The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

Panda Novel

Fangzheng was taken aback as he asked, “Flight tickets? What flight tickets? And you’re here to pick me up? To the airport? Then, where are you?”

Jing Yan was stunned hearing all these questions as she returned with a question. “Together with the invitation letter, there was a pair of flight tickets. Didn’t you see them? Don’t tell me the delivery man lost something like this!”

Fangzheng was dumbfounded. There were flight tickets inside the envelope? On careful thought, he hadn’t even looked at it carefully… However, even if he had seen them, he would have still imagined it to be part of the scam. After all, back when he was roped into an MLM scam, they had also paid for his traveling fees.

“Ahem, about that… To err is human? This Penniless Monk believes that since it has already happened, why don’t we let it go? We should be lenient if possible, right?” Fangzheng coughed dryly as he said with a blushing face.

Thankfully, it was a phone call, and Jing Yan couldn’t see his red face. Otherwise, she would have noticed the fishiness of the matter. Instead, she even praised Fangzheng. “It’s no wonder you are known as a master. You are truly broadminded. If it were me, I would definitely give them trouble. After all, this is a huge matter.”

Fangzheng nodded like a chicken pecking at grain and said, “Yes, yes, yes. By the way, where do I meet you?”

“I’m outside One Finger Village,” Jing Yan said.

Fangzheng nearly gave himself a slap when he heard that. He had seen a car parked outside the village and had found it familiar, but he didn’t think too much of it. Now, he felt awash in tears! With a good car waiting for them, who would choose to ride a fish!? First, there wasn’t any vehicle license for the fish. Second, there wasn’t a helmet. And third, there wasn’t any insurance. If he got surrounded, he’d be in trouble. Hence, Fangzheng patted the fish head and said, “Turn around, back to One Finger Village!”

Salted Fish rolled his eyes, nearly cursing. It was still early in the morning. Others would walk their dogs or let their children out to have fun, but here, he was walking the fish?

However, Salted Fish obediently ran back with Fangzheng on top.

Before long, the man and fish arrived outside One Finger Village at a blistering speed. Indeed, they saw a car parked at the entrance to the village. A beauty was standing outside, her head raised as she looked over.

Jing Yan only saw a white snowy streak, as though it was tearing through seawater, stirring up waves off snow through the wheat fields.

That’s right. Salted Fish didn’t take the main road but tore right through the wheat fields since it was much faster. However, it was shocking in the eyes of Jing Yan! She was given a fright, imagining that a monster was running towards her. She nearly escaped back into her car and fled.

By the time Fangzheng and Salted Fish arrived, she saw the white figure leap into the sky, somersault in the air before landing beautifully on the ground with a thud. Fangzheng’s white monk robes fluttered with the wind as the handsome and cool monk had his palms pressed together and stood there looking unalarmed.

Before Jing Yan could say a word, there was a strange cry and a bang sounding from the fields. A black object had hit a root and flown into the sky! Then, with a loud thud, it fell into a snow pile head first.

Fangzheng then smiled at Jing Yan. “Brought this salted fish down the mountain, but ended up dropping it. Let This Penniless Monk retrieve it.”

With that said, Fangzheng hurriedly pulled out Salted Fish as he glared angrily at Fangzheng. He said with a suppressed voice, “Reverend, if you wish to kill a fish, can’t you use a cleaner method? You jumped off mid-journey and even kicked me. You looked cool and awesome, but I crashed. Do you know that?”

Fangzheng coughed dryly. “Do you think I wanted to do that? It’s just that I’d destroy my image if I appeared riding you. I guarantee you it won’t happen in the future. Stop grumbling, and you aren’t allowed to mention this matter again. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences.”

At this point, the sound of high heels stepping into snow sounded, along with Jing Yan’s voice. “Is this the speaking salted fish from your One Finger Monastery?”

“That’s right! Beautiful Bodhisattva, good day. I’m not only a speaking salted fish. To be precise, I’m an extremely gentlemanly salted fish that can walk, jump, and speak.” Salted Fish suddenly leaped out of Fangzheng’s hand and bowed at Jing Yan in a very gentlemanly manner.

Upon seeing this set of familiar actions, Fangzheng nearly imagined that Salted Fish had been possessed by a gentleman from the United Kingdom!

Jing Yan was amused as well. “Nice to meet you.”

Fangzheng shrugged. “You hadn’t met him before?”

Jing Yan said with a bitter smile, “I came once recently, but was quickly buried at the office by a bunch of news created by you. I didn’t even get a chance to take a breather. Upon hearing that an accomplished monk from Songwu County had been invited to participate in an international summit yesterday, I guessed that it was you and did some verification. Indeed…”

Fangzheng pressed his palms together. “About that, This Penniless Monk was wondering if they had written the wrong name on the invitation letter. There are many accomplished monks in Songwu County. Zen Master Hongyan is better than This Penniless Monk.”

Fangzheng wasn’t being humble. Although he was unique when it came to his understanding of the Buddhist Dharma, Zen Master Hongyan was someone who left him far behind when it came to the mainstream teachings. Fangzheng had always been very respectful of Zen Master Hongyan.

Jing Yan pursed her lips with a smile. “Zen Master Hongyan might have profound insights into the Buddhist Dharma, but internationally, he isn’t famous enough. At the very least, he’s unable to cause as much of a stir as you… I have no idea how you created such a huge Buddhist projection. I’ll have to talk to you about it, but let’s talk business first. I heard that the reason why you were selected was because you were recommended. As for who it was that recommended you, I’ve no idea either. I only know that the person is someone impressive. Do you know any other impressive masters?”

Fangzheng shrugged. “How would you not know whom I know? The most impressive one would be the one on Shangfeng Temple.”

“The venerable one you mentioned isn’t of low standing, but it’s unlikely he recommended you. No one from Shangfeng Temple is going,” Jing Yan said.

Fangzheng shook his head and said, “Then This Penniless Monk doesn’t know.”

“Forget it. We’ll know when we’re there. Let’s go. I’ll give you a lift to the airport. Get in!” Jing Yan patted the door of her car.

Fangzheng nodded and got into the car with Salted Fish.

The moment Salted Fish got in, he started misbehaving. Although he was from Mount Numinous, he had only seen most of humanity’s scientific products from his time with the cell phone. As for a sedan? It was his first time in one, and it was also the first time he could openly look at the internal structure of a car. Hence, this fish would switch from sitting on the seats, lying on the ground, getting up to look at the control systems, to turning the lights on and off …

A few minutes later, Fangzheng picked up a bottle of mineral water and smacked Salted Fish on the head while Jing Yan wasn’t looking. Only then did he behave.

When Jing Yan saw this, she pursed her lips into a smile. “Abbot Fangzheng, people call you a living Buddha, and all the animals around you are intelligent. Is that true?”

Fangzheng shook his head and said, “What living Buddha? This Penniless Monk is only an ordinary person. As for whether my animals are intelligent, I guess they can be considered so.”

“You say you aren’t a living Buddha? Such a huge Buddha projection was produced. Don’t tell me it was some advanced technology that created an illusion.” Jing Yan’s beautiful eyes turned to glance at Fangzheng as though she had found a rare toy.