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墨書 Inktalez
Xiao Yefeng and Wei Qingqiang escorted Wei Hongtu to school, but Xiao Yefeng couldn't help but ponder how this ancient being, who had lived for who knows how long, managed to appear so youthful. As soon as they entered the school, Xiao Yefeng noticed Wei Hongtu surrounded by a group of girls, which made him smile helplessly.
After contacting Liu Yiyi, Xiao Yefeng began his search for the other two individuals. It wasn't difficult; there were sensing devices between the four gates. He first found the leader of the Punishment Gate in distant South America. This Chinese man was not a child like Wei Hongtu but rather a man in his fifties. True to the Punishment Gate's mission, when Xiao Yefeng discovered him, he was engaged in battle with a group of Beastmen.
Xiao Yefeng was surprised to see how things had deteriorated in North and South America. The streets were filled with Beastmen, and without the conversion of Divine Elixir, survival was nearly impossible. Long Dao Yi was the leader maintaining order in this region, which had long since fallen outside the rule of law. The armies of these countries had completely abandoned their support for their leaders and declared themselves kings. Naturally, some bold Beastmen took to claiming territory for themselves.
Long Dao Yi was known as the Punisher of the Yin Gate. Unlike Wei Hongtu, Long Dao Yi expressed his willingness to contribute his strength to bring peace to the world after Xiao Yefeng explained everything.
Xiao Yefeng felt reassured by this response. After establishing communication between Zhao Yin Gate and Punishment Gate, he set off on his journey to Fist Nation. This trip had been long overdue; Master Juechen had invited Xiao Yefeng several times over the years, but he had never fulfilled that promise until now—partly to visit the Master of the Shadow Gate and partly to keep his word.
As soon as Xiao Yefeng arrived at Fist Nation, a group of monks came to greet him. A luxurious large bus stopped in front of him, and stepping out were representatives from Thunder Sound Temple, the largest Buddhist monastery in Fist Nation.
Thunder Sound Temple was where Master Juechen practiced Buddhism. The person responsible for receiving Xiao Yefeng was a well-dressed man wearing glasses. Upon seeing Xiao Yefeng disembark from the plane looking weary from travel, he clasped his hands together and said, "Are you Mr. Xiao?"
Xiao Yefeng wasn't a devout follower, but he understood the importance of etiquette and replied with his hands together, "Indeed!"
"Master Juechen has sent us to welcome you; please get in!" The man gestured for him to enter.
At that moment, Xiao Yefeng furrowed his brow and asked, "I never informed anyone about my visit to Master Juechen; how did you know I was coming?"
Even Liu Yiyi was unaware that Xiao Yefeng was searching for the leaders of the other three gates. However, upon arriving at Fist Nation, it seemed there might be some record of it. Yet he was certain that no one knew about his intention to visit Master Juechen.
"Mr. Xiao," the man replied urgently, "Master Juechen has foreseen your arrival. That is why we rushed here to greet you. Please come with us quickly to Thunder Sound Temple; Master Juechen is waiting!"
Seeing this urgency, Xiao Yefeng nodded and said, "Let's go!"
Everyone got into the vehicle. The Suit Man clearly held a significant position among the monks. The journey from the airport to Thunder Sound Temple took about an hour. From this trip, it became evident that Master Juechen had indeed sensed Xiao Yefeng's arrival ahead of time; otherwise, these people wouldn't have been there waiting for him so precisely.
During the ride, Xiao Yefeng learned that Suit Man was a lay disciple of the current abbot of Thunder Sound Temple and held a higher status than most monks despite being a layman himself. Although he wasn't bald like a monk, Suchar embodied all the qualities of a devoted practitioner. Along the way, Xiao Yefeng also understood why Suchar seemed anxious: Master Juechen's health had recently declined.
An hour prior, Master Juechen had summoned him to receive Xiao Yefeng; at that time, Master Juechen's condition had already appeared quite poor—this urgency from Suchar made perfect sense.
The car sped along as Xiao Yefeng learned from Suchar that Thunder Sound Temple's accounts had always been at zero; all these luxurious vehicles were donated by followers, and even the driver volunteered from among them. At that moment, Xiao Yefeng realized he had misunderstood; he initially thought such extravagant vehicles could be used freely—Thunder Sound Temple truly had substantial resources!
The resplendent Thunder Sound Temple appeared before them, bathed in the golden rays of the sun, which illuminated the ancient temple with a radiant glow. At this sight, all the monks in the vehicle clasped their hands together and began to chant Buddhist prayers.
However, Xiao Yefeng's heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he opened the emergency door and leaped out of the speeding vehicle. Suchar and the others were momentarily stunned, but before they could express their concern, they saw Xiao Yefeng's figure transform into a streak of light racing toward Thunder Sound Temple.
Indeed, the moment Xiao Yefeng burst from the vehicle, he stepped in mid-air, and the power of Misty Wind Guard lifted him up. He surged into Thunder Sound Temple at a speed several times that of the car.
