Chapter 248: Returning to Secular Life

“Does cultivating to the twentieth heaven realm make one a Tathagata?” Qin Mu’s eyes lit up. Grand Thunderclap Temple truly lived up to its reputation as the supreme holy land of Buddhism, and the Mahayana Sutra of Tathagata was indeed a supreme teaching, worthy of being ranked alongside the Great Dao Sutra of Heavenly Demons and the Fourteen Chapters of Dao Sword. The three great holy lands were, as expected, not famous without reason.

Yankang Nation was suffering from a snow disaster, but here it was perpetually spring-like. Many refugees from Yankang had fled here, settling in various temples, and a considerable number had converted to Buddhism.

“Grand Thunderclap Temple’s actions seem to exploit others’ misfortunes,” Qin Mu murmured, surveying the temples on the various mountaintops.

The blind man shook his head. “Mu’er, don’t concern yourself with their intentions; look at their actions. Grand Thunderclap Temple saved these people’s lives, and that is a benevolent act. Regardless of whether they intend to use this to strengthen Buddhism or spread its doctrines, what they are doing is, after all, good. If you only delve into Grand Thunderclap Temple’s thoughts without considering their actions, you would be no different from Li Tianxing.”

Qin Mu’s heart felt a chill, and he nodded in agreement. A person’s life is a journey of great cultivation, and it’s easy to be led astray by extreme thoughts. Any idea that hasn’t been carefully considered or scrutinized can lead one’s mind astray.

During these days, Qin Mu had been subtly influenced by his proximity to Li Tianxing. The former Cult Master of the Heavenly Devil Cult possessed deep demonic nature and an extreme mindset, yet he was also a Grandmaster, and his words often held a certain logic. A moment of carelessness could lead one to unconsciously absorb his ideas and philosophies.

The Dragon Qilin arrived at the Golden Summit, its fiery clouds descending until they touched the ground. The summit emerged from the clouds, with mist flowing beneath their feet. The ground was paved with white jade, matching the color of the clouds. Arriving here felt like being in a celestial realm.

Qin Mu looked around, secretly admiring the view. While the Loulan Golden Palace was luxurious, it had the feel of a parvenu. Grand Thunderclap Temple was also luxurious, but it was much more solemn, everywhere showcasing the dignity and culture of Buddhism.

Pagodas stood tall on the Golden Summit, with one towering over the others in grandeur. Monks with long eyebrows sat within the pagoda, some even perched on its spire and eaves, continuously chanting scriptures, their Buddhist chants reverberating through the air.

“Could that be the Pagoda of a Thousand Buddhas?” Qin Mu wondered to himself.

A female Bodhisattva in white robes, holding a pure vase, approached and bowed. “Heavenly Devil Cult Master, Horse God, Madam Si, and this elder Daoist, the Tathagata has been awaiting you for some time. Please follow me.”

Qin Mu replied, “Thank you, sister.”

“Sister?”

The female Bodhisattva chuckled. “Cult Master Qin, you jest. Please.”

Qin Mu and the others followed her. On the Golden Summit, venerable monks glowed with brilliant Buddhist light, each seated on a cloud, with rings of golden light forming halos behind them, a truly dazzling sight.

The Elder Tathagata, as the leader of the monks, sat at the highest position, his body vast, with revered disciples on either side. Below him were various Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Vajras, and Dharma Protectors, some of whom were the Elder Tathagata’s junior brothers, possessing extremely powerful cultivation. There were also some monks of non-human species who had attained enlightenment.

As Qin Mu and his companions approached, Qin Mu saluted and said, “Senior Brother.”

The Elder Tathagata quickly rose and returned the greeting, “Senior Brother.”

As he rose, the many Dharma Protectors, Venerables, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Vajras all rose in unison, saying, “Senior Brother!”

After everyone had exchanged greetings, the Elder Tathagata raised a hand, inviting Qin Mu to sit. Qin Mu looked down to see a prayer mat as his seat. If he sat there, he would be much shorter than the monks floating in the air.

“Mu’er, just sit,” Old Ma said.

Qin Mu sat down and felt a gentle force lift him and the prayer mat onto the Dragon Qilin’s back, a rather impressive sight.

The Elder Tathagata looked at Old Ma and smiled, “Disciple, have you renounced worldly affairs and intend to return to the mountain?”

