Free Web NovelChapter 1429: Chapter 531: Samantabhadra Buddha Mother (3)
Zhou Lingyi listened to Xu Li’s chatter, her heart was also sweet: "My brother has a bit of good taste."
"Is it just a bit? Look, gold, it’s luxurious, but also aged. For someone like me, who’s getting on in years, it’s fine. But for Master Pei, wouldn’t that make him look old?"
Xu Li laughed and said, "But this Well Silver is different. It’s brighter than regular silver, showing vitality, just right for the Master."
With the Well Silver necklace on, Zhou Lingyi swayed around in front of the mirror a few times, and involuntarily her eyes reddened as if she was reminded of something sad.
"Master, why are you feeling sad now?"
"It’s not sadness, it’s excitement." Zhou Lingyi sighed and said, "When I took over the Zhou Family’s Troupe, I didn’t have much ambition. I just wanted to keep the troupe going so our Ancestor Tree wouldn’t die.
But I never imagined that now, the Zhou Family’s Troupe, thanks to my brother, is thriving, and we can be said to be dressed in gold and silver."
Hearing Zhou Lingyi’s words, Xu Li gently wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and comforted her: "Isn’t that right? The good days have come... the days we lived before, what was that... now it’s different, our little junior brother is quite talented."
Though comforting, Xu Li’s tears dampened her makeup—she lived those days tightly, wearing outdated clothes, and for buying "blood" for senior brother, she didn’t dare to spend a penny casually.
Now, recalling past bitterness and sweetness, she felt more emotional.
"Zhou Family’s Troupe, luckily we have our little junior brother, luckily we have Xuanzi." Xu Li sighed slowly...
...
Lotus Mountain, Lotus Temple.
Zhou Xuan was extremely familiar with this temple; he could never forget it.
Moreover, the people in the temple hadn’t forgotten Zhou Xuan.
As Zhou Xuan’s sedan landed, dozens of Little Yellow Skins chirped and surrounded him, burrowing into his arms.
"Oh storyteller, you’ve come, we missed you so much."
"We still want to hear the rest of the story of The White-Browed Hero from you."
"After you left, many storytellers in Ping Shui Prefecture also told The White-Browed Hero. Ancestor Granny invited them, but their storytelling lacks flavor—Lao Shi, what kind of flavor is it?"
"Heroic flavor."
"Yes, exactly heroic flavor."
These Little Yellow Skins all heard Zhou Xuan’s stories. They are like children who fall in love with a certain craftsman; they remember them forever in their hearts.
Zhou Xuan felt a warmth in his heart, stroked one Yellow Skin’s head, and said: "It’s great you still remember me. When I get the time, I’ll tell you stories again."
He was just playing with "children" here, Lotus Lady was shocked and chased the Little Yellow Skins away, "You little brats, he is Mr., you should call him Mr."
"Still telling stories? Do you know what kind of reverence Mr. holds now?"
Lotus Lady had a stern Granny look, scaring the Little Yellow Skins who ran into the temple.
But while running, they occasionally turned their heads back to look at Zhou Xuan unwillingly.
"Lady, kids are quite fun too, I quite like these Little Yellow Skins."
Zhou Xuan calculated the days and said, "In a few days, it will be the end of the year. Zhou Family’s Troupe also seals its stage for three days during New Year. During the sealing, to thank the diligent masters and apprentices, we traditionally hold a big feast."
"At the feast, I, the Young Master, also have to tell a few stories to thank those masters and apprentices. At that time, bring those Little Yellow Skins over to listen together."
"That would be wonderful." Lotus Lady was delighted upon hearing this, saying repeatedly, "Mr., you are thoughtful."
"Thoughtful or not, let’s not discuss that now. Let’s check your temple out."
Zhou Xuan said, "I want to see what the White Bone Burial Pit really is."
"Alrighty."
Lotus Lady quickly led Zhou Xuan and others into the temple.
Honestly, Lotus Temple, Zhou Xuan had been here before, and its decorations had not really changed.
An exceptionally spacious temple courtyard followed by the Zen Temple, Buddha Mother Hall.
Speaking of it, the whole Ping Shui Prefecture calls Lotus Lady Lotus Buddha Mother, but the Buddha statue in Buddha Mother Hall isn’t Lotus Lady herself.
