Both Gu Qingfeng and Mo Wentian had heard this phrase before and understood its meaning.
Heaven and Earth are neither benevolent nor malevolent; they give birth to all things without seeking any reward in return.
Heaven and Earth regard all things equally, showing no special favor to anyone, nor any particular malice. Everything follows its natural course.
In other words, no matter what form the myriad things take, it is their own doing, unrelated to Heaven and Earth. Heaven continues its heavenly affairs, Earth continues its earthly affairs. Everything is like the wind entering the night, moistening things silently. Heaven and Earth are the epitome of naturalness.
If Heaven and Earth are thus, then Sages are no exception.
This is also expressed as: The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things. Humans emulate Earth, Earth emulates Heaven, Heaven emulates the Dao, and the Dao emulates nature.
However.
Neither Gu Qingfeng nor Mo Wentian understood what the phrase 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs; Sages are not benevolent, treating the common people as straw dogs' had to do with trust or distrust.
Da Xing the Mad Monk explained: "To a Sage, all beneath them are but ants. A Sage fundamentally does not care whether we live or die. For upon becoming a Sage, there is no longer so-called good or evil, nor any emotion whatsoever. Just as Heaven and Earth regard the myriad things, they are neither benevolent nor malevolent."
"Although those revived Ancestral Patriarchs of our Chan Sect have not yet attained Sagehood, they have cultivated Buddhism for a long time. They have long since emptied themselves of the Four Great Elements and purified the Six Roots. Not only are our Chan Sect's Ancestral Patriarchs like this, but all Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs are the same. This Old Monk cares about the life and death of the Chan Sect, but that doesn't mean they will. Not only will they not care, but This Old Monk can tell you with certainty that after cultivating to their realm, their minds are filled with only one obsession: pursuing the True Essence of the Great Dao. If it meant attaining the Great Dao, they wouldn't even blink at killing us Chan Sect disciples, let alone their own fathers and mothers."
"Do you two understand This Old Monk's meaning now?"
Gu Qingfeng and Mo Wentian both nodded.
They understood.
Just as Da Xing the Mad Monk had said, it wasn't that he distrusted those Chan Sect Ancestral Patriarchs, but rather that their cultivation realm had transcended the very concept of trust. Because whether you trusted them or not would not affect the actions of those Ancestral Patriarchs.
"Da Xing."
Mo Wentian, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up and asked: "You've been cultivating Buddhism for quite some time, haven't you? With your cultivation realm, even if you can't match those Ancestral Patriarchs, the gap can't be that large. They have emptied the Four Great Elements and purified the Six Roots. In pursuit of the Great Dao, they care not for external things. Why do you care?"
"They have severed the Seven Emotions and Six Desires. Have you not?"
"The Seven Emotions and Six Desires are not something you can just sever on a whim, nor can they be cut off so easily," Da Xing the Mad Monk responded. "If the Seven Emotions and Six Desires were truly so easy to sever, they would have long since attained Sagehood. Moreover, the pursuit of the True Essence of the Great Dao is itself a form of desire. How can that be severed?"
"It is common knowledge that the Seven Emotions are easier to sever than the Six Desires," Mo Wentian said. "But the problem is, as far as I know, throughout your cultivation journey, it's not that you couldn't sever the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, but that you never attempted to, correct?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk did not hide anything, stating frankly: "Correct! That is indeed the case."
"Why? Don't you wish to become a Sage or a God like those Ancestral Patriarchs? To pursue the True Essence of the Great Dao?"
"What cultivator doesn't wish to become a God or a Sage? Who doesn't wish to pursue the True Essence of the Great Dao? This Old Monk certainly does too. However, this thing called the True Essence of the Great Dao is too ethereal and elusive. To this day, no one knows what it truly is, nor can anyone clearly explain it. This Old Monk is a very pragmatic person. If I don't even know what the True Essence of the Great Dao is, why would I pursue it?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk continued: "As for becoming a Sage or a God... heh! This Old Monk certainly desires that too. However, if the price of becoming a God or Sage is severing the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, then This Old Monk would rather remain neither God nor Sage. This Old Monk would rather be a Living Buddha of the secular world, with emotions, desires, and human flavor, than be an enlightened Sage Buddha devoid of emotion, desire, and any trace of humanity."
