night.

North of Chengtian Temple.

A large hall that is being renovated recently and is closed to visitors.

The walls around the hall are covered with completed and unfinished murals of Buddha Jataka.

In the hall, apart from the oil lamp on the tribute table in front of the Buddha statue, there is only a solitary lamp on the floor in the center.

The light evenly illuminated the remaining paintings on the surrounding walls.

At the same time, the two figures, one tall and one short, are stretched very long and reflected on the painting wall.

The two figures seemed to be painting in front of the wall.

The tall figure is holding the ladder and carrying the paint tray.

The low and hunched figure held a paintbrush, dipping it in ink from time to time and adding a few strokes on the wall.

A chuckle broke the silent atmosphere of Qingdeng Ancient Buddha:

“I have seen many murals in my life, and I would recommend Caotang Temple as the first.

"I have been to many temples in Guanzhong, including Chang'an, famous temples and small temples. There are more or less mural halls or caves with paintings, but the number of murals surpasses that of the Caotang Temple on Longshou Plain.

Yes, almost none.

"The Caotang Temple was built during the reign of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It has a total of 1,379 murals. Not only does the number of murals exceed that of all Buddhist temples in the north, but it also far surpasses them in terms of sophistication."

The little old man paused in his writing and asked with a smile to Yuan Huaimin, who was carrying trays on the escalator below:

"Does Xiao Huaimin know this temple?"

Yuan Huaimin, who seemed to be worried, looked up at him and nodded reluctantly:

"I've heard a little bit about it, a little bit."

"Yes, even the knowledgeable people in the world have only heard a little bit about it. It is not well-known. No one knows that when I was young, I built a cottage in Caotang Temple and completed the 1,379 Buddha statues in the temple without leaving any name.

More than half of the murals in Jataka paintings.

"The world just thinks that this painting by Buddha Jataka is boring. It is a false elegance to deceive the royal relatives, the powerful and the rich. It does not increase the output of an acre of land or save a single person. It is like a ruler who sings praises and chants sutras to pray for blessings.

The team of monks is just as useless."

Yuan Huaimin shook his head:

"It can't be said like this. In the words of a good friend of mine, many useful things in this world were once interesting but useless gadgets. You can't deny the future because of the present, and you can't overemphasize the present because of the future.

, everything is up to your heart, just the word interesting is enough."

Wu Daozi was a little surprised and said: "Who is this friend of yours? His level is quite acceptable."

Yuan Huaimin did not answer, but he knew that it was a great compliment to receive Mr. Wu's "very adequate" evaluation, although Brother Lianghan might not care about this at all.

Yuan Huaimin looked around at the lonely main hall.

Looking at the sky outside, it must be past midnight.

This old friend, Mr. Wu, came to him in the evening. After saying a lot of things that made his scalp numb, Yuan Huaimin hesitated and dealt with it.

Mr. Wu didn't seem to be bothered by the waste of saliva. He smiled and asked him to find something to eat.

Yuan Huaimin thought that Mr. Wu was hungry and wanted to eat, so he secretly got a lot of food from the Zhaiyuan, but he didn't expect that Mr. Wu would not touch any water or eat a grain of rice, so he had to eat a full meal.

They said they were going out for a walk at night, so he needed to replenish his energy...

Therefore, Yuan Huaimin was brought to the main hall by Mr. Wu with a confused look on his face, where the murals were unfinished. He accompanied him to record the murals in a daze, and Yuan Huaimin helped carry the escalators.

As for the new scroll with a bronze shaft, Mr. Wu casually hung it around his neck.

The rope was hung and fell into Yuan Huaimin's arms.

At this moment, he withdrew his gaze, looked at the new scroll in his arms, and couldn't help but hug it a little tighter with his arms.

Although Mr. Wu showed a nonchalant attitude, Yuan Huaimin was unable to open the new scroll.

He didn't know why, but he vaguely felt that this scroll could not be opened. There was something inside that he could not suppress, something beyond his cognition...

Yuan Huaimin continued to ask:

"Sir, do you like Buddhism very much? Students have always thought that you are from a Taoist school."

Wu Daozi said calmly:

"I am neither a monk, a Taoist, nor a Confucian. When I was young, I was arty. I entered a Taoist temple and became a disciple. I met a stereotyped master. He was a blind old Taoist on Zhongnan Mountain who loved to guard the world.

I sent the old man down the mountain to collect for him paintings from the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, whether they were statues of the Three Qing Taoist Patriarchs, pictures of the saints and the seventy-two sages, or paintings of the Buddha’s Jataka of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.

All seasoned Taoists love to watch.

