Chapter 42
Heng Yu had been in Huai City for several days, learning much from Liaohe and the novices — Hanshan Temple had funded and built nine wells in the city, six roads, and provided free porridge and medical treatment every half month…
Even she, a passerby, knew about the good deeds of Hanshan Temple’s Buddhist cultivators. Could the people of Huai City truly be unaware?
They were simply turning a blind eye, pretending not to see.
Life was sometimes so ironic.
They only focused on what they lacked, forgetting that without the Buddhist cultivators’ efforts, they wouldn’t even have what they currently had.
Heng Yu glanced at Liaowu, sheathed her sword, and cast a spell to stop the bleeding from the young man’s neck. “See? I’m not killing you and even healing your wound because it’s inappropriate to shed blood in a Buddhist hall. The Buddhist sect just saved your life!”
After saying that, Heng Yu kicked the back of his knees, sending him stumbling backward, dropping his hammer.
Heng Yu bent down, picked up the hammer, and looked at the injured novices.
“Are you angry?”
The novices looked at each other, their lips moving, but they didn’t dare admit it.
They were angry and resentful, but expressing these emotions would go against what Abbot Wule and the former abbot had taught them.
Heng Yu chuckled softly. “You’re still so young. Don’t be like those stuffy monks who only know how to be peaceful.”
She didn’t name names, but everyone, from Liaonian to the novices, glanced at Liaowu.
Liaowu, noticing their gazes, chuckled.
Heng Yu continued, “Wouldn’t even Buddha be disappointed in his followers? Besides, these people aren’t even believers, just troublemakers and ignorant fools!”
After a long silence, the most seriously injured novice gritted his teeth and said, “I’m upset.”
Heng Yu looked at him.
This novice looked very young, his face still childish, probably having just been ordained.
“Good. They smashed the Buddhist statue, so you’ll take this hammer and go down the mountain, and tear down their houses.”
“Ah…” The novice, Kongjing, was stunned.
“You!” The young men who had destroyed the statue were shocked, not expecting this.
“What? Didn’t you consider the consequences before smashing the statue?” A cold smile touched Heng Yu’s lips. “Just based on the cost of the statue alone, it’s very expensive. We’re already being lenient by not making you pay for it, just tearing down your houses.”
The young men exchanged glances.
Some of them looked guilty.
The leader, Duan Qin, initially looked guilty, but then his expression turned to resentment —
When they smashed the statue, they had only been filled with anger, not thinking about the consequences.
When he had injured the novices before, Hanshan Temple hadn’t demanded compensation for medical expenses. The temple had enough money to build a new hall; a mere statue wasn’t expensive for them, right? But his home was different. If their house was destroyed, he and his elderly parents would have nowhere to live.
But Duan Qin only dared to be angry inwardly. He knew he couldn’t voice these thoughts.
Heng Yu could see through him just from his expression.
She looked at Liaowu and saw that he was also looking at Duan Qin — Liaowu’s expression showed understanding.
“Aren’t you going to stop me?” Heng Yu transmitted her voice to him with a smile.
Liaowu’s expression had been cold since entering the hall, only softening now upon hearing her voice transmission.
He replied, “Does Lord Luo think this poor monk is foolishly kind? I’m not angry, but I’m indeed disappointed.”
“The Undying Sect has a Precept Hall where disciples who break the rules are punished. I don’t advocate blind tolerance. Right is right, wrong is wrong, and everyone needs to pay for their mistakes.” Liaowu paused, then added, “You’re afraid this poor monk will be troubled, so you stepped forward to handle this matter. But please let this poor monk take over from here.”
Heng Yu considered it, then stepped back, silently watching what Liaowu would do.
Liaowu looked at the people inside and outside the hall, his voice calm. “The Buddhist sect is a place of peace. This poor monk will have the novices settle your wages for these past few days, then please return home. You’re no longer needed here.”
His words caused a commotion among the onlookers.
An elderly man asked hesitantly, “Master, do you mean we’re no longer needed to renovate the temple?”
“Yes,” Liaowu said directly.
“But we didn’t destroy the statue. Why are we losing our jobs?” someone complained.
It was the off-season for farming. Where could they find a better job than this?
They didn’t want to lose their jobs.
Hearing these complaints, Liaonian bit his lip, suppressing his anger.
Liaowu’s voice was gentle but firm. “Because you knew they were destroying the statue and didn’t stop them. If you have any complaints, direct them at those who cost you your jobs.”
Then, he looked at the young men. “Destroying property with hammers will have consequences. This matter will be handled according to the laws of Huai City. This poor monk will inform the authorities.”
