Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 16: The Eminent Monk

Wang Chuan extended his spiritual sense, sweeping over the surroundings, and the conversations of those nearby entered his mind. There were also others who had drunk tea at this establishment before, so they naturally knew the original prices.

This was odd.

He glanced at the eminent monk beside him—shouldn’t one step in when witnessing injustice?

But before he could act, it was Xu Wei who intervened.

“All right, all right, enough squabbling. It’s just a matter of a little money; there’s no need to ruin the peace.” Xu Wei took out some money. “I’ll pay for them. Let’s end this here.”

She produced a silver ingot.

Several people’s eyes brightened at the sight.

She dressed finely, and her actions matched her appearance.

“Miss, don’t do this. He’s obviously extorting us on purpose,” the Western Regions maiden protested.

“It’s nothing, let’s leave it at that. Everyone, disperse,” Xu Wei waved her hand, dismissing the crowd.

“You just misheard, that’s all,” the vendor mumbled weakly.

Wang Chuan paid it no mind. He was more curious to see the monk’s response, but it seemed there would be no more chance for him to act.

Ah, well…

“Master, the world is full of strife. Whether it’s the great or minor dharma, you should strive to instruct the masses even more from now on,” Wang Chuan patted the monk’s shoulder and continued.

“The benefactor speaks truly.” Ji Xin nodded in agreement.

When Xu Wei caught up to them, Ji Xin spoke again. “All phenomena are impermanent; all who live suffer; the five aggregates are empty of self, and there is no ‘I’ nor ‘mine.’”

“What’s the master saying?” Xu Wei was baffled.

“He means you were wrong,” Wang Chuan chuckled. “On the surface, you harmed no one, but if you let vice grow and virtue fade, then the balance tips the wrong way and you achieve the opposite of your intent.”

“Then why didn’t you step in just now?” Xu Wei retorted, unconvinced.

“I have a hundred ways to help, but I chose not to,” Wang Chuan shook his head. “Like Master Ji Xin, I walk the path of the dharma. Today I seek the Law only to save myself, not to save others.”

“You’re lying. How could the master say such things about me?” Xu Wei doubted. “Master, is he right?”

“There was once a great king who sought the Law. A demon told him, ‘If you wish to hear the Dharma, give me your wife and children.’ The king agreed. The demon, from his high seat, seized the queen and devoured her. She was then transformed into a Bodhisattva and recited a verse: ‘All phenomena are impermanent; all who live suffer; the five aggregates are empty of self, and there is no ‘I’ nor ‘mine,’” Wang Chuan smiled. “Isn’t that the story of King Shibi? A fitting example.”

“What is that?” Xu Wei asked curiously.

“King Shibi is a king from the Buddhist scriptures. Whenever others asked, he gave without hesitation. So when a young Brahmin asked the king and queen to serve as his slaves, the king agreed on the spot, abandoned his throne, and followed the boy barefoot. The queen, once a great princess, hurt her feet soon after leaving the city. The boy became angry and sold her at the market. She was bought as a maid and later had a child. Her master said, ‘A maid cannot have children,’ and ordered her to bury the child. At the cemetery, she found the king as the caretaker. The two of them awoke from a dream, still enjoying their royal splendor—the boy was a Bodhisattva come to awaken them,” Wang Chuan explained. “So, do you understand?”

Ji Xin looked toward him. “What Yan benefactor says is right. You have grasped the essence of the Buddha’s teaching, but lack the karmic bond. It is truly a pity.”

“To see all others as bodhisattvas, and only oneself as an ordinary man. Master, even in Buddhism, blind faith leads to delusions. The original intent of the Buddha is to recognize the body as the source of suffering and to let go of bodily desires in pursuit of the Way. But if you deliberately court suffering just to seek the Way, you miss the point,” Wang Chuan smiled.

Ji Xin could only smile wryly. “By that reasoning, it seems I have become attached to appearances.”

Only Xu Wei, standing to the side, was left disheartened.

Wang Chuan was always right, which meant she was at fault.

There was a commotion by the temple—several monks were hurrying in their direction.

Common folk recognized these as eminent local monks and displayed respectful awe.

The leading monk, broad-faced and big-eared, joined his palms in greeting. “Is this the Venerable Ji Xin?”

Ji Xin said nothing.

The other seemed certain and continued, “I am the abbot of this monastery, Dharma name Yong Yi. It is a great fortune to meet such a distinguished monk. Might you have time to enter the temple and discourse on Zen?”

“The master has an appointment with me. Let’s eat first, then talk,” Wang Chuan interjected.

Yong Yi glanced at Wang Chuan, then looked back to see Ji Xin nod. “Yan benefactor is right.”

The big-eared monk looked a little embarrassed, then added, “There is food in the temple. You are all welcome to join us.”

He had generously included all of them in his invitation.

“No need. I don’t like your kind. How long has the master been outside before you noticed? And besides, I want to eat meat. You talk about equality of all beings, but give me worse food when I pay less, and fawn over the rich and powerful. I’m off to eat meat!” Wang Chuan said with disdain.

“Amitabha, what a sin, what a sin,” Yong Yi grew even more embarrassed.

“Let’s go, master, don’t bother with these vulgar people,” Wang Chuan threw an arm around the monk’s shoulder and dragged him off.

Ji Xin could only smile wryly as he was pulled away.

The others stood dumbfounded, exchanging glances.

Wang Chuan never lacked for money; when it came to meals, he didn’t necessarily seek the best, but always the most expensive. Alone, he could make do, but with friends, he would spare no expense.

