Who gave this heretical practitioner permission to cook?

Chapter 144 The Buddha's teachings on the Three Purities are utterly hypocritical. He allows you to have karma but forbids me from becoming a demon? (3K Second Update)
[This is too much to handle; Zhu Wuneng should just submit this paper!]

[It's impossible to win. If it were just the first one, it would be alright, but the second one is even more difficult. Don't forget Xia Ming's "蓑衣黄瓜" (a type of cucumber dish)!]

It's alright, kung fu doesn't necessarily mean knife skills, it can be presented in other forms too~

Now it depends on whether Zhu Wuneng is a lay disciple or not. I remember that lay disciples are allowed to eat meat.

[Being able to eat meat doesn't mean you can kill living beings. Unless he's a fake monk, this bag is going to explode!]

Just as netizens and others were discussing the matter, Xia Ming's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Pigs? That's a good subject."

He would never believe such an absurd claim as Zhu Wuneng only knowing how to cook vegetarian dishes.

Let's put aside what the "onion" in "Thousand-Thread Phoenix Tail" actually is! Just tell him how he got second place.
It's fried rice with egg.
What, do eggs just fall into the pot by themselves and boil themselves?
"He can use both eggs and onions. I don't know if this monk is real or not, but he certainly doesn't follow the rules that well."

Xia Ming narrowed his eyes. Moreover, Zhu Wuneng's knife skills must be excellent, otherwise he wouldn't be able to cut a dish like Thousand-Thread Phoenix Tail. Given the limited side dishes, what would he choose?

That's a bit hard to guess~ haha~
After drawing their questions on the spot, Xia Ming and Zhu Wuneng followed the staff's instructions to their respective stoves.

After confirming that all the tools were in good working order, a huge table was set up in the middle of the site, and then several staff members carried an iron plate on it.

As the red cloth on the iron plate was lifted, everyone was shocked to find that there were two identical pigs cut in half.

Not only the pig's nose, but also the pig's brain, spine, and even the tail were completely cut into two parts.

Seeing this, everyone realized that this half-pig was the main ingredient for the two of them.

As for the ingredients, the two of them need to go backstage with the staff to choose them.

On camera, after exploring the area, Xia Ming chose "bamboo fungus" and Zhu Wuneng chose "dried plum vegetables".

Seeing that Zhu Wuneng had indeed chosen dried plum vegetables, Xia Ming raised his eyebrows slightly.

"So, it's just as I expected!"

With a smile, Xia Ming took the bamboo fungus back to the stove and then walked towards the center.

At the same time, Zhu Wuneng walked to the platform in the middle with a compassionate expression.
As the two stood closer, their eyes met, and Xia Ming's eyes were filled with smiles.

"Zhu Wuneng, aren't you a monk? A monk, yet you're making meat? Aren't you afraid of committing a sin and being expelled from the temple?"

Upon hearing Xia Ming's words, Zhu Wuneng clasped his hands together and then slowly spoke.

“Benefactor Xia, you are unaware of this. The so-called cause and effect of killing is not as you think.”

“My master often said that the karmic consequences of killing are frequent illnesses and a short lifespan, but there are differences between different kinds of killing.”

Xia Ming smiled when he heard this. He finally realized that the faint aura emanating from Zhu Wuneng was similar to something in his memory.

That's right, it was the sixteenth elder of the Blood Blade Sect, "Blood-Faced Buddha," a madman who was extremely devout during the day and bloodthirsty and greedy at night.

The face of the Sixteenth Elder flashed through Xia Ming's mind, and a slightly mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Then I'd like to hear it: Aren't 'killing' and 'killing' both 'killing'? They're the same character with the same strokes, so what's the difference?"

Zhu Wuneng remained incredibly devout at this moment.

"Actually, everyone knows that killing is wrong, but there must be someone in this world to wield the knife."

"A butcher may have a kind heart, but his hands are still full of karmic burdens. This is called responsibility. I am a cook in a temple. I do not like killing, but I have to kill. This is also a responsibility."

Therefore, being a "chef" is my cause and effect.

"If you don't know the suffering of others, don't advise them to do good. I have no other talents. Although I don't like killing, I still need to make a living."

"I used to be troubled by countless worries, but my master comforted me."

As he spoke, Zhu Wuneng's originally kind demeanor began to change, and his hunched body gradually straightened up.

“Being a chef is my karma, and I naturally have to bear the consequences, but I cook to benefit the temple and my family.”

“When I chant Buddha’s name, believe in Buddha, and make offerings to Buddha, my sincerity is greater than my actions. When I cut meat with a knife, it is not to satisfy my own appetite, nor is it because I have any hatred.”

"All of this is for the sake of more people."

As he spoke, his eyes lit up, and he took a step forward.

"Although I am now entangled in karma because of this, I also revere the Buddha even more. Moreover, the Buddha also speaks of the Three Purities!"

"To see no killing, to hear no killing, and not to kill for one's own sake! This is called the Three Purities."

“Benefactor Xia, I did not witness the pig’s tragic death; this is what is meant by ‘not seeing it killed.’”

"When this pig died, I did not hear it scream, which is called 'not hearing the killing'."

"This pig's fate is tied to the competition. Whether I am here or not, he cannot escape his calamity today. This is his own karma, not my doing."

"Therefore, this pig did not die because of me; it was not killed for my own sake."

"Since it is one of the three purityes, it is naturally not subject to taboo. Our ancestor Shakyamuni never said that we should forbid eating meat. He only said that if you have Buddha in your heart, you are practicing Buddhism and do not need external things!"

