Has Big Shot Fallen in Love Today?-Chapter 909: Debating Zen

Sheng Tang and William were trapped by the people in the monastery.

Two young monks holding brooms appeared, followed by several middle-aged monks.

Sheng Tang observed two of them, noticing their walk and stance. They were rumored to be martial artists.

Real martial arts.

Sheng Tang’s limited skills in sparring could handle a few petty thieves, but against professionals, she was sure to be at a disadvantage.

If they were beaten up, whether it was her or William, being bruised and battered would affect the continued filming of the movie. The director would kill them both.

"Fighting is not an option," Sheng Tang silently concluded, very astutely assessing the situation.

However, reasoning didn’t seem to be an option either.

The monks spoke the local dialect, which Sheng Tang barely understood, but William couldn’t catch a word.

They wanted Sheng Tang and William to compensate them.

Sheng Tang explained repeatedly, "We are actors staying at the Taoist temple over there. Haven’t you gone over to the temple to provide martial arts guidance for other film crews?

You can send someone to find my assistant Ai’ai; she’ll bring the money over. Rest assured, we’ll compensate whatever amount is necessary."

But the monks were not assured.

They were convinced that Sheng Tang and William had come to cause trouble on purpose.

"We really didn’t come to cause trouble," Sheng Tang persisted.

William chimed in, "Yes, yes, we don’t look like locals, do we? We’re really actors. You can look me up online, William, check me out!"

The young monks ignored him.

The situation was about to turn violent.

Sheng Tang felt helpless.

She decided that once they got back, she would give the troublesome William a good beating.

Just then, a monk in his forties emerged.

He was likely not the abbot, but he was in charge.

The young monks respectfully stepped aside for him.

William hurriedly tried to explain that he hadn’t done it on purpose.

The monk furrowed his brow, looking difficult to reason with, "This cymbal is a hundred-year-old heirloom of our temple; it has never fallen. It’s unlucky—compensation won’t solve this."

Sheng Tang: "..."

What to do?

"Lock them up for a few days until the abbot returns," said the middle-aged man.

Sheng Tang: "..."

William understood this sentence and became anxious, "No, we have a movie to shoot. Our director will be frantic. Can’t you send someone to the temple to convey a message?"

The middle-aged man ignored him.

They intended to detain Sheng Tang and William forcefully.

In desperation, William blurted out, "Aren’t you monks dedicated to the mercy of Buddha? Why are you now being so harsh, like a bandit hideout in the mountains?"

Several monks showed anger on their faces.

William continued to provoke, "Are you a monastery or a bandit hideout?"

"What are you trying to say?"

William’s eyes darted around, nearly in a struggle for survival, "We’ll have a Zen discussion. If I win, I leave; if you win, we stay and wait for your abbot."

Sheng Tang: "..."

She almost fainted.

What did it mean to accomplish nothing and spoil everything? William exemplified this perfectly.

The middle-aged monk sneered, "Fine, a Zen discussion! You start first."

William thought quickly.

He indeed had an interest in Zen Dao, much like his interest in playing games.

He loved playing games, but that didn’t mean he could develop one.

In a burst of inspiration, he came up with this delaying tactic, planning to secretly whisper to Sheng Tang, urging her to escape first and return to the temple for help.

He would stay behind, enduring whatever was necessary, even if it meant getting beaten.

"I need to discuss with her," William stammered a bit.

The middle-aged monk found it amusing.

But Sheng Tang, inspired by William, noticed a long banner in the temple and recalled a Zen saying she had come across the previous night.

This world lacked a famous Zen riddle from Sheng Tang’s world.

Thus, Sheng Tang stepped forward a few paces, looked at the middle-aged monk, ignoring William’s hint, and said, "I have a Zen question I hope the venerable monk can answer: In this courtyard, when the wind blows the banners, is it the wind moving or the banners?"