Chapter 108: The Tribulation-Responding Bodhisattva

The unmanned cargo vehicle Ning Qing reserved has arrived.

This thing has a clumsy appearance, square-headed and square-brained, with no driver's cab; almost its entire body is a cargo hold. The model Ning Qing reserved is about the same size as a standard micro-truck, but because it lacks a driver's cab and passenger cabin, its cargo capacity is significantly larger than a micro-truck.

You can control it to open the cargo hold automatically via a Mobile Phone.

Chen Shu began helping to move things onto it.

The young girl also came along to help with the work.

Don't look at them as just some flowers; with nearly a hundred pots from the whole courtyard, even if you trimmed away all the crown width, the space occupied by the pots alone was not small at all.

They were all large, mature flowers at least several years old in big pots. After covering the entire bottom of the cargo vehicle, they still hadn't all been loaded. Fortunately, for some flowers that were trimmed more heavily or had fewer branches to begin with, a smaller pot could be placed in the gaps between several large ones.

Once stacked like this and secured, the job was done.

Close the cargo hold, click confirm.

The square-headed, square-brained little cargo vehicle left.

Afterward, it will drive to a checkpoint to go through the necessary procedures; once the inspection passes, it will be automatically delivered to the destination.

From Bai City to Yujing, taking the highway is even further than the high-speed rail. This thing can only run at a maximum of 120 yards, it won't stop midway, and considering the potential for traffic jams, it can be delivered in about two days.

The courtyard suddenly became empty, with only two ground-planted roses left; the rest that were planted in the ground had all been dug up by Ning Qing.

A climbing rose and a shrub rose remained.

Both were growing very well, healthy and lush.

"Why leave them behind?"

Ning Qing answered in a low voice: "Because these two are low-maintenance varieties; they can grow very well without pesticides, fertilizer, or care. Leaving them here allows me to see them when I come back every winter and summer break."

Chen Shu turned his head and secretly glanced at her.

Ning Qing clearly noticed his gaze, so she added: "They can also be left for them to see."

She does not know how to lie.

Chen Shu, even if he hadn't practiced the Heart Dao, could see her inner heart most of the time.

Entering the house.

Chen Shu sat beside her, held her hand, and forcibly removed her nail polish. Ning Qing had no way to resist him, so she could only sit beside him and silently observe his expression, the luster in her eyes flickering.

Afternoon.

Chen Shu returned home with a few flowers.

Chen Jiaoshou and Wei Lvshi were both at home, and Chen Banxia had also packed her things and was waiting on the sofa.

He searched for a vase, washed it again, filled it with more than half a bottle of water, trimmed the flowers to length and inserted them, placed them on the living room coffee table, and then said with a grin to Wei Lvshi, who seemed to be preparing to go out, and Chen Jiaoshou, who was sitting on the sofa looking at stocks: "Dear Mom and Dad, your handsome and erudite son is returning to school today and won't be seen for another half year. May I ask if any feelings of reluctance have arisen in your hearts?"

"Reluctant."

Wei Lvshi walked out holding her bag.

Chen Jiaoshou did not answer; he didn't even lift his head, his eyes meeting the dim green light in the screen, obsessed only with his charitable cause.

Chen Shu grinned: "Then may I ask if you have prepared a big farewell red envelope for me?"

"What time is the flight?"

Wei Lvshi was already opening the door as she asked.

"Eight o'clock."

"Oh, then I can't make it back. I have a case that's quite troublesome. I'll have your dad take you guys then." Wei Lvshi had already walked outside, and after saying this, she ignored her dear son's helpless expression and closed the door directly.

"Clang."

Chen Shu aimed his gaze at Chen Jiaoshou again.

Chen Jiaoshou was temporarily deaf.

"Sigh."

Chen Shu let out a sigh.

Chen Banxia was laughing uncontrollably on the side.

After dinner, they left with their luggage, Sausage, and Cured Meat.

Security check and boarding.

Took off on time at eight o'clock.

It was already dark below, but after the plane broke through the clouds, they actually saw light in the west again. This light was like a ball of flame in the darkness, illuminating the rolling clouds beneath the firmament.

