The morning sunlight slowly crept over the horizon where the mountains met the sky. Our car was parked on a patch of wasteland. My cousin lay on the ground, his face deathly pale—but at least he was still breathing.
As the sunlight touched my cousin, I saw a faint golden glow. His ghostly pale skin gradually regained its color, and the bluish tint on his face slowly faded.
"Ah..." My cousin cried out and sat up abruptly.
"It's okay, cousin. You're safe now."
"Where's Sophie Sun?"
We munched on some snacks while my cousin rested in the car. He covered his face, which was swollen and bruised in patches of blue and purple. He looked utterly dejected.
Thinking about what my cousin went through with the ghost last night, I patted his shoulder to comfort him.
"Ethan, that was my first time. Pretty thrilling, actually."
I stared at my cousin, mouth agape.
"Damn it, cousin, you really need to change that disgusting attitude of yours. Otherwise, one day you'll..."
"Ethan, haven't you heard? 'To die beneath the peony is to die a romantic ghost.'"
Seeing my cousin could still joke, I figured he was fine. We got back on the road, heading toward Universal Temple.
Thinking about last night's inn, and what that ghostly old woman said—if we ran into anyone living above the 15th floor, we'd never get out—I still felt a lingering chill.
"I never want to go to a place like that again," I muttered.
By eleven o'clock, we arrived at the bustling market below Universal Temple. Shops stretched as far as the eye could see, and the streets were packed with people. My cousin found a spot and parked the car.
We planned to head up to the temple. Looking up, we saw countless steps leading up Heavenlight Mountain, where the massive temple sat. People crawled up the stairs like a line of ants.
"Wow, that's so high." My cousin stared at the seemingly endless staircase and complained.
After grabbing a bite, we started climbing. I saw many devout worshippers—bowing every five steps, kneeling every ten.
I carried bags of incense, gripping the handrail in the middle. My cousin was drenched in sweat, but thanks to my job, I'm in decent shape; even after a long climb, I didn't feel tired.
After an hour, we finally saw Universal Temple's main gate. Just a few more steps to go—it was nearly one o'clock. We'd been dragging our feet for over an hour. My cousin lagged far behind, so I decided to go ahead and wait for him at the top.
With one final step, I leaped up and crossed onto the last stair.
"How dare a thing of evil bring its foul presence into a sacred Buddhist sanctuary!"
A blinding golden light flashed, accompanied by a stern, thunderous voice. My vision swam, my head spun, and my whole body convulsed. My stomach churned violently, and I vomited.
"Amitabha. Are you all right, benefactor?"
I heard a voice, and a hand pressed against my forehead. Strangely, all the discomfort vanished instantly.
I looked up and saw an elderly monk, his face glowing with health and energy, radiating gentle warmth. On the back of his neck, I caught a glimpse of a dazzling halo.
"Ah, that's Master Jianyun. He's come out of the main hall!"
The noisy crowd immediately stepped aside, bowing quietly to the old monk.
Master Jianyun reached out and helped me up. I stood.
"Benefactor, I've been waiting for you. Rest for now in the Serenity Pavilion until the other benefactor arrives," Master Jianyun called out.
"Chongzhi, Chonghui, escort this benefactor to the Serenity Pavilion for some rest."
Two monks in blue robes supported me, leading me around the main hall and through a side door. After several twists and turns, we arrived at a small pavilion surrounded by clear mountains and flowing water. A gentle stream ran beside it.
"Please rest here for a while," said the monks. One left, while the other sat cross-legged outside the pavilion, chanting softly. I settled onto a stone bench inside, feeling refreshed as the sound of trickling water soothed my mind.
After a short wait, the monk who had left returned with tea. I thanked him, took a sip, and found it bitter yet sweet. The warmth spread through my body, making me feel alive again.
As I pondered the light and the voice I encountered at the mountain gate, I felt a sense of awe.
Soon, my cousin arrived, supported by two young monks in green robes. He looked utterly exhausted. Master Jianyun followed them over as well.
At this moment, I had some doubts about the Soulbound Inn. Once the old monk sat down, I asked him about it.
"Benefactor, that inn is a refuge for wandering and lonely spirits—those unwilling to reincarnate or accept Buddhist salvation. Most end up there. Fortunately, you didn't provoke the higher-level ghosts. That is a blessing in misfortune."
After chatting for a while, I truly felt that Master Jianyun was a deeply respectable elder. He was already seventy, but looked barely fifty. His speech was elegant and his presence approachable, nothing like the usual abbot of Universal Temple.
