Welcome to the Bizarre Games

Chapter 545 Undercover
Facing Zhou You, the old monk Hongyi, contrary to his previous kindness and humility, began to talk excitedly.

"What is virtue? Merit is the accumulation of good deeds and virtues—not only in Buddhism, but also in the world, people only look at merit. When we Buddhist disciples go down the mountain to slay demons and protect the region, isn't it all for this?"

The other two remained silent, leaving only the voice of the old monk Hongyi in the Arhat Hall.

"So-called eminent monks and virtuous masters can be remembered for thousands of years, and even written into scriptures, so that they can accompany the Buddha from then on. But what about those unknown monks? In the end, they can't even burn a few relics, and can only accompany the yellow earth in the end."

At this moment, Zhou You finally spoke.

"Host, I see now. You're not after money or profit, you're just after this reputation?"

However, the old monk Hongyi naturally asked a question in return.

"Why not? Do you really think becoming a monk means you're free from worldly desires? Buddhism has a long-standing tradition of the 'treasury of longevity,' and the Buddha himself advised monks to seek wealth to support the Three Jewels. Someone like me has already been quite restrained."

Zhou You didn't argue with him, but instead pointed to the empty 'plates' and suddenly spoke.

"—So these are the methods you call for accumulating merit?"

Upon hearing this, the old monk Hongyi let out a long sigh.

“Young friend Zhou, you probably don’t know this, but it’s not easy for us in the Vinaya School to accumulate merit. Only those who have achieved great things and become great saviors can accumulate enough merit. It’s not about saving one or two people, but about turning the tide and saving the world from collapse. How many people in this world can do that? Once is fine, but if he can do it many times, then this humble monk would be willing to call him a reincarnation of Buddha.”

Zhou You scratched his chin somewhat awkwardly, even blushing a little.

However, the old monk Hongyi didn't care about him and continued speaking.

"Our Hanshan Temple used to be just a small temple. Forget about incense offerings, even the monks had to beg for food from the mountains—you've probably seen that before, young friend—but we've always adhered to the precepts and lived frugally. But the problem is..."

The old monk Hongyi shook his head and said.

"People are not afraid of anything else, but they are afraid of comparison."

"Why is it that those who are blinded by greed and have fat bellies can enter and leave the palace, and even be appointed as national teachers and prime ministers? Why is it that those who can't even recite the scriptures can be worshipped by the people, while we who are dedicated to cultivating the Dharma and earnestly serving others can only be forgotten in the dust?"

At this moment, Faxian seemed to want to say something.

But the old monk Hongyi had already gotten excited and stopped him from saying anything with a single look.

"Hanshan Temple was thus trapped in a vicious cycle. Fortunately, when the great calamity of heaven and earth was about to arrive, a true Arhat descended into the world, and he also pointed out a path for our ancestors."

"That is eating."

Zhou You raised an eyebrow and said.

"what for?"

"It's very simple. People are born with both good and bad karma, regardless of their actions. They are born with both. Our temple carefully selects those with good talent and then uses cooking to remove the bad karma from them."

"What remains is the merit that can be 'eaten'."

Upon hearing this, Zhou You's eyes gradually turned cold, but the old monk Hongyi seemed completely unaware, pointing to the 'tableware containers' and speaking.

"Although each portion is not much, it adds up over time. Moreover, the monks in the temple are also included in the merit after they die. Over the years, it can still accumulate into a great amount of merit."

"But the problem is that these are all rootless plants, and they can't achieve anything worthwhile."

Who would have guessed.

Upon hearing these words, the old monk Hongyi suddenly flew into a rage.

"The temple is gone, what use is this enlightenment to us?!"

Fortunately, he immediately realized his lapse in composure, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and sat down again.

"As I just said, people only recognize merit. No matter what, the great radiance we cultivate cannot be faked. So, with the incense offerings becoming more abundant year by year, Hanshan Temple has gradually grown stronger and has enough resources to complete this final step of the plan."

"—That is, once an Arhat truly descends into the world, he can still reverse cause and effect, and from then on, the Dharma in the temple will be without flaws, and it can occupy a place even among the various schools of Buddhism, even in the whole world."

half an hour.

