Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Xie Xiaoyi rushed over to the empty stool, sat down, and grinned as he tried to smooth things over:

"Hey, Buddhism and Taoism have always been one family, why bother arguing over these verbal victories?"

As he spoke, he picked up a wine jar and filled three glasses. "Come on, let's drink, let's eat, there's no need for so much arguing!"

Hu Si hurriedly clasped his hands together: "Thank you, benefactor, but this humble monk cannot drink alcohol, otherwise it would be breaking my vow!"

Xie Xiaoyi laughed and pushed the wine glass towards him.

"Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart. Drink up! What does it matter if there's wine in your stomach if there's no wine in your heart?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Fang also put down his wine jug and chimed in:

"Young master, you are mistaken! The Taoists say, 'Follow the principles of Yin and Yang, and harmonize with the arts of numerology.'"

Wine is the essence of the five grains, brewed in accordance with the seasons and born from the earth's energy; it is a creation of nature.

"By simply drinking this one cup, you merge with nature and harmonize with the Great Way. How can there be any talk of breaking the precepts?"

The little tiger-like monk blinked his big eyes, looked at Xie Xiaoyi, then at Lu Fang, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his monk's robe.

liqueur?

What does it taste like?

It looks just like water, but smells wonderful. I really want to try it!

To drink or not to drink?

He stared at the swirling liquid in his glass and muttered, "But Master said that monks must abstain from meat and alcohol..."

Lu Fang raised an eyebrow and added:

"As the Taoist scriptures say, 'Go with the flow and transform without doing.' Taking a sip of wine is merely going with the flow at this moment and conforming to the present circumstances; it cannot be considered breaking a precept."

Taking the opportunity, Xie Xiaoyi brought the wine glass to his lips and said with a smile:

"With unwavering resolve like a diamond, and a heart that transcends all demons, what harm is there in having wine in one's belly, as long as one's heart is devoted to the Buddha?"

These words struck Hu Si like a thunderbolt, causing him to shudder and abruptly loosen his grip on the monk's robe.

A hint of confusion flashed in those clear, large eyes, then suddenly cleared up—

Master often said that spiritual practice lies in one's own heart, not in being bound by external things.

He stared blankly at the wine glass, all his previous entanglement dissipating, and he grinned, revealing a hearty smile.

Before Xie Xiaoyi and Lu Fang could offer any further persuasion, Hu Si raised his hand, took the wine cup, and cautiously sipped it.

The refreshing and sweet taste spread across his tongue, making his eyes light up.

Immediately afterwards, he tilted his head back and gulped down the wine in his glass, then slammed the empty glass down on the table with a crisp sound.

"Another cup, please!"

Lu Fang and Xie Xiaoyi exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

After several rounds of drinks, their spirits rose higher and higher.

Xie Xiaoyi then called the shopkeeper and ordered two or three more jars of mellow fruit wine.

Amidst the clinking of wine cups, the sharp arguments between Buddhism and Taoism had long since dissipated into laughter. The three chatted about everything from anecdotes of the martial world to stories of their sects, from youthful arrogance to insights into cultivation, finding themselves increasingly congenial.

As night deepened outside the window, the night watchman's clapper struck the second watch, and the flickering candlelight illuminated three smiling faces, filling the room with a joyful atmosphere.

Lu Fang slammed his wine cup on the table, spilling a few drops of wine, then threw his head back and laughed loudly:

"That's great! That's great! The three of us met by chance, yet we hit it off so well. It's truly a great fate!"

In my opinion, since we've hit it off so well, why don't we become sworn brothers? Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Xie Xiaoyi nearly choked after taking a swig of wine. He wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth and said, "Wait! Buddhist and Taoist sects can form sworn brotherhoods? Is this appropriate?"

Lu Fang raised an eyebrow and stretched:

The Daoist scriptures say, “The Great Dao is all-encompassing, and can be left or right.” The Great Dao of the world is inherently all-encompassing, so why are there so many rules and regulations that restrict it?

