Inside the temple, everything looked old but spotless, giving off a sense of ancient solemnity. Shui Miao entered with reverence, bowing respectfully to the deities enshrined within. Yet, in a corner, he noticed a statue of a Confucian scholar. Before he could ponder further, an elderly monk emerged from behind. The monk had silver-white beard, wore a tattered, patched robe, and bore a kind, gentle smile on his face.
“Master!”
Shui Miao quickly bowed in greeting.
The old monk returned the gesture, recited a Buddhist chant, and said, “Young master, young Daoist friend, young apprentice, young brother, young good man, young practitioner, young traveler, and even young immortal—these are all titles. Please cast aside worldly thoughts and tell me which one feels closest to your true self.”
Shui Miao blinked, surprised by the question. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and replied, “Master, I feel empty inside. These worldly titles don’t seem to apply to me. Some fit, some don’t, but if I must choose, I prefer ‘young Daoist friend.'”
“Haha, very good,” the old monk smiled, stroking his beard. “That you don’t cling to such worldly titles shows you already possess a transcendent mindset. Now, you may ask me one question. Since we’ve met here, it must be fate. Feel free to ask about any doubts, confusion, Daoist principles, or anything else on your mind.”
Shui Miao couldn’t help but wonder if the monk was just trying to get him to donate money. Still, he decided to test the monk’s abilities. With a sudden inspiration, he asked, “Master, what do you think would be the most fitting way for me to address you?”
“You’re clever,” the monk chuckled. “But I think that’s for you to decide. You can call me however you like.”
Shui Miao was momentarily taken aback. He realized the monk’s answer, though simple, was actually quite profound—titles are meant for others to use, not for oneself to decide.
After a pause, the monk asked, “Now it’s my turn. Do you see yourself as a good person or a bad one? A kind soul or a wicked one?”
Shui Miao didn’t answer immediately. He thought carefully, then replied, “I am who I am—neither purely good nor purely evil. I don’t care what others think because they don’t truly understand me. Their opinions are just one-sided. There’s no need to take them too seriously.”
The monk nodded. “That may be true, but can one live without principles? You’re dodging the question just to save face. Let’s have a sincere conversation. Speak the truth, from your heart.”
Shui Miao retorted, “Then how do you see yourself, Master?”
The monk paused, then said, “I see myself as a bad person, even an evil one.”
“Why?” Shui Miao was surprised. “Master, you’re a monk. How can you say you’re evil?”
“My virtue is incomplete, so I am bad. I had ulterior motives and deliberately had my disciple bring you here. That is manipulation, so I consider myself evil.” He recited “Amituofo” after speaking.
Shui Miao scratched his head and smiled. “Master, you’re being too hard on yourself. A little offering money isn’t a big deal. These small evils are just human nature in my eyes.”
“I didn’t say my intention was for offerings,” the monk smiled faintly and gestured for Shui Miao to follow him into a meditation room behind the temple.
Curious, Shui Miao asked, “Then why did you call me here, Master?”
“I want you to help me fulfill a final wish,” the monk said, raising one finger and walking toward the meditation room.
“What kind of wish?” Shui Miao blinked.
The monk waved his hand. “Not in a hurry. I’ll tell you about it later. This is a remote mountain area, filled with ghosts and monsters. Let’s go inside and talk.”
Outside, the rain began to fall harder.
Pushing open the door to the meditation room, a fresh breeze greeted Shui Miao. Surprisingly, despite the monk’s ragged appearance, the room was clean and tidy, with no unpleasant smells. The walls were spotless, without even a single spider web.
The monk sat cross-legged and struck a wooden fish once, chanting softly.
Bang!
The door suddenly shut on its own, startling Shui Miao.
“Don’t be alarmed. This is just a minor technique—moving objects through space,” the monk said, stopping his chant. With a wave of his hand, a meditation cushion flew from a shelf to the spot in front of him. “Sit here. I’ve just cast a spell, so even a Great Golden Immortal from the Immortal Realm won’t be able to hear our conversation.”
