The three of them arrived outside the abbot's meditation room.
Mile entered the room to report, and soon, A-lai was invited in.
Misheng hurriedly brewed fragrant tea and respectfully handed it to A-lai. The abbot once again instructed Misheng and Mile to wait outside and ensure they were not disturbed by anyone.
After Misheng and Mile left, the abbot closed the door.
Without waiting for A-lai to speak, the abbot began chanting softly, "All phenomena are empty, yet cause and effect are not empty. Transformation is not empty, continuity is not empty, and the cycle is not empty. Planting good causes will result in good outcomes. Is this not a deep and meaningful connection?"
A-lai understood that the abbot was trying to enlighten him.
The abbot continued, "The path is the return journey. Everyone must return to where they came from. We need not rejoice too much over gains, nor should we grieve long over losses. All the connections in this life are the result of past cultivation."
A-lai nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing that A-lai had calmed down, the abbot revealed the unexpected event that had occurred at the temple.
Last night, a mysterious person had secretly broken into the sutra library, rummaging through everything. Strangely, neither the Buddhist scriptures nor other items were stolen. The intruder managed to find the hidden room in the annex but could not open the safe. The safe was moved into the corridor, where it was discovered by patrolling monks. The intruder, panicked, abandoned the safe and fled.
The abbot asked A-lai if the safe contained anything important and advised him to move it as soon as possible if it did.
The words were softly spoken, but they rang loudly in A-lai's ears, filling him with unease. Once again, Fangfang's jinxed words had come true—thieves had indeed broken into the temple.
A-lai was relieved that he had already taken the bundle that Elder Liaokong had given him back home.
He briefly explained that before Elder Liaokong's cremation, the elder had entrusted him with a bundle, saying it was something left behind when A-lai was found as a child. A-lai assured the abbot that it had been safely stored.
The abbot sighed in relief, pressing his palms together, "Amitabha."
A-lai, curious, asked, "Who could have done this?"
The abbot shared more details: recently, both Misheng and Mile had noticed a group of mysterious people lurking around the temple, day and night, scouting the place.
A-lai suddenly recalled a conversation and murmured to himself, "Could this have something to do with Elder Liaokong's relics after his cremation?"
The abbot, surprised, asked, "What makes you think that?"
A-lai recounted how he had encountered Hu San on the day of Elder Liaokong's cremation and how Hu San had mentioned something about the relics. He relayed the entire conversation to the abbot.
The abbot, frowning, said, "That's precisely what worries me. They didn't find what they were looking for, so they might try to break in again, causing unrest among the monks."
The abbot then praised A-lai for his wisdom and his deep connection with Elder Liaokong, saying that he had formed a profound bond with Leiyin Temple in a previous life. He expressed hope that A-lai would live up to expectations, protect Elder Liaokong's relics, and maintain the peace of Leiyin Temple, benefiting the people.
A-lai replied, "I grew up with Elder Liaokong, and he was like family to me. As a lay disciple of Leiyin Temple, I will do my best."
To facilitate A-lai's free access to the sutra library, the abbot stamped A-lai's pass with his personal seal and wrote a few words, handing it to A-lai.
A-lai put it in his pocket, deep in thought.
This ancient mountain temple, with its secluded life among the monks, seemed like a paradise cut off from the world. The sutra library was a place only the abbot and a few senior monks could enter, and the relics of Elder Liaokong were priceless treasures of the temple. How could someone break in so easily the night after Elder Liaokong's cremation? Was it an inside job, or a coordinated effort between insiders and outsiders? Were the culprits laypeople or monks? The situation was shrouded in mystery.
After giving A-lai a moment to ponder, the abbot asked, "A-lai, what are you thinking?"
A-lai analyzed, "They didn't open the safe last time because they were discovered and unprepared. They'll likely bring an expert to open it next time. Their target is still the safe, and if they find it empty, they'll search the temple without restraint. If they still don't find anything, they might start targeting the monks."
The abbot said, "Although the temple is protected by warrior monks, we are a compassionate community and cannot resort to violence. If you have a plan to deter these thieves and prevent further disturbances, it would be ideal. Do you understand what I mean?"
A-lai confidently replied, "The safe was left to me by Elder Liaokong, so this matter started because of me. Let me handle it."
The abbot, after a moment of contemplation, said, "Everything has a cause, and karma will ultimately play out as it should. Very well."
A-lai said, "I believe that Elder Liaokong's skull cap is a relic, the temple's most precious treasure. I appreciate the abbot's trust in me. I have a plan that will require the assistance of Misheng and Mile. I'm planning a deterrent action that should effectively scare off the intruders."
The abbot, satisfied, nodded and immediately instructed Misheng and Mile to cooperate with A-lai in all his actions, not leaving his side, and to follow his every command.
With a sharp and serious gaze, the abbot looked at the two and solemnly emphasized that they must protect A-lai's safety with their lives if necessary.
Misheng and Mile pressed their palms together and said, "Amitabha, we will faithfully follow your orders."
A-lai, feeling both honored and nervous at the abbot's arrangements, looked at him with bewilderment.
The abbot, pressing his palms together, said, "Amitabha, don't overthink it. When the time comes, everything will become clear."
Misheng and Mile were twins, orphans taken in by Elder Liaokong during his travels. They were two years older than A-lai and had been sent by the elder to train at the Shaolin Temple in their youth, practicing martial arts. They had been summoned back specifically to take on the task of protecting the temple.
Even when Elder Liaokong was alive, he had never received such care. As children, A-lai often fought with them in play, and because he was more scholarly, they usually let him win.
Sometimes, A-lai would push his luck, often playing pranks on them, and the elder would always scold him, reminding him to treat them like his own brothers.
Without further ado.
