Chapter 163: Falling into Demonic Ways

Chapter 163: Falling into Demonic Cultivation

The night had deepened.

In the low-ranking communal dormitory of Arhat Temple, the monk-guests responsible for minor 'donors' lay sprawled in haphazard rows.

The room appeared chaotic, yet concealed hidden mysteries.

In the large communal bed that could accommodate ten men, no one's sleeping position was fixed; rather, they were arranged according to the current month's performance.

The further a berth lay from the main door, the more 'prestigious' it was considered, and the greater the range of movement one enjoyed while tossing and turning.

As for the deepest recess of the communal bed—that berth belonging to the 'Employee of the Month'—even curtains screened its four sides.

Granting one a barely decent private corner within this cramped dormitory.

"It's nearly month-end already. I have three overdue 'karmic rewards' requiring martial monks to collect, yet the 'merit' received amounts to only a few tens of thousands. It seems my berth will be shuffled toward the door again."

Huiyin, already lying in the berth nearest the door, sighed inwardly, fretting over whether that narrow gap at the edge of the mattress could accommodate his body.

Just then, the dormitory door creaked open.

Amidst the sobbing wind and rain, a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted monk entered first, followed by a guest-monk wearing a beaming smile.

At this sight, before the big monk could speak, a row of round, gleaming heads instantly popped up on the communal bed, gazing at that guest-monk with envy.

For the Guest Master to personally grace this low-ranking dormitory in such weather—the monk behind him must have landed a major account.

"Judging by your expressions, you've all guessed what I'm about to say, haven't you?"

A smile squeezed onto the Guest Master's awe-inspiring face. "Correct. Today, Junior Brother Huichao secured a 'Fragrant Kitchen Offering' of two million treasure notes. Congratulations, everyone."

The words barely fell before the Guest Master led the applause; the dormitory instantly echoed with followers like clouds.

Amidst the fervent clapping, pairs of eyes concealing veiled jealousy and hatred fell upon the guest-monk bearing the dharma name 'Huichao'.

"Enough."

The Guest Master raised a hand to halt the applause, his voice resonant as a great bell: "From today, Junior Brother Huichao will be promoted to the intermediate dormitory, and granted the opportunity to enter the Arhat Buddha Realm, listen to the Buddha's Voice, and cultivate the Dharma."

Monk Huichao stepped forward, palms joined, bowing to the assembly.

His expression appeared humble, yet the gaze he cast upon the dormitory's occupants already carried a trace of proud indifference.

As if from this moment, he had transcended and upgraded, no longer belonging to the same category as these low-ranking guest-monks.

"Huichao actually got promoted to intermediate guest-monk. Damn it all."

"Listen to the Buddha's Voice?! Doesn't that mean he has a chance to ascend the Sequence?"

"Hmph. Even if the Buddha shows mercy and lets him enter the Buddha Realm, at best he'll only obtain the lowest Fruit Position. Wanting to awaken his Wisdom Root with that meager karmic computing power—it won't be that easy!"

Rustling whispers circulated through the dormitory.

Buddha Realm, Sequence, Wisdom Root—each term drifted into Huiyin's ears, stirring the desire at the bottom of his heart.

"If I could enter the Buddha Realm too, with my aptitude, I'd definitely ascend the Sequence!"

Huiyin's eyes burned, muttering low, "Two million. Just two million, and the Buddha Lord will show mercy."

The Guest Master intoned: "Junior Brothers, as long as you accumulate sufficient incense offerings, the gates of the Arhat Buddha Realm shall remain open for you. Amitabha, Boundless Capital Bodhisattva."

"Amitabha, Boundless Capital Bodhisattva."

All chanted the Buddha's name in unison, voices raised high. Monk Huiyin likewise joined his palms, his demeanor devout.

At that very moment, the Buddhist beads on his wrist emitted a faint tremor, its frequency identical to his pounding heart.

"The Buddha pities me. At this hour, a donor actually comes to fulfill a vow."

Huiyin suppressed the restlessness in his heart, waiting for the Guest Master to depart before striding out the door under the bewildered gazes of his dormitory mates.

When he pushed open that narrow side door, Zhou You stood beneath the eaves, drenched in rain, his face full of excited smiles.

