Chapter 33: Burning Incense and Worshiping Buddha
Shengde Building.
Zhang Rongjun and his father hastily said their goodbyes. Zhang Rongjun glanced at Liang Sheng and saw that he had no intention of following them, so he left directly.
So many years have passed, and Liang Sheng hasn't changed a bit.
The reason Liang Sheng hasn't followed is simple enough: if the other party can't solve the problem, they will naturally come looking for him.
As for whether he would help or not, that would depend on the situation. Liang Sheng has always been clear-headed these years. He could talk about emotions but not let himself fall into danger.
Later, Liang Sheng returned to the private room, fetched a pot of wine, and asked the kitchen to cook a few more dishes. Then he drank alone.
Just then, the manager Old Duan hurriedly arrived, "Boss, the Liang Family has requested that we prepare some vegetarian food. The Patriarch plans to go to Jinshan Temple to worship and pray for blessings."
"Huh? Why go to worship again? Didn't he go there half a month ago? Forget it, do as the family instructs."
"Yes, Boss, we'll go prepare now."
Once Old Duan left, Liang Sheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Ever since two months ago, Liang Ying has been frequently visiting Jinshan Temple to offer incense.
He didn't think much about it the first time since the Liang Family had many businesses, and occasionally burning incense and praying to Buddha was nothing unusual. Nothing to be surprised about.
But this is already the second time this month that Liang Ying has gone to Jinshan Temple to burn incense and pray. Such frequency is somewhat abnormal.
Although Liang Ying has become a puppet of the County Government Office, he is still an official of the County Government on the surface. How could he be so free to visit Jinshan Temple frequently?
Moreover, Liang Sheng has lived in Jinshan Temple for a while in the past and knows some details about the temple, not to mention their connection with the No-Life Evil Cult in Jinzhou City eight years ago.
Jinshan Temple is full of skilled masters. The more so, the more Liang Sheng respects and keeps his distance from them. He is also somewhat relieved that when he took refuge at Jinshan Temple years ago, he didn't have too much entanglement with the temple.
But now Liang Ying is actively approaching Jinshan Temple, and there must be some schemes behind it. Thinking about it, Liang Sheng can't help but feel uneasy in his heart.
He just hopes that Liang Ying won't make any big commotion, or else he may have to find a coffin for himself and then fake his death to escape.
After all, in Liang Sheng's view, Jinshan Temple is much more terrifying than the No-Life Evil Cult and Yang Laifa before.
Just as Liang Sheng had made up his mind to avoid provoking trouble, he saw Zheng Wanchun actually accompanying Liang Ying walking past the Shengde Building, heading towards Jinshan Temple together. This made him somewhat puzzled.
He didn't expect that Liang Ying would be acting together with Zheng Wanchun, which meant that the outcome might be different from what he had thought.
However, in the next moment, Liang Sheng put away all his curiosity. Too much curiosity could be dangerous.
...
Jinshan Temple.
At this moment, Master Xuan Nan, the chief of the Reception Hall, was standing at the entrance of the temple, gazing at the mountain road halfway up the mountain gate, as if waiting for someone.
It wasn't long before a group of people appeared before his eyes. The leaders were Liang Ying and Zheng Wanchun. Seeing this, Xuan Nan couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
However, he still went up to greet them immediately, his hands clasped together, "Amitabha, how have you been lately, Liang Jushi? I don't know who this other Jushi is?"
Feigning ignorance of Zheng Wanchun, Liang Ying introduced him with a smile, "This is my friend, surnamed Zheng, who has come to accompany me in offering incense today."
"So, it's Zheng Jushi."
Master Xuan Nan chanted a Buddhist mantra with a smile and then led the way. Liang Ying signaled the Liang Family's servant to carry the vegetarian food, offerings, and incense money behind them.
Soon, they arrived at the Daxiong Treasure Hall, and the Liang Family's servant quickly placed the vegetarian food and offerings on the altar, then threw the incense money into the merit incense burner.
