Chapter 10

In a state of confusion, Zhan Yi felt a strange scene flash through his mind. Inside a large Buddhist hall, he, dressed in a kasaya, was giving a haircut to a young man in ancient attire, saying as he cut, "Xianyun, you have deep roots of wisdom, a connection with the Buddha. I hope you can let go of your past and enter the monastic life to cultivate yourself."

The young man, eyes tightly closed, had an expression of reverence on his face. As strands of black hair fell to the ground, his head eventually became bald. Suddenly, he raised his head and said with a grin, "Master, you've cut my head."

Zhan Yi, startled, indeed saw that he had accidentally cut a wound on the young man's forehead, which was bleeding. However, he only blushed slightly, then made a few more cuts on the wound, and said with a smile, "Hehe, Xianyun, don't be afraid of the pain. This is intentional, because your Buddhist nature is much stronger than that of ordinary people, so you can receive the precept scar 'Qingxin' during your tonsure."

The young man, gritting his teeth, seemed to be in pain and felt wronged, but didn't know what to say. He looked like a child who had been cheated. It wasn't until the blood from his forehead reached his eyes that Zhan Yi grabbed a handful of incense ash from the incense burner on a nearby table and casually rubbed it on the young man's head, saying, "Alright, Xianyun, from now on, you must sever all ties with the secular world and devote yourself to the Buddha, do you understand?"

"Yes... Master," the young man said, tears welling up in his eyes, but he nodded helplessly.

The scene suddenly disappeared, and a Buddhist chant reached Zhan Yi's ears: "Amitabha, this poor monk Xianyun greets you, Sir."

Zhan Yi had already woken up when Xianyun chanted the Buddhist chant, but his surprise was indescribable. The scene that had appeared in his mind was so familiar, as if it had happened yesterday, but he knew it definitely wasn't something that had happened in his current life.

At the same time, he felt a special sense of closeness to Xianyun, as if he were looking at a junior. What was going on? In his shock, a thought flashed through his mind: Could this be related to his possession of the body of a hundred generations of bhikshus? Was Xianyun his disciple from a previous life? But why could he see what had happened in his past life? Was it because of Xianyun's great power, or for some other reason?

The more Zhan Yi thought, the more puzzled he became. He couldn't help but blurt out, "You... and me," but didn't know how to continue.

Xianyun had already stopped hitting the wooden fish and, with a meaningful smile, said to Zhan Yi, "Sir, everything is predestined by cause and effect. The Buddha says it cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken." After saying this, he stood up and bowed deeply to Zhan Yi.

The young man and the little monk beside him were also confused, especially when they saw Xianyun bow to Zhan Yi. Their mouths opened wide enough to fit an egg. In their impression, Xianyun was a true enlightened monk who had never bowed to anyone, not even to high officials and nobles, who always treated him with great respect and regarded themselves as juniors. Now, he was bowing to a young man, which was too unexpected. So, they couldn't help but shout in unison, "Master, why are you bowing to him?"

Zhan Yi, however, felt as if it was natural for Xianyun to bow to him, but after the bow, he said in puzzlement, "High monk, please don't be so polite. Why did you call me here?"

Xianyun looked around and, without directly answering Zhan Yi, said to the young man and the little monk, "You two, wait outside the door. Remember, no one is allowed to enter this meditation room without my permission, understood?"

"Master, you..." the two seemed hesitant.

"Go quickly," Xianyun said, raising his eyebrows and giving them a stern look.

"Yes," the two, looking at Xianyun's stern face, seemed very respectful and hurriedly walked out, closing the door behind them.

When only Zhan Yi and Xianyun were left in the room, Xianyun said respectfully, "Sir, please sit. Let me make you a cup of tea before we talk."

Zhan Yi, increasingly puzzled, thought he might have some special relationship with Xianyun, but didn't know why he had called him here. Was it just to talk about their relationship?

However, he didn't refuse and sat down by a tea table. Xianyun quickly made a pot of tea, and the fragrance filled the air, refreshing and invigorating. After the tea was ready, he poured a cup and respectfully handed it to Zhan Yi, saying humbly, "Sir, please have some tea."

