“Protagonist of a novel? Seriously, Class Monitor, I don't read much, don't lie to me.”
“Pfft, you don’t read much? Zhang Wei, you went to the same university as me and were top of the class.”
Lu Lianxue teased with a smile, feigning seriousness.
Immediately after.
She said,
“Little Monk Wunian is what we in the ghost-exorcism circle call him. He's actually around our age.”
“His prowess is famous throughout the entire ghost-exorcism circle.”
“Firstly, he comes from Mount Wutai, a renowned Buddhist sect.”
“Secondly, his natural talent and strength are exceptional.” 138 Reading Network
“And then there’s the most important third point.”
“Although he’s not old, he has many glorious deeds, no different from a novel protagonist. He could definitely be written into a novel.”
“There’s a legend.”
“He was born into a rural family, born with a sarira in his mouth. Magpies perched on branches, and cranes sang in the Buddhist courtyard.”
“This attracted masters from major Buddhist sects, who fought fiercely to claim him.”
“Ultimately, due to his infant state, he reached out to the abbot of Mount Wutai, thus forming a connection with Mount Wutai and becoming its disciple.”
“At the age of five, he debated Buddhist philosophy with eminent monks and not only won but also compelled them to call him master.”
“At the age of eight, he felt an urge to descend the mountain. Along the way, he encountered the renowned Hu Sanyeta, a master of the spirit-summoning arts. With a single word of guidance, he bestowed a title upon Hu Sanyeta, further advancing his strength. Grateful, Hu Sanyeta willingly became a small fox under his command, protecting him for ten years.”
“Even after ten years, and Hu Sanyeta’s departure, he instructed all disciples of the Hu family to treat Wunian with the utmost respect and provide any necessary assistance.”
“At the age of ten…”
Lu Lianxue spoke eloquently.
She recounted several of Little Monk Wunian’s deeds.
Zhang Wei couldn't help but express his amazement.
“Any one of these deeds is enough for a novel protagonist’s plot of showing off and overcoming challenges.”
Lu Lianxue nodded in agreement,
“Right? I think so too. It feels like it could be a novel, titled ‘My Name is Wunian, It’s Hard Not to Be Famous.’”
“I think ‘My Life as Wunian, Never Inferior to Anyone’ is more fitting.”
As she spoke.
Zhang Wei took a sip of cola to calm his nerves and said.
“So the question is, does this incredibly impressive Wunian have any scandals?”
“Class Monitor, aren't you from Longhu Mountain? That’s also a prestigious sect. Do you have any gossip, any dirt on Wunian?”
As soon as he finished speaking.
On the phone, Lu Lianxue chuckled.
“Zhang Wei, you think the same as me. When I first learned about Little Monk Wunian’s affairs, I was stunned.”
“Then I had an idea: I can’t allow Wunian to be this amazing, too outstanding. How can someone be so outstanding? I need some dirt to comfort myself.”
However.
Lu Lianxue sighed and spread her hands.
“Unfortunately, Wunian has no scandals.”
“He doesn’t solicit prostitutes, smoke, or do drugs. He helps old ladies cross the road without fear of being extorted. He’s practically a model youth.”
“If we absolutely have to find a flaw.”
“It’s just that he’s famously naive.”
“Oh? Naive? What do you mean?” Zhang Wei asked, taking a bite of grilled skewer.
Lu Lianxue replied.
“Naive in the literal sense, his personality is very simple.”
“He was taken in as a disciple of Mount Wutai from a young age and dedicated himself to Buddhist cultivation. Although he attended school, his focus was solely on his studies and Buddhist teachings.”
“Therefore, aside from common knowledge, he knows nothing. He’s never been in a relationship, never played video games.”
With the topic of Little Monk Wunian.
Zhang Wei and Lu Lianxue talked on the phone for a long time.
After quite some time.
Zhang Wei ate a grilled lamb kidney and looked up.
On the street not far from the shop.
Two people were walking towards his barbecue stall.
Both were men.
They looked young, both in their twenties.
One was dressed in hip-hop style, whether for show or genuine enjoyment of music, he wore headphones around his neck.
However.
It was the other person who caught Zhang Wei’s attention.
Beside the hip-hop guy was a bald youth. He had a delicate and youthful appearance, with a fair complexion. If he were in ancient times, he would undoubtedly be a pampered son-in-law; in modern times, he was a bona fide heartthrob.
As they walked.
Even though the bald youth was bald, he still attracted the attention of many girls on the street. They whispered, and some bolder ones even approached, wanting to add the bald youth on WeChat, but he politely refused them all with a clasp of his hands.
