Meng Qi’s secret delight was interrupted, his pride turning into embarrassment and indignation. The young novice monks, led by Zhen De, looked at him with a mixture of surprise and disdain, much like elementary students trying to distance themselves from a bad classmate. Only Zhen Hui, alias “Fang Aqi,” stared blankly at the golden Buddha statue ahead, his mind seemingly wandering far away.
Instinctively, Meng Qi half-turned his head and glanced at Xuan Zang beside him. Had he noticed anything suspicious?
For Meng Qi, feeling embarrassed or disheartened was trivial; the real problem was that his secret of rebirth into this body might be exposed!
Xuan Zang still wore a bitter expression, his eyes filled with dejection. After sensing Meng Qi’s gaze, he slightly shook his head and said, “Namo Amitabha, everything shall follow Xuan Ku’s decision.”
He had not hinted at anything—he had spoken directly.
Ah, he thought I was seeking his mercy… Meng Qi inwardly sighed in relief, realizing he had passed this test. Unless his original parents or the long-faced uncle who abandoned this body came searching, he shouldn’t be discovered. If he could last another ten or so years, no one would suspect him anymore—childhood memories were easily forgotten anyway.
Compared to that, being assigned to the labor hall was a minor matter!
Meng Qi, who had accidentally stumbled into this situation, tried hard to make his expression as dull as Zhen Hui’s, hoping Xuan Zang wouldn’t see through his lack of genuine sadness.
After Xuan Ku, a monk with a wide face and big ears, finished questioning the remaining children, including Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, six of them were assigned to the labor hall, while the others joined the martial monks’ hall.
He lightly tapped his left palm with the monastic ruler in his right hand and said, “Follow me to the supply hall for ordination, where you will receive robes, sutras, and other necessities. In the future, if you diligently cultivate, you may still have the chance to enter the Bodhi or Dharma halls to study profound Buddhist teachings and martial arts.”
Wait, there’s a Dharma hall here? Meng Qi was momentarily startled, but Xuan Ku didn’t give him time to think, walking straight past the children and heading outside the hall.
Surrounded by strangers, Meng Qi dared not ask questions and followed closely behind Xuan Ku and Xuan Zang, the two monks in yellow robes, turning into a nearby courtyard.
“You are not officially initiated yet; you only need to bow to the Buddha, receive ordination, and register your names,” Xuan Ku pointed to the meditation cushions inside the small hall.
“Yes, Master Xuan Ku,” the children responded in unison with Zhen De, then one by one knelt on the cushions, bowing their heads toward the golden Buddha statue above.
After all the children had paid homage to the Buddha, Xuan Ku clasped his hands together and solemnly bowed to the statue, chanting “Namo Amitabha.” Then, he walked up to one of the children and gently placed his right hand on the child’s head.
The child’s long black hair immediately began to change, visibly turning yellow and falling like dead leaves. Within less than two breaths, the child had become a true novice monk.
“All troubles have fallen away; the mundane world is now distant,” declared Xuan Ku solemnly, his deep voice resonating through the silent hall.
“What martial art is this? It’s incredible!” Meng Qi felt both amazed and excited. Would he ever have the chance to learn such a technique?
Xuan Ku moved from child to child, removing their hair while repeating the same words.
When it was Meng Qi’s turn, he lowered his head, silently reciting the names of the Buddha and Daoist Patriarch, mourning the loss of his hair.
A thick, broad palm gently touched Meng Qi’s head, and he watched strands of dry hair fall before his eyes. A wave of sorrow nearly overwhelmed him—he had always loved the mundane world and never imagined becoming a monk.
“All worries have fallen away; the mundane world is now distant.”
Xuan Ku’s voice rang like a suddenly struck bell, sending a tremor through Meng Qi’s body, momentarily clearing his mind.
Yet, once Xuan Ku moved on and the clarity faded, Meng Qi’s resolve remained firm—he would return to secular life someday!
