Chapter 61: How to Recognize Guilt

  Master Hewitt has arrived, and everyone else naturally quieted down. I sat back in my chair, continuing to eat my vegetarian dish with a full head.

  Master Hewlett looked around at the monks and said: You all go out first, let your senior brother rest for a while. Tell the cafeteria to prepare some eggs, Feiyu likes egg drop soup, Mulin likes fried eggs, as for Kongyi, boil him a poached egg...

  It's rare for Master Hewlett to remember the tastes of us three, I smiled at Master Hewlett and then the monks beside me left one by one.

  The large dining hall now only has us four people left, oh right, and that chef who is busy making eggs for us.

  Master Hewitt walked up to us and sat down, seeing that the three of us had already finished eating everything in our bowls. He frowned and said: "You three are still such big eaters! If it weren't for the prosperous incense at Nan Temple, you three would have eaten me into bankruptcy!"

  Zhao Feiyu looked at Master Hewlett with a serious face, but spoke in a tone that was full of lazy and casual air: "Master, we've been friends since childhood, you can't bully us!"

  Zhao Feiyu's serious face saying such a rascal-like phrase made me feel somewhat unaccustomed. I raised my head, looked at Master Hewlett, wiped the oil stain from the corner of his mouth and asked: Master, how did you come to our place?

  "Rong Xing said, wanting to be alone with Jianhua for a while. You know, the two of them have always had a good relationship." Master Hewlett's words were calm and peaceful, as if he had already seen through life and death.

  Kong Yī suddenly lifted his head and asked: Master, do you still recognize me as your disciple?

  Kong Yiyi's words made both Zhao Feiyu and I feel awkward. After all, Kong Yiyi was still a layman because of me at that time, and I was like a mad dog back then. Kong Yiyi's hands were definitely stained with the blood of others, and it wasn't the first time he was dragged by me and Zhao Feiyu to drink wine either.

  In the words of Nan Temple, Kōnichi is already a broken monk. Flogging and whatnot are definitely unavoidable, and severe ones will definitely be expelled from Nan Temple. To avoid these troubles, Kōnichi chose to return to secular life at that time.

  The simple words "returning to secular life" meant that Kōngyī and the Southern Temple would sever all ties. I didn't expect that Kōngyī actually did it.

  I took another bite of plain rice, waiting for Master Hewlett's response. I hadn't even swallowed my food when he hastily said: "Master, at that time, the void was ordinary because..."

  "I know, it's because of the worldly dust tempering my heart." Before I could finish speaking, Master Hui Pu interrupted me. I looked at him with a smile and continued to focus on eating my plain rice.

  "Do you think that if I didn't know the reason why Kong Yi is returning to secular life, I could make him return? If it's because of someone else's rumors, what woman would make Kong Yi return to secular life? Do you think I could make him return?" Master Hui Pu at this time saw that there was no one around and put away his dignified appearance.

  He raised his legs, looking like a relieved expression. Hewlett and Guo Lao were both people who knew how to behave properly, but in front of us familiar faces, he was just as casual as Guo Lao.

  One word: rogue. Two words: hooligan. Three words: shameless.

  I'm afraid my dad is probably the most serious one among the three of them, and also the only serious one.

  I really don't know how he became the abbot of this southern temple.

  "Fei Yu, Xiao Lin. You two have known me for so long and still don't know my temper? My apprentice is so handsome, if any young lady falls in love with him, I'll immediately go find another young lady to reason with! Eh, which of you two has peanuts on you, give me some." Hei Pu said, stretching out his hand towards us, looking just like an old man chatting in a teahouse. He's about to start gossiping about whose family is good and whose is bad.

  Kong Yat knew that his master had this habit, so he immediately took out the peanuts he had bought and peeled them one by one for Hui Pu.

  After eating two peanuts, Hewlett became even more complacent. He continued: My apprentice has no shortcomings! The only shortcoming is that he's too handsome and too kind-hearted. Mu Zhongxing had taken a look at Kong Yi's face before. With those peach blossom eyes, how many romantic entanglements would he get himself into? So becoming a Buddhist monk was the best choice after all.

  As he said that, the chef who was in charge of making eggs for us walked out from behind the cafeteria with a large plate. Hewlett immediately put down his leg, straightened his back and had a serious expression on his face.

  The master put the food on the table and bowed to Hui Pu, asking: "Is there any other instruction from the abbot?"

  HP replied with courtesy: It's nothing now, thank you.

  The master bowed again and then left.

  After that master left, Hui Pu continued to lift his second leg, urging KONG YI to peel peanuts. Zhao Feiyu and I both smiled helplessly, these three old men are all big brothers, we must treat them well... no, now there are only two big brothers left.

  After Hewlett had praised his apprentice enough, we were almost done eating. Hewlett then started talking to us about serious matters. Hewlett only asked us three questions: first, how Old Guo died; second, if there was anything we needed help with when we got back; and third, what our plans were for the future.

  The three of us looked at each other, and then Kong Yi told Hui Pu everything that had happened to us from the beginning when I left Huai Shu Village until Old Man Guo's death. After listening, Hui Pu let out a long sigh and chanted a Buddhist mantra: Amitabha! Jian Hua's karma has finally been resolved! Amitabha!

  Zhao Feiyu also calmly returned to the second question: We came back just to send Master's ashes, this is his last wish, we must complete it. Besides, I always thought that Kong Yi and you might have some conflicts on the matter of returning to secular life. This time we came back, it was also to make amends with you. However, now it seems that I don't need to do so anymore.

  As for the third question, it goes without saying that it falls on me. I looked at Hui Pu seriously and said: We plan to go to Hei Zhu Gou again this time, and we are going to change our fate. You saw the girl who followed my dad, we three owed her something before. We think it's time to settle it now.

