We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 555: Destroy Sikong Temple

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Previously on We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?...
Tushan Jingci tells Xiao Mo a story about a couple who overcame obstacles to be together. Xiao Mo then tells a story about an old monk and a thief, which illustrates the Buddhist concept of the Three Refuges. Tushan Jingci then proposes her own "Four Refuges," inviting Xiao Mo to place his hand on her thigh and repeat after her, much to his confusion.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

During those three days, Tushan Jingci came to Sikong Temple every day carrying a food box, bringing Xiao Mo pastries she had made with her own hands.

After delivering the pastries, Tushan Jingci would not immediately leave Sikong Temple. Instead, she wandered around the temple grounds.

For the place where Xiao Mo had grown up, Tushan Jingci seemed to have endless interest, as though she wished she could understand every last corner of it completely.

In addition, whenever Xiao Mo was interpreting fortune lots and telling fortunes for others, if he encountered any worshiper who could not read, Tushan Jingci would take the initiative to help from the side, writing down that person’s birth date and hour for Xiao Mo, assisting him, then sitting quietly to listen.

If Xiao Mo was sweeping the temple, Tushan Jingci would also pick up a broom and follow him in clearing fallen leaves and dust.

Gradually, Tushan Jingci was no longer only bringing Xiao Mo pastries.

Whenever noon or evening came, she would also make vegetarian food and bring it to Xiao Mo.

Although Xiao Mo felt this was truly not very appropriate, and had refused her many times, it did not do much good.

If Xiao Mo refused to eat, Tushan Jingci would cling there and refuse to leave, insisting on watching him eat it with her own eyes before she would let the matter go.

As time went on, because Tushan Jingci came far too often, and each time she came, she went straight to Xiao Mo, the monks in the temple all saw it.

And so, every time Tushan Jingci came, she no longer needed to ask. Those monks would take the initiative to tell her where Xiao Mo was.

“Abbot, is this... truly not a problem?”

One day, Tushan Jingci came again, and one of Sikong Temple’s elders finally could not hold back. He walked up to Abbot Yuankong and asked in a low voice.

None of them were fools.

Anyone with eyes could see that woman’s feelings for him.

“Has this female benefactor committed theft?” Yuankong asked his junior brother.

“She has not,” the elder said, shaking his head.

“Then has this female benefactor committed robbery?” Yuankong continued to ask.

“Nor has she,” the elder said, still shaking his head.

“Since this female benefactor has not stolen, has not robbed, and has not done anything else improper, and has even taken the initiative to study Buddhist teachings, help our Sikong Temple sweep the courtyard, and do small tasks within her ability...”

Yuankong paused slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on the elder.

“Then what problem can there be?”

“...”

Listening to the abbot’s words, the elder had no reply.

Yuankong also said nothing more. He turned his head and looked toward that tall, straight figure not far away.

The young man dressed in monk’s robes was standing in the open space beside the lotus pond, patiently explaining scripture to the common people seated around him.

Beside him, the woman in rough linen sat quietly on a small stool, both hands folded on her knees, listening in silence.

Only, no one knew whether she was truly listening carefully to the Buddhist scripture, or whether she cared only about the person before her eyes.

Half an hour later, Xiao Mo finished lecturing on scripture. Tushan Jingci stayed behind after the “lesson,” wanting to ask Xiao Mo for guidance on “Buddhist principles.”

And just then, Abbot Yuankong walked over toward Xiao Mo at an unhurried pace.

“Abbot.”

“Greetings, Abbot.”

Xiao Mo pressed his palms together and bowed respectfully.

Tushan Jingci also followed at Xiao Mo’s side and likewise dipped in a bow, her bearing poised and graceful.

“Queyin—”

Yuankong looked at his disciple with kind eyes and spoke earnestly.

“These days, your master needs to annotate and organize some scriptures inside the temple. I am afraid I will not have much time to spare. Your medical skills have always been quite good. Starting today, go down the mountain in your master’s place to practice medicine and diagnose patients.”

