Chapter 700
cannot be calculated in the usual way.
He paused, then smiled slightly, meeting the sudden brightening gazes of the dragon clan's powerful figures and the instantly somber look in Amitabha's eyes.
"How about this, I'll hand over the decision of what to do with this White Lotus Child to the fellow Daoists of the Dragon Clan? After all, Fellow Daoist Ao Lie's grudge is the Dragon Clan's grudge. I'm sure the Dragon Clan has its own considerations on how to settle this matter. What do you all think?"
Lin Zhu carried the broken primordial spirit of the White Lotus Child, whose limbs were crippled, riddled with holes, and whose light was dim and miserable. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he even shook it gently, as if he were showing off a "goods" waiting to be processed.
He had his own plans. Killing the White Lotus Boy was a hot potato. It would be satisfying, but it might make Amitabha Buddha hold a deep grudge. Moreover, if he did it himself, he would inevitably have to bear some of the karma.
If he were to hand it over to the dragons… that would be the best way to “use someone else to do him a favor,” and it would also make the dragons owe him a little something in return. Anyway, he was outnumbered and outmatched, so it was best to let the “victim” do the dirty work himself.
When Amitabha Buddha heard that Lin Zhu was going to hand over the White Lotus Boy to the Dragon Clan for disposal, he immediately became anxious.
He had endured the extortion of so many treasures, not only to appease the dragon's wrath but also, deep down, to save the White Lotus Child's life. Now, seeing Lin Zhu about to hand him over to the murderous dragon clan, how could he possibly escape unscathed? Being burned alive would be the least of his worries!
"Benefactor Lin, please wait!"
Amitabha Buddha spoke hastily, his voice carrying a barely perceptible urgency, his face striving to maintain a compassionate expression.
“Nephew Ao Lie’s primordial spirit has returned, which is a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune. After this battle, Mount Ling has suffered heavy casualties, with rivers of blood flowing and countless Buddhist disciples falling, their sins heavy. This wretched creature, Bai Lian, has also lost all four limbs, her primordial spirit is so broken, she has suffered endless torment and lessons, and is no different from being dead.”
As the saying goes, "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot; when will this cycle of revenge end? Perhaps... let this matter rest, leaving a way out for the victim, preserving a shred of compassion and kindness, and averting endless future calamities. I implore you, benefactor, to return this wicked person to this humble monk. This humble monk will certainly discipline them strictly, ensuring they repent for eternity and never be allowed to leave again."
His words were sincere and earnest, bringing up the "resurrection of the White Dragon," the "loss of Mount Ling," and the "punishment of the White Lotus," in an attempt to downplay the hatred. He used grand terms like "compassion" and "eliminating the killing" to try and secure a glimmer of hope, hoping to take the White Lotus Child back and imprison him, at least to preserve his true spirit.
However, the Dragon Clan's reaction to the matter of dealing with the White Lotus Child was somewhat unexpected.
The Purple-Gold Dragon Emperor let out a huge yawn, opened its mouth, and spewed out a scorching stream of air, causing the nearby clouds to churn.
Its enormous dragon eyes glanced at the lump of mud-like primordial spirit in Lin Zhu's hand, and said with little interest.
"This piece of junk? Whether I kill it or not is irrelevant. What I care about now is how to stabilize and recover my nephew Ao Lie's primordial spirit as soon as possible, and... whether that damned journey to the West can continue. I can't be bothered with whether this wretched creature lives or dies."
Its words, though spoken casually, revealed the Dragon Clan's true core concern—Ao Lie and the merits of the Journey to the West. As for the White Lotus Child, the specific executor, his hatred level did indeed decrease considerably after Ao Lie's "resurrection."
Of course, more importantly, the White Lotus Child is now in Lin Zhu's hands, and Lin Zhu has just "helped" the Dragon Clan a lot. The Dragon Clan cannot overstep their bounds and forcibly demand the right to dispose of him, as that would appear aggressive and might put Lin Zhu in a difficult position.
The Platinum Dragon King also responded coldly.
"This wretched creature is now in your hands, young friend Lin. How to deal with it is naturally up to you. As long as Ao Lie is safe and the Journey to the West continues, all other trivial matters are insignificant to our Dragon Clan."
It also made its stance clear: the right to dispose of the matter is entrusted to Lin Zhu, and the Dragon Clan will not interfere, but only on the premise that its core interests are protected.
Although the Dragon Emperor Mo Bai did not speak, his silent attitude indicated his agreement.
The attitude of these three dragon emperors clearly meant that they were gently passing the buck back to Lin Zhu, but at the same time they were implying that "we won't force you, you decide what to do," which gave Lin Zhu more autonomy and... room for blackmail.
The Purple-Gold Dragon Emperor even "kindly" added a comment, glancing sideways at the unpleasant-looking Amitabha Buddha with a mocking tone.
