Chapter 2

Meng Qi's secret joy was interrupted, his pride turning to embarrassment and annoyance. The young monks like Zhen De looked at him with surprise and disdain, as if they were primary school students trying to distance themselves from a bad classmate. Only Zhen Hui, "Fang Aqi," stared blankly at the golden Buddha statue in front, as if his mind was wandering elsewhere.

Subconsciously, Meng Qi turned his head to look at Xuan Cang beside him. Had he noticed something?

For him, embarrassment and frustration were minor issues; the major problem was exposing the fact that he had reincarnated into this body!

Xuan Cang still had a bitter expression, his eyes filled with dejection. Sensing Meng Qi's gaze, he gently shook his head: "Namo Amituofo, everything follows Xuan Ku's decision."

He didn't hint but said it directly.

Uh, he thought I was seeking his mercy... Meng Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he had passed this hurdle. Unless the parents who abandoned this body or the horse-faced uncle came looking, he wouldn't be seen through. If he stayed for another ten or eight years, no one would doubt him. Childhood memories are easily forgotten.

Compared to this, being assigned to the Miscellaneous Service Hall was a minor issue!

Meng Qi, who had accidentally hit the mark, tried to make his expression as blank as Zhen Hui's, to avoid Xuan Cang seeing through his lack of true dejection and sorrow.

Xuan Ku, with his broad face and large ears, finished questioning the remaining children. Including Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, six of them were assigned to the Miscellaneous Service Hall, while the rest went to the Martial Monks Hall.

He lightly tapped his right hand on his left palm: "Follow me to the Miscellaneous Service Hall to be tonsured and receive your monk's robes and scriptures. Work hard in the future, and you may have the chance to study in the Bodhi and Dharma Halls."

Is there a Dharma Hall here? Meng Qi was momentarily stunned, but Xuan Ku didn't give him time to think, walking straight through the children and out of the hall.

Surrounded by strangers, Meng Qi didn't dare ask many questions, closely following the two yellow-robed monks, Xuan Ku and Xuan Cang, into a nearby courtyard.

"You are not yet officially admitted, so you only need to pay respects to the Buddha, be tonsured, and have your names recorded," Xuan Ku pointed to the prayer mats inside the small Buddha hall.

"Yes, Uncle Xuan Ku," the children responded, then one by one knelt on the mats and bowed to the golden Buddha statue.

After all the children had paid their respects, Xuan Ku joined his hands in prayer, bowed solemnly to the Buddha statue, and recited, "Namo Amituofo." Then, he walked to a child and lightly placed his right hand on the child's head.

The child's black hair instantly turned yellow and fell to the ground like autumn leaves, and in less than two breaths, the child became a true young monk.

"Troubles fall away, the secular world is left behind," Xuan Ku said solemnly, his deep voice echoing in the clean Buddha hall.

"What kind of martial arts is this? It's amazing!" Meng Qi was both shocked and excited. Could he learn such martial arts in the future?

Xuan Ku went to each child, removing their hair while repeating the same words.

When it was Meng Qi's turn, he lowered his head and silently recited the names of the Buddha and the Daoist patriarch, mourning the hair he was about to lose.

A thick, broad hand lightly touched Meng Qi's head, and withered hair fell before his eyes, making him feel a deep sorrow. He almost couldn't control himself, as he loved the secular world and had never thought of becoming a monk.

"Troubles fall away, the secular world is left behind."

Xuan Ku's voice was like a sudden bell, shaking Meng Qi's entire body and purifying his mind.

But after Xuan Ku left, the clarity disappeared, and Meng Qi's resolve remained firm: he would definitely return to secular life in the future!

After paying respects to the Buddha, being tonsured, and having their names recorded, Xuan Ku had several gray-robed monks lead the children to the back courtyard to receive their belongings—two sets of gray monk's robes, two pairs of shoes and socks, the "Shaolin Precepts," the "Twelve Small Spells for Morning Chants," and more.

"Once you learn to write in the 'Sutra Hall,' you can recite the temple's precepts and the morning spells. For now, I will briefly explain the main precepts of the temple: 1. Do not betray your teacher, 2. Do not secretly learn martial arts without permission, 3. Do not kill, 4. Do not drink alcohol, 5. Do not eat meat or pungent foods, 6. Do not break the precept of chastity..." Xuan Ku repeated the main precepts several times, ending with a stern warning: "Those who violate the precepts will be lightly scolded or, in severe cases, have their martial arts skills revoked and be expelled from the temple."

He only mentioned the lightest and heaviest punishments, with others including forced labor, copying scriptures, caning, and wall-standing.

After explaining these matters, he and Xuan Cang led the young monks out of the Miscellaneous Service Hall.

"In the temple, those wearing gray robes are ordinary monks, those wearing yellow robes are the heads of the various halls, and those wearing yellow robes with red robes are the abbot, the heads of the various halls, and the elders..." On the way, Xuan Ku continued to impart "temple knowledge" to the young monks until Zhen De and the others entered the Martial Monks Hall, where he became silent again.

The group walked deeper into the temple, surrounded by green trees, with few Buddha halls in sight. After a while, Meng Qi saw a dilapidated and old courtyard.

"Ah, Brother Xuan Ku, Brother Xuan Cang, you came so early?" A fat monk at the door greeted them with a smile, wearing a yellow robe but with a slanted collar and a protruding belly.

Xuan Ku frowned, joining his hands in prayer: "Namo Amituofo, Brother Xuan Xin, how can you be so lazy?"

