Chapter 161
The saying "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime" aptly explains the cause of this disaster.
The saying "People die for wealth, birds die for food" aptly summarizes why, when external invaders are at the forefront, one's own people are engaged in infighting and killing.
The phrase "stern-faced and loud-voiced, complaining to the east and raging to the west" perfectly encapsulates the despicable nature of those who transfer their anger to others, and the unbearable weakness of human nature.
All of this is recorded in the book. History is like a vicious cycle, repeating yesterday's tragedies time and time again.
But reality is not the cold, straightforward narrative in books.
Even though the reason for this situation could be explained in a few words, when the little black octopus saw the once devout and gentle believer suddenly go mad and pounce on him as if he wanted to grind him to dust, he was at a loss and extremely confused.
In that split second of distraction, the warhammer came crashing down with a gust of wind, "Bang!" Shards of stone flew everywhere, and the Buddha statue collapsed.
With the support gone, a feeling of weightlessness followed, and the little black octopus was caught off guard and fell off the Buddha statue's head, landing on the ground with a thud.
Whether he was stunned by the fall or had never been treated so roughly before, he rolled over, raised his head, and stood there speechless with shock for several seconds without moving.
Until the next second.
Seeing the young patriarch's furious glare and his raised warhammer aimed at him again, He reflexively raised a tentacle, sending both man and hammer flying.
Suddenly, people screamed and rushed out of the ancestral hall in a panic.
Seeing the young clan chief's head bleeding profusely, and the warhammer in his hand reduced to dust by the impact, the people suddenly understood what had happened. Looking back at the Buddha statue in the ancestral hall, their faces were completely drained of color.
No one dared to speak disrespectfully to Him anymore.
But in those trembling, terrified, bloodshot eyes, two large words were clearly written.
—An evil thing.
...
Yan Shuo rarely thought about the past troubles.
Just as Xie Xubai said, there was a blank space in His memory that He could never find again.
That gap remained there, like an insurmountable chasm that stretched deep into Yan Shuo's mind.
Whenever He thinks of the past, it is the first thing that comes to mind, and the anger and melancholy that often arise are still because of it.
But today, that gap has actually loosened.
Xie Xubai once told Yan Shuo that building a strong spiritual world is beneficial for restoring memories.
Under the careful tending of the young people and the seemingly unintentional but constant attention of Yan Shuo, the once desolate and barren spiritual world has now become a lush and beautiful place.
Yan Shuo wasn't sure if the loosening of the breach meant Xie Xubai's method had finally worked. In fact, he hadn't paid any attention to such trivial matters.
As the fog of memory was lifted and he realized he was about to recall something, Yan Shuo seemed to be frozen in place by magic, his entire body suddenly stiffening, unable to move.
He had been angry and empty for so long, and the desire to find this memory had become an obsession etched into his bones. He was afraid that if he did anything more, he would shatter the hope that had finally surfaced.
But He dared not do nothing, for fear that the opportunity would vanish in an instant.
Thus, all spiritual energy stirred and roared, surging and boiling like a tidal wave, exerting all its strength yet being extremely cautious, clinging to that tiny thread and refusing to let go.
Confusion, longing, expectation, and a deep-seated unease.
A jumble of inexplicable emotions surged together, and past scenes flashed by like a revolving lantern.
During that war, He remained silent for a long time. He had little experience in refuting or getting angry, so he suppressed a sense of inexplicable anger and destroyed all the shrines that the people had built for Him, leaving not a single brick or incense stick. He then silently crawled away, his tentacles reaching out his head.
Time flies like an arrow; mountains and rivers change.
After that, He climbed ashore several times because He couldn't bear the hunger. Most of the time He hid in the shadows, helped people, and left after eating the food of His faith.
But by remaining anonymous and hidden, the faith could not last long. It got hungry very quickly, and before it could eat another meal, the little black octopus's belly would quickly deflate. It was so hungry that it angrily smashed stones and wanted to go out and beg for food.
Adding to the fact that there were rumors at the time about fox spirits and demons, saying that demons liked to lure people with a kind appearance and then devour them, the little black octopus's behavior of not daring to show its true appearance after saving people aroused suspicion, and even fewer people would sincerely thank it.
