Chapter 656: Doing Good and Accumulating Virtue

"So how do you intend to drum up business? By going door to door to ask?"

Shi Chan shook his head, drawing a great banner from his identity jade plaque. Upon its face was inscribed an extensive and exhaustive array of services, ranging from exorcising ghosts to blessing births and curing illnesses.

The reverse side of the banner bore the words: "Prices Negotiable upon Interview."

Leading the two companions to the most bustling district of the citadel, Shi Chan paid the market fee, secured a small plot of open ground, set up his stall, unfurled the banner, and sat himself serenely behind the table.

His movements were practiced and adept, making it clear this was far from his first time performing such a task.

Out of the kindness of his heart, Shi Chan brought out two more chairs for Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to occupy.

To the left of Shi Chan's stall was a noodle vendor, and to his right a baker of flatbreads; with his great banner closely resembling that of a fortune-teller, he cut a highly conspicuous figure.

Passersby turned their heads repeatedly, taking note of this eccentric monk, yet precisely because he was so singular, no one dared step forward to seek his aid for quite some time.

Shi Chan felt a touch of regret. Whenever he first set up his stall, business was invariably slow, and by the time the populace realized he was indeed an eminent monk of true capability and began to form queues for his assistance, he would find the sheer weight of the crowd and the overwhelming number of affairs too much to resolve, and so he would depart early.

"The people of this world lack the spirit of innovation and dare not accept novel things. Had I the eloquence of your esteemed master, I too would surely tell tales in tea houses to propagate the Buddhist teachings to the masses."

With no business for the moment, Lu Yang fell into conversation with the old noodle vendor on their left, while Meng Jingzhou chatted with the uncle selling flatbreads on their right.

"This poor monk means that one should judge by actions, not by intentions. Brother Meng, though you are compelled to be estranged from the opposite sex, in actual fact, you have achieved the state of distancing yourself from carnal desires as required by the Buddhist path. This is precisely a manifestation of a deep and profound karmic affinity with Buddhism."

"By the way, Brother Meng, have you ever considered entering our Buddhist order? I perceive that your karmic affinity is profound and that you have gained comprehension without a master, having devised the Single Dog Curse Fist. You are assuredly a Buddha of the future, just like this poor monk."

After waiting for about half an hour, a customer finally arrived.

"…Just because I possess the Single Spiritual Root does not mean I shall be devoid of an intimate life for the entirety of my days."

Shi Chan then introduced a second method: "If the benefactor insists on seeking wealth, you may ask for assistance from my senior brother here. Brother Meng possesses wealth beyond measure, enough to rival a nation. If you seek wealth from him, you may secure a loan."

It was the first time Lu Yang had ever encountered someone praising his master, and a sense of being overwhelmed by unexpected favor washed over him. If his master in the Netherworld were to know of this, he would likely feel greatly comforted.

The Single Spiritual Root meant being single by compulsion, whereas the Buddhist path emphasized being single by choice; these were two entirely different matters.

Just you wait. I shall watch and see when you ever save enough money to visit a brothel. I shall buy out the entire establishment beforehand and grant you twenty drops of aphrodisiac blood to stifle you to death!

The newcomer was sumptuously attired, adorned with gold and silver, wearing a jade thumb ring on each hand, and possessed a portly, protruding belly.

Meng Jingzhou had long since inquired with the Immortal Fairy through Lu Yang; so long as he achieved immortality, he would no longer be restricted by the Single Spiritual Root and could freely release his carnal desires.

The wealthy merchant was encountering such a candid young monk for the first time. He had assumed the other party would spout a few lines of nonsense to exhort him to offer incense money before putting on a performative show of praying for wealth on his behalf.

"Brother Meng's argument is fallacious. The Buddhist order maintains that only through performing virtuous deeds and accumulating merit can one bring about good fortune. A bhikkhuni once asked the Buddha whether a person who originally intended to commit an evil deed but by some stroke of chance performed a virtuous one instead could gain good fortune. The Buddha replied that they could, for in the performance of virtuous deeds, one judges by actions, not by intentions."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Shi Chan maintained a countenance of serene detachment, pressing his palms together. "Grand benefactor, if I possessed the power to conjure wealth, I would not be arrays of stalls here."

"..."

"Master, my fortune has been rather poor of late. I have been plagued by constant ill luck, and several business deals have fallen through. Can one pray for wealth here?"

