Chapter 143 Yunjue Temple

Yunjue Temple has always been the most popular temple in the capital and the surrounding areas, so the temple was built in a very grand manner. Even the roads are very wide and flat. After getting off the carriage, you can see the gate of Yunjue Temple after walking a few steps.

Shen Yuan and his companions set out before dawn. When they arrived outside the temple, the monks were still having morning lessons. In the distance, there were mountains shrouded in mist and clouds, and in their ears were the distant sounds of Buddhist chants. They really felt like they were in a place otherworldly.

Yunjue Temple has always had rooms specially for pilgrims to stay overnight. As the imperial examination is approaching, more and more people come to the temple to burn incense. In addition, Yunjue Temple is well-known, and even people from Yanzhou, Qingzhou and other places come here to visit. As a result, the rooms here are almost full.

However, Madam Shen decided to stay for one night. "Manman will stay in the same room with me, and Xixi will stay in the same room with her mother."

This arrangement was the most suitable. The maids who came with them could only sleep on the floor in the room for the night. Fortunately, they were afraid that the quilts in the temple rooms would not be warm enough, so they brought a few quilts from home, so they were not afraid of not having enough quilts.

"Shitou, Mutou, you two should just follow my dad. The guests staying here are all women, so it's not convenient for you to follow them."

Stone and Wood are the new names of Shadow and Anye. They were not given by Shen Yuan, but they chose to call themselves that. Shadow said that he was called Stone before he became a shadow guard. Anye didn't remember anything about his childhood, so he just followed Shadow and named himself Wood.

Shen Yuan thought that this was their own idea, and it was easy to keep a bad reputation, so he just let them do what they wanted.

"Girl, Mutou and I can live there."

Shen Yuan said as he looked at his hand. It was a tall tree outside the yard.

Shen Yuan...

"Well, as long as you are happy."

When arriving at this temple, the most important thing is naturally to draw lots and burn incense. I heard that the abbot of Yunjue Temple, Master Yunkong, has just returned from his travels. Master Yunkong is well-known, and many people come to Yunjue Temple just for him. However, it is not so easy to see the master.

Old Madam Shen had heard of Master Yunkong when she was in Jinling. "Master Yunkong can only interpret three lots a day at most. Only those who draw the lot with a mark on the head can see the Master."

Shen Yuan saw countless lots in the huge lot bucket, but there were only three marked ones. You can imagine how difficult it is to draw a winner.

"I pray to the Buddha to bless my son Kang to pass the high school entrance examination." After kneeling down devoutly, Mrs. Shen picked up the bucket of lottery tickets and shook it.

When drawing lots in Yunjue Temple, one does not draw lots by just dropping them on the ground. Instead, one shakes the lot bucket and then randomly draws one.

"Congratulations, donor. Excellent fortune."

Although she didn't win the chance to have Master Yunkong interpret the fortune, Madam Shen was a little disappointed, but it was an excellent fortune, so she was very satisfied. And judging from what was written on the fortune, it should mean good news.

Madam Shen, Shen Yun, and Shen Xi who were behind him all drew lots one by one. Although they did not have the chance to have Master Yunkong interpret the lot, they all got very good lots.

Shen Yuan was a little suspicious, thinking that there might only be good and best lots in this lot bucket.

When it was her turn, she picked up a stick at random, looked at it over and over again, and then asked curiously, "Why is my stick empty? Did you put it in the wrong place?"

Drawing an empty lot was unheard of, and everyone looked at the young master in the hall.

The other party's expression changed, "This donor actually drew a white lot."

"What do you mean? Is this good or bad?"

"Of course it's great! The abbot said that donors who draw the white lottery can have a face-to-face meeting with him and ask him anything you want. Donor, wait, I will go and ask the abbot for instructions."

After the monk left, Shen Yuan looked at the lot in his hand again, "I didn't expect my luck to be so good."

Old Madam Shen warned her granddaughter, "You have to be polite when talking to the master. You can't say anything nonsense. Do you understand?"

"I know, Grandma."

After a while, the young monk came back and said, "Donor, the abbot invites you to come over."

Shen Yun also stood up, "Mother, sister-in-law, I will go with Manman."

"Donor, the lot just now was drawn by this little donor. The abbot can only see her."

"I know. I'll just wait for her outside and not go in."

Only after Shen Yun said this did the young master agree to let him follow.

"Go ahead. Dad is waiting for you outside." Shen Yun sat down on the stone bench in the yard and watched his daughter go into the house.

After Shen Yuan entered the room, he looked around the layout. The room was not big and the furnishings were simple. After entering the door, he could see a desk, and the bookshelves on both sides were filled with various scriptures. Through the screen, he could see a figure.

But this shadow doesn’t look like... a great monk.

"Abbot, the donor who drew the white lot has arrived."

Afterwards, Shen Yuan heard the person inside say "hmm".

"Donor, please go in. I will leave first."

After the young master who brought her here went out and closed the door, Shen Yuan walked around the screen and finally saw the appearance of the legendary monk... All she could say was that if he went to row a dragon boat and fell into the water, it would take at least five imperial guards to pull him out.

"Please take a seat, benefactor."

Shen Yuan walked to the other side as he was told. Remembering his grandmother's instructions, Shen Yuan still obediently put his hands together and bowed before sitting down cross-legged.

"Why did you come, donor?"

"May Buddha bless my brother to go to high school."

"I see. However... it seems that you and my Yunjue Temple have a very deep connection."

"I will not become a monk, Master Abbot."

"Donor, please be generous. People like you are not allowed to enter Buddhism."

Shen Yuan was speechless. This abbot... wasn't a great monk at all. Why did his words sound like he was cursing?

"Are you only asking about your brother? Do you have anything to ask for yourself?"

"I don't have it now. Can I come to see the master when I have it?" Shen Yuan was very satisfied with her current situation. She didn't want to ask for anything, except for her mother. But asking Yunkong for this matter would not work, so asking Wukong would be more appropriate.

"Haha, no."

“…”

"Master, can people really become immortals after death? I dreamed that my mother lived in a fairy mountain."

Yunkong smiled slightly, "I think, therefore I am."

After talking for a long time, Shen Yuan was still confused. Just when she stood up to leave, she heard Yun Kong say something again.

"Mr. Shen, since you are here, just accept what is given to you. What will happen in the future is up to you."

After Shen Yuan went out, she sat down next to her father and told him what she had just said to the abbot, including the last sentence.

"Now that we are here, we should make the best of it. Yes, the end is not a bad thing. As for how to use it, isn't it up to you?"

"Dad, I don't think Master Yunkong looks like a master." After leaving the yard, Shen Yuan whispered to his father.

"Hey! Didn't Dad tell you not to judge people by appearance?"

"I'm only telling you this. He doesn't look like a master, but he speaks like one. Anyway, it's hard to understand."

"Master is right. I think, therefore I am. No matter where your mother is, or whether she has really become an immortal, she is in our hearts, isn't she?"