The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism Chapter 900 - Frivolous Monk

Chapter 900: Frivolous Monk

Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon

Everyone looked towards the sound and confird that it was the patient with Lou Gehrig’s disease who was speaking! In an instant, everyone’s eyes nearly popped out. The patient was actually speaking! Furthermore, he was speaking Korean.

“What?” Park Mintae cried out like he had seen a ghost.

Park Changmin was also astounded as he stood in his spot, dazed and motionless. He was the one who had brought the Lou Gehrig’s disease patient, so no one knew how serious his problem was better than him. This man had been plagued by the disease for a decade and had not spoken in years! Park Changmin had even made the claim that the man would be unable to speak for the rest of his life. Yet…

It wasn’t only them. The people on the Internet were stunned as well.

“Holy sh*t, am I seeing things?”

“No way? The patient spoke!”

“This is on par with a corpse reanimation!”

“Is this a miracle or a horror story?”

“What exactly did Master do?”

…

Countless questions flashed in the minds of the viewers. Finally, all their eyes were focused on Fangzheng.

However, Fangzheng wore a genial smile as though he had not done anything yet also everything at the sa ti. Fangzheng pressed his palms together and said to the patient, “Amitabha. Patron, rember This Penniless Monk’s words.”

“I’ll abide by them. I’ll do more good to accumulate rit,” said the patient earnestly.

Fangzheng patted him on the shoulder and slowly ca to Park Changmin. He smiled. “Patron, do we continue?”

When Park Changmin saw the speaking patient, he felt his face burn. With his dical skills, he could only slightly improve the patient’s situation, but he couldn’t cause any conclusive change. Yet with this bit of results, he had used that to flaunt himself to the point of rushing to China to shalessly challenge everyone. Now, looking at Fangzheng who could restore a Lou Gehrig’s disease patient’s ability to speak with just a wave of his hand, he couldn’t flaunt his dical skills anymore. He imdiately felt like a clown when doing the comparison. His face turned red. But at this point in ti, what else could he say? He bitterly bowed and said, “I’ve lost. I utterly admit your superiority!”

There was an uproar imdiately followed by joy before undulating waves of cheers! After holding in their displeasure after so many days, the Chinese people could finally let it all out. They had finally won! TCM was safe! This was definitely sothing the entire country could rejoice and cheer about, and resounding cheers swept through every city.

“Impressive. Way too impressive! I didn’t even see what Master Fangzheng did before that patient ended up speaking.”

“Seriously impressive. I always thought Western dicine’s use of technology was quite a posturing act, but now, I realize that TCM is even better at posturing!”

“The poster above, don’t lead people astray. Master Fangzheng has already said that Western and Traditional Chinese dicine are all dicine. Neither is superior to the other. All that matters is whatever is more suitable. Besides, didn’t Abbot Fangzheng say? His dicine combines all schools of thought. Whatever’s good is used.”

“That’s right. Master Fangzheng said that one’s heart has to be broad and one shouldn’t seal oneself off. A good thing should be learned and fused into whatever you have. Only then can progress be made. I feel like all dical students are impressive.”

“Enough. You are making want to be a doctor! Yes, I’ll first learn TCM…”

“Hehe, too…”

…

The huge war finally ended on Mt. One Finger. China cheered while South Korea sighed with a heavy burden. So people were indignant at the result, but most were relieved that the farce was finally over. These were the common people. Their goal was simply to lead their life, indifferent towards politics. Yet there were always a bunch of political figures who enjoyed entwining politics with the people, doing things they believed to be right in the na of the people. With regards to this, many citizens felt helpless as well.

After the end of the competition, all reporters sward Mt. One Finger, wishing to get an exclusive interview with Fangzheng, who originally wanted to build his reputation. However, he abandoned that thought when he saw all the caras. These reporters were prepared with hand warrs and thick quilted jackets. So even went the extra mile to prepare their own electric heater, carrying it like a tiny portable sun!

Clearly, all of them had learned their lesson from their previous encounter with Fangzheng. They were prepared to face Fangzheng until the end!

When Fangzheng saw this, he hurriedly closed the monastery doors in shock. He claid that he would be entering seclusion to ditate over the Buddhist Dharma and refused to et anyone.

He refused to co out even when Songwu County’s County Head Qi ca.

With the reporters failing to grab Fangzheng, all they could do was turn their attention sowhere else. They interviewed all the villagers beneath Mt. One Finger and heard how One Finger Village had beco rich thanks to Mt. One Finger. Everyone found so piece of news, so together with Mt. One Finger’s beautiful scenery, they managed to co up with an article.

However, the biggest piece of news was that Park Changmin hadn’t left!

“Master, Park Changmin has been standing by the door for three days and three nights. Are you really not going to et him?” Squirrel stood in front of Fangzheng and asked, feeling so pity.

Fangzheng shook his head. “I cannot agree to his request. If he wishes to listen in on the lessons, he needs to join the line. Lessons are held once a month. Latecors are not entertained. That is the rule. No one can break it.”

“Master, your rule seems fair, but this is China. When it cos to snapping up spots, who can beat the Chinese?” Red Boy chuckled. “Master, can’t you be considered biased? That’s not how a real master should behave.”

Fangzheng pricked his brows and said righteously, “All my life, I’ve relied on China, eating and drinking its resources. Even the incense I receive is from China. What’s wrong with being a little biased? Besides, I never planned on becoming a real master.”

