Chapter 16

Lu Zheng slept for nearly half a day. When he woke up, a strange thing happened! His hearing had returned to normal, and he could hear everything around him clearly. Moreover, his speech had also returned to normal, no longer sounding like a mosquito's buzz. Even more surprisingly, his hearing seemed to be more acute than before. However, his eyesight was still blurry, and he could not see clearly.

The monk was startled and, fearing a change, quickly used his Heavenly Eye to investigate. He found that the six clumps of white yin energy had undergone some peculiar changes. The swirling yin energy vortices had become larger and smaller, flatter and rounder. Most noticeably, the color of the six clumps of yin energy was no longer white; each had changed in some way. The white energy clump near his spleen had a faint green tinge, and the most obvious change was the white energy clump near his kidneys, which had gradually turned a light yellow.

The monk did not know what had caused these changes. He speculated that the yin poison had changed, but why would such a change restore his sensory functions? Could it be that the light emitted by the jade pendant not only resisted the yin poison but also had a healing effect? But the light from the jade pendant was clearly suppressed near his heart. The monk frowned in confusion.

However, Lu Zheng did not seem to care much about whether he could hear. Since waking up, he had not spoken much, and his expression was dull and sluggish. He just sat there, answering the monk's questions mechanically. When the monk did not speak, neither did he. He had always loved listening to stories about immortals, but now he showed no curiosity about the various supernatural powers the monk displayed. Even with the partial recovery of his sensory functions, he did not show much joy.

The monk knew that the jade pendant protected him, and the snake venom, though potent, had not caused any immediate danger. However, the monk was concerned that the child was suppressing all his grief and pain, which was not good for his condition. He sighed, handed Lu Zheng a bamboo tube filled with clear water, and said, "Thank you," as he took it silently. The green bamboo tube still had the fresh scent of newly cut bamboo, but the edges had been carefully smoothed to prevent the drinker from cutting their lips. Lu Zheng felt the monk's concern and was moved. He turned his face toward the monk and said softly, "Great Monk, thank you for saving me... Ninth Brother, it was his fate." As he spoke, large tears welled up in his eyes, but he did not cry out. After careful consideration, he finally had to accept the fact that Tang Xiaojiu had likely been eaten by the monster.

The monk had intended to offer some comfort, but seeing the young boy's state, he felt a pang of sorrow. He feared that any words might trigger his grief and did not know what to say. He remained silent and began to chant a sutra.

Lu Zheng, feeling desolate, found the monk's chanting soothing and peaceful, with a deep and transcendent quality. His body was poisoned, his vitality weak, and his heart heavy with grief. After days of unconsciousness, he had lost track of day and night. The chanting brought a rare sense of calm to his heart, and his mood gradually became more peaceful. He could not help but ask, "Great Monk, what are you chanting? It sounds so beautiful, and it makes me feel very comfortable."

The monk stopped chanting and explained, "This is the 'Purifying Heart Mantra,' a secret spell of the Buddhist tradition. It is one of the four great vows and has immense power. Regularly chanting this mantra can purify the heart, freeing one from various trials, entanglements, and defilements, bringing peace and joy. Young layman, we should set off now."

Lu Zheng, thinking about the mantra, nodded obediently and stood up, but he felt weak and had no strength. Not knowing what to do, the monk came forward and carried him on his back, walking westward.

Lu Zheng, lying on his broad shoulders, said awkwardly, "Great Monk, I'm really... really sorry to trouble you. When I can walk, please put me down. Great Monk, with your great abilities, you must be a bodhisattva or a Buddha incarnate, right?"

The monk recited a Buddhist phrase and said, "Young layman, I am just a practitioner of Buddhism and have not attained the status of a bodhisattva or a Buddha."

Lu Zheng was skeptical and asked, "You're not a bodhisattva or a Buddha? But how can you have such great abilities, defeating the monster and carrying me so far in just a few days?"

The monk replied with a statement that Lu Zheng did not fully understand: "All supernatural powers are inherently present in everyone."

Lu Zheng was puzzled and guessed that the monk did not want to say more. He had intended to ask how to learn such great abilities to avenge Tang Xiaojiu, but his character was weak, and he lacked the initiative to ask easily. He did not dare to speak up.

He did not ask, and the monk was not a talkative person. They walked in silence for a while. After a moment, Lu Zheng, thinking about Tang Xiaojiu's tragic death, could not help but ask, "Great Monk, I want to learn how to fight monsters. Can you teach me?"

The monk, while walking, asked, "Do you want to avenge your companion?" Lu Zheng, not expecting the monk to see through his thoughts, thought the monk was willing and nodded vigorously.

However, the monk shook his head and said, "The path of cultivation should not be pursued for revenge, as it is the easiest way to fall into evil. I cannot agree to this."

The monk's direct refusal left Lu Zheng disappointed. He did not have Tang Xiaojiu's thick skin or persistence and could only respond with a soft "Oh" and remain silent. He thought that although the monk had saved him, it was a great kindness, but it was impossible for him to teach such great abilities to a stranger.

The monk then said, "In fact, life is full of opportunities for cultivation. My cultivation is shallow, and I have little to teach you. However, we still have some distance to travel to reach a place where you can be treated. In the meantime, I can teach you some mantras. If you can chant them regularly, it will be beneficial. Are you willing to learn?"

