Chapter 17

The ascetic monk initially wanted to interrupt, but by the time he heard halfway through, he was already amazed. By the time Lu Zheng finished the last sound, the monk had already stopped in his tracks. When Lu Zheng recited the Heart Purification Mantra, he did not make a single mistake, and his pronunciation was clear and resonant, each word coming from the heart, deeply capturing the essence of the mantra. How could the monk not be surprised!

Lu Zheng thought the monk was tired and said, "Great monk, you can put me down; I can walk on my own." He was introverted and very sensitive, usually unwilling to accept favors from others except for Tang Xiaojiu. When the monk stopped, he became suspicious. However, the monk only paused briefly before continuing, saying, "I am not tired. I just want to ask if you have ever recited this mantra before?"

As they talked, they unknowingly descended from the Heart Testing Ridge, not returning to Huaxu Kingdom but reaching the other side of the ridge.

Seeing the monk continue, Lu Zheng felt relieved and answered, "No, these mantras sound like gibberish to me. I don't know what they mean. The monks at Azure Dragon Temple also recite mantras, and I've heard many, but they seem a bit different, though I can't quite explain it."

The monk sighed and said, "Mantras are the sounds of the Buddha, not ordinary human language. They are complex and varied, imbued with the power of the Buddhas. Do you know that it took me three whole days to memorize this Heart Purification Mantra perfectly?"

Lu Zheng exclaimed, "I'm sorry, Great Monk. I... I just got lucky. You don't have to be discouraged." He was a bit anxious, thinking the monk was unhappy that he had surpassed him. In his haste, he couldn't explain well and blurted out these words.

The monk was momentarily stunned and asked, "How can a good memory be just luck?"

The monk was unintentional, but Lu Zheng was overly suspicious. Only these two together could have such a comical exchange.

Hearing the monk's question, Lu Zheng realized the monk wasn't angry. Remembering his poor excuse, he couldn't help but laugh. This laughter eased his heavy heart, and he felt a warmth from the monk's back, saying, "I just thought these sounds were similar. Even though they sound like gibberish, they seem to be variations of the sounds 'Om,' 'Ah,' and 'Hum,' so I quickly memorized them."

Upon hearing this, the monk was even more astonished and stopped again. All mantras are variations of the sounds 'Om,' 'Ah,' and 'Hum.' The monk's master had once said the same thing, but at that time, the monk had only just begun to practice mantras. He had memorized them but had not fully understood them. It wasn't until years later, after reciting dozens of mantras countless times, that he gradually realized the truth. The monk's master had also said that the sounds 'Om,' 'Ah,' and 'Hum' are all variations of the sound 'Om'!

Fortunately, Lu Zheng did not mention this deeper layer of variation, or the monk would have been even more astonished! Even so, the monk had a thought: Lu Zheng might be the reincarnation of a high-ranking monk, as it was impossible for him to have such a profound understanding of mantras otherwise. The monk's years of practice and insight were merely the starting point for Lu Zheng!

The monk, a high-ranking monk, knew that there were many cultivation methods in Buddhism that allowed practitioners to retain their previous cultivation levels through reincarnation, essentially just changing their physical bodies. However, such practitioners usually instructed their disciples before their passing, revealing their reincarnation location, so the disciples could protect them. How could Lu Zheng, a street beggar, be one of them? Thus, Lu Zheng might not necessarily be the reincarnation of a high-ranking monk but could have practiced Buddhism in a previous life.

The monk calmed his thoughts and did not dare to reveal his suspicions, saying, "Your understanding of the mantras shows deep wisdom. It seems you have a special connection with the Buddha."

As they interacted more, Lu Zheng gradually understood the monk's temperament. The monk was kind and gentle, easy to get along with, which made Lu Zheng feel at ease. He stuck out his tongue and said, "Pfft, Mingkong is the one who has a connection with vegetables! Ninth Brother said that the second worst thing in the world is the heavens, and the third worst is monks. I have no connection with vegetables!"

The monk was surprised and asked, "The third worst is monks? Why are monks bad? How can you say that?"

Lu Zheng replied, "Ninth Brother said that monks are also people, but they pretend not to be. They do things that aren't human. They recite scriptures with their mouths but hold knives in their hands!" He had developed some trust in the monk and forgot that he was lying on a bald head, actually scolding the monk while on his back.

The monk had excellent cultivation and knew that some monks broke the precepts, their greed, anger, and delusion being even worse than ordinary people, often leading to misunderstandings. He did not get angry but answered seriously, "It is people who fail the Dharma, not the Dharma that fails people. The Dharma teaches people to be good, but people use it for selfish ends. It is people who do wrong, not the Buddha."

Lu Zheng said, "Ninth Brother said that monks are lazy and gluttonous, just like us beggars, but they pretend to be superior and are very snobbish, so he can't stand them."

To his surprise, the monk nodded and said, "That is true. When the Buddha taught people, he once incarnated in the world, accepted offerings from the people, and lived by begging, making him a beggar in the world."

The Buddha saw the suffering of the people and wanted to save them, so he was born into the world, just like an ordinary person, as a prince. This prince grew up, practiced in the world, and became a Buddha, spreading his teachings, which is the origin of Buddhism. During his lifetime, the Buddha was revered by the people, but in fact, he and his disciples lived by the charity and offerings of others, begging for their sustenance.

Lu Zheng had heard this story and, hearing the monk say the Buddha was a beggar, laughed and patted the monk's shoulder, saying, "Great Monk, so the Buddha is the head of all beggars in the world!"

