Zhu Xian

Chapter 186 - Difficult to enlighten

Like the usual days, the melodious morning bell once again sounded, echoed in Mt Meru, among the mist and mountain breeze. It traversed countless of years and time, repeated day after day and in the future days like this, continued to echo.

Standing in the morning sun, Ghost Li clasped his hands behind and stood, listening.

He closed his eyes slightly, as if the leisurely echoes of the bell, must be savored. Ghost Li at the moment, for some reason, his appearance did not change but he looked like a different person, from his bearing, expression, compared to previously, more calmness, less vicious.

Perhaps, those Buddhist formations really had an effect?

This question among the monks in the temple, many after Ghost Li awakened, had this query.

The day before yesterday, Ghost Li woke up again, PuHong Master and etc checked him carefully, his body seemed fine, even the impacts he received after being heavily struck did not seem to exist on his body. PuHong Master was overjoyed and just in case, kept Ghost Li a few days more at Tian Yin temple, Ghost Li did not reject and so stayed at Tian Yin Temple.

In the past few days, Ghost Li was even more taciturn than usual, for someone like him who could actually angered the Heaven and invoked Heaven Punishment, most of the monks avoided him, only PuHong Master and FaXiang had no scruples, came to see him frequently. And Ghost Li himself did not seem to pay attention to those, did not leave the room, only when the morning bell and evening drums sounded, he would go to the small yard and quietly listened.

[Dong…]

The last bell, carrying infinite lingering echoes, reverberated long over Tian Yin Temple sky, finally turned silent. Ghost Li then slowly opened his eyes.

Submerged in Tian Yin Temple’s morning breeze, underneath his peaceful appearance, his breathing was instead pulsing strongly, as if his entire being wanted to soar up. Tian Yin Temple monks would not know, but Ghost Li himself, understood it in his heart.

On that Wordless Jade Wall, unexpectedly appearing, was the legendary Evil Sect classic fourth volume, others might not understand but he was the only one in this world who practised the first three volume of , with one glance he knew that was what he had always been yearning for during his cultivation, the crux fourth volume.

The numerous seemingly indestructible, insurmountable problems in his training, at this moment, he had already mastered the keys to it, in front of him, was almost like a broad and open road, extremely smooth. He even had this thought, walking down this road, it would definitely be very smooth, or maybe, he could peep into realms that he dared not even have wild hopes of in the past.

And when he looked upon the past feelings, the human affairs before him, he actually had a transcend feeling, like owning a new world, looking back anew at the past.

Just that for some reasons, in his heart, in this wonderful situation, he still had a faint trace of disappointment but he could not describe it. A somewhat incorrect thought, still wrapped around his heart.

Ghost Li stood still for a very long time, no one knew what he was thinking, and no one came in to disturb him. Until he suddenly turned, for several days, for the first time walked out of this small little courtyard.

Leaving this courtyard, he never looked back.

Following the steps under his feet, he slowly walked, it was said that this road, was once that monk, in order to carry forward the Dharma, made a great wish and used great supernatural powers to build it. Today, countless people were still using the road he built, but how many would know, he was already scattered ashes and dispersed smoke.

Walking on this road, the simple and crude layers of stone steps, stepping up onto it, a feeling of levelled ground was felt. That earth-shaking scene a few days ago, after an unexpected phenomenal fight, Mt Meru temple hall had varying degrees of damages, only this levelled stone-steps mountain road, was not damaged in the slightest, stayed paved sturdily on the ground, allowing numerous people walking past its chest.

Or perhaps, for the unpredictable Heaven Divine, this road too had some special sentiment?

Ghost Li did not know, and did not want to know, he walked on the road, only silently recalled the past and the deceased, while in his thoughts, he gradually arrived at Little Tian Yin Temple at Mt Meru Peak.

The door was left unlatched, here was as usual quiet, Ghost Li slowly walked in, from behind the door, conversations were heard.

He knocked on the door.

The talks suddenly ceased, then someone like being surprised, made a soft [yi] and the next moment, [zhi ya] the door opened, FaXiang appeared.

Saw that it was Ghost Li, FaXiang revealed a smile, Ghost Li nodded his head, said, “Is abbot in?”

FaXiang smiled and stepped aside, said, “Yes, please enter!”

Ghost Li went inside, saw PuHong Master sitting cross-legged on the meditation bed, smiling at him too. Ghost Li walked towards PuHong Master, bowed and said, “Abbot Master."

PuHong Master looked at Ghost Li, assessed him from top to bottom, and finally looked at his feet, suddenly nodded his head, put his palms together, said, “Didn’t expect within such a short period of time, patron’s skills has improved greatly, it is really gratifying!"

