bestfiction Chapter 459
Chapter 459
“Benefactor, there are no evil spirits, only wandering souls.” The old monk remained calm, tugged at his cassock, slowly put down the wooden fish hammer, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Zhong Ming.
"Are you trying to excuse your crimes?" Zhong Ming stood up and stepped back, hooking his foot to not only stuff the Miaoyun Jade Tablet into his storage bag, but also taking the straw cushion with him.
But it was only for a moment. He quickly put the straw cushion out and put it in and out, confirming that there was nothing wrong with the cushion.
"Don't be impatient, benefactor, let me tell you a story."
Regardless of Zhong Ming's response, the old monk continued telling his story.
"On that day, a young man came to the town that had remained unchanged for a hundred years. He was very skilled and was very familiar with going up the mountain and down to the water. He could catch all kinds of delicacies from the mountains and wild game, as well as small fish and shrimp from the water. He also knew some crafts. He made the wooden table and chairs in his house himself."
The town's matchmakers rushed over upon hearing the news. The young man was of average height and appearance, but that only made him more appealing. The men in the girls' families were afraid that if their husbands became handsome, they would take mistresses outside. Such a capable yet ordinary young man was in high demand.
Soon, the man took a liking to a girl, but she was very shy, came from a good family, and had strict upbringing. They were not allowed to meet before the wedding.
The young man was naturally unwilling to accept this, so he built his own business with his own hands. He did not skip any of the traditional wedding rites and the wedding was a grand affair. On the day of his wedding, guests came and went in droves, and elders from both sides gathered together.
It was at this moment that the man's elders, who were making their first public appearance in the town, revealed their true colors.
That day, the man didn't realize that the person who came was not his father at all; his real father had been attacked and possessed by demons on his way there.
On that day, a blue-faced, fanged demon rushed out of the carriage and slaughtered the entire town. Blood flowed like rivers, the stench was overwhelming, and birds disappeared for miles around.
The man was no coward. When he realized that the demon in front of him was the one who killed his father, he was the first to rush forward.
He was the first to die; it's not his fault. He was bound by karma, unable to escape it.
Zhong Ming finally understood; if that were the case, then...
"So, the whole village is full of wandering spirits? That doesn't make sense, how could that be..."
“That’s right, benefactor, I understand your doubts.” The old monk suddenly stood up, and before anyone knew it, he was holding a vajra pestle in his hand. His face changed drastically, and he looked like a wrathful Vajra, exactly like the Arhat image behind the statue.
"Donor, put down your butcher knife and become a Buddha immediately."
Zhong Ming: "???"
"Master, you must be mistaken. I didn't kill the people in this village."
"The cycle of cause and effect is inevitable, and retribution is swift. With such a strong desire to kill and possessing forbidden objects, you are destined to go astray. Please turn back as soon as possible."
Zhong Ming realized that the old monk must have seen through the fact that what he held was the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
He snorted coldly and retorted, "Then you are probably not a demon from the Extinction Realm, are you? What is your identity?"
"Me? This old monk is the bride's grandfather from that day." The old monk trembled, his robe falling off as he waved it around. Only then did Zhong Ming realize...
This robe is actually... the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls?
The robe seemed to have a mind of its own, and flew autonomously to the statue of Shakyamuni, revealing the true form of the great array covering the entire village.
They appear outwardly the same, but if one observes the surroundings with spiritual vision, one will find that the townspeople's bodies have become ethereal, and a thin veil in the sky covers Hongzhen, shielding them from the scorching sun.
This magnificent undertaking will require an immeasurable amount of materials and involve countless karmic consequences to complete.
"Benefactor, turn back before it's too late." The old monk chanted a Buddhist prayer, seemingly intending to take action.
Zhong Ming was anxious, knowing that this person was not someone he could defeat by force. If he wanted to survive, he had no choice but to persuade him.
In a debate, whether or not one can win, it's better than being killed by a single blow right now.
"Master, where does the idea of killing come from? And where does the idea of forbidden things come from?"
"Still not repenting!"
Seeing that the old monk was about to get really angry, Zhong Ming immediately shouted, "How did you learn Buddhism? You're trying to change the causes of a thousand people to save a hundred or so from their consequences? How can that be?"
"Nonsense!"
"How many resources did it take to build this grand formation? How many precious materials are needed to operate it? Now that it's been haunted so frequently, it must be that the formation can no longer evolve and is about to collapse, so they have no choice but to kill the townspeople one by one to prolong their lives, right? Then let me ask you, how many people can these resources support? Compared to these people, which number is greater and which number is less!"
The roar of the bell echoed through the temple like a great bell. It is generally considered a great taboo to make noise in a quiet temple, but the old monk, unusually, did not reprimand him. Instead, he argued with him.
"If this matter had not occurred, these materials would have remained dormant in the warehouse for a hundred years. Things are not used, but arise and fall due to events. This old monk has allowed these mortals to live out the lives they were meant to live. Immeasurable merit, immeasurable Buddha."
"Don't try to excuse your momentary selfishness." Zhong Ming shouted mercilessly, "I have seen great Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas, called Universal Bodhisattvas, who walk barefoot, keep no wealth, use spiritual stones to benefit all living beings, and save all living beings in times of danger. You stingy fake monk, you have amassed so much wealth. If it weren't for this incident, would you still want to hoard it? If you were just an ordinary cultivator, it would be one thing, but to wear a cassock and kowtow to Buddha like this, how dare you do such a thing? How can you attain enlightenment?"
A rare hint of pain appeared on the old monk's face as he struggled to argue, "At that time, I had not yet practiced Buddhism... I only began chanting Buddhist scriptures to seek peace of mind after the great formation began..." He trailed off, then suddenly hardened his voice, which returned to its calm tone, "I have laid down my butcher's knife, Amitabha."
"Put the vajra down first."
Zhong Ming looked at the treasure he was holding with displeasure. Judging from its gleaming light, it must be a very valuable treasure, and probably quite powerful.
“I have made this for Vajra, for Arhat, for Buddha, taking on the karma myself to prove my status as a person subject to suffering. If you do not repent, I will suffer the consequences as well.”
In layman's terms, this old monk used his methods to transfer the karma of these people onto himself. He made a grand vow to heaven and earth, and if he succeeded, he would become a Buddha; if he failed, he would suffer the backlash and be reborn in the animal realm for thousands or tens of thousands of lifetimes.
Now, it's like having one more bell tolling—the cause and effect isn't a problem, just like having too many lice doesn't bother you.
Zhong Ming suddenly thought of a scene from a storyteller's tale, pointed a finger, and shouted, "Aren't you going to wake up!"
Old monk: ? ? ?
Zhong Mingyan said, "The cycle of life and death is predetermined. Those who die unjustly can enter the cycle of reincarnation and enter the path of goodness. But you have delayed for so long, bearing the consequences of your actions, allowing them to enter their original cycle of reincarnation. Isn't this stealing people's destiny? Before you cultivated Buddhism, there was still room for discussion. But after you cultivated Buddhism, you are still deluded and blocked the entire town's path of reincarnation just to keep your granddaughter in this world for a second. Why don't you let go of your obsession!"