Those who were rescued would often scatter in a panic at the first moment, only to rejoin the crowd and then pat their chests and boast that they had been quick-witted and had not fallen for the demon's trick.
Little Black Octopus: "..."
I'm so angry.
At that time, there was also a famous Pude Temple, where there was a very remarkable monk.
It is said that his birth was accompanied by auspicious omens, with dragons roaring and phoenixes dancing, hundreds of birds circling, and parched fields receiving timely rain. Later, at a young age, he mastered profound Buddhist teachings and descended the mountain to experience many extraordinary events.
Among his achievements, the most talked-about and widely circulated is his ability to persuade people to lay down their weapons and surrender when the rampant bandits were carrying out a massacre.
He thought he was courting death, but to everyone's surprise, his silver tongue persuaded him to succeed, leaving countless people speechless.
He then went on to preach in remote and impoverished areas, and succeeded!
You should know that those unruly people are illiterate, and they treat etiquette and kindness as utter nonsense. If someone were to teach them farming and animal husbandry with rice and piglets, they would turn around and throw the seeds and pigs into a pot to cook and eat, then brandish a machete and force the person to hand over all their money, displaying their vicious and ugly side to the fullest.
But that monk was able to teach even this group of people.
These deeds once caused a great uproar in the local area, and people praised him highly, calling him a reincarnation of a Buddha, who could resolve the doubts of the suffering and convert all ghosts to Buddhism.
By then, the little black octopus had been traveling among humans for quite some time and had long seen through the arrogance and hypocrisy of the world, realizing that most people were just seeking fame and fortune.
After hearing about the monk's extraordinary deeds, He did not believe it, since even He, with His wide-reaching knowledge, could not resolve the doubts of the world.
But it couldn't resist going, because it was filled with resentment and couldn't find the answer.
More importantly, being hungry is really unpleasant.
Whether it's true or false, He wants to know how that monk gained the faith of so many people. If the monk refuses to teach, He will hide and learn secretly.
They happened to run into the monk who was returning from his training.
In the height of summer, cicadas chirped incessantly, the sun shone brightly, and half the sky seemed to be draped in a layer of ethereal, flowing gold brocade.
The man stood on the Lotus Pond Bridge, tall and slender, with a straight back like a sturdy cypress, and a pale complexion like ice and snow. His snow-white robe fluttered in the wind, and his jade-like fingertips plucked sandalwood prayer beads.
Then I saw him with his eyes closed and eyelashes lowered, his ears slightly tilted, and a faint smile on his lips, as if he were listening to the clear sound of the spring.
What is most captivating is the red dot between his eyebrows, which is breathtakingly beautiful under the shimmering clear sky.
The little black octopus was hooked on the bamboo, almost mesmerized.
Suddenly, the Buddhist monk turned his head to face him, slightly raised his lips, and laughed loudly: "Where did this little demon come from, hiding in the shadows and spying on this humble monk? How shameless!"
Little Black Octopus: "..."
He retracted the other party's false statement.
This little bald guy does have some special abilities.
However, being still relatively inexperienced, He was not one of those ignorant little demons. Revealing His true form would cause this little bald man to bleed from all five orifices and die on the spot.
He remained silent that day, and the young Buddhist disciple, for some reason, smiled gently and acted as usual, pretending not to know anything.
But they still got to know each other later, because the little black octopus couldn't hold back his words.
His stomach was growling with hunger, and he could no longer bear it. He pointed at the Buddha statue in the temple that was being worshipped with incense and said, "What is the difference between me and it? Why do people prefer to believe in a stone statue rather than me? I can save them from fire and water, while this stone will only stand here and watch."
The Buddhist disciple smiled and said, "This is no ordinary stone statue."
The little black octopus frowned, indignant: "What's so special about it?"
A Buddhist disciple said, "In the past, Master Samantabhadra personally consecrated it, which was blessed by the auspicious energy and was very effective."
Little Black Octopus: "..."
The Buddhist disciple added, "Moreover, look at its outer shell, it's so shiny and dazzling. Can't you see that it's been plated with a layer of gold?"
