Chapter 42 Monk

  The old man ran at an astonishing speed, Yun Zheng and Miss Liang only saw a robust back figure, couldn't help but exchange a glance, and obediently sat back in their own carriage, continuing up the mountain.

  The end of the small path was a not-so-large temple, with a plaque on the gate that read "White Cloud Chan Temple". Xiao Wu Gen and Lin Xiaojie, along with four or five young men dressed in luxurious attire, were staring intently at Yun Zheng as he walked slowly towards them.

  "It was my younger sister who delayed our journey by admiring the scenery along the way, and I'm afraid Brother Yun will arrive late. Please don't blame him." Liang Qi helped Yun Zheng block the way for a moment, turned her head to glance at Yun Zheng, with an expression that said "you understand".

  Yun Zheng's mind was racing, what did this woman want to do? Just as the rich young masters were about to explode with anger, one of them, dressed in green, was about to speak when Xiao Wu Gen coldly interrupted: "Since everyone is here, let's go together to pay our respects to Master Wugou. Hopefully we can receive his gift this year."

  When entering, Yun Zheng only discovered that everyone was holding incense sticks, it was clear that they were going to worship Buddha, but he himself had nothing in his hands. Lin Xiaojie glanced at Yun Zheng and took the lead in stepping into the temple gate. Yun Zheng vaguely felt that this woman seemed to have hostility towards him, a feeling that was absolutely wonderful.

  "Are you not going to burn incense when entering the temple?" Liang Qi asked Yun Zheng with a smile.

  "A single whiff of incense is enough, what's the need for all these troublesome things." Yun Zheng replied with a loud and clear voice, then dragged Yun Er and Rou Rou into the temple. Just taking a tour, who says you must worship Buddha?

  The White Cloud Temple is not large, and can even be called exquisite. It has only one main hall, which enshrines the Vairocana Buddha. Surrounding it are over a dozen bamboo buildings, with pale gray mist drifting through the halls, like an immortal realm.

  "Cypress trees surround, white clouds drift by, in front of the green water, behind are bamboo groves. In such a sacred place to cultivate oneself, one can certainly break through the three Mara and attain Buddhahood." Xiao Wugeng held a round fan, constantly tapping it in his hand, not knowing who he had learned this gesture from, looking somewhat awkward, probably only started practicing after arriving at Dou Sha County.

  I don't know where this guy's elegance came from, he doesn't make sense but keeps talking about reason, haven't you seen the big monk's face turn green and trembling with fear, the little monk has a runny nose and looks hungry. This is clearly due to freezing and starvation, what white clouds? If you stay inside for a while pretending to be an immortal it wouldn't be bad, if during sleep there are clouds and fog entering the bamboo building, that feeling would absolutely make people unforgettable in three lifetimes, I estimate only Cloud Big, Cloud Second, and Cured Meat have had such experiences.

  Yun Er wanted to refute, Yun Da picked up Yun Er and strode through the main hall, leading the way to the back mountain. It was said that there was a large grassland there, which was an ideal place for spring outing.

  Before the man arrived at the grassland, the fragrance of wine had already wafted over. Turning around the bamboo forest, he discovered a stout monk with his chest exposed and belly bared, leaning against a small low table, devouring a large piece of meat. Across from him sat a Taoist priest, robust in build, resembling a massive mountain as he sat there, holding a leg - Cloudy Mountain guessed it was a dog's leg. The two men would eat a mouthful of meat and then drink a big bowl of wine, seemingly extremely carefree.

  Not only was Yun Zhen stunned, but also Xiao Wu Gen and Ms. Liang Qi Lin were equally stunned. Only Yun Er laughed and rushed over, politely singing a Fenno to the two clumsy men who were eating meat and drinking wine. The monk was also an interesting person, casually scooping out a piece of dog meat from the nearby vat and placing it in front of Yun Er, indicating that they should eat together.

