Chapter Twenty-Six: The Great Master of Supreme Goodness

  The first practitioner of the Great Song, a monk who endures hardships to save the world from suffering; he collects herbs in the mountains and rivers, makes medicine pills to give to the poor; accumulates virtue and goodness to save all living beings, not for profit or fame; the high-ranking monk named To-Shan achieves enlightenment and returns to nature. He understands the Chan (Zen) machine and sees the Tathagata, a true spirit in the Arhat Hall.

  Old Monk brought Wang Ziyu back to Wuming Mountain, researched Chinese herbal medicine, and administered the right medicine. In just a few days, a rejuvenated Wang Ziyu walked out of Yanluo Temple.

  "Thank you, Master, for saving my life. I don't know your Dharma name, please tell me, and no matter where Zi Peng goes in the future, he will never forget Master's kindness." Wang Zi Peng knelt down to thank him.

  "Amitabha, well done! Child, you and I have a predestined relationship. Saving you is just my duty, no need to be overly polite. My Dharma name is Zhi Shan, and I usually wander around the nine provinces, without a fixed abode. This unnamed mountain is just one of my places for cultivation. Child, nowadays the Song Dynasty is on shaky ground, with the Western Xia and Xiongnu causing trouble in the west, the Liao and Jin states eyeing us covetously in the north, and the southern barbarians stirring up trouble. The Song Dynasty is under attack from three sides, its people weakened and unable to recover, the national situation precarious. In the future, defending our great Song territory will depend on you all. I don't understand martial arts, but I have some knowledge of medicine. Usually, I travel around to help those in need, alleviate disasters and difficulties. However, my junior fellow disciple is a Shaolin monk with excellent skills. Since you have grand ambitions, I'll fulfill your wishes and introduce you to him to learn the Shaolin arts."

  Wang Zipeng listened to the words of Master Zhishan, and was deeply moved. He kowtowed several times to Master Zhishan, and said with a smile: "Zipeng thanks Master, thank you for your help."

  "Child, get up! Your body has just recovered and it's not suitable for long-distance travel. Why don't you stay on this mountain for a few days, help me grind herbs and prepare medicine? In three to five days, I will go down the mountain to wander in the clouds, at that time we can go to Shaolin Temple together, what do you think?" asked Master Zishan.

  "Since Master is willing to accompany me on this trip, I am deeply grateful. Master, these past few days I've been helping you with medicine preparation, can you teach me about pharmacology and medicinal properties, so I can gain some knowledge?" Zi Peng said.

  "I am nearly ninety years old, and I'm not as energetic as I used to be. My traditional Chinese medicine formulas and pharmacology have yet to find a worthy successor to pass them on to. Since we've met, I'll teach you the common methods for treating epidemics. If you master both literary and martial arts and serve the imperial court in the future, you will definitely hold an important position in the military. When encountering various epidemic outbreaks, these skills will be of great use." said Master Zishan.

  Since there is such a good opportunity, Wang Zipei certainly agrees.

  "Master is above, please accept a bow from your disciple." Wang Zipeng knelt down and performed the ceremony of paying respects to his master.

  The Great Master Zishan lifted Wang Zongpeng up with one hand and said with a smile: "Child, don't be bound by worldly etiquette. You and I can meet here, it's already fate. Passing on medical skills is an unfulfilled wish of mine. I only hope that you will make more contributions to the Great Song in the future. Remember, doctors have a parental heart, saving people is our duty, I hope you won't forget your master's heartfelt words."

  "Please rest assured, Master, I will definitely remember your teachings." Wang Ziyu said as he stood up.

  For several days, Wang Ziyu followed Master Zhishan to Xiangying Temple to learn how to identify various Chinese herbal medicines, understand their properties and how to prepare medicinal pills. Master Zhishan taught him wholeheartedly, while Wang Ziyu learned with humility, the two of them like grandfather and grandson, caring for each other mutually.

  In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed, and the plague is rampant in the mountains. The two banks of the Yellow River are filled with mournful cries.

