Chapter 380 The direction the prayer flags flutter is where I am watching you.
At the summit of the snow-capped mountain, the sky was a pristine, clear blue. Prayer flags fluttered in the cold wind across the entire mountainside.
Beneath the snow-capped mountains, countless devout believers from all directions prostrated themselves, chanting incantations, their voices rising in a deep and awe-inspiring power of faith.
As soon as Huali stepped out of the teleportation array and stood still, she was greeted by a magnificent sight: a tall altar built of ice, snow, and logs opposite her.
Beside him, the monk, who had been waiting for a long time, clasped his hands together and whispered, "Buddha's disciple, goddess."
"The time is approaching. Please move to the quiet room, change your clothes, and prepare for the procession to bestow blessings."
Lian Zhuo nodded slightly, took Hua Li's hand, and walked towards the meditation room that had been set up, surrounded by several monks.
The room was unusually quiet.
The air was filled with the scent of ancient sandalwood and the distinctive aroma of old paper from the scriptures.
The walls are adorned with brightly colored thangkas depicting Buddhas and Bodhisattvas preaching the Dharma. The figures in the paintings have dignified appearances and flowing lines.
Lianzhuo turned to Huali and whispered, "I'm going to change into my robes. It'll be over soon."
Huali nodded, "It's alright, you can go ahead."
After seeing Lianzhuo step behind the screen in the quiet room, Huali looked out the window.
Through the carved wooden window, one can see the square below and even further up the mountain path, where devout believers can be seen.
They were like seedlings waiting for rain, quietly and expectantly gazing towards the quiet room.
A look of shock appeared in Karin's eyes.
She had always thought that since the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect had transcended the mortal realm and resided in the cultivation world, its Daoist temples should be similar to those in novels, all located within the cultivation world.
But now that I've put myself in that situation, I realize it's not like that at all.
The young monk standing to the side seemed to notice her confusion and explained softly:
"Goddess, you may not know, but the Buddha is merciful and saves all sentient beings." He looked out the window at the crowd, his tone filled with deep reverence. "Although the Buddha has reached the peak of the Integration Realm, it is precisely because of the boundless power of his Dharma that the desires and suffering of this world need the Buddha to manifest miracles, bestow blessings, and guide them upward."
As soon as she finished speaking, a soft rustling sound of fabric rubbing came from behind the screen. Huali turned her head, her eyes flashing with genuine amazement and stunned surprise.
The person before me had not only shed his usual snow-white robe, but was also wearing a brand-new and elaborate deep purple brocade robe.
A rare and magnificent necklace adorned her neck, made of nine-eyed dzi beads, blood-red coral, amber, and turquoise, creating a striking contrast with her pale neck.
Sensing Huali's gaze, Lianzhuo looked up.
His already exquisitely handsome face, now accentuated by the luxurious robes and dazzling jewels, revealed a breathtaking beauty.
Just then, the door creaked open from the outside.
"Buddha's disciple, the ceremony will begin immediately."
"Amitabha."
Huali watched the wind blowing the prayer flags outside the door, the shadows of the colorful ribbons fluttering and falling on Lianzhuo. In that instant, he seemed to have stepped out of an ancient mural.
It evoked an indescribable feeling.
But the very next second, this very being, bathed in the light of the sun, moon, and stars, and whom no one dared to desecrate, walked right up to her.
Karin looked up: "What's wrong?"
Lian Zhuo bowed slightly, her dangling jeweled necklace swaying gently. Before the thousands of believers awaited the ringing of the temple bell, she whispered in a voice that could only be heard by two people:
"Hualin, the direction the prayer flags are fluttering is the direction I'm looking at you." He leaned down and gently kissed Huali's forehead. "After this is over, I'll take you to try the ghee at the Human Shop."
Huali nodded.
*
With the view obstructed from inside the quiet room, and seeing Lian Zhuo and the others leave one after another, Hua Li simply went out as well and found a shed with an excellent view to sit down.
Looking up, she saw that the person who had just gently kissed her forehead was now sitting on the lotus throne on the altar.
Her appearance was holy, powerful, untouchable, and inviolable. The Lian Zhuo she usually interacted with were two completely different people.
The Buddha disciple on the lotus platform lowered his eyes, his gaze not looking down on the lowly beings, but filled with boundless compassion and gentleness.
He extended his hand, with its distinct knuckles and imbued with boundless Buddhist power, and earnestly blessed each believer who prostrated themselves before him by touching their head.
The soft golden light brought a sense of liberation and peace, and just looking at it made Huali feel incredibly calm.
