in admiration, "Truly worthy of enlightened monks!"
Liang Xiao's expression, however, shifted drastically as he stared at the verse: "This..."
"The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind is like a clear mirror. Constantly wipe it, and let no dust alight."
To see this verse here!
"Master Hong Ren, is this truly a verse composed by Master Hong Xiu, or was it written by someone else? Such as Master Shenxiu?" Liang Xiao inquired.
Hong Ren shook his head, "It was indeed written by my junior brother."
"Abbot!" The monks bowed respectfully to Hong Ren.
Just then, a sturdy figure approached from a distance, sighing, "Why are so many people gathered here again today?"
Liang Xiao looked closely and recognized an old monk in white robes. He had kind eyes but a powerful build and moved with surprising speed, clearly a formidable warrior in his youth.
"Junior brother, destiny has arrived," Hong Ren said softly, then gestured towards Liang Xiao.
The old monk in white robes was none other than Hong Xiu, who looked at Liang Xiao with surprise.
The other monks, not understanding, also turned their gaze to Liang Xiao.
"This is the Marquis of Anguo, Liang Xiao, who has recently become famous throughout the land," Hong Ren sighed.
"Marquis of Anguo, Liang Xiao?!" Hong Xiu was even more astonished, his gaze shifting over Liang Xiao several times.
From curiosity to bewilderment, from bewilderment to shock.
"Destiny?" Hong Xiu murmured to himself, then bowed to Liang Xiao, "Since Senior Brother respects the Marquis of Anguo, it seems you are truly a divine person."
"I dare not accept such praise," Liang Xiao replied humbly.
Hong Xiu pointed to the verse on the wall and sighed, "Marquis of Anguo, what do you think of this verse I composed?"
"It is quite practical, but it inevitably falls short," Liang Xiao answered.
"Falls short?" The monks stared at Liang Xiao in astonishment, their brows furrowed.
Their master, Hong Xiu, was known for his uprightness and sternness. To have a verse he had painstakingly composed critiqued by such a young man!
Hong Ren asked, "Where does it fall short?"
Liang Xiao replied, "Master uses his body and mind as metaphors for the Bodhi tree and the mirror stand, to constantly admonish himself, but this cannot lead to true enlightenment. One cannot truly see one's true nature this way."
Their expressions changed. Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan quickly signaled to Liang Xiao.
Earlier, on the road, they had heard from Hong Ren that Hong Xiu possessed a peerless steed! If Liang Xiao embarrassed Hong Xiu here, it might not end well!
Hong Xiu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly and sighed, "The Marquis of Anguo speaks the truth. My own understanding is insufficient, and I always feel something is missing. Judging by the Marquis's words, you seem to have a clear plan. Would you be willing to compose a verse yourself?"
Jian Qinwan's delicate brows knitted. "Isn't this putting Liang Xiao on the spot?" She believed Liang Xiao could compose poetry and lyrics, but to compose a Buddhist verse required a deep understanding of Zen principles!
Yue Lian nervously clutched the hem of her robe. She didn't know why her young master desired this fine steed, only that she should support him. But now, she couldn't help Liang Xiao at all!
Liang Xiao looked around at everyone and asked, "Is there a master in the temple named Huineng?"
The monks were taken aback and shook their heads one after another.
Hong Ren explained, "Marquis of Anguo, there has never been a monk with the character 'Hui' in Bodhi Temple, nor will there be in future generations."
Liang Xiao fell silent. It seemed it was just a coincidence after all.
Hong Xiu again requested Liang Xiao to try composing a verse. For the sake of the steed, Liang Xiao had no choice but to take the brush and ink and go to the wall, writing another verse next to Hong Xiu's.
"Bodhi has no tree, the bright mirror is not a stand. Originally there is nothing, where can dust alight?"
The entire place fell into a deathly silence. Everyone stared at this verse, feeling as if a light had dawned before their eyes.
After a long while, Hong Xiu clapped his hands and burst into laughter, "Good, excellent!"
Hong Ren marveled, "Truly superb! All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows. Only by not indulging in delusion and attachment can one see one's true nature and achieve enlightenment."
The monks finally looked at Liang Xiao with newfound respect. They clasped their hands together and bowed to Liang Xiao, thanking him for his guidance. Hong Xiu, as if a fog had lifted from his mind, felt a surge of relief and exclaimed, "I understand! I finally understand!"
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian exchanged glances. They didn't fully grasp the Zen philosophy, but they were overjoyed that Liang Xiao had succeeded.
After Hong Xiu dismissed the other monks, he inquired about the matter of destiny from Hong Ren. Hong Ren recounted the conversation in the treasury truthfully. Hong Xiu listened, his face filled with astonishment, then threw his head back and laughed, tears mingled with his laughter.
"Senior Brother, we have contemplated Zen our entire lives, and in the end, a nineteen-year-old Marquis of Anguo understands it better than we do!"
Hong Ren nodded, "It is time to conclude this fated encounter, Junior Brother..."
"Understood. Marquis of Anguo, please follow this humble monk to the back mountain. You truly deserve it."
Liang Xiao quickly demurred, but Hong Xiu smiled and nodded, no longer referring to himself as "this humble monk."
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian's beautiful eyes lit up. "It's really settled, then?"
Led by Hong Xiu, they entered the back mountain and arrived at a flat clearing at the foot of the mountain.
Hong Xiu asked everyone to step back a few paces, then walked to the center of the clearing and called out loudly, " Fei Ying, where are you?"
Liang Xiao's heart swelled with anticipation, remembering the horse's name Hong Ren had told him. The divine steed, Bai Ye Fei Ying!
Hong Xiu blew another whistle.
Moments later, a thunderous neighing of a warhorse echoed from afar, startling Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan into covering their ears. A white silhouette then streaked towards them from the distance, kicking up dust and scattering stones in its wake, stopping before Hong Xiu in the blink of an eye!
Liang Xiao gazed intently and couldn't help but reveal a look of ecstatic joy.
It was a heavy warhorse, completely white. Its size was far greater than that of the heavy warhorses used by cavalrymen, its back reaching higher than Liang Xiao's chin! Its body was completely free of any dark hairs, its muscles taut and seemingly on the verge of bursting, exceptionally powerful. Its pair of crimson eyes fixed directly on the four of them, exuding an imposing aura!
Liang Xiao's heart pounded! This was undoubtedly the finest warhorse he had ever seen! Coupled with its muscular build, he estimated its weight to be between 1600 to 2000 jin. Ordinary heavy warhorses might weigh around 800 to 900 jin, with good steeds reaching 1000 jin! Bai Ye Fei Ying lived up to its name! Liang Xiao had no doubt that if this horse galloped at full speed at night, it would appear as a flash of white, a mere shadow. Without question, Bai Ye Fei Ying was the treasure Liang Xiao needed.