Chapter 200 Overlord

In the desolate valley, the gale wind carried sand and stones, emitting a whimpering sound that added to the bleak atmosphere. Several broken ravines and scorched earth told the tale of the fierce battle that had occurred here.

On a relatively intact rock, Liao Chen sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. His face was like gold paper, and although he tried his best to stabilize his aura, one could still perceive the inner instability and stagnation. On the cassock covering his chest, dark red bloodstains had dried and turned black; these were wounds left behind during his clash with Jian Wushuang. The fierce Sword Intent and Devilish Qi contained within them were extremely difficult to purge, and they were currently struggling against his pure Buddha Power. Two Disciples wearing ordinary monk robes stood guard on his left and right, their expressions grave as they scanned their surroundings with electric gazes.

Suddenly, there was a slight movement of spiritual energy at the eastern valley entrance, and a white figure swept in somewhat "hastily"—it was Yun Qingyao. Her aura was slightly disordered, her white skirt hem was stained with specks of dust, and there was an inconspicuous tear at her cuff, as if she had been scratched by thorns or sharp energy in her haste.

"Who goes there!" one of the Protector Disciples barked, holding his ringed staff horizontally as Buddha light faintly appeared.

Yun Qingyao stopped immediately, assuming a defensive stance. Her gaze swept quickly across the area before fixing on Liao Chen, her eyes appropriately revealing a complex mix of surprise and urgency.

"I am the Saintess of the Wandao Sword Sect. I am just passing through and meant no offense," she said in a cold, clear voice, though her speech was slightly hurried. "Is this Fellow Daoist the Buddhist Son Liao Chen?"

Liao Chen slowly opened his eyes. Although there was fatigue in his gaze, it remained clear and sharp, as if it could see into the human heart. He looked at Yun Qingyao and nodded slightly. "It is I. Why is the female benefactor so alarmed? This place is dangerous and not a good location."

"Fellow Daoist!" Yun Qingyao took a half-step forward, her tone carrying "lingering fear" and "resentment." "Presumably, Fellow Daoist already knows that my Senior Brother, Jian Wushuang, has fallen into the Demonic Path. He just now..."

At the mention of "Jian Wushuang," the sharp light in Liao Chen's eyes suddenly condensed, and even the aura fluctuating around him stabilized. The two Protector Disciples also instantly tensed their bodies.

"So it is the Saintess of the Wandao Sword Sect. Please forgive my lack of courtesy," Liao Chen said, pressing his palms together in return, his voice steady. "I am already aware of the matter regarding Benefactor Jian; I just had a battle with him previously. What the Saintess says... did you escape from his hands?" His words carried a hint of investigation, as he was clearly skeptical that Yun Qingyao could have escaped from a demonized Jian Wushuang while remaining in such decent condition. After all, he had experienced the strength of Jian Wushuang after his fall into the Demonic Path firsthand and had suffered not-insignificant injuries himself.

Yun Qingyao had long been prepared. Her face appropriately revealed a trace of "lingering fear" and "indignation," and her voice lowered slightly. "That is correct. I was originally cultivating at a place of Opportunity within the Secret Realm when I stumbled upon him slaughtering several fellow Disciples. His body was surging with Devilish Qi, and his sanity was nearly crazed. I... I used a Sect secret treasure and movement technique to maneuver around him, and although I luckily escaped, I also suffered some internal injuries and lost much of my energy." She gently pressed her chest, and her aura seemed to become even more disordered, which, combined with her slightly soiled skirt hem and torn cuff, made her look somewhat like a survivor of a narrow escape. "Although he is fierce and mad, it seems that after his battle with you, Fellow Daoist, his injuries were extremely severe, and the backlash from the Buddha energy was also significant. This is what allowed me to find a glimmer of survival."

Following the story Mu Changge had instructed her to tell, Yun Qingyao disguised herself as a "victim" who had luckily escaped from Jian Wushuang's hands. Her words were sincere and her emotions full, expressing her fear and hatred of Jian Wushuang to the fullest.

