Chapter 2434: Confusion

Chapter 2398: Has Bewilderment

Your past illuminates your present, your shadow is yourself!

Such enormous sorrow, yet who can understand?

"Jiang Jun!" Yu Zhen softly called out, but ultimately did not allow those emotions to overflow.

Bai Gu Road, Xi Yue Nunnery, San Fen Xiang Lou, having walked this road, not a single step can stop, not a single moment can relax.

In lonely years, she had already grown accustomed to chewing on loneliness.

She sat on the meditation mat, looking up at the golden-haired, golden-clothed Jiang Wang, so familiar yet strange. She lifted a hand, her sleeve sliding back. This hand, like a spiritual snake swimming subtly, flipped behind her back, and her fingers, like scissors, gently picked, on the swaying burning lamp above, picking and cutting down a wisp of lamp wick, the wick still with fire.

She moved this hand that picked the lamp in front of her body. Slender jade fingers bloomed like a flower, snow-white amidst strands of dark hair. The candle flame danced on the back of her finger, casting wonderful light and shadow upon this hand, embedded and bound to the ground, like a dark-colored caged bird, wanting to fly but unable.

Suddenly, the candle flame bloomed, forming a lotus shape.

On her finger, a small light lotus bloomed, the flower opening with twelve petals. Each petal opened evenly, each one different, each with the birth and extinction of endless light and shadow.

When the resplendent light was first released, as the lotus perched on her finger, the gloomy shadows on her face had already retreated, her heavy, colorful features also showing several points of sanctity. She lightly opened her full lips: "May Jiang Jun tell me, the lotus opens twelve petals, each petal different, different in birth, different in growth, different in appearance, different in thought. How to distinguish them to know what should and should not be done?"

I think not every petal of a lotus knows what it should do.

Blooming and withering are not controlled by the lotus.

Ren Xin Hall's Yi Tang sat there quietly. In the lotus lamp, everyone saw a different self.

Lu Gongxiang had already died thirty-two years ago.

He, too, had grown from a child who recognized medicine by hugging pictures into the pillar of the sect he is today.

Yin Xiaoheng is still alive and well.

His tranquil expression dimmed momentarily, leaving only a long and lonely sigh. Yet, no sound was sighed out, only reflected in his eyebrows and eyes.

"Then let's discuss the Buddha!" The Tian Ren Fa Xiang lifted a hand and pointed at this light lotus. As he pointed at the lotus, his finger was like a sword.

In Buddhist Dharma, wisdom is the sword. Use this sword to cut the threads of worry!

Fierce light illuminated his face, the Tian Xiang spoke in a detached voice: "The Buddha says twelve causes and conditions, stemming from this lotus. He says — ignorance, action, consciousness, name and form, the six entrances, contact, feeling, craving, grasping, existence, birth, old age and death."

This is the fundamental teaching of Buddhism. Also called the "twelve links of dependent origination."

The law of dependent origination is an eternal and unchanging truth; the Buddha observed this truth and became enlightened.

Whether Mount Sumeru, Xuan Kong Temple, or Xi Yue Nunnery, this scripture is unavoidable.

As the Tian Ren Fa Xiang spoke each word, the lotus petals on Yu Zhen's finger back gave birth to corresponding Sanskrit characters. It was the linking of the Buddha's causal phases, following conditions for birth and extinction.

Jiang Zhen Jun, mouthful after mouthful, said he "does not know the Buddha," but the great path is through heaven, different paths lead to the same destination. He cultivates a hundred schools concurrently, diligently studies without ceasing, and has already ascended to the absolute peak, no family is a stranger to him. Moreover, with the layer of relationship with Ku Zhi, with the little junior brother Jing Li, and on good terms with Mount Sumeru, receiving the protection of the three bells... In the cultivation of Buddhist Dharma, it really cannot be said that he is not profound.

Not to mention high monks and great virtues, but he can also be considered a layman with the way at home.

