Ferrying the Buddha 20

Chapter 20

The translucent jade box, without a single blemish, was crafted from rare and exquisite jade. However, the lack of any carvings made it appear rather ordinary.

But this was indeed in line with a Buddhist cultivator’s aesthetic.

“What’s inside?” Heng Yu asked casually.

Liaowu didn’t answer, simply offering her the jade box.

Heng Yu took it.

The jade box felt smooth and comfortable in her hand. Holding it, she sensed a faint fluctuation of her own spiritual energy from within.

She immediately guessed the contents — the ginkgo leaf.

Stroking the jade box with her thumb, Heng Yu wasn’t in a hurry to open it, and her expression didn’t show any joy.

Instead, she looked thoughtful and inquisitive.

She looked up at Liaowu.

He was slightly bent over, looking at her.

Their eyes met.

“…Could you enlighten me? What does this special physique, innate Buddha bones, mean? And why are you called the Light of Buddhism?”

Since they had met, this Buddha-son had answered all her questions and indulged her playful banter. Even when he couldn’t answer, he would remain silent.

This was the first time she had heard a clear refusal from him.

He said, “Lord Luo, this is a Buddhist secret. This poor monk cannot tell you.”

“Then why did you return the ginkgo leaf to me so quickly?”

The ginkgo leaf was just something she had picked up from the ground, nothing valuable. Its true significance lay in its symbolism — it meant he didn’t mind her pursuing him.

“Lord Luo gave me a travelogue today, and I’m returning the favor with a jade box. It’s just a simple exchange of gifts.”

Heng Yu clenched the jade box tightly.

She felt the coolness emanating from it.

They had been testing and sparring with each other this whole time. She had made this Buddha-son learn to keep snacks in his storage ring; she had made him try to achieve the state of “sometimes the wrathful Vajra, sometimes the compassionate Bodhisattva”…

She had thought she had the upper hand in this exchange.

But now, it seemed Liaowu had seen through her, while she didn’t even know what his identity truly represented or the reason for his active approach to his tribulation of love.

So, the one at a disadvantage in this interaction…

Seemed to be her.

“I underestimated you, Buddha-son,” Heng Yu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I accept your gift. I like it very much.”

The small bells on her wrist jingled as she moved.

The sound broke the subtle tension between them.

“Amitabha,” Liaowu chanted calmly, joining his hands together.

“This poor monk thought this gift was what Lord Luo wanted most right now. Was I wrong?”

“You weren’t wrong. It’s just that this gift came too quickly, so quickly that I feel things aren’t progressing as I expected.”

A faint smile touched Liaowu’s lips.

The smile softened his usual aloofness, and against the backdrop of the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows, he seemed more lively than usual.

“Can Lord Luo always be so resourceful?”

Heng Yu replied, “I used to think I could.”

The Time and Space Administration controlled countless worlds. As a high-ranking official, she had not only dealt with system development but also faced constant suspicion and power struggles with various factions.

Heng Yu felt she had reason to be proud.

Soon, she added with a smile, “Now, having been defeated by the Buddha-son, I know I can’t predict everything.”

Especially matters of the heart, something she had no experience in.

Hearing her address change from “Senior Brother Liaowu” back to “Buddha-son,” Liaowu sighed softly.

He seemed to want to explain something, but ultimately…

He remained silent.

“Let’s go air the scriptures. Little Monk Liaonian has been glaring at me for a while now.”

Heng Yu stretched and stood up, walking past Liaowu towards Liaonian.

Liaonian glared at the demonic woman where his senior brother couldn’t see.

“Why are you glaring at me?” Heng Yu patted the back of his head, not too hard. “I’m truly innocent in this matter, and I feel like I’ve been played by your senior brother.”

They had been quite far apart just now, and Heng Yu and Liaowu had spoken softly. Liaonian had been straining to hear, but couldn’t make out their conversation.

Now, hearing Heng Yu’s words, Liaonian’s interest was piqued. “You were played by my senior brother?”

“…Little Monk, could you be any more obvious with your gloating?”

Liaonian tried to suppress his smile.

He nodded happily. “Alright, I’ll restrain myself.”

Heng Yu: “…”

She couldn’t resist flicking his shaved head.

