Chapter 329 - Owing a Favor
Although he had never once called the old monk his Master, Xue Qiming still decided to observe three years of mourning rites.
Following the old monk’s final wishes, Xue Qiming cremated his remains, placed the ashes in an urn, and set it before the Buddha statue.
There was already an urn before the Buddha statue that contained the ashes of Master Huide, the former abbot of the Lesser Arhat Temple. Now, the old monk Zhishan joined him beside the Buddha.
Xue Qiming had always thought Xue Yinlong was a fake monk, and after cremating his remains, he became even more convinced. He had heard that true enlightened monks left behind holy relics after cremation that were worth a fortune. However, the old monk left nothing behind but a handful of ashes.
Well, not nothing, Xue Qiming amended, at the very least, he left behind an ugly gourd and the Lesser Arhat Temple that looked even uglier.
Ever since Zhang Dongyun and his gang kicked down the temple gate during their vendetta, no one had bothered to repair it. Back then, Xue Yinlong had said, "There’s nothing valuable in this temple anyway. And the things that are truly valuable? Thieves couldn’t take them even if they tried. Let it stay broken."
Xue Qiming found some logic in those words, but it only made him more curious. Just what did the old monk think was truly valuable?
His confusion continued until an eccentric man came knocking one day.
It was for Xue Qiming to call the visitor an eccentric man. In truth, the visitor was a young man, who appeared to be around the same age as Xue Qiming.
What made him peculiar was that, despite his strikingly handsome features, he had a head of long, snow-white hair. His eyes were as still as a pool of lifeless water, full with a deep sorrow that sent chills down one's spine.
Xue Qiming had been napping in the back courtyard. Hearing someone call at the door, he rubbed his sleepy eyes and made his way to the entrance, only to find the young man standing at a distance outside the temple gate.
Yawning, Xue Qiming lazily said, "This rundown temple no longer offers incense. If you're here to worship, head to the Golden Buddha Temple west of town instead."