Chapter 1305: How I Achieved Emptiness

"Senior... Grand..." Jiang Wang fumbled through several honorifics, finally settling on, "How are you?"

Once, he had traveled ten thousand li, intercepting Zhuang Gaoxian above the Long River, engaging in a great battle, and saving his life.

This time, he even left the Empty Realm Monastery, pursuing Zhao Xuanyang under the pressure of the Jing Kingdom to rescue him from peril. Although he couldn't catch up, if not for Ku Jue's pursuit, Zhao Xuanyang would not have chosen to go to the ancient devil's den, and Jiang Wang would not have had the chance to save himself...

In ancient times, the kindness of a master to a disciple could not surpass this.

This bond was too profound, and he truly did not know how to repay it!

Furthermore, towards such a True Master who roamed the mundane world, what could a mere Inner Palace cultivator like him possibly do?

"How could I be? Of course, I am very well!" Ku Jue chuckled, "My good disciple, how did you escape?"

"A friend saved me," Jiang Wang replied, "However, to the outside, I am still considered missing while negotiating with the Jing Kingdom, so please do not reveal that I have escaped for the time being. I was also worried about you, so I specifically rushed to the Empty Realm Monastery to inform you through Master Jing Li."

Ku Jue's eyes suddenly widened, "Rebellious disciple! You also know that your master would worry? When you left the Qi Kingdom, why did you not come to see your master?"

Jiang Wang was speechless, only saying, "Your kindness towards me is unforgettable for all eternity. I truly do not know how I can repay it."

In the luminous mirror, Ku Jue waved a hand, "Wait!"

"Ah?" Jiang Wang was somewhat confused.

"Wait until I return to the Empty Realm Monastery to shave your head!"

Jiang Wang was stunned.

Ku Jue pointed a finger over, "Alright, you heartless one, you hesitated!"

"That..." Jiang Wang whispered, "Didn't you already leave the monastic order?"

Ku Jue rolled his eyes, "Can't I just return?"

It could be done like this??

Jiang Wang was somewhat bewildered.

Could a world-class sect like the Empty Realm Monastery truly be left and returned to at will, like child's play?

It sounded... not very reliable.

Jing Li the monk beside him was also stunned, but the reason for his astonishment was different, "Master, didn't you say you specifically left the monastic order to leave the Abbot position to me? Why are you returning now?"

"Jing Li!" Ku Jue lamented with a heavy heart, "Your Buddhist heart has wavered, you are no longer pure! You are actually abandoning your master for the mere position of Abbot!"

"I... I." Jing Li lowered his head in shame.

"What 'I' what 'I'!" Ku Jue's face had already darkened, speaking solemnly, "When the Buddhist heart is covered in dust, one should diligently wipe it away. Go stand in the corner as punishment!"

Jing Li obediently walked to the corner and stood still, feeling very wronged in his heart.

Jiang Wang was silent for a while, then said, "Master, although asking this is not very proper, towards you, I truly do not wish to conceal or dissemble. In truth, I have always wanted to ask you, why are you so good to me?"

"What kind of absurd question is this to ask!" Ku Jue rebuked, "It is only natural for a master to care for his disciple. You are my disciple, how can I not care for you?"

"Precisely, precisely." Jing Li quickly chimed in to agree, showing loyalty to his master in the hope of gaining forgiveness.

Ku Jue angrily rebuked him, "When you are standing in the corner as punishment, you are not allowed to speak!"

Jing Li's face fell, but he tightly closed his mouth.

Although he was reprimanded, Jiang Wang continued to ask, "Then I wish to ask, why are you so insistent on taking me as your disciple?"

It was not that he questioned Ku Jue's motives; if he truly did not trust Ku Jue, he would not have asked in this manner. He simply truly wanted to know the truth.

Everything has a cause and effect. Of course, one can treat another well without considering benefits, and of course, one can give without reservation, but where does this emotion come from?

He asked himself if his attitude towards Ku Jue was good; at first, it was suspicion and caution, later it was resistance and avoidance, and even later, although moved and close, he ultimately insisted on his own path and refused to enter Buddhism.

