Chapter 725
Tang Sanzang Awakens to Violent Buddhism
Of course, the biggest feeling was that he could finally leave this place where, although the food and drink were good, he always felt uncomfortable!
He shouldered his golden cudgel, somersaulted out of the nine-layered heavenly prison, and plunged towards the sea of clouds below. The familiar gale swept across his face, bringing a long-lost sense of freedom, but deep in his heart, something inexplicably heavy had also appeared.
Lin Zhu's words of advice still echoed in my ears.
"After you go down there, protect your master and complete your path. Fighting and killing won't solve the fundamental problem. Sometimes, acting is also a part of cultivation..."
The monkey shook its head, temporarily casting aside these annoying thoughts, and its eyes rekindled with fire.
"Never mind that! Let's find our master first! I, Old Sun... will definitely protect him!"
On the other side, Guanyin Bodhisattva almost fled from the area of the South Heavenly Gate, speeding all the way, her face still flushed with shame and indignation.
Only after arriving at the designated location and meeting with Ao Lie, the little white dragon who had just had his physical body and primordial spirit reconstructed and whose expression was still somewhat listless and bewildered, did she manage to calm her turbulent emotions and put on that mask of compassion and solemnity again. However, deep in her eyes, the cold resentment and humiliation were already deeply rooted.
"Let's go to Five Elements Mountain."
Guanyin's voice was somewhat hoarse, and she was unwilling to say more. She took the little white dragon and transformed into a stream of light, heading towards the Five Elements Mountain, the place where the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi's primordial spirit was suppressed.
The Journey to the West, a vehicle nearly broken down, after countless twists and turns, sacrifices and humiliations, is finally being forcibly pushed back onto its predetermined track. However, the "passengers" and "drivers" on board are no longer in the same boat as before.
Lin Zhu did not go to watch this reunion, which was destined to be awkward and delicate.
He has more important things to do.
This upheaval that swept through the Three Realms and shook the Heavenly Court and the Western Paradise ultimately began in the human world, in the border town of Wind and Snow in the Southern Continent that was ravaged by blood.
Now that the dust has settled, the dragons have retreated, and the Western Heaven has bowed its head, he, as both the indirect "mediator" and the direct "beneficiary," has a responsibility to give an explanation to the mortal king who was at the center of the vortex and suffered enormous losses and pressure.
He descended on the clouds, passing through layers of mist, and once again landed on that majestic border town, which had suffered many wounds but still stood tall.
The city walls bore the charred marks of magical bombardment, and the air was filled with a faint smell of blood mixed with herbs. Yet, the soldiers patrolling the city wore resolute expressions, and the shouts of those rebuilding the city echoed throughout, revealing a tenacity and vitality that came after surviving a catastrophe.
The Tang emperor was discussing post-war reconstruction and relief matters with several important ministers in the temporarily renovated palace.
He was thinner than before, with sunken eyes, but his gaze remained sharp and steady, revealing an indomitable tenacity.
When the guards announced Lin Zhu's request for an audience, he abruptly looked up from the map, his eyes instantly gleaming with uncontrollable joy. He almost impatiently waved for the officials to leave and personally greeted him at the palace gate.
Seeing Lin Zhu, dressed in spotless white robes, calmly enter the hall, the Tang King's tense nerves, which had been taut for many days, finally relaxed with a "clang".
He strode forward, disregarding imperial decorum, grabbed Lin Zhu's arm, looked him up and down, his voice filled with excitement and relief.
"Master Lin! You...you're back safe and sound! Good, good!"
Needless to say, Lin Zhu's safe return already demonstrates that the outcome of that struggle, which took place far beyond the heavens and concerned the fate of countless lives, was at least not bad.
"I have caused Your Majesty worry."
Lin Zhu smiled slightly, withdrew his arm, and gestured for the Tang King to take a seat.
After the two men took their seats as host and guest, the Tang king asked impatiently.
"Immortal Master, what was the outcome of that... that battle in the heavens? The Dragon Clan... the Western Paradise... and those villains who slaughtered the city..."
After a moment's thought, Lin Zhu recounted the conflict between the Heavenly Court, the Western Paradise, and the Dragon Clan, as well as the trouble caused by the White Lotus Child, in the simplest yet clearest possible language.
When the Tang Emperor heard that Amitabha Buddha had spared no expense to forcibly protect the White Lotus Child who had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his Tang Dynasty's border soldiers and innocent civilians, and even confronted the Dragon Clan for this, the excitement on the Tang Emperor's face quickly faded, replaced by a deep sense of grief and indignation.
"Buddha... can Buddha so easily disregard the fundamental principle of 'a life for a life'?!"
The Tang emperor clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, his voice trembling with anger.
"Those are the lives of hundreds of thousands of living people! Not ants! The Western Paradise talks about compassion and salvation, but does salvation mean protecting such bloodthirsty butchers?!"
