Chapter 19 Chapter Seventeen

A mandala rather than a mandala. The mandala is the mysterious ashram that is haunting the Dawei Tianchao at the moment, but the mandala is a kind of flower. The flower of Buddha's light. The "Miaofa Lotus Sutra" says that when the Buddha became enlightened, the sky rained on this flower as an offering.The maha mandala is the most beautiful and powerful of the mandala flowers.It can also be translated as Tianmandala. However, seeing these three words at this moment, Xiangsi still couldn't help being shocked: Are these two things in the West Paradise accidentally named close to each other, or do they have some kind of mysterious connection?

At this time, Yang Yizhi pushed lightly with his hand, and the two huge stone doors slowly opened. Something soft fluttered out of the dungeon.Yang Yizhi flicked his sleeves away, and there was a floor-length brocade curtain hanging inside.As soon as the wind blows, the strong fragrance of makeup and powder blows towards the face along with the smell of corruption from the ground. The light in the underground palace is very weak, but it just allows people to see the nearby furnishings clearly. In the underground palace, there is actually a three-story wooden pavilion built against the wall.The room is very exquisite, with purple curtains and bead curtains, pulsating down;On the south wall is a picture of a lady of Tang Yin, a talented scholar of the dynasty, with a couplet on both sides: "Pass the red leaves to the north and south, and the heart follows the flowing water; tie the red rope to Zhao Qiansun and Li, and the love belongs to flying flowers", with four large characters horizontally : "Thousands of flowers waiting to be selected".There are also several famous inscriptions hanging on the four sides.The smoke from the furnaces curls up from all around, and it also dyes this forest of forests with infinite spring.

Zhuo Wangsun said: "This should be the original appearance of the Wanhua Tower. It seems that the talk about moving the building this night is not entirely false. But I don't know when this mandala fairy will come down to see it?" As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from upstairs: "The woman's makeup is not neat, and there are no guests. The concubine has not finished washing, please wait a few minutes." The voice was a little cold, and it was not as easy as Lan Pa Ecstasy, but has its own unique charm. —a fascination that seems to come from death. There was a faint sound of water coming from upstairs.

There is a beautiful woman taking a bath in the ancient tomb. I don't know what kind of style it is? The upstairs door opened softly.Countless candlesticks submerged in the darkness suddenly lit up like stars, and this gloomy Tang Dynasty underground palace was suddenly shrouded in brilliant lights. Time seems to be reversed suddenly, and this ancient and sunken underground palace has been restored to the gorgeous palace of that year. And the sleeping fairy Mandala in the ancient tomb has also awakened. She is dressed in Tang Dynasty clothes and slowly descends from the top of the stairs.

Her breasts are half open, and a mandala flower is inserted obliquely on the high cloud bun. The color of the mandala flower is as red as her clothes, as if it has been dyed in blood. She held a konghou in her arms—half a konghou. The Shutong curved wood is already broken, and one end still has burnt marks. Eleven of the twenty-three strings have been broken, like a broken arm, floating powerlessly in the air. She gently caressed the harp in her arms with her slender fingers, with a proud and indifferent smile on her face, she stared deeply at everyone. But when he saw her, Xiangsi still couldn't help being surprised.

Her beautiful face looked only thirteen or fourteen years old.Even when she sneered slightly, her bright eyes still carried the innocence and capriciousness unique to girls, as if she was a spoiled and beautiful little princess in the Daming Palace who was suddenly awakened after a thousand years of sleep, holding the musical instrument of that year , looked at everyone proudly and curiously. Zhuo Wangsun said: "You are Mandala?" She smiled slightly, and the charming gossamer like spring water melted away from her smile, fluttering and curling, everywhere.With just this smile, her entire face immediately changed, becoming mature and charming, like a magnificent courtesan, every slight movement of her eyes can send people down the purgatory of beauty.

She said softly, "It's Maha Mandala." When hearing these words, Xiangsi's heart was shocked. She looked at the woman in front of her, but she still couldn't figure out her real age.She murmured, "You...you live here?" Mandala glanced at her, smiled slightly, pointed to the room behind him, and said, "No, I live in the house." What else did Xiangsi want to ask, but Mandala turned his eyes to Zhuo Wangsun and said softly: "Could it be that the purpose of the two of you coming here is to just stand in the hall?" I fell into an indescribable temptation.

