This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 128 Meeting Master Ikkyu, Discussing that Buddhism is the Way

In the Four Eyes Dojo.

Before dawn, Si Mu dragged Jia Le, who was still in bed, out of bed.

Still half-asleep, Jiale murmured somewhat reluctantly, "Master, it's not even dawn yet, why did you wake me up?"

His eyes held a hint of seriousness.

"Get up first. Let me tell you, a very important person is coming to the temple today. You can't be rude and mess things up."

Upon hearing that it was an important person, Jia Le couldn't help but become curious.

"Master, who is this important person you're talking about? They have such a big reputation! Even when our grandmaster came to the temple two years ago, you didn't show him this much respect..."

Upon hearing this, Si Mu felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Stop talking nonsense. Don't pry into your master's affairs. Let me tell you, the person who came to the dojo this time is your Uncle Qianhe. But let me tell you, kid, he is nominally your Uncle, but when you meet him, remember to address him as 'True Man' or 'Elder,' understand?"

Upon hearing the name Chizuru, Jiale was instantly wide awake and became excited.

"Master, could it be that Maoshan Taoist Master you always talk about, the one who is already a Foundation Establishment True Person at such a young age, Uncle Qianhe?"

"You just understand."

"Alright, Master, I'll get up right away!"

Seeing that Jiale didn't press the issue further, Simu was happy to accept it. He and Zhong Bai hadn't seen each other for six or seven years, so this was a rare opportunity to meet, and Simu didn't want to miss it. He also hoped to make his junior brother Qianhe's life more comfortable.

Stepping out of Jiale's room, Si Mu took a deep breath and looked at the small courtyard next to him with a headache.

The person living inside was none other than the monk Ikkyu, a disciple of Hakuma-ji who had come down from the mountain to travel.

dong dong dong...

As Four Eyes knocked on the door, the monk Ikkyu, who had been sleeping inside, was awakened. He got up and opened the door to find Four Eyes looking very serious.

Upon seeing this, the monk Ikkyu was startled.

"Fellow Daoist Four Eyes, what has happened that you came so late at night?"

As he spoke, Monk Ikkyu glanced outside a few times, while Simu was too lazy to waste words with him.

"Monk, I've come here to tell you to stop making noise in the middle of the night from today onwards."

Chanting scriptures and striking a wooden fish can help after a while.

Upon hearing this, Monk Ikkyu was somewhat puzzled. Why was he suddenly being asked to do this?

“Amitabha, Fellow Daoist Four Eyes, this humble monk cannot stop his daily practice. I hope Fellow Daoist Four Eyes can understand this matter.”

"Consideration? Monk, I'm not here to negotiate with you this time. Name your price, and I'll buy your temple outright."

“Amitabha, monks do not covet wealth, and this courtyard of Fellow Daoist Four Eyes is not for sale.”

He couldn't be persuaded by gentle persuasion, and he was getting a little frustrated. He really found it hard to speak calmly to the monk Ikkyu, who seemed completely indifferent.

"Hmph! Monk, don't blame me for not reminding you, my junior brother will be staying at my temple for a few days in the next couple of days."

If you angered my junior brother by chanting scriptures and striking the wooden fish, then you have only yourself to blame.

Upon hearing that someone was coming to the dojo, Ikkyu couldn't help but inquire about it out of curiosity.

"I wonder which fellow Daoist is coming, that makes Fellow Daoist Four Eyes so domineering...?"

"It's alright to tell you, the one who has come is my junior brother, True Man Qianhe, a Taoist disciple of Maoshan, and an elder in charge of law enforcement. You should have heard of my junior brother's name."

As soon as he finished speaking, sure enough, the monk Ikkyu had heard of Zhong Bai's name, and his expression suddenly became serious.

“Amitabha, why didn’t you explain earlier that you are Zhong Daozi from Maoshan? If you had explained earlier, I would have agreed not to chant sutras or disturb Zhong Daozi’s rest for the next few days.”

Si Mu was a little embarrassed. It wasn't that he didn't want to explain sooner, but as soon as he saw the monk Yixiu's face, he couldn't help but want to say a few sarcastic remarks to him.

"Anyway, you know what's going on. I'm busy preparing things, so I won't chat with you any longer."

