In the dim alley, the gems on the cassock shone far too brightly, illuminating every wrinkle on the old monk's face. Light refracted through the facets of those gems, casting mottled patterns across the narrow walls.
Xuanzang stared at the luxurious cassock for several seconds, then shook his head.
"Hey, little monk, why are you still being so ungrateful?"
Seeing Xuanzang's reaction, the old monk grinned, revealing his gapped front teeth. He gave the Brocade Cassock in his hand a shake and continued, "Put this on, and those snobbish officials will immediately worship you like a living Buddha.
"Aren't you going to preside over the Water-Land Assembly? Without this outfit, you won't even cross the threshold of Chongzheng Ward."
Xuanzang lowered his eyes and looked at the gray cloth patch on the cuff of his monk's robe.
Mortals only recognize the cassock, not the Buddhist teachings.
Xuanzang sighed inwardly.
He had already experienced it at the registration office. The official in charge of registration had not even been willing to spare a second glance for his ordination certificate.
But if he truly wore this dazzling garment in exchange for a place, how would he be any different from Lingzhi, who had just looked down on others with his chin raised?
"If I rely on this cassock to obtain a place, what exactly will they believe in—the Buddhist teachings, or these few luminous pearls?"
Xuanzang raised his head and looked directly into the old monk's clouded eyes. "If this is how a leader of Buddhism behaves, then I would rather not be one."
"But if you do not have this cassock, why would anyone listen to you?"
The old monk's smile vanished. He brought his bare wooden staff down heavily against the bluestone pavement, splashing several drops of muddy water. "Without