Xu Jing said with a sigh, “It was to preserve our lives.” He made a gesture.
A few young disciples ran out of the Hall of Great Strength. They soon returned with several stretchers which carried the bodies of the dead. Judging from their outfits, they must have been core disciples of the Heaven Choice Temple. They might even be elders.
Xu Jing pointed at the corpses and said, “The Heaven Choice Temple’s Discipline Hall’s First Seat, Kong Liao, and the Scripture Hall’s First Seat, Kong Jian. Eight Attendants of the Supervision Court and the Twelve Temple Seats. They were all killed by the Temple of Great Emptiness’ Four Divine Monks.”
There were not many corpses that were brought into the hall, and yet, Xu Jing listed so many names. When he spoke, his expression was calm as though he was already used to dealing with deaths.
“The Temple of Great Emptiness and the Heaven Choice Temple are of the same line. Why would the Temple of Great Emptiness kill members of its own?” Lu Zhou asked.
“It’s a long story…” Xu Jing slowly said, “Ever since Grandmaster Kong Xuan of the Temple of Great Emptiness emerged from his cultivation in seclusion, the Temple of Great Emptiness has changed their attitude in regard to the world’s affairs. They prided themselves on converting the masses and bringing salvation to all. The Heaven Choice Temple and the Temple of Great Emptiness have never intervened in each other’s affairs, but…” He paused for a moment before continuing, “The Temple of Great Emptiness is convinced that I was the one who killed Kong Xuan.”
Lu Zhou listened to his story while he stroked his beard. The memories of the incident at Runan’s holy altar was still fresh in his mind. However, he did not expect it would spark conflict between the Temple of Great Emptiness and the Heaven Choice Temple.
“They wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said… On top of that, there were many Noble Path cultivators at the holy altar who witnessed it. The Temple of Great Emptiness is using this as an excuse to go against us… This Heaven Choice Temple is no longer what it once was. How can we go up against the Four Divine Monks?” Xu Jing said.
“That’s why you thought of the Evil Sky Pavilion,” Lu Zhou said.
“Precisely.” Xu Jing bowed slightly. “I heard the Temple of Great Emptiness is on bad terms with the Evil Sky Pavilion… I truly have no choice. There are more than 1,000 lives in this temple so I had to resort to this. If the Evil Sky Pavilion removes the Four Divine Monks, I’ll not only surrender the sable magnolia and the zen tunic, the Heaven Choice Temple will also submit to the Evil Sky Pavilion!”
Mingshi Yin and the others were taken aback.
Just how much courage did Xu Jing muster to make this decision?
Under Great Yan’s skies, the Noble and Fiend Paths did not tolerate each other. The Buddhist societies had always been neutral, if the Heaven Choice Temple truly joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, they would be condemned by those on the Noble Path.
Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “You’re the Heaven Choice Temple’s abbot and have always been closer to the Noble Path. If you choose to submit to the Evil Sky Pavilion, aren’t you worried that you’ll become the laughingstock of the world?”
Xu Jing scoffed and said in a slightly contemptuous tone, “There’s a fine line between becoming a Buddha and becoming a devil.” He remembered the scene of him being accused by the people of the Noble Path, including those from the Clarity Sect and Righteous Sect. He remembered the scene of the Temple of Great Emptiness’s Four Divine Monks mercilessly killing the Heaven Choice Temple’s disciples. He remembered the banners hung up everywhere in the city of Jing Province that called for the destruction of the Heaven Choice Temple.
On the contrary, the Evil Sky Pavilion had never done anything bad to the Heaven Choice Temple.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “Zhu Honggong has stolen the zen tunic from the Heaven Choice Temple. You’re not going to hold it against him?”
“If the zen tunic had remained in the Heaven Choice Temple, it would have been taken away by the Temple of Great Emptiness a long time ago… It’s fortunate that it’s in the benefactor’s hands,” Xu Jing said.
Zhu Honggong was delighted to hear this. “And I was wondering why I wasn’t disrobed…”
Mingshi Yin and Duanmu Sheng were speechless.
Lu Zhou glanced at Zhu Honggong and said, “There’s more to the Noble Path than the Clarity and Righteous Sects… Why didn’t you ask for their help instead?”
“There are many in the Noble Path, but there are very few who can compare to the Temple of Great Emptiness. Moreover, it’s better to avoid unnecessary troubles. Who would side with the Heaven Choice Temple and offend the Temple of Great Emptiness?” Xu Jing replied.
