Song Xianhe was stunned when he heard that. He had traveled the country and had been to countless monasteries of various sizes. Never had he seen a monk take out money from the merit box and return it to the donor! However, after his momentary daze, he felt an anger stemming from humiliation brew within him. He frowned and said, "Abbot Fangzheng, what's the meaning of this? What do you mean my money is tainted with negative karma?"
Fangzheng looked at the furious Song Xianhe and said indifferently, "Patron, the sea of bitterness knows no bounds, turn back to the sh.o.r.e before it's too late."
When Song Xianhe heard that, he felt uncomfortable all over. His wolf-like eyes had always been useful. Just one look and he was usually able to make the other person bow their head. But it was different this time. No matter how hard he tried to make his eyes look fierce, faced with Fangzheng's eyes which resembled a sea of stars, he was ultimately unable to cause so much as a stir.
Song Xianhe said, "Abbot Fangzheng, as a monk, why beat about the bush? Why don't you be more direct?"
When Fangzheng heard this, he thought the man was truly a cla.s.sic case of someone not letting go of hope unless faced with the grim reality. In that case, Fangzheng didn't beat about the bush any further and directly said, "Patron, this money isn't from honorable origins. It is tainted with too much sin. This Penniless Monk doesn't dare to accept it, nor can he accept such money."
Upon hearing this, Song Xianhe broke out into a cold sweat. He glared at Fangzheng with a ferocious look. He originally thought that Fangzheng was deliberately acting mystifying when he said that, but after he pressed just a bit, Fangzheng ended up saying something like that. It sent chills down his back!
He was sure this was his first time up Mt. One Finger and that this was the first time he had met Fangzheng. So how could Fangzheng know that this money was of questionable origins?
If Fangzheng really knew his background… Once he thought of what he had done, he couldn't help a chill from rising up. He then coldly grunted and said, "You really know how to act mystifying. I don't know what you are saying. Don't think you can get away by pretending to be ignorant. Whatever, there's no need to get you to do the treatment!"
With that said, Song Xianhe turned and left. For some reason, he wasn't afraid when faced with death, but he felt fear facing the monk! It was as though the monk could see through him.
"Master, are you going to just let him go?" Monkey asked, perplexed.
Fangzheng shook his head. "No, I can't just do that. Although This Penniless Monk is certain that he's not a good person, we need evidence to catch him. Can you get the evidence?"
Monkey was stunned. Evidence? How was he to get it?
Fangzheng patted the water surface of the Heavenly Dragon Pond and whispered. "You watch him. See where he goes and tell This Penniless Monk."
Under the water, Salted Fish immediately nodded and began tracking the man.
As Song Xianhe went down the mountain, he still felt creeped out. He kept thinking, "What does the monk know? He shouldn't know anything, right? He would have long since called the cops if he did instead of letting me go down the mountain. I'm probably just thinking too much because of my guilty conscience."
With this in mind, Song Xianhe exhaled and sped up his pace. Before long, he arrived at the bottom of the mountain and went straight out the village. He came to a caravan and opened the door. There was an elder inside with a doctor and nurse taking care of him.
When the doctor and nurse saw Song Xianhe, they greeted him politely.
Song Xianhe thought for a moment and said to a bald man standing outside, "Third Brother, make preparations to bring Dad up the mountain."
"Did Fangzheng agree to treat Dad? Didn't he say he wouldn't… Ahem, from the looks of it, that was just talk. Heh heh," the baldy said with a chuckle.
At this moment, a man with a flattop peeked his head out from the pa.s.senger seat and smiled. "What's a good person anyway? And what's a bad person? People have different definitions for this. Us brothers only did what we did to survive. Right, Eldest Brother?"
"Enough, cut the c.r.a.p. Fangzheng didn't say he would treat Dad. He just told me to send Dad up to decide if he can be treated," Song Xianhe said.
"F**k, he doesn't even know if he can be treated, but he wants us to carry Dad up? Doesn't he know how tall this mountain is? Eldest Brother, did you give too little money?" the third brother said unhappily as he rubbed his bald head.
"Can you cut it out already? Start moving Dad!" Song Xianhe got angry. His third brother chuckled and jumped into the caravan. Together with the doctor and Song Xianhe, they carried down their father.
The three were extremely fast. They didn't consult the other doctors and directly went for the mountaintop. When the other doctors saw this, they frowned. This was a sign of a lack of trust in them! When someone wanted to ask about the situation, they were sent back in fright, intimidated by Third Brother's fierce glare.
Soon, the brothers carried the elderly man up to the entrance of One Finger Monastery.
Fangzheng was surprised to see Song Xianhe return. He had made himself very clear previously, but he actually dared return. Was he so a.s.sured that Fangzheng couldn't see through him, or was he just bold because of what he was capable of? Was he really unafraid that Fangzheng would subdue him in pa.s.sing?
At this moment, Monkey whispered. "Whatever son will have whatever father. If the son isn't a good person, the father definitely can't be anything good either."
Fangzheng raised his hand and struck him. He reprimanded. "How many times have I told you guys already? Do not make hasty conclusions until you have fully investigated the matter."
With that said, Fangzheng activated his Wisdom Eye and looked at the elder. Fangzheng subconsciously made a sound as a result of what he saw.
"Abbot Fangzheng, what is it?" Song Xianhe came forward and asked.
Fangzheng shook his head and said, "Nothing. Is he really your father?"
The reason why Fangzheng asked this question was because the elderly man was entirely covered with the golden glow of merit! He only had tiny bits of black aura flowing amid the golden glow. This formed a stark contrast with the baneful negative karma on Song Xianhe. Therefore, Fangzheng subconsciously asked this question.
At the same time, Fangzheng also looked at the man's two brothers. All of them had pitch-black auras with tiny bits of s.h.i.+mmering golden glow. They were identical to Song Xianhe.
Upon hearing Fangzheng's question, Third Brother couldn't just accept it. "Monk, what are you saying? If he isn't our dad, do you think he's yours?"
"Third Brother!" Song Xianhe didn't wait for Fangzheng's reply as he immediately shouted at him.
Third Brother seemed to be afraid of Song Xianhe, and he instantly shut up. However, he continued looking at Fangzheng with displeasure.
Fangzheng wasn't mad. Although Third Brother's words weren't pleasant, the meaning was clear. Clearly, his relations.h.i.+p with his father held an important spot in his heart. He didn't permit anyone to doubt it.
Fangzheng pressed his palms together. "Amitabha. This Penniless Monk was wrong. Sorry."
Upon hearing Fangzheng apologize, Third Brother was clearly stunned. He rubbed his bald head and said, "I can't stand such cultured talk. Don't mind what I said."
Fangzheng nodded slightly and ignored the boor.
