Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 918 - 757: It’s Your Honor (Asking for Monthly Pass and Subscription)

Chapter 918: Chapter 757: It’s Your Honor (Asking for Monthly Pass and Subscription)

"Your Highness!"

Shi Kongxin’s brows furrowed deeply, his expression full of displeasure, "Xinyuelian Bodhisattva seeks the ultimate enlightenment with wisdom, and with compassion she transforms the innumerable sentient beings, cultivating the path of paramita, possessing the grand duty of a Samyaksam Bodhisattva."

"The Bodhisattva controls the secret of the mind, protecting countless Buddhist followers from falling into demonic ways. Thus, her status in Buddhism is exceedingly high. Your Highness, you may choose not to believe, but you cannot be so disrespectful."

He wanted to say "presumptuous," but under the imposing aura of Li Xuan, he dared not speak the word aloud in the end.

Li Xuan’s lips curved slightly, "I know, she is one of the Bodhisattvas in your Buddhism who, after Avalokitesvara, Maitreya, and Dizang, is most likely to achieve Buddhahood. Your Zen Sect worships her greatly, and almost every temple has her statues, both large and small."

In Buddhism, ’Bodhisattva’ is the essential identity one must assume on the path to becoming a Buddha. A follower may be called a Bodhisattva from the initial aspiration to the final achievement of Buddhahood, with fifty-two stages such as the ten stages of faith, abiding, practice, dedication, the ten bhūmis, Samyaksam Bodhisattva, Miaojue Bodhisattva, and so on.

However, the first forty stages are the mundane Bodhisattvas and the stages of the virtuous, also known as śrāmanera, bhiksu, śramaṇa, mage, Qielan, Vajra, Arhats, and others. Only at the tenth bhūmi one truly attains the fruit of Bodhisattvahood.

’Samyaksam Bodhisattva’ is the great Bodhisattva on the verge of achieving Buddhahood, the accomplished among Bodhisattvas, possessing supreme mana. The final stage, ’Miaojue Bodhisattva,’ is the Buddha.

The known great Bodhisattvas like MahaStamaprapta, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, and so on, are those who have reached the Samyaksam stage. Avalokitesvara, Maitreya, and Dizang were once at this stage, but now have become Miaojue Bodhisattvas.

Yet, Li Xuan’s tone remained chillingly cold, "Is there a problem with you conveying my order to your Xinyuelian Bodhisattva?"

Sweat beads the size of soybeans appeared on Shi Kongxin’s forehead.

"Your Highness, the coming of Xinyuelian Bodhisattva’s Law Body is an eagerly anticipated grand event by countless Buddhist followers and bhiksus. Since the Pre-Qin Dynasty, the mortal realm and the Buddha Pure Lands were kept separate. Only a great awakened one like Xinyuelian Bodhisattva could guide sentient beings to the Western Pure World for ’transcendence.’"

Li Xuan knew the truth behind it all. The First Emperor’s Seal sealed off the mortal realm and also severed the connection between the Buddha realms and the mortal realm, also known as the Sahā World in Buddhist texts.

Especially since Buddhism’s rise after the Han dynasties, there was no foundation within the mortal realm.

Therefore, the major Buddhist temples created their own ’Pure Lands’ to accommodate the souls of monks and devoted followers throughout the ages.

But the space in the temple Pure Lands was limited, and there would come a day when they were overwhelmed with souls.

What to do then?

The Buddhist solution was for the Bodhisattvas to descend at intervals, guiding monks and devoted followers to break open the ’First Emperor’s Seal’ and go to the true Western Pure World, thereby achieving ’transcendence.’

Li Xuan had a poor opinion of the whole Buddhist set-up, believing that Buddhism lured people to faith with the notions of ’transmigration of the soul’ and ’transcendence of the cycle of rebirth, to be reborn in the Pure Land.’

How many of those tens of millions of followers could actually be reborn or transcend? Those who really qualified to go to that so-called Western Pure World were mostly higher-ranking monks or devout male and female followers.

But ordinary people did not qualify as ’devout and distinguished believers’; only those who could afford to give money were considered as such.

Although Li Xuan was averse to it, he was too indifferent to meddle in these matters.

However, if the ’transcendence’ of these monks and devoted followers came at the expense of Yan’s obliteration of consciousness, Li Xuan would never accept it.

Li Xuan would never watch his Yan er become the Law Body of that so-called Xinyuelian Bodhisattva.