The fat monk Xuan Xin, familiar with Xuan Ku's temperament, replied without anger: "Ah, you are too focused on outward appearances. Are these for the disciples of the Miscellaneous Service Hall?"

He didn't want to argue with Xuan Ku on this issue and directly pointed to Meng Qi and the others.

"Please arrange for them, Brother Xuan Xin," Xuan Ku answered formally.

At this moment, Xuan Cang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke: "Zhen Ying and Zhen Guan are still in the Miscellaneous Service Hall, right?"

"Still, still!" Xuan Xin replied, puzzled: "Brother Xuan Cang, why do you ask? Do you intend to take them as disciples?"

Xuan Cang shook his head and sighed: "My martial path is destroyed, and I cannot mislead others. How can I take disciples? Brother Xuan Xin, please arrange for them to stay with Zhen Ying and Zhen Guan."

He was referring to Meng Qi and Zhen Hui.

Meng Qi's heart raced. This was the first time Xuan Cang had arranged something for him. Did Zhen Ying and Zhen Guan have special qualities that could help him?

"Haha, Brother Xuan Cang, how can I say 'trouble' when you give me an order? This is a small matter, no need to be so formal," Xuan Xin readily agreed.

Xuan Ku glanced at Xuan Cang but didn't say much, instead addressing Meng Qi, Zhen Hui, and the other young monks: "I have assigned you to the Miscellaneous Service Hall because you each have issues. If you can resolve them and polish your character, you may have the chance to enter the Martial Monks Hall, the Dharma Hall, or even the Bodhi Hall in the future."

"But if you continue to be lazy and playful, with a restless mind and unable to endure hardship, I will not hide it and will report you to the Precepts Hall for appropriate punishment."

He openly expressed his thoughts, showing his integrity and lack of selfishness, making Xuan Xin's face turn slightly red.

"Yes, Uncle Xuan Ku," the young monks answered in unison.

After watching Xuan Ku and Xuan Cang leave, Xuan Xin wiggled his body, making his fat jiggling: "Finally gone, I hate seeing that iron-faced ghost."

This monk... Meng Qi pretended not to look, following the swaying Xuan Xin into the meditation room.

"Zhen Ying, Zhen Guan, these are your junior brothers, Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui." Xuan Xin pointed to Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, then turned and led the other young monks to other meditation rooms.

Inside the meditation room, there was a long bed that could accommodate seven or eight people, with nothing else.

On the long bed, two gray-robed monks, both in their twenties, were lying and sitting. The lying one had a blank expression and was silent, while the sitting one had deep frowns and a cold tone: "Just put your luggage at the foot of the bed. If you want water, go to the water tank in the courtyard."

"May I know your name, Senior Brother?" Meng Qi glanced at the blank Zhen Hui, deciding to take the initiative to build a good "roommate relationship."

The sitting one coldly replied: "Zhen Guan."

After answering, he didn't say anything more, even turning his head away from Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, leaving Meng Qi with no way to start a conversation.

As for Zhen Ying, he closed his eyes and continued to sleep.

What kind of people are these! Meng Qi inwardly cursed but smiled at Zhen Hui: "Junior Brother Zhen Hui, I am Zhen Ding. You can call me Senior Brother in the future."

"Yes, Senior Brother," Zhen Hui called without hesitation.

This blank little guy is better! Meng Qi sighed inwardly, deciding to play the role of a senior brother and help Zhen Hui: "Little Junior Brother, let's change into our monk's robes."

Although there were people in the room, Meng Qi, who had often gone shirtless in his college dorm, felt no discomfort, quickly changing into his monk's robes.

He silently thanked the simplicity of the monk's robes, which prevented him from making a fool of himself, and checked the items on his body that he hadn't had time to examine earlier.

The robe of this body was finely woven, soft, and light, and even though Meng Qi wasn't an expert, he could tell it was expensive. At his waist hung a translucent jade pendant, and around his neck was a small jade Buddha pendant tied with a red string, resting close to his chest, cool and comfortable.

Meng Qi carefully played with the thumb-sized jade Buddha, seeing its compassionate face and lifelike appearance, clearly the work of a skilled craftsman. It felt smooth and cool to the touch.

"According to the horse-faced uncle, this jade Buddha was given by an unnamed old monk? But since the marquis didn't take it, it must be valuable. It's better to wear it close to my body," Meng Qi thought, rehanging the jade Buddha pendant around his neck and putting the jade pendant and clothes under the bed he chose.

At this moment, Zhen Ying, who had been lying still, suddenly sat up, quickly put on his shoes, and left the room, leaving Meng Qi stunned, not understanding what had happened.

"It's time for dinner," Zhen Guan coldly said, also getting up and heading for the door.

What kind of people are these! Meng Qi cursed again, then turned to Zhen Hui: "Little Junior Brother, are you ready? It's time for dinner!"

"Ready!" Zhen Hui's small figure darted to the door like a rabbit, as if he was starving.

"..." Meng Qi was embarrassed. Was he the only normal one here?

Zhen Hui suddenly stopped at the door, turning back to Meng Qi with a puzzled look: "Senior Brother, aren't you coming?"

You have a bit of conscience, knowing to wait for me! Meng Qi thought, then half-jokingly replied: "I'm not as hungry as you."

Looking at you all, you're like hungry ghosts!

Zhen Hui's confusion disappeared, and he nodded seriously: "Senior Brother, I'll go first."

He turned and ran