Early in the morning, Li Jian, Tan Wei, the Beggar Clan Chief and his four elders, Tang Fei—the second-in-command of the Feng Gang—and Ye Wen, the deputy leader of the Xuzhou Gang, gathered at the Salt Gang headquarters. The group then set out in grand fashion for Huangshan Palace. After several days of travel, they stayed at an inn near the palace and prepared to visit it the next day.
Before dawn the following morning, many travelers and martial artists in the inn had already risen and headed toward Huangshan Palace. Li Jian and his companions joined the crowd. When they arrived, the place was packed with people. Streams of visitors filled the roads leading to the palace. Rows of Taoist priests stood on both sides of the entrance, where a toll booth had been set up. Each visitor was charged two copper coins for admission.
A group of Taoist priests collected the fees from spectators and guests entering the palace. Standing behind them were an elderly, stout Buddhist monk and a tall, thin elderly Taoist priest. As people paid their two coins and entered one after another, a loud voice suddenly called out:
"Two Wonders of the Martial World! We brothers of the Beggar Clan are poor. Surely you can make an exception for us!"
People often said that Buddhism and Taoism were branches of the same spiritual family. The two men known as the "Two Wonders of the Martial World" were famous eccentrics who constantly debated the teachings of Buddhism and Taoism. Their martial arts were extraordinary, and their spiritual attainments were unfathomable. The speaker was none other than Elder Beggar Clan Chief Fei Jin. The old monk and old Taoist were highly respected martial arts veterans and were serving as the guardians of Huangshan Palace that day.
As the Beggar Clan Chief led his elders toward the toll booth, White-Brow Taoist smiled and said,
"Limitless Heavenly Worthy! Old Fei, it has been a long time!"
Master Zhenkong pressed his palms together, lowered his eyes, and bowed slightly.
"Amitabha. This benefactor possesses deep Buddhist affinity, yet worldly attachments remain and earthly ties are not yet severed."
Fei Jin chuckled.
"Limitless Heavenly Worthy! Amitabha! What is this? After all these years, the two of you are still serving as gatekeepers for Huangshan Palace?"
White-Brow Taoist laughed.
"What can we do? We're old now and no longer fit for hard work. Huangshan Palace was willing to take us in, so naturally we contribute what we can."
Fei Jin raised his voice.
"Two coins per person? The price has gone up! How about one coin each? Surely you can give us a discount!"
White-Brow Taoist replied,
"It's two coins per person. Don't make things difficult for Huangshan Palace. Where's Wu Tong? Let him pay!"
Fei Jin frowned.
"Wu Tong has gone to the Western Regions. But he found a successor, and the successor isn't nearly as wealthy as he was."
Then, turning serious, he said,
"Jian'er, Wei'er, hurry and pay your respects to these two seniors. They are the famous 'Two Wonders of the Martial World,' legendary figures in the jianghu."
Hearing this, the two hurried forward and bowed deeply.
"This junior, Li Jian, greets the seniors."
"This junior, Tan Wei, greets the seniors."
White-Brow Taoist and Master Zhenkong quickly replied,
"There is no need for such formality. Please rise."
Seeing the pair in the prime of youth—the young man handsome, upright, and heroic, and the young woman graceful and exceptionally beautiful—the two old masters were full of admiration. Their thoughts drifted back to the days when Wu Tong first met Zhao Rou. Memories of the past filled their minds.
White-Brow Taoist remarked,
"Isn't this boy the very image of Wu Tong in his youth?"
Master Zhenkong nodded.
"And isn't this girl just like the young Zhao Rou?"
Fei Jin explained,
"Li Jian is Wu Tong's successor and the new Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Tan Wei was the orphan girl Wu Tong took in years ago."
Tan Wei said,
"Chief Fei, Uncle Tong left us plenty of banknotes. We can pay the admission fee."
Master Zhenkong burst into laughter.
"White-Brow, Old Fei is always trying to trick us! I'm sure he's been feasting on fine food and wine lately."
Fei Jin grinned.
"Fine food, perhaps not. But wine? Plenty of that! After the martial arts contest, why don't the three of us share a few drinks?"
White-Brow Taoist replied,
"Just a few? That wonderful taste deserves far more than that!"
Before he could finish, he glanced sideways at Master Zhenkong.
The monk immediately looked troubled. As a Buddhist monk, he was bound by monastic precepts and was not supposed to drink alcohol.
"You scruffy Taoist! Stop making fun of me. How can a monk drink wine?"
Fei Jin laughed.
"White-Brow, I heard that back at the cave of the Nine-Yang Immortal on Mount Hua, Zhenkong drank every last drop of the Nine-Yang Immortal's grape wine. Is that true?"
White-Brow Taoist drew out his words dramatically.
"Oh, I remember that! Wu Tong said, 'Even Emperor Taizong once allowed monks to drink wine. It's only grape wine, not strong liquor!' After a few cups, Zhenkong couldn't stop himself and ended up finishing the entire stock!"
Hearing the two tease him about an embarrassing incident from years ago, Master Zhenkong simply laughed.
"White-Brow, you won't embarrass me so easily! That was called an exception under proper circumstances. You should understand such things. If you don't, then you misunderstand the precepts entirely."
Pausing briefly, he continued:
"Monks are not forbidden from drinking under all circumstances. There is no such rule. Alcohol is indeed one of the Five Precepts, but there are many exceptions. In Buddhism, every precept has principles known as opening, restriction, observance, and violation—kai, zhe, chi, fan. If you don't understand these principles, you cannot truly uphold the precepts. When conditions justify an exception, it is called opening the precept, not breaking the precept."
When White-Brow Taoist and Fei Jin heard this, they stared at him in astonishment, mouths hanging open.
White-Brow Taoist finally said,
"Zhenkong, stop fooling me! Breaking a precept is breaking a precept. Don't try to justify yourself!"
Master Zhenkong looked at him disdainfully and replied,
"For example, if someone is over seventy years old and physically weak, the Buddha permits a cup of wine with meals to promote circulation. There is reason behind it. In Chinese medicine, many remedies use alcohol as a medicinal catalyst. Naturally, that is permitted. Likewise, when wine is used in cooking as a seasoning, eating such food is also allowed. There are many such exceptions. White-Brow, you should really learn these things."
White-Brow Taoist had intended to embarrass Master Zhenkong, but instead found himself speechless.
The concepts of kai (allowance), zhe (prohibition), chi (observance), and fan (violation) are fundamental principles for anyone practicing Buddhist discipline. To uphold the precepts properly and achieve spiritual liberation, one must understand these distinctions thoroughly.
Kai (開) — what is permitted under appropriate circumstances. Zhe (遮) — what is prohibited. Chi (持) — faithfully observing the precepts. Fan (犯) — violating the precepts.
Within Buddhist doctrine, drinking alcohol is generally regarded as a prohibitory offense rather than an inherently immoral act. Alcohol itself is not considered evil; rather, it may lead people toward misconduct and other harmful actions. Because it can become the cause of further wrongdoing, the Buddha discouraged and restricted its use. That, according to Buddhist teaching, is the true meaning behind the prohibition.
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