bestfiction Chapter 262 The Wonderful Man in the Mountain
Chapter 262 The Wonderful Man in the Mountain
Chapter 262 The Wonderful Man in the Mountains
The little monk's innocent response did indeed startle Ye Shaohong slightly.
But it was precisely because of this that Ye Shaohong developed an immense fondness for the young monk.
He didn't rush in immediately, but instead squatted down and reached out to rub the little monk's bald head.
"Little Master, how old are you this year?"
"Don't touch my head."
"Master said that touching someone's head will make them stupid."
The young monk nimbly stepped back, easily dodging Ye Shaohong's clutches, and then smiled sheepishly.
He seemed to realize that his behavior just now had been somewhat impolite, and immediately gave an embarrassed laugh.
"I'm seven years old."
“My master raised me from a young age.”
The innocent words of children always bring joy, and Ye Shaohong was no exception.
He looked up and smiled.
"Seven years old?"
"Then why aren't you going to school? Is it because you don't have money?"
Do monks have to go to school?
The young monk responded quickly, and the question he uttered was extremely naive and innocent, yet it hit the nail on the head.
Ye Shaohong was completely stumped by the question.
Yes.
Should monks go to school?
Before he transmigrated here, Ye Shaohong had seen on the internet that in the new century, temples required a postgraduate degree to be ordained as a monk.
When he saw it, he sighed dejectedly.
It turns out he wasn't even qualified to be a monk.
Thinking about it this way, being reborn back to the Republic of China era and being able to witness firsthand the simple and genuine spiritual practitioners makes this trip worthwhile.
"I just hope the head monk in this temple isn't a hypocrite."
"If that's the case, I wouldn't mind tearing down your dilapidated temple!"
Ye Shaohong snorted coldly to himself, and stopped joking with the little monk. He led Yu Manli, Li Yunlong, and Zhuang Yifan straight into the temple.
Two porters, carrying loads on shoulder poles, followed closely behind.
The temple is not large.
Facing the courtyard gate was the main hall for worshipping Buddha and offering incense. As soon as Ye Shaohong and his group entered, they were greeted by a middle-aged monk wearing patchwork robes and chanting sutras with his eyes closed.
The four stopped and first bowed to the Buddha statue in the hall.
Then, Ye Shaohong turned around and looked at the monk who was sitting cross-legged, chanting sutras with his eyes closed, holding prayer beads in one hand and tapping a wooden fish with the other.
"Greetings, Master!"
As Ye Shaohong spoke, the monk Yuanhui, who had been chanting sutras with her eyes closed, stopped what she was doing.
He slowly put down the wooden hammer in his hand before standing up.
“There’s no need for that, benefactor.”
"If I'm not mistaken, you didn't come here to offer incense and worship Buddha, did you?"
"Is there something you want to ask?"
"Then please follow me." Monk Yuanhui's gaze was calm, as still as a lake when facing Ye Shaohong. After a brief glance, he turned and walked into the inner hall first.
This scene secretly alarmed Ye Shaohong.
"Good guy."
"The person before me, if not a highly virtuous monk, is a master swindler."
With a sigh, Ye Shaohong followed without hesitation.
Upon entering the inner hall, Yuan Hui first poured a cup of tea for each of the four people. After everyone was seated, Yuan Hui twirled her prayer beads and looked at Ye Shaohong.
"You have a karmic connection with Buddha!"
"I go!"
Perhaps it was due to the proliferation of prehistoric fantasy novels in later generations, but upon hearing this, Ye Shaohong's hair stood on end. "This benefactor has an affinity with Buddhism, and the two phrases 'Fellow Daoist, please stay' are the great karmic incantations of prehistoric fantasy novels."
Anyone who has read a novel about prehistoric times is bound to be afraid.
Ye Shaohong was the same.
So without hesitation, he immediately shook his head.
"We're not meant to be! We're really not destined to be together!"
"I'm just an ordinary person."
"In my opinion, the only things that matter in life are wine, women, wealth, and anger. These are the true meanings of life."
Ye Shaohong's response surprised Yuan Hui. He paused for a moment, then threw his head back and burst into laughter.
In his manic laughter, he even flung his prayer beads away.
"Ha ha!"
"That's right, wine, women, wealth, and power are the true meaning of life. You, benefactor, possess great wisdom and understanding!" "Speak, what brings you up the mountain to find me this time?"
"Is it an exorcism or a ritual to deliver the deceased?"
Goodness, this is quite a character.
Yuan Hui made no attempt to conceal his swindling and deceitful acts, recounting them in front of Ye Shaohong and the others, practically telling them outright that they were all lies.
"I would like to ask the master about the matter of the Sun family down the mountain."
It must be said that Yuan Hui's temperament and attitude had, without her realizing it, dispelled Ye Shaohong's murderous intent.
He also figured it out.
This Yuan Hui is a fake monk.
But he is a very interesting person, and he raised that little monk from a young age. Judging from his conversation with the little monk just now, he must have treated the little monk quite well over the years.
Even if he's a fake monk, he probably wouldn't be considered a bad person.
So Ye Shaohong didn't mince words and stated the purpose of his trip directly.
"The Sun family?"
"Could it be the Sun family of Sun Yihui, the newly formed 7th Army Commander?"
Yuan Hui picked up the teacup in front of her, took a small sip, and then looked up.
"That's something I can talk about."
"only……."
"You want money, don't you?"
"Just tell me how much you need. As long as the amount you ask for isn't excessive, I'll give it to you."
Having seen through this man's character and identity, Ye Shaohong naturally wouldn't waste time playing games with him and responded directly, "You're very straightforward, benefactor!"
"I don't need much, one hundred silver dollars is enough."
"With this hundred silver dollars, it will be enough for the two of us, master and disciple, to live peacefully in this remote mountain temple for a few years."
"It can also prepare some new clothes for my little apprentice."
Yuan Hui pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and immediately made a decision.
"One hundred silver dollars."
"You're not greedy, but you're not exactly getting a bargain either."
"Manly, give it to him!"
Ye Shaohong shook his head and smiled, showing no anger on his face, and turned to look at Yu Manli.
Yu Manli pursed her lips but did not refuse. She got up and took out a small yellow croaker from her handbag and gently placed it in front of Monk Yuanhui.
Upon seeing the small yellow croaker, Monk Yuanhui's eyes immediately lit up.
He couldn't wait to snatch the gold bar and take a bite out of it.
Seeing the clear imprint left on the gold bar, Yuanhui immediately stuffed the gold bar into her bosom.
Another light cough followed, used to cover up the awkward situation.
Then, without hesitation, he recounted in detail what had happened at the Sun family that day.
"This story begins on a stormy night..."