"And so?" Meng Jingzhou was utterly mystified, unable to discern what point Shi Chan was attempting to clarify.

"The benefactor may also perform more virtuous deeds to offset the ill luck that besets you."

Feeling that this young monk was somewhat unreliable, the wealthy merchant shook his head and departed from the spot.

Seeing the merchant leave, the Immortal Fairy shook her head gently, harboring a trace of regret.

"How foolish."

Within the Great Hero Treasure Hall, the Immortal Fairy was draped in a kasaya, seated upon a lotus dais with an aura of solemn majesty, save for her small feet which were rather restless, her pink and tender pearl-like toes twitching every now and then.

"Who is foolish?" Lu Yang asked, entirely perplexed.

"That wealthy merchant, of course. He fails to recognize a well-meaning heart and refuses to listen to counsel."

"This Immortal has always advocated for performing virtuous deeds and accumulating merit. Doing more good works will assuredly dispel the ill luck upon his person."

"This Immortal's advocacy of performing virtuous deeds and accumulating merit is a realization derived from my own personal experiences. My entire life has been smooth and unhindered, which is intimately connected to my frequent performance of good deeds, my benevolence, and my readiness to assist others."

"Thinking back to the time before this Immortal achieved immortality, the world was in a state of chaotic upheaval, where slaughter was rampant, and a clash between two individuals would invariably terminate in the death of one party."

"This Immortal once fought above my rank, defeating the Ying Tian Immortal and the Qilin Immortal. Not only did I spare their lives, but I also prepared meals for them, turning weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk. For a time, this was circulated by this Immortal as a beautiful tale."

"The Buddhist order often says that saving a single life excels building a seven-storied pagoda; the truth of that saying originates from this very matter."

"In ancient eras, communication was isolated. If one wished to learn from another, one not only had to undergo harsh and exacting trials but also swear venomous oaths. Even so, it was not guaranteed that one would learn the true essence of the arts; masters would always withhold a few secrets, and worse still, some would use cultivation methods to control their disciples, employing poisons or curses."

"This Immortal, however, was entirely different. Seeing that Lian Yi and Xiao Ling possessed considerable talent for cultivation, I poured out everything I knew to teach them culinary arts and the technique of feigning death."

"Then there were the Barbarians. Seeing that the Barbarian race was natively dull-witted, possessing mere physical might without the knowledge of how to utilize it, this Immortal opened their wisdom and enlightened their minds, allowing the Barbarians to grow ever stronger."

Listening to these various past events recounted by the Immortal Fairy, Lu Yang finally understood the true meaning of might being the ultimate reason.

Could it be that he himself had committed numerous wicked deeds, thereby drawing the disaster that was the Immortal Fairy to bring ill luck upon him?

Undeterred by the failure of his first business transaction, Shi Chan continued to wait for a second customer.

"Oh, young monk, why are you here? Have you run out of money?"

A woman of considerable beauty halted her steps, gazing at Shi Chan with intrigued interest.

"So it is Benefactor Miao Shan."

"And who might this be?" Meng Jingzhou inquired.

"Allow this poor monk to introduce her. This is Benefactor Miao Shan of the Spring Fragrance Pavilion, one of the many female benefactors who attended to this poor monk last night."

The previous evening, after Shi Chan had refined the twenty drops of pure yang blood, in order to achieve the finest effect of tempering his state of mind, he had summoned multiple female benefactors at the Spring Fragrance Pavilion to test his resolve.

"Young monk, if you are truly out of funds, I wouldn't mind providing my services to you once for free," Miao Shan said, licking her lips with an enticing demeanor.

"Benefactor Miao Shan jests. This poor monk did indeed fail to withstand the trial last night, resulting in a failed tempering of my state of mind. However, though but a single night has passed, my mind is currently as still as stagnant water, and I shall certainly not succumb to the benefactor's temptation."

Seeing Shi Chan decline, Miao Shan felt rather disappointed.

Using the periphery of her vision, she noticed the services inscribed upon the upright banner of Shi Chan, and asked further:

"What if I say I wish to pray for a child?"

"Then the benefactor must pay the fee."

Meng Jingzhou's eyes turned crimson with envy. Was this the result of Shi Chan performing virtuous deeds and accumulating merit?