After bowing to the Buddha, receiving ordination, and registering their names, Xuan Ku had several monks in gray robes lead the children to the back courtyard to collect their belongings—two gray robes, two pairs of shoes and socks, the “Shaolin Precepts,” the “Twelve Morning Sutras,” and so on.
“Once you’ve learned to read in the ‘Lecture Hall,’ you will be able to recite the temple’s precepts and morning sutras. Until then, I will briefly explain the main precepts of our temple. First, you must not disrespect your teachers or ancestors. Second, you must not be permitted to secretly learn martial arts. Third, you must not take life. Fourth, you must not drink alcohol. Fifth, you must abstain from meat and pungent foods. Sixth, you must not violate the precept of celibacy…”
Xuan Ku repeated these main precepts several times before sternly adding, “Those who violate these rules will either be scolded lightly or, in severe cases, have their martial arts abilities destroyed and be expelled from the temple.”
He only mentioned these two penalties—the lightest and the harshest—omitting others such as hard labor, copying sutras, caning, or facing the wall in meditation.
After finishing these instructions, he and Xuan Zang led the young monks away from the supply hall.
“In this temple, monks in gray robes are ordinary disciples, those in yellow robes are hall attendants, and those in yellow robes with red kasayas are the abbot, hall leaders, and elders…”
As they walked, Xuan Ku continued lecturing the young monks on temple customs without pause, until Zhen De and the others entered the martial monks’ hall, at which point he fell silent again.
The group walked deeper into the temple grounds, passing yellow walls shaded by green trees, with fewer temples in sight. After a while, Meng Qi finally saw a weathered, old courtyard.
“Oh my, Master Xuan Ku, Brother Xuan Zang, you arrived so early!” A fat monk greeted them cheerfully at the entrance. He wore the same yellow robe, but his collar was sloppily open, and his belly protruded.
Xuan Ku frowned slightly and solemnly clasped his hands. “Namo Amitabha, Brother Xuan Xin, how can you be so lax?”
Brother Xuan Xin, already familiar with Xuan Ku’s strictness, was unfazed. “Oh come on, you’re too attached to appearances. Are these our new labor hall disciples?”
Without dwelling on the issue, he pointed at Meng Qi and the others.
“Please arrange their accommodation, Brother Xuan Xin,” Xuan Ku replied formally.
At this moment, the usually silent Xuan Zang suddenly spoke up: “Are Zhen Ying and Zhen Guan still in the labor hall?”
“They are, they are!” The fat monk Xuan Xin replied, puzzled. “Brother Xuan Zang, why are you asking about them? Do you intend to take them as disciples?”
Xuan Zang shook his head, sighing. “My martial cultivation is ruined; I cannot mislead young disciples. How dare I take students? Brother Xuan Xin, please let them share a room with Zhen Ying and Zhen Hui.”
He was referring to Meng Qi and Zhen Hui.
Meng Qi’s heart pounded. This was the first time Xuan Zang had taken action on his behalf. Could it be that Zhen Ying and Zhen Guan had something special that could help him?
“Haha, Brother Xuan Zang, how could I, your junior, dare to say it’s a bother? This is such a small matter!” Xuan Xin readily agreed.
Xuan Ku glanced sideways at Xuan Zang but said nothing, turning instead to Meng Qi, Zhen Hui, and the other young monks with a serious expression.
“I have placed you in the labor hall because each of you has issues. If you can resolve them yourselves and refine your character, you may still have the chance to enter the martial monks’ hall, the Dharma hall, or even the Bodhi hall in the future.
“But if you continue to be lazy, indulge in pleasures, and remain restless and unable to endure hardship, I will not hide the truth. I will report you to the discipline hall and ensure you receive appropriate punishment.”
He openly expressed his thoughts, showing his integrity and lack of selfishness, which caused Xuan Xin some slight embarrassment.
“Yes, Master Xuan Ku,” Meng Qi and the other young monks replied in unison.
After watching Xuan Ku and Xuan Zang leave, Xuan Xin twisted his body, making his fat jiggled. “Finally gone. I hate seeing that stern-faced ghost the most.”
