Chapter 48: Dharma Combat
Old Monk Fayun instantly perked up. Once a person gains hope, especially the hope of prolonging their life, their motivation explodes, and they’ll stop at nothing to win.
“Old Monk, have you decided on the competition?” Suisui deliberately withdrew the fake demon core, unable to resist a mischievous smile as she saw the monk’s lingering, reluctant gaze.
“Very well, since you’ve given this old monk the privilege of choosing, I shall not hold back…”
“The first round of the Dharma Combat shall be… Zazen meditation!”
Fayun didn’t hesitate to choose a competition that favored him, knowing his own strength paled in comparison to Suisui’s. He had to rely on strategy to have any chance of victory.
“Zazen meditation… that sounds intriguing. Tell me more about how it works.” Suisui’s interest was piqued by Fayun’s proposal.
“Little Benefactor, please follow this old monk.”
Fayun led Suisui and Chen Hao to a side courtyard where a small square was located.
“As you can see, Little Benefactor, this is where this old monk and the other monks of the temple practice. Those two elevated platforms are where the high monks perform Zazen meditation.”
Looking at the two high platforms facing the small square, he discovered that each platform indeed had a meditation cushion placed on it, distinct from ordinary cushions. Its daunting height was maintained by a very thick bamboo pole, roughly estimated to be fifteen meters tall.
At this height, even a very thick bamboo pole appeared remarkably slender.
If someone were to meditate atop one, even a slight breeze would likely cause it to sway wildly, making tranquil meditation almost impossible.
This was Duyun Temple’s method for training monks’ mental fortitude, commonly known as “Void-Sitting Meditation.” Only monks with considerable cultivation dared attempt it, as a fall would be no laughing matter.
“…The rules are simple: meditate atop the platform without any movement whatsoever. Even the slightest twitch results in defeat. Little Benefactor, do you understand?”
Old Monk Fayun explained the rules, which were straightforward and left no room for misunderstanding.
For Old Monk Fayun, this “Void-Sitting Meditation” was a remarkably stable endeavor. He held Duyun Temple’s highest record: forty-eight consecutive hours of meditation, achieving complete meditative absorption.
This Dharma contest favored Old Monk Fayun immensely, granting him a significant home-court advantage and greatly increasing his chances of victory.
“Suisui, are you sure you’re okay? It looks pretty high up there—be careful not to hurt yourself!”
Chen Hao glanced up at the cushion suspended high in the air, a hint of unease lingering in his heart. The swaying motion alone would terrify any ordinary person, especially without any safety precautions.
“Don’t worry, Papa! I’m fine! It’s just a little height—easy peasy!”
“I’ll let you in on a secret: Suisui is super awesome!”
Suisui winked playfully at Chen Hao, assuring him she was perfectly capable of handling this “Void-Sitting Meditation.”
“Then this old monk shall ascend first to demonstrate for the Little Benefactor.”
As the host, Old Monk Fayun signaled his intention to go first.
With that, he leaped into the air, his feet stepping in rapid succession—literally treading on his left foot with his right, and his right foot with his left—propelling him effortlessly onto the cushion suspended mid-air.
“Woc! Did I waste my time learning physics? This is so unscientific!”
“Wudang Cloud-Ladder Leap—so easy to walk on air! Wait, Grand Master Fayun is a high-ranking Buddhist monk, not from the Wudang Sect…”
“What are you all thinking? Do you even know what a wire stunt is? It’s obviously a wire stunt!”
“Little brother has a question: who exactly is ‘Wire’ and why are they hanging her?”
“……”
The ordinary people who had gathered to watch the spectacle were stunned by Old Monk Fayun’s display. They found it unbelievable—how could a normal person leap dozens of meters into the air? Even a trampoline couldn’t achieve such a feat.
Of course, some more rational onlookers offered a more plausible explanation: a wire stunt. This explanation quickly gained widespread acceptance.
Regardless, tomorrow’s headlines might very well feature this event, perhaps with headlines like:
“Special Effects or Reality? Abbot Fayun of Duyun Temple Unleashes Miraculous Techniques—Golden Bowl, Golden Wheel, Golden Dragon Appear in Succession! What Formidable Foe Does He Face?”
“Shocking! Century-Old Monk Battles Five-Year-Old Girl! Is This a Perversion of Humanity or the Decay of Morality…?! (Get lost!)”
In short, if any busybody were to film today’s events with their phone and upload it online, it would quickly go viral and spark a massive sensation.
Whether true or false, the spectacle alone would be enough. If enhanced with special effects, it would be at least a domestic science fiction—no, a Xianxia blockbuster!
Thwack!
Old Monk Fayun leaped onto the meditation cushion, lightly touching down with the tip of his foot, landing firmly. He then sat cross-legged, pressed his palms together, and entered deep meditation, swiftly achieving a state of stillness.
“Little Benefactor, please proceed.”
“Not bad for an old monk!”
Suisui watched Fayun, who had already taken his place, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Clearly, she wasn’t taking this seriously.
Fayun, equally curious, wondered how Suisui would ascend.
“Allow this young lady to teach you how to ascend with elegance!”
As her words faded, Suisui took a step—not forward, but upward.
Her small feet stepped onto seemingly empty air, ascending one step at a time as if climbing invisible stairs. She slowly approached the meditation cushion on the high platform. To the astonishment of the crowd, she gracefully settled onto the cushion, her movements calm and refined.
This move stunned the entire audience into utter silence. Old Monk Fayun’s eyes widened, his mind trembling. To traverse the air with such ease, this level of cultivation far surpassed his own. No wonder Suisui seemed so indifferent to the demon core; it offered her virtually no benefit.
“Shall we begin now?”
Suisui sat steadily on the cushion, smiling at Old Monk Fayun. Now this is what I call projecting your voice!
“Of course, let’s begin!”
Old Monk Fayun steeled his resolve. He needed to focus completely now. He was confident in his meditation prowess, after all. Zen meditation tests one’s mental fortitude; any wavering of focus or agitation of the mind could lead to defeat in this contest.
Both began meditating, motionless and silent.
An hour passed unnoticed. Had it not been for the occasional sway of the cushions in the breeze, one might have mistaken the scene for a still image.
“This is incredible! It’s been an hour already, and not a single movement. It’s terrifying!”
“This must be some kind of special effect, right? Can you see the safety ropes?”
“I don’t know, but it feels like I’m watching a scene from that TV series starring the internationally renowned actor, about a man’s journey with four mythical creatures. Do you get that feeling too?”
“Exactly! Just bloom and be done with it!”
As time wore on, the ordinary onlookers below began to chatter. This rare sight of “Void-Sitting Meditation” drew various exclamations of awe and wonder.
Great Immortal Deer-Strength: This trick? I’m familiar with it!
Old Monk Fayun: Didn’t you fall down?
Great Immortal Deer-Strength: That was just an accident! If I were serious, I could sit for 49 days without moving an inch!
???: What about bathroom breaks?
Great Immortal Deer-Strength: …
What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions
Discussion
0 comments
No comments yet.