Two flowers bloomed, each displaying its own branch.
For Zhao Lanzhi and Yuan An, and the public, this case came to an end. However, Princess Xinghui, who had survived the ordeal, left the Prince's residence before fully recovering. She carried something in her hands and went to a certain place to meet someone.
It was a dimly lit grand hall with a blazing fire on the central altar. Several young monks stood by the side. In the middle, there sat a thin and tall figure dressed in a black robe embroidered with a red totem, resembling a horse and deer. The air carried a faint fragrance, slightly bitter when it reached one's throat. The sound of a bronze bell being gently struck seemed to come from another dimension. The person sitting there was tapping his fingers on his knees, and on his left wrist, he wore two dark red Buddhist beads.
Who was he?
Princess Xinghui slowly ascended the steps and knelt down, paying her respects, "Master, your disciple didn't disappoint you. I've obtained one of the Heavenly beads and I present it to you, Master."
The person addressed as "Master" stood up slowly and turned around. His massive shadow was cast upon Princess Xinghui by the light of the altar.
Princess Xinghui lowered her head, uncertain if it was the hand of the Master or the shadow of that hand, slowly reaching towards her, resembling a soundless, infinitely long snake.
The box in Princess Xinghui's hands was taken away.
It was opened.
Inside was a dazzling Buddhist heavenly bead.
It was the bead that once belonged to Young Master Xianya, but now, through Princess Xinghui, it had fallen into the hands of the Great Tang's National Master Tian Qiao.
National Master Tian Qiao gently held the bead, tears pouring down like rain, "It's real, it's real, it's real. Master! Master! I've finally found one of the Heavenly beads! I've finally found one of the Heavenly beads!" The sobbing turned into an eerie, strange laughter. "Princess Xinghui, since you were young, you've been clever and courageous. I didn't misjudge you! If it weren't for you becoming bait, how could I have obtained this Heavenly bead from Young Master Xianya? It was a rather dangerous process, wasn't it? I was almost outsmarted by Jiang Ren, who cared deeply for you."
Princess Xinghui knew her actions were not without flaws. When questioned by National Master Tian Qiao, she kowtowed, almost touching her forehead to the ground, "Everything was under the control of your disciple. But Jiang Ren's death was a pity. The secret salt trade was destroyed by Zhao Lanzhi from Luoyang County and the daughter of a Ministry of Revenue official, Ye Fu. I won't let them off!"
Master Tianqiao nodded, "Money is a small matter. It's much more important to retrieve the lost seven Buddhist heavenly beads."
Princess Xinghui kowtowed, seizing the opportunity to plead, "Master, when will you pass on the secrets and skills of the Heavenly beads to me?"
Master Tianqiao seemed incredulous, "What are you saying, Xinghui?"
Summoning her courage, Princess Xinghui pleaded once more, "Please pass on the secrets and skills of the Heavenly beads to me?"
Suddenly, Tian Qiao's shadow attacked, and his two withered hands tightly gripped Princess Xinghui's throat. His fingernails almost sank into her flesh, "You want to negotiate conditions with me for helping you find the heavenly beads? Are you not afraid? Not afraid that I'll kill you?"
Though nearly choked to death, Princess Xinghui remained unafraid, and with a sinister smile, she said, "To find the heavenly beads, you need to talk terms with me. You can't take them forcefully, just like receiving alms. You can only get them if the original owner is willing to give them. Besides me, is there anyone else you trust?"
In the darkness, Princess Xinghui could partially see Master Tian Qiao's face. It was a good-looking face with kind eyebrows and gentle eyes, a straight nose like a Buddha statue, and thick, compassionate lips. However, due to his anger, his face was tight and reddened. Yet her words seemed to have an effect on him; he listened, pondered, and ultimately changed his mind. He gently released Princess Xinghui. In the blink of an eye, he retreated back to the high platform several meters away. His speech was calm and gentle, "Look at you, so young and impatient. I'll reward you, and I'll teach you what you want. But for now, you have other things to do. Go find the rest of the heavenly beads!"
Princess Xinghui knew that this might not be the right time to negotiate business, but she was brave enough to make her intentions clear to Tian Qiao. She kowtowed to the ground and left. She would give the Master Tian Qiao time to consider.
With a dark expression, Princess Xinghui stepped out of the hall.
Outside the grand hall of the Master Tian Qiao, a tall and thin man with a bronze complexion was waiting. Seeing Princess Xinghui come out, he bowed, "Princess Xinghui, I am Huo Yang. Under the orders of the Tianqiao master, I am at your service."
Without even looking at him, Princess Xinghui walked forward with an overbearing aura, "Are you serving me or monitoring me?"
Huo Yang lightly smiled, "How should I answer Princess' question? Is there a difference?"
Princess Xinghui realized he was right, so she suppressed her anger and turned back, saying, "No need for excessive politeness, rise. From now on, follow my orders."
