Chapter 58: Chapter 58

“Are you a Buddhist too, Layman?” the nun asked mildly.

Zhao Jiu said nothing. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at the portrait of the Bodhisattva, his eyes lowered as though carrying some private sorrow.

The nun rose from her prayer mat and stood face-to-face with him.

Zhao Jiu looked her over. She had delicate features, fair skin, and vermilion lips, all complemented by her plain monastic robes. She resembled a palace maiden painted upon white paper, her lips touched with scarlet—a truly ethereal beauty.

Zhao Jiu was somewhat tempted, but he continued playing along.

“Dharma Master, my heart is always restless. I wonder if the Bodhisattva’s Dharma can save me?”

The nun did not answer. She turned away and returned carrying some tea, then led Zhao Jiu to sit at a low table.

She poured him a cup and began comforting him. The Dharma Master’s understanding of Buddhism proved profound, progressing from the outside inward. Zhao Jiu was deeply impressed and sighed again and again.

The next day dawned bright and sunny.

Supported by the nun, Zhao Jiu emerged from the courtyard. Standing beneath the blazing sun, he smiled and declared, “I need to come here more often! The Dharma here is profound. I’ve finally comprehended its… essence!”

As she supported him, the nun softly reminded him to watch the steps. Her slightly flushed cheeks brimmed with smiles, making her resemble a lotus freshly sprinkled with water.

Zhao Jiu waved, indicating that she did not need to see him any farther. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed her twenty taels of silver.

No, that was not right. Buddhists did not speak of gold or silver. They spoke of karmic affinity.

That made it twenty taels of karmic affinity!

Upon leaving the Temple of Beauties, Zhao Jiu found an attendant already waiting with his horse. He swung into the saddle and snapped the reins, sending the horse galloping down the mountain.

The spring breeze caressed his face, bathing him in springtime radiance.

When Zhao Jiu returned to the restaurant, he calmly headed upstairs under the Shopkeeper’s knowing gaze. Those who knew, knew.

He flopped onto the bed to digest the Dharma he had learned. After all, reviewing the old was how one discovered the new.

He had spent the entire previous night discussing Buddhism with the Dharma Master. Her understanding of the Dharma had been exceptionally distinctive, and her insights had greatly broadened Zhao Jiu’s horizons.

Naturally, Zhao Jiu would never pass up an opportunity to learn. He forcefully advanced his own arguments, and the two debated everything from the Great Vehicle teachings to the Lesser Vehicle teachings. Friction arose constantly, with neither willing to yield.

Both held firmly to their respective understandings of Buddhism, but despite Zhao Jiu’s persistence, the Dharma Master ultimately persuaded him.

It was an academic discussion. A little friction was perfectly normal!

They had debated the scriptures for more than two hours. Fortunately, the Dharma Master’s Buddhist attainments were unfathomably profound, and the depths of her cultivation were beyond measure. At long last, she had soothed Zhao Jiu’s restless heart.

When he opened his eyes again, night had already fallen.

Before Zhao Jiu could give any instructions, a Waiter arrived carrying food and wine.

This was why Mount Tai was such a wonderful place. Even its Waiters were perceptive enough to understand how exhausting Zhao Jiu’s studies had been and prepare his meal in advance.

Eating meat and drinking wine, Zhao Jiu felt indescribably content.

No wonder this place had captured the hearts of so many wealthy young masters. Who could dislike service this attentive and considerate?

Yet despite the beautiful scenery and excellent service, Zhao Jiu knew that he had come here on a mission.

After dinner, he clasped his hands behind his back and wandered outside. Ostensibly, he was taking an after-dinner stroll and casually chatting with people. In reality, he was making indirect inquiries about Lin Yining.

After walking through several streets, however, he had obtained no concrete information about Lin Yining. Few people had even heard the name.

Zhao Jiu was bitterly disappointed.

Mount Tai was enormous. At this rate, his investigation would probably take several months. By then, whether Lin Yining would still be on Mount Tai was anyone’s guess.

After wandering around for a while, Zhao Jiu felt increasingly frustrated.

The next time he accepted a job like this, he had to demand concrete intelligence. A clear portrait would be ideal, but at the very least, he needed an exact location.

Lu Wenyu was the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, yet he was so fucking unreliable.

Zhao Jiu grumbled inwardly in helpless frustration.

In truth, Lu Wenyu had been wrongly blamed. Zhao Jiu had been preoccupied with other matters at the time and simply had not asked. Lu Wenyu, meanwhile, had assumed Zhao Jiu was a professional who required no such assistance.

One had forgotten to ask, while the other had misunderstood and forgotten to provide it. Thus, for no good reason at all, Zhao Jiu had ended up scratching his head in helpless frustration.

Zhao Jiu was irritable and impatient, so naturally, he was in a poor mood.