Liao Chen nodded slightly. Yun Qingyao's explanation was reasonable; Jian Wushuang's sanity was incomplete after falling into the Demonic Path, and after a battle with him, his injuries would have been compounded, making it not impossible for Yun Qingyao to escape using secret treasures and speed. He was more concerned with the "joining forces" and "tracking" that Yun Qingyao had mentioned.

"The Saintess said just now that you have a method to track that Devil Head?" Liao Chen's gaze fell back onto Yun Qingyao.

"This devil has fled toward the west. His aura is now withered, and his Origin Qi is greatly damaged. It is just that I am alone and unable to completely slay him. I heard that you, Fellow Daoist, are also hunting this evildoer, so I have come specifically to seek to join forces with you." Yun Qingyao finished speaking, and "cautiously" took out a crystal the size of a hen's egg, crystal clear with a faint halo flowing inside. "This object can track the location of that Devil Head!"

Liao Chen stared at the crystal with its flowing brilliance, then looked at Yun Qingyao. He possessed Buddhist Divine Abilities, and while he could not fully peer into Yun Qingyao's heart, he could roughly sense that the hatred for Jian Wushuang and the determination to eliminate the devil in her words were genuine. This was consistent with the stance of a Wandao Sword Sect Saintess facing a Sect traitor, especially one who had fallen into the Demonic Path. As for the specific origin of the crystal, now was not the time to delve into it.

"Amitabha." Liao Chen chanted a Buddha name, his expression solemn. "Benefactor Jian has fallen into the Demonic Path and committed deep sins. My pursuit is to eliminate the devil and defend the Dao. It is my duty to join forces with the Saintess to clean up the Sect. If this devil is not eliminated, the Secret Realm will not be at peace, and the world will face yet another catastrophe."

He reached out and took the crystal from the air, injecting a wisp of pure Buddha Power into it. Sure enough, the crystal's light brightened slightly, the internal halo swirled, and it faintly pointed in a direction to the west-south. As he injected his Buddha Power, the sensing seemed to become a bit clearer.

Liao Chen nodded slightly and handed the crystal back to Yun Qingyao. "Since the Saintess has an old grudge with this devil and possesses a tracking item, it is most appropriate to travel with us. I wonder if the Saintess's injuries are still a hindrance? Do you have more understanding of that devil's current state?"

Yun Qingyao took the crystal, feeling slightly relieved in her heart, but her face revealed a trace of fitting "determination" and "urgency." "Small injuries, they do not hinder me. That Devil Head's aura is extremely unstable right now, sometimes strong and sometimes weak. The Buddha energy, Devilish Qi, and Sword Intent are clashing violently within him; this is exactly his weakest moment. We must find him as soon as possible and not give him any chance to catch his breath or recover! Otherwise, once he stabilizes his injuries or even finds another Opportunity, it will only become more troublesome." She emphasized the urgency once again.

"My Buddha is merciful!" Liao Chen did not hesitate any longer, forcefully raising his Buddha essence to suppress the discomfort brought by his injuries, and stood up. "There is no time to lose. Let us set off now. Following this object's guidance, we must strive to achieve victory in one battle and completely suppress and kill this devil!"

The two Protector Disciples responded in unison. The looks they gave Yun Qingyao had less wariness and more shared enmity. After all, the identity of the Wandao Sword Sect Saintess and their common goal allowed them to temporarily regard her as an ally.

"Then, thank you, Fellow Daoist!" Yun Qingyao also returned the salute solemnly, then held the crystal, sensing the direction. "That Devil Head should be about several thousand miles away in this direction. His aura is dim and uncertain; he seems to still be moving, but his speed is not fast."

"Good, I trouble the Saintess to lead the way." Liao Chen's figure moved, arriving at Yun Qingyao's side. After the two Disciples sent a message, they followed closely behind.