"'Rather be a secular Living Buddha than an enlightened Sage Buddha.' Well said!" Mo Wentian praised. "Truly worthy of being called a Living Buddha of the world. Your realm is indeed extraordinary."
"Enough, stop mocking This Old Monk," Da Xing the Mad Monk said, staring at Mo Wentian. "Speaking of which, as far as This Old Monk knows, you, young man, have also never severed the Seven Emotions and Six Desires throughout your cultivation, have you? Why haven't you severed them?"
"I, Mo Wentian, cultivate because I enjoy the process of cultivation itself—a process that carries the full spectrum of human experience: joy and sorrow, parting and reunion, anger and happiness, transcending the self. It is not for the sake of pursuing so-called Godhood or Sagehood, nor for pursuing the so-called True Essence of the Great Dao. What I pursue is the process of cultivation, not its result."
Da Xing the Mad Monk nodded, murmuring: "Pursuing the process of cultivation, not the result."
After contemplating for a moment, he cast an appreciative glance at Mo Wentian and sighed: "Young Mo, ah, young Mo. Your philosophical realm is higher than This Old Monk's."
Mo Wentian smiled wryly. "You flatter me too much."
"This Old Monk is not flattering you." Da Xing the Mad Monk then turned to look at Gu Qingfeng. "And you, young Gu? Throughout your cultivation, why haven't you severed the Seven Emotions and Six Desires? Others might not know, but This Old Monk does. You, young man, have transcended so many Great Daos, even transcended yourself, yet you damn well kept a heart full of Seven Emotions and Six Desires. Why on earth? What, are you also like young Mo here, only interested in the cultivation process and have no interest in the True Essence of the Great Dao?"
"Me?" Gu Qingfeng reclined in his chair, legs crossed, leisurely sipping his wine. Hearing Da Xing the Mad Monk's question, he shrugged and shook his head. "To be honest with you, this master cultivates with no interest in becoming a God or Sage, nor in the True Essence of the Great Dao. As for the cultivation process... my interest isn't that great either."
"Then what the hell are you cultivating for?"
Beside them, Mo Wentian was also quite curious. He too wanted to know Gu Qingfeng's reason for cultivating.
"Your question really stumps this master. If you ask me what I cultivate for... I cultivate for nothing at all. Everyone else cultivates, so I cultivate too. I never really thought about why I cultivate. It's like everyone is alive, so I'm alive too."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, thinking hard. "If I absolutely had to say what I cultivate for... it might be for survival. Or maybe for longevity. Or perhaps for eating, drinking, having fun, and enjoying life. You know, I'm a vulgar person. A very vulgar one at that. Vulgar people don't have grand pursuits. We just muddle through life. After all, a miserable life is better than a good death."
"To cultivate to your realm, young man, you are truly a rare flower in the Great Desolation. Throughout the ages, I doubt a second person like you could be found."
Da Xing the Mad Monk shook his head and sighed. "But, even though This Old Monk doesn't want to admit it, I have to acknowledge that your seemingly vulgar and aimless attitude towards cultivation is, in reality, a state of having no desires and seeking nothing. Your realm is damnably high, and not just ordinarily so."
"Possessing both emotion and passion, yet having no desires and seeking nothing, following nature's course—this is the realm of non-action," Mo Wentian added. "Brother Gu's state of mind truly makes this Mo envious beyond measure."
"Well? This master's realm is high, isn't it? Envious?"
Gu Qingfeng showed not a hint of modesty. Not only was he not modest, he even laughed heartily, brimming with pride. "Don't just say you two envy this master's state of mind—even this master envies himself! Hahahaha!"
Witnessing this scene, Da Xing the Mad Monk cursed under his breath about shamelessness, while Mo Wentian was also rendered speechless.
However.
Right at that moment, an extremely domineering and provocative shout suddenly rang out from the sky above.
"Da Xing, you old bald donkey! Get your ass out here for your grandpa!"