What a bold claim!
Shui Miao could sense no spiritual energy from the monk, yet he had moved an object effortlessly. This made him realize that the monk, though appearing poor, was actually a highly skilled cultivator.
Shui Miao sat down and activated his spiritual sight, trying to detect the monk’s aura.
But the monk was like thin air—completely undetectable.
“Your spiritual energy is nearly depleted. Don’t waste it. My identity doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re in grave danger. I can save you, but in return, you must help me fulfill my wish. That’s why I brought you here today,” the monk said solemnly. “This rain was summoned by a Yin deity. He sent ghost generals to test your compassion, but you killed them. Now he won’t let you leave.”
This shocking revelation left Shui Miao stunned. Who exactly was this monk?
Seeing Shui Miao’s shock, the monk continued, “Before we get to the main matter, I’ll help clear your doubts. Ask me three questions you most want answered. I’ll enter the Realm of Transformation and answer them for you.”
“Realm of Transformation?!”
Shui Miao had never heard of it before and was deeply curious.
The monk frowned. “No more nonsense. Ask your first question.”
“Okay…” Shui Miao thought for a moment, then asked, “I want to know how my family and friends are in Zhonghai City. What is the true intention of the thousand-year-old female ghost Bai Niangniang? Why did she bring me here? Is she genuinely trying to help me, or is there some hidden scheme?”
He worried that asking so much might annoy the monk.
The monk struck the wooden fish once, chanted softly, then sat still for about three to five minutes. Opening his eyes, he said gently, “Your family and friends are safe. Bai Niangniang has taken your form and is collaborating with several businessmen to build temples and attract believers, hoping to gain spiritual power and eventually ascend to the Immortal Realm. Her motives for bringing you here are mixed. On the one hand, she genuinely wants to train you, to temper your character and lay a solid foundation so that you can become her right-hand man in the future. On the other hand, she’s a cunning ghost with powerful enemies in the Immortal Realm. That’s why she’s been hiding in the mortal world. She sees you as a pawn and won’t give you much freedom.”
“What a despicable person!”
Shui Miao took a deep breath. At least she hadn’t harmed his loved ones.
“Don’t worry. She won’t harm them for now,” the monk closed his eyes again, preparing to enter the Realm of Transformation. “Now ask your second question.”
“Alright!” Shui Miao was excited. After a pause, he asked, “Why did the Immortal General help me? What was his motive? And could the jade pendant he placed inside my soul harm me?”
Ding!
The monk struck the wooden fish once, murmured a few words, and fell silent.
This time, it took longer—over ten minutes—before he opened his eyes and sighed deeply. “Another pawn!”
“What? Did the Immortal General also use me as a pawn?”
Though shocked, Shui Miao felt deep down that bad news was more likely to be true.
The monk nodded. “You cultivated the Five Elements and inadvertently gathered much Purple Fortune energy, which is why you’ve had such incredible luck. That day, the Immortal General passed through the Ninth Heaven and sensed you. He disguised himself as an Immortal Officer, gave you the jade pendant, and instructed you to absorb negative energy for cultivation. In reality, he was using you as an experiment. He himself once cultivated the Five Elemental Immortal Energy and nearly ruined himself trying to absorb negative energy. Now he wants you to do what he couldn’t finish. If you succeed, he’ll descend to the mortal realm, take over your body, and use it to enhance his own cultivation. That jade pendant is actually a magical artifact he used to monitor you. Compared to Bai Niangniang, the Immortal General is even more sinister and malicious.”
“What should I do then!?”
Shui Miao touched his chest, feeling the jade pendant hidden within his soul, unsure how to remove it.
The monk didn’t answer but urged, “Ask your final question now.”
“Uh…”
Shui Miao hesitated. He had countless questions in his heart.
Finally, he looked up at the monk and asked, “I want to know who you really are. Why are you helping me? Are you also using me as a pawn?”
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