Red Boy was stunned when Fangzheng said that. Indeed, the monk before him really didn’t seem like a master.

Squirrel asked, “Master, why don’t you just say directly that it’s open only to the Chinese? Wouldn’t that save you a lot of trouble?”

Fangzheng looked at Squirrel with a profound look before ruffling his tiny head, smiling. “If I were to do that, wouldn’t that be akin to smacking my own face? One’s heart has to be broad…”

“Uh… Master, your actions remind of an idiom,” Red Boy suddenly said.

Fangzheng shot a glance at the brat, saying, “Hold it in, no matter what you’re thinking!”

“It’s that saying about not only wanting to be a whore, but while being one still wanting to maintain a good na, right? Though you aren’t supposed to say it~” Salted Fish cried out from the side.

Instantly, a huge slap ca hurling over.

Pa!

A salted fish flew out of the monastery’s door and into the Heavenly Dragon Pond. It gave Park Changmin, who had been standing by the door for three days and nights, a fright.

After sending Salted Fish flying, Fangzheng returned to his ditation room with his hands behind his back. As he looked at Zen Master One Finger’s picture, he sighed. “Master, I feel like I’m not suitable to be a monk. My heart isn’t broad enough…”

Zen Master One Finger didn’t say a word, but the System did. “That’s why it’s difficult for you to beco Buddha. Yet despite all your flaws, none of them are irredeemable. That is precisely why you matched my selection standards. Otherwise, what would be the point in redeeming an accomplished monk? On the other hand, if I had chosen an actual ruffian, wouldn’t that have lowered my status?”

Fangzheng was stunned. It turned out that his middle-of-the-road characteristic had ended up being a virtue. However, he sort of understood the System. The System was using him as a marker. Only by redeeming soone like him could it gain the right to redeem others.

“Sigh…” Fangzheng knew himself well. He had too many tiny flaws; yet, he never had plans of changing them. These thoughts weren’t uniquely his. Instead, they had existed in Zen Master One Finger already. Otherwise, with his insights into the Buddhist Dharma, he could have long gone down the mountain to lead a carefree existence. It wouldn’t have resulted in him becoming so poor. At the very least, he could have beco the abbot of a much better place.

Amid his random thoughts, Fangzheng fell asleep.

Park Changmin waited outside the monastery for a week. During this period, he fainted twice from hunger and thrice from the cold. At each instance, he was carried down by the villagers. After pleading for days, Red Boy finally brought him so calligraphy. Park Changmin sighed when he saw it. He bowed at One Finger Monastery and left.

After Park Changmin returned to South Korea, he had a huge change in temperant. He was no longer arrogant and instead, he lived alone on a mountain where he imparted dical skills to his disciples.

On this day, Park Mintae ca to Park Changmin and asked, “Master, I still don’t understand. Why did you keep getting to look at the mountains back then?”

Park Changmin looked up at the distant mountain peaks and sighed. “Back then, I wanted you to understand that there’s always a taller mountain out there, and that soone will always be better than you. One needs to have what it takes to be arrogant. With China’s five thousand years of culture, its dical skills couldn’t have been just what they seed on the surface. The three sages were only people who wanted fa. Many dical experts do not wander outside, such as Abbot Fangzheng.” Park Changmin wore a look of reverence when he ntioned Fangzheng.

Park Changmin continued. “Back then, Teacher Lee Jae’am ntioned that China is Korea’s roots. Denying China is equivalent to denying ancient Korean culture. Being China’s enemy is the sa as destroying oneself. In the eyes of the West too, it is nothing but a joke. Unfortunately, I persisted willfully and headed for China. In the end… Sigh. I tried to teach you that there’s always soone better than you, but I forgot that there’s always a taller mountain out there for too.”

“Teacher, I have learned,” Park Mintae said reverently.

Park Changmin shook his head and said, “Study dicine well in the future. Abbot Fangzheng is right. It’s pointless fighting about TCM, Western dicine, or TKM. The world only recognizes those that can defeat terminal illnesses, those that can push the boundaries of dicine, and those who can alleviate humanity from diseases.”

Park Mintae listened with his head bowed.

anwhile, Fangzheng went viral on China’s Internet over the next few days. There was news about him almost everywhere. Even live newscasts introduced him, Mt. One Finger, and One Finger Monastery. For the first ti, they received intense dia exposure. Of course, when people saw the scenery of Mt. One Finger, all of them turned agape. It was like an immortal paradise!

In addition, Park Changmin’s pleas for Fangzheng to leave a few spots for South Korea when he gave his lessons to the point of fainting from hunger or the cold while outside the monastery was also spread.

China was even quaking!

“Impressive. Although Park Changmin’s character could be better, his dical skills make him an international powerhouse. Yet just for a few spots, he stayed there for days. Tsk. He’s really giving Abbot Fangzheng face.”

“That’s right. Abbot Fangzheng is indeed impressive. That’s how he brought glory to our country.”

“More impressive is that despite all the hardship, Abbot Fangzheng maintains his principles. That’s what a master is! Regardless of you being an internationally acclaid doctor, we don’t give two hoots about you!”

“Abbot Fangzheng is the definition of awesoness. But speaking of which, why do I keep thinking Abbot Fangzheng doesn’t feel like a monk. Or should I say, he’s like a fake monk?”

“Yeah, I have the sa feeling. He feels like a frivolous monk.”