Chapter 262 I'm worried she'll meet the wrong person (Meng Po VS Senior Brother)
Feng Jin glanced at her sideways, and seeing her glaring at him, he let out a barely audible snort and withdrew his outward aura of power.
The chill at the palace entrance dissipated instantly, but a palpable sense of unease remained on Feng Jin's handsome yet otherworldly face.
The way he looked at Lin Yanxin was even colder than when he looked at the most ignorant vengeful spirit in the River of Oblivion.
Shen Yuepo breathed a sigh of relief, turned to his senior brother, and seeing his still-shaken expression, asked:
"Alright, can you tell me now? What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Lin Yanxin suddenly hesitated, scratching his head and looking around.
He first glanced quickly at the person beside Shen Yuepo, his face showing obvious embarrassment and hesitation.
His lips moved, but no sound came out; clearly, there were some things he couldn't say in front of Feng Jin.
Shen Yuepo understood instantly.
She turned around, placed her hands on Feng Jin's chest, and gently pushed him further into the hall, her voice softening and carrying a hint of negotiation:
"Wait for me inside. I'll just have a few words with my senior brother, it'll be quick."
Feng Jin's face darkened even more at a visible speed, his thin lips pressed tightly together.
He stood still, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yanxin, who was trying to hide behind Shen Yuepo to avoid his gaze, like an icy blade.
Shen Yuepo nudged him again, "Feng Jin..."
In the end, Feng Jin reluctantly turned around and walked into the hall, and Lin Yanxin felt the oppressive feeling lessen slightly.
Like a thief, he quickly grabbed Shen Yuepo's sleeve and hurried a few steps away.
Only after completely escaping the deathly gaze of a certain emperor did they stop, lean against a pillar, and let out a long sigh.
The embarrassment on his face did not fade; instead, it became even more pronounced, revealing a rare hint of awkwardness and panic.
Her lips moved a few times, her eyes darting around, but she dared not look directly into Shen Yuepo's questioning eyes.
"Little Moon, I...you...that..."
He hesitated for a long time, but couldn't utter a complete sentence, though his ears turned suspiciously red.
This was the first time Shen Yuepo had ever seen his senior brother, who was usually either proud, lazy, or stubborn, show such a conflicted and uneasy expression.
She had a rough idea of what was going on, so she didn't urge him. Instead, she crossed her arms and watched him calmly, waiting for him to come up with something.
Lin Yanxin took a few deep breaths, as if she had made up her mind, before stammering, "It's...it's like this, I've been in the Netherworld these past two days..."
Seeing that he was still beating around the bush, Shen Yuepo interrupted him directly and cut to the chase, "Is it business or feelings?"
“…”
Lin Yanxin was taken aback by her question, her face flushed even hotter, her eyes darted around, and her voice was barely audible, "...feelings."
really.
Shen Yuepo had a better understanding of the situation. Judging from the current state of affairs, it was probably impossible to explain in just a few words. Moreover, standing here, he felt that the divine consciousness of some god in the palace might still be shrouding this area.
She thought for a moment, then took Lin Yanxin's arm. "It's not convenient here, let's talk somewhere else."
Before Lin Yanxin could react, she gathered her strength and leaped up, lightly touching the pillars and eaves with her toes. With a few nimble leaps, she carried Lin Yanxin to the high roof of the side hall.
Here, the view is expansive, and the eternal night sky of Fengdu seems within reach, with the dark blue Styx River flowing slowly overhead.
The two sat down on the smooth glazed tiles, and the night breeze carried the unique chill of the underworld.
Perhaps it was the spacious environment that made people feel relaxed, or perhaps it was because they had been holding it in for too long and urgently needed to confide in someone.
This time, Lin Yanxin did not hesitate and poured out all her experiences and feelings from the past two days in Fengdu, especially the various stimuli related to Meng Guichen and Shen Tu.
