owlsbooks Chapter 65 Sharing with the People Leads to Lasting Success
Chapter 65 Sharing with the People Leads to Lasting Success
Maohou Mountain.
On the mountain road.
More than twenty gray-robed monks, each wielding a staff that reached their eyebrows, walked steadily through the forest.
The leader was a middle-aged monk wearing a kasaya, with a thin face, slightly closed eyes, holding a gleaming bronze bowl in one hand and a heavy iron staff in the other.
Several monkeys screeched and shrieked among the treetops, throwing down gray-blue pebbles, which were brushed aside by the monks with their staffs.
The middle-aged monk looked up into the forest, his voice solemn and resonant:
"A demon has taken up residence on this mountain, harassing the villagers and ruling as king. This humble monk, Abbot Fayong of Lunzhuan Temple, has today acted on behalf of Heaven to subdue this demon."
The monks lined up in a row, following their chief monk, Fa Yong, as they slowly ascended the mountain forest.
Seeing that the monk did not retreat, the monkey threw larger and larger stones into the stone, and the whistling sound became more and more ear-piercing, but in the end it was all in vain and could not stop the monk in the slightest.
The monks ventured deeper and deeper into the persimmon grove and arrived at the edge of it.
The monkeys leaped down from the treetops and gathered around the old ape in front of the stone table.
Fa Yong stopped in his tracks when he saw the old ape.
The monks on both sides quickly stepped forward, forming a staff formation with more than twenty staffs at eyebrow level. This forced the monkey protecting its master to squeak and scream, step by step, sticking tightly to the old ape's side.
The old ape sat upright on the stone bench, his rusty sword humming incessantly, yet it remained unsheathed.
It looked up at Fayong, its voice calm: "Great monk, I have been here for four hundred years and have never harmed a single person. If you leave today, I will pretend this never happened."
Fa Yong slightly raised his eyelids, the bronze bowl vibrated gently, and the sound of Buddhist chanting faintly emanated from it:
"A demon is a demon. If it occupies the mountains and forests and harasses the people, it is a crime."
"This humble monk is performing a ritual to help you transcend negative karma today."
Before he finished speaking, he slammed his staff on the ground, and a golden light rippled out from the end of the staff.
The golden light touched several old persimmon trees beside the old ape, causing their branches and leaves to tremble. The ripe persimmons fell from the trees and burst into yellow juice when they hit the ground.
The old ape looked at the broken persimmons scattered on the ground and remained silent for a moment.
Then it slowly stood up, its hunched back straightening inch by inch, like an old sword drawn from its sheath.
The Ling Shuang sword in his arms suddenly flashed with silver light, and the rust peeled away inch by inch, revealing a blade as clear and bright as frost and snow.
"As I said, these persimmon trees covering the mountain have saved people and I have done them a great favor. I do not ask for everyone to be grateful, I only ask that no one cuts them down and that they may live out their natural lifespan."
In an instant, the sword light, like a bolt of lightning, pierced through the air and arrived.
Fa Yong's pupils contracted slightly, and he blocked with his staff. A metallic clang rang out, sparks flew, and the seemingly dull iron sword actually cracked a hole in the solid iron staff.
Fa Yong took three steps back, his robes fluttering, and the composure on his face finally cracked.
"You fiend, how dare you resist!!!" He gritted his teeth and roared, raising his bronze bowl high, chanting Buddhist sutras, and the monks chanted in unison, their staffs overlapping and pressing down.
The old ape's swordsmanship remained undiminished. He stood quietly before the stone table, never actually killing anyone. Each strike was merely a forced retreat, never truly injuring anyone.
……
When Song Quyou and Su Tang arrived at Maohou Mountain, the area outside the mountain forest was already crowded with villagers from Xu County, who were carrying baskets full of mountain produce and standing on tiptoe to peek into the mountain.
Song Quyou and Su Tang reined in their horses and looked out. They saw that deep in the mountains and forests, swords gleamed like frost, Buddhist chants hummed, and the sounds of metal clashing were incessant.
The two quickly dismounted, pushed through the crowd, and hurried into the persimmon grove.
……
In the persimmon grove, the glint of swords was like a curtain, making it difficult for staffs to advance.
