Chapter 2: Entrustment, Ten Years

He will not forget that four years ago, when he was sent to Tianlong Temple, that great monk merely glanced at him and dismissed him with a single sentence. At that moment, he felt a surge of resentment, determined to prove himself

Over the past decade, the turmoil within the martial world has gradually subsided. The commotion caused by the plague of that year has also dissipated with the passage of time, fading into the annals of history

The abbot was somewhat perplexed.

The old monk's gaze shifted, his eyes widened, and then a gentle light emanated from his hands, directly dispersing the demonic energy that resided upon the lotus leaves.

The river moon flows like silk, and the fire of July burns bright

"Second Master? What brings you here?"

Amitabha! I, the old monk, have come today to ask a favor of both of you

The great monk murmured to himself, then walked away, cradling the infant swaddled in his arms

You need not ask any further about this. All you need to know is that regarding this child, you must not ask any more questions. Simply wait until he turns ten years old, and then send him to Tianlong Temple.

The monk gently pushed open the door and walked in by himself

Father, perhaps it is best to leave it at that and not concern yourself with that boy any longer. After all, the agreement you made with Uncle Er was merely to raise him until he turned ten, and now that he is already ten years old, you cannot be considered to have broken your promise.

"It is of no consequence. If the child truly inquires, you may tell him that you merely performed a good deed, unable to bear seeing him, so young, displaced. As for after he turns ten, you will send him to Tianlong Temple, far away from here, never to return in the future." The abbot spoke with a solemn demeanor, as if he had perceived the astonishment in the man's eyes, and added, "I do this for your own good. In the future, this child will bear heavy karmic consequences; if you become too deeply involved, it may lead to an unfortunate end."

But ultimately ... some things still depend on talent. Not all efforts will yield returns

It is what it is, and regardless of what this demon essence truly is or why it would protect a child of the human race, it is still a life, and how could this old monk turn a blind eye to it

But this direction ... is not the direction of Tianlong Temple. Instead, it leads to a small town. Moreover, it seems that he is quite familiar with this small town, as he has already found a house after just a few turns.

"Alright, since it is the Second Master's order, I will naturally comply," said the middle-aged man

It is rare. Since I have already entered the pure land of Buddhism, I naturally will not concern myself with past matters without reason. However, today, I have come to bestow upon you a good connection

"Second Master, what you are saying is quite unfounded. You are my Second Master, and if it were not for you, I would not have been able to settle down in this small town."

Time flies, like a fleeting horse passing through a narrow gap

"Second Master, who is this child?" The middle-aged man was taken aback and turned to ask.

"Damn it, this damn thing has truly infuriated me. Had I known it would come to this, I should not have listened to Second Master back then," said a middle-aged man in a cold voice.

However, he is ultimately an infant in swaddling clothes, and as a member of the Buddhist community, he naturally must save him

Initially, his father would intervene, but after all, the bond of blood is stronger than gratitude. Over time, he joined forces with his own son to subject the child entrusted to them by their second master to all kinds of difficulties

Thus, upon learning that the younger brother who had inexplicably appeared in his home ten years ago was actually destined to be chosen by the great monk, he vented all his resentment onto this younger brother.

Having spoken, the monk no longer hesitated, uttered a phrase of the Buddha's name, and turned to leave

The grand monk spoke and then handed over the swaddled infant in his hands

This is best, remember, do not ask too many questions, nor say too much. Moreover, you must not regard yourself as the biological father of the child, nor even as an adoptive father

At this time of the year, the hour of Zi is actually still considered early. Therefore, it is still brightly lit at this hour, and the streets are filled with laughter, anger, and the incessant sounds of shouting and selling.

Thus, over the past four years, he has secretly honed his skills countless times, all in the hope of making that great monk regret his actions

Liusu is the name of this town. Although the town is not considered wealthy, it is valued for its tranquility.

In the midst of summer, the stars twinkle at night, the frogs croak and the birds stir, evoking the charm of nature.

Creak!

The middle-aged man said, his expression somewhat reserved, yet predominantly filled with gratitude

But... what if he asks about it himself in the future

If it could truly be severed, he would naturally feel delighted; however, thinking of his second master's instructions, he felt a sense of dread. What if, by the end of the ten-year period, he failed to deliver the person to Tianlong Temple, or if something unfortunate were to happen to the child? He feared that his second master would definitely not let him off easily.

In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed

"In that case, Second Master, why should we still adopt him? Wouldn't it be better to let him fend for himself?" the middle-aged man asked

"Let nature take its course? Heh, you are thinking too simply. I, the Buddha, am compassionate; you should just follow my instructions and do as I say," the monk said with a smile.

Inside the house, there was initially some astonishment, unable to discern who had come uninvited without even knocking on the door, and was about to feel angry. However, upon seeing that it was the great monk, the anger on his face gradually faded, and he welcomed him with a smile.

It is precisely this noise that conceals the sounds of quarrels within one of the households.

It was unexpectedly infused with a kind of demonic power; no wonder this lotus leaf can float on the water's surface without sinking.

Therefore, he gave up

"Pinger, although this is what we say, you must understand that our family's current situation is all thanks to your second uncle's care. If it weren't for your second uncle's compassion, we would have long perished at the hands of those ruffians from the rivers and lakes. Originally, I intended to send you to the Tiangong Temple for cultivation, and upon your return after your studies, it was possible for us to become a prominent family in Liusu Town. But unfortunately, your second uncle said that you lack the aptitude for cultivation," the middle-aged man said in astonishment, clearly feeling a sense of regret.

Moreover, at this moment, it has long been the case that any minor displeasure is met with beatings and scoldings, and even the slightest dissatisfaction leads to a severe beating

The middle-aged man said, seeing the great monk's brows furrowed, he thought he had displeased him, and hurriedly said: "Sir, I was just speaking impulsively..."

"This scoundrel, once I catch him, I will certainly make him pay for it," said the middle-aged man as he got up from the ground, casually draping a coat over his shoulders

Nestled by the mountains and beside the water, a tranquil abode

To be enveloped by demonic power while carrying a child, it is only natural to feel discomfort. However, this demonic power seems more like a form of protection

At this moment, the person he referred to as Ping'er had an even more sullen expression on her face

And today, the reason for my anger is that my son informed me that the child has actually built a hut in the wilderness outside the city, clearly intending to sever ties with them

One can say, food is insufficient to fill the stomach, and clothing is inadequate to cover the body