Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

Liu Boqin led Tang Sanzang to the front of his own courtyard.

This was a rather spacious courtyard with bluestone walls and a thatched roof. Though not luxurious, it was clean and tidy. Liu Boqin's mother, Madam Liu, along with his wife and several servants, had already come out to greet them upon hearing the commotion.

Madam Liu was about sixty years old, with gray hair, but still quite spry. She wore simple cloth clothes and held a string of old Buddhist beads in her hand, looking like a devout Buddhist believer.

She immediately spotted Tang Sanzang behind her son, and... that horrifying tiger corpse.

"Boqin...this...who is this elder?"

Madam Liu's voice trembled slightly, clearly she was also frightened.

Liu Boqin quickly explained it again, and emphasized it specifically.

"Mother, this Elder Tang is a holy monk who came from the foot of the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, and is on his way to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek the true scriptures! His Buddhist teachings are profound and his virtue is lofty!"

Upon hearing that the monk was a pilgrim from the Tang Dynasty, Madam Liu's eyes lit up, and the fear on her face faded considerably, replaced by sincere respect. She quickly put her hands together and was about to pay her respects.

"So it is the holy monk from the East who has arrived! I have failed to greet you properly, please forgive me! Please come in, please come in!"

Tang Sanzang returned the greeting, then threw the tiger carcass he was dragging onto the open ground in front of the Liu family's house with a thud, raising a cloud of dust.

He clapped his hands and said to Liu Boqin.

“Benefactor Liu, please arrange for someone to process this ‘ingredient’. It can be grilled or stewed, just remember to add plenty of cumin… uh, what I mean is, remember to cook it carefully and don’t waste it.”

Liu Boqin's lips twitched, but he still nodded in agreement and ordered two bold servants to deal with the tiger's carcass.

The two servants' legs went weak at the sight of the ferocious tiger's head, but they dared not disobey. They had no choice but to steel themselves and begin to work cautiously.

Liu Boqin led Tang Sanzang into the main room, invited him to take a seat, and then asked his wife to prepare hot water and clean clothes. Old Madam Liu personally served him coarse tea with utmost respect.

After Tang Sanzang had freshened up and taken a sip of tea, Liu Boqin glanced at his mother's expectant eyes and took the opportunity to speak.

“Elder Tang, my mother has always been a Buddhist and has been practicing vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures for many years. However, due to our remote location, she rarely hears profound Buddhist teachings. Your presence today is truly a blessing from heaven. I wonder if you could be so kind as to explain some of the essentials of Buddhism to my mother? That way, she can have some connection with Buddhism and fulfill her wishes.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly, gazing earnestly at Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang put down his teacup, looked at the devout old woman in front of him, and recalled the "true essence of Buddhism" taught by Lin Zhu. Suddenly, a sense of mission to "pass on the teachings, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts" welled up in his heart.

He cleared his throat, sat up straight, and tried his best to look solemn before speaking.

"The old lady is devoted to Buddhism, which is commendable. However, in my humble opinion, the Buddhist teachings that the old lady has practiced and learned in the past are probably not very useful."

"what?"

Madam Liu was stunned, and Liu Boqin was also stunned.

That's a really direct way of putting it, isn't it?
Tang Sanzang continued speaking to himself, his tone carrying an unquestionable "confidence".

"The Buddhist teachings I transmit are quite different from the outdated doctrines circulating in the world. They are the supreme and wonderful Dharma that directly points to one's own mind and breaks through falsehood to preserve truth."

Both Madam Liu and Liu Boqin were intimidated by his imposing manner, and they held their breath and listened attentively.

Tang Sanzang spoke solemnly.

"The first principle of Buddhism is that 'wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart.' Wine and meat are excellent things that nourish the body and strengthen the blood and qi. The body is the precious raft for crossing the world. Without a strong body, how can one travel thousands of miles to seek the true scriptures? How can one subdue demons and spread the Dharma? To regard wine and meat as taboo is a pedantic view that cuts oneself off from the nourishment of the Great Way."

Madam Liu.

"..."

Her hand, which was holding the prayer beads, froze.

Liu Boqin.

"!!!"

His eyes widened.

Tang Sanzang seemed oblivious to their reactions and continued his eloquent speech.

"Secondly, those who cultivate Buddhism must understand the principle of 'no destruction, no construction.' The vast Buddhist scriptures, with their elaborate texts and strict rules, are all shackles that bind the mind. Only by daring to break these outdated customs and habits can one see the true Buddha and understand the true Dharma. Breaking through appearances and pointing directly to the core is the right path of cultivation."

“Thirdly, and most importantly,” Tang Sanzang said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Madam Liu, enunciating each word clearly.

