midnight.
When Zhao Chan arrived at the main hall of the temple, the candles were still lit. When Zhao Chan entered, he saw the master kneeling on a prayer mat, chanting scriptures.
Zhao Chan walked behind his master and waited silently without interrupting his master's chanting of scriptures.
After a short while, the chanting of scriptures gradually stopped. The old monk turned around, looked at his most talented disciple with a loving expression, and asked kindly, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Master is reciting scriptures, so I didn't disturb him," Zhao Chan said respectfully. His master treated him very well. From childhood to adulthood, his master had always taken care of him and his senior brothers and accompanied them. Although he couldn't sense other people's emotions, he still understood the importance of respecting his teacher and valuing the Way, and he respected his master from the bottom of his heart.
“My child, you have been different from others since childhood. Although you have no emotions or desires, you are fortunate to have a talent for studying Buddhist scriptures. You are the most talented Buddhist disciple in the last hundred years. You always have a sudden enlightenment in understanding the scriptures much faster than other disciples. So, there is always a trade-off. What you have lost will always come back to you in another way.” The old monk looked up at the compassionate Buddha and said slowly.
"Master, I understand," Zhao Chan nodded slightly.
"Hmm, you are a clever child. Recently, you have been getting too close to Miss Wen. I know that you and Miss Wen are innocent, but the words of the world can kill. I hope you can understand the consequences." The old monk closed his eyes at the end. Rumors, though intangible, can easily destroy a person.
Zhaochan was his most prized disciple. He hoped that Zhaochan could go further than him on the path of Buddhism, and that he would never suffer any harm, and would always remain that aloof Buddhist disciple with the world in his heart.
“Master, I understand.” Zhao Chan said with his eyes closed. He knew that he had been different from others since childhood. He was not emotional and had no desires, like an anomaly. Therefore, he had been trying to observe other people’s expressions, actions and various emotions, trying his best to act like a normal person.
But why is it that even though he has met someone who can stir his emotions, those who have nothing to do with him still maliciously spread rumors and slander him and Wen Su? Doesn't he deserve to have normal human emotions?
Zhao Chan tried hard to control himself, but his hands trembled slightly under his sleeves. The old monk saw his unwillingness and helplessness, and sighed, "Zhao Chan, I originally had no right to interfere in your affairs with Miss Wen, and I didn't need to ask you to come here today. But I still called you here today. Do you know why?"
Well then, Zhao Chan's life is a choice he must make himself. He can't make decisions for Zhao Chan, so he might as well let Zhao Chan decide for himself. He can only respect Zhao Chan's decision and do his best to help him.
Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be a harbinger of good fortune; perhaps the final outcome will be good?
Zhao Chan looked at his master in confusion and asked, "This disciple does not understand. Please enlighten me, Master."
The old monk turned around, stood by the window, and looked at the full moon outside. His aged voice came with the wind, as if he was about to ascend to immortality. The moonlight fell on the old monk, like a thin veil covering his robe.
Zhao Chan stood behind the old monk, half of the moonlight falling on him, while the other half of his body was hidden in darkness, obscuring his figure. Just like Zhao Chan himself, these were two contradictory phenomena, yet they blended together strangely in him.
“Zhaochan, when you were young, I once cast a divination for you. I predicted that you would face a calamity in your life, and Miss Wen is your calamity.” The old monk finally finished saying what he wanted to say. He couldn’t help Zhaochan, and no one but that girl could help Zhaochan.
It took Zhao Chan a long time to find his voice, and he said uncertainly, "A calamity? Master, did you make a mistake in your divination?"
"If I could, I would also like to say that I was wrong," the old monk said in a somewhat weary voice. He was obsessed with divination and predicting marriage, so he often told fortunes for others. Fortunately, he seemed to have some talent for it, and the probability of him making a mistake was extremely low.
So when he found Zhaochan and Zhaohua, he couldn't wait to cast divinations for them. Zhaohua's divination was easy, but Zhaochan's fate seemed to be blocked by a black fog. At that time, the current old monk was still a young monk, full of vigor and perseverance. He vowed to calculate Zhaochan's fate, so he cast a divination for Zhaochan every day, but he could never see anything. His curiosity grew stronger. There was no fate in this world that he couldn't calculate.