"Fellow Daoists, please follow me." Yun Qingyao said no more, her body transforming into sword light as she swept forward in the direction indicated by the crystal. Liao Chen's body bloomed with soft golden light, enveloping himself and the two Disciples, following closely behind without any lack of speed.

The group of four transformed into two streams of light, quickly leaving the desolate valley and speeding toward the unknown region to the west-south. Killing Intent and Buddha light intertwined, pointing directly at the devil hiding to heal—Jian Wushuang.

Meanwhile, amidst the Evil Qi and gale winds at the edge of the Heaven-Severing Abyss, Mu Changge sat cross-legged behind a giant rock sheltered from the wind, his body enveloped in a layer of faint protective devilish light that isolated the erosive force. His face was still somewhat pale; the battle with Zhou Tianyan, especially the forced activation of the first form of the Fourth-Grade Heavenly Sword Manual, had placed a huge burden on him. Nearly seventy percent of the spiritual energy and Devilish Qi in his Dantian and Qi Sea had been exhausted, and he felt waves of stinging pain in his Divine Soul.

Swallowing a few Medicinal Pills for recovery and operating his Cultivation Technique to adjust his breathing for about an hour, Mu Changge's pale face finally regained a hint of ruddiness, and his aura became long and steady once again. He opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in his pupils.

"Luck technique..." he whispered to himself, recalling the method for using this Divine Ability that the System had poured into his mind. This technique was not a fighting method, but rather one that could vaguely sense the "great Opportunities" and "great Children of Fortune" related to himself or within a certain range, as well as their rough direction and strength.

He closed his eyes again, concentrating his mind and calming his breath, merging a wisp of Divine Thought into that mysterious sensing. In an instant, he "saw" several points of "light," some bright and some dim, emerge in his perception. Some "lights" were stable and obscure, representing fixed locations of Opportunity; others were moving slightly, with different natures, representing living beings carrying Luck.

He quickly locked onto two locations: one was located to the southwest, relatively close, with a solid light that was still moving slightly—it should be a living being with great Luck. The other was further away to the northwest, its light flickering bright and dim, and it was shrinking slightly—it was very likely Jian Wushuang.

"Let's go to the southwest first and take a look." Mu Changge made a decision instantly. Jian Wushuang had Yun Qingyao guiding Liao Chen to hunt him, so he did not need to take action himself for the time being. The top priority was to recover his state and use the Opportunity to improve himself. Moreover, he hadn't seen this particular Child of Fortune since entering the Secret Realm; it was time to go meet him.

His figure transformed into an almost imperceptible phantom, speeding toward the point of light representing Opportunity in the southwest.

About half a day later, Mu Changge arrived at a seemingly ordinary mountain hollow. The hollow was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with sparse vegetation, only a few crooked old trees and rocks covering the ground. But in his powerful perception, there were faint spatial ripples and weak fluctuations of a spiritual energy Restriction here.

He investigated carefully and finally discovered a highly concealed, almost integrated crack Restriction at the base of a vine-covered cliff wall. The Restriction was ancient, its power less than one-tenth of its original, but for those who did not understand the way or had weak perception, it remained difficult to discover.

Mu Changge pointed his fingers like a sword, a wisp of pure spiritual energy mixed with his understanding of Formations pointing at several key nodes of the Restriction. Silently, the crack expanded, revealing a deep opening that could only accommodate one person. From within came a faint, musty, yet extraordinarily pure Buddha Power and the aura of time.

"Seems like an abandoned temple Immortal Cave?" Mu Changge raised his eyebrows, restrained his aura, and flashed inside.

The interior of the Immortal Cave was wider than imagined, but most areas had already collapsed or been eroded by time. Following the direction of the residual Buddha Power in the air, he passed through the dilapidated scripture hall and pill room, finally arriving at a relatively well-preserved stone room in the deepest part of the Immortal Cave.

The center of the stone room was empty, but the four walls were covered with blurred Buddha murals, depicting scenes of the Buddha preaching, Bodhisattvas lowering their eyebrows, and Vajras glaring. The lines of the murals were ancient and clumsy, but even after the passage of time, there was still a hint of Zen rhyme flowing faintly.

