Chapter 3: Escape from Shaolin (Part 1)

Though he was sulking, his stomach was uncooperative; in the middle of the night, Meng Nan woke up hungry. He rummaged through his travel bag and found only a few pieces of chewing gum. Disappointed, he shook his head and unwrapped one, putting it into his mouth.

The intelligent one looked at Meng Nan with a pitiful expression

The intelligence is still that of a child; upon seeing the dazzling graphics on the game console, his eyes immediately lit up. He looked at Meng Nan with a face full of anticipation and said, "Can I play for a bit?"

He vaguely sensed that something was amiss; this Shaolin Temple was completely different from his previous impressions. What kind of place had his uncle brought him to? His phone had no signal at all, and he had tried almost every corner of the Shaolin Temple. It seemed that all these mysteries could only be resolved after he descended the mountain

If you are still not at ease, you can follow me closely after we descend the mountain. With your martial arts skills, it should not be difficult for you to keep an eye on me. Meng Nan then took out a few pieces of chewing gum and placed them in his hand: "Take some and try it, it's very sweet!"

Although Hui Kong advanced at a remarkably swift pace while carrying a large water tank, Meng Nan had to jog along to keep up with his steps. Upon reaching the spring, Hui Kong's method of drawing water astonished him even more. He hoisted the water tank horizontally on his right shoulder and suddenly slapped the water surface with his left hand. With a loud "bang!" the water surface erupted, and a column of water shot up into the sky, seemingly drawn by a powerful suction, surging into the water tank. Upon reaching the spring, Hui Kong's method of drawing water astonished him even more. He hoisted the water tank horizontally on his right shoulder and suddenly slapped the water surface with his left hand. With a loud "bang!" the water surface erupted, and a column of water shot up into the sky, seemingly drawn by a powerful suction, surging into the water tank.

Upon returning to the temple, they coincidentally arrived just in time for the morning meal. The young monk led Meng Nan to the kitchen and handed him over to a plump monk with the Dharma name Hui Kong. He served Meng Nan a large bowl of rice, accompanied solely by green dishes: a plate of stir-fried vegetables and a plate of stir-fried lotus root strips. Meng Nan reluctantly swallowed the food, and immediately he resolved that, because of this vegetarian meal, he would rather die than become a monk.

Did he really want to fill the water all at once? Meng Nan, holding the wooden bucket, followed him with skepticism. This plump monk had a particularly strong desire to perform; knowing that Meng Nan was watching him from the side, he actually advanced while balancing the water jar with three fingers.

At this point, Meng Nan had nothing to say. He decided to honestly stay here for ten days. If a monk who cooks and tends the fire is so formidable, how could he escape from here without making a fool of himself

He said he came to cure his illness, but now he is essentially imprisoned by these monks. At this rate, even if I don't die, I will be skinned alive! Meng Nan thought indignantly. Those few pieces of chewing gum not only failed to alleviate his hunger but also increased saliva production, making his hunger even more intense. Although his mother gave him a credit card, where could he find an ATM? Moreover, even if he could withdraw cash, there were no places to spend it in Shaolin Temple.

Meng Nan asked somewhat nervously, "What if I admit my punishment?"

Meng Nan said with a smile, "Intelligent Master, are you going down the mountain?"

Perhaps it was due to the fact that he helped Huikong chop wood yesterday that he allowed Mengnando to sleep for an extra hour today

Hui Kong carried the water tank, his large sleeves billowing as he retraced his steps along the original path. Meng Nan hurriedly filled the two wooden buckets in his hands and also made his way towards Shaolin Temple

Meng Nan then realized that Hui Kong was actually lying on a thick rope. He couldn't help but curse inwardly: "Damn! Can't even take a look at his own appearance, yet he dares to imitate the sleeping posture of the Little Dragon Girl"

"I am not a monk from your Shaolin Temple, so what right do you have to deal with me?" Meng Nan protested loudly

Since Meng Dong took vows and became a monk, he has never come to see Meng Nan again, indicating his firm resolve to sever the earthly ties with Meng Nan. In recent days, apart from the plump monk Hui Kong, the person Meng Nan has interacted with the most is the little novice monk Zhi Neng, who sweeps the floor.

The sky was devoid of moonlight, and the entire temple appeared particularly dark. Most of the monks inside the temple had already fallen asleep, and the monks on duty were merely wandering between the scripture hall and the Mahavira Hall, with no one venturing into the kitchen.

Meng Nan took his utensils to the sink to wash them clean, and after wiping down the dining table, he finally prepared to leave

In the blink of an eye, the water tank was already filled. Huikong gracefully set the water tank upright again. Mengnan was left utterly astonished; the martial arts of this stout monk were extraordinarily formidable.

The distance from the kitchen to "Butterfly Spring" is approximately 500 meters. "Butterfly Spring" is nestled among towering ancient trees, with crystal-clear water. The most remarkable feature is that many colorful butterflies flutter and gather around the spring.

