Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 546: Surround the Vegetarians in the Middle

Chapter 546: Chapter 546: Surround the Vegetarians in the Middle

"Chang’an?"

The official from Kaifeng Prefecture said, "We are also heading to Chang’an. If Master Xuanzang does not disdain, he can travel with us. Even on the Official Road, one cannot avoid wild beasts or bandits. Following us could save some trouble."

"Since the official has invited me with such kindness, I cannot refuse. I thank you," the monk replied.

Tian Peng was surprised; he thought this monk was really going to walk to Chang’an alone. Unexpectedly, he agreed.

Tian Peng asked the monk with a smile, "Master, did you not say that everything has a cause and an effect? If you can travel alone, why then do you decide to accompany us? Are you afraid too?"

"Donor speaks amiss. It is not that I am afraid; I was alone, which was my fate. Encountering the official is a matter of providence. Whatever happens, it is all predestined to be beneficial for me. The choice rests upon my own decision," he explained.

Tian Peng laughed, "The way you speak, Master, making everything out to be good fate, you can indeed find no fault in it. The verbal skill of monks must be extraordinary. Otherwise, someone like me would really be incapable of doing anything."

"In Buddhism, we do not compromise that way. If one sincerely strives for benevolence, regardless of the situation, the Buddha Ancestor will provide salvation," the monk said, joining his hands together.

Tian Peng fell silent. He really disliked monks, but this one seemed to really have nothing else in his mind, aside from chanting ’Amitābha’ and aspiring to goodness and the Buddhist Scriptures.

Tian Peng had spoken to him at length, yet the monk had really not shown anything else. His enlightenment seemed to be even greater than those he had encountered in the Heavenly Court before.

The innkeeper, who had been scared into silence by Tian Peng, had been waiting on the side for quite a while. Only after Tian Peng finished speaking with the monk did he timidly speak up.

"Um, can we order now?"

The official from Kaifeng Prefecture also realized that they hadn’t started ordering yet and nodded, "I have yet to hear the full introduction. Is this all your inn’s specialty?"

"Honored guests, this place cannot compare with the city. Most of the patrons here stay at the inn, and many bring their own provisions. Only those like yourselves or those who want a warm meal bother to order dishes," explained the innkeeper.

"We don’t have much meat stocked in the inn. If you would like to eat something else, you can go ahead and order. I will check in the kitchen later to see if we have the ingredients you want," the innkeeper clarified.

"I see," the official from Kaifeng Prefecture nodded, finding the innkeeper’s explanation reasonable, and thus he did not request anything extra.

"Then we’ll have the lamb soup noodles, one serving for each of us here, except for the Master. And please prepare a plate of green vegetables and tofu just for the mage," he ordered.

The monk, who had been ready to chant ’Amitābha’ upon hearing the orders, didn’t expect to be included and hastily replied, "There is no need for such concern, sir. As a monk traveling abroad, I carry my own dry provisions. I am resting here solely for the purpose of preaching."

"No need for such formalities with me, Mage. Meeting is a matter of providence, and now that we have met, there’s no reason to eat alone. Besides, your vegetarian dish is not expensive," the official from Kaifeng Prefecture said with a smile. "Moreover, I am usually quite busy, dealing with many matters, so please, in private, offer more prayers and blessings for me."

The monk bowed to the official from Kaifeng Prefecture with his hands joined together, "If that is the case, sir, please be at ease. I will certainly pray for your well-being."

"Much appreciated, Master Xuanzang," bowed the official from Kaifeng Prefecture.

Tian Peng watched the two exchanging words fluidly, settling the matter of the meal in just a few exchanges without any side appearing burdened; it was a display of true mastery.

If he had possessed such skill in speech in the Heavenly Court, perhaps he would not have ended up in such a plight.

After exchanging thanks with the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, the monk resumed his preaching, with phrases like "Buddha says this and that" and occasionally ending with an "Amitabha," which sounded imposing but were essentially empty words.

Conversations like these were not something they could join; it wasn’t just Tian Peng, but all the bodyguards who had been chatting all the way couldn’t get a word in whenever such situations arose.

The discourse was profoundly complex, not only was it deep, but it also carried meanings that left them baffled. They not only found it difficult to join in, but they also began to feel embarrassed to speak.

While one side was discussing the salvation of all beings and "Buddha says this and that," their own conversations would sound like gossip about who ran off with whose wife next door.

To speak up was not only embarrassing but also felt like contaminating the sanctity of the scene.

Tian Peng and the bodyguards exchanged glances before awkwardly chuckling and starting to fiddle with the table corners or look around.

After a bit of conversation, a server lifted the curtain and entered from the kitchen, carrying a tray with plain noodles and green vegetable tofu dishes.

"This is what you ordered for the master, Donor. The vegetarian dish is ready; meat dishes for the rest will take a bit longer."

The two bowls of vegetarian noodles Tian Peng had ordered were automatically assigned to the server. Now that there was meat noodles and someone had paid a hefty sum, obviously those who ordered vegetarian noodle soup wouldn’t want it anymore.

But in a situation like this, it was awkward to say they didn’t want it, so he decided for them. After all, there had been many similar incidents before, usually resolved by guests pretending to change clothes and then quietly saying they didn’t want it.

With the vegetarian noodles served first, the Kaifeng Prefecture magistrate immediately made a gesture of invitation, "Since Master Xuanzang’s meal is ready first, please go ahead and eat. You should eat the noodles quickly, or they will get soggy."

Since the meal was offered by someone else, Master Xuanzang didn’t feel it was proper to start eating alone and declined, "Let’s wait until everyone’s food is served. I’m not very hungry anyway. It’s hard to decline your kind offer, but it would be improper for me to start eating alone. Let’s wait a bit more."

"What are you talking about, Master? There are not so many rules when you are traveling."

The Kaifeng Prefecture magistrate laughed, "It’s not any other dish; it’s noodle soup. If you don’t eat it now, the soup will be all soaked up later."

"No worries at all," the monk still demurred.

Seeing that they could finally add to the conversation, Tian Peng and the bodyguards started to coax, "Master, it’s about time, please don’t demur. When you’re on the road, you can’t expect the same rules as at home."

Faced with everyone, the monk still had his convictions and continued to refuse the food.

After some more back and forth, the server entered again with a tray from the kitchen, "Everyone please move back a bit; the noodle soup is very full, and it could spill on you if we’re not careful. Make way, please."

Indeed, the threat of a hot spill was the best deterrent, and everyone stopped protesting immediately, making way for the noodle soup.

One by one, the lamb noodle soups were served, with a strong mutton scent that nearly made the monk stumble. He quickly brought his hands together and said, "Amitabha, well said, well said."

Tian Peng shot the monk a sideways glance; several of them sat together eating lamb noodle soup, ironically surrounding the one eating vegetarian dishes, much like setting a sheep amidst wolves.

"Master, are you uncomfortable with us eating meat around you?"

Indeed, it was uncomfortable, but the monk was too embarrassed to admit it, given that the others were kindly treating him to the meal. How could he complain about their choice of meat dishes?