And right in front of a mural of "the Buddha holding a flower, Kasyapa smiling," a figure stood with his back to the door, head tilted, staring blankly at the mural, muttering to himself.

It was a young monk, looking no more than twenty years old, with a delicate face, even carrying a hint of childishness. His head was bald and shiny, reflecting the faint light in the stone room. He wore a set of plain gray monk robes that had been washed white, wore straw sandals on his feet, and had no other possessions, save for a string of ordinary-looking wooden prayer beads hanging around his neck. At this moment, he was looking up, his brows tightly locked, his eyes staring dazed at the Buddha's ambiguous, flower-holding, silent gesture on the mural, muttering to himself:

"Holding the flower... smiling... no reliance on words, a special transmission outside the teachings... pointing directly to the human heart, seeing one's nature to become a Buddha... but how does one point directly to this heart? And how can one see one's nature? A flower is a flower, I am I, does laughing mean I have realized it? It makes no sense, it makes no sense..."

He muttered while scratching his head, nodding as if he had suddenly realized something, then shaking his head in confusion, completely immersed in his own world, seemingly completely unaware of Mu Changge's arrival. The aura on him was not strong, around the Mid Spirit Severing stage, but that light of Luck, in Mu Changge's eyes, was incredibly solid and dazzlingly bright, even more Heaven-Defying than Zhou Tianyan's.

Mu Changge's eyes flickered, and he instantly understood that this monk was the person he was looking for—another "protagonist" carrying great Luck. And looking at it, he seemed to be a "Buddhist fanatic" with a simple mind, obsessed with Zen and realizing the Dao. At this moment, he was clearly attracted by the Buddhist rhyme and Zen machine remaining in this mural, trapped in some mysterious state of realization, or rather... stuck in a dead end.

"Interesting..." A playful arc curled at the corner of Mu Changge's mouth. He did not immediately startle the other party but quietly observed. This monk did not have the arrogance and scheming often found in Disciples of large Sects; his temperament was clean to a fault, yet his Luck was so thick. This kind of "innocent heart" protagonist was often the hardest to deal with, but also the easiest to deal with—hard because they were difficult to fathom with common sense, easy because... perhaps they were easier to "fool."

His gaze swept across the stone room. Apart from the murals, there was only a dust-covered stone bed, a worn-out meditation cushion, and nothing else in the corner. But Mu Changge could feel that the most precious "Opportunity" here was not any physical Magic Treasure, but the Buddhist Concept in this mural that had remained through the years, and the "realizing the Dao" state that this monk was currently immersed in.

"It seems that this mural should be this guy's Opportunity! If this silly monk can really gain something while meditating here, his cultivation and state of mind will surely greatly advance..." Mu Changge calculated in his heart, and a thought gradually took shape. Interrupt him directly and kill him? But looking at his Heaven-Defying Luck, it probably wouldn't be so easy to kill. However, this monk looked simple-minded, so he should be easy to fool! Why not... keep him? After all, leeks, the longer they grow, the more satisfying they are to harvest.

Having made up his mind, Mu Changge no longer hid his aura and coughed lightly.

"Hmm?" Hearing the sound, the young monk shuddered as if waking from a dream and spun around abruptly. Seeing Mu Changge, who had appeared at the entrance of the stone room at some point, his face first revealed a trace of displeasure at being disturbed, which then turned into vigilance, but there was still more of the confusion and bewilderment that had not yet faded.

"You... who are you? How did you get in?" The monk pressed his palms together, looking at Mu Changge with vigilance, but his eyes were clear, without much hostility, only simple curiosity and a slight annoyance at having his meditation interrupted.

Mu Changge revealed a kind smile on his face and cupped his hands. "I am a Disciple of the Wandao Sword Sect—Mu Baba. I stumbled upon this place by chance and, seeing traces of a Restriction, was curious enough to come in and take a look. I apologize for disturbing your cultivation." His tone was sincere, and he kept his posture very low.

