Chapter 131: The old abbot of the Buddhist temple

Lin Feng obediently remained in the main hall with the rest of the Bai family.

He knelt on the mats covering the polished floor, pressed his palms together, bowed his head, and offered his prayers.

Behind him, Wei Ranmiao and Bai Tingyu looked at the boy’s upright and solemn back.

They both heaved a sigh of relief.

They had been jittery all the way here. Fortunately, nothing had happened yet.

No sudden smoking or burning of skin, nor did the boy suddenly became uncomfortable after passing the temple gates.

Perhaps they really had been overthinking things.

They bowed their heads to pray as well, hoping for everything to turn out well.

After some time, a monk appeared and waited for them to finish their prayers before bowing solemnly.

"Amitabha. Benefactors, please follow this humble monk. The old abbot is waiting."

They were led into a quiet meditation room, but before Lin Feng could enter, the monk guided him to another, smaller and more private room.

Once Lin Feng entered, he saw Grandpa Bai sitting with an old Buddhist monk in plain saffron monastic robes, with a kasaya draped over his shoulder.

The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. Inside the room were wooden furnishings, a tea set, simple cushions, and rows of Buddhist scriptures, creating a solemn and peaceful atmosphere.

Grandpa Bai beckoned Lin Feng to come over.

Lin Feng obediently approached, bowed deeply to the old abbot, and knelt on the cushion.

"This is my grandson, Lin Feng. Recently, he has encountered several unfortunate events. I hope the Dharma Master can give us some advice."

The old monk studied Lin Feng for a moment, his aged eyes lingering on his face. A faint smile rested on his lips.

"Young benefactor, have we met before?"

Lin Feng shook his head politely. "I don’t believe so, Master."

Grandpa Bai’s eyes flickered.

The last time he had brought his grandson Lin Feng to meet the old abbot was long ago, when the boy was still a child, around five or six years old.

The old abbot smiled without pressing further. He poured Lin Feng a cup of tea.

"People come into this world with their own causes and conditions. Some things change, while others remain unchanged. It is much like a river. The water flowing through the Yellow River today is not the same water as that of centuries ago, yet the Yellow River remains the same Yellow River."

Grandpa Bai’s brows furrowed. Despite himself, he could not help but ask, "Master, what do you mean?"

Lin Feng listened without changing his expression.

The old abbot merely smiled and shook his head.

"Amitabha. This humble monk sometimes sees things he cannot explain. But heavenly secrets are not meant to be spoken of lightly. What has come has its own reason for coming, and what has changed has its own reason for changing. It is fate."

Grandpa Bai’s face paled.

So it really was the case!

Lin Feng closed his eyes for a moment to steady himself, then opened them again.

The old abbot was not a swindler or charlatan. He was the real deal.

What he had feared would come had finally arrived.

The old abbot watched them with a compassionate expression. He took a sip of tea before continuing.

"Whether the person is the same or different, what matters is the heart. A good heart remains good, regardless of the body it inhabits. You need not trouble yourself over what you cannot change."

Grandpa Bai opened his mouth, but then remembered that Lin Feng was still there.

He turned to the boy, forced a smile, and asked him to return to the other meditation room.

"Go and wait there first with your cousins. I would like to continue speaking with the abbot in private."

Lin Feng nodded slowly, stood up, and left without asking any questions.

The old abbot watched Lin Feng’s departing figure before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

"Old benefactor Bai, you had a good grandson. His thread of fate, however..."

Grandpa Bai’s expression changed slightly. "What does Master mean?"

The old abbot picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Amitabha. Every action has its consequences. Some people accumulate blessings through good deeds, while others exhaust their fortune through reckless behavior. When the karmic debts become too great, even the blessings accumulated by their ancestors may not be enough to protect them."

Grandpa Bai fell silent.

"...You have seen my grandson before. He is not an evil person. He and his mother liked to do charity as well. Surely his one reckless action did not garner such a huge karmic impact?"

"Indeed, he was not evil, but his already faint thread had passed through countless people’s fate threads."

The old abbot continued, his voice calm and unhurried. "When the old benefactor first brought him to this humble monk as a child, this humble monk told the old benefactor that his fate thread was fragile and his destiny faint. Does the old benefactor still recall what this humble monk had said?"

"If he lived in peace, then he could enjoy longevity." Grandpa Bai’s voice was tired.

The old abbot nodded. "His fate could not withstand turbulence. He was bound to suffer karmic retribution."

"Are you saying that my grandson, even in the afterlife—"

A faint crack of thunder suddenly sounded, instantly silencing Grandpa Bai, whose eyes widened in shock.

The monks all looked up at the clear blue sky and reverently bowed their heads, chanting, "Amitabha."

"Amitabha." The old abbot pressed his hands together and bowed his head solemnly, praying for forgiveness.

Grandpa Bai’s face became even paler, and his chest felt stuffy. He picked up the teacup and drank some tea.

He was silent for a long time until he finally calmed down again.

Although Grandpa Bai had prepared himself for this result, it was still difficult to accept.

"Then, what about..." What about the current person?

As if reading his thoughts, the old abbot continued.

"Fortunately, the old benefactor Bai’s family still has some blessings left."