587: Chapter 112 Destiny_2 587: Chapter 112 Destiny_2 Nalan Xuance, adept in the Xuanwei Technique, was greatly shocked after failing to assassinate his target.
Peeking into the secrets of heaven on that day, he made up his mind to arrange the inescapable ordeal of Destroying Buddha!
“The Xuanwei Technique shares similarities with Destiny Power.”
Fa Cheng spoke in a gentle whisper, “Nalan Xuance glimpsed a corner of the ‘future’, just as the current you, and just as the former me.”
Chen Chong faintly sensed.
That the voice of this emaciated monk seemed to have changed.
“Life and Death are governed by a principle, this is the way of the heavens; everything will eventually face destruction.”
“But there are always those who resist.”
“Thus, the common folk began to cultivate.”
Fa Cheng paused for a moment, his expression revealing a look of sorrow: “Since the Yuanzhou Iron Cavalry wishes to ‘Destroy Buddha’, then the Buddhist surely ought to struggle a bit.
However, the so-called ‘struggle’ is not about becoming a wall of flesh and blood charging into the Iron Cavalry, dying meaninglessly.
In fact, the night before the news of Destroying Buddha spread, Fan Yin Temple issued an order, trying to notify the monks to flee the temple.
Some monks chose to leave, while others determinedly decided to stay and defend unto death.
Fan Yin Temple couldn’t save everyone, nor change the will of these people.”
Chen Chong narrowed his eyes.
The task of Destroying Buddha was carried out by Meng Kejian and Du Yunzhong.
He stayed at the rear, checking the battle reports daily.
This unprecedented smooth progress of Destroying Buddha…
Many monks chose to resist and all died under the charge of the Iron Cavalry.
But according to this statement, could there be many “Buddhist disciples” that he hadn’t seen, not in the epicenter of the Buddha destroying massacre?
“So, these monks escaped back to Fan Yin Temple?”
Chen Chong calmly said: “In that case, I ought to retract my previous statement.
Fan Yin Temple has been more efficient in its actions than I thought, you did not do nothing.”
“…”
Fa Cheng was silent for a moment before saying: “No, they did not return to Fan Yin Temple.”
Chen Chong was momentarily stunned.
Looking around in surprise and uncertainty, at the corpses littering Suyang City.
Wait a minute…
Could it be?
“Suyang.”
Fa Cheng said sorrowfully: “Suyang is the largest city in Yuan Province and also the city with the richest Buddhist heritage.
Even if the temples here are demolished, it doesn’t matter; the monks can remove their robes, practicing and living in other forms.
Facing a major disaster in Yuan Province, with strict military control over thousands of miles, these monks have nowhere to go and can only seek refuge in Suyang.”
Chen Chong’s eyelid twitched.
So, the upcoming massacre in Suyang…
“As I said, ‘Destroying Buddha’ is just the first step.”
Fa Cheng continued: “Although these people have escaped one disaster, there is a second one awaiting.
Once the Hook and Clamp Master collects enough intelligence, a massacre will be launched in Suyang.
What will be killed this time are not only monks…
A monk’s robe is just a piece of clothing; anyone can wear it, anyone can take it off.
This massacre targets those who harbor an ‘Inner Buddha’; anyone who keeps Buddhist scriptures at home, those who have gone to temples to worship, and those who have had a kind thought, helped a begging monk will become the ‘victims’ of this second disaster.”
“Absurd…”
Chen Chong’s expression was no longer calm.
Taking a deep breath, he earnestly retorted: “I understand Nalan Xuance; he is at worst radical in his actions, but not crazed to this extent.”
“This calamity includes you.”
Fa Cheng calmly looked at the scholar in green before him.
This statement took Chen Chong by surprise.
“This is even more ridiculous.”
Chen Chong scoffed: “I am an ally of Nalan Xuance in the cause of Destroying Buddha, having known each other for years, fought side by side, and now we even face a common enemy.”
“Great General…”
Fa Cheng shook his head.
The sorrow in his eyes never diminished: “Yesterday was yesterday, today is today.
After today, you may not remain allies.”
Chen Chong frowned: “Why?”
Fa Cheng smiled faintly: “Because of ‘me’.”
Chen Chong asked: “Because of you?”
Fa Cheng nodded: “Because I will die by your hand.”
“I am already a ‘dead man’.”
