The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

“To be honest, I truly regret it. I earned quite a lot of money when I was a mercenary soldier. However you might not know, but a profession like that of a mercenary soldier is one where one lives for the day, because there might not be a tomorrow. Who knows if we might die the next day? As a result, none of us saved any money. Money was spent as it came in. We didn’t flinch spending it on food, women, and gambling. Other than not doing cannabis, I have eaten all sorts of delicacies. Life truly felt good back then. Now, I really feel like giving the past me a few slaps in the face! No delicacy in the world is comparable to a single strand of my daughter’s hair.”

When he came to that point, Han Xiaoguo habitually touched his pockets. However, he was half-naked, so how could there be a pocket? He was looking for cigarettes.

He was already out of them and Fangzheng did not smoke, so there was naturally none.

Han Xiaoguo could only sigh as he continued, “I don’t have money and seeing my daughter’s medical condition turn for the worse every day, it feels like someone is slicing my heart again and again with a knife! And my daughter will still hold onto my hand when she sees me frown. She will sing to me and console me. Do you know? She has a lovely voice. But when I hear it, it feels like it’s a blow to my heart. It’s so painful.”

“I really had no other choice but to rob the cash carrier. I didn’t have the time to make any observations, but I knew how to kill! I knew how to evade pursuit! And so I used my secretly stashed gun and knife that I kept as a memento from my mercenary soldier days and robbed them after they left the carrier with the money.”

“I didn’t want to kill, but the guy fought back. Even though his arm was almost breaking, he refused to let go of the money case. I had no choice. I could not be caught. I had to run so I could only kill him! Master, if it had been possible, I wouldn’t have wanted to kill, but I had no choice!” Han Xiaoguo rubbed his head as he aired his grievances.

Fangzheng asked, “Then, why did you want to kill This Penniless Monk?”

“It doesn’t make a difference once you have killed one. As long as I don’t expose my location and as long as I am able to send the money to save my daughter, I’m willing to shoulder all the sins!” Han Xiaoguo said with great certainty.

Fangzheng nodded slightly and looked quietly at Han Xiaoguo. He asked, “Will you believe it if This Penniless Monk is able to save your daughter?

“Master, you can save my daughter?” Han Xiaoguo was surprised. He did not believe it subconsciously. However, on second thought, was Fangzheng an ordinary person? He could not be killed when shot. Rain did not seem to drench him. Who has seen anyone like him? It was something completely unheard of! Such a miraculous monk might really have the means to save his daughter! At least, the hospital had already done its best. The illness was in its terminal stages. Even with medicine, all it could do was delay the inevitable.

“Amitabha. A monk doesn’t lie. She can be saved. However, This Penniless Monk cannot go down the mountain. Your daughter needs to come to the mountain personally.” Fangzheng recalled that he had a pill that could likely save Han Xiaoguo’s daughter. He was healthy and void of illness. He ate Crystal Rice every day and drank Unrooted Clean Aqua from the Buddha Vat. He trained in martial arts and with the White Lunar Monk Robe protecting him, such a life-saving pill was not needed by him. It was better to give it away in exchange for merit.

In addition, Fangzheng was truly moved by Han Xiaoguo’s words. It was true that a three-year-old girl should not endure such suffering.

“Thank you, Master!” Han Xiaoguo plopped to the ground and began kowtowing.

Fangzheng raised Han Xiaoguo up. No matter how much strength Han Xiaoguo used to kneel down, he was astounded to realize that Fangzheng’s hands were like steel. He had no way of resisting him! This affirmed his belief that Fangzheng was a divine monk, an esteemed monk, or a sacred monk.

Fangzheng said, “This Penniless Monk cannot give you this pill for nothing.”

“I’ll buy it! I’ll give you all the money I have!” Han Xiaoguo without much thought.

Fangzheng shook his head and said with a smile, “Why would a monk like me need money for in this rural mountain ?” However, he thought to himself, “If you don’t donate it, I can’t use it even if you give it to me!”

Han Xiaoguo did not know what Fangzheng was thinking. He scratched his head and said, “Master, if you don’t want money, what do you want?”

“The sea of bitterness has no bounds, turn back to the shore before it’s too late. Only Buddhist enlightenment can allow one to shed off the abyss of worldly suffering. Repent and ye shall be saved,” Fangzheng said solemnly.

Han Xiaoguo suddenly came to a realization as he stared at Fangzheng intently.

Fangzheng looked back at him. His eyes seemed extremely profound and as lustrous as the stars!

With Fangzheng in front of him, Han Xiaoguo suddenly recalled the moment when he had fallen unconscious. He had seen a figure that appeared to be glowing with the light of Buddha… He gritted his teeth and said, “Master, I know! Don’t worry. As long as my daughter’s illness is treated, I am willing to surrender myself!”

“Amitabha.” Fangzheng gave a Buddhist proclamation. At that moment, he did not know if his actions were considered pushing Han Xiaoguo to repent, but that was all he could do. As for reforming him from his very soul at a deeper level, making him realize his own mistakes was something Fangzheng did not know how to do.

Fangzheng said, “Patron, do you have any means to bring your daughter up to my One Finger Temple?”

Han Xiaoguo nodded and said, “I can give a call to my ex-wife. I’ll get her to bring Mili here to Mt. One Finger.”

“Ex-wife?” Fangzheng was surprised.

“Yeah… My ex-wife. Before I planned the robbery, I had already drafted the divorce papers and left them at home. I also left a letter. I believe she should have signed it after reading it,” when Han Xiaoguo said that, his eyes were filled with pain.

Fangzheng handed his cell phone to Han Xiaoguo. Han Xiaoguo fell silent for a moment when it reached his hands before he made a call to a number he was very familiar with. He felt a little flustered, somewhat horrified and worried. Slowly he walked out the room. Fangzheng did not follow for it was a private matter. He was not such a curious person.

However, Han Xiaoguo lowered his phone with a darkened expression not long later.

“Master, my wife refuses to bring my daughter here. She wants me to surrender myself so that I’m dealt with leniently as a chance for me to meet my daughter. My daughter’s sickness is getting worse…” Han Xiaoguo sat on the ground in pain. He ruffled his hair with a lot of force. A sharp and fierce man was sitting there crying.

Fangzheng sighed and did not say a word. He could not leave Mt. One Finger, and it was impossible for Han Xiaoguo to leave it as well. There was only one path down Mt. One Finger, so he was bound to be caught if he descended it. Furthermore, he was bound to be captured if he continued staying on the mountain.

As for helping Han Xiaoguo circle around the police to get down the mountain? Fangzheng never thought of it. Although Han Xiaoguo was like a helpless sheep in front of him, he was the most ferocious beast like a tiger or leopard in front of others. He might lose control of himself and kill again. Helping him leave the mountain was definitely not a good deed but aiding an evil one!

After he cried for a while, Han Xiaoguo gritted his teeth and got up. He said, “Master, there is one last method. However, I want you to guarantee me that you can definitely save my daughter!”

Fangzheng held his hands together and pretty much guessed Han Xiaoguo’s intention. He said with a sigh, “Amitabha. Patron, This Penniless Monk will use my head to guarantee you that if your daughter comes, she will absolutely be able to live on healthily. However, we have to make an agreement or This Penniless Monk will not save your daughter.”