She recalled that the Zen School often used a few words to enlighten people, but she never expected to encounter such a thing herself one day.
Especially here, on the foreign soil of the North American Continent.
To be honest, there are quite a few monks in Night City, belonging to various sects, which can be seen from their clothing and attire.
Those who don't shave their heads and wear black and white kasayas are mostly Japanese monks.
Many of those wearing red, whole-cloth kasayas are from Southeast Asia.
However, the appearance of the monk in front of her, wearing an orange kasaya and having six Jieding Scars on his head, Berry was certain, belonged to a Chinese sect.
For no particular reason, Berry felt a sense of familiarity looking at the monk before her.
Perhaps it was the familiarity and nostalgia of encountering something here that reminded her of her previous life.
In any case, Berry sat down on a stone chair nearby, ready to hear what the old monk had to say.
Maybe he was just telling fortunes; Berry wouldn't mind paying a small fee.
"You wander in pain and confusion... The cliffs of steel and concrete, the blinking eyes of neon, and the illusory scenes that seem real yet are not —all make you feel suffocated."
Hmm, professionals are professionals; they certainly know how to talk convincingly.
If nothing else, it was pleasant to listen to.
Berry leaned back against the stone bench and listened patiently.
Moreover, she seemed to remember who this guy was.
In the game, there was a side mission where a monk would appear in several locations and show some braindances.
In short, he was mysterious and offered no real rewards.
Berry had been distracted when she played, so she hadn't paid much attention.
However, listening to the monk's words reminded her.
Oh, so it's that monk who sells braindances.
He showed players videos about the Five Elements, and so on.
Hah, putting on such a cryptic act, she almost misjudged him; she thought he was a real monk.
Thinking this, Berry relaxed even further, and her propped-up feet began to swing.
Since V was off buying things, she might as well pass the time here.
"Mhm, you're right, keep going. This city really is terrible, isn't it?"
Berry was completely relaxed, even having the presence of mind to act as the monk's foil.
Yes, urbanization is terrible, and there are too many people wearing glasses on the street.
We should have some de-urbanization.
However, the monk showed no displeasure at Berry's frivolous attitude. He slowly spoke, looking at Berry with those excellent, weathered, and cloudy eyes —the eyes of an enlightened master who had clearly seen the vicissitudes of life and transcended the mundane.
"You must calm down and reforge your connection to the world."
"Your power is immense, but it has strayed from the path of life."
"What is life, what is nature? It is the search for meaning amidst fear, the pursuit of peace amidst repetition. This is a process that can never reach an endpoint."
"Countless lives constitute a world that lives and breathes eternally. This cannot be denied."
Mhm, mhm, mhm, well said.
Berry felt that this discourse on humanity and nature was worth at least fifty eurodollars or so.
He could give a speech at the United Nations with that.
Seeing Berry's relaxed demeanor, the old monk knew she hadn't taken his words to heart, but he wasn't angry. He simply pulled a braindance headset from his kasaya.
"Are you ready?"
"I will give you a meditation braindance. Use it to free your consciousness."
"Alright, a braindance, right? Hurry up and bring it on."
Berry maintained her indifferent attitude.
She was just eager to try the old monk's braindance.
Having played the game, she knew they were just meditation clips about nature, inner peace, and so on.
It was perfect for passing the time.
"Hmm, let me see, one hundred eurodollars should be about right."
Skillfully pulling change from her pocket, Berry handed it to the old monk, took the braindance headset with one hand, and carelessly put it on her head.
"When first learning meditation, it is best done with the assistance of others."
"Let us begin —I will guide you."
The old monk did not count the money; he simply placed the bills Berry handed him casually into his robes, then pressed his palms together and bowed his head in silence.
Seeing this, Berry nodded in approval.
See? An enlightened master is truly an enlightened master; he has no interest in worldly possessions, unlike her, who is driven mad by the thought of money.
As she put on the braindance headset, a flash of white light appeared at its end, the sign of entering the braindance virtual world.
Berry understood the process; she had watched many clips.
Of course, as the name implies, they were just clips.
The kind where you shouldn't expect to find any profound philosophical truths.
Easily entering the virtual world, Berry was preparing to view some nature, Feng Shui, or similar content.
But when the first scene unfolded, Berry's face instantly froze.
This was completely different from what she had expected.
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