Chapter 330: The Conversation with Wu Guang Monk

Translator: Tim Editor: Fish Creek

Ning Qingxue shook her head. “I don’t know Jue Yun Temple. What about it?”

Li Mumei said mysteriously, “In Luo Cang, they built a new temple called Jue Yun Temple. Its motto is ‘Lost in the deep clouds, awaken at this temple.’ It means that if you have any questions confusing you, you can burn incense and worship Buddha there. I heard it’s very popular online. The head monk is called Wu Ming, a very capable monk. How about we go burn some incense? Think of it as a holiday trip.”

Ning Qingxue asked, confused, “A newly built temple is very popular? Is it internet hype?”

Li Mumei shook her head. “I don’t know, but I heard an old monk there attained Dao in Luo Cang, so he built the temple.”

Ning Qingxue said nonchalantly, “In that case, let’s go see it. It’s very close to Yu State.”

…

Luo Cang.

Compared to a year ago, it seemed much more populous, many saying it was due to Jue Yun Temple. Since the temple’s construction a few months prior, tourism increased drastically.

When Ning Qingxue and Li Mumei arrived, they found it very busy, not inferior to the large city of Yu State. Jue Yun Temple was indeed popular; they had to line up to burn incense. A long street of incense and offering shops had sprung up in the half-year since its construction. Most tourists burned incense, prayed, and bought good-luck charms.

After they joined the incense-burning line, it stretched outside the temple. Remarkably, no one cut in line; everyone looked pious.

Was it really that powerful? Ning Qingxue looked at the long line dubiously.

An old man with a broom stopped by them.

Ning Qingxue looked at him in surprise. He was in his seventies but looked strong. He glanced at Ning Qingxue, then closed his eyes. There weren’t many monks wielding brooms like this seventy-year-old. Just as Ning Qingxue and Li Mumei wondered what he was doing, he opened his eyes and said, “I am Wu Guang. You two honored patrons need not line up. You may come in and make offerings with me.”

Li Mumei looked at the old monk vigilantly. Why didn’t they have to line up? Qingxue looked so out of it. Was this monk scheming something?

The old monk seemingly ignored Li Mumei and left.

Ning Qingxue pulled Li Mumei. “Let’s go. If we line up, we’ll wait over an hour.”

Li Mumei looked at the long line. They might not reach the front even in an hour. There were too many people. Plus, this monk was so old, he couldn’t have bad intentions, right?

The old monk took them to the last Zen room, containing a Pu Sa painting they didn’t recognize.

“Master Wu Guang, didn’t you say you’d let us make offerings? Why are we here?” Li Mumei grew more vigilant.

Wu Guang put down his broom and said, “Ai Mi Tuo Fo.” Then, to Ning Qingxue, “Patron, you have a connection to a master who enlightened me. I wish to help resolve your problems, but first, I need to see the necklace you wear.”

Ning Qingxue held up the necklace. “Master Wu Guang, this one?”

“A Mi Tuo Fo,” Wu Guang continued. “Patron, you need not remove it. I’ve confirmed it. Now, tell me your troubles.”

Ning Qingxue was surprised. How did he know she needed help, and that they weren't just here to burn offerings?

Li Mumei saw the old monk knew something. Before Ning Qingxue spoke, she said, “A few months ago, Qingxue was unconscious in an accident. When she woke up, she’d lost a year of memory, though the hospital found everything else normal. We wish to ask Master Wu Guang if that memory can be recovered.”

Ning Qingxue added, “Yes, I’ve researched memory loss. Most remember fragments, but I remember nothing. And…”

Wu Guang sat on a cushion but didn’t reply. “Patron, where did you get that necklace?”

Ning Qingxue frowned. “I don’t remember. If I did, I wouldn’t need to ask you.”

“Have you cultivated ancient martial arts?” Wu Guang asked, then shook his head. Even if she had, what could she have accomplished so young?

Seeing Wu Guang shake his head, Ning Qingxue asked, “Master Wu Guang, I haven’t cultivated ancient martial arts, but what does my memory have to do with them?”

Wu Guang nodded. “Patron, you don’t know. After memory loss from outside force, fragments remain, especially of things deeply ingrained; these memories return with time. But some memories are unrecoverable, leaving no fragments.”

Ning Qingxue said, confused, “But I felt nothing. If those around me hadn’t said I lost memories, I wouldn’t know. I’ve seen Western doctors and specialists; even if you can’t remember, constant reminders of deeply ingrained things should bring familiarity. There should be some impression.”

“A Mi Tuo Fo,” the monk said, then seriously, “You encountered a strong force that caused chaos in your spirit. I shouldn’t tell you this, but because you wear a necklace made by a qian bei himself—ten times better than any I’ve seen.”

“What? Master Wu Guang, you say this necklace was made by your qian bei? Who is that?” Ning Qingxue asked in shock. Wu Guang was seventy; his qian bei would be over a hundred.

Wu Guang didn’t answer. He continued, “When one cultivates ancient martial arts to a certain degree, they attain inner qi. At a high state, facing death, one subconsciously uses inner qi to envelop the soul’s most precious part and memories. These memories reappear in the next life. Though not completely, vague impressions remain.

Of course, this assumes no intervention. But if you didn’t die and woke up, the enveloped memory wouldn’t be remembered. It may disappear, as is happening to you.”

Ning Qingxue was dazed. “But I’ve never learned ancient martial arts. I don’t even know what inner qi is. How could it envelop my soul and memories?”

Wu Guang nodded. “A Mi Tuo Fo. Even at a very high state of ancient martial arts, such a thing is difficult, much less for a patron who doesn’t even know ancient martial arts. I’ve heard this action requires not only power, but strict cultivation methods. I thought a cultivation method capable of enveloping memories into reincarnation didn’t exist, but your situation is very similar.”

“Then, Master Wu Guang, how do I recover my memory?” Though she knew this wasn’t her case, Ning Qingxue still asked.

Wu Guang said, “Unless you cultivate this way again and reach at least the power state from before your memory loss. Then, your memories will recover automatically, and your power will double. But you may still remember nothing, but…”

Wu Guang hesitated, then stopped. “Two patrons, please. I must work now.” He closed his eyes and fell silent.

Ning Qingxue and Li Mumei looked at each other dubiously, bowed, and left, still confused. The old monk’s words seemed too metaphysical.