As it turns out, the senior monks with high status at Mingruo Temple have been either killed or injured, and now only two remain alive, recuperating in the back room.
When Miss Cheng arrived, he was initially surprised, and then got angry with his master’s generosity, forgetting about them.
It was all because of Miss Cheng; if it weren’t for her, would he have forgotten those senior monks who cared so much about him?
Jing Yuan was trying hard to find excuses for himself, refusing to admit it was his own negligence.
He invited Cheng Xiaoxiao to the inner chamber, where they saw two old monks covered in scars from whipping.
Cheng Xiaoxiao took out so dicine and was just about to step forward to help when the Little Monk standing nearby quickly stepped up, saying, "Female benefactor, please let this little monk help with the dicine for the great master!"
Cheng Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, understood!
She had forgotten these were monks, who adhered strictly to precepts and were wary of her being a woman!
She handed the dicine to the Little Monk and stood there sighing, thinking that those bandits were truly abhorrent. The monks stayed in the temple all day, eating vegetarian and chanting, not bothering anyone, yet still t such cruelty...
Tsk tsk!
While Cheng Xiaoxiao was venting her complaints, the Little Monk, ready to lift his master’s pants, hesitated, and the old monk awkwardly held onto his waistband, both looking at Cheng Xiaoxiao together.
Cheng Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded by their stares, pulling her wandering thoughts back to the present situation. She twitched her mouth, thinking, what’s there to be embarrassed about, old monk? Your gaze is like I’m taking advantage of you or sothing!
Cheng Xiaoxiao was speechless and just wanted to turn around and leave. But then a thought stopped her — why should she feel guilty? Doctors only see patients, not gender. People get treated regardless, and it’s not like they’re taking off everything; aren’t they still wearing underwear? What’s there to shy away from?
It just showed that the monks weren’t fully enlightened. Searching her mind for long-forgotten mories, she teased, "As the teachings say: form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. All beings in the universe are rely a speck of dust in the vast world, so why be constrained by form, why care about appearance?"
Cheng Xiaoxiao was quite satisfied with her mix-and-match quotes, thinking they sounded profound. These monks chant Buddha’s teachings every day yet can’t see things as clearly as she does. Doesn’t this slap them right in the face?
If a lady like isn’t concerned, who are you putting on a show for?
I’ve got to win this round.
"Amitabha!"
Master Liao Ming, who was ditating outside, spoke in a deep and dignified voice: "The wise cleanse the mind, not the surroundings; fools cleanse the surroundings, not the mind. Once the mind is cleansed, how can the surroundings be truly real?"
The two old monks lying inside hurriedly sat up with difficulty, assisted by disciples, placed their hands together, and in unison said, "Amitabha! We disciples are ignorant, our Buddha hearts are unstable, and the teachings are too profound. We shall certainly heed the master’s instruc...
"You all practice Buddhism and self-cultivation. Be forthright within yourselves and don’t worry about the gaze of others." With that, Master Liao Ming closed his eyes again and continued ditating.
"Yes!"
Then he nodded slightly to Cheng Xiaoxiao, "Miss Cheng’s understanding of Buddhism is profound, and I, an old monk, am ashad to have been disturbed by worldly matters. I have no way to repay today’s guidance, but soday I shall pray for you and convey this to the Buddha."
Then he lay back down, closed his eyes, muttering sothing and turning Buddha Beads in his hand, letting disciples apply dicine...
Co on, if you’re not bothered, I’m worried about catching a sty!
The reversal ca too quickly. Cheng Xiaoxiao got scared and quickly slipped out, thinking... she was just talking casually and didn’t expect the old monk to be so honest, nor did she expect Master Liao Ming to say those words!
Although she only understood a bit superficially, it didn’t stop her from feeling even more awe towards Master Liao Ming. With just two sentences, he made the old monks give up their decades of purity. Remarkable!
Looking at the group of ditating monks, Cheng Xiaoxiao was puzzled. Others rescued would be eager to escape with wings, but these monks remained unmoved like a mountain.
But she wanted to leave!
If she didn’t leave, she feared she’d split personality...
But there was an important point to clarify; she approached Master Liao Ming and quietly said, "Master Liao Ming, I..."
How should she put it?
Does she have to plead with the master to keep her origin confidential?
Why would soone help you unconditionally keep a secret?
Moreover, wouldn’t this indirectly admit she wasn’t from this world, confessing without being pressed?
She can’t just threaten, old monk, you can’t disclose my origin; if you do, I won’t let you go even as a ghost.
Crazy thoughts fluttered in her mind, and she shook her head. No, this won’t do.
However, Master Liao Ming just gave her a life-saving treasure; wouldn’t he betray her, right?
How could she say it without blatantly admitting her identity, yet ensure Master Liao Ming keeps silent?
Ah! Headache~
Before Cheng Xiaoxiao could figure out a perfect solution, Master Liao Ming spoke, "Miss Cheng, rest assured. The Dharma embraces all things. What has happened is reality, follow the way of destiny, when destiny converges, renewal can be sought, representing rebirth from death, excellent! Excellent!"
Cheng Xiaoxiao held her forehead, saying no more words; if she spoke another word with this old master, she would be a fool.
Isn’t she just offering herself up for punishnt? Let’s just let it be! You speak or not, I’m not staying any longer, farewell!
After taking a few steps out, Cheng Xiaoxiao returned with a smile to speak with Jing Yuan, "Master Jing Yuan, aren’t you organizing your junior brothers and disciples to move? Although we can leave now, it’s not safe out there, better to hurry up and go!"
Rembering that Master Liao Ming is a task target, Cheng Xiaoxiao reluctantly ca back. The pitiful Task Taker, no matter how hard, has to complete the tasks honestly.
When the group erged, the sky had completely darkened, and the battle between Dongfang Xu and Ba Daokui was unknown to them. With Master Liao Ming present, Cheng Xiaoxiao couldn’t call the system and could only retreat slowly with the group.
The rescue ti had exceeded expectations. Cheng Xiaoxiao looked up at the remaining ti.
Task countdown, 04:37:19
Encountering a few scattered bandits along the way, they were all dealt with by Qing Shi. Finally sending Master Liao Ming outside the North Gate, Cheng Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief as the system broadcast announced.
[Host completed the rescue of an important character, exempting execution penalty! Reward: 1000 System Coins.]
Ah! This life is saved, but if the massacre mission isn’t completed, her cheat ability will be taken away!
What to do?
Cheng Xiaoxiao made an excuse of going to the bathroom and ran far away.
Reaching a remote, quiet place, she ignored the eerie feeling of the dark woods and quickly called the system, "77, 77, communication available."
The system responded instantly: "Dear host, 77 misses you!"
"Alright, save the useless talk for later, quickly tally how many people we’ve saved?"
"That Master Liao Ming...?"
"I’m not in front of him, not afraid, scan freely, we don’t have much ti left."
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