Looking at the anger and helplessness in the eyes of the Tang King, a man of ordinary birth, Lin Zhu sighed softly, her tone carrying a sense of utter resignation.
"Your Majesty, this kind of thing... is not the first time. Not to mention the distant past, during the Investiture of the Gods era, there was a Winged Immortal who devoured the lives of an entire city. Wasn't he later converted to Buddhism and became some kind of Dharma Protector?"
And what about the Peacock King, who dared to devour even saints? Doesn't he now reside peacefully on Mount Ling? In the eyes of those high and mighty beings, the lives of mortals are perhaps... truly no different from those of ants. Rules often only apply to the weak.
These words were cruel, but they reflected reality. Upon hearing this, the Tang Emperor remained silent for a long time, the anger in his eyes gradually replaced by a deeper sorrow and understanding.
He was ultimately an emperor of the mortal realm; despite his great talent and ambition, he was still insignificant before the true "gods and Buddhas."
“However,” Lin Zhu changed the subject, bringing a glimmer of hope.
"This conflict was not entirely without its benefits. After some 'friendly' communication, the Western Paradise has made it clear that it will relinquish its direct protection and control over the Buddhist kingdom of India and promises not to send Buddhas or Arhats to interfere in the wars between the human races of Jambudvipa."
The Tang King suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light! "Immortal Master, is what you say true? The Western Paradise... really no longer cares about that Buddhist kingdom in India?!"
"It's true."
Lin Zhu nodded.
"This is what Amitabha Buddha said himself... well, it can be considered one of the conditions he tacitly agreed to."
"Very good!!"
The Tang emperor suddenly stood up, paced excitedly a few steps in the hall, and his face flushed with ecstasy.
"What I fear most is that mortals fighting against gods and Buddhas is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—it's doomed to failure! If the Western Paradise stops interfering, that Indian Buddhist kingdom... is nothing more than a group of states that believe in heresies and have lax military preparedness! What do my Great Tang cavalry have to fear?!"
He could almost see the Tang Dynasty's territory expanding wildly westward, bringing that vast land under its control and achieving an unprecedented feat! This was an irresistible temptation for any ambitious emperor!
Seeing the excited King Tang, Lin Zhu timely poured cold water on his enthusiasm, but it also served as a reminder. "Your Majesty, although the Western Heaven has promised not to directly intervene, it is not impossible that they will engage in underhanded actions, provide financial assistance, or send some second-rate cultivators to cause trouble in secret."
Moreover, conquering such a vast land, governing, assimilating, and maintaining stability is no easy task, and the karmic consequences involved are extremely profound. From now on, I will no longer directly intervene in mortal warfare; everything depends on Your Majesty and the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty seeking your own good fortune.”
Upon hearing this, the Tang emperor calmed down somewhat, but the ambition in his eyes remained undiminished.
He bowed deeply to Lin Zhu.
"I will remember your guidance, Immortal Master! You have secured this golden opportunity for our Great Tang Dynasty. The rest is up to us mortals! Rest assured, Immortal Master, I hereby swear that within two years, I will bring the entire Buddhist kingdom of India into the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty! And I will make all the kingdoms of the Western Regions tremble with fear at the mere mention of the Tang Dynasty's power!"
His tone was resolute, full of imperial confidence and decisiveness.
Lin Zhu nodded, pondering whether he should leave the Tang King something for self-defense, such as a protective talisman or a warning artifact, in case some guys in the Western Paradise couldn't afford to lose and resorted to underhanded tactics. After all, if something happened to the Tang King, this excellent situation might change again.
Just then, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps came from outside the hall, accompanied by the clanging sound of armor clashing.
Before a guard could even announce the arrival, the palace doors were suddenly pushed open, and a figure as strong as an iron tower, exuding a strong aura of blood and excitement, burst in. It was none other than Yuchi Gong, the fierce general who should have died on the battlefield but was saved by Lin Zhu with the Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Great joy! This is an extraordinary and joyous occasion!"
Yuchi Gong's face turned bright red, and his beard stood up with excitement. His voice was like a booming bell, making the palace resound.
"Following His Majesty's previous plan of launching a surprise attack, I dispatched elite troops to bypass the main force and launch a surprise attack. Taking advantage of the vulnerability of the rear of the Buddhist kingdom of India, we captured the border city of Kashmir in one fell swoop! Although it is still far from our main force, the city is now under our control! More than 200,000 Indian civilians are still alive in the city, and the garrison has been completely wiped out!"
He took a breath, his face showing even more excitement, but then an uncontrollable anger surged up.
"Your Majesty! When the soldiers stormed into the city and saw those Buddhist monks and soldiers, and remembered the tragic deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians in the border city, they were filled with rage! Many officers could no longer contain themselves and petitioned for... for a massacre of the city! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! To pay tribute to the souls of the soldiers and civilians who perished in our border city!"
Massacre the city!
