The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

After Salted Fish looked back at Fangzheng and realized that he had run, he turned back wishing to say something. But all he saw was a stampede and soon, his vision was blanketed by darkness.

Amidst this ordeal, Salted Fish heard random shouts as though they were clamoring to have a thief caught. At the same time, there were a few voices that seemed to be directed at him. “Oh my, stop squeezing! We might step on the talking salted fish! Oh crap, I think I crushed it to death…”

“Let me see how it feels. Heh, it’s rather hard…”

Salted Fish finally couldn’t tolerate it. Just as he was about to curse, a hand suddenly extended from underground and pulled him in before throwing him inside the monastery.

Red Boy had taken action at the critical moment.

After dealing with Salted Fish, Red Boy hurriedly ran to check on his nine pots. If they were overturned by the people, it would truly be a pity. It was his magnum opus that took a whole night to create!

However, Red Boy’s worries were unneeded. Although there were many who came to see the living Buddha, there were also quite a number of people there to eat Laba Congee. With the latter desperately protecting the pots, they were left intact.

With the police officers that came with the secretary and county head maintaining order, it wasn’t as chaotic as he had imagined.

However, Red Boy knew that this was only temporary. No one knew if there wouldn’t be even more people later. Hence, he didn’t delay as he hurriedly opened the lids of the pots. Instantly, there was a sound!

Bam!

The sound appeared as though it had come from the deep cosmos. In the wide vastness was an endless void. Amidst the holiness was the meaning of eternal life!

The sound was extremely loud.

The instant the sound boomed, a yellow beam shot into the firmaments!

At that instant, everyone’s hearts seemed to jolt. It was as though they understood something but nothing at the same time. But without any exception, everyone fell silent until one could hear a pin drop.

It was as if for an instant, everyone on Mt. One Finger froze!

Meanwhile, a magical fragrance emanated. Just smelling it left the people present refreshed. Subconsciously, all of them looked at the lid of the pot which had opened. The yellow beam had just dissipated.

“What’s that?” someone from the crowd pursuing Fangzheng asked subconsciously.

Following that, this question rapidly spread. Many people even asked, “What’s in the pot? Why does it emit light?”

Manager Gu and Chen Qiang were dumbfounded. The congee they ate didn’t cause any stirs when the lid was removed. Furthermore, the fragrance was completely different! The congee they ate had a rich smell, making it the cream of the crop. But the congee before them emitted a faint fragrance that was extremely refined. It refreshed the mind greatly. Most of their fatigue from staying up all night was gone with a mere whiff! The smell’s perfection was indescribable with words.

At that instant, the two suddenly recalled Red Boy’s words. “… we messed up the congee.”

The two exchanged looks as they saw the misery in each other’s eyes! They shouted in unison. “What a terrible loss!”

Although they hadn’t tried the new congee, they weren’t fools. They knew everything just from the smell. They had screwed themselves!

As Dog Song looked at their reaction, he chuckled. “Was the congee from last night nice? There’s probably some left? Eat it slowly later. I’ll join you!”

The duo’s expression turned as nasty as though they had eaten a dead fly. They turned their heads away from Dog Song.

Tan Ming came to Manager Gu and patted him on the shoulder. “I told you, but you refused to listen. How are you feeling now?”

“Why didn’t you persuade me back then? You could have beaten me…” Manager Gu was too deep for tears.

Tan Ming rolled his eyes. Although they had a good relationship, to have a subordinate beat his superior? Wasn’t that simply courting death?

Chen Jin’s son, Chen Long, chuckled. He looked at Chen Qiang and said, “Qiang, watch us eat the congee later.”

Chen Qiang wore a look of misery. What else could he say?

“Venerable Jingxin, I’m the first!” At that moment, Dog Song spoke first, attracting everyone’s attention.

Red Boy nodded and used a huge ladle to reach into the pot. Everyone subconsciously craned their necks and saw the ladle scoop up a clear, crystalline broth. The broth was slightly sticky and in it, there were many colorful objects.

On careful look, they were congee bits in the shapes of lotus flowers, rockery, vegetation, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas!

After Red Boy poured the ladle of congee into Dog Song’s basin, the congee spread and all the Bodhisattvas stood erect. The rockery and vegetation also took their spots upright. Instantly, the tiny basin seemed to be a scene from paradise with Buddhas and immortals gathering. It was extremely holy and beautiful!

Upon seeing this, Dog Song nearly threw the basin and knelt to the ground kowtowing. But a moment later, he remembered that this was congee, not genuine Buddhas. Only then did he hold back his urge to throw it. He hugged it tightly to his chest and carefully stepped aside. For some unknown reason, he felt extremely greedy, hoping to get a huge basin of Laba Congee, but after seeing the Laba Congee before him and taking in its fragrance, his mind broadened. He didn’t think too much of it. All he wanted was to peacefully taste each spoonful of congee.

It wasn’t only Dog Song. The rest ultimately only got a ladle of congee even if they had brought buckets or basins.

Upon seeing this, the people pursuing Fangzheng suddenly realized something. The crowd secretly dispersed as they stood in line for the congee. With someone taking the lead, the others immediately did the same. For a moment, there was chaos, but after the chaos ended, a meandering line that coiled around Mt. One Finger appeared. It led all the way down the stairs!

And this was just a fraction of the people that had come. The remaining people, such as the husbands, wives, and parents of the people in line, went down the mountain in search of containers. They had come unprepared. Without a container, they couldn’t have the congee even if it was available!

WIth the Laba Congee attracting everyone’s attention, everyone temporarily stopped hounding Fangzheng.

In fact, they had no idea why they were pursuing Fangzheng. He had already run into his monastery and closed the door. Would they actually smash the door open, rush in to grab Fangzheng, and hang him up for all to see?

They were devotees after all, not violent criminals. Therefore, with Fangzheng unavailable, all they could do was go for the next-best thing. They chose to have the congee. At the same time, they also heard the people on the mountain repeat the bragging they had done the entire night. Their eyes twinkled in adoration as they tipped their feet and craned their necks at the nine pots. A living Buddha’s congee! I must have it!

Meanwhile, people kept streaming towards Mt. One Finger. By word of mouth, the line to have the congee went from the mountainside to the foot of the mountain, into One Finger Village, and beyond…