Simultaneous travel: I am proving the great way in the heavens.

Chapter 600 The Extraordinary Phenomenon of Luofu! In the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, demons roam freely, and the story of the mural begins!
Master Baiyun first addressed Luofu by his Dharma name Yuanzhen, but then immediately asked how to address Luofu.

This means that he no longer regards Luofu as that little novice monk, or even as one of the people in the temple.

After a moment of silence, Luo Fu said, "Reporting to my master, this disciple is Luo Fu."

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Luofu. May I ask when you plan to leave the temple?" Zen Master Baiyun asked directly.

I never dreamed that the first thing I would face after returning from the shared space would be being expelled from the sect.

Unfortunately, the abbot of the temple was Zen Master Baiyun. Not to mention that Luofu was just a novice monk before and had no right to refuse, even if he had been reborn, his power had not yet been localized, and he was still no match for Zen Master Baiyun.

More importantly, Luofu still felt grateful to the temple, his master who had raised him, and Zen Master Baiyun, and would never take action against them.

Luo Fu guessed what Zen Master Baiyun was thinking in the blink of an eye.

In Master Baiyun's view, Luofu, the young novice monk who was originally in the temple, suddenly underwent such a change. Although it was very likely that he had awakened his memories of his past life, he could not guarantee that there would be no other unexpected events.

Indeed, in this world, demons roam freely and ghosts are rampant.

Even for the sake of the temple's stability, Zen Master Baiyun would not keep Luofu, an individual whose background is unclear.

Not to mention, Luofu has undergone such a huge change all of a sudden, and even admitted his identity. Although Zen Master Baiyun is a highly accomplished monk, he is not pedantic.

Kind words of advice are merely a means to maintain appearances.

I believe that if Luo Fu refuses to leave, no matter his attitude, whether forceful or tactful, Zen Master Baiyun will not accept it.

In the eyes of Zen Master Baiyun, Luofu was clearly an anomaly.

An outsider with an unclear background, remaining in the temple, is unsettling regardless of Luofu's attitude towards him, whether benevolent or malevolent.

Having guessed what Zen Master Baiyun was thinking, Luofu gave a wry smile and said, "Uncle-Master, may I stay for a few more days?"

Zen Master Baiyun smiled and shook his head, saying, "Tomorrow is an auspicious day, suitable for travel. This humble monk thinks you might as well set off at dawn, fellow Daoist, what do you say?"

Luo Fu's lips twitched slightly; he knew this was Baiyun Zen Master's bottom line.

After sighing, Luo Fu said, "The temple has nurtured me, and I will repay this kindness in the future. The time of sunrise will be the time for me to leave the temple."

"Very good." Zen Master Baiyun seemed to be smiling, but in reality, he was filled with a strong sense of vigilance towards Luofu. Even though Luofu had agreed to leave the temple at dawn, Zen Master Baiyun still showed no intention of leaving, as if he wanted to wait until Luofu left.

They were clearly abbot and novice monk at the temple.

But at this moment, the two of them remained silent.

Just a few moments later, when the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon.

The melodious chimes of bells echoed from the direction of the clock tower.

As the morning bell rang, the monks in the temple began to get up and prepare for their morning prayers.

Zen Master Baiyun immediately became alert.

Upon seeing this, Luo Fu bowed to Zen Master Baiyun and said, "I apologize to Master for troubling you, Uncle Master. From now on, there will be no more Yuanzhen in Buddhism."

The moment Luo Fu finished speaking, a wisp of green hair appeared on his bald head, visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, Luo Fu's bald head was replaced by a head of waist-length hair.

"After you leave, I will immediately go and explain to my junior brother." Zen Master Baiyun readily agreed.

"Farewell, Luofu."

Master Baiyun stared intently at Luofu until his figure vanished into thin air. Only then did Master Baiyun finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He murmured to himself, "A strange phenomenon has occurred; I wonder if it's a blessing or a curse."

"Abbot."

Some of the monks who had just gotten up immediately spotted Zen Master Baiyun standing outside the meditation room.

One of the monks who shared a large communal bed with Luofu asked somewhat nervously, "Abbot, what about Yuanzhen..."

Before the monk could finish speaking, Zen Master Baiyun interrupted him, saying, "Where is Yuanzhen in my temple?"

After a moment of hesitation, the monk said, "Yuanzhen is the one who was with this disciple..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted again by Zen Master Baiyun, who said, "Amitabha, as I have already said, there has never been a person named Yuanzhen in this temple."

The solemn expression of Zen Master Baiyun silenced all the monks.

