Many cultivators from the foreign lands participated in the affairs of the Sublime Bright Sect. Deercry Monastery also sent an elderly monk with white eyebrows at that time. However, after resolving the issue, the white-browed old monk returned to Deercry Monastery without any of the monastery's monks going to Sublime Bright Mountain.
What was the reason for this?
Because there were very few young monks in the Deercry Monastery. They also rarely involved themselves in worldly matters. Others might be curious about the ancient ruin and that unknown history, but for Deercry Monastery, it did not matter much.
This ancient monastery had existed for an exceptionally long time, even longer than the Infatuation Daoist Temple.
If it were not for Deercry Monastery keeping a low enough profile, the most prestigious cultivation school today might not be those cultivators of Daoism.
The white-browed old monk returned to the temple, passed through the courtyard calmly, left through the back door, and started ascending the mountain. Along the way, the monks he encountered all stopped and bowed respectfully to him. The old monk nodded slightly and continued forward, passing by these monks.
Deercry Monastery was hidden deep in the mountains and usually did not allow outsiders into the monastery. The process of accepting disciples was also largely left up to fate. Monks from the mountain would occasionally descend the mountain, and if they encountered someone with potential, they would ask if they were willing to come here for cultivation. If the person declined, they would not insist, so it had always remained quite secluded. This was especially true for the rear mountain, where hardly anyone ever came.
Halfway up the mountain, there was a very small temple.
The white-browed old monk arrived in front of the temple. After respectfully bowing and paying his respects, he entered the temple.
Inside the temple, there was a Buddha statue made of clay, without any paint or gold leaf, looking very ordinary with nothing particularly special about it.
In front of that Buddha statue sat an elderly monk in a robe covered in dust. His eyebrows were actually longer than even the white-browed old monk's, extending from his brows all the way down to the ground, resembling two hanging vines.
It was a very strange sight. The old monk seemed like a statue, devoid of any vitality.
His eyebrows were also full of dust, bearing the marks of countless years.
How many years had he lived?
It was likely that no one except the old monk himself could provide the answer.
The white-browed old monk sat in front of the old monk for a long time before slowly opening his mouth to say, "This disciple followed your instructions and went to see that young man, but found no connection between him and Senior Brother."
At this moment, the senior brother in question naturally referred to the black-robed monk who left Deercry Monastery to change the world. Together with the white-browed old monk, he went to the Deercry Monastery, where they saw that promising prince. Then, his senior brother boldly said a sentence: "This humble monk wants to give you a white hat."
And so, that story unfolded in the human world.
After the Crown Prince passed away, many princes harbored ambitions for the throne, and the imperial court was in turmoil at that time. He and Senior Brother resided in that prince's manor.
One day, that prince came forth to ask: I'm already the most amazing out of all the princes. Now that the crown prince has passed away, will I be the new crown prince?
In his view, it seemed only natural. However, his Senior Brother did not share this sentiment back then. Instead, Senior Brother smiled and said that Emperor Lingzong would not pass the throne to any of the princes.
The prince, who would later become the Great Liang Emperor, was puzzled and asked why. Senior Brother simply shook his head.
Sure enough, not long after that, Emperor Lingzong decreed that the deceased Crown Prince's eldest son would be the Crown Grandson, securing the ownership of the throne.
Later that night, that prince came forth once again to ask. Only then, did Senior Brother tell him the reason.
The Crown Prince passed away from an ailment, but he had left descendants behind. If any prince ascended to the throne, how would they face the descendants of the former Crown Prince? It was likely that they would have ideas and would naturally go on a killing spree. On the other hand, if the Crown Grandson ascended to the prince, the other princes would all be his uncles. As imperial uncles, they would naturally be able to protect their own stability.
At that time, the prince came to a sudden realization and gained a new understanding of Senior Brother.
However, Senior Brother said that although the Crown Grandson appeared benevolent, in reality, he was hypocritical. Once he became the Emperor, the fate of the princes would not fare well.
