Chapter 400: with translation of chapter title

The little novice monk personally went to the stone house to fetch the golden copper coin, which is to invite you into the vat.

The little novice monk personally went to Shi Wu to fetch the Golden Copper Coins, which is to invite you into the vat.

But we need to keep same meaning, not add. Let's produce: "The little novice monk personally went to Shi Wu to fetch the Golden Copper Coins, which is to invite you into the vat."

I have no choice but to jump into this pit.

Translation: "This pit, I have no choice but to jump."

At this moment, he bluntly told me words like "mass slaughter, drenched in blood," showing he already has the win secured.

Translation: "And now, he bluntly says to me words like 'mass slaughter, soaked in blood,' which already means victory is in hand."

He's a Buddhist, but right now he won't even bother pretending; this only means one thing—he's sure the golden copper coin is on me.

Translation: "He is a Buddhist, yet now he doesn't even bother to pretend, which only shows one thing—he is certain that the Golden Copper Coin is now on my person!"

This person is incredibly sharp!

Translation: "This person is too shrewd!"

I stepped through the temple gate.

Translation: "I stepped into the temple gate with one foot."

The temple's main gate slowly shut behind me.

Translation: "The temple's main gate slowly closed behind me."

The little novice monk walked up confidently, guiding me to follow behind.

Translation: "The little novice monk strode forward and led me to walk backward."

As I went from the Mountain Gate Hall to the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, I heard some disordered chanting.

Translation: "From the Mountain Gate Hall to the Heavenly King Hall, I already heard some chaotic chanting."

After passing the Main Hall on my way to the Sutra Library, the chanting faded away.

Translation: "After passing the Mahavira Hall and heading toward the Sutra Pavilion, I could no longer hear the chanting."

I halted and asked, "Master Xindeng, if I'm not wrong, this isn't the path to the meditation hall, is it?"

Translation: "I stopped in my tracks and asked, 'Heart Lamp Master, if I'm not mistaken, this isn't the way to the meditation room, is it?'"

"No." The little novice monk said unhurriedly, "Straight ahead is the Sutra Library, a restricted area of the temple. Go through it, then continue toward the mountain wall, and you'll reach the Revolving Wheel Tower. Shopkeeper Xiao Jiu will come with me first; the abbot and Master Liu Qi will follow shortly."

Translation: "'No.' The little novice monk said calmly, 'Ahead is the Sutra Pavilion, an important place in the temple where ordinary people may not approach. After passing through the Sutra Pavilion and going further, right against the mountain wall, is the Revolving Wheel Tower. Xiao Jiu Zhanggui will come with me first; the Abbott and Lord Liu Qiye will arrive shortly after.'"

They'll be here soon?

Translation: "They'll arrive shortly after?"

As soon as he showed up at the stone house, I realized I had no escape.

Translation: "The moment he appeared at Shi Wu, I knew I had no way to retreat."

But I didn't anticipate he would lead me directly into the Revolving Wheel Tower.

Translation: "But I never expected him to bring me directly into the Revolving Wheel Tower."

I neither retreated nor glanced back.

Translation: "I did not retreat, nor did I look back."

But the deadly aura behind me closed in step by step, and I realized that thing had been tailing us.

Translation: "But the dangerous, murderous aura behind us drew closer step by step, and I knew that thing had been following us."

"They're not coming."

Translation: "'They won't come.'"

At this point in the game, the opponent has basically laid his cards on the table for me to see, so I can only speak frankly.

Translation: "By this point in the game, the opponent has basically laid their cards on the table for me to see, so I can only open the skylight and speak plainly."

By now we can almost be sure that the abbot of Emptiness and Silence has been compromised as well; otherwise, the one waiting for me in the Revolving Wheel Tower would be him.

Translation: "Actually, by now I can almost be certain that the Empty Silence Abbott has also been taken over; otherwise, the one waiting for me in the Revolving Wheel Tower would be the Empty Silence Abbott."

The little novice monk broke into a smile.

Translation: "The little novice monk laughed."

His expression was soft, yet even with a smile on his face, the unmistakable aura of absolute control in his gaze still pierced my eyes.

Translation: "His face was gentle, but even with a smile covering his face, the undisguised air of having everything under control still stabbed my eyes."

He said nothing, merely offering an elegant "please" gesture.

