Young Master Ji vs. Little Monk Yixin
Yu Jinnian couldn’t dodge in time and collided head-on with the girl, his chin hitting her forehead, which was as hard as a rock. He staggered back two steps and fell solidly on his butt.
The little girl was also stunned by the collision. The pages of the Fahua Sutra she was holding scattered like snowflakes, and one of them stuck to Yu Jinnian’s face.
Two young monks ran over. One went to catch the little girl, and the other picked up the scattered pages.
Yu Jinnian pulled the page off his face, cursing his bad luck. He had bitten his tongue that morning, and now he had hit his chin. How was this girl’s head so hard? As he was lamenting, someone rushed over and snatched the page from his hand, then took the two remaining pages from her hand and stuffed them into her chest.
Seeing her chest bulging with the pages of the Fahua Sutra, the two young monks were at a loss. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, but they couldn’t very well tear open a girl’s clothes!
One square-faced monk anxiously said, “Miss, there really is no Master Chengkong in our temple!”
The round-faced monk added, “Yes, yes, please return the Fahua Sutra to us!”
Unexpectedly, the little girl changed her previous fierce demeanor and started crying, saying, “Our master heard that clothes made from talisman paper written by the Grand Master could ward off ghosts. Please, monks, show mercy and give me these few pages, or I’ll be beaten to death when I return. Isn’t saving a life more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda…”
“This… where did you hear such nonsense? This is absurd!” The two young monks looked distressed.
The little girl suddenly moved, and Yu Jinnian quickly scrambled up, hiding in the arms of a nearby man. Feeling a boy suddenly squeeze into his chest, Ji Hong’s heart trembled, but he protected him and stepped aside, avoiding the crazy girl running down the mountain.
Yu Jinnian breathed a sigh of relief, looked over Ji Hong’s shoulder at the mountain road, and sighed, “I’m almost dead, how can there be such people?”
“Mm, be more careful next time.” Ji Hong casually nodded and rubbed his chin, “Does it still hurt?”
The two young monks came over, so the two men couldn’t continue hugging in the temple and quickly separated, standing properly. The square-faced monk bowed apologetically, “Excuse us, are you injured?”
Hearing that they were there to offer incense and worship, he knew they had taken the wrong path up the mountain, so he kindly led them to the main hall.
From the back temple gate to the main hall, the path twisted and turned, lined with green trees and winding corridors. Yu Jinnian curiously looked around but found the road silent and dull, so he asked about the girl.
The square-faced monk frowned, “We don’t know either. My brother and I were ordered to clean the scripture library and saw her sneaking around in there. When I asked her, she tore the pages and ran.”
“But from what she said, it seems she was sent by someone. However, the scroll she tore was a copy of the ‘Lotus Sutra’ personally transcribed by our head abbot, the only copy! Her master is truly—” His face showed slight annoyance, but he suddenly remembered some monastic rules, quickly took a deep breath, and sighed, “Forget it, my brother and I are sure to be scolded.”
Yu Jinnian didn’t want to upset him further, so he asked about the young monk under the banyan tree, but he didn’t mention the scheduled food offering, only saying he saw a young monk when he climbed the mountain.
The square-faced monk thought for a moment, “That would be Yixin. He often meditates under that tree.”
Yu Jinnian thought, so that young monk’s Dharma name is Yixin.
The square-faced monk continued, “Yixin is the most steady among us, but for some reason, the master always worries about his unsettled mind, saying that if he could focus, he would achieve great things.”
As they spoke, they arrived at the main hall. The square-faced monk bowed and prepared to leave.
Yu Jinnian thanked the young monk and then looked up at the ancient temple in the deep mountains. Though it wasn’t grand with gold bricks and jade tiles, under the sunlight it still felt majestic. The golden Buddha in the hall was solemn, surrounded by green mountains and bamboo, with the ancient temple and myriad forms of clouds and smoke.
There were many worshippers, but it wasn’t noisy. The young monks moved lightly, each fulfilling their duties, and the low, continuous chanting from the hall was like gentle waves soothing the heart, filling the place with a serene, meditative atmosphere, calming even the noisiest people.
Though Yu Jinnian wasn’t much of a believer, he was moved by the atmosphere and felt more respectful and sincere. He took three sticks of incense from a small hall and was lighting them by the incense burner in front of the main hall.
At this time, a convoy stopped outside the temple gate, and a small sedan chair was steadily set down. A middle-aged man with a sallow face, prominent cheekbones, and a worried expression emerged, constantly rubbing a large green thumb ring. His luxurious clothes hung loosely on his bony frame, making it easy to imagine the skeletal figure beneath.
This man, surrounded by a group of servants, was led by a kindly-looking old monk, not to the main hall but directly to a quiet side hall. Their grand entrance attracted many onlookers, and Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but look twice, especially at the emaciated master, who, if not for his entourage, looked like a refugee from a famine.
Suddenly, a familiar figure darted from the group. It seemed to be the girl who had torn the sutra, but in a flash, she disappeared into the crowd before anyone could see clearly. Yu Jinnian looked carefully but didn’t see her again, thinking he might have been mistaken.
