Chapter 36: Is It the Tree or Its Shadow That Moves? The Sage's Heart Is Stirred!

"This..." Lin Buyu was immediately at a loss. In her view, asking Xu Ye to discuss Buddhist philosophy with Master Zhiheng was no different from playing music to a cow; Xu Ye would surely make a fool of himself. She had already given up hope for this literary gathering, and if Xu Ye were to be embarrassed again, she would really feel sorry for him.

"Master Qin, Young Master Xu isn't very good at—"

"Buyu, since Master Qin has already spoken, let's just listen." Lin Buyu was about to risk offending Master Qin by refusing for Xu Ye, but before she could finish, Xu Ye interrupted her.

"If my answer is unsatisfactory, I hope Master Qin and Master Zhiheng won't laugh at me," Xu Ye added, glancing playfully at the bewildered Lin Buyu as if pleading for mercy.

Lin Buyu couldn't help but feel both exasperated and amused.

"It is a great virtue that Benefactor Xu wishes to discuss Buddhist teachings. How could a poor monk possibly ridicule you?" Monk Zhiheng replied solemnly.

"Rest assured," Master Qin nodded in agreement. "With me here, no one will dare to mock you."

"In that case, please, Master Zhiheng, give me your question," Xu Ye replied with a nod.

Though he knew little of Zen, he was confident in his debating skills. Rather than let this group pester him endlessly, he might as well try to silence them with his words.

"Benefactor Xu, please look at the banyan tree in the courtyard," Monk Zhiheng said, pointing to the ancient tree in the front yard.

"What about it?" Xu Ye's gaze followed to the tree.

The banyan tree stood as tall as a three-story building, its branches and leaves flourishing. Whenever the wind blew, its leaves and limbs would sway in ceaseless motion.

"Last summer night, the abbot and I sat beneath that tree to cool off. A strong wind blew, casting the tree's shadow into a dance. In that moment, a question arose in my mind," Zhiheng said, hands pressed together, eyes fixed on the tree as if recalling the scene.

"What question?" Xu Ye couldn't help but ask.

"When the wind moves the tree’s shadow, is it the wind that moves, or the shadow that moves?" Zhiheng regarded Xu Ye with a mysterious expression.

Xu Ye froze, thinking to himself: "Why are monks in this world obsessed with this question too?"

The onlookers began to murmur among themselves. Some insisted it was the wind that moved, others argued for the shadow. The crowd was quickly caught in heated debate.

Even Master Qin fell silent.

"The key to this question is not simply answering 'the wind moves' or 'the shadow moves,' but understanding why you say so," someone observed.

Biting her lip, Lin Buyu fell into deep thought, but no matter how she pondered, she could not find an answer that satisfied her.

"This question from Zhiheng is even harder than the one his senior set last time. Even if Xu Ye can’t answer, no one would dare to laugh at him. I just hope he doesn’t start spouting nonsense," she thought, glancing at Xu Ye.

"Master Zhiheng, I have an answer," Xu Ye, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up just as Lin Buyu wondered how to prompt him.

"This fellow, whether or not he can answer, shouldn't he at least pretend to think for a while?" Lin Buyu silently lamented.

"Oh?" Zhiheng's eyes lit up. "So, Benefactor Xu, is it the wind that moves, or the shadow?"

Not only Zhiheng, but all the scholars—including Master Qin and Liu Muxuan—now fixed their gaze on Xu Ye.

"Neither the wind nor the shadow moves," Xu Ye replied, doing his best to appear profound, and offered Zhiheng a faint smile.

"Neither wind nor tree moves? What kind of answer is that?" Not far away, Liu Muxuan sneered as soon as he heard Xu Ye’s response.

Many of the other scholars shared his scorn, believing Xu Ye was just talking nonsense.

Lin Buyu pressed her hand to her forehead. This was exactly what she had feared.

"Xu Ye, if you don't know the answer, just say so. There's no need for such trickery," Liu Muxuan added fuel to the fire.

But Zhiheng remained curiously attentive. "If it is neither wind nor shadow, then how do you explain it?"

"Neither wind nor shadow moves—what moves is the heart of the observer," Xu Ye responded serenely.

At these words, the scholars who had been waiting to laugh at him all froze, their expressions turning rigid.

"The heart of the observer moves!" Master Qin, who had looked displeased, now stood as if struck by lightning, muttering the phrase over and over.

"The heart of the observer moves—how profound! How virtuous!" Monk Zhiheng was the first to recover. His usually tranquil eyes suddenly glowed with golden light, and a faint aureate radiance appeared above his smooth head.

Those familiar with Buddhist cultivation would know this was a sign of sudden enlightenment.

"Benefactor Xu, with such wisdom, why not leave the mundane world and join our order to pursue the path of Buddha with us?" Zhiheng invited, visibly moved.

"I refuse!" Xu Ye quickly darted behind Lin Buyu.

Still stunned, Lin Buyu snapped back to herself and stepped in front of Xu Ye, blocking Zhiheng. "Master Zhiheng, without the permission of the King of the Underworld, the ghost messengers cannot change their station."

Zhiheng’s face fell with regret. "With such wisdom, Benefactor Xu was born for the monastic path, not to be wasted in the Department of Spirits!"

Hiding behind Lin Buyu, Xu Ye rolled his eyes inwardly. "Well, thank you very much."

...

Moments later, under the curious, envious, and admiring gazes of the crowd, Xu Ye and Lin Buyu walked side by side into the Hall of Heavenly Kings.

"How did you come up with that answer?" Lin Buyu asked quietly as they made their way to the examination hall.

"Well, actually, it was my ancestor who thought of it. He once wrote about a similar question in his books," Xu Ye replied after a moment’s thought, shifting the credit to his family’s renowned forebear.

Lin Buyu looked enlightened. "No wonder..."

"Keep it to yourself," Xu Ye warned softly before she could say more.

"Mm, mm, mm!" Lin Buyu nodded eagerly, like a pecking chick.

"If only, when the main examination begins, your ancestor could possess you for a moment and help you with the questions," Lin Buyu sighed, thinking of the test to come.

"This round is about playing the zither and chess, right?" Xu Ye asked.

"That’s right," Lin Buyu replied absentmindedly.

"I can’t play the zither, but I’m good at chess! Really good," Xu Ye said with confidence.

After all, he had been champion of the community’s senior Go tournament for several years running.