After reading the letter, Master Jianyun smiled.
"Benefactor Zhang, my junior has written your karmic entanglements in this letter. Today is an auspicious day—soon I will perform the tonsure and you shall enter monastic life."
My cousin let out a shocked gasp, staring at Master Jianyun in disbelief. I stifled a laugh at his look of extreme reluctance, even though he had no choice.
After a long rest, at 3 PM, my cousin was brought to the grand hall. The golden, resplendent hall was filled with fragrant incense and deep chanting, with statues of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas enshrined.
I stood outside the hall as my cousin, now dressed in green robes, knelt with palms together before the altar.
"All worldly things have passed away. I take refuge in the Buddha..."
After Master Jianyun chanted a long passage, he took up the razor, dipped it in clean water, and sprinkled it on my cousin.
"Benefactor Zhang, your spiritual roots are profound and your affinity with Buddhism is deep. Today, I grant you the monastic name Chongsheng and accept you as my disciple."
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I watched in amazement. It seemed Master Zhou and the old monk were on good terms. I hadn't expected my cousin to become a senior monk right away; from what I could tell, his rank at Universal Temple was quite high.
It looks like things have finally turned out well. I sincerely hope my cousin can cultivate in the temple and resolve all these troubles.
We then went to Master Jianyun's meditation room. He told us my cousin must recite the Buddha's Amitabha Sutra every day. Master Jianyun had already arranged for two wooden carvings of children—a boy and a girl—tied with red string and bells.
He asked my cousin to name the children: the boy was Zhang Mo and the girl was Zhang Dan. I was quite pleased, watching my cousin with his newly shaved head—it made me want to laugh.
After that, my cousin went off with his two senior brothers, while Master Jianyun kept me alone in the meditation room.
"Benefactor Zhang, what are your plans now?"
I wasn't sure why Master Jianyun asked me that, so I thought for a moment.
"Go back and look for a proper job." Suddenly, I thought of Rachel Lan—wasn't she the manager at the gas company? I might as well go find her, work for her, and learn something new.
"Benefactor Zhang, I know your heart isn't set on Buddhism, but if I were to ask you to join the monastic life, what would you say?"
I stared at Master Jianyun in surprise, not sure what he meant.
"Master, becoming a monk is a bit... well..."
"Heh, Benefactor Zhang, I wouldn't dare speak falsely. If you choose to become a monk, my own teacher will personally perform the tonsure and take you as a disciple. Then you would be my junior brother."
I let out a confused sound, looking at Master Jianyun in bewilderment.
"Master, I don't want to become a monk. Um, how old is your teacher?"
I asked, still feeling a bit puzzled.
"My teacher, Mingde, has reached enlightenment. Heh, how about this, Benefactor Zhang: stay in the temple for a few days and think it over. After all, the thing haunting you is not ordinary; only by taking refuge in Buddhism can you resolve it."
I was then taken to the back mountain, which was quite scenic. I stopped to admire the view for a while. When we reached a two-story building, I was surprised—it looked old and elegant, clearly aged by time.
Thinking about the incense rooms I'd passed—they were new, but not as charming as this place. What puzzled me was that next to the building, a staircase led up to another similar structure.
After I entered, the door creaked shut behind me. Then, with a click, it was locked. I turned in surprise, but the two monks at the door were already gone.
"Maybe it's just the rules here."
Looking around, I saw that all the windows were covered with iron bars, inscribed with golden characters. Downstairs, there were several bookshelves filled with Buddhist scriptures, a desk, and a soft couch.
I looked around and went upstairs. From the window, the view was unique. There was only a small bed with a mattress, a wooden chamber pot, and calligraphy paintings hung on the walls.
As the sun was about to set, I saw two monks carrying lunch boxes coming over. I hurried downstairs.
Downstairs, I watched as the lunch box was pushed through a small door—just big enough for a head. Then the two monks left.
"Master, why did you lock the door? What's going on?"
I touched the door, and gradually sensed something was wrong. Every door and window was made of iron. After checking up and down, I realized this was an iron building—it felt like prison.
After eating, I shouted myself hoarse, but no one came. I really was imprisoned.
Helpless, I could only go to sleep.
A low sobbing drifted over, waking me. It seemed to come from the iron building next door—a woman's voice, heartbreakingly sad.
"What is going on? Just because I don't want to be a monk, they locked me up?"