In Yanxuan Valley.
Huan Xin stepped out of the small house when a Buddhist chant suddenly rang out.
"Amitabha, Donor Huan Xin, long time no see."
Huan Xin looked in the direction of the voice, and from beneath the bamboo shadows, a young monk slowly approached. He had six tonsure scars on his head, his hands were pressed together, and his gaze was lowered, like a compassionate practitioner. Yet, the grotesque eye on his forehead was hideous and terrifying, making anyone who saw it tremble in fear.
"Who are you? How did you get into the valley?"
"Oh…" The young monk nodded, "Donor Huan Xin doesn't recognize this humble monk… That's understandable, you were only four years old when you formed a connection with this humble monk, too young to remember…"
"Young monk, you speak nonsense. Look at how young you are; when I was four, you probably weren't even born yet."
"How dare this humble monk speak falsely…" The young monk shook his head, looking very disappointed, "Donor Huan Xin, do you still remember? When you were four, you made a wish to this humble monk's clay statue in a dilapidated temple?"
"A dilapidated temple? Your clay statue? You… you are…"
The young monk chuckled, "Donor Huan Xin finally remembered? This humble monk has no name or surname, and many dharma names. You can still call me 'young monk,' just like nine years ago."
Huan Xin felt a chill run through her body upon hearing the young monk's strange words, "Who exactly are you?!"
"This humble monk is the incarnation of that clay statue, neither human nor non-human, both a sentient being and not a sentient being…"
"Why were you enshrined in a temple?"
"This humble monk is shallow in talent and virtue, with a light life and thin fortune. How dare I accept offerings? Donor Huan Xin, have you forgotten? This humble monk's clay statue was bound by chains, and it was thanks to your compassionate heart, Donor, that you freed this humble monk from its restraints… That temple was actually a cage."
Huan Xin's memories suddenly flooded back.
That anxious, rainy night, the blood-stained Divine Statue…
Yes, those heinous soldiers, they didn't kill each other for no reason; they were bewitched by this clay statue.
And after she narrowly escaped death, she made a wish to the clay statue: for peace to reign over the world, with no more conflicts.
These memories brought not only images but also emotions, a coldness like a blade scraping her heart, causing her a jolt of fear, "Why have you come?!"
The young monk gave a strange laugh, "The donor made a wish, and this humble monk spent nine years fulfilling it. I've come to inform you."
"Nonsense!" Huan Xin's brows furrowed, "Not to mention that I was young at the time, and the wish I made was perhaps too grand… Even if there truly was a divine being who could accomplish it, I have traveled with my foster father for years, has the killing in the world ever ceased for a single day? Moreover, my foster father always says that with the Son of Heaven dead and the court in disarray, there is no longer any law or order in the world, and things are only getting worse day by day… Monks do not lie, how can you say you have already accomplished it?"
"Donor, you do not know, all these things in the world are precisely the manifestations of 'all sentient beings are saved, all chaos ceases'!"
"How are all sentient beings saved?"
"The reason sentient beings cannot be saved is all because they are 'unaware' and 'cannot know'! So… this humble monk let those with desires and evil pick up the butcher's knife, finally making them 'aware', and made the wicked even more wicked, finally making them 'able to know'! In this way, good and evil in the world have nowhere to hide, sentient beings are no longer confused. Ha, isn't that 'all sentient beings are saved'?"
Huan Xin's eyes blazed with fury as she raised her hand to grip her sword, then asked again: "How does 'all chaos cease' come about?!"
"Amitabha, as the saying goes, 'there are no sages in the world, ordinary people mess up creation.' Heaven and earth cycle, the Great Dao is natural; following it leads to order, going against it leads to chaos! However, worldly people are foolish, and they love to set rules, especially emperors! So, in these nine years, this humble monk caused more than thirty emperors to die one after another, and thousands of officials to lose their lives and heirs! No one in the world dares to claim the title of emperor anymore. The imperial court has disintegrated, returning the Dao to the people. Isn't that, ha, all chaos ceases?"
