CHAPTER 437: 340. LET GO

Bodhisattva Wuzhai, discarded at Yuanjue Temple’s Manjusri Hall in the winter of the 10th year of Jianing, with only a string of Star Moon Bodhi beads, one hundred and eight beads.

Wuzhai recited the Heart Sutra silently at age three, and the Middle Discourse at age seven, attaining understanding without a teacher. Originally a rare prodigy of Yuanjue Temple, he refused the Bhikkhu Precepts, setting out as a novice monk at age twelve to travel and debate scripture with the Dao Court.

His journey lasted seven years, and upon returning to Yuanjue Temple, he had won back seventeen Daoist temples and thirty-three thousand acres of fertile land for the Buddhist Sect. In Jianghu, it was widely known that Wuzhai posed three questions: one to break scriptures, two to break forms, and three to break the heart.

But in the winter of the 31st year of Jiajing, Wuzhai led one hundred and eight novice monks across the south to Luocheng City, participating in the Literary Meeting at Lu Hun Manor beneath Laojun Mountain Dao Court, aiming to win a match at the foot of the Taoist Ancestor Court Mountain.

This scripture debate drew worldwide attention.

Before Wuzhai’s departure, over a hundred scholars from the Imperial Capital composed poems and verses outside Yongding Gate to bid farewell, such as Green Ox Listening to Scripture Introduction, Sending Monk Wuzhai to the South, and Breaking Mystic Song, filled with fiery zeal.

However, such a grand occasion of crossing southward, Wuzhai ended up losing to an unknown young man at Lu Hun Manor with "no ego, have ego."

Wuzhai returned quietly to the Imperial Capital, and half a month later, when storytellers began recounting the tale of Lu Hun Manor, people realized what had happened.

Only then did Qi Zhenwu, Qi Zhaoning, Shen Ye, and others come to know that the person who had previously defeated Wuzhai was inside Pellucid Tower.

And he was that figure who had always known only half-truths.

Qi Zhenzhuo was also hearing this for the first time, eyes wide as he looked at Chen Ji in astonishment, saying, "Master, why haven’t you mentioned this before?"

Chen Ji replied earnestly, "Saying it myself seems deliberate, but if spoken by others, it appears profound and mysterious."

Qi Zhenzhuo: "..."

In the main hall of Pellucid Tower, everyone looked at Wuzhai and then at Chen Ji, momentarily speechless, even the sound of the pipa had long stopped.

Wuzhai, holding the Star Moon Bodhi beads, looked at Chen Ji, "Just in time for today’s Literary Meeting, wouldn’t the benefactor like another debate with me?"

Chen Ji smiled while gesturing to Shen Ye, Huang Que, and Lin Chaojing, "Bodhisattva, we are having a poetry meeting now; compared to debating scripture, I prefer poetry meetings more."

Lin Chaojing frowned slightly, when did you start liking poetry meetings? Haven’t you been engrossed in eating all this time?

But Wuzhai smiled and said, "Poetry must arise from emotion to have spirit; if it only follows the rules of one hundred and six rhymes and tonality, randomly choosing topics as groundwork, then it is only a game of sound and rhyme, isn’t it ’covering truth with vulgarity’? Such vulgar things are best left untouched."

Chen Ji innocently looked at Lin Chaojing, "Did you hear that? Best left untouched."

Qi Zhenzhuo lowered his head, his shoulders shaking, Xiao Man let out a snicker.

Lin Chaojing’s face grimaced as he explained to Wuzhai, "Bodhisattva, earlier no matter how much we persuaded Chen Ji, he refused to participate in the poetry meeting or write poems, prompting mockery from us. Now he’s twisting your words, mocking us instead, don’t fall for his cunning plan."

Wuzhai, enlightened: "Oh, I see... But indeed, such poetry meetings are truly pointless."

Chen Ji laughed heartily, cupping his hands, and declared aloud, "Master Wuzhai, insightful!"

Wuzhai ignored Lin Chaojing’s expression and turned back to Chen Ji, "Benefactor Chen Ji, have you ever considered my proposal after leaving Lu Hun Manor?"

Chen Ji picked up a piece of Zhuangyuan Cake, "What proposal?"

Wuzhai twirled the Buddha Beads with a smile, "I perceive the benefactor possesses a Buddhist nature, would you be willing to join my Buddhist Sect?"

Chen Ji, chewing on Dingsheng Cake, said, "Bodhisattva misunderstands me, I have no Buddhist nature."

Wuzhai earnestly stated, "All beings possess Buddhist nature, even an icchantika holds Buddhist nature and can attain enlightenment."

Chen Ji asked indifferently, "If someone were to massacre a city and kill ten thousand people, could that person still achieve enlightenment?"

Wuzhai’s expression grew solemn, even the candles in Pellucid Tower seemed to pause. Not minding the questioning glances surrounding him, he walked over to face Chen Ji, sitting cross-legged behind the desk originally belonging to Lin Chaojing. As he sat down, his Moon White Kasaya billowed like a blooming lotus flower.

The Persian velvet red carpet split the main hall in two, leaving only Chen Ji and Wuzhai sitting opposite each other in the empty seats.

Under the glimmering candlelight, one wore a Moon White Monk’s Robe, the other a black gown; neither joyful nor sorrowful, as if they were destined opponents.

Little monk Rochusaga suddenly said, "It has begun."

It was only at this moment that the others realized the scripture debate between Chen Ji and Wuzhai had already commenced.

Wuzhai sat cross-legged behind the desk, the Star Moon Bodhi in his hands, joined palms sincerely uttering, "Benefactor Chen Ji, to this novice monk, the snow of that day at Lu Hun Manor has never ceased, it has continued until today."

Chen Ji seemed mesmerized for a moment, then sighed gently, "To me, the snowfall in Luocheng City hasn’t stopped either."

Shen Ye picked up his robe hem and found an empty desk a few yards away from the two, sitting down to promptly start writing.

A scholar curiously asked, "Brother Shen, what are you doing?"

Shen Ye pointed at Chen Ji and Wuzhai, "Naturally recording today’s scripture debate thoroughly; everyone, this is their second scripture debate, regardless of who wins or loses, it will spread throughout the Imperial Capital tomorrow. We being part of it, isn’t it a shared honor? When future generations see the details of this debate, perhaps they will remember it was I, Shen Ye, who documented it. Apologies everyone, I’ve jumped the gun, monopolizing this favorable affair."

Qi Zhenwu gazed at Chen Ji with deep meaning.

Bodhisattva Wuzhai was known for breaking the heart by questioning. If he initiated the inquiry, he had countless arguments prepared to prove you wrong.

The string of one hundred and eight Star Moon Bodhi beads in his hand, gently rotating one prayer bead, meant nine hundred thoughts of life and death extinguished.