After speaking, ignoring the shock and regret on the people’s faces, he cast a spell, and an invisible barrier appeared, forcing them to retreat out of the hall.
After giving his instructions, Liaowu had the injured novices go back to recover, selected two uninjured novices to inform the authorities, and had the rest settle the wages and send away those who hadn’t participated in the destruction of the statue.
Even Liaonian was assigned a task.
Soon, the side hall quieted down, with only Heng Yu and Liaowu remaining.
Liaowu walked forward and carefully picked up the fragments of the statue, even the dust, his movements gentle.
Heng Yu picked up the fallen offerings and candles, placing them back on the table, and carefully cleaned the overturned incense burner.
“Let this poor monk do it,” Liaowu took the incense burner from her.
Heng Yu let go.
Liaowu placed the incense burner upright, took a clean candle, and lit it. After the candle dripped some wax, he secured it in the burner.
“I thought the situation in Huai City could be easily resolved, but now it seems we’ll have to stay longer,” Liaowu said.
Heng Yu replied, “It’s fine, as long as it doesn’t delay our trip to the Sword Sect.”
The authorities arrived quickly, and the troublemakers were arrested and taken away. Liaowu stood there, watching them being taken away, ignoring their angry glares.
After everyone left, Liaowu turned to leave the hall.
He saw Heng Yu standing outside.
Liaowu asked, “Lord Luo, why didn’t you come inside?”
“I can wait for you here.”
Liaowu smiled. “Then let’s return. This poor monk needs to think about what to do next to improve the situation in Huai City.”
Those who made mistakes should be punished accordingly.
He wouldn’t abandon the entire city because of a few young men with strong anti-Buddhist sentiments.
As soon as Liaowu and Heng Yu returned to the courtyard, Abbot Wule came to find them. His injuries had stabilized, and he was now fine.
After exchanging greetings, Abbot Wule asked, “Do you have any ideas for what to do next?”
Liaowu said, “This poor monk believes that our previous method wasn’t wrong, but we shouldn’t have recruited people from the north of the city directly.”
Abbot Wule sighed deeply, reflecting on his own mistake. “This poor monk wasn’t thorough enough.”
The anti-Buddhist sentiment was strongest in the north of the city. Abbot Wule had wanted to use the job opportunities to show goodwill and alleviate the people’s resentment. But he had been too hasty.
After all, it takes more than one day to melt a thick layer of ice.
After thinking for a moment, Abbot Wule said, “This poor monk will have the disciples recruit workers at the foot of the mountain. The people there have benefited from Hanshan Temple for generations and are generally friendly towards the Buddhist sect. This kind of problem won’t happen again.”
His tone was filled with self-blame.
Liaowu said gently, “Abbot, there’s no need to blame yourself. No one could have foreseen this.”
Who would have thought their goodwill would be so easily rejected?
After Abbot Wule left, Liaowu returned to the courtyard.
He stood in the warm sunlight and asked Heng Yu with a smile, “Lord Luo, do you have any bells?”
Heng Yu quickly searched her storage ring and, after a while, found a jewelry box filled with various trinkets. These were the original owner’s collection.
Just as Heng Yu opened the box and was about to take out a bell, Liaowu said, “Can this poor monk use anything from inside?”
Understanding dawned on Heng Yu’s face.
She smiled. “If it’s to make a bracelet for me, then feel free. Otherwise, no.”
Liaowu didn’t reply, simply sitting opposite her, taking the jewelry box, and carefully searching for the bells and accessories he needed.
After finding six bells and some colorful beads, Liaowu took out a few red strings from his storage ring.
He used a peace knot to braid the bracelet, stringing the bells onto it at suitable intervals. In just a quarter of an hour, all six bells were on the bracelet.
Finally, he tied a sliding knot and added the colorful beads.
The bracelet was finished.
Liaowu offered the bracelet to Heng Yu.
Heng Yu extended her left hand.
She pulled back her sleeve, revealing her slender wrist.
Liaowu lowered his gaze and gently put the bracelet on her, tightening the sliding knot to adjust the length.
“Done.”
Heng Yu raised her hand and shook it.
The bells jingled.
“I want two anklets as well,” Heng Yu rested her chin on her hand, looking at Liaowu, then glanced at the jewelry box. “There should be enough bells inside.”
Liaowu said helplessly, “But this poor monk can’t measure the length for anklets.”
Heng Yu leaned back, putting both feet on the stone table.
She crossed her arms and said calmly, “Just measure them.”
Liaowu… Liaowu excused himself, saying he had evening prayers to attend to, and returned to his room.
Heng Yu watched him leave and burst out laughing.
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