She poured out all the turmoil of bitterness, irritability, inferiority, and helplessness in her heart, like beans spilling from a bucket.
Shen Yuepo listened quietly without interrupting until he finished speaking, then slumped down, looking utterly defeated.
A brief silence fell over the rooftop, broken only by the low murmur of the wind.
After a moment, Shen Yuepo suddenly spoke, but posed a seemingly unrelated question:
"Senior brother, do you remember that about five years ago, Master specially sent us to Puji Temple to listen to the abbot preach for seven consecutive days?"
“My master said that the Tao follows nature, and Buddhism also has its own unique wonders. He encouraged us to humbly accept his teachings and broaden our minds.”
Lin Yanxin was immersed in self-pity when she heard this. She was stunned, looked up, her face still showing lingering melancholy, and looked at Shen Yuepo in confusion, not understanding why she suddenly brought this up.
But he still answered honestly, "I remember. What's wrong?"
Of course he remembered that at that time he found Buddhist scriptures difficult to understand and meditation boring, far less enjoyable than practicing swordsmanship and drawing talismans, and often secretly dozed off.
Shen Yuepo's gaze fell on his face, and she slowly said:
“Back then, you found Buddhism too profound and tedious, and you were never able to calmly listen to its true meaning. So today, I will borrow a few Buddhist principles to talk to you about them.”
"Buddhism teaches that one should let one's mind dwell nowhere. So, where does your mind dwell now?"
"Do you dwell on the shadow that may not be real within that window, or on the resentment of Meng Guichen's temporary neglect?"
Lin Yanxin opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but found herself speechless.
His heart was firmly bound by these external factors, causing him endless turmoil.
Shen Yuepo continued, "The Platform Sutra says: 'Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is nothing, so where can dust alight?'"
"Senior brother, you are currently filled with anxiety and distress, as if dust is obscuring your vision. Have you ever calmed your mind and observed what caused this dust to arise?"
"Is it because Meng Guichen has truly fallen for someone else, or is it because you yourself have already started comparing him to someone else?"
"When you see her standing with Shen Tu, you automatically consider them a good match and yourself inferior to Shen Tu. Isn't this just wishful thinking?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yanxin's breathing faltered slightly, as if a problem she had been unwilling to delve into had been touched upon.
“Senior brother, true peace and freedom are not about isolating oneself from the world, nor about kneeling and bowing before the Buddha.”
Shen Yuepo's voice sounded exceptionally clear in the silent night sky, "and it shines brightly in my heart, clear and thorough."
"If one can recognize one's true nature and not be misled by external circumstances, then even in the darkest of times, one can attain great freedom."
She paused, looking at Lin Yanxin's thoughtful yet still puzzled face, and finally steered the conversation to the point:
"Senior brother, you're too caught up in the situation to see things clearly. Have you considered what kind of person Meng Guichen is?"
"She has been in charge of the Bridge of Helplessness for a thousand years, witnessing all the infatuations and grievances of the mortal world. Her exquisite and insightful mind is far beyond that of ordinary people."
"If she truly had feelings for Shen Tu, or if Shen Tu reciprocated her feelings, why would she deliberately show it to you?"
"Although Shen Tu appears flamboyant and unrestrained, he is by no means the type to put his private affairs in front of others."
Lin Yanxin suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with shock and a glimmer of light: "You mean...?!"
"I mean..." Shen Yuepo smiled slightly, as if he were laughing at a fool:
"This is a play that Meng Po tailored specifically for you, this stubborn stone. It's called 'Playing Hard to Get'."
"First, fiercely stir up that hidden desire and possessiveness within you that you yourself are unwilling to admit. When you're tormented by the agony of unrequited love, when your mind is completely consumed by her, and you're thrown into utter chaos..."
"Only then might she consider capturing you and bringing you back."
“…”
Lin Yanxin was completely stunned. Her expression went from shock to realization, and then to blushing and turning pale with embarrassment.