Liaowu stood under the ginkgo tree, quietly watching this scene.

An autumn breeze rustled through the courtyard, his robes fluttering slightly.

Liaowu smoothed his robes and returned to his room to bring out the scriptures.

While airing the scriptures, Heng Yu realized how crazy the Undying Sect monks were.

Each of them carried hundreds of scriptures, making it quite a task to air them all.

Bored, Heng Yu went over to help Liaowu.

After a while, she became distracted, glancing at the scriptures.

Dense Sanskrit characters filled the pages. As Heng Yu focused on reading, she felt a faint golden light and a sense of Zen emanating from each character.

Of course, she didn’t know Sanskrit and couldn’t understand the contents.

“Do you usually read these scriptures?”

Liaowu was carefully arranging the scriptures on the table.

Hearing Heng Yu’s question, he stopped, straightened up, and looked at the scripture in her hand.

After a moment of thought, Liaowu seemed to understand what she really wanted to ask. “Most of the scriptures read by Undying Sect disciples are written in Sanskrit. However, when preaching outside, we translate them into the common language for the convenience of believers.”

“Why?”

Heng Yu picked up a few other scriptures and looked through them.

As expected, except for one written in the common language, the other four were in Sanskrit.

“Sanskrit is the language created by Buddha. Our predecessors believed that writing scriptures in Sanskrit would be more conducive to understanding the Buddhist path.”

Heng Yu raised an eyebrow. I see.

She continued airing the scriptures and browsing their contents, then suddenly remembered something. “Do you compile any philosophical Buddhist stories?”

If so, that would be great. She could read them to pass the time.

Philosophical… Buddhist stories?

Liaowu shook his head. “What kind of stories does Lord Luo mean?”

This world didn’t have such stories?

Heng Yu thought for a moment. “Let me give you an example.”

Liaowu stopped what he was doing and listened attentively.

Heng Yu chose a memorable story and began explaining. “Once upon a time, there was a general named Zhang Xianzhong who was besieging a city. While stationed outside the city at a temple, he forced the monks to eat meat. One of the monks, named Poshan, said: ‘As long as you don’t massacre the city after conquering it, I will willingly eat meat.’ Zhang Xianzhong agreed, and Poshan closed his eyes and ate the meat.”

“Amitabha, in this story, Poshan broke his precept to save millions of people in the city. He is a virtuous monk with great merit.”

“Yes, this story illustrates a principle: ‘Meat and wine pass through the intestines, but Buddha stays in the heart.’” Heng Yu took out a flask of wine from her storage ring. “So, since the weather is so nice, would you like to have a drink with me while discussing this Buddhist story?”

Liaowu wasn’t swayed. “Poshan broke his precept to save tens of thousands of lives, which is understandable. The principle Lord Luo mentioned should be applied according to the situation. For example, this poor monk has no reason to drink alcohol and break my precept now.”

She hadn’t succeeded in persuading him.

Heng Yu curled her lip. She originally wanted to drink directly from the flask but, remembering she was in a temple, reluctantly put it away. “You’re right. Most people only remember the first half of the saying and forget the second half: ‘If the world imitates me, it’s like entering the demonic path.’”

Meat and wine pass through the intestines, but Buddha stays in the heart.

If the world imitates me, it’s like entering the demonic path.

Liaowu repeated the poem, finding it quite interesting. People always tried to find what made great figures special, and they would be happy to find similarities between themselves and these figures.

But they forgot that an eagle could soar after leaping from a cliff, while a pheasant would only fall to its death.

Imitating such special traits was meaningless.

Liaowu’s interest was piqued, and he asked, “Are there any other interesting stories?”

Heng Yu shrugged innocently. “Depends on my mood. Not today, anyway.”

Liaowu remembered her addressing him as “Buddha-son” earlier.

Was she still displeased?

He nodded slightly. “Then this poor monk will air the scriptures.”

Heng Yu: ???

Just as she was about to complain, Liaowu, who was bending down to organize the scriptures, added, “And then go to the kitchen to learn how to make Bodhi cakes.”

Heng Yu was immediately satisfied.

While Heng Yu and Liaowu were talking, Liaonian had been quietly working nearby.