  "Zi Peng, you've been studying on the mountain for over half a month now and have basically learned all the basic knowledge. Currently, there's an epidemic raging along both banks of the Yellow River. Why not accompany me down the mountain to rescue the common people? This is also a great merit. Child, just learning basic knowledge isn't enough; what's key is practical experience. This trip down the mountain is truly a good opportunity for you to gain experience, don't miss it." said Master Zishan.

  "Master, you are absolutely right. I was thinking the same thing. Being able to accompany Master and learn from your practical experience is a great opportunity that I have been longing for. Thank you, Master, for your guidance." Wang Zipeng said happily.

  "All right, let's get the medicine ready tonight and head down the mountain at dawn tomorrow," said Master Zhi Shan.

  At night, the master and apprentice were busy with joy, they ground all the Chinese herbal medicines on the mountain into powder, made them into pills, classified and packaged.

  The next morning, the master and apprentice packed up their luggage and headed down the mountain.

  After walking for nearly half a day, they arrived at a village where many villagers had contracted the plague. Some had already passed away, some were on their last breath, and others had only recently been infected.

  The Great Master of Benevolence arrived at a farmhouse, where the children had been infected with the plague for several days and were in critical condition. The farmer had also contracted the plague and was bedridden. When the farmer's wife saw the arrival of the Great Master of Benevolence, she felt like seeing a warm sun on a cold winter day, and her face showed a glimmer of hope, her eyes suddenly brightened.

  "Great Master who relieves suffering and rescues from difficulties, we thought you had gone traveling in the clouds. You've come just in time! Quickly save my husband and son!" The peasant woman knelt down and kowtowed.

  "Amitabha Buddha, I'm guilty, I'm guilty. It's been several days since I came down from the mountain, and yet the world below is so desolate. My sins are indeed deep." Master Zishan clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, chanting Buddhist scriptures as he reproached himself.

  Wang Zi Peng listened to his master's words and also felt that he couldn't escape responsibility.

  "Eldest sister, I'm sorry. I've also contracted the plague. Master delayed his time to save me, and I am the one who is deeply sinful." Wang Ziyu said with a guilty conscience.

  The Great Master looked at the child's condition, gave the child a pill to swallow, and then gave the farmer a pill to swallow. After half an hour, the Great Master looked at the child's complexion again, felt his pulse, and let out a long sigh: "Donor, please rest assured, the child is not in danger of losing their life, they just need to recover for a few days. Your husband will be cured after taking my pill for several hours."

  "Thank you, Master, for saving my life. You are the Guanyin Bodhisattva who saves suffering and difficulties, the living Buddha Ji Gong, and the monk Budaoweng." The peasant woman spoke with gratitude, saying all the good things she could think of.

  "Benefactor, time is pressing, I still have to go elsewhere to rescue and treat. Please notify the villagers that whoever has contracted the plague should send someone to the village entrance to receive medicine pills. The condition is urgent and cannot be delayed." said Master Zishan.

  The peasant woman immediately set out to inform every household.

  It's said that the great master of Zhishan sent medicine, everyone was overjoyed and rushed to the village entrance from all directions. Before long, dozens of people gathered at the village entrance.

  "Zi Peng prepares the medicine, and distributes it to each person according to the amount I said." After Master Zishan finished speaking, he asked each villager about their age, sex, how long they had been ill, the severity of their illness, and what symptoms they were experiencing. The villagers answered one by one.

  The great master ordered Wang Ziyu to dispense corresponding pills according to each person's condition, with one pill, two pills at most three pills.

  "The Master is indeed the Living Buddha Jigong, his medicine is divine. My husband and child were cured soon after taking it," said the peasant woman to the villagers.

  The villagers received the medicine and knelt down to kowtow in gratitude.

  "Amitabha Buddha, good, good! The Buddha said: Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." Master Zishan joined his palms together and recited the Buddha's name, saying, "Let's go!" He then set off with Prince Peng.