These two words struck the hall, which had just been filled with excitement and ambition, like a cold hammer.
Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
He understood the soldiers' feelings. Full of youthful vigor and facing a blood feud, the instinct to retaliate in the most direct and brutal way was almost primal.
To be honest, even Lin Zhu, upon learning of the devastation in the border town, had a similar thought: "Since your Buddhist kingdom slaughtered my city first, then I will destroy your entire kingdom." An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth—it sounds like a satisfying revenge, and it seems "reasonable."
However, the Tang King's reaction was beyond Lin Zhu's expectations.
The Tang King's face quickly regained its composure, becoming unusually calm and even exuding an undeniable air of authority.
He slowly sat back in the main seat, his gaze calm as he looked at the excited Yuchi Gong. His voice was not loud, but it clearly drowned out all the noise in the hall.
"Massacre the city? Absolutely not."
These four simple words were decisive and resolute.
Yuchi Gong was taken aback, seemingly not expecting His Majesty to refuse so decisively, and he said urgently.
"Your Majesty! Why not?! They attacked first, slaughtering our Fengxue Border City, sparing neither the old, weak, women, nor children! Such a deep-seated hatred, if not met with thunderous force, how can we appease the spirits of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in heaven?"
How can we deter the kingdoms of the Western Regions? Your Majesty, we must not be so soft-hearted at this time! Otherwise, the morale of the army will suffer, and the world will laugh at our Great Tang for being weak!
His words were earnest, even tinged with a sob, clearly showing that he genuinely believed this was the best way to avenge his family and boost morale.
The Tang king did not immediately refute him, but simply looked at Yuchi Gong quietly. His gaze was deep and heavy, which gradually made the originally excited Yuchi Gong feel an invisible pressure.
After a long silence, the Tang King finally spoke, his voice still calm, yet carrying a power that reached the hearts of all.
"General Yuchi, remember this: you are a general of the Tang Dynasty, not a butcher, much less a beast."
He paused, then his tone turned stern.
"How is the act of massacring a city any different from that of beasts? The Tang army is disciplined and has never disturbed the people or killed the innocent! If we set a precedent for massacring a city today, how will our Great Tang be any different from those bloodthirsty barbarians? How will we be any different from those White Lotus Boys who treat human life as worthless, and those Western Buddhas who protect evil?"
At that time, what my Great Tang Dynasty will suffer is not a glorious reputation for its power and prestige, but an eternal infamy for oppressing the people and indiscriminately killing the innocent! It will only fuel the bloodthirsty and violent spirit within the army, bringing nothing but harm to the country and its people!
Yuchi Gong was stunned by the Tang King's words. He opened his mouth, wanting to argue.
"But Your Majesty... the hundreds of thousands of people in the border city... they died unjustly! They..."
"Their revenge must be taken!"
The Tang emperor interrupted him, his voice suddenly rising.
"But revenge should be taken on those who deserve it! It should be taken on the White Lotus Child, the Buddha who instigated or condoned it, and the noble monks of the Indian Buddhist Kingdom who started the war! Not the two hundred thousand unarmed civilians in the city who may not even know where Snowstorm City is!"
His gaze was like a torch, illuminating every corner of the hall and reaching into Lin Zhu's thoughtful eyes.
"What makes a person human is their ability to respect life, distinguish between good and evil, and know what to do and what not to do! This is the foundation of benevolence and the bottom line of being human!"
The karma created by the Buddha should not be borne by the innocent people of the Buddhist kingdom! Slaying enemies and conquering new territories is a general's duty, the very essence of manhood! But to point the blade at the elderly, the weak, women, and children is the act of a beast, unworthy of being called human!
The Tang Emperor stood up, walked to Yuchi Gong, and looked at his tearful eyes. His tone softened slightly, but he spoke with even greater earnestness.
"Yuchi, I know you are filled with grief and indignation, and the soldiers are also burning with anger. But this anger must be directed in the right place. What we must do is to find the real culprit, conquer the country that started the war, reform the ignorant and harmful system on that land, and let the people there also enjoy the blessings of the king and live in peace and prosperity!"
Instead of a simple, brutal tit-for-tat response, venting anger with an even larger massacre! What would that gain besides satisfying momentary lust and leaving behind eternal infamy? Could it bring my border people back to life? Could it make my Tang Dynasty even stronger?
He patted Yuchi Gong's broad shoulder.
"Slaughtering a city to vent anger is a petty grudge. Conquering India, allowing our Tang civilization to spread to the West, and freeing our Chinese people from worries about the West, that is true national vendetta, that is true righteousness! Do you understand?"
Yuchi Gong stared blankly at the king he had sworn to serve to the death, seeing in his eyes a radiant light that was not feigned benevolence, but genuine reverence for life and a sense of responsibility for civilization. The surging violence and grief in his chest began to melt away like ice and snow meeting the sun. (End of Chapter)