The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

Fangzheng was surprised as he replied curiously, “My dear disciple, this song’s name is ‘Vagabond Song.’ It talks about a vagabond who goes out into society. Despite working hard outside, he has nothing to call his own. He misses home and the days with his mother. Be it the tune or the sorrow and desire embedded in this song, many people resonate with it or feel empathy. Why would you want to beat someone up now?”

Red Boy curled his lips. “Resonate and empathize my ass. For us, once we go out, either we return in glory or we die outside. This kind of people who attempt to forge their own path but fail to become anything are weaklings. They keep talking about missing home, but they couldn’t even survive one episode in a tv series. For us, we either win or die trying. Everything has to be forged by our own hands.”

Fangzheng shook his head in exasperation when he heard that. “It’s no wonder it’s not enough over there to just have the Heavenly Courts. Mount Numinous and Buddha are necessary indeed.”

“Why?”

Fangzheng said seriously, “Because life is apparently too cheap. Strength is more important than humanity. Naturally, there’s a need for people to redeem others; otherwise, wouldn’t it be utter chaos?”

Red Boy thought nothing of it. “But I still think my world is better. There aren’t any restrictions, and there is total freedom. We can do anything we want.”

“And you ended up becoming the Child of Wealth?” Fangzheng gave him a sideways glance as he laughed slyly.

“Master, can we not talk about that?” Red Boy said miserably.

Fangzheng chuckled. By that time, the singer had approached. The person was lying prone on a cart with wheels. There was a boombox in the back of the cart. The person was without legs, and his body was slightly deformed. His ass was a little high, and his hands held two wooden boards which he used to steer himself forward. As he did that, he sang into the microphone by his mouth. There was a metal box in front of him. There wasn’t much money in the box, with about ten or fifty yuan and one red one hundred-yuan bill. The rest were just a few yuan and a pile of coins.

Many people who walked past him would fish out some change to throw into his metal box.

“Master, why do I think he’s earning money faster than you back then?” Red Boy looked up at Fangzheng.

Fangzheng struck him immediately. This darn kid. Why must he speak the truth?

At this moment, the singer suddenly looked up and saw Fangzheng and Red Boy. His eyes immediately lit up. Fangzheng saw in his eyes the look Squirrel had when he saw a biscuit in his hand or the way Lone Wolf had looked at Zhao Datong’s sausage a year ago! That feeling was odd…

At this moment, the crippled man immediately slid over. As he slid, he sang with greater gusto.

“Master, he’s coming. Are you giving him any money?” Red Boy asked.

Fangzheng shook his head. “No!”

“Why?” Just as Red Boy asked, the crippled man was already in front of Fangzheng as he looked up at them.

Red Boy looked at Fangzheng as Fangzheng said, “Amitabha. Patron, please leave.”

However, the crippled man didn’t say a word. He stared at him intently as he sang louder and louder, with a sobbing tone filling his voice. Immediately, he attracted the attention of many.

Fangzheng and Red Boy were eye-catching to begin with. The cripple was equally eye-catching. Coupled with the boombox, pedestrians could not help but look over. Furthermore, with the sudden raising of his voice, it was quite frightening. Therefore, people stopped walking as they watched this spectacle of the strangely dressed Fangzheng and Red Boy. More and more people looked over as the beggar had a deep provocative look in his eyes. It was as though he was saying: “Are you thick-skinned enough not to give me money?”

Fangzheng also understood what was happening. The beggar must have targeted him because he was a monk, and a young one at that! Furthermore, he was quite eye-catching, so the man was determined to fleece him!

Fangzheng squatted down and whispered. “Patron, we are all living off the alms of others. Is there a need to do this?”

“Heh heh, give me the money!” The beggar scoffed and switched off the microphone as he spoke domineeringly. His intentions were clear. I’m fleecing you for sure! If you don’t give me money, will you be able to bear the embarrassment? Do you have the skin to face these countless pairs of eyes?

Fangzheng frowned. “Patron, are you trying to engage in robbery? The way you obtain money is faster than what This Penniless Monk can achieve.”

“Tch. You receive money sitting, while I lie down to get money. You are much more comfortable than me. Give me money, or I’ll keep following you.” The moment he heard Fangzheng’s non-native accent, he felt even more determined.

Fangzheng knew that he had met a bandit instead of a beggar! He had also seen many reports regarding beggars, but this was the first time he was seeing such an arrogant beggar. Seeing Fangzheng suffer a setback, Red Boy chuckled as he looked at Fangzheng. “Master, do you need my help? I’ll stew him!”

Fangzheng patted him on the head to indicate his intentions. When Red Boy saw this, his smile brightened even more. “So I can stew him?”

Fangzheng rolled his eyes at him. “Jingxin, your comprehension is still lacking. Read the Diamond Sutra and Lankavatara sutra 108 times when we are back!”

Red Boy instantly had a bitter look when he heard that. What did he mean by him having a lacking comprehension? Wasn’t it just because he couldn’t read Fangzheng’s mind? This monk was devious!

“Little Monk, don’t change topics. Hurry up and give me the money,” the man wasn’t happy lying down as he whispered.

Fangzheng shot a glance at him and then looked at Red Boy. However, Red Boy still couldn’t understand Fangzheng’s intentions. Helpless, Fangzheng shook his head. Indeed, he had to do it himself!

Without standing on ceremony, Fangzheng squatted down, reached out his fair hand and opened up his slender fingers. Then, under the beggar’s dumbstruck gaze, Fangzheng clenched his fist and grabbed a bunch of money. Following that, the beggar looked in a daze as the darn baldy tucked the money into his clothes! At that instant, the beggar’s mind hummed. What the f**k is going on? This isn’t right!

Just as the beggar was about to roar, hoping to use the social pressure from the crowd around him to force the monk to return the money, Fangzheng pressed his palms together in exasperation. He said loudly, “Amitabha! Patron, This Penniless Monk never expected you to be so devout! This Penniless Monk cannot take your money, but you insist on giving it all to This Penniless Monk. Let’s do this. This Penniless Monk will not take everything, but just a handful. It wouldn’t be good to take any more.”

“You!” The beggar lowered his head to look at the money in the box. All the notes were gone, leaving only shiny coins! The beggar nearly died from anger. He roared inwardly. “Who gave anything to you? You were the one who f**king took it for yourself, alright? A handful? How the f**k is your hand so big? Damn it, you darn baldy. Where’s your conscience?”

The beggar was enraged as he turned up the boombox and shouted with his mouth wide open. But the words he said was, “Master, take the money! I’m a Buddhist!”

The moment that was said, the beggar’s eyes moistened. Tears streamed down incessantly. Was the money he received from crawling all morning about to be gone? His heart felt the pinch! Also, this wasn’t what he wanted to say! Damn it, this was creepy!