"The Eight Precepts of Buddhism are not about abstaining from oneself, but about abstaining from all sentient beings! What does this mean? It means that others are not allowed to kill me, steal from me, do anything improper to me, lie to me, or prevent me from drinking alcohol or eating meat, etc. These are the protective rules bestowed by the Buddha upon devout believers, the supreme shield protecting us who are devoted to Buddhism! Many people misunderstand this, thinking that the precepts are to bind themselves, which is a great mistake! They are for our protection!"

After this "profound" discourse, the hall fell silent. The prayer beads in Old Madam Liu's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," and she stared wide-eyed, her mouth agape, as if her very soul had been shattered.

Meanwhile, Liu Boqin, who was standing next to him, gradually developed a strange light in his eyes after the initial shock. He frowned and carefully pondered every word Tang Sanzang said.

"Wine and meat pass through the intestines... nourishing the body... that makes sense! How can you hunt without strength? How can you protect your family?"

Liu Boqin thought to himself.

"No destruction, no construction... Break with convention... Those monks chant scriptures all day long, how many of them can truly subdue demons and monsters? They're not as practical as this Elder Tang!"

He glanced at the tiger carcass being disposed of outside the door.

"Pigsy is supposed to be a disciplinarian to others... to protect himself?!"

Liu Boqin felt as if a lightning bolt had cleaved through his mind, and many things he had previously struggled with suddenly became clear! "That's right! Not allowing others to kill me, harm me, or deceive me—isn't that right? That's the most practical principle! I've misunderstood Buddhism before! This is the true essence of Buddhism with high emotional intelligence! It protects oneself while also appearing... uh, appearing as profound as Buddhism!"

The more Liu Boqin thought about it, the more unfathomable this Tang Abbot seemed! This wasn't just mad rambling; it was clearly a glimpse into the deepest, most practical, and most human-nature-related truths of Buddhism! No wonder he could overpower all the monks in Chang'an, even leaving the Arhats and Buddhas speechless! This was a truly extraordinary person!
"Mother! Did you hear that?"

Liu Boqin excitedly turned to his still-stunned mother. "Master Tang's teachings are true Buddhism! They reach the essence and protect oneself! They're far more effective than all that vegetarianism and chanting of incomprehensible scriptures you used to recite!"

When her son called out to her, Madam Liu came back to her senses. Her eyes were still confused, but when she saw her son's excited and convinced appearance, and then looked at Tang Sanzang's "compassionate and solemn" expression, her long-established belief system began to shake violently.

Could it be... that I really believed the wrong thing? Were those rules and regulations truly shackles? Was this wine and meat... really permitted by Buddha? Were these precepts... truly meant to be imposed on others?
She was already old, and her mind was not as sharp as that of a young person, making her more susceptible to strong suggestions. Under the dual "guidance" of her son and this "Great Tang Holy Monk," the scales in her heart began to tip quietly.

As dusk fell, oil lamps were lit inside the Liu family's main room.

Just then, a servant carried in several large wooden platters. On the platters was tiger meat, roasted until golden brown and glistening with oil, sprinkled with coarse salt and unknown spices. The aroma instantly filled the entire room, making everyone's mouths water. There was also a pot of homemade rice wine next to it.

Liu Boqin solicitously invited Tang Sanzang to take a seat, and then invited his mother to sit down as well. He then personally poured wine for Tang Sanzang and himself, and poured a small cup for his mother as well.

"Elder Tang, this is just a simple meal, nothing special. But this tiger meat... I roasted it as you instructed, would you like to try some?"

Liu Boqin has now fully accepted Tang Sanzang's new "Buddhist teachings" and even feels that the tiger meat has a "Buddhist affinity".

Tang Sanzang looked at the fragrant tiger meat, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He tried his best to maintain the demeanor of a "high monk," nodded, and then looked at Madam Liu, extending a very "compassionate" invitation.

"Madam, this is vegetarian meat, a test and blessing from Buddha. Why not share it with this humble monk and bask in Buddha's light?"

Looking at the glistening tiger meat, then at her son's expectant eyes, and recalling her earlier theory of "wine and meat passing through the intestines," Old Madam Liu gritted her teeth, clasped her hands together, and whispered, "Amitabha, wine and meat pass through the intestines..."

Then he picked up his chopsticks.

Seeing this, Liu Boqin smiled with "gratification," put his hands together, and said "Buddha remains in my heart" before picking up his chopsticks.

So the three of them sat down in front of the Buddha and began to eat meat and drink wine heartily.

Tang Sanzang ate with particular gusto. He grabbed a roasted tiger paw and, disregarding his image, began to gnaw on it, his mouth dripping with oil and his face glowing red.

He mumbled something indistinctly while eating.