Fa Cheng spoke in the calmest tone, uttering these words: “Even if you don’t kill me, I won’t live long.
With Nalan Xuance’s means, it won’t take long before he finds out all of this.
By then, he will not care how many people in Taoyuan have died, nor about the whereabouts of Mi Yun…
He will only care about the ‘Undying Spring’ within me.”
This is a Divine Artifact that could drive every Cultivator in the world insane.
Fa Cheng chose to end his own life and carved out the Undying Spring.
Chen Chong had only two choices.
Either, take this droplet of the Undying Spring.
Or, let it dissipate.
“What do you mean?”
Chen Chong’s voice turned cold: “You want to incite internal strife between me and Nalan Xuance, the Undying Spring is indeed precious, but I, Chen, do not have to accept it.”
“Of course you can refuse.”
Fa Cheng shook his head and chuckled softly: “But will Nalan Xuance believe that?”
“…”
Chen Chong was at a loss for words.
Suddenly, Fa Cheng asked again: “Have you ever thought about why Nalan Xuance wants to destroy the ‘Inner Buddha’ of All Living Beings?”
Chen Chong narrowed his eyes.
He recalled his years with Nalan Xuance, the Da Li National Master, who always held a loftier view and laid out far-reaching plans, aiming for but one thing – ‘fame’.
Everyone has desires in their hearts.
And to have one’s name etched in history, praised for generations, that is what Nalan Xuance most wished for.
“To eradicate the ‘Inner Buddha’ of All Living Beings, and then take the seat for himself.”
Fa Cheng casually exposed Nalan Xuance’s intentions, saying: “Nalan Xuance wants to leave a significant mark in the history of the Da Li, with Iron Cavalry Destroying Buddha, pulling back the collapsing sky, rescuing Li Kingdom from fire and water.
In doing so, he would become the greatest hero, the most sagely wise.”
Then came four words.
“And what about you?”
Chen Chong said without expression: “I do not care about fame.”
The Iron Cavalry is yours.
Fa Cheng smiled: “You may not care, but others do.
Besides, after today, if we were to discuss the merits of Destroying Buddha, it wouldn’t be Nalan Xuance who achieved greatness but you.
Nalan Xuance’s efforts at Qixia Mountain fell short, while you successfully eradicated the ‘Buddhist Evil Sect’ in Yuan Province, rising to the Yang God.
Over the years, the gap between you has gradually narrowed, leveled, and even your reputation and power might surpass his.
Can you still be allies in the upcoming ‘Destroying Buddha’?”
“The Suyang massacre happened under such premises.”
Fa Cheng looked at the corpses strewn about and whispered: “This was a slaughter targeting the ‘Inner Buddha’ of All Living Beings, but also a purge against the ‘thorn in the side’ of Nalan Xuance.
In this massacre, a total of 1,143 monks lost their lives, but there were also over 20,000 innocent people in Suyang City who were martyred.
The Yuanzhou Iron Cavalry was forcefully split, and following this battle, the name of Chen Chong was destined to be cursed in Yuan Province, with movements from Qian State imminent.
My Destiny Power is limited, I can’t see too far into the future, but I presume that after this, your position as ‘Three States Iron Cavalry Lord’ may not be guaranteed.”
Such words were enough to make someone waver.
But Chen Chong remained calm.
He simply watched the gloomy scene before him, silent for a long time.
After a while,
Chen Chong spoke out faintly: “Is this what you thought of, to stop Destroying Buddha?”
In the river of Destiny Power,
Fa Cheng sighed with helplessness.
“Yes.”
This was indeed the only solution he could think of, to trade his death for Chen Chong’s entrance into the fray.
“I know, what you have done these years, was all for the peace of Da Li.”
“You led the Iron Cavalry to take charge of Yuan Province also to put things right.”
Fa Cheng gazed sincerely at the scholar before him: “I am but a blade of Wild Grass in this chaotic world, even if I burn up my life, it can only burst forth with a momentary glow.
After igniting the ‘Destiny Power’, I saw this hopeless future, and after much deliberation, the only thing I seemed capable of doing, was to die here and now.”
Once again, he bowed respectfully.
“So…”
The surrounding scenes of Destiny Power gradually transfigured and dissipated.
The blood of Suyang City slowly blurred away.
“Please kill me, refine this droplet of the Undying Spring, ascend to Yang God.”