The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

Panda Novel

Such a rich monk had flown economy? And such an impressive monk acted like a child?

But upon thinking of the online comments about Fangzheng, he instantly fell silent. It was as though none of these matters were anything special to him.

Fangzheng didn’t have as active a mind as Ong. He leaned against the window and watched the scenery, smacking his lips. “This place is pretty big. The scenery is just a little lacking.”

The moment that was said, the young man subconsciously slammed on the brakes. He nearly blew his top! He couldn’t help but say, “Master, this is Ba Vuong Manor, one of the most luxurious manors in Hanoi. This scenery you are looking at was designed by an international expert.”

When Fangzheng heard that, he realized he hadn’t been careful with his words. He pressed his palms together and said with a smile, “Amitabha. Heh heh, so that’s how it is. Pardon This Penniless Monk for being ignorant.”

But with him saying that, the young man slammed on the brakes and said with a sobbing tone, “Master, I was wrong. Can you not jibe at me?”

Fangzheng was speechless. He had no idea what he had done wrong. Everything he said was the truth, and he really did feel like he had made a mistake⁠—he shouldn’t have spoken such words in front of a local even if he didn’t share their sense of aesthetics. It was a sign of disrespect; hence, he had apologized in a euphemistic manner.

But in the end, it nearly made the young man bawl?

By the side, Ong chuckled. “Master, you’re their guest. He’s only an errand boy. He doesn’t believe he deserves your apology. In Vietnam, especially in such a powerful family, he can forget about keeping his job if this spreads. Here, you enjoy a high status. You are right regardless if you are right or wrong. Hmm, in places like this, reason doesn’t matter. It’s about status.”

Fangzheng frowned when he heard that. “Is that so? Patron, please turn back.”

“Master, what’s wrong? Why do you want to turn back?” The youth was on the brink of tears.

Fangzheng was left completely speechless as he hurriedly said, “I’m getting you to turn around because This Penniless Monk grew up in a poor and humble background. This Penniless Monk can’t accept such segregation. Don’t worry, no one will blame you. This Penniless Monk will speak to Jing Yan about this.”

“Ah? How can I allow that? Miss got us to take good care of you. As long as you aren’t angry, I’ll take you to your room. Don’t worry, it’s absolutely quiet and beautiful.” The lad realized that although Fangzheng was young, he was a real master. At the very least, his simplicity resembled that of a real master. He hurriedly drove forward, as though he was afraid that Fangzheng would run.

Fangzheng was left speechless, but he had already made up his mind. He naturally didn’t want to go with the young man. He smiled, pushed open the car’s door, and called out to Ong.

Ong was still in a daze as he watched the young man turning the air like it was a steering wheel. Looking back at Fangzheng, he recalled the police. He reverently got off with his hands pressed together. Then, they easily walked away.

At the same time, Fangzheng gave Jing Yan a call to tell her that he had sneaked out of the car and to not blame the pitiful young man. He just wished to walk around with a friend. Then, he hung up. At that instant, he seemed to hear someone roar on the other side of the phone…

The driver’s name was Vương Cận. He was extremely puzzled and confused for he couldn’t figure out how Fangzheng had left! Also, he had been driving for so long, so why was he still in the same spot? However, he was still afraid, afraid that he would lose his job.

“Lady Boss said that one should make amends for previous faults by rendering good service. All I need to do is make amends. Screw it, I’m going all in!” Vương Cận stamped his foot, got onto the car, and drove off.

At the same time, in a European-styled villa not far away, a man had his hands in his pocket. He pricked up his brows and asked, “Is that the car from China’s Jing Dragon Corporation?”

“Yes, sir.” A Vietnamese butler stood respectfully to the side.

“Do some investigations to know what guests they have taken in to bring them all the way here,” said the man.

If Ong was here, he would definitely have recognized him to be the suited man who had ordered to capture him back then, Nguyen Thiên Tinh! He led one of the three major arms of the Nguyen Corporation, the Nguyen Black Gloves!

“Sir, we haven’t yet begun our fight with the Jing Dragon Corporation. To investigate one of their guests now…” The butler was in quite a dilemma.

“It’s fine. It’s just an investigation. It’s not like we are doing anything to them. Besides, this is our territory.”

Jing Yan’s arrangements were naturally excellent. It wasn’t that Fangzheng didn’t enjoy such luxury, but from Fangzheng’s point of view, either he would not make contact with society at all, or if he did, he wouldn’t stay outside of it. Otherwise, what was the point of making contact with society? Since he was there, he should delve deeper into society to get the whole gamut of human experiences it had to offer. Only then could he temper himself with these insights. These were Zen Master One Finger’s words. However, in Fangzheng’s memories, Zen Master One Finger had never entered society. Even when he left the mountain, all he did was stay at other monasteries.

Therefore, Fangzheng had always been puzzled as to where Zen Master One Finger got such poignant comments from.

The only thing that did make Fangzheng feel uncomfortable were the flowers and grass. They just felt awkward and left him in discomfort.

Instead, it was after he left the manor and saw real, wild plants that he felt more comfortable. He just didn’t like the artificiality of the plants from before.

“Master, where do we head now?” Ong asked with a whisper.

Fangzheng thought and said, “Let’s head to the Dharma Characteristics Monastery. Do you know where it is?”

Ong nodded. “I don’t, but I know who will. Follow me.”

Ong hailed a taxi and, using fluent Vietnamese, told the taxi driver where to go. The taxi driver pressed his palms together and then headed straight for the Dharma Characteristics Monastery.

As they drove, Ong frequently looked back. Fangzheng asked in puzzlement, “What are you looking at?”

“I’m seeing if there’s anyone tailing us,” Ong said in all seriousness.

“And is there anyone?”

Ong shook his head like a rattle. “I might be an experienced martial artist, but I’m not a spy. This is just what I learned from television. However, it doesn’t seem to be of any use. There are too many cars. I can’t remember which car is which.”

Fangzheng smiled and said, “Then don’t bother. No one is following us. Do you really think it’s like on television? You’ve been gone for so long. They already think that you’re dead, so how can they be looking for you 24/7? Besides, it’s been so many years. With that beard of yours, it’s not that easy to recognize you.”

Ong agreed with Fangzheng after some thought. He had made things too complicated. WIth a bitter smile, he leaned back into his seat with ease.

To Fangzheng’s surprise, the Dharma Characteristics Monastery wasn’t outside Hanoi, but in the city center of Hanoi. It was even situated at the top of a skyscraper beside Hoàn Kiếm Lake!

Ong stood at the bottom and looked up at the thirty-six-story skyscraper in marvel. “Such skyscrapers are rare around Hoàn Kiếm Lake. To build a monastery on top of it isn’t the work of an ordinary person.”

Fangzheng didn’t understand Vietnam, but a building with thirty-six stories wasn’t considered tall in China.

Ong seemed to tell Fangzheng’s puzzlement as he explained. “It might not be tall in China, but in Hanoi, it’s already a very tall building. Of course, it’s not the tallest and can only be considered average. The tallest building in Hanoi is the seventy-two-story Keangnam Landmark Tower 72. I even stayed there back then.” Saying that seemed to bring back sad memories to Ong, so he sighed and fell silent.