Chapter 891: If They Can Die, I Lose
The cripple placed Qin Mu on Yan'er's back, constantly urging this roc to fly faster.
Yan Qiling was a disciple of the Ancient God Heavenly Emperor, so even if they encountered inspections, they could pass through without obstruction.
Yan'er carried them at full speed toward Yankang. Long Qilin carefully examined Qin Mu's injuries and shook his head, saying, "The Sect Master's external wounds are all minor. His Tyrant Body Three Elixir Art is very strong, containing creation within. His physical injuries can all heal. Crippled Master need not worry."
The cripple said coldly, "Since when do you know medicine?"
Long Qilin quickly shook his head and said cautiously, "I don't. But last time the Sect Master fought against the Imperial Heavenly Lord who came from the Heavenly Court at the Great Black Palace, he was also severely injured, wounded to the core of his soul. He slept in the Moon Palace and basically recovered. The Upper Emperor Sword God knows about this. If Crippled Master doesn't believe me, you can ask the Upper Emperor Sword God."
The cripple was skeptical and looked at the sleeping Qin Mu. He saw that Qin Mu was no longer vomiting blood, and his weak breathing was gradually becoming longer and steadier.
He could see that beneath Qin Mu's eyelids, his eyeballs were moving—he should be dreaming.
Long Qilin said, "When the Sect Master was talking with the Upper Emperor Sword God, I was lying behind them pretending to sleep, so I learned some things. The Upper Emperor Sword God said that when the Woodcutter Sage examined him while he was injured and unconscious, he discovered that Buddhist dharma was circulating when the Sect Master entered his dreams. The Sect Master later said it might be the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha's Immeasurable Kalpa Sutra."
The cripple examined Qin Mu carefully and said angrily, "Where is there any Buddhist dharma? Why can't I see it?"
Long Qilin said with difficulty, "The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha's Imperial Throne True Sutra is very powerful. Perhaps Crippled Master cannot compare to the Woodcutter Sage, which is why you can't see it."
The cripple was furious, then suddenly coughed violently, coughing up blood.
Long Qilin quickly said, "Crippled Master, you've been running too fast, traveling for days without rest. You've injured your soul and internal organs. I don't know how to treat soul injuries, but for physical wounds, taking some dragon saliva will do. I have plenty of dragon saliva..."
"Your old man won't drink your spit! My Creation Art is already very strong. I can recover without your spit!"
The cripple cursed and grumbled, then his gaze fell back on Qin Mu. He saw that on the sleeping Qin Mu's brow there was an eye-socket-shaped wound, but there was no eye inside—only a shriveled eyelid remaining.
The more the cripple looked, the more his heart ached. He wanted to smooth his forehead, but no matter what, he couldn't.
Just then, flesh began to grow in the center of Qin Mu's brow, slowly filling that eye socket. The eyelid also healed, fusing together as one.
His forehead looked like it had been bitten by a mosquito and swollen into a small bump.
The cripple touched this small bump. It was somewhat hard inside—he didn't know if it was a ball of flesh or an eyeball.
Yan Qiling was also carefully examining Qin Mu's injuries, her expression strange. She said, "There is indeed Buddhist dharma circulating within his body."
The cripple said angrily, "You can see it too?"
Yan Qiling said, "I have some research on Buddhist dharma. Buddhism is the only acquired path that the Dao Ancestor never deconstructed with mathematical techniques, so I once went to the Buddhist Realm to study for a time, trying to comprehend its mysteries."
The cripple's expression softened. He had always worn a smiling face when meeting people, but because Qin Mu was injured, the smile that had always hung on his face had vanished, and he had no good expression for anyone.
"But what's strange is..."
Yan Qiling continued examining Qin Mu's injuries, her expression growing stranger: "He has no soul! His primordial spirit has scattered, leaving only his spiritual fetus. Strange. With him in this state, he should have had his soul scattered and been destroyed, yet somehow he still hasn't died."
The cripple looked at Qin Mu and saw that his breathing was becoming more and more stable. He gradually relaxed.