He had many questions he couldn’t understand. After airing all his scriptures, he quietly slipped out of the courtyard and wandered around the temple.

Reaching a pavilion on the back hill, he saw the abbot of Qingyun Temple sitting at a stone table, playing chess by himself.

“Abbot,” Liaonian greeted him after a moment of hesitation.

His train of thought interrupted, the abbot put down the white chess piece in his hand.

He looked at Liaonian carefully and asked with a smile, “You seem troubled?”

Under the abbot’s gentle and perceptive gaze, Liaonian unconsciously nodded. “Yes, a little.”

“Then come sit and play a game of chess with this poor monk. Perhaps you’ll find your answers after the game,” the abbot said.

Playing chess alone was too boring. It was good to have someone to play with.

Besides, the abbot was curious about what was troubling Liaonian.

Liaonian sat down opposite the abbot, slightly dazed.

He observed the layout of the chessboard, picked up a black piece, and placed it on the board.

After playing for a while, Liaonian pursed his lips and said tentatively, “Abbot, do you remember the three divination sticks Lord Luo drew a few days ago?”

The abbot laughed heartily. “What you want to ask isn’t about those three sticks, but the one about marriage, right? This poor monk has a rough idea of what’s troubling Little Master.”

Liaonian smiled awkwardly.

The abbot picked up a white piece and placed it on the board with a “snap.” “This poor monk heard from your sect leader that Buddha-son Liaowu came south to overcome his tribulation of love?”

The abbot of Qingyun Temple wasn’t highly cultivated, but his understanding of Buddhist teachings was profound. He had known the leader of the Undying Sect for many years. Shortly after Liaowu arrived at Qingyun Temple, he received a personal letter from the sect leader, revealing quite a bit of information.

So, he knew about Liaowu’s tribulation of love and the importance of his identity.

Liaonian nodded silently.

“Your senior brother’s every action is part of his tribulation. He’s a sensible person who understands his importance to the Buddhist sect. He won’t do anything to embarrass or trouble the sect.”

“But… but…” Liaonian thought of that demonic woman and scratched his head. “If Senior Brother is only here for his tribulation, then what about that Lord Luo?”

“She naturally has her own reasons.” The abbot took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. “Those two are like black and white chess pieces on the board, locked in a close match. We are not involved and don’t know what they’re thinking. Let’s just be spectators and let them play their game.”

The abbot put down his teacup. “As the saying goes, ‘A true gentleman doesn’t speak while watching a game of chess.’”

Using chess as an analogy?

Liaonian picked up a black piece.

He placed it on the board. “There’s always a winner and a loser in chess.”

“Indeed,” the abbot laughed after placing a white piece. “For example, now, you’ve lost.”

Liaonian was stunned.

He looked at the chessboard carefully and realized that after the abbot’s last move, his key piece had been captured.

Making a Buddha-son cook was probably a very fulfilling experience.

Especially when this Buddha-son was handsome and elegant, his aloof demeanor resembling a celestial being looking down at the mortal world.

Now, seeing him kneading dough at the counter was like seeing a celestial being covered in flour.

Heng Yu stood nearby, reading a storybook, occasionally glancing over to see his progress.

Liaowu noticed her gaze and looked back at her. “If Lord Luo has nothing to do, you can go to the front courtyard and find the thousand-year-old Bodhi tree. Pick some Bodhi leaves from it.”

He paused, then added, “Only pick the leaves that have naturally fallen from the tree.”

Heng Yu rolled up her storybook and lazily stood up from her chair.

As she walked towards the front courtyard, she ran into Liaonian.

“Liaonian, where were you just now? We didn’t see you after airing the scriptures,” Heng Yu said curiously.

Liaonian replied, “I was playing chess with the abbot.”

“Are you free now? Let’s go pick Bodhi leaves together. Pick more, and see if your senior brother can successfully make Bodhi cakes in one go.”

Heng Yu continued walking as she spoke.

Liaonian wanted to say something.

But then he remembered the abbot’s words: Be a spectator.

So, he kept silent and obediently followed Heng Yu to pick Bodhi leaves.

A quarter of an hour later, Liaonian walked ahead with a basket full of Bodhi leaves, while Heng Yu strolled leisurely behind him, her hands behind her head, chewing on a blade of grass.