After Xinghui left, Master Tian Qiao let all the attendants and young monks retreat, leaving only himself and the three Buddhist beads in his hand.
Fifteen years ago, there were nine beads in total, worn on the wrist of his master, Master Sanzang.
Fifteen years have passed.
Master Tian Qiao master shed tears again, remembering that night as if it had just happened.
Fifteen years ago, in the meditation room of Ci'en Temple in Chang'an City, the sickly Master Sanzang lay on the bed, clutching a string of nine Buddhist beads in his hand.
His disciples were kneeling around him.
The young Tian Qiao entered the room carrying a bowl of cooked medicinal soup and bowed, softly calling out to him, "Master, would you like to drink the medicine?"
Master Sanzang kept his eyes closed and didn't respond.
Tian Qiao choked up, "Master, please drink some medicine, it will make you feel better."
Suddenly, Master Sanzang let out a long sigh.
Tian Qiao master understood and quickly instructed, "Open a window, let Master breathe."
One of the junior monks opened the window and was startled by what he saw outside. He pointed to the night sky, "Look, look! A comet is falling!"
The other monks seemed to sense something and folded their hands in prayer, chanting, "Amitabha Buddha."
At that moment, Master Sanzang suddenly opened his eyes and slowly sat up.
Tian Qiao was astonished, "Master, what are you going to do?"
The other monks cautiously requested, "Master, please rest on the bed."
Tian Qiao presented the medicine bowl, "Master, would you like to drink the medicine?"
Master Sanzang gently pushed the bowl away, "Bring me my kasaya and crown. Gather all the monks."
The disciples didn't dare to be negligent and quickly gathered in the courtyard in front of Master Sanzang's meditation room, sitting down cross-legged.
Tian Qiao served Master Sanzang, dressing him properly and helping him sit on a cushion. Master Sanzang suddenly shed his sickly appearance and appeared spirited, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.
The monks bowed, "Master."
Master Sanzang spoke kindly, "One more person, let Tian Shu come as well."
Tian Qiao nodded, "Yes."
In a dark cell in Ci'en Temple, with only a high small window's dim light shining in.
This place was where monks who broke the rules were punished. The other disciple, Tian Shu, with his hair covering his eyes, sat meditating cross-legged.
The light from the opening disturbed him, and it was Brother Tian Qiao who came in, "Tian Shu, Master asks you to come!"
Tianshu's eyes opened slightly, gleaming.
Before long, Tian Qiao led Tian Shu to the meditation room. Tianshu was surprised to see Master Sanzang, but he immediately understood that he was about to receive Master's final teachings. With tears in his eyes, he knelt without a word.
Master Sanzang opened his eyes, "Tian Shu, Tian Qiao, come here."
Both of them knelt before Master Sanzang.
Master Sanzang smiled and spoke to everyone, "Since my youth, I have devoted myself to Buddhism. In the first year of Zhenguan, I set out from Chang'an on a journey to the West to obtain sutras. After sixteen years and one hundred and ten countries, I brought back six hundred and fifty-seven volumes of scriptures. After returning to the Tang Dynasty, my disciples and I together translated seventy-five texts, totaling one thousand three hundred and thirty-five volumes. My intention to spread the true meaning of Buddhism, enlighten people, and attain true wisdom."
As Master Sanzang spoke, the disciples listened attentively.
In the back row, a young novice wiped tears from his face with his sleeve, but his senior brother nudged him with his elbow.
The young novice asked softly, "Senior brother, is it true that Master is in a state of restful reawakening? Is he leaving us?"
His senior brother was both sad and anxious, "Listen carefully to the teachings!"
Master Sanzang continued, "Today, I want to tell you the last principle. No matter what I have done, or where I have been, I am still just a mortal with a physical body, still a human being, still experiencing birth, aging, sickness, and death. I am like this, and so are you. Our physical bodies and souls are both like this. Being human, we all have human flaws. Therefore, even if I am no longer here, you must continue to practice diligently. You must abide by the Buddhist precepts, restrain your anger, ignorance, and desire."
Master Sanzang's words seemed to have not been finished, but he suddenly stopped, his eyes half-open with a smile, he didn't speak again.
The monks looked up, unable to believe it.
The brave Tian Shu stood up, approached, and checked Master Sanzang's pulse. After a while, he said, "Master, Master has attained Parinirvana!"
"Master!"
The big bell rang, and all the monks burst into tears.
Tian Qiao couldn't contain his grief and cried on the ground. When he wiped his tears, he suddenly looked up and saw his junior brother, Tian Shu, staring intently at the Buddhist beads on Master Sanzang's hand.
Tian Shu reached out, but Tian Qiao held his wrist, "What are you doing, Tian Shu?!"
Tian Shu smiled coldly, "I want the nine Heavenly beads on Master's hand!"
Tian Qiao cried out, "Master has just passed away, and you dare to act so outrageously!"
