"Master Long Pu is the abbot of Wat Arun in Siam, and Wat Arun is also known as the Temple of Dawn."
A pleasant voice chimed in.
It turned out Zheng Yue had not gone to greet Master Long Pu either, but had come over to introduce him.
Lin Fan heard this and realized Master Long Pu had a deep connection with the Zheng family!
"The Temple of Dawn's original name was Wat Makok. When my ancestor drove out the Burmese forces and reclaimed Siam, he passed by this temple on his return journey. It was dawn at the time. Later, my ancestor was proclaimed King of Siam and renamed the temple Wat Arun. During my ancestor's reign, Wat Arun was an imperial temple."
"Oh~"
Lin Fan nodded. So there was this connection. No wonder the descendants of the Zheng family were so excited to see Master Long Pu.
"There's more."
Li Yurou interjected, "Wat Arun is the third largest temple in Siam, with thriving incense and numerous devotees. Twelve years ago, Bangkok and Thonburi across the Mekong River experienced a rare severe drought. Master Long Pu ascended the altar and performed rituals to pray for rain. By nightfall, heavy rain poured down, which immediately caused a sensation throughout Siam. From the elderly to children as young as three, everyone knew Master Long Pu's name."
Zheng Yue sighed, "My father's original plan was to invite Master Long Pu to appear, but he refused, saying that as a monk, he did not involve himself in worldly affairs. I don't know what means the second wife used, but she actually managed to invite Master Long Pu."
"So I was just a backup."
Lin Fan felt a bit strange.
The Li Yurusheng siblings had equally awkward expressions.
Lin Fan smiled at the siblings, "You two were the second backup, and I was the third, right?"
Zheng Yue gave an embarrassed smile, "You can't really say that."
While the three were speaking in hushed tones, Zheng Xingchao had already welcomed Master Long Pu to the head seat.
Looking at Zheng Xingchao's attitude, he was much more enthusiastic than when he had hosted Lin Fan.
"Master Long Pu, I feel relieved now that you are here."
Zheng Xingchao smiled somewhat obsequiously.
"Amitabha."
Master Long Pu performed a Buddhist bow, "Benefactor Zheng, this old monk had no choice but to come."
"It's good that you're here, it's good that you're here!"
Zheng Xingchao paid no mind to the details.
Master Long Pu enjoyed high prestige in Siam, especially because of the great rain twelve years ago, which had turned him into a divine figure.
With his immense influence, it would be like adding wings to a tiger for the Zheng family to achieve their long-cherished wish!
Zheng Xingchao gratefully smiled at the second wife.
Zhu Mengfei and her son were overjoyed.
Just then, a hostile gaze fell upon them. Zhu Mengfei turned her head and met the gaze of Zeng Shu and her daughter.
Zeng Shu and her daughter stared at Zhu Mengfei and her son resentfully, their eyes seeming to want to devour them.
Zhu Mengfei remained unfazed and even returned a provocative look.
She was not like the third wife's daughter, who was favored by her mother's status and could be easily bullied. Zeng Shu would have to reconsider if she wanted to make a move against her.
"Master, please take the main seat."
Zheng Xingchao voluntarily offered his head seat.
"You are too kind. This old monk can find any place to sit."
After speaking, Long Pu took a few steps back and sat down cross-legged on the ground.
Everyone was stunned!
Don't know who started it, but they quickly moved their chairs aside and also sat down cross-legged on the ground.
Then, the sound of chairs being dragged echoed through the meeting hall.
Almost everyone followed suit.
Lin Fan was instantly dumbfounded. This old monk was no ordinary person!
Were not the people present all worth over a hundred million and holding high status? Yet, because Long Pu sat on the ground, they all followed suit and sat on the ground.
Moreover, they all did so willingly, as if they were honored to do so.
Zheng Xingchao gave a wry smile, exchanged a glance with Xie Wei, and also slowly sat down on the ground.
Long Pu clasped his hands together, "Benefactors, you are attached to appearances."
"We are willing to learn from Master's teachings."
"We are willing to learn from Master's teachings."
Everyone spoke in unison.
Zheng Yue dared to openly defy her father and refused to kneel at the Mazu Festival. However, after learning the truth about her mother's devotion to Buddhism and admiring Long Pu's prestige, she also found a place and sat down cross-legged.
The Li Yurusheng siblings exchanged a look and quietly found an inconspicuous spot, also sitting cross-legged.
Lin Fan, who had lived for nearly twenty years, had never seen such a scene and was momentarily stunned.
By the time he came to his senses, he was the only one still standing.
He wanted to find a place to sit, but most spots were already occupied.
As he looked around, unsure what to do, Long Pu seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He turned around and smiled, "Benefactor, why are you not sitting?"
"Ah... I... the ground is cold, I'm not used to it."
Lin Fan gave an embarrassed smile.
"Hahaha."
The crowd burst into laughter, some mockingly, some sarcastically.
"Amitabha, this benefactor has roots of wisdom."
As soon as Long Pu said this, everyone immediately stopped laughing.
Lin Fan scratched his head, "Master, you're not going to try and convert me to Buddhism, are you?"
He remembered scenes from TV shows, which always seemed to play out this way next.
"I couldn't wish for anything more."
Long Pu looked at him with a serious expression.
This time, everyone regarded him with expectant gazes, no longer doubting his abilities.
Had they not heard that Master Long Pu himself said he couldn't wish for anything more!
"This benefactor's worldly ties are not yet severed. If you are unwilling, Buddhism will not force you."
Long Pu said in a gentle tone.
"I have elders above and children below, so I really cannot follow Master in cultivation."
Lin Fan said earnestly.
Since Long Pu's arrival, Zheng Xingchao had not stopped smiling.
Now, Zheng Xingchao was worried about how to get Lin Fan and the Li Yurusheng siblings to leave.
From every aspect, Long Pu's prestige far surpassed theirs.
"Yusheng, Yurou, you already know Master Lin. This is his first time in Siam, why don't you take him around for a bit?"
Zheng Xingchao indirectly issued the invitation to leave.
"All expenses will be reimbursed by your Uncle Shi."
Li Yurou had always been someone who needed to be invited and coaxed before acting. She had never received such treatment.
Besides, they were unwilling to come earlier, and Zheng Xingchao had forced them. He never expected him to turn his back on them so quickly once Long Pu arrived.
Li Yusheng also felt he had lost face.
Logically speaking, observing qi and finding dragons was the specialty of a feng shui master. No matter how prestigious Long Pu was, he wasn't as capable as them. Whether they wanted to accept the Zheng family's commission was one thing, but being driven away suddenly was another.
Seeing that the siblings remained silent, Zheng Xingchao's expression turned grim, "What? Is there anything else?"
"Father, Master Lin was invited by you to travel thousands of miles. If we Zheng family don't let guests stay for a few more days, won't people say we are impolite?"
Zheng Yue stepped forward and said directly.
"A'yue! How dare you!"
Zheng Xingchao was furious.
Although his daughter was intelligent and capable, her personality was too reckless.
"Patriarch Zheng, please calm your anger. A'yue is young and doesn't understand."
Xie Wei quickly smoothed things over.
Zhu Mengfei said sarcastically, "My Yangming knelt outside Wat Arun for three days and three nights, without eating a grain of rice or drinking a drop of water, and only then did he invite Master Long Pu. A'yue, what are you still being fussy about? With Master Long Pu here, why would others need to meddle?"