595: Chapter 118 Cicada (Part 4) 595: Chapter 118 Cicada (Part 4) “…”
The emaciated monk lowered his head in silence, only silently reciting Buddhist scriptures in his heart.
In Yuan Province, the eradication of Buddhism led to the death of many people.
How should these accounts be settled?
The two remained silent in each other’s presence for a moment.
Xie Xuanyi already knew the answer in his heart, so he took the initiative to retract his Flying Sword.
Today.
Fa Cheng would certainly obstruct him from drawing his sword.
In this world, there are those who are compassionate and those who are indifferent.
If Miao Zhen were here, he would undoubtedly make a different choice from “Fa Cheng.” Fan Yin Temple advocates saving the world and ferrying the people.
Yet, there are monks within the temple who follow divergent paths…
The reason Xie Xuanyi and Miao Zhen could become friends is that they agree on this matter.
“I can spare his life.”
Xie Xuanyi stated calmly, “But there are a few matters I need to clarify.”
“Master Xie, feel free to ask.
This monk shall know no deception and withhold nothing,” Fa Cheng replied with great reverence.
Xie Xuanyi got straight to the point, “Over these years, has Fan Yin Temple been involved in the royal power struggle of the Li Kingdom?”
From the day he was dispatched to the Li Kingdom.
Xie Xuanyi had been puzzled by one thing.
On the Purple Green Treasure Ship, the Shopkeeper made everything clear.
The conflict between Nalan Xuance and the Buddhist realm actually stemmed from the unresolved issue of the “royal power of the Li Kingdom.” All of it began with the Zen Master’s audience with the Ninth Prince years ago.
That audience changed the situation of the Li Kingdom.
People say.
The Zen Master’s audience with the Ninth Prince dragged Fan Yin Temple into the quagmire, leading to the current strife between the Buddhist iron cavalry factions.
The claims of the world are not entirely credible, yet they cannot be fully discounted either.
Now, this lingering regret was right before him.
Xie Xuanyi wanted to ask and clarify what had actually happened back then.
“…”
Upon hearing this.
Fa Cheng fell silent once again.
He hesitated, then slowly spoke, “That day, when the Ninth Prince stepped into Fan Yin Temple…
the Zen Master had no choice but to receive him.”
“Oh?”
“Because the Ninth Prince came for one reason.”
Fa Cheng sighed, “The King was gravely ill and bedridden.
The Ninth Prince’s mother was the sister of a high-ranking monk from Fan Yin Temple.
It was because of this relationship that he was able to enter the temple and meet the Zen Master smoothly.
Initially, the other monks thought he was just there to burn incense and make vows, but the Ninth Prince came to ask the King for medicine.
He knelt before the Great Hall, refusing to rise, and was willing to pay any price to persuade the Zen Master to treat and prolong the King’s life…”
So that’s how it was.
Xie Xuanyi sighed softly.
He could roughly understand the cause and effect of this matter.
The Ninth Prince’s successful plea for medicine for the King, and the King’s subsequent rewards, are within the bounds of reason.
However…
As to how much sincerity and how much ambition were contained in this so-called willingness to pay any price and plead for medicine, it remains unknown.
“To say Fan Yin Temple has no intention of fighting…
would seem far too hypocritical.”
Fa Cheng looked disheartened, his voice filled with sorrow, “It is precisely because of that audience that the royal succession struggle that lasted for more than a decade ensued.
The Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince clashed everywhere within the Four Realms of the Li Kingdom, causing widespread resentment.
The world says that ‘Fan Yin Temple’ is the Ninth Prince’s backing.
Since the Zen Master’s audience is a fact, Fan Yin Temple can only silently accept this karma.”
You reap what you sow.
This chain of karma did indeed originate from Fan Yin Temple.
Yet Xie Xuanyi still had some doubts in his heart.
If it was just this connection, why would Nalan Xuance go so far as to “Destroy Buddha”?
The Book Tower intelligence reports that Nalan Xuance once personally orchestrated an ambush to strangle the Ninth Prince in his cradle, only to have the latter escape from death because of his great fortune.