Then, Liang Ying knelt on the cushion, closing his eyes in silent prayer, while Xuan Nan read the Buddhist scriptures beside her. The smoke from the incense in front of the Buddha statue swirled, accompanied by the chanting, making people feel inexplicably calm.
Although Xuan Nan had been reciting the scriptures, he was watching Zheng Wanchun out of the corner of his eye, as her behavior was a bit strange at this moment.
After praying to the Buddha, Zheng Wanchun seemed to be casually looking at the murals in the room, but he was actually staring intently at the little novice monk next to him.
Wondering what he intended to do, Xuan Nan, who was already feeling guilty, could not help but become even more cautious, especially since Jinshan Temple had its secrets and he was most afraid of people like Zheng Wanchun coming.
However, under normal circumstances, there should be no major problems, as the general monks in Jinshan Temple did not know the internal situation.
At this time, Zheng Wanchun finally stopped looking at the little novice monk beside him. His face was a bit ugly, and disappointment was evident in his eyes, but it was still noticed by Xuan Nan.
What was going on?
Just then, a sramanera bhikkhu monk entered with his hands clasped, "Chief, the vegetarian meal in the dining hall is ready, Brother Hongshan asked when the guests will have their meal?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanchun's eyes lit up, "Little Master, I wonder if all the monks in the temple will be having vegetarian meals in the dining hall?"
The bhikkhu monk hesitated, but seeing that Xuan Nan did not stop him from answering, he nodded.
"Yes, benefactor, every once in a while, some monks in the temple share a vegetarian meal together."
"We'd like to try the temple's vegetarian meals now. I've heard from Lord Liang that the taste is unique."
At this moment, Xuan Nan glanced at Liang Ying, who was just getting up from the cushion. He smiled and said, "Then let me, an old monk, lead the way. Both of you laymen, please follow me!"
After they arrived at the dining hall, Zheng Wanchun sat down and quickly finished the vegetarian meal in his bowl, praising it for its deliciousness. He then said that he wanted to take a walk outside to digest the food.
Zheng Wanchun left without waiting for Xuan Nan's response, pacing back and forth in the courtyard outside the dining hall as if he was indeed digesting his meal.
However, Xuan Nan had been watching him from the corner of his eye and noticed his unusual behavior. Every time a novice monk or bhikkhu monk left the dining hall after their meal, Zheng Wanchun instantly became attentive and observed the monks.
Hmm? Was he looking for someone?
Xuan Nan found this a bit strange, but he couldn't help feeling relieved, as there should be no major problems with these little novice monks.
At this time, Liang Ying occasionally conversed with Xuan Nan. Xuan Nan had already let his guard down and actually enjoyed talking with Liang Ying for a short while.
As they continued to chat, Xuan Nan eventually brought up the topic of Liang Sheng, as he had left a deep impression on Xuan Nan years ago.
"Huh? So Brother Sheng had copied Buddhist scriptures in the temple for peace of mind. Unfortunately, I didn't know; otherwise, I would've come earlier."
Xuan Nan smiled and didn't say anything, but Liang Ying's next words caught him off guard.
"In that case, Master Xuan Nan, may I stay in the temple for some time? I've been having trouble sleeping recently."
Xuan Nan hesitated before regaining his composure, "Liang Jushi is the secretary of the County Government Office, and his public duties are heavy. The county office can hardly do without Liang Jushi."
At this moment, Zheng Wanchun entered and immediately spoke, "There is nothing important in the County Government Office recently; there shouldn't be any major problems. Besides, the County Lord is very considerate of his subordinates, so it's good for him to let Lord Liang rest."
Hearing this, Xuan Nan couldn't refuse. He immediately asked a novice monk to prepare a guest room, and personally took Liang Ying to the room to rest.
As for Zheng Wanchun, he gave Liang Ying a deep look before excusing himself and leading Liang Family's servants down the mountain.
Only after Zheng Wanchun had disappeared completely from sight did Xuan Nan leave and go straight to meet Abbot Xuankong.
Today's events were highly suspicious.
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