Green Mountain
Chapter 198 - 153, Vulgar

Chapter 198: 153, Vulgar

"Redemption Ship, is it still the Redemption Ship?"

On the edge of the arena, a monk stood bare-chested in the heavy snow, holding two wooden drumsticks and striking a leather drum intensely, his eyes fierce like a wrathful deity.

Outside the arena, a blue-robed young Daoist lit a stick of incense in a bronze furnace. One stick of incense represents two hours, and if the respondent couldn’t answer before it burned out, they had to admit defeat and another would take their place.

The drum stopped, the bell rang, people moved.

Among the monks, a young monk who had been meditating with his eyes closed now opened his eyes and looked toward the center of the arena.

Snowflakes swirled around; Chen Ji sat quietly on his cushion. A gust of wind from outside the villa carried the soft snow, dusting his shoulders, head, and knees, unmoving.

The young monk said softly, "The Bodhisattva lowers his gaze."

After speaking, he closed his eyes again and quietly fingered his prayer beads.

On the stone steps at the edge of the arena, scholars, grey-clothed monks, and blue-robed Daoists watched the young man in the center, their discussions mingling.

A little Daoist scratched his head, "Brother Zhang Li, I think the Redemption Ship is no longer the same Redemption Ship."

Another little Daoist said, "No, it is still the same Redemption Ship!"

"It’s not that simple; let’s listen to how the monks answer," Zhang Li stared straight at Chen Ji’s back, hesitant to rush into answering this complex question.

At that moment in the arena, the monk on the cushion slowly began, "The Redemption Ship is no longer the Redemption Ship. The Tanjing Scripture states that the inherent meaning of sentient beings is their nature, or soul, and the inherent meaning of insentient beings is their physical aspects, or components. Changing the planks of the Redemption Ship means changing its components, and with altered components, it naturally isn’t the same ship anymore."

On the steps by the arena, some nodded, others shook their heads.

Zhang Xia, supporting Bai Li by his side, furrowed his brow.

The Princely Heir asked curiously, "Why the furrowed brow?"

Zhang Xia hesitated, "I’ve witnessed dozens of scripture debates, but it’s the first time I’ve seen a question so widely disputed. Look, even those monks do not all agree with their third brother’s argument."

The Princely Heir dismissively said, "Such debates are all idle talk, just seeing who can argue better, they bring no benefits to the people or the society."

Yet Zhang Xia stayed silent, his brow furrowed.

Debating Scripture had a judge, and the crowd turned their gaze to the scholars on the steps. A middle-aged man in a scholar’s robe shook a copper bell in his hand and said loudly, "Questioner, do you have an answer?"

As the words fell, Chen Ji lowered his eyelids without raising his head and asked, "What if I only replace a single plank, also changing a component, is it still the Redemption Ship?"

The monk was caught off guard, "This..."

He frowned, deep in thought, trying to recall relevant scriptures to support his point.

But as time ticked away, with the incense stick burning shorter, he remained speechless.

Suddenly, a loud sound came from someone striking a wooden fish on the side, snapping the monk on the cushion back to reality, "Wait, the Redemption Ship is still the Redemption Ship, I..."

Chen Ji calmly said, "Step down."

His voice was loud and indisputable.

The essence of Debating Scripture was clear; once your viewpoint was declared, it couldn’t be altered. To change, another must take your place.

Beside the Hong Bell of the arena, a little Daoist, full of excitement, pushed aside the young monk guarding the wooden hammer and forcefully struck the copper bell.

Dong.

The sound of the copper bell resonated far, overpowering the monk’s drum.

The scholars from Jiangnan looked at each other, evaluating Chen Ji in the center and whispered, "Who is this young man?"

"Perhaps some extraordinary young master from a noble family?"

"Unlikely, look at his attire..."

...

...

The monk on the cushion dejectedly left the arena.

Moments later, Yuanjue Temple replaced him with another monk who sat on the cushion and firmly stated, "The Redemption Ship is still the Redemption Ship. ’The Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra’ states, the essence of insentient beings lies in their structure, purpose, and use. Though the materials of the Redemption Ship have changed, its structure and purpose have not; therefore, it remains the same."

Chen Ji remained silent, the answer seemingly correct yet incorrect. Silence lingered, and the monk’s confidence began to wane, instinctively looking towards the Monk Group.

Zhang Li was about to say something when he caught Chen Ji’s steady, unwavering gaze.

After a long hesitation, Zhang Li understood Chen Ji’s intention.

He ruefully handed a white porcelain bottle to Bai Li, "He has already defeated one, this elixir is yours."

Bai Li was taken aback, "He..."

Zhang Li urged, "Hurry, eat it up, can’t you see he’s still waiting? Without seeing your recovery, he won’t speak... this lad!"

Zhang Xia quickly administered the elixir to Bai Li, and instantly, Bai Li’s complexion returned to normal, no longer needing anyone’s support.

Zhang Li looked towards Chen Ji, his lips silently forming the words, "Is it done now?"

The monk on the cushion also prompted, "Young man, do you have anything else to say?"

Chen Ji saw Bai Li’s condition improving, he then turned back to look at the monk on the cushion, "If I were to take apart all the planks and every single piece of the Redemption Ship and reassemble them into another ship, would that ship still be the Redemption Ship?"

The monk was startled, "This..."

Nearly half of the scholars on the sidelines stood up, pulling their silk handkerchiefs from their sleeves and throwing them into the arena, "Brilliant!"

