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Kapitel 4

"The ancient pagoda was still in its original location. Since the garden gate was blocked, the pagoda gate wasn't locked, and I easily entered. Thinking back, it had been over forty years since I last entered this pagoda. I vividly remembered how Huizhi and I hid inside, and how the fat master couldn't go upstairs because of the narrow passageways. It was indeed true. Not to mention the fat master, even someone my size would have difficulty moving around inside. So I became more and more certain that my guess was correct."

"The ancient pagoda has nine floors. As soon as I reached the fourth floor, I was hit by a strong stench, like the smell of rotting corpses and rusty copper and iron, mixed with the musty smell inside the pagoda, which made me feel suffocated. I had to take out a handkerchief to cover my mouth and nose in order to continue.

"After finally climbing to the top of the tower, I took a closer look and was shocked by what I saw!"

"The ground was littered with decapitated corpses, clearly the remains of the porters who perished here years ago. Ten years had passed, and they had long since decomposed into piles of bones. Their blood had seeped deep into the floors and walls of the tower, leaving large patches of purplish-red stains, as if the tragedy of ten years ago was being reenacted. It was truly a gruesome sight. The bones had turned completely black! This meant that they must have been poisoned by poison gas, as they showed no signs of struggling or trying to escape."

"So did you see the Jade Buddha or not?" Clary asked impatiently.

“There is no jade Buddha there…” Huiren said cautiously.

“No? Why not!” Clary exclaimed.

"There is a jade Buddha there, but it's not the same jade Buddha as before..."

"What does this mean? Explain yourself clearly!"

"Girl, don't rush, I'll tell you slowly." Hui Ren swallowed, as if she had just recovered from that tragic scene from years ago.

“I once said that the jade Buddha in the Jade Buddha Temple is not only the treasure of the temple, but also the treasure of the country, because it emits a bright luster throughout. Anyone who is exposed to this luster will have a pure heart and be free from disasters and misfortunes. However, the jade Buddha I saw at the top of the tower that day was dim and had no luster at all. It was just an ordinary jade Buddha.”

"Why?" Clary asked, looking surprised.

"At the time, I didn't understand either. But when I got closer to examine it, I smelled a strong stench of money on the Buddha. I immediately realized that Huizhi must have used the jade Buddha statue to amass wealth, causing it to lose its luster. To cover up the truth, he secretly hid the jade Buddha in this ancient pagoda, killed all those who knew about it, and then lied that the jade Buddha was in the inner hall. What a sin! Little did he know that this jade Buddha was originally a national treasure. Once it lost its luster, the country would not only suffer a ten-year drought, but the people would also become selfish and vicious, losing all their Buddhist nature. If this continued, the country would surely perish!"

"But Huizhi is a monk, and he holds the position of National Preceptor. He has no wife or children. What does he need so much money for?"

Richard said thoughtfully, but then exclaimed with a sudden realization, "I see, could it be that he wants to..."

"That's what I suspected too, so after returning from the ancient pagoda that night, my heart was in turmoil. If Huizhi was truly captivated by power and intended to rebel, wouldn't the people of Jinniu Kingdom be plunged into a bloodbath? So I decided that very night to go to the palace the next day to meet with my junior brother Huizhi, hoping that he could have a compassionate heart, pull back from the brink, and not make another mistake, and not betray our late master's earnest teachings..."

"The next day, I entered the palace and saw Huizhi with my own eyes. He looked almost exactly the same as he did back then, without a trace of aging. He wasn't surprised to see me either; he just warmly shook my hand and showed me around the palace while reminiscing about the fun times we had as fellow disciples. He didn't act strangely at all. I still couldn't believe that the person in front of me was the same man who plotted to usurp the throne and indiscriminately killed innocent people.

"Unbeknownst to us, we arrived at a secret chamber within the palace. Huizhi dismissed the servants and ordered me to enter, saying he had something to discuss with me. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, so I went into the chamber with him—"

“Master, your junior brother is definitely trying to harm you!” Cage couldn’t help but exclaim.

"Yes, I wasn't alert at the time. I just felt that if I could use my old age to bring happiness to the people of the world, it would be a great achievement."

"Upon entering the secret chamber, I found it to be a small study. In the center of the room stood a rosewood table, on which three wooden boxes were neatly arranged. Huizhi pointed to the boxes and said, 'Senior brother, we haven't seen each other for many years; consider these a gift from me to you.'"

"I wondered what gift he would give me, so I politely declined."

He told me that since I was unwilling to accept it, it shouldn't be a problem to take a look at it.

"Hearing him say that, I felt I couldn't refuse his hospitality, so I went forward and opened the first box. Inside was a clean white handkerchief. Upon closer inspection, I was horrified and broke out in a cold sweat. It was the handkerchief I had used in the tower! I must have accidentally left it in the tower in my panic that day. I looked back at Huizhi and found him still smiling at me, so I pretended to be calm and mustered up my courage to open the second box."

