He only mentioned two of the punishments, the lightest and the heaviest; the rest included forced labor, copying scriptures, flogging, facing the wall in reflection, and so on.

After explaining these matters, he and Charles led the group of young novices out of the "Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard."

"In this monastery, those wearing gray robes are ordinary monks, those in yellow robes are stewards of each courtyard, and those in yellow robes with red kasayas are the abbot, the heads of each courtyard, and the elders..." Along the way, Samuel tirelessly instilled "monastery knowledge" into the young novices, only falling silent again when Edward and the others entered the "Martial Monk Courtyard."

The group walked further and further off the main path. Inside and outside the yellow walls, green trees cast their shade, and Buddha halls were rarely seen. After a while, Eric Bennett finally saw a mottled, old courtyard.

"Hey, Samuel junior brother, Charles senior brother, you’re here so early?" At the entrance, a plump monk greeted them with a beaming smile. He, too, wore yellow, but his collar was askew and his belly protruded.

Samuel frowned, pressed his palms together with utmost precision, and said, "Namo Amitabha, William senior brother, how can you be so lazy?"

The plump monk William was long used to Samuel's temperament and replied without the slightest annoyance, "Oh, you’re too attached to appearances. Are these disciples for our Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard?"

He didn’t want to argue with Samuel on this point and directly pointed at Eric Bennett and the others.

"Please make the arrangements, William senior brother," Samuel replied earnestly.

At this moment, the usually silent Charles suddenly spoke: "David, is Henry still in the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard?"

"Still here, still here!" The fat monk William said with some confusion, "Charles senior brother, why are you asking about them? Are you planning to take them as disciples?"

Charles shook his head and sighed, "My martial arts are ruined; I am not fit to mislead the young, how could I dare take disciples? William junior brother, please have them share a room with David and Henry."

He was referring to Eric Bennett and Ethan.

Eric Bennett's heart skipped a beat. This was the first time Charles had personally arranged something for him. Could it be that the two monks, David and Henry, were special and could help him?

"Haha, Charles senior brother, how could I dare call it a 'trouble' when you give an order? Such a small matter, no need for such formality!" William agreed at once.

Samuel glanced at Charles but said nothing more. Instead, he solemnly addressed Eric Bennett, Ethan, and the other young novices: "I am placing you in the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard because each of you has issues. If you can resolve them yourselves and temper your character, you may yet have the chance to enter the Martial Monk Courtyard, the Dharma Courtyard, or even the Bodhi Courtyard in the future."

"But if you continue to be lazy, cunning, playful, impatient, and unable to endure hardship, I will not hide it. I will report you to the Disciplinary Courtyard for appropriate punishment."

He made no attempt to hide his intentions, showing his uprightness and lack of selfishness, which made William blush a little.

"Yes, Uncle Samuel." Eric Bennett and the other young novices replied in unison.

After watching Samuel and Charles leave, William twisted his body, making his rolls of fat jiggle up and down. "Finally gone. That iron-faced demon is the one I fear most."

This monk... Eric Bennett pretended not to notice, following the waddling William into the meditation room.

"David, Henry, these are your junior brothers, Matthew and Ethan." William pointed at Eric Bennett and Ethan, then led the other young novices to other meditation rooms.

Inside the meditation room, there was a single large bed, enough for seven or eight people to sleep on, and nothing else.

On the bed, two gray-robed monks, both in their twenties, one lying down and one sitting. The one lying down looked dazed and silent, while the one sitting had deeply furrowed brows and spoke coldly: "Put your bags and belongings under the bed. If you want water, fetch it from the water jar in the courtyard."

"May I ask how to address you, senior brother?" Eric Bennett glanced at the wooden and dull Ethan, deciding to take the initiative to build a good "roommate relationship."

The one sitting replied coldly, "Henry."

After answering, he said nothing more, even turning his head away from Eric Bennett and Ethan, leaving Eric Bennett with no way to continue the conversation.

As for David, he simply closed his eyes and continued sleeping.

What kind of people are these! Eric Bennett grumbled inwardly, but outwardly smiled at Ethan: "Ethan junior brother, I am Matthew. From now on, just call me senior brother."

"Yes, senior brother." Ethan replied without the slightest hesitation.

This silly little guy is much better! Eric Bennett sighed inwardly, deciding to play the role of senior brother and help Ethan as much as possible: "Little junior brother—hey, I’ll just call you little junior brother—come, let’s change into our monk robes first."

Although there were others in the room, Eric Bennett, who used to lounge shirtless in his college dorm, felt no discomfort. He quickly took off his clothes and changed into the monk robe.

He silently gave thanks for the simple design of the monk robe, which spared him from embarrassment, while checking over the things on his body that he hadn’t had time to examine before.

The robe on this body was finely woven and light, and even though Eric Bennett wasn’t an expert, he could tell it was valuable. At the same time, "he" wore a translucent jade pendant at his waist, and a small jade Buddha amulet on a red string around his neck, pressed against his chest, cool and comfortable.