554: Chapter 96 Benevolence (Part 2) 554: Chapter 96 Benevolence (Part 2) “Hmph…”
Despite his complexion improving a great deal after the flattery, Chu Guo’s tone hadn’t changed much; it was still somewhat stiff.
“Hero Xie, there’s no need to thank me, as one should not accept rewards without merit…
To tell you the truth, your awakening has nothing to do with the medicine I brewed!”
On the day he was first carried back to the village, this Mr.
Xie was covered in blood.
He looked as if he was about to die!
On the second day, the blood had dried, and his wounds had scabbed over.
On the third day, he woke up, and the scabs all over his body had fallen off, leaving his wounds completely gone!
What kind of divine prescription must one concoct to achieve such a feat?
Xie Xuanyi, with a smile on his face, said: “According to what you’ve said, does that mean I don’t need to take my next dose of medicine?”
“No, that won’t do—”
Chu Guo’s eyes widened, as he said irritably: “Even if you don’t consider your own well-being, you should at least think of your nephew and sister.
My medicine does have some effect!”
Hearing this, Xie Xuanyi felt somewhat reassured in his heart.
This young man, having grown up in Li Kingdom for ten years and learned medicine, also truly possesses a “compassionate heart”.
“However, this village seems more peaceful than I imagined.”
Xie Xuanyi tapped the armrest of his wheelchair and asked quietly: “With such chaos outside, has no one in the village fought over this porridge?”
Yuan Province was currently experiencing a severe famine.
The envoy had trudged on their journey, encountering bones gnawed by desperation everywhere they went.
In the wilds of Yuan Province, cannibalism was not uncommon.
To fight over a morsel of food, to engage in a life and death struggle, must have been frequent.
“There was an incident a while back…”
After pondering for a moment, Chu Guo spoke slowly: “There was a starving father and son who, after having their fill of porridge, refused to leave, attempting to snatch others’ portions, and violently broke a poor woman’s head…”
Deng Baiyi asked: “And then what happened?”
Chu Guo looked towards the outskirts of the village, calmly saying: “Afterwards, their legs were broken, and they were expelled from Taoyuan.”
“The head monk ‘Fa Cheng’ of Yuan Guang Temple was once an external disciple who received instruction and enlightenment at Fan Yin Temple.”
Chu Guo said solemnly: “Here in ‘Taoyuan’, formations have been set up, with strict rules that if violated, one will be expelled.
If you wish to receive porridge here, you must work for it.
Those who desire something for nothing will be expelled, and the same unavoidable consequence applies to those who maliciously harm others.”
Most of the time, rules can only constrain those who have morality.
To a starving corpse, what does morality count for when their stomachs can be filled?
In such times, rules no longer apply.
To them, severe punishment is necessary!
“…Breaking their legs and expelling them from the village?”
Mi Yun muttered subconsciously.
He knew that being expelled with broken legs likely meant death by starvation.
“What?
Do you think that’s wrong?”
Chu Guo glanced at the youngster and spoke in a somber tone.
Mi Yun opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
He grew up at Fan Yin Temple.
All along, his master had taught him, when abroad, to be compassionate and that saving one life is more meritorious than building a seven-level stupa.
Yet the rule of expelling people in Taoyuan seemed somewhat contradictory to his master’s teachings.
The youngster could only respond with a bitter smile.
Was the monk Fa Cheng who made these rules truly a disciple of Fan Yin Temple?
“The world is unjust, and the legal codes are muddied.”
Chu Guo lowered his gaze and said: “If one is to expend effort to save another, it should be those who are worth saving.
That father and son who today could crack a poor woman’s skull for a bowl of porridge, may tomorrow kill a living person for a sack of rice.
If not strictly punished, how many more will fight over porridge tomorrow?
How long can Taoyuan Village endure?”
“…You’re right,” Mi Yun spoke weakly after a long pause.
Indeed.
On this mission, his Uncle Miao Zhen often told him that his master’s ‘Dao’ was too weak, too merciful.
The Buddhist way cannot merely be a Bodhisattva’s heart.
One must also have thunderous methods!
Saving one person is salvation, as is saving ten thousand people.
The ‘Dao’ has no size, but in ferrying others to salvation, there is a difference in scale.
“Without rules, there is no square or circle.
The more chaotic the times, the clearer the rules need to be,” Chu Guo lamented: “It’s just unfortunate…
Yuan Province has been fragmented for years, and who knows if in the future someone could establish rules that truly command respect…”
Xie Xuanyi silently observed Chu Guo.
This statement made him start to reassess the young man.
Though compassionate, he was not foolishly kind.
This was rare.
“Doctor Chu…”
Just then, a soft and feeble voice sounded.
In the distance, a slender and tall young woman came forward holding neatly folded clothes made of coarse cloth.
The woman was thin and pallid, with her forehead wrapped in white cloth.
Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes.
If he hadn’t guessed wrong, this must be the poor woman who had her head broken recently?
“Doctor Zheng, Doctor Chu, thank you for your healing grace,” the poor woman said with a hoarse voice full of gratitude.
“This is a thick cloth shirt Wan’er knitted ahead of time.
It can keep you warm through the winter.
Please don’t disdain it, and kindly accept it.”
“Winter is still far away; there’s no rush.”
Chu Guo shook his head and did not accept the cloth.
He stared at the woman’s face for a moment and asked earnestly, “Have you been brewing the medicine on time these past few days?
Do you still have headaches?”
“I have taken the medicine punctually these days, and I’ve no longer experienced headaches,” the woman respectfully replied in a low voice.
“You can be considered to have blessings amidst misfortune.”
Chu Guo gently said: “You don’t need to know the reasons, but be aware that the calamity you suffered previously has actually cured your chronic headaches…
Take good care of yourself, and in at most half a year, you’ll feel much better.”
“Really?”
Upon hearing this, the woman’s eyes brimmed with irrepressible joy, and she said: “Doctor Zheng, you really have taught a good disciple…”
Before Doctor Zheng could respond,
The woman had already placed the cloth on Doctor Zheng’s lap and walked away happily.
“A chronic obstruction in the Divine Sea often leads to pain.
A sudden rupture and release of clotted blood alleviates the agony, a blessing born from a misfortune.”