[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 286

The starch is removed from the potatoes, and they are fried in oil until golden brown.

It’s not exactly a fancy cooking method.

Just scoop them out, sprinkle some salt, and you’re done.

“Grandfather Hye Neung, try this too. It’s thinly sliced fried potatoes.”

“Oh ho, what an interesting cooking method.”

Grandfather Hye Neung reaches out, takes a potato chip, and puts it in his mouth. He chews a few times, then his eyes widen.

“How’s the taste of the secular world?”

“Ah, no way, famine crops can taste this good? Is this really a potato?”

“Of course.”

“Huh…”

The young monks, seeing Grandfather Hye Neung eating the potato chips, rush over in a crowd.

“Patron.”

“Young monks, have some too.”

“Thank you!”

The faces, once filled with fatigue from constant ascetic practices, now bloom with smiles.

Kids really suit those kinds of faces.

I think it’s enough to experience the weariness of the world after becoming an adult.

“Patron, it’s so delicious!”

“Right? I made a lot, so eat up.”

“Yes!”

After splitting a potato chip in half and placing it on their shoulders, the sound of crunching comes in stereo from their ears.

With the savory smell wafting around, it feels like watching a 4D movie.

“Is it good?”

“It’s good!”

“It’s great!”

“If you eat too many snacks, you won’t be able to eat your meal, right?”

“Yes!”

“Pfft!”

The rabbit and the squirrel are the best at answering.

But seeing both of them munching away happily makes me feel good too.

—Crunch, crunch.

“Whew—”

As I step back and light a cigarette, Grandfather Hye Neung glances at me.

“I suppressed my appetite to pursue enlightenment.”

“That must have been tough.”

Those who haven’t experienced it don’t know the pain of hunger.

On the way here, I’ve seen many people peeling tree bark to eat.

When famine gets severe, even that isn’t enough, so they pour water on dirt to make mud balls to eat.

When even that runs out, there were parents who would cut their own flesh to feed their children.

“I reduced my sleep and recited scriptures every day.”

“You must have been sleepy.”

Despite my half-hearted response, Grandfather Hye Neung continues his story with a pleasant smile.

“To avoid feeling pleasure, after breakfast, I would face the wall and continue chanting and meditating until sunset.”

Grandfather Hye Neung is clearly in the twilight of his years, with white hair.

It’s hard to believe he’s lived like that until this age.

Just imagining it is horrifying; I don’t know how he managed to live like that.

“I’ve spent my whole life trying to rid myself of the desires for food, lust, sleep, fame, and wealth. But…”

Grandfather Hye Neung stares at me intently.

They say you can tell most of a person by looking into their eyes, and it seems that’s not wrong.

I can’t believe how clean someone’s gaze can be.

“The person heading towards Buddha wasn’t a small patron, but a devoted one.”

Grandfather is greatly mistaken.

I’m just a person living my own way; I could never become someone so great.

But I’ve also asked a similar question to my literature teacher.

“Even through extreme asceticism that tortures the body, enlightenment was not achieved.”

“The Buddha I know said that even through extreme asceticism that tortures the body, enlightenment was not achieved.”

“Only after breaking the attachment to asceticism and sitting under the Bodhi tree, cutting off distractions, did he enter deep meditation.”

“Only after breaking the attachment to asceticism could he cut off distractions and enter the state of non-self.”

“Ah, non-self… That’s the enlightenment of Shakyamuni.”

“Right.”

As we conversed, Grandfather seemed to realize something, staring into the void and repeatedly chanting.

“Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha…”

Feeling like I shouldn’t disturb him, I stepped back and watched, almost hallucinating that Grandfather Hye Neung’s inner self was transforming.

From the moment we met, he was someone who listened to my seemingly worthless words with great attention.

Tap!

—Click, click.

As he struck the tobacco pipe on his palm, the burnt ash fell, and a new flame ignited.

“Whew—”

This place is one where the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants is extremely rigid.

Warriors who have honed their skills look down on commoners, scholars who have studied look down on merchants, and merchants in turn look down on stubborn craftsmen who can’t make money.

At the very bottom of this hierarchy are the farmers.

In contrast, Grandfather Hye Neung’s social status is overwhelmingly high. Yet, he is someone who knows how to humble himself, and watching him, I’ve learned a lot.

“Amitabha, Amitabha…”

Even amidst this, he kept chanting without pause, and then, changes began to appear in Grandfather Hye Neung’s body.

“What’s that?”

“Gong!”

“Great?”

“Not gong.”

A faint golden haze flickered and disappeared repeatedly on Grandfather Hye Neung’s body.

Like a candle flame burning just before it dies out, or perhaps an ember trying to reignite.

Whatever it is, it’s clear that he’s seeking change.

“Amitabha…”

Finally, Grandfather Hye Neung, who had been chanting, turned his gaze to me.