"Ba... Baba?" The little monk Wu Xin blinked his clear, big eyes, repeating the name in his mouth. The pronunciation was standard, without any hesitation, and his face was entirely natural and filled with the slight curiosity of someone reporting their name to a stranger; clearly, he had not realized the special meaning of this name in Mu Changge's context. "Oh, so it is Benefactor Mu. My Dharma name is 'Wu Xin', and I come from Mount Sumeru. Does Benefactor Mu also wish to meditate on this mural?"

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He asked earnestly, even with a hint of scholarly inquiry, as if he felt that this benefactor with the somewhat peculiar name (he simply found the pronunciation a bit odd, but the world was full of strange names, so he didn't think much of it) might also be a fellow traveler drawn by the mural, perhaps sharing a karmic bond with Buddha.

Hearing Wu Xin call him 'Benefactor Mu,' Mu Changge felt his mischievous streak wasn't quite satisfied. However, his expression remained gentle as he shook his head and smiled. 'No, no, no, I have no interest in this mural. But... since you and I are fated to meet here, we are friends. Calling me "Benefactor" is a bit too distant. If you don't mind, little monk, you can just call me "Baba." It sounds much more intimate.'

Wu Xin was slightly taken passwords upon hearing this, his clear eyes filled with confusion. 'Ba... Baba? This... This monk is meeting you for the first time, Benefactor. Is calling you such a name too... too casual?' He clearly felt that calling him by this name was a bit awkward, but more importantly, he felt that using a nickname directly was disrespectful.

'Eh, a name is but a label, how can it be called casual?' Mu Changge waved his hand, his smile becoming even more genial, his eyes carrying just the right amount of 'sincerity.'

'To tell you the truth, when I first saw you, little monk, I felt you had an extraordinary bearing and inner wisdom, and even a strange sense of familiarity. Why don't we become brothers? ...If you don't agree, then let's just become father and son!'

His words were half-true and half-false; the sense of familiarity was a lie, but the feeling that this monk had 'extraordinary Luck and was easy to fool' was the truth.

Sure enough, as soon as Wu Xin heard the words 'become brothers' and 'become father and son,' he immediately lost his composure. His previous slight hesitation over the name was instantly thrown to the winds. He carefully sized Mu Changge up from head to toe. The more he looked, the more he felt that this Mu... no, wait! This 'Baba' was gentle and polite in speech and manner, with an ethereal temperament. Moreover, since he could enter this hidden Buddhist Immortal Cave, perhaps he truly did have a bond with the Buddhist Sect and was a virtuous person yet to be enlightened!

'Amitabha!' Wu Xin suddenly perked up, pressing his palms together and speaking with a (tried to be) solemn expression. 'Mu... cough! What Baba says is very true! Names are originally external forms; it was this monk who was too attached to appearances. For a Fellow Daoist to be able to enter this place and perceive the Zen intent of the mural, and even feel a kinship with this monk—this must be the guidance of a karmic bond with Buddha in the dark!'

He paused, a slight flush of excitement appearing on his face as he tried hard to recall how his Master and Senior Brothers usually 'converted' those with a karmic bond. Organizing his words, he said, 'Baba, you may not know this, but my Mount Sumeru is the orthodox Buddhist lineage, with a long Legacy and profound Buddhist teachings. Observing your extraordinary skeletal structure and clear mind, if you could take refuge in Buddha and practice the supreme wonderful methods, you will surely attain Bodhi in the future, escape the sea of suffering, and gain great liberation! I wonder... I wonder if Baba is willing to follow this monk back to Mount Sumeru and join our Buddhist Sect?' He spoke earnestly, his eyes full of anticipation, as if he could already see the beautiful scene of this 'destined person' shaving his head to become a monk and becoming his Junior Brother.

Mu Changge wanted to laugh in his heart; this monk was truly simple and cute, already trying to recruit him. However, he showed just the right amount of 'regret' and 'difficulty' on his face, sighing as he said, 'Little monk, I appreciate your kindness. It's just... sigh, to tell you the truth, my worldly ties are not yet severed. I fear I have no fate with the Buddhist Sect.'