Whenever people were unhappy, they sought ways to relieve their emotions. As it happened, the Dharma of Mount Tai was unfathomable. The perfect solution was already waiting for him.

No sooner decided than done—he fetched his horse and headed up the mountain!

How could a man hesitate or waver on the road forward?

Every day spent without learning was a betrayal of life itself!

Tonight, he had to study again!

At the Temple of Beauties, the same attendant from the previous night rushed forward to take Zhao Jiu’s horse and tether it. He carried out the entire process with practiced familiarity.

However, Zhao Jiu did not want to discuss Buddhism with the same Dharma Master as last night.

Learning had to be renewed day by day. Knowledge needed constant updating. He had to study the Diamond Sutra, but he also needed to study the Flower Garland Sutra. Favoring one over the other was hardly a good habit.

Naturally, the attendant understood Zhao Jiu’s meaning.

People naturally tired of the old and delighted in the new. More importantly, Zhao Jiu was paying!

The attendant led him into another courtyard.

This courtyard was much simpler than the previous night’s. It contained bamboo, pine trees, and several flowering plants Zhao Jiu could not name. Beyond those, there was nothing. Even the walls were completely bare.

Perhaps its only advantage was its secluded position toward the rear of the temple, beside a small lake. A gentle breeze drifted through the courtyard, lending it an added sense of tranquility.

The nun here did not present the same image of lifelong solitary devotion beneath a dim lamp before the ancient Buddha.

When the door opened, the Dharma Master stood off to the side with her head lowered and hands resting before her. She held a small strand of Buddhist Prayer Beads, and the atmosphere was distinctly suggestive.

The attendant softly said, “Please,” then closed the door, leaving Zhao Jiu room to exercise his own initiative.

Understanding exactly what the client wanted was his entire specialty.

Standing inside the room, Zhao Jiu surveyed his surroundings and could not help sighing.

Forget a Ritual Platform or censer—there was not even a statue of the Buddha. The only object in the room remotely connected to Buddhism was the strand of Buddhist Prayer Beads in the nun’s hand.

The nun herself was rather uninhibited. Not only did her three thousand strands of worldly vexation hang loosely around her shoulders, but she had also applied a light touch of makeup. Beneath the candlelight, she looked truly alluring and bewitching.

Well, this was probably a different style.

Zhao Jiu did not mind. He waved to the plainly dressed nun and asked her to brew a pot of tea first.

When it came to learning, how could anyone leap directly into the main subject?

While she brewed the tea, Zhao Jiu smiled and asked, “This place of yours hardly follows the usual rules. Do you truly possess any profound Buddhist teachings?”

“Why wouldn’t I? When the Buddha resides within one’s heart, what place is not the Pure Land?”

The nun’s reply stunned Zhao Jiu.

How strange and wondrous!

This was the School of Mind!

Realizing one’s true self within a house of pleasure—only today did he discover that he himself was the Buddha.

What a lofty state of enlightenment!

“Heh, well said. The Buddha resides within one’s heart.” Zhao Jiu smiled, then asked in surprise, “Did you comprehend that yourself?”

Holding a cup of strong tea, the nun led Zhao Jiu to the low table and leaned against him.

“How could this humble woman possess such insight? A certain young master said it. I thought it sounded wonderful, so I remembered it.”

Zhao Jiu twirled a strand of her long hair between his fingers and sighed. “Even amid the world of pleasure, enlightened masters can be found!”

“That Young Master Lin was quite a character, though perhaps this humble woman is speaking out of turn.”

The nun gathered her hair, making it easier for Zhao Jiu to twirl, and murmured as though reminiscing.

At the words “Young Master Lin,” Zhao Jiu’s fingers paused.

He composed himself and teasingly asked with feigned indifference, “Young Master Lin? Lin who? Don’t tell me it was that fellow Lin Yining.”

“Young Master, do you know Young Master Lin?”

Hearing the delight in her voice, Zhao Jiu was already eighty percent certain that this Lin Yining was his target.

He had searched high and low, only for the answer to fall straight into his lap.

Zhao Jiu forcibly suppressed his excitement and said casually, “Oh, well, we’re on fairly good terms. We spent some time enjoying ourselves together in the Capital. He came from some manor or other—I’ve forgotten which one. That brat still owes me a round of drinks!”

Leaning against Zhao Jiu, the nun crossed one leg and swung it idly.

“Yes, yes, it was some manor or other. Young Master Lin mentioned it before, but this humble woman has a poor memory and forgot.”

Zhao Jiu was now completely certain.

He had never expected to stumble upon his target through such sheer blind luck.

Studying truly did pay off!

Zhao Jiu wrapped an arm around the nun and gently played with her earlobe. The weight in his heart finally lifted, allowing him to relax.

Everything would be easy from here.

Brat, wash your neck and wait for me!