"Master, I must say, as a man of enlightenment, your temper seems rather fiery. After all, this is a pleasure house. If you've caused such a scene tonight, who knows what those foolish gossips will be saying about you tomorrow!"
After closing the door to the private room, Han Mo poured himself another cup of wine as he spoke.
"Lord Han, our leader always believed that despite your countless schemes, you remained a true gentleman. Yet, this time, why have you gone back on your word?"
Looking at Han Mo, who sat opposite him with a playful grin, the old monk asked indignantly.
"Master, one can eat recklessly, but one must not speak carelessly! While I, Han Mo, may not be a significant figure, I am still an official of the court. Your words require evidence. How have I gone back on my word?"
Seeing the accusing look on the old monk's face, Han Mo immediately retorted without a second thought.
"Lord Han, have you forgotten our last agreement? We had settled that you would no longer participate in the disputes between Buddhism and Taoism!"
Observing his indifferent demeanor, the old monk slammed the table in anger and stood up.
"Master, let's be clear. I've only just returned to the capital, and I haven't even settled in properly. You speak of me participating in the Buddhist-Taoist conflicts; do you have any evidence to support this?"
Han Mo was meticulous in his actions, so much so that even the Imperial City Department had yet to obtain any concrete evidence, let alone an old monk!
Even though the old monk was now adopting a posture of inquiry, Han Mo unconcernedly questioned back.
"I..."
After carefully scrutinizing Han Mo again, the old monk trembled with rage, yet he was utterly helpless against Han Mo.
Even though he knew this incident was orchestrated by this brat, he currently had no proof.
"Benefactor, the situation has escalated to this point, and you still intend to be evasive? Do you find this meaningful? Even if you can deceive the world, can you deceive your own conscience?"
"While I may not have any evidence, Benefactor, are you not afraid of reckoning after death? Do not forget, good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished. It is not that retribution will not come, but that the time has not yet arrived!"
Despite knowing he had no good recourse against Han Mo, the old monk spoke through gritted teeth.
"Master, are you trying to probe my mind?"
Even though the old monk was on the verge of exasperation, Han Mo remained unruffled. After taking another sip of wine, he looked at the old monk with great interest.
"So what if I am probing your mind?"
Upon thinking that with a few words from this brat, he would lose several temples, including the ancient temple of Xiangguo, the old monk felt a wave of discomfort, his eyes filled with unconcealable resentment.
"Master, you are a distinguished Buddhist monk. It is best not to present such tales that scare three-year-olds. Besides, does your Buddha truly have the time to bother with a minor figure like myself?"
The thought that this old fellow intended to sway him with mere words struck Han Mo as incredibly amusing.
Did this old fellow not know that his most formidable weapon was his tongue?
"Benefactor, you are an exceptionally intelligent person. Why insist on wading into the quagmire of sectarian disputes? Would it not be better to simply observe from the sidelines and enjoy the spectacle?"
Seeing that coercion would not work on Han Mo, the old monk decided to try a more emotional approach.
"Master, I truly don't understand what you are talking about. What do the matters of monks and Taoists have to do with me? Could it be that your intelligence is flawed?"
Regardless of whether the old monk resorted to soft tactics or hard ones, whether he was trying to extract information or issue threats, Han Mo at this moment was like a reef by the shore, enduring the old monk's wind and rain, remaining steadfast.
Even as the old monk's lips were almost chapped from speaking, Han Mo showed no intention of admitting anything.
"Are the matters of Tianshui truly unrelated to you, Benefactor?"
After a full fifteen minutes of this exchange, seeing Han Mo's listless state, the once-certain old monk began to doubt himself. Could it be that he had wrongly accused this young man?
"If you insist on asking whether this matter has anything to do with me, then perhaps it does, a little..."
Seeing that the old monk was on the verge of a breakdown, Han Mo suddenly relented.
"Young master, are you not afraid of being ridiculed by the world for going back on your word?"
"Master, you can't say that! I said this matter is related to me, but I never said I orchestrated it! Don't you forget, Huang Qianshan imprisoned my father. As a son, how can I abandon my own flesh and blood?"
Looking at the old monk's pained and resentful expression, Han Mo spread his hands and said frankly.
Upon hearing his words, Elder Monk Dao Jian felt like cursing.
As an official of the court, why didn't you simply impeach him with a memorial to the emperor if you wanted to save your father?
Instead of writing a memorial as a proper court official, you're dabbling in geomancy and dragon veins. Isn't that absurd?
"Young master, do you know that due to your impulsive decision, you have disrupted our Buddhist sect's millennium-old plan!"
The old monk became increasingly agitated, even pounding the table as he spoke.
"Is it that serious? I doubt it. Master, ascetics should have compassion and strive for self-cultivation, detachment from worldly desires, and indifference to fame and fortune. As an enlightened monk, why do you care so much about these external possessions all day? What millennium-old plan does Buddhism have? Master, are you planning to usurp the throne?"
"Cough—cough—cough—"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, the old monk began to cough violently again. This brat was truly unafraid of speaking his mind to death!
"Benefactor, you are also a dignified official of the court. Do you not know that speaking such words can lead to death?"
After quickly patting his chest a few times, the old monk glared fiercely at Han Mo.
"Master, why do you ascetics, instead of diligently practicing vegetarianism and chanting scriptures daily, engage in these clandestine maneuvers behind the scenes? If you lack the courage to transform heaven and earth, you should honestly do what you are supposed to do! Stop talking about millennium-old plans; anyone hearing you might think you're planning something treasonous!"