Chapter 48
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 48: The Poor Monk’s Name is Handsome
Li Hui deeply worried about the old and young at Chuxia Mountain, and he also missed his rough and cheerful elder brother and gentle and caring sister-in-law, wondering if they had left Frost Town with their possessions.
He sighed about his fate, caught in a storm. If he truly couldn’t survive, he would have to rely on Mu Qianyun to find a way to look after Chuxia Mountain later, or help the folks at Chuxia Mountain come to Fusu City to make a living.
Three thousand worries fell to the ground, yet they did not take away his troubles; instead, his thoughts grew more intense.
Li Hui could not become a monk—he was addicted to worldly pleasures and enjoyed rolling amidst them. Having left the Jade Symbol Sect to wander, he had just witnessed the grand and magnificent cultivation world and made progress in talisman-making. How could he let that go? Besides, he loved luxurious clothes and delicious food. Even if he really became a monk, he would still be a gluttonous monk with impure desires.
In Jinghui Courtyard, there were ready-made monk supplies: various monk robes, prayer beads, three precepts bundles, and Arhat shoes. There were even kasayas and staffs for sale, attracting fake monks from country temples.
Mu Qianyun chose a dark blue magnolia monk robe for Li Hui, draping a patched monk’s robe over it. He wore sandalwood prayer beads around his neck, had Arhat shoes on his feet, slung an Arhat bag over his shoulder, and carried a wooden bowl, all creating the image of a distinguished and graceful monk of the Buddha.
“Alas! This time, I truly invested heavily. I hope to safely draw talismans for a few days. As a disciple of the Jade Symbol Sect, talisman-making is my main career.”
Li Hui grinned, biting his lip; to be a monk, he had to do it entirely. Could one really be considered a monk with a bald head but no precepts? With a stick of incense the thickness of a finger inserted beside him, he planned to “punish” himself, muttering, “Buddha, look at my sincerity! Please bless the old and young of Chuxia Mountain! Also, bless me to make more talismans and achieve control of the battlefield!”
“Ah…” Six precept marks were branded on his shiny head. Thankfully, there were six and not the nine marks of a virtuous monk; otherwise, the pain would double.
“All set!”
Li Hui stood up, acting dignified, and with hands together, said to Mu Qianyun, “I bow to you, benefactor. I will go to my Buddha Treasure Temple to take refuge.”
“Hehe!” Mu Qianyun covered her mouth and chuckled, shaking her shoulders. Having never met such an amusing guy, she smiled, saying, “Benefactor means you are the supporter, and bowing is a gesture of a monk. However, monks seldom use this; Daoists often bow, showing formality. If you bow upon arrival, it might scare people.”
“Ahem!” Li Hui lightly coughed to ease the awkwardness, scratching his bald head, “I mispoke; it should be ‘Benefactor has manners.’ I’d best practice silent meditation to avoid trouble.”
At that moment, something in his arms stirred, and Li Hui’s expression changed suddenly. Lowering his voice, he said, “A high-level demon cultivator is searching everywhere. Quickly take off Cheng Yuyan’s clothes and go hide in the nunnery. Remember to stick a few moles on your face and cover your face with your hair; otherwise, this appearance will cause big trouble.”
“I understand. You be careful.” Mu Qianyun, dressed in two outfits, quickly finished her disguise. After Li Hui led her out, they immediately separated.
Being together attracted too much attention, and they had no idea if the wooden building at the royal palace had been exposed. Just as they stepped outside, the golden pearl that Li Hui had knocked out of a corpse’s spine vibrated three times. Although he didn’t use the Spirit Sense Talisman to check, Li Hui was certain that transparent threads were sweeping back and forth around them.
These transparent threads were likely spiritual sense, and one needed to reach the Late Condense Essence stage to form them. That was a level even higher than Gather Spirit. It was fortunate to have such a pearl; otherwise, he would not know how many times he could have died.
Li Hui walked forward, holding the wooden bowl casually. Perhaps because of his decent looks, a young woman on the street glanced back with flirtatious eyes and hurried to offer him two steamed buns.
“Thank you, benefactor!”
After just walking half a street, he already had food. In this poor year, many “poor monks” must envy him.
By the time he reached the gate of Guangxiao Temple, his Arhat bag was almost overflowing with steamed buns, flatbreads, and pastries, and the wooden bowl even contained a large bowl of tofu soup.
Taking a slurp, Li Hui found the tofu soup quite tasty. Since he hadn’t eaten breakfast, he took advantage of the soup’s warmth to have a big bite of the flatbread. He felt revitalized but didn’t notice the golden pearl in his arms flash with a golden light.
“How strange. Why does this taste even better than delicacies from mountains and seas?” Li Hui wondered, and at that moment, the sweeping little monk was absolutely shocked as he approached, hands together, and asked, “May I ask where the master comes from?”
“Uh, the poor monk comes from the place I should have come from!”
Li Hui secretly praised his cleverness; he could say from the Jade Symbol Sect if he wanted to be far or from the royal palace if he wanted to be close. But could he say that? It seemed the reason monks called themselves poor monks was justified. Why? Because he was talkative! He was entering the monk state now.
The little monk had a face full of respect and was about to speak, but the high-level monk behind him, with apparent Buddha light, handed him two large steamed buns and winked at him. What was going on here?
Li Hui smiled; he understood this way of Buddhism, but he didn’t know whether bribing the little monk with steamed buns was appropriate. Maybe he should have changed it to two bean buns?
“Why has the master come to our temple?” the little monk didn’t dare be negligent, thinking these two big buns must have deep significance. Despite feeling a bit stuffed from breakfast, he decided to glean the master’s intentions later.
“The poor monk has been wandering the seas for fifty years. Calculating, I have passed by this temple and feel I should rest a bit. Will you please lead the way? I only need a roof over my head!”
The little monk gasped. Fifty years! He looked no older than thirty, with barely noticeable wrinkles and a bright, tall figure. Such a high-level monk must be highly regarded by his master. Leading him inside would surely earn praise.
Li Hui smiled and nodded but soon found it hard to keep smiling upon entering the temple. Looking at the dilapidated monk’s lodge, he wanted to ask, “You have so much money, and you let me stay here?”
The little monk apologetically said, “Master, this is our temple’s worst meditation room. There is no way to have a roof over your head. Knowing you wander for hard practice, you shouldn’t be too harsh on yourself.”
Li Hui felt like saying, “I’m not harsh on myself; it’s you, this little rascal, who is harsh on this master. Goodness, that was just being polite! Are monks really this stingy?”
“By the way, may I ask your monk name?”
“This… the poor monk’s monk name…” Li Hui was stumped; he was all equipped yet forgot the most important monk name. As he pondered what to name himself, the words “Handsome” slipped out naturally.
No way around it; this had been his nickname in the Jade Symbol Sect, and he felt it was not far off from a monk name, yet he hadn’t expected to say it aloud.
“Your monk name is Handsome? Master Handsome?” The little monk was confused. He had never heard of such a name, but seeing that Li Hui appeared so natural, and given his striking appearance, calm and composed, and dignified presence of Buddha, he felt this name truly fit.
From that moment on, Guangxiao Temple gained a Master Handsome, and the number of women coming to pay their respects increased sixfold, transforming the humble meditation room into a lively space.
