How come the celestial technique I stole is so powerful?!-Chapter 335: The Resigned Official from the Political Scene of the Past

Chapter 335: Chapter 335: The Resigned Official from the Political Scene of the Past

"There are conditions? Tell me about them..." Hu Ya’s interest was piqued.

"First, it has plenty of free time! Enough to ruminate. Second, it is very quiet, where some secrets can be kept away from the public eye. Lastly, the people there come from all walks of life, no matter what their identity was at first, once they have their head shaved, everyone naturally ignores their initial identity, because the Buddhists say, ’Lay down the butcher’s knife, become a Buddha on the spot!’ Even if they once held a butcher’s knife, as long as they lay it down, the previous sins are not mentioned, let alone those who never had evidence proving they held such a knife."

Xue Ying’s heart also raced, she was a bit suspicious whether this guy in front of her was obsessed with targeting temples. First, he took down the Da Ri Xiaoyao Temple, then the Wuxiang Temple, and now he was pointing straight at the Chuyuan Temple. Are you, little Su, at odds with bald heads?

But she was not Hu Ya; her focus was always on the key points: "You are not only suspicious of the Chuyuan Temple, you even have a specific target!"

"This is a serious matter, I can’t make a decision on my own!" Lin Xiaosu said, "Why not head to the Chuyuan Temple overnight?"

"Let’s go!"

The car sped out, heading toward the Chuyuan Temple.

By now, the night was deep and quiet.

The gates of Chuyuan Temple were not yet closed, the ancient temple under the blue lights exuding a tranquility and peace not found in a modern city at night.

Lin Xiaosu, Xue Ying, and Hu Ya walked side by side, entering the Chuyuan Temple under the cover of night.

The temple was very quiet, with no tourists, no incense burners, only a few monks gazing at the three late-night visitors with serene and merciful eyes.

Lin Xiaosu went into the main hall, lit some incense, and was met with a monk’s response from the shadowy light of a wooden fish.

Exiting the main hall, he entered the courtyard and came across a little monk wearing glasses, who gave a polite Buddhist salutation: "Is the benefactor looking for someone?"

"I’m looking for Master Hui Kong!"

"Master Hui Kong has been in quiet retreat these past few days and may not be able to meet guests."

"Don’t worry, if he won’t see us, he’ll naturally send us away himself, there’s no need for you to refuse!" Lin Xiaosu brushed past him directly into the courtyard.

Xue Ying’s heart skipped slightly, Master Hui Kong...

Is this the target he planned?

Who is this person?

She was truly baffled.

The Qianlong database contained data on almost all notable figures, but there were no monks, monks being from outside the world; unless they were pulled into some special case, Qianlong wouldn’t specifically input them into the database.

She didn’t know, and of course, Hu Ya knew even less.

The courtyard was very quiet.

A single lamp like a bean flowered in the depths of the meditation room.

This meditation room was nestled at the end of the ancient timbered, deep courtyard.

Arriving here during the day, it was cool.

Coming here at night, it was slightly chilly.

The three walked along the blue stone path to the outside of this meditation room.

Inside the meditation room, an old monk slowly raised his head and quietly looked at the three people outside.

He appeared to be about fifty years old, with a tall and slim figure.

How to describe his face?

To describe a monk as elegant may seem somewhat inappropriate, but there was just a touch of elegance about him.

This was perhaps the lingering impression left by his past as a provincial government secretary general.

Even though he was within the Buddhist gate, he still possessed a natural grace.

"Master Hui Kong, is it?" Lin Xiaosu said.

The old monk inside smiled softly, "I am indeed Hui Kong. What brings the benefactor here?"

"I am a detective, and I’d like to chat with the master about some interesting topics."

"A detective? That is indeed an interesting worldly profession." Hui Kong smiled. "Please, benefactors!"

They entered the meditation room.

The meditation room was exceedingly simple.

A small tea table, several meditation cushions.

A solitary lamp, still burning blue oil.

A window, with the shadows of half a tree visible outside.

