My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Chapter 1289: Chapter 710: What If She Is Fake (Double-Length)

The fragrance of sandalwood grew stronger.

The mountain wind swept through the flags, making them flutter and sound. Thousands of believers gathered below the altar, and the Buddhist mantra surged like tides, rising and falling.

The Medicine Buddha Glowing Statue was placed at the center of the high platform, illuminated by countless lamps, making it radiant as if the whole mountain was submerged in a sea of golden light. Master Huiming held a willow branch and sprinkled holy water before the altar, his voice like a bronze bell: "May all beings be free from suffering and attain joy, may ignorance dissipate, and enlightenment illuminate the world."

"May ignorance dissipate—"

Tens of thousands of believers chanted in unison, their voices layering and echoing throughout the valley.

The crowd was so dense that the entire town was impenetrable. The enormous Buddha statue made the Fearless Seal towards the people, its countenance kind; Yin Tingxue looked sideways and recalled hiding within the Buddha statue in childhood, like filth within the statue, facing the worship of thousands of devoted believers, her heart anxiously raced.

She slightly lowered her gaze, pondering something unknown.

"What will happen next?"

Upon hearing a voice, Yin Tingxue slowly opened her eyes, seeing Chen Yi standing beside her. Perhaps because she was too petite, his stature seemed much taller, like her mother’s silhouette, making it difficult not to feel reassured.

Yin Tingxue had learned to look at him calmly, paused for a moment, and slowly said:

"Nothing else, the believers here will once again reveal their demon form. Then, I’ll guide them, and here, I officially became connected with the Medicine Buddha."

Chen Yi already knew the Buddhist Sect’s teachings on karma and reincarnation, that every consequence in the present must have a cause in the past. Even if the Medicine Buddha possesses great powers, it cannot create something out of nothing, nor achieve what is desired without forming a connection with Yin Tingxue.

Yin Tingxue pointed at the Medicine Buddha Statue, "Back then, I hid inside the statue, both scared and delighted, dared not tell my mother after, but at the time, it was truly fascinating."

The tone of the Demon Sect Saintess was exceptionally calm, not at all like the excited and lively spirit of a little fox talking about childhood stories.

Chen Yi’s gaze slightly lowered,

How is it that the seemingly beautiful childhood of a girl was just like a bird in a cage?

Chen Yi’s heart was filled with indescribable emotions, not knowing what to say. If reminiscing, it is true; her mother was ultimately an incarnation of the Medicine Buddha.

An incarnation, no matter how different the heart may wish, cannot completely defy the will of the original. Since childhood, she lived entangled in these karmic relationships, only she was unaware.

Chen Yi looked once more at this religious ceremony, gazing at the overflowing Buddha Light, observing the swirling sandalwood scent,

"What do I need to do to help you overcome this ignorance?"

Yin Tingxue glanced at him, her expression somewhat indistinct, slowly saying: "You help me... guide them, right?"

Chen Yi was slightly stunned, then pointed at himself, "Me?"

"Indeed."

.........

The aroma of sandalwood grew ever richer, almost solidified, mixed with the breaths of thousands of believers, and the burning smoke from lamps, forming a mist in the valley.

Carefully prepared various petals were continually scattered into the air by monks and devout believers, colorful and vivid, dancing with the wind, falling onto people’s shoulders, hair, and on the cold solemn Buddha statue, adding a touch of illusory splendor to the solemn ceremony.

On the high platform, Master Huiming was solemnly retelling the twelve great vows of the Medicine Buddha, preaching the magic skill of freeing from suffering and attaining joy.

Below the platform, hundreds of monks in Kasaya sang in unison. The Buddhist mantra surged like a tide, each wave higher than the last, seemingly cleansing all impurities and troubles from the world.

Devoted believers prostrated on the ground, either listening attentively, reciting with closed eyes, or moved to tears. Their faces revealed a near-obsessive devotion, as if entrusting their entire bodies and souls, all their hopes, to the Glazed Light Buddha above the Lotus Platform.

The altar was bathed in dazzling golden light, the chanting deafening.

The Medicine Buddha Statue lowered its eyes, holding a medicine bowl in its right hand and making the Fearless Seal with its left hand, its gaze compassionate, dispelling disasters and evil.

The rising sandalwood smoke wafted over the passionate crowd, reaching the riverside where it completely dissipated. The once bustling stone arch bridge had become deserted.

Yin Tingxue stood alone at the center of the bridge, the water below flowing gently.

She slightly lowered her head, not looking at the water, but staring at her blurred reflection on the bridge surface, her lips slightly moving, softly reciting,

"Supreme Ming Venerable, ten directions of light, may my body and mind be purified..."

Her shadow seemed to be faintly stirring.

The spell flowed within her heart, and a mysterious, profound connection silently established.

For some reason, perhaps because back then she had one thought of enlightenment, thereby leaving the World of Ignorance, a certain profound sense existed between her and the Ming Venerable. Yin Tingxue always felt that the feeling the divine being brought her was not purely majestic and awe-inspiring, but carried an indescribable familiarity.

As soon as the thought arose, she laughed inwardly. If the God does not provide such a sense of proximity for believers to rely on, how can it gather followers and offer solace in this vast world?

Feeling that it was about right, as the Saintess, Yin Tingxue spoke without much reverence, directly saying: "Do you know what I’m thinking?"

She seemed neither like a Saintess nor a believer.

"Even if I know, you have long considered it."

The deity remained silent for a moment, then spoke thus.

It revealed her thoughts. Yin Tingxue was not surprised, she simply continued following her contemplation: "I no longer have attachments towards him. Previously, there was still some resentment, only suspecting he might truly be Chen Yi. Now it seems, he’s merely another Buddha in the name of transformation.

I have long since left here, already had one thought of enlightenment, and have resolved all ignorance. I would not manifest these scenes, if so, everything must be created by those persistent ghostly Buddhas."