Chapter 422

"Little Li, you're a good guy… puke!!! I'm telling you, I used to feel like I could see another world—in my dreams…"

Su Tianfu spat into the trash bin for a while, then picked up a bottle of mineral water to rinse his mouth. The time wasn't too late yet; scattered street vendors still lined the streets.

"You've got to remember, 'secondment' sounds nice, but in plain terms, it's just another department short on manpower dragging a nuclear-powered donkey to risk their life—especially with buffs like being unmarried and an outsider…"

A cool breeze carrying the scent of grease blew over; Su Tianfu patted Meng Zhending's shoulder and pointed to a nearby skewer grill under a dim yellow streetlamp. The two of them walked over with Li Huowang.

Fortunately, they'd already hailed a cab to send Yang Na home first; otherwise, tagging along with these two night owls on their rambling adventures might've lasted until dawn. The only time these two unprofessional professors were serious tonight was when they called Sun Xiaoqin to fabricate excuses.

Alcoholism, karaoke, clubbing, junk food, betting on soccer matches… hard to imagine these were the nighttime habits of two medical professors. Still, at least they'd ordered Li Huowang only fruit juice.

In some sense, Li Huowang felt these two had younger minds than actual youths.

"How's your writing going?"

"Too busy with work—put it on hiatus. Originally planned to write 'Lord of All Ages,' now it's become 'Lord of Half an Age.' What about you?"

"Hahaha, I told you using your own name would flop. Hundreds of chapters in and you haven't even made progress with 'Sword Maiden.'"

"I always feel if I make Sword Maiden the female lead, I'll die horribly—like getting crushed by a cement truck the next day I step outside."

Meng Zhending laughed at his own words, as if amused by his own superstition.

Li Huowang shrank his neck and shoved at the empty air beside him.

"I've been thinking about picking up my pen again. Your case gave me some inspiration," Su Tianfu chuckled.

"I plan to write a book called 'Dao Weird Immortal' based on you, Little Li. How about I give you half the royalties when it's done?"

Li Huowang immediately refused: "That violates personal privacy."

These two were just too insane.

"No problem—I'll change the name to Xiao Huowang."

'Aren't you really Su Lin?' Li Huowang ignored the voice from the other world saying 'Let him write.' He hadn't forgotten tonight's real purpose: uncovering the truth about these two doctors.

But once the grilled skewers arrived, the two began interrogating Li Huowang about his recent mental state, urging him to socialize more and get out more often to distract himself.

This made Li Huowang feel they'd organized tonight's entertainment specifically for him.

He glanced at the text message he'd just received.

【Qing Wanglai: Don't trust those two doctors. You're still seeing hallucinations, right? Come see me at the hospital tomorrow.】

Fine.

He was too confused to make sense of the situation now; if anything weird happened later, he could just act.

After the grilled skewers were finished, Su Tianfu paid and flagged down a taxi that had just dropped off a passenger.

"First take this young brother, then head to the Gospel Church, finally to Yuqing Temple. I know one's in Chengxi and one's in Chengdong—200? No, use the meter. If you refuse, I'll file a complaint."

Under Su Tianfu's firm attitude, the driver reluctantly turned off the 'available' light.

"Aren't you guys from somewhere else?" Li Huowang asked.

"Staying at a relative's place," Su Tianfu said. "The only downside is the long commute, but free housing? Why not take it?"

Meng Zhending nodded: "You know Qing Wanglai too. I'm staying at his place—he's usually at university, but now with this situation, his room's empty."

"So that's how it is," Li Huowang nodded. After a moment, he looked to the side: "Brother Su, Brother Meng, what do you think?"

Meng Qi: "This matter must have hidden depths."

Su Lin: "Obviously."

It doesn't quite feel like a projection, yet it's not quite a separate individual either—it seems deeply connected.

For example, their personalities and their lazy ways are copied too precisely.

Su Lin told Li Huowang to shut off the projection screen, deciding to study this later. Nothing gained by overthinking what happened inside Bai Yujing now.

But possibly—

The next day

Li Huowang returned to the imperial palace, taking with him numerous grain seeds.

Golden rice fields stretched like a scroll; sunlight bathed the fertile land, making the grain stalks sway gently in the breeze, waves of gold rising and falling. Two monks stood at the boundary of Lingshan, watching the young boy ride away on horseback.

"Can our preaching cure Da Nuo?" Meng Qi asked. "Or can your influence restore him to normal?"

A light breeze stirred; the rice leaves rustled. Here, besides rice, there were many dry-field wheat stalks and other grains. Hundreds of monks wielded sickles, busy harvesting the ripe crops.

Su Lin was unsure: "Is it related to me? If he becomes even crazier, maybe I can do something."

