Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 215 - 178: Supreme Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk!

Chapter 215: Chapter 178: Supreme Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk!

Cen Wenjin squinted his eyes and gritted his teeth:

"At all costs! As long as Lord Yang Kun can be invited, the gold and silver from the accounting room are at your disposal!"

"Yes!"

...

Chang’an, True Buddha Temple.

When Li Ping’an followed Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, to the gate of True Buddha Temple, he found that the gate had already been closed, so Mahaparinirvana led Li Ping’an to climb over the monastery wall.

By then, the night had grown deep, and most monks of True Buddha Temple were asleep, which made it perfect for Mahaparinirvana and Li Ping’an to sneak in unnoticed and make their way to Mahaparinirvana’s quarters. After setting down their luggage and warming up a leg of lamb, they were ready to feast and drink in the quarters, thoroughly enjoying their conversation.

"Brother, now that all the monks in the courtyard are asleep, and your chambers are so close to the others, we’re bound to disturb them with our feasting and drinking. Why not go to the garden beside your chambers to indulge in our revelry? That way we won’t bother anyone else. Wouldn’t that be better?"

"That’s exactly right; I’ve been so uncouth that I forgot about the proprieties."

So the two took their meat and wine to a garden behind the quarters of Mahaparinirvana, the rule-breaking monk.

Li Ping’an saw that the garden was lush with myriad flowers and evergreen grass, with butterflies fluttering and birds chirping amidst the serene quiet.

Especially impressive was a towering tree at the center of the garden, so wide five men could barely embrace it. Its green leaves shaded the sky, with wisteria entwining around, the top of the tree shrouded with auspicious mist and heavenly clouds. Among its branches, Spirit Snakes slithered and Crane Immortals soared, while beneath it Divine Deer roamed and Lingzhi mushrooms carpeted the ground.

All in all, the backyard garden looked no less than a domain of the Immortals!

"Who would have thought that such an Immortal’s haven could exist in the polluted air of Chang’an, remarkable indeed!"

Li Ping’an couldn’t help but express his admiration.

"Seeing how much you enjoy it, brother, let’s eat and drink under this tree, appreciate the moon and the view, and have a hearty talk, wouldn’t that be perfect?"

Mahaparinirvana said as he pulled Li Ping’an to sit haphazardly under the majestic tree, beginning their carefree enjoyment of life.

While they happily chatted and drank to their hearts’ content, the other monks in the quarters all slept soundly.

Unexpectedly, a young novice monk got up in the middle of the night to use the lavatory and saw Mahaparinirvana entertaining a secular individual under the tree, feasting and drinking merrily. Terrified, yet not daring to make a scene, after leaving the lavatory, he intentionally took a detour to the Reception Monk’s quarters to report the incident.

"Oh no! This libertine monk has led an outsider here to drink and feast as if this monastery were a tavern, how disgraceful!"

The Reception Monk immediately got up, got dressed, and led the young novice monk to report the matter to the abbot of True Buddha Temple.

Upon hearing this, the abbot of True Buddha Temple clenched his teeth and fumed:

"This outsider monk comes to our temple and disregards our rules, inviting his rowdy friends to upset our tranquil meditation, there’s no need to elaborate, I will go and report to Emperor Tathagata right away!"

So agitated was the abbot of True Buddha Temple that he didn’t even put on his Buddhist Robe and headed straight to where the Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Monk was in meditative seclusion.

"Dear brother, it’s all because I was in such a hurry on our journey that I forgot about our appetites; this single leg of lamb simply isn’t enough to satisfy our hunger, and now in the dead of night, where can we find more meat to eat?"

Mahaparinirvana looked at the lamb bone and patted his belly in annoyance.

Li Ping’an quickly tried to reassure him:

"Brother, don’t worry, we still have half a bag of Western Gale Liquor. Let’s just enjoy the drink tonight, and tomorrow I’ll treat you to another feast!"

"Hahaha! You said it, well, cheers!"

The two then clinked their leather wine bags together and were about to drink when Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana noticed a few monks angrily approaching them. They instantly became alert:

"Brother, could those monks be here to chase me away?"

"Hmm?"

Mahaparinirvana turned and took a closer look. The approaching figures were the abbot of True Buddha Temple, the Reception Monk, and a novice monk. He replied curtly:

"Brother, don’t panic, keep drinking. If that old fool dares to drive you away, I’ll break his dog legs with one punch!"

"..."

Li Ping’an said nothing more but kept an eye on the situation from the corner of his eye.

"Oh, this evil monk! To eat and drink meat on Emperor Tathagata’s sacred ground for meditation, what a heinous crime!"

The abbot of True Buddha Temple glanced disdainfully at Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana, who were joyously indulging behind the tall tree, then turned to the Reception Monk and the novice monk behind him:

"You two wait here for me; I will inform Emperor Tathagata and have this wild monk expelled!"

"We depend on you, Abbot!"

The abbot of True Buddha Temple straightened his attire and realized he was so infuriated by Mahaparinirvana that he hadn’t even put on his Buddhist Robe. Nonetheless, with the pressing matter at hand and the people in question right before his eyes, he approached the large tree where Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana were sitting.

Li Ping’an anxiously said:

"Brother, he’s not really going to try to expel me, is he?"

Unfazed by the abbot of True Buddha Temple, Mahaparinirvana glared and said:

"If he dares come close to you, I’ll send him to transcendence immediately!"

Much to the surprise of Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana, although the abbot was walking in their direction and was very close, he stopped at a position behind the great tree they were under. He did not address or look at them but stood before the tree with great reverence, muttering to himself:

"My teacher, this newly arrived Mahaparinirvana is extremely rude. He doesn’t only shirk the evening prayers, but he has also sneaked out to invite his rascal friends. Now, he is eating and drinking meat on the sacred ground of my teacher’s seclusion. He has violated every rule of Buddhism. How could such a man remain a monk? His eyes are like those of a thief, his appearance is ugly, and his demeanor is stubborn and defiant. He cannot be allowed to stay in our temple any longer. With great concern, I fear his actions will eventually stain our monastery’s reputation. I plea to my teacher to expel this wild monk and restore peace and tranquility for us!"