Chapter 144 – Buddha Is the Dao, Immortal Aura and Dao Bones, Daoist Ren!
"Jiale, you little rascal, get out here!"
Because of the guests, Taoist Simu temporarily gave up on the idea of punishing Jiale.
Last night, traveling with Renji, then looking at Ren Tingting and comparing her to Jiale, Simu couldn't help but shed tears of envy. Both were disciples—one was talented and obedient, the other untalented, lazy, and slippery.
He recalled Uncle Jiu's disappointed expression when leaving the yizhuang. Now he understood.
Without contrast, there is no pain. What kind of sin had he committed in a past life to end up with such a disciple? He must be cursed for eight lifetimes.
"Master's here!"
Jiale heard Simu's voice outside and quickly jumped off the rattan chair, running out.
"So beautiful."
"Do you want to die?!"
Simu, both angry and embarrassed, flicked Jiale hard on the head.
Shameful!
Utterly disgraceful!
"Ow, Master, why'd you hit me?!"
Jiale clutched his head in pain—it nearly sent him straight to meet the ancestors.
All he said was "so beautiful," what was wrong with that? He wasn't even lying!
Ren Tingting covered her mouth and laughed softly. That made Jiale stare even harder.
He had thought Qingqing, the one who returned with Master Ikkyū, was very pretty, but compared to Ren Tingting... not so much.
"You're humiliating me! Taking you in as a disciple was the unluckiest thing in my life! Go inside and clean every corner—spotless!"
After scolding Jiale, Simu turned to Renji with a slightly embarrassed look. "Pardon the disgrace, truly unfortunate for my sect."
Normally, Simu wouldn't have cared at all.
But after seeing how obedient and understanding Ren Tingting was, and then seeing how useless Jiale acted today, even he couldn't hold it in.
"It's normal. Everyone appreciates beauty."
Ren Tingting could be called a succubus of the zombie world.
In Mr. Vampire, both Wencai and Qiusheng liked her, even Ah Wei was fond of her. Uncle Jiu didn't show affection, but he also wasn't harsh toward her.
And now, after cultivating, her aura, figure, and looks had improved significantly. A mountain kid like Jiale had no resistance against her charm.
"Sigh, he never focuses on what matters—always wasting effort on meaningless things. At this rate, my line might really end with me!"
Simu sighed. Cultivation was already difficult, and even harder with depleted spiritual energy. Add in poor talent and a lack of effort, and passing on the Dao was nearly impossible.
No one wanted their sect's lineage to die out in their hands.
How could they face the ancestors then?
"It's actually normal for fledglings who've never weathered storms. I saw Uncle Jiu's disciples last time—Qiusheng and Wencai. Qiusheng had great talent. After that incident, he seemed to have matured a lot."
"Indeed, Qiusheng really is more stable than before. As for how long Jiale will take... who knows!"
Simu nodded in agreement. He too had been surprised when he last saw Qiusheng.
Who would've thought Qiusheng would change—less unruly, more mature, willing to follow Uncle Jiu in cultivation. Wencai, on the other hand, knew he wasn't talented. He'd still dabble in martial arts but mostly slacked off.
Ren Tingting remained silent, quietly listening to Renji and Simu's conversation. Though her time in Ren Family Town hadn't been long, thanks to the zombie incident, she had grown familiar with the locals.
These people were among her few friends.
At first, she hadn't had much fondness for Qiusheng and Wencai—just like Ah Wei, their intentions were obvious.
She hadn't liked that kind of direct pursuit—it left no good impression.
But over time, she realized she'd been a bit biased. They eventually became friends.
"They should know each other, right?"
Switching topics, Simu glanced at Ren Tingting. Since she was from Ren Family Town, she must've met them before.
"Mm-hmm, we've met before."
Ren Tingting nodded.
Simu showed a trace of emotion on his face. As he thought—his senior had misjudged the situation. It was just unfortunate timing.
Such a good disciple...
Simu sighed inwardly—such is fate.
