Chapter 1, Rebirth
Lian Yunfei could only stare in astonishment. When did his usually stubborn son learn to coax others? This is a monumental change. Alas, I hope this serious illness will make him more sensible. This son of mine has many good qualities, but he just won't admit defeat. He insists on taking risks in everything, whether it's going hunting in the mountains or playing with other children. The more impossible a task seems, the more he wants to try it, without considering his own limitations. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile; he is just like he was in his youth.
As the only outsider left, Jinyang could no longer hold back her tears. She embraced her son tightly and wept uncontrollably. "Junru, you must not scare your mother like this again. Do you know how worried I was? If you don't wake up soon, what are your father and I supposed to do..."
After hearing his father's words, Lian Junru finally realized that his stomach was growling, which made him feel somewhat embarrassed. However, upon seeing the even more unpleasant expressions on his parents' faces, he quickly grasped a harsh reality: he was no longer in the palace. From past circumstances, ever since Lian Yunfei—no, it should be said since his father broke his leg—life at home had become increasingly difficult. Hadn't he once climbed trees to collect bird nests? Unexpectedly, the first challenge he now faced was merely making a living, which was truly ironic
Cihai was dressed in a light yellow monk's robe, covered by a somewhat worn kasaya. A faint divine light flickered on his face as he cast a meaningful glance at Lian Jun, then pressed his palms together and said: "A monk should inherently harbor compassion. Young benefactor Lian has a connection with this old monk, so a simple thank you will suffice. If it were not for your frequent visits to Ziyun Temple to seek guidance on the scriptures, this old monk would not bother to save someone without a connection." As he spoke these words, a mocking expression suddenly appeared on Cihai's face, which was entirely unbefitting of a monk. "I never expected that in the first half of my life, I committed countless acts of killing, and now I would engage in the business of saving people." After saying this, he disregarded Lian Yunfei's desperate attempts to retain him and walked out the door without looking back.
What box? Lian Junru was completely baffled; he had no idea what valuable items were still in the house. It should be noted that the Lian family had made a living through hunting for generations, and the only valuable possessions at home were a few animal skins. However, even these meager belongings had long been sold to pay for his father's leg treatment, so there couldn't possibly be any valuable items left.
Suddenly, Feng Wuhen felt a cool sensation on his face, followed by an incredibly cold liquid pouring into his mouth. In an instant, he almost believed that his internal organs were about to freeze. Who could it be? Knowing that he had a fragile disposition since childhood, who would dare to use ice? Could it be that even the servants in the palace were so eager for his death? A surge of anger instantly dispelled the earlier thought of seeking death, and he moved slightly. Could it be that even the servants in the palace were so eager for his death? A surge of anger instantly dispelled the earlier thought of seeking death, and he moved slightly.
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, while practicing deep prajna paramita, perceives that the five aggregates are all empty, thus delivering all from suffering and distress. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is precisely emptiness, emptiness is precisely form. The same applies to feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. Shariputra, this is the nature of all phenomena: they are empty, neither arising nor ceasing, neither tainted nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, in emptiness, there is no form, no feelings, perceptions, mental formations, or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or phenomena; no eye realm, up to and including no mind consciousness realm. The sound of the Heart Sutra is gradually receding from outside the door.
But your legs shouldn't move too much..." Jin Yang hesitated and said, "Why don't I go instead.
"Child's father, look, he has woken up. The cold spring is still very effective. I told you there was nothing to worry about; our Junru would never easily get into trouble!" A familiar yet strange voice entered his ears
Lian Junru only felt drops of scorching tears splashing onto his clothes, arms, and face, as if the heart that had long been cold and lifeless was warming up again. Even if he was as poor as this, so what? Even if he were as rich as a nation, so what? In his eyes, this kind-hearted woman was a thousand times more beautiful than his truly extraordinary mother. He wrapped his arms around Jinyang and continuously comforted his mother, "Mother, am I not fine? You need not worry anymore; such things will not happen again. If you keep crying, you won't look beautiful!" In his eyes, this kind-hearted woman was a thousand times more beautiful than his truly extraordinary mother. He wrapped his arms around Jinyang and continuously comforted his mother, "Mother, am I not fine? You need not worry anymore; such things will not happen again. If you keep crying, you won't look beautiful!"
Finally, Lian Yunfei resolutely said, "We can't just sit here and starve to death, Ah Yang, go sell the things in that box! They should be worth something!"
When he woke up again, Feng Wuhen felt as if a considerable amount of information had suddenly appeared in his mind. It was the complete experience of another person. However, the most puzzling part was that it was exactly the same as his previous peculiar dreams. It seemed that he had somehow become that Lian Junru. Yet, even so, where had the original owner of this body gone? He pondered this question but found no clues. Fortunately, the complete memories belonging to Lian Junru were still intact. He had been quite familiar with the two elders in his previous dreams, and he suddenly experienced a profound warmth, which gave him a sense of surprise.
