Chapter 716
Buddha was so frustrated he vomited blood
However, Guanyin's next words caused cracks to appear in the barely maintained calm that Tathagata had been maintaining.
"It is said," Guanyin's voice carried a hint of undisguised absurdity.
"Lin Zhu claimed that the new main hall should be made of the finest materials, with 'Spiritual Agate' as the main material for the wall base, 'Starry Purple Gold' and 'Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade' for the beams and pillars, and 'Seven-Colored Glazed Crystal Bricks' for the floor. The interior decoration should be adorned with fragments of 'Agarwood Jade Buddha' and 'Frosty Marrow Bodhisattva Statue'... He even mobilized... mobilized the one hundred million Buddhist soldiers 'sent out' by my Western Paradise as the main construction workers, working day and night to rush the work..."
When Tathagata heard the extremely familiar terms such as "Spiritual Source Agate," "Starry Purple Gold," "Seven-Colored Glazed Crystal Brick," and "Agarwood Jade Buddha," his pupils suddenly contracted! These... these are the top-grade materials for his Eight Treasures Merit Pool and the eight-thousand-foot-long Vow-Fulfilling Corridor on Mount Ling!
And those one hundred million Buddhist soldiers… they were prisoners of war! Spoils of war! How did they become “given away” in Lin Zhu’s mouth? And even laborers building houses for his Heavenly Court?!
An indescribable bitterness, anger, and a profound sense of absurdity, like a cold, venomous snake, suddenly gnawed at his heart. His own treasures, stolen and robbed, were so brazenly taken away, used as bragging rights to build the enemy's palace; his own sons were being driven to contribute to the enemy's construction…
This feeling is a thousand times more complex and painful than simply "my wife ran off with someone else"! It is an extreme humiliation where everything from material to spiritual, from the inside out to the outside, is trampled, plundered, and reused!
Tathagata felt a sweet taste in his throat and his vision blurred.
He forced himself to circulate Buddhist teachings to calm his turbulent mind. His lips moved a few times before he managed to squeeze out a few words through his teeth, his voice extremely dry.
"I...I understand. Is there anything else?"
Guanyin looked at Tathagata's face, which had turned pale in an instant, and sighed in her heart. She knew that this news was a great blow to the Buddha, but she had to say what was to come.
“Furthermore,” Guanyin’s tone became even more somber.
"After this news spread, the Three Realms were shaken, especially the many powerful demons, old demons, and ancient rogue cultivators who had no way out. They moved as if they had been injected with chicken blood."
According to multiple sources, no fewer than ten renowned demon clan leaders, each possessing cultivation levels at least at the Great Luo Loose Immortal level, are secretly contacting and plotting to infiltrate the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison through various means and secure a place. Even more...
She paused, glanced at Buddha's expression, and then continued.
"Even some of the 'tribulations' we originally planned and arranged for the journey to the West, those monsters with special backgrounds and extraordinary cultivation seem to be... tempted. There is already definite news that the black bear spirit of Black Wind Mountain has left his cave and set off towards the Heavenly Court, his intentions are self-evident."
"Crack!"
A soft, crisp sound came from the Buddha's clenched fist hanging at his side.
Several fine cracks silently spread across the diamond-like rock beneath his feet.
At this moment, the Buddha's face turned completely black, like the darkest clouds before a storm.
He felt a raging, violent fire of karma burning wildly in his chest, so intense that he could barely maintain his Buddhist composure!
Poaching! Blatant poaching! It's one thing to poach ordinary demon cultivators, but they're even starting to poach the "actors" pre-selected for the Journey to the West Tribulation?! That Black Bear Spirit was a promising talent that Guanyin had long admired and decided to take as a mountain guardian deity! He had considerable potential, a relatively clean background, and was the perfect candidate to play a role in the tribulation and ultimately convert to Buddhism!
Now, things are really messed up; the show hasn't even started yet, and the actors are already being poached by the rival company with high salaries?!
Tathagata felt a surge of blood rushing to the top of his head, and countless fragrant words flashed through his mind in an instant, but he could only suppress them with all his might. He forced a smile that was more like a grimace onto his almost stiff face and said in a wavering voice.
"Guanyin...Venerable Guanyin, you just mentioned...the Black Bear Spirit? I...maybe I misheard? He must have gone to visit a friend, or...had other important business?"
He himself didn't believe those words. Clearly, he was deceiving himself, trying to save face.
A hint of reluctance flashed in Guanyin Bodhisattva's eyes, but duty dictated that she could only deliver the final blow, her voice so soft that only the two of them could hear it.
“Buddha… there is one more thing. As for Sun Wukong… we seem to have… forgotten to ask Lin Zhu for him. He should still be ‘guest’ in the Ninth Heavenly Prison right now.”
"..."
