Chapter 1665: Making Things Difficult (I)

Fachang initially looked puzzled, only to see Minghui smile and say, "Senior may not recognize me, but I have heard your name. I was also present at the Dharma Assembly on Dayang Mountain. I watched from below the steps... so I recognize you, senior!"

His words were undoubtedly rather unpleasant to hear. After all, Fachang had gone to Dayang Mountain to be reprimanded, and by saying that he had watched from below the steps, Minghui was effectively admitting that he had witnessed every last moment of Fachang's humiliation and embarrassment.

Yet Fachang merely sighed and said, "I fear I made a spectacle of myself before you, Minghui!"

Minghui laughed. "A spectacle... Senior, you are too courteous. It was hardly anything of the sort! After you came down the mountain, you went straight to the foot of the mountain without saying a word. I was the next one called up, and the lord rewarded me with a slap that nearly knocked my head off. The blow landed on me, but it was my master's heart that hurt!"

Fachang was immediately rendered speechless. Though he possessed an excellent temperament, he was no fool and understood the implication perfectly well.

The slap may have landed on you, Minghui, but it was Jinlian's face that truly took the blow.

Although the Virtuous Dao nominally obeyed Dayang Mountain's commands, it was privately the most rebellious of them all. They did not dare openly defy Dayang Mountain, but they had never lacked ways to shirk their duties and bend the rules. Worse still, the Virtuous Dao had powerful backing. Unless they committed some fundamental transgression, Dayang Mountain could do little about them. Slapping the disciple to humiliate the master was no more than a helpless way of venting their frustration.

From Minghui's tone alone, Fachang could tell that the Virtuous Dao still harbored resentment toward Dayang Mountain. Moreover, that willingness to shirk the rules and play clever tricks was precisely what he needed!

Yet he could not speak carelessly. Over the years, the lords of the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm had actively involved themselves in Dayang Mountain's affairs because they had hoped to use its influence to keep the Seven Dharma Forms in check and truly realize their vision of an earthly paradise. Not only did they rely heavily on Dayang Mountain, but their own lineage had even originated from it. Thus, Fachang did not respond and remained silent.

Minghui glanced at him and understood that this stubborn monk still held a measure of respect for Dayang Mountain. Adjusting his sleeves, he smiled and said, "Please, let us speak in detail inside!"

At least the Lotus Temple finally has someone with a sound head on his shoulders...

Fachang had been standing there alone for quite some time and was thoroughly embarrassed. He hurriedly nodded and took two steps forward, only to see Jinlian swaggering toward them.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Facheng turned around, pressed his palms together, and pleaded, "Great Master, please put away your dharma relic!"

Jinlian's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth as though he were about to curse.

Minghui stepped forward somewhat awkwardly, blocking their view of each other as he said with a smile, "Please do not take offense. Please do not take offense..."

As he spoke, he drew a golden kasaya from his sleeve and gave it a gentle flick, draping it over Jinlian. He tied it in a knot across Jinlian's chest, covering his manhood, then smiled and said, "Please!"

Fachang's expression eased considerably. He passed through the hall and ascended the golden steps behind it, while Jinlian sneered. "Fachang! You are too fixated on outward appearances! Our Dao teaches us to look upon people as nothing more than skeletons of bare white bone, and with deeper contemplation, as nothing more than the Five Virtues and Twelve Essences. If you cannot even look past one naked body, how can you let go of all living beings through the Sacred Teaching's Glazed Crystal Contemplation?"

Fachang took a step forward, pressed his palms together, and replied, "It is precisely because I cannot set aside all living beings."

Jinlian smiled. "If you cannot let them go, you cannot take up their burden, and if you cannot take up their burden, you cannot save them. Those who cannot let go of all living beings will seek to govern them, and those who govern them will ultimately seek to become their masters. One becomes their master, then another becomes their master, and endless enmity arises between one master and the next.

"By then, what place is left for the people themselves? Only those who can let go of all living beings are fit to spread the Sacred Teaching and allow the people to take responsibility for themselves. Fachang! This inability of yours to let go is precisely what the other cultivators dislike about you."

