Chapter 579 They’re Scamming Us!
The believers and tourists who had been blocked by Cloud looked terrified. Some began praying, while others exclaimed in shock.
It was a good thing they did not go in. Or else, they might be crushed!
The monks stood there dumbfounded and astonished.
The abbot was in a state of shock, his mind racing.
It can’t be… the Grand Hall and Buddha statues were newly constructed this year! They had undergone extensive repairs, and the reinforced tables and chairs were brand new. The Grand Hall had been maintained. It simply couldn’t collapse!
The young monk shouted, “It was you! You destroyed the Grand Hall and the Buddha statue!”
He looked at Lilly, feeling suspicious. Why did the palace collapse the moment she stepped out?
The tourists fell into silence.
“Can a child really destroy such a massive Buddha statue and the Grand Hall? Isn’t this a hasty accusation?”
“Yeah, this child is only four or five years old, small and delicate. They probably couldn’t even lift a chair, let alone destroy the entire Grand Hall.”
“The Great Hall has completely collapsed! It’s not like a mere incense stick was knocked over or an oil lamp was broken. It seems far–fetched to claim a child did this…”
“When I first entered, I was in awe, but now I can’t help but feel that this place… isn’t as noble as I thought!”
“You’re right. A monk who constantly prays, blaming a three–year–old child for something gone wrong and claiming to save all sentient beings with compassion?”
The young monk blushed in embarrassment.
The abbot sternly reprimanded, “Todd! Go back and reflect on your actions!”
The young monk reluctantly clasped his hands together, continuing to recite his prayers as he left.
The abbot apologized, saying, “I apologize for Todd’s actions. He is a newly ordained monk and hasn’t cultivated enough. He has committed a transgression of speech and violated taboos. It is wrong!”
Cloud smiled and asked, “It’s a good thing that the tourists didn’t enter the hall. I was right to stop them. What do you think about this?”
The monks who had lectured Cloud blushed and were left speechless.
The abbot felt a great deal of frustration and could not understand why the statue had collapsed. It was unimaginable for a well–crafted Buddha statue and Grand Hall to simply collapse without reason. There had to be some underlying cause.
However, the little girl in front of him was frail and weak. She could not even lift her arms or resist. If she
stumbled carelessly, she would likely be trampled upon. It was clear that she could not have caused the collapse.
Could it be that they had committed numerous wrongdoings, and angered the Buddha and issued a warning? Was this a message for them?
The abbot anxiously twirled the beads in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly, as he continued to chant his prayers.
Lowering his gaze, he said, “We express our gratitude to you, great sir! You must have a deep connection with the Buddha. Buddha is compassionate, and this manifestation and warning have saved the lives of all beings!”
Cloud sneered, interpreting the abbot’s words as claiming that the Buddha’s appearance had provided a timely reminder, thus averting tragedy.
Such an act of putting on a show, truly added gold to their own faces.
How hypocritical.
Cloud had been indifferent to Buddhism before, but now his indifference had only grown stronger. He did not believe in Buddhism, but he also respected the Buddha. His principle was to respect every belief.
However, temples were now rampant, popping up everywhere. Incense sticks were being sold everywhere, and visitors were always expected to “donate” some money for offerings.
All across the country, whether big or small, famous or obscure, every scenic spot seemed to have its own temple, all increasingly commercialized as their business boomed.
It was undeniable that there were genuine monks in the world.
However, Cloud dared to claim that more than 90 percent of the temples were not true temples, but rather businesses. They were places where believers sought solace and found a form of self–deceptive psychological comfort. Despite acknowledging the concept of emptiness, they still sought wealth, safety, and longevity, which inherently contradicted their beliefs.
The monks engaged in this business, offering nothing more than false comfort to the believers. Cloud shook his head, finding this level of logic unsatisfying, and he had no good impressions of the Temple of Light before him.
Although it was Lilly who caused the collapse of the Grand Hall, Cloud believed that spending millions each year to repair Buddha statues was not a positive thing. It was a pointless loss, and they would bear the consequences. The Crawford family would not suffer a huge loss if they were to compensate them.
