Chapter 24: Peach Blossom Buddhist Assembly (Seeking Readers)

Chapter 24: Peach Blossom Buddhist Assembly (Seeking Readers)



The mountain air was damp and misty, with rays of sunlight filtering through the peach tree forest, creating a hazy atmosphere.

Great Tail Venerable sat cross-legged on a green stone platform, his wolf head exuding a fierce aura, yet also possessing a hint of kindness and benevolence, making him appear strangely enigmatic.

A group of small demonic creatures sat before the Great Tail Venerable, some scratching their itches, others picking lice, with only a few paying attention.

"All the evil deeds committed in the past, arising from the beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion. Arising from body, speech, and mind, I now repent of them all."

Great Tail Venerable chanted the morning verse, his voice hoarse and grating, yet also carrying a sense of loftiness.

This voice seemed to carry a certain Buddhist divine ability, and for a moment, the entire peach forest, inside and out, could hear it, as if it were echoing right beside them.

Sure enough, the small demonic creatures put aside their laziness and raised their heads to listen attentively.

Meng Yuan, Nie Yanian, and Ren Debiao hid behind a large stone, also straining their ears to listen.

"The master once said, no one in this world is without injustice; all emotions are the source of suffering."

Great Tail Venerable held Buddhist beads in his hand, appearing kind and benevolent, and said, "Today's lecture is about the three poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion. What is greed? It is desire, manifesting as lust, form desire, tactile desire, and offering desire. Most of our troubles arise from these."

The demonic creatures listened with nodding heads. Nie Yanian frowned, while Meng Yuan found the lecture intriguing.

"Great Tail, can we learn Buddhist divine abilities and enter the Buddhist path by eliminating greed?" asked a clever silver-furred mouse.

"Precisely," said Great Tail Venerable, looking like a benevolent preacher.

"Great Tail, teach me quickly!" the silver-furred mouse exclaimed happily.

"You already have this thought, and thus, you have already given rise to greed."

Great Tail Venerable shook his head slightly and chanted, "Remember this: Desires are like flowing water, easily disturbing the mind. Greed is like fire, burning the field of blessings. Chasing after objects leads to endless suffering, and in the cycle of rebirth, there is no leisure. Meditation can calm a thousand waves, and visualization can break through ten thousand barriers. Upholding precepts and maintaining righteousness returns one to purity. With few desires and non-action, one finds freedom."

The silver-furred mouse stood there, stunned, not because of enlightenment, but because he didn't understand.

Meng Yuan listened carefully from a distance, feeling that the old wolf's verse had some meaning and was indeed a Buddhist method to eliminate greed.

However, the old wolf's actions, such as sending Black Sheep and White Sheep to steal medicine and his subordinate Wolf One's murder and dismemberment, clearly didn't align with the conduct of an enlightened monk.

"Great Tail, what should I do?" asked the silver-furred mouse, who was not lacking in wisdom and sincerely sought guidance for entering the Buddhist path.

"Cut off all greed and thoughts," said Great Tail Venerable with exceptional kindness, smiling, "You toil daily for grains, melons, and fruits for the sake of feeding your offspring. As long as you slaughter all your descendants, your greed will naturally dissipate."

The method suggested by Great Tail Venerable was in stark contrast to the verse he had just chanted.

While Buddhism does advocate for severing family ties when entering the monastic life, it does not mean slaughtering one's own family!

Upon hearing this, the demonic creatures were all shocked and pale.

The silver-furred mouse shivered and said, "Great Tail, I only have a few children, and I can't bear to kill them."

"In that case, go down the mountain, reclaim the fertile fields, and from then on, you won't have to worry about food," said Great Tail Venerable.

"But there are many people down the mountain, and they have knives, guns, and bows. They can shoot arrows, and there are also demon-catching officials. I'm weak and can't defeat them," replied the silver-furred mouse.

"Without enduring hardships, how can one attain the supreme path? As long as you make a grand vow, even if you fail, you can try again in the next life, and there will be a day of success," Great Tail Venerable smiled.

Isn't this encouraging the silver-furred mouse to die? Meng Yuan felt even more that this Great Tail Venerable was sinister after hearing these words.

"The old wolf isn't following the proper Buddhist path," Nie Yanian whispered with a smile, "This is a kind of thought. By planting this thought in the minds of these demonic creatures, any thought can take root. Over time, this thought will grow and become like a towering tree. Those with high cultivation can unknowingly plant it, while those with low realms and shallow Buddhist practice require constant preaching and planting to succeed. This old wolf's cultivation is insufficient, the demonic creatures' minds are too wild, and his methods of deception are too crude!"

Only then did Meng Yuan feel relieved. Just as he was about to continue listening, he saw that Great Tail Venerable had turned to look in their direction.

Apparently, Nie Yanian's voice had been a bit loud, drawing attention.

"Since the benefactor has come, why not show yourself?" Great Tail Venerable smiled, holding the Buddhist beads, appearing truly virtuous.

Nie Yanian stepped out of his hiding place, and Meng Yuan and Ren Debiao quickly followed, standing on either side of him.

The two groups faced each other across the mountain stream.