A smile played at the lips of this boorish Maha, who looked more like a bandit landlord than a holy man. At that moment, his eyes brightened slightly, gaining a touch of luminous clarity and some of the sanctity befitting the master of the Lotus Temple. However, Fachang turned his head away without answering him.

Minghui did not study doctrine, but he knew all too well how much trouble his master could cause, and his heart began pounding with unease.

Back when Jinlian had first visited Dayang Mountain, he had barely set half a foot inside the Lotus Temple before making a string of outrageous declarations. He called the [Great Mahayana Dharma Realm] the Great Landlord Realm and the [Great Desire Dao] the Petty Landlord Realm, describing the latter as the child of a great landlord's concubine, full of resentment and waiting only for the landlord to die.

He called the [Emptiness Dao] the Headless and Brainless Dao and the [Discipline Dao] the Selfish Mute Dao. As for the rest, Wrath bred stupid donkeys, while Compassion carried mongrels in its womb... In short, he declared all the other heretical paths greatly misled the people.

At the time, Minghui had hurriedly added, "Only our Virtuous Dao is truly radiant and enlightened!"

Yet Jinlian had merely spat, "Bah! Neither virtuous nor joyful. It should be called the Wicked Misery Dao!"

With that in mind, Minghui was genuinely afraid that Jinlian might start talking about the Great Landlord Realm in front of Fachang. He quickly gestured toward a seat, and cut in with a smile. "May I ask what arrangements you have in mind, senior?"

Fachang pressed his palms together and replied, "I wish to borrow two Mahas. If that truly cannot be arranged, one will suffice, but I will need considerably more Merciful Ones. After all, the Lotus Temple's Dao lineage flourishes and enjoys abundant worship. You should have no shortage of them here."

Minghui nodded and glanced at his master. Jinlian was also looking at him, and as master and disciple met each other's gaze, everything passed between them without a word.

Heading south... They must be planning to confront those by the lake...

This was an exceedingly troublesome matter. The Lotus Temple had suffered at the hands of those by the lake before, and Minghui's heart pounded uneasily as he listened, his misgivings difficult to put into words.

Jinlian, meanwhile, fixed Fachang with a heavy gaze and said quietly, "Fachang, it seems you are determined to have me go south."

Fachang frowned and replied, "Forgive my candor, but this should also be beneficial to the Mahas and aid you in cultivating your dharma bodies... Fellow Daoist... What do you mean by this?"

Minghui's heart skipped a beat, but Jinlian's expression remained unchanged as he sneered, "I need no one's help. I can cultivate my dharma bodies on my own. But if I were injured, all my previous efforts might go to waste. The Lotus Temple has always stayed out of this affair precisely to avoid taking unnecessary risks..."

Fachang grew even more puzzled and asked softly, "Naturally, I would not presume to ask the Great Master yourself to act, but what of the other Mahas of your Dao... Or even, Maha Minghui here? Why is he not tempted?"

Minghui began cursing inwardly, but outwardly, he lamented, "I cannot bear to see living beings plunged into misery and suffering!"

"Huh?" Fachang's words caught in his throat. He hesitated, then suddenly understood and replied, "Whatever conditions you have, fellow Daoist, feel free to name them!"

The master and disciple both fell silent. Fachang gritted his teeth and said, "If two Great Masters are willing to make the journey on my behalf and limit the bloodshed in the south, I am willing to yield this Dharma Realm's [Purple Auspice Three-Venerable Fruits] to you both!"

Minghui frowned, but Jinlian slapped the table, spread his legs wide, planted both hands on his knees, and laughed. "How generous of you, Great Master!"

"Then it is settled... I shall trouble you no further!"

Fachang breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he no longer had to look at Jinlian. He hurriedly rose, seemingly afraid that Jinlian might say anything more. Without leaving so much as another word, he stepped into the great void and vanished.

For a time, only master and disciple remained in the vast, empty golden hall. Minghui hesitated to speak, but Jinlian rose to his feet, his smile fading as his expression turned cold.

He spoke, "We cannot refuse this. In the end, it is a good opportunity. We have already declined to take part in the conflict between north and south once. If we refuse again, people will inevitably grow suspicious. We only needed to drive up the price before accepting."

The two shared the same concerns.

Minghui said quietly, "This is all because I dragged you into my troubles!"

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