“Lilly, let’s go,” Cloud said, picking up Lilly and leaving with determined strides.
The little girl was covered in blood, and Cloud was eager to find a hospital to treat her wounds, being careful not to cause her any further harm.
Blake spoke calmly, “I’ll have the market supervision and investigation team come over. I’ll request the fire investigation team to conduct an investigation. We’ll suspend business for rectification.”
Suspension for rectification…
2/4
The tourists wore strange expressions on their faces, as the notion of a temple suspending business somehow reinforced the impression that it was a commercial enterprise.
The visitors left the place as they shook their heads..
The Temple of Light was quite large, and the Grand Hall was only a small part of it. The collapse of the main hall had attracted a large crowd of onlookers, but the monks silently evacuated the tourists.
Lilly followed Cloud and her father as they left through the pavilion on the other side. It was at this moment that they encountered Cathy’s family, who had just finished burning incense and were standing there, perplexed, gazing in the direction of the collapsed Grand Hall.
“Hey, you’re here too!” Lilly greeted them, waving her hand and stepping down from Cloud’s arms.
Cathy’s mother was taken aback.
Wait, why does this little girl look familiar?
She resembled that cool little boy they had encountered on the mountain earlier.
But the little boy had been distant and aloof, whereas this girl was adorable and gentle.
Cathy’s parents could not quite place them, unsure if it was really them. They looked at Blake and Cloud…they seemed different somehow.
And wasn’t she a little girl instead of a little boy?
Cathy stumbled forward and was the first to embrace Lilly’s leg. “Hug me!!”
Lilly’s eyes crinkled with a smile, and she lifted Cathy into her arms…just like her father had taught her.
Cathy’s parents were lost in thought.
That gesture of her holding Jennie is so familiar… Oh! It really is him! That cool little boy! Turns out he’s not a boy but a girl…
“Let’s go outside!” Lilly coaxed Cathy. It had not been easy to reveal her true identity on the way, but now that everything was settled, she could playfully pinch her little sister’s cheek.
Lilly squeezed Cathy and said, “There are no gods here, so there’s no need to worship them. Cathy, you can leave!”
Cathy held onto the hem of Lilly’s clothes and nodded. “Yeah!”
Cloud whispered, “Lilly, put her down!”
It did not bother Lilly much, but she was covered in blood.
There were still a few bloodstains on her face, and Cloud wondered how he would explain it to his mother when they got back…
Lilly obediently handed Cathy back to her mother and turned to look at the Goddess statue they had just prayed to.
There was also a donation box in front of the pavilion filled with money.
Behind the donation box was a large table, with a long–lasting lamp on it and two payment codes placed in front of the lamp.
Lilly said, “There’s no need to pray, it’s all fake. The Goddess can’t bless you.”
Cathy’s mother hurriedly said, “Oh, may peace be with you, may peace be with you. I apologize if I have offended…”
She bowed devoutly to the Goddess statue, showing a pious expression.
Lilly pointed to the payment code on the back of the donation box and asked, “Ma’am, who do you think this payment code represents? The Goddess or the Buddha?”
“Didn’t you say that the Goddess and Buddha transcend the worldly matters and save the suffering? How can they charge money for helping those in need?”
“Uh…” Cathy’s parents were taken aback, unable to come up with a response.
Cathy’s mother stuttered, “Buddha and Goddess… don’t take money…”
Lilly, the little genius, spoke up.
“Buddha doesn’t accept money, and genuine monks don’t take money either. So whose money is being collected in the payment code and donation box?”
“Who will solve your problems if you bow to them?”
“If it’s Buddha, has he shown up? Has he protected Cathy from getting sick? If it’s the abbot monk, has he come to your home to help Cathy get better?”
“If there’s no one doing anything to help you, then they’re just doing nothing with your money!”
Lilly paused for a moment.
“Yeah, they’re scamming us! They have no professional ethics at all! It’s all deceitful!”
Cathy’s parents were speechless.
Blake and Cloud thought to themselves…
Wow, can logic be used this way? This little girl is something else!