Misheng and Mile led A-lai to the sutra library.
A-lai asked for a piece of paper and wrote a line on it. Misheng and Mile read it and saw the note: "I have taken the relics and will keep them safe. If anyone thinks they can take over, go to the Lei Family Cemetery and find a note in the Chen family tomb. It will give a time for a duel. No more than three people. If you involve the authorities, I will destroy the relics completely. Remember this."
At the bottom, A-lai added three handprints.
Misheng and Mile, confused, asked, "What does this mean? Will it work? Will they really follow your instructions?"
A-lai, smiling mysteriously, said, "The ways of heaven cannot be revealed. Do you see these three handprints? Heh heh, this is the mysterious 'Three Palms.' It's the core of my deterrence plan, and I've imbued them with magic."
The three then entered the hidden room in the annex.
A-lai opened the safe, placed a small note inside a tea canister, closed it, and locked the safe again. He then instructed Misheng and Mile to scatter some dust around the safe and keep a close eye on anyone approaching without disturbing them. They were to wait for the right moment.
Misheng and Mile asked, "What's the next step?"
A-lai, still secretive, replied, "We're going to make the 'Three Palms.' Let's go into town and buy the materials. I'll need to borrow your money for now."
Misheng said, "I don't have a single penny in my pocket."
A-lai, grinning, said, "Don't be like that. I still remember the fifty yuan I borrowed from you before. I'll pay it back with interest once I start working."
Mile said, "A monk doesn't lie. Have you forgotten what the abbot told us earlier, Misheng?"
Upon hearing this, Misheng quickly pulled out eighty yuan from his pocket, and Mile handed over another two hundred plus. They both pressed their palms together, saying, "Amitabha, we obey the abbot's orders."
With the funds for creating the deterrence tool in hand, A-lai felt a surge of joy but kept it to himself.
"Heh heh," he thought, "the abbot's instructions really do carry weight."
The three of them set off together and headed into the city.
Misheng and Mile stuck close to A-lai like shadows, making sure they didn't lose sight of him.
Once they reached the city, A-lai led the way through a maze of streets and alleyways, searching for the materials they needed. They visited electronic shops, hardware stores, and even some old-fashioned tool shops, collecting various components. Misheng and Mile watched with growing curiosity as A-lai carefully selected each item, occasionally stopping to consult the circuit diagram he had copied earlier.
As they walked, A-lai explained, "These materials are crucial. We'll use them to create a device that will give those intruders a scare they won't forget."
Misheng, puzzled, asked, "But what exactly are you planning? How will this device stop them?"
A-lai grinned, "You'll see. The less you know now, the better. Just trust me."
Mile, trying to suppress his curiosity, said, "We do trust you, A-lai, but we've never seen anything like this before. It's not every day that a lay disciple like you comes up with a plan to protect the temple."
A-lai winked, "That's why it's going to work. They'll never see it coming."
After several hours of searching and bargaining, they finally had everything they needed. A-lai carried the supplies with a sense of satisfaction, confident that his plan would succeed.
By the time they returned to Shuguang Village, it was already late in the afternoon. They made their way back to A-lai's courtyard, where Grandfather Lei was waiting, his face a mixture of concern and relief.
"A-lai, you've been gone all day," Grandfather Lei said, "I was starting to worry. Did everything go well at the temple?"
A-lai nodded, "Yes, Grandpa. The abbot just needed my help with some things. Everything's fine."
Grandfather Lei looked at Misheng and Mile, who were carrying some of the supplies, and asked, "And what are those for?"
A-lai quickly responded, "Just some materials for a little project I'm working on. Nothing to worry about."
Sensing that A-lai didn't want to go into details, Grandfather Lei let it go and instead invited them inside for dinner. They enjoyed a simple meal together, with A-lai and Fangfang exchanging meaningful glances as they ate. Fangfang had noticed the bags of supplies and was curious, but she didn't press A-lai for details, knowing he would tell her when the time was right.
After dinner, A-lai slipped out of the house and met Misheng and Mile in a quiet corner of the courtyard.
"We need to be ready by tonight," A-lai said. "I'll need your help setting up the device. We'll wait until everyone's asleep, then head to the temple and put everything in place."
Misheng and Mile nodded, their expressions serious. "We'll be ready," Mile said.
As night fell, the three of them quietly gathered the materials and prepared to head back to the temple. A-lai had spent the evening assembling the device, making sure everything was in order. He showed Misheng and Mile how to connect the components, explaining each step as they worked together.
When everything was ready, they left the courtyard and made their way up the mountain toward Leiyin Temple. The moon was hidden behind clouds, and the path was dimly lit, adding to the tension of the night.
As they approached the temple, A-lai whispered, "Remember, we need to move quickly and quietly. The intruders could return at any moment."
They entered the temple grounds through a side entrance, carefully avoiding the patrolling monks. A-lai led them to the hidden room in the annex, where they began setting up the device. They placed it near the safe and connected it to the wiring they had carefully concealed earlier.
A-lai double-checked everything, then gave a satisfied nod. "It's done. Now all we have to do is wait."
Misheng and Mile exchanged a glance. "What happens next?" Misheng asked.
A-lai grinned, "When they come back, they'll be in for a big surprise. The moment they try to tamper with the safe, the device will activate. Trust me, they won't want to stick around after that."
With their preparations complete, the three of them left the temple and returned to Shuguang Village, where they would wait for the trap to be sprung.
That night, A-lai lay in bed, his mind racing with anticipation. He knew that the intruders were likely to return soon, and he hoped that his plan would work. It was a bold move, but if it succeeded, it would protect the temple and preserve Elder Liaokong's legacy.
As he drifted off to sleep, A-lai felt a sense of calm. He had done everything he could, and now it was up to fate.