"White Cloud Temple?"
Hearing this, the middle-aged monk sized Lu Zheng up and down, then saw the five female companions who had gotten out of the carriage with him.
Middle-aged monk, "..."
Lu Zheng, "..."
"Outer disciples," Lu Zheng added.
"Amitabha! This humble monk is Jineng." The middle-aged monk pressed his palms together in salute. "Since you are fellow cultivators, naturally you may enter. Fahua Temple is hosting guests for a Dharma debate today, and fellow cultivators who happen to arrive may also observe the ceremony."
After a pause, Monk Jineng asked again, "Regarding what you said about our temple's Grandmaster Dejie..."
"Zen Master Dejie traveled the world, and this junior was fortunate enough to meet him. I was even saved by the Zen Master. In addition, I was fortunate enough to contribute three copper coins toward casting the Buddha's Golden Body, so the Zen Master invited this junior to offer incense to the Buddha."
Lu Zheng was speaking of how Zen Master Dejie had acted to capture that thousand-year corpse king. Though he could have dealt with it himself, it certainly would not have been easy.
"Amitabha, so that is how it is." Monk Jineng recited the Buddha's name. "In that case, Fahua Temple is indeed fated with you, Dao Friend.
"However, monks from Great Brahma Temple of the Western Buddha Country have come to our temple today to debate the Dao, and we have many matters to attend to. We may not be able to properly receive your group. Would you like to enter the temple, Dao Friend, or return another day?"
"I can still enter the temple today and observe the masters debating the Dao with those Western Region monks?" Lu Zheng asked.
"Of course." Monk Jineng nodded with a smile. "There are other fellow cultivators in