The young girl had both hands pressed against the window frame, like a little cat lying by the window looking out, staring at the outside without blinking.

They arrived in Yujing at midnight.

The passengers stood up one after another to put on more clothes.

Under her brother-in-law's coercion, the young girl also reluctantly wrapped herself in a very thick down jacket, looking like a penguin with a little bun tied at the back of her head. Chen Shu couldn't help but want to fiddle with it, and the young girl didn't mind him.

Outside the airport.

Chen Shu symbolically sent a message in the family group to tell the old couple they had arrived safely. He thought they were already asleep and wouldn't reply, but unexpectedly, Wei Lvshi hadn't slept yet and replied with an "um."

Most likely working overtime.

Chen Banxia leaned over to Chen Shu's side and asked with a grin: "It's so late, are you still going back to the Dormitory?"

Chen Shu looked at her in confusion:

"It doesn't lock the doors anyway."

"Little brother, come stay at big sister's place!" Chen Banxia invited him warmly, "I have to go to the lab to work when I get back. You can just cook for me; if you serve your big sister's appetite well, big sister will pay you a salary."

"You're the one with the beautiful thoughts; I'm your cook, right?" Chen Shu rolled his eyes, "I still have things to be busy with..."

"Then come to my place tonight!"

"Fine."

Chen Shu agreed reluctantly.

One hour later.

Chen Shu lay on Chen Banxia's sofa; the room had heating and was very warm. He only covered himself with a thin blanket, comfortably playing with his Mobile Phone.

He happened to scroll past a short video of the Emperor offering the first incense stick at Xinzheng Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year; he had already seen it many times these past few days.

In the footage, besides the elderly Emperor dressed in a black-based dragon robe with gold threads, one could also see the Calamity-Response Bodhisattva.

The Calamity-Response Bodhisattva also held the title of "Living Buddha"; decades ago, he was the supreme leader of the Buddhist Sect, had served as the abbot of Xinzheng Temple, and held the official title of Abbot, though he had long since ceased to concern himself with worldly affairs.

Three years ago, the Emperor also came to Xinzheng Temple to offer the first incense stick, worshipping the Buddha and praying for the prosperity of the nation. At that time, this Bodhisattva did not come out to receive him, but was instead received by the current abbot of Xinzheng Temple.

Consequently, this grand occasion this year received high attention from many foreign media outlets, who reported on it frantically, with all sorts of conjectures emerging.

Some said the Calamity-Response Bodhisattva's time was near.

Some said the Emperor's time was near.

Some said both of their times were near.

These were the three mainstream speculations.

There were also various other guesses, such as the Buddhist Sect being weak and wanting to revitalize, the cooperation between Yiguo and the Buddhist Sect deepening, religious culture invading from the outside, and some even saying the Imperial Family wanted to use the power of the Buddhist Sect to restore absolute monarchy and regain power.

It was all a mess.

But it was indeed very unusual.

Chen Shu leaned more toward the first three conjectures.

Because, judging by the timeline, the Emperor's time was indeed near.

And how many years had this Bodhisattva lived?

There were no accurate records, but as far as Chen Shu felt, it was at least four hundred years; if it were more, it was likely nearly five hundred years.

That was indeed long enough.

At the same time, the Calamity-Response Bodhisattva had been honored as a "Living Buddha" for nearly twenty years; Chen Shu vaguely remembered it was the year after he was born that the Buddhist Sect announced the news to the public.

It had shocked the whole world at the time.

The title "Living Buddha" was very rare; not every leader of the Buddhist Sect, or one whose cultivation had reached a certain tier, could be honored as a "Living Buddha."

This title only appeared once every few hundred or thousand years.

Usually, the Buddhist Sect called the Seventh Stage the Dharma-Protecting Heavenly God, the Eighth Stage was called Arhat, and the Ninth Stage was the Living Bodhisattva—needless to say, this was another random ranking by his fellow countrymen. In ancient times, High-Tier Practitioners were indeed as powerful as gods, even more powerful than the gods in the mythologies of many regions.

If a Ninth Stage were placed on Earth, he could defeat all the armies on Earth.

Above the Ninth Stage was the Buddha.

