Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Chapter 67: Shang Hexing appeared before her.

Chapter 67: Shang Hexing appeared before her.

Wen Zhi’s eyelashes were still damp, and her pillow was wet from her tears, though she was unaware as she gently placed her hand on Meng Fan’s back, “Meng Fan, I dreamed about mom again.”

Meng Fan didn’t make a sound.

She guessed as much.

The only things that would make Wen Zhi cry so sorrowfully in her dreams were seeing her mother or her father.

After breakfast, Wen Zhi quickly got ready and changed into a loose-fitting robe and pants. Meng Fan loved wearing dresses, but since they were not permissible in the temple, she had reluctantly set aside her preference and picked a few attractive outfits.

It took over an hour by car to reach Jingci Temple.

The two of them paid their respects to Buddha first.

Then, led by the duty monk, they entered the Guest Hall one after the other.

Nearly half an hour had passed by the time their conversation ended, and both Wen Zhi and Meng Fan’s names were recorded in the temple’s register.

Each donated one hundred thousand incense money.

The monk asked Wen Zhi, “How many days do the benefactors wish to stay?”

Meng Fan thought Wen Zhi would blurt out a fortnight, but Wen Zhi fell silent for a moment.

The monk clasped his hands together, looking at Wen Zhi, “What troubles the benefactor?”

Wen Zhi hesitated then said, “Affections.”

Meng Fan raised an eyebrow at her side.

The monk said, “Affections can be for family, friends, lovers, or children. As long as you understand it in your heart. Furthermore, three days for precepts, meditation, and wisdom, six days to escape the six realms of reincarnation, seven days for a Buddhist retreat to cleanse and meditate for seven days.”

After hearing this, Wen Zhi asked, “Is staying for a month considered practicing?”

Meng Fan raised her eyebrow again, “What? A month???”

The monk smiled, “To practice is to cultivate the mind. It’s best to follow your own intentions.”

In the end, Wen Zhi decided to practice for a fortnight.

The monk took them to the Dormitory House. Along the way, they encountered a young monk sweeping the floor, and Meng Fan commented, “This little monk looks so cute and soft, really makes you want to pinch his cheeks.”

No sooner had she spoken.

The young monk’s voice came, “Female benefactor, please respect yourself.”

Meng Fan, “…”

Outside the Dormitory House, the monk handed Wen Zhi a copy of Jingci Temple’s daily schedule and after a few more instructions, he left.

Meng Fan took the schedule from Wen Zhi’s hand and read, “Don’t step on the threshold of the hall, no smoking, no loud noises… Wow, so many prohibitions. And even the eating habits are strict, no taking extra, no leftovers, and clean your own dishes and tables. Morning and evening even involve sweeping the courtyard. This place truly requires self-reliance.”

Meng Fan had always lived a life of luxury and had never suffered hardships. Reading these regulations, the frown on her face was intense enough to kill a mosquito.

Wen Zhi, however, seemed quite indifferent as she placed her luggage next to the cabinet, “The temple is different from the outside world. If you’re not used to it, you can leave early. Don’t worry about me.”

This time, Meng Fan didn’t dare make any bold promises, “Let’s just take it one day at a time, starting today.”

The temple meals were all vegetarian.

The first day, Meng Fan adapted and considered it part of her diet.

By the second day, Meng Fan could distinctly feel the blandness and lack of energy in everything she did.

By the third day, it was visibly obvious that Meng Fan was languishing.

The three essentials of a three-day practice—precepts, meditation, and wisdom—Meng Fan achieved none of these, arriving with a laugh and leaving miserably.

“Zhizhi, I’m not going back to Bai City. I’ll stay at the villa in Lin City where I used to live. You focus on your practice, and I’ll come to see you some other day.” Having said this, Meng Fan hurried off.

Wen Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She knew Meng Fan would definitely indulge in a lavish meal tonight to make up for the days of plain food.

As Wen Zhi returned after seeing off Meng Fan, the young monk sweeping the yard spoke to her, “She didn’t need to practice at all. The true practitioner is only you, female benefactor.”