That was all.

"The Buddhist sect is simple, without worldly goods, so benefactors, please take a seat on the floor!" said Master Hui Kong.

The three sat on the meditation cushions, Lin Xiaosu letting his gaze sweep the surroundings before resting it slowly on Hui Kong’s face.

Hui Kong smiled patiently, waiting for Lin Xiaosu to speak first.

This was his habit, no matter who he was facing, he let the other party speak first.

Lin Xiaosu smiled lightly: "Master, you were once a provincial government secretary general, considered young and promising, at the golden crossroads of officialdom, saw through the world and resolutely resigned to enter the Empty Gate, leaving behind a legend of officialdom. I have heard this legend and was deeply moved by the master’s indifference to fame and fortune."

Master Hui Kong placed his palms together, "The path is like the water of the Ganges, fame and fortune are merely the moon in the water, the pursuits of the worldly differ from those of the Empty Gate, ultimately they are different."

"Master’s enlightenment is admirable!" said Lin Xiaosu, "However, I have a doubt in my mind that I hope the master can resolve for me?"

"Please, benefactor!"

"Master said that fame and fortune are merely the moon in the water, a person entering the Empty Gate ought to let go of worldly affairs, yet there are rumors in the Jiangcheng officialdom. Even though the master is in the Empty Gate, your dealings still touch the mundane world, solving problems that others in officialdom find difficult, which seems to suggest that the master’s Empty Gate is not truly empty...is it?"

Xue Ying’s eyes rose, her mind roiling like waves.

She finally confirmed that Lin Xiaosu’s target for this visit was indeed Master Hui Kong in front of them.

Because he had already quite bluntly challenged Hui Kong face to face.

Hui Kong seemed somewhat surprised too, letting out a low Buddhist chant: "Amitabha, the world is vast, rumors are like fireflies, ears are shallow, easy to believe! Does the benefactor, seemingly an outstanding youth, also believe these groundless stories?"

Lin Xiaosu said, "Master, as a worldly recluse, living atop Hu Mountain, with eyes on the clear water of East Lake, should also understand an old saying: There is no wave without wind, no wind from an empty cave!"

Hui Kong chuckled lightly, "Did the benefactor’s trip to Hu Mountain, entering a meditation temple, aim to accuse this old monk of failing to cleanse his six sense faculties?"

"For an ordained person, whether the six senses are pure or not is none of my damn business! However, if this master of the Empty Gate only appears to be empty in name, yet is truly full of evil, causing chaos in the world, and even points the spearhead at my home of Old Tashan, then I’m sorry, but I must strip him of his outer skin, let him understand what karma and retribution mean!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Hu Ya’s whole body suddenly tensed.

The calm gaze in Xue Ying’s eyes sharply narrowed.

The temperature in the meditation room seemed to drop ten degrees suddenly.

The smile on Hui Kong’s face stiffened for a moment, but quickly regained its ease, "This old monk has been away from the secular world for perhaps too long, somewhat unable to keep up with the benefactor’s pace. What does the benefactor mean, could he explain clearly?"

Lin Xiaosu said, "Master, you resigned from office to join the Chuyuan Temple on September 13th, eleven years ago, correct?"

"Eleven years ago? Indeed, time flows unseen in the mountains, winter passes uncounted! This old monk barely remembers having entered the Empty Gate for eleven years..." Master Hui Kong sighed softly.

"Yes, it’s been long enough!" Lin Xiaosu said, "The master may forget this span of time, but should not forget the real reason for taking this step in the first place."

"Seeing through worldly desires and obsessions shouldn’t have been the actual reason for this old monk to take the step?"

"I just mentioned, if you really saw through the world, if you truly abandoned obsessions, you wouldn’t allow numerous earthly paths to open within your devoted temple!" Lin Xiaosu said, "So, this step you took initially wasn’t one you wanted, but one forced by circumstances, is that right?"

Hui Kong laughed, "The benefactor’s words are truly absurd! Who forced me?"

"A policy!"

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