The moment Wuhua heard Fa Neng’s voice, he snapped his head up, two crimson streams of snot still hanging beneath his nose. His face lit up with surprise. “Junior Brother, perfect timing! Lend me six hundred yuan!”
That single sentence nearly made Fa Neng wish the ground would swallow him whole. His face flushed a deep purplish-red. He stuttered for a long moment, shuffling his feet reluctantly, unwilling to approach.
But Meiniang caught sight of Li Yundong and his companions with Fa Neng right away. Her face first burst into delight. “Oh, isn't this Boss Li? What brings you here today? Ah, ah, sorry you had to witness this spectacle. Please wait a moment; I’ll take care of things here.”
Saying that, she spun around, glaring fiercely at Fa Neng. “Hey, he’s your Senior Brother, right? Is being a monk such a big deal? Don’t you pay for ladies of the night? Hurry up and give him the six hundred yuan! Look at all these people watching. If you aren't embarrassed, I am embarrassed for you both!”
While she was speaking, quite a crowd had gathered on the roadside, many pointing and stifling their laughter. Fa Neng’s face was the color of cinnabar, so red it looked ready to bleed. He patted himself down all over, finally pulling out five hundred yuan. He stammered, “That’s all I have.”
Meiniang’s eyes swept over the money, and she snatched it away. After a quick count, her expression, usually like millennia of frost, immediately broke into a smile. “Well, if you’re paying, it’s easier to talk. Even if the amount is short, I’ll give you a discount since you’re holy men.”
With that, she turned back to Li Yundong, giggling coquettishly. “Boss Li, I’ve missed you terribly. What brings you out to play today?”
Meiniang’s gaze flickered over Su Chan and Zhou Qin beside him, then she added in a sweet voice, “Come to play, by all means, but bringing friends? We don't exactly have accommodations for female guests here.”
Zhou Qin’s face changed upon hearing this, and she glared at Meiniang. Su Chan, however, simply stuck out her tongue at her. “Shameless! We’re here looking for someone!”
Meiniang tilted her head in feigned confusion. “Looking for someone? What would you be looking for in a place like this? Everyone here is either a guest or one of us.”
She then glanced toward Wuhua, her eyes darting thoughtfully. “Don’t tell me you’re looking for him?”
Wuhua had managed to stand up by then. His saffron robe was wrinkled and smeared with grime; he looked utterly disheveled.
For a moment, Li Yundong and the others felt a blush of shame, all averting their gazes, unwilling to admit they had come looking for Wuhua.
Meiniang, seeing everything clearly, let out a derisive snort and rolled her eyes at Zhou Qin and Su Chan. “Looking for a guest who won’t pay, and they act so high and mighty. Honestly... what sort of world is this?”
Saying that, she turned and sashayed back into the establishment, swaying with every step.
Li Yundong was inwardly frantic: A woman acting so imperious while working as a prostitute—what sort of age was this? The nation was truly flourishing in sin and prosperity!
Once Fa Neng and the surrounding crowd dispersed slightly, Fa Neng, suppressing his shame, turned to Wuhua. “Senior Brother, what on earth happened?”
Wuhua brushed the dust from his robes and let out a long sigh. The wretched, dirty expression on his face surprisingly shifted into one of serene solemnity. “Alas, these past few days, I saw a female benefactor here with remarkable spiritual roots. I intended to guide her toward enlightenment, so I approached her for conversation. Unexpectedly, after chatting for two hours, they demanded I pay for the time when I came out! How is a humble monk supposed to have money? So, I said I would first beg for some from my peers and then pay them. Who knew I would be treated this way? Ah, the morals of the world are truly declining, and human hearts are no longer what they were!”
Only then did Li Yundong and the others grasp the situation. Su Chan, with her pure heart, looked up at Wuhua with awe. “Master, you are truly admirable, to humble yourself in the mud to save sentient beings.”
Zhou Qin was skeptical. “To save sentient beings, you have to pick a place like this? And pose as a client yourself?”
Wuhua looked grave. “The Buddha himself was once a beggar; how can I not be a client?”
Li Yundong was now thoroughly confused. He thought to himself: Is this fellow a degenerate monk or an enlightened master? Just now, he seemed like a complete debauchee, but listening to him speak, his words carry a hidden depth, hinting at the demeanor of a true, high monk.
Li Yundong paused, then coughed lightly. “Master Wuhua, I have a matter that requires your assistance. I wonder if you have a moment?”
Only then did Wuhua turn his face toward Li Yundong and smile faintly. “You are True Man Li, correct?”
Li Yundong was surprised. “How did you know my surname? Oh, right, Meiniang mentioned it earlier.”