The monk was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh. He never imagined that the Buddha would be seen as the head of beggars by this young boy. He then asked, "Why is the second worst thing the heavens?"

Lu Zheng said, "Ninth Brother said that the heavens create people and then ignore them, which is the most despicable. The most hateful thing is that some are born into rich families with plenty to eat and drink, while others are born into poor families and go hungry from a young age. Some are girls, some are boys, some are beautiful, some are ugly, some have good luck, some have bad luck, some live long, some die young, some are very smart, and some are very stupid... In short, the heavens are the most unfair."

As Lu Zheng spoke, he remembered that when Tang Xiaojiu said some were very smart, he pointed to his own nose, and when he said some were very stupid, he pointed to Lu Zheng's nose.

The monk nodded and said, "The Buddha also said that life has eight sufferings, and birth is one of them. Once a person is born, they face many hardships. Therefore, the Buddha said that the most important thing in life is to escape these sufferings and find bliss." Hearing Lu Zheng's words, the monk was even more convinced that Lu Zheng had deep Buddhist wisdom and could see through the suffering of the world.

Lu Zheng said, "In this world, I have only seen suffering since I was young. There is no one who is truly happy. What bliss is there? If there is, it must be to become a god."

This made the monk pause. He didn't expect Lu Zheng to think of becoming a god rather than a monk. He asked, "At your young age, how do you know the benefits of being a god, and how do you know that people can become gods?"

Lu Zheng said, "I heard it from the storyteller. The gods in those stories are very happy, flying through the clouds and visiting the three mountains and five peaks in a day. They are immortal, living as long as heaven and earth, and as the sun and moon... But I have such thoughts, and no one has taught me how to become a god. The storyteller said that becoming a god is also a matter of fate! If becoming a god is like being poor or rich, determined by fate, I guess I don't have that fate!" He deliberately brought up this topic, hoping the monk would offer to take him as a disciple.

The monk said, "It's not a matter of fate. All beings are on the path of cultivation. Whether one becomes a Buddha or a god depends on their own karmic connections, and one cannot force it."

Hearing this, Lu Zheng wasn't sure if the monk was willing to teach him or not. He thought the monk was good in every way, but whenever he mentioned this, the monk always said something profound and evasive. After a few times, Lu Zheng realized the monk might be deliberately avoiding the topic. However, he was grateful to the monk and had no resentment. The monk had saved his life and carried him to seek medical help, which was a great kindness, and he couldn't resent him in the slightest.

The monk then asked, "You said the heavens are the second worst. Who did your Ninth Brother say is the worst in the world?"

Hearing this, Lu Zheng thought of Tang Xiaojiu and laughed. The monk was surprised and asked, "What's wrong? Did I ask the wrong question?"

Lu Zheng said, "Great Monk, why don't you guess? Who do you think is the worst in the world?"

The monk was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said, "I think the worst thing in the world is all the suffering. Birth brings suffering, old age brings suffering, illness brings suffering, and death brings suffering. All these are extremely tormenting. Separation from loved ones, resentment and hatred between people, unfulfilled desires, in short, all are sufferings. I can't think of anything worse."

Lu Zheng laughed and said, "Great Monk, you don't understand my Ninth Brother's temperament!"

The monk smiled and said, "Is that so? What kind of temperament does your Ninth Brother have, and what does he think is the worst in the world?"

Lu Zheng drew out his words, "The worst in the world... is none other than my Ninth Brother!"

This answer was unexpected, and the monk was puzzled, asking, "How can your Ninth Brother be the worst in the world? I see that he is very loyal to you, and at his young age, he is not a bad person. How can he be the worst?"

Lu Zheng lifted his chin proudly and said, "Ninth Brother said that if he doesn't become the worst in the world, how can he compete with the second worst, the third worst, the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth worst?"

This answer was truly unexpected, but upon reflection, it had a profound meaning. The monk was initially surprised but then sighed, "Your Ninth Brother has such wisdom and courage at his young age. I am very ashamed!"

Hearing that this powerful monk admired Tang Xiaojiu so much, Lu Zheng couldn't help but laugh, as if he himself were being admired.

As they talked and laughed, the monk taught Lu Zheng several more mantras and some introductory scriptures, each more complex and profound than the last. Lu Zheng thought the monk was testing him and studied with great effort. Whether or not he was the reincarnation of a high-ranking monk, as the monk suspected, he began to learn the mantras with some difficulty but gradually became faster, as if he had known them all along.

The monk marveled, thinking that he had initially wanted to take Tang Xiaojiu as a disciple but had inadvertently let him be harmed by a demon. He had intended to take Lu Zheng to seek medical help to make up for his mistake, but he never expected the boy to have such a natural talent for Buddhist mantras and scriptures, clearly having a special connection with the Buddha. He might indeed be the reincarnation of a Buddhist practitioner, as the monk suspected, with such innate wisdom.

After much thought, the monk also considered the jade pendant Lu Zheng carried, which might have a significant connection to the cultivation world, potentially leading to unknown blessings or misfortunes. He wanted to ask Lu Zheng about the pendant but found that Lu Zheng had fallen asleep on his shoulder, drooling. It seemed that reciting the scriptures had exhausted him, and with his poisoning, he was naturally more tired. The monk decided to postpone the matter and choose a better time to ask.

At this moment, they had reached the foot of a mountain, where the grass was overgrown, and there was no path ahead. The monk, carrying Lu Zheng, suddenly took a step, and his figure moved like a startled bird, gliding over the grass tips with the speed of the wind, demonstrating his supernatural speed.