Chapter 3: Looking up at the bright moon

Rich yet not greasy, it melts in the mouth, offering an exquisite texture; it is truly a delicacy of the world

"So fragrant!" Meng Qi couldn't help but exclaim, wondering in his heart: "Is the 'master chef' level of Shaolin really that high? Or is it just because I am too hungry?"

Meng Qi gazed at the serene and tranquil scene, and suddenly, a multitude of past experiences surged forth, overwhelming him with emotions of longing, sorrow, hesitation, confusion, and self-pity

Meng Qi nodded gratefully, and the young servant monk continued: "In our Buddhist teachings, we originally only prohibited killing and the consumption of pungent foods, but did not forbid meat. Out of compassion, we gradually began to restrict it. However, as Shaolin is a major school of martial arts in the world, our disciples often engage in activities to strengthen their bodies. If we were to reduce meat consumption without sufficient spiritual herbs or elixirs to compensate, it would inevitably harm our health. Therefore, the 'Shaolin Precepts' state that before enlightenment, disciples should adhere to the original intention, only abstaining from pungent foods, but killing is not permitted."

How outrageous! This group of scoundrels, none of them waited for me

He spoke with great enthusiasm, while the attendants below displayed a range of expressions, most of them a mix of disdain and anticipation

After finally having eaten to satisfaction, Meng Qi wiped his mouth and returned to the meditation room with Zhen Hui as if taking a leisurely stroll after a meal

Other miscellaneous monks also seemed to be hearing this statement for the first time, and they curiously inquired: "If that is the case, why is Lankesi included among the four great temples of Buddhism?"

He added, "It would be even better if I could learn the 'Rulai Divine Palm'"

I am not asking you ... . ... Mengqi felt that communicating with Zhenhui was somewhat difficult

Meng Qi continued to inquire: "Junior brother, may I ask elder brother, what does 'opening the mind' mean?"

"That makes sense; if you cannot understand, you cannot truly feel my might." Xuanxin nodded, cleared his throat, and said, "Let me first introduce you to the common knowledge of the martial world, starting with the four great temples of our Buddhist sect."

Is this child really so foolish from hunger in the past? Meng Qi murmured quietly, doubting that Zhen Hui had a deficiency in intelligence, otherwise, she would not be so dull.

Meng Qi paused for a moment, just about to speak, when he suddenly noticed that Zhen Hui's breathing had become faint, and she had already fallen asleep

"Hmm, the Sweeping Monk." Zhenhui continued to sweep without raising his head

Xuanxin spoke with great satisfaction: "Although there are numerous martial arts sects and schools in the world, when it comes to those who can hold the reins of martial arts, today there are only the four Buddhist temples, the three Daoist schools, the six sword factions, the six great powers of the world, the nine evil paths, the fourteen aristocratic families, as well as the legacies left by the six external masters."

Seeing that the lay monks were stunned, Xuánxīn chuckled and said, "Returning to the main topic, let me first talk about my Shaolin Temple." And the *illustration* *book*

In other words, can the lay disciples or farmers from the foot of the mountain carry out the slaughter? Meng Qi probably understood what was going on. As Shaolin is a martial arts Buddhist sect, it must consider the condition of disciples in the stage of physical training, thus making an exception based on the original intention of Buddhism.

Meng Qi picked up the chopsticks with some disbelief, intending to grab a piece to taste. However, in just a few swift motions, chopsticks from both sides and diagonally in front reached out, and the items in the bowl that appeared to be meat immediately diminished by an entire layer. The various attendants at this table were all exceptional in their food-snatching skills.

One does not know until one looks; upon looking, one is startled. Meng Qi, upon entering the dining hall, realized that there were a considerable number of lay monks, at least fifty or sixty individuals. It seems that the total number of monks in Shaolin may well be in the thousands.

"Is Master Xuanxin really that formidable?" While listening to the tales of the martial world, Zhi Hui appeared much more animated than usual, seemingly taking an interest in it akin to that of food.

