Super Soldier in the City-Chapter 1392 - 1441: There Are Eminent Monks in Shaolin Temple

Chapter 1392: Chapter 1441: There Are Eminent Monks in Shaolin Temple

The Shaolin Temple is renowned for both "Zen" Buddhism and "martial arts," and is celebrated as the "number one temple under heaven." Situated deep within the dense forests of Shaoshi Mountain in Mount Song, it was named "Shaolin Temple." Established in the Northern Wei Dynasty Taihe Nineteenth Year, Emperor Xiaowen built Shaolin Temple at the northern foot of Shaoshi Mountain in Mount Song, facing the capital Luoyang, to accommodate the esteemed Indian monk Bodhidharma. Shaolin Temple is a world-famous Buddhist temple, one of the ancestral homes of Zen Buddhism, and the birthplace of Shaolin martial arts. It is said that "all martial arts under heaven originate from Shaolin, and Shaolin Kung Fu is the best in the world."

Over the years, Shaolin Temple has flourished, garnering countless accolades, yet increasingly it seems less like a pure land of Buddhism. Li Yifei came here without much expectation, just wanting to explore every corner as thoroughly as possible within his capabilities.

He wandered in leisurely, still surrounded by many tourists. Li Yifei did not blindly search; instead, he projected his presence. It’s a mysterious kind of aura, similar to the lethal air he carried after surviving countless battles in the past. Upon reaching the Innate Realm, Li Yifei mastered this presence, and every Innate Expert has this aura, like Xu Shanshan, Jiang Ningxiang, and especially Murong Yuanqing.

The Shaolin Temple is vast, with hundreds of monks and countless tourists inside. Li Yifei wanted to find some real monks, but the difficulty was immense. So he came up with a good idea: release his presence. A true master here would naturally sense it, and if none did, Li Yifei would simply leave.

Even though there were many people around, no one dared get too close to Li Yifei. They naturally didn’t know why, just that this young man standing there exuded a unique feeling.

This was Li Yifei’s aura, making him stand out.

Li Yifei stood before the mountain gate, looking up at the dignified three large characters above it. The gate’s plaque bore the three characters "Shaolin Temple," personally inscribed by Emperor Kangxi. At the top center of the plaque was the six-character seal "The Treasure of Kangxi’s Imperial Script." In front of the gate, a pair of stone lions faced each other, male and female, carved in the Qing Dynasty. Symmetrical stone arches stood on both sides of the gate’s eight-character wall, with "The Origin of the Sacred Truth" inscribed on the eastern arch and "Bodhidharma’s Founding" inside. The western arch had "Mahayana Sacred Land" inscribed inside and "Songshan Shaoshi Zen Forest" outside. The main gate was built in a single-eaved structure with a xieshan roof, set upon a two-meter-high brick platform, flanked by hard-mountain styled side doors and eight-character walls. Stepping inside, the Maitreya Buddha was enshrined in a niche, with a big belly and smiling face, known as the "Great Happy Buddha." Behind the niche stood a wooden statue of Skanda, holding a staff. The mountain gate’s atmosphere unfolded, and Li Yifei praised to himself the place truly was a Buddhist Holy Land. Just by entering, he felt an ordinary person couldn’t perceive—a warmth, an aura that should be called Buddha’s air.

Beyond the mountain gate was a corridor. On either side were forests of steles under verdant pines and cypresses, called "forest of steles" because of the stele stones. Li Yifei glanced at a few steles and continued forward, as the texts’ profound Buddhism did not relate to what he sought.

Continuing forward, after the forest of steles in the corridor was the Hall of Heavenly Kings, located at the end of the forest, enshrining the Four Heavenly Kings symbolizing "Wind, Temperament, Rain, Conformity." With red walls and green tiles, vividly painted dougong (wooden brackets), there were two Vajra statues on either side of the screen within the doors. The three-bay hall with a double-eaved xieshan roof hosted the majestic and formidable statues of the Four Heavenly Kings inside.

The further Li Yifei went, the stronger he felt the Buddha presence. The nearly two thousand years of Shaolin Temple’s heritage, with countless profound Buddhist monks, endowed it with a Buddha aura surpassing any other Buddhist temple. Enveloped in this aura, Li Yifei’s heart grew increasingly calm, making him feel that, even if he can’t find what he’s looking for, the trip wasn’t in vain.

With the Buddha Sound lingering, the tourists’ expressions turned solemn. Further inside was the Mahavira Hall, enshrining statues of Shakyamuni, Bhaisajyaguru, and Amitabha. The hall’s center displayed the four character painting "Treasure Tree Fragrant Lotus," personally written by Emperor Kangxi. Behind the screen wall was a statue of Avalokiteshvara, and on both sides were statues of the Eighteen Arhats.

The buildings on either side in front of the hall were the bell and drum towers, with the bell tower in the southeast and drum tower in the southwest. The morning bell and evening drum originated from here. Li Yifei lingered a while, then continued inward.

Further inside was the Thousand Buddha Hall, behind the Snow Pavillion, also known as the Vairocana Hall, the innermost major hall in the temple. According to the map he held, beyond it was the Abbot’s room. Li Yifei didn’t continue further, for a plainly dressed monk was already approaching him.

