The Heart's Intent Cannot Be Forced

Though the spring breeze may pass, the past still looks back.

The words of the three rivers speak, told to the sea's flow.

In the memories of bygone days, the mottled years have gone.

It's just that with a single thought arising, even in dreams, nothing is seen.

Yuan Kong slowly stepped onto the staircase covered with fallen leaves. The young novice monk, draped in a somewhat worn-out kasaya, gazed upward as if looking at the sky, his eyes fixed on the small pagoda.

Below the stairs, other novices passed by chanting sutras, yet none noticed a long-unseen figure walking towards the Relic Pagoda.

Golden Core flawless, aura restrained.

With but a thought, mortals cannot perceive.

Yuan Kong had left Chanlin Temple with only Qi Refining cultivation. Since then, he had never returned. Now coming back, he was a Golden Core True Person.

His cultivation had also surpassed that of his senior brother, Yuan Jing.

The path to Golden Core was not difficult for Yuan Kong; it was just a matter of slowly cultivating and exploring the answers in his heart, and then it came naturally, as if water finds its own course.

It's just that his senior brother had spent a lifetime without ever setting foot into the Golden Core realm.

Otherwise, he would have been waiting in the temple, smiling, for his return.

Yuan Kong only felt the bricks beneath his feet were familiar yet strange. Lifting his gaze, withered leaves sprouted buds, just like in those past years. But upon closer reflection, he felt his memories had become like those leaves...

Beginning to yellow somewhat.

He didn't know if it was because he was unwilling to remember back then, or because he had now let go.

The staircase from Chanlin Temple to the Relic Pagoda, seen from afar, still seemed rather long.

Yet Yuan Kong felt he had only taken a few steps before reaching the top.

Yuan Kong looked at the Relic Pagoda, standing silently in place for a long time. After a gentle breeze slowly blew past, he finally spoke:

"Senior Brother, it's been a long time. I've grown so much, taller than you were before."

"But you probably can't see it, so I dressed a bit sloppily."

"Since you probably can't scold me anymore, so..."

Yuan Kong only felt a strange stuffiness in his nose; perhaps the wind was hinting at the coming winter.

The wind at Chanlin Temple was truly powerful, making this Golden Core True Person's nose ache.

He gently pinched his nose before continuing:

"So I am free and unrestrained, saying whatever I wish."

"I am a Golden Core True Person now. I've traveled the four directions, endured trials, and tasted hardship."

"A Golden Core True Person is considered a top-tier mighty figure in Yuzhou City."

"Senior Brother, given your current state can't refute me, I have some rather unimpressive things I want to say."

Yuan Kong heaved a heavy sigh, looking up at the sky:

"Even though I am a Golden Core mighty figure, I still wish, like before, to hide behind you whenever trouble arises."

"I also think this is Senior Brother's fault, for being too good to me back then, making me unable to forget those days even now."

"I've repaid Chu Xingchen's kindness, though not fully. I gained a Mahayana Buddhist Heart Sutra out of thin air, which should also count as his favor."

"That Heart Sutra seems strange to me. The more I read it... the less I see 'emptiness'."

"Never mind, emptiness or not, I don't care anymore."

"Before coming, I also thought about burning this good thing for you to see, to let you witness something precious."

"But that thing seems to be a unique copy, a relic. I thought burning it might not even work."

"As for reading it aloud, I'm too lazy, too lazy to open my mouth. After all, even a Golden Core True Person gets tired from rushing back."

As Yuan Kong spoke, as if truly tired, he simply sat down in front of the Relic Pagoda, continuing with a smile:

"If Senior Brother wants to hear it, you can come find me in my dreams. I'll recite it for you then. After all, opening my mouth in a dream should be much easier."

After saying this, Yuan Kong fell silent, his gaze fixed on the Relic Pagoda.

Only, no gentle breeze answered his unease.

Yuan Kong slowly rose, reaching out to touch the Relic Pagoda.

No warmth, only the cold and rough texture of the pagoda.

"Senior Brother, until next time."

Yuan Kong lowered his eyes, whispering softly.

