Chapter 43: Buddha

"He has become a Buddha." Hearing the abbot's calm words, a sudden chill ran down Li Huowang's spine.

He snapped his head up, looking at the five enormous golden Buddhas around him. Just moments ago, they had appeared solemn and majestic; now, their expressions seemed to shift instantly.

As Li Huowang was about to rise, he glanced at the bright sun outside the door, then back at the abbot.

The old abbot remained seated, perfectly composed, neither joyful nor sorrowful, as if the preceding words hadn't come from his lips.

"Wait, don't scare myself. It might not be what I'm imagining."

After pondering for a while, Li Huowang spoke again: "Abbot, there was a past grievance between Zhengde Temple and Daoist Danyangzi, wasn't there?"

"Indeed. He previously abducted and murdered people indiscriminately, causing widespread unrest. I once dispatched the warrior monks of our temple's Bodhidharma Hall to apprehend him, but he repeatedly evaded capture."

"If you can find a way to eliminate this person, it would be a meritorious act."

"Then, Master, how could such a wicked and unpardonable person become a Buddha? How is that even possible?"

"Amitabha. What he is now does not matter. This old monk holds the Buddha in his heart, and in my heart, he is the Buddha."

Hearing this, Li Huowang immediately felt a surge of irritation. The old monk wasn't speaking plainly; he was speaking in riddles.

"Benefactor, Danyangzi is now entwined with the Great Thousand. What he is, is not important. What is important is what you believe him to be. What you believe him to be, he is. After all, his karma now rests with you, not with this old monk."

Xinhui's voice remained calm and unruffled, but this time, Li Huowang grasped his intended meaning.

"Are you saying Danyangzi has transformed into a shapeless entity that can change according to a person's thoughts? Similar to Elder You?"

"Precisely."

"But why? How did he turn into such a monstrous thing? All those immortal cultivation methods were concocted by me! So many poisonous ingredients – eating them should have resulted in immediate death!"

Li Huowang racked his brain but could not fathom the answer.

"This old monk does not know."

The abbot's blunt reply caught Li Huowang off guard. "You don't know?"

"This old monk is not the Future Buddha, incapable of omniscience and omnipotence. A monastic does not speak falsehoods. If I do not know, I do not know."

Li Huowang pondered for another moment before asking a crucial question.

"Abbot, is there a way to definitively resolve the issue of Danyangzi? Since he is our adversary, leaving him unresolved isn't a good situation."

He had expended so much effort to travel this far precisely to resolve this matter.

Regardless of what Danyangzi had become, Li Huowang had to eliminate him.

This time, Xinhui did not answer as quickly. After a moment of contemplation, he raised his right hand. "Come closer. I need to observe further."

Looking at the wrinkled white hand, Li Huowang hesitated.

"Benefactor Xuanyang, if you still doubt my intentions to harm you, then you should not have stepped through the temple gate just now."

After a brief moment of thought, Li Huowang placed his forehead against the abbot's palm.

With a faint "hum," Li Huowang felt all the colors around him instantly intensify several times over, accompanied by a light, floating sensation throughout his body.

This peculiar sensation arrived quickly and departed just as swiftly. When everything returned to normal, Li Huowang felt an inexplicable emptiness in his heart.

He understood that, without a doubt, this old abbot possessed some unique Buddhist divine abilities.

"Hmm... This matter is of great importance. This old monk needs to consult with the other elders for countermeasures. You may stay at the temple for now. I will give you an answer tomorrow."

Upon hearing that he needed to stay, Li Huowang immediately felt anxious. "I have friends outside the temple. They will worry if I don't return."

Seeing Li Huowang's refusal, the abbot's tone remained unhurried.

"To stay or to leave is your choice. Zhengde Temple opens at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow. Benefactor Xuanyang, please do not break your word. You know that if this trouble is not eliminated, it will ultimately remain a great hidden danger, both for you and for all living beings under heaven."

When Li Huowang stepped out of the hall and into the sunlight, looking back inside, he saw that the abbot had already turned around again, resuming his chanting towards the giant golden Buddha.

Li Huowang looked up at the midday sun directly overhead and then at the quiet, serene Buddhist temple surroundings. Nothing appeared out of place.

Just as Li Huowang turned and walked a few steps, the bald back of the abbot's head, still chanting, began to writhe.

A moment later, a smooth crack slowly appeared beneath his Five-Buddha hat, and a fist-sized vertical eye emerged, fixing its gaze intently on Li Huowang.

At this moment, the abbot's chanting suddenly grew significantly louder. "Form is not I... If it were I, form would not be subject to illness and suffering. I desire such a form... I do not desire such a form... According to one's desires. Therefore, one should know..."

As Li Huowang navigated the winding paths between the temple buildings, he eventually returned to the bustling main entrance, crowded with pilgrims. He felt as though he had re-entered the human world.

Standing among the crowd, he looked back at the small alley he had just exited. "Should I trust him?" Li Huowang felt a pang of hesitation.

"Hey! Daoist! Over here!" Hearing someone call out to him, Li Huowang turned and saw the old beggar not far away, excitedly waving.

"You came to Zhengde Temple? They actually accepted you?"

The old beggar nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that monk just said he took pity on me and would let me stay here to work at the temple."

"That's good. Work hard here. At least it's better than digging for wild vegetables or eating offerings for the dead outside. I have to go now. Oh, I haven't asked your name yet."

"You can just call me 'Monk'. I like being called 'Monk'. If you have time, come visit the temple sometime."

"Heh, according to your Buddhist teachings, let's say it's 'up to fate'."

Bidding farewell to the old man, Li Huowang left Zhengde Temple.

Upon arriving at the pre-arranged inn, the others immediately swarmed him.

Li Huowang raised a hand to halt their questions and said, "I have a task for all of you. Please disperse and inquire among the local people about Zhengde Temple."

Although his interactions with the monks that day had seemed completely normal, he decided to first gather the local perception of Zhengde Temple before making any further plans.

The others didn't question him; they simply nodded and turned to leave the inn.

Time passed, and as the sun set, the seven who had scattered gradually returned, each beginning to report their findings to Li Huowang.

"They say Zhengde Temple is the largest temple in Xijing City, and it has the most devout followers."

"I heard those monks are very pious and strictly uphold their precepts. Once, a monk secretly ate meat, and they immediately expelled him from the temple."

"I heard the emperor from the palace also visits that temple to worship Buddha. If you're lucky and get a good spot, you might even catch a glimpse of the emperor!"

"What I found out is similar, Senior Brother. Why did you want us to inquire about Zhengde Temple?"

Li Huowang did not answer. He didn't want to tell them about the terrifying possibility of Danyangzi still existing, fearing they would be alarmed.

He carefully considered their reports, but after much deliberation, Li Huowang realized he had no valid reason to refuse the abbot's offer.

If he didn't trust these monks, he would have to confront the "Buddha"-transformed Danyangzi alone. That choice would undoubtedly be suicidal.

Ultimately, weighing the potential gains and losses, Li Huowang decided to return to Zhengde Temple the following day.