Chapter 109: Chapter 109: A Zen Room

Huangfu Jingchen said calmly, “What’s so strange about that? Does the Bodhisattva distinguish between male and female? Besides, how can a monk have any business to discuss?”

Xia Wenjin blinked, her big eyes sparkling as a smile spread across her face, “Brother Zheng, are you here to knock on the door?”

Huangfu Jingchen glanced at her speechlessly, “You didn’t call me that before!”

Xia Wenjin’s eyes curved mischievously, “Well, I used to call you Brother Huang, but then I thought, you’re not a prince, and calling you Elder Brother might cause misunderstandings. Brother Zheng sounds better, it’s more intimate and natural, and it rolls off the tongue!” She wouldn’t admit that she initially called him that to tease him, but she discovered that as long as she called him that, Huangfu Jingchen’s handsome face would twitch, his expression constantly changing with a complex look, clearly detesting it but too flustered to react, which was very amusing.

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

He didn’t find it rolls off the tongue, as for being intimate? Well… There’s a bit of that!

But he couldn’t say that whenever he heard her call him that, his heart would inexplicably race.

Even though the person in front of him was clearly a man, hearing that crisp voice and the sweet words “Brother Zheng,” his mind couldn’t help but conjure up an image of Xia Wenjin in women’s clothing.

Then he felt both ashamed and angry at himself for having such thoughts, yet he couldn’t reveal these secret thoughts to anyone, especially not to Xia Wenjin.

Two men, how improper would that be?

His father and mother would certainly be deeply upset.

Huangfu Jingchen shook his head vigorously, attempting to dispel the wild thoughts in his mind, and went to knock on the door.

Although it was evening, Kongshan Temple was already quite quiet, and the knocking sound was quite loud.

In no time, the door opened.

A little monk emerged, his bald head shining, and asked, “Who are you here to see?”

Xia Wenjin said, “Young master, we’ve missed our lodging and wish to stay here for the night!”

The little monk immediately said, “Amitabha, benefactors, please wait a moment, this humble monk will go ask!”

The door closed again.

Xia Wenjin chuckled, “This temple is quite interesting, isn’t it?”

Huangfu Jingchen said, “Isn’t that normal? Children can’t make decisions, so naturally they have to ask adults!”

Xia Wenjin smiled and shook her head, not arguing with him.

After a while, the door opened again, and the little monk returned, accompanied by a middle-aged monk. The middle-aged monk said, “This monk is Juehai. May I ask where the two benefactors are from?”

Xia Wenjin said, “We came from Yuqing County.”

Monk Juehai smiled, clasping his hands together, “Yuqing County? That is quite far!”

Xia Wenjin said, “Indeed. We heard the fortunes here are accurate, so we came here in admiration, finally arriving this evening, just in time for tomorrow’s divination day!”

Juehai said, “Since the two of you are so sincere, the Buddha is sure to take notice. Benefactors, please follow this humble monk!”

The two followed Juehai into the temple, crossing a small platform to reach a flight of stairs. Beyond the stairs was a large platform after passing another gate.

The inscription “Shian Temple” on the gatehead was even more grand and vigorous, with deeply vigorous brushwork.

Juehai explained as he walked, “In that direction is the Great Hero Hall, where the Buddha is enshrined. The temple has ten side halls, all dedicated to various Bodhisattvas.”

The night shrouded the view, offering only a rough outline, but it was clear that the temple occupied an entire mountainside, with each side hall built around the Great Hero Hall, magnificently majestic.

However, this grandeur and majesty didn’t particularly impress Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen.

Huangfu Jingchen had seen Bodhi Temple in the suburb, which was bestowed as a National Temple and is an ancient temple passed down through the ages, over ten times more magnificent than this.

As for Xia Wenjin, she had been unfortunate enough to have seen Bodhi Temple in her past life as well.

To them, even the Imperial Palace was just a slightly more magnificent building, let alone this Shian Temple?

Though Monk Juehai was meticulously detailed in his introductions, he did not urge them to pay respects to the Buddha or Bodhisattva, which was quite to their liking.

Juehai guided them to the right where there was a row of meditation rooms, stopping at one and opening the door, “The accommodations in the temple are humble; please do not mind, benefactors!”

Xia Wenjin said, “The master is too kind!”

Seeing him about to leave, Huangfu Jingchen quickly said, “Master, could you arrange another meditation room?”

Juehai glanced at him, seemingly curious why two men couldn’t share a meditation room, but considering their demeanor, they must be from noble families, and it was not unusual for the sons of wealthy families to not want to share a room with others.

After saying this, Huangfu Jingchen unconsciously took a sidelong glance at Xia Wenjin, only to see her smiling slightly, seemingly unfazed, and he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Juehai clasped his hands and said, “Please forgive us, benefactor, for tomorrow is the divination day, and many benefactors have the same idea as you, so all the meditation rooms in the temple are occupied. There’s only this one left. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do. After the divination day, if you still wish to stay in the temple, this humble monk will arrange it for you.”

With this, Huangfu Jingchen had no choice.

Besides, he felt he was overthinking. This is a meditation room, in a Buddhist Sect place; what could possibly happen? Of course, nothing will happen!

Juehai smiled slightly, “Have the two of you had supper? I will have the little monk bring some vegetarian tea over!”

Xia Wenjin said, “We’ll trouble the master then!”

With Juehai present, it wasn’t noticeable, but after he left, an awkward atmosphere filled the room.

Huangfu Jingchen lightly cleared his throat, “Um… I… have no other meaning, I just… am not used to… sharing a room!”

Xia Wenjin said, “You don’t need to feel embarrassed, I’m also not used to sharing a room. Even if you didn’t ask, I would’ve.”

Huangfu Jingchen said, “Fortunately, the bed is big enough; a little squeeze… will do!”

Xia Wenjin: “…”

The bed was only slightly wider than a single bed, how was that big enough?

A little squeeze?

Better not!

Although she often mischievously teased Huangfu Jingchen, it was all in good fun, merely to see Huangfu Jingchen’s awkwardness, which she found amusing.

Even though she had seen two lifetimes, looking at Huangfu Jingchen as if he were a younger generation, thinking he was just a kid, she couldn’t ignore the fact that this kid was eighteen, already a grown man; some jokes were acceptable, but some were absolutely not.

Soon after, the little monk brought over some porridge and small dishes.

The two ate a little, and when the little monk came to collect the dishes, Xia Wenjin smiled and asked, “Young master, can we take a walk around?”

The little monk said, “Benefactors should not wander far, as it might disturb other benefactors’ rest. Moreover, tomorrow is the divination day; benefactors hope that their sincerity will be perceived by the Buddha, all chanting sutras and worshiping Buddha in the meditation rooms, why don’t you worship Buddha?” Saying this, he cast a suspicious glance at Xia Wenjin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep