I Became the Rich Second-Generation Villain

When blocked by Hamo, everyone from the Jing Mansion showed displeasure on their faces.

They thought this monk was really annoying.

Like a fly buzzing around a person non-stop.

However, the other party was a monk after all. Moreover, they heard from Master Guilin that this person was well-versed in Buddhist teachings. Nowadays, even the monks from Jialan Temple couldn’t win a debate against him. So, the Jing Mansion group did not step forward to push him aside, nor did they walk around him.

Lady Jing stopped walking.

Because she believed in Buddhism, she always maintained a bit of respect for monks.

Jianglong, however, looked interested. He wanted to see what kind of story this foreign monk could tell to persuade him to become a monk and believe in Buddhism.

Bao Ping and Yu Chai glared angrily at Hamo. If they could have acted, they would have already stepped forward to scratch Hamo’s face.

He actually wanted to persuade their young master to become a monk!

Lin Ya was a little worried.

Daisy thought of something and seemed lost in thought.

If Jianglong became a monk, or was persuaded to practice asceticism while remaining a lay disciple of Buddhism, it would be a great thing for her.

“In Xigong Country, on a thousand-meter high mountain, lived a venerable monk all alone. This monk had sincerely cultivated Buddhism for decades. When he was young, he traveled far and wide, searching for the trail of Buddha. If he encountered extraordinary masters outside the mundane world during his travels, he would take the initiative to debate Buddhist scriptures with them, mutually verifying and clarifying Buddhist principles, progressing together. Now, the venerable monk was old and frail, feeling his days were numbered. He wanted to select an exceptionally talented disciple to inherit his teachings before his death. The venerable monk had great prestige and reputation. After spreading the news, many came seeking to become his disciple. However, facing the many Buddhist disciples who came to study under him, the venerable monk did not immediately set a test to screen them. He only had everyone work together to mold a statue of Buddha in the temple hall. This Buddha statue was two zhang tall, entirely golden, emanating Buddha’s light. However, it was tilting its head and, moreover, had its back to the temple’s main door. Many disciples did not understand. Then the venerable monk asked: why is Buddha sitting backwards?”

Having said this, Hamo looked at Jianglong with a smile, a questioning look in his eyes.

There was also a smug, showing-off expression.

Hamo always prided himself on being clever, eloquent, and extremely learned.

He believed that persuading someone to become a monk absolutely must not be too rigid, nor should one always talk about karma and retribution, or how one could reach the Pure Land after death.

Before arousing the other person’s curiosity and interest, those words were dry and not very persuasive.

Unless the other person was emotionally agitated, experiencing great ups and downs, and gaining some insight, or was in a state of fragile nerves, ordinary persuasion was difficult to have an effect.

So this time, to persuade, he first told a story, wanting to spark Jianglong’s interest first. Then, at the end, he posed an interesting and suspenseful question, leaving a hook for Jianglong to think about, to guess, and then struggle to find the answer, before coming to ask.

As long as there was interaction, he wasn’t afraid Jianglong could escape his grasp in the future.

Master Guilin, who was also listening nearby, frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly brought his palms together and chanted a Buddhist invocation.

Although he disliked Hamo’s ambition, Master Guilin had to admit that Hamo was experienced and knowledgeable.

Senior Brother Master Guichen had also advised him earlier to travel down the mountain to broaden his horizons.

But he stubbornly held to his own view, believing that staying away from the mortal world and cultivating asceticism in the temple was the right way.

Before, he was single-minded and stubborn. Even when Senior Brother Guichen advised him, he never changed. Sometimes he even prejudicially thought his senior brother went down the mountain just to make a vain name for himself. Only now, seeing Hamo talk so fluently, did he realize the importance of traveling the world and experiencing the mundane world.

But he was already eighty years old this year. Wanting to change now was probably impossible.

That’s why he uttered a long Buddhist sigh, filled with deep regret.

Lady Jing was also captivated by this story. For a moment, she was actually thinking about the answer and forgot to be wary that Hamo was trying to persuade her precious grandson to become a monk.

It wasn’t that she was easily swayed or not calm enough; she truly firmly believed in Buddhism.

People are always more easily stirred by curiosity and attention towards things they care about and are interested in.

For example, many people have only one child, who is their lifeline. But recently, the child often gets bumps and bruises, either tripping while walking or getting minor injuries from time to time. Then the parents become suspicious. If at this time a Taoist priest or monk says your child has recently been facing misfortune, the parents are likely to believe it.

Because of this, many parents have been tricked out of a lot of money.

This kind of thing happens often. Ask around; those who have been fooled are not just one or two.

Daisy and Lin Ya were also somewhat curious about this story, wondering if any young monk could answer it.

Yu Chai and Bao Ping pondered hard, occasionally even knocking their own heads. If they could figure it out themselves, then it wouldn’t be a big deal, and their young master wouldn’t be attracted by Hamo’s words.

The Jing Mansion Guards now whispered among themselves, asking each other quietly to see who had guessed the answer.

But obviously, this answer wasn’t that easy to guess.

Nanny Yao saw that Lady Jing also showed a thoughtful expression and felt somewhat anxious inside. She really didn’t want her young master to be tricked by the big monk in front of them. However, when she looked at Jianglong, she noticed he had a faint smile on his lips.

How to describe it? Nanny Yao had never seen such a smile on Jianglong’s face before.

Confident. That was absolute, no, it was an extremely confident smile!

Nanny Yao was momentarily stunned.

Since childhood, when had her young master ever been confident?

The first person to notice Jianglong’s confident smile was not Nanny Yao, but Master Hamo, who had been paying attention to Jianglong all along.

He didn’t know Jianglong, didn’t know that Jianglong’s former self was timid in character and had only ordinary intelligence.

Seeing Jianglong’s confident manner, he felt a bit uneasy inside.

Could this young lad know the answer to the venerable monk’s question in the story?

Impossible!

Hamo had used this question to stump all the monks in Jialan Temple these past few days.

“Grandmother, the weather is clear today. Your grandson would like to take a walk around the temple, to observe and admire Great Qi’s national guardian temple.” Jianglong stepped forward, took hold of Lady Jing’s elbow, and said with a grin.

Lady Jing snapped back to reality, realizing Hamo had distracted her. She couldn’t help but give a helpless smile.

Then she gently patted the back of Jianglong’s hand and advised, “The wind is strong on the mountain; don’t stay too long, or you’ll fall ill again. Play for a little while, then go down the mountain and take the carriage back to the mansion, understand?”

“Your grandson understands.”

Jianglong supported Lady Jing and passed by Hamo, shoulder to shoulder.

Hamo was immediately a bit dumbfounded. Could even such a good story of his not arouse the interest of this young master in front of him?

By the time he regained his composure, Jianglong had already reached the courtyard gate.

Just as he was about to speak up and ask, the clear voice of the young man with his back to him already reached his ears. “It’s a good thing I didn’t go to that mountain to seek a master. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have been chosen by that venerable monk, to become a monk who can’t even eat meat? Not being able to eat meat, wouldn’t that be miserable?”

As he spoke, Jianglong even put on a troubled expression.

Bao Ping, walking slightly behind to the side, giggled when she saw this.

“You can really guess the answer?”

Seeing everyone was about to leave the courtyard, Hamo asked loudly, refusing to believe it.

“Lamenting that all living beings refuse to turn their heads back!”

Jianglong lightly waved his hand without turning around.

As soon as these words were spoken, except for the two foreign monks, Hamo and Mituo, everyone else suddenly showed looks of sudden understanding.

Why is Buddha sitting backwards?

Lamenting that all living beings refuse to turn their heads back!

Master Guilin silently recited it once and finally uttered a long Buddhist invocation, “Amitabha!”

Hamo wore a stupefied expression, clearly not expecting Jianglong to actually be able to say the answer.

