Chapter 129: Questions about Buddhism and the Change of Buddha’s Heart (Subscription Request)
It's just a talisman, not a very valuable gift.

Moreover, it was just a blue talisman.

Shi Jian did have other more precious things to give to Jiale, but Jiale was only at the second level of cultivation at the moment, and many of his things would be useless to him even if he was given them.

Not to mention Jiale, even his master Simu might not be able to do it.

Therefore, a protective amulet is the most suitable...

Seeing that his senior brother gave Jiale a gift, Simu was so happy at that moment.

This meant that his eldest senior brother, as the head of Maoshan, recognized Jiale's status as a Maoshan disciple. Of course, Jiale might only be an outer disciple for the rest of his life, but even so, Simu was very satisfied.

Jiale has been by his side since he was a child. Simu would be worried if he really returned to Maoshan and left Jiale alone to fend for himself.

"You little brat, why don't you thank your master!"

Jiale was a little dazed. The amulet in his hand emitted a faint light. The unfathomable Taoist charm made Jiale deeply attracted by it.

Only when I suddenly heard my master's reminder did I react.

He immediately gave Shi Jian another big gift.

"Disciple thanks Master for the gift of treasure!"

Shi Jian smiled slightly, looked at Jiale's energetic appearance and nodded.

Compared to Qiu Sheng Wencai, Jia Le is much better in both character and self-control.

Maybe his talent is a little lacking, but he is better in character and perseverance, so it will not be a problem for him to become an outer disciple of Maoshan in the future.

"Okay Jiale, your master uncle has come from afar, why don't you go and prepare to welcome him."

With just a glance, Jiale understood what he meant and hurried towards the kitchen in the courtyard.

"Big Brother, please sit down!"

Simu's smile remained on his face, and Shi Jian was not polite either. He sat down at the square table, and Simu began to skillfully take out a small jar of tea from his secret treasury.

After a while, he served Shi Jian a cup of tea.

Just as Simu poured himself a cup of tea to quench his thirst, the sound of wooden fish beating came from next door.

In an instant, Taoist Simu's face turned terribly dark.

"This old bald donkey, I finally tricked him out to travel around, how come he came back just when my senior brother arrived at the dojo..."

Simu gradually frowned, worried that the sound of the wooden fish from the monk next door would disturb his eldest senior brother.

He simply got up and went towards the courtyard next door.

Shi Jian held the cup of tea and watched Simu leave, a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth. It was obvious that Simu was going to cause trouble for the monk Ikkyu.

Speaking of which, the relationship between Simu and Ikkyu is also extremely delicate.

The relationship between Buddhism and Taoism, especially in the last few hundred years, has not been good. However, in this environment, the temples of both sides are actually next to each other.

The strongest Four Eyes curses every day, but if Ikkyu is in danger or Four Eyes is in trouble, both sides will unite against the common enemy.

It can be said that there is a hint of playfulness in friendship.

......................................................

At the gate of Ikkyu-san's courtyard, Simu pushed the door open without even knocking.

A few seconds later, they arrived at Ikkyu's bamboo house. Looking at Ikkyu who was meditating and chanting, there was no mercy in their eyes or words.

"Monk, I told you to go out and travel around and practice your Buddhist path, why did you come back so suddenly?

Do you know that my eldest brother, the head of Maoshan, is in my temple right now?

You keep beating the wooden fish, aren't you afraid that my senior brother will get tired of listening to you and send you to heaven with a bolt of lightning to serve your Buddha?"

After saying this, Simu still looked at Ikkyu with a serious and angry expression.

Monk Ikkyu, who had originally ignored Simu's arrival, stood up suddenly after hearing about the head monk of Maoshan!

He seemed a little excited, and his eyes were shining as he looked at them.

"Simu, are you talking about the Thunder King, the Maoshan Sect Master, your senior brother Shijian?"

Looking at Ikkyu's shocked expression, pride instantly appeared in their eyes.

"Monk, apart from this Senior Brother Jindan Zhenjun you mentioned, is there anyone else worthy of being called Senior Brother?"

After these words were spoken, the shock on Ikkyu's face became even stronger, and his visible joy made everyone look puzzled.

"I never thought that I would be able to meet the Golden Elixir Master one day. Hahaha, it's such a great blessing!"

As he spoke, Ikkyu stopped meditating, stood up and straightened his monk robe in one go.

After taking a deep breath, Monk Ikkyu looked towards the hut where Shi Jian was with a burning gaze.

Everyone was stunned by this action and had no idea what Ikkyu was going to do.

"Hey, monk, where are you going?

Could it be that after hearing about my senior brother's reputation, he realized his mistake and decided to leave the dojo?"

How could Ikkyu still have the energy to continue bickering with Simu at this moment?

"Simu, since the headmaster of Mount Mao is here, I will go and pay him a visit!"

As he said this, Ikkyu was about to go around Simu, which made Simu very anxious.

"Pooh!

"Monk, that is my Taoist Simu's eldest brother, the head of our Maoshan Sect, how can a bald donkey like you who has not even reached the foundation-building stage pay homage to him!"

Simu's words at this moment were extremely sharp, and could even be said to be an insult to Ikkyu.

However, Ikkyu shook his head indifferently at Shimu's words.

"Amitabha, Brother Simu, I still remember all the great deeds done by Master Shi over the years. Master Shi has been killing demons and monsters for the sake of the people of the world. Although I am a disciple of Buddhism, I should go and pay a visit to him. Even if Master Shi doesn't like me and kills me with a thunderbolt, I will never complain. If I don't go to hell, who will?

What's more, Master Shi is such a broad-minded person, how could he share the same views as this poor monk?