At this point, Zhu Wuneng's aura became sharp. "As for Benefactor Xia, I see a deep murderous aura between your brows, you are burdened with sinister karma, your methods are ruthless, and your behavior is arrogant."

"Disrespect and lack of reverence are the hallmarks of a great demon."

"If you ask me, you'd be better off entering my temple, praying and chanting sutras to wash away this karma!"

Looking at Zhu Wuneng, whose aura had fully materialized, Xia Ming burst into laughter.

"What a fine three purifications, what a fine cause and effect, what a fine sincerity! You say I have the appearance of a great demon?"

Zhu Wuneng blinked and found that Xia Ming was not affected by his words; on the contrary, he became even more arrogant.

Zhu Wuneng narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"The demon has seeped into your bones; your appearance reflects your heart. You may not have the appearance of a great demon, but you already possess the essence of one. If you do not rid yourself of this demonic heart, it will bring disaster upon your family."

"Hey, you monk, you have a really good eye for people!"

"?"

Zhu Wuneng was stunned, and all his words were cut off by Xia Ming's "You have a good eye for people".

Seeing his appearance, Xia Ming took a few steps forward.

"Yes, are you surprised? You read that right, I am the Magic Chef!"

"You're allowed to have the karma of being a monk and a cook, but I'm not allowed to have the karma of being a cook and a demon? If that's the case, then it's a situation where you have it and I don't?"

"What I'm afraid of is that you're a hypocrite!"

As he spoke, Xia Ming stretched his neck.

"A butcher kills animals for a living, a chef kills animals to feed thousands, but you, a temple chef, shouldn't you be surrounded by vegetables and fruits every day? What, does your entire temple eat meat?"

"If everyone didn't eat meat, then the karma you created as a cook would probably have all ended up in your own stomach!"

"Zhu Wuneng, that name reminds me of 'Pigsy' (Bajie). I see you, him, and this pig on the chopping board all have something in common."

Zhu Wuneng's face twitched when he heard Xia Ming's words.
He could easily tell that Xia Ming was indirectly criticizing him for breaking his vows, making him no different from a pig on a chopping board.
But he had already lost the argument, and Xia Ming actually admitted that he was a demon, which Zhu Wuneng found completely incomprehensible.

"Does he really not care about his reputation or status at all, giving such a response in front of so many people?"

Xia Ming snorted coldly, realizing that Zhu Wuneng hadn't investigated him carefully.

Among the netizens in the live stream who know him even a little bit, everyone knows he is the "Sichuan-Chongqing Ice and Fire Chef".

Isn't it only natural that a master chef would have the appearance of a great demon?

Moreover, he is a true demon.
After all that rambling, isn't it just an excuse to cook meat dishes? What about cause and effect, what about killing?

You might as well just say that eating meat is nutritious and that people need to eat meat; that would be much more straightforward.
After all, as a lay disciple, as long as the temple doesn't interfere, no one else will really care if you eat meat.

But Zhu Wuneng's hypocrisy lies in the fact that he clearly has his own agenda, yet he keeps trying to use the banner of Buddhism.

It's commonly known as "having a prostitute but wanting to erect a memorial arch." According to him, either his temple has a problem, or he has a problem, or both.
Anyway, there's always one of them with a problem.
Netizens aren't stupid. Do you think saying this will stop the investigation? The real danger is that once the investigation is complete, Zhu Wuneng might not be able to handle it.
After all, once you break the vow against eating meat, that's it. Who knows if you've broken other vows too?
Zhu Wuneng took a deep breath as he looked at Xia Ming, who was smiling in front of him, and then resumed his feigned compassionate expression.

"It seems that Benefactor Xia has been completely possessed by demons. In this case, words are no longer of any use. This humble monk can only do my best to heal Benefactor Xia's inner demons!"

As he spoke, Zhu Wuneng grabbed the pork in front of him, then flipped over and hoisted the pig onto his shoulder.

Then, without looking back, he walked towards his stove.

Xia Ming watched his departing figure and snorted coldly. Then, he steadily picked up the half-pig in front of him with both hands and carried it towards his stove.

When the two of them took all the pigs away, the viewers in the live stream were dumbfounded.

No, this pig must weigh over 200 jin (100 kg). If you cut it in half, that's over 100 jin (50 kg) – that's like two strongmen!

[It's understandable that Zhu Wuneng could lean on his shoulder to support him, but Xia Ming was literally carrying him on his back—seriously, do chefs need to be this strong?]

My forehead is a bit bigger than average, but both of these are quite strong!

[By the way, Zhu Wuneng was rambling on and on about the Three Purities and karma, so could someone tell me, is that true?]

Theoretically speaking, it is indeed possible, but even in temples, very few people do it; to ordinary people, it would definitely be considered a violation of precepts.

I feel Xia Ming is more domineering. If you're a demon, just admit it. A hypocritical Buddha versus a straightforward demon—I'd rather choose the latter!

Speaking of hypocritical Buddhas, do you remember the few who were around a while ago?

While netizens were discussing the matter, Zhu Wuneng had already picked up a knife and begun skillfully butchering the pork.

With his skills, if he took off all his clothes, people would believe he was a butcher!
He quickly removed a piece of brightly colored "pork belly" from the pig's abdomen near the front leg, then performed basic trimmings before starting to sear and blanch it.

Upon seeing this move, and considering that he was holding "dried plum vegetables," the contestants and judges present all knew what dish he wanted to make.
"Backstage, in the players' lounge," Sun Xingyao, who didn't get to play today, looked at Zhu Wuneng's camera and snorted coldly.

"A fake monk making real 'pagoda-shaped meat'—it's utterly ironic!"

(End of this chapter)