The Daliang Temple has stood longer than the Great Qin Dynasty.
A thousand years ago, Liangzhou was originally the Liang Kingdom, and the Daliang Temple was the national temple of Liang.
As for why the national temple of the former dynasty could continue into the Qin Dynasty, there are various opinions, but no definite answer.
Some say that even before the fall of the Liang Kingdom, the Daliang Temple had already allied with the Qin Kingdom; some say that the Daliang Temple closed its doors during the Qin Kingdom's attack, thus preserving itself.
In any case, there are many explanations, but when asked for the reasons, no one can provide a clear answer.
But regardless, the heritage of the Daliang Temple is profound beyond words.
North of Liangcheng.
On an unnamed mountain, the famous Daliang Temple is situated here.
Lin Ji walked on the ascending steps, not in a hurry to reach the top.
On both sides, one could often see the common people coming and going from the city.
It seemed like the incense was flourishing.
This reminded Lin Ji of the time when he encountered Master Xingchi at the Minghua Tower in Qingyang County.
At that time, Master Xingchi mentioned that he left Liangcheng because evil creatures surrounded the city, and the Daliang Temple was helpless, hence the incense was not flourishing, prompting him to escape trouble.
Now looking back, Lin Ji realized how short-lived people's memories were.
"The flourishing Buddhist sect indeed has some truth to it," Lin Ji thought to himself.
Ascending all the way, he arrived in front of the Daliang Temple.
At the temple gate, a young novice monk was sweeping the immaculate ground with a broom.
Not even a fallen leaf could be seen on the ground, and these young novices swept with extreme care, their meticulous appearance seeming a bit rigid and lacking in smoothness.
"Why are you sweeping the already clean road?" Lin Ji stopped and asked.
"Benefactor, the master said this is cultivating the heart," the young novice replied.
"Cultivating the heart doesn't involve meditation?" Lin Ji asked again.
"Meditation is also involved, as well as sweeping the ground."
Lin Ji fell silent, no longer asking, but instead bowed slightly and said, "I am Lin Ji, here to find Master Xingchi."
Upon hearing Lin Ji's words, the young novice put down the broom.
"Benefactor, please follow me."
Obviously, the young novice had been instructed beforehand.
Leading Lin Ji into the Daliang Temple, they passed through the bustling main hall and arrived at the quiet meditation area behind the temple.
The young novice stopped with Lin Ji outside a room.
"Master Xingchi, a visitor has arrived."
The door of the room was pushed open, revealing Master Xingchi's always smiling chubby face.
"Benefactor Lin, please come in."
Lin Ji responded, while the young novice bowed and left.
After entering the room, Lin Ji found a place to sit and curiously asked, "That young novice called you Master Xingchi? Your status in the Daliang Temple seems quite high."
"What status or not, it's just a form of address, there must always be one," Master Xingchi replied with a smile.
Lin Ji shook his head inwardly, dealing with monks was not good in this regard, always liking to appear mysterious and profound in their words.
He didn't like these roundabout ways.
"Master, did you bring me to the Daliang Temple just to show me the scenery?" Lin Ji asked directly.
"Someone wishes to see you," Master Xingchi did not hide his intentions.
"Who wants to see me?" Lin Ji was curious.
Apart from Master Xingchi, he didn't know anyone in the Daliang Temple.
But before Master Xingchi could answer, the door of the room was already pushed open.
A monk in robes entered, slightly older than Master Xingchi, with a slightly stooped figure but looking spirited.
After pushing the door open, he just stood at the doorway without entering the room.
"Master, please come in," Master Xingchi smiled and called out.
"Amitabha," a slightly hoarse voice sounded.
Upon hearing this voice, Lin Ji's ears twitched, subconsciously feeling somewhat familiar.
Then, he saw the monk at the door being supported by Master Xingchi as he walked into the room.
"I am Zhang Mi, I have met Benefactor Lin," Zhang Mi said with his hands together in a gesture of respect, then looked towards Master Xingchi.