Finally, she murmured, "So, it was all an act for me?! Shen Tu... he was cooperating with her?"
"Most likely." Shen Yuepo nodded. "If that weren't the case, how could the Ghost Emperor Shen Tu happen to appear so frequently in your line of sight, and even act so intimately with Meng Guichen?"
"Why did Horse-Face's words pierce your heart so deeply?"
Lin Yanxin recalled the details of the past two days, those seemingly coincidental encounters, and Ma Mian's overly enthusiastic explanations.
Meng Guichen's sudden coldness and his interactions with Shen Tu.
Looking back now, it did seem a bit deliberate.
"This...this woman!"
Lin Yanxin gritted his teeth, unsure whether it was out of shame or anger, but the gloom that had troubled him for days was gradually dissipating from the depths of his eyes.
Instead, there was a sense of clarity after sudden enlightenment, and a hint of exasperation at being fooled.
But strangely, that dull, aching pain was gone.
"She tricked me!"
Looking into his eyes, which had brightened again, Shen Yuepo knew that he had figured out the key point.
She patted Lin Yanxin on the shoulder, her tone softening, "Now, do you still feel ashamed?"
Lin Yanxin pursed her lips, still looking a little embarrassed, but her tone had softened considerably: "...Who, who feels ashamed of their appearance! I'm worried that she might meet the wrong person!"
A classic case of being stubborn and refusing to admit defeat.
Shen Yuepo chuckled, not revealing his true intentions, "So, how do you plan to break this deadlock?"
Lin Yanxin looked towards the distance from the Imperial Palace, in the direction of Shen Meng Guichen's Hall of Rebirth.
“Since she set a trap…” He snorted, stood up, and patted non-existent dust off his Taoist robe, “then I have to let her know that I’m not so easy to break.”
Looking at the renewed fighting spirit on her senior brother's face, Shen Yuepo couldn't help but feel curious.
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze probing as she looked at Lin Yanxin, and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for so long:
"Senior brother, why did you and her break up back then?"
This question clearly touched on a secret that Lin Yanxin was unwilling to touch upon.
His eyes flickered, and he instinctively tried to look away, habitually offering vague and ambiguous answers to evade the question.
"Sigh... It's all ancient history, why bring it up? It's all in the past..."
"It's over?" Shen Yuepo raised an eyebrow, her voice calm. "If it really is over, then why are you acting so anxious and almost as if you're turning into a pickled cucumber?"
"Senior brother, think carefully. If you think you can fool me again this time..." She paused deliberately, her tone carrying a clear threat:
"Next time, whether you're driven to death by Meng Guichen or by your own stubbornness, I won't meddle anymore."
Lin Yanxin: "..."
He knew that Shen Yuepo meant what he said.
Looking into her clear eyes, all the excuses he made up on the spot seemed pale and powerless.
He raised his hand in frustration and vigorously rubbed his already somewhat messy hair, as if trying to shake away the past he didn't want to remember.
After a long silence, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice:
“That year, my master wanted to pass on the position of abbot to me, and he also told me some things.”
Shen Yuepo's heart stirred, and she vaguely guessed that it might be related to herself, so she listened quietly.
“Master said that the Xujing Temple has long lost the glory of our ancestors. The incense is sparse. It seems to be a place of quiet cultivation, but in reality it is in turmoil.”
"Over the years, I have barely managed to make ends meet by relying on the meager savings my master accumulated in his early years and by occasionally taking on small exorcism jobs in marginal areas."
Lin Yanxin gave a wry smile: "I can actually sense these things to some extent. The Taoist temple is getting more and more dilapidated..."
"The reason why Master has restricted us from going down the mountain all these years is not only because our cultivation is still shallow, but more importantly, because he has foreseen the tribulation in your life."
"He told us to devote ourselves to cultivation in the hope that we could grow up as soon as possible, at least... have the ability to protect ourselves and safeguard the foundation of this Taoist temple."
