Immortal after a Hundred Reincarnations

"Greetings, Zen Master Hui Yuan."

But before Xu Lei could say a word, the lady of the Shen Family spoke. "I’ve heard that this temple is very effective for those wishing for a son. Could I learn the details?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei brought his palms together. "Greetings, Benefactress. Of course, you may."

He didn’t need to ask. Xu Lei had already guessed the reason the lady of the Shen Family had come.

It was, of course, because she wanted another son, something she had mentioned before.

And since Zhi Jian had also been a Monk in a temple before...

...the lady of the Shen Family most likely knew exactly what "praying for a son" at a temple truly entailed.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have deliberately traveled to a temple so far from her home to pray for a son.

If she had done so locally, it would have been rather awkward if some of the Monks recognized her or Zhi Jian.

But by traveling a little farther, as long as the temple was reliable, there would be no trouble later on.

Although he knew the lady of the Shen Family was already aware of the general situation...

...Xu Lei still explained things to her just as he had with every Devotee who came seeking a child in his past life.

He detailed some of the temple’s rules regarding praying for a son.

"Then, may I ask, Zen Master."

The lady of the Shen Family’s expression relaxed a little after hearing his explanation, but she pursed her tender lips and asked, "If a faithful woman like myself comes to pray for a son, which Zen Master would be performing the Charitable Giving?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "Benefactress, that is a heavenly secret that cannot be revealed."

"However, I can assure you that it will be a young, reliable, and handsome Zen Master who performs the Charitable Giving for you."

A dozen or so minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

The lady of the Shen Family had left.

She said she needed one more night to consider it.

Watching her graceful figure descend the mountain, Xu Lei wondered, ’If she comes seeking Charitable Giving, should I perform it for her myself according to the rules?’

After all, here at Guangyuan Temple, Xu Lei was indeed the most suitable person to perform Charitable Giving for her.

’Amitabha Buddha, why hesitate?’

Xu Lei muttered to himself, ’I have entered the Buddhist Sect. I am a Buddhist Disciple.

’Performing Charitable Giving for the Buddha to accumulate merit—how can I be bound by personal thoughts and emotions?

’If she comes seeking Charitable Giving, then I shall give it.

’She won’t recognize me anyway, and I’ll just treat her as an ordinary female Devotee.’

「The next afternoon.」

The lady of the Shen Family came to Guangyuan Temple once more.

She had thought it over and decided that Guangyuan Temple was reliable, so she would pray for a son here.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei received her again, bringing his palms together. "Then please follow me, Benefactress."

He didn’t lead her directly to the Almsgiving Room, but to a living quarter.

A bathing tub, along with hot and cold water, had already been prepared in the room.

"Benefactress, please undress and bathe here."

Xu Lei said, "In a moment, a Body Purification Zen Master from our temple will arrive through this small door."

"Do not resist, and do not be alarmed."

"The Body Purification Zen Master is mainly here to inspect your physical condition."

"Simply to see if you have any diseases of a certain nature."

"Although you have said that you have not been to any unclean places..."

"...some female Devotees have contracted illnesses without their knowledge."

"If we do not conduct a thorough inspection, there is a risk of transmitting it to the Zen Master Bu Zhong."

"At that point, if the Zen Master Bu Zhong were to then transmit it to other female Devotees, that would be a tremendous sin."

"Furthermore, please rest assured that every one of our Zen Masters Bu Zhong has undergone the same rigorous inspection."

Hearing this, the lady of the Shen Family’s pretty face first went blank for a moment, then her cheeks flushed red.

After a moment, however, she indicated her acceptance of Xu Lei’s explanation.

A few minutes later.

Xu Lei, now wearing a mask, emerged from the small, hidden door in her room.

Since he had decided to perform the Charitable Giving himself, Xu Lei had naturally taken on the task of the inspection as well.

However, Xu Lei found that the lady of the Shen Family was still sitting on the bed, her lips pursed, and had not entered the tub to bathe.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei slightly altered his voice and asked, "Benefactress, why have you not entered the bath?"

"Greetings, Zen Master."

The lady of the Shen Family replied, "Since an inspection is required, it should be done before bathing."

"It will be easier to see if there are any ailments that way, will it not?"

"Rest assured, I bathed before coming to the temple."

"My body is not at all dirty!"

She took a deep breath and stood up.

With her back to Xu Lei, she removed her robes, one piece at a time.

They fluttered to the floor.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei also said, "There is no need to be shy, Benefactress."

"I come on behalf of the Buddha."

"At this moment, there is no man or woman, no thought, no self."

He then stepped forward, reaching out to gently brush aside the long hair on her exposed, fair, jade-like back to inspect the skin there.

Then, he lifted the long hair at the nape of her neck.

He inspected the skin of her neck.

The lady of the Shen Family had closed her eyes completely by now, her ears red. She tensed her delicate body slightly, silently enduring the inspection.

Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "The full-body inspection is complete. You are in good health, Benefactress, and may receive the Charitable Giving."

"If you feel hungry, you may step outside and call for a young monk to bring you a vegetarian meal."

"After your meal, you may bathe in this room."

"Once you have finished bathing, you may proceed through the passage behind the hidden door to the Almsgiving Room."

"If you do not require a meal, you may bathe directly and then proceed."

"Inside the Almsgiving Room, an incense is lit that will slightly disorient the mind."

"Once you enter, you may find your mind gradually becoming muddled."

"Please be mentally prepared for this."

"This is done to prevent both the Zen Master Bu Zhong and yourself from feeling awkward during the process of Charitable Giving."

"I do not require a meal."

The lady of the Shen Family picked up her outer robe from the floor and held it in front of herself. "I will go to the Almsgiving Room in half an hour," she said. "The sooner the Charitable Giving, the sooner the son, and the sooner this is over."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "In that case, I will go and inform the Zen Master Bu Zhong to make his preparations."