The bright moonlight before my bed, I suspect it is frost on the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, and lower it to think of my hometown

When mentioning Lankesi, he paused once more, revealing a somewhat uncertain expression, and then, in a fit of anger and embarrassment, said, "In fact, I have never understood why Lankesi is included among the four temples of Buddhism. Its location is unknown, and its disciples rarely venture into the world, with no remarkable deeds to speak of that would make it renowned across the land"

"Hello, junior brother." Meng Qi called out to Zhen Hui in a low voice

Meng Qi feels that only profanity can express his current emotions, firstly to cheer for his own indulgence, and secondly to convey his incredulous feelings

Just as he was about to boast further and establish the illustrious image of his senior brother, Xuanxin walked over, holding his belly: "Hey, you two, go clean up the courtyard. Later, when the master uncle arrives, I will share with you some insights from the martial world."

Zhenhui's expression remained serious, showing no signs of timidity. She confidently sat down opposite Mengqi, her gaze focused on the nearby food box

"Isn't 'hun' just meat?" Meng Qi instinctively retorted, only to realize that sitting next to him was his "roommate" Zhen Guan

Xuanxin began to feel pleased with himself again, boasting: "It is said that when the abbot was young and traveled the world, he once encountered a disciple of Lankesi. Later, he only said one thing about this matter: 'If there is fate, Lankesi is as close as the horizon; if there is no fate, even the closest distance feels like a vast expanse.'"

With deft movements, the chopsticks flew as she spoke incessantly, her delicate and clear-featured face radiating an expression of intense focus: "Hmm?"

"It is simply a matter of being willing, happy, and liking it, without wanting more." Meng Qi once again felt that communicating with the child was somewhat challenging

Zhen Guan did not stop eating, and said with a hint of sarcasm: "Look at you, a young master from a wealthy family, yet you don't even understand the word 'meat'?"

Gathering their emotions, Meng Qi and Zhen Hui worked together to clean the courtyard before nightfall. Then, they saw several monks in gray robes carrying the benches from the dining hall into the courtyard, arranging them in a neat yet casual manner as they took their seats.

Amidst a drab gray monk's robe, no one noticed the newly arrived young monks, such as Meng Qi, who sat on benches, waiting for the duty monk to come in carrying the food box.

On the Relationship Between Childhood Experiences and Psychological Disorders ... . ... This content unexpectedly emerged in Meng Qi's mind.

Meng Qi quickly said: "Master Xuanxin, we know very little about the affairs of the Jianghu. Your explanation leaves us with much that we do not understand."

This is meat! Meng Qi felt it was his duty to remind his junior apprentice not to fall into the trap and violate the precepts

But this is a monk's temple

The path of advancement for a generation of great individuals

Gazing at the cold moon outside the window, Meng Qi was momentarily entranced

"Junior Brother, sit here." Meng Qi, possessing great secrets and trapped in an unfamiliar place, found it rare to have a simple-minded and naive Zhen Hui by his side. Therefore, adhering to a mature mindset, he took good care of Zhen Hui, which also helped alleviate his feelings of fear in this strange environment

It is said that the "Flying Night Demon" and the "Ice Fairy" Ye Yuqi are both renowned figures on the earthly rankings. In that battle, the land was scorched for a hundred miles, and the great river was frozen. Out of compassion, my master uncle could not bear to see the common people suffer. Thus, he chanted a Buddhist invocation, wishing to resolve the personal grievances between the two.

Zhenhui thought seriously: "What I had before is not as good as this time, but since you, Senior Brother, feel it is somewhat lacking, then it must indeed be somewhat lacking"

"Very skilled..." Meng Qi suspected that Xuan Xin often shared stories and experiences from the Jianghu with everyone

As night fell, the plump and glistening Xuánxīn staggered out of his meditation room. Immediately, several lay monks approached him, some setting up stools and others lighting lamps, all very attentive.

Seeing that this young servant monk spoke with remarkable eloquence and clarity, Meng Qi felt a sense of goodwill and smiled as he asked, "May I ask your dharma name, senior brother?"

This struck Mengqi at his weak point, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words. Suddenly, a young monk with a clear and bright demeanor spoke from a diagonal position: "The term 'hunxin' refers to the rich flavors of ingredients such as scallions and garlic, and is not limited to meat. However, in the past century, people have often used 'hun' to mean meat, so it is entirely normal for you, junior brother, not to know this."

Ke... ..." Zhenhui still wanted to ask, since Master Xuanxin is not formidable, why was he still able to prevent this great battle? However, he was stopped by Mengqi, who told him to go back and ask later, so as not to be overheard by Xuanxin and incur his wrath and punishment

"Senior brother, what is the knowledge of the rivers and lakes?" Mu Mu Na Na's Zhen Hui seemed to have a bit of interest in this.

