260: Into the tiger's den

Tang Ku's hearing was extraordinary; just a moment ago, he had heard the topic being discussed by a few reception monks at the entrance.

"Senior Brother... if this continues, Buddhism will no longer be Buddhism, Senior Brother..."

"So what? We are currently the fish on the chopping block, and they are the knife. If we don't listen to them, whether we can even survive in the future is a question!"

"In ancient times there were Saints who died for the Dao; I am willing to follow their example!"

"Stop spouting nonsense. A bad life is better than a good death. If we die, Buddhism will truly be finished... Sigh, I only hope we can soon meet a Buddhist Disciple with true Divine Ability to come and save us..."

"Thinking this is already entertaining delusions. You and I pray day and night, yet when have we ever seen our Buddha manifest? Aren't they all just tricks played by these demons and monsters?"

"Hush, hush... that Moon Spirit is coming... Amitabha, Amitabha. His Dharma name, no matter how you listen to it, doesn't sound like one of our Buddhist Disciples..."

The last sentence was spoken by the very monk who had just been bossed around by Moon Spirit.

"It seems this temple isn't entirely filled with those monsters and freaks..."

Tang Ku followed closely behind Moon Spirit into the temple and observed secretly. He discovered that half of the monks in the temple were dressed like Moon Spirit in bright yellow monk robes, while the other part, like the group of reception monks at the gate, wore coarse cloth clothes, looking neither like monks nor laypeople. Most of these monks in coarse gray robes were doing odd jobs, while those in bright yellow robes clearly had very high status, either ordering them around or eating and drinking in the courtyard.

They didn't eat vegetarian food either; they were feasting on large fish and meat, with fine wine and dishes spread out on stone tables. Not far away, there was a large open space resembling a training ground, surrounded by various weapons. Many monks were practicing martial arts and running, while some sat cross-legged, tempering their internal power.

"These guys... why are their monk robes so different? How can these monks who eat, drink, and play be so unconventional?"

Tang Ku frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

"Heh heh, Holy Monk, look who's talking. That day, you were nearly naked when you went to meet the Shu Mountain sect leader and the others. Didn't you see his female Disciple blushing? Yet you pretended not to notice. Come to think of it, you're the truly unconventional one!"

Nezha sneered via telepathy.

"Heh... that's not a funny joke..."

Tang Ku rolled his eyes and said, "In this temple, those in bright yellow robes clearly have heads that were shaved not long ago, while those monks in coarse cloth robes have hair growing an inch long on their heads; clearly, they haven't been shaved in a long time..."

"So that means... these monks in coarse cloth robes must be the original monks of this temple, the real monks, while all these ones eating large fish and meat are fake!"

Wei Zheng's voice came through, though it was Xingyunzi who had channeled a thread of Qi to help him transmit his voice.

"Your words include me in that insult. Poor Monk also eats meat and drinks alcohol, but I am not a fake monk!"

Tang Ku chuckled, narrowed his eyes, and said, "But these fat, greasy guys in front of us are definitely not monks!"

"Senior Brother Moon Spirit, the Abbot requests your presence!"

The monk named Yue Yuan from earlier came running over hurriedly, "He says a distinguished guest from Chang'an has arrived at our humble temple. Please wait in the guest room for tea; after half an incense stick of time, the Abbot will come to accompany you!"

Tang Ku frowned slightly and thought to himself: "This Old Monk actually has some Dao, he actually knows I came from Chang'an!"

"Heh heh, it seems the Great Master Abbot already knows you have arrived, Senior Brother... Hmm, Senior Brother, please follow me. It seems the Abbot is currently lecturing on scriptures to a few Junior Brothers and cannot get away, so I will take the liberty of hosting you instead!"

Moon Spirit bowed with a smile and immediately led him to the guest room, while someone had already taken the white horse transformed from the Brick to the stables in the back.

The scale of this temple was indeed large, but walking inside behind him, Tang Ku did not see a single Bodhisattva, not even an Arhat. He didn't even see the gate-guarding Protector Vajras or statues of Skanda. Those side halls and other places that should have been enshrining various Bodhisattvas and Buddhas were actually completely empty. Some had even been converted into card rooms where some monks were playing and frolicking, playing leaf cards. There were even a few quite attractive young nuns wearing monk caps serving on the side, and some guys were even groping them, having a great time.