Mituo’s face showed a fierce look, staring at Jianglong’s receding back, his eyes full of killing intent.

He and Hamo were sent by their king to Great Qi to spread their teachings. It had been going smoothly until now. Even among the many monks of Jialan Temple, only Master Guilin could hold his own in debating scriptures with them, but he couldn’t defeat them either. But now, a young man could actually state the answer to the story.

Moreover, this story was one of the highest-level ones, among the few they used to stump the many monks.

If this young man didn’t appear in the future, that would be one thing. But if he really came to debate scriptures with the two of them, wouldn’t he ruin their important mission?

So Mituo made up his mind: if Jianglong dared to come and cause trouble again, he would definitely take severe action and eliminate him quickly.

The figures of the Jing Mansion group went far away. Only then did the Centurion, who had received Cheng Wu’s orders in the small courtyard, command his subordinates to release the foreign envoys who had been locked up earlier.

He also warned them not to cause trouble for the Jing Mansion group, or they shouldn’t blame the Imperial Guard for being impolite.

These envoys naturally made a fuss, with the foreign envoy whose attendant had been injured being the loudest.

However, despite all the stomping and shouting, this envoy ultimately did not give chase.

Judging from the attitude of the Imperial Guard in handling the matter, it clearly favored the Jing Mansion group.

While the envoys were making noise, Xiao Jing, who had advised Cheng Wu earlier and then returned to the small courtyard before leading many officials out through the back gate, now walked back in with the many officials. He didn’t want to provoke the Jing Mansion, but similarly, he didn’t want to have any connection with the Jing Family either, so he had simply avoided them.

Among the many officials, one younger official still looked dazed, lagging at the back.

It was the one who had been sprayed with blood earlier. Poor this young official, who hadn’t been in his post for long and was a civil official from the Ministry of Rites. From childhood, he only knew to study poetry and books diligently. He had never fought, hadn’t even killed a chicken. Suddenly getting splashed with human blood, he was naturally terrified and still hadn’t recovered at this point.

Entering the small courtyard, Xiao Jing began to comfort the envoys from various countries with kind words.

He also sent someone to carry the injured attendant down the mountain to a clinic for treatment.

Earlier, Lady Jing’s words had left no room for negotiation, not treating these foreigners as human at all. So these envoys naturally wouldn’t let it rest. However, they also knew shouting a few times in front of Xiao Jing was useless. They all quieted down, only planning to go to the Hall of Golden Chimes after returning to seek an explanation from the Emperor.

When the small courtyard became quiet again, Xiao Jing noticed that at some point, an elegiac couplet had been hung high in front of Master Guichen’s remains.

He couldn’t help feeling a bit displeased, asking with a stern face, “Master Guilin, earlier I saw the mourning hall was arranged too simply and wanted to compose an elegiac couplet for Master Guichen. You said Master Guichen had left instructions during his lifetime that his funeral should be simple in every way. Since it really wasn’t needed, I let it go. But why is someone else’s elegiac couplet hanging now? Could it be that you think I am unlearned and cannot write a good elegiac couplet?”

Hearing Xiao Jing’s words, everyone looked at the additional elegiac couplet.

Someone read it aloud.

The first half surprised people. How dare such an elegiac couplet be hung in Master Guichen’s mourning hall?

Wasn’t he afraid of losing face before the world?

When the second half was uttered, everyone firmly memorized it in their hearts.

And secretly praised: what a good couplet!

Xiao Jing had also finished reading it by now. He couldn’t help but blush a little. This couplet was indeed innovative. Even if he were to compose one, it wouldn’t be any better.

So someone curiously asked who made this elegiac couplet.

“The young master of the Jing Mansion, Jing Jianglong, made it.” As soon as Master Guilin’s voice fell, the faces of the foreign envoys all changed.

Especially one tall, blue-eyed young man, who snorted heavily.

And secretly gave a hand signal to a servant beside him.

That servant took advantage of everyone being attracted by the unconventional elegiac couplet and quietly slipped out of the small courtyard.

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