pdf-ebookys Chapter 153: Funeral (Part )
Chapter 153: Funeral (Part )
Last time, we talked about the arrival of the incarnation of King Shura in Jin'an Pagoda. Thanks to Bodhidharma's help, Li Yi was saved. It was the first time that Li Yi faced the incarnation of King Shura with the strength of the second rank, and he saw what the gap was. Bodhidharma told Li Yi not to care about the affairs of Jin'an Temple anymore and to meet him in Jiankang, the capital of Southern Liang as soon as possible. So what will Li Yi do next? Let's read on.
After King Shura and Bodhidharma left, peace returned to Jin'an Temple. All the monks looked as if they had survived a disaster, but many of them were frightened by King Shura, leaving an indelible shadow in their hearts. Chang Jing, Chang Ming, the Five Dharma Monks, Yi Ling Yu Jiu and others gathered around the big bell covering Li Yi.
Yu Jiu clapped the clock and shouted, "Master, are you okay? Can you come out?"
Li Yi cursed: "You are talking nonsense! There are so many of you outside, if you don't move the clock away, you are trying to suffocate me to death!"
Chang Jing said quickly: "Come on, come on, move the clock away and let the uncle come out!"
Yi Ling said unhappily: "You can just dig a hole and crawl out! That would save you a lot of trouble!"
Li Yi shouted, "A real man has his share of things he should and shouldn't do! Do you really think I can't get out? I just don't want to destroy the bell. Hurry up and get some people to move the bell away!"
In this way, more than a dozen monks finally lifted the bell together. Li Yi bowed and walked out. He first sighed, then punched Yu Jiu on the head. The latter covered his head with tears in his eyes and said, "Master, why are you hitting me? I didn't do anything wrong!"
Li Yi shook his head and sighed: "Alas, it's my fault that I released King Shura. I'm afraid something big is going to happen now."
Fase muttered, "Uncle Master, if you say so, then how can we deal with ourselves?"
Li Yi said helplessly: "Well, Jin'an Temple has been destroyed like this, and there are a lot of more troublesome things to deal with, but now I have to leave. I really don't know what to say."
Chang Jing and Chang Ming bowed and said, "We know that Master Uncle has more troublesome things to deal with. Master Bodhidharma has already told us what to do."
Li Yi asked: "Are we going to openly attack Shura Palace?"
Chang Jing nodded and said, "The Shura Palace stole the property stored in my temple, destroyed the Jin'an Pagoda, and killed Brother Chang Tong. If we don't have an attitude, how can we face the believers?"
Chang Ming said firmly: "Uncle Master, you don't have to worry about the temple anymore, but there is one thing you have to promise us!"
Li Yi nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will kill Jing'an myself. This is what Master Jingchan told me to do. You will have to face the noble families to ask for money and property. Has Master Bodhidharma told you what to do?"
Chang Jing replied: "The Hu family of Yangcheng! We will start with the ghost of Fuling Lake and settle accounts with the numerous crimes of the Hu family!"
Li Yi nodded and said, "Yes, just colluding with Shura Palace to deceive the people and kill innocent people is already a serious sin. If they are just ruined, it would be a bargain for them. By the way, what about Jushan Pavilion?"
Chang Ming replied: "Uncle Master, rest assured, Jushan Pavilion will no longer worship other people's ancestors, but we have already made an agreement and we cannot break it."
Li Yi looked at Chang Ming with a little hesitation, and the latter asked: "What does Uncle Master want to say? Is there anything wrong?"
Li Yi shook his head and said, "Forget it. There is no better way at the moment. But if you do this, you will be involved in worldly affairs and will definitely be contaminated by karma. I hope you will act with caution."
Chang Jing and Chang Ming bowed and said yes, then led all the monks in the temple to bow to Li Yi, who returned the greeting and said goodbye, and left Jin'an Temple with Yi Ling and Yu Jiu...
After walking out of Xuanshan, Li Yi stopped and looked back at Jin'an Temple and sighed. Yu Jiu immediately asked, "Why are you sighing, young master?"
Yi Ling said: "You figured it out, didn't you?"
Li Yi nodded and said, "Yes, the Buddhist sect is preparing to abandon Jin'an Temple. By the way, how is your injury?"
