"The Incense Offering Ceremony?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu's inquisitive eyes turned to Senior Abbot Faming, not understanding what the so-called Incense Offering Ceremony meant.
"It seems that the drowning incident really caused you to lose your memories; indeed, you have forgotten many things."
Responding to Jiang Liu's searching gaze, Senior Abbot Faming sighed softly, going on to explain, "A novice monk like you cannot be considered a part of the Buddhist Sect, as you have not undergone the Incense Offering Ceremony. Only after completing the Incense Scar Initiation can you be counted as a true member of the Buddhist Sect."
"Ah?" Jiang Liu internally rejected the words of Senior Abbot Faming.
Having been transported to this world, he found himself in Jinshan Temple without a choice. Lacking understanding of this world and having nowhere else to go, he had temporarily decided to stay.
Hearing about receiving incense burns to become a real monk naturally made Jiang Liu resistant.
Firstly, without any reason, who would want to become a monk? Monks can't eat meat or drink alcohol, can't get married—this is nothing like the professionalization of monastic life seen in modern times.
Secondly, he feared pain!
Yes, the thought of burning incense scarring several marks into his head was terrifying just to contemplate.
Of course, despite his reluctance, Jiang Liu didn't show it outwardly; instead, he secretly pondered whether he should take the opportunity to sneak away from the temple.
With his culinary skills, entering Chang'an City some twenty or thirty miles away and finding a job in a tavern surely would sustain him, right?
After saving some money, he could even start his own restaurant, marry a wife—definitely ascending to the peak of life.
"Liu'er, I hope you, you can succeed in the Incense Offering Ceremony and decide to stay…" Just as Jiang Liu's mind wandered and yearned for a different life, suddenly, a short and chubby monk beside him said in a low voice.
"Ah? Can someone fail the Incense Offering Ceremony?" This question interrupted Jiang Liu's thoughts, and he turned his head, looking at his Senior Brother Xuanming with surprised uncertainty.
"Have you really forgotten everything?"
This expression from Jiang Liu left Xuanming startled for a moment, and then he whispered in explanation, "The Buddha said that all living beings are equal, but the Buddha only ferries those with destiny. Only those who are predestined with the Buddha can succeed in the Incense Offering Ceremony and become true monks; otherwise, they won't even get a single incense scar and will have to leave.
The food you make is very tasty, I would indeed miss it if you left."
"It's true, our Buddhist Sect values the principle of destiny. The deeper one's connection with the Buddhist Sect, the more incense scars one can receive. Over the past decade or so, Jinshan Temple has seen dozens of novice monks come and go, but in the end, only the three of us remained," added another monk, Senior Brother Xuankong, with a robust body, speaking in a similarly quiet voice.
As he spoke, he purposefully pointed to his own head.
In Jinshan Temple, aside from Senior Abbot Faming with his two incense scars, the other three younger monks each bore a single incense scar on their heads.
Although Jiang Liu had noticed the presence of scars on the monks' heads during these days, he hadn't thought much about it.
He never imagined that they held such significance.
"What kind of world is this, exactly?" Now aware of the Incense Offering Ceremony, Jiang Liu was utterly bewildered.
Ever since he learned he was in the Tang Dynasty with Emperor Li Shimin, Jiang Liu had thought he had simply traveled through time to an era of the Tang Dynasty.
Yet, after learning about the Incense Offering Ceremony, Jiang Liu realized this version of the Tang Dynasty might not be the one from the history of his original world?
The Incense Offering Ceremony, the monks getting incense scars, Jiang Liu knew about it.
But the fact that some people couldn't receive them, and using the number of incense scars to judge the depth of one's connection with the Buddhist Sect…
Isn't that a bit too fantastical?
Jiang Liu was stunned by this fantastical turn of events, and the monks beside him thought he was worried upon suddenly hearing the news.
Senior Abbot Faming spoke up, "Liu'er, if you can't get through the Incense Offering Ceremony, you should also pack up your things and leave the mountain. Fortunately, you have some skills in the kitchen, and I believe you would be able to make ends meet once you've left the mountain."
Having said this, the senior abbot uttered a low Buddhist chant and stood up to return to the Zen Room to recite scriptures.
Several senior brothers came forward to comfort Jiang Liu after seeing his expression.
However, his mind was somewhat disordered at this time, and Jiang Liu only managed to respond with a few half-hearted sentences.
Seeing Jiang Liu's demeanor, the senior brothers understood that he needed some time to digest this matter, so they dispersed.
After everyone had left, Jiang Liu got up, tidied up the bowls, and was filled with countless thoughts.
In fact, not being able to become a monk actually filled Jiang Liu's heart with joy.
What was so good about being a monk? There were so many rules and precepts, and Jiang Liu had already considered, when the time was right, he would leave the mountain to make a living.
Just as the senior abbot had said, his kitchen skills were not bad, and he had even secretly contemplated whether to run away from the mountain
However, after learning about the Incense Scar Initiation, Jiang Liu felt that he should witness it himself.
An incense scar that couldn't be lit? Such a fantastical scene, he should see it with his own eyes.
As for his destiny with the Buddhist Sect? Jiang Liu was clear that he would most likely not be able to light the incense scar, considering he had no devotion to Buddha.
More importantly, as someone who had crossed over from modern society, he was an outsider to this world, and naturally, he would have no fate with the Buddhism of this world.
Moreover, from what he had heard from his senior brothers, the elimination rate for the Incense Offering Ceremony was well over ninety percent.
"Hmm, if I think about it, it seems pretty good, doesn't it? If I can't light the incense scar, I'll have a legitimate reason to leave the mountain," Jiang Liu mused for a moment, then nodded, putting the matter to the back of his mind for now.
Before long, Jiang Liu had finished the cleaning work in the kitchen and stepped outside to look around.
The senior abbot was reciting scriptures in the Zen Room, Senior Brother Xuankong and Senior Brother Xuanwu were busy in the fields and vegetable garden, while the plump Senior Brother Xuanming lay in the main hall acting as the Reception Monk, waiting for pilgrims to come to the temple.
Though it was normal for Jinshan Temple to go several days without any pilgrims.
After looking around and seeing there was nothing else for him to do, Jiang Liu returned to the kitchen, picked up a kitchen knife, and turned to head towards the back mountain of Jinshan Temple.
At 15, it was the peak time for growth, and a vegetarian diet every day at Jinshan Temple just wouldn't do. Jiang Liu wanted to go to the back mountain to see if he could improve their meals.
He had never intended to become a monk and abide by all the strict precepts, and now that he knew about the fantastical test of the Incense Offering Ceremony and was one hundred percent certain that he wouldn't pass, he felt even less guilt about breaking the rules.
Besides, as of now, he wasn't technically a disciple of the Buddhist sect, right?
When he arrived at the back mountain, he checked several small traps he had prepared earlier, and finally, his eyes lit up when he saw a white rabbit caught in one of his homemade snares.
Without much hesitation, Jiang Liu picked up the kitchen knife and swiftly gutted the rabbit.
Ding, you've earned Experience Points 1, you've earned 1 copper coin.
However, as Jiang Liu killed the rabbit, a prompt suddenly sounded in his mind.