"Ignorance conditions action, action conditions consciousness, consciousness conditions name and form, name and form conditions the six entrances, the six entrances conditions contact, contact conditions feeling, feeling conditions craving, craving conditions grasping, grasping conditions existence, existence conditions birth, birth conditions old age and death, sorrow, grief, suffering, annoyance—"

The Tian Ren Fa Xiang said: "Since you already possess a name, you should already be aware. This is described in the Buddhist scriptures. Master Tai resides in a famous temple, illuminating green lamps, chanting scriptures, you should not not know, you should not have bewilderment."

"Jiang Jun speaks of the twelve causes and conditions, this poor nun knows it. Where this poor nun knows, does Jiang Jun not know? Craving, that is greedy craving. Grasping, that is deluded grasping. These two, I cannot deny. Encountering a liked joyful realm then thought after thought greedily seeking, must exhaust heart and strength to obtain it and then stop, that is my dusty heart!" Yu Zhen's eyes were lonely like a hanging moon, thus illuminating the quiet sea in front: "This poor nun has bewilderment! Has the Honored Upper no bewilderment?"

Zhuo Qingru listened and listened—something is not quite right ah.

The true transmission of Xi Yue Nunnery and the master of Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace are properly discussing the Buddha, but the more she listened, the more she felt awkward.

Of course, she also read some Buddhist scriptures, and understood a little about Buddhist Dharma. Contemporary prominent learning, who would slight it?

These two people were discussing the burning lamp Buddha, talking about the twelve causes and conditions of the lotus, and indeed were talking about those things. But there seemed to be some emotions flowing between the words, especially the female nun Yu Zhen, discussing the way so invested? Every word a burning lamp, every word like the past ah.

She looked at Yu Zhen for a while, then at Jiang Wang for a while, wishing she could pass over a pen—what past do these two have?

Fortunately, everyone in the hall was also engrossed in this discussion, so she was not very conspicuous.

"Past two causes, ignorance, action. Present five fruits, consciousness, name and form, the six entrances, contact, feeling. Present three causes, craving, grasping, existence. Future two fruits, birth, old age and death." The Tian Ren Fa Xiang stood to the side, so standing, it was a distant distance, lightly joining his palms: "Past causes knot present fruits. Present causes knot future fruits. Former matters cannot but be reflected, cannot but be seen before one's eyes."

He will speak of former causes and later results, he will speak of the burning lamp past, he has read, he knows the twelve causes and conditions.

Having reached such a realm today, he understands everything. He is no longer the ignorant youth who saw the mountain collapse like the sky before Jade Balance Peak, no longer the helpless and powerless lonely soul outside Maple Forest City.

But he just didn't say whether he had bewilderment.

Yu Zhen's eyes were very firm, only lifting the lotus perched on her finger: "This lotus is only ordinary light, why does the Honored Upper name it 'causes and conditions'?"

"It can be any name. No matter how it is modified, what shape, it has already occurred." The Tian Ren Fa Xiang faintly glanced at the light lotus: "Discussing it with the Buddha is just to let Master Tai understand."

But they both knew, the burning lamp was the past Buddha.

This lotus-shaped burning lamp was their unavoidable past.

Sitting in the "fifth" position, Ye Lan'er did not look at Jiang Wang at all, from beginning to end, she only looked at Yu Zhen's side profile. There was no usual perfect expression on her face, but a slightly flawed sigh—Yu Zhen ah Yu Zhen, why did you insist on entering Xi Yue Nunnery?

A person like you, even if you truly wanted to escape into the empty door. You should have gone to Xuan Kong Temple to cultivate the present, you should have gone to Mount Sumeru to cultivate the future, only you should not have been here. A person who can never shake off the past, how can they comprehend the past? Saying it's escape, yet holding on deep.

The more you cultivate, the more you hold on, the more you comprehend, the more you cannot empty.

But she did not speak. She knew Mist Moon had only one answer—I am willing.

If there is anyone in this world who truly understands Jiang Wang, the female nun Yu Zhen of Xi Yue Nunnery can, of course, be counted as one.

So she should be very clear what answer she would get by coming to Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace today. She also particularly understood that the Tian Ren Fa Xiang is the one with the most indifferent emotions, the one who can most cut off emotions.

But she still came.