With that, Yuan Kong turned and prepared to leave, descending the stairs.

The staircase gradually obscured Yuan Kong's figure, and the Relic Pagoda was once again empty and alone.

Suddenly, Yuan Kong's voice came from below the stairs:

"Senior Brother is still so stubborn. If I don't come here to see you, you won't come to find me in my dreams either."

"Senior Brother should know I'm petty. Since I came here to see you today, you should come to find me in my dream."

"Otherwise, be careful, or your junior brother will forget you completely!"

Yuan Kong's voice grew louder as he spoke, as if venting his dissatisfaction.

Yet, still, no one answered him.

After descending the stairs, Yuan Kong did not leave directly. Though he had not returned to Chanlin Temple for a long time, the memories in his mind remained vivid.

He went straight to the Abbot's room in the main hall.

The Abbot's door was wide open. An old novice monk sat with eyes slightly closed, softly chanting.

"Nephew, it's been a long time. It's your turn to be the Abbot now."

Yuan Kong stepped into the hall, his gaze falling upon the current Abbot of Chanlin Temple. Time had not spared this nephew either.

He had grown as old as his senior brother was back then.

The Abbot of Chanlin Temple slowly opened his eyes and looked at the young monk standing outside the door, his head still sporting short black hair, the kasaya draped over him only slightly better than a rag.

He looked at the face, didn't recognize it, narrowed his eyes slightly, and gazed into Yuan Kong's eyes. After a moment, he suddenly realized:

"Is that you, Uncle Yuan Kong?"

Yuan Kong smiled: "I didn't think you'd still recognize me."

The Abbot quickly stood up, his expression full of emotion:

"Uncle, it's been so long since you returned... You've grown up, and taller too..."

"After so long, it's time I grew up." Yuan Kong extended his hand, taking the Abbot's offered hand.

The current Abbot of Chanlin Temple nodded while looking at Yuan Kong up and down with excited emotion.

The Yuan Kong of the past was, after all, someone he had watched grow up with his own eyes.

'Uncle' was a matter of seniority, but his affection was still that of an elder.

The Abbot was about to speak but remembered something:

"Wait a moment, there's something to give to you."

As he spoke, the Abbot slowly turned and retrieved a box from under the bed.

Yuan Kong stared blankly at the box, asking softly:

"Is it... something Senior Brother left for me?"

The Abbot shook his head slightly, placing the box on the ground:

"No, this was left for you later by Sect Leader Chu, Chu Xingchen."

The look of touched emotion and surprise on Yuan Kong's face quickly faded, replaced by a hint of subtle wariness.

Whatever Senior Brother left for him, even if not exceptionally precious, would definitely be something good.

Something left by Chu Xingchen... he'd be thankful if it was even a proper 'thing'.

The Abbot reached out and opened the box, revealing several items inside.

A pure white kasaya, a Willow Jade Slip, and two talismans still shimmering with spiritual light.

"These were originally supposed to remain on the Relic Pagoda. However, the aura of the treasures circulated, and Uncle never returned to retrieve them. Eventually, those with ill intentions began to covet them."

The Abbot sighed softly: "Later, quite a few incidents happened because of this. In the end, we had to commission several eminent Buddhist masters, exhausting methods, to barely manage to retrieve them."

"They said it was fortunate that the spiritual power and spells left on them had been worn down considerably by greedy thieves, leaving little remaining power, which allowed their retrieval."

"Now that Uncle has returned, it's time to take them away."

Yuan Kong looked down and naturally recognized the two magical artifacts, obtained from the secret realm within the Myriad Zhang Mountain.

He pressed further:

"When did Sect Leader Chu send these?"

"About a month after Abbot Yuan Jing's nirvana, after you left Chanlin Temple."

Yuan Kong suddenly gave a light laugh.

Although Chu Xingchen always appeared stingy towards himself, apart from his senior brother, he was actually the most generous person.

The spirit stones he owed had not seen a single repayment for decades; it was less a debt and more an outright refusal to pay.

Spirit stones could be shirked.

But this sentiment could not.