Chapter 1 Aspiration to Preside

Who hasn't dreamed of being the abbot?

It's a pity that I'm naturally dull and not proficient in Buddhist teachings, so I can only be a small monk and muddle through the days.

While Huishan was thinking about this at Huishan Hill, the originally crowded people outside suddenly became a little restless, changing from strolling to jogging with their hands raised above their heads.

Huishan was stunned, and then he noticed that it had started to drizzle outside.

The rain came strangely, and soon the drizzle turned into a downpour.

The heavy rain poured down, and pedestrians on the road without umbrellas were drenched.

"What are you standing here for? Go to the warehouse to get umbrellas and distribute them to the guests."

An old monk, hurrying past the intersection, saw the dazed group and couldn't help but instruct.

"Yes, yes."

Huishan and the others quickly responded, not daring to be lazy.

Jiangyun Temple has an excellent reputation in Jianghai City, not only because of its long history but also because of its excellent service attitude.

Compared to the temples outside, Jiangyun Temple has taken a new era service-oriented route, positioning itself as a service industry.

Instead of the old-fashioned, high-and-mighty approach of waiting for others to climb mountains and pray to Buddha, emphasizing sincerity and tormenting customers in various ways.

Providing convenience to others is the key to earning more.

Making money isn't shameful; serving customers well doesn't conflict with others sincerely worshipping Buddha.

The Buddha is still high above, it's just that their monks have lowered their status.

This transformation has been very successful so far.

The times are no longer the slow-paced era of the past.

Everyone values efficiency, paying money, worshipping Buddha, and making wishes, all in one step, which is great.

Therefore, building mountain roads and even opening flatland airports to attract more commercial alliances are all acceptable.

Originally, other old-fashioned temples were very contemptuous of Jiangyun Temple, a temple with a long history, for carrying out such a core positioning reform.

Later, they all realized the truth – money is real.

Huishan also entered Buddhism for the sake of money. He heard from his colleagues that if he became the abbot, money would come pouring in, which made him even more eager.

But once he actually entered the temple, he realized that internal promotions were strictly assessed. If he didn't master Buddhist teachings, he would be a small monk for the rest of his life.

Fortunately, honestly muddling through the days can still be quite good.

Due to Jiangyun Temple's service industry positioning, its service to guests has always been very good, so Huishan and the others who run errands are the ones who get tired.

After taking the umbrellas out of the warehouse, the corridors of the temple were crowded with people.

He followed the old monk and gave the umbrellas printed with the Jiangyun Temple pattern to the guests for free.

Old customers naturally took the umbrellas, while new customers showed surprised expressions, feeling flattered.

However, in reality, compared to Jiangyun Temple's incense money, umbrellas are not worth much, not to mention that they also carry the Jiangyun Temple logo, which can be considered a small advertisement when taken out of the temple.

While distributing umbrellas, Huishan looked outside.

Several of his companions were running out to deliver umbrellas to the guests who were still running towards them in the rain.

The sky was getting darker, and some old monks began to chant scriptures. The guests also gathered around to chant together. In this atmosphere, those old monks, who usually didn't look like much, had the feeling of eminent monks, which Huishan envied very much.

"Huishan, you also go and deliver umbrellas to the guests over there."

The old monk next to him pointed to the guests not far away. Huishan responded and ran out with an umbrella.

Boom!

Before he could run two steps, a thunderclap struck the black clouds in the sky, illuminating the entire sky.

Huishan was shaken by the sound and paused slightly, but he didn't think much and continued to run towards the guests.

Boom!!

Another thunderous roar.

Huishan didn't pay attention at first, but the next moment, he couldn't help but shrink his pupils.

Because he saw that before the third thunderclap exploded, when the dark clouds turned into daylight.

A thick bolt of lightning struck straight down from the black clouds, directly hitting the guests in front.

Boom!!

The third thunderclap exploded, and the guests, unable to react in the lightning, fell straight down, their bodies charred and smoking, obviously beyond saving.

"Ah... Ahhhhh!!"

"There, over there, someone was struck by lightning!"

"Damn! Really?!"

Many people behind him also saw this scene and screamed in fright.

Huishan was still in a daze.

He had heard of people being struck by lightning in the rain and had seen it in videos.

But seeing it with his own eyes was a first.

A living person, just struck by lightning and killed?

He couldn't help but feel fear and started to run back, running faster and faster, his brain buzzing.

Suddenly, he tripped over something and fell to the ground with a thud.

The dirty water on the ground stained his Buddhist robes. He wiped his face, got up on his hands and feet, and prepared to continue running back.

But when he looked up, he saw that the guests hiding under the eaves were all staring with wide eyes, as if they had seen an incredible scene.

What... happened?

Huishan couldn't help but look back.

The next moment, his pupils shrank sharply, and he looked at the front in disbelief.

There, the person who had just been struck by lightning and turned into a charred corpse had actually gotten up.

It stood in the heavy rain, looking up at the sky, and after a while, it slowly looked forward.

The charred corpse seemed a little dazed.

"Guest, are you okay? I've already called for emergency help. Is there anything uncomfortable about your body? Come with me..."

A little monk closest to the charred corpse ran to the charred corpse's side, holding an umbrella for it, and wanted to guide it back under the eaves.

Then, the charred corpse moved.

Huishan didn't know how to describe the scene before him.

He only saw the charred corpse wave its hand, and the kind little monk's head fell off.

Huishan's memory was a little blurred about what happened next.

He only remembered that it was very noisy around, many people were running, shouting, and roaring, and... bolts of lightning gradually struck passersby still walking in the rain.

People fell down in rows. Huishan did not hide in the room like the others, but turned and ran towards the back mountain.

He ran very fast, very urgently, deep into the bamboo forest in the back mountain.

But when he looked back... he saw a charred corpse actually following closely behind him!

Boom!

Thunder roared, and Huishan saw clearly the appearance of the charred corpse chasing after him.

It was actually... the face of the old abbot!

Huishan didn't know how the old abbot was struck by lightning. Maybe he was pushed out by the rioters to chant Buddhist scriptures to 'influence' the charred corpses, or maybe he chose the same escape route as him and was struck by lightning.

In any case, the old guy who sat in the abbot's position he dreamed of was now a monster.

Huishan ran even harder, desperately trying to shake off the charred corpse, but after running for a while, when he looked back, he found that the charred corpse was getting closer and closer to him, scaring him so much that he dared not look back again, only burying his head and running wildly.