"Master Huiyin, disturbing you so late—truly sorry."

Seeing it was Zhou You, the smile on Huiyin's face cooled several degrees. After scanning the deformed mechanical body still visible beneath the other's clothes, the smile vanished utterly.

"The Buddha is compassionate, treating all beings kindly. A trifling disturbance is nothing. Donor Zhou visits deep in the night—have you come to repay next month's 'karmic reward'?"

Hearing Huiyin's indifferent tone, Zhou You paid it no mind. Palms joined, he respectfully presented the bank card pinched between thumb and forefinger.

"Thank you for your understanding, Master. This time I've come to repay all the 'merit' I owe in full."

Repay all principal at once? Where did this poor brat get so much money?

Huiyin accepted the card half-believing, half-doubting, pressed it against the Buddhist beads on his wrist, and a string of numbers instantly jumped onto his retina.

"There really is that much money!"

Huiyin's heart leapt; the heat just extinguished reignited.

Could this poor brat have found some incredible money trail? To repeatedly repay debts in such short order, each time more than the last, and now able to clear all principal at once.

Huiyin's eyes turned, a plan already forming. He cleared his throat and smiled: "Congratulations, Donor. The 'merit' you sought from the Bodhisattva has been fully repaid."

Zhou You, overcome with excitement, completely missed the strangeness flashing in the other's eyes. "Thank you, Master, for looking after me this whole time. Then... can I take my younger brother away now?"

"In principle, yes, but—" Huiyin hesitated.

Zhou You's face instantly froze. "But what?"

"Donor Zhou, according to the contract your younger brother signed before the Buddha at the time, before the 'merit' was fully repaid, he was required to enter the Buddha Realm and serve before the Buddha."

"I know that, but I've already repaid the 'merit' in full!"

Huiyin sighed long, wearing a troubled expression. "But a few days ago, while your brother was attending a certain bhikkhu, he was either invaded by a demon or suffered a consciousness disorder—he actually attacked that bhikkhu."

"Though he caused no injury to that high monk, he disturbed the purity of the Buddha Realm. That is a grave sin."

Zhou You stood rooted, those eyes brimming with vicissitudes losing their former shrewdness, filled only with shock and panic.

He involuntarily stepped forward two paces, reaching to grab the monk's sleeve.

"Master, how is my brother now?"

Huiyin stepped back, avoiding Zhou You's hands.

"Donor Zhou, don't panic. That bhikkhu possesses Vajra strength, yet holds compassion in his heart. So your brother suffered no punishment; rather, under the Buddha's light, he regained his senses."

"Thank the Buddha, thank you, Master."

Zhou You thanked repeatedly, bowing deeply to the monk.

"Donor, you're too polite. However, though Arhat Temple may not pursue your brother's sin of attacking the sangha, the pollution he caused the Buddha Realm..."

Zhou You could not possibly miss Huiyin's meaning now. His deeply bowed head emitted a bitter voice: "His sin—I will atone. How much incense offering will redeem his sin? Please, Master, make it clear."

"One million six hundred thousand treasure notes. And it must be offered to the Buddha Lord within this month. Otherwise, once the bhikkhu high monk rouses his Vajra wrath, your brother will likely..."

Huiyin lowered his brows, his expression compassionate.

The four hundred thousand Zhou You just repaid, plus one million six hundred thousand, would make exactly two million—allowing Huiyin to promote to intermediate guest-monk and gain entry to the Buddha Realm.

Though this violated Arhat Temple's rules, as long as he properly greased the Guest Master afterward, forgiveness would come naturally.

After all, everything he did was for the temple; his Buddha-heart could be witnessed by sun and moon.

"I understand."

Hope, once within arm's reach, had in the blink of an eye become an unfathomable abyss.

Even with a will tempered to steely resilience, Zhou You could not help but feel his soul scatter, his spirit unmoored.

Beneath the monk’s scorching gaze, the youth turned and walked into the darkness where the temple lanterns could not reach.

*Click.*

As that narrow side door swung shut once more, the staggering Zhou You whipped around, his eyes locking onto the grand Buddhist temple, ablaze with light through the long night.

He stared for the whole night.

One night is enough to forge a demon.