Chu Xingchen looked at Wukong's expression. Since the favor had been granted, it was time to apply something else.
He gestured for Wukong to follow.
Two figures rose straight into the sky.
Chu Xingchen stood in midair and signaled Wukong to look downward, taking in all of the current Zhengyin Dharma Temple.
Though Zhengyin Dharma Temple had been leveled, many refugees still needed shelter.
Many cultivators, though they could work day and night without rest, still needed buildings to carry out their tasks.
The cultivators had constructed the first batch of habitable buildings at Zhengyin Dharma Temple. Built in haste, they naturally lacked any aesthetic appeal.
Roughly speaking, it was like punching two holes in a box — this is the door, this is the window, this is the house.
Ask whether the house was crooked, and the answer would be — if it doesn't collapse, isn't that enough?
The rest were mostly built by the refugees themselves, with the cultivators largely only doing the planning. So neither the first batch nor the subsequent buildings had any beauty to speak of.
All bore the style of refugee shacks.
Chu Xingchen stood high in the sky, his gaze sweeping over the people of the Western Ox Continent, who could still smile within those refugee shacks.
For a moment, he did not know whether to feel gratified or sorrowful.
Chu Xingchen spoke softly to Wukong at his side:
"Many things, if no one acts, will deteriorate to the extreme. Likewise, with just a little action, things can be set back on the right track."
"Just a little — that little might be merely a single thought in many minds. Yet many things lack exactly that thought."
"Demons mostly hide everywhere. Those within the Buddhist sect are only a minority, true."
"Hunting down the fleeing demons first, and temporarily allying with the Buddhist sect, may be a good plan."
"But speaking of who can stir up greater turmoil, right now, the entire Western Ox Continent is the answer."
"The Buddhist sect has you, so it cannot be called entirely bad. Yet your Buddhas need only stay silent to push matters to their worst."
Wukong was struck dumb. These were words he truly could not answer.
Chu Xingchen's expression turned serious:
"I will speak plainly. The Western Ox Continent is only the beginning. Our goal is not the Western Ox Continent, but to cross the Pudu River."
"The Three Great Sects came together — not simply to clean up your mess or seize territory."
"This matter, once is enough. I do not wish for a second time."
"You are the Buddhist Son. I now ask you — are the Buddhist temples more important, or the sentient beings below?"
Wukong sighed softly:
"What does Sect Master Chu wish me to do?"
"The Buddhist sect is, after all, among the Eighteen Immortal Sects. To say it ranks among the top five would not be exaggerating." Chu Xingchen's tone was calm. "To directly move against such a colossal entity is the most foolish of actions."
"It is also the outcome the demons most wish to see — cultivators warring among themselves, both sides suffering."
"The best method is to do as the demons do — dissolve it from within."
Wukong frowned at these words: "Sect Master Chu gives me too much credit. I am only the Buddhist Son."
Chu Xingchen smiled: "At least you have self-awareness."
Wukong swallowed his frustration once more.
"Since you could come see me bearing the token of the Brightness Buddha, you must have already found his trail." Chu Xingchen's gaze was earnest as he looked at Wukong. "Only his Great Vehicle Buddhist Dharma can dissolve the current Buddhist sect."
"To seek him out, you naturally cannot bring burdens."
"I have waited for you to come for a very long time. Otherwise, how do you think the Pudu River was so easily crossed? I only did not expect them to move so slowly."
"Look below, Buddhist Son Wukong."
"The common people of the world, the great cause of the righteous path — all rest upon your shoulders. Find him. Persuade him."
"Surely you do not wish to see the five continents and four seas plunged into misery?"
Wukong looked at Chu Xingchen's gentle smile.
The smile was indeed gentle, but his methods of manipulating others were equally sharp.
This Great Vehicle Buddhist Dharma, once invoked, was truly no different from taking his life.
Yet the words of refusal — he could not bring himself to say them, nor did he wish to.
Wukong sighed heavily:
"I may not succeed."
Chu Xingchen cupped his hands in salute:
"To be willing to go is itself righteousness."
Wukong pressed his lips together firmly and returned the salute.
