Grasshopper said strangely, "But this matter shouldn't be enough to expel you from Shaolin Temple. If this gets out, Zhang Junbao will become an outcast of Shaolin Temple. How will you survive in the martial arts world after that? Why don't we go find Abbot Fang again?"
Seeing the grasshopper about to leave, Zhang Junbao quickly stopped him, saying, "No, the abbot has already suffered a great loss of energy because of me, so let's forget about it."
The grasshopper said unwillingly, "Are you really planning to slink down the mountain like this?"
"Let fate decide. I'll go check on the abbot's injuries and say goodbye while I'm at it. You don't need to come."
After finishing his sentence, Zhang Junbao staggered out of the meditation room.
The abbot's meditation room at Shaolin Temple is located behind the Mahavira Hall.
Having lived in Shaolin Temple for twenty years, Zhang Junbao naturally knew the way well and quickly arrived outside Abbot Juekong's meditation room.
Just as I was about to knock on the door, I suddenly heard faint sounds of conversation coming from inside the meditation room.
Zhang Junbao stopped himself from knocking and silently pondered the content of the conversation.
The people talking in the meditation room were Jueyuan, the head of the Vinaya Academy, and Juekong, the abbot of Shaolin Temple.
“Senior brother, Junbao is just young and impetuous; it was a mistake on his own. Is there no better solution than expelling Junbao from Shaolin Temple?”
Inside the meditation room, Jueyuan still hadn't given up trying to persuade Juekong to retract his plan to expel Zhang Junbao from Shaolin Temple.
"Junior brother, you're being foolish. Do you think this old monk would send Junbao away over such a trivial matter?"
Juekong sighed:
"You've been Junbao's master and disciple for over ten years, so you know him best. Tell me, what are his characteristics?"
"Forehead……"
Jueyuan thought for a moment, then said:
"This child is as still as a virgin and as swift as a mad rabbit; he is equally adept at both stillness and movement, and his comprehension is astonishing."
Juekong nodded and asked again:
"Junior brother is right. So, do you think Junbao leans more towards movement or stillness?"
Jueyuan said:
"The saying goes, 'Move like drifting clouds, remain still like Mount Tai, embody the great Dao, and take stillness as the foundation.' Junbao's personality leans towards stillness."
Juekong asked:
"But Junbao is clearly active and lively by nature, so why do you say he is more inclined to be quiet?"
“That’s just an outward appearance. I’m talking about Junbao’s true nature, Junior Brother.”
Zhang Junbao can be said to have been raised by Jueyuan, who had a very good grasp of Zhang Junbao's personality.
"Junior brother, why are you so certain?"
"In the past ten years, Junbao has never made the first move in any fight. He always strikes back after the opponent has made a move, which shows that he uses stillness to control movement."
Juekong smiled faintly and said, "Junior brother is right. Buddhism emphasizes action, while Taoism emphasizes stillness. Now, junior brother, tell me, does Junbao have a stronger affinity for Taoism or Buddhism?"
“Amitabha, the abbot has good intentions, junior brother understands.”
Jueyuan finally understood Juekong's plan and stopped trying to persuade Zhang Junbao to stay.
“In fact, Junior Brother already knew that Junbao was naturally in harmony with Taoism but not with Buddhism. He was just troubled by love and couldn’t bear to part with his beloved. I also made this decision after carefully considering the letter from Master Qiu yesterday.”
"Nothing exists without something, form exists without form. Let go of all worldly attachments to achieve greatness, and light the lamp of your heart to see the bright pearl. Junior brother, have you understood?"
Juekong sat upright in the chair and bowed his head, looking somewhat tired.
"Senior brother's words have been a wake-up call; junior brother understands now."
Jueyuan nodded. His senior brother was not only talking about Junbao's problem, but also reminding him.
Just then, Juekong suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Seeing this, Jueyuan asked with concern, "Senior brother, are you alright?"
Juekong calmly said, "This old monk has lived for over 130 years, and I have reached the point where my life force is exhausted and my vital energy is depleted. It is time."
Clang.
Just as Juekong finished speaking, Zhang Junbao, who was outside the door, could no longer hold back and broke down the door.
Juekong smiled slightly when he saw Zhang Junbao come in and said, "Junbao, you've heard what I said. Do you resent me?"
"I will never forget the abbot's compassionate heart."
Zhang Junbao knelt before Juekong, tears welling up in his eyes.
Juekong, clinging to his last breath, continued:
"Junbao, do you know why this old monk refuses to ordain you as a monk, and instead makes you a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple?"
"This disciple does not know."
Zhang Junbao shook his head. He had pleaded with the abbot to ordain him many times before, but the abbot just wouldn't agree, and he didn't know why.
Juekong said with a sad expression, "More than twenty years ago, I traveled the world. Once, I was seriously injured and was chased by Yuan soldiers. It was your parents who saved me."
“At that time, you were still an infant. Your parents lost their lives to save me, so I brought you back to Shaolin Temple. I couldn’t bear to let the Zhang family bloodline end, so I refused to shave your head and only made you a lay disciple. I feel guilty towards you.”