Chapter 156 - 151 Flame Cloud Sect_2
"It’s a shame to say..."
Thus, Li Ping’an pricked up his ears and listened to the past of Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts:
Mahaparinirvana had once been a local military officer in Shan State, and amidst the vast sea of people, he chanced upon a distressed maiden in the bystreets, and sought to defend her honor. Yet, with just three punches that caused slight injuries, great calamity descended upon him for the first time. Thus began his life of wandering—where was home? He then took monastic vows at Mount Wutai to evade the sharp edges. A thousand words condensed into a longing gaze back.
When all that he wished for echoed unattainable in the valleys, the fierce glare of the Vajra could not tolerate such rashness thrice over. When the stern edge of the Zen staff finally swung toward the earth, a lone figure in a straw cloak and rain hat, Staff and straw sandals turned toward the distant horizon.
Later, he formed brotherly ties; past events seemed but an old dream. Who could foresee the fickleness of fate? With traitors usurping power and slaughtering the faithful, the once warm homeland was lost, his heroic spirit condemned once more to wander.
He then joined the Thirty-Six Rebel Factions, swearing brotherhood unto death. Who knew the leader would ultimately betray them and join the Imperial Court? Now commanded to lead a grand campaign against another rebel faction in Suzhou and Hangzhou, their blood dyed the water town red, leaving it dim and lifeless.
In the end, when the array of brothers blossomed, then withered, blurred, and faded with time, countless years could not bend his sturdy spine. The Defrocked Monk laughed, cried, wearied, no longer wishing to wander, thus he returned to the deep mountain sanctuary, deciding to abide eternal by the green lantern’s Buddhist light.
After hearing this, Li Ping’an sighed endlessly:
"I never imagined, brother, that you had such a tumultuous past, and even joined the rebels? Having once committed such heinous crimes, why didn’t you practice restraint, continuing to act as you please? You shouldn’t have!"