Lanruo, also known as Aranruo, is a Buddhist term that originally referred to a forest. It carries the meanings of a quiet place or a remote location, symbolizing a place that avoids the hustle and bustle of the human world. It's a term commonly used to refer to Buddhist temples.
Therefore, Buddhist temples are often called Lanruo Temples.
So, don't rashly run into a Lanruo Temple. You might get beaten out by the monks.
This Lanruo Temple at the Wild Tomb Ridge is closed even during broad daylight. No wonder nobody comes to worship here. They don't even understand the principle of welcoming guests.
Han Li took the initiative to knock on the door, and after a short while, the door opened a crack, and a bald young monk peeked out half of her body.
Although prepared, Fang Zhou still felt an urge to complain when he saw this bald young monk.
It was a female monk.
How could Fang Zhou see through it at a glance? Because the young monk was quite well-developed.
The young monk pressed her palms together and asked, "Honorable guests, are you here to worship Buddha with incense?"
Han Li bowed and said, "Young master, the three of us are passing by and would like to stay for a few nights. Can your temple accommodate us?"
The young monk didn't say anything else but just nodded her head and opened the door, leading three of them into the temple.
The temple covered a vast area, showing signs of age in many places, but it wasn't in disrepair and was obviously well-maintained.
The young monk led three of them to a side hall and introduced them to a plump middle-aged female monk.
"Amitabha."
The female monk smiled and said, "I am Hui Neng, the chief monk of this temple. Welcome, honorable guests, to our temple. Are you here to stay, to worship, or to search for treasure?"
Fang Zhou and Han Li looked perplexed. This monk didn't seem like a monk but more like a businesswoman welcoming customers.
However, Ling Xiaoyue asked, "Monk, do many people come here looking for treasure?"
Hui Neng nodded and laughed, "Yes, since the secret treasure was revealed, many people have come from afar. Some leave after seeing it, while others stay here. You must be here for the same reason, right?"
Ling Xiaoyue was intrigued and asked, "Tell me, what's the deal with this hidden treasure of yours? Is it real or fake?"
Hui Neng pressed her palms together and solemnly assured, "It's definitely real. We monks do not speak deceitfully."
She explained that the treasure was not in Lanruo Temple but on a mountain near its old site.
The whole affair began over a year ago when the monks of Lanruo Temple accidentally noticed that colorful light was emanating from the mountain where the old temple stood, accompanied by faint chanting.
Hui Neng, already the chief monk, was overjoyed, thinking it was a sign from Buddha and rushed to worship.
When they arrived, the colorful lights and chanting had disappeared, and Hui Neng was disappointed. However, she felt that the place had changed, becoming filled with spiritual energy and vitality.
Since then, the colorful lights and chanting would sporadically appear. Despite multiple attempts to investigate and even stationing people at the old site, the reason behind the phenomena remained unclear.
She strictly forbade the monks from spreading the news, but it got out anyway, attracting many treasure-seekers.
"Dear guests, to see the colorful light and hear the Buddhist hymns, you must stay overnight. The treasure is unpredictable, so you may need to stay at this temple for some time. But don't worry, we've built a great viewing platform. We'll notify you when the glow appears."
Hui Neng was like an enthusiastic businessman, introducing the origins of the secret treasure, as well as the time and method to view it.
Fang Zhou felt helpless. He didn't feel like a treasure hunter but a tourist, and Hui Neng was the salesperson pushing hard to sell.
"Stop! This is not an adventure. You're ruining the atmosphere!" he thought.
Finally, Hui Neng asked, "Have the three of you decided to stay?"
Of course! We didn't come all this way just to drink your water !
Han Li politely said, "Yes, thank you, Master."
"It's no trouble at all," Hui Neng replied, smiling and took out a donation box.
Ling Xiaoyue jumped up, "What, you are requesting for money?"