Brother Simu, please don't stop me."

After saying this, Monk Ikkyu jumped past Simu and walked towards the hut where Shi Jian was, step by step with determination.

Chanting the Buddha's name loudly, every move radiates Buddha's light...

Simu didn't expect that Ikkyu would be so stubborn. Even after he explained the interests involved, he still tried to ram into the gun.

Of course, this was mainly because Simu felt that his senior brother Shi Jian never liked people from the Buddhist sect, and he thought that Ikkyu would be troubled by his senior brother, or even worse!
"Monk, oh monk, it's not that I haven't warned you before, but if you really annoy my senior brother, I can only burn incense for you on this day next year to show my sincerity."

Shaking his head, Simu hurriedly followed...

Inside the hut, Shi Jian was sipping his tea. He could clearly see that Ikkyu was walking towards the hut step by step.

"Amitabha, my name is Yixiu. I heard that the head of Maoshan is Shi Zhenjun in person. I wonder if I can come and pay a visit to him!"

Shi Jian smiled faintly and waved his hand, and the bamboo door slowly opened.

In an instant, Shi Jian's eyes, as calm as a deep spring, startled the monk Ikkyu.

It’s okay to be ordinary, but Ikkyu knows that if he dares to go beyond that, he will be reduced to ashes in an instant!
"I am a humble monk from the White Horse Temple, and I am here to pay my respects to the Master of Maoshan!"

Ikkyu also bowed politely. The four people behind him watched this scene and heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that his senior brother had a calm expression.

He was afraid that his senior brother would beat Ikkyu into pieces if they disagreed with him.

"Big Brother, he..."

Simu wanted to explain, but Shi Jian waved his hand to signal Simu not to say more.

Seeing this, Simu could only stand there anxiously and pray for Ikkyu...

"White Horse Temple, I passed by it more than ten years ago, but the White Horse Temple is closed to the public, and is said to be secluded for a hundred years. Monk, why are you here in Guandao Yizhuang?"

Shi Jian's question was neither warm nor cold. Shi Jian really did not have a good impression of the White Horse Temple. The Buddhists said one thing and did another. Now was a time of chaos in the world with demons appearing frequently, yet they wanted to stay away from the world.

Waiting for the coming of prosperity...

It would be strange if he had a good impression.

Monk Ikkyu heard the hidden meaning in Shi Jian's words, and he also knew that Shi Jian would never accept his identity. At least, as a disciple of the White Horse Temple, he would even be disliked by Shi Jian.

“Reporting to Master Shi, although I came from the White Horse Temple, I do not agree with their practice of seclusion from the world.

Since we were little monks, we have traveled around the world, slaying demons and monsters in order to bring peace to the world.

Unfortunately, I am not strong enough. Twelve years ago, my master passed away at the hands of a demon. Since then, I have never forgotten this great wish!"

Shi Jian looked at the monk Ikkyu, and his eyes changed from calm to a sense of pressure to implement.

It only took a few seconds, but Ikkyu was sweating profusely...

"Monk, do you think that what you said can resonate with me?

Do not……

And won't!
Buddhism's practices are simply becoming more hidden in you.

You also eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, hoping that one day you can see the Buddha in the West by slaying demons and eliminating evil.

Finally, there is something to be desired..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Monk Ikkyu's expression changed instantly. Shi Jian was right. He subdued demons and eliminated monsters just to achieve perfection in merit one day, to see the Buddha in the West, and to achieve the golden body.

Taking a deep breath, Monk Ikkyu endured the pressure and looked at Shi Jian!

"Amitabha, Master Shi, isn't it that the Daoists kill demons and evil spirits in order to accumulate merits and become immortals?
Cultivation is inherently selfish..."

When Shi Jian heard this, his solemn expression instantly turned into a smile.

“Monk, you are very good. It is true that all cultivators are selfish.

Since you have the courage to refute me, then come in and have a seat..."

Hearing this, Monk Ikkyu breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know where he got the courage to refute such a Jindan Zhenjun.

But fortunately, the result was good. At least I was able to enter the house instead of being smashed into pieces by a bolt of lightning...

Simu on the side also breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere was so tense just now that he was really afraid that if Ikkyu said something wrong he would be killed by his own senior brother.

Only after Simu and Ikkyu sat down did Shi Jian continue to sip his tea.

"Big Brother, I thought that Ikkyu would be killed by your thunderbolt, but I didn't expect that this bald monk would still be able to survive."

Simu knew that his senior brother would not attack Ikkyu for the time being, so he just started to tease him.

When Ikkyu heard these words, he felt uncomfortable. It was obvious that Simu was more nervous than anyone else just now, but now he said these words.

Shi Jian smiled, looked at Simu, and then said: "Junior Brother Simu, since you hope that Monk Ikkyu can go to heaven, I don't mind fulfilling your wish!"

As he spoke, a scarlet lightning slowly condensed at Shi Jian's fingertips, which frightened Monk Ikkyu so much that he couldn't help but glare at him.

Simu didn't expect that he was just joking, but in order to scare Ikkiu, his own eldest brother actually made a move.

He shook his head repeatedly.

"Brother, please don't, please don't, I don't want to see this bald donkey die here. Not only will it dirty my temple, but it will also pollute your eyes!"

Monk Yixiu felt warm inside at Simu's protection. He was speechless at the moment. In fact, Monk Yixiu knew very well that if he did not have some relationship with Simu, it would be impossible for him to meet Shi Jian, the head master of Maoshan.

There is still a huge gap between Buddhism and Taoism...

　I always feel that after entering the plot, the writing is a bit formal and lacks some meaning...

　
(End of this chapter)