Lu Zheng, surprised by this turn of events, quickly said, "Really? Great Monk, you're willing to teach me? Is it the Purifying Heart Mantra?"

The monk shook his head and said, "The Purifying Heart Mantra is one of the four great vows, with complex syllables that are not easy for beginners. Moreover, you are poisoned, and chanting it might exhaust your spirit. I will teach you a simpler one first, the Six-Word Light Mantra. Chanting this mantra can illuminate the heart and bring some benefits. Are you willing to learn?"

Lu Zheng, though disappointed, remembered that the monks at Qinglong Temple chanted this mantra every morning and evening, and even Mingkong knew it. He suspected that the monk was reluctant to teach him and was making an excuse. But recalling the stories of immortals he had heard, he thought this might be a test and quickly said, "Of course, I'm willing to learn, as long as Great Monk is willing to teach me."

The monk, who was always called "Great Monk" by Lu Zheng, suddenly remembered that Tang Xiaojiu had called him "Master." The two children, one calling him "Master" and the other "Great Monk," had different ways of addressing him. Lu Zheng had not asked for his dharma name, and the monk had not mentioned it, so he let Lu Zheng call him "Great Monk." Hearing that Lu Zheng wanted to learn, he was pleased and said, "If you are willing to learn, that is excellent. Now, we have some free time, so it's a good opportunity to learn. The Light Mantra, though short, has great merit and is the foundation of all mantras, helping one recognize the original mind of enlightenment. Listen carefully. I will chant it, and you follow, without making mistakes."

Lu Zheng, though he did not understand what "great merit" and "original mind of enlightenment" meant, had heard the monks at Qinglong Temple use these terms often. He asked, "What does 'great merit' mean? Does it mean that chanting this mantra will make one very powerful? The monks at Qinglong Temple chant mantras all day, but they don't seem very powerful!" He was always worried that the monk was just teaching him something trivial and asked this to test him.

The monk said, "Ordinary people chanting mantras is just lip service and has no effect. The key to chanting is to chant with the heart." He then chanted a mantra, which sounded strange and incomprehensible, but Lu Zheng could make out six syllables. As he listened, he felt a sense of relief, and the sadness and grief in his heart seemed to lessen. He was sure the monk was not deceiving him and was genuinely teaching him, so he followed the monk's chant, but did not experience the same mystical effect.

The monk chanted again, this time slowing down, and Lu Zheng could distinguish the six syllables: Om, Ma, Ni, Bei, Mei, Hong.

When the monk chanted "Om," Lu Zheng felt a shock in his heart, a sense of relaxation, and a firm resolve like a diamond. When he chanted "Ma" and "Ni," he felt a sense of ease and freedom, as if his mind and body were at peace. When he chanted "Bei," "Mei," and "Hong," it felt as if all impurities in his body and mind were cleansed, leaving him feeling pure and transparent, like a lotus after the rain.

These feelings converged, and a deep sense of joy emerged in his heart. Lu Zheng, feeling elated, followed the monk's chant, but did not experience the same mystical effect. However, he felt the words coming from his heart, filled with joy, and chanted a few more times.

He chanted happily, but the monk, hearing him, was greatly surprised. Although Lu Zheng had no magical power, he had managed to chant the mantra from the heart, resonating with his true self. This was extremely difficult, and although it did not immediately show any effect, it would surely have a profound impact over time. Perhaps it was because of the child's deep grief and focus. After some thought, the monk said, "You are learning very attentively. Now that you have learned the Light Mantra, let's learn a more difficult one, the Purifying Heart Mantra."

Lu Zheng, hearing that the monk was willing to teach him the Purifying Heart Mantra, was naturally very happy and eagerly agreed. The monk said, "The four great vows are the four boundless great vows of Buddhist practice: the pure heart, the mind of renunciation, the compassionate heart, and the enlightened heart, also known as the four boundless minds. The Purifying Heart Mantra is the foundation of these four great vows, helping one cultivate a pure heart. A pure heart means being free from defilement, and when the heart is pure, everything is pure, free from contamination. Therefore, all wisdom and merit arise from a pure heart." He then reminded Lu Zheng, "Listen carefully." He then chanted the first line of the Purifying Heart Mantra, and Lu Zheng followed.

The mantra was more complex than the previous one, with strange syllables, but Lu Zheng learned it well. The monk praised him and taught the next line, which Lu Zheng also learned perfectly.

The Purifying Heart Mantra had only twenty lines, and they finished it in no time. The monk said, "Now I will chant the entire mantra, and you listen carefully." He then chanted the Purifying Heart Mantra in a clear and harmonious voice, free from any worldly influence, and Lu Zheng found it very soothing.

After finishing the chant, the monk was about to ask Lu Zheng how he felt, but Lu Zheng, following the monk's example, chanted the entire Purifying Heart Mantra. He had assumed that the monk would teach one line and he would follow, so when the monk taught the entire mantra, he naturally followed suit.

The monk was amazed. Although Lu Zheng had no magical power, he had managed to chant the mantra from the heart, resonating with his true self. This was extremely difficult, and although it did not immediately show any effect, it would surely have a profound impact over time. Perhaps it was because of the child's deep grief and focus. After some thought, the monk said, "You are learning very attentively. Now that you have learned the Purifying Heart Mantra, we can move on to a more difficult one, the Purifying Heart Mantra."