【Perhaps sensing the change in Ye Yu’s expression, Rukong hastily said, “Sage Ye, you need not be too surprised. Ever since the portal between the Celestial Realm and the Underworld opened, monks of our Buddha Realm have walked the Underworld, so naturally we know something of this place.”】
【“The question you raised about resistance to sutras shocked our Buddha Realm greatly. Never before has any ghost done such a thing. Therefore, I was specially dispatched to meet you in person, Sage Ye.”】
【Hearing this, Ye Yu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.】
【Could this be the legendary tactic of knowing oneself and one’s enemy, thus guaranteeing victory in a hundred battles?】
【As a ghost in the Underworld, he had also heard some rumors about the Buddha Realm.】
【In the far west of the Celestial Realm lay the domain of the Buddhist sect, which called itself the Buddha Realm. Its monks rarely walked the Celestial Realm, mingled little with the outside world, and acted with restraint.】
【But since the Five Realms’ portals opened, they had become active, each shouting slogans of “liberate all sentient beings” as they came into the Underworld to liberate tens of thousands of ghosts.】
【According to them, the Underworld was a place of suffering, and only by being liberated by sutras could one reenter the cycle of reincarnation.】
【The ghosts of the Underworld felt exceedingly displeased.】
【“Hey, what’s your problem? We ghosts live perfectly well here—why do you insist on killing us?”】
【Heaven only knew whether this so-called reincarnation was real.】
【“Besides, I’ve ruled the Underworld like a lord—why should I start over?”】
【Thus the ghosts came to regard these meddlesome monks as mortal enemies.】
【“You want to liberate me? Ask the Ghost-Head Knife in my hand first.”】
【The ghosts’ bloodthirsty brutality toward the monks only strengthened the latter’s resolve to liberate them.】
【“Evil ghosts should not exist in this world.”】
【Ultimately, who was truly at fault here?】
【Perhaps neither side was wrong—just different principles and beliefs.】
【But Ye Yu, now as a ghost of the Underworld, naturally stood with their side.】
【He immediately snapped, “Don’t speak so elegantly—meet me and then what? You still want to liberate me? I just find you monks to be pure busybodies. Do we need you to liberate us?”】
【Rukong’s expression remained impassive as he bowed his head slightly and said, “Do not worry, Sage Ye. Before coming here, I did indeed consider liberating you, sending you back into reincarnation. In your next life, you might be a monk of profound insight. But I have now changed my mind—I believe my understanding of Dharma is too shallow to liberate you.”】
【Ye Yu taunted, “You’ve surrendered without even fighting?”】
【Rukong gave a wry smile and said, “No fight is needed—I voluntarily concede. Not to mention your powerful soul-body that can shatter Ghost-Immortal weapons, that miraculous technique alone is enough to shatter my mind. To preserve the purity of my Buddha heart, I have decided it is best not to make you my enemy.”】
【Had another been scared off?】
【Ye Yu couldn’t help but smile, while secretly deciding to find more of these revolting arts later.】
【They’d surely produce unexpected effects at the right moment.】
【Ye Yu turned to leave, but suddenly found Rukong following right behind him.】
【He was quite surprised.】
【“Since you said you don’t wish to be my enemy, why are you following me? Planning to seize an opportunity?”】
【Hearing Ye Yu’s words, Rukong waved his hand repeatedly.】
【“Sage Ye, you misunderstand. I have no intention of striking by surprise. Rather, I plan to follow you for the rest of my life, striving to enlighten you.”】
【“In our Buddha Realm, liberation and enlightenment are different.”】
【“Liberation is the destruction of a ghost, sending it into reincarnation.”】
【“Enlightenment, on the other hand, is guiding sentient beings toward the Dharma: put down the slaughtering knife and instantly attain Buddhahood. Though we have previously enlightened mortals, I believe that, through my efforts, I can also enlighten you, Sage Ye—after all, you are unlike other ghosts.”】
【Ye Yu’s expression became most interesting.】
【“Enlighten ghosts—you certainly have daring thoughts.”】
【“Where did you get the courage? Was it from Aru?”】
【Ye Yu raised his hand and said, “Get lost now, or don’t blame me for shattering your {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Buddha heart.”】
【Rukong’s face instantly showed terror, and he vanished in an instant.】
【But his voice came from all directions.】
【“Sage Ye, when I set out, I made a grand vow to either liberate or enlighten you.”】
【“Now liberation seems impossible, but enlightenment must be done.”】
【“So do not struggle, Sage Ye. With your heart turned to the Dharma, being a kind ghost is also excellent.”】
【“If in the future you help me enlighten other ghosts, you will accrue merit—and perhaps one day attain fruition yourself.”】
【“Attain fruition? What I want is to become a god.”】
【Just as Ye Yu was about to fly into a rage, he calmed himself completely the next moment.】
【He thought, “Hmm, this might be exploitable for rich rewards.”】
【Ye Yu stood in place, and after much thought, a smile appeared on his face.】
【“Hey, you—come out. I have something to discuss with you.”】
【Rukong did not appear at once, but continued speaking: “Do you intend to trick me out to shatter my Buddha heart? So that I’ll be disheartened and return in failure?”】
【Ye Yu was exasperated and said coldly, “Do you have persecutory delusions? I called you out to discuss jointly promoting the Dharma. I think the two of us could surely do great things and achieve even greater glory.”】
【A long silence followed, then Rukong’s awkward laughter came.】
【“Heh heh—do you think I’m an idiot? A ghost discussing Dharma promotion with a monk?”】
【“What’s wrong with it? Before you, no one suggested enlightening ghosts. Yet you already did it, didn’t you? Anyway, there’s only one chance—if you don’t agree, I’ll go.”】
【Ye Yu held up five fingers.】
【“Five, four, three, two...”】
【In the end, Rukong could not resist this timeless temptation and slowly emerged.】
【“Enlighten ghosts, allowing them to promote the Dharma alongside me, to enlighten even more ghosts.”】
【“If this succeeds, not only will my name be immortalized, but the Buddha Realm will erect a golden statue of me at the front of the great hall.”】
【“This is truly a groundbreaking operation.”】
【“Who could really resist being tempted?”】
【Rukong timidly approached Ye Yu and asked softly, “Is everything you just said true, Sage Ye?”】
【“Why would I lie to you? However, your doubt just now was truly displeasing—it angered me greatly.”】
【Rukong instinctively wanted to clasp his hands behind his back, then thought it inappropriate. He then took a small black pagoda from his storage ring and offered it before Ye Yu.】
【“Sage Ye, calm yourself. I hope you can forgive this monk for the sake of this Ghost Pagoda. By the way, what I said about promoting the Dharma—was it truly sincere?”】
(Still running a fever, feeling hot all over.)
