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Misty Rain Divine Province, Shouyang County.
There were lanterns and banners, brilliant fireworks, and a rushing tide of people. As far as the eye could see, there was Brahmanistic chanting, the echoes of dharma, and an endless stream of bustling activity, forming a busy and cacophonous scene.
Even the lowest caste of commoners had changed into new clothes. Street vendors packed the avenues, and sal trees neatly lined both sides of the main road. Buddhist imagery, lanterns, scented oils, white pagodas, and ringing bells could be seen everywhere. Even the most lofty cultivators walking around here felt a sense of Zen that broke free of the mundane, which honestly broadened their horizons.
Right now, it was the Buddha Washing Festival, the greatest of Zen holidays.
Chen Mo took Nianyou and Zhongli Sanmei to Shouyang to feel the Great Chong Dynasty’s celebrated holiday. For the past few months, Zhongli Sanmei had been constantly helping him train the Sanmei Corps, and with the Star Weapon casting incident, she did not have any time for leisure. Chen Mo himself had been occupied with the Divine Warrior Examination and the Four Sects Wiping Swords, each being a major event; the two were unable to spend time together.
Nianyou was even more lonely.
This time, Chen Mo seized upon the rare holiday and brought the two of them together to relax. But it appeared that neither of them were very enthusiastic about the major Buddha Washing Festival.
Little Nianyou seemed to be very curious yet also afraid, tightly clinging to hi neck, her large and bright eyes somewhat apprehensive of the passing crowd. Chen Mo recalled the first time he saw Nianyou, she was hiding by herself under some vegetation. Her personality was like this, so it could not be helped. Zhongli Sanmei’s disinterested appearance also made Chen Mo suffer a bit of a blow.
“Sanmei, don’t tell me you find this Buddha Washing Festival boring?” Chen Mo helplessly said.
“Don’t tell me you think this should be very surprising and happy to me?” King Of Extinguished Ashes snorted disdainfully and reminded him. Having lived a thousand years, there certainly was nothing that the old lady had not seen before.
To say nothing of the fact that this was some random holiday from a remote Star Field, she had personally participated in the “Yulan Festival” of the Inner Star Fields’ Buddhism, the holidays of Confucianism, and many more truly grand celebrations from the Hundred Schools of Thought. Let alone, there was the “Star Duel List” from when the three thousand Great Star Fields united during the super golden age. The scene in front of Zhongli Sanmei now was…to be frank, her description was quite wretched.
There was not a single Star General in sight.
Chen Mo had no words to retort.
“It’s fine, This King knows your kindness, little man.” Zhongli Sanmei smiled. “This King will properly experience this.”
“Then let’s…”
Before Chen Mo could finish, Zhongli Sanmei interrupted him: “This King will go look around first. After all, this is is a holiday for this Star Field. Perhaps This King can find a Star General to play with.” In the end, she was a martial general. Her natural disposition was that she only felt interest towards other Star Generals.
Zhongli Sanmei’s figure very quickly disappeared into the sea of people.
“Big Brother, I’ll stay with you.” Little Nianyou gripped Chen Mo’s clothes and spoke.
“You’re the best after all, Nianyou.” Chen Mo stroked her soft cheeks.
As Zhongli Sanmei said, this festival would be very dull to a cultivator if other cultivators did not participate. The excitement of the worldly proved only another source of worry for cultivators or Star Generals beginning their path of cultivation.
However, Chen Mo carried Nianyou around and had fun. They scooped goldfish, bought candy, flew kites, and did all kinds of entertaining activities.
As they passed one stand, Chen Mo saw another was decorated full of jade pendants. One of them was lotus flower in shape and drew in little Nianyou’s gaze. That jade pendant was beautifully constructed, very much like a lotus flower emerging untainted from the mud, and it possessed a special Star Energy wave after being blessed by Buddha. Chen Mo immediately had the thought to buy it as a gift for Nianyou.
The booth owner was a very Zen old man.
This jade pendant was not bought with money, rather, it was searching for its fated person.
“I want it.” Suddenly, a voice came from the side.
When Chen Mo heard this voice, he glanced over.
A young man in Zen clothes and a young girl also walked near this vendor. The young man’s face was as calm as a dry well. THough he was young, his every gesture carried a steadfastness that was more extraordinary than an old man’s. That magnificently dressed little girl’s attitude was bossy and domineering. Similarly, she possessed a brashness and cruelty that did not suit her age.
Chen MO recognized these two people.
Son of the One Year Duke Fang Kurong, Fang Xi.
