My Master Knows It All

137: Chapter 118 The Good Disciple Who Fulfills the Wishes of Their Ancestors_1 137: Chapter 118 The Good Disciple Who Fulfills the Wishes of Their Ancestors_1 In the eyes of the people, those who practice Zen Cultivation have always been seen as the great benevolent and kind givers, respected wherever they go.

Wu Xiang had never thought that someone would come to their doorstep at Little Zen Peak, to insult their Zen Cultivators, to insult his faith, to insult their acts of giving and charity!

“Peak Master Cao, are you…

here to make trouble?” Wu Xiang’s face turned livid with bulging veins, his entire being radiating with towering rage.

If it weren’t for the rules of the Hundred Peaks Sect that called for unity among the various peaks and prohibited infighting, he would have long since acted, throwing this miscreant out from Little Zen Peak.

“You, a layperson concerned only with business, what do you know!

To you common folk, we may be seen as begging, but in truth, we are mending their spirits.

And the items they give us are not mere charity but a means of accumulating merit and good deeds through us!”

“Say it’s so if you will.

My visit is, of course, not to cause trouble, but as it happens, I recently came upon a scripture…

something called the Four Something or Other Agama, a complete collection no less.

If you want it, let your master come out to talk.

If not, I’ll look elsewhere.

After all, the folks at Treasure Elephant Peak also practice Zen, and perhaps they might be interested in this scripture, right?”

“The Four Agama Sutras!

You mean the Four Agama Sutras, and a complete collection at that!

You have that sacred text!” Wu Xiang exclaimed in shock.

The Four Agama Sutras were the supreme scripture of Little Zen Peak!

However, for some reason, the scriptures were incomplete, and the succession of Peak Masters and Elders from Little Zen Peak had expended countless efforts and tried everything imaginable to complete the scriptures, but to this day, there were still significant gaps.

And yet, the Peak Master of Four Treasures Peak claimed to possess a complete collection of the Four Agama Sutras!

How could he have gotten the complete Four Agama Sutras?

The scriptures that many generations at the Little Zen Sect were unable to complete—how could such a person, who has no ties to Zen Cultivation, have gotten them?

Wu Xiang’s heart was filled with astonishment, but he also believed that the other party would not dare to deceive him.

If someone were to joke about such a matter at Little Zen Peak, it would be tantamount to making a fool of the entire Little Zen Peak, a provocation, and even if they beat Cao Zhen half to death, not even the Sect Leader True Person could say anything about it.

“Please wait a moment, Peak Master Cao; this humble monk will go and inform my master,” Wu Xiang hurriedly turned to leave.

At this moment, he could no longer care about Cao Zhen’s previous attitude—The Four Agama Sutras were too important to Little Zen Peak.

Cao Zhen sat on his chair nonchalantly, even beginning to close his eyes to rest.

Before long, a ruckus of footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Cao Zhen looked up and saw a sweep of red as seven or eight old men in Kasaya entered in single file, the one leading them appeared to be a kindly-looking, slightly chubby old monk.

The Peak Master of Little Zen Peak, Yuan Ci.

The last time at the gathering of Hundred Peaks, this old monk hardly spoke a word, he either chuckled with a “hehe” or intoned “Amitabha.”

As for the others following him, they were probably the Elders and Vice Peak Masters of the Little Zen Sect.

Being the foremost disciple, Wu Xiang could only follow at the end.

“Amitabha,” intoned Yuan Ci as he entered.

“Prior to this, I was immersed in closed-door Zen Cultivation and have not received visitors for quite some time.

I ask for Peak Master Cao’s understanding.”

“No problem, no problem,” Cao Zhen stood up from his seat—as the other was a Peak Master, such respect was due—”No need for such words, Yuan Ci Peak Master.

You’re right, your disciple was not mistaken, I am here to conduct business with you.

Let’s not stand on ceremony, let’s talk about money directly.”

With those words, the hall fell into an abrupt silence.

Those present, be they Peak Masters or Elders, were all men of status.

Usually, there would be civilities exchanged upon meeting, but Cao Zhen dispensed with that, abruptly turning to talk of money.

Nobody behaved like that.

Yuan Ci remained composed, with even a smile appearing on his rosy face, praising, “Peak Master Cao truly speaks his mind without concern for appearances, truly a person blessed by Buddha.”

With that statement, the awkward atmosphere was swept away, and after a brief pause, he sincerely turned to Cao Zhen and said, “Peak Master Cao, regardless of whether it’s your Four Treasures Peak or our Little Zen Peak, we are all part of the Hundred Peaks Sect, akin to countless branches on a single tree, which should not be divided into ‘yours’ and ‘mine.’

Since the Four Agama Sutras are of no use to Taoist Cultivators, how about you leave them with our Little Zen Peak?

In the future, should our sect come upon anything beneficial to Taoist Cultivation, we would surely offer it to your peak.”

He was very clear that Cao Zhen had come with the Four Agama Sutras intending to make a deal with their Little Zen Peak, and he would surely ask for an exorbitant price.

However, Little Zen Peak has never had the tradition of making trades with anyone.

Cao Zhen sneered, thinking, all good finds for Taoist Cultivators will go to me in the future?

Who knows when that will be, and even if you do find something good, you’d probably keep it for yourself—who would know?

If you gave me even a single Copper Coin, that counts as giving.

It seems these monks all like to reap without sowing.

Think you can freeload?

What a fancy delusion—no, you won’t even get a fart from me!

With this thought, he nodded quite seriously and said, “Yuan Ci Peak Master speaks wisely.

Indeed, all the peaks within our Hundred Peaks Sect should stick together as one.

What is yours is mine, and what is mine is yours.”

“Great goodness,” Yuan Ci brought his hands together in prayer and intoned a Buddhist chant, while the Elders of Little Zen Peak all around showed their smiles.