Ghost Li’s brows jumped, did not speak, FaXiang was surprised, carefully assessed Ghost Li from beside.

After a moment of silence, Ghost Li lowered his head slightly towards PuHong Master, said, “A few days ago because of me, the Wordless Jade Wall at your honourable Temple sacred site was destroyed, I am really disturbed.”

PuHong Master gently shook his head, indifferently said, “It is a small matter, not worth mentioning.”

Ghost Li was slightly startled, said, “That Wordless Jade Wall was your honourable temple treasure, isn’t it valuable?”

PuHong Master put his palms together, said, “The affairs of life moves around, all beings each and every are nothing, who will know what will happen after that? Today it is precious and important, who knows how it would be on some other days? If patron has a mind to, “ He pointed outside the window, said, “To the right outside of Tian Yin Temple there is a huge rock, patron can go take a look, maybe you will understand the Way of Buddhist mind.”

Ghost Li nodded and said, “Yes. But I came over today, is to bid farewell to abbot master.”

PuHong Master did not seemed surprise, expected Ghost Li’s words, he only nodded and said, “If patron wishes to go, old monk do not dare to stop. Just that before patron leaves, old monk has a few words, wishes to speak to patron.”

Ghost Li said, “Master please speak.”

PuHong Master said, “Patron during this period of time, suffered many calamities but eventually is able to overcome every one and break through, I see that patron seemed to have been enlightened, I wonder if it is so?”

Ghost Li pondered for a moment, nodded and said, “Master is discerning, in my survival after the calamity, I indeed had some thoughts. Looking back on my life, there are many regrets.”

PuHong Master’s eyes glinted, said, “Patron is really a person with great wisdom, since you have looked past it, why not look past the secular feelings, come join my Buddhist sect? With old monk’s appraisal, what patron longs for and thinks, it’s only just a ‘quiet’ word, how is it?”

Ghost Li was silent, stood for a long time, bowed to PuHong Master, faintly said, “Master enlightens me, I am very grateful. But although I have enlightenment thoughts but I have not looked past the mortal feelings. To me, the secular feelings, I am unable to let go.”

PuHong Master shook his head, said, “Buddha said: color is emptiness! [Translator note: It means the sensory world is an illusion] Aren’t all things in the secular world like this, resentment, gratitude, feelings, enmity, beauty, foes, all are only a ‘colour’ word, trapping humans psychologically, disturbing humans’ peace, patron why do you have to be so stubborn?”

Ghost Li lifted his head and inhaled, with a loud laughter, turned and walked out, loudly saying, “Master, wrong. Colour is emptiness and emptiness is also colour. You want me to look past the mortal relations but how can we look past the mortal relations? I am at between heaven and earth, resentment, gratitude, feelings, enmity, are exactly my lots in life. You want me to look past and attain peace, yet you do not know, after looking past, am I still me?”

The voice gradually became low and deep, finally inaudible, that man had already went far from this meditation room.

FaXiang was silent for a long time, said to PuHong Master, “Master, you have tried to enlighten him several times but unfortunately…”

PuHong Master lightly replied, “He comprehends the way and cultivation, in future I’m afraid he will be the number one figure in the world. But a person like him actually not able to see past his own demons, in the future various situations, it will depend on his own fortune.”

FaXiang bowed his head, put his palms together and chanted, did not speak again.

Ghost Li left Little Tian Yin Temple, when he walked out of the temple gate, he suddenly stopped, paused and instead turned to the right, in a few steps, he indeed saw a large stone about half the size of a person fallen to the ground.

He went up and looked carefully at the stone, saw that the stone was scarred all over but not a single word or sentence, there was no artificial chisel marks, did not understand what the mystery of this stone was about.

Ghost Li frowned, pondered for a moment, suddenly his eyes narrowed, it was attracted to the tip of the boulder.

The boulder was mottled all over, evidently experienced countless years of sharp winds and bitting frost, full of scars but at that spot, a shape could be vaguely seen. Just that over the years, it had became indiscernible.

Ghost Li stretched his hand over, gently swept the dust and sand from the stone, carefully checked, after a long time, he recognized that that was a shell shape but due to the long period of time, it had turned into stone, merged as one with this stone. Ghost Li then again carefully looked at the boulder but did not find any other unusual spots.

His gaze, once again back to the shell, unless what PuHong Master wanted him to see, was this ordinary-looking shell, and in this, what was the mystery of it?