There was no Shakyamuni, no Lord Buddha.

There was only a fictionalized Amitabha and the continuously emerging new Buddhas.

Every person in history who had been honored as a "Living Buddha" eventually transformed into a Golden Body, standing at the very center of the worship area in all the temples under heaven. Until they were pushed to the side by the next Bodhisattva who ascended to become a Buddha, they still received eternal incense offerings.

The official claim was that their merit was complete, surpassing their predecessors, and thus they were honored as Living Buddhas; after passing away, they would transform into true Buddhas, continuing to lead everyone to purify their hearts, do good, and save the world and themselves.

In Chen Shu's view, this person was about to become a god.

In the short video, the elderly Emperor faced the Buddha statue, holding red incense, bowing sincerely, while the Calamity-Response Bodhisattva stood to the side watching quietly, without joy or sorrow.

Then the footage cut.

The Emperor and the high monk walked side by side, stepping over three-thousand-year-old bluestone slabs, passing through the courtyard, not knowing where they were going.

Both were wearing traditional attire.

But standing beside them were several soldiers wrapped in metal Power Armor; tradition and technology, ancient times and the future, the temple that had stood for a thousand years without falling, and the three-thousand-year-old withered Bodhi tree in the middle—the scene was very impactful.

All the short videos only had these two scenes.

As Chen Shu watched, he suddenly felt that Xinzheng Temple seemed quite nice; he had only been to Yuan'an Temple when visiting Yujing before and had never been to Xinzheng Temple.

For some reason, he felt like going to take a look.

It just so happened that school didn't start until the day after tomorrow.

So he hurriedly opened Messaging App—

Chen Shu: Qingqing Qingqing

Chen Shu: Are you asleep?

Qingqing: Speak.

Chen Shu: Let's take Xiaoxiao to visit Xinzheng Temple tomorrow.

Qingqing: Okay.

Chen Shu: I'll come pick you up.

Qingqing: I'll come find you.

Chen Shu: That works too.

Qingqing: I want to eat sour soup Dumplings.

Chen Shu: I knew it...

Chen Shu: Fine.

He then closed Messaging App and first used the navigation to check the route to Xinzheng Temple.

Public transportation was quite convenient; not far from his place, he could take the subway, and then there was a special tourist line to Xinzheng Temple, which took about an hour and a half one way. The navigation also recommended the vegetarian meal at Xinzheng Temple for five yuan per person, saying it was delicious; at the same time, the antique market at the foot of Xinzheng Temple was the largest antique market in all of Yujing, so he could go and broaden his horizons.

It was a pity that with Taozi, he wouldn't be able to get on the subway.

Taking a taxi wasn't too far either, over thirty kilometers.

He then looked at photos taken by other photographers: red walls and dark tiles, deep temple courtyards, ancient bells and incense tripods, curling blue smoke, monks in quiet cultivation, and pilgrims coming and going—the scene was beautiful and harmonious.

"Not bad, not bad."

Chen Shu said repeatedly.

He was not actually repulsed by the Buddhist Sect of this world.

In fact, the Buddhist Sect and Daoist Sect of this world are the same, and they do not have much of a relationship with the Buddhism and Daoism of my previous life.

They are merely two sects and schools founded by Shengzu, and the core philosophies they follow also originate entirely from Shengzu, differing significantly from those of my previous life.

Chen Shu had thought about the reason for this.

It is possible that the fellow countryman from my previous life did not know much about the Buddhist and Daoist sects to begin with, and founded the Buddhist and Daoist schools based on their own impressions or imagination.

But it is more likely that the fellow countryman never intended to copy the Buddhism and Daoism of the previous life, but merely borrowed their shells and some of the core philosophies they wanted, while the remaining core philosophies were things they modified and added themselves, to ensure that the Buddhist and Daoist sects could take root in this strange world and be exactly as they wanted them to be.

In the five thousand years of wind, frost, snow, and rain that followed, the philosophies of the Buddhist and Daoist sects have each undergone changes, yet they still protect this country and its people.

If one is a citizen of Yiguo who is well-versed in ancient history, they would likely have a very favorable impression of them.