Tang Ku looked straight ahead, just listening to Moon Spirit rambling on, as if he completely didn't see this scene.

Passing the Mahavira Hall, he saw that the place where the Buddha Tathagata should have been had been replaced by a Buddha statue with kind eyebrows and pleasant eyes, though its face was slightly thin. In the center of its forehead, on a twin lotus flower, was a slanted crescent moon; it was precisely the statue that called itself the Moonlight True Buddha.

"Our Buddhism originally has the Buddha named Precious Moon Light Tathagata, but this Moonlight True Buddha is vastly different from the one originally in Buddhism!"

Tang Ku thought to himself.

The two walked through the corridor outside the hall and arrived at the guest room. At this moment, a young novice monk had already prepared tea and snacks and lit a furnace of incense on the table.

The two sat down, exchanged pleasantries, and Moon Spirit poured a cup of tea for Tang Ku.

Tang Ku smelled the tea, which was rich and fragrant. It must have been High Grade tea newly stir-fried this year, and even the tributes in the imperial palace seemed to be inferior. He couldn't help but be slightly surprised. After tasting it carefully, Tang Ku couldn't help but praise: "It is said that one should not tire of refined food or finely minced meat. Exquisite utensils are also a way of life. The tea's fragrance is leisurely, which quite fits the principles of our Buddhism!"

Moon Spirit smiled and said: "You flatter me, you flatter me. I don't know if you, Senior Brother, are a vegetarian or a meat-eater, so I only had them prepare these simple tea snacks. Do the temples in Chang'an City have such delicious food and fine utensils?"

"Amitabha, Amitabha!" Tang Ku said humbly, "I am not boasting, but regarding the utensils, there are plenty in the Chang'an temples that are better than these. However, this tea is of high quality from your temple; the ones we have there are far inferior!"

The two exchanged pleasantries and chatted for a few more sentences. Finally, footsteps were heard outside, and a kind voice said: "Heh heh, Poor Monk did not know a distinguished guest had arrived, and failed to welcome you properly. I hope the Great Master will forgive me, forgive me!"

Tang Ku saw an Old Monk dressed in a monk robe with a jeweled kasaya on the outside, looking quite noble. He walked in with a full face of smiles and, as soon as he entered, pressed his palms together towards Tang Ku.

Tang Ku stood up and returned the greeting: "The Abbot is too kind. This little monk traveled ten thousand miles just to seek an audience with the True Buddha. I wonder if the Abbot could arrange it for me!"

All kinds of bragging are not as good as getting straight to the point. The Abbot did not expect him to be so direct and couldn't help but be slightly stunned. He then waved his hand and said to Moon Spirit: "Moon Spirit, go call your Master and have the kitchen prepare a vegetarian meal..."

Moon Spirit was also stunned, and then a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He used a silver skewer to poke the embers in the incense burner before bowing and walking out of the guest room.

Looking at Tang Ku's somewhat dazed expression, the Old Monk smiled and said: "Poor Monk's Dharma name is Yuelang, and I am honored to be the Abbot of this temple... Hmm, may I ask for the distinguished guest's Dharma name?"

"Oh, Poor Monk's Dharma name is Duxin. Uh, just now the Abbot showed a look of difficulty, is it because my question was abrupt?"

Tang Ku asked, pretending to be confused.

The Old Monk chuckled and said: "Not at all, not at all. Hmm, the distinguished guest does not know that the Moonlight True Buddha, the Buddha, is not in the temple all day. Every day he needs to patrol the entire Shandong region, monitoring good and evil, subduing demons and devils. Only at night, when the moonlight descends, will he return to manifest and pray for blessings for all the people in our entire Shandong region."

"Oh, so that means I have to wait until night?"

Tang Ku realized suddenly and slapped his forehead: "It seems Poor Monk thought wrong... Sigh, having to wait from noon until night is truly unbearable!"

The Old Monk's eyes suddenly flashed with a divine light, and he chuckled: "It's not unbearable, it's not unbearable. The distinguished guest just needs to sleep for a little while, and you will be able to wait for it... Sleep quickly, you are exhausted from your journey, don't you want to take a nap?"

Tang Ku only felt his vision becoming blurry, and he fell headlong to the ground. Before losing consciousness, he saw Moon Spirit walk in, and together with the Old Monk, they smiled evilly at him.