Little black octopus: "…………"
The Buddhist monk smiled meaningfully and said, "As the saying goes, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse."
The little black octopus raised its tentacles, looked at its own dark skin, and then at the golden, solemn, and holy Buddha statue. Suddenly feeling annoyed, it stubbornly muttered, "What's so great about it? I've also been worshipped and had shrines erected for me to be revered."
The Buddhist disciple had no doubt whatsoever, and gently chuckled, "I believe what you say."
Often teased by this person, the little black octopus suddenly felt incredulous and subtly strange upon hearing his serious tone. It asked, "Why do you believe it?"
The Buddhist disciple said, "After all, these stones will only stand in the temple and be looked at, while you have truly saved other people's lives and helped the poor."
Hearing his shocking remarks, even the lawless little black octopus was stunned. His first reaction was not to feel smug, but to stop him: "Aren't you afraid that they will hear you saying such things in front of their statues?"
He is a deity just like Buddha, skilled in warfare and killing. Even when he mocks Buddha statues as mere useless stones, no one dares to jump out and beat him up.
But the Buddhist disciple before me is different. Which Buddhist practitioner in this world would dare to openly disrespect gods and Buddhas? Wouldn't that be courting death?
Before he could finish speaking, the Buddhist disciple let out a muffled groan, as if he were being questioned by an invisible force. He staggered half a step and barely managed to stand, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
The little black octopus momentarily forgot to hide and rushed up to help, only to see the Buddha suddenly look up and say to the Buddha statues in the hall, "It's good that you heard that."
Having said that, he used the pulling force to hook the tip of the little black octopus's tentacle, lifted it up, coiled it in his palm, and walked out of the temple.
"It's a little smaller than I imagined," the Buddhist monk smiled.
He smiled nonchalantly, without a trace of shame or anger after being punished or warned, his eyes shining brightly in the sunlight.
The little black octopus learned from past experiences and its physical form was created using mental power, not its true form, so even touching it would not cause damage.
But being caught in someone's clutches so openly is extremely uncomfortable.
He waved his tentacles, knocking away the Buddha's fingers that were reaching for him, and scolded him with a fierce but weak tone, "No manners whatsoever."
Then it waved its tentacles and huffed and puffed as it climbed up the Buddha's arm. The eight tentacles lazily spread out, adjusting their size as they settled on the young Buddha's head.
The Buddha's eyes shone brightly and fervently, like the bright moon and stars. He was overjoyed and could not contain himself. He tempted him, saying, "Since that's the case, why don't you believe those useless stones anymore? Why don't you believe me instead?"
The little black octopus had a reason for saying that.
He intuitively felt that the faith of the Buddha's disciple would be very delicious, the kind that leaves you wanting more.
Even when the little black octopus took advantage of him, the Buddhist monk didn't get angry. He smiled gently and said easily, "Alright, if you do more good deeds, I will believe in you."
Little Black Octopus: "How many do you need? I've saved enough people."
The Buddhist disciple calmly said, "Good deeds don't necessarily lead to good results; you have to find the right method."
The little black octopus seemed to understand something, and suddenly remembered the Buddha's past deeds. Out of curiosity, it asked, "How did you persuade those bandits to lay down their weapons?"
The Buddhist monk paused briefly, sensing the longing hidden in the little black octopus's expression, and chuckled as he replied, "It's not that mysterious. I just told them that their boss had already heard the news and absconded with the money, and was planning to smear them. It would be too late if they didn't chase after them soon."
"..."
The little black octopus widened its eyes: "Then how will you teach those unruly people to practice Buddhism?"
The Buddhist disciple calmly replied, "They will naturally be subdued."
Little black octopus: "??"
Buddhist disciple: "They smuggle salt and collude with bandits to murder for profit. The government has long had the idea of cracking down on them, but a sudden attack might alert them."
I volunteered to lead disguised soldiers in to investigate, and when the time was right, we would coordinate an attack from within and without to wipe them out.
“Before they were sent to serve, I went to the prison every day to teach them to memorize the law. If they couldn’t memorize it, I would whip them. They would gradually learn it. The magistrate even thanked me for helping him discipline the disobedient bandits.”