Wen Zhi halted her steps, slightly bending forward with a light smile, she asked, “May I know the religious name of the Little Master?”

“Kong Ci.”

Wen Zhi noted it down, just as she was about to turn away, the voice of Kong Ci came from behind her, “Female benefactor, you have developed mental obstacles.”

Wen Zhi paused in her tracks, and she turned sideways.

Kong Ci placed the broom on the ground, and with his hands clasped together, said, “Amitabha, female benefactor, do not harbor evil thoughts.”

The smile faded from Wen Zhi’s face, and she asked Kong Ci, “Little Master, do I not look like a good person?”

Kong Ci said, “Female benefactor, you do not appear so.”

Wen Zhi pursed her lips.

Kong Ci continued, “Female benefactor, you are indeed a good person.”

A hint of surprise appeared in Wen Zhi’s eyes as Kong Ci gazed straight into her eyes, asking her, “Female benefactor, you bear no evil, yet you came to Jingci Temple early to cleanse yourself. Is it so you can commit wrongdoings in the future without feeling guilty?”

Wen Zhi’s complexion turned a shade paler instantly.

She asked, “Are you guessing?”

Kong Ci replied, “Buddha saves all beings, not judging them as oneself.”

Wen Zhi gave a choked laugh, “I do no evil, yet there are those utterly beyond redemption.”

Kong Ci’s hands parted from prayer position, he bent down to pick up the broom, turned around to continue sweeping, and said, “Harming others harms oneself, the wheel of karma turns.”

Kong Ci’s words were not directed at Wen Zhi but a reminder to her.

Afterward, Wen Zhi silently returned to the Dormitory House.

The attending monk stood in the courtyard, along with two other monks who were cleaning the room where Meng Fan had stayed.

This room was opposite Wen Zhi’s, and every morning when Wen Zhi and Meng Fan opened their doors, they could see each other.

The attending monk clasped his hands together at Wen Zhi, who made the same gesture, explaining, “I just sent her off and haven’t had the chance to clean the room yet.”

The attending monk told her, “Another pilgrim has moved in, the Abbot is receiving them in the Guest Hall, and we might not make it in time; that’s why I had them clean the Dormitory House quickly.”

Wen Zhi expressed surprise, “Someone has moved in already?”

The attending monk nodded.

After the Dormitory House was tidied up, the attending monk and the two other monks left, and Wen Zhi looked at the opposite room’s door, thinking Meng Fan had just left and a pilgrim had already moved in, not knowing whether it was a man or a woman.

However, Wen Zhi wasn’t all that curious, she first returned to her room and shut the door.

About half an hour later, the sound of footsteps came from the opposite door, and Wen Zhi heard the Abbot speaking politely; perhaps this pilgrim was quite respectable, or had they donated a significant amount of incense money?

After a few brief exchanges, the noise completely ceased.

Wen Zhi opened her door, there was no one outside, and the door opposite was also closed; she still couldn’t see the pilgrim from the opposite room.

Seeing that it was almost noon and mealtime was approaching.

Wen Zhi changed into a Zen Robe, and went to knock on the opposite door, there was no response from inside. Wen Zhi patiently knocked twice more, but still no one answered.

“Strange.”

Wen Zhi, with good intentions, had called the person opposite to join for lunch, fearing they might be hungry and unable to find the dining area, but with no response, she had to give up.

She really liked today’s vegetarian dishes and ate more than usual, feeling somewhat stuffed. Afterward, worried about indigestion, she picked up the broom to sweep the courtyard Kong Ci had left for her.

It was midday and the heat was intense, Wen Zhi rolled up her sleeves and set to work earnestly. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

While sweeping, a pilgrim passed in front of her.

Wen Zhi set aside her broom and moved aside to let the pilgrim pass, but the pilgrim stopped in front of her.

Wen Zhi raised her head, and upon seeing the pilgrim clearly, she was suddenly taken aback.