Chapter 7, The Past of Pu Hu

Looking at the clock, it is already 12:32. I left home after 8 o'clock, and arrived at Xiashui Village just after 9. I surprisingly stayed in that house for more than two hours. I touched my stomach; theoretically, I should be very hungry, but today I feel not hungry at all, and even a bit full.

Just as Zhang Chen frowned, a sound emanated from the temple

Little benefactor, please follow this old monk to a certain place, and I will tell you about the matters concerning Brother Puhu.

Recalling the state he was in just a second before being killed by the female ghost, he still felt bewildered, as if he were a person who had wandered in the desert for three days and nights without food or water, suddenly seeing an oasis, with a large table of delicious dishes beside it. He was merely acting on his subconscious. Zhang Chen himself was not sure; if he were to encounter the baby in his bathroom, would he still be able to enter this state? If not, then he might only have a dead end ahead.

I came to the temple yesterday afternoon at around 5 o'clock, and it was Master Pu Hu who guided me into the temple, I cannot be mistaken about that

Wang Yizhi, the class beauty, had already walked up to Zhang Chen when he looked up.

As soon as I got off the car, I saw that many vendors had gathered at the foot of the mountain. Since many people come to Sanxue Temple to burn incense and pray on weekends, many individuals, risking the threat of being suppressed by the urban management, have entertained the thought of doing business here

At the third watch of the night, a terrifying scream echoed from Brother Puhu's room, waking me and the other brothers, including the abbot. We quickly grabbed torches and rushed to Brother Puhu's room. Upon opening the door, we were met with a scene of blood splattered everywhere and pieces of flesh scattered across the floor. All twenty-four brothers who had been living with Brother Puhu were found dismembered. In one corner of the room, we heard the sound of gnawing. Under the light of the torches, we saw Brother Puhu crouched there, gnawing on a brother's severed limb. However, when he turned around, his eyes were not those of a human, but of a beast. At that moment, Brother Puhu seemed to be afraid of the firelight, and he dropped to all fours, leaping out of the nearby window like a tiger. Nearly a hundred people from the temple formed small teams and searched throughout the temple and the mountains all night but found no trace of Brother Puhu.

Zhang Chen turned his gaze towards the sound and saw a white-bearded monk in a robe standing at the door, his eyes constantly scrutinizing him

Zhang Chen naturally understood the abbot's meaning, and after deeply bowing, he left the mountain.

Zhang Chen followed the abbot as they walked along, passing through numerous large and small halls, filled with many monks and visiting devotees, completely unlike the tranquil atmosphere experienced upon arrival the previous day. However, Zhang Chen had expected the abbot to lead him to a small hall, but to his surprise, they both arrived at a small back door of the Sanxue Temple.

"Puping, Pugong, please invite this young benefactor to enter."

Has Master Nafu Hu passed away

"Abbot, have you found Master Pu Hu's body?" Zhang Chen immediately inquired after listening.

After speaking, the two monks began to laugh and said: "Little benefactor must have entered the wrong temple. Our Sanxue Temple closes every afternoon at 5 o'clock, and it is precisely my junior brother Puping and I who close the doors. Moreover, since my junior brother entered the temple a year ago, I have not heard of anyone named Puhu."

Zhang Chen smiled respectfully and replied: "I am here to look for someone. I wonder if the young master could take me to find a person with the Dharma name Pu Hu."

Given my current situation, I might be able to take care of the issues in the bathroom at home, but..." Zhang Chen thought while tapping the table with his chopsticks

"Yes, Abbot," the two young monks said with some surprise, and immediately let Zhang Chen enter through the main gate

At that time, the abbot was undoubtedly the one who understood Pu Hu the best, and everyone was aware of the character of his junior brother. It was feared that his junior brother had fallen into a demonic state, and the entire monastery was at a loss for a solution. Days passed, and his junior brother remained kneeling there, indifferent to food and drink. Meanwhile, the 24 senior brothers who had passed away were all arranged by the abbot to be buried on this cliff. As he spoke, the abbot pointed to each of the graves.