Seeing that he could not break through after a long attack, Fa Yong's face darkened, and he slammed his staff down again. A loud chanting sound came from the copper bowl, and the martial monks' staff formation suddenly broke down. They took several steps back, sat cross-legged, and chanted scriptures in response.
In an instant, the bronze bowl trembled and echoed, slowly rising into the air, inverted in mid-air, radiating golden light that enveloped the monkey.
The sound of chanting was like thunder, exploding out of the bowl.
The monkeys, who were already close to the old ape, were now enveloped in golden light and let out a shrill scream. Their eyes instantly turned bloodshot, white foam appeared at their mouths, and they frantically twisted their bodies to bite the old ape.
squeak……
A monkey bit the old ape's arm, its sharp teeth piercing the flesh, and blood flowed down the arm, dripping onto the stone table and splashing out dark red flowers.
The old ape shuddered, but failed to shake off the attack.
Looking down at the monkey tearing at him, his eyes held no anger, only a deep and profound sorrow.
The thought of giving up and liberation quietly rose in my heart along with the chanting of Sanskrit, and the flying sword in the air gradually slumped.
……
When Song Quyou and Su Tang arrived, they saw the bronze bowl suspended in mid-air, with Buddhist chants sounding like a prison.
The monkeys were tearing and biting wildly in the golden light, and the old ape's arm was covered in blood, but he only gently stroked the monkeys that had been his companions day and night.
Song Quyou mobilized his internal energy, causing it to surge and churn, his sleeves beginning to billow. He then shouted:
"ban!"
The twenty-odd monks who were sitting cross-legged chanting scriptures all closed their mouths and could no longer open them.
The chanting faded, the golden light of the bronze bowl in the air receded, and it fell to the ground with a muffled thud.
Fa Yong suddenly turned around and saw two figures, a man and a woman, darting into the forest.
"Master Abbot, I often see you when I have tea with the abbot. Why have you come uninvited to my Monkey Mountain to beg for alms today?"
Su Tang spoke, her voice not loud, but each word clear.
Fa Yong's expression changed slightly. He withdrew the bronze bowl from his palm, the golden light disappeared, and he calmly said:
"Benefactor Su is joking. This Monkey Mountain is a desolate wilderness; when did it become private property?"
Su Tang took out a contract from her sleeve and waved it in the air. The bright red seal of the county government on the contract was so striking that it made Fa Yong's eyes sting.
Fa Yong's face turned ashen as he stared at the contract in Su Tang's hand. The vermilion seal was bright red, clearly issued by the Xu County government and could not be faked.
Fa Yong's voice deepened:
"Benefactor Su, it is true that this mountain is inhabited by a monkey demon that harasses the villagers and steals their goods."
"This humble monk has brought warrior monks up the mountain today to rid the local people of a scourge. Although you have purchased this mountain, do you intend to shelter evil spirits?"
Song Quyou continued:
"What the master said is correct. The old ape is guilty of driving monkeys to harass the villagers and should be punished. However, I have also heard that there are other reasons for this matter."
Before Fa Yong could speak, Song Quyou continued:
"Xu County at the foot of the mountain has suffered from famine many times, and the lives of the people were saved by the persimmons that cover the mountains."
The old ape drove away the monkeys that were stealing the mountain produce to protect the persimmon forest from being cut down.
Looting mountain goods and cutting off mountain roads is a very wrong thing to do, but fortunately no one was hurt.
It should be fined and ordered to pay double the compensation to the villagers for their losses over the past few days, so that the villagers can have a good New Year.
If the master kills them, how will the villagers compensate for their losses? Will the master decide that Lunzhuan Temple should pay for it?
Furthermore, I must ask your temple, why did you cut down the trees and provoke this conflict?
Fa Yong remained calm and composed, stating his position clearly:
"Our temple sought that old persimmon tree as a Buddhist artifact, not because we were randomly cutting it down as you might think, but to find a good home for it."
After all, the old tree bears little fruit each year, and the fruit is small and shriveled. It would be far better to bring it into my Buddhist temple and make it into a sacred material, so that it doesn't die of old age and become rotten wood in this desolate mountain forest. It would also make room for new trees to grow.