'Worldly ties not yet severed?' Wu Xin blinked, somewhat puzzled. 'What worldly tie could be more important than seeking the supreme Buddhist path and transcending Reincarnation? Why don't you tell me about it, Baba? Perhaps this monk... perhaps the Buddhist teachings can help you resolve it?'

Mu Changge laughed inwardly, but on the surface, he showed a hint of (pretended) 'shyness' and 'longing.' 'Little monk, I won't hide it from you. I already have several Confidantes, and we share deep affection, having promised to seek longevity together. How can such emotional ties be discarded? ...I truly find it difficult to do.'

As expected, when Wu Xin heard 'Confidantes,' 'deep affection,' and 'discard,' a clear look of confusion and a hint of... curiosity appeared on his handsome face. He had grown up on Mount Sumeru, listening to Buddhist scriptures and strict precepts. Regarding the emotions between men and women, he only had Concepts like 'form is emptiness, emptiness is form' and 'pink skeletons.' He knew the terms but not their essence, and he had never personally experienced or understood them.

'This... matters of love and affection are indeed worldly entanglements.' Wu Xin tried hard to recall the sayings in the scriptures. 'Buddha says, all love and affection will meet with impermanence and are hard to sustain. Life is full of fear, and life is as precarious as morning dew. From love comes sorrow, from love comes fear; if one is free from love, there is no sorrow and no fear. That... Baba, the love between men and women is ultimately the source of illusory troubles. It is better to see through it and let go early to gain purity and liberation!' He spoke eloquently, almost believing it himself. But it felt more like he was reciting from a book, lacking personal experience.

Mu Changge wanted exactly this state of rich theory and zero practice. He put on an expression of 'deep thought' and 'struggle,' slowly saying, 'What you say, little monk, does have some truth. "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form," I have also often heard. It's just... little monk, forgive my bluntness, but you have been a monk since childhood and have studied Buddhist teachings. Do you know what this "form" is? And what state is this "emptiness"? You often talk about "letting go," but you have never truly "picked up." You have never experienced that lingering, unforgettable feeling of love and affection. How can you truly understand what it means to "let go" or to "see through" it?'

His words carried a hint of provocation and the profound meaning of someone who had 'been there,' directly striking the blind spots and psychological weaknesses of a theoretical little monk like Wu Xin.

Wu Xin was indeed stumped. He opened his mouth, wanting to quote scriptures to refute him, but found that what Mu Changge said seemed... to make a bit of sense? He had never experienced love; all his knowledge came from scriptures and the teachings of his Master and Senior Brothers. How could he understand the true meaning of 'picking up' and 'letting go'? His brow furrowed as he fell into deep thought, even temporarily forgetting his previous confusion about the mural.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Mu Changge decided to add more fuel to the fire. As if suddenly remembering something, he took out the ancient Jade Slip containing the Great Bliss Zen Method from his storage ring. It felt warm to the touch, its surface flowing with a faint, strangely rhythmic soft light. One could tell at a glance it was no ordinary item, and it exuded an aura that was different from the solemnity of orthodox Buddhism, yet vaguely aligned with the profound mysteries of Yin and Yang.

'Little monk, look and see what this is.' Mu Changge handed the Jade Slip to Wu Xin, his expression 'solemn' with a hint of 'mystery.'

'This is something I accidentally obtained from an ancient ruin during my early travels. It is a supreme secret method of the Buddhist Sect—the Great Bliss Zen Method.'

'Great Bliss Zen Method?' Wu Xin curiously took the Jade Slip. It was slightly warm to the touch, and his Divine Thought subconsciously delved into it. He was immediately drawn in by a grand, ancient, and strangely joyful Concept. The beginning of the Jade Slip was not a specific Cultivation Technique, but a profound scripture explaining 'the Non-duality of Emptiness and Form,' 'the Union of Bliss and Emptiness,' 'Using desire to overcome desire,' and 'Transforming afflictions into Bodhi.' Its principles were deep and its text elegant, vaguely connecting with orthodox Buddhist logic yet carving out its own path, especially emphasizing 'actual realization' and 'experience.'