Shen Yuepo remained silent. She was not unaware of these things, but her master had never explicitly told her, and she had always been focused on her cultivation.
“Master also said…” Lin Yanxin’s voice became even more obscure, “Your situation is special, it’s both a blessing and a curse.”
“The Void Observation must continue to exist; it must have a sufficiently stable shell to protect you until you can truly control your own power, or… find a more powerful sanctuary.”
"And inheriting the position of abbot means taking on this responsibility."
He took a deep breath, as if he could still feel the heavy burden that had weighed him down back then:
“At that time, I was deeply in love with her and didn’t really want to become the abbess. When I couldn’t make a decision… she came.”
Lin Yanxin's eyes became complicated. "Back then, she always found opportunities to come to the human world. She knew my situation and even suggested that I go with her."
"Go with her?" Shen Yuepo asked, slightly surprised.
"Hmm, to the Netherworld." Lin Yanxin twitched the corners of her mouth, her expression unreadable, whether it was a smile or a sneer.
She said that with my qualifications, it wouldn't be difficult to find a job in the underworld, at least I wouldn't have to worry about these mundane things, and I could have a better environment for cultivation.
But you refused.
"Yes, I refused." Lin Yanxin closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes filled with pain and determination.
“I can’t leave. Xujing Temple was entrusted to me by my master. You are there, there is the ancestral tablet, and there is the lineage.”
"What would I be if I just left? Besides, why would I let her use her power in the underworld to support me?"
"I, Lin Yanxin, haven't fallen to that level yet, and... I don't want her to bear those unnecessary criticisms and troubles."
"She is Meng Po, and she also has her responsibilities and pride."
"So you told her that you were going to stay at Xujing Temple as a poor abbot with a bleak future, and that she shouldn't come anymore? You thought that was for her own good?" Shen Yuepo's voice was soft, but it hit the nail on the head.
Lin Yanxin didn't deny it, but said dejectedly, "More or less. I was very blunt, saying I couldn't bear her feelings, nor could I give her the future she wanted, and that she should go back to her underworld to be Meng Po (the goddess of forgetfulness in Chinese mythology), and stop bothering my peaceful cultivation..."
“I think it’s better to have a short pain than a long one. She is a ghost immortal from the underworld with an almost infinite lifespan, why should she waste her time with a poor Taoist priest like me who can’t even make a living?”
"And I really don't have the extra energy to maintain a relationship that seems to have little hope."
"She's quite a proud person. After I said those things, she just sneered and said, 'Fine!' That night, she kidnapped me to the Hall of Rebirth and... uh..."
Lin Yanxin seemed to realize she had said too much and quickly stopped talking.
He let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Regret? Resentment? Or relief? Even he himself couldn't tell.
After listening, Shen Yuepo fell silent.
She never imagined that her senior brother had carried so much burden back then.
He wasn't heartless; on the contrary, he was too sentimental, and his sense of responsibility, pride, and that ridiculous sense of self-respect led him to choose the clumsiest and most hurtful way to push away that relationship.
Shen Yuepo was about to say something more...
"Whoa!!"
"Waaah...this is so tragic..."
"Alas, love is indeed the most tormenting thing..."
Three cries and exclamations, each with a distinct timbre, erupted without warning.
It looked particularly abrupt and comical against the silent, dark night sky.
Shen Yuepo and Lin Yanxin both stiffened at the same time and looked in the direction of the sound.
Behind the side hall, in the canopy of a dense, ancient tree emitting a faint glow, three figures were huddled together.
The most conspicuous one was Horse-Face, with tears and snot streaming down his face. Next to him was Ox-Head, whose eyes were also red and who was tugging at Horse-Face's sleeve to blow his nose.
Squatting on the innermost branch was Zhang Qingyuan, who had a look on his face that said, "I've figured it out again."
Shen Yuepo: ...
Lin Yanxin: ...
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