Cen Xi, who left from the north, traveled south at a leisurely pace, not at all like someone on the run. Wherever he went, if there was any excitement, he would join in and observe the various aspects of other people's lives.
She knew that Shen Jinchen would eventually find her, so she didn't set a destination.
She never expected to run into Jun Jianchou. There was a final temple fair at Chanyun Temple on Tianmen Mountain in winter, and Cen Xi just wanted to join in the fun and relax.
However, she spotted Jun Jianchou and followed him to an old monk's meditation room, where she overheard a conversation.
“Master, my heart is dead. I no longer wish to be attached to the mortal world. May I be accepted as your disciple?”
"Benefactor, I have said it many times: your worldly ties are not yet severed, and Buddhism cannot accept you. You should leave on your own!"
Master Liaoshan frowned and refused.
"What worldly ties are there that haven't been severed? Master, could you please tell me? The believer has already left."
Jun Jianchou's eyes were resolute; he was determined to become a monk.
"You are the only son in your family, with a responsibility to protect your community and people you need to safeguard. You haven't yet given these responsibilities to your family, and these are all stumbling blocks preventing you from resolving your worldly ties. How can Buddha accept you?"
Liao Shan looked troubled, but unfortunately Jun Jianchou just couldn't understand it.
“My father can adopt another member of the clan to replace me, and the person I am meant to protect has already found a good match. Master, how can I not sever my worldly ties?”
“I want to cleanse my soul with Buddhism and become a member of the Buddhist community. Please allow me to shave my head.”
Since Zhu Yanniang's death, Jun Jianchou has lived in guilt. He plans to spend the rest of his life praying and chanting sutras so that she can be reborn with a good fate.
Zhu Yanniang suffered too much in this life, and he couldn't bear to see the woman who saved his life suffer such a tragic fate in her next life.
"By doing this, you've completely deviated from your life's trajectory. The fates of those who know you will be affected by your decision. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Liao Shan's brows furrowed deeper and deeper; he truly couldn't understand why this person insisted on becoming a monk.
"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. I cannot control the fate of others. I only wish to convert to Buddhism and serve the Buddha in this life."
Jun Jianchou had long since made up his mind, and now no matter what the monks said, he was going to become a monk.
If he is still not accepted by the temple in the end, he will definitely go to another temple.
Cen Xi listened from outside, her brows furrowing more and more. Was Jun Jianchou going to become a monk after being heartbroken and distressed?
She wanted to stop it, but the moment she pushed open the door, she felt she had no right to do so and stood frozen at the doorway.
The creaking of the door interrupted the two people who were talking. They stopped talking and looked at the person who was about to enter.
Liao Shan saw Cen Xi as if he had seen the light of day, a smile appearing on his face. He said to Jun Jianchou:
“Look! I told you that your worldly ties are not yet severed, and here they are. If you resolve this matter, this young lady will agree to your becoming a nun, and I will personally shave your head.”
"The room is yours, have a good chat!"
Liao Shan walked to the door, gave Cen Xi a meaningful look, and then quickly left.
"What are you doing here? What happened between you and Shen Jinchen?"
Upon seeing Cen Xi, Jun Jianchou couldn't help but feel concerned.
Why do you want to become a monk?
Cen Xi did not answer his question, but instead asked the question she wanted to ask.
"Yan Niang died for me, and I intend to spend the rest of my life repaying her kindness. Besides, there is nothing else in this world that I can be attached to, so I made this decision."
"Why are you here? Did Shen Jinchen bully you?"
After a while, Jun Jianchou asked him about the topic he was most concerned about.
"Oh, I see. Shen Jinchen didn't bully me. I just felt he was too clingy, so I sneaked out for some fresh air."
"You've made up your mind."
"Yes! Your heart is as firm as a rock! Ah Xi, take good care of yourself from now on. It's good that you've come. We can say goodbye now. If we meet again in the future, you should address me as benefactor."
Jun Jianchou had thought about becoming a monk for a long time, so even Cen Xi's arrival couldn't stop him.
"Very well! I respect your decision! Since you feel that becoming a monk is what you desire, Jun Jianchou, then I wish you well, and I wish you a carefree life!"
Cen Xi sighed and did not stop Jun Jianchou.
She had no standing at all, and now it seems that Jun Jianchou has also let go of her feelings for him.
Actually, she didn't think there was anything wrong with living in a temple.
As long as Jun Jianchou is happy, that's fine.
It's a bit of a shame that the carefree and unrestrained Yu Kuang of the past will never appear in her life again.
They used to have such a wild time together, but their relationship changed, and that's irreversible. All that's left is to reminisce.
"I knew you would understand me, so farewell!"
Jun Jianchou had no intention of getting entangled with Cen Xi here; he still wanted to find Shan, so after saying this, he strode out of the room.
Cen Xi watched his retreating figure, which moved as swiftly as the wind, and couldn't help but smile as she asked:
"Then what about your disciple Liu Jiuyi? Will he also be sent here to become a monk?"
Upon hearing the sound, Jun Jianchou finally stopped in his tracks, turned around, walked up to Cen Xi, and handed him a token.
"This is the last treasure I have. Give it to Liu Jiuyi and let him make his own choice. From now on, everything will depend on him."
"Alright, since you've made up your mind, I respect your decision. Go! Do what you want to do, go where you want to go, farewell!"
Cen Xi nodded, accepted the token, and said goodbye.
Okay! Take care!
Jun Jianchou smiled, then turned and walked away.
Cen Xi watched her leave until her back turned. He was afraid that if Jun Jianchou saw her again in the future, he would only respectfully address her as "benefactor".
I will no longer be troubled by emotions.
Even if he still has feelings for her, it won't be for her anymore.
In a quiet tea room, Jun Jianchou found Shan again, kneeling opposite him and looking at him.
"Or do you want to become a monk?"
"yes!"
Jun Jianchou's answer was concise.
"Well, it seems to be the will of Heaven. This old monk's cultivation is not profound enough and he has misunderstood."
Liao Shan sighed and then instructed the disciple standing to the side:
"Wujing, bring over a set of ordination tools. From now on, this man in front of you will be your junior brother."
"yes!"
The middle-aged monk responded with a strange look, glanced at Jun Jianchou, and then went to get his things.
Soon the tray was presented, and Liao Shan, holding a razor, stood behind Jun Jianchou and spoke eloquently:
"To sacrifice one's appearance to uphold one's integrity, to sever all ties with loved ones."
"He abandoned his family to enter the path of sainthood, wishing to save all people."
"Great indeed is the garment of liberation, the robe of supreme merit."
"Wearing the precepts as a form of conduct, one can widely liberate all sentient beings."
The old monk would recite a phrase and then strike the temple bell once, as if each bell strike signified the monastic's farewell to the past.
The wind in the bamboo grove outside the teahouse seemed to sense the feelings of the monks. With each chime of the bell, the wind in the grove ripped off a layer of bamboo leaves. The bell rang nine times, and the green bamboo in the grove trembled nine times.
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