Chapter 778
Chapter 778
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 778
>Chapter Title: Abbot
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Chapter 778: Abbot
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> Beneath the five massive and solemn Buddha statues, two old abbots dressed in red kasaya sat cross-legged on their cushions, turning the prayer beads in their hands while murmuring sutras under their breath.
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> One of them was the Zhengde Temple Abbot whom Li Huowang had met several years ago. His appearance was extremely distinctive—like Bai Lingmiao, his pupils were pink. They both had albinism.
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> The other abbot looked completely normal, but his face was identical to the monk standing beside Li Huowang. He was the Daqi Zhengde Temple Abbot. Compared to their meeting in Niuxin Village, he was clearly much fatter now.
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> “Amitabha.”
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> “Amitabha.”
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> Seeing them chanting the Buddha's name as they looked at him, Li Huowang sat down on the cushion in front of them.
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> “Almsgiver Li, since you've come to the temple, wouldn't it be improper not to offer incense to the Buddhas?”
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> Li Huowang looked up at the five imposing Buddha statues inside the hall that nearly reached the rafters. He raised his hand, producing three lit sticks of incense, and casually waved them toward the statues before stabbing them straight into the stone floor, cracking the slabs.
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> “Abbot, long time no see. I didn't expect we'd meet again after that last parting, did you?”
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> Li Huowang had not forgotten how, shortly after leaving Clear Wind Temple, this very man had deceived him. When the deception failed, he had sent men to hunt him down.
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> If not for borrowing Danyangzi's power within him to escape that calamity, he probably wouldn't be alive today.
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> “Amitabha. This poor monk acts out of compassion. What I did back then was only to save more lives.”
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> “Bullshit! Quit pretending! I've long known what kind of place your Zhengde Temple really is! Back then, you were just after me because I was a Heart Elemental!”
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> “You're mistaken. Back then, this poor monk was saving people. You are a Heart Elemental, and Heart Elementals are sources of endless calamity and death. Am I wrong, Almsgiver Li? After you escaped that time, didn't you—whether intentionally or not—end up killing many people?”
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> “Bullshit!”
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> As the argument was about to escalate, the Daqi Zhengde Temple Abbot Chanzdu quickly intervened to smooth things over. “Alright, alright. Why bring up old grudges? Almsgiver Li, what important matter brings you here today?”
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> Though he desperately wanted to kill this bald donkey, given the current situation, Li Huowang had to prioritize the bigger picture. He couldn't very well help the Dharma Cult against his own allies.
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> With Chanzdu offering a way out, Li Huowang didn't bother dredging up the past. He had come here for a reason today.
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> After glancing at both their faces in turn, Li Huowang got straight to the point. “To cut to the chase: did Xuanyin contact the Five Wisdom Tathagata through Zhengde Temple?”
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> He then briefly explained the purpose of his visit to the two abbots.
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> After hearing everything, Li Huowang instantly sensed a change in their expressions. He jerked his head up and noticed that the five massive Buddha statues in the hall seemed to have altered their expressions as well.
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> “Is it that hard to confirm whether Xuanyin came to Zhengde Temple back then? You have eyes, don't you? What, are you going to pull the same 'I don't know' as the Altar Leader?”
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> Li Huowang's expression grew cold as he stared at the Siqi abbot, who now had his eyes closed and nose to heart.
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> “No, the Sitianjian did come, but it had nothing to do with him. It was me.”
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> Hearing the voice, Li Huowang turned to look at Abbot Chanzdu of Daqi Zhengde Temple beside him.
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> “Xuanyin did seek me out back then and, through this poor monk, paid respects to the Buddha.”
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> “What did they say at the time? How did Xuanyin help the Five Wisdom Tathagata?”
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> As they reached the crucial point, Li Huowang's heart began to race.
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> “This poor monk must regretfully decline to assist you on this. The Buddha's heavenly secrets cannot be divulged. What the Buddha forbids from knowing, this poor monk naturally does not know.”
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> Li Huowang gritted his teeth. “You don't know again? Fine! Then I'll ask the Five Wisdom Tathagata directly! Since Xuanyin could meet the Buddha, so can I! Arrange for me to see the Five Wisdom Tathagata!”
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> No sooner had Li Huowang spoken than a sharp rebuke rang out. “How utterly absurd! Do you think you can just see the Buddha whenever you please?”
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> “Based on my efforts to find a way to defeat the Dharma Cult! What's this? Don't your Buddhist disciples always preach doing good deeds? Defeating the Dharma Cult would save countless lives across the world!”
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> “You won't even do this? Weren't you just saying you wanted to do good by trying every trick to kill me? Now a great good deed is right in front of you, and you won't do it? What, do you think I get no merit from it, so there's nothing in it for you?”
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> Li Huowang threw the man's earlier words back at him.
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> “Impossible! This poor monk doesn't trust you! How could just anyone see the True Buddha? And if we disturb the Buddha and incur his blame, who could bear that responsibility?”
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> “Senior Brother, let me handle it. If the Buddha truly blames us, I'll bear the karmic fruit.”
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> Chanzdu's words instantly doused the rising flames of Li Huowang's anger.
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> He had prepared for the possibility of non-cooperation, but he hadn't expected agreement so readily.
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> “You mean it? You're not tricking me?”
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> “Amitabha. Out of the monk's mouth comes no lie.”
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> Hearing this, Li Huowang found himself looking upon this abbot far more favorably. Though both were abbots, their temperaments were clearly worlds apart.
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> “Great! When do we start?”
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> “The Garan Dharma Assembly has many arrangements. Rest in the temple tonight, Almsgiver Li. Tomorrow at noon, your poor monk and Senior Brother will escort you to meet the Buddha.”
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> “Deal! It's settled!”
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> Li Huowang rose from the cushion.
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> As he turned to leave, he paused and half-jokingly said, “Abbot, this won't end up like last time, will it? Heh.”
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> Li Huowang raked his nails across his abdomen, digging out the spindle nearly fused to his intestines. With a forceful yank, he tore the intestines free from it.
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> He tossed the spindle to the floor, and his Heart Elemental identity blazed before them like a torch.
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> “I'm sure it won't. After all, with a great enemy at the gates, the Abbot surely won't disregard the big picture. Besides, I'm no longer the soft target who could only run when targeted back then.”
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> With that, Li Huowang turned and left the hall. The two abbots stared silently at the spindle on the ground.
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> “This Almsgiver Li is extremely suspicious.”
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> “Indeed, indeed.”
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> “Tomorrow... noon.”
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> Li Huowang muttered to himself as he walked between the temple buildings. This was his first time proactively seeking an audience with a Sighting—one who wasn't nervous would be lying.
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> As Li Huowang instinctively recalled everything he had seen in Bai Yujing, his expression twisted into a ferocious grimace. His body began to tremble uncontrollably, and everything around him started warping beyond his control.
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>(End of Chapter)