Chapter 363: Ji Gong Was Also from This Time

Gu Qing faced the morning sun, breathed in gently, and according to the incantations of the Nine Returns Sun Scripture, gathered true yang energy, circulating it through his body, filling every part of him with serenity.

Having completed today's cultivation, Gu Qing returned down the mountain, went back to Tongren Hall, and began treating the common folk; the matter of his duel with Fahai seemed entirely forgotten.

"The remnants of the Liang Prince's household are utterly lawless!"

"I heard the Liang Prince has already suffered retribution—his body is covered in wounds."

"Serves him right!"

In this room, the patients were discussing recent news from Hangzhou.

"The Liang Prince's heir, Liang Lian, was cut down by a single sword stroke—half his body lay on the ground, the other half still standing."

A man in his thirties described it vividly: "After careful examination by County Magistrate Yang, the bandit theory is baseless—it was entirely the monks of Changming Temple who, lured by greed, committed the crime. Magistrate Yang has raided Changming Temple and recovered all the silver."

"So it was the monks of Changming Temple!"

"Those monks always had cruel faces anyway."

The patients chattered excitedly; when Gu Qing heard that Changming Temple had been raided and its silver seized by Magistrate Yang, he couldn't help laughing.

"Doctor Gu…"

A woman with one arm laid calmly before her spoke weakly: "I've had a cold lately and haven't recovered."

Gu Qing looked up and recognized the elderly woman as Li Qingzhao—they had met once at Baojia Mountain. This time, Gu Qing smiled at her, took her pulse, and assessed her condition.

During the pulse diagnosis and inquiry, Gu Qing learned Li Qingzhao lived alone with no income, spending down her meager savings; her current life was plainly destitute.

Li Qingzhao's complexion was dim as she said: "Even this illness—no one's here to care for me…"

Gu Qing prescribed medicine and asked: "Have you ever thought of doing something?"

Li Qingzhao looked at him in confusion.

"Go to the orphanage."

Gu Qing said: "The children there long to learn to read and write, but lack resources. You could teach them—your compensation would be generous."

Li Qingzhao, already destitute and without direction, found Gu Qing's suggestion appealing; she nodded slightly, indicating she would consider it.

After a busy morning seeing all his patients, Gu Qing ate a quick meal in the back courtyard, then entered the yard to extract snake venom. While working, he heard commotion in the front courtyard and stepped out to find two monks standing in the main hall.

One monk was stout and broad, smiling warmly; the other, a boy of thirteen or fourteen, had an extraordinary appearance. As Gu Qing emerged, he couldn't help but glance at the boy twice.

"Are you two here to beg alms?"

Seeing they said nothing, Gu Qing asked first.

"Amitabha."

The senior monk clasped his hands and spoke loudly: "I am Huiyuan of Lingyin Temple, honored to meet Daoist Gu."

Huiyuan of Lingyin Temple?

Upon hearing the name, Gu Qing felt a flicker of familiarity; after a moment's thought, he returned the monk's bow and asked for the reason.

"I have come because of the monks of Changming Temple."

Master Huiyuan clasped his hands, ashamed: "On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, our Buddhist order observes the Summer Retreat. On that day, temples hold the Lengyanhui, light giant candles, burn large incense, ring morning and evening bells, and chant sutras day and night—praying for national peace and the people's safety. The monks of Changming Temple do the same, but their temple differs in longevity, offerings, and standards…"

"Yet our devotion to the Buddha is the same."

Master Huiyuan continued, still ashamed: "The monks of Changming Temple, swayed by envy, succumbed to greed and stole silver from the Liang Prince's mansion, landing themselves in prison. We are all Buddhists—we have a duty to help. After much thought, we realized the one who tied the knot must untie it—and so we came to you, Daoist Gu, begging you to show mercy and save the monks of Changming Temple."

Hearing this, Gu Qing couldn't help shaking his head—he had mocked Changming Temple that morning, and now monks came to him in the afternoon.

"The matter of Changming Temple…"

Gu Qing frowned, thinking it difficult to handle.

"Daoist Gu."

Master Huiyuan hurriedly said: "To kill and burn within a temple is a grave sin against the Buddha. Even though you are of the Daoist path, divine spirits may still hold resentment. If you will save the monks of Changming Temple, on the fifteenth day of the fourth month, we will erect an altar and chant sutras to seek forgiveness for you."

Forgive me?

Gu Qing had been about to laugh, but then he looked at the young monk beside Huiyuan and asked: "What is the young monk's dharma name?"

The boy, thirteen or fourteen, clasped his hands, spoke clearly: "My dharma name is Daoji. I practice Buddhism at Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai."

Well then…

Gu Qing had been amused at the idea of being forgiven—until he heard the monk's name was Daoji. Now it made perfect sense: wasn't Ji Gong also from this time?

"Do you have tiers for your forgiveness?"

Gu Qing asked: "Like ten levels for offenses against the Buddha, and each act of mercy removes one level…"

"Daoist Gu."

Young Daoji said: "The Buddhist path is vast; forgiveness comes first. We set no such tiers. If you act, on the fifteenth day, we will erase all transgressions entirely."

Gu Qing thought carefully: he had secretly broken up Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen's marriage, and blocked the feud between Fahai and Bai Suzhen—both likely offenses against the Buddhist order. Though he'd always played the innocent, a little cleansing wouldn't hurt.

"Fahai's challenge to me on the fourteenth day—was it because the Buddhist assembly begins on the fifteenth?"

Gu Qing nodded, thinking of Fahai again.

"Master Fahai has practiced the Buddha's path for a thousand years—his devotion is profound."

Master Huiyuan said: "On the fifteenth day, he must attend the Dharma assembly."

Gu Qing looked at Huiyuan and the future Ji Gong and asked: "If I defeat Fahai on the fourteenth day using dishonorable means—even if I insult the Buddha—can that sin still be cleansed on the fifteenth?"

Master Huiyuan glanced at young Daoji.

"A broad belly can hold what the world finds hard to bear."

Young Daoji said calmly: "When one becomes a Buddha, all is emptiness—there is no insult or honor. Even if you urinated on the Buddha himself, once the fifteenth day passes, it is all forgotten."

Hearing Daoji's words, Gu Qing felt everything had fallen into place.

"Young master."

Gu Qing smiled warmly and stepped close to Daoji: "I feel an instant connection with you. Since you've come here today, I must treat you both to a meal."

Building a bond with this one—well, it's like clutching at a last-minute prayer to the Buddha.

(End of Chapter)