Yu Zhen, who understood everything, yet asked: "The lotus opens twelve petals, Jun has six phases, this poor nun has four faces. May I ask Jiang Jun, which petal, which phase, which face, can be the same, is the true me?"

This female nun sitting on the meditation mat has four faces, Bai Lian, Mi Yue, Miao Yu, Yu Zhen.

Jiang Wang saw Miao Yu at San Fen Xiang Lou, met Bai Lian at Yu Heng, encountered Yu Zhen at Xi Yue Nunnery, knew Mi Yue in Nan Dou, all four faces are already fully known.

Their respective faces, perhaps in this Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace, only they know each other.

Thousands of threads, myriad strands, difficult to speak!

The Tian Ren Fa Xiang, after all, had profound cultivation, and slowly said: "Flowers open are all lotus, six phases all prove me. Master Tai Yu Zhen, your four faces, have become your present. I once thought I could conquer everything, I possessed everything, in fact, we are all pushed by time. You and I are both unable to shake off the past, both just ordinary beings."

He raised his palm in a salute: "May you have gain by coming to Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace, hear its way."

It should end. This session of seeking the way!

But Yu Zhen persistently lifted the lotus perched on her finger, and continued to ask: "Now still ordinary beings, if surpassed?"

"How difficult to surpass! Can be hoped for, not reached." The Tian Ren Fa Xiang said indifferently: "Today one does not know tomorrow's matters, I also do not know myself in other days, especially dare not speak rashly of surpassing."

"Though the way is long, lift your eyes and you can see it, it also counts as hope." Yu Zhen said: "I think a person like you has the answer in your heart."

After a long silence, the Tian Ren Fa Xiang said: "After surpassing, still Jiang Wang."

Yu Zhen brought the light lotus perched on her finger to her lips, and gently blew—

The lotus flower petals, piece by piece, flew away.

Twelve petals, infinite illusion light, for a time filled the sky.

She laughed, that smile was truly bitter: "Jun points to this flower as causes and conditions, leading to the Buddha's thoughts of twelve causes. May I ask, which petal of the flower is its wish, which phase of Jiang Jun is his true nature, which face of Yu Zhen is my attachment?"

The Tian Ren Fa Xiang opened his mouth wanting to speak, but the words reached the edge of his mouth, and he actually didn't know what to say.

Yes, ah, which petal of the flower is her wish?

You, Jiang Wang, have walked to today, could it all be according to your original heart?

Demon Ape, Immortal Dragon, ordinary beings, Heavenly Person, are they all your true nature?

People always find it easy when seeking from others, difficult when asking themselves!

The sky was filled with petals, each piece with light and shadow flowing over, as if telling something.

But in countless nights, as soon as I open my eyes, there are always many pairs of eyes watching me.

The past, cannot be changed.

The past is forever gone.

The Tian Ren Fa Xiang extinguished the faint threads of emotion, and opened his mouth: "Next one—"

"Do not have a next one!" The female nun of Xi Yue Nunnery suddenly stood up, her plain black clothes therewith fluttering, the emotions concealed under the green lamp instantly surged like a tide, no longer able to be concealed!

"I want you to answer me at this moment! Jiang Wang! I passed the examination and entered the palace, there is my name on the seat above, this is Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace, I am seeking the way!"

Within the Tian Palace, for a time, everything was quiet.

Even if they were blind, they would also see that they were not quite right.

The armored person sitting in the first position looked at the Zhen Jun Jiang Wang in front for a while, then at the female nun Yu Zhen beside him for a while, tilting his head, not knowing what he was calculating.

The short-statured Sheng Xuehuai supported his chin with his hand, a smile rising on his ugly face, things had become interesting now. As the first talent of the Sheng Country, a romantic figure within the Dao school, a lyricist among a pile of rouge, he was really not very patient with those proper ways of seeking the way.

The hearts of those seeking the way are all different, the Tian Ren Fa Xiang was almost expressionless.

He said: "Master Tai Yu Zhen, you have lost your composure."

"I am very impolite, but I am very clear, I know what I want, I see my heart clearly." Yu Zhen was calm at this time, only looking at him: "Jiang Jun, you will not lose your composure, but can you face your heart?"

