"Amitabha Buddha. Junior Brother Wu Tan, this Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse you've created is simply divine."
Qi De was also very excited. "Our Longyuan Temple's reputation has soared, and even the reputation of the entire Buddhist Sect has improved significantly.
The Court's attitude toward the Buddhist Sect has also improved a great deal. The Head Temple even sent a letter to commend me.
I really wasn't wrong about you. You truly are the disciple of a reclusive, eminent monk.
A casual creation of yours has resulted in such great merit.
This time, I, your Senior Brother, have really benefited from your success."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei naturally feigned modesty. "It is but a minor trick. Actually, back when I was studying under my master, I saw him create true Puppets. They could not only travel a thousand li a day but also clean houses. They could even speak and possessed a certain degree of spirituality..."
"What?"
Qi De was greatly alarmed. "Then, Junior Brother, did you learn this art?"
"To my shame, I did not."
Xu Lei said, "I was mischievous back then and only learned how to make this simple Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse."
"Junior Brother, you... you..."
Qi De's finger trembled. "To have the good fortune of studying under such an eminent monk, yet you slacked off. Amitabha Buddha, what a sin, what a sin."
Xu Lei could only feign regret once more.
That's right. Now that he had entered Longyuan Temple, Xu Lei continued to maintain his persona.
He continued to spin the lie about having a mysterious master.
Of course, the so-called vast Divine Powers of his master were actually just things he made up based on technology from Earth.
The so-called true Puppets were just intelligent robots from Earth.
But while Xu Lei could manage to build a Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse, he certainly couldn't create an intelligent robot.
After parting ways with Qi De, a young monk came to report, "Martial Uncle, another female benefactor has come to pray for a son."
He was also a disciple of Bu Zhong Hall.
Xu Lei nodded.
He then prepared to meet this female Devotee who had come to pray for a son.
"It's the Lady of the County Magistrate." But then the disciple beside him added, "She specifically asked to see you, Martial Uncle."
Xu Lei's heart skipped a beat.
Over the past ten-odd days since Longyuan Temple's popularity surged, the number of common people coming to offer incense had increased.
First and foremost, this greatly increased Longyuan Temple's incense offerings.
But while the number of visitors praying for children had risen slightly, the increase wasn't significant.
This was because Longyuan Temple already had a good local reputation for granting sons.
Most local families who needed to pray for a son had, in fact, already come before.
Only a few who previously didn't really believe in the Buddha were moved by the merits of Xu Lei, the Divine Monk, and came to pray for a son.
However, the few Devotees who had come to pray for a son before weren't very good-looking.
Following the rules of Bu Zhong Hall, Xu Lei had the average-looking disciples perform the Charitable Giving.
He hadn't made a move himself.
This left Xu Lei a bit disappointed.
He had previously thought that after his fame spread, the number of visitors seeking to conceive a child would also soar.
But he'd forgotten that the local pool of such visitors had already been largely tapped.
After all, only families who couldn't have children of their own would come to a temple to pray for one.
Such families were relatively few.
Of course, at this moment, that little bit of disappointment in Xu Lei's heart instantly vanished.
Because the person he had been waiting for had arrived.
「Ten minutes later.」
Xu Lei saw the voluptuous Lady of the County Magistrate.
She was currently kneeling before the Buddha, her eyes closed in prayer.
One must know, this woman had not believed in the Buddha before.
Seeing her like this now, Xu Lei knew her resolve must have been shaken.
'My previous efforts were useful after all.'
Moreover, at this moment, the Lady of the County Magistrate was no longer wearing a veil.
After all, coming to pray to the Buddha while still wearing a veil? What would that look like?
Where would be the sincerity in that?
Therefore, Xu Lei could now see the true face of the Lady of the County Magistrate.
Just as he'd expected, her features were exceptionally beautiful.
She even looked a bit like a female celebrity from Earth.
As she knelt, the fabric of her clothes stretched taut over her hips, outlining a breathtaking curve.
Her hands, pressed together in prayer, were as fair and tender as jade.
Her delicate, shapely body was upright and elegant.
Her neck was as long and slender as a swan's.
With her eyes closed, one could see her long, slender eyelashes.
Dressed in his monk's robes, Xu Lei watched in silence.
Only when her eyelids fluttered and her beautiful eyes opened did he speak.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "Benefactor, you have gone from not believing in the Buddha to piously worshiping Him. This is a great kindness. Excellent, excellent."
"Greetings, Little Divine Monk."
The Lady of the County Magistrate also rose with a graceful curtsy and said to Xu Lei, "When we first met, I was rude to you, Divine Monk. I am truly ashamed. The matter has weighed on my mind, and only today can I finally express my apology. Please, Divine Monk, do not take offense."
"It is no matter."
