"There's no need to say anything more!" Shi Ning said firmly in a deep voice, "The reason for expelling Junior Brother Shi Chan from Bodhi Temple is simply to ensure that the disciples in the temple are convinced of his merits. I believe that even if Junior Brother Shi Chan is expelled from the temple, he will still cultivate diligently and use Buddhism to save all sentient beings."
"this……"
The elders looked at each other in bewilderment.
Shi Ning clasped his hands together and solemnly said, "This humble monk has made up his mind. This humble monk believes that after Shi Chan goes down the mountain, he will still be a loyal believer of the Buddha. I also believe that Shi Chan will surely use the Bodhi Sutra of Bodhi Temple to save all living beings. He will also never forget to spread the Buddha's teachings and let the Buddha's light shine on the earth."
"This humble monk hereby promises that if, after Junior Brother Shi Chan descends the mountain with the cultivation he acquired at Bodhi Temple, he commits any act of harming living beings or harming righteous disciples without cause, this humble monk will personally kill him, and this humble monk will also bear full responsibility for the mistakes he has made!"
“Senior Brother…” Two lines of tears silently slid down his cheeks. Shi Chan bowed down and said in a choked voice, “I will remember what you said today, Senior Brother. I thank you for your trust. Even if I am no longer a disciple of Bodhi Temple after I leave the mountain, I will never forget the nurturing grace of Bodhi Temple. I will definitely uphold the precepts and spread the Dharma while I am down the mountain. I will never let you down!”
"Alright." Shi Ning's eyes reddened slightly. He chanted a Buddhist prayer and said in a deep voice, "Shi Chan, your senior brother believes that your heart is still clear and pure. You made a mistake today because of the fox demon's seduction. Your senior brother believes that one day you will see through the illusion before you. When that day comes, your senior brother will guide you back into the path. But until then, you must uphold the precepts and not slacken in your cultivation, understand?"
“Yes,” Shi Chan said, his voice choked with emotion. “I will remember what you have said, senior brother, and I will never forget it.”
Shi Ning closed his eyes, his voice filled with reluctance, and said, "Shi Chan, you may go."
Zhi Shang spoke up at this moment, saying calmly, "Even if Shi Chan can descend the mountain with his full cultivation, shouldn't his Chan Pure Pearl and Seven Treasures Kasaya be left behind?"
Shi Ning shook his head and said, "The Zen Pure Pearl was given to my junior brother by our master. How can we take it back? As for the Seven Treasures Kasaya, it is my junior brother's destiny. It is a treasure bestowed upon my junior brother by the Buddha. Naturally, it belongs to my junior brother himself, not to Bodhi Temple."
Zhi Shang exchanged a glance with the old monk beside him, and fell silent, unable to utter a rebuttal.
Shi Chan bowed three times solemnly and said, "Thank you, senior brother. Disciple Shi Chan bids farewell to all fellow disciples and senior uncles. I hope you will all take care."
After saying that, he slowly stood up and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Shi Ning suddenly called out to him.
Shi Chan stopped in his tracks, turned around, and asked in confusion, "I wonder if there is anything else you need, Senior Brother?"
Shi Ning stood up and said, "Wait a moment while your senior brother goes to fetch a monk's robe. Change into it before you go down the mountain."
Shi Chan looked down at his tattered clothes and said gratefully, "Thank you, senior brother."
Shi Ning turned to face Shi Fan and the other two, along with the seven elders, and made a Buddhist gesture with his palms together, saying, "I have disturbed the peaceful sleep of my fellow disciples and senior uncles. Now that this matter is settled, it is late at night. Please return to your rooms to rest."
Shi Fan and the others stood up one after another and said in unison, "If that's the case, we'll take our leave."
After saying this, the group of people slowly walked out of the Buddhist hall.
Shi Ning looked at Shi Chan and sighed softly, saying, "Come with me, Shi Chan."
"Yes," Shi Chan replied, following Shi Ning out of the Buddhist hall.
The two left the Buddhist hall and passed many meditation rooms along the way, stopping in front of one of them. Shi Chan waited outside the room for a moment, and Shi Ning came out with a set of monk's robes and handed them to him.
Shi Chan accepted the monk's robe, put his palms together in a gesture of respect, and said, "Thank you, senior brother."
Shi Ning said gently, "Now that you have been expelled from the temple, you should not take anything from the temple. Put on this monk's robe and go down the mountain."
“Yes.” Shi Chan nodded sadly.
Shi Ning stared intently at Shi Chan under the moonlight, remaining silent for a long while. All his unspoken words were condensed into one sentence: "Shi Chan, do not disappoint your senior brother."
Shi Chan nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother, after I go down the mountain, I will definitely keep your teachings in mind and will never dare to disappoint you!"
"Alright." Shi Ning nodded, his eyes and brows full of reluctance, and said softly, "Go."
"Yes," Shi Chan replied, turning and walking towards a path leading down the mountain from the middle of the meditation room.
"Junior brother!" He had only taken a few steps when Shi Ning suddenly called out to him.
Shi Chan turned around and looked at Shi Ning with a puzzled expression.
Shi Ning took something from a hidden pouch at his waist and tossed it over. Shi Chan easily caught it, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a blood-stained pearl flower.
Upon seeing the pearl flower clearly, Shi Chan's expression changed.
Shi Ning looked at Shi Chan from afar and said in a deep voice, "Shi Chan, when you are able to destroy this pearl flower with your own hands one day, your senior brother will guide you back into the temple."
Shi Chan gripped the beaded flower tightly, solemnly bowed to Shi Ning, and said, "Yes, thank you, senior brother."
Having said that, he didn't linger any longer, but walked down the mountain path and slowly made his way forward.
After Shi Chan's figure disappeared from sight, Shi Ning sighed and was about to turn around and walk back to his meditation room when he heard a voice from the side calling out, "Abbot Brother!"
Shi Ning looked toward the source of the sound and saw a young monk emerge from the shadows between the meditation rooms. The young monk walked up to Shi Ning, put his palms together in a Buddhist salute, and said, "This disciple has been waiting here for Abbot Brother. I have something to report."
After seeing the young monk clearly, Shi Ning asked, "Shi Bao, didn't I ask you to track down that fox demon? Why are you back so soon?"
Shi Bao said, "After that fox demon went down the mountain, she went to her lair. I followed her all the way and have already found out where the nine-tailed fox's lair is."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