Liaonian turned around and glared at her indignantly.

No wonder this demonic woman had so enthusiastically invited him to pick Bodhi leaves. She wanted him to do the hard work of picking and carrying the basket.

Heng Yu hummed a tune, pretending not to see.

Back in the kitchen, Liaowu had just finished kneading the dough. His gray robes were covered in white powder, as were his hands.

Seeing them return, Liaowu took the Bodhi leaves and carefully washed them by the well.

He meticulously cleaned each leaf, following its veins.

After washing them, he began removing the veins.

Heng Yu watched for a while, then, seeing his meticulousness, felt bad letting him work alone. She washed her hands, brought over a small stool, sat opposite Liaowu, and helped him remove the veins.

After removing the veins, they had to grind the leaves into powder.

Liaowu took a shortcut, placing the leaves in a clean container, placing his hand on the side, and infusing it with spiritual energy. The spiritual energy shredded the leaves. After a few breaths, Liaowu withdrew his hand and opened the container. The leaves had been completely ground into powder.

There were still many steps to follow.

Heng Yu stood there for a while, bored, then took out her purple jade flute from her storage ring, twirled it, and began playing.

After two hours of work, the Bodhi cakes were finally ready.

The cakes were small, square, and translucent green, not particularly appealing in appearance. Because Heng Yu had picked a lot of Bodhi leaves, and there was enough dough, Liaowu made sixty Bodhi cakes in total, neatly arranged on the table.

Heng Yu coughed lightly and looked at Liaonian. “Little Monk, try one.”

Liaonian’s eyes widened.

He could see what this demonic woman was thinking. “You actually dislike what my senior brother made…wuwuwuwu…”

Before he could finish, Heng Yu cast a silencing spell on him. His mouth opened and closed, but he could only make muffled sounds.

Heng Yu shrugged and explained insincerely, “I just wanted someone to try and see if the Bodhi cakes are bitter.”

“Bodhi is naturally bitter, so how could Bodhi cakes not be bitter?” Liaowu said bluntly.

Heng Yu: “…”

She didn’t argue further and picked up a Bodhi cake.

The cake was freshly baked and still warm.

She blew on it and smelled it.

Then her expression turned unpleasant — she had miscalculated. The cake, after hours of work, smelled like grass.

But with Liaowu and Liaonian watching, she couldn’t just not eat it.

Coughing lightly, Heng Yu closed her eyes and took a bite.

A bitter taste spread across her tongue.

Heng Yu forced herself to swallow and praised sincerely, “This is truly authentic Undying Sect Bodhi cake.”

It was hard and bitter.

Just like this Buddha-son of the Undying Sect, stiff and unapproachable.

In the end, Heng Yu finished the Bodhi cake.

But when Liaowu asked if she wanted another one, Heng Yu shook her head vigorously: Didn’t he have any idea how his own baking tasted?

Apparently, he didn’t.

Because he hadn’t had lunch, Liaowu ate four Bodhi cakes in a row, stopping only when he felt full.

Seeing him eat so much, if she hadn’t tasted it herself, Heng Yu would have thought it was some rare delicacy.

As it grew dark and Heng Yu was about to leave, Liaowu packed a few Bodhi cakes in a basket for her to take home.

Heng Yu: “…”

Back in her courtyard, Heng Yu went straight to her study. She put the Bodhi cakes aside, spread out a sheet of paper, ground the ink, and began practicing calligraphy.

Halfway through, she sensed something touch the barrier around her courtyard.

With a wave of her hand, the barrier opened.

A paper crane flew in.

Heng Yu unfolded it and saw that it was from the city magistrate, informing her of Fan Changping’s death.

In Heng Yu’s mind, that man had already been a dead man walking. She crushed the paper crane with her spiritual energy and continued practicing calligraphy.

After finishing, she took out the simple jade box and placed it in front of her. She opened the box and gazed at the golden ginkgo leaf inside.

Because it had been infused with spiritual energy, even after several days, the ginkgo leaf still looked freshly picked.

“What should I do next to truly move this Buddha-son?” Heng Yu murmured.

For the past two months, their interactions had been a close match.

Having lost this round, she had to find a way to gain the upper hand in the next.