"Hmph..." Zen Master Mingyue's eyes flashed with shame and anger. He snorted coldly. "Look at yourselves! You are merely chanting sutras—why are you all so listless? You cannot even persevere through a single night! What kind of cultivation is that? You might as well return to secular life and go home to farm!"
"This disciple was wrong. Please forgive us, Abbot!" The disciples hurriedly lowered their heads and spoke in unison.
"Senior Brother Abbot!" The somewhat plump monk at the head of the disciples said with a smile, "The disciples remaining in the temple are ordinary monks to begin with. They cannot compare to the disciples Senior Brother Mingfa took away. Little Gold Temple is now flourishing with incense offerings, and many lay devotees come to worship Buddha and fulfill their vows. During the day, they throw wide the gates of goodwill within the temple and receive pilgrims, so they are already exhausted beyond measure! If they must stay up through the night chanting sutras now, I fear they will find it hard to hold on. I hope Senior Brother will be more understanding!"
"Junior Brother Mingjian!" Zen Master Mingyue said with displeasure on his face, "It is not as though I am usually inconsiderate of them! My demands of them are not high, but today is unusual! Martial Uncle Xingchen of Yunlin Temple is coming to our Little Gold Temple. No matter how well we usually conduct ourselves, if he finds us unsatisfactory at first glance, all our efforts will flow away like water!"
"Alas..." Hearing this, Mingjian's face also showed a trace of worry. Looking at the night beyond the hall, he sighed. "We have waited here for three nights already, yet Martial Uncle has not come. I fear he will not come tonight either! Senior Brother, why