Chapter 565: When the Master is Gone (23)

"Nirvana, huh..."

Ren Yidao sighed in the guest room, feeling a sense of inexplicable melancholy.

Ren Yidao had not expected to encounter such a thing upon his arrival, which gave him a strange feeling.

He had originally only intended to find someone in the temple to ask for directions, preferably to get a map so he could clearly understand where exactly he was in the Western Desert.

As it turned out, after entering this temple, he discovered that although it was filled with the atmosphere of daily life everywhere, there was no one around.

He had even thought he had encountered some kind of ghost temple and was somewhat excited.

But after entering, he realized that someone had just left not long ago; they must have just happened to be out.

Just as he was preparing to continue waiting there for someone to return, he suddenly felt a faint fluctuation.

It seemed to be the aura of death, yet it also felt like a sublimation of the soul.

Ren Yidao saw the old man's soul fly up from his physical body, then smile at him before vanishing into thin air, though he did not know where it had gone.

"Nirvana, has he attained Buddhahood?"

Ren Yidao was a bit unsure about what kind of situation this was; he had previously seen the molted remains of He Shou's predecessor, which was a skin left behind similar to after an ascension to immortality.

Yet after this old monk entered Nirvana, his body had not changed at all, everything was as usual; although his heart no longer beat, his flesh still seemed alive, only one could no longer feel the fluctuations of his soul.

"Yaoyue, have you ever seen a scene like this? Where exactly did their souls go?"

"Are you talking about monks dying?" Yaoyue sat on the bed, blinking leisurely upon hearing this. "Nope. Although I have slapped a few old monks to death before, it should be a bit different from what you're asking; their divine souls were all completely annihilated."

"I'm asking about Nirvana. You were just being ruthless, no, wait, ruthlessly destroying the Buddha..."

Wait, destroy the Buddha?

Damn! Damn!

Yaoyue naturally did not know that Ren Yidao's mind had already wandered off to that game, and she continued from the previous topic: "As for where that old monk's soul went, he probably went to their so-called Spirit Mountain."

Spirit Mountain of the Western Desert.

Legend has it that not only does the Fozhu reside there, but also millions of Buddhas, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas...

"Have you been there?"

"No, the last time I came, I was just following others sneaking around in the Western Desert; I didn't take the initiative to provoke Spirit Mountain."

Ren Yidao only then remembered that this big shot was even more heavy-duty back in the day, conducting assassination missions in the Western Desert; the goal was to avoid attracting attention, so why would she run to Spirit Mountain to look for trouble?

"Do you have a map?"

"No, back then I just followed them; I didn't pay attention to those things."

Fine.

I shouldn't have even asked.

Ren Yidao curled his lip, once again lamenting that Yaoyue was simply a larger version of Jing Yueqin; these two, master and disciple, were cut from the same cloth.

Aside from being able to fight a little, they were useless in daily life!

Useless!

Yaoyue felt Ren Yidao's overflowing disdain, but she didn't care, lying down directly and occupying most of the bed, tilting her head to ask: "Do you plan to stay here? Or will you leave tomorrow after asking for directions?"

"Let's observe for a few more days." Ren Yidao listened to the chanting of Mingxin, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice: "I always feel that the monk's Nirvana wasn't simple; it seems a bit too coincidental. He entered Nirvana right after seeing me."

The timing was truly too coincidental, giving rise to some inexplicable thoughts.

"Moreover, that little Novice Monk gives me a feeling that isn't quite right; this person feels very unusual to me." Ren Yidao recalled the details of his contact with Mingxin. "There is a special feeling about him; I don't know if it's because he hasn't been fully developed yet, or if he is deliberately hiding it."

A special feeling; the other party had a faint sense of Buddha-nature, and although his cultivation was very low, his realm seemed shockingly high.

"His temperament gives me a feeling similar to Heaven and Man as One; all things cannot shake his inner heart, and even I cannot probe his inner heart."

"The only change was the moment he discovered the Abbot had entered Nirvana, which allowed me to capture a trace of fluctuation."

Ren Yidao felt that if he could clear up this mystery, it might be helpful for his own cultivation, so he planned to study it carefully.

"If every temple in the Western Desert had this kind of strength, that would be a bit terrifying."

"Not at all~" Yaoyue waved her hand lazily and said casually: "I saw it with my own eyes back then; that group of monks is just like everyone else. Dead is dead; it's no big deal."

Are you sure you saw it with your own eyes, and didn't kill them with your own hands?

"Also, why did you come out by yourself?" Only then did Ren Yidao raise an eyebrow, looking at the young girl lying on his bed, and asked strangely: "Where are Yu'er and the others?"

"They and Zhang Mang are still continuing their cultivation inside the Divine Path Bell, and I also assigned training tasks to Cang Lanlan and that little fat cat." Yaoyue stretched, saying speechlessly: "They were all too focused and no one paid attention to me, so I had nothing to do."

"These guys are truly hateful; they don't know how to respect their master at all! Just like you!"

You assign tasks to everyone, and then you complain that they don't pay attention to you.

Friend, are you okay?

"So, you came to find me to keep you company?"

"That's right~" As soon as playing was mentioned, Yaoyue perked up; she sat up on the bed and stared at Ren Yidao, eager to try.

"I didn't say I would keep you company." Although he said that, Ren Yidao couldn't just leave her hanging, so he moved a stool and sat by the bed. "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"... Uh?" Seeing Ren Yidao being so cooperative, Yaoyue was momentarily unaccustomed to it and froze in place.

She had originally thought there would be more back-and-forth, and in the end, she wouldn't be able to avoid being looked down upon by him.

