Henry Reed instructed from behind him, “After you exit the back gate of the temple, turn right. Walk about two hundred meters and you’ll see the ‘Butterfly Spring.’”

Brian Morgan nodded, picked up two wooden buckets, and followed the directions toward the ‘Butterfly Spring.’

The distance from the kitchen to the ‘Butterfly Spring’ was about five hundred meters. The spring was hidden among towering ancient trees, its water crystal clear. Most remarkable of all, there were many colorful butterflies fluttering and gathering around the spring.

Thinking of those two large water vats, Brian Morgan immediately lost any mood to appreciate the scenery. Cursing under his breath, “Damn fatty!” he filled both buckets to the brim.

After just five trips back and forth, he was already so exhausted he couldn’t straighten his back. Glancing at his Rolex gold watch, it was already past four in the morning. The water he’d fetched hadn’t even filled one vat yet. Brian Morgan sighed—there was no hope of filling both vats before the morning meal.

“How utterly foolish!” Henry Reed actually chose this moment to make a sarcastic remark.

Brian Morgan wiped the sweat from his forehead. “You’re so fat and full, why don’t you carry two buckets and show me!”

With a nimble flip, Henry Reed floated down from the rope, showing no sign that his clumsy body could perform such a difficult move.

He smiled at Brian Morgan. “Buddha is merciful. If I weren’t worried you’d miss the morning meal, this humble monk certainly wouldn’t help you.” With a sweep of his wide sleeve, the empty water vat began to spin in place. He lightly flicked the bottom of the vat with his left foot, sending it spinning up to above his head. He reached out with his right hand to steady the center of the vat’s base and strode off toward the ‘Butterfly Spring.’

Was he really planning to fill the vat in one trip? Brian Morgan, carrying his buckets, followed behind, half in doubt. This fat monk had quite the flair for performance. Knowing Brian Morgan was watching, he even balanced the vat with just three fingers as he walked.

Even while holding a large water vat, Henry Reed moved at a remarkable speed. Brian Morgan had to jog to keep up. When they reached the spring, Henry Reed’s method of drawing water amazed him even more. He hoisted the vat horizontally onto his shoulder with his right arm, then slapped the water’s surface hard with his left hand. With a loud “splash!” a column of water shot skyward, as if drawn by a powerful suction, pouring into the vat.

In the blink of an eye, the vat was full. Henry Reed nimbly set it upright again. Brian Morgan was utterly dumbfounded—this fat monk’s martial arts were truly extraordinary.

Carrying the vat, sleeves billowing, Henry Reed retraced his steps. Brian Morgan hurriedly filled his two buckets and headed back toward Shaolin Temple as well.

Now Brian Morgan was left speechless. He decided to obediently stay here for ten days. If even a cook monk was this formidable, trying to escape would only make a fool of himself.

Fortunately, Henry Reed didn’t make things any harder for him. At breakfast, he even gave Brian Morgan a steamed bun and a bowl of porridge. This time, Brian Morgan was more cautious and asked in advance, “If I eat, do I have to wash the dishes afterward?”

Henry Reed chuckled, “This time it’s your reward for fetching water—no need to wash dishes!” Only then did Brian Morgan eat heartily. Strangely enough, this meal tasted especially delicious. Compared to milk and bread, this light vegetarian fare made him feel even more refreshed and comfortable.

For the next seven days, Brian Morgan helped out in the kitchen. He could swear that all the chores he’d done in his entire life didn’t add up to what he’d done in these few days. That damn fatty Henry Reed never missed a chance to order him around, but for the sake of three meals a day, Brian Morgan had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure.

Since James Morgan had shaved his head and become a monk, he hadn’t come to see Brian Morgan again. It seemed he was determined to sever Brian Morgan’s worldly ties. These days, aside from the fat monk Henry Reed, the person Brian Morgan interacted with most was the young novice sweeping the grounds, Samuel Reed.

He vaguely felt that something was off. This Shaolin Temple was completely different from what he’d imagined. Where exactly had his uncle brought him? His phone never had a signal—he’d tried every corner of the temple. It seemed all these mysteries would only be solved after he left the mountain.

Every morning at four, Samuel Reed would always come to sweep the courtyard on time, and wake Brian Morgan to fetch water in the kitchen. Several days of sleep deprivation had left dark circles under Brian Morgan’s eyes, making him look just like a panda.

Maybe because he’d helped Henry Reed chop firewood yesterday, today he was allowed to sleep an extra hour.

At five o’clock, Samuel Reed came knocking again. Brian Morgan, still groggy, rubbed his eyes, got dressed, and stepped outside. Today, Samuel Reed wasn’t sweeping. He handed the broom to Brian Morgan, “Benefactor Meng, today I’m going down the mountain with Junior Uncle Henry Reed to buy supplies. The courtyard is yours to clean!”

Brian Morgan nearly exploded with anger. “And you call this a sacred Buddhist site? Now even this snot-nosed little monk is bullying me!” He wanted to complain, but suddenly remembered that Samuel Reed and the others were going down the mountain to buy supplies, and his mind began to turn.

Brian Morgan smiled and said, “Master Samuel Reed, you’re going down the mountain?”

Samuel Reed nodded. Brian Morgan lowered his voice, “Could you take me with you?”