Translation: "He said nothing, yet still made an elegant 'please' gesture."

I stepped forward with a confident stride.

Translation: "I lifted my foot and strode forward."

He orchestrated this grand plan, perhaps for the reincarnated spirit child, maybe also for the eighth soul, but I still haven't figured out why he ultimately focused his attention on me.

Translation: "He set up such a big scheme for the Reincarnated Spirit Child, possibly also for the Dībā pò, but so far I still haven't fully determined why he finally fixed his gaze on me."

Before tonight, I never thought I'd become a pawn in his plot.

Translation: "Before tonight, I never imagined I would become a part of his calculations."

After all, if he only wanted the golden copper coin, he could have simply seized it.

Translation: "After all, if he only wanted that Golden Copper Coin, he could have just taken it by force."

Grabbing it would be much easier than this drawn‑out, evasive dance with me.

Translation: "Snatching it would be far easier than this hemming and hawing with me."

The Sutra Library is spacious, situated at the rear of the temple's courtyard wall.

Translation: "The Sutra Pavilion is large, located at the far end of the temple's courtyard wall."

From the outside, the temple seems to lack a rear wall, as a soaring mountain rises behind it; the whole Sutra Library is carved into the mountain, making it a perfect hiding spot for treasure.

Translation: "From the outside, the temple has no rear courtyard wall, because behind it looms a towering mountain; the entire Sutra Pavilion is embedded in the mountain, making it an excellent place to hide treasures."

The little novice monk guided me through the Sutra Library, and I could even hear the squeak of the overhead transport rails above.

Translation: "The little novice monk led me through the Sutra Pavilion, and I could even hear the creaking of the overhead transport rails."

Going out through the Sutra Library's secret door, I entered another world.

Translation: "Exiting through the hidden door of the Sutra Pavilion, there lay another world beyond."

The first thing I saw was a person‑tall square bronze cauldron, inside which an incense tower smoldered slowly, filling the air with fragrant smoke.

Translation: "First came into view a square bronze cauldron about a person's height, with a incense tower slowly burning inside, filling the space with fragrant smoke."

Right before the bronze cauldron is the Revolving Wheel Tower.

Translation: "Directly in front of the bronze cauldron stands that Revolving Wheel Tower."

The tower has nine levels; they aren't numerous, but each level is quite high.

Translation: "This tower has nine layers; the number of layers is not many, but each layer is very tall."

From my position, looking up in the darkness, I couldn't even see the tower's summit.

Translation: "Standing where I am and looking up, under the night's cover I actually cannot see the top of the tower at a glance."

To the right of the tower stands a massive cedar, from whose high branch hangs an ancient bronze bell whose lower opening faces an old well.

Translation: "On the tower's right side grows a huge pine, with an ancient bronze bell hung on its high branch, the bell's lower mouth facing an ancient well."

A stout chain, as thick as an arm, hangs from the bell's clapper inside the bell and runs down into the ancient well.

Translation: "A thick chain hangs from the bell's clapper inside, extending all the way into the ancient well."

I was puzzled: with the mountain behind us and continuous ridges, this seems an unlikely spot for a water well, yet there is one.

Translation: "I suddenly didn't understand: this place backs onto a great mountain, with continuous ridges, clearly unsuitable for digging a well to store water, so why is there a well here?"

Does the well still hold water?

Translation: "Is there still water in the well?"

What is the other end of the iron chain fastened to?

Translation: "What is tied to the other end of the iron chain?"

A deep rumble.

Translation: "A booming sound."

The little novice monk had already shoved open the tower's bottom door, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting for me to go through.

Translation: "The little novice monk had already pushed open the tower's lowest great door, standing with his hands behind his back, waiting for me to pass."

I lowered my eyes, stepped over the high threshold, and went inside the tower.

Translation: "I withdrew my gaze, stepped over the high threshold, and entered the tower."

The little novice monk shut the door behind him.

Translation: "The little novice monk casually closed the door."

Going through this door, the first thing I saw was an offering table with some Buddhist statues, but the light was too dim to make them out clearly.

Translation: "Entering through this door, the first thing seen is an offering table bearing some Buddhist statues; the light is too dim to see them clearly."

The little novice monk took me straight south, through a doorway, up a flight of stone steps—several dozen steps—to the second‑level platform.