Yaoyue couldn't help but ask strangely, "You... why are you so obedient today?"

"What kind of question is that?"

Ren Yidao was helpless, then signaled for Yaoyue to look in the direction where the Abbot had entered Nirvana. "You could say it's being moved by the scene."

"As the saying goes, the tree desires stillness but the wind will not cease, the child wishes to provide for his parents but they are gone... there are some things you only want to cherish after you have lost them. I don't want to feel regret when the end comes."

Yaoyue raised an eyebrow, feeling that his tone and expression when he said this were very strange.

"... What do you mean?"

"Nothing, just saying that seeing someone lose their master, I reflected a bit; I should treat my own master a little better."

Yaoyue:???

"Are you cursing me?"

What on earth do you mean, you stinking brat?

"No, I'm just saying you're an old thing." Ren Yidao curled his lip, "Besides, as far as I'm concerned, you were already a dead person a long time ago; now, you're just a reanimated corpse."

Don't think I'm cursing you to die, because in my heart, you were already a dead person to begin with, alright?

"Hmph!"

Yaoyue let out an angry huff. Mentioning the fact that she had been missing for so long made her feel a bit awkward, and lacking confidence, she chose to bypass the topic, "Then let's talk about you! We've known each other for so long, yet you still haven't talked about yourself in detail."

"How did you get to know little Yueqin? And what about your relationships with others?"

After bringing these up, she became happy again, forgetting the previous awkwardness, and the whole person became excited once more.

"As for that, it's a long story." Ren Yidao didn't really want to recount his past experiences; it always felt a bit strange, but he couldn't back down since the words were already out.

"It doesn't matter~ I have plenty of time, and the night is still long, isn't it?" Yaoyue pulled up her legs and sat on one corner of the bed, leaving the other side empty, and patted that spot, signaling for Ren Yidao to come sit over.

"..."

Ren Yidao looked at Yaoyue's eyes, which were narrowed in excitement and curiosity, and the corners of his mouth also hooked up slightly as he shook his head and smiled:

"Indeed."

He stood up and also sat on the bed, and he nodded, saying:

"The night is still long."

When Ren Yidao saw Mingxin again the next morning, the other party had already regained his composure and bowed slightly to him in greeting.

"Benefactor, good morning."

"Little master..." Ren Yidao paused, suddenly realizing he might need to change how he addressed him, "No, should I call you Abbot now? Or Head Monk?"

There were only three people here; after the previous Abbot passed away, only Mingxin and Minghui remained. Although Mingxin was still just a Novice Monk, as the only remaining senior member of Kurong Temple at this moment, he had automatically ascended to the position of head monk.

Mingxin shook his head and said calmly, "Benefactor, there is no need for such formalities; you may just call me Mingxin."

He seemed to have recovered quickly from the blow of his master's passing and had returned to that state of Heaven and Man as One from before.

"You... please accept my condolences." Ren Yidao hesitated, but he still did not probe at this time.

Regardless of what secrets that Abbot might have had, the dead were to be respected, and he did not wish to rub salt into someone's wounds at this time.

Mingxin, however, appeared exceptionally calm, as if he knew what Ren Yidao wanted to ask, and said directly, "Benefactor, you need not have any concerns. This monk had long anticipated this day, and Master had also long since made preparations and arranged everything in advance."

"I see that Benefactor does not look like someone from the Western Desert; you must be from another Shenzhou?"

"That is correct."

"Then here is a map that Benefactor might need." Mingxin took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Ren Yidao, "Marked on this are the temples that Master and I have visited in the past; it contains some information about each temple, and I hope it can be of some help to you."

Ren Yidao did not refuse; this was indeed what he needed.

However, looking at Mingxin's attitude, it seemed he did not intend for them to stay here for long?

"Is Master Mingxin planning to leave?" With doubts in his heart, Ren Yidao asked directly.

"I do indeed have that intention."

Mingxin nodded without hiding it, "After I settle Master's affairs, I will take my junior brother to visit other temples."

"I am fine, but Minghui is still young and needs guidance from his elders." Mingxin looked at Minghui, who was walking out of the room with sleepy eyes, and said in a low voice, "He will turn thirteen in a few months, and by then, he will need a senior to help him overcome his calamity."

Regarding this little Novice Monk, Ren Yidao had actually taken note and had his own guesses. He possessed a special fate, somewhat like Li Lingling's, but it was not as vicious as her Blood Star Fate; it only harmed himself, not others.

Ren Yidao narrowed his eyes as he looked at Mingxin and shook his head slightly, "That is no small favor; I fear it won't be so easy to obtain, will it?"

For this kind of Heavenly Fiend Lone Star fate, there were only a few ways to resolve it, and all of them required the practitioner to pay a great price.

"Regarding this point, Master also left arrangements." Mingxin's eyes were like an ancient well without ripples as he said calmly, "He told me to take his Relic and use it to trade for their help."

!!!

Ren Yidao narrowed his eyes slightly and stared closely at Mingxin.

He found it somewhat difficult to fathom what exactly this monk was thinking in his heart.

"This..."

And Mingxin, meeting Ren Yidao's scrutinizing gaze, did not dodge at all, but smiled slightly, his eyes filled with calm, "However, although this was Master's arrangement, I will not use that Relic to trade."

Ren Yidao calmed down at this moment and asked softly, "Then what do you intend to do?"

"I will fight for him." Mingxin looked at his little junior brother walking toward them, his smile gentle and firm.

"I will come."

"No matter what must be paid, no matter what they want... I will come."

He said:

"When Master is no longer here, I am his only family."