Chapter 229

Even the Dahui Chan Master suggested I go back to Mount Cangwu to have a look.

What exactly is waiting for me in Mount Cangwu?

Although Fengli Shu is already dead, can the Feng Clan really tolerate me?

Before I could think too much or ask too many questions, the Dahui Chan Master was already bidding me farewell: "Ah Wu, go back."

"Tell that kid, since you have chosen this path, then go down it to the end."

"At the end of darkness is dawn."

After saying that, the Dahui Chan Master's physical body had withered to the state of a normally mummified corpse, devoid of any vitality.

But my soul truly became substantial, pulled out of the high tower by a strong force.

Not long after, I suddenly woke from sleep.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Liu Junyan sitting cross-legged, my head resting on his thigh, Shi Wu filled with harmony.

He seemed to know what had happened, without the panic and hysteria I felt when my soul had just wandered off.

He merely stroked my head and said, "You're awake."

I grunted and sat up.

Originally we were sitting face to face, but Liu Junyan reached out, pulled me into his embrace, and said, "Just now your soul wandered off; I couldn't wake you no matter how I called, but then I sensed a very familiar aura, after which your condition stabilized. Xiao Jiu, what just happened?"

I then recounted what had just happened, as well as the Dahui Chan Master's final instructions for me to convey to him, one by one.

After listening, Liu Junyan murmured, "Go down this road to the end… At the end of darkness is dawn…"

When the Dahui Chan Master said those words, I immediately thought of many things.

About the evil monk.

About what Yu Nian had once told me…

The Dahui Chan Master is a true enlightened monk, whereas Liu Junyan… by comparison, does not look like a monk at all.

No, that's not right.

Liu Junyan was never a monk to begin with.

He merely awakened partial memories of the Copper Coin Person, becoming as he is now.

No, still not right.

If what I just saw was the Dahui Chan Master's physical body, then what is the deal with the Copper Coin Person in the west room of Dang Pu?

I strained to recall the appearance of the Copper Coin Person.

In my mind, the Copper Coin Person, the Dahui Chan Master, and Liu Junyan gradually overlapped; from certain angles, they indeed seemed to be the same person.

The two remained silent for a long time until a faint light appeared outside the window; Liu Junyan suddenly asked, "Ah Wu—does he refer to you, or to the Great Witch?"

"He said my soul is deficient but bears traces of witchcraft having filled it in." I analyzed, "The witchcraft filling likely refers to the Great Witch's face that previously Parasitic Dwelling in my soul; now that face has vanished, so Ah Wu probably refers to my past life."

Or not a past life either.

My past life should be Fengli Nu.

So Ah Wu must be even earlier.

I can't even figure out Fengli Nu, let alone Ah Wu.

Liu Junyan gently pinched and rubbed my earlobe, thoughtfully saying, "Xiao Jiu, you are you—not Fengli Nu, not any Ah Wu; you may seek your past life's origins, but do not lose yourself, understand?"

I nodded.

Liu Junyan asked, "So you've decided to make a trip back to Mount Cangwu?"

"The Great Witch instructed me to go, and the Dahui Chan Master also told me to go." I said, "I think Mount Cangwu surely has something especially important that I need to discover, so at least I should go back once."

"Going is definitely necessary." Liu Junyan said, "Xiao Jiu, give me some time; I will figure out how to send people into the Feng Clan again to investigate, see the specific situation, find a suitable opportunity, and accompany you back to Mount Cangwu."

I agreed.

After dawn, we returned to the Great Dharma King Temple.

The Empty Silence Abbott led us to the side hall.

In the side hall, the Buddha Lamp that Liu Junyan had offered for me had been completely extinguished.

The Empty Silence Abbott glanced at Liu Junyan, then at me, and said nothing.

But I felt he actually knew the situation in his heart.

Yesterday he specifically instructed Liu Junyan to take me out more often; perhaps he had already calculated that we would encounter last night's opportunity?

And today, perhaps he also noticed a change from our appearances.

But he did not ask anything.

The Buddha saves all beings.

The so-called salvation does not directly tell you the outcome, but guides you to experience and comprehend it.

After leaving the side hall, I received a call from Li Qingying.

She tentatively asked, "Xiao Jiu, how are things on your end? Seventh Lord didn't say roughly when you'd be back."

I immediately realized she had something to say, but was afraid of disturbing us here.

After all, we had only just arrived at Mount Song.

I asked, "Is something wrong at Dang Pu?"

"It's Xue Feng," Li Qingying hesitated a bit, then said, "Today I went to see her, and discovered… there are some changes in the basin…"

I immediately grew nervous: "What changes? Don't you have Huo Shu's contact? If necessary, you can ask him to come over and take a look."

Li Qingying said, "I asked Huo Shu; Huo Shu said Xue Feng might be about to wake up."

Xue Feng is about to wake up?!

Li Qingying also said, "Moreover, it's not in the form of a little white bird, but a human shape… you know, she previously ate the ice silkworm, and Huo Shu worries that when she wakes up she might lose some control."

Now I understand.

If Xue Feng wakes up, but her consciousness is being controlled by the ice silkworm, then the situation is indeed hard to control.

"I know." I said, "We'll go back this afternoon."

Liu Junyan stood beside me, and he heard everything Li Qingying said.

We're not afraid of Xue Feng going mad in Dang Pu; we're just afraid she'll run out…

Empty Silence Abbott heard us say we'd go back after lunch, he looked at Liu Junyan and said earnestly, "Chan master, last time you came back, I told you these words—you must keep them in mind, and when you have nothing to do, come back to Song Mountain more often."

Liu Junyan said he would.

It was still Liu Junyan who drove back.

I sat in the passenger seat and couldn't help asking, "Last time you came back, what did Empty Silence Abbott say to you? I could tell he was very solemn."

Liu Junyan brushed it off quickly: "Nothing."

I snorted, feigning anger: "So in your eyes, I'm just someone you can casually brush off."

Liu Junyan glanced at me, gave a light chuckle, and said, "Who taught you that reverse psychology?"

"Isn't my extraordinary talent enough?"

Liu Junyan laughed again, his whole body relaxing.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel a few times, as if making up his mind, and said, "He said I still have one calamity in my fate; to resolve it, I should first return to Song Mountain."

I frowned: "He wants you to go back and become a monk?"

Liu Junyan shook his head: "No need to shave my head."

I asked: "Practice while keeping your hair?"

"Not either." Liu Junyan said, "In Buddhism there is a practice called wandering the world; I don't know if you've heard of it…"