Although Pan Long had decided to make trouble for the Zeng family, he still had a few things to do first.
He took out a Buddhist scripture and asked, "Masters, I have a scripture here about cause and retribution. Could you take a look and tell me whether it might be of use to me?"
Master Hui Shan paused in surprise. Seeing that the scripture's cover had yellowed slightly, he went out to wash his hands, dried them thoroughly, and only then accepted it with care.
After leafing through a few pages, he nodded and smiled. "This is the Sutra of Retribution. Within the Buddhist School, it isn't considered an important scripture—more a booklet for spreading the teachings. But it contains an important divine ability of the Wisdom School called the Retribution Method."
In case Pan Long was unfamiliar with it, he explained, "The Retribution Method can cause good deeds to bear fruit, or evil consequences to arrive, ahead of time. It is one of the Wisdom School's core arts and, together with the Lotus Method, forms its two pillars."
"The Lotus Method helps practitioners awaken to wisdom. When expounding the scriptures, they can even enlighten living beings with it. The saying 'When the master expounds the teachings, even a stubborn stone nods' refers to this very method. For the Retribution Method to stand beside it shows how profound it is."
"Have either of you studied the Retribution Method?" Pan Long asked.
Master Hui Shan smiled. "The Buddhist School is said to have three branches, but beneath their myriad variations lies the same root. In years past, Buddha first attained enlightenment through ascetic practice. Then he sighed and said, 'The Way of Asceticism is not a path ordinary people can follow. I wish to find one they can.' So he