Before the two of them answered, Mandala laughed again: "Who are you two who would like to come to the inner room with me? Of course—" She suddenly laughed softly, and her figure became more and more attractive: "As long as the two Anyone who wants to come in together is the same." She is so direct.Xiangsi frowned, she didn't expect that there is a kind of woman who can calmly switch between a princess and a prostitute, and what's even rarer is that there is no trace of affectation on her face. However, perhaps such a woman is even more alluring. Xiangsi couldn't help but look up to see the expressions of Zhuo Wangsun and Yang Yizhi.Mandala covered his mouth with a smile and said, "Does this girl also want to come in? As long as the girl can afford a turban, it doesn't matter if she is a woman."

Xiangsi blushed and couldn't speak anymore. Zhuo Wangsun waved for her to back away. Mandala turned to look at Zhuo Wangsun, and said, "What about you, my lord? The spring night is short, if you delay it any longer, you won't let the wind and moon down?" Zhuo Wangsun smiled and said: "Although the girl's love is good, I'm afraid I won't be able to pay for this night." Mandala smiled again and said, "Whether you can afford it or not, you always have to wait for me to make a price." Zhuo Wangsun said: "What do you want?" Mandala said: "I want you to help solve a game of chess. If you solve it, you will be the master here." She stretched out her fingers and gently stroked the harp, saying: "The meaning of the master is that you not only come and go freely , and——" She looked up at Zhuo Wangsun, and said softly: "And I am also the son's slave."

The surrounding candlelight is seductive and soft, like a dream.It is indeed very tempting to say such words from the mouth of a stunning beauty at this moment. Before Zhuo Wangsun could answer, she supported the railing and changed her position, sighing softly: "However, if you can't solve it, you can only stay here with me forever. Anyway, the underground is very lonely, how much more?" It's always better to have such an interesting character than a lot." stay here?Xiangsi's heart sank, and when she looked up, the gloomy boulder above her head and the surrounding pavilions were incongruously put together, like the uncertain words of the hostess.

