CKtalon
Although Chang Haijiang was stationed in Icefield all year round, he came from the Salvation Army and had been promoted to the middle class. He had a certain level of understanding of various situations. Furthermore, he had seen a few monks and knew how to deal with the person in front of him.
He then asked amiably, “Zen Masters, what would you like to exchange?”
The old Red Coaster calmly replied, “Some rye bread.”
“We don’t have that.” Chang Haijiang shook his head. “There’s mixed-grain cornbread that costs the same. Do you want it?”
The old Red Coaster thought for a moment and said, “Fine then.”
He then removed a small cloth bag hanging from his waist and took out a gold piece. “Is this enough?”
Chang Haijiang took it and weighed it in his hand in identification. “You can exchange for about 100 loaves with this. Uh, I can’t provide that many in a short period of time. There are only about 30 left in the kitchen… Zen Master, do you want to exchange for some other supplies, or are you willing to wait for the kitchen to steam a new batch?”
The old Red Coaster didn’t hesitate. “Mixed-grain cornbread it is. We can wait.”
“Alright.” Chang Haijiang didn’t persuade him.
The old Red Coaster then led the monastery of travel-worn, gray-robed monks in patched clothes out of the door and found a place to sit.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them. It was Shang Jianyao, who was holding the Six Senses Beads.
Jiang Baimian couldn’t stop him.
Shang Jianyao sat on the ground, his posture a little awkward. He pressed his palms together and said, “Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti. This Penniless Monk is Redemption. How should you be addressed?”
The old Red Coaster returned the same salute. “Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti. This Penniless Monk is Paranga.”
“Are you from the Crystal Consciousness Church?” Shang Jianyao asked curiously.
They were clearly not from the Monks Conclave. They had yet to abandon their bodies by choosing the technological path and ascend through mechanical means.
Paranga shook his head. “We are from the Asceticism Department.”
“The Asceticism Department?” Shang Jianyao asked in puzzlement.
He had never heard of it.
“We focus on asceticism to temper our wills, improve ourselves, and ultimately transcend,” Paranga explained concisely. He then asked, “Venerable One, where do you hail from?”
“The Monks Conclave,” Shang Jianyao replied without hesitation.
Upon seeing the monks’ expressions of surprise and disbelief, he added, “But they and I ultimately parted ways due to our different understanding of Zen and true nature.”
As he spoke, he sighed and seemed like an accomplished monk.
After explaining, Shang Jianyao answered Paranga’s question again. “I’m not a member of any monk group. I chose this path because I had interacted with different monks, read some scriptures, and was called upon by destiny. Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti.”
You make it sound like it’s real… Jiang Baimian—who was standing by the door—didn’t even want to acknowledge this fellow as her companion.
But in essence, Shang Jianyao wasn’t lying. Zen Master Redemption was indeed such a ‘person.’
Paranga sized up Shang Jianyao. He swept his gaze across the string of prayer beads in the other party’s hand and suddenly froze.
“Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti.” Paranga pressed his palms together again and chanted a Buddhist proclamation.
He didn’t ask any further.
Shang Jianyao looked at the monks around him curiously. “Why aren’t they saying anything?”
That’s right. Aren’t they a little too polite… Strict precepts? Jiang Baimian felt that something was amiss.
The monastery of monks only listened and didn’t say a word. They didn’t participate in the conversation between Paranga and Shang Jianyao at all.
Normally speaking, someone among them would more or less voice their doubts when Shang Jianyao mentioned the Monks Conclave.
Paranga didn’t lie and frankly replied, “Monks from our Asceticism Department undergo at least 20 years of silent meditation.”
“Oh, oh, oh.” Shang Jianyao had an enlightened look. “Venerable One, you’ve finished the 20 years of cultivation?”
Paranga nodded. “I’ve been cultivating silent meditation for 20 years, and I’ve also spoken for 20 years. I’m now cultivating the second round of silent meditation.”
“Then, why can you speak now?” Shang Jianyao didn’t hide his curiosity.
Paranga’s expression immediately turned adrift. “I failed. I violated the silent meditation by myself.”
“How did this happen?” Zen Master Redemption Shang Jianyao had a look of concern.
Paranga lowered his head, pressed his palms together, and chanted a Buddhist proclamation. “Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti. The omen has appeared. A great calamity is imminent.”
“A great calamity? What’s the great calamity?” Shang Jianyao held the Six Senses Beads in one hand and placed the other vertically in front of his chest.
Paranga shut his mouth and didn’t say a word as if he had returned to a state of silent meditation.
Zen Master Redemption was calm and benevolent. He didn’t go overboard, so he gave up on asking and slowly stood up.
After passing Jiang Baimian and returning inside the rest stop, he placed the Six Senses Beads back into his tactical backpack.
Jiang Baimian didn’t say a word. She followed Shang Jianyao—who had switched to an unknown personality—back to his original seat and sat down.
Bai Chen and Long Yuehong looked up at them before glancing at the dining table.
Chang Haijiang had already carried a large bowl of dried meat and a large plate of yellow cornbread over.
Why would such a monastery of monks come to Icefield… Could they also be going… Just as this thought flashed through Long Yuehong’s mind, he forcefully turned his attention to the plate of game meat.
He knew that the Subhuti domain had abilities like Mind Reading and Heavenly Ears. With the two parties less than ten meters apart, it was neither convenient for them to discuss nor think about it.