Free Web NovelChapter 616: Chapter 615: Ignorant
To reach the temple gate, one must first pass through the long stone steps.
Some have already arrived early and are climbing the steps.
Xia Wenjin, though never having been here before, knew that the stone steps at the temple gate numbered one hundred and eight. After all, it was in the mountains, covered with a layer of fallen leaves, and an old monk was sweeping the leaves.
The broom in his hand moved neither too light nor too heavy, neither too fast nor too slow. Even though devotees came and went around him, he focused solely on the fallen leaves on the ground, not even raising his eyelids.
As Xia Wenjin passed by, that Sweeping Monk, as if fused with the whole universe, suddenly lifted his eyes, glanced at Xia Wenjin, and raised his broom, unexpectedly sweeping towards Xia Wenjin.
Many people were taken aback; a broom was meant for sweeping dust and fallen leaves, using it on people not only was dirty but also disrespectful.
The two who wanted to walk in front but couldn’t keep up and had to follow behind, Kang and Liu, almost burst out laughing.
This woman is so fierce, her attendants also look fierce. Look, even the monk sweeping leaves at the door couldn’t stand it.
A good beating, preferably knocking the dust off and sweeping them out the door.
Blocked by this Sweeping Monk, Xia Wenjin stopped, but the Sweeping Monk merely swept her twice, then stopped and continued sweeping his leaves.
After all, Xia Wenjin was the first to be treated this way, so quite a few people watched her with strange eyes as they walked.
Some even stopped under the pretext of taking a break.
An old monk using a broom to sweep someone, even if there were no maids or old women beside that woman, doesn’t she look like a proper lady from a noble family? She definitely won’t swallow this insult, right?
It seems like there’s a good show to watch before even entering the temple.
However, Xia Wenjin disappointed them. There was none of the imagined raised eyebrows and anger; she was unconcerned by the broom that approached her. Not only wasn’t she concerned, but she also didn’t move on and instead sat down on one of the steps.
Under the mountain breeze, the steps were very clean.
The people who were quietly waiting for a spectacle to unfold couldn’t wait anymore. They didn’t want to miss the forum event, and this woman appeared calm, even with a faint smile, so waiting here would only be a waste of time.
The Sweeping Monk finished sweeping the entire flight of steps, and Xia Wenjin was still sitting there.
The scene was rather odd.
People on the stone steps were coming and going endlessly, heading toward the temple gate, disappearing within the solemn and fragrant portals. On the clean steps, fallen leaves swirled, the white-browed old monk lowered his head and continued sweeping, while on a step nearby sat a serene, attractive maiden, who had no consciousness of ruining her image by sitting there. Of course, others who looked wouldn’t feel her posture was an eyesore.
On the contrary, the steps were picturesque, the old monk was picturesque, the fallen leaves were picturesque, and this maiden was the most noticeable scenery in the painting.
Once the ground was swept clean, the Sweeping Monk prepared to pack up, yet Xia Wenjin was still sitting there.
The Sweeping Monk said: "Bodhisattva, weren’t you coming for the Buddhist forum? Why linger here?"
Xia Wenjin casually replied: "Buddhist Law can be heard anywhere; who says one must attend a forum?"
The Sweeping Monk said: "Today’s forum is personally led by Chief Master Kong Ji!"
Xia Wenjin said: "No wonder so many people came. I have long heard of Master Kong Ji’s profound Buddhist Law!"
Passersby saw Xia Wenjin starting to chat with the Sweeping Monk, not rushing inside to grab a good spot, and couldn’t help quietly laughing.
The sharp-tongued woman, previously either frightened or delayed by something else, finally started climbing the mountain, rubbing her back and complaining about its height, happened to see the scene, and sneered: "Ignorant!"
The Sweeping Monk said: "If you don’t enter the temple soon, there won’t even be a place to stand shortly."
Xia Wenjin smiled and said: "Master, there are one hundred and eight steps here, and I only occupy one foot of it; how could there be no place to stand?"
The Sweeping Monk looked at her and nodded: "You’re right!"
Xia Wenjin smiled again and said: "Master, since the temple probably has no place left to stand, may I trouble the Master instead? I want to hear the Master discuss Buddhist Law! Is that alright?"
At her words, several people laughed, all mocking.
Listening to a temple gate Sweeping Monk discuss Buddhist Law? Is she out of her mind?
If a Sweeping Monk at the gate understood Buddhist Law, why would he be sweeping here? If sweeping monks understood Buddhist Law, wouldn’t everyone at Bodhi Temple be a High Monk?
This must be the funniest joke they’ve heard in their lifetime, without a doubt.
The Sweeping Monk also said: "I am just a Sweeping Monk, unworthy of being called a Master!"
Xia Wenjin said: "Master, you’re being too attached to the term, it’s just a title!"
The Sweeping Monk slightly moved his white brows, smiled lightly, and said: "You are right!" Seeing Xia Wenjin still unmoving, he asked: "Having reached the temple gate but not entering, isn’t it like returning empty-handed from a treasure mountain?"
Xia Wenjin said: "Master, with the Buddha right in front of me, why go to the Western Paradise?"
The Sweeping Monk looked at her, his calm gaze scrutinizing a bit, while Xia Wenjin met his eyes with a cheerful smile, her demeanor and voice exuding confidence!
The jeers of others fell on deaf ears, and she remained indifferent to others’ disdain.
The Sweeping Monk picked up his broom and left.
Xia Wenjin followed suit, step by step.
The sharp-tongued woman then tried to show her superiority again; she couldn’t help saying to her maid: "Help me climb quickly; if I can’t get a spot at the forum, do I have to follow that Sweeping Old Monk instead?"
Openly reprimanding the maid but actually mocking Xia Wenjin for not understanding even the forum, thinking any bald monk she met in Bodhi Temple was a High Monk.
Xia Wenjin paid no attention to it.
Entering the temple gates and continuing forward, that was the way to the forum.
The forum was set on the open space in front of the Great Hero Hall; although there was still some distance, many people could be seen there already, indeed a grand occasion.
The Sweeping Monk turned to a smaller path on the right, and Xia Wenjin followed over.
The Sweeping Monk walked until they reached a side hall where a little monk came to take his broom, bowed and then turned to leave.
The Sweeping Monk turned to Xia Wenjin: "Bodhisattva, why are you following me?"
Xia Wenjin placed her hands together in etiquette and respectfully said: "I have questions in my heart and wish to seek Master Kong Chan’s guidance!"
The Sweeping Monk was surprised: "You know Kong Chan?"
Xia Wenjin shook her head. In Shian Temple, Mo Qingfeng’s disguise had informed her of a Kong Chan Monk at Bodhi Temple, and Mo Qingfeng, boasting about the secluded location with no one knowing Kong Chan, disguised himself vastly different from the Sweeping Monk before her.
The Sweeping Monk asked: "Then how do you know it is me who is Kong Chan?"
Xia Wenjin truthfully said: "Master, though you sweep the ground, yet make people see but also overlook you; one who integrates their aura with the surrounding environment surely is no ordinary monk!"
