Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 298 Passing Away!

As midnight approached, Zhou Wei led the princess and the young monk to the abbot's monastery.

The young monk walked ahead, and seeing him heading towards the middle gate, Zhou Wei reached out and grabbed him.

Zhu Qi asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Sister Zhou Wei?"

"We won't go through the middle door, we'll go through the back door. Do you know how to get there through the back door?"

The little monk scratched his head. "Giving peaches is an open and aboveboard business, so why not go through the middle gate or the back gate?"

“I know, but the back gate of the abbot’s monastery is never open. I’m afraid we won’t be able to get in.”

Zhou Wei waved her hand: "It's alright, you just lead the way."

Zhu Qi could only lead the two of them around to the back gate. When they arrived at the back gate of the Zen temple, the little monk exclaimed in surprise.

"Eh, why is the back door open today?"

At that moment, the temple bell rang, marking the third watch of the night.

The young monk was still peeking in from the doorway when suddenly the abbot's voice came from inside.

"But Zhou Tanyue has arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei immediately stepped forward and said, "Master, I have delivered the peaches as promised."

"Since you're here, then come in!"

Zhou Wei nodded, and was about to turn around and call the princess and the little monk to go in together, but suddenly found that the two were gone.

She looked around and searched the back door, but still couldn't find the two of them.

The abbot's voice came from inside the meditation room again: "President Zhou, just come in. They will appear when it's time."

Zhou Wei frowned, but still stepped into the meditation room.

Inside the meditation room, candlelight flickered, casting a dim, yellow glow as the abbot, dressed in a red monk's robe, sat on a meditation cushion.

Hearing the noise, the abbot opened his eyes and gestured for Zhou Wei to sit down.

Zhou Wei stepped forward and sat down opposite the abbot.

She took out a peach and handed it to the abbot. The peach, even after a day, was still crisp and juicy, without any oxidation or discoloration, just like when it was first broken open.

These peaches are clearly not ordinary.

"Master, hello, here's a peach for you."

"Hello, Zhou Tanyue," the abbot said, then looked at Zhou Wei, "and you too."

Zhou Wei looked around, puzzled, wondering who the abbot was greeting.

Suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his mind.

【Hello】

Zhou Wei was startled, but she didn't ask the system aloud.

The abbot didn't look at the peach, but simply said, "Put it down for now."

Zhou Wei had no choice but to put the peach on the ground as instructed.

"Does Zhou Tanyue have many questions in his mind?" the abbot asked.

There are so many!

Zhou Wei didn't even know where to begin.

Should we ask about the peach tree first, or the meaning of delivering peaches at midnight, or the purpose of the abbot doing this?

Or, ask him why he greeted his own system?

Seeing Zhou Wei in a daze, the abbot chuckled softly.

Zhou Wei then looked at him closely and suddenly realized that the abbot seemed to have aged a lot in just one day.

His once beautiful face began to be covered with wrinkles, and his graying hair and beard lost their daytime luster, showing signs of withering.

Zhou Wei was startled, "Master, you..."

The abbot smiled, looking very relaxed.

"It's alright, it's just a matter of the oil running out and the lamp going out."

"Master, you were perfectly fine during the day, how could this happen?"

The abbot looked at Zhou Wei with a warm gaze.

"Thanks to Zhou Tanyue, this humble monk was able to break free from this physical body. This humble monk has been in this world long enough."

Hearing this, Zhou Wei's suspicions were somewhat confirmed.

She said with some doubt, "Master, you wouldn't, you wouldn't be..."

The abbot smiled without saying a word; the answer was self-evident.

Zhou Wei suddenly stood up and paced back and forth, her face full of shock.

"How could it be you? How is that possible?"

"Why not? It is fate that we met in this world."

Zhou Wei still looked incredulous, shaking her head repeatedly.

"But everyone says you've already attained your full potential, so how come you're trapped in this world?"

The abbot's words revealed his helplessness at being trapped here.

When the oil in his lamp runs out and he is completely exhausted, that will be the time when he is truly liberated.