In the Debating Scripture, if the audience finds the debate thrilling, they will throw their handkerchiefs, and the more that are thrown, the more supporters there are.

At that instant, amidst the cheers of hundreds, Chen Ji suddenly realized that the fifty-six stoves within him jumped again, brightened a notch, and almost shifted from a pale crimson to pale yellow.

The little Daoists looked at each other in confusion, somewhat puzzled, "Senior brother, does this count as a win?"

Zhang Li on the sidelines took a deep breath, "The question the young man raised is easy to start debating but difficult to refute, both offensive and defensive, all are paradoxes."

The monk on the cushion pondered the scriptures, trying to find Buddha’s words to support his point but failed to think of any.

Ultimately, he cast his gaze towards the Monk Group on the sidelines, but no one dared to step forward to accept the challenge.

In the snowy weather on the stone steps, the young monk who had been sitting still and moving the prayer beads slowly stood up and walked into the arena.

The scholars on the sidelines gradually quieted down, someone whispered softly, "This unknown monk surprisingly made Wuzhai join the debate again."

Wuzhai, holding the prayer beads, patted the monk on the cushion’s shoulder, "Step down, I’ll answer this question."

The monk on the cushion was slightly stunned, looked up grievously, "Big brother, I..."

Wuzhai, holding the prayer beads, smiled gently, "It’s all right."

He sat on the cushion but didn’t rush to answer the question; instead, he gently moved the prayer beads with his thumb three times.

Zhang Xia whispered, "This person is Wuzhai, the chief disciple of Yuanjue Temple, who started debating with Dao Court at the age of twelve. Over seven years, he has won all the land and assets of Daoist temples and courts around the Imperial Capital. Now, there’s not a single Daoist temple left in the Imperial Capital."

The Princely Heir was astonished, "This is a monk cultivated by the Buddhist Sect from a young age, specifically to win the properties of Dao Courts."

Zhang Li, "..."

Zhang Xia, looking at the prayer beads in Wuzhai’s hands, said, "I have observed his debates, and he once claimed that touching the prayer beads once represents processing nine hundred thoughts; he is choosing the best angle to answer from."

The Princely Heir smirked, "What bullshit."

Zhang Li laughed along, "Exactly, what bullshit."

At this moment, the arena fell silent, and when Wuzhai moved the fourth prayer bead, he began in an even tone, "The Redemption Ship is no longer the Redemption Ship. ’The Renwang Prajnaparamita states that a single snap of the fingers counts as sixty moments, and within a moment, nine hundred lives come and go. When time is slow enough, you can see everything in the world, like particles, being born and reconstituted in a moment; a thought later, you are no longer you, and the Redemption Ship is no longer the Redemption Ship."

Wuzhai said with a smile, "A person cannot step into the same river twice. Regardless of whether you change it or not, after a thought, you are no longer you, and the Redemption Ship is no longer the Redemption Ship."

Zhang Li muttered under his breath, "Damn, the monk is playing tricks!"

The Princely Heir puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Li explained, "This is the essence of Buddhism’s ’anatman,’ which speaks of abandoning all laws and identities. According to this Buddhist principle, everything in the world ceases to exist in a moment and is reborn... It’s an unassailable position."

The scholars stood up one after another, another half throwing their handkerchiefs into the arena, all eyes on Chen Ji.

The incense in the bronze furnace gradually burned out, a monk turned to the young monk beside him, "Why haven’t you struck the bell? This round, Buddhist Sect wins!"

However, Chen Ji finally raised his head, calmly looking at Wuzhai, "If there is no self, then who is in Samsara? Who needs liberation?"

Wuzhai was astonished.

Zhang Li abruptly stood up.

If there is no self, who is in Samsara? Who needs liberation?

It turned out, the final blow was hidden here!

The concept of self and nonself has always been an unclear and undefinable logic, directly challenging the foundation of the Buddhist Sect.

It’s not that high-ranking Buddhist monks truly cannot clarify it; it’s that it should not be spoken.

Buddhism preaches ’anatman’ intending not to pursue past and present lives, to let go of all laws.

However, the rhetoric used by Buddhism to lure common believers is ’self’ within the worldly affairs of fame, fortune, and karmic retribution—like cultivating good to avoid falling into evil paths or animal paths, preparing for blessings in future lives, all for the sake of ’self’.

These are fundamentally two different sets.

Zhang Li excitedly rubbed his hands, "Wuzhai can’t answer now!"

The Princely Heir asked, "Is this question difficult?"

Zhang Li with a keen look, "Wuzhai isn’t unable to answer, but rather cannot answer. This Literary Meeting attracts many people, and the debate process will surely spread via writings. If he says that anatman is correct, then he admits that the ’Reincarnation Blessings’ propagated by their Buddhist Sect is merely a tactic to fool and control followers, which they themselves do not believe!"

He exclaimed, "Cut the Gordian Knot, a fatal blow!"

Wuzhai looked at Chen Ji, feeling as if the young man’s eyes were flickering with fire.

Chen Ji asked, "Does the Buddhist Sect have another person to come forward, or would you change?"

Wuzhai looked back at the Monk Group behind him; the young monks hesitated, none daring to step forward.

Wuzhai put down the prayer beads, rested his hands on his knees, smiled enigmatically, avoided answering directly, "Benefactor, I see that you have a connection with Buddhism—why not join our Yuanjue Temple instead of becoming a mere Registered Disciple of the declining Dao Court?"

Zhang Li pointed at Wuzhai’s nose and cursed loudly, "What fucking bullshit!"

Wuzhai glanced at him, "Crude."