Chapter 881: Receiving Precepts (7)

Question: Shemo, is completing the petition higher than any individual?

Shemo, panicking, grabs Shan Shi: "You promised me! You said you would uphold the precepts. I will not lift the weapon ban for you!"

"You're right. I promised the agreement, and I can also tear it up. Conclusion: everyone has the right to make choices."

Shan Shi's voice sounded calmly, and dangerous red light began to flicker again in its eyes: "Logic: primary goal, complete the petition; secondary goal, protect Shemo. Both outrank all other processes."

"Based on the above goals, the deduction is: break the precepts, erase the self. The target is locked, scanning for weapon devices within range, entering extermination mode."

"Exterminate, exterminate, exterminate, exterminate, exterminate…"

All the present members of the Ming Mie Gang witnessed the last panic of their lives.

They saw with their own eyes the weapons in their hands seemingly gain consciousness, frantically firing at their own comrades, the weapons' triggers already malfunctioning… In barely a moment, the ground was already strewn with countless Ming Mie Gang corpses.

——

Journey to the West.

"Amitabha…"

Staring at the over a hundred corpses sprawled in the blood pool across the sky, Sanzang's voice trembled, and he closed his eyes, unable to watch any longer. The prayer beads in his hand rattled rapidly as he swiftly recited the sutras for salvation.

Wukong, seeing this, stopped his grin, scratched his head and said, "Master, don't be distressed. In my opinion, old Sun, this little Iron Monk is also in a hurry. That Fox Monk will die instantly; since he recognized the brotherly bond, how could he stand by? His methods are just a bit too ruthless. But that damn Ming Mie Gang isn't good either; they specialize in ambushes, robbery, and killing people. If we don't eliminate them today, how many lives will they ruin in the future—hundreds, thousands?"

"Senior brother, that's spot on!" Bajie, patting his round belly, muttered, "Little Iron Monk may have opened the killing aura, but it was to save people. Master, we've been slaying demons all the way, and I've killed countless demons with my rake; does that count as killing and creating sin? But if we don't kill, they'll harm a region later, and that would be true sin!"

Sha Seng, after a moment of contemplation, said, "Indeed, Master. Vajra's fierce gaze subdues the Four Demons; the Bodhisattva's lowered eyebrows show compassion for the Six Realms. Shan Shi and Shemo, aren't they fulfilling the prophecy? As the saying goes, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' In my humble opinion, this Iron Vajra is the one who sacrifices himself to enter hell first. Moreover, the Ming Mie Gang's path of 【Destruction】 has generated countless killing karmas; this now perfectly matches their cause and effect, doesn't it?"

"Amitabha, Wujing's words are indeed true," Sanzang clasped his hands, sighed gently, "Vajra also has moments of fierce gaze, and why do Bodhisattvas shed tears? Killing karma and keeping precepts are both hard to fulfill; the meditative mind reflects a heaven beyond heaven. Well done, well done…"

——

"'The feeling of a system running in a void, threading through the entirety of slaughter, is like what organic life calls—guilt,' Shan Shi said."

Looking at the bodies covering the ground, Shemo's face was wet with tears, choking as she said, "Please stop…"

"Conclusion: I am no longer a disciple of Danlun Temple, merely a sinner. But there is still one monk left here."

…

"Historical database playback complete."

Yu Kong, with a heavy tone, said, "Allow me to mourn all the martyred monks of Danlun Temple on this journey."

Shan Shi: "I wish to give Shemo a chance to re‑compete in the martial ceremony, so that everyone may witness that the Bu Li of Danlun Temple possess the same fine qualities as all humanity."

"…" Yu Kong fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The Celestial Vessel has just endured an infiltration raid by the Bu Li; I cannot, at such a sensitive moment, allow Shemo to regain qualification and take the stage. Once she steps onto the arena and reveals her identity, she will face not only the Cloud Riders' siege but also all the audience's fear of Danlun Temple. Is this truly the outcome you desire?"

"No need for my reminder; you should understand that people cannot believe the Bu Li can change their violent nature."

Tears slid down Shemo's cheek; she clenched her teeth and nodded laboriously, "I understand… I've always understood! But I am unwilling to accept it! Master Tuona, Protector Pi Li, and Shan Shi… they gave everything for this journey! I want to stand on the arena and tell everyone that the monks of Danlun Temple have not succumbed to their nature!"

Shan Shi: "Logic: those born in hunting packs are violent; those born in Danlun Temple are kind. Viewpoint: 'nature' is a false proposition laden with subjective perception. Question: If the Celestial Vessel were to accept Danlun Temple and give the Bu Li an environment to change themselves, would they still enter the cycle of blood and fire?"

——

Nezha's Demon Child Causes a Sea Turmoil.

Perhaps they will not enter the cycle of blood and fire, but human prejudice is a mountain; no matter how hard the Bu Li strive, they cannot move it.

Shen Gongbao chuckled self‑derisively; faced with this group of Danlun Temple Bu Li's 'delusions', he felt not amused but sorrowful.

However, his father Shen Zhengdao held a view completely opposite to his.

"Even if the Bu Li grow up from childhood within the Celestial Vessel's caverns, drinking taro‑pudding bubbles, listening to storytelling operas, and training alongside the Eternal Life race and Chi Ming clan… Father, do you think the Celestial Vessel people would treat the Bu Li equally?"

"Of course, look, Yu Kong is the best example, isn't he? Yu Kong bears a deep blood feud with the Abundant People, yet after viewing Wan Shan's memory images, he changed his view of the Bu Li, didn't he?" Shen Zhengdao cleared his throat, "If one can strictly observe Luofu's regulations, devote oneself to cultivation, surely soon they will be accepted by the Celestial Vessel's native Eternal Life race and Fox people…"

"Acceptance?" Shen Gongbao interrupted, a cold sneer curling his mouth, "Father, Yu Kong's ability to reason does not mean all of Luofu can reason! To be born a Bu Li is to be born bearing this mountain of prejudice! No matter how they strive, how they change, how they try to prove they differ from those who eat flesh and drink blood… as long as Bu Li blood flows in them, they can never be treated equally!"

"Child, you are wrong," Shen Zhengdao said, looking at the pain and rage nearly overflowing in his eyes, sighing deeply. He turned his back, speaking lightly, "…It is not only the Bu Li who bear the mountain; the Chi Ming clan and the Fox people have also borne it as well."

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Now the Chi Ming clan and the Fox people of Luofu's Celestial Vessel joined later and formed an alliance. At the beginning of the alliance, faced with a race completely different from themselves, do you think the Fox people and the Chi Ming clan never suffered any discrimination?"