Master Wuyuan sat solemnly in the center, while Yuanxing, dressed in a white monk's robe, knelt before the Buddha.
He was already handso, and now, having gained experience from his ti in the earthly world, the childishness in him had disappeared, leaving behind an added sense of compassion on his face.
"Dong!"
Master Wuyuan softly tapped the wooden fish:
"Yuanxing, have you gained enlightennt?"
"Master." Yuanxing bowed deeply:
"Disciple has indeed gained enlightennt."
"Good." Master Wuyuan nodded and asked:
"Which is heavier, Buddhism or Miss Sun?"
"The Buddha is Miss Sun." Yuanxing replied:
"Disciples' love for Miss Sun is the sa as my love for the Buddha."
"Good!" Master Wuyuan nodded again, chanting:
"All actions are impermanent."
Yuanxing pressed his hands together and responded:
"All things have no self!"
"Dong!"
The sound of the wooden fish rang out.
"Nirvana is tranquil!"
For a mont, Fang Zheng couldn't tell if the last words were spoken by Master Wuyuan or Yuanxing, or if both voiced them together; only the chanting echoed endlessly in his ears.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Mingrui spoke up.
On the way down the mountain, Fang Zheng voiced his doubts:
"Did Yuanxing truly let go of Miss Sun?"
"What does it an to let go?" Zhang Mingrui chuckled softly:
"Miss Sun shaped the Yuanxing we know now; she will always be a part of his life, that fact will never change."
"Yuanxing becoming a better person is the greatest form of letting go, which is also the greatest compassion."
"Only by holding onto love can one grasp Buddhism." He turned back to look towards the temple and sighed:
"What Master Wuyuan said is true, Yuanxing's roots of wisdom are deeply planted."
Fang Zheng shook his head.
He still didn't quite understand.
......
"I still love Miss Sun, and now, Miss Sun represents everything I cherish, compassion, the Buddha, all living beings…"
"In everything in this world, I can see the shadow of Miss Sun, just as Master said, one must walk through the world for their practice."
"Only in this way can one understand what Buddha ans."
"And what it ans to let go."
"Amitabha Buddha."
In the temple study, Yuanxing put down his pen and paper, pressed his hands together, and chanted the Buddha's na, as a serene burst of Buddha's light quietly erged from him.
"Amitabha Buddha." Master Wuyuan, who was ditating, seed to sense sothing, opened his eyes toward the direction of the study, and smiled:
"Cien Temple welcos another Arhat."
*
*
*
"Young Master Fang."
The Sixth Grand Uncle of the Sun Family stroked his beard and said:
"This residence consists of four courtyards and two side yards, covering several acres, selling it for just six hundred taels of silver is truly not expensive."
"Hmm."
Indifferent to the price, Fang Zheng asked:
"To my knowledge, this residence belongs to the main branch of the Sun Family, although Miss Sun and her husband have passed away, it shouldn't be for you to decide, right?"
The place they were at was indeed Sun Die and Yu Yanghong's residence.
After they passed away, this house beca neglected; currently, the Sun Family planned to sell it, and as an acquaintance, he was the first invited to view it.
"Rest assured, Young Master Fang."
The Sixth Grand Uncle quickly replied:
"This decision was made after consultation with all mbers of the Sun Family, and no one will oppose it, and even the deed can be verified at the Governnt Office."
"As long as you buy it, there will be no trouble!"
In recent tis, the Sun Family mbers argued quite a bit about this house.
The main branch was without successors, and the other branches wanted to seize it, but none could co up with the money, and if multiple families occupied it, it'd surely lead to countless quarrels in the future.
After much discussion, it was decided to sell the house and divide the proceeds, so nobody would have objections.
But...
Even selling it was not easy.
"People have died here."
Fang Zheng said:
"Although I am familiar with Miss Sun, her scandal of adultery and pregnancy is known by everyone, and combined with the death, wealthy buyers would avoid it."
"Six hundred taels, it's too expensive!"
"This…" The Sixth Grand Uncle's expression turned awkward, and he hurriedly said:
"That's the reason for setting it at six hundred taels; otherwise, it would have sold for at least eight hundred taels easily."
"Young Master Fang, you may not know, but the Sun Family put a lot of effort into building this house, using fine timber."
"Also, the furniture and paintings inside, are all masterpieces of renowned artists, and are quite valuable."
He anxiously introduced:
"Just selling the items inside separately could fetch at least a hundred or two hundred taels of silver."
"Is that so?" Fang Zheng stepped inside, and his expression imdiately darkened:
"Is this what you call valuable?"
The Sixth Grand Uncle entered the house, scanning the empty room; not only the furniture but even the paintings on the walls were scrounged clean, leaving a bare shell of a room.
"Who did this?"
Unable to contain his anger, he yelled, shaking with rage:
"Who the hell did this!"
Though he appeared furious, he was clear-minded enough.
The only ones who could have entered the house recently were mbers of the Sun Family, likely including his own sixth branch's descendants.
"Ha…" Fang Zheng chuckled lightly:
"Six hundred taels?"
He gently shook his head:
"In a place that's not prosperous, a stripped-bare deserted house, with a history of scandals and death, you want to sell for six hundred taels?"
"Dream on!"
"Farewell!"
He turned and left.
"Young Master Fang." The Sixth Grand Uncle's face changed drastically, hurriedly chasing after him:
"The price can be negotiated!"
"The place you're currently living in belongs to the Sun Family as well; if you buy this one, that can be gifted to you."
"Five hundred taels." He held up five fingers, saying:
"How about five hundred taels?"
"It really can't go lower, any lower and it won't even cover the original purchase, if five hundred taels doesn't work, how about four hundred and eighty?"
"This is truly as low as it can go!"
"Four hundred and eighty taels?" Fang Zheng paused his steps:
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