The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2273 - 2248: On Buddhism (April Monthly Ticket Extra 1)

Master Zhi Ren checked everything over and felt satisfied. He then took out his luggage and changed into a monk’s robe, sitting inside the carriage draped with silk and satin curtains alongside Jiechen. He pointed at his luggage and said to Manbao and Bai Shan, "Inside are gifts I received during my travels in the Western Regions, including several musical instruments. Feel free to take them out and play."

Curious, Manbao opened the luggage and took out... a small pipa. Unfortunately, she couldn’t play it, but Bai Shan found a pipe resembling a xiao-like instrument.

Seeing that neither of them could play, Jiechen reached out and took the instrument from Manbao’s hand, saying, "This is called a dombra. It has a pleasant sound."

He could play a little, though not as well as his master, but still melodiously and pleasingly.

The sound of the instrument began to ring out, playing a very simple Buddhist melody that Manbao and the others had heard before, and they could even hum along to it.

Among the bandits, many were also followers of Buddhism, and this piece was widespread. They had all heard it and, without thinking why they were playing it, fell silent as their mood calmly settled with the Buddhist music, temporarily forgetting their current predicament.

The convoy started moving again, continuing towards Gaochang, with only the dombra’s melodious sound resonating. When soldiers on horseback arrived swiftly, Jiechen’s music continued, but the carriage came to a halt.

Mr. Zhuang stood next to Wei Xingren, encouraging him to step forward for conversation. There was no other choice; among everyone present, he was the most proficient in foreign languages, even various regional dialects.

Well, except for Master Zhi Ren, but it was inappropriate for him to start the conversation, so Wei Xingren was given the initiative.

Junior General Meng was also kneeling in the carriage, having changed into civilian clothes. He was currently posing as a servant to Zhi Ren, with the key personnel concentrated in these carriages to quickly escape together if needed.

He quickly assessed the approaching troops and lowered his voice, saying to Bai Shan kneeling in front of him, "Those are indeed Tubo soldiers. Damn it, what kind of illness does Jin Kui’an have? His master was killed by the Tubo, yet he collaborates with them."

Bai Shan moved his mouth slightly and whispered, "Everything can be justified if the benefits are sufficient."

And it was just a master, not parents, so what can’t be done?

Jin Kui’an even chose his own surname, and Ba Zhuo didn’t treat him very well, not even bestowing a surname.

Junior General Meng stayed silent, watching as the troops stopped and looked confidently at them. He briefly glanced at the riders, then narrowed his eyes to observe the dust clouds rising beyond. He lowered his voice again, "About eight hundred cavalry, the infantry behind should be around twelve hundred. Damn, even if we had started an early escape with light and swift carriages, it wouldn’t work."

They just had this many people; without considering the infantry behind, these eight hundred cavalry alone could finish them off. Catching up would be a matter of moments.

Bai Shan was also relieved that they hadn’t run away earlier. In the desert, short distances could obscure vision, but it was harder further away. By finding a high enough point, escaping people were easy to spot.

And Mr. Zhuang and others clearly weren’t suited for hiding under the sand for refuge; even them, being younger, would struggle.

The Tubo soldiers, initially inclined to charge directly, stopped upon seeing Zhi Ren in the carriage. Though they shared a deep-seated enmity with the Great Jin, they held no animosity towards monks, especially those from the Western Region, and even felt a kinship.

Moreover, the deputy general leading the troops was the Tubo’s Qiangba. He glanced at Master Zhi Ren and then surveyed their convoy, nudged his horse forward, and slightly bowed, touching his chest respectfully, "May I ask the venerable’s title is..."

Wei Xingren, who had barely gathered the courage to step forward and speak, suddenly wilted, involuntarily looking towards Zhi Ren.

Zhi Ren smiled slightly, first calming Wei Xingren with a gesture, then spoke to Qiangba with a smile, "The humble monk’s dharma name is Zhi Ren."

His gaze lingered on Qiangba’s wrist and he inquired with a smile, "Does this benefactor serve Maitreya Buddha?"

Qiangba’s eyes brightened, and he bowed even deeper with pride, saying, "To the venerable, my name is actually Qiangba."

In Tubo, Qiangba means Maitreya Buddha, a sign that not only he, but his family places their faith in Maitreya.

Zhi Ren nodded slightly and began discussing the five treatises of Maitreya Buddha with him. Evidently, Qiangba was genuinely devoted to Maitreya, engaging with Zhi Ren in debate over the texts for half an hour just on the Treatises on the Great Vehicle Ornament and the Treatise on the Diamond Prajna.

Initially tense, Manbao and the others now found their hearts relaxed, having settled down after half an hour without moving. Their legs were numb.

Though they complained inwardly, their kneeling posture did not change. Manbao and Bai Shan, while not quite understanding the Buddhist discourse between the two, could read faces. Seeing Qiangba growing increasingly relaxed and respectful, they discreetly exchanged a glance.

Assistant General Nie’s tense body gradually relaxed too, as otherwise, he’d have cramped long ago.

Hidden away in the carriage, Bai Erlang and others exhaled a breath of relief, spotting Jin Kui’an stirring into wakefulness. Bai Erlang quickly covered his mouth and nose with the medicated pouch Manbao had given, and the moving Jin Kui’an was soon quiet again.

Seeing this, Bai Erlang also held the newly-used medicated pouch over the mouth and nose of Erge, who was lying still, seemingly asleep.

When Liu Huan saw this, he couldn’t help but whisper, "What are you doing? He hasn’t woken up."

Bai Erlang said, "He should be about ready too. They were both suffocated at the same time, and Jin Kui’an is nearly waking up, so how much longer can Erge last?"

He grumbled, "The medicated pouch works best when warmed in the box over the stove; it’s a hassle to keep moving it back and forth. Isn’t suffocating two at once better?"

Liu Huan: "What if it causes problems?"

Yin Huo, who had remained silent, persuaded, "Don’t argue, we’ve already learned much, keeping him around is of little use, if problems arise..."

The rest of the words slowly faded away, becoming indistinct, and Erge could no longer hear them.

Yin Huo glanced at the two lying down and then at the two sitting up, lowered his voice and said, "Don’t make any noise, things outside are about to happen."

Bai Erlang and the others pricked their ears to listen closely, and sure enough, the discourse with Qiangba had ceased, now questioning Zhi Ren’s destination and extending an invitation for him to preach in Qiangba’s fiefdom in Tubo.

The local dialect used by Qiangba happened to be one they had learned, so they understood the conversation, though they couldn’t grasp much of the Buddhist content.

They found the Buddhist scriptures difficult even in Chinese characters, let alone in the local dialect.

But they comprehended this ordinary dialogue, so they listened with heightened interest to Zhi Ren’s reply.

Zhi Ren thanked Qiangba for his invitation, stating that he would visit if given the chance. He then added, "The fifth day of the tenth month marks the birth anniversary of Bodhidharma. Buddhists from various regions have been invited to Gaochang for a religious discussion. As the humble monk longs for the Bodhi tree at the National Temple, I am heading there early to prepare, and I hope to play a match against Zhihao Venerable from Big BoLv."