Otherwise, this deliberate imitation of natural scenery wouldn't consistently top the list of must-see attractions in Night City every year.
Unfortunately, there were no birds, not even slightly larger animals; as the wind blew through, there was only the rustling of leaves, making it feel somewhat silent.
Any slightly larger wild animals in Night City had been completely eradicated due to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.
Therefore, only green trees and grass could be seen here, but hardly any living creatures, except, of course, humans.
This calmed Berry's agitated heart considerably, making her realize that the scene before her was merely an artificial imitation, not true nature.
The two walked along the winding path for a while, stopping when they passed a small pavilion in the middle, preparing to rest there.
It wasn't that they were tired; it was just that there was no one else here, allowing them to enjoy the tranquility alone.
"Uh, I think I'm getting a little hungry."
The two sat chatting, feeling quite relaxed in the quiet environment.
Until V suddenly stopped talking and rubbed her stomach under Berry's questioning gaze.
"Berry, do you want ice cream?"
V stood up, remembering the ice cream truck they had passed on the path earlier.
"Bring me a vanilla one."
Berry shrugged and chose her favorite flavor.
Watching V walk away, Berry unconsciously grinned.
Hmm, beautiful scenery to look at, and a beauty for company.
With these two wonderful things serving her alone, how could her luck be bad?
Feeling relaxed, Berry swung her legs and turned her head to look at the surrounding dense trees.
It was quiet and deserted all around now; aside from a monk sitting on a stone bench over there, it was exceptionally tranquil —a perfect time to quietly enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Wait a minute, a monk?
Berry's head, which had already turned away, instantly whipped back.
When she and V came to this corner, wasn't it empty? Where did a monk suddenly pop out from?
Berry frowned as she looked at the monk, who was meditating with his eyes closed on the stone bench, seemingly blending into nature with a very low presence.
Bald head, six Jieding Scars on top, paired with an orange kasaya —aside from the glasses, a product of modern industrial civilization, he looked every bit like a medieval monk.
Berry felt both confused and curious, and even stopped swinging her legs.
Just then, as if sensing Berry's gaze, the monk across from her, who was clearly meditating, opened his eyes and looked at Berry.
Their eyes met, and Berry, wide-eyed, couldn't tell if the monk in front of her possessed any special abilities that would allow him to suddenly appear there.
Berry put her hands down, hopped off the long bench, and walked toward him.
She wanted to see who this person really was.
"...If inner demons linger, the soul will never find peace."
Only when Berry approached did she clearly hear what the old monk was saying while rubbing his prayer beads.
"Contemplation is like the eye of the storm, a clear center amidst chaos."
"Uh, hello."
Unable to understand the monk's cryptic remarks, Berry waved her hand to get his attention.
"You walk the Path of Mara, and you will bring false solace to sentient beings."
The old monk with the East Asian face looked directly at Berry as he spoke the last sentence, leaving her momentarily unsure how to respond.
What in the world is he talking about?
Berry frowned, feeling like she had encountered one of those fortune-tellers from her previous life who also loved speaking in riddles.
"You must purify yourself, return to your original form, and rediscover balance. I can help you."
She still didn't understand, but Berry at least confirmed that the monk was indeed talking to her.
"What are you talking about? Some kind of Zen riddle?"
Berry used her meager knowledge of Buddhism to guess what the monk meant.
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