  "Dong Qizhi? Dong Hu's daughter?" Hewitt reacted immediately upon hearing my words.

  The three of us nodded, and the expressions on our faces also turned serious. To be honest, Hei Zhu Gou was a place that none of us wanted to go back to, and now that the three of us were able to make up our minds to go there again, it wasn't easy either.

  Hewlett nodded understandingly, looked at me and asked: How has Xiao Lin been lately? You'd better thank me properly in the future, after all, your previous marriage still had a bit to do with me.

  Upon hearing Hewlett's words, I understood and took out a pack of peanuts from my waist bag which was only half eaten. I smiled and said: "Don't eat the empty one I gave you, that flavor is not good. This flavor is better. Want to try?"

  Hewlett-Packard casually snatched my peanuts, took a bite and nodded: The taste is indeed good. You know, I, the old monk, only like this thing.

  I was sitting on one side with a smile, watching Hewei eating peanuts. At this time, my dad rushed in hastily and saw the four of us, urging us to say: Everyone is here! We're about to go to the side hall, Dai Suoyang brought people from the Ghost Building, saying it's an urgent matter. Let's hurry up.

  Upon hearing this, the four of us immediately dropped what we were holding and rushed towards the side hall. By the time we arrived, Dai Su had already picked up a teapot and started drinking from it herself.

  When he saw Dai Suoyang, my dad's face immediately squeezed out a smile. He and Dai Suoyang chatted casually for a while before the two of them entered the main topic.

  Dai Suoyang's gaze fell on the three of us, and she looked at us with a question: From now on, you only need to answer me with "yes" or "no", anything else, I don't want to hear. I'm also here on orders, so please understand. This is also one of the elders of Guilou, Qu Yi.

  When I heard Dai Suo's words, I just realized that there was a man in black suit sitting next to her. The man was quite young, probably around our age. As for the name Qu Yi, I hadn't heard of it before, probably because he rose to prominence when I wasn't around.

  The three of us nodded, waiting for Dai Suoyan to ask questions.

  "Did you give the dragon's spirit to the rivers?" Dai Suoyan asked us seriously.

  "Yes." Zhao Feiyu answered hastily. "The dragon's aura already has a bloody smell, the dragon's aura is contaminated, and keeping it would be troublesome. Why not just give it to someone else?"

  Qu Yì heard Zhao Fei Yu's explanation and frowned in dissatisfaction, saying: According to your words, the Ghost Building can't even handle this thing, you're underestimating the power of the Ghost Building too much, aren't you?

  I finally understand this sentence, this person is here to ruin everything!

  Zhao Feiyu wanted to explain something else, but I stopped him. I smiled at Dai Suoyan and Qu Yi, indicating that they should continue asking questions.

  Dai Suoyang's face also looked a bit unsightly, but she continued to ask: Have you seen the Emperor of Jianghe?

  "Yes."

  "Have you also entered the Ghost Market with Jiang He's Emperor?"

  "Yes."

  "Are you still helping Huang Fang?"

  "Yes."

  Dai Suoyang gave up completely after hearing my three loud "yes"s.

  Qu Yidao smiled and said to Dai Suoyu: It seems that their crimes have already been determined, Elder Dai.

  What's our crime? The three of us looked at each other in confusion, having no idea what Qu Yi was talking about. But we could sense that we were probably in trouble.

  My dad and Hui Pu also stood beside, frowning and listening, their faces looking somewhat unpleasant. I took a step forward, looked at Qu Yi and asked: "I don't know, what crime are you talking about?"

  "You collude with the rivers! You sold out the people of my Ghost Building! Don't you dare not admit your guilt? Do I need to catch you all and bring you back before you'll confess?" Qu Yi's words suddenly became very provocative, and the group of people beside him seemed like they might attack at any moment.

  "Who betrayed the Ghost Building? I don't understand what you're saying. In Huai Tree Village or Ghost City, apart from us few people, who else is there?" I let out a cold hum, my tone also very stern.

  "Kobayashi." Taiso called out to me, then awkwardly said: "After you came out of Oni-ichi, didn't the people from Oni-ro go and take care of things? They all died in Oni-ichi, with a very cruel method. Now you're being suspected of colluding with Kōga...

  "Nonsense!" I couldn't listen to Dai Suoyan's words anymore!

  "Haven't you confessed yet? Take them all back to the haunted building!" Qu Yi waved his hand, and the people beside him naturally began to take action.

  I drew out the meteorite and threw it at Qu Yi. The meteorite brushed past Qu Yi's ear. I ran towards Qu Yi, a white ghostly figure steadily caught the meteorite and returned it to my hand.

  I held the meteorite in my hand, and with one kick, I knocked over Qu Yi's chair! I grasped Qu Yi's neck tightly with one hand, sneering as I said: "If you dare, say it again!"

  Qū Yì yīyīyāyā de shuō zhe shén me wǒ gēn běn tīng bù qīng, dànshì wǒ kěyǐ tīng dào dài sù zhòng jǐn de shēngyīn: xiǎo lín! nǐ xiān fàng kāi tā! tā suī rán shì líng yì quān de rén! dànshì tā shì dòng nǎo zǐ de! shén me shù fǎ dōu bú huì de! xiǎo lín nǐ huì yào le tā de mìng de!

  Translation:

  Qū Yì was muttering something, but I couldn't hear clearly. However, I could hear Dài Sù's anxious voice: "Xiǎo Lín! Let him go first! Although he is a person from the spiritual circle, he is clever and doesn't know any spells! Xiǎo Lín, you will take his life!"

  I couldn't listen to Dai Suoyang's persuasion and stabbed the meteorite iron into Qu Yi's thigh!