The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

“Sigh…” Li Xueying sent a long sigh.

Fangzheng replied: “Patron, weren’t you filled with confidence just moments ago? Why are you sighing in the blink of an eye?”

Li Xueying replied: “Uh, Venerable Fangzheng, that’s not nice of you! You were lurking!”

Fangzheng: “…”

It was true that women focused on different things than men. Was his question ignored just like that?

“Amitabha. Patron, can we focus on the issue at hand?” Fangzheng turned exasperated.

Li Xueying replied: “Amitabha, I am wishing too. Sigh. It was all a facade just now. As you can see, the entire world is denouncing City-Toppling Beauty . This is definitely not a coincidence. From the way things were developing previously, it seemed like people looked forward to City-Toppling Beauty . At the very least, we were sure it wasn’t going to be a box office disaster. But what has happened now was definitely instigated by someone. As for confidence? I don’t even know who my opponent is. How can I be confident?”

“Hm, Patron, are you embarrassed?” asked Fangzheng.

“It’s to quell the morale of the troops. No matter how it is outside, we cannot be left confused. If not, we will surely lose.” Li Xueying then posted an emoticon of her looking exhausted.

Fangzheng replied: “So that’s how it is.”

“I feel much better after airing it out. I felt really miserable keeping it to myself. Thank you, Master. Alright, I won’t be disturbing you any further. I’ll visit you when I have the time,” added Li Xueying before she went offline.

Fangzheng shook his head helplessly. She had treated him as a single-use item—throwing him away after sharing the things she could not share with others. However, Fangzheng did not mind. Wasn’t this part of a monk’s job too?

Days passed one after another as the City-Toppling Beauty war continued every day. It was such a hooha that even One Finger Village discussed the movie. However, One Finger Village’s attitude towards it was very simple. They grouped up to go on the Internet to help the City-Toppling Beauty crew in cursing the enemy… In their words, the movie began from their village and finished in their village. They had to support it! They supported it with no strings attached. They clamored to support.

Regarding this, Fangzheng could only smile bitterly.

In the blink of an eye, the seventh month was over and on the first day of the eighth month, City-Toppling Beauty was released amid its controversy.

On this day, although Fangzheng did not say anything, he was again secretly paying attention to City-Toppling Beauty . After all, he was not a true master who had extricated himself from the mundane world. He was still a boy with a sunny disposition deep down, albeit with a state of mind that was increasingly aligned with that of a master’s. Even so, his concept of a master was different from most people’s. He was not the kind of person that stood aloof from the world, but someone who was down-to-earth.

Early in the morning, Yang Ping rushed up the mountain. After he drank a mouthful of Unrooted Clean Aqua, he huffed and puffed, saying, “Awesome!”

“Patron Yang, is there a reason why you came up the mountain so early in the morning?” asked Fangzheng.

“Yes, there is! Today is the release date of City-Toppling Beauty , don’t you know?” returned Yang Ping with a question.

Fangzheng was puzzled. He obviously knew that City-Toppling Beauty was released, but what had that got to do with Yang Ping’s appearance on the mountain?

“My brother said that City-Toppling Beauty began at our village and it will finish at our village. Since everyone participated in the filming, this moment where it is released is a critical moment. We have to support it. That’s why my brother, Yang Hua, is prepared to buy out a theater and bring the entire village to watch the movie,” said Yang Hua.

Fangzheng was stunned. “He’s paying for the entire village?”

“That’s right! Well, that was the plan at first, but people rejected his offer. The situation is no longer the same as in the past. In the past, we were all poor cheapskates. Now that everyone is relatively wealthy, no one wants to cheap out on this matter and end up being criticized. That’s why everyone decided to go Dutch. However, we are still buying out the theater. The village has already contacted a theater to air the movie specially for us! I came up here to inform you that we will be watching the movie,” said Yang Ping.

Fangzheng was surprised. “This Penniless Monk is going as well?”

“Aren’t you?”

Fangzheng smiled and replied without hesitating for even a moment, “Of course!”

He definitely had to go. He had not watched a movie in years. Furthermore, this was a movie he kind of had a role in! In addition, he stood on the City-Toppling Beauty’s crew’s side deep down. He definitely wanted to support them if he could. In fact, even if Yang Ping had not come up, Fangzheng was planning on going down the mountain at his own cost to watch it. Now, it was naturally better that he could go with everyone.

When Monkey, Lone Wolf, Squirrel, and Red Boy heard that there was a movie to watch, they immediately turned energetic. The moment Yang Ping left, all of them clustered over and mimicked Squirrel’s adorable look. They widened their eyes and looked at Fangzheng with anticipation.

Fangzheng said, “Each one of you give me a reason why I should bring you. Go according to your seniority. Jingfa, you first.”

“Uh.” Lone Wolf slumped to the ground and stuck out his tongue, looking as though he was about to die. He exclaimed. “Master, I’m almost dying of boredom on the mountain. I’m in desperate need to travel!”

“Sure. You can go down the mountain and travel on your own later.” Fangzheng nodded and replied in all seriousness.

Lone Wolf rolled his eyes and played dead. He lamented inwardly. “That wasn’t the traveling I was talking about!”

When it was Squirrel’s turn, his eyes darted around furtively as he summarized the reason for Lone Wolf’s failure—he had not expressed his reason clearly!

Therefore Squirrel said, “Master, I have never seen a movie before, so I wish to watch a movie with you! It’s Squirrel’s responsibility to support City-Toppling Beauty ! Most importantly, there’s no need to buy a ticket for me! You can save money!”

Fangzheng’s eyes lit up when he heard that. It seemed to make sense… But he soon flicked Squirrel in the head. “Do I look like someone who wants to escape paying for a ticket? Next!”

Monkey was already thinking of a response. Seeing Lone Wolf’s and Squirrel’s failures, he quickly changed his strategy as he said, “Master, I would like to watch a movie. It’s just that simple.” The strategy of acting honest! Acting obedient!

Fangzheng nodded without a word before looking at Red Boy.

Red Boy immediately exclaimed. “Master, according to the movie theater’s regulations, someone as small as me doesn’t need to buy a ticket! As such, it would not prick your conscience. Besides, I need to meld into this society, so I need to make contact with as many things as possible. I have not seen a movie before. Why don’t you bring me along? Gehe?”

Dong!

“You get a bad score for your final expression. In the future, don’t learn such odd things.” Fangzheng threw a punch.

With everyone giving their reasons, Fangzheng summarized. “I understand your thought processes, but you have to understand one point. The theater does not allow pets to be brought in. Although all of you are my disciples, people might treat you as pets outside. It can’t be helped, and I can’t do a thing about it either.”

With that said Lone Wolf, Monkey, and Squirrel felt as though they were crushed eggplants. They hung their heads low and wore looks of disappointment.

When Red Boy saw this, his heart softened as he exclaimed, “Master, a Concealment Spell would be enough―”

Fangzheng gave him a stern look, causing him to decisively shut up. Fangzheng continued. “Divine powers are a good thing, but they are not to be used wantonly. Using them to violate the rules and take advantage of others is absolutely prohibited! Jingxin, as a punishment, you won’t be going either.”

Red Boy was immediately pushed to the brink of tears. He had suffered big! If not for that, he might have had a chance of going!