Old Ma replied, “Return to the mountain? There is a Sumeru Mountain in my heart, but there are no Buddhas within it.”

The Elder Tathagata smiled. “When even Sumeru Mountain vanishes from your heart, then you will be a Tathagata. Excellent. Let go of your wife and children in your heart. I shall soon enter Nirvana and perfect enlightenment; this Grand Thunderclap Temple will be yours to preside over.”

Old Ma shook his head. “If I were to preside, I would kill all the bald bandits on this mountain.”

The Dharma Protectors and Arhats’ expressions changed drastically, and they angrily roared, adopting furious stances.

The Elder Tathagata said, “You are still stubbornly misguided. Last time you came up the mountain, I rushed back, but I was still a step too late. You should know that our master-disciple bond remains. You cut off your arm and sent it to me. I cherished the thought that you would eventually let go of worldly affairs and return to Grand Thunderclap Temple, so I ordered the monks to place your arm in the Pagoda of a Thousand Buddhas, hoping for the day you would realize your error and return. You should know my intentions.”

Old Ma gravely replied, “I know. But my wife and children also died at the hands of Grand Thunderclap Temple. This blood feud must be avenged.”

“Foolish child!” The Elder Tathagata delivered a stunning rebuke, saying, “Wife and children, wife and children! They are all illusory bubbles, mere decaying flesh! If you possess Buddhist nature, you would know that all karmic ties and their consequences ultimately amount to nothingness.”

Old Ma was enraged and shouted, “Nothingness, my ass! I cut off my own arm, and you’re still not satisfied? You even killed my wife and children? What’s this nonsense about wives and children being mere beautiful skeletons, demonic attachments? What’s wrong with me loving beautiful skeletons? Calling you master is giving you face; I have a request of you. If you, old monk, keep babbling, I’ll overturn you, bathe this Golden Summit in blood, and kill all you bald donkeys on this mountain!”

The expressions of all the monks on the mountain changed dramatically; they could no longer sit still.

Qin Mu had also not expected Old Ma’s sudden outburst. Old Ma was always mature and steady, the most composed person in the village, and the one Cripple admired and respected the most. Who would have thought that when Old Ma exploded, he couldn’t be stopped?

On the Golden Summit, dark clouds suddenly gathered. Just moments ago, it was a peaceful, expansive sky with auspicious clouds and golden light, overwhelmingly serene. Now, it was filled with murderous intent.

Qin Mu cleared his throat and laughed heartily. “Stealing the host’s thunder, stealing the host’s thunder. Senior Brother Tathagata, I haven’t introduced them yet. This is my Grandpa Ma, commonly known as Old Ma, two generations older than me. This is Grandma Si, two generations older than me, and this is Grandpa Blind, two generations older than me. Fellow Senior Brothers, there’s no need for excessive courtesy.”

The Elder Tathagata laughed heartily, and the dark clouds dispersed. He chuckled, “Cult Master Qin, you and I share a great destiny. You acquired the Xi Qiluo, which was originally my staff for traversing the world. With you obtaining it, we inherently had a master-disciple bond. This old monk once intended to go to the Great Ruins to seek a karmic connection with the old Daoist friends of Cripple Village and bring you into Grand Thunderclap Temple. Who would have thought that our destiny was severed? When I met you again, you were already the Devil Cult Master of the Heavenly Devil Cult. Truly, it is a matter of time and fate; destiny plays tricks on people.”

Qin Mu smiled slightly and said, “Tathagata, you jest. This junior has come to ask you to subdue a demon and eliminate evil. Within Grandma Si’s body resides a powerful master, Li Tianxing, the former Cult Master of my Holy Cult. Li Tianxing has transformed into a demonic seed rooted in Grandma Si’s Dao heart. Therefore, this junior dares to ask Tathagata to subdue this devil, eliminating a public menace for the world.”

A Venerable whispered, “World Honored One, this Grandma Si is Si Youyou, the former Saintess of the Heavenly Devil Cult. On the very night she married Li Tianxing, she murdered him. She is not a good person; she is a devil among devils.”

Many Dharma Protectors and Arhats chimed in, saying, “This is an internal affair of the Devil Cult; how can we interfere?”

The Elder Tathagata raised his hand and smiled. “All sentient beings are equal. Buddha is a sentient being, and a demon is also a sentient being. Since Cult Master Qin has requested, this old monk naturally ought to help.”