"Your way is not here." The Tian Ren Fa Xiang only said: "Foot under the disciple of Xi Yue Nunnery, the way is in the Sanskrit scriptures. In the time of the majestic eon, the Supreme Fixed Light Tathagata."

Yu Zhen joined her palms, at this moment her precious appearance was solemn, behind her burning lamp was infinite halo light: "My Buddha, is before my eyes."

Fan Zheng opened his big mouth.

For him, who was only ten years old this year, this sentence's impact was really somewhat big.

His coming to Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace was not arranged by anyone, but his own idea.

The eaves of the Fan family were too heavy, there were many things he could not figure out, but occasionally he wanted to come out and breathe.

Just no matter how he was called the "Xianyang child prodigy," no matter how he was side by side with Gan Changan who was eight years old that year, he was still far from the time to consider the big matters of life. That Prime Minister of Great Qin too early taught him some things that a Fan clan heir should know but he was actually still unwilling to know.

The young him, always taught about the human heart, taught vertical and horizontal strategies, the learning of a hundred schools, when had he felt such intense emotions?

He had never seen the spring in the suburbs of Xianyang.

But who can say, this is not seeking the way?

Just within this Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace, before Yu Zhen, a black, dim cave entrance quietly appeared, as if connecting to an endless abyss, an eternal hell.

"May the Honored Upper comprehend early. No fear and no dread, obtain proof of surpassing, forever free."

As Yu Zhen spoke, she took a step forward, leaped into it, her black clothes flying, and thus, along with that black, dim cave entrance, disappeared from sight.

The Tian Ren Fa Xiang was still standing there, silent for a moment, then said: "Those who enter the Tian Palace today are all for seeking the way—"

Perhaps he also felt this sentence was not very forceful.

He paused: "Next one."

The master of Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace walked to his own meditation mat and slowly sat down.

The Tian Ren Fa Xiang had indifferent emotions, the sun and moon heavenly seal eternally without emotion.

He sat there, body still, eyes downcast, as if he could sit guard eternally, a truly pious seeker of the way, a sincere transmitter of the way—

But suddenly he stood up again!

Not only him.

Within the entire Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace, who was not sharp-eared and keen-eyed, who was not widely knowledgeable, all at this moment received shocking news, one by one with wide eyes and gaping mouths, stunned on the spot!

Zhong Xuan's hand shook with the knife and pen, engraving the wrong mark on the book slip, this branch all had to be redone. But he no longer had time to care. A new storm was brewing, about to sweep through. How many of the people seeking the way in the Tian Palace today could stand aside, or rather, how many were already in it?

Yu Xianyu was even more lost for words: "How could this be?!"

Outside the Tian Palace, the bell rang in time.

That was originally the bell sound to awaken the spirit and seek the way, it could help those seeking the way sense the rhythm of the way, but at this moment it seemed to announce the end.

Dao Calendar year three nine three zero, third month, third day, is destined to be a day etched in history books.

On this day, Zhao Wen Dao Tian Palace opened, Zhen Jun Zhen He and the Tian Ren Fa Xiang sat guard at the Tian Palace, transmitting the way to the world, there were thirty-six seats in the palace, not one was empty. On this day, Chu Country's Xiong Zidu was released from prison, a monk named Fan Shijue was decreed as the Great Chu National Teacher, and the Chu Heavenly Son Xiong Ji, within the Imperial Extreme Hall, unfolded the last round of large-scale purges.

Also on this day.

On the heavily sealed, never-before-allowed-to-be-explored Tianma Plain, a field of splendid blood rain fell.

This spring rain, perhaps too abundant!

Lying on his back on the Tianma Highland, a magnificent Dao body opened his big eyes without spirit, gazing at the high sky.

His armor was shattered, his weapons were only left with fragments.

His heart had been dug out, his four limbs chopped off, his face covered with crisscrossing scars from different weapons, like a chessboard carved on his face. His death state was extremely miserable, declaring a kind of bone-deep hatred.

A general who once made countless opponents tremble, who was avoided by various sides, had been killed here.

His name was Yin Xiaoheng.