Yu Jinnian followed the crowd to the golden Buddha in the main hall to offer incense. Not knowing the proper rituals, he imitated the nearby auntie. Though inexperienced in worship, his sincere wish to pray for Aunt Xu was genuine, and he hoped the Buddha wouldn’t blame him.
Comforting himself in this way, Yu Jinnian still felt uneasy. Moreover, when he knelt, he pressed down on his clothes, nearly causing a mishap when he tried to stand. He wasn’t one to blush easily, but seeing everyone else so orderly while he fumbled about, surrounded by many stern-faced monks, made his awkwardness all the more apparent. Feeling deeply embarrassed, he quickly stood up and bowed his head as he walked out, his ears burning with shame.
Just as he was about to leave, he remembered Ji Hong. He hadn’t seen him since the bowing ceremony, so he turned back to look for him.
But instead of finding Ji Hong, a group of monks approached, led by a familiar face—the smiling, Buddha-like monk he had met at the night market during the autumn festival. Among his followers was the mysterious young monk Yixin, who kept his head slightly bowed and only offered a gentle bow to Yu Jinnian, as if they were strangers.
The head monk stopped beside him, still wearing a benevolent smile, and said, “Your sincere heart, the Buddha will know. There’s no need for the benefactor to worry.”
Yu Jinnian, who was deeply versed in medical arts, found his knowledge occasionally intersected with Daoist practices. But when it came to Buddhism, he was sorely lacking, not even able to utter a proper Buddhist phrase. He dared not speak randomly before the great master, so he awkwardly replied, “A… Amitabha.”
The head monk introduced himself, “My Dharma name is Xu Qing. I have heard that you have significant insights into difficult and complicated illnesses. I have a disciple who developed red rashes all over his body after sweeping the mountain paths today. Could I trouble you to take a look?”
Yu Jinnian blinked and said, “Ah…”
Xu Qing explained, “Although our temple has monk doctors, today they were called away to attend to a benefactor in the side hall who suddenly fell ill. My disciple was supposed to serve in the side hall, but unexpectedly broke out in rashes… Young sir?”
Yu Jinnian came to his senses and nodded quickly, “If the master trusts me, I will certainly do my best. May I see the patient?”
Xu Qing slightly tilted his head, the smile never leaving his face, and called, “Yixin, please accompany the young sir.”
Yixin stepped forward and respectfully invited Yu Jinnian to follow him. Xu Qing also assigned a young novice to accompany them. The three of them turned and wound their way past the main hall, through a moon gate entwined with hanging leaves and branches, to a side courtyard used by the monks for rest. The main hall was busy, so the courtyard was very quiet, with a round stone table and several small stone stools set under a still-green vine-covered trellis, full of meditative charm.
Whether it was because the flowers and plants in the mountains were imbued with Buddhist aura, they seemed to wither slower than those in the lowlands. Yu Jinnian glanced at the stone table and thought it would be convenient if the noodle shop’s backyard had such a table.
Yixin opened a door and said, “Please, sir.”
The room seemed to be Yixin’s own quarters. Yu Jinnian quickly surveyed it and found it simply furnished, with bright windows and clean walls, and no clutter. The bed was neatly made, with the gray-blue bedding folded without a single crease. On the desk lay an open sutra, with all the brushes hanging cleanly washed—a display of the monk’s asceticism and restraint that exceeded Yu Jinnian’s expectations.
The only thing out of place was a faint, cold fragrance in the air, not the usual temple incense but a scent that was hard to describe—pleasant yet slightly fishy.
The young novice followed them in, standing with his hands by his sides, stealing glances.
Yixin glanced at him, and the novice quickly bowed his head and said, “Brother Yixin, please let the sir examine you.”
Yu Jinnian realized that the one with the rash was Yixin himself. He stepped forward, and Yixin pulled up his wide monk sleeves, revealing his arms.
From a distance, his arms just appeared red, but up close, Yu Jinnian could see they were covered with small red rashes. The rashes were so numerous they merged into patches, creating a frightening sight.
Yu Jinnian quickly went into diagnostic mode and asked, “Is it only on your arms? Do you have it on your body?”
Yixin replied, “Yes.”
Yu Jinnian asked, “When did it start? Have you washed?”
“I haven’t washed. I noticed it while sweeping the mountain path this afternoon,” Yixin answered.
Yu Jinnian looked at him, puzzled, thinking, “This afternoon you were carrying a food box, so where did the sweeping come from?” But with the novice present, he didn’t voice this suspicion and just scrutinized Yixin.
As a doctor, he needed to know all the details of the patient’s activities during the onset of the illness to rule out causes. He disliked patients who didn’t follow medical advice and hid their conditions.
After asking, Yu Jinnian moved to untie Yixin’s robe to see if the rash was also on his torso and how it was distributed—mainly on the chest or back, symmetrical or scattered. These questions filled his mind.
Yixin didn’t resist and even lifted his head slightly, exposing his neck to Yu Jinnian, allowing him to examine it. Yixin suddenly said, “I heard that the young sir is skilled in cooking. I didn’t know you were also skilled in medicine.”
