Forcing entry into the temple was impossible, so Qing Muy野 had to find another way.
The monk hesitated, naturally hearing that Qing Muy野 intended to donate a large sum of money. He couldn't refuse and could only say, "Please wait a moment, sirs. I'll go inside and ask the abbot."
"Thank you for your trouble," Qing Muy野 replied calmly.
The monk turned and entered the Hall of Heavenly Kings, while Lu Yanming and Han Yu, standing at the entrance, both glanced at Qing Muy野 and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Quick thinking."
"Good idea, I didn't think of that." Han Yu sighed deeply, looking around the vast temple, and couldn't help but exclaim, "The air on the mountaintop is excellent, with clear waters and green mountains. Becoming a monk here must be quite an enjoyment."
Lu Yanming couldn't help but retort, "I support you. Xiao Si needs a companion."
Qing Muy野 raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Han Yu, "How could he bear to leave that little girl, Cheng Xiaorui?"
"Hahaha, Muy野 is right," Lu Yanming chuckled.
As he laughed, he couldn't help but sigh again, "Emotions, you see, are hard to come by. Look at Xiao Si, how cheerful he used to be, and now he wants to become a monk. Alas..."
A sense of unspoken sorrow welled up in his heart.
Before long, the monk led out a monk dressed in a kasaya.
The monk's face was etched with the vicissitudes of time. He had white eyebrows and a kind, benevolent face, appearing amiable and approachable.
He walked to the entrance, bowed to the three men, and said, "This humble monk is Shi Qing, the abbot of Yuntai Mountain. I wonder what brings you esteemed guests here today?"
The three men clasped their hands together in prayer and bowed respectfully.
Qing Muy野 said, "My wife is a devout Buddhist. She once visited Yuntai Mountain to make a wish and was granted her desire. She then told me to donate a sum of incense money to your esteemed temple for repairs, as a gesture of goodwill and sincerity."
"Hahaha, sir, you are clearly a person of great virtue. Come, please follow me inside." Abbot Shi Qing made an inviting gesture and led Qing Muy野, Lu Yanming, and Han Yu into the Hall of Heavenly Kings.
After entering the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the amiable abbot showed them around and told them about the history of Yuntai Temple.
The three men patiently listened to the abbot's explanation. Finally, Qing Muy野 donated two million yuan in incense money to help repair Yuntai Temple.
Once everything was settled, Qing Muy野 returned to the main topic, "Abbot Shi Qing, my friend Tang Si..."
"He's called Duanchen now," Lu Yanming reminded him.
Qing Muy野 immediately corrected himself, "Yes. My friend, Tang Si, became a monk at your esteemed temple three days ago. The monk just now said he entered the temple and is cultivating with his hair, his Dharma name being 'Duanchen.' May I have the honor of seeing him?"
Abbot Shi Qing nodded and said, "Follow me."
He led the three men through the Hall of Heavenly Kings to the temple behind it. There, they saw Tang Si, dressed in a monk's robe, sitting cross-legged on a yellow cushion.
Abbot Shi Qing made an inviting gesture and turned to leave.
The three men walked up the steps and entered the temple hall, standing behind Tang Si and watching him read scriptures with his head bowed.
The brothers felt heavy-hearted, finding the scene before them deeply moving.
"Xiao Si?"
Qing Muy野 called out and stepped forward, "Did you stop considering us brothers? Why didn't you let us know?"
"Hmph, he doesn't have us brothers in his heart at all," Lu Yanming said, hands in his windbreaker pockets, his tone filled with displeasure.
"Xiao Si, you were too impulsive," Han Yu sighed with melancholy.
Tang Si, who had been chanting scriptures, paused. He slowly closed the scripture book and said without turning his head, "There is no 'Xiao Si' here, only Duanchen."
"You..."