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Kapitel 113

Song Diweng looked around, then lowered his voice and said, "I've never seen him before either. He's said to be a guru of the Bon religion."

"Tibetan Bon?" Master Xufeng was taken aback. He knew that it was an extremely ancient religion native to Tibet, also known as the "Black Religion." In the 7th century AD, due to the introduction of Buddhism from India, the native Bon religion of the Tibetan Plateau gradually declined and eventually disappeared.

“That’s right, this person is in the Fushou Palace next to this Great Golden Pagoda. Let’s go and meet this mysterious Elder Anxi first,” said Song Diweng.

The two walked to the side of the Shwedagon Pagoda and saw a simple Chinese temple in the distance. The blue plaque above it was engraved with the three golden characters "Fushou Palace". The vermilion gate was open and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted out.

"President Song, something's not right. Look at those men in dark suits standing outside the Fushou Palace. They look imposing and all seem to be skilled in martial arts," Master Xufeng whispered a reminder.

“Hmm,” Song Diweng also noticed something amiss and hesitated before saying, “Let’s not rush in; let’s observe first.”

Just then, the group of people noticed Song Diweng and Master Xufeng. One of them walked straight over, stood in front of them, and said in Mandarin, "Excuse me, are you the president of the Beijing Association, Song Diweng?"

Song Diweng was taken aback for a moment, then calmly replied, "That's right."

"Please follow me," the man said politely, then turned and led them toward the Fushou Palace, nodding to the people at the entrance before stepping through the temple gate.

Master Xufeng, on guard, followed behind Song Diweng, bypassing the incense-filled main hall and entering a side room.

The room was dimly lit. A gaunt old monk lay on an antique wooden bed, and a man in a gray Zhongshan suit sat beside him. Hearing footsteps, the man turned his head...

"Commander!" Song Diweng exclaimed in surprise.

"President Song, Daoist Xufeng, you've arrived." The leader greeted them with a smile.

Song Diweng asked in surprise and confusion, "Chief, how did you come to Myanmar?"

"I received a call from Chairman Song last night, so I took a night flight to Yangon. Come here, you two, and meet Elder Anxi." The leader beckoned them to the bedside.

The old monk on the bed seemed very weak, and nodded slightly to Song Diweng and the other man.

"Elder, this is President Song of the Chinese Archaeological Association, and the other is Abbot Xufeng of the Baiyun Temple in Beijing," the leader introduced.

"Please have a seat, both of you..." Elder Anxi's voice was very weak.

"Commander, Old Man Di has something to report to you," Old Man Di said softly.

"Speak freely, Elder Anxi is no outsider, so please speak freely." The leader nodded.

“The day before yesterday, Jia Shiming arrived in Ganbaidi, Myitkyina, along the Nmai River. According to the locals, they took a jeep from the village yesterday morning and drove directly to the capital, Yangon, saying they wanted to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. When you left Beijing, you asked me to come to the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon to ask Elder Anxi for a bottle of ‘Resurrection Water.’ I guessed that Jia Shiming’s visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda must also be related to the elder, so I and Master Xufeng quickly took the night train and rushed here. We just arrived here…” Song Diweng said.

"Chairman Song is indeed meticulous in his thinking. His guess is absolutely correct. Jia Shiming once knew Elder Anxi and even acted as a 'woman,' giving birth to a little spiritual fetus..." The leader chuckled after saying this.

"Old Master Jia performed childbirth as a 'woman'?" Old Man Song looked completely bewildered.

“Hmm,” the commander did not explain, but instead changed the subject and asked Song Diweng, “Myitkyina is nine hundred miles from Yangon. If the journey goes smoothly, we should be there soon. Let’s wait for Jia Shiming here. How many people are in their group?” the commander asked.

“Five: Jia Shiming, Nizi, the Hakka nanny, and the boy with the big parrot, Shen Caihua, and another person named Xiong Dahai,” Song Diweng replied.

Upon hearing this, Elder Anxi's eyes suddenly lit up on the wooden bed...

Chapter 172

"You...you mean there's a child named Shen Caihua and a large parrot?" Elder Anxi asked hurriedly.

“Yes,” Song Diweng replied.

