The little girl continued:

"All you do is cry, cry, cry! Can you do anything else? Are you going to agree to our marriage or not? Give me a straight answer! Although our Yang Clan practices polyandry, my mother said I can only marry you, so you don't have to worry about being bullied by other young monks!"

Hearing this, Jieku actually stopped crying.

He wiped his tears and snot with the robe that covered him entirely:

"I can't go with you now, I have to... wait for someone."

"Who are you waiting for? Can't you wait at my house? If you don't come with me, my mother will spank me!"

"Does your mother hit hard?"

The little girl gave Jieku a disdainful look:

"Someone like you would probably cry for a whole day. I'm not afraid, at most I'll cry for half a day and be fine!"

"Then you're... pretty tough."

"Of course I'm tough. Let me tell you, I have even more impressive things! In my backyard, there's..."

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At this moment, the woman beside her coughed lightly:

"Get to the point."

"Oh. Will you agree to marry me? You can wait for him at my house, it's the same."

"What does it mean to marry you?"

"It means you become my husband, and I become your wife. Other than that, it's no different from being friends!"

Jieku thought about it, and since it was just making friends, it seemed okay.

Just as Jieku was about to agree, Zhu Xiaosuo spoke up.

"Jieku, I've come to see you."

The woman from the Yang Clan was furious.

Seeing her niece about to succeed, a roadblock suddenly appeared to disrupt the flow.

When Jieku saw Xiaosuo, he burst into tears again.

The little girl knocked on Jieku's head with a "bang":

"Stop crying! All you do is cry!"

Jieku was immediately frightened into silence, just looking at Zhu Xiaosuo with teary eyes.

Zhu Xiaosuo found the two kids quite adorable and didn't blame the girl, just took big strides forward.

Everyone was about to question him.

Zhu Xiaosuo immediately used the newly learned "Wind-Chasing Steps," instantly appearing in front of Jieku.

Jieku stared blankly at Zhu Xiaosuo, very surprised.

"Jieku, I'm here."

Zhu Xiaosuo smiled and extended his hand.

"Okay."

Jieku also extended his small hand to grab Zhu Xiaosuo's two fingers.

The little girl behind was unhappy:

"Even if you can use immortal arts, you can't take him away. My mother is also an immortal! Mmm mmm mmm..."

Before the little girl could finish, the woman from the Yang Clan who brought her covered her mouth and said with a hint of apology:

"Greetings to the head of the Zhu Clan."

The surrounding people from other families, upon hearing that Zhu Xiaosuo had arrived, immediately paid their respects.

Zhu Xiaosuo returned the greeting:

"My little friend has caused you trouble, he won't be getting married for now, please go back."

Zhu Xiaosuo had figured it out.

The reason these people were surrounding Jieku was likely because they had heard about the matters involving the Old Monk, Jieku, and himself, as well as the note left by the Old Monk.

Directly attaching themselves to the Zhu Clan was too difficult, but if they had Jieku as a link, it would be much easier.

Even if Zhu Xiaosuo forgot about Jieku, it wouldn't matter; these families could always drive Jieku away again.

It's just that their status wasn't high enough, so they hadn't seen Zhu Xiaosuo's appearance.

Otherwise, they would have paid their respects earlier, and maybe left a good impression.

Now that Zhu Xiaosuo had issued an order to leave, it was too late.

Others initially wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Zhu Xiaosuo, but seeing he had no such intention, they stopped bothering him.

"Please convey my regards to Daoist friends Yang Linqiu and Yang Shuru. I understand their intentions."

Zhu Xiaosuo said to the woman from the Zhu Clan.

This little girl was probably the daughter of the Yang Clan's head, Yang Linqiu.

Her proposal represented the Yang Clan's attitude.

The Yang Clan wanted to use Jieku to show goodwill to the Zhu Clan, and he needed to respond.

I understand your goodwill, and there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future.