Soon.
The two scanned their surroundings and their gaze fell upon Zhang Wei.
The hip-hop youth immediately gestured to the bald youth, and they walked towards Zhang Wei together.
As soon as they met.
“Little Monk Wunian?”
Zhang Wei spoke first, looking at the bald youth.
The bald youth was taken aback, “You know me?”
“Of course, the name of the ‘King of Show-offs,’ Wunian, is widely known.” Zhang Wei waved them over to sit down.
At this moment.
The hip-hop youth pulled the stunned bald youth to sit down.
“Haha, that nickname ‘King of Show-offs’ is spot on. Finally, someone has voiced my thoughts. You have no idea the pressure I’m under working with this guy.”
“Getting off track.”
The hip-hop youth coughed.
“It seems you are Zhang Wei.”
“Let me introduce myself, my surname is also Zhang, I’m Zhang Chao, and this is Wunian. We’re from the Wei Dao Division, sent to help deal with the zombies.”
After some conversation.
Zhang Chao and Wunian learned about the zombie situation from Zhang Wei.
Upon hearing that the zombie was already dead.
And that it was killed by Zhang Wei’s bare hands.
Zhang Chao’s mouth twitched. He glanced at Zhang Wei, then at Wunian beside him.
“Alright, damn it, another freak.”
Wunian didn’t notice Zhang Chao’s gaze.
He was first surprised by Zhang Wei’s words, then he came to his senses and clasped his hands together:
“Amitabha, thank you, Benefactor Zhang Wei, for resolving a problem for us. We will handle the zombie’s masterminds, the corpse breeders.”
Being able to have one less troublesome matter.
Zhang Wei gladly accepted.
“Then after we finish the barbecue, I’ll take you to the construction site.”
“Order whatever you want to eat, it’s my treat. Don’t be polite. After all, the zombie matter was a request from a friend, and handing it over to your Wei Dao Division is a stroke of luck for me. Treating you to a barbecue is only fitting.”
“By the way, Brother Wunian, can you eat meat?”
…
With the goodwill established over a barbecue.
Coupled with Zhang Wei’s smooth talk and Zhang Chao’s naturally gregarious personality.
On the way to the construction site.
Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao were already arm in arm, so close they might as well have sworn brotherhood in the Peach Garden.
“Haha, well said, Brother Zhang Wei! Damn it, why didn’t I meet you sooner?”
Zhang Chao gulped down a cola.
“You have no idea, this guy Wunian, he’s not only full of himself, but he’s also as quiet as a clam. There’s nothing to talk about. Partnering with him is not only stressful but also boring. I feel like I’m working with a block of wood. It’s comfortable having you around now. Why don’t you just join the Wei Dao Division? We can be partners.”
Wunian seemed accustomed to Zhang Chao’s teasing and wasn’t offended by him speaking ill of him to his face.
Instead, he said with a wry smile:
“Zhang Chao, I do talk to you.”
“Come on, what do you talk to me about? You only talk about Buddha and Buddhist teachings. How can I chat about that?”
Zhang Chao said, patting Zhang Wei.
“Zhang Wei, tell me, if Wunian talks to you about Buddhism, could you keep up with the conversation?”
Zhang Wei chuckled:
“I can.”
“Brother Zhang Chao, let me tell you, even if it’s a topic you don’t like, you can still talk about it.”
“It’s like chasing a girl. When you talk to a girl, you’ll naturally talk about things she’s interested in, like cosmetics and bags.”
“Do you like these topics?”
Zhang Chao shook his head directly.
Seeing this, Zhang Wei continued,
“Right? You don’t like them, but does that mean you can’t talk about them? If you don’t talk about these things, how will you chase girls?”
“You just need to find something in them that you’re interested in and talk about it.”
Zhang Chao nodded, “I understand that. But cosmetics are different from Buddhism. With cosmetics, I can still talk about things like acne-removing products, because boys also get acne, and they’re somewhat interested in getting rid of it. But Buddhism? Buddhism is all about Amitabha, saving all sentient beings.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Zhang Wei shook his index finger.
He turned his head and looked at Wunian.
At this moment.
Wunian was also looking at Zhang Wei.
Although Wunian’s mind was solely focused on learning and Buddhism, it didn’t mean he disliked interacting with people. He was just not good at it. Now that the topic of conversation had come up, he was also interested in listening.
“Brother Wunian, let me ask you a question related to Buddhism.”
Zhang Wei grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
“Which Buddha do you believe in?”
…