"Is it a blue-feathered macaw that can talk?" Elder Anxi pressed.

“Exactly.” Song Diweng looked at the elder in surprise.

“Little one…you’re not dead…” Elder Anxi murmured, his withered eyes filled with tears.

Upon hearing this, the leader immediately became alert and hurriedly asked, "Elder, do you know this Shen Caihua?"

Elder Anxi nodded and slowly said, "Six years ago, when I was in the capital, I met a strange beggar. He was covered with the 'exorcism curse' of the Second Karmapa of the Black Hat lineage, Karma Pakshi, which had been planted on him seven hundred years ago. I was puzzled and took him to a cave in the underground of Poyang Lake to try to solve the mystery. But six years have passed without any progress, and I am still completely baffled. I thought that I might never be able to uncover its secrets in my lifetime. At that time, it just so happened that Master Jia of the Quanzhen School was looking for the 'returning water' of the Bon religion. So I instructed Elder Peng to make an agreement with him that if he wanted the holy water of the Bon religion, he could only exchange it for the spiritual fetus born to Brother Ling and Sister Ling, because I wanted the spiritual fetus to solve the mystery that had been troubling me for six years."

The leader listened quietly, while Song Diweng and Master Xufeng stood aside, not daring to utter a sound.

"That Taoist priest Jia really had a way. He not only found Ling Ge and Ling Jie, who are the two ghosts of Zhang Liu in Jiangxi folk legends, but also swallowed them into his belly and nurtured them with his Qi Sea. Then, he actually used his innate Qi Gong to deliver the spirit fetus from his navel, Shenque acupoint. The one who delivered him at that time was that little boy, Shen Caihua..." Elder Anxi continued.

"Can the spirit fetus really talk?" Song Diweng asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"It's a pity that the spirit child was born with congenital intellectual disability and was completely blind in both eyes," Elder Anxi said with a bitter smile.

"Elder, please continue," the leader urged.

Elder Anxi sighed and continued, “Shen Caihua was an orphan with a large, talkative blue-feathered parrot. Seeing his pitiful state, I took him with me back to Myanmar. On our journey through Kokang in northern Myanmar, we clashed with the People's Army. The beggar was captured, and Shen Caihua fell into the Nmai River. That poor child died because of me, and I feel immense guilt…”

The leader smiled faintly and said, "Elder, that child is not dead. You will probably see him today."

Anxi Elder's eyes glistened with a hint of tears as he let out a long sigh.

Master Xufeng then told the elder that Shen Caihua and his group had also rescued twenty-four infants who had been abducted by mountain demons in Ganbaidi, ridding the people of a scourge. The local Dai and Miao people were all deeply grateful.

"Xiaoxiao is a good child..." Elder Anxi sighed with relief.

Just then, Elder Peng's voice came from outside the side room: "Master, we're back." Before he finished speaking, an old monk led in a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in a black suit with a scarlet tie and exuding a strong fragrance of cologne.

“Master Xufeng…” the boy suddenly paused, and said in surprise.

“You Liang!” Xu Feng exclaimed in astonishment.

Since their parting at Guanzhong, Master Xufeng had never seen Youliang again. To meet him again in the capital of Myanmar was quite unexpected. Moreover, Youliang was dressed smartly, had a rosy complexion, and exuded an air of wealth.

"How did you end up here?" Master Xufeng asked in surprise.

"I'm with my uncle, the commander..." Yu Liang replied with a rather smug expression.

“Master Xufeng,” the leader continued, chuckling, “Youliang came to Yangon with me to bring Nizi back. After all, that girl was the wife chosen for Youliang by his parents before they passed away.”

"Oh, is that so?" Master Xufeng was suspicious. Why would a high-ranking official condescend to come overseas for the girlfriend of an orphan he didn't even know? There must be something going on. But since it was none of his business, he didn't need to pry. So he smiled and asked, "Youliang, are you not planning to continue being a novice monk?"

“With Nizi here, Youliang won’t become a monk,” Youliang replied firmly.

"I've heard that Shen Caihua and Nizi were childhood sweethearts, together since they were babies. He even ran away from home to find her, and now they're together. Youliang, life is unpredictable, and being too attached to some things can only hurt yourself," Master Xufeng kindly reminded him.