"This... High monk, you're being too polite. But why did you call me here?" Zhan Yi, seeing Xianyun sit opposite him, couldn't help but ask.

"Sir, just call me Xianyun. I can't bear the title of high monk. Have some tea first and see if you like it," Xianyun said with a look of indescribable emotion, a mix of joy and fear, but didn't reveal his purpose.

Zhan Yi, not knowing what Xianyun was up to, didn't say much, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The tea was so good that it made him feel as if he had drunk dew from the mountains, and he was a bit stunned. The tea was too good, but why did it feel so familiar, as if he had drunk it before?

"Sir, how do you find the tea?" Xianyun, seeing Zhan Yi's entranced expression, seemed very pleased and asked tentatively.

"Good, this tea is like a mist in the mountains, like drinking dew in the mist. It's truly a supreme delicacy," Zhan Yi said without thinking, surprised at his own eloquence.

Xianyun, hearing Zhan Yi's words, seemed even happier and smiled, "Hehe, Sir, your praise is truly impressive. Come, come, let me fill your cup again."

Zhan Yi, not knowing that drinking tea could make Xianyun so excited, as if he had given him a great favor, knew there must be a reason. So, he didn't refuse and, after Xianyun refilled his cup, took another sip. As Xianyun continued to pour tea, he finally asked, "Xianyun, tell me why you called me here. It can't just be for tea, right?"

Xianyun put down the teapot and smiled gently, "Sir, if I'm not mistaken, you must have some difficulties right now. If you don't mind, why not tell me about them?"

"Oh, you know I have problems? Can you help me?" Zhan Yi, surprised, felt a surge of excitement.

"Perhaps, Sir. Please tell me your difficulties. If I can help, I will do my best," Xianyun said without a definite answer but with great sincerity.

Hearing Xianyun's words, Zhan Yi hesitated. He wanted to find out about the Five Elements Grass from Xianyun, but the matter with Xiao Jiao made him unsure if Xianyun was really willing to help or had other intentions.

After much deliberation, he decided to try. He knew the Five Elements Grass was a divine herb. If Xianyun knew its whereabouts, even if he wasn't a good person, he would try to get it. If Xianyun was sincere in helping him, missing this opportunity would mean searching the entire Tianshan Mountain.

Having made his decision, he didn't hesitate and quickly told Xianyun about his search for the Five Elements Grass. Xianyun, after listening, nodded slightly and said, "Sir, I do know the whereabouts of the Five Elements Grass, but to obtain it, you will face a great calamity, which I cannot help you with."

"You really know? Tell me quickly." Zhan Yi's eyes lit up. Finding the Five Elements Grass so soon after arriving at Tianshan was too good to be true.

"Sir, don't be in a hurry. Let me explain. The Five Elements Grass is a divine herb, formed by the convergence of the five elements..." Xianyun began to explain in detail.

Zhan Yi, after listening to his explanation, finally learned the whereabouts of the Five Elements Grass. It was indeed in Tianshan, but it was no longer growing anywhere. It had been picked by the chief of the Moer tribe and was now their clan's treasure.

This surprised Zhan Yi. If the Five Elements Grass were growing somewhere, he could search for it, but now that it was in someone's possession and was their clan's treasure, it would be difficult to obtain. He couldn't buy it, so his only options were to steal or take it by force. But since it was their clan's treasure, it would be well hidden.

Feeling conflicted, he looked at Xianyun, who seemed calm and in control, and asked, "Xianyun, you said I would face a calamity. Can you tell me what it is?"

"Sir, the divine will cannot be revealed. Moreover, since it is a calamity, it has infinite variables, which cannot be changed by human effort. But I can give you a hint: this calamity originates from a beautiful woman. You will understand when you go there," Xianyun said, shaking his head gently.

"Uh, okay, thank you. But Xianyun, I want to know what the illusion I had when I entered meant. Was the little monk I shaved you?"

Hearing Xianyun's words, Zhan Yi knew he couldn't ask more about the Five Elements Grass, but he was very curious about the illusion he had when he entered.