"I once asked him why a blind man insisted on looking at paintings every day. He pointed to the dark hole and said to me that these eyes were taken away by Taozu just because he looked into a door. But now

Well, now that he has no eyes, he can watch with peace of mind. He can watch day and night, and see all the Taoist ancestors, Buddhas, and the most holy teachers...

"Later, after searching all over the mountain, there was really no new picture to see. The old Taoist lost his pen and asked me to draw. He painted freely and boldly. He even drove me down the mountain to learn how to draw... So I gradually became obsessed with it.

This way, but I didn't go back later, because I knew that if I only painted Buddha, the master would not be satisfied. The world said that I would return to my hometown with glory and shine on my master. I, an incompetent disciple who had gone astray, went back to do it.

Well, are you going to scold him? Haha."

The smiling old man waved his hand, picked up his pen, and said:

"They are all old people. I am just alone now."

After that, he dipped the brush in his hand into the ink, swiped it out, and added a touch to the "Three Masters" picture on the wall that the painter was lazy and unfinished.

The brush strokes are round and round, and the clothes and belts painted seem to be blown by the wind.

This technique, known as "Wu Dai Dang Feng" in the world, belongs to only one person.

Yuan Huaimin looked up and said with admiration: "No matter what, Mr. Wu painted Buddhas and slaughterhouses, and he has painted the best painting skills in the world. No one can compete with him. He is also an illustrious master, but he is too demanding of himself."

It’s just strict.”

"Although I know you are trying to coax me, there are some things you say that are right. Yes, you just keep painting."

Wu Daozi seemed to be recalled, and murmured a few words to himself:

"That day, that night, that hour, I was very thirsty. After tracing an ordinary Buddhist painting, I turned around to get a water bag. While drinking, I glanced at the night outside the door. I don't know why, but I didn't understand at all.

At first glance, I suddenly knew that I was invincible on this path.

"I raised my head and looked at the Buddha's true body on the Wuqi mural. I never thought that it was the mortal closest to the Buddha. Why? Without it, the Bodhisattva has no form. I can draw it and paint it with a form.

Wu Xiang, who is the person who is closest to the door and can see the most clearly inside?"

On the stairs, the lean old man laughed heartily, covering his stomach, feeling extremely happy.

"Does the Buddha have no form..."

Yuan Huaimin seemed to understand, but murmured something.

Wu Daozi suddenly tapped the unfinished Buddhist painting on the wall of the hall in front of him with the tip of his pen and asked:

"Do you know why I only like to trace Buddhist statues and not paint Taoist statues or Confucian sages?"

Yuan Huaimin took advantage of the situation and asked: "Why? Isn't it because of Mr.'s personal likes and dislikes?"

Wu Daozi smiled and said:

"Because the Taoist ancestor is too tall and too cold to be described, he is not a direct descendant of the Taoist sect and cannot be looked directly at. Otherwise, a peek may lead to gouging out one's eyes, and may lead to one's life being lost.

"But the most holy teacher is too strict and upright, respectful and polite, like an old-fashioned gentleman. Although he teaches without distinction, he loves to talk about truth. If you peek at him, he will also look at you. If you don't listen to his teachings in the future, you will not

If you guard the heaven and earth as your master, you will be punished by the ruler.

"Only the Buddha, although the Buddha's Dharma is far away, as far as the other side, allows you to see it, and also preaches that all living beings have the root of wisdom and can become Buddhas. No matter whether it is false or not, you can see it.

"We are not descendants of the Taoist sect, nor are we disciples of saints, but we must be ordinary sentient beings. For us, it is safest to copy Buddhist paintings, but don't be deceived by his kind eyebrows and kind eyes. Take a look inside the door, but your feet

You have to stay away, who knows if they tricked us into entering, hahahaha..."

Wu Daozi was talking to himself, and as time passed, Yuan Huaimin became more confused and difficult to understand.

The old man did not explain. After speaking, he laughed for a while, put one hand behind his back, held a pen with the other, and began to write quietly.

At the bottom of the ladder, Yuan Huaimin, who was leaning against the ladder, took a deep breath.

"If you have anything you want to ask, just ask it. Little Huaimin, don't hold it back."

Wu Daozi said calmly while lowering his eyes and dipping his ink.

Yuan Huaimin mustered up his courage and said:

"Sir, you said in the yard in the evening that the Donglin Buddha is a good thing. You also said that you can get it. You said that with this Buddha and the new scroll, you can obtain destiny..."

He asked doubtfully:

"What kind of treasure is this Donglin Giant Buddha? Why does it sound the same as your new scroll?"

"It's the same, but different."

"What's the meaning."
To be continued...