And the other was the precious daughter of the Duke of Impermanence, Cui Wumeng.
They held high positions among the Great Chong Dynasty’s Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, but they did not meet often. To suddenly see the heirs of two dukes walk together made Chen Mo a bit surprised, especially Cui Wumeng, whose personality was vicious and wild. Why was she also participating in the Buddha Washing Festival. Could her personality have changed.
“Your Highness?”
“Chen Mo?”
Fang Xi and Cui Wumeng noticed Chen Mo at the same time as well. Chen Mo did not hide his identity for this festival. After all, he had brought the girls here to relax. Hiding his identity would generally be somewhat furtive. The two of them could not help but take pause when they saw Nianyou against Chen Mo’s chest.
“Chen Mo, where did you trick that little girl. Hmph, you truly are shameless.” Cui Wumeng had not forgotten her defeat back then during the Divine Warrior Examination. That defeat was constantly on her mind.
“Cui Wumeng, you don’t even have the slightest bit of a loli’s cuteness.” Chen Mo was very disappointed.
“You’re the loli.” Although she did not know what a loli was, Cui Wumeng felt it clearly was not a good word.
Chen Mo laughed.
“Your Highness, I wonder who that princess is?” In the end, he was a disciple nurtured by the Wanshou Temple. Fang Xi’s manners and self-restraint far surpassed what Chen Mo had seen of the many young lords from other noble houses.
He was neither proud nor impatient, neither servile nor overbearing; he was polite and poised.
Chen Mo’s impression of Fang Xi was actually quite good. “This is my adopted little sister. She’s a bit timid, so there won’t be introductions.”
“Your Highness’ adopted little sister is very adorable.” Fang Xi complimented.
Chen Mo nodded.
“Fang Xi, you actually can say ‘cute?'” Cui Wumeng shouted.
“Brother Fang Xi, are you bringing Little Sister Wumeng around to feel the meditative mind?” Chen Mo joked.
Two noble heirs being together unavoidably would make people form bad associations. Fang Xi explained: “Ever since Sister Wumeng entered Saint Of War, she has become the Great Chong Dynasty’s youngest Saint Of War. But her foundations are unsteady. She specifically came to learn about the meditative mind, to strengthen her martial intent through meditation.”
Chen Mo was not surprised. Cui Wumeng’s Saint Of War status was considered a very sensational event in the Great Chong Dynasty, after all, she was only about ten years old. She honestly was even more of a genius than he was, but because she was far too young, she was very deficient in experience and comprehension that most Saints Of War ought to have. Furthermore, Zen meditation was able to help her temperament reach a perfect combination.
Cui Wumeng evidently did not like that Chen Mo knew her weakness. The little loli still had a bit of that naïve arrogance. “Your Highness Chen Mo, This Princess wants to use this lotus flower pendant for meditation. Do you want to steal it from me?”
She pointed at the very same jade pendant.
“I saw it first.” Chen Mo did not hesitate to indicate that it caught his own eye.
“Hmph, shopkeeper, I want this jade pendant. I’ll pay ten times the price.” Cui Wumeng lavishly said.
The vendor was aware of their statuses from their conversation. He said in terror: “Your Highnesses, there is only one of this jade pendant. Would it be possible to finish your negotiation.”
“I don’t care.”
“Little Sister Wumeng, calm. Do not be impatient.” Fang Xi said.
Thinking it over, the young man said: “This is the Buddha Washing Festival, so there is a connection with my Buddha. Since this lotus pendant is related to Buddha, why not you and I ask about Zen eloquence. Whoever can answer better will receive the jade pendant. What does Your Highness feel?”
Fang Xi’s request was reasonable and fair. Chen Mo could not find a reason to refuse him, and judging from the young man’s eager and spirited gaze, Chen Mo knew that the underlying reason he wanted a contest was perhaps that he was as stubborn at admitting defeat as Cui Wumeng.
It was understandable. Chen Mo had composed a verse that made even Wanshou Temple abbot Buddhist Master Compassionate Emptiness feel astonished. Furthermore, he bested everyone at the banquet and entered the Bodhi Cliff to meditate. Across all of Liangshan Continent, not even someone like Fang Xi had achieved it. Fang Xi was a direct disciple of the Wanshou Temple, but compared to Chen Mo, he was ashamed of his inferiority as an apprentice.
In the Divine Warrior Examination, Fang Xi was defeated by Princess Yanyu, and Chen Mo in turn defeated Jiang Yanyu. In terms of martial arts, there was no doubt that Chen Mo was the superior.