Hui Neng revealed a helpless expression. "Our temple doesn't have any land property. We can only rely on the monks to cultivate a few vegetable fields and occasionally go out to beg for alms to maintain our livelihood. Since the emergence of the secret treasure, many people have come from afar. The food and accommodation provided by our temple are already overwhelmed. We can only resort to this. We ask for your understanding.
If it were anyone else, they would have paid the money. After all, Hui Neng's words were reasonable. However, Ling Xiaoyue was not an ordinary person. She immediately retorted, "I don't even need to pay for a month's worth of vegetarian food in the Great Mercy Temple. You want to charge me for this small place? Besides, the three of us don't need to eat. Wouldn't you be taking money for nothing if we give it to you?"
Shut up, you're the only one who doesn't need to eat!
Fang Zhou covered his face with his hands, feeling deeply embarrassed. This woman had tens of thousands of taels of silver in her hands, and she actually had the nerve to bargain with a monk over the cost of food and accommodation.
Han Li also felt very awkward. She had seen many experts, some were warm, some were cold, some were gentle, but it was the first time she had seen someone as shameless as Ling Xiaoyue.
She quickly took out the silver from her pocket and said, "I'll pay."
Ling Xiaoyue instantly had no objections and even gave Han Li an approving look.
Han Li replied with an awkward smile.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Hui Neng laughed and said, "Dear guests, there's no need to worry. Recognizing the potential inconveniences for many travelers, our temple has introduced special personalized services."
She took out a wooden board with three set meals written on it.
Pilgrim Package: A standard meditation room, three vegetarian meals a day, and a regular seat in the Treasure View Tower for ten silver pieces per person.
Layman Package: A medium meditation room, three full vegetarian meals, and tea, assistance in feeding horses, and a medium seat in the Treasure View Tower for thirty silver pieces per person.
Connected with Buddha Package: A superior meditation room, daily snacks and teas, and three meals cooked by the temple's chef, fine feed for horses, a superior seat in the Treasure View Tower, and a one-day tour of the Lanruo Temple guided by the temple's chief, along with a guided tour to the ancient site if a secret treasure appears, all for one hundred silver pieces per person.
Upon seeing these packages, Fang Zhou was completely speechless.
He thought, "Lanruo Temple has struck gold! Hui Neng is a true gem. What are you still doing as a monk? Hurry and leave to become a businessman. With your creativity, you'll become rich in three years, wealthy in five, and a life winner in ten."
Fang Zhou seriously doubted whether the so-called secret treasure even existed or if it was merely a scheme by Hui Neng to attract visitors and boost the economy.
He had just been complaining that Lanruo Temple didn't know how to do business or welcome guests.
Now he realized that he was the one who didn't understand business, while the chief monk was hiding her true talents.
"One hundred taels per person?"
Ling Xiaoyue stared at Hui Neng, a distrustful look in her eyes. "Monk, you really know how to do business. I wouldn't dare charge so much."
Bullshit!
Fang Zhou looked at Ling Xiaoyue with disdain.
Hui Neng laughed warmly, "Not expensive, not expensive. Dear honorable guests, this is specifically for those connected with Buddha. Can something related to Buddha be considered expensive? I see that you have a connection with Buddha, why not give it a try?"
Fang Zhou translated Hui Neng's words in his mind, "This package is specially prepared for suckers, do you want to try it?"
Ling Xiaoyue then turned to look at Han Li, her eyes hopeful.
Han Li felt awkward again. She only had a little over one hundred taels of silver on her, and this was all she had saved up on the way back from the journey.
One hundred taels was a considerable sum for ordinary people, but it seemed not enough now.
Buying the Connected with Buddha Package for anyone would be unfair. Purchasing the Pilgrim Package for her two lifesavers seemed too stingy. Finally, Han Li gritted her teeth and bought the Layman Package for all three of them.
Hui Neng took the money and immediately called a young monk to arrange three medium meditation rooms. The horses were also taken to the temple's stable, with monks to look after them.
The three of them followed the young monk to the rooms that had been arranged for them.
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