'Or maybe the heaven cry for you, little Xin. You're more special than you think.'
Mu Xin laughed softly in self-mockery as the rain hid the silent tear that leaked out.
"What can be special about me? I lived my whole life as a puppet to my parents. They died, and I was left with nothing… only to wake up alone in a forest."
Mu Xin shook his head in disbelief that he had let his guard down and talked too much.
He rose up slowly and walked under the rain to look for shelter.
Soon, he stumbled upon a Buddhism temple with its gate closed.
Mu Xin sat down in front of the gate, which provided minimal shelter, as he looked at the rain absentmindedly.
"Say, Sister Hua, do you think living beings are born with purpose?"
'I think living itself is the purpose. Is something troubling you?'
"I… don't know what to do…"
"What is troubling you so hard that has made you so lost, child?"
Mu Xin turned around abruptly to see that the gate had opened, and an old monk was standing there with a gentle smile on his face.
"How about coming inside? It's better than out here."
Mu Xin hesitated slightly before asking.
"Won't it be a bother?"
The monk's gentle smile never left his face as he answered reassuringly.
"Why would it be a bother? Those who suffer are precisely the ones who need help."
He opened the gate slightly wider for Mu Xin.
"Thank you, Elder, for helping me."
Mu Xin bowed to the monk before he walked in.
The monk closed the gate and led Mu Xin into one of the buildings.
As Mu Xin walked, he saw a row of young monks who sat in meditation in front of an altar, facing a big Buddha statue.
The old monk led Mu Xin past that room and into another building.
After entering one of the rooms, it was a simple accommodating room with a straw mat, a wooden table and chair, and a wash basin.
"You can wait here first, child. I'll get some clean cloth for you to dry yourself."
The old monk immediately left the room, leaving Mu Xin alone.
"Sister Hua, do you think he can be trusted?"
'It's alright, little Xin. I didn't sense any hostility from him so far.'
Mu Xin relaxed slightly as he sat down on the chair.
The sound of raindrops drowned away the silent room while Mu Xin was still pondering what to do in the future.
Not long after, the monk returned with a clean cloth, a set of brown robes, and a baked sweet potato.
"Here, child. Dry your body so you won't get sick, and I brought you new clothes for you to change into."
"Thank you, Elder."
Mu Xin received the cloth with a small bow and dried himself before he put on the robe.
"I'm sure you're hungry, but right now there is no ready food. At least eat this so you feel warm."
Mu Xin took it and peeled it carefully before he ate.
But the warmth from the food could not chase away the confusion that covered his eyes.
"Child, is the confusion in your eyes because of what you said at the gate? Because you don't know what to do?"
The monk asked softly, as if trying to understand him better.
Mu Xin looked at the monk for a while.
"I just don't know what to do in the future. I don't have a goal or purpose…"
The monk nodded understandingly.
"It is natural to be confused when one has lived without purpose, but this is something you have to find yourself for it to be meaningful."
"Then, Elder, why did you become a monk?"
The monk smiled kindly.
"Because I'm tired of the complexity of human nature."
Mu Xin looked outside at the rain as he asked the biggest question he had in his entire life.
"Why do we living beings even born for?"
The monk looked surprised at Mu Xin's question.
"Child, your question is not something someone your age would ask, but maybe we live to search for a purpose."
Mu Xin smiled helplessly.
"Then someone could live their entire life without having any purpose? Isn't that too sad?"
The monk smiled at Mu Xin.
"You are a kind and thoughtful child, and you're right—someone could live their life that way. But we never know what that person experienced for him to not have a purpose."
Mu Xin fell silent as he finished his sweet potato.
"Discovering one's purpose naturally needs time and thinking, but don't think too hard, and you will find your purpose eventually."
The monk rose from the chair to leave.
"Rest well tonight, and your mind will be clear tomorrow."
The monk left Mu Xin to rest on his own.
Then Shu Hua appeared in front of Mu Xin, her face full of worry but with a hint of care.
"Little Xin, instead of thinking about what you should do, how about what you want to do?"
Mu Xin froze for a moment.
His mind replayed Shu Hua's question constantly.
"What do I want? I… can do what I want?"
Shu Hua sat in front of him and spoke comfortingly.
"Anyone should have the right to follow their heart. Isn't it that most people find their purpose by doing what they like first?"
Mu Xin stared blankly at her, but his heart was beating with an unknown rhythm.
Mu Xin reached his hand toward his chest as confusion filled his face.
"You don't have to come up with the answer right now, little Xin. For now, let's just sleep, and you can think about it calmly tomorrow."
"Okay…"
Mu Xin walked to the straw mat and lay down, but the revelation had left his mind preoccupied.
Shu Hua noticed this and came to his side. She used the calming nature energy on her hand and gently patted Mu Xin's head, helping him sleep.
After confirming that Mu Xin had fallen asleep, she couldn't help but mumble to herself.
"You helped me leave that place to this open world. I might have used you, but I promised I won't harm you—and now let me help you find your purpose."
She slowly disappeared, leaving behind a promise meant for no one but herself.