Wuhua shook his head. “Not so. I performed a divination a few days ago and already foresaw that you would seek me out. That is why I have been frequenting this area recently.”
Li Yundong was greatly astonished. “You predicted I would come here? But I didn’t see you last time.”
Wuhua smiled faintly. “The time was not right; naturally, we could not meet.”
Seeing the profound meaning veiled in Wuhua’s words, Li Yundong’s suspicion lessened further. Yet, he still had a question. “Since you predicted you would meet me here, why didn’t you foresee being thrown out looking so utterly pathetic?”
Li Yundong’s question was quite direct, but Wuhua remained perfectly calm and unfathomable, pressing his palms together. “Amitabha. Can a doctor cure himself? My Sumeru Perception can help you, True Man Li, but it cannot help me.”
Li Yundong, realizing Wuhua even knew the purpose of his own visit, dismissed all doubt. He bowed respectfully. “So, Master is indeed a master in the vein of Ji Gong. I was prejudiced.”
Wuhua chuckled. “No matter, True Man Li. Please wait a moment while I speak with that female benefactor. My primary purpose here was to bring her salvation.” He gestured toward a graceful, slender woman standing near the entrance of the Crystal Love International Entertainment Center not far away.
Li Yundong followed his finger and saw that the woman was quite beautiful, possessing an air of delicate sorrow that her flamboyant attire could not quite conceal. He mused inwardly: This Master certainly has a knack for choosing who to enlighten; he only picks the most beautiful and seductive ones! He must still be a worldly monk!
But then he reconsidered: Am I any different? Su Chan by my side is peerlessly beautiful, and Zhou Qin is a vision of earthly splendor. As for Ziyuan, she is beyond description, truly a heavenly beauty. How do they view me? What right do I have to judge Wuhua? Thinking this, Li Yundong felt a sense of release.
He watched as Wuhua approached the woman, speaking quietly. The woman continuously dabbed at her eyes, looking at Wuhua with tear-filled eyes. They parted with a lingering reluctance, like lovers unwilling to separate.
Watching from the side, Li Yundong felt a strange sensation. Is the Master here to save souls or to flirt?
Su Chan, beside him, was secretly impressed. “This Master fears no gossip to enlighten such a woman of the world; truly the bearing of a high monk.”
But Zhou Qin couldn't stop scrutinizing Wuhua and the woman. She thought to herself: This monk is far from pure; his words are high-minded rhetoric. He might fool Li Yundong, but he won't fool me.
Once Wuhua finally finished speaking with the woman, he walked over to Li Yundong, joining his palms in a respectful bow. “True Man Li, thank you for waiting so long. Shall we go?”
Li Yundong considered it. “Since I am seeking your favor, Master, perhaps it would be better if we went to my place. I hope you won't mind.”
Wuhua let out a hearty laugh, carefree. “Ha ha, if I can visit this red-light district, why would I shy away from a fox den?”
Hearing this, Li Yundong’s lingering doubts about Wuhua dissolved even further. He smiled. “Then I will trouble you.” He glanced at Fa Neng beside him and asked, “Master Fa Neng, will you join us?”
Fa Neng thought: I’ve already suffered the karma of eight lifetimes by accompanying you to this red-light district to find my Senior Brother. And you want me to go to a fox den too? Senior Brother’s cultivation is profound; what is mine? If I go to a place like that, will I even survive?
Fa Neng shook his head like a rattle drum, pleading, “True Man Li, please spare me! I need to get back quickly.”
Without even saying goodbye to his Senior Brother, he hung his head, eyes fixed straight ahead, muttering scriptures under his breath, fleeing this decadent, hedonistic street like a startled animal.
Wuhua watched his retreating figure and sighed, shaking his head. “Pink skeletons, skeletal pinkness—my Junior Brother still cannot see clearly.”
Li Yundong said admiringly, “Master plays among the mortals, yet remains untouched—truly worthy of respect.”
The group hailed a car and headed toward Tianlong Mountain. Just before boarding, Zhou Qin noticed Wuhua glancing deliberately behind him as he got into the car. Zhou Qin caught the movement, smiled inwardly, and became even more certain of her judgment.
Upon arriving at the Fox Zen Gate on Tianlong Mountain, Li Yundong led Wuhua toward the Taoist temple. Two little foxes sweeping the courtyard saw a bald monk following their sect leader inside and peered curiously from a distance, chattering animatedly.
“Huh? Why did the Sect Leader bring a bald donkey back?”
“I don’t know, how strange.”
“Is it for the seventh-day memorial rites for the former Sect Leader?”
