Chapter 395 In the Jinji Country (2/2)

A man similar to the profound scholar that self-claimed he was a Daoist from the east had bought a house using gold. Every day, he would boil a big pot water outside of his house. Anybody who could get to his place to drink a bowl of hot water could not only get rid of all their illnesses, but they would also not feel hungry for a long time and their bodies will be filled with energy.

A lot of poor people could finally survive by depending on the water boiled by the Daoist.

The method of boiling water that could save people's life was very easy. Firstly, the Daoist would take out a talisman and burn it. The ashes from burning would drop in the boiling hot water. He called this the holy water that could treat all kinds of diseases, even the disease of starving could be treated.

Everybody could only get a bowl of holy water, there was no second time. The Daoist's wisdom could remember all the stars in the sky. Hence, no matter who came to attempt to take the second time, it would be discovered by him. His energy was definitely able to move nine cows. Therefore, those that were slightly pushed by him would fly out to somewhere far away.

Every day, he would only boil one pot of water, no more nor less.

After distributing the holy water, the Daoist would sit on his rooftop for story-telling. He would tell a lot of stories. The civilians barely had any entertainment usually, thus no matter how simple the story might seem, it would attract their interest. Even later there were many wealthy people and government officials who came over to listen to storytelling.

The Daoist was no doubt Shen Lian. The stories he told were also from the Buddhist scriptures that were so full of wit and humor that it took people's minds off other things. If it was not because he had long hair and self-claimed that he was a Daoist, the others thought that he was the reincarnation of an eminent monk.

When the night approached, people were driven away by the cold wind and snow, and there were only Shen Lian and Fang Yanying left.

Fang Yanying asked, ”Uncle-master, we've been in this city for three days and we realized that the people here lead terrible lives. Regardless of status, whether it's the government officials, wealthy ones or the civilians, their eyes are filled with hopelessness. This is all caused by the monarch. He was eviler than a demon. He's done a lot of bad things. Why do people like this still have such profound Dharma?”

Shen Lian said, ”Tell me why you think he can't have profound Dharma.”

”Disciple had seen a lot of monks in Xi Huang. They cultivate Dharma and they're merciful, they rarely kill,” Fang Yanying spoke with honesty. The influence of Buddhism was so significant in Xi Huang that even she was influenced by what she saw and heard about Buddhism.

”How sure are you that the mercy you've seen is real? The monks enjoy worships from their believers but they don't do anything productive for them. The monks use the excuse that they help to eliminate the demons to occupy spiritual vigor fortune lands to build majestic temples everywhere. You'd see luxurious temples everywhere in Xi Huang regardless of whether the land is fertile or infertile. Meanwhile, how many lives are buried beneath the temples?” Shen Lian scoffed.

Fang Yanying startled. She did not know there were so many hidden stories. Nevertheless, she still said, ”But the senior monks lead very simple lives, they even used ascetic practices for self-improvements. They're also very willing to help the civilians. They have both profound Dharma and a merciful heart.”

Shen Lian said, ”Do you think the civilians in Westfall are living good lives?”

Fang Yanying was speechless. She was born in an elite family in Yuelun Kingdom. She was only accepted by Chen Jianmei as a disciple later. She had a tough diamond sutra heart since young and thus, she could have such extraordinary improvement in swordcraft. However, after all, she used to have knowledge about Buddhism which only surfaced after she came to this place and witnessed the sufferings of the Jinji Country's civilians.

This also aroused her doubt in her understanding that one with a merciful heart must have profound Dharma.

Because Golden Wheel King was an exception, but he had Dharma way better than the senior monks and even comparable to the Golden Luohan.

The civilians in Jinji Country suffered but the civilians in Xi Huang was nowhere better. They were all the targets of exploitation.

Then Shen Lian chanted softly and said, ”Since their Dharma is profound, they must have the power to change the plight of the civilians of lowest status. However, the sufferings they must have were no lesser. While the benefit that majority of the civilians get from Buddhism delivered by the monks was merely 'learning how to endure'.”