The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

Squirrel wore a look of indifference. “As long as there’s food…”

Fangzheng was rendered completely speechless by the fellow. It was as though the little guy knew nothing but eating. From the looks of it, it was time to get him to read some Buddhist scriptures.

The elder seemed to notice that Fangzheng and company were following her from behind, and she thought they looked like they had nefarious intentions. She turned flustered and even after she entered her residential estate, she looked back from time to time.

The elder lived in a rather old estate which was made up of buildings with red brick walls, with no other color painted on top. The old green wooden windows appeared narrow and dark. The entire estate looked rundown, and there weren’t that many people. Many of the windows were in shambles, implying that the apartments were uninhabited.

The elder lived at 101 Unit Six. After opening the door, she rapidly locked the door and warily looked outside.

When Red Boy exchanged looks with Fangzheng, he said, “Master, is it because you look too terrifying? You seem to have scared the elderly woman.”

Fangzheng rolled his eyes. “You are the demon. Perhaps it was you who scared her.”

“I’m a demon, but how can a bunch of mortals realize that? I look so adorable. If anyone is the frightening one, it’s definitely you.”

Fangzheng looked at the porcelain doll-like Red Boy. It did seem the case that Fangzheng was more terrifying in comparison.

“Master, she has returned home. Do we follow?” asked Squirrel.

Fangzheng said with a rueful smile, “How are we to follow? Let’s go. We should look around the area.”

Just as he said that, they heard a cell phone ring. It was the elder’s phone. The elder who wore a look of wariness suddenly turned extremely excited. Her hands trembled as she walked deeper into her house happily.

Upon seeing this, Fangzheng frowned. The elder had been staring nervously at her cell phone while she stood by the road before. It was as if she had been waiting specially for this important phone call. Now that it was there, her excitement proved just how important the phone call was to her. If it were any other person, Fangzheng would not have thought much of it. However, her merit was pointed at Fangzheng. Knowing that he was her benefactor, he had to investigate it thoroughly.

Fangzheng patted Red Boy on the head, and he instantly understood what Fangzheng wanted. He brought Fangzheng to the door and easily unlocked the gate. They then entered as invisible bodies.

“Yes, it’s me. Go ahead…” The elder was overjoyed as she sat on a couch. She beamed like a blooming flower, the frigidity and coldness that she had exuded outside nowhere to be seen.

“Alright… Alright…” The elder nodded as she smiled, tears rolling down her face.

Her hearing did not appear to be especially good, so the cell phone’s volume was on its maximum. Fangzheng heard everything clearly when he came close.

“Mom, since you said so, quickly send me the money. I’m in urgent need of cash.” There was a man on the phone.

“Alright. I’ll send it to you,” said the elderly woman.

“Alright. I’ll give you the account number again. Do it quick or they will be angry. I might even be jailed.” Following that, the man said a string of numbers.

The elder took out her reading glasses and wrote seriously in a tiny notebook with a pen. As she wrote, she asked, “Say it again. I’ll match it.”

The man repeated as the elder matched. It was as though she would never lose her patience, overjoyed at listening to the man’s voice.

“Mom, I’ve already repeated it more than ten times. Haven’t you gotten it down yet? How long has it been? Can’t we be more efficient?” the man said impatiently.

“Alright. We’ll be more efficient. I’ll repeat it.” After the elder said that, she repeated the string of numbers one after another.

“Yes, that’s it. The receiver is Liu Zaixing. Remember, make sure not to make a mistake.” The man was somewhat happy as he continued exhorting her to send the money.

“Alright. Liu Zaixing.” The elder chuckled as she nodded.

“Alright, I’ll be hanging up. Tell me again when the money has been transferred.”

When the elder heard that, she immediately turned anxious. “Ah? That’s it? No, Son, about―”

“Mom, I’m really busy. I really don’t have the time to speak. Time wasted is money wasted. Quickly sell your house over there and send me the money. Once I pay off my debt, I’ll be in a good mood to chat.”

The elder said, “Alright, alright. I’ll listen to you. Son, don’t hang up. Let’s talk a little more.”

“What’s there to talk about? I’m at work. Alright, I’m hanging up!” the man said impatiently.

The elder hurriedly said, “Son, don’t hang up. I still want to hear a few more words from you. Don’t…”

“Doo… Doo… Doo…”

The busy tone sounded. The originally happy elder immediately had her smile freeze. She sat there dejected as she carefully charged her phone and placed it in front of her. She stared at it motionlessly, mumbling. “Tomorrow, my son will call. Soon…”

Upon seeing this, Fangzheng’s eyes turned red. He was without parents, but he had his master. Zen Master One Finger was both like a father and mother to him. Thinking back to his school days, he went to a primary school at the foot of the mountain back then. He made the trip every day, and Zen Master One Finger would be waiting for him at the foot of the mountain every single time. He would walk up the mountain with him, telling him stories. After Fangzheng started attending high school, he stayed in the dormitories. Back then, telephone calls weren’t as convenient. They had to rely on calling cards to call home from public telephones. It wasn’t cheap either. Besides, One Finger Monastery did not have a phone, so to pick up a phone call, Zen Master One Finger had to go down the mountain and borrow Wang Yougui’s phone.

Fangzheng would call Wang Yougui if he was looking for Zen Master One Finger. Then, Wang Yougui would climb the mountain to get Zen Master One Finger, who would then go down the mountain to take the call.

Fangzheng typically gave Zen Master One Finger a call on Saturday or Sunday. It was indeed quite troublesome in the beginning, but later on Fangzheng realized that every call he made was quickly picked up by Zen Master One Finger. Of course, Fangzheng believed that it was a coincidence when he was young, but from the looks of it, it was no coincidence. It was likely that Zen Master One Finger knew that he would call during those two days, so he waited by the phone all the time!

Having realized this, Fangzheng’s eyes turned moist. Beside him, Squirrel hugged his tail and began wiping his snot and tears.

Red Boy turned agape as Fangzheng pointed outside. The few of them left the house.

Upon leaving the house, they came to a corner without anyone.

Squirrel, who had been holding back, widened his mouth.

“Wah!” Red Boy cried first, his voice overwhelming Squirrel’s. It gave him such a fright that he sucked back his snot.

Fangzheng patted Red Boy and said, “Alright, stop crying.”

“Master, can you not wipe your snot and tears on my head?” Red Boy looked angrily at Fangzheng.

Fangzheng raised his head, embarrassed. With his hands behind his back, he said, “Ahem… Alright!”

“You even admit to it!” Red Boy nearly flared up. What a bully! Then, Red Boy grabbed Squirrel and wailed with him in his arms. “Senior Brother, Master is such a bully!”