He then invited Renji and Tingting into the guest hall.
Lighting incense, Simu wanted to discuss the Dao with Renji. Uncle Jiu had a breakthrough after doing so.
Simu envied that. Though he had slacked off, it wasn't because he didn't want to cultivate.
It was because spiritual energy had dried up. No matter how hard he tried, his limits were set.
But if there was any way to improve his strength, he'd never choose to give up.
The two debated the Dao from day to night.
Jiale peeked in once and saw Ren Tingting obediently seated beside Renji, quietly listening. He gave up on disturbing them.
After all, Jiale wasn't particularly interested in cultivation.
And it was strange seeing Simu come back and start a Dao discussion right away.
That wasn't normal—wasn't he supposed to wring Jiale out like a sponge?
Oh well.
Jiale comforted himself—it meant less suffering. Feeling bored, he decided to visit Master Ikkyū next door.
"Master Ikkyū? Are you there?"
Jiale pushed open the courtyard gate and called out a few times. The two homes weren't far apart.
"Jiale?"
Master Ikkyū stepped out of the house with a smile.
That stinky Taoist next door had returned. Ikkyū had heard the noise earlier but didn't bother checking.
They'd been bickering neighbors for years. Despite all the arguments, he still liked Jiale.
From the looks of it, someone had come to visit.
It surprised him. That Taoist actually had friends?
He'd always assumed the guy's personality meant no one could stand him.
"Master, I might be mooching dinner off you tonight!"
Jiale had intended to cook, but seeing how focused they were in their debate, he gave up. They probably wouldn't eat anyway.
Might as well eat here instead.
"Oh? But your master's back. And you have guests—shouldn't you be with them?"
Weird.
Ikkyū frowned. He thought Jiale was just here to borrow something.
But after hearing that, he was puzzled. There were guests—shouldn't Jiale be waiting on them?
"They probably won't eat."
Jiale shook his head. If they did want food later, he could cook something.
"Cultivation, huh?"
Not eating because of cultivation?
So that stinky Taoist had reached that level?
"No, no, my master is discussing the Dao with Daoist Ren."
Jiale quickly explained. But really, weren't Taoists basically cultivators anyway?
"Fellow cultivator?"
Ikkyū understood—so it was a Dao discussion.
Behind him, Qingqing imagined a whiskered, long-robed Taoist. She'd never met Simu, but Jiale's descriptions had shaped an image in her mind.
"Well, join us then. A Dao debate like that will definitely take a while."
Ikkyū was curious why Simu wouldn't let Jiale sit in, but didn't say anything. After all, it was their business—not his place to interfere.
"Master, are you going over later?"
Jiale asked curiously. Though Ikkyū practiced Buddhism—well, Buddha is still the Dao.
Maybe they'd have something to talk about.
"I won't go. It's not like I was invited."
Master Ikkyū shook his head. Though tempted, he ultimately gave up. After all, Taoist Simu hadn't shown any intent to invite him. If he forced his way in, he'd only be mocked by Simu without mercy.
That was something Master Ikkyū could never accept.
Ever since meeting Simu, he had been locked in constant rivalry with him.
"What's so interesting about Daoists discussing the Dao?"
Qingqing muttered. To her, it felt just like going to school. Though she never attended one herself, she'd eavesdropped outside a private school as a child—but it never went anywhere.
Her family had no money to send her to school. If they did, only the boys would go. And the world was far too chaotic. She had to shoulder the burden of supporting her family from a young age.
If not for a twist of fate that killed her entire family and her encounter with Master Ikkyū, she would've been married off by now.
Following Master Ikkyū was simple. He had saved her life, and in such turbulent times, it was dangerous for a girl to be alone. Life in the mountains felt safer.
She had initially wanted to become his disciple, but Master Ikkyū refused—saying he did not take female disciples.
She didn't dwell on it and just helped him with chores.
"Daoist debates are fascinating. If I had talent, I'd definitely be sitting there listening right now!"
Both men were highly skilled in Daoist arts. Jiale knew it would benefit him to listen.
