From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 330 Guidance
It was late at night, and there were no stars or moon in the sky.

Thick, dark clouds obscured the sky and earth, with occasional streaks of light appearing within them, surging and flowing as if chasing the golden crow.

On the lotus throne of the Zen platform, the divine monk sat in meditation with his eyes closed. Meng Yuan looked up and saw countless Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist people kneeling below the throne, all with their backs to him.

The Arhat of No Birth has a faint Buddha light on his body, which is like a guiding light in the dark night. It seems that it will be extinguished by a gust of wind, but it stands for a long time, as if to guide lost people from all directions on the path to rebirth.

Everyone was murmuring prayers, softly and devoutly.

The same was true of the Nine Tribulations Monk. Although he shouted at Meng Yuan, his tone was extremely devout and sincere.

It's like an old monk who has experienced many hardships and has a wealth of life experience, earnestly advising a young person who has gone astray.

The old, wrinkled face of the monk Jiujie showed no sign of ruthlessness, only earnest teaching and heartfelt admonition.

Even the shouts and curses carried a sense of compassion and salvation, as if they wanted to awaken the Buddha-nature in the hearts of the visitors and dispel their murderous intent through a kind of enlightenment.

But the newcomer remained steadfast and unmoved, still gripping the hilt of his sword, oblivious to the endless hell before him and deaf to the countless sufferings behind him.

"How blissful is the paradise the master speaks of?" Meng Yuan stepped forward.

“Everyone is free from worry and fear. They live to an unknown end and are not troubled by any worries. Everyone is happy; this is the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss,” said the monk Jiujie.

Meng Yuan had also read Buddhist scriptures and debated with Dugu Kang and others about Buddhism. However, the views of the monk Jiu Jie on the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss were quite different from those of Dugu Kang and the Buddhist scriptures, which shows that he had already formed his own school of thought.

Ignoring all this nonsense, Meng Yuan saw that Dugu Ying's body was trembling more and more violently, so he walked forward while talking, reached into the red cloak and grabbed one of Dugu Ying's hands.

Dugu Ying was trembling and on guard, and unconsciously had the will to resist. But suddenly she felt a strand of jade liquid like a silk thread, which seemed to be soft yet firm. She was unable to resist it in her haste.

For a moment, Dugu Ying felt a sense of familiarity with the jade liquid, as if it had entered her body before. But at this moment, it was somewhat different, clearly stronger, and even carried a hint of inextinguishable power.

Soon, Dugu Ying felt that although the heavy pressure on her body was still there, her mind was clear, and she was able to suppress the thousands of pains.

Dugu Ying quickly stood up straight. Although the red cloak covered her petite body, her face was no longer as painful as before. Instead, she was expressionless and silently extended the sword blade outside the cloak.

The monk Jiujie was dismissive of Meng Yuan's act of saving people, but seeing that Meng Yuan actually had a method to help Dugu Ying out of trouble, he said, "Your small act of suppressing Jin Hai is indeed extraordinary. If you were to be ordained and worship Buddha today, your future would be limitless."

"Who can guide me to become a monk? And who can lead us to the Pure Land?" Meng Yuan asked.

The monk Jiujie was very confident and said, "Only my master can do it."

“I don’t think so.” Meng Yuan smiled and said, “I still think that the Western Buddha is stronger than your master.”

The monk Jiujie murmured a Buddhist chant, his compassion tinged with reluctance, as if he deeply regretted the young man who was about to step into the endless abyss.

“Young benefactor, the true Buddha is right before your eyes, so why bother to pay homage to the false Buddha?” said Monk Jiujie.

Meng Yuan couldn't quite make sense of the Nine Tribulations Bald Monk's thinking. He actually said that the Free Buddha of the Human Realm was a false Buddha, while the Arhat of the Third Realm was a true Buddha. Wasn't this a reversal of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches?

Looking at the Arhat on the lotus throne, he still hadn't opened his eyes, like an ancient mountain peak, completely unconcerned about the debate between two ants.

