As for those who had entered, their hearts were filled with extreme apprehension and tension. Regardless of Long Xingyun and Qing Ya’s backgrounds or experiences, they all consciously kept their tails tucked, not daring to show the slightest hint of arrogance.
Actually, both the inside and outside of Ming Temple were very simple and crude. But for newcomers, it was indeed difficult to adapt to the atmosphere here. Being stared at by so many skulls with their dark, empty eye sockets, even under their feet, it would be strange if they could adapt. Even under the bright sun, one would feel a sense of horror.
A bone temple, built from countless stacked skeletons. How could normal people live in such a place? Subconsciously, outsiders would think the people here were perverted. Coupled with its reputation, the psychological pressure it brought to outsiders was imaginable.
The ground paved with skulls was hard to keep level. For Qing Ya, who had one foot in wooden clogs, maintaining balance was a test. He had to constantly use his internal energy to support his balance.
Bai Yun led the two into the main hall. They saw the legendary Ming Monk. Even Qing Ya, who had long resided in Haishi, was seeing him for the first time. As the top local power, this was somewhat derelict of his duty. However, there was no helping it. This high monk truly rarely showed his face. Ordinary people basically had no chance of meeting him. Those who could associate with him were basically all big shots.
The two also saw the elderly monks meditating on the left and right of the main hall, looking as if they had withered away.
Looking at the cross-legged meditation positions, and then at the person Bai Yun reported to, they knew the one sitting cross-legged in the centre was the legendary Ming Monk. He only looked relatively young, but this did not stop the two from hurriedly paying their respects.
“Haishi junior Qing Ya pays respects to the master.”
“Chilan Pavilion junior Long Xingyun pays respects to the master.”
The two who were paying respects did not dare to act superior. Since the other was seated, they could not stand and look down from above. Long Xingyun was the first to kneel and sit down, bowing to pay his respects.
Qing Ya saw there was no other way. His bound and fixed leg was inconvenient, so he had to drag one leg and kneel sideways, half prostrate. Anyway, his posture was not very good looking, a bit effeminate.
Hearing the sound, the Ming Monk slowly opened his eyes. He first noticed Qing Ya’s strange movements but did not pay too much attention. His gaze then mainly fell on Long Xingyun, asking, “You are Long Jian’s son?”
Long Xingyun, hearing these words, thought he probably knew why the other had made an exception to see him. He hurriedly bowed sincerely and said, “Yes.”
Qing Ya naturally knew who the “Long Jian” they spoke of was. It was impossible that he did not know Long Xingyun’s origins. One must know that Long Jian was once the Great Cave Master of Qianliu Mountain. If he did not even know this, how could he still operate under Qianliu Mountain’s nose?
It was just that later, that Great Cave Master did not know what got into him. Somehow he fell for the Great Sage’s personal attendant, and then because of love, he took that attendant and left Qianliu Mountain to live in seclusion. That attendant was Long Xingyun’s mother, the current Chilan Pavilion master.
As for Long Xingyun’s father Long Jian, it was said that after losing Qianliu Mountain’s powerful protection, he met with revenge from his enemies and died not many years after leaving Qianliu Mountain.
But there were also rumours saying that Long Jian was actually liquidated by the Great Sage of Qianliu Mountain. Otherwise, given Long Jian’s strength, ordinary people would have found it hard to succeed, because Long Jian had cuckolded the Great Sage.
Some things were passed around quite convincingly. They said the Chilan Pavilion master was very beautiful. If she were not so beautiful, how could Long Jian have left Qianliu Mountain for her? Such a beautiful woman, having been the Great Sage’s personal attendant for so many years, how could she not have had a sexual relationship with the Great Sage?
According to the rumours, saying she was the Great Sage’s attendant was actually no different from being his lover.
It was just that there were too many beauties willing to throw themselves at the Great Sage. What right did a so-called beautiful woman, and a servant at that, have to make the Great Sage favour only her? It was said that it was precisely because of this reason, because the Great Sage had many women, that this attendant followed Long Jian and left sadly, said to have left with a wounded heart.
The rumours said that if she were not the Great Sage’s lover, Long Jian would not have bothered to take her away from Qianliu Mountain. Since the Great Sage had granted his wish, he could have completely continued to stay at Qianliu Mountain. The reason for leaving was naturally fear of the awkwardness of meeting again.
