Nightfall

Studying Buddhism

“That day, a bloody aura shot into the skies. I was on the Tile Mountain and was terrified. The bell in the 17th temple of the Lanke Temple gave a warning sign. It rang at the same time the aura appeared for three days and three nights.”

Master Qishan turned around and looked at Ning Que. He said, “And just a few days ago, the Buddhist bell in the 17th temple rang again. The ringing of the bell could be heard in Tile Mountain. That was when I realized that the bloody aura had appeared once more.”

Ning Que’s expression did not change when he heard that. However his body, hidden in his black Academy uniform, tensed up involuntarily. His mind was in a mess and his awareness grew.

The Buddhist bell in the Lanke Temple had rung due to Lotus’ Practice of Taotie. It must have rung a few days ago because it had sensed that he had done something to Long Qing in the Red Lotus Temple under the autumn rain.

Maser Qishan had obviously guessed the truth behind the incident, but he did not choose to unveil it. He said benevolently, “I am old and dying. While I cannot say that I have seen through both good and evil, I have understood some things. However, not many in the world can do the same, for example, the Xuankong Temple and the Haotian Taoism.”

“To the Haotian Taoism, the Buddhism Sect is not part of them, much less the Devil’s Doctrine. Ning Que, you have to understand that the heavens cannot be beaten by a man. No matter how strong Mr. Ke was, he could not be stronger than the heavens. And no matter how tall the Headmaster is, he cannot be taller than the skies. There are some things that shouldn’t be touched, and if you have touched them, forget them.”

Ning Que knew that the master meant well and that he was trying to persuade Ning Que to not delve any deeper into joining the Devil. No matter what kind of situation he was to face, he shouldn’t use the evil and bloody Practice of Taotie.

After that autumn rain, he had often felt the strong lingering sweet taste of blood in his mouth. It was as if Long Qing’s blood and flesh were still stuck in the gaps in his teeth and he was absolutely disgusted.

Because of the emotional trauma he had since he was a child, he believed that he could control himself and not use the Practice of Taotie. However, he could not stop cultivating his Youngest Uncle’s Great Spirit. Then would he eventually take the path that Youngest Uncle had?

Master Qishan said, “Tell me about Lotus.”

Ning Que lowered his head in silence. Even if the master had guessed the truth, he did not intend to acknowledge it because he did not want to take any risks.

Master Qishan sighed, “I was the one who had brought Younger Brother Lotus to the Buddhism Sect decades ago. How could I not sense then, that he had passed his legacy to you? I just want to know what happened to him afterwards.”

Perhaps the regret in the Master’s voice had touched Ning Que, or maybe it was because Ning Que respected the relationship between the Master and Lotus. After some hesitation, he began to tell him about the bizarre story in the depths of the Wilderness.

“The side hall was filled with bones and dried corpses. Master Lotus sat in the middle of the pile of bones…”

…

…

The Lanke Temple was quiet in the autumn rain. A certain temple had lit incense and the scent stubbornly wafted through the rain to the corridor at the back temple. The cold atmosphere turned into a solemn one.

After listening to Ning Que’s tale, Master Qishan stayed silent for a long time.

He inhaled the faint incense scent and lifted his thin arm. His fingers danced across the air, trembling as if he wanted to grasp something. However, the scent of sandalwood could only be smelled and not touched. Just like a memory, it could not be gripped.