Chapter 174: Live and Die Together
Gong Mengbi looked at the True Man Buddha and said, "I really don't understand. Are you two, master and disciple, too clever? Why have you ended up in this situation?"
Gong Mengbi said, "Zen Master Sanming can see through people's hearts. When Zhenniang came up the mountain, he saw that she was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. She was definitely not an ordinary weak woman, and she would never accept being at the mercy of fate. So he used Zhenniang as a trap. Zhenniang was deeply bound to the world, so Zen Master Sanming tempted her with benefits, causing her parents and the villagers of Orchid Township to force her to come up the mountain. This made Zhenniang see through worldly ties and become the Scattering Flower Goddess. Zhenniang was wary, but he was able to avoid taking advantage of her, allowing her to practice in peace and actually bringing her back to her heart. Even when you later revealed the chess game and Zhenniang was afraid to protect herself, Zen Master Sanming used the Golden Collarbone Bodhisattva as a warning to force her to agree to sacrifice herself to fulfill your wish."
"Zen Master Sanming must have known that everything he did would continue to provoke Zhenniang's fierceness and resistance. He knew that she would definitely retaliate, would definitely turn against you, and would make you break up with her."
"He must be confident that he can help you overcome your difficulties and cleanse you of the filth of your body and emotions. Even he himself is the filth in your heart. Everything he does is enough to undermine his authority in your heart."
"His intelligence and insight are truly rare."
The disciple Zhenru said, "My master practices the pure Dharma and can see through the human heart, the past, and the future, hence his Dharma name, Sanming. Unfortunately, he is obsessed with delusion, believing he can see through everything and personally create a living Buddha. Little does he know that the human heart is constantly changing, and the future is always different. Isn't his insight into the human heart and the future just another kind of obsession and delusion?"
Gong Mengbi said, "That's how clever you are. You know he's already strayed from the right path. Supernatural powers come first, cultivation comes second, and he's lost in confusion. Even if he succeeds in rescuing you, it will only deepen his delusion and drive him completely into the devil's way. You have the body's filth and deep illness, the love filth of Zhenniang, and the heart's filth of Sanming. He has three mental obstacles: paranoia and delusion, confusion caused by closeness, and supernatural powers that confuse the way."
"He wants to save you, and you want to save him. Zhenniang loves and hates you, but her love is stronger than her hatred, so she won't kill you. It was you who persuaded Zhenniang to dig out your heart, causing Zen Master Sanming's plan to fail and all his delusions to turn to ash. In turn, it enabled him to attain enlightenment and escape from the devil's path. For his awakening, you were willing to die, and because you felt guilty towards Zhenniang, you allowed her to swallow your Buddha heart so that she could be brought back to life."
Gong Mengbi found this ridiculous. "But Master Sanming was enlightened by your death and knew you wanted to save him. So he dug out his own heart in the hope of prolonging your life and bringing you back to life. But Zhenniang, unable to quench her resentment, turned into a Rakshasa ghost. With his heart gone, Master Sanming could only burn through his spiritual power and suppress Zhenniang deep within the shade of orchids."
"It's really a bad fate."
Zhenru said sadly, "What you said is basically correct. There's just one thing. It wasn't me who gave Zhenniang the Buddha's Heart that brought her back to life. Rather, I had already made a promise to her that we would live and die together. Master saved me, so Zhenniang woke up with me."
Gong Mengbi suddenly realized: "No wonder you don't dare to see her."
Zhenru said, "I don't have the face to see her, nor do I dare to see her."
The relationship and situation between him and Zhenniang are too complicated. If they were not in love, they would have killed each other in a sea of blood.
Zhenniang's misfortune started when Zen Master Sanming wanted to help Zhenru survive the crisis of death, and Zen Master Sanming's death was caused by Zhenniang.
But Zhenru could not escape responsibility for Zhenniang's misfortune, and the death of Zen Master Sanming was also due to Zhenru's resurrection. Even though everything was not the result he wanted, he did not think of using Zhenniang to overcome his tribulation, nor did he think of resurrecting from the dead.
The pain and guilt, the debt and worry in it are like poison that penetrates the intestines, corroding Zhenru's heart at all times.
Zhenru didn't dare to see Zhenniang, perhaps because he couldn't face himself.
The three people were entangled in evil karma, and if Zen Master Sanming had died, he would not have to suffer such embarrassment.
Yan Chixia shook his head and said, "A grown man, why are you being so fussy? If you feel you've done something wrong, then admit it and do everything you can to make amends. What's the point of hiding?"
Zhenru said: "Spilt water cannot be recovered."
Yan Chixia curled his lips, and did not restrain himself just because Zhenru was a senior master.
Xiao Qian said, "Coward. Let me ask you, were the seven murals on the cliff carvings painted by you?"
Zhenru said, "It's me. Zhenniang has transformed into the Rakshasa Ghost Mother. I can't subdue her, nor can I stop her. If she breaks out, not only will Lanyin Temple be destroyed, but I'm afraid she will unleash endless bloodshed. I don't mind dying, but I can't let Zhenniang sink deeper. I don't mind dying, but I still want Zhenniang to live."
Xiao Qian sneered, "What's the difference between you and the old thief Sanming? The old thief Sanming made decisions for her, and now you are making decisions for her too. Now that the seventh mural has been discovered by Grandma, you will meet sooner or later."
Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "I'm afraid the Buddha is no longer here. What remains here is probably just a thought in his heart, right?"
Zhenru glanced at Gong Mengbi in surprise and said, "The fox fairy has good eyesight."
Gong Mengbi asked doubtfully, "I'm just curious. True Buddhas should have no self-existence and no-existence, and should have eliminated all the filth of the body and mind, right?"
Zhenru nodded and said, "It was only later that I realized that if you cling to purity, you will always be in existence, and it is impossible to be non-existent. If you seek purity, it will not be achieved. If you do not seek purity, purity will come naturally."
Gong Mengbi couldn't help but admire: "You are indeed a disciple of Buddha."
Zhenru said, "I will leave one thought to accompany Zhenniang, while my true body has gone to accumulate merit for her. When the merit is sufficient, I can break the oath. Then, whether to kill or cut me up is up to Zhenniang's will."
Yan Chixia nodded again and said, "Now this is what a real man should be like."
Zhenru said: "I am ashamed. My mind is soft and it is difficult for me to be strong."
Gong Mengbi understood the tenderness of her feelings.
Xiaoqian was surprised for a moment, but didn't say anything else.
Zhenru looked at Xiaoqian and asked, "You said Zhenniang has discovered the seventh mural?"
Xiao Qian kept silent and ignored him. But Gong Mengbi glanced at her, and Xiao Qian could only speak helplessly: "Grandma has almost refined six murals and has long guessed there is a seventh, but she just can't find it. Now she has sent people to find the original cliff carving. Once they find it, they will naturally know what the seventh picture is. You can't hide it even if you want to."
After hearing this, Zhen Ru calmed down and said, "What is meant to come will eventually come. Everyone, I will take you away."
Gong Mengbi wanted to say something else, but Zhenru Buddhist just slowly raised his hand, and everything in their eyes began to collapse and turned into billowing white mist.
Finally, the white mist dissipated and several people returned to their bodies.
Only Gong Mengbi and Xiaoqian appeared in the courtyard. Gong Mengbi broke in in his real body, otherwise he would not have discovered so many strange things.
Xiao Qian stood behind Gong Mengbi and was about to escape on tiptoe, but Gong Mengbi glanced at her sideways, and she stood still, not daring to move.
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