A moment later, a rainbow of light shot toward the depths of the Western Ox Continent.
Then a figure emerged from within the formations.
Daoist Yuyang stood beside Chu Xingchen, his gaze also following the direction of Wukong's departure, and he asked:
"Brother Chu, can those two monks be relied upon?"
"Human effort decides. One must always try. There is no better method at present, in any case." Chu Xingchen gave an ambiguous reply, then continued, "Since Buddhist Son Wukong has come, I too must go attend to the next matter."
Daoist Yuyang nodded in great satisfaction:
"I hear you've been quite idle lately. It's high time you got busy."
"As if you've been the one busy here lately." Chu Xingchen snorted. "I'm taking Bai Qing away, lest he keep suffering under your thumb."
Daoist Yuyang was startled, instinctively wanting to dissuade him.
Though Chen Baiqing's methods were indeed as unconventional as Chu Xingchen's, he got things done well — and most importantly, he was extremely worry-free.
Many matters did not even require Daoist Yuyang to give key instructions. Chen Baiqing would handle them well and incidentally notify him — rest easy, these matters are all done.
If he left, wouldn't these comfortable days of lying flat be over? Wouldn't he be back to the endless overtime of the Eastern Victory Continent era?
But strictly speaking, the suffering was indeed a fact, which left Daoist Yuyang unable to refute.
Damn it!
Where had Chu Xingchen found Chen Baiqing, anyway?
Could he not have one too?
So considerate — let alone a demoness, even a demon man he would accept.
One could not lose the man without losing face.
Daoist Yuyang waved his hand with a natural expression:
"It is but a chance for your disciple to gain experience. If you wish to take him, take him."
"Tsk, such sourness."
Chu Xingchen raised an eye and drew out the tone.
————————
"Tsk... I truly cannot fathom Master's thinking."
Cui Hao sat cross-legged, lounging on a recliner in the warm sun, shaking his head as he spoke.
Li Yingling wielded her brush to handle official business. When Master was present, he handled matters; with Master gone, these tasks naturally fell to her as the senior disciple.
Fortunately, the forces now in the Western Ox Continent were truly vast. With their overwhelming advance, there were not many troublesome matters to handle — mostly reports and trivialities.
Processing them was fairly light work.
Li Yingling raised an eye at Cui Hao's complaints:
"Little Cui Hao, what laughable declaration do you have today?"
"Senior Sister, you stayed behind, naturally someone must preside over the overall situation." Cui Hao sat up, first offering a few flattering words to Li Yingling before continuing.
"But taking Second Senior Brother along was a misstep. Mr. Li and Fourth Senior Sister are both scholars of pure righteous aura."
"Second Senior Brother, though formidable, is somewhat out of place in such a setting. But Fifth Junior Brother — I too am a genuine Confucian cultivator."
"Mr. Li took one look at me and hailed me as a genius. By rights and by affection, he would more wish to see me."
Li Yingling revealed an extremely agreeable expression, nodding repeatedly:
"By your account, this is indeed a serious matter. Master's arrangement does have some problems."
Cui Hao was startled, not expecting the Senior Sister to actually agree.
Before Cui Hao could react.
Li Yingling set down her official business, a wicked smile appearing on her face:
"Such a serious matter — when Master returns, we must convene a full sect meeting to thoroughly discuss it."
"Senior Sister?!" Cui Hao's expression turned alarmed. "Such a joke cannot be made."
Li Yingling laughed wantonly:
"Who says this is a joke!"
"Senior Sister, I beg you to spare my life!" Cui Hao's expression was somewhat terrified.
"Do you still remember the hundred-thousand-word essay you wrote disparaging me?"
"How was that disparaging Senior Sister... Junior Brother only wrote the truth..."
"Hmm?!"
"It... it was Junior Brother's fault!"
"Very well. I sentence you to write a hundred thousand words on Senior Sister's glorious deeds. Do you accept or not?!"
"This..."
"Hmm?!"
"I accept..."
Cui Hao nodded heavily, simultaneously making up his mind.
Writing, he could certainly write.
But whether the excessively nauseating Senior Sister could stomach it would depend on the thickness of Senior Sister's face!
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