"Amitabha!"
"Amitabha!"
The monks of Fahua Temple and Great Brahma Temple each proclaimed the Buddha's name.
"The kitchen has prepared vegetarian fare. Please!"
"Please!"
Though the Dharma Debate Hall had been solemn and serious, the debate ended in a three-to-three draw. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief—at least they had not lost.
"Amitabha, this humble monk thanks all fellow cultivators for witnessing the debate. Please!"
"The Buddha's words and the Dharma debate truly lived up to their reputation. We have feasted our eyes, hahaha! Please!" An old man with a face full of grizzled beard laughed heartily. His cultivation did not seem high, but he carried himself with considerable grandeur.
The spectators rose and, under the hospitality of Fahua Temple's monks, headed together toward the rear courtyard.
At that moment, the young monk who had been waiting at the entrance came to the leading old monk and whispered a few words.
Seeing the old monk look over, Lu Zheng stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Lu Zheng of White Cloud Temple greets Zen Master Xinguang."
Zen Master Xinguang was the abbot of Fahua Temple.
Zen Master Xinguang pressed his palms together in greeting. "Greetings, Little Friend Lu. Have you met Founding Master Dejie?"
Lu Zheng nodded. Then an almost imperceptible ripple of spiritual force flashed past. "This junior was fortunate enough to receive a scripture from the Zen Master. I should have come in a year's time to pay respects to the Buddha's Golden Body, but I happened to have business in Zhongjing these past few days, so I came to offer the Buddha a stick of incense."
Zen Master Xinguang's eyes lit up. "The Prajna Heart Sutra Spoken by Shakyamuni at the Fahua Platform?"
The last trace of doubt vanished from Zen Master Xinguang's heart, and his gaze toward Lu