Ji Mohan and the others felt a flash of light before their eyes, and they entered a new world, like an illusion, yet so real.
Ta-da! Ta-da! Ta-da!
The temple in the distance was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of people coming and going, their faces beaming with smiles. Yan Wan and her companions stood there in surprise. How did they suddenly end up here? Yan Wan felt like the plot was getting out of control. Wasn't this supposed to be an ancient romance novel? How did it suddenly turn into a fantasy novel? Yan Wan was filled with questions. Help! What on earth was going on?
"Hurry, hurry! I heard that a Buddhist disciple is personally giving a sermon today, let's go quickly!"
"What? A Buddhist disciple is personally giving a sermon? Let's hurry, or there won't be any seats left."
Jing Xi also felt that everything in front of her was unreal. She nudged Yan Wan in confusion and said, "Wan'er, why is things getting more and more abnormal?"
"I don't know either." Yan Wan felt like her brain was about to explode.
Ji Mohan said in a deep voice, "Let's go with them and see that Buddhist disciple."
“Okay, sure,” Li Shang replied.
Shangguan Wei'er felt much better. She looked around curiously. Interesting, she had never been to this place before. Li Shang, meanwhile, was distracted by taking care of the running around Shangguan Wei'er.
"Let's go, Jingxi," Jiang Bai said gently.
Ji Mohan and his group walked towards the place where people were gathered, wanting to see what was going on.
"Esteemed benefactors, please quiet down. A Buddhist monk will come out shortly to pray for you and chant sutras," a young monk announced loudly.
"Ah, there really is a Buddha's disciple, a Buddha's disciple has really appeared."
"Yes, the last time the Buddha appeared was the last time."
"Hey, you sounded like you were talking nonsense just now."
"Leave me alone."
——
"The Buddha's disciple has arrived!" A shout came from afar.
The crowd erupted in a frenzy, and the sound of the bells, accompanied by screams, created a unique atmosphere.
"Buddha's disciple, Buddha's disciple has come out!" Someone with sharp eyes was the first to see it.
Yan Wan and the others were also attracted by the lively noise. They all turned their heads to look in that direction, and Shangguan Wei'er even ran into the crowd to see.
Suddenly, the temple gate creaked open, and a monk wearing a cap, his face obscured, slowly walked out, followed by two young monks.
At that moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the monk in the middle wearing a cap, who seemed to be radiating a sacred light as he walked step by step toward the chanting platform.
Jing Xi touched the corner of her mouth and said, "You've got something, huh?"
This commotion is comparable to her most glorious moment as a mercenary back in the day.
The Buddhist disciple walked up the high platform step by step, put his hands together, and held a Bodhi seed in his hand. "Amitabha, this humble monk Zhaochan greets all benefactors."
After speaking, he slowly removed his cap, revealing a handsome face that seemed to stand out from the crowd, his cold and indifferent eyes sweeping over the people.
Yan Wan looked at the monk on the stage and found his features somewhat familiar. Strange, where had she seen him before? Why did he seem so familiar?
Ji Mohan suddenly spoke up: "Miss Jing, you said before that Mr. Gongsun was a monk?"
Jing Xi nodded. Did she not know what the connection was between the two?
"You mean, the Buddhist disciple is Gongsun Gua?" Yan Wan suddenly realized. No wonder she felt like she had seen this Buddhist disciple somewhere before.
On stage, a clear, cool voice recited Buddhist scriptures slowly and deliberately, with intonations that were soothing to the ears, as if bathed in the light of Buddha.
"Yes, he is Gongsun Gua," Ji Mohan said with certainty.
Jing Xi smiled, "I didn't expect the rumors to be true. The aloof Buddhist monk descended from his pedestal for love and became a ghost doctor. Tsk tsk tsk, novels really do come from reality!" Jing Xi said with emotion.
Ding-dong, the distant, lonely bell tolled again, and the chanting of scriptures abruptly ceased, signaling the end of the prayer ceremony.
A young monk stepped forward and said loudly, "Dear benefactors, the prayer ceremony is over. May all your wishes come true and everything go smoothly. Amitabha."
"Thank you, Buddha."
"Thank you, Buddha."
The believers knelt down in a rush, loudly expressing their gratitude for the Buddha's blessings and their wishes for the future.
Looking at the people at the bottom of society worshipping so respectfully, Yan Wan couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Many people say that going to temples to pray for blessings is a useless and superstitious act, but isn't it also a kind of spiritual sustenance? When people are powerless in the face of hardship and poverty, and no one can help or save them, the importance of gods and Buddhas becomes apparent. The significance of gods and Buddhas is not in practical actions, but in spiritual comfort.