Song Quyou sneered, stepped forward, and stared directly at Fa Yong:
"Master Fayong, you look no more than middle-aged, but I never expected you to be so senile."
Old persimmon trees are often riddled with insects and ants, and are already old and decayed, so how can they be used as timber?
So why does your temple say it wants to use persimmon trees for the Buddha beam? It seems only you yourselves know the answer.
Fa Yong's expression darkened, and the bronze bowl trembled slightly in his palm, but no more Sanskrit chants were heard.
The monks sat cross-legged on the ground, their eyes changing despite being silenced.
Several older people unconsciously turned their gaze toward the old persimmon tree deep inside.
The trunk was rough, the bark cracked, and several decayed holes were clearly visible, with dried insect shells and wood chips hanging at the entrances. Such an old tree, let alone being used as a beam or pillar for a main hall, would be considered too dangerous to even be chopped up for firewood.
Fa Yong's lips moved, but he remained silent.
Until he suddenly slammed his staff on the ground, sending stones flying, and shouted loudly:
"This is not about whether or not the persimmon tree should be used in the Buddha's Beam ceremony, but about the demonic monkey that has taken over the mountains, obstructing villagers from entering and robbing them of their produce. If we don't eliminate it today, this small evil will surely become a great calamity in the future!"
Before he finished speaking, Fa Yong swept his staff horizontally, and golden light rose again, bypassing Song and Su and heading straight for the old ape's head.
This strike was filled with rage; the force of the staff howled, sending the broken persimmons scattered on the ground spinning into the air.
Just as Song Quyou was about to make a move, he saw a silver light that was even faster than his sword.
The Frost-Slaying Sword pierced through the air, neither dodging nor avoiding, and collided head-on with the Zen staff.
With a piercing clang of metal against metal, the heavy iron staff was severed in two, the broken half of the staff, wrapped in golden light, flew out and embedded itself deeply in a blue stone several feet away.
Holding the broken staff, Fa Yong staggered backward, his robe torn in several places by the sword energy, revealing his flesh, looking utterly disheveled.
Fear finally showed on his face. If the old ape hadn't held back, that sword strike would have severed more than just the monk's staff.
The old ape remained standing in the same spot, blood dripping from its fingertips onto its arm. The hairy monkey that had bitten it lay limp at its feet, eyes closed, fast asleep.
……
During the standoff, a black-clad official suddenly appeared in the distance, panting heavily, holding up a document, and shouting loudly:
"Stop, everyone!!!"
The prefect issued an urgent order: It has been discovered that in Maohou Mountain of Xu County, an old ape is driving monkeys to steal mountain goods, blocking mountain roads, and causing havoc in the area. Its crime deserves to be punished.
However, considering that he has already returned the mountain goods to the people and realized his mistake, he is now being punished by having the old ape and the hairy monkey help the people collect 100 dan (a unit of weight) of mountain goods to atone for his sins.
Furthermore, an old ape and his troop of monkeys have lived here for over four hundred years, planting tens of thousands of persimmon trees. Whenever there was famine, they cleared the mountains to help the people, saving countless lives. Their achievements are commendable, and their virtues are worthy of praise.
It is truly wrong for some people to be greedy for profit and recklessly attack others.
Immediately, logging of the persimmon grove is prohibited, and the mountain is renamed "Righteous Monkey Mountain".
Anyone who dares to suggest cutting down trees again will be punished for deforestation.
After the official document was read aloud, the entire forest fell silent.
Fa Yong's face turned ashen. He snatched the official document, his eyes quickly scanning it. When he saw the prefect's red seal and monogram at the end, his fingers trembled slightly.
Su Tang turned her head and whispered to Song Quyou:
"The old man who bought the mountain told me that the magistrate's ancestors fled to this place during a famine and survived by eating the persimmons on this mountain."
Therefore, the purchase of the mountain went very smoothly.
Fa Yong's expression changed several times, but he finally handed the official document back to the official, turned around and left without saying a word.
He discarded the broken staff, and his torn robe billowed in the wind, revealing his dark, oily skin and sharply defined bones.
More than twenty monks looked at each other, picked up their staffs, and followed silently with their heads down.
