Swing the sword at the future female devil

Chapter 434: Sealing Hearts and Locking Love - Huai Ge

"Uncle-Master." The young novice clasped his hands together, bowed respectfully, and quickly made way for his uncle-master.

“No need. I brought this benefactor in earlier, and I’m here to give him some pointers.”

"So it's Master who's here." Duan Huaige was filled with respect. Sure enough, those who paid money were treated like royalty. The old monk, who was originally all about money, immediately offered a discount on the Red Dust Heart Inquiry service and even offered one-on-one tutoring when he saw that Duan Huaige had generously booked a booth in the top-tier enlightenment area.

However... I can understand that more people are trying to comprehend the principles of cause and effect. How come there are still people queuing up to ask questions about their inner thoughts in the mortal world? Are people so confused these days?
"Master...how come your Zen sect's worldly inquiry practice is so prosperous? I heard that you used to only offer it to Zen practitioners."

Zen disciples, having never experienced the world, sometimes develop a longing and attachment to it while practicing. The Red Dust Questioning Cliff was originally designed to help Zen disciples understand their state of mind, and from time to time, some masters come to help them overcome their inner demons.

The old monk said calmly, "The Buddha is compassionate and saves all sentient beings. When sentient beings are confused, the door of convenience will naturally be opened wide."

This translates to: "I was ignorant before, but now I know how to use it to make money."

Duan Huaige thought to himself, "There are so many talented people in Zen Buddhism; the economy has improved dramatically." Since enlightenment and understanding of cause and effect are so expensive, the price of seeking answers in the mortal world shouldn't be much cheaper either.

Fortunately, Duan Huaige now had mining maids supplied by Lu Ban Dao, earning him a fortune daily, so he didn't care about this small amount of money. He then cupped his hands in greeting and said:

"Please lead the way, Master. I only seek to examine my own heart and find an answer."

"It's natural."

The old monk walked slowly, leading Duan Huaige through a quiet bamboo forest. The rustling bamboo leaves made the silence ahead seem even more profound. As they emerged from the bamboo forest, the view suddenly opened up, but an invisible sense of heaviness gripped them.

Ahead stood a massive, steep, mirror-like stone wall, almost vertical, its dark stone exuding a cold, hard, and ancient aura. At the base of the wall, a narrow opening, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, was carved out. Above the opening, three characters were inscribed in a simple and vigorous style: "Questioning the Heart Cliff."

This was not the misty, ethereal cliff top that Duan Huaige had imagined; rather, it was more like an entrance to the deepest, most secluded part of one's heart, imbued with a solemnity that made one's heart tremble.

Near the cave entrance, the scene was quite strange. A young monk dressed in fine robes staggered out of the cave. His eyes were vacant, and tears still clung to his face. He kept muttering, "So that's how it is... so that's how it is... I thought she was different..."

A little further away, a withered old man sat cross-legged on the ground, laughing foolishly at the stone wall. His laughter was dry and desolate: "Foolish child! Foolish child! Half a lifetime spent chasing after nothing but a mirage! Ha ha... ha ha..."

Without exception, all of these people who "came out" seemed to have undergone a heart-wrenching torture and had not yet recovered from the enormous shock to their hearts.

"Master... what are they doing...?"

The old monk, accustomed to such sights, said calmly:

"That young man came from a prominent family, but he became obsessed with V and kept sending money to her. In the end, he lost both his money and his lover. Even so, he kept speaking up for her, saying that she was a good person, but she didn't know how to love. His parents sent him here with the only request that he come to his senses."

"That old man spent most of his life trying to get a government job, but he never succeeded. These days it's not like before, when you could still take the imperial examinations in your forties or fifties. He couldn't accept it, so he came to the Mortal World to Ask His Heart and Experience what it's like to finally get a government job..." "Isn't that great? Does your Mortal World Ask His Heart even have a dream-fulfilling function?"

"Of course not. The 'Red Dust Inquiry' will deduce the corresponding ending based on each person's causal line. According to his causal line, he said that he was arrested for embezzlement a few years after he went ashore in the 'Red Dust Inquiry'."

"..."

Duan Huaige looked at him with some sympathy, thinking to herself, "That's quite a life story..."

"Although I haven't heard your exact words about what you seek on this trip, I do have some idea. Is it for the word 'love' that entangles your heart and makes it so difficult to choose? Is it because the threads of love are like a net, binding you in a dilemma?"

"That's right... Master, how did you figure that out!" Duan Huaige quickly stepped forward and grabbed the old monk's hand. For some reason, even though he was an old man, his palm felt slightly slippery when he held it.

Duan Huaige felt as if the old monk had directly exposed the deepest, most hidden trouble in his heart. The voices and smiles of the four girls instantly came to life in his mind. Their goodness, their uniqueness, and the equally sincere yet conflicted feelings he had when facing them all turned into a heavy burden.

Taiqing glanced at Duan Huaige with disdain, wanting to shake off his hand, but ultimately held back and said indifferently, "Of course I could tell."

You, a complete scumbag, inexplicably came to this mortal world seeking answers. Need I say more? You must have messed up in a chaotic situation and now everyone's turned against you…

But you've gone too far and still managed to get this little girl named Yan Qiuxi to come to Zen Buddhism with you. I really don't know whether to say you're amazing or Yan Qiuxi is amazing.

“Master, please understand… I have indeed come here for this reason. The word 'love' is something that cannot be cut off or untangled. I do not know where my heart truly lies, which only adds to my troubles, and I am even more afraid that I will betray my true feelings.”

"Love is not a debt, yet it weighs more than a thousand pounds. The Cliff of Asking the Heart will not tell you who you 'should' like; it will only peel away all your pretenses, excuses, weighings, and self-comfort, allowing you to see nakedly what your soul's truest and most irresistible 'desire' and 'belonging' are beneath those layers of 'likes'."

"That answer could be as sweet as honey, or as poisonous as arsenic. Do you have the courage to face that answer, no matter who it points to, or... to 'nothingness'?"

Duan Huaige was slightly taken aback upon hearing this: "Master, what do you mean by this?"

"Many people start out asking questions to plead their case, but as they ask, they may discover that they don't actually like women at all. There are such examples," Taiqing said meaningfully.

Duan Huaige's face paled, and she murmured, "It can't be that bad... I've already had two chiseled... You're telling me I don't actually like women?"

Taiqing: ?
Which two are you referring to? Could it be that hidden little demoness who claims to be my disciple?
"Is there any way to avoid this dangerous idea?" Duan Huaige asked hurriedly. He didn't want to force a man into a relationship. Although with his Golden Core Ancestor cultivation, not only would female cultivators be eager to throw themselves into his arms, but male cultivators would also take a gamble.

"Don't be nervous. I didn't say that disliking women means you'll like men." Taiqing smiled slightly. "It's also possible that you've realized you're wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao, and have thus abandoned petty emotions and love, turning instead to the pursuit of the Great Dao..."

Duan Huaige breathed a sigh of relief. She thought to herself, "It's just sealing my heart and locking away my love, isn't it? This is much better than forcing someone to lock me up."

(End of this chapter)