What a monk… Meng Qi pretended to look straight ahead, following the swaying Xuan Xin into the meditation room.
“These are your junior disciples, Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui,” Xuan Xin pointed at Meng Qi and Zhen Hui before turning and leading the other novices to another room.
Inside the meditation room was a long bed that could sleep seven or eight people, with nothing else inside.
On the bed, two monks in gray robes—one lying down, one sitting—were both in their early twenties. The one lying down had a blank expression, while the one sitting had a deep frown and a cold tone. “Put your belongings at the foot of the bed. If you want water, get it from the water vat in the courtyard yourself.”
Meng Qi glanced at the dazed Zhen Hui and decided to take the initiative to build a good “roommate relationship.”
The sitting monk coldly replied, “Zhen Guan.”
After that, he remained silent, even turning his head away from Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, leaving Meng Qi with no way to continue the conversation.
As for Zhen Ying, he simply closed his eyes and continued sleeping.
What kind of people are these! Meng Qi grumbled inwardly but smiled on the surface as he turned to Zhen Hui. “Little Brother Zhen Hui, I’m Zhen Ding. You can just call me Senior Brother.”
“Yes, Senior Brother,” Zhen Hui replied without hesitation.
This silly little fellow is much better! Meng Qi sighed inwardly, deciding to fulfill his duty as a senior brother and properly guide Zhen Hui.
“Little Brother, I’ll just call you Little Brother, alright? Come, let’s change into our robes first.”
Although there were others in the room, Meng Qi, who had often stripped to his undershirt in his dormitory during college, felt no discomfort. He quickly changed into the monk’s robe.
As he silently thanked the simplicity of the robe’s design, he also examined the items on his body that he hadn’t had time to check earlier.
The body’s robe was finely woven, soft, and clearly expensive, even though Meng Qi couldn’t identify its exact value. Around his waist hung a translucent jade pendant, and around his neck was a small jade Buddha pendant tied with a red string, resting coolly against his chest.
Meng Qi carefully examined the thumb-sized jade Buddha. Its expression was full of compassion, lifelike and skillfully carved. The jade itself was smooth, warm yet refreshingly cool to the touch.
“As the long-faced uncle said, this jade Buddha was a gift from an unknown old monk. Since no lord or marquis took it, it must be a rare treasure. I should keep it close to my heart,” Meng Qi decided, rehanging the pendant against his chest and tucking it inside his robe. He then neatly stored the jade pendant and other belongings under his chosen sleeping spot.
At that moment, Zhen Ying, who had been lying still like he was asleep, suddenly sat up, quickly put on his shoes, and walked out, leaving Meng Qi momentarily stunned.
“It’s time for dinner,” Zhen Guan coldly said, also getting up and heading toward the door.
What kind of people are these! Meng Qi inwardly cursed again, then turned to Zhen Hui. “Little Brother, are you ready? It’s dinner time!”
“Ready!” As soon as Zhen Hui spoke, his small figure darted to the door like a rabbit, clearly starving.
“…” Meng Qi was momentarily speechless. Was he really the only normal one here?
Zhen Hui suddenly stopped at the door, turned back, and looked at Meng Qi with confusion. “Senior Brother, aren’t you coming?”
At least you have a bit of conscience and waited for me! Meng Qi thought, then half-jokingly replied, “I’m not as hungry as you two.”
Look at you two, like you were reborn from the hungry ghosts!
Zhen Hui’s confusion vanished, and he nodded seriously. “Senior Brother, I’ll go first then.”
With that, he turned and ran off.
Hey! I was just kidding, you don’t have to take it seriously… Meng Qi’s mouth opened slightly, and after a few moments, he shouted loudly, “Hey, Little Brother, wait for me!”
Suddenly, a wave of sadness washed over him. Others had little female disciples, so why did he only have little male disciples? And judging from the situation, there wouldn’t be any female disciples in the future either.
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