Yin ng: "Wow, you deserve to be a college student, truly cultured."
Lin Shuyou touched his head awkwardly and smiled.
Tan Wenbin: "Why are you silly smiling? She's mocking you."
Lin Shuyou: "I know, but smiling can ease the awkwardness."
Li Zhiyuan: "Tan Wenbin."
Tan Wenbin: "Present!"
Li Zhiyuan: "Next, you will take command."
Tan Wenbin: "Understood!"
Li Zhiyuan: "Let's go, don't stray too far from the monkey, let's follow along."
The monkey's form grew fainter as it walked.
While the karma burned on its body, it also consud the projection of its consciousness.
But it was heedless, continuing to lead the way with its head down.
Finally, a towering figure appeared ahead.
Clad in golden armor with black fur all over, it held a lengthy stick high with seemingly overwhelming power, the whole monkey stayed in this pose, frozen in place.
Just by looking at the back, one could see this monkey's powerful build, while its side profile revealed scars, bearing none of the Monkey King's likeness.
Of course, in the monkey's era, there was no "Journey to the West" yet.
The monkey halted, turned sideways, its form almost indistinguishable from transparent.
It gazed at its own body, eyes reflecting reflection and reminiscence.
It hadn't seen its old appearance in a long ti, deep in mory, scenes resurfaced of once following "him" to vanquish demons.
"Bodhisattva... Bodhisattva... can I speak now?"
"Bodhisattva, I don't want to eat peaches anymore, I want to eat vegetarian als with you."
"I like this dress, Bodhisattva was right, being bare-bottod indeed looks bad."
"Bodhisattva, this evil is not a match at all!"
"This injury is nothing, Bodhisattva don't cry, I'm tough and sturdy!"
"..."
"..."
"You scoundrel, how dare you deceive for so long, you're no Bodhisattva, prepare to die!"
The monkey again clasped hands in prayer, chanting the Buddha's na, the lamp above its head suddenly flared, while this strand of its consciousness completely dissipated.
But after dissipating, it gathered again, dissipated once more, then gathered anew.
This was "his" gift of freedom, it couldn't fall into complete closure, its consciousness remained constantly awake, experiencing endless tornt.
By now, even profound chanting couldn't calm its emotions, it roared almost violently:
"You all quickly go in, go in, go in!!!"
Suddenly, a patch of white appeared ahead, rging with the surrounding black, forming a view similar to a black-and-white photo.
Only then did everyone realize they were standing at the entrance of a hall.
In front, there was a distinct black-and-white dividing line, Li Yuan True Monarch stood precisely on this line, half the body in white, half in black.
Behind, all the True Monarchs seen earlier during the journey were lined up evenly, not in a single file but evenly distributed side by side.
All were shouting, ready to charge in.
Li Yuan True Monarch, wielding the staff, led the charge first.
The hall doors swung wide open, inside under this gray and white backdrop, the furnishings couldn't display splendor, yet couldn't hide their solemn majesty.
This was a texture not found in any worldly temple.
Because here resided a True Bodhisattva.
Li Zhiyuan stepped inside, as he moved he particularly turned back to look at the monkey once more, it was still desperately holding on in the vortex of agony.
Actually, this should have been its constant state.
Its consciousness shouldn't leave here, to stir trouble outside.
It was that person who helped send its consciousness away from here, granting it the ability to act outside.
Originally, this monkey intended to roll the Karma Lamp towards the hall, it wanted to reach "him", to touch "him", destroy "him", to render this cage ineffective.
But the suddenly erging white light clearly wasn't the monkey's doing, evidently, it was setting from outside in, while the people inside were from inside out.
Li Zhiyuan walked inside the hall, he saw the Bodhisattva sitting atop the Lotus Platform, it was that "him".
Unlike the Bodhisattva image in the paintings, he had a delicate face, not wearing a Kasaya, but donned a green robe, long hair flowed on both sides, exuding a charismatic deanor.
There was a red dot on his brow, marking his difference, giving him a transcendent aura.
He sat high up, clearly with closed eyes, yet exuded an all-seeing atmosphere as if before him no one held any secrets.
Below, a True Monarch stood there, holding a yellow scroll, presumably reciting the charges of impersonating a Bodhisattva.
This person was True Monarch Pu Du.
Unlike the distinct style of other True Monarchs, True Monarch Pu Du appeared ordinary, nothing special.
But here, the more ordinary, the more extraordinary, his state having reached a level of returning to the essence, even beyond, no wonder he beca the forr second-in-command here.
Lin Shuyou was scrutinizing the one on the Lotus Platform, as he watched, blood trickled from Ah You's eye corner.
He himself didn't notice much, simply continued staring blankly at that one above.
Tan Wenbin imdiately pressed down his head, scolding:
"You're still looking!"
Tan Wenbin took out gauze, helping Lin Shuyou stop the bleeding.
Lin Shuyou remained muddled, not clear-minded, blood continued oozing from his eye corner.
Tan Wenbin applied a Heart Clearing Charm on Ah You, it didn't work.
He then used powder made by Brother Xiao Yuan before, applied on Ah You, still ineffective.
The blood in his eyes seed relentless, dyeing the clean gauze red.
User Comments
0 comments from readers