They didn't know what Luo Fu had done to elicit such a reaction from Zen Master Baiyun.

However, the strict precepts in Buddhism are no joke.

Since even the abbot, Zen Master Baiyun, firmly denied the existence of Yuanzhen, they naturally dared not comment.

As the sun rose high in the sky.

After finishing their morning prayers, the monks went about their own business.

However, Abbot Baiyun Zen Master did not forget Luofu's instructions.

He ordered his only disciple to find the monk in charge of the young novices, including Luofu.

When the two arrived at the meditation room, Zen Master Baiyun said, "Shifang, I have something to discuss with your uncle. Please do not let anyone disturb us."

"Disciple obeys." Shi Fang had obviously guessed that what Zen Master Baiyun was about to say must be related to that mysterious Yuanzhen.

Despite Master Baiyun's prohibition on Yuanzhen's existence and even his denial of all of Yuanzhen's existence, it's still a valid argument.

However, Shi Fang was, after all, a direct disciple of Zen Master Baiyun. Even though he dared not disobey the precepts, he had still curiously inquired about the secrets of Luofu.

Unfortunately, before entering the shared space, Luofu was just an ordinary novice monk in the temple.

After Shifang closed the door to the meditation room from the outside, Zen Master Baiyun said with a solemn expression, "Junior brother, let's prepare to close the mountain gate."

"Senior brother, what exactly happened?" As Luo Fu's master, this monk actually didn't have much status in the temple, otherwise he wouldn't be like the director of the temple's orphanage.

"That Yuanzhen, born with extraordinary signs, awakened to his past life before dawn in his meditation room," said Zen Master Baiyun. "This time, for us, I fear it is more of a calamity than a blessing." "This...how could this be?" the monk exclaimed in horror. "Yuanzhen was merely an abandoned child, how could this be..."

“There’s no mistake.” Zen Master Baiyun shook his head and said, “I have already issued a gag order to the temple. From now on, the temple will completely deny the existence of Yuanzhen. Not only that, I will also take the golden Buddha away.”

As if knowing the monk would surely try to persuade him, Zen Master Baiyun continued, “In this world, demons run rampant and black and white are indistinguishable. In the past, Yuanzhen might have been born a saint, but now he is probably no good. The golden Buddha cannot be lost. I will soon take the golden Buddha and travel the world with the Ten Directions. However, after I leave, the temple will be handed over to you!”

Unlike Zen Master Baiyun, who truly possessed the ability to subdue demons and monsters, it could even be said that if it weren't for the change in destiny...

Zen Master Baiyun even had the opportunity to ascend to the Western Paradise, and even if he couldn't become a Buddha, he would certainly attain a Buddhist enlightenment.

But Luofu's former master was at most a chant master and guest monk in the temple.

Now, Zen Master Baiyun is suddenly leaving, intending to travel the world with the Golden Buddha and his disciples, leaving the temple to be managed by him.

How could Master Luofu have the courage to take responsibility?

His expression changed for a moment, as if he knew that once Zen Master Baiyun had made a decision, he would not change his mind.

After letting out a soft sigh, the monk said, "Brother, what should we do if Yuanzhen comes to visit us again?"

Shaking his head, Zen Master Baiyun said, “No, I have already calculated it. I will face a calamity in the future. Originally, even without Yuanzhen, I would have taken Shifang and Jinfo on a journey in three to five years. But now, because of Yuanzhen, I have to avoid this calamity in advance to avoid implicating the temple. After I leave, I will leave behind some means. Moreover... although Yuanzhen’s background is unpredictable, he may not necessarily be detrimental to the temple. After I leave, you should close the mountain and the temple and wait for my news.”

"How long will you be traveling, senior brother?" the monk asked anxiously.

After a moment of silence, Zen Master Baiyun said, "Within three to five years, people from all directions will naturally return."

His eyes suddenly narrowed, and as if he had thought of something, the monk lowered his head, put his hands together, and began to chant scriptures.

Completely unaware that they had returned from the shared space.

It turned out that Zen Master Baiyun had made preparations in advance to travel the world with his disciples Shifang and Jinfo.

However, it is unknown why such a huge variable as Luofu suddenly appeared. Will Zen Master Baiyun and Shifang still encounter the Tree Demon Granny and female ghosts like Nie Xiaoqian at Lanruo Temple in the future?

On the Luofu side, after being forced to leave the temple by Zen Master Baiyun.

After leaving the mountain gate, Luofu arrived at the town at the foot of the mountain and was somewhat at a loss as to where to go next.

