The Hypocritical Buddhist Sanctuary

"Yours?"

Chen Chang'an's words caused Monk Zhengyuan's expression to change drastically!

How could the Sacred Buddha's Relic suddenly belong to this young man?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

"Nonsense!"

"The Sacred Buddha's Relic is..."

Before Monk Zhengyuan could finish, Chen Chang'an interrupted him.

"Is what?"

"If it truly were the Sacred Buddha's Relic, it should have appeared much earlier."

"When did the Sacred Buddha's Relic of the Heavenly Sound Temple suddenly emerge?" Chen Chang'an countered.

"This..."

"About seven thousand years ago."

"If it were truly the Sacred Buddha's Relic, how could it have appeared so late?"

"Is this the conduct of your Buddhist order?"

"Seizing another's possession, slapping on the label of a Sacred Buddha's Relic, and deceiving people?"

Chen Chang'an sneered. What a so-called sacred Buddhist sanctuary—truly an eye-opener!

"Impossible!"

"You're lying!"

"The Heavenly Sound Temple is a sacred Buddhist sanctuary. How could they possibly commit such shameless acts?"

"I don’t believe it! I refuse to believe it!"

Though Monk Zhengyuan had broken his vows today, deep down, he revered the Heavenly Sound Temple. To him, the Buddhist order was sacred and inviolable.

Yet now, Chen Chang'an was telling him that the Sacred Buddha's Relic was a fake, and the Heavenly Sound Temple was nothing but a den of liars?

This struck his nerves harder than visiting a brothel!

"You're not a monk from the Heavenly Sound Temple, are you?" Chen Chang'an said with a smile.

"I... I’m not yet worthy of joining the Heavenly Sound Temple."

"I’m merely an old monk from the Arhat Temple."

The Heavenly Sound Temple was the sacred heart of Buddhism, but it wasn’t the only temple. However, all other temples existed because of it. Though the Heavenly Sound Temple kept a low profile and rarely appeared before the masses, their influence had spread Buddhism far and wide, drawing countless people into the fold over the years.

Now, the western lands were dotted with temples—all thanks to the Heavenly Sound Temple’s efforts.

They called it "delivering all living beings from suffering," but in Chen Chang'an’s eyes, wasn’t this just land-grabbing?

Dressing it up in pretty words—how hypocritical!

He had only ever seen Buddhists recruiting followers, never actually doing any real good!

"Let me ask you—over all these years, what true acts of charity has the Buddhist order, the Heavenly Sound Temple, actually done?"

"How many have they truly 'delivered'? How many have they actually helped?" Chen Chang'an asked coldly.

"This... guiding those who have sinned to lay down their blades and take refuge in the Buddha—is that not delivering them? Is that not helping?" Monk Zhengyuan frowned.

"So, all you do is recruit people to become monks, and nothing else, is that it?"

"Have you ever spared a thought for the beggars on the streets?"

"Many in the brothels didn’t fall there by choice—how many have you saved?"

"Those who can’t eat or clothe themselves—have you ever tried to solve their hardships?"

"With so much suffering in the world, all you care about is pulling people into monkhood?"

"Is this your so-called 'delivering all living beings'?"

"Have you ever done a single damn good deed?"

Chen Chang'an’s words left Monk Zhengyuan utterly stunned.

Had they done good deeds?

Had they truly done nothing at all?

"No! It’s not what you think!"

"The Buddha is compassionate—it’s just that our abilities are limited, so we can’t help so many."

"Stop right there!"

"Let me correct you—being unable to help many and never helping many are two different things."

"If everyone contributed even a little, wouldn’t that help plenty?"

"If your Buddhist order didn’t go around preaching compassion and delivering all beings, then what you do wouldn’t be a problem."

"But you keep chanting about compassion and salvation while doing nothing but talk."

"Doesn’t that make you hypocrites?"

Chen Chang'an’s words were like daggers, stabbing deep into Monk Zhengyuan’s heart.

Was he wrong?

Was this hypocrisy?

"Tell me—what was your purpose in coming here to spread Buddhist teachings?"

"Wasn’t the main goal to recruit more people into the order, maybe even establish another temple, right?"

"But what does any of that have to do with delivering all living beings?"

"Does joining the Buddhist order mean they’re saved?"

"Since you’ve been here, have you ever truly tried to help the suffering people of this place?"

"Every day, all you do is brainwash others—what else have you actually done?"

Hearing this, Monk Zhengyuan fell into confusion.

His actions since arriving here had indeed matched Chen Chang'an’s description.

He had seen many suffering people, yet all he had thought of was pulling them into the Buddhist order.

In Monk Zhengyuan’s mind, joining the order would free them from suffering.

But when they refused, all he did was keep persuading them—never once taking real action to help.

Words and deeds didn’t align. How could anyone be convinced?

"It must be my fault."

"My understanding of Buddhist teachings is lacking. I haven’t truly grasped what it means to deliver all beings or embody compassion."

"Yes, that must be it. That’s why I remain just a failed monk in the Arhat Temple, unworthy of entering the Heavenly Sound Temple."

Even now, Monk Zhengyuan believed the fault lay with himself—not the Buddhist order.

"The teachings aren’t wrong. The principles aren’t wrong."

"The problem is you monks."

"False advertising."

"Maybe not all monks are like this, but from your behavior, it seems everyone in the Arhat Temple acts the same way."

"Surrounded by them, you think your actions are fine because everyone else does the same."

"If you truly want to do good, stop talking—start doing."

"Otherwise, you’ll only invite ridicule."

Compassion isn’t proclaimed—it’s demonstrated.

Chen Chang'an wasn’t such a person, so he never spoke such words. But he despised those who used lofty slogans to deceive.

Seeing Monk Zhengyuan lost in thought, Chen Chang'an said no more.

After all, his true objective had been achieved—the whereabouts of the fetal pearl.

By the time Monk Zhengyuan snapped out of his daze, Chen Chang'an and Da Huang had already left the brothel.

After a moment of contemplation, cold sweat began to bead on Monk Zhengyuan’s forehead.

Nervous. Uneasy.

He stared at the door, uncertain of what to do next.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "Did... did Chen Chang'an settle the bill?"

"I... I don’t have any money!"