Chapter 2, on the rock of Pan Tuo

A strange whirlwind spiraled above the Kaye Temple, the sky dark and gloomy, accompanied by the piercing cries for help from the people, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a hellish apocalypse, leaving one to wonder where the light might be.

Xiao Yungui then noticed that he did not know when the sky had turned dark, with thick clouds gathering above. Seeing that the uncle had said this, he did not decline any further. After handing the camera to the uncle, he jumped back onto the stone platform, standing again between Hong Yun'er and Song Qingjun, his face devoid of expression

"When entering the temple to worship the Bodhisattva, be careful not to speak recklessly!" Hong Yun'er, having just caught her breath, said in a low voice: "I have heard that this place is very effective."

Xiao Yungui hurriedly said: "You all go ahead, I will extinguish the cigarette and come right away"

The gathering of resentment and hatred, along with the suffering of the five aggregates, is indeed not well understood. The suffering of the five aggregates refers to the accumulation of various pains such as aging, illness, and death from previous lives, hence it is called the suffering of the five aggregates. This gathering of resentment and hatred refers to the people we constantly resent and detest, whom we originally seek to distance ourselves from, yet they continue to gather around us, frequently appearing in our lives. In simple terms, it means that the people we dislike always seem to be right in front of us. Hong Yun'er adjusted her glasses and said to Xiao Yungui in a leisurely manner: "We are the gathering of resentment and hatred; I believe this gathering is the foremost of the eight sufferings!"

Song Qingjun pouted and said: "No, if we are going to take a photo, we should take it together!"

Xiao Yungui let out a long breath and gritted his teeth, saying: "I feel the same way! Every night I have nightmares about a dinosaur wearing black-framed glasses chasing me!" After saying this, he headed straight into the temple, ignoring Hong Yun'er, who was so angry that her whole body trembled, following behind with a dark expression.

He turned around and saw Song Qingjun, Hong Yuner, and Lu Sixuan standing behind him, and he said in a daze, "It's nothing."

The monk smiled faintly and said, "All dharmas originate from the same source, and it is only to guide people towards goodness and to escape the sea of suffering. As long as the benefactor's heart is unobstructed, whether one is a monk or a layperson makes no difference. However, the benefactor must be cautious not to be deceived by the appearances of the world and ensnared by the demons of the heart. As the saying goes, worldly affairs are unpredictable; it is best to act according to one's heart in all matters." After saying this, the monk chanted a Buddhist invocation and strode down the mountain, soon disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Hong Yun'er gritted her teeth and said in a low voice: "You despicable man, there will come a day when you will fall into the hands of a woman!"

Two individuals arrived at the entrance of the Kasyapa Temple, located halfway up Jizhu Mountain. This Kasyapa Temple, also known as the Kasa Hall, is situated on the eastern side of the Tianzhu Peak at Jizhu Mountain. According to legend, the founder of Jizhu Mountain, the Buddha Kasyapa, meditated on a large stone within the hall for five hundred years, which is how it got its name. For this reason, the Kasyapa Hall holds a significant position among the many temples on Jizhu Mountain, being referred to as the "First Temple in the Mountain" and the "Ancestral Hall of All Temples in the Mountain." In front of the hall stands a magnificent 8.6-meter tall golden-plated copper Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda, and within the complex are the Heavenly King Hall, Guanyin Hall, Kasyapa Hall, Abbot's Building, and Scripture Repository, all exuding grandeur and solemnity.

Lu Sixuan then showed a delighted expression and stepped forward. Xiao Yungui glanced at him with disdain, but upon looking at Song Qingjun, he sidestepped to one side, unexpectedly inserting himself between Song Qingjun and Hong Yun'er.

Xiao Yungui snatched the camera and jumped down the stone path, saying, "I will take the picture for you."