"However, you bald monk, if you want to take this troublemaker back, you can't just talk the talk. Young friend Lin has worked so hard to 'keep' him for so long and even 'educated' him; he can't have done all that for nothing, can he? In my opinion, if you want to take him away, you should at least give young friend Lin some 'hardship fee' and 'safekeeping fee.' Young friend Lin, don't you think so?"
This is blatantly encouraging Lin Zhu to continue extorting money! Moreover, it actively positions itself as "backing up" Lin Zhu and "fighting for his interests," displaying an overbearing attitude and clearly telling Amitabha Buddha.
You want to vouch for someone? Fine, then offer something in return! Don't try to get something for nothing!
Upon hearing this, Amitabha Buddha's lips twitched uncontrollably a few times.
He felt his heart was bleeding! He'd already been extorted for so many rare treasures, and now he was going to be extorted again for this stupid boy's "ransom"? Was this ever going to end?! Was Lin Zhu some kind of leech reincarnated? Was he just sucking him dry?
He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and qi, and looked at Lin Zhu with a complicated expression and a hint of helplessness in his tone.
“Benefactor Lin, look at this…”
Lin Zhu secretly rejoiced at Amitabha's expression, which showed he was clearly in excruciating pain but was trying to remain calm.
He deliberately showed a hint of "grievance" and "difficulty" on his face, and sighed.
"Alas, Buddha, it's not that I don't respect you. It's just that I, Lin, am insignificant and powerless."
This White Lotus Child has committed heinous crimes and should, in principle, be handed over to the Dragon Clan for punishment as a warning to others. But if I kill him directly, some might say I'm disrespecting the Western Paradise and you, a saint, and that I'm ruthless. Handing him over to the Dragon Clan… the Dragon Clan members seem magnanimous and not very interested, leaving me to handle it myself…”
He paused, and a long, jet-black spear phantom, radiating a chilling aura of destruction and slaughter, appeared in his hand—it was a projection of the God-Slaying Spear! Although it was just a projection, the terrifying pressure and the sharpness that seemed to pierce through everything still made everyone's hearts tremble.
Lin Zhu gently poked the White Lotus Child's broken primordial spirit with the tip of the God-Slaying Spear, which frightened the latter into letting out a terrified whimper.
Lin Zhu then slowly continued.
“I’ve thought it over and over, and I’m torn between two options. How about this, Buddha, if you truly want to save him, then show some real ‘sincerity’.”
After all, I put in effort and took risks to 'keep' and 'educate' him. If you give me some 'compensation,' I'll have a way to save face, and everyone will look good.
If you really can't bear to part with it... then I'll have no choice but to 'reluctantly' do it, 'act on behalf of Heaven,' or 'respect the opinion of my fellow dragon clan members,' and dispose of it. After all, the God-Slaying Spear... hasn't had its fill in quite a while."
His words sounded so "reasonable" and "for your own good," but to Amitabha Buddha, they were nothing short of a blatant threat and extortion! The meaning was very clear.
If you offer me a reward, you can take him away; if you don't, I'll kill him or throw him to the dragon clan, and you can't say anything, because I've already done everything I can and am caught in a dilemma!
Amitabha Buddha was so angry that the golden light emanating from his body flickered and almost couldn't be maintained.
He had never felt so frustrated in his life!
Just as the atmosphere reached another stalemate, and Amitabha Buddha was caught in a dilemma, the Buddha Tathagata, who had been observing coldly and harboring deep disgust for the White Lotus Boy, suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke. However, this time he did not speak for the White Lotus Boy, but for another purpose.
"Amitabha," the Tathagata said, bowing slightly to Amitabha Buddha in a "respectful" tone.
"The matter of the White Lotus Boy certainly needs to be handled properly. However, there is another matter that is even more urgent." He paused, turned his gaze to Lin Zhu, and forced a "kind" smile, even one that was somewhat "ingratiating," on his face.
"Benefactor Lin, you just treated my nephew Ao Lie. Your methods must be profound and your knowledge deep. I suddenly remembered that the person who went west to obtain the scriptures, Tang Sanzang, the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, had his mortal body severely damaged in the previous calamity and was almost destroyed. He urgently needed a miraculous medicine like the 'Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill' that could reshape his body and stabilize his soul so that he could continue his journey west and complete his great mission."
He looked intently at Lin Zhu, his tone filled with probing and expectation.
"Does Benefactor Lin... possess any more of these pills? If so, our Western Paradise is willing to purchase them at a high price! As long as you name your name, the price... is negotiable!"
Tathagata seized the opportunity, seeing Lin Zhu's extortion efforts going smoothly and his display of "resurrection" abilities, and immediately thought of taking the chance to resolve the issue of Jin Chanzi's physical body.
The Journey to the West cannot stop, Tang Sanzang cannot die, and the Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill is exactly what we urgently need! Anyway, we've already been extorted so much today, so we're not worried about the debts. If we can take this opportunity to resolve the issue with Jin Chanzi, we can at least salvage some of our losses.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu's heart stirred, but his face showed an extremely exaggerated "difficult" expression, his brows furrowed, and he waved his hands repeatedly.
"Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill? Buddha, you really think too highly of me! I only obtained one or two of those divine pills that seize the creation of heaven and earth by chance, and I can't even bear to use them myself!"
The price… I'm afraid it will scare you if I tell you. Although your Western Paradise is large and prosperous, it has just suffered a disaster, and I'm afraid… you won't be able to accept it!
As he spoke, he pretended to turn around, muttering to himself.
"Forget it, I can't do this business. I'd better deal with the White Lotus Boy's matter first. Goodbye, goodbye..."
"Wait! Benefactor Lin, please wait!"
When the Buddha saw that Lin Zhu was about to leave, he became anxious and, disregarding any semblance of Buddhist decorum, hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay, his face beaming with a smile that seemed to bloom on his face.
"Why the rush, benefactor? The price can be discussed slowly! We, the Western Paradise... we, the Western Paradise, sincerely wish to purchase! It's entirely voluntary! Absolutely voluntary!"
For the sake of the Journey to the West, Buddha was going all out. Face and such could be put aside for the sake of real benefits.
As soon as he took the lead, some of the more astute Buddhas and Bodhisattvas among the three thousand Buddhas, or those who were similarly numb from the series of events that had occurred that day and were eager to salvage something, also began to speak up, their tone full of "pity and flattery," even somewhat exaggerated.
"Yes, yes! Lin Yushen stepped forward, resolved the conflict, and rescued Ao Lie. He is truly a great benefactor! If he could bestow upon us these mere pills, the entire Western Heaven would be eternally grateful!"
"The God of Hell is compassionate and saves all living beings; he is a role model for us all! If these worldly possessions can ensure the safety of the pilgrim, the merit would be immeasurable!"
"The God of Hell is merciful and compassionate; he will surely not stand by and watch someone die! Please grant my request!"
They praised Lin Zhu to the skies, as if he were some kind of living bodhisattva who saved people from suffering, and that not selling them the elixir would be a grave sin.
The sudden change in tone caused the powerful dragons watching the spectacle to shake their heads and look at each other strangely. The Purple-Gold Dragon Emperor whispered something to the Platinum Dragon Emperor beside him.
"Tsk tsk, see that? To advance that damn Journey to the West, the Western Paradise... has really lost all shame. Even more shameless than when our Dragon Clan begged others to fight back then."
Platinum Dragon King responded coldly.
"Driven by self-interest, appearances can change. This is the norm."
Surrounded and flattered by this group of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Lin Zhu finally showed an expression of "reluctance" and "unable to refuse their hospitality."
He stopped, turned around, looked at the "devout" faces before him, pondered for a moment, as if he had made a great decision, and sighed.
"Alas, so be it. Since you are all so sincere, I, Lin Zhu, am not an unfeeling person. Considering the heavy losses suffered by the Western Paradise today, and your humility and respect..."
He paused deliberately, whetting everyone's appetite, before slowly speaking, his tone "compassionate" yet carrying an unquestionable air.
“I can spare one of those Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pills for the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada. However… the price cannot be calculated in the usual way. After all, this pill is extremely precious to me.”
"Besides the corresponding merits and vows, and rare and precious materials as an equivalent exchange..."
Lin Zhu's gaze swept across the Western Paradise camp, finally landing on three figures standing not far behind Amitabha Buddha—Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the famous "Three Great Bodhisattvas" of Buddhism!
Lin Zhu revealed a smile that seemed "simple and honest," but actually made the three great monks' hearts skip a beat. He spoke slowly.
“I have heard that the mounts of the three Bodhisattvas are quite miraculous and each has its own wonderful uses. My Nine-Story Heavenly Prison is currently in need of ‘human’ people and lacks some steeds to keep things in order. How about… you give me the mounts of the three Bodhisattvas as well? It would be a contribution to purifying Buddhism and reducing the harm that evil creatures cause to the world.”
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into an eerie, deathly silence.
The three thousand Buddhas were dumbfounded.
The powerful dragons had strange looks in their eyes.
In the Heavenly Court's spectator camp, the Jade Emperor nearly spat out the mouthful of celestial nectar he had just drunk.
Even Amitabha Buddha and Tathagata Buddha, who had always maintained a compassionate demeanor, were momentarily stunned, as if they doubted that they had misheard.
The mounts of the Three...Three Great Bodhisattvas?!
Guanyin Bodhisattva's mount is...
Manjushri Bodhisattva's mount is a blue-maned lion!
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's mount is a six-tusked white elephant!
These three are all prominent bodhisattvas in the Western Paradise! Even if they transformed into women or remained men after being conferred godhood, the gender gap is not actually that big in the eyes of the gods.
The key issue is that Lin Zhu's words, combined with his claims of "lacking the stamina to maintain appearances" and "purifying Buddhism and reducing the harm caused by evil spirits," just sounded off! Especially his specific request for "the mounts of the three great bodhisattvas," which easily evoked some...unpleasant images. (End of Chapter)