Ferrying the Buddha 68

Chapter 68

On the way back, Heng Yu was lost in thought. As they neared her residence, she suddenly asked Liaowu, her tone serious, “If I use a technique to detect demonic energy, can the target sense my probing?”

Liaowu was slightly taken aback. Was her unusual behavior today related to demonic energy? He glanced at Heng Yu, recalling her earlier mention of “secrets,” and suppressed his speculation. He knew she had good judgment and was capable of handling things. If it was convenient to tell him, she would. Since she didn’t mention it, it must be something she couldn’t talk about.

Liaowu replied, “If the difference in strength is significant, they might sense something unusual, but they wouldn’t know what you’re doing specifically.”

Heng Yu nodded thoughtfully. She understood.

“A peak Foundation Establishment cultivator like you wants to read the face of a Nascent Soul cultivator like me?” You Yun was shocked by her audacity. Did his disciple have any idea of the difference in their strength?

Heng Yu retorted, “What’s wrong with peak Foundation Establishment? You’re the one who taught me!”

You Yun: “…You win.” How did this become his fault?

Heng Yu said seriously, “Master, can you stop making those strange expressions? It ruins your handsome face. Don’t worry, I’m very accurate at face reading.”

While coaxing You Yun, Heng Yu activated the demonic energy detection technique she had learned from Liaowu out of boredom. To be honest, this was the first time she had used it, and she hadn’t expected to use it on her master.

You Yun: “…”

What was this brat up to? He suspected the face reading was just an excuse; she probably wanted to admire his beauty up close. Being handsome was truly troublesome.

Being stared at so intently, You Yun felt inexplicably uneasy, a chill running down his spine. After waiting for a long time, he couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you done yet?”

Having confirmed that You Yun wasn’t corrupted by demonic energy, Heng Yu smiled. “Yes.”

You Yun: “What did you see?”

“Master, you’re a good person.”

You Yun, inexplicably given a “good person” card: “…”

It wasn’t wrong, but it sounded strange.

“You’re acting very strangely today. Did something happen during the mental fortitude test?”

You Yun’s casual guess was met with a nod from Heng Yu. “Something did happen. I learned the reason why I suffered Qi deviation during my closed-door cultivation last year.”

You Yun’s eyes narrowed, his voice laced with anger. “Someone did it to you?”

“Before I answer that, Master, you have to promise me you won’t get angry.”

You Yun: “…”

This felt like a trap. But seeing Heng Yu’s “I won’t tell you unless you promise” expression, You Yun’s curiosity won. “Fine, I promise.” A master couldn’t really get angry at his disciple, could he?

Heng Yu smiled and briefly explained how she encountered demonic Qi during her breakthrough attempt, recounting the scenes she had seen. The person behind this was definitely not ordinary. She was only at the Foundation Establishment stage; it would take her at least a hundred years to reach Nascent Soul.

However, if that person truly was a demonic cultivator, they were an extremely dangerous time bomb that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. So, telling her master everything and letting him investigate was the best course of action.

After hearing Heng Yu’s account, You Yun’s languid demeanor vanished. He sat up straight, his expression grave.

“Are you sure?”

Heng Yu replied, “I can’t be certain if it’s true or not. I can only say that this is what I saw in the illusion. Every word is true; there’s no deception. As for the rest, it’s up to Master to investigate.”

You Yun nodded solemnly. “I’ll return to the sect as soon as the Dharma Assembly ends. Don’t mention this to anyone. Pretend you don’t know anything. I’ll inform you when the matter is resolved.”

After a moment of thought, he added, “In the past year or so, has any high-level cultivator tried to eliminate you?”

Heng Yu shook her head. “I guess the person behind this didn’t succeed and probably thinks I’m unaware of what happened.”

That person, seeing her alive and well, probably assumed the demonic Qi hadn’t succeeded in killing her. Since that person thought she didn’t know anything, they naturally wouldn’t bother eliminating her.

But… the original owner was indeed dead. It was just that Heng Yu had transmigrated into her body at that exact moment.

You Yun fell silent, lost in thought. Suddenly, he looked up, his gaze fixed on Heng Yu, a hint of danger in his eyes.

You Yun asked through gritted teeth, “Were you really reading my face just now?”

Heng Yu considered this, then sighed. She didn’t want to lie to her master anymore. In this world, besides Liaowu, her master was the only one who genuinely cared about her. She didn’t want him to misunderstand or feel hurt.

“No,” Heng Yu said with a wry smile, sitting up straight and apologizing sincerely, “I was using a technique to detect demonic energy. Master, I was wrong. I’m sorry. If you’re angry, punish me according to the sect rules. Just don’t expel me from the sect. I’ll accept any punishment.”

