Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 20 Questioning and Reflection

In the woodshed.

Dingjue collapsed to the ground.

He was listless and unable to move.

Zen Master Chihong withdrew his finger and slowly said, "This strange true energy transformed from the secret method of the mind has been hidden in Dingjue's body for a short time, but it has become like a malignant tumor that has stuck to the bone. I would like to completely eradicate it, but it is difficult to do so even once."

Jie Wen's expression turned serious: "Could it be that a Grandmaster has made a move?"

"No!"

Zen Master Chihong shook his head: "The person who made the move is not very skilled, but the technique used is extremely exquisite and quite concealed. Judging from the timing, it is very likely the work of the person who sold him the deadly poison..."

As Dingjue mentioned before, when the other party was selling the poison, they demonstrated their poison skills to verify its authenticity.

This was originally meant to prove identity, but now it seems that this person took the opportunity to plant a strange kind of true energy in Jue, so even if he was worried that the other party had poison, he didn't need to use it.

After summarizing the facts of the case, two highly suspicious individuals emerged.

The first is Feng Buyu, the deputy head of the Xuanji Hall of the Six Doors.

The second is the person who sells the "Doubtful Poison" in the Wanxing Exchange.

It's even possible that these two people are from the same side.

After all, outsiders wouldn't know this and would definitely think it was a spy from the Six Doors.

Upon arriving here, Jiewen breathed a long sigh of relief.

It seems that the previous judgment was correct; the enemy was targeting the Six Doors.

At least within the Daxiangguo Temple, things should be back to normal.

However, after the other two finished their discussion, Zhan Zhao continued, "The case has become clearer, but I have a question."

Jiewen didn't take it to heart: "Junior Brother, please ask away."

But his expression changed after the other person finished asking the question.

Because Zhan Zhao directly said, "Dingjue said something that, although it seems extreme, is not entirely without reason—is it that allowing a villain like Hu Xiba, who commits violence and takes lives in this place, to enter a Buddhist monastery to escape his karmic obstacles or the net of human law? Has the saying 'lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot' been distorted and abused?"

what?
Is this something that can be said?

But Zhan Zhao insisted on speaking.

Previously it was an interrogation.

Interrogate the murderer.

Now it's time for questioning.

Questioning the environment!

If the Great Xiangguo Temple does not provide a reason for harboring people like Hu Xiba, he will leave without hesitation after repaying his debts.

Because he was unwilling to stay in the filthy Buddhist temple and be considered a fellow disciple with those who committed many evils.

Jiewen's expression changed.

Firstly, this kind of questioning is extremely impolite.

Secondly, I had a strange feeling that if I didn't answer well, I would lose this junior brother in front of me.

"The fact that you ask this question shows that you have the heart to rectify the chaos in Buddhism. Only by sweeping away the dust can you see your true nature, and breaking through evil is to reveal the truth!"

Zen Master Chihong, however, remained calm and offered his approval, saying, "Jiewen, tell me the truth about our temple. There's no need to hide anything."

"Yes!"

Jiewen took a deep breath and slowly said, "So that my junior brother may know that our Great Xiangguo Temple is not as powerful as it appears on the surface—"

"Internally, major temples are becoming increasingly unruly, especially Shaolin Temple, which, relying on its status as the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism, has repeatedly tried to seize the title of the head of Buddhism and covets the 'Mahavairocana Mantra'."

"Externally, the Liao Kingdom's current state religion, the 'Heavenly Dragon Sect,' has been controlling the northern martial arts world with its 'Eight Heavenly Dragons' since it annexed the 'Ten Thousand Absolutes Palace.' Every three years since the two countries ceased hostilities, it sends experts south, ostensibly to discuss the Dharma, but in reality, it's a challenge to a duel..."

At this point, Jiewen said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, have you ever wondered why you haven't seen the abbot after being in the temple for so many days?"

Zhan Zhao had assumed that it was normal for a novice monk like himself not to see the abbot, but this question clearly indicated there was another reason behind it. He nodded and said, "I am indeed curious."

Zen Master Chihong continued: "During the last Dharma discussion, the abbot was injured by Yelü Canglong, the 'Dragon King' among the Eight Heavenly Dragons, and is currently in seclusion to heal his wounds."

Zhan Zhao's expression turned serious: "Is this really true?"

"This is not an isolated case..."

Jiewen also looked at Zen Master Chihong and said with regret, "If my uncle hadn't been ambushed by 'Asura' Xiao Weili more than ten years ago, damaging his foundation, he would have been a martial arts grandmaster long ago. And there are quite a few monks in the temple who were attacked by the 'Heavenly Dragon Sect'!"

Zhan Zhao did notice that Zen Master Chi Hong's skill was much deeper than Jie Wen's, but there was no qualitative change in their levels of understanding.

I initially thought it was an age issue, since if one doesn't become a grandmaster before the age of fifty, there's no hope for the rest of one's life. One can only continue to accumulate internal energy and improve one's skills. I never expected that one was injured and had damaged one's foundation.

Zen Master Chihong sighed softly: "Of the four academies' leaders, only Senior Brother Chiyuan has broken through the Xuan Guan (a crucial barrier in martial arts), and Senior Brother Abbot is seriously injured. It is no exaggeration to say that martial arts are in decline!"

"In order to unite the power of Buddhism to defend against external enemies, extraordinary measures must be taken in extraordinary times!"

Unifying the power of Buddhism is not just empty talk; it requires genuinely mobilizing temples across the land, integrating their resources, and uniting them to fight against external enemies. In this way, local bullies like those sent by Puji Temple must be brought under control.