After that ordeal, it was only when Nalan Xuance glimpsed into the secrets of heaven through the “Xuanwei Technique” that he decided to officially undertake the task of Destroying Buddha.
“Since Fan Yin Temple originally intended to be detached from worldly affairs, what then was the motive behind Nalan Xuance’s ‘Destroying Buddha’?”
Xie Xuanyi furrowed his brows and continued to inquire.
“To answer that question, I’m afraid Master Xie would have to personally confront Nalan Xuance himself,” replied Fa Cheng, raising a solemn palm helplessly.
“Although I have attained the Destiny Power, it does not mean I know everything.”
Indeed.
Xie Xuanyi nodded, and pointing at the droplet of Undying Spring hovering in the air, asked, “Was this droplet obtained during the Battle of Poison?”
“No, it was not.”
Fa Cheng replied kindly, “This Undying Spring should have been crafted by the hands of the ‘Zen Master’ himself.”
“Crafted by hand?”
Xie Xuanyi’s pupils contracted slightly.
He knew that the Undying Springs in this world were not all the same.
The Undying Spring within his own Dantian could proliferate on its own, replenishing itself even if it was consumed.
However, the Undying Spring of Lu Yuzhen did not seem to have this capability.
“Master Xie, please follow me.”
Fa Cheng extended his hand once more, inviting Xie Xuanyi to step into the River of Destiny.
Under the radiant cover of the Destiny Power,
Xie Xuanyi returned to the River, and Fa Cheng took him back to the scene when he left Fan Yin Temple, where he watched, from across the River, the moment the Zen Master gifted the “Undying Spring”.
After that, the figure of the Zen Master began to fade and slowly dissolved within the River of Destiny.
“Perhaps it was the ‘Ninth Prince’s’ quest for medicine that led the Zen Master’s lifespan to reach its premature end,” Fa Cheng said with a touch of emotion.
“Having witnessed the past through my Destiny Power, I saw such a scene…
and then I understood that the Zen Master’s reluctance to meet with others stemmed from his knowledge that his life was at its end and the great Buddhist calamity was imminent.
He wished to conserve his remaining strength, to stay for a few moments longer, in hopes that he could help the Buddhist tribulation responders if possible.”
But time spares no one.
The Zen Master, after all, did not live to see the arrival of the great Buddhist calamity.
Xie Xuanyi watched helplessly as the figure of the Zen Master in the River of Destiny gradually faded away.
After gifting the Undying Spring to Fa Cheng,
Several hurried figures appeared at the end of this long River.
These figures, under the light of the Destiny Power, were drab and indistinguishable in their features.
But it seemed the Zen Master had always been waiting for “their” arrival.
The River surged.
Just like that, they brushed past each other, meeting and parting.
Every encounter, the Zen Master would gift a droplet.
After which, his figure would fade away, until it completely turned into nothingness.
“What’s going on here?”
Xie Xuanyi asked puzzled, “Who are these people?
Wasn’t the Zen Master not seeing anyone?”
“I am not clear on that either,” Fa Cheng shook his head sincerely and said.
“However, given the Zen Master’s Divine Skills, he needn’t move an inch to meet someone, just a thought was enough…
Those who received the ‘Undying Spring’ must surely be extremely important Tribulation Responders within the Buddhist community.”
Xie Xuanyi stared intently at the blurred and sacred image of an emaciated old figure.
For some reason,
Looking across the River of Destiny, he felt a warmth in his heart.
As the old monk was dissolving, it seemed as if by some telepathy, he also looked towards where Xie Xuanyi was.
“If Master Xie wishes to know the origin of the Zen Master’s ‘Undying Spring’, the answer is quite simple.”
“Every ‘Divine Artifact’ in this world must have a source,” Fa Cheng paused, then said meaningfully.
“The Zen Master’s Undying Spring was not a gift from anyone, but rather a result of his own cultivation.
The grand path of the world does have an end, and if one can cultivate to the very end of the Life Dao, presumably one can create what is referred to as the ‘Undying Spring.’