Taking the Three Refuges
Wait, everyone, don't misunderstand... Lotus doesn't belong to Jiang Lin... That's definitely not it... Jiang Lin has never had any feelings for Lotus from beginning to end...
Lotus and Wu Ke are definitely the official couple... otherwise, all the groundwork laid for Lotus and Wu Ke would have been for nothing...
The above is not included in the main text and is free of charge.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent, also known as Bodhi Continent, is a place where Buddhism is prevalent. Hundreds of countries believe in Buddhism, and countless people believe in Buddhism. Although there are Confucian scholars and Mohist knights, they are not the majority.
Perhaps due to their Buddhist beliefs, or perhaps due to the presence of Monk Soldiers maintaining order throughout Ten Thousand Buddha Province, the Ten Thousand Buddha Province enjoys excellent public security. You can see gleaming bald heads everywhere you go on the streets.
It's blinding during the day and illuminated at night; with the moonlight reflecting off it, it seems you don't even need a lantern to walk on the street.
There are many temples in the Wanfo sect, and they vary in size, but there is no such thing as one temple being the most important.
Each has its own Buddhism, its own group of worshippers, and they occasionally hold Buddhist debate competitions. Every monk seems quite detached from worldly affairs...
Tonight, at Spirit Void Temple in the eastern part of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Continent, amidst the evening chanting, a man who looked like a monk, yet didn't quite resemble one, knocked on the temple's door.
"Benefactor, it is getting late. Please come again tomorrow to pay your respects."
A fair-skinned young novice monk with rosy lips and white teeth, dressed in plain-colored robes, slowly pushed open the temple gate and bowed to the bald man.
The young novice monk felt a sense of kinship seeing that the other person also had a large bald head.
[Could the other person also be a monk? But he doesn't have any ordination scars on his head.]
Looking at the man, the young novice touched his smooth head, sensing that the other person was quite strange...
The man smiled kindly, clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, and said, "Little Master, I would like to see Master Mingzhi of your esteemed temple. Would you be so kind as to grant my request?"
Looking at the bald man, the young novice frowned, his handsome brows furrowing as he stroked his head, making it shine even brighter. "But my master is doing his evening prayers; he probably won't see you, benefactor."
"It's alright, the young master can just let them know. It's fine if they don't see it..."
"Hmm... Alright then, may I ask your name, benefactor?"
The man paused slightly, thought for a moment, and then smiled, saying, "Just say that Wu Shi Xiong has come to visit."
"Wu Shi Xiong?" the young novice murmured. "Yes, I've got it."
"Thank you for your help, young master."
Please wait a moment, benefactor.
The temple gates were not closed. The eleven or twelve-year-old novice monk turned and ran into the temple, gradually disappearing into the night.
Wu Ke withdrew his gaze from inside the gate, took two steps back, and looked at the enormous temple gate.
Under the moonlight, the tall temple gates and walls appeared extremely solemn, and the faint chanting emanating from the temple cleansed your soul like spring water.
Gently closing his eyes, listening to the familiar chanting, Wu Ke subconsciously clasped his hands together, his lips slightly moving as if he wanted to recite a Buddhist Chant, but then slowly closed them again and shook his head...
In less than a quarter of an hour, the young novice monk ran over.
"Little master."
"Donor."
The two put their hands together and bowed to each other.
The young novice monk raised his head, a hint of guilt in his expression. "Benefactor, I'm so sorry, my master... he asked you... he asked you to leave..."
Seeing the young novice's embarrassed expression, Wu Ke smiled gently, "Little monk, monks don't lie."
"Uh... well... alright." The young novice blushed slightly. "Master told you... told you to get lost..."
That's right.
Wu Ke clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect to the young novice monk, and then bowed to the temple.
"Then I'll come again tomorrow."
"Benefactor, my master says you no longer need to come."
The young novice quickly replied, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was trying hard to recall his master's words.
"My master said, 'Even if you come again, it will still be the same thing. Rather than doing that, you might as well think about this issue carefully.'"
The young novice monk thought about it again with even more effort:
"Master wants you to think about... what... what... what is the Three Refuges..."
"Hmm... this is it, I shouldn't be mistaken."
As if affirming his memory, the young novice smiled and nodded to encourage himself.
"Thank you for relaying the message, Little Master."
"You're too kind, benefactor."
The two bowed again, and the temple gates slowly closed. Wu Ke scratched the back of his head, "Why is it still this problem..."
He reached into his pockets and realized he didn't have much money left, and he still needed to take Intercontinental Ferry back.
After glancing at the gate and looking up at the moonlight, Wu Ke thought for a moment, then climbed a tree and leaned against a branch, looking towards the temple.
Evening classes have ended, and the lights are gradually going out.
Recalling the words the young novice monk had relayed, Wu Ke slowly closed his eyes, smiling to himself, "Really, has the abbot started speaking with such philosophical depth now...? He's just relaying Master's last words, yet he's acting all profound."
Moonlight streamed down, filtering through the leaves and falling on the man's bald head perched in the tree.
The man's soft snoring could be heard, as if he had fallen asleep...
Perhaps he was having a dream, for the man's lips curled into a slight smile.
But gradually... those rather handsome brows furrowed again...
"Hey, monk, what's your name?"
"Ming Shi? What the heck? But it sounds pretty good."
"Hey? Don't go! You pulled me out of the river, and I haven't even thanked you yet. Why is your face so red?"
"Hey, monk, am I pretty?"
"What Amitabha? I'm asking you, am I pretty?"
"Your things? I stole them! They're right here in my arms. Come and take them if you dare!"
"What? Don't monks say that emptiness is form? You're not coming to take it, could it be... that you have something to hide?"
What do you want to cross?
"The masses?"
So what do you like?
"Are they also just ordinary people?"
Do you like me?
"Why? I'm just one of the many ordinary people, why don't you like me!"
"In Buddhism, there are Three Refuges. Monk, let me ask you, what are the Three Refuges?"
"I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha..."
"Wrong, wrong!"
"Wrong?"
"Yes, come on, there's one more. Repeat after me."
I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the Buddha.
"I take refuge in the Dharma."
"I take refuge in the Dharma."
"I take refuge in the Sangha."
"I take refuge in the Sangha."
"I take refuge in..."
"Hey? Monk, don't run away! Come and repeat after me, 'I take refuge'..."
The girl caught up with him, leaped onto his back, and wrapped her arms tightly around his red neck, shouting:
"Monk... I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha, I take refuge in..."
The girl's voice echoed across the boundless Lotus Pond before her, and tiny golden Xiao Yu poked their heads out before shyly diving back down...
Jiang Lin, leading the Sun Moon Sect, arrived at Wu Ke's residence. On both sides of the country path, there were endless lotus flowers...
"Lotus?"
Jiang Lin, who was walking ahead, turned around. Lianhua, who was behind him, stopped. Tears streamed down her bright, blank eyes. Her lips parted slightly, as if she were talking to herself.
"I take refuge in the Buddha..."
"I take refuge in the Buddha..."
"I take refuge in the Dharma..."
"I take refuge in the Dharma..."
"I take refuge in the Sangha..."
"I take refuge in the Sangha..."
"I take refuge in... Si Guniang..."