Just as they were drinking their soup, an old monk came over with a young monk. They were wearing tattered monk robes, which had been patched and mended countless times.
The old monk had messy hair and a stubble beard, clearly having not bathed in a long time. The young monk was bald, thin, and about the same age as Ziyue, following beside the old monk.
"Benefactor, could you please give me a bowl of mutton soup? I could smell the aroma from far away." The old monk smiled and looked at the middle-aged vendor, bowing with one palm.
The middle-aged vendor said warmly, "Please sit down, venerable master!"
"Thank you, benefactor!"
The old monk sat at the table next to Qin Luo.
The little monk stood between the two tables, staring at the mutton in Ziyue's bowl, swallowing his saliva.
When Ziyue saw the little monk, she grinned and asked, "Little monk, what's your name?"
The little monk shook his head.
Are you mute?
The young monk continued to shake his head.
Zi Yue tilted her head. "Then why aren't you saying anything?"
The old monk squinted and smiled, "His name is Bu Yan (meaning 'silent and speechless'), because too much talk leads to mistakes. He is practicing the Zen of silence."
Is this interesting?
Ziyue tilted her head and asked.
"It's boring."
The old monk shook his head and sighed.
Hua Ying's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She knew that it was not easy for Buddhist disciples to cultivate the silent meditation. Once they succeeded, their words would become golden words, and their words would become law.
Qin Luo looked at the old monk.
You can tell he's not a simple person.
"Master, would you like some mutton?"
"The more the better."
The middle-aged vendor found it strange, but still brought him a bowl of authentic mutton soup. It contained a lot of offal, only a few slices of mutton, and was sprinkled with scallions on top.
The old monk smelled it and exclaimed, "It smells wonderful!"
Ziyue watched the old monk eat meat, while the young monk could only stand aside and watch, and couldn't help but think of his past self.
"Little monk, here's some steamed bun for you."
Ziyue handed a white steamed bun to the little monk.
The little monk's eyes lit up immediately. She put her hands together, bowed to Ziyue, and then took the white steamed bun, wolfing it down as if she hadn't eaten in a long time.
The old monk picked up the yellow gourd from his waist, opened it, and a strong aroma of wine wafted out. He gulped down the wine, a contented expression on his face.
Ziyue asked curiously, "Can monks drink alcohol and eat meat?"
The old monk looked at Xiao Ziyue and laughed heartily, "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart."
Upon hearing this, Zi Yue chuckled, "The beef passes through the intestines, but the Dao Ancestor remains in his heart."
The old monk stared at Ziyue with a serious expression and said, "Young benefactor, you must not follow my example. You cannot do so. If you do, you will fall into depravity sooner or later."
Seeing the old monk's serious expression, Ziyue quickly took a sip of mutton soup to calm her nerves. She raised her little face and said, "I won't follow your example. I'll follow my senior brother's example."
The old monk looked at Qin Luo.
Qin Luo cupped his hands in greeting to him.
"Your senior brother is your role model!"
There wasn't any meat in his bowl!
The old monk looked at Ziyue and said, "Young benefactor, eating meat is bad for your cultivation. I will suffer for you."
Ziyue quickly protected the bowl with her small hands, staring with her big, bright eyes, "How come you're just like my master?"
The old monk sighed softly, "That's why you're not smart."
Hua Ying and Qin Luo exchanged a smile.
They were amused by the conversation between the old man and the young man.
"As long as my senior brother is smart, that's enough."
Ziyue continued eating the mutton in her bowl.
"Are you disciples of the Dragon Tiger Temple?"
Ziyue ignored the old monk, growing angrier the more she thought about it. Her master said she lacked understanding, and the old monk said she wasn't smart.
Qin Luo smiled and said softly, "Yes, what brings you here, senior?"
"Seek the Dao at Longhu Temple!"
"I'd like to spar with Master Zhang!"
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