Chapter 289 - Zhou Zhi

Su Xiaolu looked at Ben Tian. She knew that monks were given names according to their seniority.

For example, Ben En was in his forties. The novice monk called him Sect Master, so Ben En’s status in the monastery was not low.

But now, this novice monk who followed Liao Zhi looked to be only 16 or 17 years old, but he actually had his own name and it started with Ben. His seniority could be seen. Su Xiaolu could not help but take a second look at him.

Ben Tian’s expression was calm. He bowed to Su Xiaolu and went down.

Liao Zhi turned around and entered the house. Su Xiaolu followed.

Looking at the old monk’s back, Su Xiaolu couldn’t help but ask, “Abbot, although your disciple was in the wrong first, are you really not angry at all that he was beaten up by me?”

If it were the old man, he would definitely help her regardless of whether she was right or not.

Su Xiaolu’s question was stopped by Liao Zhi’s benevolent smile. “I’m not angry. Ben En has never been calm. His desire to win is too strong. Previously, he was defeated by Gui You. After confirming your identity, he wanted to take revenge by defeating you. Hence, this is his karma. He has to bear it himself.”

Su Xiaolu entered the meditation room and sized up her surroundings.

The meditation room was simple and unadorned, with a table and a few stools, and a bed.

Liao Zhi invited Su Xiaolu to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.

Su Xiaolu looked at the prayer beads on Liao Zhi’s wrist. They looked very Zen. The prayer beads were dark and smooth, probably because they were often touched.

Liao Zhi took off the prayer beads and handed them to Su Xiaolu. “Little Patron, these prayer beads are for you. It can ensure your safety for the rest of your life.”

Su Xiaolu waved her hand. “Thank you, I don’t want it.”

After Ben En’s incident, she did not have a good impression of Qinglian Monastery. Therefore, she decided to reject the gift. She did not want them if she was not familiar with them.

Liao Zhi smiled and did not insist.

Ben Tian carried a box over. He placed the box in front of Su Xiaolu and bowed to her. “Young Patron, the letters are in here.”

Su Xiaolu opened the box. There were only seven letters and dozens of banknotes.

Su Xiaolu looked at Liao Zhi in confusion.

Liao Zhi smiled gently and said, “This is for you. Consider it medical fees. If you take the letters, you can choose to go or not. It’s up to you.”

Su Xiaolu looked at the letter at the top. She was attracted by the name. She took it and unfolded it.

There was only one sentence and an address in the letter.

‘Doctor, I heard that the divine doctor can revive the dead, may I ask if broken limbs can be regenerated?’

This signature made Su Xiaolu frown because it was Zhou Zhi.

Su Xiaolu stopped asking. “When did this letter arrive?”

Liao Zhi looked at the envelope and said calmly, “A few minutes ago.”

Su Xiaolu thought of the young man she met when she came. Was he Zhou Zhi?

Su Xiaolu had questions in her heart. If it was Zhou Zhi, why could he walk? The old man had clearly said that his legs had been amputated.

There was nothing unusual about the way he walked.

Su Xiaolu put away the letter and the banknotes. She was about to get up and leave. After taking two steps, she turned around and asked, “Abbot, how much of this banknote will your temple take?”

Liao Zhi smiled and said, “Thirty percent. There are some people with strange illnesses who can’t afford to ask for medical fees. As long as the illness is strange enough, they won’t pay a single copper coin. Whether they have the chance to be treated or not will depend on fate.”

The medical fee alone was 1,000 taels of silver per person. Moreover, this did not include the money needed to treat illnesses. Not everyone had the right to hire a divine doctor.

Those who had a strange illness and did not have money could also leave an envelope. However, whether they could meet the divine doctor would depend on fate.

Su Xiaolu smiled and waved her hand. “Goodbye.”

Liao Zhi waved at Ben Tian. Ben Tian nodded and sent Su Xiaolu out.

After leaving the meditation room, Su Xiaolu looked back at Ben Tian and asked, “Little monk, why are you ranked so much higher than the others?”

Ben Tian smiled and said, “The abbot said that I’m fated with Buddha and specially accepted me. After I learn the Buddhist Dharma, I can go down the mountain to help those suffering.”

Su Xiaolu looked at Ben Tian and said with a smile, “Little monk, do you think that Ben En will be jealous of you? You’re both disciples. He’s much older than you and the abbot gives you a lot of preferential treatment. Tell me, how does he think of you?”

Ben Tian frowned. “The abbot treats all disciples the same and treats Senior Brother the same. In fact, Senior Brother’s heart is unstable, and Master is even kinder towards him.”

Su Xiaolu shook her head and said, “It might seem that way to you. But others might not think so. I think the person you should help the most is your Senior Brother. In your opinion, your master is showing kindness. In his opinion, he might be deliberately embarrassing him.”

Before Ben En left, Su Xiaolu saw his indignant expression clearly.

Would such a person be convinced? It was impossible for him to be convinced. He would only blame him for not coming out earlier to help him and for punishing him.

Ben Tian fell into deep thought as he listened to Su Xiaolu.

Su Xiaolu smiled and said, “Let me remind you. If such a person is in the temple, he might do something terrifying one day. Don’t underestimate people’s resentment. You don’t have to send me off. Go back.”

After Su Xiaolu finished speaking with a smile, she tapped her toes and flew over the eaves to the main hall of the temple.

Ben Tian looked at Su Xiaolu thoughtfully and finally turned around to go back to the meditation room.

Su Xiaolu came to the Buddhist Worship Hall. There were many Buddha statues in the hall. Su Xiaolu was not familiar with them, so she did not recognize them.

There were many devout devotees kneeling on the praying mats and chanting. They kowtowed and knocked the ground in front of them.

Wang Huilan was praying for peace. Like many believers, she knelt on a praying mat with a Peace Talisman in her hand. As for the monk in the kasaya, he twirled the prayer beads in his hand and chanted Buddhist scriptures as he walked around them.

Su Xiaolu found a seat, sat down, and waited.

There was a commotion outside. Su Xiaolu couldn’t help but look over.

Many people went out to watch the commotion. Soon, they returned and discussed something in low voices.

Su Xiaolu heard a few words.

“She’s really impressive. She kowtowed three times every step she took while carrying her son on her back and said that Qinglian Monastery was efficacious and wanted the Buddha to treat his son’s strange illness.”

“That’s right. I think she’s really kneeling. Her head is swollen.”

There were many discussions like this. Su Xiaolu was a little curious. She looked at Wang Huilan and saw that she would not be done for a while. She stood up and walked out.

When she walked out of the main hall, she saw a woman carrying a child on her back. She kowtowed three times with every step she took and walked towards the main hall step by step.

Many devotees were watching her. The woman did not take it to heart at all. She just walked towards her destination step by step.

There was a young novice monk who put his palms together and chanted, “Amitabha.” They would say it with every step the woman took.