At that moment, Xiao Yefeng thought to himself: Master, you must hold on!
The light he had just seen was not merely sunlight refracted; it was a genuine guiding light. Although Xiao Yefeng was not a practitioner of Buddhism and had few close friends within its teachings, he recalled that his ancestors from the Xiao Family had once witnessed a High Monk enter nirvana. At that time, the Buddha's Golden Body floated in mid-air, and the sound of Buddhist chants resonated throughout the area. The current radiance reminded him vividly of that memory.
Considering that Suchar's health was not good, Xiao Yefeng had already guessed that Master Juechen's time was drawing near. Without hesitation, he propelled himself forward with spiritual energy, naturally alerting the martial monks of this national Buddhist temple. Especially with the recent surge of Beastmen and criminals feigning unconsciousness, Thunder Sound Temple had become highly vigilant.
As Xiao Yefeng approached with an aura of immense power, alarm bells rang throughout the temple. Two monks clad in robes emerged, brandishing their staffs to block his path.
Just as both sides were about to clash, a voice resonated from the highest tower of Thunder Sound Temple: "Do not worry! Friend, you have finally arrived!"
Upon hearing Master Juechen's words, Xiao Yefeng immediately halted his advance and stood respectfully before the two monks with staffs. "Master, Xiao Yefeng has come! Is your health well?"
Master Juechen's voice prompted the two monks to lower their staffs and gesture for Xiao Yefeng to enter the temple. The elderly monk's kind tone drew a collective bow from the worshippers present; devotees from all directions knelt in reverence toward the tower.
Thunder Sound Temple was a vast structure. Passing through the grove of towers, Xiao Yefeng arrived at the stupa where Master Juechen resided. He walked slowly up to it; each level contained relics of past High Monks. Soon enough, he reached Master Juechen's quarters and pushed open the wooden door. The room was simply furnished: a wooden table, two wooden chairs, a wooden couch, and a shelf filled with Buddhist scriptures—this was all there was to Master Juechen's abode.
At this moment, Master Juechen sat cross-legged on the wooden couch, draped in a golden robe. Below him sat four elderly monks with white hair and beards on the clean floor instead of cushions; they were deeply engrossed in their prayers with hands clasped together.
"Master! I... I am late!" Xiao Yefeng said as he looked at Master Juechen, whom he had met several times before.
At this point, Master Juechen could barely open his eyes. Upon hearing Xiao Yefeng's words, he managed to force them open just a crack and looked at him: "Heh heh, it is no matter! Fate has its own course. Buddha has told me that you would not come here easily and that I would see you before I depart!"
"Amitabha!" The four High Monks echoed in unison at Master Juechen's words, their eyes filled with reluctance.
"Liao Fan, Liao Kong, Liao Chen, Liao Xiang—how many years have you followed me?" Master Juechen asked as his brows trembled slightly and his lips parted gently.
"Master! We have followed you for over eighty years!" replied the foremost monk respectfully.
Master Juechen then said: "Eighty years have passed; you are no longer those mischievous children of yore. Many of your disciples have already entered nirvana—why do you still fail to see through life and death?"
The four elderly monks, their hair completely white, were in tears, a sight that was hard to imagine. Xiao Yefeng stood still, understanding that Master Juechen was giving his four disciples one final lesson.
"Do you all remember Ben Cong?" Master Juechen asked, closing his eyes.
"Disciple remembers! Ben Cong was the disciple of the seventy-sixth abbot of Thunder Sound Temple and the teacher of the seventy-seventh abbot, Yuan Wu!" Liao Fan replied.
At this moment, Master Juechen continued, "When Ben Cong passed away, all beings are born equal; they bring nothing into this world and take nothing away. There is no need for sorrow to be left for the living. How can you four be any less than Ben Cong? The Buddha teaches that all beings suffer from nameless pain. Do you understand?"
"We humbly follow the master's teachings!" The four masters wiped away their tears of sorrow, sitting upright as they resumed chanting scriptures. In the distance, Xiao Yefeng noticed a light of enlightenment radiating from them; this must be the awakening of Buddhism!
Master Juechen then turned to Xiao Yefeng and said, "Friend, you have too many worries in your heart; it makes it difficult to maintain your childlike innocence!"
"Master, you..." Xiao Yefeng opened his mouth but could only utter a few words. At that moment, Master Juechen continued, "You are a problem solver. I see your hands stained with blood and behind you lies a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Yet your heart is pure beyond measure. You are the Fierce-eyed Vajra. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once said, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' Killing is not the Righteous Path; however, someone must use killing to prove their way. There are many paths in this world; you can only choose the one you believe is right. As for the outcome, it is for future generations to tell. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master!" Xiao Yefeng nodded.
"Good! I must go now. The person you seek is within this temple. Remember! Sometimes sacrifice is unavoidable; today's sacrifice may save more lives tomorrow. Can you understand?" Master Juechen suddenly opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Xiao Yefeng.
Xiao Yefeng nodded and replied, "Perhaps I understand now, but I will do my best to ensure no one leaves me!"
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