Rumours were rumours after all. Whether true or false, only the parties involved would know most clearly.
In any case, no matter what, the Great Sage, remembering that Long Jian had followed him for many years, after his death gave slight care to his orphaned wife and child. This led to the founding of Chilan Pavilion.
But there were also rumours saying that Chilan Pavilion was merely a secret palace the Great Sage had set up, and that he would still occasionally “visit” that attendant.
Regardless of whether those rumours were true or false, one thing was certain. People who dared to spread such rumours about the Great Sage of Qianliu Mountain everywhere, their backgrounds were imaginable.
No matter what the rumours, some situations were facts. After Long Jian left Qianliu Mountain, Qianliu Mountain only had the Great Sage, and no more Great Cave Masters. Regardless of whether the tea went cold after the guest left, the second, third, fourth, and fifth cave masters of Qianliu Mountain, when ranked by seniority, had all been juniors before Long Xingyun’s father. Long Xingyun was considered the nephew generation of these people. How much care he could receive was another matter, but at least on the surface the background was there.
At this time, the Ming Monk slowly moved the prayer beads in his hand again. “This poor monk and your father could be considered old acquaintances. In the year when this poor monk first entered the monastic order and was tonsured, your father was still present to observe the ceremony in this hall. Many years have passed in a flash. The old friend has passed away. One can only sigh that the affairs of the world are impermanent.”
Long Xingyun was somewhat startled. He only knew his father might have known this person back then, but he had never heard that his father had any friendship with this Ming Monk. Of course, when his father died he was still young, and had no chance to ask. The key was that he had also never heard his mother mention it. When chatting, his mother only said she had once wanted to visit Ming Temple but was refused at the door. It felt like his father had not told his mother these things during his lifetime.
He had not expected his father had actually witnessed this Ming Monk’s process of leaving home to become a monk.
He increasingly thought the other had let him in out of respect for his father. Kneeling there, he hurriedly bowed again, respectfully saying, “My father passed away early. This junior was unaware of this past event. Otherwise, I would certainly have come to pay respects to the master much earlier.”
Qing Ya beside him was only slightly surprised, but not particularly shocked. In his view, for a figure who was once second only to one person and above ten thousand in Qianliu Mountain, was it not very normal to know the Ming Monk?
The Ming Monk smiled faintly and did not beat around the bush, directly asking, “The son of an old friend visiting abruptly, is there a matter?”
These words were indeed too direct, so direct that Long Xingyun did not quite know how to answer. He glanced at the corner of his eye at Qing Ya, not knowing how he had listened to this person and run over in a daze. Now thinking back, he himself found it puzzling.
On what basis could he make Ming Temple not help A Shiheng?
How could Ming Temple possibly listen to him?
He suddenly felt this trip he had made was somewhat ridiculous, a bit unsure how to wrap things up. Continuing with his purpose was nonsense. Not continuing and just shrinking back like this would make it seem like he did not even dare to open his mouth, probably causing Qing Ya to look down on him again.
Seeing him somewhat stammering, Qing Ya guessed his concerns and immediately helped out, saying, “Master, Young Pavilion Master Long came for the matter of A Shiheng.”
He was afraid Long Xingyun would say something retreating, making it hard to take the words back. He simply put Long Xingyun up there first. Anyway, Yin Shanhe was not present. Given this young pavilion master’s sheltered experience, he probably would not see through anything.
The Ming Monk’s gaze fell on Qing Ya’s face, replying, “He has left. The person is not here.”
Qing Ya looked at Long Xingyun’s hesitant and unhappy appearance again, thought of his foster mother’s instructions, and since he had indeed entered Ming Temple, he suddenly had some confidence. He was straightforward and directly spoke on his behalf, “Master, although the young pavilion master came for the matter of A Shiheng, he is not here to find him. In fact, he came for you, Master.”
These words spoken, Long Xingyun secretly felt anxious.
The Ming Monk gave an “oh” sound, looking like he was waiting for what followed.
Qing Ya was also secretly nervous, but still hardened his scalp and said, “I heard the master and A Shiheng have quite a good relationship, while Young Pavilion Master Long has a grievance with A Shiheng. Young Pavilion Master Long is worried he will cause Ming Temple to be unhappy, so he came to ask the master for forgiveness.”