“Master, if the true Buddha is here, why doesn’t he go to relieve suffering and rescue those in distress? Why doesn’t he create a world of ultimate bliss? Could it be that the true Buddha in your family is not compassionate and merciful?” Meng Yuan asked.

"Amitabha." Monk Jiujie clasped his hands together and said with great piety, "If you don't turn back, who will save you from suffering? If you can change your mind, why would you need my great compassion?"

“Master’s words are absolutely right!” Meng Yuan immediately agreed. “Master talks about great compassion and saving people from suffering, but it all comes down to oneself. One must realize it for oneself. This is what is meant by turning back and changing one’s mind. There is no real Buddha descending to earth, nor can one rely on heavenly gods. One can only rely on oneself.”

Upon hearing Meng Yuan's words, the monk Jiu Jie was first taken aback, then said, "Young benefactor, you have misunderstood. Without the guidance of a true Buddha, how can one attain enlightenment?"

"Is your master a true Buddha?" Meng Yuan asked.

“Of course.” Monk Jiujie earnestly said, “The Buddhist scriptures say that knowing one’s past lives is called the wisdom of past lives, knowing one’s future is called the wisdom of the heavenly eye, and cutting off all afflictions is called the wisdom of the extinction of defilements. My master has thoroughly understood all of this and has achieved the state of the three kinds of wisdom.”

“Your Excellency is indeed all-knowing and all-encompassing. I wonder if you can foresee my destiny?” Meng Yuan asked.

“Amitabha, my master knows the past and the future, this matter is easy.” Monk Jiujie put his hands together, lowered his head and brows, his face was thin but wrinkled, “Wait for my master to perform the ritual.”

After speaking, Monk Jiujie remained motionless. Looking again at the Arhat Wusheng on the lotus throne, he too remained completely still.

Dugu Ying pressed her hand on the sword. She didn't ask Meng Yuan why he was not afraid of the chaotic thoughts, nor did she express her gratitude. She simply said, "To save Mingyue."

Meng Yuan felt that she and Dugu Ying had gone through life and death together twice, but the person she cared about more was clearly Mingyue.

At this moment, Mingyue's pain intensified, and she murmured something, sometimes mentioning her brother, sometimes her parents, with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Where is the others?" Meng Yuan took Mingyue's hand and poured the abundant jade liquid into her.

Meng Yuan liked to scout out unfamiliar places, but today's battle was too fast and too urgent. He was very familiar with Lanruo Temple, but at this moment he realized that among those listening to the true voice of the Buddha at the Zen Inquiry Platform, there were few masters.

The sky was covered with thick, dark clouds, and the meditation platform was packed with people, but the Third Miss and Wang Er were nowhere to be seen.

As for Master Xuanji and Abbess Liaoxian of Yunshan Temple, it's normal that they weren't there. They don't like to go near Lanruo Temple anyway, so they're probably out with Elder Miaoyin and Elder Hua.

However, the Daoist Grand Preceptor, who was from the Dugu clan and held a third-rank position, did not appear.

"Miss Ying is waiting for Li Weizhen outside, while the Imperial Preceptor is at the foot of the mountain. To prevent Li Weizhen from arriving, Wang Er is outside, ready to open the Heavenly Gate at any time." Dugu Ying was clearly well aware of this situation.

"Why do Arhats who have not been born confuse sentient beings?" Meng Yuan asked again.

Dugu Ying looked at the Arhat Wusheng on the lotus platform and said calmly, "Perhaps he has found the method to break through to the second rank. Or perhaps he has other plans. But no matter what, he is definitely waiting for a martial artist who dares to face death." Mingyue finally slowly woke up at this moment. She was confused at first, then wiped away the tears in her eyes. When she saw Meng Yuan and Dugu Ying standing side by side, she quickly drew her sword and stood next to Meng Yuan. The three of them looked at the Arhat Wusheng on the lotus throne.