The city gate opened; the Right General arrived with a line of soldiers at the edge of this golden sea. He hastily dismounted, staring dumbfounded at the two monks—dressed in black and white robes—standing motionless amid the oceanic waves beneath the great sun.

But soon, his attention shifted from them to the plump, full grains.

Even in years of bountiful harvest, he'd never seen such a magnificent sight.

He frowned, drew his waist sword, and slashed his palm. Several Wei Guan behind him followed suit.

Blood infused with martial aura splattered onto nearby crops, staining them red. Pain and the linked qi left them utterly clear-headed.

Are they real?

In one night, a miracle unseen in ages—could Buddhas truly exist in this world?!

A light, delicate fragrance of rice began to drift through the air as time passed. Under the warm glow of sunlight, the entire Lingshan was filled with a faint, sweet aroma.

The starving refugees, long barred from the city and unable to beg, arrived first. Then came the townsfolk. One told ten, ten told a hundred; within half an hour, the place was packed wall to wall.

The wasteland had come alive—it had yielded a harvest!

"I haven't eaten in five days."

"Master, please give us some food!"

"This land isn't mine? But wasn't it barren?"

No one dared act rashly. In recent days, the legend of the True Buddha descending at Fogu Temple had spread far and wide. They all knew these monks were not to be trifled with.

"General, these refugees…" A Xiao Wei's eyes gleamed with danger as he whispered something into the Right General's ear.

Slap!

The right general slapped the colonel so hard that several of his teeth flew out. "Take him away and give him thirty strokes of the cane."

The refugees have no household registration or land; in Great Liang, they aren't even considered people—no one cares how they're treated. But after all these days, can't you see what these monks' attitude is?!

Absurd.

Soon, several massive wooden steamers were placed atop the smoky stoves. Monks carried buckets of clear water and poured them into the pots; the scent of rice rose another notch.

A crowd stared hungrily, but the right general walked slowly, each step deliberate, toward the two monks still chatting.

"I pay my respects to Master Yiyeshu and Master Sanzang," the right general said, clasping his fists.

Su Lin held a Buddhist gesture and smiled. "The officials of the Jian Tian Si have a karmic connection with the Buddha. We've already had him take the seeds back. I told you before—monks do not lie."

"Then, right general, will you join our Buddhist path?" Meng Qi smiled.

His physical foundation is not poor, and his disposition is excellent. I had already considered guiding him into the Buddhist path to cultivate the Vajra of Wrathful Anger.

The news from the Emperor was naturally relayed by the right general. At first, he didn't believe it—how could such a thing exist after thousands of years of famine?

But on one hand, he needed to keep these fighting monks calm; on the other, he needed to investigate the Heavenly Buddha Venerable and True Ding Tathagata within the Great Lei Yinsi. He never expected the crops planted last night would be ripe today.

The right general lowered his head slightly. "My broken body serves the nation. If I have another life, I vow to take refuge in the empty gate and repay the kindness of all Buddhas!"

"Amitabha," Su Lin clasped his hands. "A gentleman's word is binding—even four horses cannot catch up. Then I shall wait until your soul returns to the heavens and is reborn—then I will come to guide you in your next life."

The right general smiled faintly. He hadn't expected these two monks to be so reasonable, even offering him a face-saving exit. Never mind that he was already a loyal soldier of Great Liang—just imagining a life of vegetarian meals and chanting sutras sounded dull.

"Certainly."

Whether there is a next life is another matter—soldiers' souls belong to the Confused Siming.

"Then as previously agreed, Lingshan shall henceforth be under the management of the Great Lei Yinsi."

"What about the Imperial Court?"

"He will agree. The general need only wait for the imperial decree."

The right general nodded.

This treasure could easily be exchanged for a city on higher ground. With such a divine object, the soldiers of Great Liang will never again lack supplies, and the people can finally stabilize.

In an instant, he thought of many things—including whether these monks, if they had arrived earlier, might have seized the opportunity to become the largest sect in Great Liang.

But those matters can be left to the civil officials to worry over.

He voluntarily offered to have his soldiers help with the harvest. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took his leave.

Fire warmed the air, mist curled gently, the clamor gradually faded into the sound of sickles cutting through straw. Sheaves of rice were swiftly cut and neatly piled aside; civilians and soldiers carried them to designated spots. Some held wooden rods, swinging them to beat the sheaves, loosening the grains.

He had never seen such a scene before.

The right general stood frozen for several seconds, a strange emotion filling his heart—unbidden, a voice he shouldn't have thought of whispered: "If only such a scene could be seen every year…"

He laughed bitterly at himself, turned back to look at the city gate bearing the words "Lingshan," and noticed—

The two characters had vanished.