The bucket is placed next to the water tank, resembling what he saw in the movie. The bottom of the bucket is conical in shape, making it impossible to take a break midway

"Are you mistaken? I am a guest of your abbot!" Meng Nan shouted angrily

Hui Kong chuckled and said, "This time, it's your turn to fetch water, so you don't have to wash the dishes!" Meng Nan then felt relieved and began to eat heartily. Strangely enough, this meal tasted particularly delicious to him; compared to milk and bread, this light vegetarian dish made him feel completely at ease.

Meng Nan picked up a corn bun and began to wolf it down with a bit of cold water. In the blink of an eye, he had swallowed two buns. He comfortably patted his belly and muttered to himself, "Oh belly, oh belly! Today I have put you through some hardship. Once I leave Shaolin Temple, I will treat you to a hearty meal!"

Meng Nan whispered, "I just want to go down the mountain with you to take a look; I do not intend to leave Shaolin. Think about it, I can leave Shaolin Temple in just three days, so why would I run away at this moment?"

"What brings the benefactor to the kitchen at such a late hour?" Huikong was clearly feigning ignorance, as a repugnant smile spread across his chubby face.

Meng Nan took the opportunity to propose a condition: "As long as you take me down the mountain, I will give you this game console!"

In the next seven days, Meng Nan helped out in the kitchen, and he could swear that the total amount of household chores he had done since birth was not as much as in these few days. Hui Kong, that fatso, did not miss any opportunity to give him orders, but for the sake of three meals a day, Meng Nan had no choice but to endure it silently.

Yet, there lay the stout figure of Master Huikong horizontally suspended in mid-air, his entire corpulent body swaying back and forth with the sound of his laughter

"Am I not allowed to not eat?" Meng Nan angrily threw him a remark, turned around, and walked towards his resting meditation room, constantly cursing inwardly, "All of it is left for you, you fat pig, may you choke to death, you bald donkey"

Upon recalling those two large water tanks, Meng Nandong immediately lost his desire to appreciate the beautiful scenery, cursing under his breath, "Damn fatso!" as he filled the two wooden barrels to the brim

The intelligent being hurriedly shook its small head: "The abbot will definitely scold us!" Meng Nan furrowed his brow, recalling a brilliant idea. He coaxed the intelligent being into the room, pulling and tugging, and took out his PSP game console from the travel bag, demonstrating it in front of the intelligent being.

He smiled at Mengnan and said, "May the Buddha be merciful. If it weren't for the concern that you might delay the morning meal, this poor monk would certainly not help you." With a sweeping motion of his wide sleeves, the empty water tank began to spin in place. He gently flicked his left foot at the bottom of the tank, causing it to rise and soar above his head. He extended his right hand to steadily support the center of the tank's bottom and strode towards the direction of 'Butterfly Spring'.

Meng Nan was initially worried that there would be monks on duty in the kitchen, but upon arriving there, he found the entire kitchen empty. Even more fortunate was that none of the large doors were locked. He searched around with a flashlight and finally found two hard corn cakes in the cupboard. At this moment, not to mention white rice, even the corn cakes appeared to him as a delicacy.

He is your disciple's nephew, and there is a proper order of seniority. If he does not listen to you, you may instruct him to face the wall

Meng Nan was taken aback; this dining table was crafted from rosewood and weighed at least 300 pounds. Hui Kong effortlessly lifted the table, demonstrating remarkable leg strength. Even more impressive was that all four legs of the table landed simultaneously, and there was no sound when they touched the ground, indicating that he had to control the force in his legs with great precision

Meng Nan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "You are quite well-fed; why not carry two buckets for me to see!"

The intelligent one hesitated as he looked at Meng Nan; he had already begun to develop feelings.

Hui Kong seemed not to notice Meng Nan's expression and continued to command: "After washing all the bowls and chopsticks clean, stack every twenty large bowls into a pile and place them in the cupboard. The bamboo chopsticks should be placed in the chopstick holder with the ends facing up"

Hui Kong executed a graceful somersault and descended from the rope, showing no signs that his clumsy body could perform such a difficult maneuver

Unexpectedly, Huikong called out to him: "It seems that the benefactor does not quite understand the meaning of this humble monk." He waved his plump hand in the dining hall: "What I mean is that the benefactor should tidy up all the bowls and chopsticks here!"

Hui Kong smiled faintly: "Once you enter the Shaolin Temple, you are a Shaolin person. In the eyes of Buddha, all living beings are equal, and there is fundamentally no distinction." This fat monk's skill in sophistry is truly of the highest caliber

Meng Nan let out a disdainful cold laugh and turned to walk towards the kitchen door

Hui Kong coldly glanced at him and the books, saying: "I do not care whose guest you are; if you wish to eat, you must work!"

