"Revered Monk, are you sure about this? This would mean breaking your vows!" Elder Jinchi stared in shock at Tripitaka. Despite his greed, he took his vows seriously and had never violated any of Buddhism's strict prohibitions. All his cherished treasures had been procured with donations from local worshipers. Now, hearing that a monk from the Tang Empire was willingly breaking his vows left him utterly confused.
"Can't manage it? Well, never mind. This sacred cassock clearly isn't destined for you, Abbot. Amitabha." With that, Tripitaka reached out to reclaim the cassock.
Elder Jinchi reflexively pulled it back, clutching it close. "One moment, please, Reverend Monk. Allow me to think it over!"
On one hand was a priceless artifact, on the other, the vows he had honored for so many years. Elder Jinchi was at a loss, torn between his desires.
"Abbot, time is running out; the night won't wait," Tripitaka reminded, wondering if his meal plan was slipping away.
"Ugh…" Elder Jinchi muttered in frustration. The visiting monks had arrived rather late, and he'd spent so long boasting that now night had fully fallen. He wished he could slap himself—why did he have to show off like that?
Yet the allure of the glowing cassock was too strong to resist. Reluctantly, he gritted his teeth. "Reverend Monk, please rest for now. I'll see that your conditions are met." He turned to leave, clutching the cassock.
"Wukong!" Tripitaka wasn't foolish; he quickly called on Monkey King.
With a quick gesture, Monkey King summoned the cassock from Elder Jinchi's grasp, causing it to fly back to him.
"My cassock! My treasured cassock!" Elder Jinchi's eyes grew even greedier.
"Not yet" Tripitaka smirked, taunting, "Abbot, fulfill my conditions, and it's all yours." He turned to Monkey King, saying, "Let's go find somewhere to rest."
Elder Jinchi's disciples were awestruck by Monkey King's power, watching helplessly as Tripitaka and Wukong walked off, leading their turtle along.
"What a marvelous treasure!" Elder Jinchi muttered, watching them retreat. Turning to his stunned disciples, he snapped, "What are you standing around for? Go fulfill the monk's conditions!"
His disciples were bewildered. Had he really agreed to this? Still, faced with their abbot's simmering impatience, they had no choice but to find some meat for Tripitaka.
Thirty-Three Heavens Above, Land of Ultimate Bliss
Tathagata Amitabha stood respectfully below Zhunti and Jieyin.
"The Brocade Cassock is missing?" Jieyin frowned, attempting to trace its location with his divine sense but finding nothing. He and Zhunti had both marked the cassock, yet no trace of it remained. Could the thief truly have erased a saint's mark?
"Junior Brother, any thoughts?" Jieyin, puzzled, turned to Zhunti.
"Despite our surveillance of the Eastern Saints, this does not appear to be their doing. The heavens show a clear path yet offer no clues—likely the work of the anomaly. For now, let us set it aside," Zhunti said, equally mystified.
"Very well. Continue with the journey westward. Secretly investigate the cassock's whereabouts; if we find it, we may find the anomaly as well."
"Understood, Tathagata." Amitabha bowed and took his leave.
Guanyin Temple
Elder Jinchi mobilized his disciples to purchase all the meat in the nearby town, nearly tarnishing the temple's reputation in the process. Luckily, he had a plan—using the local demon, the Black Bear Spirit, as an excuse to buy meat under the pretense of dealing with the beast. Ironically, this act even boosted his standing among the townsfolk.
When Tripitaka arrived at the banquet, his eyes gleamed at the sight of an array of meats. Before Elder Jinchi could even speak, Tripitaka tossed the cassock his way.
"Abbot, this cassock is yours from now on!" he declared before diving into the food.
"Are you sure, Reverend Monk? You won't change your mind?" Elder Jinchi asked nervously.
Tripitaka, his mouth full of food, choked a bit and replied, "Amitabha, monks do not lie."
Elder Jinchi's mouth twitched uncontrollably. You still consider yourself a monk? Holding a chicken leg in one hand and a pork knuckle in the other, you're hardly the image of a devout ascetic.
And if you're willing to eat meat, what's a little lie to you? he thought. Still, Elder Jinchi eagerly donned the cassock, feeling a rush of pride and sanctity.
Nevertheless, he decided to prepare in advance. That Black Bear Spirit in the nearby mountains could prove useful…
Monkey King, for his part, ignored the proceedings, happily savoring his meal. This time, he hadn't bothered to shield their indulgence with his Heavenly Concealment Array—defying Guanyin's scrutiny only added to the thrill.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。