Chapter 272: Buddha's Heart Shattered?

Xiu Ling returned to the Withered Wood Hermitage's base, and as the Dharma assembly approached, the nun had been preparing for it recently.

Arriving at Juéqíng Shītài's quarters, Xiu Ling pretended nothing was wrong and called out respectfully.

"Shīzūn."

"Hmm."

Nodding in indication, seeing this, Xiu Ling obediently helped Shīzūn prepare the sutras needed for the Dharma assembly.

It seemed no different from usual, but while tidying up, Xiu Ling still looked for a chance to speak.

"Shīzūn, what do you think of Senior Shi Song?"

"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking about this."

He gave her a doubtful glance; in response, Xiu Ling laughed and said.

"Nothing, just curious."

Suddenly asked about this, the nun didn't think much of it; she usually chatted with Xiu Ling this little girl, and the master-disciple relationship had always been close.

"He's fine; Fellow Daoist Shi Song is a good person."

"Is that all?"

"What else then?"

"For example, do you feel anything different about Senior Shi Song, Shīzūn?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, little girl? As people of the Fomen, how can we speak of such love between men and women."

He scolded her dissatisfiedly; seeing this, Xiu Ling dared not continue speaking.

However, over the next few days, whenever the little girl had a chance, she would speak well of Shi Song in front of the nun—saying things like Senior Shi Song is strong, he's the Second Elder of the Dao Yi Sect, a person worthy of trust, and so on.

But each time she said these, Juéqíng Shītài would immediately interrupt; it was clear she truly valued the Fomen's precepts.

It seemed there was no way to change Shīzūn's mind; all we could do was wait for Ye Zhangqing's side.

Qing Shi and the others had already returned early, handing over the corpses of the Abalone King and the Sea Cucumber Demon King to Ye Zhangqing.

With the ingredients, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall finally entered the next step.

First, the remnants of the Spirit Chicken Clan Chief and the Fire Ox Clan Chief were fished out; after stewing for so many days, the broth had already absorbed enough essence.

The broth was rich in color and its aroma was tempting.

Using the prepared small clay pots, the processed Abalone King and Sea Cucumber Demon King were placed inside.

Five thousand clay pots in total, then the broth was poured in, and they were placed in the steamer to begin steaming.

This step also takes time, allowing the Abalone King and Sea Cucumber Demon King to fully absorb the broth's flavor, so that all tastes meld completely together.

"Shīdi, are we not going to use these?"

Seeing the remnants of the Spirit Chicken Clan Chief and the Fire Ox Clan Chief casually tossed aside, Xu Jie asked in disbelief.

Such good ingredients, and you just say don't want them?

"Mm, we don't need them."

That's how Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is—looks wasteful, but in reality the true essence has all merged into the broth.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing about to discard them, Xu Jie hurried forward.

"Shīdi, why not give these to me?"

"Shī xiōng, what do you want these for?"

"It'd be wasteful to throw them away; Shī xiōng will help you handle them."

Saying that, he reached out and took them, then began to gnaw; seeing this, Zhao Zhengping and the others also gathered around.

Really, not a bit of waste—plus Chen Mu and the other disciples likewise swarmed forward.

The unwanted scraps, in the disciples' eyes, were also a rare delicacy, and moreover, this taste was really good.

"Delicious, delicious."

"Holy shit, you're even going to snatch the chicken bones?"

"And you were grabbing my chicken head before."

The disciples scrambled, having a great time, while Ye Zhangqing beside them just shook his head.

As Buddha Jumps Over the Wall entered its final step, the aroma grew ever richer, especially after mixing in the seafood flavor, making it impossible to resist.

The imperial palace, the capital, was in utter chaos; even Juéqíng Shītài chanted sutras every day to resist the aroma's invasion.

Three days passed in a flash, and the painstakingly made Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was finally finished.

That day, Shi Song personally went to invite Juéqíng Shītài; although the nun was originally unwilling to come, Xiu Ling beside her also spoke up to persuade.

"Shīzūn, Senior Shi Song personally came to invite you; isn't it a bit bad to refuse like this?"

"Lately, why do you keep speaking up for Shi Song?"

"Really? I just think our relationship with the Dao Yi Sect has always been fine; there's no need to offend Senior Shi Song over such a small matter."

"What you say actually makes some sense."

At this point, the effect of the insider showed; under Xiu Ling's indirect urging, Juéqíng Shītài finally agreed to keep the appointment.

That evening, Juéqíng Shītài brought Xiu Ling to the Dao Yi Sect's base.

To receive the nun, Hong Zun and the others specially prepared a courtyard; after everyone was seated, with Buddha Jumps Over the Wall served, the day's main event finally arrived.

"Smells great."

Xu Jie and the others could hardly hold back, while on the main seat, Shi Song blushed, head lowered, not daring to meet the nun's gaze; seeing this, Hong Zun could only chuckle.

"Nun, it's a rare gathering; come, try our Dao Yi Sect's delicacy."

Hearing this, Juéqíng Shītài suppressed her inner urge, reluctantly glanced at the small cup before her, then shook her head and politely declined.

"Fellow Daoist Hong Zun, I am a poor nun of the Fomen; I do not partake in meat and strong flavors."

"Oh, then that was my presumption."

He looked as if he didn't care at all, but he secretly gave Xiu Ling a glance, girl, it's your turn to go on stage.

Hong Zun couldn't believe anyone could resist Ye Changqing's food, let alone this painstakingly prepared Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

In fact, Juéqíng Shītài found it really hard to bear; that delicious taste was simply capable of hooking one's heart and soul, making it impossible to refuse.

He kept chanting the Buddhist sutras in his heart, but at that moment, Xiu Ling beside him spoke up to advise.

"Shīzūn, it smells so good, why don't we have a bite?"

"Nonsense, how can we monastics eat meat?"

"But Shīzūn, can you really hold out? Such a delicious thing, once you pass this village there won't be this shop."

"As for the master..."

He wanted to scold sternly, but the words got stuck in his throat; moreover, Hong Zun, Shi Song, Xu Jie, Zhao Zhengping and the others beside him were eating with such gusto.

He endured and endured, but in the end Juéqíng Shītài still gave in.

Possessed by some impulse, he lifted the small cup, took a sip into his mouth; the rich aroma exploded in his mouth, accompanied by a sound of his state of mind breaking.

Seeing this, Hong Zun and the others were overjoyed; it cracked, the Buddha heart cracked.

As long as the Buddha heart cracks, it's easy; while enjoying the food, we wait for the master's Buddha heart to break.

Especially Shi Song, who was so nervous he couldn't stand it, constantly shouting in his heart.

"Crack, please crack open, Buddha heart."

But ever since that initial cracking sound came from Juéqíng Shītài's side, there was no further movement; after waiting a long time, the imagined Buddha heart breaking did not appear, and Hong Zun and the others looked over in confusion—just one glance, and everyone's eyes almost popped out.

Only saw Juéqíng Shītài enjoying the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, but at her heart position there was a faint pure white light that firmly protected her Buddha heart.

Shi Song's eyes were about to burst.

"Damn, immaculate heart......"

Damn, why does the master have an immaculate heart? At the critical moment, the immaculate heart protected her Buddha heart, so the Buddha heart did crack, but damn it didn't crack completely—what do we do?

You can't even handle Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.