He recalled PuHong Master’s words again in his mind, his eyes looking at that shell and slowly lit up. The towering mountain ranges of Mt Meru, in the near and far thousand miles distance, there wasn’t any deep sea or ocean but this stone, clearly belonged to Mt Meru. Thousands and thousands years ago, for all you know, perhaps this place was a big ocean.

The lifetime of a human, compared to the revolution of the earth, the vicissitudes of the world, like a drop in the great ocean, a Mt Meru mustard seed.

However, he was silent, turned towards that quiet little monastery and bowed, when he turned back, his expression was indifferent.

Where his sleeves flung, faint white light floated, his figure transformed into a light, headed to the sky, gradually disappearing in the firmament.

Look past!

Who is able to look past?

The affairs of human life will go through the great changes to the world by time, but how could it be compared to that moment in my heart, that faint light in that moment.

.

Qing Yun Hill, Big Bamboo Peak.

The battle at Qing Yun had already passed for some time, and after that because of the Zhu Xian Sword matter, Reverend DaoXuan kept a close watch on Big Bamboo Valley for a period of time but lately perhaps because Big Bamboo Valley disciples were too obedient, sect head did not send the warnings as frequent. Actually! In the Big Bamboo Valley disciples’ hearts, although this matter was of great important but Reverend DaoXuan’s actions were a little too much.

But no matter what, after all right now they had not been disturbed for a long while, Big Bamboo Valley gradually returned to its usual tranquility. Wu DaYi, He DaZhi both of their injuries also slowly healed, after examination by SuRu, it looked like they had mostly recovered. They were able to walk around on their own now but still unable to handle heavy tasks.

Therefore, as in the past, when the cleaning of the rooms were done, that room at the secluded corner which belonged to their junior brother who had left, also continued to be cleaned. This day, Song Daren and Du BiShu again walked towards that room.

Both were chatting and laughing, like countless times in the past, walked into the yard.

But at that moment, suddenly, a gray shadow flashed past that little yard which should be undisturbed.

That grey shadow was extremely fast but Song Daren and Du BiShu both saw it almost at the same time, both of them shocked, immediately placed their cleaning tools down, shot forward like arrows. However that shadow vanished in an instant, the two of them searched the entire yard, even the rooftop, but still did not find anything.

Standing in the courtyard, Song Daren and Du BiShu looked at each other, Song Daren frowned, “Did we see wrongly?”

Du BiShu tilted his head and thought, about to speak when suddenly he whispered, “Senior brother, look over here.” Having said that, he pointed to the back of Song Daren.

Song Daren quickly turned to see, following the direction where Du BiShu was pointing, little junior brother’s room door was initially shut tight but the window beside the door, since when a gap was left. And the room had always been left unoccupied, naturally the window would be closed tight.

Song Daren and Du BiShu looked at each other, saw the suspicions in each other’s eyes. Song Daren composed himself, whispered, “Let’s go in and take a look.”

Du BiShu for some reason, felt nervous, while nodding he could not help but lowered his voice and spoke to Song Daren, “Big senior brother, don’t tell me...will junior brother he…”

Song Daren’s eyes jumped, obviously he had the same thoughts but even he himself felt afraid at that thought, perhaps, if it was really that little junior brother who was now already a stranger, he wouldn’t know how to face him right?

His hand, when he touched that wooden door, Song Daren and Du BiShu again looked at each other, then, as if he had made up his mind, Song Daren gritted his teeth, shouted loudly, “Who is it?” While shouting, he fiercely pushed the door.

Almost at the same time, the grey figure in the room flashed past, it seemed to be startled, from the table jumped to the bed, turning around at the same time, its two bright eyes looking around, facing the two people standing at the door stunned, [zhi zhi zhi zhi] cried out.

“Xiao Hui!”

Song Daren and Du BiShu at the same time called out.

[Gu]

Xiao Hui swallowed down the fruit in its mouth, picked up another wild fruit beside it and bit into half in one mouthful, happily eating. Big Bamboo Valley Observed Silence Hall, right now were scattered with fruit pits from Xiao Hui, thrown everywhere, compared to its usual solemn appearance, it looked rather comical.

Right now everyone was gathered here, even the usual bad-tempered Tian BuYi looking at this scene, only frowned but did not lose his temper, his face dark, not knowing what he was thinking.

For the past ten years, all of them knew, Xiao Hui had always been with that person, never once separated, now that Xiao Hui was there, where was that person?

On that day before Qing Yun Hill Tong Tian Valley Illusory Moon Cave, Song Daren and the others saw Ghost Li, also witnessed that once little junior brother heavily injured by the Zhu Xian ancient sword, and then pursued by numerous people, although since then, there was no longer any news of him, they also vaguely heard, he was already rescued by his accomplice.