Throughout his life, he grew up in a temple and almost never left. The furthest he went was to this small town at the foot of the mountain to hold religious ceremonies and make purchases for the temple.

Luo Fu knew about the situation in this world either from what he heard from other monks in the temple, or from the unverifiable information he obtained from conversations with pilgrims.

Now that he has been expelled from the temple, and given that he has not learned much of the true essence of Buddhism from the monastery, he is now facing a difficult situation.

Luo Fu simply presented himself as someone who had returned to secular life.

After lingering in the town for a while, before Luo Fu could decide where to go next...

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind.

"Master Yuanzhen?"

Following the sound, a scholar dressed in a blue robe and wearing a large hat was looking at Luo Fu with a puzzled and uncertain look.

The moment Luo Fu turned around, the scholar exclaimed in surprise, "It really is you, Master Yuanzhen! How come you..."

"Zhu Xiaolian?" In an instant, Luo Fu matched the scholar in front of him with the Zhu Xiaolian he remembered.

"It is indeed I, Zhu Xiaolian." Bowing respectfully, Zhu Xiaolian asked with a puzzled look, "Master Yuanzhen, what's wrong with your hair...?"

Clearly, Zhu Xiaolian was quite curious about Luo Fu's waist-length hair.

After all, he remembered that a few months ago, when he climbed the mountain to go to the temple to offer incense and worship Buddha, Master Yuanzhen was still a bald monk.

In just a few short months, the monk suddenly developed such a long, flowing head of hair.

"I have already returned to secular life and am no longer a Buddhist disciple. There's no need to mention Master Yuanzhen anymore. From now on, just call me Su family name Luo Fu. As for my hair, it's just that it's grown a bit faster." Luo Fu gave a vague reply, then glanced at the pageboy carrying a book box beside Zhu Xiaolian and said, "Zhu Xiaolian, are you planning to go to the capital to take the imperial examination?"

“Exactly.” Zhu Xiaolian’s eyes flickered slightly, clearly noticing Luo Fu’s evasiveness, but he did not delve into it further.

This world is teeming with strange and unusual creatures, where anything can happen.

In recent years, this small town alone has seen more than one incident of ghosts and demons causing trouble, and countless rituals have been performed to remedy the situation.

As a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, Zhu Xiaolian was considered a member of the local gentry and was well aware that the temple where Luofu had previously been located truly possessed supernatural powers and magic.

However, as a Confucian disciple, Zhu Xiaolian also deeply understood the sage's teaching that "Confucius did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits."

Ignoring his curiosity about how Luo Fu had grown such long hair in such a short time, Zhu Xiaolian said, "I'm going to try my luck this time, to fulfill my wish... I wonder what Mr. Luo Fu's plans are after he returns to secular life?"

Zhu Xiaolian was clearly speaking too frankly with someone he didn't know well.

Although he and Luo Fu were somewhat familiar, at most they had only exchanged pleasantries for a while when Zhu Xiaolian climbed the mountain to offer incense and worship Buddha at the temple. At most, they were just nodding acquaintances.

If he had only recognized Luo Fu before and was curious about how Luo Fu's hair had grown so long in just a few months, then his inexplicable inquiry into Luo Fu's plans after leaving the monastic life clearly indicated that he had ulterior motives.

"I grew up in the temple since childhood, but now I have returned to secular life and am planning to travel the world to see the beautiful landscapes," Luo Fu said, following Zhu Xiaolian's words.

Sure enough, after Luo Fu responded, Zhu Xiaolian was overjoyed and said, "Since Mr. Luo Fu intends to travel the world, how about we travel together? Although I plan to go to the capital for the imperial examination, I also intend to take this opportunity to broaden my horizons. If we can travel together, we can look after each other. What do you think, sir?"

Recalling his previous conversation with Zhu Xiaolian, Luo Fu was speechless.

It seems I really fooled Zhu Xiaolian quite a bit before.

It was obvious that Zhu Xiaolian's offer to travel with him meant he had genuinely believed Luofu's lies from their time at the temple.

However, for Luo Fu now, his previous deception was not entirely a deception.

After all, Luofu before was only for the temple's incense offerings, and with Zen Master Baiyun backing it up, but now, the shared power will bring about earth-shattering changes to Luofu every moment as time goes by.

If before, Luo Fu was merely talking about Buddhist principles, now he truly has the ability to put those principles into practice.

Considering that Zhu Xiaolian would be the main character in the painting, and given that he currently had no specific purpose, Luo Fu simply nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble Zhu Xiaolian."

(End of this chapter)