Xu Lei gestured with his hand, indicating for her to follow him. They went to a Zen Room, where they both sat down opposite each other in a seemingly holy manner. He then asked, "Benefactor, you specifically requested to see this humble monk. What confusion might you have?"
"This may be a bit rude."
The Lady of the County Magistrate pursed her tender lips, blinked her beautiful eyes a few times, and took a deep breath, causing the waves on her chest to swell. Only then did she say, "But, Little Divine Monk, I want to ask... does the Buddha truly exist? If I kneel piously and pray for a son, can the Buddha grant me one? Is it true?"
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "It seems, female benefactor, that you have not yet truly come to believe in the Buddha with a pious heart."
"I apologize. Buddha, forgive me, forgive me."
The Lady of the County Magistrate was also quite ashamed. She first pressed her palms together, murmuring to her left and right, before looking at Xu Lei and saying, "It's just that I, this humble woman, have never believed in matters of Divine Buddhas since I was a child. I find it difficult to change my views all at once."
"If you do not believe in the Buddha."
Xu Lei asked, "Then why did you come to worship the Buddha today, Benefactor?"
"Because of you, Little Divine Monk."
The Lady of the County Magistrate's beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at Xu Lei. "Little Divine Monk, your methods are extraordinary. Compared to a Buddha who is but a hazy figure in legends, I am more inclined to believe in the real abilities I have seen with my own eyes.
You, Little Divine Monk, are a person of great ability. Since you believe in the Buddha, then I... am willing to try to believe as well.
Actually, I also want to know about what the common people were saying before, about taking blood to extend a life. What was that all about?
Is it truly a Divine Power of the Buddhist Dharma?
If so, how does the Buddha grant a child?"
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said again, "The matter of exchanging blood for life is indeed a part of the Buddhist Dharma. However, it is but one ten-thousandth of the wonders of the Dharma that this humble monk learned from my master.
As for praying for a son, you, female benefactor, have studied the path of medicine since childhood, so you should also understand its principles.
In truth, the Buddhist Dharma sounds profound, but to put it another way, it is simply being familiar with the rules of the world.
Many rules that are invisible to the naked eye, once understood, become the Dao.
The so-called Dao is simply the law of heaven and earth.
The Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse is also just an application of the Dao.
Returning to the matter of seeking a son.
Benefactor, in your opinion, when a woman becomes pregnant, what is the Dao within that process?"
"What is the Dao? Isn't it just the wedding night..."
The Lady of the County Magistrate was astonished. Then, her pretty face flushed red, and she looked down shyly. "And then... a harmonious union... and it happens?"
After speaking, she blinked her beautiful eyes, looked at Xu Lei, and said, "Could it be that there are... invisible laws at work? Please enlighten me, Little Divine Monk."
"You are not wrong, Benefactor. On the wedding night, husband and wife join together, and a pregnancy is conceived. After ten months, a new child is born."
Xu Lei then asked, "But what is the Dao within that process?"
"What is it?"
The Lady of the County Magistrate said in shock, "The principles behind it... someone has actually understood them? I, this humble woman, have read countless medical texts, but I have never heard of such a thing!"
"The world is divided into male and female. A man has yang essence, and a woman has a yin egg."
Xu Lei continued, "When husband and wife entwine at night..."
「Several hours later.」
Xu Lei had given the Lady of the County Magistrate, who was fascinated by the path of medicine, a popular science lesson on the biological principles of human reproduction.
He also communicated a few other things.
After talking until her face was flushed red with shyness and her head was spinning, he saw the time was about right.
He finally steered the topic back to the matter of seeking a son.
He explained that seeking a son could be divided into two methods: spiritual and physical.
Spiritual seeking could only offer psychological comfort.
Physical seeking, however, could result in a real child very quickly.
He also clarified the various rules of the temple's physical child-seeking to dispel her concerns.
"I... I need to think about it."
The Lady of the County Magistrate was stunned for a long time before finally saying, "I should have known long ago, this so-called 'seeking a son'..."
"The hour is late. If you do not mind, Benefactor, you may have a vegetarian meal at the temple."
Xu Lei chanted "Amitabha Buddha" and said, "Take your time to consider."
The Lady of the County Magistrate did not refuse.
She ate the vegetarian meal.
She meditated and struck the wooden fish.
In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.
It was almost dark.
The Lady of the County Magistrate had to leave.
Of course, before she left, she came to see Xu Lei again.
"Amitabha Buddha," Xu Lei said. "Benefactor, why do you seek this humble monk again?"
The Lady of the County Magistrate's face was already flushed with shame before she even spoke.
Her fair, cherry-like lips opened and closed a few times.
Her pink, fragrant tongue lightly licked her lips.
She pursed them.
"Little Divine Monk, I... I have come to seek a son. Could... could you be the one to..." She finally lowered her head, shifted her hips, fidgeted with her skirt, and mumbled the words.