The little black octopus stared in disbelief, then felt dizzy and disoriented, as if his imagination had been shattered: "Then, then haven't you been deceiving the world all along?"
The Buddhist disciple noticed His stiffness, but felt no shame whatsoever. Like a fox carelessly flicking its big tail, he laughed with a hint of cunning, tapping His forehead with his fingertip: "You're clearly a demon, how can you be so naive? This won't do, you'll be easily fooled in the future."
...
He had indeed been fooled.
Later, He traveled with the young monk to gain experience. Following the monk's advice, He performed good deeds. Every time He succeeded, He indeed received heartfelt gratitude from the young monk. Just as He had expected, the good deeds were delicious and unforgettable, like fine wine and nectar, leaving one feeling utterly satisfied.
But the gratitude was fleeting; before He could fully savor it, the little monk would callously take it back.
—Heaven knows how he manages to control his emotions so well. This isn't like money in his pocket that he can just take and take away as he pleases!
In short, the little black octopus was very frustrated, feeling like a donkey being lured by a carrot.
In addition, the young monk was eloquent and persuasive. Whenever he caused trouble, a gentle and kind word would soothe his anger, and it would dissipate as if a hand had been pulled into cotton, leaving him unable to vent his frustration.
What the little black octopus disliked most was that the bald guy was shameless, constantly complaining that he would die young because "extreme intelligence is bound to bring harm," so the little black octopus had to prepare early.
He actually believed his nonsense and was uneasy about it for a long time.
Since He lacked the ability to heal and was still in the growth stage, He could not fathom His destiny. Therefore, He sought out people to read faces and predict fortunes, and looked for ways to prolong the life of His disciple.
Later, they discovered that it was all nonsense, and the little bald man kept repeating it endlessly until their ears were calloused, so they just ignored it.
And then...
In times of chaos and riots, starvation was rampant, war raged, and smoke filled the air.
He was nauseated by the overwhelming evil thoughts in the world, became listless and dispirited, and felt like he was about to die.
The little Buddhist monk placed Him in the secret room of the Buddhist hall, patted His round head with warm palms, sang folk tunes, and gently coaxed Him to sleep with his jade-like eyes and gentle voice.
When He drifted off to sleep and awoke again, He was astonished to find that the solemn, gilded Buddha statue in the temple had all its gold leaf removed.
The little black octopus grabbed the cleaning monk and questioned him, only to find out that it was actually the little Buddhist monk who did it! The pieces were taken apart to buy food and provide disaster relief.
However, because he had offended the Buddha, his clean hands were covered with hideous thorns, dripping with blood, piercing through his flesh and bones, causing him excruciating pain. He was also expelled from Pude Temple for theft.
During those same few days, the rebels burned, killed, looted, and captured cities.
They arrested innocent people and coerced Buddhist followers into admitting their rebellion and treason, claiming it was to act on behalf of Heaven and restore order.
They want to use this renowned holy monk to crown themselves with legitimacy, distort the truth, and confuse right and wrong.
The Buddhist disciple agreed.
After the rebels released the people outside the city, he suddenly appeared on a high tower on the city wall, vigorously wielding a drumstick. The drumbeats were like a storm, causing the world to turn around in astonishment.
Just before the rebels rushed toward the city walls, he untied the cloth bands binding his hands, revealing his hands covered in thorns and his skin stained with black, rotting carbuncles.
He wore a snow-white kasaya, with a red mole between his eyebrows, and his expression was as upright as a clear mountain spring, seemingly detached from the world.
He raised his hands high, opened his mouth, and uttered words accompanied by a chilling Buddhist chant, proclaiming himself a sinner who deceived the world and stole fame. He claimed that he only obeyed the rebels' orders because he was afraid of death, and that his previous pronouncements in defense of the rebels were all lies.
Now that he has been punished by Buddha, he knows that his sins are grave and only asks for death to atone for his crimes.
Having said that, he raised his long sword horizontally and slashed his own neck.
Fresh blood bloomed like plum blossoms in an instant, adorning the snow-white cassock and soaking into the bluestone brick wall.
The little black octopus only had time to see him one last time.