Zhuo Wangsun smiled and said, "Then you see if I can solve it?" Mandala lowered her head and rested her chin with her sleeve, and for a moment the innocence of a girl appeared on her face again. She shook her head and said, "I can't guess this. Otherwise——several people go in together, everyone Try it?" She couldn't help chuckling after saying this, but the implication was self-evident. Xiangsi's face was red again.Zhuo Wangsun said unceremoniously: "We just want to go in together, and not only." This time it was Mandala's turn to change her face, and she said in surprise, "Who else?" "Me." A burst of cold fragrance came from the door, and the lifeless atmosphere and strong fragrance of powder in the underground palace quietly receded.The visitor was like the first ray of moonlight in the dark night, suddenly shining in the hall. Zhuo Wangsun smiled and said, "Your Highness is still here." Xiao Yan also smiled and said: "You two are invited, how dare you not come? It's just that it will be easier to find next time." There was a storm all the way, and he searched through the narrow tomb passage, but his lavender clothes were still so neat, not even a drop of rainwater stained them. Mandala stared at him intently, a charming smile gradually returned to his face, and the smile was even sweeter than before.She said softly: "In this case, please come in together." Entering the inner room, the furnishings in the room become more and more gorgeous and elegant. The windows are brushed with seals, brocades and pearls are hanging, and there are countless emeralds and pearls randomly piled up in the corner of the room, each of which is enough to dazzle people's eyes. However, everyone's eyes were focused on one place - a large stone table stood in the middle of the room, and half a game of chess was laid on the table. It is said to be half a game of chess, not because it has not been played, but because it has only white pieces and no black pieces. These white pieces are not ordinary chess pieces.There is also a statue of a beauty built on each chess piece. Naked statues. Those statues and the bases of the chess pieces are less than an inch high, and the chessboard is densely packed, just like a game of broken chess.Before the other chess pieces were placed on the chessboard, they were tied to their ankles with crimson silk threads and hung upside down on the black wooden frame beside them.A dark red candle was burning on the top of the shelf. Under the blood-red light, the statues were feasting and drinking, sitting or standing, lifelike.It's just that the utensils in their hands are gone, and they only maintain an empty posture. Some seem to be playing the pipa in their arms, some seem to want to toast to drink, and some even laugh and stick out their tongues, lifting their willow waists, as if they are still having a happy meeting with their invisible lovers. ——This can't help but remind people that the corpse dojo at the bottom of Wanhua Valley in the legend is exactly the same as this chess game. All the corpses in the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers disappeared, could it be... Xiangsi suddenly thought of something, she took a step forward, stretched out her hand to the chessboard, but paused in the air again.Her face was pale, she hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted her teeth and grabbed one of them. Her hand trembled suddenly, the tentacles were cold and hard.It seems that these are just statues carved from sheep fat jade, but they are very exquisite and lifelike. Xiangsi breathed a sigh of relief, staring at the statue in her hand. The woman on the statue seems to be taking off her clothes. She is pulling up her long hair with one hand and stretching her waist with the other, as if untying an invisible belt. The smile on her face is still extremely charming. Xiangsi couldn't help but take another look.Suddenly, she threw the statue away like an electric shock, and her face was as pale as paper—there was still divine light flowing in those silky winking eyes! Could it be that this statue full of scales is really made from the corpse of a real person who was shrunk down by magic? The more frightened she was, the more she couldn't help looking. This time she found two words engraved on the base of the sculpture: "Begonia". Mandala sighed softly, and said, "I thought only men were interested in this game of chess, but I didn't expect you to be the same, girl." Xiangsi took a deep breath and said, "Did you kill the girls in Wanhualou?" Mandala sat down on the wide bearded bed opposite the chessboard, and said leisurely: "Yes." She answered so briskly, as if she wasn't talking about a sinful thing at all. Acacia watched her, anger gradually replaced fear.She tremblingly said: "You killed these innocent people, and made statues of them before they died, and placed them in your room facing each other day and night. Don't tell me you have no heart?" She took a deep breath He took a deep breath, and looked at the chessboard a few more times, his eyes were already full of anger. Mandala looked at her quietly, before he let out a long sigh: "My dear, how could you understand." Xiangsi sneered, "How could you understand a lunatic like you?" Mandala stretched her waist on the hu bed, stared at Acacia, and said softly: "The world is born to suffer." Xiangsi said: "So you can watch them suffer without even shedding a tear for them, and you want to create more suffering?" Mandala said: "There are many ways to save the world, and tears of mercy are sometimes useless." She sighed and said, "Do you know the legend of Aditi?" Xiangsi paused, and said, "Death God Aditi?" Mandala said: "She is also the daughter of Brahma, a beautiful and kind goddess, but she has no choice but to control death. Every time she sees people suffering and dying, she can't help shedding sad tears for the world However, the world still died sadly. One day, she couldn't bear it anymore, and asked Brahma why she wanted to spread the death that was disgusted by the six worlds. Do you know how Brahma, the