The Ming Monk’s gaze fell on Long Xingyun’s face again. “The grievances between you young people have nothing to do with this poor monk. Where does this talk of this poor monk ‘forgiving’ you come from?”
Hearing these words, Long Xingyun and Qing Ya exchanged a look.
Qing Ya continued, “I heard A Shiheng previously had some trouble at the Zhenhai Department, and it was Ming Temple that helped A Shiheng. If Young Pavilion Master Long and A Shiheng have a conflict…” His eyes looked imploring, a look hoping the other would understand.
The Ming Monk did not quibble with them anymore. He reached out and took a golden alms bowl beside him, placed it before him, and took out a golden gold coin from it. He showed both sides to the two men. One side was carved with a cross-legged meditating monk, the other side was carved with Ming Temple. The pattern was vivid.
Just when Qing Ya and Long Xingyun did not understand what was happening, the Ming Monk had already tossed out the gold coin. The gold coin landed on a skull on the ground and spun rapidly.
Before the crowd could react to what was happening, the Ming Monk had already casually flicked the golden alms bowl before him flying out. With a clang, the alms bowl struck the spinning gold coin, stopping it, suppressing it under the bowl.
“A place of Buddhist purity, after all, floats in the mortal world. Even Sao Chen Temple cannot avoid vulgarity. On one side is the worldly younger brother’s entrustment and care, on the other side is the old friend’s son coming to the door with hope. It is just like these two sides of the gold coin. The ‘monk’ and the ‘temple’ under the golden bowl, which side faces up, young pavilion master chooses for yourself. Everything is left to fate. If you guess correctly, your wish will be granted. If not, you must restrain yourself and not act rashly.”
After the Ming Monk’s clear explanation, regardless of whether the guests were willing to accept his conditions, he reached out and made a gesture of invitation, indicating Long Xingyun to guess which side of the gold coin faced up.
The two visitors looked at each other. Was this not just gambling on luck?
However, for the Ming Monk to be able to do this step was already considered lenient. They did not dare to bargain further.
It was just that Qing Ya had some mutterings in his heart. It seemed that although his foster mother’s side could communicate with this side, it could not make Ming Temple fully comply. But this was normal. Even the Great Sage of Qianliu Mountain had to give Ming Temple face. How could his foster mother force them?
But for Long Xingyun, the Ming Monk doing this was already exceptionally merciful. This was already a result beyond his imagination.
At the same time, it also made him feel relieved, letting out a breath. The other had given him face for his father’s sake. Even if he guessed wrong, he had a way out in front of Qing Ya.
Therefore, without much hesitation, he directly put his palms together, paying Buddhist respects to the Ming Monk, and bowed, saying, “This junior will guess ‘monk’.”
A look of me respecting you as this monk.
Of course, in his heart at this time he truly respected the other. After all, the status gap was huge, and the other had not made things difficult for him at all.
Hearing the choice made so quickly, Qing Ya immediately widened his eyes waiting for the result.
Chang Kong and Bai Yun on both sides also looked curious. Only the two old monks sitting cross-legged on both sides showed no reaction.
The Ming Monk smiled slightly and reached out again, indicating Long Xingyun to uncover the answer himself.
Since it was so, Long Xingyun was not polite. He stretched out both hands to hold the golden alms bowl, slowly lifting it, and together with Qing Ya tilted their heads to look at the answer underneath.
The alms bowl moved away, and the suppressed gold coin slowly revealed its upward face. It was clearly carved with a cross-legged meditating monk.
Long Xingyun immediately showed surprise. He and Qing Ya together looked at the Ming Monk’s reaction, watching imploringly, not daring to make a sound and disturb him, not knowing if the other would go back on his word.
The Ming Monk smiled. “However the young pavilion master resolves his grievance with that Tanhua Lang, from this moment, it is left to fate. Ming Temple will not interfere. A place of Buddhist purity does not keep guests. Go!”
Since it was so, Long Xingyun and Qing Ya could not forcefully stay and be long-winded. They could only politely thank him and then get up to take their leave.
Bai Yun went to see the guests out.
Chang Kong then squatted down and picked up the golden alms bowl, then reached out to collect the gold coin on the ground. Who knew that before his fingers touched it, that gold coin turned into a flickering shadow of light, then vanished into thin air.