He said this with a slight smile, still gentle and polite, but Yu Jinnian sensed a coldness in his eyes. It wasn’t the usual calm detachment of a monk, but rather a more oppressive, even threatening, gaze.
Yu Jinnian’s hand paused on Yixin’s half-open collar, revealing skin covered with red rashes. He touched it and felt a slight fever.
“I have some basic knowledge,” Yu Jinnian said, already forming some judgments and needing only to confirm them. He asked, “Little Master, have you eaten anything this afternoon?”
The young novice lifted his head and glanced around upon hearing this.
Yixin smiled and said, “The Master said ‘no food after noon,’ how could I dare break the precept?”
The previous intimidating look from Yixin made Yu Jinnian increasingly doubt his words, suspecting that Yixin was not as amiable and kind as he appeared. He wondered what was going on with this master-disciple duo; the great master always smiled like Maitreya incarnate, and the disciple was an expert at fake smiles, especially Yixin, whose sincerity Yu Jinnian could no longer discern.
If Yixin said he hadn’t eaten, then he surely had. Unfortunately, judging by his demeanor, it was impossible to find out what he had eaten.
After checking his pulse and tongue, Yu Jinnian was even more certain that Yixin’s rash was due to an allergic reaction, likely from some food he stubbornly refused to admit consuming. The key question was whether Yixin knowingly ate something he was allergic to or was merely hiding the fact out of fear of being exposed for breaking his fast.
If it was the former, Yu Jinnian had nothing more to say. If it was the latter, as a doctor, he felt obligated to inform Yixin to avoid such foods in the future to prevent severe allergic reactions, which could be life-threatening.
Yu Jinnian looked around for a brush and ink, saying, “Little Master Yixin has hives, which can be triggered by contact with certain clothes, household items, plants, or food. I’ll prescribe Xiaofeng Powder, to be decocted and taken daily for three days to alleviate the rash. Please consider what you might have encountered today and avoid it in the future.”
After searching for a while without finding an inkstone, he continued explaining other key points.
While examining the rash, he noticed that the wheals on Yixin’s skin were bright red and hot to the touch. Typically, such rashes would be intensely itchy. In his experience, most patients couldn’t resist scratching, often arriving for treatment with small blood marks from excessive scratching. Even those who managed to refrain from scratching would constantly complain about the itching.
However, Yixin showed no signs of discomfort or impatience and hadn’t mentioned the itching even once, as if the rash wasn’t on his body at all.
Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but marvel at Yixin’s willpower. The young novice’s earlier comment seemed accurate; if Yixin could focus on his Buddhist practice, his strong willpower would ensure his great success.
“If the itching becomes unbearable, you can use a decoction of white fresh bark, ku shen, coix seed, and atractylodes for external washing,” he said. Fearing Yixin might forget, he asked, “Do you have any brush and ink?”
Yixin stared at Yu Jinnian, making him feel uneasy, before smiling and saying, “The inkstone in my room was accidentally broken yesterday, and the temple distributes supplies on a daily schedule. Today’s supplies haven’t been issued yet.” He then turned and instructed the young novice, “Juechang, quickly go to Uncle Huijing and get a new inkstone.”
The novice nodded and hurried off.
With the door closed, only Yixin and Yu Jinnian remained in the room. The thick trees in the courtyard made the monk’s quarters even more dim and quiet. Yixin turned back and looked at Yu Jinnian openly, almost as if his gaze was stripping him.
Yixin said, “I remember… your surname is Yu, right?”
Yu Jinnian became even more uncomfortable and responded with a brief “Mm.”
Yixin smiled again and walked to the bed. In front of Yu Jinnian, he pressed a piece of blue stone on the floor by the bed, tapping it until the square stone lifted. Just as Yu Jinnian was about to be astonished, Yixin reached into the opening.
Yu Jinnian thought to himself, “Is he hiding something in such an obvious place? Is he going to kill me to keep his secret? If he pulls out a knife to stab me, what should I do? If I fight back and accidentally hurt him, will anyone seek justice for me? Or what if he pulls out some poison? With only the two of us here, no one will know how I died!”
He thought of all sorts of possibilities, his imagination running wild.
But Yu Jinnian’s worries proved to be unnecessary.
However, Yixin’s actions still greatly exceeded Yu Jinnian’s expectations.
Yixin pulled out a brocade box from under the stone. It was small, just the size of a palm. He carried the box over to Yu Jinnian, his monk robes swaying, giving off an air of nobility despite his shaven head.
Yixin opened the brocade box and said, “This is a luminous pearl. Do you like it? It’s for you.”
Inside the box was a smooth, glowing pearl the size of a palm, emitting a faint white light.
Yu Jinnian stared wide-eyed: “…???”
Before Yu Jinnian could recover from his shock, Yixin produced a blue glass plum blossom hairpin from his sleeve, adorned with tiny pearls, elegant yet luxurious, reflecting myriad colors in the sunlight filtering through the glass.
Yixin calmly said, “It’s not needed anymore. Do you like it? It’s also for you.”
Yu Jinnian’s jaw nearly dropped: “…????”
What’s going on? Why does a young monk have more wealth than me, with so many jewels that he can casually give them away!