Morning chores.
In theory, they were supposed to be peaceful. Meditative. A way to connect with the world.
In reality, it was just a fancy way of saying sweep everything while older monks pretend to be in deep thought.
The new monk—formerly an average anime-loving student, now reluctantly named "Disciple Mu"—dragged a broom across the monastery's massive stone courtyard.
Dust. Pebbles. Leaves.
Also ego. His ego was being swept away with every push.
> "Amitābha," he muttered at a passing squirrel.
[+1]
It stopped. Looked at him. Then ran off with what looked suspiciously like one of the offering buns.
"…System still works on squirrels. Good to know."
He glanced at his energy bar.
> [Energy: 6]
So far today, he'd greeted:
A squirrel
Three monks
A half-dead fish someone caught for lunch
A broom (just in case)
He paused and looked at the sky.
"How many people do I have to greet before this turns into something useful?"
> [System evolving at 10 total greetings. Stay consistent.]
"Of course," he said bitterly. "Nothing screams monk training like grinding social interaction."
Just then, someone shouted from behind him.
"Hey! New disciple! You missed a spot!"
He turned.
It was Senior Disciple Shen, also known as "That Guy." You know the one—perfect posture, perfect robes, perfectly annoying.
Shen walked over like he owned the mountain and pointed at a tiny leaf in the corner.
"You see that?" Shen said, looking smug. "A real disciple doesn't leave the temple filthy."
Disciple Mu squinted. "You mean that microscopic leaf two feet outside the courtyard?"
"Yes. That leaf offends the path to enlightenment."
There was a moment of silence.
Then Mu smiled slowly, bowed just enough to be polite, and said:
> "Amitābha."
> [+1]
Shen frowned. "Don't give me that look."
"I didn't give you a look. I gave you enlightenment."
Shen narrowed his eyes and walked off.
"May your inner peace be interrupted by mosquito bites," Mu mumbled under his breath, then cleared his throat.
> "Amitābha."
[+1]
He greeted his own passive aggression. It worked. Amazing.
---
🧹 Later That Day…
Lunch was just rice. No meat. No sauce. Not even pickled radish. Just… rice.
He poked it with his chopsticks like it had personally wronged him.
"System," he whispered. "Can I greet the rice?"
> [Only sentient beings.]
"Fine. I'll eat it with spite."
He looked around the dining hall. Rows of monks quietly eating. No talking. No eye contact.
A perfect opportunity.
He stood up quietly and began walking between the rows.
Every few steps:
> "Amitābha."
[+1]
"Amitābha."
[+1]
"Amitābha."
[+1]
Some monks nodded. Others looked confused. One old monk grinned like he'd just seen his past self.
By the time he reached the end of the room, he had:
> [Energy: 18]
Not bad. But what could he do with it?
"System," he whispered, sitting back down. "When do I get something useful?"
> [System evolving...]
[Threshold: 20 greetings.]
He perked up. "Two more? Bet."
He walked over to the bathroom. There was a cat sitting outside.
> "Amitābha."
[+1]
He peeked into the latrine. Empty.
"…Is it wrong to greet an empty bathroom?"
> [No.] [Amitābha. +1]
> [System Evolution Unlocked!]
[You have greeted 20 unique entities. System now unlocking: Passive Skill – Echo of the Greeting]
He blinked. "Wait—did I just get my first ability?"
> [Echo of the Greeting: Whenever someone responds to your greeting with "Amitābha," gain +2 energy instead of +1.]
He looked around slowly. His eyes lit up.
"Ohhh no."
He rushed to the nearest disciple.
"Amitābha."
The disciple nodded. "Amitābha."
> [+2]
He turned to another.
"Amitābha."
"Amitābha."
> [+2]
He grinned like a madman. It had begun.
---
By sunset, rumors were already spreading.
> "Did you hear? The new guy greeted everyone in the courtyard."
"He bowed to the dog."
"I heard he whispered 'Amitābha' to a fly."
He sat under a tree, exhausted, robes dusty, hair messy, grinning at the sky.
> [Energy: 42]
Maybe he wasn't a sword god or a flame cultivator.
But right now, he was the strongest monk greeter in the entire temple.
And he'd take that win.