Ji Mohan, Jiang Bai, and Li Shang watched all this with deep thought, and suddenly understood the meaning of "serving the country and benefiting the people": to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to open up peace for all generations. It turns out that in places we cannot see, there are still many people suffering.
When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer.
Zhao Chan, also known as Gongsun Gua, slowly departed amidst the chorus of worship. His expression was devoid of desire, and his cold eyes held no warmth whatsoever. He calmly gazed at the crowd who were paying homage to him.
Perhaps even gods are like this; only the heartless are truly compassionate.
The scene shifts, and Yan Wan and the others find themselves in another space.
Zhaochan was collecting herbs on the back mountain of the temple. He carried a basket on his back and bent over to dig up herbs under the scorching sun.
"Brother Zhaochan, Master just told me to go down and arrange accommodations for the benefactors, but I forgot! I'm doomed, Master will definitely punish me by making me copy scriptures. I have to go now." A young monk with dimples ran out from the right and said hurriedly.
Zhao Chan responded and continued walking towards the back mountain. He kept picking herbs, which annoyed Shangguan Wei'er. She yawned and said, "When will he ever stop? How long is he going to pick them?"
Yan Wan and Jing Xi were also a bit bored; this was like a ready-made version of Wang Baochuan digging for wild vegetables!
Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes on the left, attracting Zhao Chan's attention, as well as Yan Wan and the others. Had a new character appeared?
However, the ideal was far from reality. When Zhao Chan arrived, she found a little white rabbit whose hind legs were entangled in vines. Zhao Chan gently lifted the rabbit's hind legs, untied the vines, and the little rabbit happily ran away as soon as it was free.
Zhao Chan sighed softly, "Amitabha." After releasing the little white rabbit, he prepared to get up, but a hand reached out from the grass and grabbed his wrist.
Oh ho!
Oh ho ho ho!
Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho!
Yan Wan, Jing Xi, and Shangguan Wei'er stared wide-eyed as they peered closer to see what was happening—a new character had appeared!
Zhao Chan tried hard to pull the hand off his wrist, but the owner of the wrist had plenty of strength and skill, and he couldn't pull it off no matter what. Zhao Chan looked at the slender and delicate hand that was pulling his wrist, which was obviously a woman's hand.
Zhao Chan sighed and said helplessly, "Amitabha, female benefactor, please let go. This behavior is not good."
Jing Xi almost burst out laughing at Zhao Chan's expression. She hadn't expected Zhao Chan to be so cute, saying such unintimidating things with a blank expression. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
A hint of a smile flashed in Jiang Bai's eyes; things seemed to be getting more and more interesting.
After Zhao Chan finished speaking, the owner of the hand still did not move and was still holding him tightly. Zhao Chan could only continue to say, "Amitabha, benefactor, this humble monk is a monk and cannot marry. Please let go."
Zhaochan: They all want to marry me, these fanatical fans are really something.
Just then, an angry voice came from the bushes, "Who wants to marry you? I'm poisoned, I have no strength, I'm about to die, ah, no, I'm going to die."
The person in the bushes suddenly went silent. Upon hearing this, Zhao Chan hurriedly parted the bushes and saw a beautiful woman dressed in gorgeous clothes, lying unconscious.
Zhao Chan reached out and shook the woman. It was over; she seemed to be really going to die. Zhao Chan looked at his hand, at a loss. Should he leave the girl here or take her back to the temple?
If we leave her here, she'll die.
If he takes her back to the temple, the abbot will definitely not let him go, and then he will die!
Whether she dies or he dies, that is the question.
After hesitating for a long time, Zhao Chan finally picked the woman up from the bushes. As the Buddhist saying goes, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. As a monk, he was compassionate and decided to save her.
Jingxi looked at Zhaochan with excitement. Wasn't this more interesting than drawing a book?
Zhao Chan carried the woman and a basket on his back as he returned to the temple from the back mountain. The closer he got to the temple, the more furtive he became. Just then, a middle-aged monk appeared from behind and called out to the furtive Zhao Chan in a dignified voice, "Zhao Chan, what are you carrying in your arms?"
Zhao Chan felt a chill run down his spine. Oh no, his senior brother had found out after all. He turned around expressionlessly and said in a detached voice, "Senior brother, I picked up a girl in the back mountain."