"Full of demonic words, take this sword!"
Huan Xin could no longer suppress the furious killing intent in her heart. She suddenly drew the Fu Yu Divine Sword from her waist, and a cold light, like the moon, illuminated several zhang around her with a frosty hue.
The young monk stared at the Fu Yu Divine Sword, his eyes burning, "Good! What a Divine Sword! This humble monk has come precisely for this fu yu sword!"
He picked up a branch from the ground and gently waved it; the immense sword energy actually tore apart the clouds in the sky!
"Come! Donor Huan Xin, come with me!"
…
Sun Lichai stayed on Mount Song for a month, until one day, the Epiphyllum Seal between her brows vibrated violently.
The Pure Land was being opened!
Although the Pure Land spans three lifetimes and is omnipresent, the past and future do not meet. She could sense the Pure Land, but it was indistinct. To connect with the Pure Land, she had to wait for the Buddha-child to open it, linking the present with the past.
Immediately, she eagerly entered the Pure Land.
She descended upon a dark land.
Looking up, a giant golden moon dominated the sky, overlooking the deep, vast expanse.
It was indeed newly created; the moon was still there, and Mount Sumeru had not yet been erected.
She heard a soft exclamation, and Sun Lichai's vision blurred, appearing in a vast sea of flowers.
Before her was a blurry statue.
It was precisely the Dharma Body of Lu Yuan Bodhisattva.
At this time, Simon had not yet sensed his Sambhogakaya, so this Dharma Body was only in its nascent form.
Streams of light converged before the statue, and a delicate child appeared in the light.
"You've arrived."
"Lu Yuan, you recognize me?"
Simon pointed to Sun Lichai's brow, where the Epiphyllum Seal flickered.
"I hid a thought in your flower. When I see you, I will temporarily let my future self replace the present one."
Simon's tone of voice became increasingly calm, and his choice of words became more subtle.
"Do you know that the Fu Yu Divine Sword has already broken? The task entrusted to you has failed."
Sun Lichai was startled, "Why?"
"When you left the valley, you showed the way to that young monk. He is one of Xiangxu's incarnations. Yanxuan Valley was originally meant to stop him, but you let him in. Now it's too late for you to go back."
"What should I do?"
"It's fine. You go to The Ends of the Earth, and I'll send you back there."
Sun Lichai frowned, unable to let go of that sweet and adorable child in her heart. She decided to return to Yanxuan Valley first to check the situation, and then head to The Ends of the Earth.
Simon would not interfere with her actions, "Go and do whatever you want. It doesn't matter how many times you fail."
This tone, Sun Lichai was startled, it wasn't the future Buddha-child, it was the current Buddha-child!
Simon shook his head, "What's the difference between past and future? Go."
"Yes."
An epiphyllum flashed between Sun Lichai's brows, and she quietly withdrew.
In the vast Pure Land, amidst the boundless sea of flowers, Simon remained alone, lost in thought.
"This path is not easy for any of us," he smiled, "Strive, strive."
…
In Yanxuan Valley.
Sun Lichai arrived in front of the bamboo hut where Huan Xin lived.
White silk banners fluttered everywhere, and Huan Xin's foster father sat despondently under the eaves.
The swing set was empty. Yes, the swing hadn't been built yet.
But even if it were built, who would be laughing there?
The old man coughed twice, then collapsed to the ground, gazing at the clouds unfurling across the sky, silent.
Sun Lichai saw this scene clearly.
She turned and left, her steps firm as if embarking on a journey.
Breaking the cycle of reincarnation, I will definitely save you!
…
Thunder roared.
Huan Xin was startled awake, pushed open the eaves, and looked up at the sky. A patch of brocade clouds emitted a hazy golden light.
"Are the immortals holding a Peach Banquet?"
The young girl's mind was still so pure.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 30 chapters of this story on Patreon.
If you're enjoying it and want to read ahead, feel free to check them out here:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thanks a lot for your support, it really helps me keep going.