Shi Kongxin drew in a cold breath, his fists clenched tightly, suppressing the anger in his heart.

"County Prince Fenyang, to guide the faithful towards transcendence is a deed of immeasurable merit. Moreover, Your Highness, are you not afraid that the Buddha will become angry with such disrespectful and delirious words?"

Li Xuan’s hand rested on the hilt of his Gelong Knife, his eyes flickering unstable, "I have heard that Amitabha Buddha also has a wrathful form. So, monk, are you angry? Or perhaps you intend to throw a tantrum for me to see?"

Even Abas, who was standing nearby, was surprised and looked up at Li Xuan with awe and respect.

Shi Kongxin felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

At that moment, there was only one thought in his mind: He was at the mercies of the executioner, like a fish on the chopping block.

Forcing himself to calm down, Shi Kongxin spoke, "Your Highness, please hear me out, Luo Yan and Buddhism have their own karma. This woman dominated Jiangnan, invincible wherever she went. During the palace coup, she even withstood the Rule of Extreme Heaven with her own strength, all by borrowing the power of Xinyuelian Bodhisattva. It’s by her own volition that she’s fortunate enough to become the Law Body of Xinyuelian Bodhisattva."

Li Xuan thought to himself that, sure enough, Luo Yan’s price on the night of the palace coup was the usurpation of her consciousness by Xinyuelian one day in the future.

This foolish woman!

But Li Xuan’s expression remained indifferent and cold, "Do you wish to argue with me? The so-called karma between Luo Yan and your Buddhism, isn’t it something you’ve imposed on her? The extermination of Yushi Xia’s entire family in the past, Luo Yan acquiring the ’Thousand-Handed Great Compassion, Avalokitesvara’s Thirty-Three Method Bodies,’ weren’t they all covertly orchestrated by your Buddhist hierarchy to lay the trap? If the cause lies with your Buddhism, why should Luo Yan bear its consequences? Your Zen Sect is deeply involved in this, especially the case of Xia Guangwei’s family annihilation, which was orchestrated by Wei Zhen. Speaking of owing karma, it ought to be your Buddhism that owes Luo Yan. Furthermore—"

Li Xuan leaned in slightly, his demeanor disdainful, "Yan er is my beloved, so what if she borrowed a bit of your Buddha Power? It should be an honor for your so-called Xinyuelian Bodhisattva."

Shi Kongxin felt as if he was in a cave of ice, thinking that this day had finally come.

Indeed, he had recognized long ago that this woman was chosen by ’Xinyuelian Bodhisattva’ as the destined Law Body.

Although Shi Kongxin had not personally participated in the process, he had always kept track of it.

When Shi Kongxin first learned that Luo Yan had given up her identity as Zidie to become Li Xuan’s subordinate, he was somewhat surprised for a while.

But Shi Kongxin didn’t care too much, for Luo Yan’s destiny had been set the moment she received the ’Thousand-Handed Great Compassion, Avalokitesvara’s Thirty-Three Method Bodies.’

Sooner or later, she would borrow the power of ’Xinyuelian Bodhisattva’ and walk the path of sacrificing herself for Buddhism.

As for Li Xuan, the then Marquis of Guanjun did have some influence. But when the fated day arrived, the moment when the "Xinyuelian Bodhisattva" descended, what could the mere Marquis of Guanjun do?

At most, make some minor compensation afterward, provide a little consolation.

It was because of his indifference that Shi Kongxin had even collaborated with Li Xuan two years ago, to regain the position of Head of the Zen Sect.

Until Li Xuan was appointed by the Jingtai Emperor to be the regent minister and Dadudu of the five armies, then miraculously flattened domestic upheavals and trampled over Meng Wu within a year—

"Your Highness!" Shi Kongxin’s voice was strained, "Are you aware of how many believers of Buddhism will be unable to achieve Transcendence, and how much sin will be wrought by your act of obstructing the descent of the Xinyuelian Bodhisattva?"

"Enough, your Buddhism has so many Bodhisattvas, I don’t know how many Law Bodies are hidden among the people."

Li Xuan waved his sleeve irritably, then looked at Shi Kongxin expressionlessly: "But the Xinyuelian alone is unacceptable. I will say it again, within a thousand years, I will not permit her descent into the mortal realm, nor will I allow her to borrow any Law Body, hear me?