Suddenly, applause rang out.

Zhou You clapped his hands and sighed.

"Indeed, as expected of you, sir. Your calculations are truly ingenious—you even gave up all of the most precious things of the Wood Star Lord, leaving only this corpse, which others find tasteless, as material for your descent. Isn't this a win-win-win situation?"

just.

The old monk Hongyi did not acknowledge it, but instead put his palms together and said.

"No, you are wrong about one thing, benefactor. I still have my flaws."

"what?"

I can't see through you.

Zhou You burst out laughing.

"Abbot, you flatter me. What merit do I have to deserve such high regard from you?"

The old monk Hongyi shook his head.

“If you had left directly, there would have been no problem at all. We could have cooperated well and parted amicably. But you insisted on coming back. So let me ask you, benefactor, why did you return here, to this temple with which you have no further business ties?”

Zhou You fell silent.

After a while, he finally laughed.

As usual, it was a normal, friendly, and even slightly embarrassed smile.

"It's nothing, it's just that I can't stand it."

This time, it was the old monk Hongyi who asked those two words.

"What do you mean?"

Zhou You shook his head and smiled.

"I wouldn't call myself kind; in fact, I'd say I'm a bit selfish. When something happens, my priority is always survival. But I have a problem: when I see injustice on the street, I can't stand it and I want to do something about it."

"Take these people for example. Why should you sacrifice them to accumulate merit? Why should your temple be built on the foundation of so many lives if you want to continue operating?"

"Of course, you can argue that this was a necessary sacrifice for a grander vision. But the question is, did you ask the consent of those who made the sacrifice?"

The old monk Hongyi wanted to argue further.

"They sacrificed themselves for Buddhism and deserve immeasurable blessings. From now on, they will be free from sorrow and suffering, and enjoy eternal peace under the Arhats—"

however.

Zhou You scoffed at this statement.

"I don't care about any of that, I just want to say one thing."

"I have a particular fondness for meddling in other people's business, so I always feel the urge to speak up for these innocent people."

"I disagree."

The old monk Hongyi fell completely silent.

After a long while, he finally spoke. "Then what do you intend to do, young friend?"

Zhou You was still smiling. He raised his head and looked outside the Arhat Hall.

"Well, since your temple values ​​food above all else, I'll just destroy the place where you eat first."

The old monk Hongyi finally realized what was happening and hurriedly tried to stop it.

"Wait a minute, what are you doing—"

Unfortunately, it was too late.

A deafening explosion rang out, and in the very center of the temple, in the incredibly large kitchen, flames suddenly shot skyward!
half an hour.

In the deathly silence, the old monk Hongyi finally spoke.

It wasn't anger, but a deep sigh.

"It seems you're determined to oppose us. But I only have one question: is it worth it?"

Zhou You tilted his head casually, then smiled.

"My mind is clear, my mood is pleasant, and most importantly, I feel incredibly good. How could it not be worth it?"

then.

The old monk Hongyi chanted Buddhist mantras once again.

"Alright, but you don't really think you can destroy everything at Hanshan Temple all by yourself, do you?"

Then the withered body rose from the shadows—and in turn revealed itself in the moonlight.

—It's no longer what it used to be.

During the day, although the old monk Hongyi was nearing the end of his life, he was still at least a human being. But now...
In the center of the hall, Nirvana's head had been brutally severed, replaced by the disproportionately large, blood-soaked head of the Wood Star Lord. Countless bright red blood vessels branched out from it and then inserted into the body below, pouring in what could be described as a massive amount of 'Prajna elixir'.

At this moment, the old monk Hongyi looked like a collapsed mountain of flesh, except for his head, the rest of him was all yellow fat, and at first glance he looked like an abstract and bizarre carpet.

Even so, he remained expressionless and continued speaking.

“You are mistaken, benefactor. Although our temple has embarked on a different path, we have never sent anyone to their deaths. The reason why we monks stand by and watch is that all the monks in this temple, except for Faxian, the successor, and the head ascetic in the kitchen, are part of the sacrifice.”