“Why are you so certain the Evil Sky Pavilion will intervene in this matter?” Lu Zhou asked.
Silence descended on the Hall of Great Strength.
The disciples of the Heaven Choice Temple stood stock still. Nobody made a sound.
Xu Jing replied, “I have three reasons. First, the sable magnolia. Second, I know that Kong Xuan was killed by the Evil Sky Pavilion. Third, the zen tunic…” The abbot was not stupid. His mind was clear and logical.
Mingshi Yin resisted the urge to applaud him.
“Well said,” Lu Zhou commented.
After a slight pause, he said, “What would you do if the Evil Sky Pavilion chooses to stand on the Temple of Great Emptiness’s side?”
Xu Jing was dumbstruck.
The disciples of the temple were shocked. Their eyes widened as they glared at the people from the Evil Sky Pavilion. It was unclear if they were afraid or angry.
Xu Jing fell silent for a moment before heaving a long sigh. He shook his head and said, “If that’s the case, I’ll become the condemned abbot of the Heaven Choice Temple. I’ll repent before Buddha!”
“Master!”
“Abbot!”
The Heaven Choice Temple’s disciples in the hall exclaimed in unison.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded. “Calm down…” he said slowly.
“Old benefactor.” Xu Jing was so nervous that his hands were shaking. How could he calm down? He was genuinely afraid that Lu Zhou would side with the Temple of Great Emptiness.
“I like tactful people.”
The Heaven Choice Temple was willing to surrender the sable magnolia, the zen tunic, and was even willing to submit to the Evil Sky Pavilion. Lu Zhou definitely would not let such a good opportunity slip through his fingers.
“Benefactor?” Xu Jing, naturally, felt uneasy since he still did not receive a clear answer.
“Where’s the Temple of Great Emptiness?” Lu Zhou asked.
Upon hearing this, Xu Jing was overjoyed. He said, “The Temple of Great Emptiness has given us three days, and today’s the last of the three days. Their Four Divine Monks will arrive early tomorrow morning.”
Lu Zhou nodded and said, “Mingshi Yin.”
“Yes, master.”
“Hide the flying chariot.”
“Yes, master!” Mingshi Yin was his usual, flashy self. He swaggered and glanced at the monks as he walked. With a swift movement, he unleashed his grand technique.
Duanmu Sheng felt speechless when he saw it. ‘Did he have to use his grand technique?’
Xu Jing hastily said, “Prepare the lodgings!”
“Understood!”
Lu Zhou was calm. He stayed the night in the Heaven Choice Temple.
…
The people left the Hall of Great Strength, and it was now completely dark.
Xu Jing stood alone in the hall. He sighed as he murmured, “There’s a fine line between becoming a Buddha and becoming a devil…”
…
Early the next morning.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The morning bell was rung.
The tolling of the bell resounded throughout Clear Source Mountain and reverberated throughout the Heaven Choice Temple.
The Heaven Choice Temple’s disciples swiftly gathered around and got ready in full battle array.
“Report to me once the Temple of Great Emptiness’ flying chariot appears.”
“Understood!”
The Brahman Sea realm monks of the Heaven Choice Temple scattered in all directions in the air.
The disciples whose cultivation bases were in the Sense Condensing realm and below were gathered before the Hall of Great Strength.
Xu Jing wore his kasaya, held his staff, prayer beads, and wore his skull cap. He was more dressed up than usual. “Benefactor Ji, this way, please.”
Lu Zhou and the Evil Sky Pavilion’s disciples took up the offer and entered the Hall of Great Strength.
When the sun was high up in the sky, a flying chariot appeared in the horizons and advanced toward them at an even speed.
“Abbot! The Temple of Great Emptiness’ flying chariot is here.” One of his disciples hurried into the Hall of Great Strength.
When Mingshi Yin heard this, he smiled faintly. He was the first to leave the Hall of Great Strength. He stood at the top of the stairs and looked up. “Ha, the Temple of Great Emptiness is clearly richer than the Heaven Choice Temple… Not bad, but it’s slightly on the small side.”
The flying chariot was not huge. It was ivory, and there were about 30 monks flanking it.
Before it even reached the Heaven Choice Temple, a domineering voice rang from it. “Xu Jing, aren’t you coming out to welcome us?!”