  Yun Er was not polite at all, lying on the table hugging the dog meat and gnawing, after gnawing for two mouthfuls, he took out his own small bowl and asked the monk if he wanted to drink wine.

  "Interesting, interesting! Normally it's the monks who get to eat for free, but today the monks are being treated by two people instead!" The monk clapped his hands and laughed, pouring a small amount of wine into Yun Er's bowl.

  Liang Qi asked Yun Da: "Is your brother okay? Can he drink?"

  "It's okay, a few bowls won't be a big deal!" Since someone from his own family had already gone up to eat for free, he couldn't very well go up again. Liang Qi saw Yun Zheng looking very unwilling and asked him: "Do you know who the monk sitting opposite is?"

  "Size is just a monk, can't become a Taoist?" Seeing the three of them drinking and eating meat, Yun Zheng found himself feeling a bit hungry too, as the monk, the Taoist, and the young child were all enjoying themselves immensely.

  Two people were speaking in a low voice, but unexpectedly the monk's ears were very sharp. After hearing Yun Zheng's remarks, he was overjoyed and almost shouted: "The little girl is right! The original name of Wugou Monk was Wu Guo Monk. In the past, I thought I could achieve the state of being in the red dust without being stained by a single speck of dust. Who would have thought that after entering the red dust, Wu Guo became Wugou? The Buddha ordered me not to fill up the five valleys, and I couldn't escape. A monk is just a monk, he can't become a Taoist."

  Xiao Wu Gen didn't want Yun Zheng to steal the spotlight, so he hastily stepped forward and paid his respects: "When I was in Fucheng, I heard that Zhiming Chan Master of Rongdeng Temple said that among the Buddhist scholars in Shu, only one person has achieved the three flavors, which is you, Master. So today, I have come again to ask for your guidance, and I hope you will not hesitate to enlighten me."

  The fat monk with the five furrows on his forehead burst out laughing and casually wiped the oil from his hands onto his big belly, looking at the young man and woman in front of him and saying: "If you want to hear the teachings of Piaohua, you must pay the corresponding price. The teachings are here, but where is the money for the incense?"

  Staring at the five-guttered monk slapping his big belly to ask young people for incense money, Yun Zheng asked Liang Qi in a low voice: "Are you all being cheated by him every year?"

  Liang Qi gave Yun Zhen a glance, clapped her hands, and immediately two maidservants brought over a tray of copper coins and a tray of silk fabrics, placing them in front of the monk from Wugou. The other young men and women also put down their gifts, filling the entire floor. Among them, Xiao Wu Gen's gift was the most valuable.

  Wugou and the monk furrowed his brow and sighed, saying: "It's getting worse every year." Suddenly, he found Yun Zheng standing beside him with empty hands and curiously asked: "Where is your gift? Don't you want to know the Tao?"

  Yun Zheng smiled and said: "It is said that after Hong Jun transformed into the heavens and earth, there were three thousand great paths passed down. This young man's fortune is thin, without a connection to the great path, it doesn't matter if you don't listen, just offering one incense pellet under my Buddha seat will suffice."

  As soon as these words came out, they brought a burst of laughter. The unscrupulous meaning in Xiao Wugeng's eyes became even thicker, and the other young men and women also unknowingly kept their distance from Yun Zheng.

  Wu Gou smiled and asked Yun Er, who was already a bit drunk, "Is this your younger brother?"

  Yun Zheng frowned and took Yun Er into his arms, putting him in the back basket of the cured meat: "It's really not a good thing for my younger brother."

  "He has wisdom roots, why should he be a novice with me?"

  "You've been a monk for so many years, you've gone stupid." Yun Zheng was getting angry, they say Song Dynasty monks are overbearing, didn't expect to see a live one today.

  "Monk, don't force it. This little guy has already had murderous intentions towards you. If you keep forcing it, I guarantee the outcome won't be good." The Taoist who was drinking wine looked up and said seriously to the monk.