Yi Ling smiled and said, "It's nothing serious, but my spiritual power has not yet recovered. I have to rely on you for the next two days."
Li Yi shook his head and sighed, "I was awakened by King Shura. I originally thought I was so great, but now I see that I am just a joke. It seems that I have to practice harder in the future! Otherwise, I can't be trusted at all."
Yi Ling asked: "This is a good thing. You have great talent. If you can practice diligently, your future will be limitless."
Li Yi waved his hand and said, "I don't care about the limit or not. I just hope that when the crisis comes, I have the ability to protect the people I want to protect. If I can't even do this, then I'm a waste! Forget it, let's not talk about this. What are your plans next?"
Yi Ling said: "This time I found out about the existence of Shura Palace and saw the incarnation of Shura King. I must report this important matter to the sect. Please let the Taoist master make the decision!"
Li Yi looked at Yi Ling blankly, and the latter smiled and said, "Don't look at me with such a reluctant expression. I'm going back to Qiyun Mountain. Aren't you going to Linjiang County? We can go to Linjiang together, and then I'll go west. You still have to help me finish my homework along the way!"
A trace of relief appeared on Li Yi's face. Yu Jiu looked at Yi Ling, then at Li Yi, then sighed and walked forward alone.
Yiling smiled and said nothing. Li Yi also smiled. They understood each other tacitly but were unwilling to make it clear. Yiling used the excuse that her spiritual power had not yet recovered and traveled with Li Yi. She even took a detour to the river. Although she used the excuse of completing her homework, Li Yi knew that Yiling had feelings for him. However, since Li Yi did not enter the Taoist sect, nothing would happen between them.
Of course, not making it clear has its advantages. At least they can enjoy this period of time, but they forgot that there are two people watching them, namely Qiu Xiong, the leader of the Ghost Blade Hall of Shura Hall, and Cai Xi Liu of the Youling Hall.
Speaking of the arrival of King Shura, the big boss of Shura Palace showed up, so the heads of each hall naturally had to go to pay homage, so Qiu Xiong handed the task of monitoring Li Yi and Yi Ling to Cai Xi Liu, and he went to the main hall to pay homage to King Shura. Cai Xi Liu knew that he was no match for Li Yi, and certainly did not dare to act rashly, so he could only sneak along and follow and report along the way.
In order to hurry on his journey, Li Yi bought a parallel carriage; in order to stay with Yi Ling longer, he taught Yu Jiu how to drive; in order to let Yu Jiu drive longer, he bought a lot of snacks; all of this was done with great care!
It is more than 700 miles from Yangcheng to Linjiang, which normally takes seven days to walk. But because Li Yi had to get to Jiankang as soon as possible, they tried to travel as much as possible, 150 miles a day, which was quite tiring. If they missed the inn, they might have to sleep in the open air. Fortunately, Li Yi could speak and sing, and he had songs and stories to tell, so they would not be bored on the road.
The first day was uneventful, and the food and lodging were normal. At about noon on the second day, their carriage arrived at a village. Li Yi said, "It's almost noon, let's buy some food in this village. I don't know how far the next inn is."
Yi Ling on the side nodded and said, "Okay, we're tired after sitting for the whole morning, let's get off the car and move around."
Li Yi woke up Yu Jiu who was sleeping in the carriage and said, "Get up, let's go find something to eat! Your body of suspended death has not yet been resolved, and we can't leave you alone in the carriage. Come out and catch the carriage. I'll go for a walk with your sister Yi Ling."
Yu Jiu said "oh" and drove with Li Yi and Yi Ling to the village, but no one responded after passing several houses. It was not until he saw the funeral flag that he realized that someone in the village was holding a funeral.
Yu Jiu sighed and said, "This is troublesome. It's a funeral and everyone in the village has gone to eat the funeral feast. I'm afraid we won't be able to buy food, right?"
Li Yi waved his hand and said, "No, most ordinary people have simple funerals, after all, their families don't have money. Although it is against etiquette to have a funeral in the morning and evening, lack of money is the biggest problem. But look at the pomp of this funeral, not only did they hang flags and set up tables, but they also called the whole village to come. It must be a wealthy family. These wealthy families are particular about pomp and circumstance, so why not join in the fun and have a funeral feast, and at most give some gifts."
