Chapter 376: You Won’t Be Storing Me, Right?

Ye Wenxin, speechless, thought that Abbess Jiunan was truly something else. Was she planning to use this kind of brainwashing method to make her stay in the temple until she changed her mind, and only then release her from this wretched place?

When she recalled Abbess Jiunan’s earlier comment about using the sutra library to store someone, Ye Wenxin couldn’t help but ask, “When you mentioned storing someone, you weren’t referring to me, right?”

Abbess Jiunan nodded. “You are very perceptive, Benefactor Wenxin. How about taking refuge in religious life, and cultivating with me?” Her expression was one of gratification, but her words infuriated Ye Wenxin. She turned around, wanting to leave the room.

Abbess Jiunan didn’t stop her. Ye Wenxin opened the door and saw only an empty void outside, as if she had fallen into a different dimension. All the plants and trees she had seen before had vanished, and Ye Wenxin suddenly realized that she had entered an array.

“What is this damn array?”

“I call it the Bright Mirror Formation.”

Abbess Jiunan waved her horsetail whisk, and the once empty room was suddenly filled with mirrors. Ye Wenxin completely found herself in a state of nothingness, with her reflection endlessly looping in the mirrors.

While the sight made her dizzy, Abbess Jiunan waved her horsetail whisk again, conjuring two meditation cushions and piles of thick books.

“Benefactor Wenxin, the clothing is ready; you may put it on now.” She also produced a brand-new set of monk’s robes, evidently well-prepared to trap Ye Wenxin with this method.

If it were anyone else, they might go mad, but Ye Wenxin found this place to be a paradise for spiritual cultivation. She changed into the monk’s robes and began flipping through the books. Abbess Jiunan sat beside her, and also started reading a book.

One hour, two hours…

Throughout the day, Ye Wenxin remained focused on the books, unmoving.

The next day arrived…

Ye Wenxin had already finished reading five scriptures, and Abbess Jiunan was still with her, meticulously going over each book that Ye Wenxin had read.

Three days… four days…

Ye Wenxin felt no hunger or fatigue and finally realized that time flowed very slowly within the Bright Mirror Formation. After understanding this, she became even more voracious in her studies.

The eighth day passed, then the ninth day, and finally, on the tenth day, Abbess Jiunan couldn’t help but get up and move around a bit before sitting back down to continue reading.

Ye Wenxin, however, remained motionless, flipping through page after page, her mind furiously absorbing the contents of the books from the sutra library.

It wasn’t just because Ye Wenxin had previously hidden in the sutra library for a long time, but also because Celestial Master Zhong was an avid reader. With these two influences combined, Ye Wenxin didn’t move for an entire month.

Abbess Jiunan began to grow restless, but as she observed Ye Wenxin, a hint of respect finally appeared on her face.

Three years…

Four years…

The formation had long since been filled with books, yet Ye Wenxin continued her relentless reading. Abbess Jiunan had completely given up on reading, and it seemed she wanted to talk some with Ye Wenxin. However, Ye Wenxin had no intention of responding.

It felt like they were in a completely enclosed, dark room, but this was only in their minds, as the time outside didn’t change significantly.

Seven years… eight years…

Unable to bear it, Abbess Jiunan began forcing Ye Wenxin to say at least one sentence to her each day. Ye Wenxin complied, but each time she only uttered a single word.

“Mm.”

“Right.”

“Fine.”

……

Ye Wenxin thought that the time they emerged from this Bright Mirror Formation might be the time she drove Abbess Jiunan insane.

Time passed swiftly within the formation. Devoid of any entertainment other than reading, Ye Wenxin immersed herself in the books, becoming so familiar with the texts that she could recite them backwards.

It was as if the Buddhist teachings were cleansing her entire being, that even her peach blossom aura was imbued with a faint golden light, exuding a healing radiance.

In the ninth year, Abbess Jiunan demanded that Ye Wenxin speak ten words each day. Ye Wenxin complied by reciting passages from the scriptures, nearly frustrating Abbess Jiunan to the point of hitting her, though she ultimately restrained herself.

Time continued to fly by. On one seemingly typical morning, as Ye Wenxin was engrossed in her reading, she suddenly heard the sound of glass shattering. She looked at the surroundings which had returned to normal, and the books already piled high before her.

While Abbess Jiunan appeared somewhat eager to escape the room, Ye Wenxin merely glanced outside the door, then couldn’t resist picking up another scripture to read.

“You… are truly a fool.”

Abbess Jiunan sighed deeply as she observed Ye Wenxin’s first action upon regaining her freedom. Ye Wenxin seemed to realize the Buddhist scriptures had truly brainwashed her. She stood up and stretched slightly, but exhaustion suddenly overwhelmed her. Just as she thought she was about to fall flat on her face, a pair of warm arms caught her.

Looking up, it was Abbess Jiunan. With a gentle expression, Abbess Jiunan said, “Get some rest. After all, we’ve endured ten years within that formation.”

Ye Wenxin’s drowsiness intensified, but she couldn’t help but ask, “Then, how much time has passed in the real world?”

Abbess Jiunan lifted Ye Wenxin into her arms and replied, “Only ten days.”

After hearing this, Ye Wenxin immediately fell asleep. Abbess Jiunan looked at her with a complicated expression. She carried Ye Wenxin into a room, covered her with a quilt, and then quietly left.

Abbot Shimie was already waiting outside. When he saw Abbess Jiunan emerge, he anxiously asked, “So, did Benefactor Wenxin agree?”

Abbess Jiunan’s face showed a hint of annoyance. “It was your terrible idea, Abbot. I nearly went mad in there!”

Although Abbess Jiunan crafted the formation, it was typically used to discipline wrongdoers, and make them repent until they showed remorse. Due to their agreement with the Azure Wings Sect, the Southern Dipper Temple couldn’t directly take the umbrella sword from Ye Wenxin. So, Abbot Shimie came up with this method, and then had Abbess Jiunan taste the fear of being locked in a dark room inside her own formation.

However, they hadn’t expected Ye Wenxin to be so resilient. Despite the ten years inside, she showed no signs of wavering, making Abbess Jiunan suddenly realize that there must be a significant reason why the umbrella sword was in Ye Wenxin’s hands.

“But the ten mirrors in the formation were all shattered. I had assumed it was your doing, Abbess Jiunan…” Abbot Shimie had a strange expression, finding Abbess Jiunan’s words too unbelievable.

Abbess Jiunan looked incredulous before she hurried back into the room where she had set up the formation, and saw that all ten mirrors were completely shattered.

She stood there in a daze for a long time. Abbot Shimie, thinking she was deeply affected, was about to offer some comforting words, when Abbess Jiunan suddenly showed a crazed expression.

This was completely out of character for her, leaving Abbot Shimie even more bewildered.

Abbess Jiunan wiped away the tears from her laughter and continued, “What do you think about adding another nun to the Southern Dipper Temple?”