Moon Wheel Temple of the Western Regions (Thanks to All the Big Shots for the Gifts! You're All So Enthusiastic, Thank You)
For the next three days, Su Fei traveled almost day and night. Except for taking necessary breaks to feed the horses, he spent the rest of the time on the road.
The scenery along the way gradually changed from the prosperity of the imperial city to the desolation of the Gobi. The air became drier and the wind carried a rough feeling of gravel.
On the evening of the third day, Su Fei arrived at the town at the foot of Moon Disc Mountain.
The town is not big, and there are mostly adobe houses on both sides of the street, decorated with sheepskin lanterns, giving it a bit of Western Regions style.
Su Fei found an inn and went in.
"Open a guest room and prepare a table of your signature dishes."
The innkeeper saw that he was wearing ordinary clothes but spending lavishly, so he quickly agreed.
"Guest officer, please come inside. The box is inside."
In the private room, wine and food are ready.
Golden roasted lamb, beef, scones sprinkled with cumin, and a pot of Western Regions wine.
The waiter picked up the tray and was about to exit.
A piece of silver turned into a parabola and slipped into the waiter's arms.
"Boy, let me ask you something."
The waiter caught the silver, weighed it, and immediately put a smile on his face.
"My lord, feel free to ask, I will tell you everything I know!"
"I come from Central Plains and admire this Western Regions Esoteric Buddhist Order culture. I heard that Moon Wheel Temple is a famous Buddhist and Daoist Zen temple. I want to go to Moon Wheel Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. I don't know what I need to prepare?"
After hearing about Cihu, the smile on the waiter's face disappeared and he looked troubled.
"Sir, you don't know. This Moon Wheel Temple is different from our Central Plains temple. It is Western Regions Esoteric Buddhist Order's territory and has many rules."
He lowered his voice and moved closer.
"Don't say you are a pilgrim from Central Lands. Even the local people cannot enter Moon Wheel Temple. They only accept Tantric monks with ultimatums and dignitaries with status. Outsiders are not allowed to approach, let alone burn incense and pray for blessings."
"So strict?"
"Isn't that true? I heard that some warriors who did not believe in evil tried to force their way in, but they were beaten out before they even reached the mountain gate. There were all monks patrolling outside the mountain gate. The monks there were used to being cruel."
"Sir, I think it's better for you not to think about Moon Wheel Temple. Besides Moon Wheel Temple, there is also a smaller temple in the town. You might as well go there to burn incense."
Su Fei understood in his heart that Moon Wheel Temple was so heavily guarded that it seemed impossible to go directly.
He didn't ask any more questions, waved his hand for the waiter to step aside, and started eating and drinking.
Back in the room, Su Fei sat by the window, looking at the outline of Moon Disc Mountain in the night outside the window.
The top of the mountain was shrouded in darkness.
"Only tantric monks are accepted, and the security is tight."
"It seems we have to find a way to sneak in."
He did not act in a hurry, but lay in bed with his eyes closed to rest. Now that he had just arrived at Wheel Moon Town, the situation was unknown, and taking rash actions would only alert the enemy.
Wait until dawn tomorrow and explore the town first to see if you can find an opportunity to enter Moon Wheel Temple.
As the night grew darker, Wheel Moon Town gradually became quieter.
Su Fei runs Nine Yang Divine Art, the breath all over the body converges, and soon enters a state of deep breath adjustment.
Early on the next morning, Su Fei put on black coarse cloth clothes, left Spring Embroidered Saber in the room, and walked out of the inn.
Wheel Moon Town's morning market is particularly lively, with the sounds of sellers and the sound of horse hooves intertwined.
The stalls were filled with Western Regions's specialty raisins, mutton, and sheepskin blankets, and there were also many business travelers walking back and forth with camels.
He followed the flow of people to the east of the town and saw an open space not far away.
This is a handyman market, and many employers are holding signs to recruit short-term workers, including those who carry goods, feed horses, and some are looking for servants to take care of their shops.
Su Fei walked around and reached the middle section of the road.
I heard a shouting sound not far away.
"Moon Wheel Temple is looking for a kitchen handyman to take care of food and accommodation. He will be paid twenty bucks a day. The payment will be settled after ten days. He needs to be agile and able to endure hardships. He will be picked up and dropped off uniformly."
Su Fei felt something in his heart.
Moon Wheel Temple's kitchen handyman?
The speaker was a monk in gray robes with a crescent moon mark embroidered on the corners of his clothes. He looked about forty years old. There was a low table in front of him. There were many people around, but few came forward to inquire about his work.
Apparently he is the monk in charge of recruiting workers for Moon Wheel Temple.
Su Fei went over to take a look and saw that the surrounding townspeople were shaking their heads. No one took the initiative to come forward, and some were talking in low voices.
"Moon Wheel Temple's job as a handyman is not easy. I heard that the monks in the kitchen are very strict. If you are slow, you will be scolded. There is no freedom at all."
"My wife Little Three has been working for a month. After entering the temple, except for the kitchen and living quarters, the handyman can't go around. There is no freedom at all."
"Yes, twenty big bucks is a lot of money, but it's not worth the punishment."
Su Fei knows that it is not easy to recruit people.
Similar to Blue Star in his previous life, no one applied for jobs with poor pay.
When the gray monk saw that no one answered the call for a long time, the smile on his face gradually faded, and he frowned, gritting his teeth and stamping his feet.
"The temple's kitchen is very short of people. If I don't get enough people, I will be fined. Who will pay thirty big bucks like this?"
Su Fei took a step forward with a thought in his heart.
"Master, I'm going."
The outer deacon was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with joy, and he looked Su Fei up and down.
"You are a foreigner, can you endure hardship? There are many rules in the temple. You can't be lazy or wander around."
"Don't worry, master. I'm very strong. I've practiced my skills several times. I work quickly and I won't cause trouble."
Su Fei sounded sincere and pretended to be an ordinary handyman.
The outer deacon nodded quickly when he saw that he had a tall and straight figure and looked strong.
"Okay, counting you, there is no one else who wants to go, just recruit three more!"
Perhaps it was Su Fei who started it, and three more townspeople from poor families stepped forward to accept the offer under the temptation of money.
Although they are afraid of hard work, they cannot resist the temptation of "taking care of food" and "thirty big bucks".
When it was almost noon, the outer deacon finally gathered five people, and he urged everyone.
"Quick! Come with me. If you go to the kitchen late, you'll miss the meal!"
Su Fei followed the crowd and followed the outside deacon in the direction of Moon Disc Mountain.
On the way, I met several pairs of monks on patrol, but when I saw the gray-robed deacon leading the group, I didn't ask any more questions and let them go.
The mountain road was rugged, and after walking for about an hour, we finally saw the mountain gate of Moon Wheel Temple.
The blue-gray mountain gate is three feet high, with a huge crescent mark engraved on it, exactly the same as the mark found by Vajra Temple. Four monks in red robes stood on both sides of the mountain gate, each with a calm aura.
They were all cultivated by the Xiantian Realm, and his eyes glanced sharply at Su Fei and others with a sense of scrutiny.
"A handyman hired from the kitchen?"
"Yes."
"I've checked everything, and there's nothing wrong with it."
The monk looked at Su Fei and others again before waving to let them go.
"Go in, remember the rules, don't let them wander around, otherwise they will be dealt with according to the temple rules!"
After passing through the mountain gate, the scene inside the temple comes into view. The road paved with bluestones is lined with tall Populus euphratica.