"Mmm...delicious! This is meat of supreme merit! Buddha...is already in my stomach! Last time only a little Buddha light came out, this time...I must make him...uh, poop out!"

He let out a burp and continued fighting.

At first, Madam Liu was a little reserved, but after a few bites, the long-lost aroma of meat and the rich, oily flavor brought a blush to her pale face.

She felt a warm sensation in her stomach, as if a small Buddha was smiling at her with a flower in hand, and an unprecedented sense of fullness and strength surged through her body.

"So... so this is the right path."

Madam Liu murmured to herself, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Before, I ate only bland food all day long, and even chanting scriptures was exhausting. Now, after eating this vegetarian meat, I feel full of energy, and when I chant 'wine and meat pass through the intestines,' my voice is strong! I suppose Buddha... also wanted his followers to have the energy to chant scriptures and spread the Dharma, right?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Boqin nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing.

The three of them thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and the atmosphere was incredibly harmonious.

After a hearty meal, Madam Liu, deeply moved by the profound mystery of this "supreme Buddhist teaching," felt that such a wonderful principle should not be kept to herself but should be widely shared so that more people could escape the "sea of ​​suffering." So, despite the late hour, she hurriedly went out after dinner to "share her insights" with several fellow Buddhist women in the village.

This "new Buddhism" was easy to understand and directly addressed people's hearts. It also had the aura of being "personally transmitted by the holy monk of the Tang Dynasty." In addition, Old Madam Liu gave a personal account, describing how eating tiger meat made "Buddha enter her stomach," "increase her strength," and "enhance the efficiency of chanting scriptures." It quickly caused a sensation in the village.

The news spread like wildfire. Overnight, the entire Liu Family Village was immersed in a joyful atmosphere of "enlightenment." The men felt that "Pigsy is about disciplining others" resonated deeply with them, the women thought "wine and meat are nourishing" made perfect sense, and the elders felt that "no destruction, no construction" gave them new hope.

The next day, the aroma of stewed meat even wafted faintly through the village, along with the cheerful humming of "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart."

Lin Zhu, who had been observing all this from a higher dimension as if watching an experimental sample, had an extremely strange expression on his face.

"This...is this okay?"

He never expected that his nonsense, intended to disrupt the Journey to the West and annoy Jin Chanzi, would actually be taken as "supreme Buddhist teachings" by the people of Liu Family Village and spread spontaneously, forming a... bizarre folk belief.

Just as he felt it was utterly absurd, the cold system notification sounded again from the depths of his consciousness.

[Ding! Detected that the 'revolutionary Buddhist principles' taught by the host have spontaneously spread and been initially accepted in a localized area, forming a weak ripple of faith. 'Buddhism' is being promoted on a small scale.]

[Congratulations, host, you have gained 1 point of merit and vow power.]

Lin Zhu.

"..."

Looking at the pitiful "1 point" of merit and vow power, and then at the "harmonious" scene of Zhuangzi below, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

The style of this Journey to the West seems to have started from the moment Tang Sanzang's severed finger was reborn, and it has been heading in an increasingly bizarre direction that even he, the "troublemaker," could not have predicted.

Looking at the lone "1 point" of merit and vow power in the system notification, Lin Zhu's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

This amount is nothing compared to the 100,000 merits gained from the previous "Buddhist teachings" critical strike.

However, Lin Zhu did not hold it in the slightest. The power of merit and vows, especially the power of vows gained from spreading ideas and forming a weak faith, is of a special nature. It often involves cause and effect and fortune. Even a little bit of it may have unexpected and wonderful uses at certain key moments. Its value is far beyond what can be measured by simple numbers.

Just as he was pondering the mystery that this "1 point" of willpower might contain, deep within his consciousness, the system notification sound that was always cold and timely echoed again. This time, however, it carried an unusual rhythm, as if it had touched upon a deeper level of rules.

[Ding! Detected that the key plot character 'Tang Sanzang, the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi' has undergone a fundamental subversion of his inherent Buddhist understanding and has begun to spontaneously spread subversive ideas, potentially interfering with the Journey to the West's fundamental purpose of 'showcasing Buddhism and attracting believers'.]

[Trigger a hidden main quest series. Let the pilgrims have some fun!]

[Mission Summary. The Western Paradise, specifically Mount Ling, intends to use the Journey to the West as a pretext to showcase the compassion, majesty, and supernatural powers of 'orthodox Buddhism' along the way, widely gathering faith and accumulating merit and good fortune. The host's actions have successfully derailed the pilgrims from their intended path. Please continue to guide, amplify, or utilize this deviation to interfere with and disrupt the Western Paradise's plan to showcase 'orthodox Buddhism' through this journey, and to seize or divert the merits within their plan.] (End of Chapter)