After a few breaths, Monk Jiujie finally raised his head, but his hands were still clasped together, and he said, "Amitabha, my master has passed on the true mantra."

As he spoke, all the disciples and grand-disciples of the Arhats of No Birth around Monk Nine Tribulations turned their heads and looked at Meng Yuan.

One after another, the bald heads all had a devout and serene look, untainted by worldly dust or filth, like novice monks who had long studied under the true Buddha.

Meng Yuan gripped his knife, while Dugu Ying and Mingyue held their swords. The three of them were extremely cautious and slowly separated.

"Everyone is drunk while I am sober? Not so. Millions turn to Buddha, yet you alone turn your back on Buddha. That is utterly absurd!" Monk Jiujie said in a deep voice.

As if the words of the Nine Tribulations Monk were law, Yingmei in the red cloak immediately lost her balance, and Mingyue looked completely bewildered.

It is evident that although Meng Yuan used the Starfire and the Essence Fire to burn away the distracting thoughts in their hearts, the Arhat Wusheng made another move.

As expected, with the chanting of scriptures by the monk Jiu Jie and his group of Western Buddhas, Mingyue and Dugu Ying could no longer hold on.

Mingyue planted her sword on the ground, while Dugu Ying's red cloak trembled. The two were in better condition than before, but it seemed unlikely that they could fight alongside Meng Yuan.

The monk Jiujie clasped his hands together, his face and eyes filled with compassion. His robes seemed to be stained with the sins of the world, turning into karmic fire.

“You committed too many evil deeds in your past life, and you are a troublemaker in this life as well. Only by taking refuge in the Buddha can you be liberated.” Monk Jiujie spoke slowly. “My master saves both himself and others. When you understand your own sins, that will be the time for you to take refuge.”

As soon as the monk Jiujie finished speaking, a colleague from the Demon Suppression Division stood up, pointed at Meng Yuan, and shouted, "Meng Yuan is a refugee who infiltrated the Demon Suppression Division. He first harmed his fellow disciples in Songhe Prefecture to gain promotion. Later, he had a grudge against Commander Ding of our Demon Suppression Division, so while Commander Ding was away on official business, he colluded with outsiders to assassinate Commander Ding and Commander Ding! How could he go to such lengths to kill so many people and wipe out their families?"

This man was Wang Buyi. He had arrived outside the Zen Inquiry Platform at some point, his hands and face covered in blood.

"Amitabha." A bald man from Lanruo Temple stood up, his hands clasped together. It was none other than the monk Xuanhui. He turned to Meng Yuan and said, "Benefactor Meng has had many dealings with Peacock. During the Songhe Prefecture Incident, your master died, but you escaped unscathed. It is clear that you must have received Peacock's help. To associate with such a wicked monk, is this something we should do?"

After Xuan Hui finished speaking and sat down again, a familiar face stood up – Li Wujiu.

“Meng Feiyuan, you harbor evil intentions, knowing that the son of the Prince of Xin is secretly practicing Buddhism and yet you let it go, and you even seduced the daughters of the Dugu family, and two of them in a row! Do you dare to say that you have a clear conscience?” Li Wujiu pointed at Meng Yuan, his voice loud.

"That's not all!" A young man dressed in a Taoist robe stood up, clearly from the Imperial Preceptor's residence. He pointed at Meng Yuan and shouted, "Meng Feiyuan was of humble origin and was promoted by the Ying family, yet he is a wicked servant who bullies his master and covets his master's family!"

No sooner had this person finished speaking than a bald nun stood up again, her face full of indignation. She pointed at Meng Yuan with one hand and put her other hand together in a prayer-like gesture, saying, "This man actually disregards the purity of the Buddhist temple and seduces my junior sister in Yunshan Temple! Shameless! His heart deserves to be punished!"

These people all came out to criticize Meng Yuan's mistakes, one by one, each with its own basis.

