“Amitabha,” Puzhu’s voice remained cold and clear, completely unmoved. “Killing is killing, life and death are life and death.” Fang Pingzhai was taken aback by his response. Monks truly spoke in circles – ordinary people certainly couldn’t understand them. “Since—” Before he could finish, an elderly monk with drooping whiskers sitting on the ground suddenly said, “If killing is killing and life and death are life and death, then why kill people? Why say that life and death are not life and death?” His voice was like a great bell. This question commanded everyone’s solemn respect, knowing that a battle of wits had begun. Puzhu’s gaze swept toward the old monk, but the old monk kept his eyes closed, not meeting his stare. Puzhu said coldly, “Killing is killing. Killing is a sin. To advance is to kill; to retreat is not to kill. People will kill people. If one retreats and doesn’t kill, are those people killed by me or not by me? If one advances and kills, is the sin of killing my sin or another’s sin? Life and death are life and death, yet life and death are also not life and death. His life, his death; my life, my death. Heaven and earth cycle endlessly – there’s no need to be concerned.” The old monk said, “Killing is killing, life and death are life and death. If you kill, you have sin; if others kill, they have sin. What difference is there between your sin and others’ sins?” Puzhu said coldly, “There is no difference.” The old monk pressed his palms together. “Amitabha. This is great compassion.” The monks chanted the Buddha’s name again. People like Dongfang Xu were completely baffled, only knowing that after Puzhu spoke this pile of talk about killing and not killing, the Shaolin monks seemed quite approving of him. Fang Pingzhai continued shaking his head repeatedly. Yu Tuan’er tugged at Liu Yan’s sleeve and asked in a low voice, “What is the monk with hair saying?”
Liu Yan gazed intently at Master Puzhu. After a long while, he replied faintly, “He’s saying he can kill or not kill, but people will always kill each other. Mutual killing brings sin. He would rather kill evil people to reduce the innocent. He’s willing to bear the sin of killing in place of evil people to eliminate evil. This is his Buddha mind, his compassion.” Yu Tuan’er frowned. “This monk is a good person, but why is it always about killing and killing? I hate killing.” Fang Pingzhai sighed. “Killing, killing – is there no other way to eliminate evil besides killing? You’re a monk – can’t you convert evil people? Can’t you influence the world? Can’t you make the treacherous turn good and thieves wash their hands clean? Can’t you transform male thieves and female prostitutes into good men and faithful women? Shaolin Temple has such a great reputation – do the monks in the temple only know how to kill?”
When these words were spoken, all the old and young monks in Shaolin Temple opened their eyes and looked at Fang Pingzhai in unison. Though they said nothing, it was still intimidating. Fang Pingzhai wasn’t afraid, lightly waving his red fan, his yellow shirt dazzling as he stood conspicuously in the crowd. Liu Yan glanced at him faintly – was this person naturally fond of verbose arguments, or had he come with purpose, specifically to oppose Puzhu? Puzhu’s gaze also turned toward Fang Pingzhai. “Amitabha.” He still said this phrase faintly. The young novice Sanjie beside him showed an angry expression. “Master Uncle Dahui has converted 331 evil people in his lifetime. Master Uncle Dabao wandered the four directions, persuading 5,499 people toward goodness. Master Uncle Dashi walked with lepers, using great compassionate heart to help 24 people attain great wisdom. Senior Brother Puzhu has killed 49 people under his sword, every one a thoroughly evil villain. Though Shaolin Temple occasionally has unworthy disciples, we’ve never brought shame to our great reputation built over hundreds of years.”
“Oh… your words have deep problems, young monk. You clearly harbor dissatisfaction toward Monk Dacheng. Otherwise, you praise Dahui, Dabao, Dashi, and Puzhu, but alone fail to mention Dacheng. Among monks in Shaolin Temple who eat vegetarian food, chant Buddha’s name, sweep floors, wipe tables, carry water, chop wood, and do nothing special, there’s still open rivalry and scheming. How frightening, how frightening!” Fang Pingzhai waved his fan and laughed heartily. The seventeen-year-old novice Sanjie flew into a rage, suddenly standing up and pointing at Fang Pingzhai’s nose. “You… you repeatedly sow discord and insult our Shaolin. What are your intentions?”
“I say whatever I want to say. People – a lifetime is only a few short decades. One must live as one pleases, eat whatever one wants to eat, curse when one wants to curse, kill when one wants to kill, be lustful when one wants to be lustful, fart when one wants to fart – that’s how life has flavor.” Fang Pingzhai stepped into the circle surrounded by the crowd, pacing back and forth with a composed expression. “Watching flavorless, emotionless monks who think themselves free of desire and full of compassion become angry – that’s also a different kind of flavor. Don’t you think so?”