“Let go of the master,”

The woman who had followed them pried Wang Chuan’s hand away, unwilling to let him drag Ji Xin off. “Do not do to others what you would not have done to yourself.”

“Long hair, short wisdom,” Wang Chuan glanced at her, unwilling to argue, and gestured politely. “Master, let’s go.”

“If you want to eat, go yourself. Master, you…” Xu Wei hesitated, half wanting to invite him home but finding it inconvenient.

“Others are not me,” Ji Xin spoke again. “You are clever and kind, and will surely be blessed.”

Xu Wei’s expression froze, an innocent look crossing her face.

Then, seeing the master follow Wang Chuan away, she hurried after them.

“Master, what about him?”

Me? What about me?

Ji Xin only smiled and said nothing.

Xu Wei looked even more frustrated.

“The master has already made his view clear. Perhaps you don’t understand—go home and read more books,” Wang Chuan said.

“Huh?” Xu Wei was puzzled. “Didn’t the master just say nothing to you? What did he say?”

“Tch, do you think the master’s attainment is so shallow he couldn’t judge me?” Wang Chuan scoffed. “You’re not that slow—think it over and you’ll understand.”

“You’re lying. If you understand, then tell me what it is!” Xu Wei demanded.

“At that time, the Great Brahma King, with his retinue, came to offer golden lotuses to the World-Honored One, each bowing at the Buddha’s feet and sitting aside. The Buddha then picked up a golden lotus, glanced at the assembly, and remained silent. Only Kasyapa smiled faintly. The Buddha said, ‘I possess the true Dharma eye treasury, the wondrous mind of Nirvana, now entrusted to you. Guard it well, let it continue unbroken.’ Kasyapa bowed and withdrew,” Wang Chuan recited.

As he finished, Ji Xin smiled and nodded.

Xu Wei’s eyes widened, her frustration growing.

“Master, we’re kindred spirits. You’re a man of action; I’m not much of a talker either. An elder once told me, as technical people, we should just get things done…” Wang Chuan raised his teacup enthusiastically. “Come, let’s toast with tea.”

Ji Xin clinked his cup calmly.

Even eminent monks must eat, drink, and attend to daily needs; after a few bites, he seemed fond of tofu.

He looked again at Wang Chuan. “Yan benefactor, when I first met you, I saw in you the divine, the demonic, and the Buddha. You change with your heart, rising or falling with a single thought.”

At these words, the others glanced between Wang Chuan and Ji Xin, suddenly a little tense.

Xu Wei’s eyes grew wide.

“Master, I cultivate the Way of Great Freedom,” Wang Chuan responded calmly. “People have humanity, spirit, and animal nature. Your cultivation seeks to restrain base instincts. As we discussed before, if one seeks the Way by forcing hardship upon oneself, it betrays the original intent.”

“Master, I once heard a story. Long, long ago, beside the great sea, there was a stone blessed by heaven and earth. One day it gained consciousness and became the Stone Monkey…” Wang Chuan shortened the tale to a few hundred words, outlining the protagonist’s tempestuous journey.

The story was full of legend, passion, philosophy, and excitement, captivating all who listened.

Zhong Bo, in particular, grew ever more convinced that Wang Chuan was the reincarnation of a sage, as he’d never heard such a tale in any book.

“Tame the monkey mind, restrain the horse of desire, and only after countless trials will you see the true Buddha,” Wang Chuan concluded. “The Buddha also said: thus should you dwell, thus should you subdue your mind.”

Ji Xin nodded. “You are a man of understanding.”

The other was truly learned in the Dharma, a master of Zen.

Ji Xin understood that Wang Chuan did not only comprehend Buddhist teachings and their essence but embodied them.

Yet his actions… were in unity with his understanding.

He knew all the Buddhist teachings, knew how a Buddhist should act, but Wang Chuan might not act that way at all.

It was somewhat frustrating.

What good is it to possess the Law?

“Amitabha, what a sin, what a sin,” Ji Xin nearly lost himself in thought.

“Bring ink and paper,” Wang Chuan instructed Zhong Bo.

Zhong Bo quickly borrowed them from the inn.

Wang Chuan sighed and composed a poem:

In the pure realm of lotus flowers,
The palace of shell gleams faintly bright.
A golden figure comes in dreams,
A white horse leaves the city gates.
From earth, the stupa rises first,
Incense burns, reaching the sky.
Heavenly songs respond to spring’s flute,
Not for the sake of spring winds.

“That temple earlier is a fine one, and I am in good spirits,” Wang Chuan said.

He thought for a moment, then wrote another poem.

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

A man in palace attendant’s garb entered and bowed. “Is the Venerable Ji Xin here? Her Majesty the Empress has heard you are present and invites you to the palace to expound on the Dharma.”

Ji Xin showed little reaction.

Xu Wei was startled. “Mother… the Empress knows too?”

“This poem is for you. Let’s end things here for today,” Wang Chuan said.

“For me?” Xu Wei asked, surprised, taking the poem to read. “The Bodhi tree has no tree, the bright mirror is not a stand. Fundamentally there is not a single thing, where could dust alight?”

Her eyes suddenly shone with light.

“Well said. Take this poem home and show it to the Empress as well,” Ji Xin remarked at last.

“Master, aren’t you going to the palace?” Xu Wei asked, holding the poem.

Ji Xin looked at Wang Chuan; Xu Wei looked over as well.

“Princess, your escort has arrived. I shall take my leave,” Wang Chuan rose and said. “I just realized your name is that of the Princess of Yu. Meeting you today surpasses all I had heard.”

Wang Chuan had already risen to depart.