“I don’t know. But if it’s the seventh-day rites, isn’t one bald donkey a bit few?”
Li Yundong heard the two little foxes whispering, the term “bald donkey” popping up repeatedly. He glanced awkwardly at Wuhua, only to see his expression unchanged. While admiring Wuhua’s composure, he couldn't help but sigh: These little foxes are completely undisciplined.
He turned and glared at the two sprites, barking, “What are you gossiping about? Get back to your chores!”
Li Yundong had already established his authority in the pavilion on the back hill of the school, so when he shouted, the two little foxes flinched violently. They exchanged a look, bolted toward other rooms, and slammed the doors shut, leaving only a pair of curious yet frightened eyes peering through the cracks.
Wuhua watched the scene and smiled faintly. “True Man Li has quite the imposing presence.”
Li Yundong laughed dryly. “My disciples are mischievous; please excuse them.”
After they reached Li Yundong’s residence, Li Yundong saw Cao Yi, Liu Yuehong, Zhuang Yating, and others had gathered, alarmed by the news. He greeted them with a smile. Li Yundong glanced around and casually asked, “Why isn’t Changsun Hong here?”
Cao Yi, Zhuang Yating, and Liu Yuehong exchanged glances. Cao Yi quickly replied, “Fourth Senior Sister is cultivating in the back courtyard.”
Li Yundong simply nodded, unconcerned, and gave a brief explanation of what had happened. Cao Yi and the others were both shocked and delighted, and they all turned to Wuhua. “Master Wuhua, you do not disdain the tarnished reputation of our Fox Zen Gate, and all of us here are deeply grateful. If you can help us find the whereabouts of Junior Sister Wushuang, we will reward you handsomely.”
Li Yundong chuckled, “You certainly know how to speak sweetly; you’ve left this Sect Leader with no nice things to say.”
His remark drew loud laughter from everyone present.
Li Yundong then turned back to Wuhua and said, “Master, please use your divine power of destiny to help us locate Yan Fang.”
Wuhua, however, turned and looked at Cao Yi and the others, saying, “The Dharma is not transmitted to those with two ears!”
One person has two ears; two people have four ears; three people have six ears. Wuhua’s meaning was abundantly clear. Cao Yi and the others immediately understood and quickly addressed Li Yundong. “Sect Leader, we will take our leave now.”
Once Cao Yi and the others had gone, Wuhua remained intently focused on Zhou Qin and Su Chan, still refusing to speak.
Zhou Qin sighed helplessly and also said to Li Yundong, “Master, I need to attend to something first.”
Only Su Chan, relying on her close relationship with Li Yundong and the fact that the person they were seeking was her own master, refused to leave. But seeing she wouldn't budge, Wuhua refused to speak either, simply gazing straight ahead, hands clasped in prayer, murmuring scriptures under his breath.
Seeing that he wouldn’t speak, Su Chan reached out and tugged Li Yundong’s sleeve, looking up at him with a pitiful expression.
Seeing her like this, Li Yundong couldn’t help but intercede for her. “Master Wuhua, Su Chan is my girlfriend, and the one taken by Yan Fang, Ao Wushuang, is her master. She is not an outsider; does she really need to be excluded?”
Wuhua didn't even glance at him and repeated firmly, “The Dharma is not transmitted to those with two ears!”
Li Yundong realized Wuhua’s attitude was firm: two people, yes; three people, absolutely not. Which two were up to him to decide!
He couldn't help but give Su Chan a wry smile. “Shall I step out for a moment?”
Even though Su Chan was throwing a childish tantrum, she knew that in a matter this serious, Li Yundong leaving made no sense. She reluctantly said, “Fine, I’ll go then.” She gave Li Yundong a longing look, then glanced at Wuhua, and whispered pitiably at the doorway, “I’m leaving now.”
Li Yundong laughed. “It’s not a final farewell; why make such a scene?”
Su Chan made an ‘oh’ sound and turned to leave.
Li Yundong turned back to Wuhua. “Master, now there are only four ears. Can we talk?”
Wuhua gave a slight smile, glanced toward the doorway, and spoke loudly, “Come out, why hide? Can this minor skill of invisibility truly deceive my Dharma eyes?”
As soon as his words fell, Su Chan’s figure reappeared in the doorway. She stuck out her tongue at Wuhua. “Master, you truly are amazing; I yield! I’ll go now.” She stuck her little tongue out at Li Yundong, then darted away in a flash.
Li Yundong was torn between laughter and tears, thinking to himself: This little girl is getting naughtier by the day!
He coughed lightly and asked Wuhua, “Now can we finally speak?”
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