father of the gods, answered her?" Acacia didn't make a sound, Mandala smiled, and continued: "Brahma said, there is life and death, this is the law of reincarnation. If a god wants to maintain the operation of the world, he must bear its laws. Finally, Brahma told her, The god of death cannot shed tears, because every tear of her sympathy will spread plague and new death in the world. So since then, this goddess has tried her best not to let herself cry." Mandala sighed: "The most ordinary people are facing Everyone has the right to cry when they are in pain, but she does not. She is in charge, and at the same time endures the ultimate suffering in the world." She slowly turned her head and smiled at Acacia, that smile was as pure as it came from heaven, without any secular impurities: "It's also about saving suffering, why can you understand the tears of compassion of Avalokitesvara, but not Aditi? And—— "Her voice suddenly became indescribably desolate: "Avalokitesvara lives in the pure land world and is worshiped by all peoples, while Aditi lives in the darkness of hell and bears the ignorant curse and resentment of the world. Tell me, which one of them is worse? great?" Acacia was startled, couldn't think of a way to refute for a while, couldn't help but look at Zhuo Wangsun, but found that Lingling Qingguang in Xiaoyan's eyes had been staring at her, and couldn't help but shudder. She turned her head hastily, took a deep breath and said, "Even if Aditi is responsible, what does that have to do with your murder?" Mandala leaned back slightly, the light in his eyes was deep and arrogant: "Because I am the incarnation of Aditi, the god of death, in the world!" Although her words were extremely absurd, there was an irrefutable force in her tone, and she didn't know how to answer for a moment of lovesickness. Mandala stood up, walked to Xiangsi, picked up the "Begonia" that had fallen on the ground, and gently put it back on the chessboard.Her movements are gentle and careful, like a young girl embroidering in a deep boudoir. What is embroidered is a strange scene of joy. She turned around, and there was a seductive smile in her eyes: "I just ignored the guests when I was talking, why don't I play a song for the young masters, and I will make amends." Zhuo Wangsun smiled and said, "I'm sorry." With a flick of her red dress, she had retreated to the bed, holding half of the harp upright in her arms, and lightly holding the strings with both hands.She smiled and said, "This harp is an ancient relic from the Tang Dynasty. A musician surnamed Huang once played it. It is said that when the string is moved, gods and ghosts cry at night." Zhuo Wangsun said: "Could it be Li Ping?" Mandala smiled and said, "Young master has good eyesight." She sat up straight, straightened her clothes, and her expression became solemn. Suddenly, she flicked her hands, and a high-pitched string sound immediately filled the entire underground palace. Xiangsi frowned, she never expected that a musician would compose such a piece.A piece that is almost completely out of tune. Perhaps because of the lack of eleven strings, this piece of music has become indescribably weird.It seems to be just a bunch of scattered notes, the melody loops high and low, jumps indefinitely, and there seems to be no connection between the syllables. However, if you listen carefully, you can feel that this messy tune reveals a strong sense of killing.Like an ancient battlefield, endless battles.Playing Wu Ge and wearing rhinoceros armor, the wrong car and short soldiers.The sound of drums beating, heaven and earth complaining, gods and ghosts wailing. Mandala stared straight ahead, turned his hands faster and faster, and repeated some words and phrases in his mouth, which seemed to be Li He's "Li Ping Konghou Yin": Wu Si Shutong Zhang Gaoqiu, empty mountains and condensed clouds are not flowing. Qiu'e sings bamboo and women's worries, and Li Ping plays the harp in China. The broken jade in Kunshan is called by the phoenix, and the hibiscus weeps and the fragrant orchid laughs. Cold light melts in front of the twelve gates, and twenty-three threads move the purple emperor. At the place where Nv Wa smelted stones to mend the sky, Shi Potian amazed Qiu Yu. Dreaming into the holy mountain to teach the goddess, the old fish dances the wave and thin dragon dance. Wu Zhi leans against the osmanthus tree without sleep, and flies the wet and cold rabbit with his bare feet. All of a sudden, the twelve strings uttered a mournful sound at the same time, and the music and poetry were suddenly interrupted at a very high place.Like a dancer dancing tirelessly on the top of the mountain, the crazily burning life finally came to an end, crashing to the ground with the fallen leaves from the sky. There is silence all around, everything is quiet. Mandala embraced the harp, nodded and smiled at everyone, and said, "This is what I want for one night. Has anyone solved it?" Could it be that this grotesque song was her night salary? If you can solve it, you can become the owner of the underground palace; if you can't, you will stay in the ancient tomb forever. Is there really any mystery hidden in those fragmented notes? Everyone seemed to be still immersed in the eerie music. With a sneering smile on Mandala's face, he said slowly: "Everyone still has an hour. When the hour comes, you will stay here with me. In fact, I really want everyone to stay." When she said the last sentence, she smiled brightly, like a beautiful little girl next door, pulling your sleeve and saying, I really want you to stay. Xiao Yan raised his head and glanced at her, his eyes gradually shifted to the remnant chess set, and said in a deep voice, "Is it a chess record?" Mandala's face changed slightly, and then he smiled again: "Since this young master has heard it, please help me solve this situation?" Xiaoyan shook his head lightly, turned his eyes back to Xiangsi, and said: "A master is at your side, how can you allow me to play with an axe? The song you played just now hides the meaning