But, why would Xiao Hui appear here?

Xiao Hui’s appearance here, then where would that person be?

The same question, lingered in everyone’s hearts, weighed heavily. And in Observed Silence Hall, only Xiao Hui impertinently ate with big mouthfuls, other than that, there was still one extremely excited, completely different from the rest!

Da Huang.

This big dog, at the moment was very excited, simply ignored his master’s gloomy face, [wang wang wang] barking incessantly, circulated ceaselessly around the table which Xiao Hui was crouching, occasionally sticking out its tongue, licking Xiao Hui a few times.

Xiao Hui grinned, scratched his head and then snatched up an apple from beside, waved it before Da Huang and then threw it out of Observed Silence Hall. Da Huang with a [wang] loud bark, immediately jumped up, its four legs speeding, dashed out of the hall, everyone was surprised, looked out and saw Da Huang actually reached before the apple landed, caught it in the air and at the same time ran back immediately, laid down beside the table, its dog teeth loosened, the apple fell onto the table, rolled a few times.

Everyone was dumbstruck, Tian BuYi grunted.

Only Xiao Hui [zhi zhi zhi zhi] laughed non-stopped, obviously meeting its good friend the old dog, it’s in a very good mood, its monkey tail curled, jumped down from the table and onto Da Huang broad back, hugged Da Huang’s body.

Da Huang [wang wang wang] barked incessantly, looked up raised its chest and ran out, not knowing where one monkey and one dog running off to play again.

Song Daren glanced to Tian BuYi and SuRu, stood up, about to go out and bring back the two animals but only heard Tian BuYi spoke coldly, “Let them go! That monkey has stayed on this mountain for many years, since it has come, it will not go.”

Song Daren acknowledged, slowly sat down.

Tian BuYi was silent for a moment, said, “Other than this monkey, you and lao liu did not see anyone else?”

[Translator’s note: Lao liu is an affectionate term for number six]

Song Daren and Du BiShu shook their heads at the same time, said, "Nope.”

Tian BuYi looked displeased, suddenly waved his hand, said, “Alright, you all are dismissed!”

Song Daren and the others looked at each other but their teacher’s command was like the mountain, eventually dared not defy and could only retreated out slowly, on their way out, He DaZhi was thoughtful, asked SuRu, “Teacher’s wife, the pits are everywhere, do you want disciple to clean up?”

Before SuRu could speak, Tian BuYi slightly angrily spoke, “We’ll see tomorrow, didn’t you hear I told you to go out?”

He DaZhi silenced, with a [suo] sound retreated, in a blink of an eye disappeared.

SuRu rolled her eyes at Tian BuYi, said, “For what do you vent your anger on them?”

Tian BuYi looked occupied, pacing back and forth, suddenly looked up at SuRu said, “You think lao qi...that person, will he be nearby too?”

SuRu pondered for a moment, lightly said, “That person, has always valued relationships the most, if he wanted to see you, it is also understandable. Just that with his identity, most probably he is unable to reveal himself."

Tian BuYi’s expression changed, his plump face looked uncertain, an inexplicable strangeness.

SuRu looked at him, sighed and said, “I know what you are worrying, that day outside Illusory Moon Cave, although he was hurt by Zhu Xian ancient sword but he after all, did not die, and didn’t rumors claimed that he was rescued by his accomplice? Daren and the rest after reporting to us, all said that the grey monkey was not with him, in my opinion, perhaps he knew the danger at that time and so deliberately did not bring the monkey with him. And after he escaped with serious injures, the monkey wandered among Qing Yun Hill wild mountains, since it cannot find its master, it is not surprising that it came to us.”

Tian BuYi frowned tightly, suddenly mumbled something, like cursing someone.

SuRu did not hear clearly, asked, “What did you say?”

But Tian BuYi did not answer, grunted, spread out his brows, with his hands clasped behind headed to the rear hall. SuRu looked at his back figure, shrugged his shoulders, quite helpless.

Just when she turned around, suddenly heard Tian BuYi’s soft cry, SuRu was surprised, quickly turned around and saw, could not help but smiled.

Tian BuYi seemed occupied, did not watch where he was stepping, actually accidentally stepped onto a fruit pit, slipped a bit. Just that Tian BuYi was after all not an ordinary person, with his skills, almost immediately stabilized himself, even it was so, SuRu had already laughed out.

Making a little fool of himself before his wife, Tian BuYi blushed with shame, his face darkened even more, bitterly cursed, “Stupid monkey, see when I will skin you, then see if you will still eat!”

After speaking, not even turning back, he walked into the rear hall, leaving the hall full of fruit pits, SuRu smiled standing.