In Li Huowang's experience, most temples were built on mountains; it was rare to see one built within a city.
But that wasn't what concerned him. He was more focused on the name of the temple a pilgrim had just mentioned. Zhengde Temple?
The name immediately brought to mind the words Zhengkun had spoken to Master Danyang before his death. It seemed they had once been hunted by the monks of this very Zhengde Temple.
His heart began to pound. I've found the right place. After everything I've been through on this journey, I've finally arrived.
Just then, he rounded a corner, and the view suddenly opened up before him. A clean, tidy flagstone path stretched to the base of a wide staircase. At the top of those several hundred steps, a solemn temple with crimson walls, shrouded in curling incense smoke, came into view.
Above the lofty entrance gate, a black plaque bore three large characters written in vermillion: Zhengde Temple.
A couplet flanked the entrance. One side read, "Cultivate virtue and sow the causes, the Dharmakaya attains perfection." The other read, "Water pure, moon revealed, the jade canopy displays its dignity."
Amidst the thick incense smoke, the entire temple was enveloped in white mist, giving it an otherworldly, ethereal aura.
"Little Daoist Master, I won't escort you any further. Please, go ahead. Oh, right—unlike Jianye, the Western Capital has a curfew at night. Remember to get back before dark."
Li Huowang took a deep breath and stepped toward the crowded stairs. Following the worshippers, he walked into the temple grounds, where several grand halls stood before him.
Li Huowang stood there like a rock in a human current, gazing at his surroundings.
I've found the temple, but the next problem stumps me. How should I approach the monks here? Should I just say I'm a disciple of Master Danyang? I'd probably get struck down on the spot.
Before Li Huowang could come up with a strategy, a monk from Zhengde Temple approached him. Even in the dense crowd, Li Huowang's Daoist Robe was far too conspicuous.
The monk spoke, his authentic Buddhist tone far surpassing that of the old monk from before. "Amitabha. This humble monk, Jiandun, offers his respects."
Seeing the portly monk before him press his palms together in greeting, Li Huowang immediately returned the gesture. "Great Master, it's an honor. My name is Xuan Yang."
"As a disciple of Daoism, you must not have come to our temple simply to offer incense and worship, have you? This way, please."
Glancing at the bustling crowd, Li Huowang nodded and followed him toward a side door.
Staring at the monastic scars on the head of the monk in front of him, Li Huowang began to ponder what he should say next.
The two moved briskly through the solemn temple grounds, the clamor from the entrance gradually fading behind them. They finally stopped under a golden ginkgo tree, before a stone table and stools.
"Please, Patron." Monk Jiandun sat down, slowly rolling a string of Buddha Beads between his hands.
He didn't ask Li Huowang which school he belonged to, nor did he inquire further, perfectly embodying the serene detachment from worldly desires expected of a Buddhist disciple.
After a moment of thought, Li Huowang looked at the monk before him. "Master Danyang is dead."
CLACK. The yellow-brown Buddha Beads scattered across the ground.
Seeing the stout monk stand up so abruptly, Li Huowang nodded to himself. No mistake. The monks here definitely had contact with Master Danyang.
"That old, bull-nosed Daoist is truly dead? This matter is of great significance. Please, Patron, tell me everything in detail."
Since he wanted answers, he would naturally have to provide enough information. Apart from concealing the fact that he had taken the so-called Heavenly Book, Li Huowang told the monk everything that had happened at Qingfeng Daoist Temple.
"Great Master, under those circumstances, could Master Danyang truly have achieved immortality?"
At this, Li Huowang leaned forward slightly, his expression grim as he continued, "Or perhaps… did he become something else?"
A light breeze stirred the golden leaves of the ginkgo tree, making them rustle.
"Patron, did you truly hear Master Danyang speaking in your ear?" Jiandun asked again, his own face just as solemn.
"Yes, I'm absolutely certain. And it wasn't just a Huan Jue. There was also the abnormal behavior of the God of Happiness."
Recalling the scene, a trace of agitation flickered in Li Huowang's eyes.
"That God of Happiness, which cannot be looked upon directly, was about to climb out of the darkness to eat me. But its body, hidden in the shadows, seemed to be pulled back by something."
"Although I have no proof, I have a suspicion. The one who pulled the God of Happiness back in the darkness was Master Danyang—the ascended Master Danyang."
Jiandun thought for a moment, his expression still grave, then stood up. "Patron, please wait a moment. This matter is of great importance."
With that, Jiandun pressed his palms together toward Li Huowang and hurried away.
Though the monk had said nothing more, his reaction spoke volumes.
Li Huowang raised his head to look at the clouds. As I thought. The matter of Master Danyang won't be resolved so easily.
Jiandun returned faster than Li Huowang had expected—in no more than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn. Holding a new string of Buddha Beads, he hurried back.
"Patron Xuan Yang, this way, please. The abbot wishes to see you personally."
Zhengde Temple was enormous. Jiandun led Li Huowang through the temple complex for some time before they finally stopped before a magnificent main hall.
Through the wide, eight-paneled doors, Li Huowang saw five massive, imposing Golden Buddhas within. Each was over ten zhang tall, sitting cross-legged in a different posture.
On a prayer mat before the five Golden Buddhas sat the back of a figure clad in a kasaya. He wore a Five Buddha Hat on his head, reminiscent of the one worn by Xuanzang.
As Li Huowang entered, he heard the monk chanting sutras. The sound echoed with an ethereal resonance in the vast, empty hall.
Under the gaze of the five towering Golden Buddhas, Li Huowang instinctively began to slow his steps.
The chanting ceased. The monk on the prayer mat slowly turned around.
When Li Huowang saw the monk's face, he was taken aback.
It was an old abbot with eyebrows and a beard as white as snow. What was surprising was not his exceptionally kind face, but his eyes. They were pink. Having spent so much time with Bai Lingmiao, Li Huowang recognized it at once—the man had albinism, just like her.
"Amitabha. This old monk, Xinhui, offers his respects." Abbot Xinhui pressed his palms together, his voice calm.
"I am Xuan Yang. Greetings, Abbot." After his salute, Li Huowang sat down opposite him.
"Abbot, regarding Master Danyang—"
Li Huowang was cut off mid-sentence by the abbot raising a hand.
"Patron Xuan Yang, do you recognize the five Buddhas in this hall?"
Seeing Li Huowang shake his head, Xinhui gently stroked his long white beard and explained, "In the center is Vairocana of the Vajra Realm; to the east, Akshobhya Buddha of the Fragrant Accumulation World; to the south, Buddha Ratnasambhava of the Joyful World; to the west, Amitabha of the Western Paradise World; and to the north, Amoghasiddhi of the Lotus World. Together, they are known as the Five Wisdom Tathagatas."
Li Huowang couldn't help but grow anxious. Why is this monk talking about such irrelevant things? What does he mean by all this?
"Abbot, perhaps we can discuss these matters another time. For now, may I ask, what exactly did Master Danyang become?"
Xinhui pressed his palms together and looked at Li Huowang again with calm eyes. "He became a Buddha."