Li Yang followed him to the place and asked curiously, "Master, you asked me to come here, are you worried about the secret being overheard?"
"Indeed, the secret of our Dengfeng Temple is a Buddhist scripture, which can only be passed down to the abbot. I don't know if the treasure map you mentioned is related to this Buddhist scripture."
The abbot said very solemnly, and then took out a Buddhist scripture from his body and handed it to Li Yang, saying, "This Buddhist scripture records some extremely profound Buddhist teachings, and also, eminent monks have comprehended the true meaning of martial arts within these teachings."
"Therefore, this Buddhist scripture later became our abbot's true inheritance treasure. Unfortunately, my talent is shallow, and after practicing for ten years, I have not understood its true meaning. If I could understand it, I would not have to worry about the situation just now."
"Today, I will pass on this Buddhist scripture to you, young benefactor. I believe the previous abbot would agree."
"Master, I have no interest in your Buddhist teachings, nor will I comprehend and cultivate them. I am just curious if your previous abbot hid the treasure map in the inheritance."
Li Yang spoke the truth, he really had no interest in their temple's Buddhist scriptures.
Especially at the moment the abbot took out the Buddhist scripture and handed it to Li Yang, Li Yang saw at a glance that this Buddhist scripture was not what he wanted, and it contained no secrets about the treasure map.
After a slight pause of a few seconds, Li Yang continued to ask, "Master, besides this Buddhist scripture, is there anything else in your abbot's inheritance?"
"Anything else... there seems to be nothing. The previous abbot only gave me this Buddhist scripture and told me to study and practice it diligently. After saying that, he passed away."
The abbot recalled carefully but could not think of anything else.
Li Yang couldn't help but feel puzzled. Could his guess be wrong?
Or was the treasure map lost during the inheritance of the previous abbots?
Li Yang had doubts in his heart, and his peripheral vision quickly caught sight of the abbot taking out a handkerchief from his body to wipe his sweat.
And as he wiped his sweat, Li Yang suddenly noticed that his handkerchief had circular patterns, like a map.
"Master, please stop, don't move your hand."
Li Yang quickly grabbed the abbot's hand, his gaze fixed on his handkerchief, and after a moment, asked him to lift the handkerchief and face it directly towards the sunlight.
Li Yang looked closely at the patterns on the handkerchief and quickly confirmed that what was etched on the handkerchief was the treasure map he was looking for.
"It's truly a case of searching high and low without finding it, only to stumble upon it effortlessly!"
Li Yang exclaimed excitedly, looking at the abbot with joy, "Master, this handkerchief you have is what I need. The patterns on this handkerchief are one of the treasure maps."
"What? My handkerchief is a treasure map?"
The abbot was stunned on the spot, his eyeballs involuntarily protruding.
He thought, how could this be possible?
This handkerchief was bought by him from a street stall when he was young. If this were a treasure map, wouldn't the entire street stall be full of treasure maps?
"Master, you may not know this, but your handkerchief is imprinted with special craftsmanship for invisible patterns, and these patterns are precisely the treasure map. Think carefully, has anyone borrowed your handkerchief? And did they tell you to pass it down?"
Li Yang thought, this must be a clever move by the previous abbot.
If the treasure map was hidden in the Buddhist scripture, anyone with a little sense would think of it. But if it was hidden on a handkerchief and made with invisible patterns, even if someone found the handkerchief, they wouldn't believe the treasure map was etched on it.
Even the person who used the handkerchief every day wouldn't notice such a detail.
After thinking carefully according to Li Yang's line of thought, the abbot suddenly remembered that the previous abbot had indeed said something similar, telling him to preserve this handkerchief no matter what, and to treat it as a treasure and not to lose it.
He had long forgotten these words over the years, but since the handkerchief was still usable, he hadn't been willing to throw it away.
After he truthfully explained the situation to Li Yang, Li Yang suddenly understood, it was indeed as he had guessed.
Li Yang smiled and said, "Master, since the treasure map has been found, why don't you let me take it away today? The disaster comes from it, so it should naturally go with it."
"As long as you trust me, Master, I will use the treasure map wisely and not let it be taken by villains."
"Young benefactor, I naturally trust your great kindness. If you hadn't accidentally discovered this treasure map, I might never have known about it in my life. After I pass away, it would have gone with me forever."
"Your ability to discover its existence also indicates the will of heaven and Buddha. You may take it, I have no objections," the abbot said very earnestly, clasping his hands together.
"Thank you, Master. Since you agree, I will not be polite."
Li Yang accepted the handkerchief, which meant his task was completed, and there was no need to stay here any longer.
After packing the handkerchief, he turned to bid farewell to the abbot. The abbot personally escorted him back to the dharma platform and waved goodbye.
After Li Yang and Long Lingling left, several eminent monks simultaneously came before the abbot.
One of the eminent monks asked, "Senior brother, what did you and the young benefactor talk about just now? Is the young benefactor's purpose today to seek our Buddhist scripture?"
"He didn't want the Buddhist scripture, but a blueprint that can save us. The previous abbot was thoughtful. He knew who I was, so he didn't tell me about that blueprint."
"If it weren't for the young benefactor's arrival today, revealing the source of the disaster, I would probably still be in the dark. Even if everyone was implicated and died because of me, I would still be a confused fool."
After the abbot finished speaking, a look of guilt appeared on his face, and he clasped his hands together and began to chant scriptures.
The other eminent monks exchanged glances, not understanding the meaning of his words. They could see that the abbot did not want to say more, so they did not ask further.
Only the abbot knew in his heart that this young benefactor had come to save everyone in Dengfeng Temple.
Perhaps Master had hidden the treasure map on the handkerchief back then with this very intention, wanting a destined person to find this handkerchief.
He finally understood Master's thoughtful intentions now.
"Li Yang, are we just leaving like this? Have you found the treasure map?"
Long Lingling kept asking Li Yang as they left the temple.
"If I told you I didn't get it, would you believe me?" Li Yang asked with a smile as they walked.
"Then I definitely wouldn't believe you. I know your character well. You won't leave until you achieve your goal, and seeing you smiling so happily, you must have gotten the treasure map."
Long Lingling's eyes rolled, and she said with a smile, "Hurry up and show me the treasure map, I won't tell anyone casually."
"No, there are too many people here. If you lose it, wouldn't all my efforts be in vain?" Li Yang said decisively.
"Walk by, walk by, don't miss out. All my antiques are sold at a loss."
Just then, a shout came from the roadside ahead.