“What an arrogant madman!” Among the watching crowd, a man in blue robes stood up. “Who are you? How dare you spout nonsense before the high monks of Shaolin Temple? This is a pure Buddhist sanctuary – there’s no place for you to speak. Get out quickly, or my Azure Dragon Blade will show no mercy!” Fang Pingzhai waved his red fan. “Are you saying you want to kill me?” The man in blue robes angrily said, “If you don’t shut up, hmph!” Fang Pingzhai turned around and shook his head. “Ignorant, stubborn, stupid, completely without enlightenment… Master Puzhu, he just said he wants to kill me. According to your Buddhist theory just now, shouldn’t you strike first and kill him to bear the sin of his killing me?” The man in blue robes was stunned. Master Puzhu slowly stood up, his black hair flowing, but his eyes remained calm. “What purpose does the benefactor have in coming to Shaolin?”
Fang Pingzhai flicked his yellow sleeve. “I said I came following my heart. Since Shaolin Temple has set up this great assembly to select an abbot, surely it’s not only Shaolin monks who can ascend the platform to expound the dharma? If I surpass everyone present in both Buddhist principles and martial arts…” He suddenly turned around, folding his red fan behind his sleeve. “Would Shaolin Temple let me become abbot?” As soon as these words were spoken, the Thousand Buddha Hall immediately exploded like a great pot, not only among the watching martial artists, but even the sitting monks changed expressions and whispered among themselves. Master Puzhu’s expression didn’t change as he said coldly, “Shaolin Temple reveres Bodhidharma’s Chan Buddhism and promotes Shaolin’s supreme arts. If the benefactor’s Chan Buddhism and Shaolin supreme arts surpass those of our Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Temple makes absolutely no distinction between insider and outsider – we would respectfully welcome the benefactor to take the seat and open teachings.”
After these words, the surrounding discussions gradually stopped. Everyone thought to themselves: In comparing Chan mind dharma, this madman naturally fell far short. In comparing Shaolin supreme arts, naturally no one could surpass Shaolin monks. To become Shaolin’s abbot, one naturally had to revere the person highest in Chan Buddhism and Shaolin martial arts. One couldn’t say Master Puzhu’s words took advantage while maintaining face.
Fang Pingzhai laughed heartily and was about to agree to compete, when suddenly someone spoke outside the Thousand Buddha Hall. The voice was gentle, delicate and tender, containing not a trace of true qi. “If that’s the case, if my Chan mind dharma and Shaolin martial arts surpass all the high monks of Shaolin Temple and this red fan gentleman, I too could occupy Shaolin’s abbot seat?”
This smiling remark contained no hostility, with peaceful heart-qi, even quite relaxed. Master Puzhu and Fang Pingzhai both turned around to see the crowd outside the Thousand Buddha Hall parting, making way for a group of people slowly entering the hall. The leader had delicate, elegant features and was quite young. As he entered the hall, everyone’s gaze naturally turned toward him.
He wore robes of nearly white blue, with a thin green silk thread tied around his left hand. The thread had nothing on it, but just this slender green silk thread, along with the six sword-bearing warriors in blue robes behind him, stirred震撼般的想象 in people’s minds. In the silence, someone suddenly called out softly, “Wanyu Yuedan!” The Thousand Buddha Hall immediately erupted again. For Biluo Palace Master Wanyu Yuedan to personally attend Shaolin Temple’s abbot assembly and speak of competing for Shaolin’s abbot position was truly shocking.
“Palace Master Wanyu.” Master Puzhu pressed his palms together in salute to Wanyu Yuedan. “The benefactor jests.” Wanyu Yuedan stepped into the Thousand Buddha Hall. The group behind him walked to the front of the crowd and sat down like the others. Wanyu Yuedan stood in the center, positioned before Puzhu and Fang Pingzhai. “Shaolin Temple is famous throughout the world. Wanyu Yuedan holds absolutely no disrespect toward Shaolin Temple. My presumptuous words just now – please forgive me, masters.” His words were gentle and modest. His previous remark wasn’t aimed at Shaolin Temple but at Fang Pingzhai, yet he still apologized. Everyone felt relieved and developed great fondness for this Biluo Palace Master.
“Amitabha.” Master Dabao sitting on the ground said slowly, “We don’t know why Palace Master Wanyu has personally come to Shaolin Temple. What is your purpose?” Wanyu Yuedan’s distinct black and white eyes moved slightly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes slowly smoothing. “Wanyu Yuedan first apologizes to all the masters. I have indeed come today for Shaolin Temple’s abbot position.” Master Dabao was shocked. Though his cultivation was profound, he had never imagined that Shaolin Temple’s abbot assembly would attract various martial world exceptional people to compete. Today’s events would be difficult to resolve peacefully. “As Biluo Palace Master, the benefactor has great reputation and great troubles, and is not a Buddhist. Why are you obsessed with Shaolin Temple’s abbot position?” Wanyu Yuedan didn’t conceal anything, saying clearly, “Martial world rumors say that three kowtows and one poem to Shaolin Temple’s abbot can exchange for information about Liu Yan of the Romantic Shop. I have the heart to find someone but don’t wish Shaolin Temple to be humiliated, so—” His voice rang clearly, speaking with utmost clarity, “I’ve come today hoping Shaolin Temple can temporarily transfer the abbot position to me. Biluo Palace is willing to exchange three kowtows and one poem for information about the romantic guest Liu Yan’s whereabouts.”