After Si Mu left, Monk Ikkyu couldn't fall asleep again. Although he hadn't shown any nervousness in front of Si Mu, his lips turned pale after Si Mu left.

The one who has arrived is the most dazzling of the twin stars of the Taoist sect! Even compared to the other one, Zhang Zhiwei, the true disciple of the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, and Zhong Bai, the Taoist disciple of Maoshan, there is a huge gap between them.

Ikkyu had heard of Zhong Bai's name several years ago.

"Perhaps this humble monk should leave the monastery for a while?"

Monk Ikkyu was a little unsure. From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to see what was so special about this legendary Maoshan Taoist. However, his master had said that the Maoshan Taoist's personality was hard to fathom. If his appearance displeased the other party, Ikkyu felt that he might anger the other party, which would be troublesome.

"Amitabha! Those on either side are reputable sects. This humble monk is neither an evil cultivator nor a demon. Calm down!"

In the end, the monk Ikkyu chose to stay and meet Zhongbai's divine talent.

The sky is turning white.

Flying from Shi Jian's dojo to Si Mu's dojo, a distance of about a hundred miles, would have taken most of a day in the past.

Now, flying on his sword, Zhong Bai only consumed one-third of his true essence and arrived above the Four Eyes Dojo in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Is Senior Brother Four Eyes here?

Standing atop the Spirit Sword Blue Cat, Zhong Bai called out to the dojo below.

At this moment, inside the main hall of the dojo, Si Mu had just asked Jia Le to prepare the best tea to receive his junior brother Qian He when he heard Zhong Bai calling his name.

"Master, is it Senior Uncle Qianhe... or Elder Qianhe?"

Jiale was a little curious; he had heard it too.

Seeing this, Si Mu was certain he hadn't misheard. He pushed open the door, and the master and apprentice looked at the doorway at the same time. Wait a minute, there was no one there.

"Ahem, Senior Brother Four Eyes, your junior brother is here."

Hearing the noise in the void, Si Mu looked up and was instantly stunned.

No, it's only been six or seven years since we last met, how come my junior brother Qianhe is already flying on a sword?

Such an impressive display of power left Si Mu momentarily stunned and speechless. Jia Le, on the other hand, was only eleven or twelve years old and had never seen such a supernatural ability as flying on a sword.

"Wow! Master, is Uncle-Master Qianhe a deity? He can actually fly on a sword!"

Si Mu gently patted Jia Le's head, correcting him somewhat speechlessly. "It was Elder Qian He, didn't I tell you already?"

"I'm sorry, Master, I was too excited and forgot again..."

Jia Le felt a little aggrieved. Zhong Bai descended from the void and stood in front of Si Mu with a slight smile.

"Junior brother greets senior brother!"

Seeing Zhong Bai bow to him, Si Mu repeatedly pulled Zhong Bai aside and shook his head.

“Junior Brother Qianhe, please don’t do that. Your status is different now. You are a disciple of Maoshan and an elder in charge of law enforcement. I don’t need you to bow and greet me. On the contrary, I should be the one to bow to you.”

As he spoke, he looked at Jiale beside him.

"Jiale, what are you standing there for? Why aren't you bowing to Elder Qianhe?"

"Disciple Jiale greets Elder!"

Jia Le was very well-behaved and obedient, while Zhong Bai smiled brightly.

"Senior Brother Simu, let Jiale call me Uncle-Master. Elder doesn't sound good. I'm not even thirty years old yet, and I don't want to be called old."

Si Mu did not insist further. He had originally told Jia Le to call him elder as a matter of politeness. Since his junior brother Qian He did not care, he naturally did not need to make Jia Le call him awkwardly or seem unfriendly.

"Alright, Jiale, you can call me 'Uncle-Master' from now on, understand?"

"Yes, Master, I understand. Uncle-Master Qianhe, please come in!"

Zhong Bai was amused by Jia Le, so he simply followed the master and apprentice into the main hall and sat down.

As soon as Zhong Bai sat down, he saw Si Mu pour him tea.

"Oh dear, Junior Brother Qianhe, it's been six or seven years since we last met."

Back then, Junior Brother Qianhe was only at the Qi Refining stage, but now, in the blink of an eye, he has become a True Person of the Daoist sect.