of the first ninety-seven moves in the notes, how can Mr. Yu?" Can you not know? Knowing without speaking may just feel that the situation is already understood and there is no need to act." Zhuo Wangsun said indifferently: "I don't know anything about the art of chess. How can I understand this sentence? But His Highness seems to have a correct solution." Xiao Yandao smiled slightly, and said, "But the one that this mandala girl really wants to keep is Young Master Yu." Acacia was startled, and turned to look at Mandala.Mandala seemed to have got something on his mind, his smile was a little stiff, and then he said calmly: "I just want to ask Mr. Yu to solve the situation." This sentence was also expected by Zhuo Wangsun.He didn't say much, got up and came to the chessboard. Mandala smiled and said: "The layout of the white chess is already on the table, and the first ninety-seven moves of the black chess are already in the music. If Mr. Yu doesn't remember clearly, I can play it again." Zhuo Wangsun said calmly: "No need." He watched the chess game, as if he was thinking about something. The surroundings gradually fell silent again, and everyone's eyes were focused on the remnant chess set. Those vivid nude women glowed like crystals under the dancing candlelight, and seemed to be gradually regaining their lives. Their icy clean bodies danced and sang happily on the criss-cross chess board, provoking and teasing unscrupulously.The thick shadows closely followed their flying posture, soaking pools of dark red blood on the chessboard. Xiangsi only felt that those snow-white bodies were gradually filling up in front of her eyes. They were smiling and panting slightly, but the extreme terror and pain in the moment before their death also came from these erratic postures and charming smiles. Xiangsi couldn't help closing her eyes, and there was a sharp pain in her forehead. At this time, Zhuo Wangsun slowly untied a statue from the nearby bracket, and when he was about to put it on the chessboard, Xiaoyan suddenly shouted: "Slow down." Zhuo Wangsun turned his head and looked at him coldly, a trace of overwhelming anger was fleeting in his brow. The underground palace was suddenly filled with a suffocating chill. Xiaoyan didn't seem to notice it at all, and smiled to Mandala, "It seems too easy for you to use this game of chess to keep Mr. Yu." Mandala's smile was a bit forced: "Does the young master have a better chess game in mind?" Xiao Yan shook his head and said: "Since this game is impossible, there is no chess game in the world that can." Mandala looked at the place where Zhuo Wangsun was about to put down the chess piece just now, with a dejected expression, and said, "So I can't keep Mr. Yu anymore?" Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, "Although you can't play chess, you can use the meaning outside of chess." Mandala's eyes lit up again, and he said, "What is the meaning beyond chess?" Xiao Yan said: "It is said that this game was set up by Yao to select the next generation of sage kings when it was the time of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors. Back then, the ninety-seven moves were tried all over the world, and no one could solve them." Mandala said: "I also know this. According to legend, the great sage Xu You also tried this game three times in secret and failed. He was ashamed before returning to Linquan and never caring about world affairs." Xiao Yan said: "However, Shun begged in the body of a commoner. He played against chess for three days without losing a single piece. After the switch, when Yao saw the empty scale, he immediately married off the two daughters and placed him in Shun's place. Yao was a sage king. , whose benevolence is like the sky, and whose wisdom is like a god, he seeks talents with chess, and intends to entrust the Kyushu. And Shun won the world without losing a son, isn't the meaning outside of chess much better than this game?" Mandala's face was horrified, she thought this round was a masterpiece that had been lost in the Central Plains for thousands of years.She didn't expect someone to know more than her. Zhuo Wangsun frowned and said, "Not one son?" Xiao Yan said leisurely: "That's right, Mr. Yu also has the world in mind now, have you ever thought about how Shun solved this situation without losing his son?" Zhuo Wangsun thought about the game, but the chess piece in his hand could not be put down in mid-air. A faint smile appeared on Xiaoyan's face.He knew only what kind of person and what kind of things could arouse Zhuo Wangsun's interest, and it seemed that he had a good idea. And not only Zhuo Wangsun, but everyone in the audience seemed to be insane after chewing on his words. Not too long later, Xiangsi suddenly groaned.She covered her forehead with her hands, trembling all over, and her lips were pale with pain. Xiaoyan got up slowly, looked at her and said, "It really is you." Before he finished speaking, his figure floated up like a butterfly, and with a flash of purple light, he retreated to the front of the gate in an instant. Yang Yizhi shouted: "Let her go!" Mandala only felt a blur in front of his eyes, and Yang Yizhi had already chased after him. The smile on Mandala's face disappeared immediately.Although she already knew that these three of her guests were peerless masters, she still couldn't help being terrified when she saw them show lightness kung fu with her own eyes. In such an instant, Xiaoyan was able to hold Xiangsi hostage and escape, while Yang Yizhi was able to chase after him immediately under the sudden change. There are still people in the world who have this ghostly body, and there are more than one. She gasped and couldn't help but turn her head to look at Zhuo Wangsun. Zhuo Wangsun watched the chessboard quietly, still thinking about the meaning beyond the chessboard, as if everything just had nothing to do with him. In that instant, there was a loud bang like a mountain avalanche and an earth cracking at the door, and the stone gate of the underground palace had crashed down!