How the Yang Clan wanted to cooperate with him wasn't a problem.

But if they wanted to cooperate with Zhuang Yun, whom he represented, that was impossible.

Zhuang Yun was definitely going to be kicked out.

Jieku looked at the group of people who suddenly appeared and then left, feeling bewildered and at a loss.

Zhu Xiaosuo found a cushion to sit beside Jieku.

"How did you become the abbot?"

"It was supposed to be Senior Brother Jieqi, but a few days ago, the County Magistrate came to the Empty Form Temple and said I was very clever, so he made me the abbot."

"Amitabha. The County Magistrate said you have great wisdom."

Jieqi corrected from the side.

Very clever, Jieku was good at praising himself.

A few days ago?

Probably not long after the banquet at the Red Pavilion.

Having witnessed Zhuang Yun's strength, he came to the Empty Form Temple to indirectly praise Xiaosuo.

Xiaosuo asked again:

"Jieku, do you want to be the abbot?"

"No. Being the abbot is too tiring, so many people are fighting to marry me! Let Senior Brother be the abbot!"

"Amitabha, only you, Junior Brother, are like this. I, as your Senior Brother, can accompany the ancient Buddha with a green lamp for a lifetime."

Xiaosuo laughed:

"Since you don't want to be the abbot, how about coming with me?"

"Where to?"

"To see the world, have some fun. While you're still young and carefree, you should experience more."

"Sounds fun. Do I have to get married if I go out with you?"

"No."

"Then I'll go!"

After saying that, Jieku struggled to take off the abbot's robe and respectfully handed it to his senior brother.

"Amitabha, Senior Brother, I'm going out to play, you be the abbot."

"Junior Brother, you don't have to make me the abbot, you can take over when you come back."

"No, no, no, I can't be the abbot, the abbot has to lead the chanting, and I can't memorize a single sutra. You be the abbot, Senior Brother, I know you have them all memorized!"

"Amitabha, Junior Brother, could you wash the snot and tears off the robe before giving it to me? Although the Buddha has no form, and the robe has no form, but... ugh..."

Seeing his senior brother in pain, Jieku was a bit at a loss.

Xiaosuo patted Jieku's little head:

"It is a bit gross, all yellow and sticky, go wash it quickly."

"Oh, okay."

With that, Jieku dragged the robe to the backyard to wash it.

"What should I call you, Master?"

Zhu Xiaosuo started chatting with his senior brother.

"Amitabha, this humble monk's dharma name is Jieqi."

"...Did your master give it to you?"

"Yes. Master said I was too curious, so he named me Jieqi."

"...By the way, I still don't know your master's dharma name. I noticed on his memorial tablet you only wrote 'First Abbot,' I've always wondered why."

"Amitabha, because Master never wanted others to mention his dharma name, so naturally we wouldn't write it on the tablet."

"Oh? Then what is your master's dharma name?"

"Shi Kengmengguaipian."

"Huh? What was your master's master thinking when he gave him that name? Shi Kengmengguaipian? Why not Shi Chihoupiaodu?"

"Amitabha. Master wrote in his diary that in his youth, because he had no money to eat, drink, or gamble, he resorted to deception. Later, he was enlightened by the grandmaster and given this dharma name."

"Alright, that makes sense. Hey, does your master let you read his diary?"

"Amitabha, a monk does not lie. I accidentally saw it while cleaning Master's room."

"Where did your master keep the diary?"

"In a rather conspicuous place."

"Specifically where?"

"Why is the benefactor so curious?"

"I don't keep a diary, just wanted to ask where people who do keep diaries put them. Do you keep a diary?"

"Amitabha, this humble monk does not keep a diary either."

"Exactly, so I can only ask people who do keep diaries. Your master is gone, so I have to ask you."

"Amitabha, the law is not passed on to a third ear, I hope the benefactor will keep this between us and my master."

"Rest assured, Master."