Watching Hong Yun'er’s graceful figure disappear into the temple, Xiao Yungui let out a long sigh, leisurely lit a cigarette, and took a moment to rest while enjoying the cool breeze of the mountains

Xiao Yungui said nonchalantly in a low voice: "I have many women, so it's not strange that I can't take care of them all at once"

Xiao Yungui's face darkened, realizing that this monk was actually advising him to become a monk. He had not yet enjoyed enough of the pleasures of this worldly life, such as wine, women, and wealth. Becoming a monk meant abstaining from women, alcohol, and meat, which he considered the greatest suffering in the world. He shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum and exclaimed, "Master, I believe in God..."

Xiao Yungui snorted and said: "What kind of spirituality is there? It’s obvious that he is just bragging!"

Xiao Yungui was not angry this time; he suddenly recalled that his belief in God was merely a pursuit of novelty, and he had never been properly baptized. It seemed that what Hong Yun'er said was indeed true: he actually had no faith. At that moment, he remained silent and continued to walk forward.

Song Qingjun curled her lips and said: "So this is the Pan Tuo Stone, just a large stone that looks like a grinding disc, nothing special at all"

Hong Yun'er stepped forward and smiled, saying: "This stone is said to be the miraculous stone on which Master Kasyapa meditated for five hundred years. Although it may not seem particularly special, the important thing is that it is rumored to possess spiritual essence"

Song Qingjun, seeing that he did not refuse, felt delighted in her heart and nodded, saying, "Then you should hurry up." After saying this, she walked ahead, while Lu Sixuan, the Guanyin soldier, followed behind carrying Song Qingjun's belongings.

Xiao Yungui felt increasingly confused. Around him, tourists continuously entered the temple holding incense, worshipping as the fragrant smoke swirled around. He seemed to be in a dream, with the words of the monk constantly swirling in his mind, pondering deeply yet unable to grasp their meaning

That evening, the local news headline reported a lightning incident at the scenic spot of Jiaye Temple's rear mountain, resulting in the immediate death of four university students from Shan University, while eighteen nearby tourists sustained varying degrees of injury

Hong Yun'er let out a sound and said: "It turns out you have no firm belief at all, seeking help only in times of need; no one will protect you, this worthless man."

Xiao Yungui was unexpectedly stepped on, and he gasped in pain, suppressing the intense ache in his foot as he quietly said: "This young master can tolerate a kick from your dinosaur, standing next to Qingjun is acceptable, but you absolutely cannot stand next to me"

After walking a few steps, Xiao Yungui suddenly asked: "Sister Four-Eyed, you seem to believe in Buddhism. What do the Eight Sufferings of Buddhism mean: birth, aging, illness, death, not obtaining what one desires, separation from loved ones, encountering those one hates, and the suffering of the five aggregates?"

"Yun Gui! What are you thinking about?" Song Qingjun's gentle voice interrupted Xiao Yun Gui's thoughts

Hong Yun'er frowned, quietly stepped on Xiao Yungui's foot, and coldly snorted while muttering: "What are you squeezing over for?"

Song Qingjun smiled gently and said, "Let us go and see the famous scenic spot, Pantaoshi. I have heard that the scenery there is very beautiful. Let us take some photos to commemorate our visit." With that, she reached out to pull Xiao Yungui into the temple.

A flash of white light suddenly appeared, followed by a deafening roar descending from the sky. The tourists around the Pantuo Stone seemed to be struck by a heavy hammer, collapsing all at once with a thunderous sound. After a while, a piercing scream echoed through the mountains: "A person has been struck by lightning! A person has been struck by lightning! Hurry, save them! Quickly call for emergency assistance!"

Hong Yun'er let out a cold snort and said sternly: "You are speaking nonsense in the Buddhist realm; be careful not to bring misfortune upon yourself and get struck by lightning!"

Xiao Yungui sat heavily on the stone bench outside the mountain gate, panting as he said, "I won't go in." He then began to gulp down the mineral water.

The monk approached Xiao Yungui and scrutinized him from head to toe with great attention. Xiao Yungui felt uncomfortable under the monk's gaze and furrowed his brows, saying: "Master, what are you looking at?"