Before he could finish speaking, his senior brother's voice rang out, so loud it almost shattered Zhao Chan's skull, "Zhao Chan, this is a girl, not some kitten or puppy. Didn't I tell you not to pick up girls on the street? Look, now Master will definitely punish you. Besides, how dare you..."
The senior brother's incessant chatter came over, and Zhao Chan tried to speak several times, but was interrupted by the senior brother each time. Zhao Chan was a little tired, so he simply stopped interrupting.
After speaking for half an hour, his throat was dry, so he said symbolically, "Alright, that's enough for now. Don't be so reckless in the future. By the way, what were you trying to say just now?"
Zhao Chan lifted the woman in his arms up slightly and said uncertainly, "I was just about to say that she seemed to be dying. I don't know if she's still alive now."
Senior brother: !!!
"Why didn't you say so earlier?!" the senior brother said, somewhat exasperated.
“Senior brother, you interrupted me just now, so if this girl dies, the karmic consequences will fall on you,” Zhao Chan said coldly.
The senior brother shouted, "Hurry up and go! I'm going to find Master to come and take a look. You carry this girl to the east wing."
"Okay, senior brother." Zhao Chan nodded obediently. Great! He didn't have to go and call the master himself. And if anything happened to this girl, he wouldn't have to take responsibility. Killing two birds with one stone!
Jing Xi said with amusement, "I didn't expect that Gongsun Gua was so cunning even when he was a monk."
"Poor senior brother," Shangguan Wei'er said with a look of sympathy.
Senior brother: Your senior brother is of one heart with you, and you're trying to outsmart him?
"Amitabha, Zhaohua, go to my room and bring me the white porcelain bottle from the desk," the old monk said to his senior brother after taking his pulse.
"Yes, Master." Senior Brother Zhaohua knew that this was a matter of life and death, so he ran away as soon as he left the room.
"Zhaochan, is this the young lady you met in the back mountain?" the old monk asked with a kind expression.
“Yes, Master,” Zhaochan replied.
"Did you see any emotional fluctuations in this young lady, or any other thoughts?" the old monk continued to probe.
"No, Master," Zhao Chan said sincerely.
"Well, I will send someone down the mountain to find two female benefactors to take care of this young lady. You should focus on your studies." The old monk said directly. Fortunately, the child's resolve was firm. This child was born without a soul and a spirit, and could not possess the normal emotions of ordinary people. Therefore, she was naturally indifferent, calm in her dealings with others, and had no emotional fluctuations. As a result, she learned the scriptures very quickly without any interference. She was a born Buddha.
However, when Zhao Chan was young, he once cast a divination for the child. Only when the destined person appeared could he understand emotions, but this would be accompanied by a love tribulation, where one thought could lead to life or death.
He couldn't bear to see Zhaochan suffer such hardship, so he had always prevented him from leaving the temple to travel and cultivate. But alas, he couldn't escape it after all.
The arrangement by Heaven was indeed ingenious and flawless.
"Yes, Master, I understand." Although Zhao Chan felt that his master's words were a bit strange, he still nodded in agreement. After all, it would be better if someone took care of this girl, as taking care of people is tiring!
"Master, the medicine has arrived." Zhao Hua's voice came from outside.
Immediately afterwards, Zhaohua ran in and handed the medicine to the old monk. The old monk took the medicine, poured out one pill, and put it into the mouth of the unconscious woman.
The old monk stood up and said, "Let's go. You two come with me. As for this young lady, I'll find someone to take care of her later."
"Yes, Master," Zhao Chan and Zhao Hua said in unison.
After Zhaohua and Zhaochan went out with their master, the old monk went to find someone to take care of them, leaving Zhaohua and Zhaochan alone.
Zhao Chan thought for a moment and decided to go back to his own courtyard first. He had been collecting herbs all day and was tired, so he wanted to take a nap.
Zhao Hua suddenly called out to Zhao Chan, "Hey, did you just set a trap for me? Something felt off just now."
Zhao Chan said sincerely, "How could that be? Senior brother, you're so smart, how could I scheme against you? After all, you can see through my little tricks at a glance, right?"
Zhao Hua paused for a moment, then nodded seriously. Hmph ╯^╰, he doubted Zhao Hua would dare to do that, since he would definitely be able to see through any little tricks.
Zhao Chan nodded in satisfaction and left.
Zhao Hua remained where he was, scratching his head. Strange, something seemed off, yet nothing seemed wrong either! ⊙︿⊙
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com