Through his perseverance, one day he suddenly sensed Zhao Chan's destiny. Although he only felt it briefly, he remembered it vividly. He saw a black line encircling Zhao Chan's destiny, which was the tribulation of life and death.
The young old monk looked again in disbelief, but could see nothing more. It was as if the fleeting image he had just seen was his illusion. But he was certain that it was not his illusion; he had truly seen Zhao Chan's destiny.
Later, the old monk persisted in his calculations and finally deduced what Zhaochan's tribulation was: a tribulation of love. Ultimately, the two did not meet a peaceful end.
After hearing his master's words, Zhao Chan fell silent for a moment. If his master said that, then it was probably true. Miss Wen, was she really his love tribulation?
"A love tribulation?" Jing Xi exclaimed in surprise. She looked at Yan Wan uncertainly, raising her eyebrows and asking with her eyes, "Wan'er, isn't this a traditional Chinese romance novel? How come it's turned into fantasy?"
Yan Wan shrugged, meaning she didn't know either. Where did they get all this mess? How did the world of this novel become so chaotic? Huh? What happened? Since entering Huangzhou, she hasn't been able to summon the system.
Heavens above, who can save her?
Ji Mohan stared thoughtfully at everything unfolding before him. He realized that his previous thinking had been limited. In this world, there were many extraordinary people and strange phenomena. Although some were unbelievable, they were real, and now, they were happening right before his eyes.
Li Shang and Shangguan Wei'er were also dumbfounded as they watched all this. How come they had never heard of any love tribulation? Could this be something passed down from some aristocratic family?
Zhao Chan looked at the ground beneath his feet, his gaze fixed firmly on his own shadow, lost in thought.
Seeing his somewhat bewildered expression, the old monk said gently, "Child, go back. You might find the answer to the things you can't understand now someday."
Zhao Chan sighed. There was nothing he could do. He said respectfully and humbly, "Yes, Master. This disciple takes his leave."
After Zhao Chan finished speaking, he turned and left. The old monk watched his retreating figure and sighed deeply.
Then, he turned to look at where Yan Wan and the others were, and suddenly said, "You have come from afar, and it must be karma that brought you here. Remember, do not disturb the karma of others."
After the old monk finished speaking, he slowly left with his hands behind his back, leaving Yan Wan and the others standing there dumbfounded.
"Sister Wan'er, can he see us?" Shangguan Wei'er asked.
Yan Wan shook her head and said, "I'm not quite sure either." The matter was becoming increasingly confusing.
And that monk, did he actually see them here, or did he divine it?
Perhaps, this old monk is the key to breaking their deadlock.
After all, they were the only ones who knew of their existence.
——
"Alright, alright, move these inside, and these too." Wen Su directed several people to move the scriptures, which were her way of thanking Zhao Chan for saving her life. Oh, and by the way, she also wanted to teach him the formation so he could leave.
Zhao Chan saw this scene as soon as he entered the courtyard. He didn't know what to say. Why did she always appear in front of him, making it impossible for him to avoid her, and making his heart somewhat noisy?
“Zhaochan, you’re back. Look, these are the scriptures I promised you. I’ve fulfilled them all. There are many rare copies among them. You must read them carefully and not waste my good intentions,” Wen Su said warmly as she walked up to Zhaochan.
“Amitabha, Miss Wen, you don’t need to do this,” Zhao Chan said softly.
Don't get too close to him; there are too many rumors circulating. Don't be too nice to him; he's about to lose control of his heart.
After spending some time together recently, he seems to have come to understand what normal human emotions are like.
“Zhaochan, I should repay your life-saving grace with my body. But since you are a monk, I will express my gratitude in a different way,” Wen Su said earnestly, whether in jest or as a way of revealing her true feelings.
“Miss Wen, stay away from this humble monk. Haven’t you heard what people outside are saying about you? They say you’re a witch, seducing Buddhist monks.” Zhao Chan emphasized, hoping Wen Su would stay away from him so she wouldn’t have to suffer those unnecessary insults or bear such a bad reputation.