... ...

Regarding the six heretical teachers, he appeared somewhat uncertain, yet this did not hinder him from continuing: "The four temples of Buddhism are respectively our Great Jin Shaolin Temple, the North Zhou Shuiyue Monastery, the Western Region Vajra Temple, and the Lankao Temple"

The abbot of the Damo and Bodhi monasteries, and the steward monk of the miscellaneous duties... Meng Qi instantly understood that Xuanxin was boasting, of course, he did so with great skill, cleverly linking significant events from the martial world to himself.

It is indeed meat!

He is relying on his young body, completely able to evade responsibility by claiming that he has not yet been taught by his family to seek understanding forcefully

The young acolyte did not stop using the wooden chopsticks in his hand

Having spoken, he immediately rose and slipped into the meditation room

Distant as the horizon, yet close at hand; close at hand, yet as distant as the horizon

The two individuals did not speak, each removing their shoes and socks, lying down on the bed as if still immersed in the martial arts world described by Xuanxin moments ago

This is really tantalizing! Meng Qi was just about to hear about the Seventy-Two Unique Skills, the Diamond Temple, and other matters, and now he is truly anxious and restless, unable to contain his excitement, but Xuanxin has already left

Cough, Xuanxin suddenly coughed once and said with a smile, "It is already late at night, let us continue this discussion tomorrow."

Thank you, Master Xuanxin, " Meng Qi said with considerable delight

Xuanxin looked around and was pleased to see the expressions of eagerness. After clearing his throat, he said: "Today, I will continue to recount the great battle I experienced in Jiangzhou City."

Meng Qi's smile lingered at the edge of his lips, and with a sigh, he thought to himself: "Not understanding the joke is truly dull"

As a lay monk, one must be prepared to be assigned tasks at any time. Meng Qi does not reject this, as long as it is not excessive or targeted specifically at him. It is similar to when one is studying or working, where the class teacher or boss assigns tasks, such as organizing a thorough cleaning, which is not an unusual occurrence

Ah, to be honest, the quality of this meal is still somewhat lacking. At first, I thought it was delicious, but that was mostly due to being too hungry. Meng Qi rubbed his belly and let out a satisfied burp as he commented on tonight's dinner

Enlarging the knowledge of the rivers and lakes? Meng Qi was immediately intrigued. After inquiring about the location where the broom was stored, he called out to Zhen Hui and went to the storage room in the corner of the courtyard.

What is the Magic Buddha, what is "The Palm of the Tathagata," what are "The Great Dream Scripture" and "The Moko Subduing Demon Fist"? Hearing this, Meng Qi's heart swayed, and a sense of yearning suddenly arose. The martial arts of this world are probably not as simple as one imagines, even the gods and Buddhas are involved! Of course, it may just be a legend

In the plain sea bowl at the center, that plump and oily block-like substance should be meat

Puh, Mengqi almost spat out her saliva; it is truly unclear whether Zhenhui is content or discontent with this situation

Xuanxin spoke passionately, and after quite a while, he finally finished recounting this tale of the "Buddha of Ten Thousand Families" from the martial world. In the end, he looked towards Mengqi, Zhenhui, and the other newly initiated young monks and asked, "Do you have any questions? As for matters of the martial world, I, your master uncle, am well-informed about everything."

Zhenhui asked in confusion: "Senior brother, what does it mean to be willing?"

Including Mengqi, one by one, the gray-robed monks were shaken, feeling a mix of confusion, curiosity, and fear

The rotating duty monks finally arrived at Meng Qi and their table with the food boxes. As the lids were opened, a fragrant aroma wafted in, penetrating deep into the heart.

At this moment, someone beside coldly remarked: "Before 'opening the mind', one should only abstain from meat and spicy food"

The dozing monk in the front row truly should not turn his head, and in a voice as faint as a mosquito, he said: "The 'Flying Heavenly Yaksha' claims to be the master of the 'Zombie Fist' sect, while 'Ice Fairy' Ye Yuqi is the sister-in-law of Mr. Lu from the Huamei Mountain Villa in Northern Zhou. Both are among the top thirty on the local rankings, akin to my position as the abbot of the Shaolin's Dharma and Bodhi halls.