Yi Ling said unhappily, "You want to join in the fun of this funeral? I won't go to the funeral banquet! If they ask me questions at the banquet, will I answer them or not?"
Li Yi nodded and said, "Oh, I forgot you were wearing a Taoist robe! Then change your clothes and let's go have a feast!"
Yi Ling became even angrier and said angrily: "Are you sick? I changed my clothes just to have a feast! I would rather eat dry food in the carriage!"
Li Yi and Yu Jiu looked at each other, and Yu Jiu smiled and said, "Sir, I don't mind eating at a funeral banquet. I heard that there are many dishes at the banquet of this wealthy family. I want to try them!"
Li Yi nodded and said, "Yes, the banquets held by these wealthy families are very sumptuous! There are fish, meat, and maybe even wine! I'm hungry too, if Yiling doesn't want to go, then we can go and see if we can bring something back to your sister Yiling."
Yu Jiu replied, "Okay! Sister Yiling, please watch over the car. The Master and I will go to the banquet!"
Yi Ling rolled her eyes at the two of them and said, "Go ahead, go ahead! Eat quickly and come back quickly! We still have to hurry!"
Li Yi and Yu Jiu tidied their clothes and walked into the venue. The funeral had not started yet and was still in the mourning stage, which was the second stage of the funeral. The first stage was coffining. To put it simply, it can be understood as the funeral ceremony in which direct relatives participate, including changing clothes, putting the body into the coffin, summoning the soul, offering sacrifices and other links, and most of them are completed at home.
In simple terms, the funeral stage can be understood as the funeral rituals in which collateral relatives and outsiders participate. After the family completes the memorial service process, the coffin is placed in the hall to be worshipped by outsiders. The process of viewing the body and family members returning the greetings that we all know today evolved from this.
However, the funeral procession in ancient rituals is quite complicated, because it is for outsiders to see, and it is even more important to show filial piety. Ancient ritual funerals are generally divided into three stages. After the funeral procession, there is mourning, including burial, burial, and mourning.
Li Yi and Yu Jiu looked at each other for a long time. Yu Jiu became a little anxious and asked, "Sir, when can we start the feast? I'm hungry."
Li Yi whispered, "This wealthy family naturally has more etiquette. You have to think like this, the more etiquette and the more dishes, the better the feast will be, right?"
Yu Jiu nodded and said, "Oh, okay, I'll bear with it for a while."
The two of them continued to watch patiently. The next part was the eulogy by the scholars. Because it was the grandmother who died, there were many words of love and loyalty in the eulogy. After this part, they finally sat down. Li Yi and Yu Jiu deliberately sat at the same table with people who were dressed similarly to themselves. It was not that Li Yi looked down on those who wore coarse clothes, but he was afraid that he would not be able to grab them when they ate later.
After all, when sitting at the same table with these people, they will pay attention to their appearance due to their status and will not eat in an ugly manner. Therefore, people like Li Yi and Yu Jiu who don't care about their table manners will have a lot of room to play at this table. Yu Jiu also admires Li Yi's arrangement very much and calls it brilliant.
Before the banquet begins, there is a segment called the "Respecting Filial Piety" where a musician plays the suona with dishes on his head, shoulders and arms. The musician plays and dances while moving the dishes from the kitchen to the deceased's altar and the deceased's children's table. After all, it is the funeral that is being held by someone else. There is a saying that as long as the family is filial, the dishes on the musician will not fall off and even the soup will not spill!
Of course, we all know that whether or not the wine is spilled depends entirely on the musicians. If you pay them enough, they will not spill a single drop. But if the host is stingy and treats them badly, then there is something to watch. The guests have to watch the musicians bring the dishes to the table before they can start eating, so now everyone is concentrating on watching the musicians playing the suona and dancing.
Yu Jiu exclaimed: "Sir, he is amazing! He played the suona and danced, but the soup didn't spill. Could it be that the plate stuck to his body?"
Li Yi scolded: "You are so stupid. How can you serve food to others when you are stuck to me? Use your brain when you speak!"
Yu Jiu said "oh" and continued to watch the musician's performance. He first delivered the dishes to the altar without spilling a drop, then went back to get the dishes and delivered them to the main table. However, the accident happened as expected.