796: Chapter 272 Who’s Outsmarting Whom?
796: Chapter 272 Who’s Outsmarting Whom?
Unlike Lingji Bodhisattva, Tiger-Subduing Arhat could be certain that someone had played dirty tricks on him, forcing him to speak words he should not have uttered.
Upon returning to Mount Ling, Tiger-Subduing Arhat wanted to admit his guilt and recount the events that had just unfolded.
Although he was a bit more tactful, he was also aware that some things must be made clear.
Otherwise, if a major oversight occurred, all of Mount Ling would suffer the consequences.
Seeing Lingji Bodhisattva kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear as he repeated the events that had just occurred,
Tiger-Subduing Arhat became even more certain that someone had indeed sabotaged them.
But Lingji Bodhisattva didn’t think as much—he still believed he had simply had too much to drink.
Otherwise, how could he have said and done such things?
“It’s not that Lingji Bodhisattva drank too much, he was sabotaged by someone.”
Tiger-Subduing Arhat quickly interjected.
All eyes immediately turned to Tiger-Subduing Arhat.
They looked at him with doubt in their eyes, wondering why he was so sure.
Lingji Bodhisattva felt somewhat grateful toward Tiger-Subduing Arhat for speaking up for him.
There’s a completely different concept between babbling nonsense due to drunkenness and being helpless in uttering those words due to someone else’s manipulation.
If Tathagata Buddha trusted the words of Tiger-Subduing Arhat, he would have no concerns.
At the very least, he would have saved his own life, and at most, Tathagata Buddha might not place too much trust in him in the future.
After all, someone who could create trouble due to drinking was definitely not someone worthy of being entrusted with important duties.
However, as a Bodhisattva, if he could live carefree and not bother with too many things, that would also be a fine choice.
“Why is Tiger-Subduing Arhat so certain?”
Tathagata Buddha asked.
Tiger-Subduing Arhat replied in a solemn voice, “Your Holiness, the same thing that happened to Lingji Bodhisattva also occurred to Tiger-Subduing.”
Upon hearing Tiger-Subduing Arhat’s words, everyone was taken aback.
They immediately understood that someone had definitely meddled maliciously.
Such claims as Tathagata Buddha himself aspiring to Supreme status had never been uttered by him.
Moreover, Tiger-Subduing Arhat was always very cautious.
Even if Lingji Bodhisattva babbled nonsense while drunk, Tiger-Subduing Arhat would never do so.
That meant someone had plotted secretly against them.
Gloom settled in the hearts of all of Mount Ling’s Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Although they felt this way, they still needed others to believe it.
If others didn’t believe them, their explanations would be futile.
The most important thing was whether the Heavenly Court would believe it.
If the Heavenly Court didn’t believe them, the blame cast upon them would be a terrifying outcome for Mount Ling.
With heavy hearts, everyone looked toward Tathagata Buddha.
After a moment of contemplation, Tathagata Buddha sighed and said, “It seems that we’ve fallen victim to someone’s scheme to create discord.
This matter is not your fault, both of you.
If it hadn’t happened to you, it would have happened to someone else being manipulated by their tactics.”
Only then did Lingji Bodhisattva and Tiger-Subduing Arhat breathe a sigh of relief and step back to the side.
“Buddha, the question now is whether the Heavenly Court believes in this matter, or perhaps we should eliminate those who know about this incident to silence them.”
Maitreya Buddha suddenly spoke, his aura bristling with killing intent.
Glancing at Maitreya Buddha, Tathagata Buddha frowned and spoke indifferently, “Since someone wants to plot against us, even if we were to kill them, this matter would still be revealed.
You don’t need such ferocious thoughts, it only makes us in Mount Ling appear weak.”
Hearing Tathagata Buddha’s words, Maitreya Buddha quickly bowed his head, not daring to speak further.
His previous words were indeed too heavy with murderous intent.
Nonetheless, Maitreya Buddha also felt that after becoming Supreme, Tathagata Buddha’s personality had changed somewhat.
He was more like a Buddha now, his ambitions not as great as before, nor as apparent, and his personality had undergone significant changes.
If it had been in the past, with Lingji Bodhisattva and Tiger-Subduing Arhat committing such misdeeds, even if they were not executed, they would still face severe consequences.
Yet today, Tathagata Buddha did nothing and simply let them stand aside.
This behavior was almost incredible, and a drastic change from the Tathagata Buddha he remembered.
Jin Chan glanced at Maitreya Buddha and, sneering, said, “By now, the news has likely already reached the Heavenly Court.
Old Monk, you’d better go to the Heavenly Court now and take Tiger-Subduing Arhat and Lingji Bodhisattva with you.
Explain the situation to Great Emperor Ziwei.
Based on Great Emperor Ziwei’s character, he probably won’t cause you any harm.”
Tathagata Buddha nodded, harboring the same thoughts.
Lingji Bodhisattva and Tiger-Subduing Arhat looked pale, not wanting to go to the Heavenly Court.
Even if they managed to explain themselves clearly in the Heavenly Court, the Court might still condemn them.
More than that, as far as they were concerned, the likelihood of clarifying everything was slim; it was very possible that they wouldn’t be able to clear things up at all.
At that point, if the Heavenly Court sought to punish them, Tathagata Buddha might be fine, but their own lives would be in danger.
Thinking of this, both individuals shuddered.
Just the thought of facing so many Immortals of the Heavenly Court sent tremors through their hearts.
“Lingji, Tiger-Subduing, the two of you will accompany me to the Heavenly Court.”
Tathagata Buddha said with a smile.
His relaxed demeanor reassured them somewhat.
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Lingji Bodhisattva and Tiger-Subduing Arhat said simultaneously.
With Tathagata Buddha having spoken, even if they did not wish to go, it was not an option.
“Please be careful, Buddha.”
Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha cautioned.
He too felt that Tathagata Buddha’s trip would be fraught with danger.
If the Heavenly Court did not believe his words, Tathagata Buddha would be in peril.
Yet Tathagata Buddha just smiled faintly, saying, “Ancient Buddha, do not worry.
The Heavenly Court will not harm me; I trust Great Emperor Ziwei’s integrity.”