Uncle and Aunt, pfft pfft pfft—hello, Uncle and Aunt... Zhang Chen's slight verbal slip caused Wang Yizhi's family to burst into laughter

"Is this the legendary chance encounter?" Zhang Chen was taken aback and quickly stopped in his tracks, his heart racing. "Should I say hello? Or maybe I shouldn't; perhaps she won't even see me. But it feels too... not to greet someone from school..." Just as Zhang Chen was hesitating, a voice came through.

"I met Master Pu Hu just yesterday afternoon, and he also gave me a talisman and a pouch," replied Zhang Chen

I can't believe I actually ate that female ghost, no, no, I need to act a bit more like a normal person. However, recalling the moment when I bit into the ghost's arm, I didn't feel disgusted at all; instead, my mouth began to salivate. Zhang Chen shook his head, walked up to a vendor's stall, ordered a bowl of pork rib noodles, and sat down at a table set up nearby.

Zhang Chen remained silent for a long time before recounting to the abbot everything that had happened the previous afternoon, while also explaining his family situation. After listening, the abbot smiled faintly, as if lost in thought, and did not speak. He then turned and walked towards the temple, and Zhang Chen had no choice but to follow him.

Arrived

After Zhang Chen passed through the closely packed bamboo, he arrived at the edge of a cliff. To the naked eye, there were numerous graves on this cliff, with at least twenty visible at a glance

"Do you know Brother Pu Hu, young benefactor?" the abbot said with a smile

This is the last place where Junior Brother Puhui stayed in my temple

Alright, we are heading down the mountain now, make sure to pray properly" Wang Yizhi waved goodbye to Zhang Chen

Not long after setting off, Zhang Chen saw the entrance of the temple, and immediately cleared his mind of daydreams. At that moment, two young monks were standing at the entrance. Upon seeing Zhang Chen approach, they clasped their hands together and said: "Young benefactor, if you have come to offer incense, please enter, turn right to purchase incense at the incense shop, and then proceed to the other main halls"

The young monk pondered for a moment and said: "Young benefactor, it seems that there is no one in this temple by that name. Could it be that you have remembered it incorrectly?"

At that time, Brother Pu Hu had just arrived and was very kind to everyone. Although his health was poor, he took on the heaviest tasks. After decades, everyone admired him, and it can be said that he was the one everyone looked up to. If it weren't for that incident, Brother Pu Hu would probably still be presiding over this Sanxue Temple now. The abbot sighed as he spoke this.

The two of them walked in silence to the entrance of the Sanxue Temple. The abbot said to Zhang Chen, "Junior Brother Puhu often tells a story to the new disciples in the temple. He speaks of a hunter family living in a forest, where the old hunter has two sons. From a young age, he dotes on the elder son, helping him with everything, including hunting, fearing that he might get hurt. One day, while in the woods, they encounter a tiger. The elder son is so frightened that he is at a loss for what to do, and the old hunter can only watch as his elder son meets his demise at the tiger's jaws. Upon returning home, he looks at his youngest son, who has just turned six, and weeps bitterly. From that day on, he allows the youngest son to venture out alone, without guidance or warning. Eight years pass, and the youngest son suffers injuries, some minor, others resulting in broken limbs. A few months later, one afternoon as the sun is about to set, the youngest son drags home the fierce tiger that had once threatened his elder brother's life."

At that time, the abbot sent several junior disciples down the mountain to search, but they found nothing. Everyone then assumed that the junior disciple had fallen into the Jinxi River

If I do not undergo training, when I encounter more formidable ghosts and monsters in the future, I will be doomed. I must work hard, grow stronger, and protect the people around me. Zhang Chen clenched his fists tightly, secretly making a resolution

"I didn't expect you to be quite nice, huh? I accompanied my parents to burn incense this weekend, also seeking peace," Wang Yizhi said in surprise

When we arrived, the cliff was already filled with the brothers from the temple and the abbot. Pu Hu, who had not eaten or drunk for several days, knelt at the edge of the cliff and said to all of us, "This is all my own fault, I am sorry to my brothers, and I am sorry to the abbot who raised me." After bowing ten times, he leaned back and fell off the cliff. After the abbot finished speaking, a tear rolled down his cheek, and his emotions gradually calmed down.

