Watching Han Mo's erratic behavior, even Jiang Yan began to worry.
Since they had joined Han Mo, he hadn't shied away from taking risks, but every adventure had been meticulously planned before a decision was made.
However, this time, the situation seemed completely different!
First, he had smashed his own study to pieces, and then he had dragged Zong Ying all the way to a temple outside the city, demanding to drink. This was completely uncharacteristic of Han Mo...
"You're asking me? Who should I ask?"
With a wry smile at Jiang Yan, Zong Ying could only grab a jar of wine and follow Han Mo towards the bell tower.
There was nothing Jiang Yan could do but resign himself to carrying the food box from the carriage and following the two of them up to the bell tower.
"What in the world are you doing? We're drinking and eating meat in their temple, aren't we going to be kicked out any moment now..."
Compared to Han Mo's uninhibited demeanor, Zong Ying felt utterly uncomfortable at this moment. It was truly the first time in his life he had done such things in a Buddhist temple.
It felt like he was visiting a prostitute in front of Confucius...
"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid someone would dare to hit you?"
As Han Mo spoke, he slammed open the seal of the wine jar and took a hearty swig.
Zong Ying didn't know how much he drank, but he saw that after this one mouthful, Han Mo's chest was already more than half-soaked.
Seeing Han Mo's provocative gaze, Zong Ying's mouth twitched. Finally, he also slammed open the seal of the wine jar and, like Han Mo, took a direct swig.
"Hahahaha!"
Seeing him drink so heartily, Han Mo couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Amitabha, I didn't expect Lord Han to grace us with his presence. This old monk received you late, please forgive me!"
Just as they were happily drinking, an old monk with a solemn and dignified demeanor, led by a young novice, hurried up to the bell tower.
The moment he saw Han Mo, the old monk quickly lowered his head and bowed.
Regarding Han Mo and Zong Ying drinking and eating meat in the sacred Buddhist grounds, the old monk could only choose to ignore it for now.
"Master, we shouldn't have been doing such things in this sacred Buddhist place. However, there is something I truly cannot comprehend, so I have specifically come here today to seek your wisdom!"
Even though the old monk had deliberately chosen to ignore their actions, Han Mo seemed unwilling to let him off the hook. Instead, he laughed heartily, raised his wine jar, and placed it heavily in front of the old monk.
"May I ask what troubles Lord Han?"
Smelling the strong aroma of wine, the old monk couldn't help but twitch his lips.
This guy was showing him no respect at all!
It was one thing to drink and eat meat in a sacred Buddhist place, but he had to summon the abbot here, and now he was placing the wine jar in front of him. Was he trying to make him break his vows?
"Master, I came today to ask you something. If a pack of wolves were about to enter the city to devour people, but at this very moment, someone wanted to tear down the city walls, what would you do if you encountered such a situation?"
Reaching for a piece of soy-braised beef from a nearby plate, Han Mo chewed it a few times before suddenly asking again.
"This..."
Although he didn't know what Han Mo was talking about, the old monk vaguely sensed that Han Mo's words might have a deeper meaning. For a moment, he dared not speak rashly.
"Monks do not speak carelessly. The Buddha sits right there. Please speak your mind directly, Master!"
As Han Mo spoke, he pointed to the Grand Hall of Heroes nearby.
"If this humble monk encountered such a situation, I would naturally try my best to dissuade them!"
After hesitating, the old monk finally spoke tentatively.
"What if persuasion is ineffective?"
"Then..."
Han Mo's follow-up question pushed the old monk into a corner again.
After stuttering a few times, the old monk still couldn't say the words.
"Master, you're not going to tell me about the equality of all beings, are you?"
Just as the old monk finally made up his mind to speak again, Han Mo had already spoken first.
Seeing the threat flickering in his eyes, a hint of embarrassment flashed across the old monk's face again.
"My lord is joking. How could I possibly say such foolish words..."
With an embarrassed chuckle, the old monk explained.
"Since it's not that, then I am eager to hear your wise opinion, Master!"
Seeing Han Mo relentlessly pressuring an innocent old monk, Zong Ying was truly at a loss. No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn't understand what Han Mo was trying to do.
"If I cannot achieve this merit, this humble monk will once again advise with his life!"
"Well said, 'advise with one's life.' You die, and it's over for you, but the city walls will still be gone. What use is your life or death? There is clearly another path, why are you, a great monk, unwilling to speak it?"
Looking at Han Mo's sharp eyes, the old monk secretly lamented. There was indeed another path, but it was one he couldn't speak of, especially coming from his lips...
"In this day and age, even monks dare not speak the truth?"
Seeing the old monk's embarrassed expression, Han Mo sneered, tossed a sentence, then picked up the wine jar in front of the old monk again, took a large gulp, and then put it back in its place.
"There is indeed another path. Have you not already thought of it, my lord? Why insist that this humble monk speak it?"
With a bitter smile, the old monk asked with a distressed expression.
"On the day the city falls, do you think you monks will survive? Do you think wolves and tigers will reason with you? Will they spare you because you are a monk? You are all waiting for someone to take the third path, but why can't you even speak of the remaining path? The Bodhisattva has a gentle gaze, thus showing compassion to all sentient beings. The Vajra has an angry glare, thus subduing the Four Demons. Why is it that among you monks, there is only compassion and no courage to subdue demons?"
Han Mo grew angrier as he spoke, and in the end, he grabbed a chicken leg in front of him and hurled it fiercely at the old monk's face.
"Amitabha, those in the Buddhist order dare not speak lightly of killing..."
"Then you'll just watch the entire city die?"
As Han Mo spoke, he suddenly became agitated.
Seeing his furious demeanor, the old monk closed his eyes again with a wry smile.