"Therefore."

"We die in our great aspirations, and we will also be reborn in our great aspirations."

The moment those words fell.

On the head of the Wood Star Lord, which originally had no facial features, fat and skin suddenly began to wriggle in waves, and then an eye was forcibly 'pinched' out.

—The next moment, the entire hall seemed to be pressed down by several meters!
As this eye gazed upon him, Zhou You felt an overwhelming hunger sweep over him in an instant. The dry food in his stomach seemed to be completely digested in a flash, and his body, unable to satisfy its hunger, could only choose to consume other things.

Fat, muscle, even yourself.

Without a doubt, Hanshan Temple went to great lengths and finally managed to invite their Arhats down at this crucial moment.

—A Luohan who, though not as powerful as Maitreya or the Water Buddha, was still a deity who had been corrupted!

Despite the crisis, Zhou You remained fearless, only sighing softly.

"Abbot, do you really think I'm an idiot, that I would dare to storm your Hanshan Temple all by myself?"

The old monk Hongyi's head floated in a sea of ​​fat, yet his voice could still be heard from within it. Judging from his appearance, his mind could still remain clear for a while.

So he simply responded.

"Are you referring to the mole in Rashomon? But I've already sent away the most likely outside help, and I've also killed all the suspects in the temple. Could it be..."

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, the old monk Hongyi turned his gaze sharply to the corpses scattered all over the ground and the numerous tableware.

Then, the Arhat statue suddenly turned its head, not even bothering to suppress Zhou You, and quickly scanned him with its single eye.

Everything melted like a burning candle and was swallowed up by the sea of ​​fat in the blink of an eye.

Only then did the old monk Hongyi finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"That's true. The Rashomon members are masters of transformation. They might be hiding among these corpses and tableware. If they manage to ambush us, although we can't fight against the Arhat's Dharma Body, they'll still be a problem."

But halfway through his sentence, he suddenly realized something was amiss.

Why is this guy still laughing?

Why is it that even though I've seen through his plan, he still doesn't seem anxious at all?
At this moment, Zhou You finally spoke.

He licked his lips, swallowed the saliva that had sprung up due to the effects of Nirvana, and suppressed the seemingly insatiable hunger burning in his stomach, before speaking.

"Abbot, besides me and these guys, there's someone else in this hall. Don't you remember?"

"Who else? All suspicion lies with this person, unless that Rashomon disciple possesses extraordinary abilities."

The old monk Hongyi suddenly stopped speaking.

He slowly turned his head to look at Faxian, who had remained silent and was merely an accompaniment.

Then, my gaze suddenly shifted downwards.

In that ocean of fat, unknowingly, a foreign object has already mixed in.

—That's a skull.

Pale white, deformed, a skull that was completely out of place in this world.

Furthermore, one can even see the anger, resentment, and even deep despair that preceded death in those moments.

Screams suddenly sounded.

"The hidden soul bone of a Tantric master. Where did you get this? No, no, how could it be you?!"

The old monk Hongyi's eyes were bloodshot, as if he had seen something incredible, something completely beyond his imagination, and he questioned in an angry voice.

“You entered the temple ten years ago. I watched you grow up, cultivate, and achieve this. After I die, an Arhat will descend to earth, and everything in the temple will be entrusted to you. With such merit, how could you possibly be an inside agent of Rashomon?”

Faced with the questioning of the old monk Hongyi, Faxian maintained his humble and respectful face, bowed, and slowly spoke.

"So that Master may know, I did indeed enter the temple ten years ago, and there was no method of changing form or replacing soul during that time. I know that these things can fool those fools, but I can't fool Master."

"—Then why?"

"It's very simple. Because I was already a member of the Rashomon sect ten years ago, and I was picked up by you, Master. The learning of the Dharma, the training, and the trials after going down the mountain were all arranged in advance."

Looking at the incredulous face of the old monk Hongyi, Faxian spoke slowly.

"That's why you didn't notice any problems, Master—because from the very beginning, I was the inside man."

"An inside man belonging only to Rashomon."

(End of this chapter)