Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1485 - 1034: Five Years of Long Enjoyment, Masumi’s Buddhist Law, Watanabe’s Origins
"Oh! What a wonderful aroma! Murakami, I could smell the fragrance of this deer meat from afar! It’s making my stomach rumble. You know, this deer meat stew in the winter snow is fine and delicious, great for nourishment, especially when mixed with the pleasant aroma of rice—it really is a culinary masterpiece!"...
"Ha! Watanabe, you’re a monk from a big temple in the Capital City, yet you also enjoy eating deer meat?..."
"Oh! What about being a monk? Can’t monks eat meat? The idea that monks don’t eat meat is a saying from the Tang dynasty’s Equal Sect. My Miao Courtyard is Esoteric Buddhism! Master Fujujingang Saicho, our founding teacher, integrated the true teachings of the Siddham Esoteric Buddhism and established the Tiantai Secret Sect. The ’Sumi’ character in my name also comes from Saicho, you know!..."
A small bonfire was kindled on the cold snowfield, a simple tent set up in the lee of a depression. Several Wa Country samurais were busy organizing the camp, while Korean sailors collected branches and dry grass. In the center of the small camp, a large iron pot was suspended over the bonfire’s rack. The pot slowly melted the winter snow, and the scent of meat grew stronger.
At this moment, the two leaders of the Ocean Shielding Ship, monk soldier Watanabe Masumi and shipwright Murakami Kitamichi, sat cross-legged by the bonfire, chatting and enjoying the warm aroma.
"Ha? Watanabe, your explanations are quite complicated, talking about Miao Courtyard and Tiantai Secret Sect, sounding quite intimidating... But I heard from the mage in town that eating meat has ten faults related to meat, the habits of rakshasa evil spirits, and they’ll fall into the evil realm after death!"...
"Hehe! Rakshasa evil spirits? Falling into the evil realm?..."
Upon hearing this, monk soldier Watanabe Masumi sneered dismissively. He uncovered the pot, glanced at the boiling deer meat, stirred it with a shaved stick, then took a handful of coarse salt to sprinkle in, before turning to smile.
"Murakami, you, a head warrior from Ezo land, what do you understand about Buddhist law? What I have is great compassion, embracing all actions with a heart of immense compassion, reciting spell scriptures, transcending the sentient beings with special connections to me... So, as long as I have compassion, I simply chant and transcend this deer! Amitabha Buddha! Go well, dear deer! I transcend you, you offer me your flesh, haha!..."
"Uh! Watanabe, what kind of sinister esoteric Buddhist law is this? I really don’t understand... But I’ve never seen high monks in other temples drink and eat meat as happily as you do! Could it be that all the high monks in the big temples of the Capital City are like you, indulging in both drink and meat, unrestricted in killing?"...
"Oh! I’m a monk soldier, killing is to defend Buddhist law, to eliminate demons for Buddha, essentially killing for the high monks. Eating meat, as they say, is just to gain strength... As for the high monks in the big temples of the Capital City, they’re far beyond me! Their appearance is Buddhist law, stomach is Buddhist law, even their roots are Buddhist law... Not only can they transcend sentient beings, transcend fish and meat, they can transcend a bunch of noble ladies and continue dozens of Buddha children! Haha!..."
Monk soldier Watanabe Masumi laughed heartily, but his mischievous words left Murakami Kitamichi stunned.
"Uh! This?!... The story of Saint Shinran getting married was indeed told by the mage in the temple. But wasn’t that the merit promised by Bodhisattva? Saint Shinran had past life karma, had to violate the precept of lust. Savior Guanyin transformed into a beautiful woman, coupled with the saint. Guanyin led the saint to Western Pure Land upon his death, a well-known tale..."
"Haha! A tale? Saint Shinran established the Pure Land Sect, a founder of successive sects. His marriage is a tale, the practice is ample. But for high monks in temples marrying many wives, is that also a tale? Then, the high monks having many children, and sending them to preside over places, is that also the best of tales?"...
"Ah? Ah this! Great monks are all marrying and bearing children to preside?"...
"Otherwise? Without children to inherit the temple, no descendants to worship, no support from temples and shrines, how can they be high monks? The title of high monk, isn’t something gained from practicing Buddhist law, placed on the forehead, quite a simple principle!"...
