Chapter 139: The Joy of Hearing the Dao

"Eh? So comfortable! It has been so long since I slept this comfortably. It feels like I've returned to the days when I was in school."

County Commandant Chen stretched, letting out a "roar."

The Daoists were still in the "lingering resonance" of the moment, but were instantly jolted awake by his bear-like roar.

"Eh?" Scripture Master Daoren lifted his arms and moved his legs: "My body feels much lighter than before!"

Xu Jia smiled and said: "This is the use of the Five Tones, though what I did only lasts for a moment. The proper way is for you all to maintain balance; do not keep practicing the Gen-Peak Qi-Swallowing Method, and the practice of swallowing jade and flying essence should also be paused for now."

"Many thanks to the True Person for the guidance!" Scripture Master Daoren still wanted to keep him: "We prepared vegetarian meals early today..."

"No need." Xu Jia turned to County Commandant Chen and said: "County Commandant Chen, the matter of the Evil Aura at Yushan has come to an end, but the matters of the Evil Sect and evil demons are still hard to guard against. Especially for you—you just beat that dwarf to death, which created Cause and Effect, and you also participated in the overthrowing of a god. I fear more such matters will come knocking on your door in the future."

County Commandant Chen's face fell, then he put on a show: "Would this official be afraid of them?"

Seeing that he still had some "sense of justice," Xu Jia said: "Dizang An has been wiped out, and with so many people dead, the government must step in. Miaoren, as the only survivor of this Dizang An, you should go with County Commandant Chen."

Miaoren shook her head: "I am not going." She was not stupid; she had previously been a Saintess of the Longevity Sect, her hands were not clean, so why would she throw herself into the net at the government office? "If you don't go, should I go instead?" Xu Jia laughed: "People must take on some responsibility. Dizang An was originally fine, but internal demons colluded with external demons. You are a body-demon but do not consider yourself a demon; you should take this opportunity to break free from the Longevity Sect."

County Commandant Chen heard this and said: "I catch a nun and bring her back? And say she is a Longevity Sect follower? Wouldn't that be a joke? How is it that there isn't a single man among these Longevity Sect evil followers? They are either dwarfs or disabled nuns. It seems those with innate defects are easily led onto the evil path!"

This Miaoren was also base; when Xu Jia told her to go, she wouldn't, but hearing County Commandant Chen look down on her, she suddenly spoke up: "I will go!"

To put it nicely, she had a bit of spirit; to put it bluntly, her brain was broken, and she could not distinguish right from wrong.

This is the common failing of many mortals: they do not listen to advice, and the more they are persuaded, the more rebellious they become.

Their wisdom is unclear; it is clear that their eyes can see, yet they seem blind. Their ears can hear, yet they seem deaf.

This is what is meant by "listening but not hearing, looking but not seeing."

If this were truly the state of "trance" spoken of by Laozi, that would be overestimating her.

This type is the most foolish; they have countless opportunities to correct themselves and turn back, yet they always refuse.

For this type, neither Buddha nor Dao would attempt to save them; their state of mind is not there, and their Karmic Connection is insufficient.

Only the crooked paths, using extreme measures—beating them, bullying them to death, and training them like dogs—can make them obedient.

Xu Jia had previously borrowed the face of Sha Huofo and Xia Laohan to offer reminders again and again, but looking at it now, she was simply beyond saving.

However, this also sounded an alarm for Xu Jia: "Wasn't I like this in my previous life? How many disciples and followers urged me to let go, yet I treated their words as nonsense, even spouting the bullshit argument of whether my Daoist Practice was higher or theirs? I loved being a teacher, and it seems I developed this ego, unable to place myself in the heart of Heaven, failing to listen to all sides to be enlightened..."

For a moment, Xu Jia's wisdom grew, and he unlocked a layer of shackles in his heart. This is what Confucianism calls: "I examine myself three times a day," and "When seeing a virtuous person, think of becoming equal to them; when seeing a person who is not virtuous, examine yourself within."

In an instant, many scriptures and classics he had read in the past flashed before his eyes like falling flower petals.

Regardless of Buddha, Dao, or Confucianism, and regardless of high or low status, they all acted as keys, opening the gates of his mental barriers. For a moment, there was a feeling of sudden "the world is wide in an instant," and an even greater supreme Joyous pleasure of "Hearing the Dao."

Xu Jia wore a smile, appearing relieved. They were all dead, had returned to the soul and been reincarnated, and the world had changed; only then did he feel enlightened about the events of those years.

But this is also normal; many people remember a small thing for a lifetime, even poetically saying, "The things one could not obtain in youth will eventually trap one for a lifetime."

After Sha Huofo gained wisdom, he said the greatest Merit is "forgiveness and pardon." In fact, it is not just forgiving others; it is more about "letting oneself go."

He realized it immediately: why was I arguing with this foolish nun who doesn't understand reason? Isn't that just not intending to let myself go?

After thinking it through, Xu Jia bid them farewell: "I have been out for some time, and I fear my parents at home are worried, so I must take my leave!"

"We will visit the True Person on the mountain in a few days!" Scripture Master Daoren did not try to keep him, but instead escorted him all the way.

Once they were out of the temple, Xu Jia said: "You all go back!"

The Daoists refused and insisted on escorting him.

After escorting him to the foot of the mountain in front of Dizang An, Xu Jia said: "We have reached the foot of the mountain, no need to escort me further."

The Daoists still refused, escorting him another ten miles before stopping: "True Person, escorting you is like parting with our parents; we truly cannot bear it!"

"Don't say such mushy things; you have your own parents, why acknowledge me as one?"

"The grace of the True Person to our Yushan is like that of a parent who gives us new life!"

"You Shanju Guan, to flatter like this! If you say such things again, I won't come next time!" Xu Jia joked: "Just send me to here. Don't tell me that after three send-offs, there will be ten, eighteen? If you keep going, you'll send me all the way to Shanhai Guan. My home is in Qingtian, there will be plenty of chances to interact in the future!"

Xu Jia did not know that these Daoists already believed he was the "Ancestor reincarnated" and were willing to be his disciples and grand-disciples.

After bidding farewell to the Daoists, they watched Xu Jia leave.

"Zhenji, you continue to the Dao Record Bureau. Go stay at the City God Temple and get the government to approve the documents for building a temple. We will follow the True Person's words and build a Temple of the Heavenly Venerable Who Rescues from Suffering at Wugong Ling, and also set up a shrine for the Mountain God to worship the Chang Immortal Chang Yu. He is now our Yushan's Acting Mountain God and has a connection with the Ancestor."

Zhang Zhenji nodded: "That is only natural."

As Xu Jia walked, the small demons from the hall came to meet him. Huang Silang, Huang Jiuniang, plus Hu Delu, Hu Butang, and Hu Du Xiu, very nimbly, carried a sedan chair. This sedan chair was made of two bamboo poles supporting a chair.

"The little ones welcome the Great Immortal down the mountain!"

Seeing them pull this ridiculous stunt, Xu Jia laughed and scolded: "I told you to study the principles of being human properly, but look at you—what kind of dregs have you learned? The principles of being slaves? Why make this sedan chair?"

Hu Du Xiu flattered: "We have all heard! You, Great Immortal, are an Earth Immortal True Person reincarnated! An Earth Immortal True Person! You don't see one in five hundred years. With such a great Immortal, we have cultivated eighteen lifetimes of fortune to receive your teaching. Never mind being slaves or servants, we would even be willing to be oxen or horses!"

(End of chapter)