The hair covering Tianshu's eyes slightly parted, and he said, "Forget this nonsense! The heavenly beads are mine! I entered Ci'en Temple at the age of fifteen, endured so much suffering, received countless beatings, and did all sorts of dirty work, all for this day! All for obtaining these nine heavenly beads! No one can stop me!"
Tian Qiao was filled with anger, and a struggle broke out between him and Tian Shu. The other monks rushed forward to help, but they were no match for the fierce Tian Shu. He took out a fire stick from a nearby stove and attacked others with it, causing numerous casualties.
Tian Qiao protected Master Sanzang's remains and the heavenly beads, but he was confronted by the devilish Tian Shu. "Tian Qiao, where are you going?!"
The meditation room burst into flames, and Ci'en Temple was engulfed in a sea of fire.
Tian Qiao, holding Master Sanzang's remains in his arms, pulled at the heavenly beads in Tian Shu's hand, and the two struggled.
Kneeling on the ground, Tian Qiao cried, "Tian Shu! Have you forgotten? When you were unconscious at the temple gate, it was Master who saved you?!"
"Have you forgotten how many times you broke the rules, but Master spoke of your cleverness and innate goodness, refusing to cast you out, hoping for you to turn back from your wayward path? Have you forgotten that just now, Master let you out of solitary confinement to listen to his final teachings?! He asked us to strictly abide by the precepts and restrain our desires and ignorance!"
Tian Shu seemed momentarily hesitant upon hearing this, but then he laughed evilly and confidently said, "I am not being greedy for myself. Master always said to spread Buddhism and enlighten the world. These heavenly beads are spiritual objects, so why wouldn't he pass them on to his disciple and let them bring blessings to the world?"
Tian Qiao cried, suppressing his voice, "Tian Shu! Others might not know, but you should know! The heavenly beads are mysterious and possess boundless power. On a small scale, they can fulfill people's wishes, granting them what they desire. On a larger scale, they can unify the world! Without the protection of Buddhist teachings, the nine heavenly beads emit a heavy killing aura, and the consequences would be disastrous. Master didn't want them to be spread precisely because of his compassion!"
Tian Shu laughed wildly, "Master is gone! His words don't count anymore!"
Tian Qiao refused to let go, and they continued to struggle over the heavenly beads. The rope of the beads was torn by their tugging, and the nine beads scattered all over the ground.
Tian Shu was both shocked and angry. He knelt to pick up the beads, mumbling to himself, "Heavenly beads, heavenly beads..."
But the beads were scattered, and they couldn't be gathered again. Tian Shu hated the situation, blaming Tian Qiao for this, his stubborn senior brother!
He suddenly stood up, struck Tian Qiao on the back with the fire stick from behind. The fire was fierce, but Tian Qiao was struck yet he persisted in protecting Master Sanzang's remains!
The main beam of the meditation room collapsed, and Ci'en Temple turned into ruins.
Now, National Master Tian Qiao was rapidly twisting the three heavenly beads in his hand, closing his eyes, painfully recalling that the great fire burned throughout the night. When the day broke, half of Ci'en Temple's meditation rooms were in ruins.
People rescued Tian Qiao and found that he had protected Master Sanzang's remains so that it remained intact, while Tian Qiao himself, one side of his face was still fine, but the other side was mutilated!
Later, Tian Qiao told Princess Xinghui the story like this: Master Sanzang passed away, and Ci'en Temple was destroyed by a massive fire. Countless monks perished in the flames.
And that evil instigator, Tian Shu, had vanished without a trace.
"I received recognition from the Emperor for desperately protecting Master Sanzang's remains. Tian Shu was wanted as a dangerous criminal. Seven of the nine heavenly beads were still missing. They possess incredible power and, I believe, are still somewhere in this world. Xinghui, you must find them all for me."
What he didn't tell Princess Xinghui was that his faith had been shaken. After the fire at Ci'en Temple, Tian Qiao looked at the two remaining beads in his hand and wondered, "Master is gone, the temple is gone. The hidden secrets of these heavenly beads have caused so much bloodshed without being utilized. Could it be, as Tian Shu said, that Master's words don't count anymore?"
Later, Tian Qiao deciphered the secret arts on the two remaining beads and invented volley cannons and long-range arrows, aiding the Tang Dynasty's repeated victories in the wars against the Empire. He was appointed as the National Master of the Tang Dynasty by the Emperor! However, with only half of his face remaining, National Master Tian Qiao was now devoting himself to searching for the rest of the Buddhist heavenly beads and his junior brother, the wanted monk Tian Shu!
Oh, junior brother, junior brother, Tianqiao felt an itchy sensation in his teeth. Where have you gone? In the cellar of Mr. Ye, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Yuan An handed an intoxicatingly deadly candle to a black-clad person, smiling, "This thing is rare and not easy to get. I took it when nobody was paying attention. Consider it a toy and keep it as a memento."
The black-clad person grinned and placed the candle in their large box.
On his wrist, he also wore two heavenly beads.
~Thank You for Reading, Please Comment Below~
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