As for me, your senior brother... I'm ashamed! I've only just reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Bai found himself at a loss for words.

"By the way, senior brother has also heard of junior brother's heroic deeds, such as killing thousands of Eight Banners Tartars in Wuchang Prefecture, fighting the Silver Armor Corpse King together with Zhang Jing Zhenren of Cangjian Mountain, and fighting a Foundation Establishment Great Demon alone on the banks of the Yellow River."

"Tsk tsk tsk, the story could go on for three days and three nights."

"Senior brother, you flatter me. These are just what I saw and heard along the way. I don't know who spread them behind my back, which is why they are like this now."

Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning.

"How could that be? Putting aside everything else, I think it's quite reasonable that you and Zhang Zhiwei, a true disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain, are called the twin stars of the Taoist sect."

I heard that Zhang Zhiwei of Longhu Mountain is about the same age as our senior brother and has already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, but compared to you, junior brother, he is still far behind.

Just as Simu was about to continue praising Zhong Bai, there was a knock on the door.

"Amitabha! I have heard that the Venerable Master Qianhe of Maoshan has graced this place with his presence, and have come here specifically to request an audience with you!"

Upon hearing the voice of the monk Ikkyu, Master Four Eyes' expression turned extremely ugly. Hadn't he already spoken to Ikkyu? Why was he still rushing over?
“Brother Four Eyes, let the Dharma Master in. Buddhism is the Way, and we are all seekers of the Way. It’s no harm in meeting him.”

Upon hearing this, Simu had no choice but to open the door. Seeing Yixiu's forced smile, Simu gave a cold snort in annoyance.

"Come in, monk. Only my junior brother Qianhe is kind-hearted. If anyone else were disturbed like this, you'd be in big trouble."

The monk Ikkyu wasn't angry, after all, he was the one who came to his door, and Simu felt it was normal for him to be indignant.

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk, Ikkyu, greets the Immortal Senzuru!"

"Master Ikkyu, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."

Zhong Bai waved his hand, gesturing for the monk Yixiu to sit down and talk.

"I shall accept your offer with utmost respect. Thank you, Master!"

After Ikkyu sat down, Simu lost the mood to continue praising Zhongbai.

“Amitabha Buddha, Master Qianhe’s statement just now, ‘Buddha is the Tao,’ has left this humble monk quite puzzled. Buddha is Buddha, and Tao is Tao. How can they be compared or even be said to include Buddha?”

Even though Ikkyu felt that directly refuting this might anger Zhongbai, he still had to say it, since the implication was that Buddhism was inferior to Taoism.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Bai was somewhat taken aback. It seemed that this Master Ikkyu felt there was something wrong with what he had said.

With a faint smile, Zhong Bai nodded and responded to Ikkyu with a smile.

"What I have said is true. May I ask, Master Ikkyu, what is it that Buddhism seeks?"

Ikkyu immediately began to ponder.

“Replying to the Master, Buddhism seeks to save and enlighten people.”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Bai immediately shook his head.

“What Master Ikkyu said is too idealistic. As far as I know, there are eight precepts in Buddhism, and I find the word 'greed' in one of them to be somewhat hypocritical.”

If we were to have eminent Buddhist monks enter the world and sacrifice their lives for peace, I dare ask Master Ikkyu, is this truly the Buddhist ideal of guiding people to enlightenment?

"Well... I guess so." Ikkyu wanted to argue, but Zhong Bai's words made sense.

"If that's the case, why hasn't Buddhism done the same? It's all about greed—greed for one's own supernatural powers, long lifespan, and status and power in this life."

Therefore, what is the difference between the ascension sought by Buddhism and the ascension sought by Taoism?
There is no difference; it is simply the pursuit of the Great Way.

The Buddha is the Way; that is all.

Ikkyu was somewhat stunned. He began to ask himself in his heart: if he were to give up the cultivation he had worked so hard to achieve to enter the world and subdue demons, even if it meant likely dying and his cultivation being destroyed, would he be willing? Could he do it without the slightest hesitation?

With a wry smile, Ikkyu admitted that he couldn't do it; he couldn't give it up, and he was unwilling to give it up!
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(End of this chapter)