That being said, when Emperor Lingzong was still alive, there was little anyone could do. So they waited for a few years, witnessing Emperor Lingzong's passing, the distribution of fiefs to the various princes, and the Crown Grandson ascending to the throne. Subsequently, the process of reducing the power of the princes began.
During those years, the white-browed old monk did not take any action. He simply spent his days with his senior brother, listening to his words and stories. He felt as if his senior brother held the entire world in his gaze. His senior brother saw everything and understood everything. There were no surprises, how that Emperor Lingzong thought, or how the world developed, none of it was missed.
His senior brother seemed to have seen through all of human nature in the world.
Then, he watched as his senior brother and that prince, starting with only eight hundred men, changed the entire realm.
His senior brother also became the Nation Teacher of the Great Liang Dynasty.
Afterward, the white-browed old monk returned to Deercry Monastery. After a few years, he visited the Deercry Monastery once more, to see his senior brother.
By that time, his senior brother was already nearing the end of his life. He was very emaciated, like a ghost.
"In reality, I was like a ghost to them in the first place."
At that time, the old monk on the brink of death smiled at his junior brother and said, "One day, they will cause trouble, but I have the means to deal with them."
Those were the last words his senior brother said. Even at that point in time, he did not think of anything else but the well-being of the dynasty.
What was it that had his senior brother remain so devoted to that dynasty for his entire life, caring for the world to such an extent?
The white-browed old monk thought about it until now and still had no answer.
He did not know how much time had passed before he slowly returned to his senses and looked at the old monk in front of him.
It had been a very long time, and the old monk still had not said anything.
He seemed to have died a long time ago.
But the white-browed old monk was still waiting.
It was uncertain how much time passed before the old monk slowly opened his eyes. That pair of eyes was full of turbidity.
That was the vestige of time, it was something that no one could erase.
The old monk looked at the white-browed old monk before him and spoke rather laboriously, "I've merely lived a little longer, but it doesn't mean I'm the smartest person in the world. Your senior monk learned my skills and is far more intelligent than I am. Whatever preparations he has made, I'm afraid it's challenging for me to discern, especially now that I'm becoming more and more blind."
With age came hearing loss and failing eyesight, making it easy to be spurned by others.
The white-browed old monk looked at him and said, "You always find a way."
The old monk laughed, though his voice sounded harsh and a little dry, like the sound of two withered pieces of wood rubbing together. "Although I still have some capability, I'll only know after I've met him. However, I'm not holding out much hope because I'm well aware that even if I do meet him, if your senior brother has truly made preparations, I won't be able to see anything clearly."
"That senior brother of yours was truly my best disciple."
So many years had passed, and many Deercry Monastery monks had come to this small temple, but very few could make this old monk open his eyes and have a conversation with him. Even fewer received teachings from him. However, without a doubt, those monks who did receive teachings from him all became remarkable existences.
But his favorite disciple was undoubtedly that Nation Teacher.
"What about you? What do you want to achieve in this lifetime?"
The old monk's turbid eyes landed on the face of the white-browed old monk.
At this moment, the old monk appeared deeply troubled.
……
……
Where would one arrive after passing through the forest?
Chen Chao did not know, but he was about to find out.
It was because the trees that lay ahead in the forest became increasingly fewer. This indicated that Chen Chao was about to reach the end of the forest.
At the end of that small stream was a cliff. At the end of this forest was a lake.
At this moment, the moonlight hit the surface of the lake, making it sparkle in the moonlight, which was very beautiful.
However, Chen Chao did not spot the white flower because he was not the first person to arrive here.
He only saw that young daoist who was standing by the lake.
The young daoist also turned his head, looking at Chen Chao.
The two exchanged a glance, and Yun Jianyue took the initiative to say, "I didn't expect to see you here."
Chen Chao nodded and replied, "Neither did I."
