CDJMM – Volume 3 – Chapter 16 Compassion of the Buddha (16)

The spectator stands of the martial arena were now roaring with noise. The lively clamor made one almost suspect that this wasn’t the pure, dignified Immortal Sect, but an ordinary market in the mortal world.

Just an hour ago, disciples from all sects had still been enthusiastically discussing the promising talents shown on the Mirror of Clouds, and some elders were quietly calculating whom they might take in as disciples.

But now, they spoke of only one person—the boy who first descended the Cloud Ladder. And when an entire row of seats in the front suddenly emptied, the discussion reached its peak.

Moments earlier, all the heads of the Daoist sects—including the Linqing Sect’s headmaster Bai Yuan himself—along with several monks from the Buddhist sect who had come to watch the proceedings, all abruptly left in a hurry.

Their reason was obvious—because of that boy.

Mei Yingliang sat silently in his seat. His surrounding senior brothers chattered away, and their topic was none other than Le Jing.

“What was his name again?”

“I vaguely heard him mention it in the illusion realm… he said his name was… Le Jing?”

“Our Sect Leader, the Head of Waterfall Pavilion, the Swordmaster of the Purple Sky Sword Sect… Wait—why are the Pure Land Sect, Fayan Temple, and White Horse Temple joining the commotion?”

“Don’t tell me they also want to take this Le Jing as a disciple?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is the Ascension Gate examination. Since when does the Buddhist sect take disciples here?”

“They must be going just to watch the excitement.”

“I wonder which sect that kid will join?”

“With such talent, I hope he joins our Linqing Sect.”

“Hmph, what good is talent? He’s arrogant and conceited, and his way of thinking is abnormal. He won’t amount to anything! Just wait—he’ll definitely go astray in the future!”

Everyone fell silent and all turned to stare at the person who had spoken sourly. The man, growing uneasy under their gaze, muttered, “What are you looking at? Did I say anything wrong?”

“…I understand what you mean.” Someone frowned. “To be honest, I don’t like him either. His personality is too arrogant. But…”

Someone immediately interrupted, “But he has the capital to be arrogant. He overcame his fear and descended the Cloud Ladder in less than an hour. Tell me—how many in the cultivation world can do that?”

A bitter smile appeared on Mei Yingliang’s face. He himself had struggled for a full day before he barely managed to suppress his fear, see through the illusion, and move down the Cloud Ladder. Even now, he hadn’t fully overcome his fear. So for Le Jing to descend so quickly truly deserved to be called extraordinary talent.

Someone else chuckled and said, “If I had that kind of talent, I’d be even more arrogant than he is.” He then said earnestly to the sour-tongued senior brother, “Don’t forget: even though he hasn’t entered a sect yet, you and I are destined to never belong to the same world as him. He is a cloud high above in the sky, and we are but mud on the ground looking up.”

“Just wait. Within ten years, his name will shake the cultivation world.”

The sour-tongued senior brother’s face alternated between green and white. With a hateful look, he muttered under his breath, “It’s still too early to say. A genius who dies early isn’t a genius.”

At that moment, someone whispered, “…I heard that even Venerable Luoli took one and a half hours to descend the Cloud Ladder back in her day.”

“And Le Jing… came out in less than an hour?”

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief. They could hardly accept that Le Jing was this terrifying. The sour-tongued senior brother was so shocked he gaped like a stranded, gasping fish.

Mei Yingliang knew of Venerable Luoli—rather, everyone present did.

First disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, the acknowledged next head of the sect, and in only a hundred years since entering, she had already reached Nascent Soul stage. She was a peerless figure among the younger generation… Yet among her many halos, the brightest was her identity as a natural Dao seed.

Le Jing took even less time than Venerable Luoli—what level of talent must he have? Could there be a talent even more superior than a natural Dao seed?

After some hesitation, Mei Yingliang softly said, “…Le Jing isn’t an ordinary mortal. He seems to be a senior from some sect who descended to experience the mortal world…”

“?!”

Everyone was thunderstruck into stunned silence.

“Is that true?”

“How did you know?”

“What proof do you have?”

“Impossible. If he were truly a senior in disguise, Senior Xingyuan would have noticed! But just now, Senior Xingyuan even offered to accept him as a disciple!”

Facing everyone’s suspicious gazes, Mei Yingliang panicked and quickly recounted his entire encounter with the senior in complete detail.

Those present were all close to Mei Yingliang, so they knew he always said what he believed and was not someone who lied.

“So you’re saying… he really is some senior?”

“But he disguised himself as a mortal and even fooled Elder Xingyuan… Don’t tell me he’s stronger than Elder Xingyuan?”

“Elder Xingyuan is already at the Great Ascension stage… Stronger than Elder Xingyuan means…” Everyone inhaled sharply and exclaimed together, “Tribulation stage?!”

Tribulation stage was only one step away from ascension!

To this day, there were only a handful of publicly known tribulation-stage cultivators in the world. Even their own sect leader was only at late Great Ascension stage.

They scared themselves with that conclusion and instantly fell silent, shrinking their necks and not daring to gossip further.

A strange sense of pride rose in Mei Yingliang’s heart. He had actually received guidance from such a powerful senior—how lucky he was!

The sour-tongued senior brother’s mouth opened and closed repeatedly, his face turning red, but he could no longer say anything petty. Mei Yingliang glanced at him and clearly saw respect in his eyes. The surrounding senior brothers also showed no more jealousy—before, they dared to judge Le Jing; now they didn’t even dare mention him.