“Is it over?”

“Haha, thanks to Shin Yi, it seems I’ve achieved enlightenment.”

“That’s a relief.”

Grandfather Hye Neung clasped his hands together and bowed his head to me.

“Amitabha. It seems I’ve finally taken a step forward after 60 years.”

“Congratulations. But why is that room master still like that?”

Even though it’s been at least a couple of hours since we met, he’s still muttering like he’s possessed.

“Hmm, perhaps it’s because of the Buddha-nature that Shin Yi has shown.”

“Me? What’s that?”

“Did you just see the golden light blooming from my humble body?”

“If you mean the one rising like a heat haze, then yes, I saw it.”

Grandfather Hye Neung nodded at my answer.

“That is called the Buddha-nature, also known as the color of Jambunada gold.”

“Oh-ho…”

I wanted to ask what that was, but Grandfather seemed so moved that I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

I guess I’ll get an answer if I ask my master later.

“The Room Master has lived a life of asceticism. But he has not yet ignited his Buddha-nature… My Buddha-nature also took hundreds of years to bloom in Shaolin.”

“Hoo…”

I don’t recall ever showing any Buddha-nature.

If I really did, the Room Master must be feeling the futility of life.

“Buddha-nature is the one and only milestone on the path of Buddhism.”

“But isn’t it okay to just ask if it’s correct?”

“Ask whom?”

Grandfather Hye Neung’s voice carried a hint of panic.

The Shaolin Room Master is out of his mind, and Grandfather Hye Neung, though faint, has ignited his Buddha-nature.

People in the world might ask Grandfather, but he himself had no one to ask.

“To the Buddha.”

“Ah, the Buddha is not someone who shows the way. He is merely a small lamp that lights the path beneath your feet. That’s all, helping you not to stumble on a dark night.”

“Shall I make an appointment for you instead?”

“An, an appointment…?”

Grandfather Hye Neung, who had been smiling kindly, looked towards the wall behind me, his gaze wavering uncertainly.

Under the wall, two monks were still lying side by side, embarking on their appointment journey.

“Huh… Haha. I have found my path, so there’s no need…”

Thud.

“Gasp! Please, calm down, Shin Yi.”

“I am calm.”

“Ah, right. How about we first release the strength in your fist?”

Thud.

As I took a step forward, Grandfather Hye Neung’s pupils shook even more violently.

“Grandfather, I know four Buddhas.”

“Four Buddhas…?”

“Yes. One has a quirky personality, another is a battle maniac, and another is incredibly strong.”

Gulp.

Grandfather Hye Neung’s Adam’s apple moved noticeably.

“And, and what about the fourth one?”

“Hmm, that one feels wise and kind?”

“Exactly! That one sounds good.”

Thud.

“Really?”

“Ah, no. I misspoke.”

“I just want to help you. Grandfather, you’re really a good person.”

The closer I got to help Grandfather, the more he dripped with cold sweat.

“I am still very lacking…”

“But I know a Buddha. Wouldn’t it be a big help to meet them directly?”

“Sigh… If Shin Yi says so, then I understand…”

“Ah, so it is. To what extent has that Buddha ignited his Buddha-nature?”

It seems you think the Buddha I’m talking about is just a person.

I’m pondering who to ask for help so that Grandfather can be assisted.

Siddhartha has a peculiar personality.

Son Goku, from the start, treats me like a piece of glass art, fearing I might get hurt, so I’ve never seen him show his true feelings.

At best, he picks up a branch and waves it around. Even that seems too much for him, and I can kind of understand why he does it so half-heartedly.

Then, whether it’s Buddha-nature or not, the one relatively normal person remains by process of elimination.

“I don’t know about Buddha-nature, but it seems like his whole body is glowing and flowers are blooming.”

“Hmm? Haha!”

As I approach, Grandfather, who seemed very tense, suddenly bursts into laughter.

“Shin Yi, that’s impossible. Look at me. I’m just a humble monk with nothing special, but I’ve been studying tirelessly all these years.”

Grandfather Hye Neung has now faintly ignited his Buddha-nature. Yet, seeing how happy he is, it’s hard not to believe my words.

Perhaps this is what Son Goku meant by the limits of the physical body.

“I’ll handle the interview request for you.”

“Oh, Shin Yi. I don’t know who you’re talking about, but Buddhas don’t just come when called.”

“Amitabha Buddha. Please, just this once, help us!”

“Shin Yi…”

Suddenly, the sky begins to distort.

Clouds gather, forming the shape of a lotus, which then transforms into a golden lotus so bright it’s hard to keep your eyes open.

Ding───!

At the same time, a majestic yet soothing bell sound resonates.

**”The first disciple of the Tathāgata, Saripul of infinite wisdom, descends.”**

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

“Gasp…!!!”

“Quick, have a conversation. It’s the shiny-shiny thing Grandfather likes.”