The Buddha stood motionless, as if he had instantly transformed into a real stone Buddha. Only his slightly trembling fingertips and the Buddha's light in his eyes, which had been completely extinguished and then forcibly rekindled, leaving only emptiness and exhaustion, showed the turbulent waves he was enduring.
The noisy urging of the White Lotus Boy seemed to fade into the distance, and the clamor of the reconstruction of Mount Ling seemed to be separated by a layer.
He felt as if he were standing in a dilapidated temple that was leaking air from all sides and about to collapse. Above him were the creditors' triumphant laughter, under his feet was the constantly eroding sand, and beside him was a fool happily dismantling the few remaining beams and pillars. Outside, the grand show that he had meticulously planned for many years had not even started yet, and half of the actors and props had already been pried away...
This Buddha is truly... extremely frustrated, yet incredibly bittersweet.
Inside the dilapidated Great Thunderclap Temple, the air seemed to have solidified into a gel-like substance mixed with dust, each breath heavy and sluggish. The Buddha stood on the high platform amidst the still-uncleared ruins, gazing down at the monks below, who were bustling about like ants yet unable to conceal their dejection. He felt a deep weariness spreading from the very depths of his soul, almost dragging down his indestructible golden body.
Living and dying seem to make little difference. No, perhaps death would be more peaceful. At least you wouldn't have to face this mess, that foolish White Lotus Child, the emptied family fortune and the broken foundation, or even think about how to reclaim what is rightfully yours from that plague god named Lin Zhu—or rather, how to avoid being swindled out of even more by him.
Guanyin Bodhisattva stood quietly to the side, looking at the Buddha's face, which seemed calm but whose eyes were actually dim and even faintly revealed a trace of death. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings.
She waited a moment, and seeing that Tathagata remained silent, she spoke softly.
"Buddha, things are in chaos, with countless problems. The Black Bear Spirit's whereabouts are unknown, Sun Wukong is detained in Heaven, and although the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi has obtained the Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill, it will take time for him to recover. I wonder what instructions Buddha has for us? How should we proceed?"
What are your instructions? How should we proceed?
The Buddha slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Guanyin. His complex expression made Guanyin's heart tighten.
There was helplessness, frustration, deep weariness, and a hint of... resigned compromise.
After a long while, Tathagata finally exhaled a long, hoarse breath, as if he had used up all his strength. His voice was dry and hoarse, carrying a sense of gritting his teeth and forcing himself to endure.
"The original plan was for you to go to the Southern Continent first to secretly protect him. After Jin Chanzi's primordial spirit and physical body were completely integrated and revived, we would then settle the matter of Ao Lie, the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King, and make him convert to Buddhism and serve as a mount for the pilgrims, so as to complete the tribulation and resolve some of the karma with the dragon clan."
He paused, seemingly finding it difficult to even speak so much, and after a few breaths, he continued.
"However, things are about to change. Sun Wukong is the stone monkey destined by heaven, and he is the key to protecting the Dharma on the journey to the West. He cannot be lost, and he cannot be kept in the Nine Heavens Prison for long, lest something else happen. Therefore... the plan needs to be adjusted slightly."
The Buddha closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a resolute determination that had been forcibly concentrated.
"Venerable Guanyin, you should first make a trip to the Heavenly Court. The most important thing is to bring Sun Wukong back. Make sure he returns safely and without any further mishaps." Guanyin's heart skipped a beat. Go to the Heavenly Court, go to the Nine-Layered Heavenly Prison, and face Lin Zhu directly? This task... just thinking about it made her scalp tingle.
She had personally witnessed, heard, and even experienced that person's "negotiation" style and "business methods." She wondered what kind of difficulties and "deals" she would face this time.
But beneath that unease and pressure, a strange, inexplicable anticipation arose in Guanyin's heart—an anticipation that even she found absurd. Perhaps she wanted to see what new tricks that person could come up with? Or perhaps she wanted to see just how far the Buddha's bottom line could be tested.
"Then...the matter of the Black Bear Spirit?"
Guanyin asked cautiously.
The Buddha's facial muscles twitched slightly. He waved his hand, his tone filled with weariness and perfunctoriness.
"Let's put it off for now. If he really goes to the Heavenly Court, let him go. Perhaps... perhaps Lin Zhu doesn't think much of his background, or perhaps... never mind, let's discuss this later. First, let's make sure Sun Wukong returns."
He spoke without any conviction, clearly not even believing it himself. But right now, he simply didn't have the energy or resources to deal with the defection of a "pre-selected actor"; retaining the core lead actor was the key.
Seeing that Guanyin had accepted the order, Tathagata seemed to remember something and added something else.
"When you go to the Heavenly Court and see that Lin Zhu... you may convey my message from the Western Paradise."
He carefully considered the words, each one seemingly squeezed out with great difficulty from between his teeth.