You Yun rolled his eyes, his tone dismissive, not angry at all. “No wonder I felt a chill down my spine. No need to apologize, you did well.” A smile appeared on his face. “With such cautiousness, I won’t have to worry too much about your safety when you’re traveling outside in the future.”

“And—” You Yun shrugged, “If our positions were reversed, even if I trusted your character, I would still do the same. So we’re even.”

Heng Yu’s heart warmed. She knew her master’s words were meant to comfort her. Before this, she hadn’t been particularly attached to You Yun as her master. They hadn’t spent much time together, and her impression of him was mostly based on the original owner’s memories.

But now, Heng Yu truly saw You Yun as her master. This seemingly carefree and frivolous master had shown her the greatest tolerance and understanding. It was incredibly precious.

A faint smile appeared on Heng Yu’s face.

“What are you smiling about?” You Yun was dissatisfied with something else. “Speaking of which, do you think I would be corrupted by demonic energy? Do I look like someone with such weak willpower?”

Heng Yu replied, “I didn’t suspect Master was that mysterious person. I only used the detection technique to reassure myself, to eliminate that 0.0001% possibility.”

“Oh?” You Yun was amused. “So you’ve seen through your master’s frivolous exterior and recognized my profound nature.”

Heng Yu: “…”

She looked out the window, speechless, considering whether to tell You Yun the truth. Their master-disciple relationship was already this superficial; making it a bit more so wouldn’t matter much.

So Heng Yu put on a serious face and voiced her speculation, “Actually, that mysterious person is clearly someone highly respected within the sect.”

You Yun’s face stiffened. “What do you mean?!”

He hadn’t been upset about being probed by Heng Yu earlier, but now he was truly heartbroken. Wasn’t she implying that he wasn’t highly respected?!

Where was the trust between master and disciple?!

Heng Yu coughed lightly. “Master, I’ll go back and rest now. I’m quite exhausted today, and I have the second round of the mental fortitude test tomorrow.”

With that, she quickly excused herself.

After Heng Yu left, You Yun’s expression turned serious. He sat on the couch, his hand clenching the cup in front of him. With a bang, the cup shattered into powder.

Looking at the white powder on his lap, You Yun casually brushed it onto the floor.

“It seems the deaths of those core disciples who died during their outside training weren’t so simple.”

“…Has demonic Qi infiltrated the sect’s upper echelons again? Is it only the Hehuan Sect, or are other major sects also affected?”

Inside the room, You Yun’s muttering voice echoed, unusually serious.

Nearly two thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators had participated in the Dharma Assembly. The first round of the mental fortitude test took two days to complete.

Not many cultivators made it to the second round, only a little over five hundred. They would all participate in the second round together, and the faster they cleared it, the stronger their mental fortitude was considered to be.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the second round. The Sword Testing Grounds were lively, with many eliminated cultivators coming to watch and see who would win the title of “Number One Foundation Establishment Mental Fortitude.”

“In the first round, that Buddha-son Liaoyuan from the Undying Sect demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude, coming out in just over half an hour.”

“I think Ban Mo from the Black and White Academies has a better chance. The Black and White Academies specialize in divination, understanding the past and future. His experience surpasses his peers.”

“Actually, I think we might have underestimated Luo Heng Yu of the Hehuan Sect. She completed the first round in only half an hour, which should be the fastest among everyone.”

“Speaking of which… Yu Xia of the Sword Sect performed rather poorly. He almost didn’t pass the first round.”

“What!? That’s impossible!”

The person who had first spoken had initially been hesitant, but hearing the others’ doubts, he immediately became anxious. “It’s true! I wasn’t the only one who saw it that day.”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“I was also surprised. I thought I had mistaken him for someone else.”

Heng Yu had been listening to the gossip. Hearing this, she was surprised. The Yu Xia she had seen was very different from the rumors. Whether it was the sparring tournament or the mental fortitude test, everyone had high expectations for him. Of course, Yu Xia’s performance wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite live up to his reputation.

“What’s wrong?” Liaowu, who was fingering his prayer beads, noticed her strange expression and looked at her.

Heng Yu replied, “I just think there’s something odd about Yu Xia.”

Liaowu thought for a moment, but he didn’t find anything unusual. To him, Yu Xia was irrelevant. He was more concerned about other things.

“In the second round, there will be four gates: Life, Death, Love, and Resentment. You’ll randomly enter one of them,” Liaowu explained. The format of the mental fortitude test was the same every year.

Heng Yu nodded, indicating she knew.

