"Dong—!!"
"Dong—!!"
"Dong—!!"
Golden Mountain Temple rang its great bell three times. Fa Ming had originally intended to personally shave Jiang Liuer's head, but Jiang Liuer was not studying only Buddhist teachings—he had also become half a daoist under Xuanji. From ancient times to the present, there had never been a daoist who cultivated with a shaved head!
Thus, after discussion between Xuanji and Fa Ming, they took only a lock of Jiang Liuer's hair and enshrined it before the Buddha.
Let that count as tonsure.
As good as shaved!
After that, Jiang Liuer formally took Fa Ming as his master.
This was the great event for which Golden Mountain Temple had rung its great bell three times today: the abbot was accepting a disciple!
Now that he had entered cultivation, Jiang Liuer could no longer use that name. Leaving aside that it was merely a childhood name, those who left home were meant to use a dharma name.
Much less the abbot's personal disciple.
Fa Ming gave Jiang Liuer the dharma name Xuanzang!
"Xuanzang!"
"Now that you have entered my Empty Gate, you must remember the pure rules and precepts!"
Fa Ming looked at Xuanzang kneeling before him. Reciting a Buddhist invocation, he gave the solemn reminder.
Xuanzang raised his head and looked toward Xuanji, who stood at Fa Ming's side.
Only after seeing Xuanji nod did he answer, saying to Fa Ming, "Yes, Master Fa Ming! This disciple will remember."
"Mm."
Fa Ming nodded in satisfaction.
After the apprenticeship ceremony ended, Fa Ming had the other monks take Xuanzang around Golden Mountain Temple.
But Xuanzang had often come to Golden Mountain Temple to visit ever since he was little. He knew the place like the back of his hand!
Calling it familiarization was merely an excuse to send