But in terms of Zen, a true competition had yet to occur. Fang Xi, at the bottom of his heart, wanted to defeat Chen Mo.
Ever since he was little, he began to practice Dead Tree Zen and possessed outstanding talent in Zen. Chen Mo, however, rose to fame because of that Hanshan Asks Shide. From his perspective, Chen Mo had only suffered too much misfortune that hardened his heart, which could not be considered meditative mind of any sort; his luck was good, nothing else. Having received this chance today, how could Fang Xi let it go.
Hearing that some people were about to compete in Zen eloquence, the surroundings immediately were crowded.
Cui Wumeng punched her palm as she beamed: “Brother Fang Xi, your request is too good. Your Highness Chen Mo, you probably also have a meditative mind from entering the Bodhi Cliff. Do you dare compete with Brother Fang Xi?”
Chen MO looked at Nianyou’s big eyes that glittered like stars. The two of them stared, and then he winked.
“Then excuse me.” Chen Mo smiled.
The crowd immediately shouted over each other. Two Highnesses in a duel was a sight even rarer than a Zen Master’s dharma.
Fang Xi took a deep breath, putting himself in his calmest state of mind.
After a moment, he asked, he asked: “What is Zen?”
“An autumn wind oversees the ancient ferry, the setting sun cannot bear it.” Chen Mo blurted out an answer.
“I am not asking this Zen.” Fang Xi wrinkled his brow very tightly.
“Then which Zen are you asking?”
“The founder’s Zen!”
“Outside the pine forests of the Wanshou Temple, taste even more dew and wind.” Chen Mo’s answer was virtually the same.
“Aren’t you just giving random answers.” Cui Wumeng twitched her mouth.
Skeptical mutterings spread through the crowd, and Fang Xi showed displeasure as well.
Chen Mo smiled but did not answer, asking instead: “There is Jingde1 in the south, and there is Jingde in the north. Ask not for virtue,2 but what is scenery.”3 Jingde Temple was one of the Great Chong Dynasty’s famous monasteries, with both the north and south each having one. Reportedly, the monasteries’ abbots were both disciples of the current Four Great Zen Masters of the Wanshou Temple. They each had different meditative minds, yet the name they chose for their monasteries were the same. Everyone spoke of determining which of them was better.
Fang Xi calmly said: “The pine forest turns interesting, and the moon bright as snow is the scenery. The sceneries for north and south are different. The name of this temple naturally will be different.” According to Zen phrasing, Fang Xi’s response actually was very much in accordance with the intent of Zen. He did not seek after the vulgarity of outer appearances, rather, he lingered in the state that Zen was most fond of; different states, different scenes, so naturally the temples were different.
His answer received everyone’s acclaim. The people and warriors who had come to participate in the Buddha Washing Festival all had a bit of meditative mind, a bit of understanding. Although Fang Xi’s answer was not very astonishing, they felt that this ought to be correct.
Chen Mo pursed his lips and shook his head.
Fang Xi was upset. “Your Highness Mo, rather than random answers, are you perhaps diffident?”
“Your ‘neck’4 is not above your head.” Chen Mo said.
What?
Fang Xi was taken aback, thinking he had misheard.
“Chen Mo, what did you say is above his head.” Cui Wumeng wanted to laugh. “Are you unsure of your own question? Hmph, what a waste of that whatever Bodhi Cliff you meditated at. Rumor has outstripped the fact.”
Fang Xi’s brow was locked tight. He was very confused as to whether or not Chen Mo was pulling some sort of trick.
Seeing that he was apparently still not comprehending Zen, Chen Mo was quite helpless. However, this was not something he could help. Zen’s eloquence had always been obscure, hidden, partially revealed, making one search and guess. According to Zen dharma, intelligent beings followed clues, solved riddles, and beat the drums of victory with their hands. Unintelligent beings were unable to make sense of the world around them, retreating far into the distance from being scared by troops, an utter defeat.
Fang Xi was extremely rooted in wisdom, one of the Great Chong Dynasty’s genius level cultivators, but he was in his youth, after all. Encountering an opponent like Chen Mo, who had the “Bodhi mind,” that was to pale in comparison.
Just as Chen Mo was about to leave, an exclamation as heavy as iron suddenly came from the crowd.
“This Zen eloquence was done wonderfully, turning a spear against its wielder, so wonderful.”