'This... this seems to be some extremely high-level Dual Cultivation... no, a supreme method of Yin-Yang harmony?' Wu Xin's face heated up slightly. Although he was simple, he wasn't completely ignorant of the matters between men and women; he had just never encountered a Buddhist secret manual that pointed so directly to the path of 'Yin-Yang harmony.' What this method described seemed to treat the love between men and women and the union of Yin and Yang as a form of cultivation, a path leading to 'emptiness' and 'great bliss.' This... this seemed somewhat... different from the 'staying away from love and desire' taught by his Master.

Mu Changge took in all of Wu Xin's reactions and laughed inwardly. On the surface, however, he maintained the profound look of someone discussing Buddhist principles. 'Indeed. This Zen method believes that all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, and that afflictions are Bodhi. Love and desire are also part of the nature of sentient beings. Forcibly suppressing them is like blocking a flood; it only gives birth to Heart Demons. It is better to guide them, use them, and transform them. In the ultimate sensory pleasure, one realizes the "non-duality of bliss and emptiness," and in the fusion of male and female Yin and Yang, one witnesses that "self-nature is originally empty." As the saying goes, "If one has never picked it up, how can one talk about letting go?" Without deeply experiencing the "existence" of love and desire, how can one truly realize the "emptiness" of its essence?'

He paused, looking at Wu Xin's thoughtful, yet somewhat confused and struggling face, and continued his 'persuasion.'

'Little monk, you are dedicated to Buddha and seek enlightenment. But working behind closed doors and sitting in dry meditation can sometimes lead to the obstacle of views. Perhaps... trying another way to experience and understand the myriad phenomena of this world, including love and desire, can instead help you break through your delusions and gain a deeper understanding of the Buddhist path? This Great Bliss Zen Method might be another door opened for a cultivator like you, who has a deep Foundation but is trapped by your own views.'

Mu Changge's voice carried a strange seductive power. Combined with the ancient Zen intent emanating from the Jade Slip, it constantly hammered at Wu Xin's established Concepts. Wu Xin held the Jade Slip, his mind in turmoil. He felt that there was something wrong with what this Fellow Daoist 'Baba' was saying, but it also seemed to make some sense. Especially the phrase 'If one has never picked it up, how can one talk about letting go' actually gave him a faint sense of loosening regarding his previous confusion about the mural. Moreover, the Buddhist principles contained within the Great Bliss Zen Method itself were extremely high and profound, definitely not an Evil Path. It seemed... it truly was a unique cultivation path?

'But... but the Buddhist precepts...' Wu Xin struggled, his face turning even redder and his voice growing softer. To ask him, a little monk who had strictly followed the precepts since childhood, to try some 'Great Bliss Zen' and find a female cultivator to 'experience' it... it was simply unimaginable!

'Precepts are a raft; once you cross the river, you discard it,' Mu Changge said with 'profound meaning.' 'If you cling to the raft and do not see the other shore, that too is a delusion. Little monk, on the path of cultivation, there are ten thousand methods and a thousand gates. Why be confined to one path? This method was left by an ancient Buddhist virtuous one; it is upright and bright, intended only to help people break through delusions and gain enlightenment. You might as well take the Jade Slip first and study it in your spare time; perhaps you can learn by analogy. As for whether to practice it... it all depends on your own karmic bond and choice. Your Baba only felt a kinship with you and couldn't bear to see you trapped by your views, so I gifted you this method with absolutely no intention of forcing you.'

He spoke these words beautifully, both throwing out the bait and appearing completely unforced, acting entirely for the other person's sake by 'generously' handing the choice over to Wu Xin.