There were quite a few tourists nearby, and a warm-hearted uncle walked over and said with a smile: "Young people, it's about to rain. Let me help you take a picture. Once you are done, please take one for me as well, as I am about to head down the mountain." It turned out that this uncle had a purpose in offering his assistance.

The monk said: "Amitabha Buddha, the scriptures state that there are eight sufferings in life: birth, aging, illness, death, the suffering of unfulfilled desires, the suffering of separation from loved ones, the suffering of encountering those we resent, and the suffering of the five aggregates. If one wishes to distance oneself from these eight sufferings and avoid falling into the cycle of rebirth, it is better to take refuge in the Buddha."

Xiao Yungui smugly brushed his hair and said with a sneer, "That will have to wait until the day someone wants you too." Hong Yun'er, infuriated, stomped her foot hard again, but this time Xiao Yungui gently sidestepped.

"Stop arguing, you two. Stand still, we are about to take a photo." Song Qingjun thought the two were just bickering again, unaware that they were actually talking about her. Hong Yun'er and Xiao Yungui quickly exchanged a glare, turned their heads, and stood up straight.

Xiao Yungui did not wish to mention the encounter with a monk earlier, and with a glance at Hong Yun'er, he said: "Since you are here, let us pay our respects to the Bodhisattva; the more we worship, the more divine protection we shall receive."

Hong Yun'er snorted and said: "They are also inside worshipping the Bodhisattva. Qingjun heard that you were outside, so she insisted on coming out to pull you in." Following that, she disdainfully glanced at Xiao Yungui a few times and said: "Aren't you a believer in Jesus? Why did you eagerly agree to go in when Qingjun called you?"

Hong Yun'er then remembered something, snorted, and said: "I forgot that you, this despicable man, are a Christian. Wait for me here!"

Hong Yun'er stroked her chin and looked at the nonchalant Xiao Yungui, sneering softly, "I really don't understand what you're thinking. Is this how you treat your fiancée?"

Song Qingjun saw the two of them glaring at each other again, and hurriedly stepped forward to pull them up to the Panta Stone, saying with a smile, "You two stop arguing, let's take a group photo first." Then, turning around, she saw Lu Sixuan standing there with a sullen expression, and Song Qingjun smiled sweetly, saying, "Sixuan, you should join us too."

After the four of them stood in place, they realized that everyone had forgotten one thing: who would take the photo? The four of them looked at each other and burst into laughter

Hong Yun'er looked at Xiao Yungui and Song Qingjun with a strange expression, knowing that the two had always been like this, so she said nothing more. Their voices were low, and neither Song Qingjun nor Lu Sixuan heard them. Lu Sixuan appeared very happy to take a photo with Song Qingjun, and when they were on the stone platform, Song Qingjun even reached out to pull him up, excitement evident on Lu Sixuan's simple face.

Upon entering the mountain gate of Jieshe Temple and paying homage to the various Bodhisattvas in the Kasyapa Hall, I passed through the Master Hall on the south side. Following the verdant path, I ascended to a hilltop, where I beheld a serene scene of pine and cypress trees. Amidst the lush greenery, a massive stone lay quietly before me. This stone is said to be the Panta Stone, where the revered Kasyapa meditated for five hundred years. Its surface is remarkably smooth and flat, capable of accommodating dozens of people.

Xiao Yungui extinguished the cigarette butt and asked Hong Yun'er, "How did we encounter them again?"

The uncle cheerfully raised his camera to aim at the four people, while saying, "You young people should smile, don't all look so expressionless. Ah, that's right, just like that, one, two, three!"

Hong Yun'er looked at him strangely, rarely seeing him so serious in asking her. She then answered earnestly: "Birth, aging, illness, and death are succinctly stated; you should be able to understand them from their literal meaning without my explanation. As for the other four sufferings, the pain of love and separation, and the pain of unfulfilled desires, they are also quite understandable. It means that the people we love can never be together for long, and unfulfilled desires refer to the many things in the world that we strive for but cannot attain."

In the quiet resting area, a monk suddenly emerged from the temple, wearing cloth shoes and a monk's robe, with a string of prayer beads in hand, muttering words under his breath