The Venerable Buddha Bears My Precepts for Me

"This scene is nothing like what I imagined..."

Yuan Kong lay on the ground, quietly complaining as he watched the heavy snow falling before him.

Qian Qing took a deep breath. Though her heart still stirred with emotion, it was far more restrained than she had expected. She walked steadily to Yuan Kong's side, looked down at him still lying on the ground, and said:

"And what did you imagine? That it would be like when we were kids?"

"Can it be?" Yuan Kong asked.

San Dong stood silent, quietly covering her own eyes.

The next moment, Yuan Kong's pained groan rang out.

Qian Qing pressed on sharply:

"Who taught you to leave a farewell note with half-dried ink and scribbles that nobody can read, written in tiny characters to boot?"

"It wasn't that there was no ink. I had a lot to say, so I wrote small."

"And you didn't think that I wouldn't be able to read what you wrote? I thought you were about to go get yourself killed! Aren't you a Golden Core cultivator? Even if you'd carved it into the floor, I'd have counted you as having a functioning brain."

"The house is rented... Carving into the floor would be rude."

"And writing a farewell note like that was polite?"

"I thought you'd be able to read it, since I raised you myself."

"Ha?! Then guess what I feel like doing right now?"

"...You want to hit me?"

"You guessed right!"

Another groan came from Yuan Kong.

San Dong opened her eyes silently, watching Yuan Kong curl up on the ground, his face twisted in exaggerated pain.

She never knew Qian Qing had such a different side to her.

Qian Qing let out a soft breath: "Alright, stop acting, honorable Golden Core cultivator. How could a mere mortal like me harm the great trickster Golden Core master? Get up."

Yuan Kong didn't respond, still lying there with a pained expression.

"Fine, then don't get up." Qian Qing snorted and turned to walk inside. "And you call yourself a monk who doesn't speak falsely. A monk like you should have been expelled from the Buddhist order long ago."

The next moment, Yuan Kong flipped up and hurried after Qian Qing, defending himself:

"I never actually said a word, so how can that be considered false speech? I just wanted to lie on the ground a little longer."

Qian Qing stepped into the courtyard without continuing to acknowledge Yuan Kong. She turned her gaze to San Dong, perched on her shoulder, and softened her tone:

"Call her Qinghe."

"Oh..." San Dong quickly nodded.

San Dong had assumed that, given how much Qian Qing cared about Yuan Kong, she would soften, maybe even shed a few tears. She had even prepared to scold Yuan Kong on Qian Qing's behalf.

But she never imagined their reunion would be like this.

For a moment, she didn't know who to feel sorry for.

Still, considering that San Dong had known Qian Qing longer and had a better bond with her, even though Yuan Kong got hit, San Dong still sided with Qian Qing.

Yuan Kong squeezed into the courtyard, following closely behind Qian Qing:

"I originally planned to come earlier, but then Sect Leader Chu dragged me off to work for the Great Thunderclap Temple. I wouldn't have returned so soon anyway, but something seems to have gone wrong in West Ox-Continents. The Honored Buddha went back to the Great Thunderclap Temple."

"Things in South Jambu Continent have calmed down for now, so I finally had time to come back. I guess I delayed things quite a bit."

Qian Qing's tone returned to normal as she replied:

"It's not really a delay. Everything is fine here. I've been living quite comfortably."

Yuan Kong smiled and answered: "I trust Sect Leader Chu."

Qian Qing nodded and led Yuan Kong into the small garden.

Qinghe was supposed to first gather at the Loving One Family Peak, then transform into her dragon form to take San Dong and Qian Qing out to eat. Qinghe's reasoning being—if you don't ride me once, I'll worry you'll ask me for money after the meal.

Qian Qing sometimes couldn't tell if Qinghe was naive or sharp-witted, with all those tangled, roundabout thoughts.

Yuan Kong looked at the silent Qian Qing, thought for a moment, and said:

"I went to Daoxuan Temple and went through the trial. I also chatted with the young novice at the gate. He said he remembered you quite well."

Qian Qing turned her gaze toward him: "I know. He said there must be something wrong with my head.

"Cough, cough..." Yuan Kong quickly coughed twice, then thought for a moment before saying, "He said you were very persistent."

Qian Qing chuckled lightly but didn't reply.

Yuan Kong followed her gaze upward.

It took him only a moment to see what Qian Qing was looking at.

A dragon was cutting through the skies, descending swiftly. Before reaching the Loving One Family Peak, it transformed into a streak of rainbow light.

Qinghe, with her dragon horns protruding, fixed her eyes on San Dong with delight:

"Are you taking me to the Hundred Flavors Restaurant?"

"Mm." San Dong nodded, then glanced at Yuan Kong. After thinking a bit, she added, "But we need to bring one more person."

Qinghe turned her gaze to Yuan Kong, frowned as she observed him for a moment, then said with a hint of puzzlement:

"Looks a bit familiar... Buddhist Disciple Yuan Kong?"

"You remember me?" Yuan Kong was somewhat surprised. Of course, he recognized her—Qinghe had been present at Li Yingling's birthday celebration back then. Over the years, her appearance hadn't changed.

Qinghe flashed a smug smile: "Of course. Lady Qinghe's memory is excellent."

Back then, Xie Lingyu had specifically told the story of Yuan Kong and Yuan Jing. That story was quite touching, and Qinghe still remembered it vividly. She even had a vague impression of what that little monk’s features looked like after he grew up.

It was just a pity—he was somewhat cute as a child, but once he grew up, he looked rather ordinary.

“We know each other. It’s fine to bring him along.” Qinghe nodded, then, as if remembering something, quickly added, “But don’t let this monk even think about riding on Lady Qinghe’s back. I hate monks.”

Yuan Kong immediately spoke up: “How could I deserve that? I’m at the Golden Core stage; I can fly on my own.”

Qinghe nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this. “That’s settled, then.”

At Hundred Flavors Lodge in the Heavenly Yan Sect, the largest table, which could hold twenty people, was covered with dishes. Two individuals—a little flower spirit and a young flood dragon in human form—had claimed it for themselves.

San Dong and Qian Qing sat on one side, Yuan Kong sat across from them, and Qinghe sat in the middle.

“The food’s all here, so why aren’t you eating? If you don’t start now, don’t blame me later for eating it all.”

Qinghe chewed on a piece of meat, speaking somewhat indistinctly. Without properly finishing her chewing, she washed it down with a gulp of spirit fruit juice.

It didn’t matter if she couldn’t fully taste the flavors—what truly mattered was missing out on a good meal.

San Dong ate sparingly, while Qian Qing could only take small bites of these highly nourishing dishes. So, as expected, the mountain of food would ultimately end up in Qinghe’s stomach.

After that one urging remark, Qinghe fell silent again, smiling to herself as she focused on devouring the meal.

Who cared if the atmosphere seemed a bit awkward? Eating was far more important!

Qian Qing took a deep breath, then picked up her chopsticks and bowl to join in.

Yuan Kong glanced at Qian Qing. From this perspective, she still looked like the little girl she had once been.

He gave a casual smile and also picked up his chopsticks and bowl to eat.

After all, such fine food was rarely available in everyday life.

Only a moment later, Qinghe’s shocked voice rang out:

“Damn it! You cursed monk! Didn’t your abbot teach you the precepts? Why are you eating meat? And slow down, you bastard!”

Yuan Kong casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said with complete confidence:

“I’m a Buddhist disciple. Let the exalted Buddha bear the precepts for me. When have I ever had good food like this? Let me have a little more!”