"Becoming sworn brothers is about opening one's heart, valuing loyalty, following this predestined connection, and aligning with this shared sentiment. What does it have to do with any sect?"

As he spoke, he stood up first and said loudly:

"I, Lu Fang, wish to become sworn brothers with you two. We do not ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year!"

Xie Xiaoyi, feeling the effects of the alcohol, slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "Good! That's exactly what I wanted to hear!"

Tiger Rhino let out a hiccup and stood up as well, clasping his hands together and saying, "Ah... Amitabha... hiccup! Today we swear brotherhood, so we are... we are brothers!"

Lu Fang laughed heartily and put his arms around their shoulders: "Stop dawdling, just reveal your ages."

Lu Fang is twenty-four, Hu Si is seventeen, and Xie Xiaoyi is exactly eighteen.

Lu Fang patted Xie Xiaoyi on the shoulder and laughed, "Second brother, from now on..."

"I won't be second!!" Xie Xiaoyi blurted out.

Lu Fang was taken aback, then frowned: "What? You want to be the eldest brother instead of the second-in-command?"

Xie Xiaoyi was dumbfounded.

This "second son" reminded him of a certain organ, and he certainly didn't want to be the second son.

Otherwise, every time they met, Lu Fang would call him "Second Brother," which sounded like calling him "Idiot."

He shook his head.

No!

I don't want to be number two.

"Uh... I'll be the third one!"

Tiger Rhino touched his bald head, puzzled. "What about me? In our Great Awakening Temple, we are ranked from eldest brother, second brother, third brother, and so on."

"Hmm...you're the fourth brother."

Xie Xiaoyi frantically pointed at Lu Fang, then at himself, and finally at Hu Si, speaking as fast as if he were playing a clapper:

"You're the eldest brother, I'm the third, and he's the fourth! We don't need the second brother..."

Uh—I have to, I can't not have! Hmm... let's leave the second one out for now!

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Fang froze, his hand hanging in mid-air: "How can a sworn brotherhood be complete without a second brother? If word gets out, people will laugh their heads off!"

Xie Xiaoyi had a sudden inspiration: "In my hometown, there's a saying that sworn brotherhood is done in pairs, not singles, so let's do as I say!"

"What kind of statement is this? Where are you from?" Lu Fang looked at Xie Xiaoyi with suspicion, slowly approaching him.

Xie Xiaoyi took a step back and gave an awkward laugh: "I'm doing this for your own good!"

Lu Fang rubbed his chin, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "For my own good?"

Xie Xiaoyi started talking nonsense.

"That's right, the rule where I'm from is that when you become sworn brothers, you should swear brotherhood with even numbers, not odd numbers. Sworn brotherhood with an odd number will ruin your life, while sworn brotherhood with an even number will make you successful anywhere!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Fang raised an eyebrow, a calculating glint in his eyes.

There used to be a saying: "Praying for odd numbers ruins your life, while praying for even numbers makes you successful in everything."

It's better not to have a second child!

"Hmm! Third brother's words are quite insightful—since the position of second brother is so valuable, let's leave it vacant for now."

As he spoke, he leaned over to pour himself a glass of wine, raised his hand, and said, "Then it's settled: I am the eldest brother, Xie Mo is the third brother, and Hu Si is the fourth brother."

Xie Xiaoyi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly raised his wine glass in response, "Big Brother! Fourth Brother!"

Tiger Rhino, still a little dizzy, patted his chest and shouted, "Big Brother! Third Brother! Amitabha... hiccup! From now on, the three of us will drink together again!"

......

At the summit of Wangjiang Mountain stands the "Star Gazing Tower," the number one manor in the world.

Xie Daoyun, observing the stars through the window, suddenly paused as he fiddled with the white jade chess piece, muttering to himself:

The true martial arts master's shadow hides in the immortal embryo, while the living Buddha and the simple monk tread the mundane path.

In the uncharted land, a hidden dragon awaits its awakening; a jar of turbid wine is used to build a cloud-covered platform.