The Monk Has Come (Part 2)

Duan Jiaze had initially thought Luya's idea of posing as a Buddhist was excellent. But first, he hadn't expected Luya's skill to be so high, and second, he hadn't expected a real monk to appear now.

Duan Jiaze mumbled, "They won't keep coming to worship, will they... We're a legitimate zoo."

Speaking of which, if these people from the cultivation world kept coming and one day discovered that he wasn't a Great Virtuous One, but just a resident of the Immortal Realm who had descended to the mortal world, wouldn't they scare themselves to death?

Bai Suzhen placed a hand on Duan Jiaze's shoulder and said softly, "Zoo Director, even if the monk wants to come often, we'll have to see if Linshui Temple agrees."

With Linshui Temple around, it's impossible for other religions and schools to establish a permanent presence in Donghai City. This is the seat of a major Daoist school's lineage. Even if Linshui Temple agreed, other branches of the school would have objections.

Luya and Bai Suzhen were just pretending to be eminent Buddhists. At this moment, Bai Suzhen very calmly raised her voice and said to Zhao Xing, "The layman is cultivating diligently at home, untainted by karma. The reverend may visit again in a hundred years."

Duan Jiaze's face darkened. "Sister Bai..."

Bai Suzhen was looking at him with a puzzled expression when she heard Zhao Xing stammer, "A hundred years... This humble monk won't live that long."

Bai Suzhen: "..."

'Oops, I don't know enough. I momentarily forgot that the cultivators of this era are too weak.'

Zhao Xing felt extremely wronged. He was already sixty years old; forget a hundred years, he might not even live half that long.

Bai Suzhen: "Then your fate with the layman ends here."

Their fate ends here? Was it just that small bit of fate from listening to Zen in the bamboo forest, separated by several years?

Zhao Xing was stunned. Could it be that his Buddhist fate was not deep enough, that he could only stop here?

Xiong Siqian sighed and said, "Reverend, this is already quite good. He doesn't usually meet people."

Xiong Siqian himself was muddle-headed about the situation. He could only tell that Bai Suzhen was also talking about Luya, so he casually comforted Zhao Xing. Luya hadn't become a Buddha; he had just dabbled in it for a while, so naturally, he wouldn't be interested in "guiding the younger generation."

Zhao Xing lowered his head gloomily.

Seeing that the monk seemed to have given up, Duan Jiaze gave Bai Suzhen a thumbs-up. 'Monks are so easy to fool, just talk about fate.' Then he said, "Old Xiong, take the reverend to your place to rest for the night."

It was so late, Duan Jiaze didn't have the heart to kick the old monk out.

......

Xiong Siqian invited Zhao Xing to eat.

"Wait a moment, I need to send a message." Zhao Xing, crestfallen, first sent a WeChat message to the abbot. "Senior Brother, I'm preparing to return to the temple tomorrow. There is a reclusive Great Virtuous One in Donghai who once cultivated Zen in the Lingyou Zoo bamboo forest. Today I came to stay the night and, receiving his legacy, I had an epiphany in the forest. However, the layman said that if I have any fated opportunity, it will be in a hundred years. I cannot meet him to seek guidance today, so I think it's best I go back and comprehend it."

Zhao Xing was not a greedy person. He was very disappointed not to have met the Great Virtuous One, but he wouldn't obsess over it. If the opportunity didn't arise, it didn't arise. Having an epiphany here was already a great boon for him.

After sending the WeChat message, Zhao Xing put the matter out of his mind and began to eat his vegetarian meal with gusto.

However, Zhao Xing had, after all, only recently switched from a senior's phone to a smartphone, so he wasn't very skilled at operating it. Coupled with his turbulent mood just now, he actually didn't notice that he had sent it to the wrong chat.

Thus, at nearly nine o'clock in the evening, all one hundred-plus members of the "Huaxia Buddhist Association Standing Council Group" received a voice message from the head monk of Wuliang Temple, Reverend Zhao Xing.

Reverend Zhao Xing was a contemporary eminent monk who had only recently joined the group. This seemed to be his first time speaking. They heard he was currently out cultivating, so they didn't know what insights he might have. Was he perhaps offering his own explanation on the previously discussed Buddhist topic?

Many council members, with such thoughts in mind, clicked on the voice message, only to hear Zhao Xing's slightly melancholic voice inside saying: "...There is a reclusive Great Virtuous One in Donghai... receiving his legacy... epiphany... after a hundred years..."

The council members: ?!!