"You must know that there are three things in the world that can grant immortality, right?"

Zhou Wei took a deep breath to calm herself and forced herself to sit back on the futon.

"Yes, I know. First, the peaches of immortality from the Heavenly Palace; second, the ginseng fruit; and third, the golden cicada."

At this point, Zhou Wei froze.

He asked in a somewhat panicked tone, "Master, that peach tree on the back mountain, could it be...?"

The abbot nodded. "Yes."

"Impossible! The Peach Tree is a spiritual root of heaven and earth, how could it be a demon that sucks human blood and flesh?"

The abbot did not answer, but simply smiled at Zhou Wei.

Silence is the best answer.

The abbot's voice rang out: "Those who cultivate seek immortality. There are spiritual things in the world that can help people take shortcuts, but are shortcuts so easy to take?"

"If one person takes a shortcut, hundreds or thousands will pay with their lives for it; this is the balance of nature."

Zhou Wei was speechless for a long time; she really didn't know what to say.

The abbot, however, did not seem as somber as Zhou Wei.

He said with a smile, "I have always been out of step with them. Both Buddhism and Taoism regard me as a pawn. I once made a bet with someone."

This piqued Zhou Wei's curiosity.

The abbot continued, “The person who made the bet with me said that although I am lively and unconventional, I am actually pedantic and cannot stand the injustices in the world. However, he did not know that injustices exist, just like human nature.”

"That man said that there is no other person in the world like me who would destroy fruit trees."

"That person also said that there would never be a single person in this world who, knowing that rare and precious herbs could grant immortality, would not be the first to consume them."

"If someone can do both of these things at the same time, then he has lost."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei's heart pounded like a drum.

She stared intently at the abbot, whose eyes were also full of smiles.

“Zhou Wei, you helped me win this bet and freed me from this cage. I didn’t trust you wrongly.”

The amount of information was too much for Zhou Wei to process all at once.

After a long pause, she finally asked, "Master, where are you going?"

"Go back to where you came from."

A hint of longing and warmth shone in the abbot's eyes.

Zhou Wei thought for a moment and asked, "Master, do you know why I came into this world?"

"This is something Zhou Tanyue needs to explore himself. Everyone has their own path, and no one else can explain it or take his place."

"But didn't the master say that we are destined to meet?" Zhou Wei asked doubtfully. "Since we are destined to meet, can't the master help me resolve my doubts?"

The abbot shook his head and said nothing more. Zhou Wei sighed helplessly.

I thought I could find some answers from the abbot, but to my surprise, he was unwilling to say more.

After thinking it over, Zhou Wei decided not to press the matter further and prepared to use the torture system after the interrogation was over.

This damn system can actually greet the abbot! Who would believe you two don't know each other?

"Zhu Qi, come in!"

As the abbot spoke, the long-lost Princess and Zhu Qi entered the meditation room.

Upon seeing the abbot's appearance, Zhu Qi stepped forward in alarm and exclaimed, "Senior brother, what happened to you?"

Zhou Wei looked in the direction of the sound and realized that the abbot looked even older and more withered than before.

"It's alright, it's just time."

"Zhu Qi, sit down."

Seeing the abbot in such a state, the young monk sat down on the prayer mat with tears in his eyes.

"Give this peach to your senior brothers. They are not bad by nature, but they just couldn't resist the temptation."

Zhu Qi nodded, not daring to meet the abbot's gaze, afraid that he would lose control of his emotions.

“When you came to Kongshan Temple as a child, I was the one who took care of you. Although you want to become my disciple, I cannot be your master.”

"Now that I'm leaving, I'm entrusting Kongshan Temple to your care. If you eat one peach, you'll be responsible for its care for a thousand years, okay?"

Zhu Qi nodded silently, tears streaming down her face.

After giving Zhu Qi his instructions, the abbot looked at Zhou Wei and the princess again.

"You are in me, and I am in you. The two of you are very, very good..."

The abbot's voice grew softer and softer until it fell completely silent, at which point Zhu Qi let out a wail.

"Senior brother!"