A trace of tenderness appeared in his old eyes, and the corners of his eyes creased with a smile. He said, "As long as he's alive, that's good. Since he's improving and the Buddhist dharma is working, then let's not go to Yankang to find the Medicine Master. Even if we find him, it won't be of much use—he doesn't understand Buddhist dharma either. Let's go to the Great Thunderclap Temple. Master Ma will definitely understand."
They turned toward Mount Sumeru.
The Yuan Realm had been unsealed, and the complete Mount Sumeru had reappeared in the world. The twenty Buddhist heavens were built along the mountain, layer upon layer spiraling upward, making this divine mountain even more magnificent.
The part of Mount Sumeru within the Yuan Realm was the Great Thunderclap Temple. The other twenty heavens were outside the Yuan Realm. Because this was the territory of the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha, no one dared to violate it. Millions of Yankang people had taken refuge here, waiting for the calamity to pass.
"This is the Immeasurable Kalpa Sutra. Lord Qin's life is not in danger."
In the Great Thunderclap Temple, Ma Tathagata summoned the Demon Ape Zhankong and Monk Minh Tam to examine the sleeping Qin Mu. Only the two of them had studied the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha's Imperial Throne True Sutra.
Monk Minh Tam said, "It's just that Lord Qin has no soul and no spirit, only a spiritual fetus. I have little experience with such matters. Senior Brother Zhankong, your Buddhist dharma is profound. What do you think his current state is..."
The Demon Ape said, "Good."
Ma Tathagata frowned and said, "Disciple, how do you interpret the word 'good'?"
Monk Minh Tam said, "Teacher, Senior Brother means that turning misfortune into fortune is good—there is no danger to his life."
Ma Tathagata was still somewhat uneasy and said, "The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha resides in the Great Brahma Heaven. I will send Mu'er up to seek an audience with the Great Brahma Heavenly King. His supernatural powers are vast—he must have a solution."
The cripple nodded and was about to agree, when he saw the Demon Ape lean down and whisper a single word into Qin Mu's ear. His voice was very soft, yet Qin Mu slowly woke up and opened his eyes.
The Demon Ape pressed his palms together and smiled, saying, "Good."
Monk Minh Tam sighed and said, "Senior Brother has great wisdom."
Qin Mu's complexion was still not good. He struggled to rise and paid his respects to Ma Tathagata, saying, "I was still awake in my dream and heard Master Ma's words. I know my injuries very well. There's no need to go see the Old Buddha. The Old Buddha has already transmitted his power to me—seeing him or not seeing him will yield the same result. I want to return to Yankang."
He also paid his respects to the Demon Ape and Monk Minh Tam, and they returned the greeting.
"Mu'er really wants to return to Yankang?"
Ma Tathagata suddenly took off his kasaya and removed his prayer beads, smiling, "Back then, I promised my teacher that I would spread the dharma in his place and ensure the Great Thunderclap Temple would not be extinguished. Now, in terms of Buddhist dharma, Zhankong and Minh Tam have both surpassed me by far. I have already done my part in passing on the dharma and the lamp. It's time to return to my true self. From today onward, I am still the original Master Ma, Divine Constable Ma. Minh Tam, you will drape the kasaya over your senior brother and place the prayer beads around his neck."
The Demon Ape knelt and kowtowed. Minh Tam unfolded the kasaya and draped it over his shoulders, hanging the prayer beads around his neck.
Master Ma smiled and said, "Minh Tam sees the nature, the fighting heart-ape. Minh Tam, you help him subdue the heart-ape. Zhankong, from today onward, you are the Tathagata. Both great monks, please stay. Our Buddhist affinity has come to an end."
The Demon Ape rose, pressed his palms together, and said, "Farewell, benefactor."
Master Ma returned the greeting, then followed the cripple, Qin Mu, and the others down the mountain.
Yankang Capital City.
More and more Yankang people were being escorted in from various regions, including even remnants of the Chiming people. The camps around the capital were packed with people. Yankang's two hundred-plus deities were nervously guarding these Yankang citizens.