“Nizi is just out looking for her mother. Youliang knows that she only wants to be with me. No one can take Nizi away…” Youliang shouted angrily, his face seemingly distorted.

"Hehe," the leader stepped in to smooth things over, "There are too few young people in today's society who are so devoted to love. If you love someone, you should be brave enough to pursue and dedicate yourself to them. I believe that true lovers will eventually be united, and Nizi and Youliang are a match made in heaven. Master Xufeng, our old ideas are outdated."

Master Xufeng smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Elder Peng, the old monk, approached Elder Anxi and asked with concern, "Master, are you feeling better today?"

Elder Anxi nodded, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "Elder Peng, Xiao Xiao really is not dead; he is indeed still alive..."

"Xiao Xiao?" Elder Peng asked in surprise, "Where is he?"

"Xiao Xiao and Master Jia Shiming are on their way from Myitkyina to Yangon, and they will arrive here today," Elder Anxi told him.

"That's wonderful." Elder Peng had a good impression of Shen Caihua and felt sad and guilty for many days when he drowned. Now that he heard that Shen Caihua was still alive, his joy was evident. "Master, so the information that Zhu Hansheng received is true."

Upon hearing this, the leader stiffened and hurriedly said, "What did you say! Zhu Hansheng?"

Elder Peng nodded and said, "Several months ago, a young man named Zhu Hansheng came to Fushou Palace to ask Elder Anxi about the whereabouts of Granny Minang and Shen Caihua. This old monk told him that Xiaoxiao had a large blue-feathered parrot that could speak human language, and the child's formal name was Shen Caihua. Unfortunately, the child fell into the Enmei River and drowned. But Zhu Hansheng said that he heard that Granny Minang had taken Shen Caihua away from Kokang and their whereabouts were unknown. He asked if he had been to Fushou Palace."

Elder Anxi continued, “Indeed, I met this benefactor Zhu and told him that I did not know Granny Minang, but I witnessed Xiaoxiao falling into the Enmai River and still feel remorseful to this day. Zhu Hansheng said he came from Wuyuan, Jiangxi, and was Shen Caihua's adoptive father. The child ran away from home alone with a parrot. A man named Ao Lao in Kokang told him that Shen Caihua had been taken away by Granny Minang, and that he had even seen the child with Elder Anxi. I then told him the truth and reminded Benefactor Zhu that Ao Lao was a very wicked person and his words could not be trusted.”

"Well, what happened next?" the commander asked calmly.

Author: Lu Ban Ruler Reply Date: 2010-03-06 15:37:00 73910#

“Master Zhu is a doctor. Seeing that Master’s complexion was not good, he took his pulse and said that Master’s condition was caused by years of pent-up emotions. He asked why a monk could not let go of something,” Elder Peng continued.

Elder Anxi let out a long sigh and slowly said, "I told him that before Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from India, Bon was the oldest primitive religion on the Tibetan Plateau. Since the Tubo Dynasty 'promoted Buddhism and suppressed Bon' in the 7th century AD, King Trisong Detsen of Tubo ordered Bon monks to convert to Buddhism or be exiled to the border regions. A Bon master led his followers away from Tibet and wandered to other places. More than a thousand years have passed, and now there are very few Bon believers left. Tell me, how can I not feel depressed when I can never return to the Tibetan Plateau that I yearn for?"

Elder Anxi murmured, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. After a moment, he continued, “Benefactor Zhu said he knew of a place deep within the Meili Snow Mountains called ‘Blue Moon Valley,’ a place isolated from the world, impossible for outsiders to find. The Tibetan people there are simple and honest, just as they were a thousand years ago, and there are ancient temples and monks. If one went there, wouldn’t it be like returning to the snowy plateau? I was greatly astonished upon hearing this and asked Benefactor Zhu to tell me the route to ‘Blue Moon Valley.’ Benefactor Zhu frankly said that he feared I might not be able to find it, and that once he found Shen Caihua, he would definitely come and guide me there personally, fulfilling my lifelong wish. Alas, now I don’t know where Benefactor Zhu is, and my days are numbered…”

"Master, didn't Benefactor Zhu say that he would definitely return after finding Elder Ao and getting to the bottom of things?" Elder Peng reminded him.