Another Venerable’s eyes flickered, and he whispered, “When we give scriptures to people, we still collect some incense money. For this demon subjugation, can we…”

The Elder Tathagata waved his hand, silencing him, and said, “Cult Master’s wife, may I see your true form?”

Qin Mu hesitated, then shook his head. “Tathagata, perhaps it’s not necessary?”

The blind man tapped his bamboo staff and said, “Elder Tathagata, it’s best not to see Grandma’s true form, otherwise, it might disrupt the cultivation of the monks on your mountain.”

“Emotional entanglements are but fleeting clouds, and peerless beauties are merely beautiful skeletons. Daoist friend, you underestimate the cultivation of the monks of Grand Thunderclap Temple.” The Elder Tathagata chuckled. “I wish to enlighten Cult Master Li. Without seeing the Cult Master’s wife’s true form, it will be difficult to help. Cult Master Li developed a demonic obsession from love. This old monk should let him see that what he cherishes most is nothing more than that.”

Grandma Si giggled. “Blind man, Old Ma, why don’t you unseal me? Cult Master Qin, peel off this ugly skin of mine; I want to meet these hypocritical great monks and test their willpower!”

The blind man slightly frowned and whispered, “Old Ma, what do you think?”

Old Ma hesitated, looking at the enlightened monks all over the mountain, and said, “The Elder Tathagata’s Buddhist Dharma is far superior to mine; he should possess this ability. Mu’er, what do you think?”

Qin Mu pondered for a moment and said, “At this point, we can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive. Grandpas, be careful; we cannot let Cult Master Li escape.”

Grandma Si cackled. “I’ve been battling this old bald donkey for countless years. With something this amusing, why would I run? Even if you chase me, I won’t run!”

Old Ma sighed, retracted the spiritual Buddha primordial spirit from her brow, and nodded to the blind man.

The blind man extended his hand and grabbed. Streams of dragon-like silver vital qi flew out from Grandma Si’s body, returning into the blind man’s own body.

Qin Mu stepped forward and gently made a gesture. Grandma Si’s skin split open, and within the skin, a stunning beauty stood gracefully. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall. She slowly raised her head, her bright eyes sweeping across the faces of the enlightened monks, one by one.

Silence fell over the Golden Summit. Even the Buddhist scriptures and chants from within the Pagoda of a Thousand Buddhas ceased at that moment. The enlightened monks found their mouths dry, their hearts pounding wildly, and the prayer beads in their hands spun furiously.

Suddenly, the Buddhist light behind one Bodhisattva’s head dissipated, and he plummeted from mid-air, falling into the valley below the clouds. After a long while, a heavy thud echoed as something hit the ground. Thud, thud. A few more heavy thuds followed; those were several Arhats and Vajras who had successively fallen.

The Elder Tathagata’s expression subtly changed. He quickly looked around, only to see the monks’ eyes fixed, staring intently at the stunning beauty, their prayer beads spinning faster and faster, rattling loudly.

“Halt!” Just as the Elder Tathagata was about to shout, a thunderous roar erupted. An Arhat furiously charged towards Grandma Si, exclaiming fiercely, “This is a temptress, a fiend that confounds sentient beings, a Heavenly Devil! One look at her fills my heart with demons; I must strike her dead!”

“I shall slay this demon for the world!” Another Vajra wielded a demon-subduing staff, manifesting three heads and six arms, and charged towards Grandma Si.

Suddenly, an old monk burst forth, blocking the Arhat and Vajra. He tore his monastic robe, ripped his prayer beads, and, looking utterly insane, laughed heartily, “This old man is accustomed to murder and arson, never cultivating for enlightenment! All these years of fasting and chanting have felt like a wasted half-life! Only upon seeing this beauty do I realize my whole life has been for naught! This old man is returning to secular life!”

Several more Arhats rushed forward, and chaos instantly erupted on the Golden Summit.

The Elder Tathagata’s yellow robe trembled. Suddenly, the Buddhist chants from the Pagoda of a Thousand Buddhas intensified, with a thousand Buddhas chanting in unison. This caused the fighting monks on the Golden Summit to awaken abruptly, each settling back into their seats, silently murmuring a word of shame.

“What’s the point of fasting and chanting? What’s the use of achieving enlightenment? Isn’t it just death? Better to enjoy life while you can! I’m returning to secular life!” Suddenly, an old monk leaped off the Golden Summit and fled into the distance.