The official rolled up the official document, bowed to Su Tang and Song Quyou, then bowed again in the direction of the old ape. Panting heavily, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and slowly went down the mountain.
The forest returned to silence.
All that remained in the forest were broken persimmons scattered on the ground, a broken staff, and the hairy monkey sleeping soundly at the old ape's feet.
The old ape looked down at the teeth marks on his arm; the blood had already congealed.
The monkey rolled over, curled up into a ball, smacked its lips, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Su Tang stepped forward, cupped her hands, and said:
"Senior, the mountain contract is finalized, and the prefect has issued this order. There will be no more worries about this persimmon grove from now on. Do not steal mountain produce or cut off mountain roads again."
"I will keep Miss Su's words in mind."
"If there is anything I, an old and frail person, may do for you in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
After saying that, it slowly walked to the old persimmon tree with broken branches and fallen fruit, raised its hand to cover the rough bark, and gently brushed it, seemingly lost in thought.
The two stood still, without disturbing each other.
After a long while, the old ape turned around, his wrinkles deepening, and bowed deeply to Song Quyou and Su Tang.
Song Quyou quickly stepped forward to support him, took the yellowed booklet from his pocket, and handed it back.
"Senior, preserving this persimmon grove is the result of your and the monkeys' centuries-long perseverance."
If the persimmon grove is to endure, it needs its predecessors to share more with the people; only then can it survive.
Furthermore, I have memorized the flying sword technique, but I would like to ask that you keep this booklet, senior.
The old ape was slightly taken aback.
Song Quyou said, "If there are any monkeys among these who are calm and composed, then the senior can have someone to teach them, and these persimmon trees all over the mountain can be protected by monkeys in the future."
The old ape took the booklet, remained silent for a long time, and finally nodded.
……
The matter in Xu County has been resolved.
Back at the mansion.
Song Quyou skipped dinner and went into the Emerald Pine Pot Heaven to see if the Jade Bamboo Shoot Root and Yellow Jade Essence could be planted in the pot heaven.
Within the pot, a strong wind howled, and pine needles rustled.
The jujube tree, which I hadn't seen for a few days, had grown about an inch taller, and its golden-veined leaves had become much more lush.
When the lark saw Song Quyou enter, it dispersed the strong wind, spread its wings from the pine branch, skimmed across the water, and landed on Song Quyou's shoulder.
"Your wind-borrowing technique is so amazing."
Upon hearing the praise, the lark raised its tail feathers and tilted its head back, looking very proud.
Song Quyou took out the Yellow Jade Essence and Jade Bamboo Shoot Root from his bosom and said to Yun Que, "Can these two be planted in the Pot Heaven?"
The lark looked around, somewhat disappointed.
She leaped down from Song Quyou's shoulder, transformed into a young girl, and looked him over before saying:
"Are you sure you want to plant these two things in the Pot Heaven?"
Is there anything wrong with these two things?
"There's nothing wrong with it, but if the jade shoot roots are planted, they will quickly sprout up and become difficult to manage, while the yellow jade essence is a bit better."
"Let's plant them first. After all, there's plenty of space; there's no problem with planting them all."
The obedient lark took the yellow jade essence and the jade bamboo shoot root, picked out a corner, and simply buried it in the soil.
He then jogged to the edge of the small pond, scooped up some water, and poured it over the yellow jade essence and the roots of the jade shoots.
After finishing everything, the lark ran quickly to her beloved jujube tree and examined it carefully from top to bottom.
Song Quyou shook his head. Ever since the jujube tree grew, the number of larks leaving their nests has decreased, as they have devoted themselves entirely to that tree.
Think no more.
Song Quyou leaped lightly back to the pine tree and was about to leave when he noticed a crimson light emerging from his arms.
Once the emerald pine celestial realm returned to silence, the crimson light and shadow transformed into a woman who sat quietly before the desk, briefly flipped through the tattered scroll of the celestial book, and finally pushed it aside in boredom.
He lay lazily on the desk, silently watching the lark busily working in front of him.
Meanwhile, the lark squatted beside the jujube tree, its short fingers carefully examining the soil, scrutinizing the Buddha's relics buried underground.
They didn't notice the strange woman at all.