Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin stayed at Kong Nian Temple.
After arriving at Kong Nian Temple, Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin were settled in a rather secluded courtyard, some distance from where the ordinary monks lived.
After bringing Jiang Xin to Kong Nian Temple, Xiao Mo didn't leave right away. Instead, he stayed for a few days.
Over those five or six days, Xiao Mo often visited the temple's front hall, where pilgrims came to burn incense and worship Buddha.
Although Kong Nian Temple had an excellent reputation, Xiao Mo still wanted to see this foremost Buddhist temple in the Western Regions with his own eyes.
What differed most from the Buddhist temples in his memory was that Kong Nian Temple had no such thing as the first incense offering, and it didn't treat pilgrims differently according to their rank.
It didn't matter how much money you donated to the temple.
Whether you donated a thousand taels of silver or a single coin, you were treated just the same as any other pilgrim.
Besides that, Kong Nian Temple had also set up a dining hall.
Anyone could go in and eat. Each bowl of noodles cost five coins, and no one collected payment.
If you couldn't afford it, you could simply leave and come back to pay when you were able.
And that wasn't all.
Xiao Mo also saw a Taoist couplet on either side of the main hall—
"Though you burn incense, it will do no good if your heart is wicked.
Stand upright and true; what does it matter if you do not bow before me?"
This truly surprised Xiao Mo. Every time he reached the front courtyard of Kong Nian Temple, he would stop for a few moments.
"This old monk has often seen you gazing at