"It was no wonder I cried out when I saw what was inside the box—it contained the head of that vegetable-selling man! Now I understood everything. Huizhi had been watching my every move, and he naturally knew everything about me finding the jade Buddha. I only regret that because of me, that man lost his life in vain..."

Seeing my heartbroken state, Huizhi actually urged me, "Why aren't you continuing to read, senior brother?" I thought to myself, since things have already come to this, I might as well continue reading. So I opened the third box without hesitation, only to find that it was completely empty.

"Just as I was wondering what was going on, Huizhi stepped forward and said to me, 'If you can see the events of the past few years as a dream, this box contains half the wealth and glory of the Golden Bull Kingdom. But if you remain stubborn and deluded, this box contains your head!'"

"Upon hearing this, I immediately replied: 'If this is truly a dream for me, then what is it for the workers who died tragically atop the ancient pagoda, the vegetable vendor who died under mysterious circumstances, and the millions of people struggling with drought and hunger because the jade Buddha has lost its luster?'"

“‘It seems you’re going to choose the latter.’ After I finished speaking, Huizhi shook his head and shouted towards the door, ‘Guards!’ Immediately, a large group of palace guards broke down the door and captured me on the spot. It turned out that Huizhi had been spreading rumors outside, saying that I had used sorcery because I was dissatisfied with my failure to be elected that year, causing the ancient city to suffer a drought for ten years. He said that as long as I was killed, sweet rain would fall from the sky.”

“No wonder those people were so agitated when they saw we were going to kidnap you…” Richard said understandingly.

"What does it matter if I live, or die? If the heavens still do not send down rain after my death, then the lies of wisdom will crumble on their own, and people will reconsider what I have said. My purpose will then be achieved, and my death will have been meaningful..."

"Hahaha, Master, you're really funny!" After hearing Hui Ren's words, Clary couldn't help but burst into laughter. "What if it really rains after you die? If it doesn't rain, won't it be the common people who suffer?"

"..." Upon hearing Claris's questioning, Hui Ren was stunned for a moment. "That's right! How could I not have thought of that! Thanks to the female benefactor's guidance, otherwise this humble monk would have made a grave mistake again. Amitabha..."

Orlando tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "Your country has caused such a huge mess, I mean, ten years of drought and widespread panic, doesn't the Emperor care at all?"

“Alas, young benefactor, you are unaware of this. Ever since my junior brother Huizhi became the abbot of the Jade Buddha Temple and the Imperial Preceptor, he has finally been with the Emperor. His thoughts and words have inevitably influenced the Emperor to some extent.”

"Even if the emperor is incompetent, he shouldn't have given his power to the imperial advisor, should he?"

“Actually, I am aware of this matter.” Hui Ren thought for a moment and looked at Orlando. “That day I went to the palace, found my junior brother, and discovered a major secret. It turns out that our emperor has been placed under house arrest in the inner palace. Hui Zhi used his understanding of Buddhism to bewitch the emperor, causing him to gradually hand over his power to the Grand Preceptor. By the time the emperor realized that the Grand Preceptor's position was even higher than his own, it was too late…”

+: The Corpse King, the Feudal King

- Mystery Tribe

Section 8, The Staff That Summons the Evil of Human Nature

“Master, you just mentioned the secret of the Jade Buddha. Do you know what the secret is?” Anthony asked.

"This is a heavenly secret, which this humble monk cannot reveal."

"What about Narama?"

“Benefactor, this is a secret.”

"You old monk!" In her haste, Clary couldn't help but stand up, gripping her double hooks.

"Clari!" Anthony shouted at Clari, who had no choice but to sit back down, unwilling to back down.

"Master, do you know the reasons for the decline of the ancient city and the methods for its revival?" Krusen asked politely from the side.

"Drought is not the real problem. As long as people are wholeheartedly committed to a happy life and unite as one, all difficulties can be overcome. It is only when people's hearts are corrupted that they are difficult to restore."

"And what is it that corrupts people's hearts?" Richard then asked.

"Greed, selfishness... Once people's hearts are polluted by these, they will lose their true nature. The Jade Buddha Temple has fallen into disrepair, the Jade Buddha no longer shines, people have lost their faith and become suspicious of each other... Huizhi took advantage of this to fool the people, which is why we have today's tragedy."

"So, the only way to save the ancient city and the Golden Bull Kingdom is to start with this Jade Buddha Temple," Anthony said thoughtfully.

"That's right..."

“Master, I’m not trying to negotiate with you. In fact, it is our duty to save the hearts of the people in this city from corruption. But we have a more sacred mission, which is to find something called the Seventh Alien Fragment. I wonder if you could help us find that thing?” Clary asked.

“Of course, there is no problem. Even if you benefactors are unable to save all living beings, as long as you have put in the effort, Huiren will definitely help you!” Huiren nodded solemnly. “I have always believed in Huizhi’s character. He must have been bewitched by something to be like this, and I hope you can help him get back on his feet.”

“Of course, but speaking of you and Huizhi, I have another question.” Cage had been thinking for a long time before suddenly asking, “That ascetic monk who asked you what Buddha was back then, you’ve been searching for him for twenty years, have you found him?”