Even his closest senior brother had the audacity to expose Meng Yuan's shortcomings and speak ill of him, saying, "Junior brother, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you're just too unable to let go of your lustful desires, which is why you've made so many mistakes. If you ask me, Qingqing and the Jiang family girl are enough, but you insist on causing trouble outside. Seducing Dugu Shi wasn't enough, you also seduced Wang Er, and you didn't even spare Elder Miaoyin of the demon race. That's one thing, but you even flirted with the monks at Yunshan Temple. Is this a sustainable way to go on? Junior brother, am I right or wrong?"

What is all this nonsense? Meng Yuan plans to go back and persuade Elder Hua to take Yuan Yaoniang away after today's matter is settled!

Meng Yuan looked at Dugu Ying and Mingyue. The two women were still struggling to resist their inner thoughts, but they did not criticize Meng Yuan.

Seeing that these people kept talking and that Meng Yuan was being smeared with a lot of mud, he was fearless and ignored them completely.

After a while, when Monk Jiujie saw that more than a dozen people had stood up and were criticizing Meng Yuan, he said, "Benefactor, your past is now clear. My master has great supernatural powers, and destiny shines in all directions. Have you understood?"

"Master, why don't you ask about the knife in my hand?" Meng Yuan said.

Upon hearing this, Monk Jiujie finally frowned. He pondered for a moment, then ignored Meng Yuan and bowed to the person on the lotus throne, saying, "Master, this child is stubborn and incorrigible, and it is difficult to convert him."

The sky was filled with thick, dark clouds, which made the Buddha's light appear even more magnificent.

Meng Yuan could see clearly that the monk on the lotus throne still hadn't opened his eyes, but he slowly spoke.

"This child possesses the heart of a Buddha and the nature of a Buddha, but he has an inextinguishable flame within him, making it difficult for him to enter the gate of my compassion." The voice of the Arhat of No Birth was extremely ethereal, as if it were right before one's eyes, or as if it had fallen from the heavens.

For a moment, Meng Yuan felt his blood boiling, as if it were about to burst out of his body. There was a booming sound in his mind, but he did not feel fear. He just felt that he should not have come here to oppose the Arhat Wusheng, nor should he have opposed the Western visitors. Instead, he should have done the good deeds he believed in and reaped good results. This was his true path.

In a daze, the essence fire and starlight within his body flowed, and Meng Yuan regained his clarity, driving away countless chaotic thoughts.

The Arhat Wusheng remained seated, showing no surprise whatsoever at Meng Yuan breaking free from the chains in his heart.

Dark clouds seemed to press down on the lotus throne, and the shoulders of the Arhat were covered with black clouds. The Buddha's light on his body grew thinner and thinner, but it never dissipated.

"Amitabha." The Arhat Wusheng made a gesture of holding up a flower with his hands, his eyes still closed. "The benefactor is indeed extraordinary. There is something mysterious in this fire, quite mysterious indeed."

The monk Jiujie looked extremely devout. After listening to the words of the Arhat Wusheng, he carefully examined Meng Yuan.

Earlier, flames shot into the sky from the direction of Yunshan Temple, visible even from Lanruo Temple. The fire was raging, but the things burning were different. Jiujie had already noticed it then and even found out that it was for Meng Yuan to climb the Heavenly Stairs.

Furthermore, having personally witnessed Meng Yuan's annihilation of the Golden Sea, Jiu Jie was even more determined to guide him, and his master did indeed intend to bring him under his wing.

The monk Jiujie bowed his head devoutly and said, "Please instruct me, Master."

The Arhat Wusheng remained silent, but the people there slowly made way for the empty space, then sat cross-legged and looked at the empty space.

On the open ground, Dugu Ying and Mingyue were already sitting cross-legged on the ground, struggling on their own, while only Meng Yuan stood still.

"The universe is infinite, yet its waxing and waning are cyclical." The Arhat Wusheng uttered a Daoist saying, but then asked, "What kind of fire can never be extinguished?"

The Arhat Wusheng still did not open his eyes to look at Meng Yuan, but said, "This kind of person should either convert to Buddhism or be guided to Buddhahood."

(End of this chapter)