If Le Jing were merely a mortal prodigy, some might still feel jealous. But now none dared. After all—people only envy those slightly better than themselves, not the world’s richest man.

“If the senior is so powerful… why come to the Ascension Gate exam?”

“Well then, tell me—why is our sect master obsessed with red-crowned cranes, why does Elder Mu love disguising himself as a beggar, and why does the head of Waterfall Pavilion clearly a man but insists on dressing as a woman?”

“…Why indeed?”

The man rolled his eyes. “Because seniors’ happiness is plain, simple, and boring.”

Mei Yingliang didn’t continue listening. His thoughts had already drifted far away. He wondered whether the sect leaders had discovered Senior Le Jing’s identity.

But he had no way of knowing that at this very moment, the senior he was thinking of so intensely—Le Jing—was standing at the Linqing Sect’s mountain gate, about to depart with the Buddhist sect.

A fierce wind blew. The milky-white mist scattered. A red-crowned crane flew past them with a clear cry.

Behind Le Jing stood the kind-faced old monk.

Behind Su Jian stood an immortal-like old Daoist.

Le Jing and Su Jian faced each other quietly.

Like two separate worlds.

Close yet worlds apart.

Su Jian smoothed his wind-tousled hair and smiled lazily at the boy across from him. “I really do want to go to the Buddhist sect with you.”

Le Jing casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear. His glass-like eyes held a faint, cool smile. “Don’t say foolish things.”

Both of them knew that the Daoist sect would never let Su Jian go.

If he were merely second on the Cloud Ladder, that would be one thing. But he had also tested as a natural Dao seed.

A Buddhist Child and a natural Dao seed were destined to walk opposite paths.

Su Jian gave a self-deprecating smile, rubbed his nose, and said earnestly, “No matter what, I’ll remember the favor I owe you. I’ll repay it someday.”

“Favors don’t matter.” The boy curled his lips, the smile sharp as a blade, meeting the teen’s relaxed gaze. “Just don’t forget why you cultivate.”

He extended his right hand. “Mutual support?”

A stubborn fire lit in Su Jian’s eyes. He snorted and gripped Le Jing’s hand tightly. “Deal!”

“Hey hey hey, don’t forget about me!” Kunhuo protested beside them. “I want to shake hands too!”

The two exchanged a smile, then actually crouched down so Kunhuo could place his paw on theirs.

This time Su Jian couldn’t resist—he boldly rubbed the dog’s head and joked, “You know you won’t be able to eat meat once you join the Buddhist sect, right?”

Kunhuo grinned smugly and narrowed his eyes. “Shows what you know. ‘Meat and wine pass through the belly; the Buddha remains in the heart.’”

Master Huiwu coughed behind him, but Kunhuo pretended not to hear.

Su Jian shook his head in amusement and said solemnly to Le Jing, “The mountains and rivers ahead are long and winding. Take care.”

Le Jing smiled. “We can write letters.”

Su Jian’s eyes brightened. “We will!”

Le Jing pressed his palms together and smiled radiantly. “Amitabha. Until we meet again.”

Su Jian cupped his hands in return and grinned freely. “Boundless Heavenly Venerable. Until we meet again.”

Even though they walked opposite paths, they would eventually meet at the same destination.

Le Jing didn’t look back as he boarded the white lotus flying craft that had been waiting.

From the outside, it looked like a holy white lotus glistening with dew. But inside was another world—a spacious Buddhist hall with a life-sized statue of a bodhisattva.

Master Huiwu chanted “Amitabha,” then said to Le Jing, “This is Great Strength Bodhisattva, right attendant of the Supreme Buddha Amitabha of the Western Pure Land. Together with Amitabha and the left attendant, Guanyin Bodhisattva, they are called the ‘Three Saints of the West.’”

“The Bodhisattva shines upon all beings, protects them from bloodshed and calamity, grants them supreme strength, and blesses them with safety and good fortune.”

…Protects them from bloodshed and calamity, grants supreme strength.

That was why, among so many temples, Le Jing had chosen the Pure Land Sect in the bitter northern lands.

Le Jing pressed his palms together and respectfully bowed to the Great Strength Bodhisattva. Then he said to Huiwu, “Thank you for your guidance, Master. I grew up in the mortal world and understand little. I’ll trouble you in the future.”

Huiwu looked at him with fondness and shook his head. He returned the gesture. “Amitabha, Buddhist Child. It is our duty to guide you. Besides, your talent is extraordinary—you hardly need our assistance.”

“The old monk is humble and unworthy of teaching the Buddhist Child. When we return to the sect, the abbot, Master Huitong, will become your guiding teacher. He will shave your head and ordain you into the Buddhist path.”

Le Jing bowed gently with a warm smile. “Thank you.”

Wishing to curry favor with the Buddhist Child, Huiwu added, “At that time, we will invite some Daoist sects to witness the ceremony. Your friends may attend with their elders.”

Le Jing was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected the Pure Land Sect to make his ordination such a grand event.

In the 22nd year of Yong’an, the Buddhist Child appeared and entered the Pure Land Sect to take monastic vows.

That same year, the Dao Child appeared and entered the Linqing Sect to pursue the Dao.

It was known in history as: Buddha and Dao walk together—different paths, same destination.