"Buddha! This... This is great disrespect!..."
Listening to this nonsense, Murakami Kitamichi stood in place, his mind a mess, as though the Buddha statue in his head was collapsing. After all, he was just a simple warrior from Ezo land, his belief in Buddhism was very naive, not knowing the rumors of the big temples in the Capital City or the ways of these high monks.
"Hey! Murakami, you seem smart usually, turns out you’re also a foolish deer!... Believing in Buddhism, just believe in your heart! As long as you have great compassion, and your thoughts are clear, then drinking and eating meat is okay, killing and setting fires are okay, nothing wrong... Today, every year gets more chaotic, how can you just listen to a few mages and bind your own hands and feet? Absolutely not!"...
Seeing Murakami dazed and confused, Watanabe Masumi grinned, recalling the journey they shared, then candidly spoke a few heartfelt words.
"Buddha’s blessing! This time we went to sea, experienced the winds and waves of the far north land, encountered these man-eating Ezo, truly fellow life and death! I won’t hide from you, I gave my Naginata to the Ezo, also gave my wrist Buddha beads to the Gold Shipwright... perhaps Buddha told me, my connection with the temple ought to end!... Counting the time, being a monk is truly ten years now..."
"Next spring, if we survive and return, delivering this batch of precious goods to the Capital City... I won’t owe the temple anymore, and can earn some cash. Then, I’ll submit my resignation to the temple... Haha! I’m planning to return to civilian life, marry a woman, and try hard to have two little kids!"...
"Ah? Watanabe, you’re... you’re planning to return to civilian life?"...
Upon hearing, Murakami Kitamichi shook his head, snapping back from his shaken belief. He touched his samurai moon-cut hair, glanced at Watanabe’s bald head, and curiously asked.
"Watanabe, you appear older, should be older than me, right? Are you thirty-five? Thirty-eight?... Whew! You’re quite old! No wonder you know so much... By the way, Watanabe, does your family have someone to continue the lineage? If it’s hard to give birth due to age, you could adopt a nephew..."
"Uh! Murakami, I probably can still have children... As for lineage, before I became a monk, I had a daughter who stayed in Hizen’s old home, she should be married and have children by now!... Also, I have a younger brother, that’s quite a remarkable person!"...
Speaking of his younger brother, monk soldier Watanabe Masumi lowered his eyes, his gaze clearly complex, his expression deeply emotional, yet unknown what he had experienced.
"Buddha’s blessing! Watanabe, you even have grandchildren?"...
Murakami Kitamichi’s eyes widened in surprise, a mix of astonishment and envy. Then he asked a long-held question of curiosity.
"Watanabe, after returning to civilian life, will you use your old name? What was your name before?"...
"..."
Hearing this question, monk soldier Watanabe Masumi’s eyes narrowed, falling silent. After a while, he hesitantly nodded, responding only halfway.
"I should use it... at least the family name..."
"Ah? What was your previous surname?"...
"... The meat is about done, we can cook the rice now... Well-cooked meat and the aroma of rice, that’s the way to go!"...
The wind blew, monk soldier Watanabe Masumi tightened the fur robe around him, lowered his head and reached out to take the bag of rice. But Murakami Kitamichi swiftly got it first, holding the bag, staring at Watanabe’s face.
"You don’t trust me? Want to eat my porridge?"...
"... I trust you. Hey!"...
After a few moments of eye contact, monk soldier Watanabe Masumi’s expression changed, sighed helplessly.
"Alright! My family name is Long Zao Temple. The inheritance character is ’family’..."
"Long Zao Temple? What’s the full name?"...
Murakami Kitamichi blinked his eyes, then suddenly changed his face with shock.
"Eh! Inheritance character? Watanabe, are you from a Martial Family, a noble Martial Family?!"...
"Ha! Just a fallen Martial Family!"...
Monk soldier Watanabe Masumi smiled bitterly and shook his head. Not wanting to discuss the topic further, he turned towards the camp’s simple stable, leaving a final instruction.
"Murakami, you cook the rice, leave the deer meat porridge to you! I’ll go check on Sukeichiro, invite him to join us for the meal!"...
