Beard-Shaving Method

Bian Chunchou blinked his clear, wide eyes. "What does that mean?"

Bushi found an eager audience and immediately perked up. "It's simple, really. Cultivation shouldn't be bound by rigid forms. Most monks shave their heads, but someone with hair can still revere the Buddhist teachings as a monk does. Likewise, an ordinary person can remain unstained by worldly dust. The mortal world is a dream, a dream within a dream; truth becomes falsehood, and falsehood becomes truth..."

Bian Chunchou's eyes turned to spirals. "Master, stop chanting! Please, stop!" What obscure language was this? So beautiful. It was like being back at Six Lectures Peak on Yonglu Mountain.

Seeing this, Bushi sighed regretfully. "Benefactor Bian, your affinity with Buddhism is shallow indeed."

Instead of feeling sad, Bian Chunchou was delighted. "Thank you for setting me straight, Master. I can go on living now."

...These two were both rather interesting. One lively, the other reserved, yet somehow they were good friends. Bushi paused a moment, then hurried after them with his prayer beads in hand. "Wait for this humble monk! You two are going the wrong way!"

Were they? Of course not. Wen Xu might be pretending to be blind, but he had no trouble finding his way. He had asked where the Hehe Sect disciples were staying first thing that morning.

Unfortunately, they arrived a little late. Chen Zui's spar with the disciple from the friendly sect was already drawing to a close. It had been fierce enough to leave both sides wounded, but perhaps they had to trade blows to become friends: Chen Zui had found a fellow battle fanatic.

The Hehe Sect disciple was named Zeng Qianshan and had reached Qi Refining Peak. He, too, had come out with his elders to see the world. He was every bit