Due to various considerations, Abbot Xuan Si finally agreed to let Gao Fei et with Shangguan Yunyue.
"Then let's go." Gao Fei was sowhat impatient.
"Wait." Abbot Xuan Si waved his hand, "I still have a few words to say."
"Just say it quickly."
"After you et with Shangguan Yunyue, persuade her earnestly, ask her not to resist any longer. Our Buddhist Sect is compassionate and advocates for laying down the butcher knife to imdiately beco Buddha! As long as Shangguan Yunyue willingly hands over the Shariputra, I can let her live."
"Fine! I understand. After I et with Shangguan Yunyue, I will certainly persuade her earnestly. Can I go now?"
"Brother Xuan Ming, you lead him to Shangguan Yunyue," Abbot Xuan Si ordered.
"Yes." Monk Xuan Ming complied, then gestured to Gao Fei, "You, co alone, the others wait outside."
Before Gao Fei had even responded, He Hentian burst out, shouting loudly, "What? Only allowing Gao Fei to go in alone? No way! I don't feel reassured. What if you harm Gao Fei when he's inside?"
"This is a sacred place of the Buddhist Sect." Faced with He Hentian's accusations, Monk Xuan Ming replied with neither servility nor overbearance, "We forbid outsiders from entering and exiting at will! Now, letting your friend enter alone is already a considerable concession..."
"Concession my ass!" He Hentian cursed loudly, "You bunch of baldies are best at being hypocritical—appearing benevolent and like high monks on the surface, but inside filled with thieves and prostitutes, and vile thoughts. If I were to believe your words, then I'd be the biggest fool under heaven."
Wow! Those words... truly badass!
The monks from Myriad Buddhas Sect imdiately changed their expressions, glowering at He Hentian, almost wishing they could tear his mouth apart.
"Crown Prince, please conduct yourself with dignity," Monk Xuan Ming said coldly, "Continue to insult us, and we will no longer be polite." After saying this, Abbot Xuan Si added, "Don't think I wouldn't dare to take you down just because you are the Crown Prince. If you really provoke , I will let you experience the thods of our Buddhist Sect."
"You..." He Hentian was about to speak when Gao Fei held him back.
"Stop arguing." Gao Fei shook his head, "If things get tense, they might not let see Shangguan Yunyue."
"But they..."
"Just let go in alone."
"No, it's too dangerous. They have more people and are stronger. If sothing happens, you won't be able to handle it."
"Don't worry, I will take care of myself. Besides, I will try my best to restrain myself and avoid conflict with them."
"But..." He Hentian was still hesitant.
"With you intimidating them from the outside, they surely wouldn't dare to trouble too much." Gao Fei spoke casually, "Though Myriad Buddhas Sect is powerful, they wouldn't dare to be enemies with the authorities, right?"
"Then... be careful, and if you sense anything wrong, make sure to co out quickly."
"Hmm, I've got it in mind," Gao Fei nodded, stepping towards the mountain, "I'll go in alone, you guys lead the way ahead."
"Hey! Listen up, if Gao Fei suffers even the slightest injury, I'll lead my troops in an attack and kill you all," He Hentian threatened fiercely, "I am the Crown Prince, capable of mobilizing all the forces under the heavens, so you better weigh your options carefully. Do you understand what it ans to anger ?"
"You..." Xuan Wu the monk's face darkened, ready to retort, but he was stopped by Abbot Xuan Si.
Abbot Xuan Si slightly shook his head, "Better to avoid unnecessary troubles, just let him speak, and we'll pretend we didn't hear it." Saying this, Abbot Xuan Si paused, "Brother Xuan Wu, you've always been hot-tempered, this is a good opportunity to temper your heart, which will benefit your future cultivation." To beco a high monk who has truly found the Way, one must remain unflustered by praise or insult, hiding joy and anger, never letting anyone guess your thoughts.
Xuan Ming the monk nodded, "I've taken the lesson to heart, brother."
"Go on, lead him to et Shangguan Yunyue," Abbot Xuan Si waved his hand.
"Yes." Xuan Ming the monk led Gao Fei towards the back mountain.
The Myriad Buddhas Sect had profound heritage, with uniquely designed buildings. Along the small path, various plants and flowers grew, a flock of birds fluttered in and out of the bushes, and occasionally, there were ponds with crystal clear water, topped with a few lotus flowers... The environnt was beautiful and tranquil, with the scent of musk lingering in the air, without a doubt, this ancient monastery bore the marks of years passed—if it were in another realm, it would certainly be a world-renowned tourist destination.
At the mont, Gao Fei's mind was filled with thoughts of Shangguan Yunyue, with no mood to appreciate the surrounding scenery, "How much longer until we get there? Where have you confined Yunyue?"
"We're almost there." Xuan Ming the monk glanced back at Gao Fei, "What exactly is your relationship with Shangguan Yunyue?"
"Uh... I said it already, we're friends..."
"There are many kinds of friends, which kind are you?"
"Which kind do you think we are?" Gao Fei asked in return.
"I think you appear like lovers," Xuan Ming the monk said coldly, "Am I right?"
Gao Fei twisted his mouth, speaking sarcastically, "You actually know about lovers? Don't you monks claim to have renounced the world, where everything is empty? Won are but skeletons daubed with flesh to you, a single glance is a sin, and should any impure thoughts arise, you'd kneel before the Buddha in confession. In my opinion, your lives are truly difficult, truly pathetic, truly dull. Deep down you yearn for the company of won, yet you pretend not to care, suppressing your desires. When you can't control them any longer, you'd take a cold bath, punishing yourselves. Why make life so hard? You'd be better off returning to secular life, eating and drinking as you please, even mary a few beautiful wives, and have a bunch of plump kids—what a wonderful life that would be..."
Xuan Ming the monk's face twitched, "I asked you a question and you respond with all this... nonsense!"
"How is it nonsense?" Gao Fei was displeased to hear that, "What I'm saying is not nonsense! It's the absolute truth! It makes perfect sense! The heavens created n and won, n represent the yang, won represent the yin, only the union of yin and yang is the true principle."
"Nonsense and heresy!" Xuan Ming the monk snorted, "From the mont I beca a monk, I cut off all ties with the mundane world. As for won... I will never spare them another glance, not now, not ever! My life belongs to the Buddhist Sect! My ideal is to cultivate a body like that of the golden Buddha."
"That's why I say that your life lacks any joy," Gao Fei curled his lips, "Just answer this: Are you happy every day? Really happy? No worries at all?"
"I..."
"Think carefully before you answer! Answer with your conscience! Co on, tell , are you happy being a monk? Do you have any regrets? Over the years, have you ever thought about returning to secular life? Have you ever thought about won? Have you ever lain awake at night, feeling lonely and unable to sleep? A monk should not lie, you can't lie to ."
"...I can't be bothered with you," Xuan Ming the monk glared at Gao Fei, then quickened his pace and walked ahead.
"Look at you, feeling guilty huh," Gao Fei showed a scornful expression, "Can't bear to hear out, right? The likes of you are exactly what I can't stand!"
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