"To be honest, I have traveled all over the world and still haven't found it."

"Why did he cover his head and face with a robe when he first appeared, so that people couldn't see his appearance?" Cage said thoughtfully. "Was he afraid that others would recognize him?"

“If that’s the case,” Cage said after a long pause, “I have a feeling that this ascetic is at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha!”

Night had fallen, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the outline of the Jade Buddha Temple. The grand and imposing hallways were empty; the monks had long since fallen asleep.

However, not everyone was asleep. Footsteps suddenly echoed in the quiet corridor, followed by a tall figure shrouded in a thick cloak, obscuring his face. Behind him followed two servants carrying lanterns. The group silently passed through the main hall and arrived at a dilapidated scripture pavilion in the backyard of the Jade Buddha Temple.

"You may leave." The tall figure waved his hand, and the two servants retreated without a word. After they had gone far away, he looked around to make sure no one was around before opening the wooden door of the scripture pavilion and carefully walking inside.

The library was clearly in disrepair; the interior was filled with dust and cobwebs, and a musty smell permeated the air. Bright moonlight streamed in through the skylight, illuminating only a small corner of the room.

"Is that Huizhi?" An old voice came from the dark corner. There was an elderly monk sitting there, facing the wall, motionless.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the ascetic monk who had been practicing "What is Buddha" all those years ago! For the past twenty years, he had never left the Jade Buddha Temple.

"My lord, it is I."

Although Huizhi is over fifty years old, he is still strong and healthy, and has a loud voice like that of a young man.

"Is there anything you need to report?" the old monk asked.

“My men saw the people you mentioned, seven in total,” Huizhi said respectfully.

"What do they all look like?" the old monk asked thoughtfully. Huizhi then recounted in detail the information that Yu Ke had reported to him.

"It really is them. It seems they've also come to find the fragments." The old monk pondered for a long time after hearing Huizhi's report before speaking.

"Fragments?" Huizhi asked, puzzled.

"You don't need to worry about any of that. Just find a way to help me eliminate them, and I will naturally help you obtain the Golden Bull Kingdom, understand?" The old monk's voice suddenly became stern, and Huizhi couldn't help but shiver. He nodded and was about to walk out of the house.

"Stop!" the old monk shouted sternly, halting Huizhi. "Do you think you can defeat these seven people with the little strength I'm giving you right now?"

Upon hearing this, Huizhi immediately stopped and stood at the door like a student, not daring to raise his head, and listened quietly to the old monk's instructions.

"Do you see the painting on the wall in front of me?" the old monk asked. Huizhi quickly looked in the direction of the old monk and, by the light of the moon, could vaguely see that it was a portrait of Buddha Sukhavati, nothing special.

"My lord, I saw it..."

“Huizhi, do you still remember the question I asked you two on the day you had your Dharma contest?”

"I will never forget the kindness and guidance you have shown me..."

"Nonsense! I'm asking you, what question did I ask back then!"

"Your Excellency is asking 'What is Buddha?'"

"Then look at this painting, can you still understand 'what Buddha is'?"

So Huizhi stared intently at the portrait again, pondering it carefully for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out. A fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Useless!" The old monk couldn't help but curse when he saw Huizhi at a loss. This curse had no effect; Huizhi was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thud.

"I hope you can give me some guidance, sir..."

"Look at what's under Sugriva's feet!"

After the old monk gave him this hint, Huizhi hurriedly looked towards the lotus platform at the foot of the Buddha.

"Ah! I understand!" Huizhi suddenly realized and hurriedly said, "The little demons carrying the lotus platform are at the feet of the Buddha. The master is saying that the Buddha is actually a demon, and evil is the true meaning of the Buddha! Human nature is inherently evil, and only in evil can Buddhahood arise!"

"Hahaha," the old monk laughed loudly, "As expected of an enlightened monk, you understand immediately!"

"It's all thanks to your guidance, sir..." Huizhi hurriedly said with a smile.

"Remember, there is evil in human nature. As long as you can summon it to your advantage, why worry about dealing with a few minor sorcerers?" The old monk sneered and continued, "The summoning staff is on the table opposite. Use it to summon the evil thoughts in the hearts of people all over the country."

"Thank you, sir..."

"Alright, you may step down. As long as you can deal with those sorcerers, I will let you rule the Golden Bull Kingdom forever."

"Understood, understood..." Huizhi nodded and bowed in agreement as he picked up his staff and left the scripture pavilion. As soon as he stepped out of the pavilion, he let out a long sigh and carefully examined the staff in his hand. To his horror, he discovered that the so-called staff was actually made from a human spine, with the words "Obi Sajano" written in scarlet Sanskrit on it, and the entire staff emitted a nauseating stench.

Is this the staff that summons the evil in human nature? A wicked smile crept onto Huizhi's lips.

+: The Corpse King, the Feudal King

- Mystery Tribe

Section 9. This forest is too quiet.