Chapter 37 of 100
Chapter 37
16 min read3,938 words
Time flies, and before he knew it, spring had turned to autumn, and ten years had passed. Over these ten years, Guanyin Bodhisattva had never left Luojia Mountain, clearly intending to keep a close watch on Yang Zhen.
However, Guanyin Bodhisattva would choose a few days each year to open a lecture platform. At that time, besides Guanyin Bodhisattva's disciples who would go to Chaoyin Cave to listen, Guanyin Bodhisattva would always send someone in advance to invite Yang Zhen to attend the lectures, which was a great honor for Yang Zhen, a prisoner.
Over the ten years, Yang Zhen's relationship with Shancai and Longnü had greatly improved. Although they still exchanged cold glances when they met, it was no longer a life-or-death situation. As for Muzha, Yang Zhen had developed a friendship with him. Since the battle ten years ago, Muzha had acknowledged Yang Zhen's strength. Since then, Muzha often sought out Yang Zhen for sparring matches, and over time, their relationship had improved. They often discussed Dao together, and they had become friends.
"Ah!"
Sighing lightly, Yang Zhen sat by the pond, listlessly watching the goldfish in the water, reflecting on his life in captivity over the past ten years.
Was life worse than death? Not quite. But being under house arrest was truly uncomfortable for Yang Zhen. Although he never showed it, he couldn't help but sigh when alone. He still lacked the strength. If he had the cultivation of a Great Sage, how could Guanyin Bodhisattva confine him?
Moreover, without leaving Luojia Mountain for ten years, Yang Zhen had no chance to complete 'tasks' or earn merit, and he couldn't learn any of the skills in the store. This feeling was truly tormenting.
However, there was some good news. Because Yang Zhen often did good deeds to earn merit, many places in Xiniuhe Prefecture had built temples to venerate him, praying for his return to bring them a prosperous life.
Thus, Yang Zhen had a steady supply of merit, though it was like a drop in the bucket, not enough to support his daily cultivation, but much better than having no double experience pills.
"Why do you insist on leaving Luojia Mountain?"
Hearing someone speak, Yang Zhen turned around and was surprised to see, "Bodhisattva?"
"Luojia Mountain is beautiful and full of spiritual energy. You can listen to my lectures and discussions on Dao. Why do you always want to leave?" Guanyin Bodhisattva asked.
Guanyin Bodhisattva truly couldn't understand Yang Zhen's thoughts. In Guanyin Bodhisattva's view, in the absence of the Sages, she was one of the top experts in the Three Realms. Many cultivators wanted to be her disciples and stay at Luojia Mountain to cultivate, but Guanyin Bodhisattva had never given them a second glance.
Now, Guanyin Bodhisattva personally asked Yang Zhen to stay at Luojia Mountain, but it seemed that Yang Zhen was not grateful and instead wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Although Guanyin Bodhisattva knew who Yang Zhen's master was, she didn't think Yang Zhen knew the true identity of Subhuti Patriarch.
In this situation, Guanyin Bodhisattva couldn't understand Yang Zhen's thoughts.
This was originally a trivial matter, but Guanyin Bodhisattva had a plan and wanted Yang Zhen to join. Therefore, she wanted to understand Yang Zhen's thoughts to make early arrangements and get Yang Zhen to join the plan.
"Although this place is good, it is not my home, so I have no feelings for it," Yang Zhen explained.
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned slightly. She couldn't understand what Yang Zhen was saying. Staying at Luojia Mountain was beneficial for Yang Zhen in every way, especially for cultivation. But Yang Zhen said he had no feelings for the place, and Guanyin Bodhisattva didn't understand what kind of feelings these were.
"Then where is your home?" Guanyin Bodhisattva asked again.
After a moment of silence, Yang Zhen said, "I fear it is not here."
Looking at Guanyin Bodhisattva, Yang Zhen continued, "But a hundred years from now, I will return to Fangcun Mountain. My master has entrusted Fangcun Mountain to me, and it will be my Daoist sanctuary."
"A hundred years is not too long. But I want to know, why do you cultivate?" Guanyin Bodhisattva asked.
"Why do you ask, Bodhisattva?" Yang Zhen was puzzled.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Over these ten years, I have noticed that you seem to yearn for the life of mortals."
Yang Zhen smiled and said happily, "Yes, mortals have love, hate, passion, and enmity, making their lives the most colorful."
"That's why I want to know why you chose to cultivate. After cultivation, you must distance yourself from the mundane world, forget worldly emotions, and pursue the Dao of Heaven," Guanyin Bodhisattva said.
Yang Zhen shook his head and laughed, "My understanding is different from yours. The Dao of Heaven is emotionless, so you cultivate the path of no emotion. Although people call you 'Great Compassion, Great Mercy, the Savior of Suffering,' you are only seeking to realize your own Dao. But the Dao I pursue is different. I want to walk a path of emotion. I don't know if this will lead me to the supreme sage position, but I have no regrets. If I cut off good, evil, and self, would I still be me?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Yang Zhen and said, "Perhaps since the birth of the primordial chaos, you are the first cultivator to have such thoughts."
Hearing this, Yang Zhen chuckled, "So, I am unique."
"I have a favor to ask of you. If you agree, I will let you leave in forty years," Guanyin Bodhisattva said after a moment of silence.
After some thought, Yang Zhen smiled and said, "Alright, Bodhisattva, please tell me what it is. I will help if it is within my power."
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There's no rush. I will come to you later."
Shaking his head, Yang Zhen frowned, "Bodhisattva, if you don't tell me what it is, I won't agree. What if you ask me to do something that means certain death?"
Smiling faintly, Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Rest assured, it will be something you can easily do."
"Alright!" Yang Zhen stood up, reeled in his fishing rod, and said, "Let's make it so. In forty years, I will leave Luojia Mountain. At that time, don't be reluctant to let me go."
With that, Yang Zhen left the pond and walked toward his bamboo house.
"Sun Wukong spent forty-nine days in the Eight-Trigram Furnace, which is forty-nine years in the Earth Immortal Realm. It seems Guanyin Bodhisattva doesn't want me to be involved in the Great Uproar in Heaven. Well, I won't worry about it. I'll go see him later if I have the chance," Yang Zhen thought to himself as he lay on his bed.
After leaving Luojia Mountain, I will earn merit, learn all the skills in the store, and then...
Then, I'll find a wife!
Hehe!
Who should I choose as my wife?
A spider spirit? A fox spirit? A scorpion spirit?
No, if they suddenly revert to their true forms while I'm sleeping, it would be disgusting.
I'll find a fairy, gentle and considerate, who can take care of me...
Thinking about it, Yang Zhen drifted off to sleep. A fifty-year reduction in sentence, great! But I've decided that if I have the chance, I will escape immediately. I don't care about the agreement with Guanyin Bodhisattva. Yes, that's what I'll do.
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