Chapter 83 Trouble Occurs

"So fragrant." Gazing at the table laden with wine and meat, the monk Jinghui was overjoyed. He quickly composed himself, pressed his palms together, and murmured, "Amitabha, these are offerings from the benefactor, not my own desire."

With that, he picked up a bottle of wine and drank nearly half of it, even letting out a hiccup.

This fellow is really both shameless and upright...

"Come, little master, have some food," Li Changqing said warmly, helping him to some dishes.

As Jinghui tasted the food, he couldn't help but sigh, "Tell me, with meat being such a delicious thing, why would the Buddha forbid it?"

"The Buddha deemed eating meat as an evil act, a killing of life. If that's so, wouldn't everyone in the world be committing evil and killing?"

"If the goal is to deliver all beings, then one should first mingle with the masses, experience their suffering, in order to answer their pain."

Li Changqing praised, "Little master, your understanding of Buddhism is profound—you're already putting it into practice."

In fact, from a scientific perspective, meat is highly nutritious and rich in protein. If one abstains from it for too long, it's actually detrimental to health.

Jinghui shook his head, looking at the meat on the table. "From childhood, everyone around me told me that meat is evil and must never be eaten. I always held firmly to that belief. But once, while out begging, I couldn't resist my curiosity and took a bite."

"It was truly fragrant."

While eating, Li Changqing chatted, "I've heard a Zen saying before: 'Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart.'"

"A great master indeed," Jinghui exclaimed, unable to resist praising.

All he could do was marvel at the taste of meat, but this predecessor spoke about eating meat and drinking wine with such simple elegance.

Li Changqing thought to himself: That was Living Buddha Jigong—how could he not be a great master? Still, the famous saying is just the first half; in fact, Jigong originally said, "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart. If the world follows me, it is as if entering the demon's path."

Perhaps too many monks in past lives broke the precepts by eating meat and drinking wine, and most people wanted an excuse for themselves, so they took only the first half of Jigong's words to absolve themselves.

The two chatted idly. When Jinghui was full, having drunk enough, Li Changqing finally asked, "By the way, little master, how skilled are you at exorcism?"

Jinghui leaned back in his chair, burped, and replied, "My master says I have great insight, but my experience is still far from enough..."

"Not enough experience? That's something you have to practice—accumulate it day by day."

"Little master Jinghui, if you don't mind, I can provide you with such opportunities..."

"Come, have some wine, let's drink and talk."

He was always encountering strange cases every few days. Hu Xiong wasn't reliable, Bai Chuan was cold and indifferent and might not help.

Li Minghao was busy inheriting billions, and besides, they weren't close.

Moreover, they might easily discover his identity as a zombie.

By comparison, asking Jinghui for help was perfect—and all he needed was to feed him.

...

Jade Group Headquarters was a fifty-story skyscraper in the federal capital. The top floor housed the chairman's office, lounge, a miniature golf course, and a swimming pool...

The office was enormous, covering over a hundred square meters, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of half the city's nightscape.

A sixty-year-old man sat quietly on the sofa, dressed in a black suit, his face stern, holding a cane, eyes tightly shut as if asleep.

Shen Qingdai and Shen Qingchi knelt respectfully before him.

"The dock is gone; we've tipped them off. This route will have to pause for a while," Shen Qingchi said gravely, feigning concern. "Father, it's not Fifth Sister's fault—she didn't mean for this to happen."

Inside, Shen Qingchi rejoiced. That foolish sister—sent to investigate Huang Chao's disappearance, failed to solve it, and instead got the dock mixed up in disaster.

Of course, he didn't mention Shen Qingdai's collusion with Bureau Thirty-Six. Shen Qingdai was finished.

Shen Qingdai's face was ashen, making no defense, her voice trembling slightly. "I accept whatever punishment father decides."

The old man slowly opened his eyes, which seemed gentle and kind.

"You know my rules," he said, his tone indifferent, showing no emotion. He casually tossed a sharp dagger in front of Shen Qingdai. "Do it yourself."

Shen Qingdai shivered. She knew well his meaning, having seen siblings before her commit suicide in front of their father after grave mistakes.

"Thank you, father." Shen Qingdai bit her lip, picked up the dagger from the floor, took a deep breath, and suddenly pressed the blade against Shen Qingchi's neck.

The old man's brows furrowed. "You know, suicide is actually the easiest choice—not so painful. Your lives are mine to give and mine to take. No one can stop me."

"Don't think we don't know—father, daughter, it's all a lie. We're just like those animals in the shipping containers, caught and brought back by you!"

Shen Qingdai's expression was grim. No one wants to die—they'll always struggle to the last.

"So? What's your plan? Kill your fourth brother? Then be killed by me?" The old man laughed, his attitude clear.

Even with Shen Qingchi threatened, he could not be swayed.

"Fifth sister, calm down..."

Shen Qingchi cursed inwardly—if she wants to die, why drag him down too?

He had underestimated her, never imagining Shen Qingdai would rebel against their father's will.

"Hmph." Shen Qingdai plunged the dagger into Shen Qingchi's neck, then crashed through the window and jumped from the skyscraper.

"Ah!" Shen Qingchi screamed in agony, rolling on the floor, blood streaming from his neck.

Gradually, the wound began to heal—it wasn't fatal.

He sat up, pale and weak, looking at the old man sitting calmly on the sofa. "Father, you're just letting her escape like that?"

"Don't worry—she won't get far."

...

The next morning, Li Changqing felt slightly dizzy.

"That monk really has a strong tolerance for alcohol."

Yesterday, drinking with him nearly overwhelmed even Li Changqing, a zombie.

After affixing a General Arrives talisman to himself, he went to the kitchen, made some hot porridge, and finally felt better.

Tang Xiaoyu was up early, dressed in cute cotton pajamas, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, absorbed in a TV drama.

Li Changqing sat beside her, pondering how to earn some money next.

He only had twenty thousand lang coins left, but thankfully, the cinnabar he'd bought earlier would last a bit longer.

Just then, Li Changqing's phone rang. He picked it up—it was Kelly calling.

On the other end, Kelly said, "My friend, something has happened."

"The two girls swindled out of their money have disappeared, and Xia Ping is missing as well."

Li Changqing's brows furrowed slightly. "What happened?"