Wen Su shrugged and looked at Zhao Chan sincerely, saying, "Whether you call me a demoness or a witch, I have a clear conscience, and you don't need to feel guilty."
She knew that Zhaochan didn't want her to suffer from those rumors, which was why she was so angry.
“Miss Wen.” Zhao Chan was about to speak when Wen Su interrupted him directly, “Sometimes, I really want you to return to secular life, so that we won’t have to fear those rumors.”
She had actually stayed at the temple because she loved Zhaochan and didn't want to leave. But even though she couldn't bear to part, she had to leave. He was a Buddhist disciple, and there was no possibility between them.
After hearing Wen Su's words, Zhao Chan could only be reminded by the rapid beating of his heart that he had not just imagined it. Miss Wen, she liked him, but he was a Buddhist disciple!
A Buddhist disciple should be aloof and have the world in his heart. His love should not be given to just one person; he should love all living beings in the world.
"I'm sorry, Miss Wen," Zhao Chan murmured softly.
"It's alright, I know," Wen Su said understandingly.
"Look, these scriptures are my thank-you gifts to you, as well as formations. What else do you want to learn? I'll teach you everything." Wen Su said, forcing back her sadness. How could she have fallen for the person she least wanted to like?
"Are you leaving?" Zhao Chan asked.
"Soon. We'll leave once you've taught me the formations you want to learn. We've been out for so long, it's time to go home," Wen Su nodded and said.
“Okay,” Zhao Chan said softly.
Once she leaves, everything will go back to normal, right?
For the rest of the days, Wen Su and Zhao Chan stayed together every day, just like before. One taught them formations, and the other learned them. They no longer cared about the rumors and gossip outside. They just wanted to make the most of this short time.
However, the rumors outside kept growing and couldn't be suppressed. The believers couldn't believe that their beloved Buddhist monk actually liked a woman. The Buddhist monk should love all people, how could he only like one person?
The main hall of Hanshan Temple.
A group of agitated believers shouted, "Witch! Where is that witch? Let her out! We want to burn her alive! She has bewitched Buddhist disciples; she deserves to die!"
"Yes, let her out, let her out quickly!" A group of villagers behind them shouted. They didn't know the cause or what had happened, but they still shouted along, simply because they could watch the spectacle, easily sentence someone to death, and not have to bear the punishment of the law.
Zhao Chan stood behind the screen in the main hall. Although he couldn't see the faces of those people, he still felt disgusted. These were the people who prayed for his protection every day. These were the common people in his heart.
backyard.
"Girl, you should leave quickly," Granny Li said anxiously.
"Grandma Li, I want to wait a little longer," Wen Su said with some disappointment. She wanted to see him one last time so that she wouldn't be unable to let go of him later.
"Amitabha, female benefactor, you should leave now." An aged voice came from outside the door.
Wen Su looked up and saw Zhao Chan's master standing under the Bodhi tree in the courtyard. She picked up her package and went out. "Master Xu Huai, I'm sorry." In the end, she had brought trouble to Hanshan Temple and Zhao Chan as well.
“Good child, leave now. It was never going to be possible for you and Zhaochan,” Xu Huai said with a sigh.
"I know." Wen Su nodded; she had always understood.
"Now that you're leaving, please don't ever appear before Zhao Chan again." With just one sentence, Xu Huai blocked all avenues of retreat, and also extinguished any unrealistic fantasies in Wen Su's heart.
Looking at Wen Su, who remained silent, Xu Huai continued, "Miss, you are Zhao Chan's love tribulation. If you continue to entangle yourself with this, it will be bad for both of you."
Tears streamed down Wen Su's cheeks. So that's how it was. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears. "Master Xuhuai, rest assured, Wen Su understands. I will not appear in front of him again."
This parting is our last.
Wen Su went back to pick up her bundle and sword, and left via the path behind the mountain. She kept walking forward, not daring to look back.
Goodbye, Zhaochan.
Goodbye, Buddhist disciple.
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