Master Liaocheng said, "Your master, Liaokong, has reached the end of his lifespan and has been summoned by the Buddha."
A-lai snapped back to reality, tears streaming down his face, filled with deep sorrow. Faced with Elder Liaokong, he involuntarily knelt down and kowtowed three times.
Everyone began to busy themselves.
Elder Liaocheng then proclaimed: "The true nature is immutable, birth and death are like fleeting clouds. In the shadow of the Twin Trees, he returns to the truth, fulfilling his vow to save all sentient beings. Today, he leaves us, after being bathed and dressed, the sacred casket is prepared."
That evening, the elder's body was sealed in the casket.
At that moment, an astonishing phenomenon appeared above the Leiyin Temple. Elder Liaocheng said, "This proves that the old monk has been reborn in the highest realm of the Pure Land."
In the days that followed, the mountain villagers came one after another to pay their respects.
Three days later, the elder's body was cremated in a solemn and dignified ceremony.
Among those who attended were neighbors from Lei Family Village, representatives of the villagers, leaders of the Buddhist Association, guests, monks, laypeople, and volunteers.
This time, the main leaders of Renxin Hospital were specially invited. Fangfang, after much persuasion, secured a spot for Dr. Wang, who joined the hospital's delegation to witness the cremation ceremony of Elder Liaokong.
The successor of the lineage, Liaocheng, presided over the solemn ritual for Elder Liaokong. Accompanied by more than a thousand monks and followers, the elder's casket was taken to the cremation grounds behind Leiyin Temple.
The hearse slowly circled the temple, with a shower of flower petals and Buddhist chants along the way, as Liaokong's casket was escorted to the back mountain of Leiyin Temple.
A-lai and his grandfather were special guests, wearing yellow flowers as they entered the cremation grounds.
The memorial service ended.
From a distance, one could see wisps of white smoke rising from the grounds.
Before long, a miraculous spectacle appeared—the sea of clouds filled the valley, bathing the pine forest, with peaks towering above, lush and verdant, creating a scene as surreal as a mirage.
A large Buddha's light appeared over the entire back mountain, clearly visible and lasting for a considerable time, witnessed by tens of thousands.
After Elder Liaokong's body was cremated, the most extraordinary thing occurred: several Tibetan characters appeared on his skull. This was something that modern science could not explain, yet it happened right before everyone's eyes, with many witnesses.
"A-lai, you're here too?"
As A-lai was about to leave, he heard someone calling him. He turned around and saw Dr. Wang Zhi from Renxin Hospital.
Today, Wang Zhi was wearing a graceful long dress among the rocks, quite different from her usual image, with a cold and intellectual charm, supporting a scholar-like man in his forties, wearing brown sunglasses and a neatly pressed blue suit, looking clean and sharp.
Wang Zhi caught up with A-lai and said, "A-lai, let me introduce you. This is our hospital director, Dr. Li, my husband."
"Oh?"
A-lai was very surprised—these two had such a big age difference? Really, the old bull eating young grass.
Today, Wang Zhi seemed gentle and fragrant like a cup of tea, full of allure as she stood beside Director Li.
A-lai responded gratefully, "Thank you, Director Li, and Deputy Director Wang, for taking care of me during my treatment."
Director Li said, "You're the one who was struck by lightning and came to the hospital with a note from Elder Liaokong?"
"Yes."
A-lai nodded and asked tiredly, "Were you invited today as well?"
"Yes."
Director Li took out a box of prestigious '95 Supreme' cigarettes, lit one, took a deep drag, and said thoughtfully, "Liaokong and I were close. He was my teacher in Buddhism, gave me many scriptures, and even named my hospital."
"I came back from a business trip and saw the letter from Elder Liaokong. I sense you have a special relationship with the elder. Come to the hospital for a follow-up X-ray in a few days to check the healing of your fracture, and we can remove the steel plate from your arm. We can talk more in detail when you're free."
A-lai looked at the cigarette in his mouth, his mind racing, but outwardly he remained calm, responding, "Oh, thank you for your care."
Hearing his voice, A-lai was startled, suddenly realizing how familiar Director Li looked. Immediately, he remembered the boss he had met at Li Xiuqin's villa—truly, you search high and low only to find it without effort.
Director Li remained composed, as if he had never met A-lai before, continuing, "I heard that in the hospital, you stood up for Dr. Wang, saved our employee, showed a chivalrous spirit, and gave Hu San, who was causing trouble, a chance to reform. Your actions are truly admirable, showing Buddhist compassion and consideration for the bigger picture. From now on, all your expenses at our hospital are waived. If you ever encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me."
After speaking, the couple left in a hurry.
A-lai understood the underlying meaning of his words, realizing that he might be someone of importance, a master at maintaining appearances. He thought to himself, it seems that Fangfang was able to intern at Renxin Hospital through his connections...
At this moment, Fangfang, standing on a high pavilion, saw A-lai from afar, waving her hands and shouting, "A-lai, I'm here! Hurry over!"
Fangfang ran excitedly to A-lai and told him she had seen the Buddha's light. Seeing A-lai's expressionless face, she asked in displeasure, "What's wrong? Why aren't you happy to see me? Did I do something wrong again? Just tell me the truth."
A-lai thought to himself, this girl is truly an extraordinary beauty with a sharp tongue. She even predicted Elder Liaokong's passing correctly. He replied calmly, "If your relative ascended to the Pure Land, would you be able to be happy?"
Fangfang was speechless for a moment, staring blankly at A-lai's dejected expression. She took his hand, and seeing the many people around, she didn't dare say anything more.
"Monk! Wait for me!"
A-lai turned to the sound and saw Hu San pushing through the crowd with a few burly men in sunglasses.
Hu San had originally planned to give A-lai another beating at the hospital, to avenge the 'Conscience Palm' he had received, but found out that A-lai had already been discharged. "Heh heh, what a stroke of luck to run into him here," Hu San thought, thrilled.
He squeezed his way to A-lai and said, "Wow, you're really lucky to get into the cremation ground."
A-lai thought, how persistent can he be? He replied with a cold "Hmm."
Hu San asked, "The cremation ground is heavily guarded, you can't just walk in. Did you see the 'relics'?"
"Hmph!"
A-lai coldly replied, "I don't know, I didn't pay attention."
Hu San, speaking conspiratorially, whispered in A-lai's ear, "The relics are worth a fortune—one could be worth millions. Imagine getting six of them, you'd be set for life."
"They say relics are indestructible by fire or water, unbreakable by blades, and can glow in the dark, warding off evil."
At this point, A-lai's grandfather caught up to them.
Fangfang suggested returning to Lei Family Village to continue tutoring A-lai.
Grandfather gladly agreed.
On the way back, Fangfang watched Hu San's distant figure and said, "This guy looks shifty. He must be after the relics, possibly to steal them."
A-lai dismissed her concern, "Lei Yin Temple's Sutra Pavilion is heavily guarded. I couldn't get in before, and neither can he."
Fangfang warned, "I think he holds a grudge against you from the hospital and might be plotting something. He's dangerous, with a twisted personality. You should stay away from people like him."
A-lai, annoyed, replied, "Plot against me? I'm not one to be trifled with."
Grandfather advised, "A-lai, listen to Fangfang. She's right. Don't stir up any more trouble. You follow Elder Liaokong's path of Zen, not martial arts. Focus on getting into a good university instead."
...
At dusk, the setting sun cast a bloody glow as the three of them descended the mountain. A-lai, dragging his heavy feet, walked home, with the sun's fading light stretching their shadows long, long, far into the distance.
They walked into Lei Family Village and arrived at A-lai's courtyard home.