Why was Ku Jue so good to him from the very beginning?

"Of course, it is to find a peerless talent and boast in front of those bald donkeys... Ah, no." Ku Jue put on a passionate expression, "Of course, it is to find a fated person, to inherit my legacy, and to save all living beings and deliver the world with me! You are precisely that one in ten thousand peerless talent!"

This is... too preposterous.

The topic of "saving all living beings" is too grand and thus floats in the air.

But if Ku Jue was unwilling to speak the true reason, there was nothing Jiang Wang could do to force him.

He merely bowed deeply to the old monk with the yellow face, across the luminous mirror, "Please forgive me, it is not that Jiang Wang does not know what is good for him, but Jiang Wang carries a deep blood feud and truly cannot let go!"

Rejected again...

On the other side of the luminous mirror, Ku Jue was enraged, "Just now you said you didn't know how to repay me! Now I teach you and you don't listen?!"

He was so angry that he started cursing, "You little heartless stinking turtle!"

Jiang Wang did not lower his gaze, nor did he avoid him. He looked at the old monk with the yellow face very seriously and laid bare his heart to him, "Your kindness to Jiang Wang is already indescribable. Jiang Wang can repay it in any way, what is the pity of life and death?

But only I cannot follow you into the empty gate.

Jiang Wang escaped from his ghost-like hometown, not to escape to the outside world, not to live a wretched life, not to abandon all of that... but to be able to embrace all of that someday, to go back!

Sooner or later, I will go back, go back with my sword, no matter how long the road, no matter how many people obstruct me, no matter how much blood this sword will be stained with... Every time I close my eyes, I can see the spirits of my hometown calling out to me..."

Jiang Wang's eyes were slightly red, "Master Ku Jue, the souls of those hundreds of thousands of people are on my shoulders, how can I be free from all attachments?"

Ku Jue could naturally feel his sincerity, and thus became even more infuriated.

"Jing Li!" he shouted.

Jing Li the monk remained silent.

Ku Jue raged on the other side of the luminous mirror, "Alright, rebellious disciples! Every single one of you, are you all rebelling? Your master calls you, and you don't even respond!"

Jing Li said with a look of grievance, "You told me not to speak."

"You dare to talk back!?" Ku Jue was practically beside himself with rage. If not for being so far away, he would have probably already taken action.

"Then what do you want me to do!" Jing Li said with a pout.

"Beat him."

"Ah?"

Ku Jue pointed at Jiang Wang, "Go beat him for me! Give this stubborn rebellious disciple a good lesson!"

"Maybe not..." Jing Li缩了缩脖子, "Junior Brother is also very pitiful. I feel sad listening to him."

Ku Jue didn't care about any of that and said stubbornly, "Are you not listening to your master's words?"

Jing Li pursed his lips, "I'm listening."

"Then what are you standing there for?" Ku Jue directed, "Beat him hard for me!"

Jing Li saluted Jiang Wang with a raised palm, "Junior Brother, forgive me."

Jiang Wang, however, did not flee or avoid, and even simply closed his eyes, smiling bitterly, "If this can make Master angry, Jiang Wang is willing to take this beating."

"Still using the bitter trick on me! Do you think I'm stupid?" Ku Jue's anger was difficult to quell, "Jing Li, hurry up and strike for me!"

"Alright, Master, but if I start fighting, I won't be able to maintain the circular mirror." Jing Li said, and with a flick of his hand seal, he erased the luminous mirror, interrupting the communication.

"Use the Great Compassionate and Great Slap I taught you..." Ku Jue's urging voice abruptly stopped.

And Jing Li turned around with a formidable aura, facing Jiang Wang directly.

He was always the most obedient.

Most of the Empty Realm Monastery felt that Ku Jue was unreliable.

Only he regarded Ku Jue as a deity, treating Ku Jue's casual remarks as golden rules.

At this moment, his right hand was raised high...

But he merely gently placed it on Jiang Wang's forehead, as if he had already struck.

"Don't be sad anymore..." he whispered.