"Lingshan…"

But his heart told him: this place is Lingshan.

"Truly miraculous."

Behind him, Su Lin watched the general's retreating back and smiled at Meng Qi.

"With sincere heart and steadfast will, wherever one turns back in thought, there is Lingshan."

Meng Qi smiled. "From Journey to the West, Chapter Twenty-Four?"

Su Lin nodded with a smile. The two walked together along the path toward the dining pavilion, their cloth sandals leaving faint prints on the soft, damp earth.

"Why… why didn't you appear sooner? My son starved to death five days ago."

"I sold my daughter. If only we could have eaten yesterday…"

"Buddha, forgive me. I didn't mean to kill them—I only wanted to survive."

"I understand. I'm already dead. All this is an illusion."

The clamorous voices reached their ears with perfect clarity, yet their expressions remained unchanged, still wearing faint smiles.

Only when passing a refugee who had collapsed while cutting rice, his body emaciated to the bone, did Su Lin kneel down to adjust his posture.

The man awoke, bowed his head several times, then asked a question:

"Master, can I get one more steamed bun later?"

Su Lin replied: "No buns. Only rice and cabbage—plenty of it. You may take some away with you."

Hearing this, those around them worked harder, praising Bodhisattvas and Buddhas—even as sweat poured down their faces and their strength nearly gave out, they pushed themselves to keep working.

Su Lin listened in silence for a long while. That's why he found this world meaningless. To pass the time, he had to arrange things himself.

No scenery, no grandeur. Aside from the Dao's laws, there was little of value. Most of all, those artifacts were too bizarre—like Li Huowang giving him a human skin. He always felt uneasy seeing that skin.

"What merit have I, that I never tilled or sown?" Su Lin asked. "Do you think this counts as medicine?"

Meng Qi shook his head. "Perhaps."

A mad world isn't so easily cured—neither the heavens above nor the people below.

Meng Qi turned to Su Lin beside him and changed to a lighter topic:

"Lu Dao you warned me to be wary of you, afraid you'd play tricks. But now I see you're nothing like that. Next time, come stay longer at my place?"

"Heh, he's always misunderstood me." Su Lin pulled out a small notebook. "Exactly what did he say about me again?"

As for his world…

Meng Qi's skin is thicker than others'. Minus points.

His emotional affairs are already settled. Minus points.

The cost of exchanging for items from the Other Shore is too high. Minus points.

The Six Realms Lord's gold coins are fully stocked. Plus points.

The convenience of manifesting miracles before mortals is maximized. Plus points.

(Omitted n items.)

Evaluation: "A moment of divine manifestation feels great, but when things get too big, it's hard to run."

Great Li Imperial Palace

Emperor Ji Lin, his expression animated, touched the rice stalks presented by Li Huowang, and under the old eunuch's assistance, repeatedly counted the grains on them until the old eunuch cautiously reminded him from the side:

"Your Majesty, the Princess and the Empress Dowager…"

Emperor Ji Lin snapped out of it, masking the joy on his face:

"I cannot help but be moved at the thought that my people of Great Li may eat their fill for ten thousand generations, never again suffering famine."

"Er Jiu, they said only the chosen may receive it—speak plainly, what do you want? I'll grant it to you outright!"

Li Huowang observed his expression—it did not seem feigned. He did not know whether Emperor Ji Lin's personality had been amplified by the Lingshan, or whether he had always been this way.

A pity he's a stone woman; otherwise, he might have made a good emperor.

His manhood is still the dice taken from me and reattached.

Pushing aside distractions, Li Huowang requested the artifact of Zhuge Yuan's spinal bone.

"From the Jian Tian Si…"

The imperial family cannot interfere too much with the Jian Tian Si.

"Your Majesty, I only ask to meet with the Si Tian Jian my lord once."

The Si Tian Jian is Li Sui's Xuan Pin, after she traveled from the future to the past—what's wrong with asking his daughter for something?

Emperor Ji Lin ultimately granted Li Huowang's request.

Moments later, in a chamber of the Si Tian Jian, Li Huowang felt uneasy—he had not prepared himself to face his daughter after 180 years.

"Dad, I don't want you to leave me in the past."

Li Sui's voice came from inside Li Huowang's belly.

"Sui Sui, this time Dad won't abandon you! Don't worry! You'll stay right beside me."

Li Huowang reassured her.

"But if I don't go back to the past, where will the Xuan Pin come from?"

Li Sui asked.

As soon as Li Sui finished speaking, Li Huowang sensed someone standing outside the door.

A graceful, beautiful woman in a red dress pushed the door open and regarded Li Huowang coldly: "You wish to see me?"

Li Huowang stood frozen, murmuring to himself: "Xuan Pin… gone?"

(End of chapter)