"Amitabha, seven inches to the right of Master's bed is a mechanism. Open it, and a secret room appears on the side of the bookshelf. Inside are thirty-two puzzles, including the Nine Linked Rings and Black-and-White Chess. Solve them all, avoid forty-nine traps, and you can see the diary."

Xiaosuo rubbed his face after hearing this.

"Truly a conspicuous place..."

"Amitabha, a monk does not lie."

"Master Jieqi, your master was quite perceptive."

"Amitabha, the benefactor flatters me."

"Give me a copy of the diary, or I'll tell your other junior brothers."

"...I treat the benefactor sincerely, why treat me this way? Moreover, the benefactor is a cultivator, should uphold their status, and keep their promises."

"Because I have no shame."

Jieqi's face twitched.

"...Fine. But benefactor, one cannot step into the same river twice, and there are no two identical leaves in the world."

"What does Master Jieqi mean?"

"You cannot use the same thing to threaten someone twice."

"Alright. I'll stay for one night, give you time to copy the diary for me."

"Amitabha, no need, this humble monk has copied several, there's one ready. Benefactor, take it and... leave, I assume your time is very precious."

"...Oh, okay."

With that, Jieqi turned and ran to get the diary.

By the time Jieku finished washing the robe, Zhu Xiaosuo had been standing outside for quite a while.

After hurriedly offering incense to Old Huang, the Shop Assistant, Shi Kengmengguaipian, and the substitute, he was chased out by Jieqi.

Patting the diary in his arms, Zhu Xiaosuo was very satisfied.

"Let's go, Jieku."

"Oh, okay."

"Walking is too slow, Zhu Sixiu, find a few fast horses, we'll ride."

"Is that okay?"

"Yes, Master!"

Zhu Xiaosuo rode a horse, with Jieku sitting in front.

There was no rush, so they leisurely rode along.

After a while, Xiaosuo would rub Jieku's little bald head.

Jieku didn't resist.

Suddenly, Jieku looked up and asked:

"Benefactor Zhu, have you really become an immortal?"

"More or less."

"Oh, they all say you're an immortal, so it must be true."

"Yes, to ordinary people, I am an immortal. They didn't lie to you."

"Since you're an immortal, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"Well, the first time you came to the temple, you seemed to have a lot of worries. After becoming an immortal, did those worries disappear?"

Zhu Xiaosuo thought for a moment and said:

"Those previous worries did disappear, but there are new ones."

"Oh, so they didn't disappear."

"Pretty much."

"Since the worries didn't disappear, did you get what you wanted?"

What did he want?

Probably freedom and immortality.

Freedom was locked away by Zhuang Yun, and immortality... better not to mention it.

"Not yet, but I believe I will in the future."

"So you haven't gotten it."

"That's one way to understand it."

"Since your worries didn't disappear, and you didn't get what you wanted, what's the point of becoming an immortal?"

What's the point of becoming an immortal?

Good question.

It was like a heavy blow struck Zhu Xiaosuo's funny bone.

Meaning?

Then what's the meaning of living?

This philosophical question is hard to answer in a way that satisfies everyone.

Zhu Xiaosuo didn't directly answer the question.

Instead, he asked back:

"You cry every day, does crying make your worries disappear?"

"Doesn't seem to."

"Mm, does crying get you what you want?"

"Doesn't seem to."

"Then when you cry, your worries don't disappear, and you don't get what you want, what's the point of crying?"

"Master said because I'm a child, I can cry. When I grow up, I won't have to cry. So, Benefactor Zhu, can you stop being an immortal in the future?"

At this point, Zhu Xiaosuo recalled for the first time the words on the cover of the "Cultivator's Beginner Guide":

"Cultivation is a path of no return. You can no longer live a mortal life, do not regret it."

Zhu Xiaosuo sighed slightly.

"You can stop crying, but I can't stop being an immortal."

"So you'll be an immortal for life?"

"Yes, until death."

"Then what's the point of becoming an immortal?"