......

Zhao Xing ate every last bite of his vegetarian meal. After thanking Xiong Siqian again, he noticed his phone seemed to be out of battery, so he asked where an outlet was and plugged his phone in to charge.

It was at this moment, after his phone turned back on, that Zhao Xing discovered his Senior Brother had sent him many messages and there were also missed calls.

Reverend Jishan: Junior Brother, is that true?

Reverend Jishan: Junior Brother!! Retract the message, quickly!

Reverend Jishan: Junior Brother, what are you doing?

Reverend Jishan: It's too late...

Zhao Xing dazedly backed out to take a look, only to discover with a start that he seemed to have sent it to the wrong place. He had sent the WeChat message intended for his Senior Brother to the Buddhist Association Council group.

—After Zhao Xing sent the message, normally when a reverend spoke, others would reply out of respect. At this moment, the last message was still Zhao Xing's. The usually lively WeChat group was silent, as if no one had seen the message.

Zhao Xing: "..."

......

The next day, Duan Jiaze got up, ate breakfast, and also prepared a portion for the old monk.

"Amitabha, thank you, Director Duan." Zhao Xing guiltily took the vegetarian bun, looking at Duan Jiaze, a bit hesitant to speak. Last night, he had messaged his Senior Brother for a long time. Because he was in the same room as Xiong Siqian, Zhao Xing had to use the handwriting input method, which took a very long time.

After hearing Zhao Xing describe the situation, Jishan demanded that Zhao Xing stay at Lingyou Zoo for the time being. He was going to hold an emergency meeting on his end and then take the high-speed rail to Donghai City.

Wuliang Temple was indeed a monastery with little commercial atmosphere and the most serious Buddhist practitioners. But for this very reason, Jishan placed even more importance on the rarely seen Great Virtuous One.

There were no longer any beings of great merit in the world. When Jishan heard that this reclusive Great Virtuous One could imbue the bamboo forest with his aura during Zen cultivation and then influence a monk of Zhao Xing's level, it was clear how profound his understanding of Buddhist doctrine was.

Furthermore, for him to mention a hundred years later, didn't that prove this Great Virtuous One possessed the long-lost method of extending life and achieving longevity?

His Junior Brother was dense and hadn't thought of this. Although his own karmic affinity was insufficient, Wuliang Temple still had so many other monks. What if one or two of them had a fated connection with the Great Virtuous One?

He only cursed his Junior Brother for sending the message to the wrong place. Now, he was afraid everyone would have the same idea.

Whether it was profound Buddhist doctrine or the art of longevity, it was enough to ensnare all sorts of monks in the cultivation world. Not just those from their Zen school; monks from other schools would certainly be tempted too. The monks of this era were very quick-witted.

Jishan had been an abbot for so long, cultivating Buddhism while also starting as a council member in the Buddhist Association, and had just recently become its president. He had seen far more things than Zhao Xing.

Therefore, Jishan insisted that Zhao Xing not leave for now. No matter what, Wuliang Temple had to seize the first opportunity.

Speaking of which, upon receiving Jishan's instruction, Zhao Xing felt a bit embarrassed.

A monk does not tell lies. How was he to find an excuse to tell Director Duan that he wanted to stay?

Duan Jiaze saw that he wasn't speaking and grew even more curious. "Reverend, is something the matter?"

'Does he want to borrow money from me? He looks so embarrassed.'

Zhao Xing grew anxious. He didn't want to make up a lie—and what's more, he didn't know how to use the art of language to avoid lying while achieving his goal—but he also had to stay and carry out the abbot's instructions. After holding it in for a long time, he squeezed out a sentence: "I wanted to ask where I can buy a ticket. I'd like to visit the zoo today."

Once these words were out, Zhao Xing finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was a flash of inspiration that made him think of this solution.

Duan Jiaze gave him a strange look but didn't take it to heart, just assuming the monk wanted to leech off the Zen sounds of the bamboo forest for a while longer. After hearing what Bai Suzhen said last night, Duan Jiaze felt much more at ease. He wasn't afraid of the monk looking for someone; even if you were looking for someone, you'd still have to go through Linshui Temple.

Duan Jiaze pointed the monk to the ticket office and went about his own business.

He had already completed most of his tasks. After the red-crowned cranes, swans, and other animals, Duan Jiaze had successfully negotiated for egrets, hoopoes, several species of woodpeckers, leopard cats, milu (a first-class protected species), etc. By his calculation, he was now only short two second-class protected animals to complete the mission, and he had far exceeded the total number.