But there were too many people, and food supply was a huge problem.
Among the scholars of the various academies and schools, those proficient in creation arts would open up fertile fields, using the path of creation to make crops grow rapidly, harvesting and milling grain.
However, the land could only sustain three or four harvests before the fertility was exhausted and it became poor land. They had to continuously open up new farmland.
Outside, the world was in chaos with war. The Heavenly Court's gods and demons appeared and disappeared unpredictably. Opening farmland outside easily cost people their lives, and many scholars had died.
Inside and outside the capital, there was widespread panic and gloom.
On this day, Heavenly Court tower ships and warships sailed through the sky. Countless golden, radiant divine beings stood majestically and solemnly on the ships, their divine weapons gleaming, their divine might overwhelming, pressing down on the Yankang people until they could hardly breathe.
Although the Heavenly Court's army of gods and demons had come, they did not attack. Instead, they restrained the Heavenly Court gods and demons scattered across the land, ordering them to stop attacking Yankang's people. Their discipline was very strict.
Inside and outside the capital, many common people burned incense and kowtowed to these lofty deities, praying for safety.
"When people are in suffering, their base nature is reborn."
The Yankang National Preceptor stood atop the city wall, looking up at the Heavenly Court's army, then looking down at the countless common people below who were kowtowing and praying to the Heavenly Court army. He showed a bitter smile and said, "Your Majesty, I fear we will never be able to change all of this in our lifetime."
Emperor Yanfeng stood behind him, breathing with difficulty. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Throughout the ages, every dynasty's revolution and reform has been accompanied by bloodshed. In the two Chiming dynasties, Emperor Chi and Emperor Minh left no remains. In the various Upper Emperor dynasties, few came to good ends. The Kaicheng dynasty was destroyed, the thirty-three heavens' Heavenly Court was ruined in an instant, and a generation of heroic rulers hid in the Land of No Worries. Yankang's reform faces even greater resistance. If bloodshed is needed..."
The Yankang National Preceptor smiled and said, "Let it begin with you and me."
Emperor Yanfeng laughed heartily, then suddenly sighed: "I'm just worried that after you and I die, there will be no successors. The world has many ignorant people. The gods want the people to be foolish, not daring to resist, not daring to change. The ignorant people also willingly remain foolish, not wanting to resist, not wanting to change. National Preceptor, look—even after all our reforms, there are still people kneeling and worshiping gods and demons. The greatest resistance to reform sometimes comes from these very people."
The Yankang National Preceptor was deeply grieved: "Is it worth dying for these people?"
"It's worth it!"
Emperor Yanfeng said loudly: "Breaking the gods in the temples, breaking the gods in the heart—some people will hesitate, but there are also those who have not knelt down!"
His eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he smiled: "After they stand up, some will kneel again, but there are also those who will never kneel. Even if you and I become sacrifices to this reform, there will still be people who continue walking our path until this world is changed! This—is worth it!"
In the sky, a majestic deity flew over and arrived above Yankang Capital City.
He was so enormous that he distorted space itself. The Heavenly Court's tower ships and warships circled around him like stars orbiting the sun.
That was the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven.
He towered into the clouds, his face level with the heavens, white clouds serving as ornaments around his waist.
This righteous, radiant deity with ten thousand beams of light possessed incomparable power and might. The Yankang capital below and its hundreds of millions of people seemed as if they could be extinguished with a snap of his fingers.
A divine official flew to the palm of the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven, knelt down, kowtowed respectfully, then requested a scroll of imperial edict. He kowtowed again, raised the edict above his head, and flew backward with his body bowed.
"I have never had such rules here."
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and said, "The Heavenly Court's rules are too strict."
The Yankang National Preceptor smiled and said, "Your Majesty has forgotten—when the pure-stream officials in the court impeached me and Lord Qin, they kowtowed like pounding garlic, banging their heads until they bled."
Emperor Yanfeng's face darkened, and he said with chagrin, "I want to have your head cut off. I'll note that down for now."
