"Hehe, little monk, you needn't worry about this old man's affairs! I have my own place to settle down and make a living. Who knows where your Changsheng Town is? You little monk can go begging for alms on your own, but how am I supposed to get there? Must I walk alongside you all the way?" The boatman waved his hand. "Let us part ways here!"
"Amitabha, what Patron says is most reasonable. This poor monk thanks you!" The monk bowed in salute, but then seemed to recall something and hurriedly added, "Oh, right, Patron. If you ever go to the Pure Land World again, you may go to Golden Mountain Temple by the Chen River. This poor monk has taken the tonsure there. Patron already knows this poor monk's Dharma name—it is Chun Zang. This poor monk has a junior named Ming Shen, and he will give Patron some compensation."
"Fine, little monk! This old man understands already! Hurry along!!" The boatman stretched lazily and said, "This old man is advanced in years. This voyage across the sea should be my last. Unless something unexpected happens, I will not go to the Pure Land World again."
"Then..." Chun Zang looked somewhat troubled and said quietly, "What can this poor monk do for Patron? Otherwise, this poor monk truly cannot put his mind at ease."
"How about this?" The boatman thought for a moment, then smiled. "Can you, little monk, meet the Great Sun Tathagata?"
"This poor monk does not know," Chun Zang answered honestly.
The boatman smiled. "Then, if you see the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One, ask him for me how many more years I can live. If you cannot see him... then forget it."
"The Western Pure Land? Thunder Sound Temple?" At this, a strange