This voice was like a clap of thunder. Everyone could not help but be shaken, turning glances one after another. They saw a woman draped in a dragon-patterned overcoat had spoken. Her build was very tall, standing out very obviously from the crowd. Those eyes of hers stared straight at Chen Mo like a wild beast about to devour prey, an extremely oppressive feeling.
“Can it be Your Distinguished Self understands what it means?” Fang Xi was startled.
“You’re not a shill that Chen Mo brought, right.” Cui Wumeng cried foul.
The woman did not pay them any attention at all. Instead, she looked at Chen Mo. Those intrusive eyes hid a bit of curiosity. In the face of everyone’s confusion, the woman rebuked them in a low voice: “This neck is not scenery, do you still not understand? The literate in the world have all been bound by written characters, but characters are inherently a manmade construct, with no set rules. The characters in the world are each different. His answer was to have you all break the customary attachments you have to language and characters. Hence, he has beat you at your own game, attacking a mistake with another mistake.”
Simply put.
When he mentioned “what is scenery,” in Zen terms, he borrowed language and characters to break the entrapment of language and characters, so the so-called “scenery” was not important. What was important was that scenery in the mind.
When she said this, everyone had a sudden flash of understanding, an enlightenment.
Chen Mo’s answer clearly was far beyond expectations compared to Fang Xi’s just now.
In an instant, the surroundings rung with voices of admiration.
Fang Xi was taken aback, after all, he had meditated ever since he was young and had some root of wisdom. After his shock passed, he immediately composed himself and mulled over the meaning of every word that Chen Mo uttered earlier. “Your Highness Mo is very formidable. Fang Xi has lost. This ‘lotus flower pendant’ is yours.” Fang Xi was completely convinced, becoming even more deferential of Chen Mo. In his mind, his own teacher, Zen Master Knowing Autumn, seemingly never game him such great comprehension.
If it could be said that he was still dissatisfied that Chen Mo was able to enter the Bodhi Cliff, after having traded blows with him personally, he finally realized that the young man before him surpassed him whether it be in martial arts, cultivation, or Zen level.
“Fang Xi, how can you concede defeat. This response obviously is beside the point.” Cui Wumeng was worried. The lotus flower pendant was an acceptable loss, but to lose to Chen Mo once again made her heart very unreconciled.
“Defeat is defeat.” Fang Xi calmly answered. “Your Servant still has to go bathe the Buddha in water and will consult with you another day.”
Fang Xi glanced at the woman who had stepped forward. There was some trepidation in his eyes, and he gave her a slight nod: “Many thanks to Your Distinguished Self’s criticism. Fang Xi shall take leave.”
The woman cast Fang Xi a glance. She was expressionless and let him leave.
“Fang Xi, you!!” Cui Wumeng stomped her foot.
The vendor now presented the lotus flower pendant, which Chen Mo gave to Nianyou. The girl lovingly touched it, her eyes very happy. Cui Wumeng looked on in jealousy and envy, “Chen Mo, don’t you think that I lost to you this time. I’ll take that lotus flower pendant back for sure.”
“Cui Wumeng, there should be limits to being arrogant just because of your father. Don’t think that everything in this world is easy for you to have.” Chen Mo coldly said.
“You…Hmph.” Cui Wumeng tossed her head and pushed aside the crowd as she left in seething fury.
The spectators all gradually dispersed, each person still pondering upon Chen Mo’s words. Chen Mo thanked that tall woman: “Your Servant is Chen Mo. Fate willing another day, Your Servant must invite Your Distinguished Self for a drink.”
The woman’s expression was stern, just like a ferocious lion. Chen Mo believed he had seen many generals, powerful cultivators, even the Human Sovereign, but none of them could compare to the power in the eyes of the woman before him. Those eyes contained a might that seemed about to burst out at any moment.
“I have something pertaining to Zen that I wish to ask you also. I wonder if you will be able to answer.” The woman had no interest in Chen Mo’s identity or courtesy as she got right to the point with a question.
“What question is that?”
“What is main idea about dharma?”
This was a common question in both Zen and Buddhism. It was not considered very difficult, and the variety of answers mostly were that the dharma inherently was not a teaching and so forth, but it was obvious from a glance that the woman was the sort of person with enormous experience. An answer like that could not possibly satisfy her.
Chen Mo pondered and said: “The snow covering the lonely mountain is not white, rain gives birth to stalagmites.”
Snowy peak is not white, birthing stalagmites.
The woman thought it over for a moment, nodded, then turned and left, making no comment.
“Big Brother, she’s so scary.” Nianyou softly said.
“But she’s quite gentle.” Chen Mo smiled.
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