"I hope so..." Elder Anxi said quietly.

The leader shook his head and said regretfully, "Elder, it's a pity that Elder Ao is already dead."

Elder Anxi was taken aback upon hearing this and hurriedly asked, "Red Boy, what did you say?"

"A few days ago, Elder Ao died in the Yuxi Grand Canyon in Henan Province," the leader replied.

"Is this really true?" Elder Anxi asked in surprise.

“Absolutely true,” the leader replied.

“Alas…” Elder Anxi said dejectedly, “In that case, it seems that Benefactor Zhu will be unable to come to Fushou Palace again for the time being.”

“Master, Benefactor Zhu is a man of integrity. If he knew that Chen Caihua was coming here, he would definitely have kept his promise and come,” Elder Peng said reassuringly.

"I hope I can wait long enough..." Elder Anxi closed his eyes wearily.

The leader stood up and said to Song Diweng, "Chairman Song, Youliang, you two come with me." After saying that, he walked out of the side room, with Song Diweng and Youliang following closely behind, while Master Xufeng stayed in the side room.

Upon entering another monk's cell, two middle-aged men in dark suits stood up respectfully. A map of Yangon was placed on the table in front of them, and they held walkie-talkies in their hands, from which came a slight crackling noise.

"You may all leave now," the commander instructed.

"Yes." The two subordinates quietly withdrew.

“Old man, do you know anything about the ‘spiritual fetus’?” the leader asked anxiously.

Song Diweng thought for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “In ancient times, on Magu Mountain in Fuzhou, Jiangxi, there were ancient maple trees, most of which had strangely shaped galls. Those over a thousand years old, especially those resembling an old man, with eyes, nose, and mouth but no arms, would bleed if cut with a knife or axe. They were commonly called ‘maple ghosts,’ while itinerant doctors called them ‘belly ghosts’ or ‘belly immortals,’ which were actually ghosts that had entered people’s bellies. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was common in the countryside to call maple tree galls ‘Ling Ge,’ while thousand-year-old willow galls were called ‘Ling Jie.’ Both were ‘belly ghosts,’ and it was said that they liked to live in people’s bellies, and when they were happy, they would answer any question.”

"Then what about the 'spiritual embryo'?" the leader asked.

“It is said that the ‘spiritual fetus’ was born to ‘Brother Ling’ and ‘Sister Ling’, and its power is stronger and its predictions are more accurate. However, it is rarely recorded in ancient books throughout history, probably because it is extremely rare,” Song Diweng explained.

"Oh..." The commander fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

Chapter 173

Early in the morning, Amin drove his old American Jeep, billowing black smoke, into Yangon. He then drove south along Kapaye Road by Inya Lake, before turning onto U Wisa Road and heading straight for the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Nizi nestled in Jia Shiming's arms, gazing at the exotic city with curious eyes. Clusters of kapok flowers bloomed red like fire, neat nurseries were filled with exotic flowers and plants, and rows of uniquely designed English-style buildings and women dressed in bright colors that were so different from those in the Central Plains were simply dazzling.

The old ancestor remained unconscious, quietly leaning against Jia Shiming's side. Nizi would occasionally touch her with her fingers, hoping that her mother would suddenly speak.

"Master, will Mother really wake up?" Nizi asked softly.

"It will definitely happen..." Jia Shiming comforted her, but inwardly he was heartbroken. If the ancestor really woke up, he would face a very awkward situation. After all, he was the murderer who killed the ancestor. Even if Nizi could forgive him, could her mother?

"Mo Mo, Elder Anxi is a good person, he will definitely help your mother," Shen Caihua whispered to her from the side.

"Look, that golden pagoda up ahead is the Shwedagon Pagoda!" Amin exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead.

The jeep was parked in the parking lot. After a day and a night of bumpy travel, everyone was exhausted and starving.

"Let's eat something first," the Hakka woman said.

There was a restaurant next to the parking lot. Ah Min led everyone inside, picked a seat by the window, and ordered some local breakfast specialties in Burmese, such as curry chicken rice, fish noodle soup, and coconut milk noodles.