In front of the seemingly very strict and serious Samuel, Eric Bennett dared not say much, dared not secretly try to get information from Charles, dared not pretend to have lost his memory, and could only silently ponder other ways to avoid exposing the fact that he had transmigrated—there really seemed to be an Arhat here!

“What is your secular name? Why have you come to join our Shaolin?” Before Eric Bennett could come up with a good idea, Samuel was already standing before him, holding a discipline ruler in his hand.

Eric Bennett opened his mouth, and suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. He blurted out, “Since I have entered Shaolin, I have already forgotten my secular name.”

After answering, Eric Bennett secretly applauded himself. How clever and fitting to the true meaning of Buddhism!

Samuel looked at Eric Bennett carefully, the discipline ruler in his hand swaying lightly twice. He did not press for the answer to the second question, but instead said sternly, “Too cunning, you will enter the Miscellaneous Services Courtyard. Your Dharma name is ‘Zhen Ding’.”

Chapter Two: The Gate of Emptiness

Eric Bennett’s secret delight was interrupted, his pride turning to shame and annoyance, while the glances from Edward and the other young novices were both surprised and disdainful, as if elementary school students were eager to distance themselves from a bad classmate. Only Ethan—“Adam Clark”—stared blankly at the golden Buddha statue ahead, looking as if his mind was wandering in another world.

Instinctively, Eric Bennett half-turned his head to look at Charles beside him. Had he noticed anything?

To him, shame and frustration were minor issues; exposing the fact that he had borrowed a corpse to return to life was the real disaster!

Charles still wore a face full of sorrow, his eyes filled with dejection. Sensing Eric Bennett’s gaze, he gently shook his head. “Namo Amitabha, everything shall be as decided by junior brother Samuel.”

He did not hint at anything, but spoke directly.

Uh, he thinks I’m looking at him to plead for help… Eric Bennett quietly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he had passed this hurdle. Unless the parents of this body, the horse-faced uncle, or others came looking for him, he probably wouldn’t be found out. If another ten years or so passed, even fewer would suspect—childhood memories are easily forgotten.

Compared to that, being sent to the Miscellaneous Services Courtyard was a small matter!

By a stroke of luck, Eric Bennett tried hard to make his expression as blank as Ethan’s, so that Charles wouldn’t see through the fact that he wasn’t actually that upset or sad.

The broad-faced, big-eared Samuel finished questioning the remaining children one by one. Including Eric Bennett and Ethan, there were six assigned to the Miscellaneous Services Courtyard; the rest were assigned to the Warrior Monk Courtyard.

He lightly tapped his left palm with the discipline ruler in his right hand. “Follow me to the Miscellaneous Goods Courtyard to be tonsured and receive your monk robes, Buddhist scriptures, and other items. In the future, work hard—there is still a chance to enter the Bodhi or Damo courtyards to study advanced Buddhist scriptures and martial arts.”

There’s a Damo here too? Eric Bennett was momentarily stunned, but Samuel gave him no time to think, striding straight through the children and heading out of the hall.

Surrounded by strangers, Eric Bennett dared not ask much and closely followed behind the two yellow-robed monks, Samuel and Charles, turning into a nearby courtyard.

“You are not considered formal disciples yet; you only need to bow to the Buddha, be tonsured, and leave your names.” Samuel pointed to the meditation cushions inside the small Buddha hall.

“Yes, Uncle Master Samuel.” The children all responded along with Edward, then knelt one after another on the cushions, bowing to the golden Buddha statue above.

After all the children had bowed to the Buddha, Samuel pressed his palms together and, with a dignified expression, saluted the statue, chanting “Namo Amitabha.” Then he walked to one of the children and gently placed his right hand on the child’s head.

The child’s jet-black long hair instantly changed, turning yellow and withered at a speed visible to Eric Bennett’s naked eye, drifting to the ground like falling leaves. In less than two breaths, the child had become a true young novice.

“All afflictions fall away, worldly dust departs,” Samuel said solemnly, his deep voice echoing in the tranquil Buddha hall.

“What kind of martial art is this? It’s amazing!” Eric Bennett was both shocked and excited. Would he have the chance to learn such martial arts in the future?

Samuel went to each child in turn, removing their hair and repeating the same words.

When it was Eric Bennett’s turn, he lowered his head, silently reciting the names of the Buddha and Daoist ancestors, mourning the hair he was about to part with.

A thick, broad palm gently stroked the top of Eric Bennett’s head, and withered strands of hair drifted down before his eyes. He was so overcome with sorrow that he almost couldn’t control himself—he loved the secular world and had never thought of becoming a monk.

“All afflictions fall away, worldly dust departs.”

Samuel’s voice was like a bell suddenly struck, making Eric Bennett tremble all over, his mind becoming clear.

But as soon as Samuel left and the clarity faded, Eric Bennett’s resolve remained firm: he would definitely return to secular life in the future!

After bowing to the Buddha, being tonsured, and registering their names, Samuel had several gray-robed monks lead the children to the back courtyard to receive their belongings—two sets of gray monk robes, two pairs of shoes and socks, “Shaolin Precepts,” “Twelve Morning Chants,” and so on.

“Once you have learned to read in the ‘Scripture Hall,’ you will be able to recite the monastery’s precepts and morning chants. Before that, I will briefly explain the main precepts of this monastery. First, do not betray your teachers or ancestors. Second, you are not allowed to secretly learn martial arts. Third, do not kill. Fourth, do not drink alcohol. Fifth, abstain from meat and pungent foods. Sixth, do not break the precept of chastity…” Samuel repeated the main precepts several times, and finally said sternly, “Those who violate them will be reprimanded at best, or at worst have their martial arts abolished and be expelled from the monastery.”