Wu Xin looked at the warm Jade Slip in his hand, then at the mural, and finally at the gentle smile and 'sincere' eyes of this Fellow Daoist 'Baba.' A battle between his inner heaven and man ensued.

'Amitabha...' Wu Xin finally chanted a Buddha name, as if he had made some sort of decision. He carefully put away the Jade Slip, though his face was red enough to bleed. 'Thank... thank you for the gift, Baba. This method... this method is profound. This monk... this monk will study it carefully to verify the Buddhist teachings. As for... as for the "experience" you mentioned, Fellow Daoist... that needs further consideration, further consideration.' He could barely speak straight, clearly extremely unsettled in his heart.

Mu Changge was overjoyed, knowing that the 'seed' had been successfully planted. All that was needed next was slow, subtle guidance.

'Take your time to study it, little monk,' Mu Changge smiled, no longer pressing him. He turned his gaze back to the mural. 'By the way, I saw you were confused by this mural earlier. Have you gained anything now? Although I am not a member of the Buddhist Sect, I am willing to discuss it with you, Great Master.'

Hearing this, Wu Xin perked up, temporarily suppressing the unsettling matter of the Jade Slip. His attention returned to the mural, and that familiar look of obsession and confusion reappeared on his face. 'Speaking of which, Baba, this monk still doesn't understand this "Picking up a flower and smiling"...'

The two of them then began to 'discuss' the Zen mysteries of the mural. One was sincerely seeking knowledge (though his thinking was quite unique), and the other was 'enthusiastically' giving pointers (actually slipping in his own ideas to continue solidifying his 'good image as a destined person'). The atmosphere actually seemed quite 'harmonious.'

After a long while, Mu Changge felt he had done enough. He made an excuse that he had important matters to attend to and prepared to take his leave. Although Wu Xin was a bit reluctant to part with this 'agreeable' and 'generous' Fellow Daoist, he also knew that cultivators each had their own paths and it was not right to force him to stay.

Before leaving, Wu Xin thought for a moment and pulled out a small Buddha statue pendant from his robe (actually from that inconspicuous Storage Pouch). It seemed to be made of a mixture of incense ash and soil. He handed it to Mu Changge, his face slightly red but sincere as he said, 'Baba, this is a small Buddha statue I made myself using my own Buddha Power and the incense ash from my daily chanting. Although it isn't worth much, wearing it can calm the mind and has a slight effect of dispelling evil. I give it to you as a token of my gratitude, hoping it will bring you some peace. If we are fated in the future, I hope to discuss Buddhist teachings with you again.'

Mu Changge took the small Buddha statue, which still carried body heat and a faint scent of sandalwood. Looking into Wu Xin's clear and sincere eyes, which also held a bit of embarrassment from giving a 'handmade' gift, the guilty feeling of 'fooling an honest kid' grew stronger. This monk was truly... so simple that it was almost 'unbearable.'

'Thank you, little monk. I will treasure it well.' Mu Changge put it away solemnly and cupped his hands. 'Then I also wish you an early realization of the Zen path and progress in your Buddhist teachings. If we are fated, we shall meet again in the Jianghu.'

'Take care, Baba!' Wu Xin pressed his palms together in a salute, watching Mu Changge's figure disappear at the cave entrance. Only then did he scratch his bald head and look back at the mural. But in his mind, the scriptures of the Great Bliss Zen Method and the words 'If one has never picked it up, how can one talk about letting go' spoken by Fellow Daoist 'Baba' involuntarily surfaced, causing his face to burn again.

'Amitabha, what a sin, what a sin...' He hurriedly chanted the Heart-Clearing Incantation, but he felt as if something in his heart had already been quietly pried open.

Mu Changge, who had left the Immortal Cave, toyed with the crude but heartfelt Buddha statue pendant in his hand, a pleasant smile appearing on his face.

'Wu Xin... heh, he's quite an interesting little monk. Great Bliss Zen... I hope you like this "gift." Practice well. When you have "realized" it, it won't be too late for me, your "Baba," to come and "discuss the Dao" with you again.'