Chapter 334: Arakawa Night Talk
Pinggong Chiye was opposed to this proposal.
If a grand ceremony were really held in Weilian Ancient Temple, it would definitely be a very troublesome matter.
Quite troublesome.
Many abbots of various temples also held opposing views. They hoped that the Buddha's birth ceremony would be held in large temples such as Toji Temple and Sensō-ji Temple, rather than in the Weilian Ancient Temple.
The place here is too small to support the scale and dignity of the Buddha's Birth Ceremony.
This is a grand ceremony concerning the entire Buddhist community, and the number of participants will definitely exceed a thousand. Only large temples such as Toji Temple and Sensō-ji Temple have enough space to hold it.
"I was born here. How can I abandon the place where I was born and look for another place?"
Qing Xingdeng was determined and even said directly that if the ceremony was not held in Weilian Ancient Temple, then the ceremony of the birth of the Buddhist girl would not be held.
The abbots present could only agree reluctantly, but they requested that monks from their respective temples be sent to Weilian Ancient Temple to help with arrangements for the venue and other matters.
Qing Xingdeng agreed to their request and agreed to hold the ceremony seven days later, and only then did they feel at ease to leave Weilian Ancient Temple.
“Toji Temple and Sensō-ji Temple are better locations. The venue here is too small.”
After Zen Master Zhishan and others left, Pinggong Qianye expressed his opinion.
Qing Xingdeng smiled and said, "I remember Master Liansheng once said that the Buddhist girl is the Buddhist girl of Weilian Ancient Temple."
"..."
The boomerang from the past still flew back.
"Didn't Master Liansheng also want the name of Weilian Ancient Temple to be known throughout the Buddhist community?"
At this point, Pinggong Qianye could only instruct Ruyi to take full responsibility for this matter.
The next day, before dawn, monks from various major temples gathered at Weilian Ancient Temple, about 50 people in total.
They were obviously very experienced in arranging the venue for the ceremony. With the assistance of Ruyi and others, they began to arrange the venue in an orderly manner.
After all, the scale of Weilian Ancient Temple is too small, and there is not enough space to arrange a large venue. Finally, Ruyi and others discussed setting up the ceremony venue along the banks of the Arakawa River.
This way, the venue is not only spacious, but also looks more majestic as it is backed by the Arakawa River.
While they were busy, Pinggong Qianye just stayed at home, occasionally coming out to the balcony to take a look.
At night, because there were limited rooms for monks in Weilian Ancient Temple, Ruyi asked Akechi Mitsuhide to buy more than a dozen tents and set them up nearby on the banks of the Arakawa River.
In order to complete the arrangement of the Buddha's Birth Ceremony before the 7th, the monks pulled the light belts and divided into two groups to start working overnight. Some set up the frames, and some pasted the lanterns...
The bustling enthusiasm forms a stark contrast to the usually quiet Arakawa.
In some bushes and in the corners of the Arakawa River, a few little monsters with disheveled hair and beggarly faces and water plants around their waists secretly poked their heads out to observe the movements at the Weilian Ancient Temple.
Late at night, the wind blows and the moon is cold.
Those peeping little monsters suddenly discovered a graceful figure walking on the moon and appearing in front of them before they had time to hide.
They looked up in horror, with suspicion and curiosity in their eyes.
The visitor had the familiar aura of their monster clan, but also had the aura of Buddhism that they hated.
The two different auras mixed together, making it difficult for them to tell whether the person in front of them was a friend or an enemy.
"Take me to see Lord Arakawa."
Upon hearing this, the group of little monsters dived directly into the river and disappeared without a trace, leaving only slight ripples on the surface of the river.
"You are so disobedient."
As Qing Lantern murmured, his right hand formed a ball of light emitting a faint glow and threw it into the deep waters of the Arakawa River, leaving the mark of a green lantern.
After a while, the surface of the Arakawa River separated, leaving only a wave that turned into a lotus shape, floating in the middle of the river.
Qingxuande's body swayed and landed on the waves. The waves carried Qingxuande along the Arakawa River for a distance, and then continued to go deeper and deeper until it passed the protective barrier set up by the Lord of Arakawa and came to its Arakawa Cave. This is a cave made almost entirely of crystal. There are mermaid beads on the top of the cave that serve as night pearls to illuminate it, and corals are built into screens and seats of various shapes.
There are also some long strips of white marble that form the steps, with the pattern of the Nami River carved on them.
In the very center of the cave, on a rugged grey stone, was a golden sword.
"You are now a Buddhist nun, what are you doing here?"
The voice of Lord Arakawa came from the golden sword.
Qingxuande was not surprised by this. The Lord of Arakawa has always been cautious, so it is natural that it would not dare to come to see him in person.
"Can't you come and see an old friend?"
"You're not such a monster."
"I'm here to remind you that in seven days, Weilian Ancient Temple will hold a grand ceremony. Many monks will come. You'd better stay away from it."
"I live in peace with Master Liansheng, he won't attack me. As for other monks, I treat them like grass."
Qing Xingdeng sighed softly, "You live in peace with Master Liansheng?"
"I have protected the Arakawa River for so many years, and have never let the water of the Arakawa River flood both banks. This is a great merit for the lives on both banks. Master Liansheng has already tacitly approved of my existence."
"Other monks are not as easy to talk to as Master Liansheng."
"They don't have the magical powers of Master Liansheng to subdue demons and monsters."
After chatting for a few sentences, Qing Xingdeng was too lazy to talk nonsense with Lord Arakawa anymore, so she asked Lord Arakawa to take out several Buddhist treasures in his collection.
Lord Arakawa was not surprised by Qingxuande's request.
There was no old relationship between Qing Xingdeng and me. It was obvious that she came to see me at night because the ceremony of the birth of the Buddha was approaching and she did not have any decent Buddhist treasures to support the occasion.
The reason why he looked for me...is simply because I am the closest.
He dislikes trouble and is efficient in doing things, which is also one of Qingxuandeng's labels.
"I can only give you one at most."
"Three, not one less."
"I don't have that many Buddhist treasures."
"You have lived in Arakawa for many years, often surging in the waves, collecting some of the things of the great monks who fell into the Arakawa River. After so many years, you have at least 10 Buddhist treasures in your hands."
Lord Arakawa was silent for a while, but finally agreed to Qingxuande's request, "These three Buddhist treasures are my gift to you to congratulate you on becoming a Buddhist girl."
"can."
Soon, a group of fish, under the command of Lord Arakawa, built three trays, each carrying an item.
A light green jade bottle, a string of bodhi beads worn on the wrist, and a vajra.
"I don't want this thing, change it."
Qing Xingdeng put away the jade bottle and the beads, and took out the vajra.
A group of swimming fish carried the vajra and disappeared into the distance. After a while, they returned with a white conch shell.
"This is okay."
Qing Xingdeng packed up his things and prepared to leave.
Before leaving, Lord Arakawa asked, "Are you really going to abandon your past and become a Buddhist woman?"
Qingxuandeng did not answer, but turned into a ball of dim light and left.
(End of this chapter)