The demonic creatures, seeing three people with drawn swords, fled in fear. The bolder ones hid in the peach trees to watch the commotion.

"Leper Wolf, your Buddhist practice isn't very profound!" Nie Yinian laughed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Amitabha. Outsiders do not follow the precepts or understand the Dharma. I do not blame you," Da Wei Zunzhe said with remarkable composure.

"Leper Wolf, did you come from the west or Lanruo Temple?" Nie Yinian asked again.

To the west of the Kingdom of Qing lies the Buddhist Kingdom, vast and boundless. Both humans and demons there generally cultivate Buddhist practices.

Lanruo Temple, originating from Yunzhou's Ping'an Prefecture, is the only Buddhist temple within the borders of the Kingdom of Qing. Similarly, Ping'an Prefecture is the only place in the kingdom where Buddhism can be propagated and Buddhist temples established.

"The benefactor is attached to form," Da Wei Zunzhe said, his two furry hands holding Buddhist beads as he pressed them together. "Those who cultivate the Buddhist path come from where they come and go where they go."

Hearing these words, Nie Yinian turned his head to educate Meng Yuan and Ren Debiao. "These baldies are all the same. After reading a few Buddhist scriptures, they think they've gained some ability and spend their days looking for people to debate with, spouting nonsense. It's all bullshit!"

Da Wei Zunzhe didn't get angry. Instead, he asked, "Benefactor, you're quite familiar with these words. Are you a fellow cultivator from the Demon-Subduing Department?"

"I left the Demon-Subduing Department long ago!" Nie Yinian held his sword close to his chest, his eyes filled with contempt. "But I haven't forgotten the skills of flaying and dismembering."

The demonic creatures who had stayed to watch the spectacle began to flee again, and Wolf One and Wolf Two shouted in vain, unable to stop them.

"Amitabha. Fellow cultivator, your killing karma is too heavy. Why not follow the Buddhist path, purify yourself, and in your next life, you may enter the Western Paradise." Da Wei Zunzhe chanted the Buddha's name with sincerity.

"Your Buddha seems a bit off!" Nie Yinian laughed as he stepped forward. "Is stealing medicine and kidnapping dogs also part of the Buddhist rules?"

"Without stealing or fighting, what's the difference between the strong and the weak?" Da Wei Zunzhe asked.

"Is inciting rats to harm others also part of Buddhist principles?" Nie Yinian continued.

"All beings are equal. But humans occupy our forests, seize our land, and kill our kin. Should we just submit to slaughter?" Da Wei Zunzhe pressed his hands together, and a hint of pity appeared in his eyes. "Non-violence doesn't end hatred; it only prolongs it."

Meng Yuan clearly understood that Da Wei Zunzhe's understanding of Buddhist principles wasn't profound, but he could use these Buddhist concepts to form his own interpretation and make it sound plausible.

Therefore, debating with people like him was futile. In a nicer light, they were stubborn; in a harsher light, they were like brainwashed cult followers.

"Your mother is from the Sudden Enlightenment School!" Indeed, Nie Yinian's questions weren't for debate but to probe the other's background.

"Amitabha," Da Wei Zunzhe replied, showing genuine curiosity. "Where is the Sudden Enlightenment School? I've never heard of this temple."

"Half-baked!" Nie Yinian became more dismissive and drew his sword as he stepped forward.

"Fellow cultivator, your killing intent is too heavy, and your evil karma is deep. You may not have a good death," Da Wei Zunzhe said in the gentlest tone, but his words were harsh. He even smiled as he spoke, then continued, "Would the two young benefactors like to follow the Buddhist path and receive my teachings?"

This old wolf was truly bizarre. He should have been beaten bare-chested, yet he was still spouting useless words!

"I possess the Five Poisons, and it's better for the master to save himself than others!" Meng Yuan shouted.

Seeing this, Ren Debiao wanted to say something loudly but couldn't find the words.

"The sea of suffering has no bounds; turning back is the shore."

Da Wei Zunzhe sat cross-legged, his hands pressed together, and he spoke with pity. "All three of you are deeply mired in the sea of suffering, yet you remain stubborn and unyielding!"

As he spoke, Da Wei Zunzhe ripped off his bright red robe and tossed it into the air, revealing a worn black monastic robe underneath.

With his hands pressed together, his face contorted, and a faint Buddhist light emanating from his body, he exclaimed, "Alas! Since it's like this, I also know a few moves! Come at me, all three of you!"

"I alone am enough to deal with you; there's no need for three!" Nie Yinian stepped forward.

"Hahaha! Arrogant and conceited!" Da Wei Zunzhe roared, his furry hands pressed together as he formed a hand seal. In a deep voice, he chanted, "Calm emotions and dispel delusions, let the mind shine in emptiness! Divine Foot Technique, activate! Heavenly Eye Technique, activate! Heavenly Ear Technique, activate!"

After finishing his incantation, Da Wei Zunzhe picked up the Zen staff beside him and leaped into the air, landing on the still-floating red robe. With Buddhist light surrounding him, he headed straight for Nie Yinian.

The mountain breeze was cool, and the valley was filled with lush grass. A yellow oriole sang from the depths of the trees. The sky had turned from clear to cloudy, and spring rain was approaching.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end