The monk had a prosperous face, round face with broad ears, wearing simple monk robes, standing about 1.7 meters tall, with a simple string of Buddha beads hanging from his chest. His eyes displayed neither anger nor joy. Though they still had some distance, Li Yifei knew the monk was coming for him. So he turned, silently watching the monk’s approach.

His age was indiscernible, possibly in his forties or fifties, perhaps in his fifties or sixties, yet his face bore few wrinkles, and his thin frame did not appear frail.

Tourists clasped their hands in salutation or raised a single palm, nodding slightly towards the monk, who returned each salute. It was a few minutes before he reached Li Yifei.

"Amitabha Buddha," the monk stopped two meters away, first saluting Li Yifei, who returned the gesture. After exchanging greetings, the monk said, "This place is noisy; I come under my master’s command to invite the benefactor to the meditation room for a conversation."

Li Yifei nodded slightly, saying, "I trouble the master."

He thought to himself that his release of presence had been effective. The monk said no more, leading Li Yifei onto a small path.

Onlookers watched curiously, guessing at Li Yifei’s background, but none followed for a closer look. They simply felt that Li Yifei, indeed, was extraordinary to warrant a master’s audience.

Of course, many didn’t understand the reasoning, as few are received by the Shaolin monks, though there are some. Li Yifei’s case was a special one.

After the winding path, Li Yifei was led into a meditation room. Though they had walked far, Shaolin Temple was vast; what lay within was unknown to ordinary people.

After saluting him, the monk said, "Benefactor, my master is waiting for you inside."

"Thank you." Li Yifei gently felt that there was nothing special in the room, just a thicker atmosphere of Buddhism. The monk said nothing and turned to leave. Li Yifei glanced around and then stepped forward to gently push open the door. The door was ajar; with a slight push from Li Yifei it swung open. He walked in, finding himself in a moderate-sized room, with what seemed to be the monk’s bedroom inside and a place for meetings and meditation outside.

A monk was sitting on a meditation mat, eyes closed in meditation. Li Yifei walked in, and the other person opened his eyes.

This monk was older than the one from before; both eyebrows had turned white, much like the old monks seen in movies, with long white eyebrows hanging down both sides of his cheeks.

He was dressed in a simple kasaya, not at all like the resplendent abbot of Shaolin Temple that Li Yifei had seen on TV. The White-Browed Monk’s small, thin frame seemed even more frail seated on the mat. Yet, the moment he opened his eyes, they shot forth a brilliant light, and his gaze seemed to scan Li Yifei like an X-ray.

Li Yifei placed his hands together, slightly bowed, and greeted, "Master!"

The White-Browed Monk did not stand but returned the gesture, saying, "No need for formalities, benefactor. Please sit."

To sit? The room only had two mats, with no chairs or stools to be seen. Li Yifei thought for a moment and then, without any restraint, walked over, pulled a mat, and sat cross-legged in front of the old monk.

After sitting down, Li Yifei hadn’t decided how to begin. He felt that the old monk was unfathomable. Although he didn’t sense any threat from him, not even a hint of energy, he instinctively felt that this person was powerful. Then, the White-Browed Monk spoke first, "Since the benefactor has already reached the stage of internal energy restraint, why do you still release it?"

"I did it to find you, Master," Li Yifei replied.

"And now you’ve found me."

"So I have also withdrawn it."

After they finished speaking, there was a brief pause. Li Yifei burst into laughter, and the White-Browed Monk, no longer keeping a stern face, joined in the laughter.

After laughing enough, Li Yifei asked, "I came here with a request."

The White-Browed Monk smiled slightly and said, "This old monk sits in the meditation room and does not concern myself with external matters. Besides, the Shaolin Temple is a place of Buddhism, where everyone is an outsider. I really do not know what matter I could assist you with."

Li Yifei said, "Please rest assured, Master. I am here seeking answers, not causing trouble."

"I have long been at ease."

"That’s good, then I won’t beat around the bush any longer. I’ll get straight to the point."

"Benefactor, you are already beating around the bush."

Hearing this, Li Yifei deliberately glanced at the White-Browed Old Monk, slightly nodded, and said, "True enough, I came to your esteemed temple for two matters: one is to seek the Buddhist Mantra, and the other to inquire about a matter concerning the linguist."

The White-Browed Old Monk stroked his long brows, which made a slight movement. Although it wasn’t much, it might have been because he opened his eyes, causing Li Yifei to notice this subtle action.

The White-Browed Old Monk chuckled, uttering a Buddhist mantra, "Amitabha. The matter the benefactor asks about can be significant or trivial. This old monk might know or might not. I observe that the benefactor is no ordinary person; your posture in both sitting and standing indicates a high figure, yet carries a significant blood aura. Why?"

Seeing that the White-Browed Old Monk immediately discerned the blood aura around him, Li Yifei was more convinced that he had found the right person. He didn’t hide it and said, "I spent several years in the military, so having a blood aura is quite normal."

Upon hearing this, the White-Browed Old Monk finally felt at ease. At Shaolin Temple, he was a reclusive high monk, usually engaging solely in meditation and Buddhism, not attending to the affairs within the temple. However, when practitioners like Li Yifei arrived, it was up to monks like him to meet them.

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