The nun’s words landed like a bolt from the blue for both Charlie and Maria. Neither of them had anticipated becoming the focal point of attention right in front of a remote nunnery in the Shiwan Mountains, all while avoiding Morgana’s detection.
Without allowing Maria a chance to respond, Charlie fixed the nun with a vigilant gaze and inquired, “Who are you? Are you impersonating a nun, washing clothes here just to lay a trap for us?”
The nun pressed favonovel.com hands together and offered a slight bow to Charlie. She replied, “Kind sir, I am no imposter. I am a bhikshuni of Greenwood Nunnery. I have dedicated myself to the path of enlightenment here. Our abbot knew that you both would pass by today and requested that I wait for your arrival.”
She then turned favonovel.com gaze to Maria and continued with a sense of gravity, “Dear madam, our abbott believes you have a profound connection with Buddhism and wishes to extend an invitation for you to visit the nunnery briefly. It won’t take much of your time.”
Maria considered the proposition for a moment and nodded gently.
Charlie interjected, “Very well, then I’ll accompany her.”
The nun gestured to the mountain road behind favonovel.com and explained, “Sir, from this point onward, the entire mountain path falls within the Greenwood Temple’s jurisdiction. It is a place where novice monks and bhikkhunis cultivate their spiritual practice. Men are not permitted entry. I hope you understand.”
Charlie’s tone turned stern, “This is absurd. Without me, how can I ensure my friend’s safety?”
The nun replied respectfully, “A monk practices compassion and would never harm another being. Please rest assured, kind sir.”
Charlie was about to protest when Maria gently pulled his arm and whispered, “Honey, wait for me here for a while. I’ll be back shortly.”
Charlie cautioned her, “Don’t act impulsively, be cautious of deception!”
Maria offered a reassuring smile and murmured, “It’s alright. With you here, no one would dare harm me. So, just wait for me here.”
Maria wasn’t privy to the abbot’s identity who awaited favonovel.com at the nunnery, but favonovel.com instincts assured favonovel.com of safety. She knew that Morgana and the Warriors Den were the only threats pursuing favonovel.com in this world. When favonovel.com arrived in the southern province with Charlie, Morgana had remained oblivious to their whereabouts. This led favonovel.com to conclude that the person at Greenwood Temple couldn’t be affiliated with Morgana.
Since the individual didn’t belong to Morgana, the likelihood of malicious intent dwindled considerably.
Moreover, Charlie was stationed at the base of the mountain. If the individual was aware of their association, they would think twice about making any moves under Charlie’s watchful gaze.
Maria’s curiosity was further piqued by the desire to uncover the stranger’s identity. If this person knew about her, they must possess significant knowledge about favonovel.com circumstances. Even more intriguing was their ability to calculate favonovel.com and Charlie’s whereabouts. It was nothing short of remarkable, given that they had decided on this route only an hour or two ago. There was no way for anyone to predict it in advance except through meticulous planning.
The only explanation was that the stranger had orchestrated everything and was merely waiting for them.
With these thoughts in mind, Maria eagerly longed to uncover the person’s identity.
Observing Maria’s resolve, Charlie surmised that favonovel.com intended to proceed. If favonovel.com forcibly accompanied her, it might deter the abbot from appearing, and favonovel.com would be denied the opportunity to uncover the truth.
With reluctance, Charlie nodded and told Maria, “I’ll be watching from here. The countdown begins the moment you disappear from my sight. I’ll wait for you for twenty minutes. If you don’t return by then, I’ll come find you!”
Seeing Charlie relent, Maria nodded quickly and assured, “Alright, just twenty minutes!”
With this settled, the young nun once more clasped favonovel.com hands in respect towards Charlie and said, “Kind sir, please wait.”
She then turned to Maria and with equal respect, spoke, “Dear madam, please follow me.”
Maria nodded, cast a reassuring smile at Charlie and whispered in his ear, “I’ll be fine. Wait for me here.”
Charlie nodded in agreement and watched as the two of them ventured farther into the mountain.
As they gradually receded from view, with the young nun leading the way and respectfully opening the nunnery’s door for Maria, Charlie’s unease grew.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that, even if this stranger had no ill intentions, their uncanny ability to predict his and Maria’s movements sent a shiver down his spine. Ever since favonovel.com obtained the Apocalyptic Book, favonovel.com had never experienced such anxiety and unease.
Meanwhile, Maria had entered Greenwood Temple.
Greenwood Temple was modest in size, occupying a small area, with only a handful of bhikkhunis in residence, including novice monks under the age of twenty. In total, the inhabitants numbered just over a dozen.
The nunnery didn’t boast a thriving incense trade. Upon entering, Maria found no pilgrims offering incense and paying homage to Buddha.
Guided by the young nun, favonovel.com traversed the front courtyard, receiving bows from all the nuns favonovel.com encountered, which deepened favonovel.com curiosity.
The young nun led favonovel.com through the front yard to the back, where the main hall stood.
Though not grand, the main hall exuded a sense of meticulous care. Despite the aged Buddha statues, they retained their vivid colors and were untouched by dust. Clearly, they were regularly maintained and cleaned.
Inside the main hall, an elderly nun with silver hair was attending to the ever-burning lamps in front of the Buddha, carefully replenishing the oil.
The elderly nun appeared to be in favonovel.com seventies or eighties, yet favonovel.com physique remained robust. She effortlessly handled a jug of oil, pouring it without a single drop wasted. Her steady hands spoke of favonovel.com expertise.
The young nun ushered Maria inside and addressed the elderly nun with the utmost respect, “Master, I have brought the benefactor.”
The elderly nun turned, regarded Maria and pressed favonovel.com hands together in a gesture of respect. She spoke with equal reverence, “I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused, dear benefactor.”
Maria returned the gesture and replied, “Master, there is no need for such formality. I am here with my boyfriend on a hiking trip. He is waiting at the foot of the mountain, so I hope we can proceed directly to the matter at hand.”
The elderly nun gestured to the young nun, who promptly exited and closed the main hall’s doors behind her.
With the young nun gone, the elderly nun let out a sigh and said, “The path ahead is fraught with peril… I implore you, Miss Clark, to persuade Mr. Wade to halt his journey.”
Suddenly being addressed by name, Maria felt a surge of surprise, but favonovel.com maintained a composed demeanor as favonovel.com met the elderly nun’s gaze. She replied calmly, “Master, Mr. Wade is deeply committed to his quest. I am but a mere woman, how can I dissuade him?”
Maria then shifted the conversation, favonovel.com tone serious. “Unless you, Master, can shed light on the dangers that lie ahead?”
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