ebookland Chapter 296 It's a pity it met me!
Chapter 296 It's a pity it met me!
The yellow-robed monk's words were echoed by the other high-ranking monks.
They all demanded that the abbot immediately expel Zhu Qi from Kongshan Temple!
Zhu Qi's expression was solemn, but he remained rooted to the spot, still standing on the side of the eldest princess.
Just as tensions were about to rise, the abbot spoke up: "Brothers, please calm down. They are guests, how can we treat them like this?"
Upon hearing this, the eminent monks were all furious.
The monk in yellow robes finally couldn't help but say, "Abbot, why are you helping this demoness to make excuses? Now that she has destroyed the peach trees, you still want to say that she is a guest. It really makes people suspicious of your motives."
Although the remaining high monks did not speak, their expressions showed that they thought the same thing.
The eldest princess looked nervously at the abbot. If the abbot couldn't withstand the pressure, a fierce battle between the two sides would be inevitable.
She didn't intend to harm the high monks of Kongshan Temple, after all, there was no deep-seated hatred between them.
However, if the other party is aggressive and insists on teaching Zhou Wei a lesson, Zhou Wei is definitely not one to suffer a loss.
This matter cannot be resolved until at least one or two people are killed or injured.
Just as the atmosphere became tense, the abbot's expression turned cold, and his previous kind and gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by an angry and fierce look.
"Junior brother, what did you say? Do you want me to say it again?"
Seeing the abbot in this state, the arrogant yellow-robed monk immediately lowered his head, as if he had seen someone terrifying.
The remaining monks did the same, timidly withdrawing their hands.
As the abbot became angry, the atmosphere surprisingly eased.
Seeing that the other party had stopped, the princess immediately raised her hand and ordered everyone to step back.
The abbot turned to Zhou Wei and asked gently, "Benefactor Zhou, could you perhaps give this last peach to our temple?"
Zhou Wei nodded, took out the peach, broke it in half, and removed the pit.
This action made the eyelids of several high monks twitch, but they could only suppress their anger because of the abbot.
Zhou Wei handed the peach pit to the princess, saying, "Princess, please keep it safe."
She returned the remaining peach flesh to the abbot.
Unexpectedly, the abbot did not reach out to take it, but shook his head.
Zhou Wei asked curiously, "Master, what do you mean? You don't want these peaches anymore?"
"I still want it, but not now."
"When will the master need it?"
"This humble monk believes that Zhou Tanyue must know."
"You knew it yourself?" Zhou Wei was somewhat bewildered.
How would she know?
But the abbot didn't give her another chance to ask questions and left the back mountain with several senior monks.
Looking at the abbot's retreating figure, the princess and the others were quite puzzled.
"Weiwei, what does Master mean by this? The peaches have already been broken open. If we don't eat them now, won't they spoil if we wait any longer?"
Zhou Wei took a deep breath and carefully recalled all the details that had just happened.
Then the eldest princess added, "But this abbot is quite strange. Weiwei, you don't know, when you were about to come down just now, he actually showed a look of disappointment on his face."
"Only after you uprooted and destroyed the peach tree did the old monk finally smile. I really don't know what he was thinking?"
Tan Lin also said, "This abbot seems to have been favoring us all along. Did Zhou Dianjun know him before?"
Where did Wei meet this week?
She's from another time, so in principle, she doesn't know anyone here.
The thought popped into her head, and Zhou Wei suddenly shuddered.
I've thought of a possibility!
She whispered, "Perhaps I know when to send these peaches."
The group exchanged glances, realizing that Zhou Wei was unwilling to say more, so they stopped asking.
Led by Tan Lin, the group returned to the meditation room.
Only then did Tan Lin ask, "Zhou Dianjun, is there any special significance to these peaches?"
Tan Lin knew Zhou Wei's abilities; if the peaches were useless, she certainly wouldn't have tried to snatch them.
The monks at Kongshan Temple were highly accomplished, and Zhou Wei would not offend them unless absolutely necessary.
Knowing full well that this was Kongshan Temple's territory, Zhou Wei still forcibly snatched four peaches; there must be something fishy about those peaches.
Zhou Wei didn't answer, but looked at Zhu Qi instead.
The young monk's brow remained furrowed, clearly indicating that he was struggling internally.
He sided with Zhou Wei at the crucial moment, but he was still quite puzzled by Zhou Wei's destruction of the peach trees in the temple.
If Zhou Wei cannot provide a reasonable explanation, this matter will become a knot in the little monk's heart.
"Zhu Qi, are you wondering why I destroyed the peach trees?"
Zhu Qi nodded, "Sister Zhou Wei, you've always been upright in your actions. I wouldn't mind giving you all these peaches. But why do you insist on uprooting the peach tree, which has been planted at Kongshan Temple for many years?"
Zhou Wei countered, "Little monk, the peach tree has been in Kongshan Temple for many years, and every year when it bears peaches, no one picks them?"
Zhu Qi has already mentioned this once.
He nodded: "I've known about this peach tree ever since I entered the temple. Every year, my fellow monks would discuss whether to pick the peaches, but the result was always the same."
"Zhu Qi, do you know why they dare not pick the peaches?"
Zhu Qi had never thought about this issue; every time his senior brothers discussed it, they used killing as a reason.
Judging from Zhou Wei's words, isn't that right?
"When I climbed the peach tree, I realized that this peach tree was unusual. How many years can a peach tree live?"
Tan Lin replied, "Domesticated ones live for a maximum of thirty years, while wild ones can live for fifty years."
Zhou Wei smiled and said, "But this one has an ancient and rustic feel to it. Princess, there is a painting hanging in the main hall with a large peach tree on it. Have you noticed it?"
The princess thought for a moment, "The painting itself isn't very remarkable, but I did see the peach tree; it's somewhat similar to the one on the cliff."
“It’s not just similar, it’s the same tree,” Zhou Wei affirmed. “The peach tree in the painting has a clear scar on its trunk that goes deep into the trunk. After I climbed the peach tree, I touched that wound.”
Zhu Qi said in shock, "But the abbot said that the painting was already hanging there when Kongshan Temple was built."
"Could this peach tree be over a thousand years old?"
A peach tree that is over a thousand years old is already beyond the realm of common sense.
What Zhou Wei said next shocked everyone even more.
"After I climbed the peach tree, I reached out to pick a peach. The moment I touched the peach, I immediately understood the consequences of picking peaches."
"Those old monks are really up to no good."
Tan Lin hissed; what Zhou Wei said was beyond his comprehension.
The Buddhist concept of cause and effect has always been vague and ethereal. Until the moment of karmic retribution, no one can know how the cause and effect will be fulfilled.
They will never know what the consequences of their actions will be!
This is why so many people are not afraid of cause and effect; ignorance breeds fearlessness.
Zhou Wei said that when she touched the peach, she immediately understood the cause and effect, which was truly amazing.
Jiang Zao's worldview has been completely reshaped, and she is in shock every day after leaving the palace.
At this moment, I couldn't help but ask, "Sister Wei, what's the cause and effect of picking those peaches? Is it dangerous?"
Zhou Wei remained silent. If someone else had picked the peaches, they would probably have become nutrients for the peach tree long ago.
Unfortunately, this peach tree met her!