Similarly, the training of novice monks within the organization is by no means "friendly"—

"The Five-Bitterness Relief Soup is a test;"

"Dingyi's seemingly mad yet not mad state among the novice monks is yet another test."

"Even the existence of people like Hu Xiba serves as a test for the novices. The events that happen in the monks' quarters are all recorded; they are not ignored."

"These layers of trials are precisely to select promising practitioners and increase the number of experts within the temple!"

Jie Wen became increasingly blunt as he spoke.

His voice was full of helplessness.

Zhan Zhao listened silently.

His expression was quite moved.

Looking back, if the Great Xiangguo Temple had truly been extremely powerful, it wouldn't have needed to so eagerly accept me as a disciple.

After all, Zhan Zhao's behavior at Yunqi Manor was quite arrogant.

In public, he accused the Six Doors of being the murderer and beat up the members of the Six Doors without warning.

To understand the martial arts world, one must consider not only the level of martial arts skills, but also one's background and influence.

The Six Doors are located throughout the world and are the official law enforcement agency of the imperial court. Not to mention wandering martial artists, even sects from various regions dare not offend them and are very courteous to them.

After all, unless one stays in their hometown sect for life, one will inevitably encounter constables when traveling the world. When one thinks about the consequences of offending them, the only thing to do is to endure.

Zhan Zhao, however, showed no mercy.

His martial arts training was not about swallowing his pride, but about following his own heart and emphasizing a sense of understanding.

As for being patient and low-key, perhaps quietly reaping benefits could bring a different kind of pleasure, but that doesn't suit his temperament, so he won't do it.

This style actually clashes with Buddhism.

So even though he gained unexpected insights into the Pure Tathagatagarbha and experienced a pleasant surprise in martial arts, Zhan Zhao felt disgusted when he discovered the novice monk's predicament and saw that even someone like Hu Xiba wasn't expelled.

That's why we have this questioning now.

But at this moment, when he understands the true burden that lies beneath the glitz and glamour of the Great Xiangguo Temple, and when he looks at the newly acquired Jade Mirror of Famous Constables, Zhan Zhao is moved.

"The four great constables of the Six Doors admitted defeat without hesitation, willingly handing over the jade mirror symbolizing their status in order to bow their heads."

"The most prestigious temple under heaven, seemingly infinitely glorious, is actually a place where the abbot is seriously injured and the monks have suffered a calamity."

'Behind the scenes, there are all sorts of hardships and obstacles...'

'Zhan Zhao, oh Zhan Zhao, you think yourself so capable, so eager to leave your hometown and roam the world. Do you truly possess the ability to conquer the world?'

Perhaps coming here was a preordained twist of fate, a chance encounter with perilous cases and the trials of life!

With this thought in mind, it was as if a shackle had been suddenly broken. The mental cultivation method of "Pure Tathagatagarbha" flashed into Zhan Zhao's mind, and a look of enlightenment appeared between his brows.

Upon seeing this, Zen Master Chihong immediately said, "The method that just eradicated the foreign true energy from Dingjue was the 'Eight Winds Unmoved Mind Sutra,' which I comprehended from the 'Pure Tathagatagarbha.' All kinds of external afflictions are like dust on a mirror, and this method is the hand that sweeps away the dust..."

He began to explain the secrets without reservation.

The core meaning of this "Eight Winds Unmoved Mind Sutra" is that practitioners gradually transcend the eight worldly winds—gain, loss, destruction, praise, honor, ridicule, suffering, and pleasure—through meditation and contemplation, so that their minds become like a clear mirror, reflecting all things without being stained by dust.

Zen Master Chihong meditates daily, focusing his mind on the dantian (lower abdomen) and silently reciting mantras to gradually rid himself of distracting thoughts.

When one has cultivated to the highest level, one can directly perceive one's true nature from external appearances, without being disturbed by any emotions.

Jiewen continued, “The method of cultivating the mind that I realized from the Pure Tathagatagarbha is also related to the eight winds, and is called ‘Cultivating the Mind through the Eight Winds’. It involves actively placing oneself in the situations of the eight winds, observing one’s own reactions with a Zen mind, and gradually dissolving attachments.”

"Profit and loss, praise and blame are like fleeting clouds; praise and ridicule, joy and sorrow are all illusions!"

Zhan Zhao listened silently, reflecting on his own understanding of the Clarity of Mind Technique, and slowly said, "The five aggregates are empty... the eight winds are unmoved... none of these are suitable for me! What I should pursue is the clarity of the six minds!"

Upon realizing this, the six major acupoints in his body immediately responded, Zhan Zhao's brows relaxed, and a righteous and peaceful aura spread out.

"Junior Brother is truly a cultivation prodigy; he has made further progress!"

Jiewen laughed heartily, ready to strike while the iron was hot: "You shall be registered as a monk and formally become a monk of the Jie generation!"

"No!"

Zhan Zhao firmly shook his head: "I have only been in the temple for a short time and have no Zen mind. I am willing to be a novice monk who sweeps the floor, so that my mind may be clear and pure, and I may be free and at ease."

Still refused.

This time, however, he no longer cared about seniority or Buddhist name.

This time, however, he no longer had the air of a reclusive master like the Sweeping Monk in his mind, and he did not consciously or unconsciously imitate him.

Rather, it comes from the heart, and one's actions are consistent with one's beliefs.

Jiewen was momentarily stunned, but Zen Master Chihong smiled and put his palms together, saying, "Excellent, excellent! Young hero, you have now entered the gates of my Great Xiangguo Temple!"

(End of this chapter)