He simply cannot understand the underlying implications of the truth.

After tidying up the courtyard, Mengqi and Zhenhui quietly returned to the meditation room, where Zhenguan and Zhenying were already fast asleep, their breathing deep and prolonged

Zhenhui continued to ask in a daze: "So Master Xuanxin is really that impressive!"

This, this, it's a long story. Once Master Xuanxin explains it, I will slowly clarify it for you. Meng Qi, who had just arrived, was not in the mood to explain the term "complex" to Zhenhui. He sat quietly on the bench, waiting for Xuanxin to begin.

Mengqi and Zhenhui are currently a bit awkward in wielding the broom with their underdeveloped bodies, but it is still relatively easy for them, as the yard is often cleaned and is not too dirty.

After muttering a curse under his breath, Meng Qi picked up a pair of wooden chopsticks and joined the fray for food

The bright moon hangs high outside the window, casting a layer of silvery light in front of the bed, resembling frost.

The entire meditation room fell completely silent, with only a few breaths gently rising and falling, which instead accentuated the depth and tranquility of the night

Ah, do you trust me so much? Meng Qi, seeing that Zhen Hui spoke in a rather organized manner, felt that there seemed to be hope for him, so he curiously followed his words and asked.

The broom sweeps across the gray-white stone floor, stirring up dust and removing fallen leaves

Although there is no overarching principle, the patriarch Bodhidharma was endowed with divine gifts, and after spending ten years facing the wall, he comprehended the "Yi Jin Jing" and various other unique skills from the third form of the "Rulai Shen Zhang". He established the Shaolin lineage, which, in just a century, became a major school of martial arts in the world. Through the collective efforts of successive patriarchs and eminent monks, Shaolin has accumulated as many as seventy-two unique skills. Even treasures of the temple, like the "Yi Jin Jing", have been complemented by the "Da Meng Zhen Jing" and the "Mo Ke Fu Mo Quan". The specific patriarch or eminent monk responsible for these creations will be discussed later.

The dining hall of the service institute is simple and old-fashioned, with wooden tables paired with benches, illuminated by a blue lamp casting light on people's faces

Meng Qi followed his finger and saw that half of the seven or eight bowls of dishes on the table were already empty

It is only at this very moment, in this particular scene, that he truly understands the real meaning of the poem by the Qinglian Recluse

Zhenhui sighed: "Being able to eat, sleep, work, and be full, being able to listen to Master Xuanxin tell stories, I am very content, much better than before"

So mysterious

Thousands of years ago, during the chaotic era of the Demon Buddha, the Buddha descended to suppress it. However, the "Rulai Divine Palm" was lost to the ends of the earth, leaving no trace. It was not until two thousand years ago that the founder of Shaolin, Bodhidharma, came from the southern wilderness, crossing the river on a single reed, and by chance obtained the third form of the "Rulai Divine Palm." Thus, this supreme Buddhist secret art reemerged in the world.

Zhenyan let out a laugh and pointed to the wooden table with his left hand: "In the future, you will understand, first take care of your stomach."

Seeing Zhenhui with her mouth full of grease, Mengqi became increasingly certain of his suspicions. While marveling at their ability to snatch food, he picked up a piece and stuffed it into his own mouth

The servant monk bent down to take the dishes from the food box and arranged them one by one on the table. Meng Qi looked closely and was immediately astonished; this, this seemed to possibly be meat

The past that cannot be relinquished, the heart-wrenching "farewell," left Mengqi unable to sleep for a long time

As he was sweeping, Meng Qi suddenly had a strange yet interesting thought, and he couldn't help but chuckle, adopting an aged voice: "Little junior brother, does this count as being a Shaolin monk who sweeps the floor?"

This slothful monk, compared to the cold and aloof true monk, is indeed more knowledgeable and experienced

Meng Qi tugged at his monk robe and whispered, "The abbot is much more formidable than Master Xuanxin."

Zhenhui raised her hand to touch her bald head and said somewhat shyly: "I think you are a good person, unlike others who find me so annoying, so I trust you"

"Junior apprentice, are you content to remain a menial monk, unable to learn the ultimate skills of Shaolin?" In the midst of silence, Meng Qi suddenly asked in a low voice

Zhenhui sincerely nodded and vaguely said: "It is meat"

During the day, there is no time to think so much, so this quiet night is particularly soul-stirring