With that said, the group immediately heaved a sigh of relief. Fatty muttered, "Isn't it the same? Monks are hypocrites."
"Fatty!" Jiang Ting glared at him angrily, shutting him up.
Fangzheng pretended to not hear him as he patted the wolf's head. He said, "Alright, you look rather scary, so go out and play. Just come back when it's meal time."
Lone Wolf shook his head. He followed the small footpath and headed for the door. The quintet immediately made way for him. Lone Wolf did not look elsewhere as he moved forward with his head held high. However, when he passed by Fatty, he bared his fangs and touched Fatty's butt. It gave Fatty such a fright that he leaped up with a cry.
Fangzheng reprimanded, "Don't fool around!"
Only then did Lone Wolf scamper away.
With Lone Wolf gone, the rest immediately felt at a loss at whether to laugh or cry when they saw how Fatty had awkwardly pressed himself against the wall. As for Fatty, he was truly crying. That swipe from before had truly given him a fright! When he finished his jump, he had secretly touched his pants. They weren't wet! Only then did he heave a sigh of relief. However, each and every one of Lone Wolf and Fangzheng's past eighteen generations of ancestors was cursed by him.
"Patrons, why are you back again?" Fangzheng asked once more.
Monkey said with a wry smile, "To be honest, we came back out of curiosity. I've seen people rear wolves, but I've never seen someone tame an alpha wolf. Master, why is the palm imprint on the metal door gone? Did you press it back?"
Fangzheng smiled and remained silent.
Monkey looked bitter as he said, "Master, can't you speak the truth?"
"What is the truth? Do all of you believe what This Penniless Monk has to say?" asked Fangzheng.
Monkey nodded. Lu Xiaoya shook her head at first, but when she saw Monkey nodding, she immediately nodded as well. Fatty and Ruan Ying decisively shook their heads, though. As for Jiang Ting, she looked suspiciously at Fangzheng.
When Fangzheng saw this, he shook his head gently, "Since not all of you believe, This Penniless Monk has nothing much to say. Patrons, the backyard isn't meant for guests. If you are here to sightsee or pay respects to Buddha, please go to the front yard. Please leave."
Fangzheng had directly ousted them.
There was no question about ousting them. He was also hungry! If they did not leave, how was he to eat? Was it possible for him to let them stare at him eating? Who would be able to eat in such a situation!
Just as Fangzheng was driving them away, Monkey turned anxious and said, "Master, there's no rush. To be honest, I don't have many hobbies, but I'm an avid fan of martial arts. However, I'm a jack of all trades and do not have any true skill. Master, you are a person with true skill. Can you teach me a few moves?"
Fangzheng shook his head without any hesitation and said, "This Penniless Monk doesn't know martial arts. All This Penniless Monk learned is some body-strengthening techniques. Patrons, please leave."
Yet, he thought to himself, "d*mn it. You came here to be a disciple and learn a thing or two. I can overlook the fact that you did not bring any gifts, but you should at least offer a stick of incense! How can you learn any skills if you do not do a thing? Dream on!"
Monkey was about to continue when he saw Fangzheng's serious expression. Immediately, he choked back his words.
At that moment, Ruan Ying weakly asked, "Master, do you have food here? I'm almost starving."
When this was said, Fatty turned spirited as he said, "Right! Master, what's the thing that smells so nice in this backyard? I'm having all sorts of cravings. I'm really hungry."
Lu Xiaoya looked at Monkey before saying softly, "Master, we came from outside the city early in the morning. We didn't have breakfast on the way. We also climbed a mountain and did all sorts of things. It's almost noon, and we are truly hungry. We probably will not have the energy to descend the mountain like this. Do you have anything to eat?"
Fangzheng shook his head without hesitation and said, "Amitabha. This Penniless Monk had already said. One Finger Temple is a small temple. It doesn't host visitors. If the few of you are truly hungry, it's best you quickly descend the mountain."
With that said, Fangzheng began ousting them again. Ignoring the fact that he did not have much rice and had to tighten his belt in order to tide through the winter, just the System alone was something he could not go against. The rules were rules. It was a completely different concept from leaving someone in the lurch. These people were all healthy-looking. It wouldn't do them much harm if they skipped a meal.
Fangzheng had steeled his heart to chase them away. As it wasn't right for the group to hustle with him, they could only retreat backward.
Seeing how they were about to be chased away, Jiang Ting had an ingenious idea as she exclaimed, "Master, you might not provide meals, but can you at least provide water?"
When Fatty heard that, his eyes lit up as he yelped, "Yes, yes! Master, we haven't had any water all morning. All the mineral water we brought with us has been finished. If you aren't giving us any meals, can you at least give us some water to quench our thirst and fill our stomachs? After having our fill, it will be easier for us to begin the descent."
Fangzheng was dumbfounded. The System had mentioned that meals could not be provided, but it really hadn't mentioned anything about not being allowed to provide water.
"System, can this be done?" asked Fangzheng.
"Yes," the System answered frankly.
Fangzheng said, "Amitabha. If it's just water, that is naturally permissible. Patrons, feel free to have a seat. This Penniless Monk will get you some water."
"Master, isn't there a well in this yard? Well water is good stuff. You can't drink any of that in the city." Jiang Ting looked at the water channels in the yard.
Fangzheng shook his head and said, "It has dried up. There's no water in there. If you want water, you need to go to the mountainside One Finger Spring to fetch water."
"That is truly a pity. There's so much pollution these days, and it's really hard to drink a mouthful of clean water or spring water. It's even more impossible to drink underground water," lamented Jiang Ting.
Fangzheng was not a stranger to the outside world, and he nodded in agreement. He then turned to head for the kitchen to take out a big bowl of water.
As for the quintet, they were gathered around the water well and sighing.
Monkey said, "In my old house, everyone had such a water well. Now, it's all wells operated by machinery, allowing you to use a tap. Although it's also underground water, there's this feeling to it that lacks the same charm."
"That's right. It's so hard to drink a mouthful of pure water these days," commented Jiang Ting.
Fatty said with a wry smile, "Enough, I'm feeling dehydrated already. I'm thirsty and hungry. Sigh, I shouldn't have come-"
"The water is here. Who wants to drink first?" asked Fangzheng.
Fatty hurriedly said, "Me!"
Although Fangzheng was not fond of Fatty, he handed the bowl over to him as no one else seemed to vie for it.
When Fatty took it over, he immediately lifted the bowl to his mouth without taking a second look. As he gulped down the water, Fatty's eyes widened immediately. His thin and slender eyes opened up a lot!
"Fatty, what's wrong?" Ruan Ying, who understood Fatty the most, asked.
Fatty did not speak and desperately gulped down the water until the large bowl of water was finished. However, Fatty continued tilting the bowl and stretched out his tongue as much as he could, licking at it as if he were possessed.
Monkey could not bear watching this, and he grabbed the bowl from him. He said, "Enough, stop embarrassing yourself! Don't look like a thirsty ghost. Have you never drank water in your entire life?"
"Give it to me! You know shi*t, Little Mon-" just as Fatty blurted that out, he immediately changed his manner of address, "Master, Master, my thirst hasn't been quenched. Can I have another bowl?"
Fangzheng glanced at Fatty and said, "One bowl per person, no more."
"Master, come on! One bowl per person? How is that enough? That's like taking my life! Give me another bowl, please." At that moment, Fatty no longer had the same imposing stance he had before. His hands were cupped, and his eyes were filled with sparkles, exuding a pleading look.