After instructing Xiao Mo, Yuankong turned his head. His gaze fell on Tushan Jingci, and his tone was gentle and sincere.

“Miss Jingci, this disciple of mine happens to lack an assistant when he goes down the mountain to practice medicine. These days, I have seen you often come to the temple to help, and you can be considered familiar with this disciple of mine.”

“If you do not mind, Miss, would you be willing to help this disciple of mine? Sikong Temple can pay you thirty copper coins a day as wages. Consider it compensation for your trouble.”

“Of course I can!” Tushan Jingci immediately agreed. “Thank you, Abbot!”

“No need to be polite, Miss.”

Abbot Yuankong smiled kindly.

“Since you have agreed, Miss, then it is settled. Queyin, you must also take proper care of her. Do not make her do everything, understood?”

“...”

Xiao Mo wanted to refuse, but when he saw his master’s eyes, he knew he could not refuse.

“Yes... this disciple understands.”

......

At the same time.

Tushan, Moon-Gazing Peak.

Tushan’s Grand Elder, Tushan Meng, was sitting alone in her study, reading through a thick stack of files, her expression heavy as still water.

The entire study was filled with a strange, deathly silence. Even the air seemed to have congealed.

Tushan Hongxia stood quietly before the Grand Elder, not daring to breathe too loudly, hands lowered at her sides, her heart uneasy.

She had brought these files. They came from the border between the demon-race world and the Western Region.

After a long while, Tushan Meng finally set down the file in her hands. She slowly raised her head, looked at Tushan Hongxia, and asked, “By now, the holy daughter has already seen Xiao Mo, has she not?”

“Yes, Grand Elder.”

Tushan Hongxia sighed helplessly and answered truthfully.

“Ever since the Phoenix-Bird Secret Realm collapsed, we have always believed Xiao Mo’s body and soul had long since been destroyed.”

“So at that time, even though the holy daughter racked her brains trying to find Xiao Mo’s reincarnation, none of us paid too much attention. We only felt it was futile.”

“But who could have known...”

Tushan Hongxia paused, her tone carrying a trace of helplessness.

“Who knows what Xiao Mo experienced, but his soul actually truly reincarnated! In the end, the holy daughter really did find him... What are we to do now?”

“Heh...” Tushan Meng laughed softly, her tone calm. “Do not be anxious. I am not anxious, so what are you anxious about? Besides, as I see it, Jingci finding Xiao Mo’s reincarnation may not necessarily be a bad thing.”

“Do not forget, Xiao Mo has no memories of his previous life. At this very moment, he is nothing more than an ordinary human, and a compassionate monk at that.”

“And Jingci is Tushan’s holy daughter. She represents not only herself, but the whole of Tushan, and even more than half of the demon-race world.”

As Tushan Hongxia listened to Tushan Meng’s words, her eyes suddenly brightened, as though she had abruptly understood something. She lowered her voice and asked, “You mean...”

“Although my Myriad Demon Alliance has already annexed most of the demon kingdoms and sects over these years, on the human side, while we were locked in endless internal fighting, they were also developing in secret.”

“Compared to several decades ago, their forces are even larger now. Moreover, cultivators from the Ten Thousand Arts world have infiltrated the demon-race world and are providing them with assistance.”

Tushan Meng rose to her feet, hands clasped behind her back, and slowly paced through the room, her tone neither hurried nor slow.

“To fend off outside threats, one must first pacify matters within.”

“Humans and demons are as incompatible as fire and water.”

Tushan Meng stopped walking and turned her head, looking at Tushan Hongxia. The corners of her mouth curved slightly, and a deeply meaningful smile rose there.

“Tell me... if a few demon tribes killed until their eyes ran red and, in a moment of impulse, destroyed Sikong Temple, then conveniently slaughtered every village and town around Sikong Temple as well... that should also count as something normal, should it not?”