Liaowu’s voice suddenly became hesitant. “Although I don’t know which gate Lord Luo will enter, but if…”

Meeting Heng Yu’s gaze, he subconsciously looked away, his voice unsteady with an inexplicable nervousness. “If Lord Luo enters the Love Gate, and if you encounter this poor monk’s illusion within…”

Having said the most difficult part, Liaowu regained his composure, or perhaps it was just a facade. He gripped his prayer beads so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “Shatter it, and you’ll pass.”

Heng Yu hadn’t understood why he brought this up, but now, a smile appeared in her eyes. She teased, “Are you afraid I won’t be able to?”

Seeing him remain silent, Heng Yu tugged at his sleeve and followed his wandering gaze, forcing him to meet her eyes. She was being playful, and Liaowu couldn’t bring himself to scold her. He met her gaze and explained seriously, “This poor monk doesn’t want you to hesitate. If you want to win first place, you have to clear the test as quickly as possible.”

Liaowu’s fidgeting with his prayer beads was becoming obvious. Heng Yu glanced at his hand, then shifted her own, changing from tugging at his sleeve to holding his hand. “You’re right here, aren’t you?”

She said, “That’s just an illusion.”

She didn’t need an illusion as a substitute. The real Buddha-son was waiting for her outside.

Liaowu felt a tingling sensation in his heart. The tingling spread through his body, making his fingertips tremble. He subconsciously tightened his grip on her hand, letting her feel the real connection. “Yes, this poor monk is waiting for you outside.”

After a brief commotion, the referee finally appeared and announced the start of the second round.

Heng Yu said to Liaowu, “I’ll go in first. Wait for my good news,” and followed the crowd.

There were only six hundred contestants in the second round, and the gate was large, so they all passed through the light curtain at roughly the same time.

Heng Yu walked through the light curtain. When she opened her eyes again, she was in the familiar darkness. She chose a direction and, without wasting any time, walked forward quickly, just like in the first round.

As the darkness receded and light appeared once more, Heng Yu found herself standing before an ancient temple nestled in a forest.

A stone tablet beside the temple was engraved with the words “Qingyun Temple,” exuding an aura of age and tranquility.

Qingyun Temple. This temple was a place of significance for her and Liaowu. She had indeed entered the Love Gate. Since it was the Love Gate, she naturally had to find that familiar person.

Heng Yu entered the temple, finding it unusually quiet. She didn’t see a single novice monk along the way.

Where was Liaowu?

Suddenly, a clear bell chime echoed through the quiet temple.

Heng Yu stopped in her tracks, then changed direction. She knew where Liaowu was.

Following the stone path for a while, she saw a familiar figure beside the large bell at the end of the path.

Liaowu, dressed in simple gray robes, had a calm and reserved demeanor. He struck the bell with a steady rhythm. As if sensing something, he paused slightly and turned towards Heng Yu.

Seeing her, he smiled, his eyes filled with deep tenderness and affection.

“You’re here,” he said. “Wait a moment.”

That look…

Heng Yu froze, rooted to the spot by that gaze. Even though she knew he was just an illusion, that the real Liaowu would never express his emotions so openly, she still instinctively hesitated.

But in the next moment, she continued walking towards him, quickly closing the distance between them.

What’s wrong? Liaowu glanced at her while striking the bell, a questioning look on his face. Seeing her fiery red dress, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he even forgot to strike the bell.

“How could you forget to strike the bell?” Heng Yu chuckled.

Liaowu looked embarrassed and lowered his gaze. “I was distracted by you.” As if having prepared himself, he looked up at her again and said with mustered courage, “That dress suits you very well.”

“The second half of that sentence sounds like him, the first half doesn’t,” Heng Yu said calmly.

Liaowu looked confused.

“He would never stop striking the bell for anyone. That would be disrespectful to Buddha,” Heng Yu sighed. “Can’t this illusion be more realistic? It’s not convincing at all.”

“Lord Luo, what’s wrong?” Liaowu looked concerned, taking a step towards her, instinctively wanting to check on her.

“You look so much like him. At any other time, I might hesitate. But now, the real Buddha-son told me he’s waiting for me outside.”

Heng Yu also took a step forward, a smile appearing in her eyes as she looked at the familiar face.

Gazing at him for a long time, as if bewitched, she stood on tiptoe, stopped his movement, and gently kissed the corner of his lips. There was no lust in the kiss, it was more like a gesture of courtesy, light as a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface.

At the same time, Heng Yu closed her eyes, her hand accurately covering his heart. Spiritual energy surged, shattering the illusion before her.

The sensation on her palm was very real. The sensation on her lips was also incredibly real.

“Since it’s not convenient to collect interest from the real one, I’ll collect it from you,” Heng Yu murmured, then wondered playfully if he had shown any surprise or shock when she attacked the illusion.