Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 205: Chapter 186: I… I Want to Go With You

Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin settled down in Kongnian Temple.

After arriving at Kongnian Temple, Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin were placed in a rather secluded courtyard, some distance away from where the regular monks lived.

After bringing Jiang Xin to Kongnian Temple, Xiao Mo did not leave immediately, instead staying for several days.

During those five or six days, Xiao Mo often went to the front hall of Kongnian Temple, the place where pilgrims burned incense and prayed to the buddhas.

Although Kongnian Temple had an excellent reputation, Xiao Mo still wanted to see the foremost Buddhist Temple in the Western Regions with his own eyes.

What struck him as most different from his impression of Buddhist Temples was that Kongnian Temple had no so-called “first incense,” nor did it rank pilgrims by status.

It didn’t matter how much money you donated to the temple.

Donating a thousand taels of Silver was treated the same as donating a single copper coin.

In addition, Kongnian Temple had also established a refectory.

Anyone could go inside to eat. A bowl of noodles cost five copper coins, but there was no one collecting payment.

If you couldn’t afford it, you could simply leave and pay it back later when you were able.

Not only that, but on both sides of the main hall, Xiao Mo also saw a Daoist couplet—

“If your heart is wicked, burning incense is of no benefit.

If your conduct is upright, what harm is there in not bowing before me?”

This came as a great surprise to Xiao Mo. Every time he walked into the front courtyard of Kongnian Temple, he would pause for a few breaths.

“This old monk has noticed the benefactor often staring at this couplet in a daze.”

On his fifth day at Kongnian Temple, as Xiao Mo was once again standing in the front hall and staring blankly at the couplet, Abbot Xujing walked over and asked with a smile.

“Greetings, Abbot.” Xiao Mo clasped his fist in a salute and replied, “It’s just that this junior has been staying at Kongnian Temple for a few days and has some questions in his heart.”

“Oh?” Abbot Xujing said with a smile, “If young benefactor doesn’t mind, you can tell this old monk about them.”

“Then this junior will be so bold as to ask.” Xiao Mo looked at the couplet. “First, why does Kongnian Temple have a Daoist couplet?”

Averting his gaze, Xiao Mo then looked at the Buddha statues in the main hall. “And second, why are the Buddha statues in the main hall all made of clay?”

“Hahaha…” Abbot Xujing chuckled, looking at the black-inked couplet. “May I ask the young benefactor, do you find this couplet reasonable?”

Xiao Mo nodded. “Naturally, it is.”

“Since it is reasonable and can persuade people to do good, what does it matter if a Daoist couplet is hung in a Buddhist Sect?” Abbot Xujing said candidly.

Xiao Mo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “That’s true.”

“As for why the Buddha statues are made of clay,”

Xujing answered Xiao Mo’s second question.

“Actually, the Buddha statues in Kongnian Temple were once covered in gold leaf. However, whenever impoverished people could no longer survive, the temple would take down a piece of gold leaf, cut a small bit from it, and lend it to them.

Over time, all the Buddha statues in Kongnian Temple became clay-bodied.”

“Has no one ever paid it back?” Xiao Mo asked.

“Of course, some have.”

Xujing turned around, looking at the clay statues in the main hall, his eyes filled with a helpless compassion.

“But how could there be more people returning the gold than borrowing it? Perhaps when the day comes that more people return gold than borrow it, the Buddhist Dharma will have finally revealed some of its true meaning.”

Xiao Mo fell silent.

Abbot Xujing looked at Xiao Mo. “Although you are young, young benefactor, your mind is no different from an adult’s. Moreover, I can see you have an affinity for enlightenment. I wonder if you would be willing to join my Kongnian Temple?”

“Thank you for your kind offer, Abbot, but I haven’t thought about becoming a Monk.” Xiao Mo politely declined.

“Becoming a Lay Disciple would also be good.” Xujing seemed to insist.

Xiao Mo still shook his head. “The person who taught me my Saber Technique is waiting for me to return. If I stay here, I’m afraid I’ll bring your esteemed temple a great deal of trouble.”

Xujing asked, “Is that all?”

Xiao Mo raised his head and looked toward the courtyard where Jiang Xin was staying. “If I’m here, Jiang Xin won’t be able to cultivate properly, and I don’t want to hold her back. Besides, I’m already cultivating Blood Evil Qi. I can’t switch to another path, nor is it suitable for me to practice anything else. There are things this junior must do, and I need the Realm and strength for them.”

“Furthermore,” Xiao Mo smiled, “don’t be fooled by that woman from the Wandao Sect. She may act like she doesn’t care about anything, but if I’m not around, she’ll be bored.”

“Amitabha Buddha.”

Xujing put his palms together and chanted the Buddha’s name.

“This old monk understands. Please trouble the young benefactor to send this old monk’s regards to Benefactor Blood Demon.”

“I will.” Xiao Mo nodded.

“By the way, when do you plan to leave, benefactor?” Xujing asked.

“Tonight, during the Hour of the Tiger.”

“Does little Benefactor Jiang Xin know?”

“No.” Xiao Mo shook his head. “It’s better if she doesn’t know.”

…

The sky gradually darkened.

That evening, after Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin finished dinner and watched the stars for a while, he returned to his room to sleep.

Not long after, Jiang Xin also went into her small room.

「The Hour of the Tiger had just arrived.」

Xiao Mo woke up, picked up his Spirit-Collecting Blade, and quietly stepped out of his room, leaving the courtyard.

The moonlight illuminated the entire mountain forest, and the chirping of insects echoed ceaselessly through the trees.

As he made his way down the mountain, the sound of clear spring water could even be heard on the tranquil Kongnian Mountain.

But just as Xiao Mo reached the midway point of the mountain, he sensed something and looked behind a large tree.

Under a pine tree, the little girl’s clear eyes met Xiao Mo’s gaze.

The little girl trembled like a frightened rabbit and quickly ducked behind the tree, but she soon poked her head out again stealthily.

Seeing that Xiao Mo was still looking in her direction, the little girl pulled her head back again.

“I already saw you. Come out,” Xiao Mo said with a sigh.

Knowing she had truly been discovered, Jiang Xin could only muster her courage and walk toward Xiao Mo, wringing her small hands.

“Did Abbot Xujing tell you I was leaving?” Xiao Mo asked directly.

After all, he had only told the Abbot that he was leaving during the Hour of the Tiger.

“Mhmm.” The little girl, who didn’t know how to lie, nodded. “Grandpa Abbot said you were going to leave secretly, and that I should see you one last time so I wouldn’t have any regrets.”

’Abbot Xujing really is something else…’ Xiao Mo shook his head helplessly.

Normally, most people would keep a secret for someone else, especially when that person was the highest authority in the Buddhist Dao.

But he had gone and secretly told her anyway.

All he could say was that this Abbot was truly different.

“Are… are you really leaving?” Jiang Xin asked, nervously clutching her linen clothes as she looked at Xiao Mo.

“Yes.”

“I… I want to go with you,” Jiang Xin said, mustering her courage.

“Ah Xin, you can’t come with me. I have to return to the Wandao Sect, and you have the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart. This is where you’re supposed to be.”

Xiao Mo said earnestly.

“Here, no one will harm you.”

“Here, you will have the best masters to teach you.”

“Here, you will cultivate the Buddhist Dharma, enter the Buddhist Dao, be admired by the world, and all the Gods and Buddhas in the temple will protect you.”

“But Xiao Mo,”

Jiang Xin reached out and gently tugged on the corner of Xiao Mo’s sleeve.

“More than all the Gods and Buddhas in this temple, I just want to be with you.”