"Little girl, are you also here to worship Buddha? What can you see squeezed in here?" A local woman sitting in the shed smiled and handed her a rough earthenware bowl. "Have some ginger tea to warm yourself up. You're too frail."
Huali is no longer what she used to be; with spiritual power, she can now control the temperature at will. However, seeing how hospitable the old lady was, she felt embarrassed to refuse, so she thanked her and took a sip.
"Judging from your attire, you don't look like a local. Which merchant caravan did you come with?"
In the biting wind, the warm ginger tea, sweet and spicy, soothed the stomach. Huali sighed comfortably, "I didn't come with the caravan; I came with my Daoist partner."
Upon hearing that Huali was an immortal, the old woman was so startled that she almost dropped the spoon in her hand. "No wonder you're dressed so scantily. Da Niu, Da Niu! Come quick, this fairy has drunk the tea you brewed."
Before he finished speaking, a young man dressed in animal skins ran over upon hearing the noise.
The young man looked about the same age as the young master. Oh no, the young master is already a hundred years old. His skin was dark, but his eyes were as bright as an eagle's on a snow-capped mountain.
When the felt curtain was lifted and the rosewood was seen clearly, the person froze on the spot, their eyes filled with dazzling amazement.
"A big shot? A big shot!"
"Ah...ah? Mother, what's wrong?" Da Niu finally came to his senses after three consecutive cries.
"The fairy drank our tea, let's quickly kowtow to her."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Huali was startled and subconsciously gulped down the tea in her bowl. She put down the bowl and went to help the two people. "No, I'm not some fairy."
"Get up now, or I'm leaving."
"Please don't." Upon hearing this, the two people stood up, and the old woman smiled and said, "If the fairy likes it, I'll serve you more."
Just as Huali was about to wave her hand to decline, the old lady had already turned and left decisively, leaving only her and Da Niu looking at each other.
No one noticed that on the altar in the distance, Lian Zhuo raised her eyes amidst the dazzling light, her gaze piercing through the fluttering prayer flags and landing precisely on Hua Li Xu Fu Da Niu's hand.
*
As Huali rested her chin on her hand, she sipped ginger tea while listening to the chanting and murmurs of millions of believers around her.
As the crisp, cold air of the snow-capped mountains rushed towards me, a spicy yet sweet flavor continuously filled my mouth and flowed down my throat.
At first, it just felt comforting and warm, but gradually, the warmth turned into a feeling of being in a daze.
Huali noticed something was wrong, took a closer sip, and realized it still tasted like tea.
She stood up and turned around. "Da Niu, how come the tea you brewed makes me feel drunk?"
Da Niu blushed and answered truthfully, "I added some barley wine to it, just a little bit so you won't get drunk."
Karin nodded. "As expected."
She turned back, resting her chin on her hand, and continued to look at Lian Zhuo. Her fair cheeks began to flush with a beautiful blush, and her eyes gradually became somewhat dreamy.
As she watched, gradually, a vague yet bold idea, fueled by the alcohol, suddenly and uncontrollably entered her mind:
Is that person on the lotus platform, that person who is like the bright moon over a snow-capped mountain, or a lotus flower in the clouds, really dating her?
This feeling... is truly amazing.
No, stop! We can't cause trouble!
Huali shook her head, then thought, "Never mind, let's go back first."
This guy only knew to add a little barley wine, but completely ignored the strong alcohol content of the liquor.
"Your little bit and my little bit seem different~ Big Niu, I'm leaving now, bye-bye."
Before Da Niu could respond, and before the effects of the alcohol took hold, Hua Li successfully returned to the quiet room and instinctively used her earth-elemental card to create a barrier.
But the cramped room still made her feel a bit hot. So, in a daze, Huali still acted as a "Gu Yongzhe" (a term used to describe someone who takes care of others), first pulling her outer robe to the ground, and then subconsciously pulling open the sash.
Fine beads of sweat seeped onto her smooth forehead and neck, and only after being freed from restraint did she feel slightly cooler.
Outside, as Huali lay drowsily on her side beside the prayer mat, the Dharma assembly had already ended sometime earlier.
The lingering echoes of chanting still reverberated among the snow-capped mountains, but Lian Zhuo politely declined all subsequent welcoming ceremonies and rituals, returning directly to the door of the meditation room, enveloped in the lingering faint Buddhist light and aura.
Thinking of what he had just witnessed, the Buddhist monk subtly pursed his lips.
The barrier did not hinder him. Lian Zhuo slightly bent her knuckles and gently pushed open the wooden door of the quiet room.
Squeak—
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