Master Kongxin, I always prefer not to coerce others. If you find it difficult, I can entrust another."

Li Xuan did not wish to coerce, but if Shi Kongxin was unwilling, he would be of no use to him.

Shi Kongxin wisely held his tongue and refrained from further argument.

He took a deep breath and once again suppressed the ignorance-fueled anger within his chest: "I understand!"

—Preventing "Xinyuelian Bodhisattva" from descending for a thousand years was impossible.

It would be immense disrespect to the Bodhisattva and a great humiliation to Buddhism.

But right now, they needed time to devise a strategy.

Li Xuan, however, was not ready to let the matter rest there: "Furthermore, Master Kongxin, have you read my treatise ’The Original Tao’?"

"This poor monk has had the fortune of reading it!"

Shi Kongxin met Li Xuan’s gaze: "Forgive the frankness of this old monk, but many parts of the article seem biased."

Li Xuan’s treatise "The Original Tao" was renowned in Confucianism circles, reducing the efforts of Buddhism to assimilate into Confucian doctrines over thousands of years to ashes — how could Shi Kongxin not have read it?

This also formed the root of current Buddhism’s fear of the County Prince Fenyang.

The words in "The Original Tao" were like daggers planted at the heart of Buddhism.

"Whether it’s biased or not, the people will judge for themselves."

Li Xuan sneered coldly: "Today, I received a report from the Imperial Censor, stating that the monastic rules established since the Great Ancestor have completely deteriorated. Moreover, many Buddhist temples have colluded with rebels. What, I ask you, does your Buddhism intend to do?"

Shi Kongxin couldn’t help but twitch, veins bulging on his neck and arms.

In the past two years, indeed, many temples had acted irrationally, not only covertly providing supplies to Prince Ning, Prince Xiang, and Prince Yi, but also directly aiding them.

All because they feared the governance of the County Prince Fenyang—

Initially, Shi Kongxin turned a blind eye, pretending to be ignorant,

But neither Prince Ning nor Prince Xiang were a threat, and Prince Yi was now in a precarious situation as well.

At that moment, Li Xuan’s voice was like a hammer striking deep within his soul: "I feel Buddhism’s six senses are impure, harboring defilement. Hence, I’ve requested a decree to clean Buddhism and reinstate the rules of the Great Ancestor. Your Shaolin Temple is the root of the Zen Sect, and the Zen Sect is the foremost of the eight sects of Mahayana Buddhism. You should demonstrate an attitude to set an example for Buddhists everywhere."

Shi Kongxin couldn’t help but stare at Li Xuan, thinking to himself that this County Prince Fenyang must be the reincarnation of ’Dairokuten Maou Boxun.’

This demon, does he actually intend to stir another ’Destroying Buddha’ catastrophe?

※※※※

After Shi Kongxin left, Li Xuan turned to the former Mongolian Shaman Abas with a hint of a smile.

"Thank you for waiting, Master." Yet there was no hint of apology on Li Xuan’s face: "Have you considered it thoroughly?"

Abas knew that Li Xuan had killed the chicken to warn the monkey; if Shi Kongxin was the chicken, then he was the monkey.

If he didn’t want the temples destroyed and to fall into Avici Hell, there really was only one path to take.

He sighed inwardly, but his face remained expressionless: "The matters entrusted by the County Prince—I have agreed to them all. Whether it is assisting The Court in pacifying the public or implementing the so-called ’Silage’ method you speak of. I shall unite with the other living Buddhas of the steppe to offer full support."

"Truly a man who understands the times," said Li Xuan with satisfaction, offering a slight nod: "Rest assured, Master, I will not let you exert yourselves in vain. Within five years, if The Court has truly established proper households on the steppe, expanded our territory, I will personally petition The Court to grant titles to the living Buddhas.

By the way, in the coming years, you and the living Buddhas might as well recruit more disciples from the Western Region, teach advanced Buddhist doctrines; I may have a great use for them in the future."

Abas didn’t understand the implications, but he still agreed.

Afterwards, he bowed and left Li Xuan’s royal tent, but just as Abas reached the entrance, he couldn’t help but look back and said, "County Prince Fenyang, in my opinion, neither the eight sects of Buddhism nor the Xinyuelian Bodhisattva will simply lie low and await their fate."

Hearing this, Li Xuan simply smiled back: "I have my plans, but this has nothing to do with you, Master."

Hadn’t he been planning and arranging all this for the sake of today?