And there was still some time left for the mission. Duan Jiaze was pondering what the last two animals to introduce should be. He was searching online, looking for animals that were popular and whose prices were within his acceptable range.

......

Zhao Xing bought a ticket and wandered around the zoo. He didn't know anyone. He had wanted to find the Layman Xiong from last night to discuss Buddhist scriptures, but he couldn't find him anywhere. After asking around, he learned that Layman Xiong only stayed here at night and had to go to work during the day.

As Zhao Xing toured the zoo, he discovered that the animals here were far more spiritual than those outside. With what happened last night, Zhao Xing naturally didn't find it strange. These animals must have gained higher intelligence because they had stayed by the Great Virtuous One's side for years, and perhaps were even fortunate enough to hear him preach the scriptures.

But Zhao Xing also couldn't quite figure it out. Why would this Great Virtuous One choose to cultivate within a zoo? If it was for the scenery, there was no need to live inside a zoo, right?

As Zhao Xing pondered, he unconsciously followed the crowd into the canid exhibit.

The other tourists were all sizing up this old monk. Donghai City had Daoists, but never any monks, let alone a monk visiting a zoo.

Zhao Xing entered the exhibit hall and suddenly understood a little. He saw a red fox jumping up and down inside the enclosure. This red fox was brimming with demonic energy; it was clearly a spirit monster that had come into its own.

But at this moment, this spirit monster was inside an enclosure. Zhao Xing thought, 'Could it be that this Great Virtuous One is at the zoo for the convenience of catching demons and doing good deeds?'

Zhao Xing's imagination ran wild. The Great Virtuous One subdued the demon, kept it by his side to be reformed by chanting scriptures, and in order to avoid arousing suspicion from the forestry department in modern society, he simply stayed at the zoo...

Zhao Xing felt that it seemed to make sense. Cultivators didn't necessarily have to live in the deep mountains and old forests. Water and electricity were so convenient; who wouldn't want things that could rival magical arts? And if you lived far away, transportation would be inconvenient.

Zhao Xing went to observe just the red fox, but he didn't notice that behind him, a pure white arctic fox was secretly sizing him up.

......

On the other hand, almost the entire Buddhist school within the cultivation world was in an uproar.

The shock this incident gave them was too great. A Great Virtuous One, the likes of which hadn't been seen in ages! The kind who knew the method of extending life!

Zhao Xing didn't know how to use the internet much, so he didn't know, but others did. First, a search for Lingyou Zoo online immediately brought up the address of a group-buying website—it was even selling joint tickets with Linshui Temple.

The Daoist school was actually involved too. Not to mention what role they were playing, this precisely proved the authenticity of Zhao Xing's WeChat message.

Thus, in who knows how many temples, similar scenes unfolded. They organized a few experienced or promising disciples to buy high-speed rail tickets to Donghai City. Even if they couldn't ask for guidance or seek techniques, just having an epiphany in the bamboo forest would be good, right?

There were also some who felt they had better connections, like Wuliang Temple, who even called Linshui Temple to ask about Lingyou Zoo.

Without Luya's permission, Zhou Xintang naturally remained tight-lipped, not revealing a single thing. But as more and more people inquired, Zhou Xintang also felt that things were not looking good.

It was at this moment that Zhou Xintang received news that an unknown number of monks were already on their way to Donghai City!

Among these monks, some even met on the high-speed train. When they ran into each other, they had a tacit understanding of their purpose—to seek knowledge.

Passersby were also quite surprised; those who didn't know would have thought the monks were holding a large conference.

With so many monks coming to Donghai City at the same time, Zhou Xintang became nervous. He gathered the members of the management committee for a discussion, and they unanimously agreed that they should be stopped at the high-speed rail station.

Donghai City held a certain significance for the Daoist school. So many monks were rushing to gather in Donghai City, many without even greeting Linshui Temple. What would their peers think if they found out?

Regardless of whether it was related to Lingyou Zoo or not, Zhou Xintang couldn't let them into the city. Once they entered, would Linshui Temple have any face left?

But Zhou Xintang was also quite tactful. He directly used his connections to have the railway department "detain" all these monks at the high-speed rail station—it was impossible to let the masses witness a conflict between Daoists and monks.

Zhou Xintang was the local power. Even if there were eminent monks among this group, they were from out of town and had no say.

The number of detained monks grew and grew. In the end, the high-speed rail station's offices and even the corridors were filled with seated monks.