"Previously, on Mount Ling, there was some misunderstanding with Lin Yushen due to the Dragon Clan, which resulted in some of our Mount Ling's building materials being lost outside. This matter... we in the Western Heaven will not pursue it further."
He deliberately emphasized the words "building materials" and "no longer investigate further," his expression as if he were swallowing the bitterest gall.
"As long as Lin Yushen is willing to release Sun Wukong safely, so that my journey to the West can continue, the past losses of 'materials' can be considered... considered as forming a good relationship."
After saying these words, the Buddha seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He turned his head slightly away, unwilling to let anyone see the extreme frustration and bitterness in his eyes.
Should they not pursue the matter further? Or should they forge a good relationship? Guanyin knew perfectly well what was going on. It wasn't that the Western Paradise was being magnanimous; it was clear that they knew the spiritual agate and rare treasures that Lin Zhu had taken were irretrievable. Forcibly pursuing them would only bring shame upon themselves and might even provoke a greater conflict.
He decided to use the excuse of "wanting to get Sun Wukong back" to save face and barely ease his terrifying relationship with Lin Zhu.
Guanyin could guess some of the deeper reasons.
The Western Paradise is now greatly weakened and internally unstable. It must also be wary of the bloody threat posed by the Dragon Clan and the seemingly solid alliance between Lin Zhu and the Dragon Clan.
Moreover, it is said that Lin Zhu's own defense has become extremely strong, and even Master Amitabha seems to be hesitant to act rashly. This "not pursuing the matter" is actually a compromise made out of helplessness, a temporary expedient that requires swallowing one's pride and suffering. It may also conceal some unspeakable calculations other than those targeting Lin Zhu.
"Disciple...understands."
Guanyin lowered her brows and eyes, and respectfully responded.
She understood that Buddha wanted her to be the messenger who "endured humiliation and carried heavy burdens".
Just then, an untimely voice, filled with obvious excitement and arrogance, broke in.
"Buddha! Guanyin Bodhisattva! What brings you to such a solemn discussion? Has something gone wrong that requires my intervention?"
Suddenly, the White Lotus Child appeared again, now wearing a more conspicuous white lotus robe with gold trim. He held his chin high, his face radiating a confident aura of "who else but me?"
Having just escaped death and even undergone a physical rebirth, he not only failed to learn from his mistakes but also became even more arrogant because of his "survival under the double blow of the Dragon Clan and Lin Zhu," firmly believing that he was the legendary "chosen one of the Three Realms" and "protagonist of destiny."
He strode forward, cupped his hands in greeting to the Buddha, and spoke in a loud voice.
"Buddha! What troubles you? Just give your orders! I have survived the bloody battles with the Dragon Clan and the Lin Zhu conspiracy, which shows that I am destined by Heaven and have a prosperous destiny! These minor calamities are precisely the opportunity for me to hone my skills and establish my achievements! No matter which demons are causing trouble, I am willing to be the vanguard and make them vanish into thin air, thus spreading the might of the Buddha of the Western Paradise!"
He spoke with great enthusiasm and self-satisfaction.
However, the Buddhas, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas who were busy or listening nearby all turned pale upon hearing this. Some even turned their heads away, their shoulders trembling slightly, whether out of anger or to suppress a laugh, it was unclear.
Surviving a bloody battle? More like being instantly killed and only barely surviving thanks to a saint's intervention! Sharpening one's edge? More like polishing one's brain to a smoother edge!
Looking at the White Lotus Child before him, who stood tall and proud, with an air of "send me to wreak havoc everywhere," Buddha felt a surge of evil fire rush to his head, his temples throbbed wildly, and his vision blurred.
He abruptly flicked his sleeves, not even bothering to glance at the White Lotus Boy again, and disregarding any semblance of Buddha's dignity, he practically growled out two words through gritted teeth.
"enough!"
Before he finished speaking, his figure blurred, transforming into a slightly hurried and agitated golden Buddhist light, and he fled straight towards the Zen temple behind the Great Thunderclap Temple, which was not yet completely destroyed. His back view, no matter how you looked at it, revealed a kind of frantic and escape-seeking "out of sight, out of mind" mentality.
Guanyin's lips twitched slightly, and she cursed "idiot" in her heart. She was also unwilling to stay there any longer. She coldly put her palms together in a slight bow in the direction of the White Lotus Boy, and then she was about to ride away on her lotus platform.
"Hey? Buddha? Where are you going, Buddha? I haven't given you the task yet!"
The White Lotus Child was taken aback by the Buddha's sudden departure and hurriedly called out in the direction where the Buddha's light had disappeared, but received no response.
He frowned, seemingly feeling that Buddha was being somewhat "ungrateful," not giving him, the "protagonist," a chance to shine. (End of Chapter)