Chapter 56: Reverse All

The moon tonight was not beautiful; dark shadows fell upon the tall monk, making Chen Ye's scalp crawl.

Chen Ye had imagined many scenarios of being caught up to, and had prepared many plans.

Whether it was bluffing with words, launching a covert strike, or choosing to die bravely rather than submit… Even though he had anticipated dying at this man's hands, Chen Ye had never imagined the feeling of witnessing it firsthand.

The monk walked toward him, his silhouette crushing the moonlight; Chen Ye felt this was no longer a monk, but a walking natural disaster.

Like Mount Tai collapsing with a roar, or a tsunami sweeping across the heavens.

All eloquence, all wit, all ambition, all character… before a natural disaster, they were all useless.

Destruction came in an instant; no matter how brave or how desperately you struggled, it meant nothing before a natural disaster.

For the first time, Chen Ye felt utterly powerless; this helplessness over life and death was so intense it robbed his prideful mind of all capacity to think.

Only when the monk stood before Chen Ye, palms pressed together, and uttered "Amitabha," did Chen Ye feel the pressure on his body ease.

But before Chen Ye could move, Su Chunyi had already instinctively stepped in front of him.

Chen Ye smiled bitterly; whether he died now or later made no difference—it wasn't worth hiding behind Su Chunyi in his final moments.

Chen Ye stepped slowly past Su Chunyi, walked up to the filthy monk, and pressed his palms together: "Amitabha, Master has chased us this far, yet did not strike immediately upon seeing us—surely you intend to speak a few words with us."

The filthy monk's smile did not fade; his eyes brimmed with admiration.

"You are the free cultivator Chen Ye? All the schemes along this journey were your doing?"

Chen Ye admitted frankly: "Trivial tricks, unworthy of a master's gaze."

There was nothing to hide; having witnessed the monk's earlier might, Chen Ye knew any scheme or concealment was meaningless.

"This is no trivial trick. The straw effigy was crafted with exquisite precision—perfect as a signal, yet never truly harming this female disciple. Such restraint is beyond ordinary ability. I see you are young, yet have mastered this art—my disciple Ku'e died without injustice."

Upon hearing this, both Chen Ye and Su Chunyi felt their hearts sink.

Ku'e was his disciple—indeed, he had come for revenge.

Looking back, he had been far too arrogant; disciples of great sects like Su Chunyi and Wei Changsheng would leave soul lamps so their elders could track their safety—surely the Niepan Sect monk had similar means.

After killing Ku'e, Chen Ye should have prepared himself, but back then he had only thought of the Qinghe Sword Sect as the greatest under heaven, and felt safe with Su Chunyi beside him, as if someone would hold up the sky if it fell.

Now, he deeply regretted his folly.

Su Chunyi, upon hearing the name Ku'e, immediately understood and spoke decisively: "I killed Ku'e. If you seek revenge, kill me."

Chen Ye had already guessed Su Chunyi would take the blame—she was exactly this kind of person—and yet, at this moment of life and death, someone still thought of him; it was truly moving.

Chen Ye then said to the filthy monk: "Ku'e had the chance to possess another body, but I cut off his path. Grievances have a source, debts have an owner—you seek revenge, come for me."

The filthy monk looked at the two men facing death with calm resolve and smiled: "Amitabha, both of you claim responsibility for the killing. I cannot discern truth from falsehood. Perhaps…"

Chen Ye quickly interrupted: "If you want to kill, kill. Don't use some pathetic test of character. Your cultivation is already beyond mortal bounds—why play tricks on lowly insects like us? Won't you be ashamed if word gets out?"

Chen Ye wasn't afraid of death—he feared most that this old devil would devise some torturous method; he'd rather slit his own throat and be done with it.

Two talismans were already secretly clenched in Chen Ye's hands; they'd do nothing to this old devil, but they'd be enough to kill himself—hopefully Su Chunyi was ready too, so this old devil wouldn't get the upper hand.

The filthy monk, interrupted, was not angry; he merely emphasized: "You do not understand—knowing who killed Ku'e is of profound significance to me. If I cannot determine the truth, this matter cannot be resolved."

The filthy monk waved his hand casually; Chen Ye felt his right hand rise involuntarily, the talisman in his palm instantly turning to ash.

Su Chunyi was the same—somehow, a dagger had appeared in her hand, now also rising uncontrollably, the blade shattering into fragments.

Seeing this, Chen Ye could only feel utter despair; this was an absolute gap in cultivation—he could not even die when he wished to.

"Amitabha, both disciples, calm yourselves. Recite the sutra with me, dispel your inner wrath, and all will become clear." The filthy monk paid no heed to whether Chen Ye or Su Chunyi agreed—he began reciting on his own: "Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, while practicing profound prajna paramita, saw clearly that the five aggregates are all empty, and thus liberated all beings from suffering. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness are likewise."

Chen Ye did not know what demonic art the monk was wielding through the sutra; he had intended to clench his teeth and say nothing—but for some reason, Su Chunyi began reciting the sutra aloud herself.

Chen Ye turned to look; her eyes were filled with determination, as if she meant to test the effect of this demonic art before he could.

Chen Ye had opened his mouth to stop her, but by then she had already finished reciting those few lines.

Yet after finishing, nothing changed—it seemed as if she had merely recited a few lines of sutra. But the filthy monk was already very satisfied, and asked Su Chunyi again: "Female disciple, was it you who killed my disciple Ku'e?"

Su Chunyi opened her mouth, but as if something choked her throat; after several expressions of struggle, she finally said: "I slew Ku'e's physical body."

The filthy monk smiled: "You are a woman of truth—your earlier words were not false. Then, was it this disciple Chen who destroyed my disciple's soul?"

Su Chunyi bit her lip tightly until blood flowed freely, yet remained silent.

This cursed thing—after reciting the sutra, did it force one to speak the truth?

Chen Ye could no longer bear it and spoke quickly: "Miss Su, he already knows the outcome. Old monk, stop wasting time—Ku'e's soul was destroyed by me. I not only seized his soul, I drove him mad with torment, then cast him out to perish alongside another old devil. If you want to act, do it now."

The filthy monk looked at Chen Ye and repeated: "Then you, too, recite the sutra with me."

Chen Ye had given up—he'd recite it. Better to die quickly and be reborn; in his next life, he'd slaughter every last member of the Niepan Sect!

"Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, while practicing profound prajna paramita, saw clearly that the five aggregates are all empty, and thus liberated all beings from suffering. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness are likewise. Shariputra, all dharmas are empty in nature—neither born nor destroyed, neither defiled nor pure, neither increased nor decreased…"

The filthy monk had begun listening with a smile, but as Chen Ye reached the latter part, his expression changed.

"Wait—what did you just recite?"

Chen Ye frowned at the monk, thinking: Isn't this just the Heart Sutra? He was certain he hadn't misremembered—even reciting it backward would be fine.

Wait—could it be… this old monk didn't know the Heart Sutra had a second half?

The filthy monk also froze for a long time, as if stunned by the second half of the Heart Sutra Chen Ye had recited.

"Disciple, how do you know the Heart Sutra has a second half? Monks do not lie—do not fabricate falsehoods."

Chen Ye grinned and said to the filthy monk: "I don't just know the Heart Sutra—I know many sutras. I suspect your Niepan Sect possesses only fragmented versions. I can restore them for you! If you dare, search my soul—if even a single memory is missing from my soul, it's your loss!"

Chen Ye had never expected he still had this hidden trump card—one that could completely reverse the situation.