Bluffing

Everything that followed fell into place. Gao Xu painted a bright future before the fat monk's eyes, then brought out a sweet, delicious Osmanthus Hibiscus Cake. Once the monk had wolfed it down, he was willing to do anything to leave this godforsaken place—even sneak into the temple's back courtyard to pick some Jade Beard Stems, or take up a blade and charge at the abbot!

Gao Xu never directly promised to take the fat monk away, but there was a clear hint of misdirection in his words.

Gao Xu felt a little guilty about deceiving the man, but he truly had no confidence in facing Zhixiu head-on. With no other choice, he had resorted to this underhanded tactic.

Jade Beard Stems were nothing rare in the temple. Zhixiu had probably stopped giving them out to attract more visitors, so he could convert them.

The fat monk was gone for well over half an hour. Lin Yueru was already getting impatient. Fortunately, Gao Xu kept her entertained with conversation; otherwise, she would definitely have gone into the temple again.

Seeing her fidgeting, Gao Xu knew the battle-hungry girl was thinking of taking the herbs by force. Unfortunately, although failing to challenge Zhixiu, this boss, wouldn't lead to immediate death, it would mean becoming a monk in the Jade Buddha Temple, spending the rest of one's days beside oil lamps and ancient Buddhas!

During that time, the Reincarnator's status would remain unchanged, and they would still have to pay the space a certain number of points each day as a fee for staying. Only when they ran out of points would they be erased!

Unless another Reincarnator entered the same stage of the Sword and Fairy world and challenged Abbot Zhixiu to rescue you, you would be left waiting day after day for doomsday to arrive—a fate countless times more miserable than death~

Remembering that outcome, Gao Xu would rather play it safe than lead a lamb into a tiger's den.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. A loud Buddhist invocation rang in their ears, and a kindly-faced monk with a serene expression appeared beneath the tree.

"Amitabha. Since you two benefactors seek Jade Beard Stems, you must be trying to cure the sick and save lives. Why, then, did you not come into the temple, and instead deceive my disciple Zhiming into stealing them?"

The old monk had appeared without a sound, startling even Lin Yueru. But she quickly perked up and gripped the Yuenü Sword.

"Master, please hear me out! It was late, and we feared disturbing the monks' rest by entering the temple. Jade Beard Stems aren't valuable, so we resorted to this. We never expected to disturb you as well. Forgive us, forgive us!" Gao Xu shook his head slightly, signaling for her not to attack yet. Now that they'd been found out, he would try to win the old monk over with his high Charm. If that failed, they could always take the herbs by force.

Or perhaps, by then, they'd be making a run for it...

Gao Xu spoke with great courtesy. Master Zhixiu seemed a little surprised, then smiled kindly, looking every bit like a monk in deep meditation. "The Buddha is compassionate and saves all living things! You came in the middle of the night to save someone, and you possess a deep-rooted affinity for wisdom. You are destined to have a connection with the Buddha!"

Gao Xu knew they were about to get to the point and that Zhixiu would urge him to become a monk, so he quickly spoke first. "Master, you flatter me! I, on the other hand, have had a certain gift since childhood. I can tell that you are no ordinary man. One day, you will surely attain enlightenment, become a Buddha, and earn a place among the patriarchs!"

"Oh?" Master Zhixiu paused and looked ready to listen. If Gao Xu had offered any other kind of flattery, he would have dismissed it. But becoming a Buddha was the goal he had pursued for centuries. He thought of it day and night; it had become an obsession. Without realizing it, he had fallen right into Gao Xu's trap.

"The Buddhist scriptures say: When an ordinary person gives rise to the thought of becoming a Buddha, the resulting blessings are beyond comprehension. That's why all living beings should constantly recite the Buddha's name. Even if they fall into hell in the future, they'll have a chance to escape and ascend to heaven. This is an act of great compassion!" Gao Xu spoke solemnly.

"Your words are absolutely right!" Gao Xu's words matched the conclusions Zhixiu had reached after years of studying Buddhist scriptures. Delighted, the old monk's face broke into an unmistakably joyful smile, and he nodded again and again—a stark contrast to his solemn, dignified bearing.

"Alas, if only..." Gao Xu suddenly sighed, then stopped as if he couldn't bring himself to continue.

"What troubles you, benefactor? Speak freely!" Abbot Zhixiu was Little Stone in disguise, and his true mind was as simple as a child's. Most of the time, he thought in very straightforward ways. Gao Xu had piqued his interest, so it was easy to keep him in suspense.

"Master, we ordinary people admire your devotion to the Buddha. But the merit gained by converting others to Buddhism only counts toward the treasure of precepts. The heart of Buddhist teaching lies in the Three Pure Treasures. As the saying goes, 'The way of precepts is a worldly measure. The attainment of samadhi is also a worldly measure. The power to fly is likewise a worldly measure. The attainment of wisdom is the highest truth.' Clearly, the three treasures of precepts, meditation, and wisdom are all indispensable. If you continue as you have been, Master, you may never attain perfect merit!"

Abbot Zhixiu's expression changed as he sank into thought. He had been practicing here for decades and had tonsured nearly a thousand monks, yet he had never felt even the slightest summons from the Buddha. He had assumed he hadn't converted enough people. But now that he thought about it, the man before him might be right. A single good deed alone wasn't enough. What should he do, then?

Gao Xu deliberately avoided mentioning that Zhixiu forced people to become monks. Instead, he spoke at length about Buddhist teachings. Lin Yueru had been confused at first, but she gradually realized Gao Xu was probably bluffing the old abbot. Her eyes narrowed as she fought to suppress a laugh.

"So I still haven't done enough... I haven't done enough..." Abbot Zhixiu muttered to himself, his hopes dashed. He abandoned the idea of taking Gao Xu in as a monk. Instead, he took some root-like medicinal herbs from his robe, recited a Buddhist invocation, and said, "Thank you, benefactor, for showing me the way. Please accept these. Saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. Amitabha!"

"Thank you, Master!" Gao Xu pressed his palms together and bowed sincerely. When he looked up, Abbot Zhixiu had vanished without a trace.

Lin Yueru gave a mischievous chuckle and was just about to speak when she saw Gao Xu move his lips and signal to her with his eyes. She caught on at once and changed what she was about to say. "This master is so devoted to the Buddha, yet he can't attain enlightenment. How pitiful!"

"Quick-witted!" Gao Xu praised her silently, then picked up the thread. "Yes, what a pity. A wonderful opportunity is right in front of him, but I can't bring myself to tell him about it. It's agony!"

"You mean Heishui Town...? If so, why not tell him?" Taking Gao Xu's cue, Lin Yueru blinked and asked with feigned curiosity.

"Master is a monk. He doesn't concern himself with worldly affairs. Besides, the monsters wreaking havoc in Heishui Town are terrifying. If we tell him, we'll be as good as sending him to his death! Let's not speak of this again!" Gao Xu shook his head and said resolutely.

After Gao Xu and Lin Yueru had walked some distance away, another figure flickered into view beneath the tree. It was Master Zhixiu, who had returned.

If the Reincarnators truly thought he was pure of heart and easy to fool, they were bound to pay dearly for it!

"Looks like they really weren't lying to me... Heishui Town...? That's the Red Ghost King's territory. Exorcising demons and subduing evil, saving all living things... Sigh..." Thinking of the terrifying being beneath General's Tomb, Master Zhixiu's expression darkened. After a long hesitation, he sighed. "Though we agreed to leave one another in peace, I'm afraid I'll have to make the journey for the sake of my cultivation!"