In the hall, Zhou Xuan carefully observed the Buddha Mother statue and asked, "Lotus Lady, does this Buddha Mother have a name?"
"Oh, she is called Samantabhadra Buddha Mother, with eighteen arms, dressed in Heavenly Clothes, appearing solemn."
Lotus Lady added, "This Buddha Mother bestows kindness widely, and during bestowing, she has a principle of having ’fearlessness’."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan asked, "If it’s benevolence, why is fearlessness needed?"
I give you something with the attitude of "fearlessness," which sounds somewhat odd.
Lotus Lady sighed and said, "Mr., didn’t you forget? When I used the tumor on my body to save those disaster victims, they often punched and kicked me because of my ugly appearance.
Every time I gave kindness, I needed fearlessness."
Zhou Xuan nodded and said, "And that also implies being fearless. But about this Buddha statue, I keep feeling something is off."
"What’s off?" Lotus Lady immediately asked.
"This Samantabhadra Buddha Mother’s statue, when you look at it, it’s solemn and treasure-like, but to me, there seems to be an incongruous vibe."
Zhou Xuan said, "This incongruous vibe stems from a sense of—pride."
"Pride? In the Buddha’s eyes, all beings are equal. I don’t see any pride."
Lotus Lady looked around but didn’t see any proud demeanor in the Buddha Mother.
Zhou Xuan called Huang Tianfeng: "Old Huang, did you notice anything?"
"I worship the Buddha Mother day and night, only sensing her tenderness in saving the world."
"Ya Zi, did you see anything?"
Seeing Huang Tianfeng didn’t catch anything, Zhou Xuan asked Zhao Wuya.
"Pride? Not really any pride."
Zhao Wuya also looked carefully but didn’t perceive any different meaning.
Zhou Xuan felt impatient, pressing Zhao Wuya’s head and said: "Ya Zi, I’ve figured out that you’re now practically useless, bow with me, and call out Master Wu Ya."
"Hey, don’t press my head, Master Wu Ya is asleep, can’t wake, don’t mess up my hairstyle."
Zhao Wuya struggled while Zhou Xuan was forcefully trying to make him comply, when Zhao Wuya suddenly turned to look at the Buddha Mother,
This glance didn’t matter, he saw the Buddha Mother’s corner of the mouth had curled up arrogantly.
"Got it, got it, it is pride, it is pride."
When Zhao Wuya spoke, Zhou Xuan released him and asked, "Are you fooling me?"
"Not fooling you, when I lowered my head and looked again, I indeed saw her proud look."
"Not lying?" Zhou Xuan asked.
"Of course not." Zhao Wuya replied.
Zhou Xuan asked again: "Then tell me—what kind of pride is it?"
Pride comes in many forms, be it the pride of talent; or the involuntary pride when civilization meets the savage,
Zhao Wuya decisively stated: "Brother Xuan, this pride is comparable to when poor relatives visit a rich family, and the rich family looks from the corner of their eyes, yes, it’s this kind of pride."
Zhou Xuan listened and was intrigued, saying: "You have great insight into ’pride.’ Are you precise with measurements?"
Indeed, Zhou Xuan had sensed such pride in the Buddha Mother’s demeanor—perhaps because growing up poor in the previous life, every New Year when visiting wealthy relatives, his sensitivity allowed him to detect such pride.
Yet Zhao Wuya, having not seen worldly injustice, managed to grasp it so distinctly, does this kid have some exceptional talent?
"I can tell what pride looks like at a glance." Zhao Wuya patted his chest and said: "No bragging, my mother shows the same expression when disdainful of poor relatives."
Zhou Xuan: "..."
Zhou Xuan never expected—Zhao Wuya turned out to be the son of pride itself, a bona fide "Son of Pride."
"Damn!"
Zhou Xuan suddenly felt he had a class struggle with Zhao Wuya.
"Ya Zi not lowering his head can’t see the pride of this Buddha Mother, lowering sees it.
But Lotus Lady, Huang Tianfeng, can’t see the pride in the Buddha Mother.
Does this Buddha statue hold any peculiarities?"
Zhou Xuan continued to contemplate seriously...
