Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 236: Do Buddhists Eat Meat? No, But He Does!
"Meat dishes?"
Sun Wukong’s heart skipped a beat, and he scratched his head, "Master, you know we don’t eat meat in Buddhism!"
Chen Nuo was indifferent, "But isn’t there someone who ate meat, like Maitreya at the Flat Peach Banquet? He must not have missed out on hotpot, right?"
"Master, you know?" Sun Wukong looked at Chen Nuo in surprise; he had heard it from the Immortal Attendants later.
Maitreya actually ate the dishes from ten tables, without distinguishing between meat and vegetables.
As a Buddhist, to break the precepts so casually was beyond his expectations.
Seeing Maitreya’s pure heart in his pursuit of food, he had let him eat in the Imperial Kitchen, but he had underestimated Maitreya’s appetite. After going out, he even ate from another ten tables. Such an appetite, he could only admire.
"He’s even gained Divine Skills from eating hotpot, how could I not know?" Chen Nuo rolled his eyes.
So that was it.
Sun Wukong nodded, but he still felt it wasn’t quite reliable.
Maitreya breaking the precepts made him think that his own determination was too weak; the vast sect of Buddhism shouldn’t be so brazen, right?
"Master, there can’t be that many like Maitreya in Buddhism, can there?" Sun Wukong hesitated.
"One for every one counted," Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow.
Chen Nuo took a casual look at Sun Wukong, a glint of interest hidden in his eyes. Would Wukong still maintain his current peaceful attitude towards Buddhism if he knew the destiny originally set for him?
Although it was just a thought, Chen Nuo didn’t say it out loud. Since the past had changed, why add to the burden on his mind?
"But then, won’t they kick me out?" Sun Wukong scratched his head, his confusion mixed with a hint of discomfort.
After all, it was their rules, and it didn’t seem very nice to do this!
Kicked out?
Chen Nuo was somewhat speechless inside. Wasn’t Buddhism just waiting to suppress you? Why would they kick you out?
Although he was confident he could protect Wukong, it didn’t mean he was going to swallow this insult easily. Offering them Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was kindness enough.
At the very least, it would let them enjoy a feast.
"That’s why you serve this dish last, as the finale."
"By then, even if they send you away, everything will have been done, leaving no impact," Chen Nuo spoke as if it was only natural.
Sun Wukong: "..."
It sounded like there was some sense to it.
"Moreover," Chen Nuo’s mouth curved up, a sly twinkle in his eye, "Wukong, don’t you think that the Buddhist way of eating is too bland?"
"Meat, which is so delicious, is completely untouched by Buddhism. It’s just a shameful waste. If we could let them taste the delight of meat, awaken their desire for it, wouldn’t that be a joyous thing for the culinary world!" Chen Nuo coaxed Wukong persuasively.
He managed to make the act of provocation sound so noble and grand – only Chen Nuo could do that.
Sun Wukong frowned thoughtfully, it seemed like Master had a point!
This could be a deed of great merit! The way Maitreya longed for meat when he sought him out was still fresh in his memory.
This gave Sun Wukong quite a bit of confidence. He nodded and responded, "Master, I will learn!"
"I beseech you to teach me Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!" Sun Wukong bowed respectfully.
Chen Nuo’s demeanor was calm and lofty, "It’s settled then."
He walked up to a large pot and lifted the lid, a faint fragrance wafted out.
Sun Wukong hurried over, only to see a big pot full of broth.
"Master, may I have a look?" Sun Wukong asked.
"Take a look."
With permission granted, Sun Wukong curiously took a soup spoon and started to dig around.
"Chicken, duck, beef, pork..." Sun Wukong said each ingredient he spotted out loud.
Although it had been stewing in the pot for a long time, Sun Wukong still recognized it at a glance with his rich experience.
"So many different ingredients?"
With eyes full of astonishment, Sun Wukong turned his head to Chen Nuo, "Master, is this the ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ you mentioned? With so many lavish ingredients, it must taste exceptionally good with Master’s cooking skills."
"No," Chen Nuo shook his head indifferently, "this is just the base broth."
"Base broth?!!" Sun Wukong was completely taken aback.
All these sumptuous ingredients were just for making broth? Was he kidding?
Sun Wukong was absolutely baffled; base broth was simply meant to be broth, the ingredients used for simmering it—whose essence was to be extracted—were ultimately thrown away.
Chicken, duck, pig, cow...
It was his first time encountering such an extravagant base broth; any one of these items on their own could be turned into a delicious dish, not to mention when they were combined.
If even the base broth was like this, what kind of dish was Master actually making? Sun Wukong felt a surge of excitement, knowing from the extensive setup that the dish must be extraordinary.
"Master, is the broth ready? What’s next do we do?" Sun Wukong eagerly asked.
He couldn’t wait to get involved.
Chen Nuo shook his head in resignation, "You’re always in such a rush."
While saying this, he lit the stove again.
"It still needs more time."
Because the combined scent of the broth was too strong, it was not very convenient when guests were coming, so he had turned off the heat.
Turning to Sun Wukong, Chen Nuo spoke indifferently, "First, I’ll tell you how to make ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ as well as what ingredients are needed."
"Oh yes, please do!" Sun Wukong beamed with joy.
However, after Chen Nuo finished explaining, Sun Wukong was stunned.
Abalone, sea cucumber, fish lips, yak skin glue, flower mushroom and tendon, scallop, cuttlefish, quail eggs...
This was a bit too luxurious, no wonder chickens, ducks, and cows were only fit to be part of the broth.
Sun Wukong’s eyelids twitched with what he heard; the ingredients weren’t just numerous.
For instance, sea cucumber, fish lips, and abalone each required individual, quite intricate preparations—and this was only for getting the ingredients ready, not to mention the actual cooking.
Sun Wukong felt somewhat shocked on the inside; what kind of unprecedented taste would this dish possess if it were made right?
He didn’t know, but the one thing he did know was that one would need exceptional culinary skills to make this dish.
"Come on, let the broth keep stewing; I’ll show you how to handle the other ingredients."
"We’ll aim to give you a rough understanding first. This will be the main course tonight; whatever you manage to make is what we’ll eat," Chen Nuo instructed lightly.
"Yes!" Sun Wukong nodded vigorously, a confident smile on his face.
If it was master teaching him step by step, he was confident he would make the ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ dish very well.
Ao Ling departed from Chaos Residence and flew toward the East Sea. For Ao Ling, Chen Nuo adopted the same educational method.
The energy absorbed from eating the Flat Peach was all utilized to strengthen her body.
Not only did her body become more resilient, but her flying speed had also increased significantly, and in no time she arrived at a place in the East Sea.
Outsiders might not recognize this place, but Ao Ling, who grew up in the East Sea, knew it all too clearly.
This was the space directly above the main entrance to the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the sea, where barriers existed everywhere else, preventing direct entry.
Although she knew how to penetrate the barriers, it was a method to be used only in dire circumstances. As a princess, she didn’t need to sneak around under normal conditions.
She took a dive and submerged herself.
"This is a restricted area of the Dragon Palace! Halt, whoever approaches!"
"Declare your name, who goes there!"
Hearing the noise, the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals on either side quickly positioned themselves in the center of the gate, glaring slantingly with their weapons crossed.