They were all elites in their field, so they more or less knew each other. When a new person arrived, everyone would recognize their face and greet them.

The staff were originally just following orders, but now they couldn't help but feel their hair stand on end. Were these real monks or fake monks? What were so many people planning to do?

One after another, they came with "Amitabha" and went with "Amitabha," their accents from all over the country. The monasteries listed on their IDs were mostly different; some were famous, some were not. And upon meeting, they all showed expressions of tacit understanding... The psychological burden on the staff was immense.

However, as more and more monks arrived in Donghai City, some of them actually used their own connections to send word to the leaders of Donghai City and even the provincial capital.

With one inquiry after another, the leaders started to feel uneasy. They called Linshui Temple to inquire. They were caught in a difficult position, unable to offend either side. But Linshui Temple was the local power, after all, so the leaders still hoped they could step in and resolve it.

What on earth was going on with these monks and Daoists?

Zhou Xintang was also under great pressure. Linshui Temple was single-handedly confronting more than half of the Buddhist school in the cultivation world.

At this point, some monks were already questioning him. Could it be that Linshui Temple also wanted to get some benefit from the senior? No, perhaps they already had. Look at how well the joint tickets were selling; they really knew how to suck up.

......

As time passed minute by minute, Zhou Xintang couldn't bear it anymore and had no choice but to contact Duan Jiaze to ask for advice on what to do.

Normally, since Duan Jiaze's side hadn't said anything, he wouldn't have dared to approach them. But the situation had blown up too much. Zhou Xintang had already done his best and now had no choice but to ask, since Lingyou Zoo was the source of this matter.

How could he have known that Duan Jiaze, contrary to his imagination, was completely unaware of the current situation.

The more Duan Jiaze listened, the worse his expression became. When he finally heard the number of monks, he was utterly dumbfounded. "How can there be monks from so many temples?"

According to normal logic, whoever found a good deal would keep it quiet and tell their own people. Who knew this monk didn't play by the rules? He found a good deal and called all his peers in the world to come take advantage of it!

One or two temples, Linshui Temple could block them without any trouble, which was why Duan Jiaze hadn't been concerned. But dozens, even hundreds of temples...? Duan Jiaze was completely speechless.

"Sister Bai, Yousu, what do you think we should do? There are a huge number of monks coming to Donghai City now... I don't know what happened with that monk last night, it seems he notified all the monks in the world, and I have no idea why they're so united," Duan Jiaze's mouth twitched. "Now several hundred monks are being held up at the high-speed rail station by people from Linshui Temple who used their connections. The two sides are battling it out, and Daoist Zhou is asking me for advice."

He explained Linshui Temple's problem and difficulties to the two of them in detail.

Yousu: "Wow, do they all want to join the deluxe joint ticket package?"

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Duan Jiaze: "Sis, stop joking..."

Bai Suzhen and Yousu glanced at each other, and then with a sudden, tacit understanding, they said in unison: "It's fine, let's just go with the flow!"

Duan Jiaze: "It's already developed to this point, how do we 'go with the flow'?"

Bai Suzhen said, "You can't stop them, but the government will naturally mediate between the two sides. The Buddhist school cannot enter without permission; they can only be invited to Donghai by Linshui Temple in an official capacity. That way, both sides are appeased."

Yousu crossed her legs and continued, "If the monks enter Donghai and want to come to Lingyou Zoo, what's stopping them? They can just buy a ticket!"

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Now that things had developed this far, there was no need to be secretive. It was better to turn trouble into profit.

Anyway, whether it was Luya, Bai Suzhen, or Xiong Siqian, they were more than capable of maintaining their current identities. They had already taken advantage of the Daoist school, so why would they be afraid of the Buddhist school?

Duan Jiaze: "Okay, that's perfect!"

......

The next day, Donghai City TV Station suddenly broadcast a piece of news.

On the screen, a group of monks, accompanied by Daoists and leaders from relevant departments in suits, walked out of the Donghai City high-speed rail station, smiling...

Voice-over:

The seven-day National Inter-religious Exchange Forum is being held in Donghai City, hosted by the National Daoist Association, organized by the Donghai City Bureau of Religious Affairs, and co-organized by Donghai City's Linshui Temple. During the exchange, five hundred and eighty-one representatives from all over the country, of all ethnicities and all religions, will, under the theme of "Religious Harmony, Unity, and Progress," engage in exchanges on culture, education, and various other aspects, to jointly improve the level of religious work and serve society...

---