However, the abbot has stated that you cannot leave Shaolin within these ten days Intelligent's gaze remained fixed on the game console in Meng Nan's hands, as he was deeply captivated by it

The intelligent one nodded slightly, and Meng Nan lowered his voice to say, "Can you take me along as well?"

Hui Kong said: "Are you planning to accept the punishment or the fine?"

Hui Kong let out a muffled grunt, his large foot lifting the Eight Immortals table in front of him, spinning through the air as it passed over Meng Nan's head, and then landing steadily in front of Meng Nan, blocking his path.

It is truly beyond comprehension! Hui Kong actually chose this moment to make a sarcastic remark

Meng Nan nodded slightly and handed the game console to him. Zhi Neng joyfully reached out his hand, but Meng Nan withdrew the game console again.

Every morning at 4:00, the smart device always arrives on time to clean the yard, while also waking Mengnan to go to the kitchen to fetch water. Several consecutive days of insufficient sleep have left Mengnan with slightly dark circles under her eyes, making her look just like a panda

Since you have already seen it, why are you still asking? Meng Nan felt an indescribable dislike towards this fat monk

"Is it not permissible to take a walk?" Meng Nan's tone was exceedingly domineering

Intelligence still has some concerns: "But Master Huikong's disciple..."

Hui Kong called out to Meng Nan: "Meng benefactor, could you please tidy up the bowls and chopsticks?"

Meng Nan habitually placed the empty bowl on the dining table and stood up, intending to leave this place

Meng Nan, realizing he was no match for Hui Kong, had no choice but to comply with his demands. At his age, it was his first time washing dishes, and considering there were at least over 1,000 pieces of tableware, he spent a full two hours cleaning them all. However, Hui Kong still showed no signs of letting him off the hook; he pointed to a corner where a pile of firewood lay: "Chop the wood, and then you can rest"

Meng Nan quietly put on his clothes, took out a flashlight, and stealthily made his way toward the kitchen.

At five o'clock, Zhineng came to knock on the door again. Meng Nan, still feeling drowsy, rubbed his eyes and got dressed to come outside. Surprisingly, Zhineng did not sweep the floor today; he handed the broom to Meng Nan and said, "Meng benefactor, today I will go down the mountain to purchase supplies with Master Huikong's nephew, so the courtyard will be cleaned by you!"

Recalling the embarrassment of having just sneaked a bite and the way she must have looked, Meng Nan couldn't help but feel a flush of heat on her face

"As a monk, how could you be so cruel!" Meng Nan said with a heart full of resentment, but thinking of the twenty monks in the precept courtyard, he could only walk towards the water tank.

Hui Kong pointed to the bowl and chopsticks in front of him and said, "If you want to fill your stomach here, you must put in some effort." Meng Nan shot him a fierce glare, but then thought to himself that he had no reason to take advantage of the situation without contributing. He decided to clean up the bowl and chopsticks he had used himself.

What? Mengnan found it somewhat difficult to understand his meaning

Hui Kong revealed a contemptible smile, pointing to the two large water tanks outside the door: "Before the morning fast tomorrow, you will fill those two tanks with water, and I will consider that nothing has happened"

The abbot primarily focuses on punishment. I will send you to the Discipline Hall. You have committed the offense of theft, and according to our Shaolin rules, you will receive twenty strikes with the monk's staff, in addition to ten days of facing the wall

After making five trips back and forth, he was already too exhausted to stand up straight. Looking at his Rolex watch, it was already past 4 a.m. The water he had drawn had not even filled one tank. Meng Nan sighed; it seemed that he had no hope of filling both tanks before the morning prayer.

Meng Nan suppressed the anger rising in his heart; this fat-headed, big-eared fellow was clearly mocking him

A sudden burst of laughter came from above his head, startling Meng Nan, who instinctively raised his flashlight to shine upwards

What? Meng Nan found it hard to believe his own ears

Hui Kong called out loudly, "Amitabha! In this tranquil place of the Buddha's teachings, how can the benefactor speak with such deceit?"

Hui Kong advised behind him: "After exiting the back door of the temple, turn right and walk about 200 meters, and you will see 'Butterfly Spring'."

Meng Nan was almost infuriated: "What are they saying about the sacred land of Buddhism? Now even this inexperienced little monk dares to bully me!" He initially intended to vent his frustrations, but suddenly recalled the matter of the intelligent ones needing to descend the mountain for supplies, which stirred something within him.

Fortunately, Hui Kong did not continue to make things difficult for him. During the early breakfast, he even specially gave Meng Nan a steamed bun and a bowl of thin porridge. This time, Meng Nan was more cautious and asked him in advance: "Do I still have to wash the bowl after eating?"

Meng Nan nodded, carrying two wooden buckets, and followed the route he indicated towards the "Butterfly Spring"