Translation: "The little novice monk directly led me to turn south, passing through a doorway, climbing up stone steps—several dozen—until we reached the second-level platform."

Before the platform is a deep stone chamber whose outer walls are covered in beautiful murals, with two imposing guardians flanking the entrance, their bodies etched with intricate inscriptions.

Translation: "Before the platform lies a deep stone cavern, its outer walls carved with exquisite murals, and on either side of the cavern door stand two mighty vajra warriors, their bodies inscribed with elaborate texts."

Moving through the stone chamber, a faint light seeped in, revealing faint carvings on the walls; proceeding further leads to the tower's heart.

Translation: "As we passed through the stone cavern, faint light filtered in, allowing us to barely see inscriptions carved on the cavern walls; going further in brings us to the tower's center."

In the tower's center sits a huge cross‑legged statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, with a six‑petal lotus throne beneath it and an ornate caisson ceiling above.

Translation: "At the tower's center sits a massive statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in lotus position; beneath it is a six-petal lotus throne, above it an exquisitely carved algae well."

The caisson ceiling is an inverted octagon, its sides converging at the top; eight differently shaped dragon carvings ring it, their heads pointing inward, with a ninth dragon head carved at the very center.

Translation: "The algae well as a whole is an inverted octagon, its top converging together; eight differently shaped dragon carvings encircle it, their heads pointing toward the center, and the very center also bears a carved ninth dragon head."

The eight outer dragons are shown only in profile, while the central dragon faces downward head‑on, with round, glaring eyes, bared teeth and claws; meeting its gaze unexpectedly can be startling.

Translation: "Around, the eight dragons are shown only in profile; only the central one faces downward head-on, eyes glaring, fangs bared, claws brandished—meeting its gaze suddenly will startle you."

This caisson layout feels familiar, but I can't quite place it right now.

Translation: "I feel I've seen this algae well's layout somewhere before, but I can't recall it just now."

At this point, the little novice monk had already lit incense for the Shakyamuni Buddha and said a sincere prayer.

Translation: "By now, the little novice monk had already offered incense to the Shakyamuni Buddha and sincerely prayed for something."

Then he moved behind the Buddha statue, and I promptly followed.

Translation: "Then he went around the Buddha statue and continued backward, and I immediately followed."

When I turned to the Buddha's back, my view suddenly cleared and I was left stunned.

Translation: "The moment I turned to the back of the Buddha statue, my view suddenly opened up, and I was utterly stunned."

Behind the Buddha statue is another platform whose front aligns with the tower's true center, open all the way from the first to the ninth level.

Translation: "Behind the Buddha statue is another platform; its front is the exact center of the entire tower, which is completely open from the first to the ninth level."

Before the platform extends a wooden jump‑board into the hollow, encircled by a wooden rail that looks safe, yet anyone with a fear of heights would still feel their heart race.

Translation: "Before the platform lies a wooden jumping board extending into the hollow part, its surroundings surrounded by wooden railings, appearing safe, yet if someone with acrophobia steps on it, their heart still cannot bear it."

The little novice monk stepped to the front edge of the jump‑board, narrowing his eyes to look ahead.

Translation: "The little novice monk first stood at the very front of the jumping board, squinting his eyes ahead."

Ahead of the jumping platform was the legendary prayer wheel that penetrates the entire nine-story pagoda.

The prayer wheel's appearance is not much different from that of the prayer wheels used by ordinary high lamas, except that it is larger and more magnificent, and its surface is covered in palm-sized Dragon Scale scales, making the whole prayer wheel look like a flood dragon rushing upward from below to the clouds!

When I truly stood at the front edge of the platform and stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the novice monk, I then saw that such platforms were not just this one.

From the first to the ninth level, each level has one.

Levels 1, 2, 4, and 5 each have one platform, while levels 3 and 6 each have nine.

Going higher still, the tower's body narrows and the platforms gradually become fewer.

Right now, all the platforms, except ours, each have a monk sitting cross‑legged.

They sit there quietly, eyes closed, turning prayer beads in their hands, as if chanting sutras.

"Actually, back then, the one who truly turned the prayer wheel was not the empress herself," the novice monk suddenly said, "but rather, she had secretly summoned a living Buddha from Zàng Qū, thousands of miles away."