The voice of "Zhang Chen" is sweet yet gentle, precisely the voice of Wang Banhua

I do not know, since you have a connection with Junior Brother Puhu, I will share with you. Fifty years ago, when I was twenty-one years old, I had already been in the temple for two years. Junior Brother Puhu was an orphan, only about ten years old at that time, begging on the streets without parents. The new China had just been established; although life had improved for everyone, it was still not very good. The temple's elder saw that the child had a kind nature and brought him back to the temple. The abbot was lost in memories. Junior Brother Puhu was an orphan, only about ten years old at that time, begging on the streets without parents. The new China had just been established; although life had improved for everyone, it was still not very good. The temple's elder saw that the child had a kind nature and brought him back to the temple. The abbot was lost in memories

The monk seemed to know that I possessed such abilities; I must definitely go up and ask for clarification after finishing my meal. Zhang Chen did not think much of it and began to eat after breaking open the disposable chopsticks

Zhang Chen mechanically waved his hand, standing in place for a while before realizing something was amiss. He hurriedly turned around and walked up the mountain, thinking to himself, "Ah, it would be great if one day I could really invite Uncle and Aunt."

It was not until the morning of the second day, when everyone thought that Junior Brother Pu Hu had already escaped from the mountain, that they returned to the room where the incident occurred. In the center of the room sat a person, none other than Pu Hu. The crowd felt both anger and fear, hesitant to approach. Just as everyone was in doubt, the abbot, who was over 70 years old, walked up to Junior Brother Pu Hu. He saw that the tears streaming from his junior brother's eyes had soaked his monk's robe. His hands were tightly clenched, with his nails deeply embedded in his palms, and blood was continuously dripping. Meanwhile, he kept softly murmuring the words 'I'm sorry'.

In this bamboo forest, apart from the bamboo, nothing else is visible. Zhang Chen followed the abbot for nearly 5 minutes and had completely lost his sense of direction. Just as Zhang Chen was in a daze, a voice came through.

Master Fangzhang, this is ... ... " Zhang Chen inquired

After finishing a bowl of noodles, Zhang Chen felt quite full. After settling the bill, he began to walk towards the mountain top. At this moment, he felt a surge of strength in his legs; if it weren't for the large number of people ascending the mountain, he could have made it up at a very fast pace. While walking at the halfway point, Zhang Chen looked up and saw a familiar figure descending the mountain. It was neither Erwa nor Tan Fei, but Wang Banhua.

The old monk recalled that day, which was already ten years ago. On that day, Junior Brother Puhu, for reasons unknown, received news about his parents and informed the abbot early, setting off down the mountain alone. He was gone for four days and four nights, and on the evening of the fourth day, Junior Brother Puhu returned to the temple, looking somewhat weak. With the support of his fellow disciples, he took some medicine, but whenever they inquired about his parents, he remained tight-lipped. This absence lasted four days and four nights, and on the evening of the fourth day, Junior Brother Puhu returned to the temple, looking somewhat weak. With the support of his fellow disciples, he took some medicine, but whenever they inquired about his parents, he remained tight-lipped. However, no one noticed his unusual behavior, and they all returned to their rooms to sleep. The abbot said this, gripping his hands tightly, his emotions somewhat agitated

"How did you come to Sanxue Temple? Are you alone?" Wang Yizhi asked

"Abbot?" Zhang Chen walked in with confusion, approaching the old man. He felt a very comfortable aura, somewhat similar to the one he experienced when he entered the Great Hero Hall yesterday, and he found himself calming down.

"Yes, my father is not in good health, so I came to Sanxue Temple alone to light some incense for him and to ask for a talisman for peace," Zhang Chen replied nervously.

Considering the future of Sanxue Temple and the decades of dedication by the junior monks to the temple, the abbot decided to expel him from the temple and send him down the mountain. The others silently accepted this decision. However, after the decision was made, I took four junior monks to the room of Junior Monk Puhu, but he had already vanished without a trace. At that moment, a junior monk responsible for managing the ceremonial forest rushed into the temple and shouted that Puhu was on the cliff and might jump to commit suicide.

Master Fangzhang, what is this?" Zhang Chen walked out of the back door, and before him was a bamboo forest