The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

“Sigh, this silly child. She jumped into the river during winter to commit suicide. She must be frozen silly to be laughing now…” When a nurse saw Duan Liu’s expression, she shook her head helplessly.

Duan Liu lay in an ambulance bed as she looked for someone. The instant the door was about to be closed, she saw a bald head. She subconsciously shouted, “Master, thank you!”

The door closed, and the ambulance blared away.

“Stop looking. She already thanked you. Are you still missing her?” Zhang Huihui said unhappily when she saw Fangzheng craning his neck as though he was trying to see something.

Fangzheng said, “No, This Penniless Monk just wanted to know if Patron Duan had woken up. From the looks of it, she has awakened. This Penniless Monk feels at ease now.” Fangzheng did not say everything on his mind. He was not only checking if she had regained her consciousness, but he also wanted to see Duan Liu’s mental state. If she remained insistent on dying, he would have wasted all his efforts. From the state of things, though, he could now relax.

“Little Monk, where do you plan on going next?” Zhang Huihui asked languidly.

“This Penniless Monk…” Fangzheng was just about to say something when he heard someone by the side shout, “Of course, you must have some warm water to drive away the cold. Master, the restaurant I run is just around the corner. Why don’t we all share a meal today? It’s on the house!”

“Alright!” No one stood on ceremony as the crowd broke into a cheer.

Following that, the large group of people ushered Fangzheng, Zhang Huihui, and Little Seven into the restaurant.

The restaurant wasn’t some posh restaurant, but it was renovated in a clean, minimalistic manner. When everyone entered, the boss was generous as he served beer. He shouted, “Eat whatever you like!”

Instantly, the mood was uplifted. Many people surrounded Fangzheng, asking how he was still fine after jumping from five meters high.

Before Fangzheng could answer, Little Seven already shouted, “Because Brother Master knows martial arts! The kind that allows you to fly and scale walls, haha! That kind.”

Everyone was amused when they heard that. People would have believed him if he said he knew martial arts, but to know how to fly and scale walls was something none of them believed. However, no one called out Little Seven for his nonsense, and they turned their attention to Little Seven as they teased him.

The mood was lively, and Fangzheng realized that although this bunch of boors who kept bragging ate little but drank a lot, all of them had secretly stuffed money under the table cloths. It warmed Fangzheng’s heart to see this.

When the opportunity came, Fangzheng took his chance and secretly left with Lone Wolf.

There was no other way about it. As a monk, he really wasn’t suited to be placed on a pedestal by so many people. Although everyone was doing it with kind intentions, he still felt a little guilty. If he didn’t have any powers, would he really jump down a five-meter-tall embankment? Clearly, he wouldn’t. Since he had helped relying on inhuman abilities, there was nothing to be proud about. There was no reason why he should be thought of so highly by others.

“Master, are you leaving? I kind of liked what they were saying. It leaves me fluttery,” Lone Wolf said with a chuckle.

Fangzheng shook his head. “I prefer to be down-to-earth. I can’t stand being overly praised.”

“Little Monk, are you leaving already?” At that moment, Zhang Huihui chased after him.

Fangzheng turned around and smiled. “That’s right. This Penniless Monk left the mountain with the intention to travel a little, but ended up all day by the river. This Penniless Monk plans on returning.”

“I see. Why don’t you stay a few more days? I can play host and take you around,” offered Zhang Huihui.

Fangzheng shook his head and said, “If we are fated, there will be plenty of opportunity in the future. Patron, have you saved someone before?”

Zhang Huihui was taken aback when she heard that. “How do you know?”

Fangzheng smiled. Indeed, a dog takes after its owner. Since the dog had saved others before, this owner had indeed saved people as well.

Zhang Huihui said, “I chanced upon that kind of situation. Any ordinary person would have done the same. It’s nothing. As for you, you were truly impressive. You jumped down from such a tall height.”

When Lone Wolf heard that, he grunted a few times in a bid to remind Zhang Huihui that he did the same!

Zhang Huihui smiled as she patted Lone Wolf on the head. “Yes, yes, yes. There’s you too. You’re a hero too! Yes, as good as my Dopey. You are a hero dog.”

The moment Lone Wolf was reminded of the silly husky, he immediately shook his head. He no longer had interest in the term ‘hero dog.’

Zhang Huihui did not know what the silly wolf was thinking as she chatted with Fangzheng for a while. After confirming that he had made up his mind, she could only bid farewell.

“Master, are we really going home?” asked Lone Wolf.

Fangzheng shook his head. “Yes, but before that, we should pay the hospital a visit.”

“The hospital?” Lone Wolf was taken aback.

At the restaurant, Fangzheng had asked where the ambulance had been headed to. Since he had time now, he naturally went to the hospital with Lone Wolf to visit Duan Liu. His mind wouldn’t be at ease without taking a good look at her.

In the end, Fangzheng saw Duan Liu walking out the hospital at the door. They stood there, their eyes locked. They were stunned, but they soon smiled at each other.

Duan Liu extended her milky hand and said, “Thank you, Master.”

Fangzheng pressed his palms together. “Amitabha. Patron, you have recognized the wrong person.”

Then, Fangzheng turned and left with Lone Wolf. He was worried for Duan Liu, but it did not mean that he was willing to invite trouble on himself. If he acknowledge her, it would prove that he had indeed been in Duan Liu’s dream. If the matter was pursued, things would only become difficult to explain. He only wanted to determine that Duan Liu’s state was alright. Since she was fine, they could wander around and return to the mountain once they got tired.

“Master, I know that you were the one in the dream!” Duan Liu chased after him.

Fangzheng quickened his pace as Lone Wolf followed.

“Master, I remembered everything you said. I’ve thought it through. I will continue performing, and the money I earn will be used on building an orphanage. I want to be the guardian angel of the orphans!” shouted Duan Liu.

After Fangzheng turned a corner, he opened the Formless Door without a word and stepped through it.

When Duan Liu made the turn and saw that Fangzheng and Lone Wolf had disappeared, she stood rooted to the ground. She stared into the empty alley as a look of puzzlement flashed across her eyes. Then, she smiled. “I knew it. You’re no ordinary person.”

…

“Master, why were you in such a hurry to leave?” Lone Wolf harrumphed.

“If we didn’t run faster, we would have been caught. How would you answer all those questions?”

“You can leave the answering to me,” said Lone Wolf.

Fangzheng chuckled. “Go ahead and try answering. Do you believe that you won’t be sliced up on a table the next day and dipped in sauce for eating?”

Lone Wolf shuddered in fright, but said indignantly, “Then… That’s all for our shopping plans?”

“Yes. We shall have a proper experience next time,” said Fangzheng.

“Next time? Master, I’ve gone down the mountain twice with you. I starved so badly each time… Maybe it’s best I don’t leave?” mumbled Lone Wolf.

Fangzheng smacked him and said, “You sure are a smartass. Up the mountain and have your cabbage!”

“Ah?” Lone Wolf immediately put on a miserable look… He hated the cabbage. Unbeknownst to him, he wasn’t the only one. The few disciples on the mountain were also having a headache.

In the backyard, Monkey, Squirrel, and Red Boy were standing around the huge White Jade Cabbage in a daze.