In an instant, it was as if a string called reason in my mind snapped, my soul was torn in two, and my whole body surged with a violent aura like a hurricane, clamoring for destruction and shouting for ruin.
He rushed over like a madman, only to see that as the man lay dying, a trembling smile appeared on his lips, and he raised his trembling hand as if sensing something.
All the thorns were removed, and the slender, beautiful hand was covered with horrific, bloody holes.
With pale fingertips stained with hot blood, she gently touched the little black octopus's forehead, conveying her thoughts.
[I was able to temporarily escape the rebels' control and ascend the city wall to clear my name because someone risked their life to secretly help me.]
The rebels, constrained by circumstances, resorted to this wicked tactic simply because the world is full of virtuous and kind-hearted people who refuse to associate with them.
Even though I've sullied myself like this, look...
The little black octopus, its eyes bloodshot, frantically tried to plug the wound in the young Buddhist monk's throat with its eight tentacles, but couldn't manage it.
He felt immense panic, as if the whole world was collapsing and the heat of his blood was turning into raging flames that would burn him to ashes.
But when the Buddha asked Him to look over, He suppressed all negative emotions and looked over.
At the foot of the city wall, common people, scholars, and righteous people gathered together.
Witnessing the Buddhist disciple commit suicide was like cold water being poured into a boiling oil pot; the once silent scene suddenly erupted in fury.
Those who had once benefited from the Buddha's kindness cried out indignation and roared in anguish, even defying the swords of the rebels, angrily denouncing their treacherous ambitions and loudly speaking out for the Buddha.
Seeing the high morale of the reinforcements, the commanders of the hidden forces realized it was the perfect opportunity for a counterattack. They immediately beat the war drums and launched a full-scale attack, recapturing the lost territory in one fell swoop.
Human nature is unpredictable; some are greedy and calculating, while others are righteous, benevolent, and virtuous.
The Buddha's eyes became unfocused and gradually lost their luster. His fingers slid down the little black octopus's forehead, leaving a trail of winding blood.
Even on his deathbed, the corners of his lips remained slightly upturned, just as he always had, remaining calm and optimistic even when faced with a collapsing mountain.
May your future be bright, may you see through the wickedness of human nature, taste its beauty, and find solace...
The world is a wonderful place, don't be discouraged...
...
In this seemingly endless tug-of-war of memories, Yan Shuo's mind grew increasingly numb and stiff, with a faint tremor of pain.
But He was used to being serious and didn't show it on his face; he still had that proud and solitary appearance.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his pale fingertips dug into his palms, leaving deep marks.
After an unknown amount of time, He finally heard.
"——"
Someone is talking.
It wasn't just one person, it was a group of people, hundreds or thousands.
They appeared out of nowhere on the shore, standing relatively scattered, either in small teams of a few or in groups of dozens. Their movements were uniform and their division of labor was clear and orderly, making it easy to see that they were a unified whole.
The slightly anxious and impatient chatter swept across the surging waves, faint and fragmented, and was captured by His invisible and radiating consciousness.
"...Are you sure this is the place? Did we go to the wrong place?"
"There's no mistake. The god-level teleportation array built after sacrificing exclusive items will only teleport you to a specific area."
"But there's nothing here except the vast ocean in front of us, not even a single island in sight. Could it be—"
"Report to the General! The probe has detected a unique energy entity at a depth of approximately 50,000 meters, with an energy threshold reaching the god level!" The subordinate was extremely excited, speaking rapidly without even taking a breath. "Through data comparison and analysis, it is highly likely that this is the target we are looking for."
Before the general could speak, someone beside him chimed in, their voice rising sharply in disbelief: "Fifty thousand meters? Are you kidding me!"
This man wasn't questioning the accuracy of the data. He turned to the highest commander of the operation and anxiously explained, "General, the highest recorded depth reached by humans is 10,916 meters. Beyond that depth, even high-strength carbon fiber special steel plates cannot withstand the pressure. The submarine will rupture mid-journey, causing an imbalance in internal pressure and ultimately leading to an explosion!"
"Fifty thousand meters is absurd; it far exceeds the limits of current technology. We have no way to achieve that—"
"That's a record from before the bizarre game began," the man called the general suddenly interrupted him.
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