People hoped to gain just a fraction of the blessing that had graced the monks during the phenonon. Whether they sought breakthroughs, healing, or enlightennt, the temple beca a beacon to all.
In the following month, Lin Mu observed a steady influx of new cultivators arriving as guests. He watched them with curiosity and mild amusent, finding the temple now more vibrant and lively than ever before.
This new chapter of temple life was different—but not unwelco.
And for Lin Mu, it was rely the calm before the next storm.
Unknown to him, a small trouble was heading his way among the many guests now visiting the temple.
A few days later, Lin Mu and the others were having a al in the courtyard.
"We should go out this ti." ng Bai insisted.
"I'm fine with the food here though," Lin Mu replied.
"They have more than food, though. They have desserts that you don't get here, special teas, and even more!" ng Bai exclaid.
SIGH
Lin Mu shook his head, not knowing what to tell the boy.
He had now been living in the temple for over a year and had beco quite accustod to the simple life.
"I think we should go," ng Bai spoke up once more.
"You really wanna go?" Lin Mu raised his brows, giving it more consideration.
"Well… yeah." ng Bai had grown quite a bit bored, having stayed cooped up in the temple.
He was still young and did not have the sa mindset as Lin Mu. Plus, he wished to explore a bit more and had already seen all he could within the Green Lotus Temple.
"All right," Lin Mu let out a breath. "Guess we can go out." He accepted.
"Great!" ng Bai was pleased. "I already have the trip planned out." The boy quickly took out a scroll with a five-day itinerary.
Lin Mu was surprised by this as he wondered just how did ng Bai make sothing like this.
It covered multiple restaurants, tea houses, and various sightseeing spots. Of course, Daoist Chu had already been there before, but it was a different experience going with friends. Plus, he had promised ng Bai he would take him out but now that he was no longer there, he had left behind the itinerary telling ng Bai to go on it with Lin Mu instead.
Daoist Chu had taken on the "fun uncle" role a while back.
He had even promised to take ng Bai to a rather "special" place once he was older than 18 for his birthday.
It was a secret from Lin Mu, and even ng Bai had not been told what it was going to be. This only made the boy look forward to it even more.
"You all can go, I'll stay here," Monk Hushu stated.
"That's fine," Lin Mu didn't mind, as he had already expected this.
With that said, the trip departed the next morning.
This was the first ti Lin Mu was leaving the Green Lotus Temple since his arrival.
As soon as the three reached the gates of the temple, Lin Mu summoned the beasts.
"All right, you all can co out now," Lin Mu said.
HISS HISS
CHIRP!
The naughty trio were rather excited, as this was the first ti in a few months they were getting to go out.
"No wandering around without us, though," Lin Mu warned.
"Okay…" the twins replied in unison.
"Can I hunt for bugs nearby, though?" Ashy asked.
"Sure," Lin Mu allowed.
"Yay!" The little bird was pleased and quickly darted out to find so creepy crawlies.
Lin Mu and the others continued at a slow flying speed, taking in the sights of the area.
"So where are we going first?" Lin Mu asked.
"First stop is the Lotus Prefecture's City," ng Bai stated.
"Oh, the place we ca from?" Little Shrubby rembered.
"We were only at its edge, not the main city," Lin Mu replied. "While it isn't as big as the capital cities we visited, it's still quite large."
"Is it as big as Ram Orchard City?" ng Bai asked.
"Well, not that big… but probably half the size," Lin Mu stated after rembering the map he had seen.
"That's still quite big," ng Bai muttered.
"We'll see," Lin Mu said as they sped up a bit.
Along the way, they saw various lakes that dotted the Lotus Prefecture, all of them adorned with lotus flowers of different colors—though none of them were Violet Petal Urim Lotuses. Still, it was a pleasant sight, and even Lin Mu enjoyed the change in scenery.
It barely took them an hour to reach the Lotus Prefecture City, as it was located rather near to the temple.
Ashy had already darted out to hunt so insects that lived here. With the sheer number of plants that were present here, she had no issues hunting down hundreds of insects, lowering the population of pests by a significant amount within a short while.
The city served as the final stop for pilgrims and travelers heading to the temple. It had developed to accommodate large volus of visitors and had grown into a bustling hub of comrce and culture. Hundreds of inns, lodges, restaurants, tea houses, and taverns were scattered throughout the city, catering to every type of guest—be it a wandering rogue cultivator or a high-ranking emissary from a distant sect.
The city was particularly famous for housing the Lotus Teleportation Hub, a massive transportation array that connected the Silent Lotus World to other realms and regions. Due to this, the city had beco a lting pot of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and even races. At any given mont, one might encounter rich rchants, skilled alchemists, muscular smiths, or human scholars strolling down the sa street.
In fact, travelers made up over sixty percent of the city's population at any given ti, and entire districts were dedicated to catering to their needs—from long-term lodging complexes to temporary cultivation sanctuaries and open-air bazaar marketplaces where rare treasures were often sold.
As they approached the city, they saw the tall periter walls co into view. Unlike most defensive structures, these walls were covered in thick greenery—vines and flowering plants clung to every stone, blooming with such variety and color that they resembled a living mural more than a fortification.
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