Lian Junru sensed a hint of meaning in Master Cihai's words. Although he had not yet become familiar with this body, he had already accepted all its memories, including the fact that the original owner of this body had studied scriptures and knowledge under Master Cihai. Surprisingly, this monk, who appeared to have profound knowledge of Buddhism, taught entirely about the principles of governing the world and benefiting the nation, sometimes even expressing extremely radical views, which greatly differed from his previous understanding
"What should we do, his father? What should we do? Junru has always been fine, how could he suddenly come down with such a strange illness?" Jin Yang appeared utterly at a loss, nearly on the verge of tears. He only had this one son; if anything were to happen to him, life would truly become unbearable.
"What good is urgency! If it weren't for your belief in that damned itinerant doctor, Junru wouldn't have ended up like this!" Lian Yunfei scolded, "Looking at Junru like this, it seems it's not a minor illness. In that case, the last time my leg was injured, it was Master Cihai from Ziyun Temple on the mountain who treated me. I will go up the mountain to seek the master once more."
"Child's father, have you lost your mind?" Jin Yang incredulously stared at her husband, "For over a decade, you have never even considered touching the things in that box. Have you forgotten what you said back then?"
Lian Yunfei was merely a hunter, so he naturally could not understand the meaning of Cihai's words. However, he was a meticulous person and vaguely sensed that his seemingly intact son had changed somewhat. There was something intriguing in his brows, quite different from his usual demeanor. But what did it matter? After all, his son was fine. If he achieved success in the future, wouldn't that bring honor to the family? Lian Yunfei instinctively avoided those complicated thoughts; little did he know that his true son had long since ceased to exist here. But what did it matter? After all, his son was fine. If he achieved success in the future, wouldn't that bring honor to the family? Lian Yunfei instinctively avoided those complicated thoughts; little did he know that his true son had long since ceased to exist here
A faint smile naturally appeared on Lian Jun's face as he struggled to sit up, "Thank you for saving me, Master"
Amitabha, the practitioner Lian Xiaoshuzhu has finally awakened. A chant disrupted his thoughts; indeed, from today onward, he is Lian Junru, no longer needing to live like a walking corpse every day due to that hypocritical title of prince. Feng Wuhen, no, his name should now be Lian Junru. He bit his tongue hard, and when the intense pain confirmed that this was not a dream, Lian Junru was certain that he had truly transformed.
Upon looking up, he discovered a face, wrinkled like an old tree, appearing before him. "Junru, you have been asleep for a whole day and night. What on earth is going on? Your mother and I returned and found you collapsed by the woodpile. Are you hungry?" The speaker was a middle-aged man, and his aged voice revealed a deep sense of compassion.
A faint acrid smell lingered between his mouth and nose, and he recalled the sudden lightning strike, feeling only a bitter smile in the absence of wind. Unfortunately, he was currently unable to move, finding nothing but darkness around him. Was he really going to die? Instinctively, he felt a certain anticipation for the fate that awaited him. A person who had long been bedridden and regarded as useless, even by his own parents, would be better off dead. Although he seemed to hear anxious voices faintly calling out to him, it felt as if the path to the underworld lay right before him, and the obsession within him drove him deeper into despair. Instinctively, he felt a certain anticipation for the fate that awaited him. A person who had long been bedridden and regarded as useless, even by his own parents, would be better off dead. Although he seemed to hear anxious voices faintly calling out to him, it felt as if the path to the underworld lay right before him, and the obsession within him drove him deeper into despair.
Lian Yunfei cleared his throat lightly and then spoke: "Alright, Ah Yang, why are you crying in front of our son? Isn't everything fine now? By the way, what food do we have at home?" As he said this, his expression immediately darkened. For the past few days, they had been getting by with some wild vegetables, but today, since their son was just recovering from a serious illness, it was essential to supplement his diet with something more nourishing.
Junru? Feng Wuhen felt a sense of confusion, realizing that this was not his name. Yet, why did it evoke such a damned sense of familiarity? A strange dizziness enveloped him again, as if thousands of steel needles were stirring in his mind. After a powerless scream, Feng Wuhen fainted once more. In the haze, he could only hear two distinctly different urgent calls. However, at that moment, those calls grew increasingly distant.
Lian Yunfei shook his head, "Master Cihai has always preferred tranquility. On ordinary days, only Junru goes up to keep him company and talk. It would not be appropriate for you, a woman, to go there. I might have to risk my life once more. Alas, as long as my son is safe, that is all that matters!" After saying this, he propped up the rough wooden cane beside him and limped toward the door.
He slowly opened his eyes, yet it was still dark. However, hadn't he just woken up? Confused, Feng Wuhen struggled to raise his arm, only to feel something was amiss. That strong and powerful arm did not resemble his own in any way. Moreover, the coarse cloth garment he wore emitted a faint musty odor, something that could never exist in the palace. What on earth had happened?