"This is my master, the abbot of Daliang Temple, Master Zhang Mi."
"I have met the master," Lin Ji quickly bowed again, but couldn't help feeling strange.
The name Zhang Mi sounded strange, and besides, the voice of the abbot also sounded somewhat familiar.
But no matter how hard Lin Ji thought, he couldn't remember where he had heard it before.
He was very sure that today was the first time he had met Master Zhang Mi.
Seemingly noticing Lin Ji's surprise, before he could ask, Master Zhang Mi took the initiative to speak, "My secular name is Zhang Mi, I came to Daliang Temple a hundred years ago and used this name."
"Hundred years ago?" Lin Ji was puzzled.
The term "hanging a single" refers to wandering monks who hang around in temples, essentially outsiders to the temple.
How could an outsider become the abbot of Daliang Temple, and for a hundred years?
Wait a minute? A hundred years ago? This monk has lived for quite a long time!
Although Lin Ji had many doubts, neither Master Xingchi nor Master Zhang Mi responded.
After Zhang Mi arrived, Master Xingchi remained silent, just standing quietly behind, giving up his original position to Zhang Mi.
Seeing the two not speaking, Lin Ji didn't delve further, and instead asked, "Does the master want to see me?"
"Yes," Zhang Mi nodded with a smile, a demeanor somewhat similar to the usual Master Xingchi.
No, it should be said that Master Xingchi resembled Zhang Mi.
Lin Ji asked again, "May I ask the master's purpose?"
"It's not a big deal, just heard an old friend mention Benefactor Lin, and heard about some recent events, so I decided on a whim to meet Benefactor Lin," Zhang Mi replied.
"Old friend?"
"Pingxin Daoist."
"Tianji?!" Lin Ji's voice suddenly rose.
Since the incident at the Ghost King City and meeting Yunshan from the Youtian Palace, Lin Ji had long been wary of Pingxin Daoist.
Every encounter with Pingxin was filled with calculations, and Lin Ji didn't want to provoke such a person, it was best to stay as far away as possible.
Now knowing that Zhang Mi was also connected to Tianji, Lin Ji didn't want to stay in the Daliang Temple any longer, fearing getting entangled in some trouble he couldn't handle.
"Master, I suddenly remembered that there are tasks assigned to me by Zhang Daren that I haven't completed yet. If there's nothing else, please allow me to take my leave," Lin Ji said before Zhang Mi could respond, and got up to leave.
Neither Zhang Mi nor Master Xingchi stopped him, just clasping their hands together and bidding farewell to Lin Ji.
After Lin Ji left, Master Xingchi then looked at Zhang Mi.
"Master, Benefactor Lin, he..."
"Has a deep blessing and is worthy of cultivation," Zhang Mi said with a smile.
But Master Xingchi shook his head.
"I wasn't referring to that."
Zhang Mi understood.
"He can't escape, the Demon Suppression Staff must still end up in his hands."
Zhang Mi looked at Master Xingchi, his smile fading slightly.
"Tianji's calculations always have a beginning and an end. Even if they are pawns, they will be fully utilized, rather than being ignored after use."
Upon hearing this, Master Xingchi furrowed his brow slightly.
"Is this a blessing or a disaster?"
"It cannot be avoided," Zhang Mi answered without addressing the question.
Master Xingchi understood that his master didn't want him to ask further.
But this time, Master Xingchi didn't want to remain in the dark.
"Master, this matter involves too many people and even some prominent figures, even implicating the royal family."
The royal family mentioned by Master Xingchi was the current royal family of the Great Qin Dynasty, the Qin family of a thousand years ago.
But Zhang Mi shook his head, understanding Master Xingchi's meaning.
"Those playing chess only care about the overall outcome. As I said before, what the chess pieces need is to be fully utilized."
"If one is clever enough, then choose to become the winning chess piece."
Upon hearing this, Master Xingchi fell silent, subconsciously looking outside.
At the end of the road, Lin Ji's figure had just disappeared.
(End of this chapter)