"Your Majesty won't have the chance." The Yankang National Preceptor said with a faint smile. He saw his wife and daughter in the city, and his heart ached for a moment, but then he turned around with an unchanged expression.
"Yankang's guilty people, receive the edict!"
That divine official held the edict in his hands, his voice like thunder, resounding through the clouds.
The moment the words fell, countless common people knelt down, and some supernatural power users also knelt. Emperor Yanfeng and the Yankang National Preceptor's hearts ached again, but when they saw that there were still many who had not knelt, their moods relaxed again.
That divine official glanced at the two of them, sneered, and unrolled the edict, reading aloud: "By the mandate of heaven, the natives of Yankang do not think of heaven's grace. They defy heaven and act against it, reforming to disrupt the heavenly way, causing heaven's wrath and the people's resentment, leaving the people with no means to live. However, heaven has the virtue of loving life. His Majesty's decree is to execute only the chief culprits, not to investigate the rest. Heaven's will is thus:
"One: Collect all reform texts and classics from Yankang's various academies, schools, and institutes, and burn them publicly. Future generations shall not reform;
"Two: Yankang shall restore ancestral systems. Keep the position of emperor. Sects shall govern the state. All sects and schools shall revere the gods with propriety. The people shall revere the gods with propriety and pray to the gods for blessings;
"Three: Yankang's right to mint currency shall be handed over to the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court shall mint currency for circulation among the people. The Yankang state shall not compete with the people for profit;
"Four: Yankang shall not forge heavy divine weapons. Whoever forges them shall have their nine clans executed;
"Five: Yankang shall follow ancestral laws. They shall not arbitrarily alter supernatural powers or arbitrarily alter dao techniques;
"Six: The Emperor of Yankang shall hold grand sacrifices year after year, kowtowing in gratitude for heaven's grace;
"Seven: Among the Yankang people, any household possessing clever and ingenious devices shall destroy them all. They shall not privately hoard them;
"Eight: Emperor Yanfeng and the Yankang National Preceptor, who disrupted the law with heresy and brought calamity to the world, shall be immediately taken to the Divine Execution Platform, where their physical bodies and primordial spirits shall be executed as a warning to others! By imperial decree—"
Inside and outside Yankang Capital City, there was an uproar. Countless supernatural power users and Yankang gods and demons showed expressions of humiliation and indignation, burning with resentment, wishing they could immediately charge into the heavens to fight.
Emperor Yanfeng laughed heartily, bowed, and said, "Your guilty minister receives the edict!"
The Yankang National Preceptor passed down the order that no one was to act rashly.
Several Heavenly Court tower ships flew over, pulling a Divine Execution Platform. Blood light surged to the heavens from the platform, and two blood blades entangled with each other endlessly.
That divine official said, "Please, the two of you, walk onto the Divine Execution Platform."
Inside and outside Yankang Capital City, there was complete silence. Countless gazes stared blankly at the Divine Execution Platform in the sky.
"If they're going to cut off our heads, then let them cut off our heads."
Suddenly, a laugh broke the silence. The indignant common people and supernatural power users followed the sound and saw Qin Mu, his face pale as if gravely ill, standing on Long Qilin's forehead, appearing behind the Heavenly Court tower ship fleet.
Long Qilin stepped on fiery clouds, unhurriedly walking into the fleet, then turned his head to look at the face of that lofty Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven.
"The Divine Execution Platform is so scary."
Qin Mu looked at that Divine Execution Platform and burst out laughing: "It's not like they're going to die, and after their souls scatter, I can't resurrect them or something."
He didn't look at the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven. He waved at the Yankang National Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng, and said in a sickly voice: "National Preceptor, Emperor, go ahead and face death. If they can die, I lose."
Behind him, the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven raised his hand to stop those Heavenly Court gods and demons who were about to move in anger to kill, and said calmly: "This is Heavenly Lord Mu. Give him face."
—A few minutes late, but at least it's a four-thousand-character chapter!