He actually wanted to stay and listen, but the moment he tried, it all sounded so obscure and hard to follow. In the end, he gave up.
"Really that interesting?"
Qingqing widened her eyes, skeptical. Wasn't it just like a classroom, with two teachers lecturing?
"To the gifted, it's interesting. To the untalented, it's boring."
Master Ikkyū pressed his palms together, gazing toward the courtyard. A new thought formed in his mind—perhaps he had been too attached, too concerned with appearances.
As the saying goes, 'Among any group of three, there is something to learn.'
Why worry about saving face?
Besides, he was merely meeting a fellow cultivator—not bowing to Simu.
"Exactly! That's what I was trying to say!"
Jiale nodded quickly after hearing Master Ikkyū. That was precisely his point.
If he had talent, he would've been engrossed in the discussion.
"I see..."
Qingqing fell silent, a little ashamed. Maybe she'd been too narrow-minded.
"Alright, let's grab a quick bite, then we'll go pay them a visit."
Master Ikkyū waved his hand and turned to head back, leaving Jiale bewildered.
Didn't he just say he wasn't going?
Now he suddenly wants to go?
Jiale grumbled to himself. That meant he had to go back too?
He was hoping to play a little longer...
Looked like his happy time was over.
After a simple meal, Master Ikkyū took a few things and followed Jiale to the courtyard.
Outside, they could faintly hear Simu's voice conversing with someone unfamiliar.
"Master, Master Ikkyū is here!"
Jiale's voice interrupted the debate. Both Simu and Renji turned their gaze toward the entrance. Simu looked visibly annoyed, while Renji remained calm as he glanced at Jiale, the monk, and the girl walking in.
Master Ikkyū and Qingqing, huh?
Renji noted their presence and withdrew his gaze, while Simu scowled and barked at Jiale, "Didn't you see I was in the middle of a Dao debate? Why didn't you stop that damn monk from coming in?!"
Simu had never treated Master Ikkyū kindly. Jiale looked embarrassed, while Ikkyū chuckled and said, "I just came to greet Daoist Ren. We're all cultivators—saying hello shouldn't bother anyone, right?"
As he spoke, Master Ikkyū pressed his palms together, smiling warmly and bowing to Renji.
Renji returned the gesture politely.
Behind him, Qingqing curiously observed Renji.
Simu matched her expectations perfectly. But Renji was completely different from what she imagined.
This elegant, refined Daoist truly caught her off guard.
Looking at Ren Tingting, who sat obediently beside Renji, she felt a pang of inadequacy and defeat.
Such a beautiful girl—so different from her. She felt like a village girl, while the other was like a noble lady. Qingqing couldn't help but feel self-conscious.
"Since you're here, fellow cultivator, why not join us in our discussion?"
"Of course!"
"Hey hey hey, you shameless monk!"
Renji's invitation delighted Master Ikkyū, but it annoyed Simu.
Naturally, his annoyance was directed at Ikkyū.
They were debating the Dao—what was a monk doing here?
What would a monk even know about the Dao?
"Chance meetings are fate. Buddha is the Dao—Buddha is the Dao!"
Master Ikkyū said with a laugh, ignoring Simu entirely as he plopped himself down.
Simu had no way of dealing with this kind of shamelessness and reluctantly accepted his presence.
Qingqing sat beside Master Ikkyū, and with everyone watching him, Jiale also took a seat behind Simu to listen.
Throughout the night, Ren Tingting was completely absorbed, Jiale kept dozing off, and Qingqing—though sometimes confused—found it quite fascinating. Occasionally, she even managed to understand something, which made the others look at her with newfound respect.
At the same time, Master Ikkyū began to entertain a new thought.
By dawn, Simu glanced at the still-sleeping Jiale and grew furious. He kicked him awake and growled, "Go make breakfast already! You're the only one who slept through the whole night!"
Even the young ladies outperformed him. Unbelievable!
This disciple was truly exhausting.
(End of Chapter)
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