Chapter 14: Little Western Paradise, Thunder Sound Temple

Du Yuan smiled and tapped his chest lightly, saying, “Your past actions are difficult to judge as right or wrong, so today I shall not comment on them. Yet you ask me how to find liberation.”

At this, Du Yuan turned to gaze over the distant fields and said, “Take those fields, for example. Since you purchased them with your money, you cannot simply give them away. You may allow those who work the land to continue cultivating it under a certain standard, enabling them to reclaim their deeds to the land.”

This made Lord Zhuang uneasy; the land owned by the gentry was truly their lifeblood. Even if people bought it back at the original price, it would still feel like a stab to the heart. But since the living Buddha spoke, and he himself sought this guidance, Lord Zhuang was prepared to comply.

“For instance,” Du Yuan extended his tone as he stepped outside the courtyard onto the earthen road, “people burn incense and worship Buddhas, seeking the protection of immortals, yet often they spend vast sums of silver and gain no real benefit.”

“After all, human hearts are murky; most desires are for profit, fame, or self-interest—truly an unsightly sight. Thus, the immortals close their eyes and do not see the filth.”

“If Lord Zhuang is willing to donate some stones to repair the alleys, so neighbors have solid paths to walk on, the goodwill generated will warm hearts more than any incense in a temple.”

At the end, Du Yuan looked deeply at Lord Zhuang and smiled, “This is what it means to accumulate virtue and do good deeds, blessings that last through generations.”

Lord Zhuang exclaimed with joy, “So, so my three children will then—?”

Du Yuan shook his head and then nodded slightly, “As I said before, these matters are weighed on a scale in your heart, and there is also a scale in heaven and earth. Whether it succeeds or fails is not for me to decide, but for you, for them, and for the conscience of heaven and earth!”

Lord Zhuang’s eyes brightened, hastily taking note. He had considered repairing bridges and roads before but dismissed the thought for lack of apparent benefit.

He had never imagined that the true benefit was in these intangible yet crucial things.

Leading people to goodness is less effective than leading them towards profit.

Pragmatic, yes, but very effective.

With a radiant face, Lord Zhuang bowed sincerely to Du Yuan, “In the past, I was greedy, angry, ignorant, and dull-witted, only knowing to hoard money without regard for conscience or virtue. Today, thanks to the living Buddha’s enlightenment, I feel truly fortunate.”

“Otherwise, I would have died never knowing what I truly did wrong, bringing disaster to the village and having no face to show my ancestors in the afterlife!”

Lord Zhuang then lifted the lingzhi mushroom again, “Living Buddha, please, I beg you to accept this gift. I am genuinely grateful for your enlightenment.”

Du Yuan still shook his head.

He had already received the best rewards from the Qiaoshui town trip!

Moreover, Lord Zhuang would surely spend generously from now on, so Du Yuan did not wish to take more from him.

Lord Zhuang grew anxious, “Living Buddha, how can I show my gratitude without giving something?”

The nearby servants and villagers also urged, “Please accept it, Living Buddha!”

Du Yuan waved his hand again but, to silence them and to fulfill his initial purpose, he said to Lord Zhuang, “If so, I have one favor to ask of you.”

Lord Zhuang vowed immediately, “Not just one, ten or a hundred, no problem at all!”

“It’s nothing major. I’ve lost my travel pass. Perhaps you could help me find one?”

Hearing this, Lord Zhuang and the villagers deeply felt the compassion of the living Buddha.

Clearly, this was a way for the Buddha to refuse their offerings without causing them lingering attachment.

Yet Lord Zhuang was first delighted and then troubled.

“Living Buddha, I do indeed have a travel pass at home, but... but—”

“But what?”

“That was prepared long ago for a certain charlatan named Purple Cloud Immortal, who wanted to attend the Grand Waterway Assembly in the capital. It was a major event the Emperor organized to pray for blessings during the great drought in the southwest.”

Du Yuan suddenly realized, “So the name on the pass is his?”

Lord Zhuang replied, “Not exactly. I obtained it through my eldest son’s schoolmate from the prefecture. It was specifically prepared for traveling magicians.”

“Compared to a regular travel pass, it has no birthplace or name, and it’s not restricted to one province, but valid across all routes in the empire. The only problem is, it was made for Taoist priests, and you, Living Buddha...”

A travel pass for Taoist priests?!

So this means I can finally shed the monk’s identity?!

Just perfect!

Du Yuan said at once, “No matter!”

“Since that’s the case, I’ll send someone to fetch it immediately!”

“Alright, I’ll wait here.”

When the steward hurried off, Du Yuan, finding the time early, asked, “What’s this great drought in the southwest about?”

“Living Buddha, you don’t know?” Lord Zhuang was surprised. This matter was a top-level concern. As the drought worsened and the court failed to contain disaster, there were even peasant uprisings with countless refugees wearing yellow scarves in rebellion!

Du Yuan smiled wryly, “Long secluded in the mountains, I’m unaware of worldly affairs.”

Lord Zhuang understood, “I see. The southwest provinces have been parched for three full years, forcing the Emperor to hold grand Waterway Assemblies to pray for the people’s welfare. That’s why your travel pass exists.”

“Recently, the court’s envoys handled things poorly, sparking uprisings and great calamities, which so enraged the Emperor that he suspended the Waterway Assembly. Haha, that’s why the pass has remained in my hands!”

Du Yuan frowned slightly, “Is the pass still valid?”

“Of course, there’s no official decree suspending such passes.”

That’s good.

Du Yuan nodded slightly but wondered, a drought lasting three years?

Thinking of the zombie created by Zhou Dahua and the horse demon, he raised an eyebrow.

Is this merely a natural disaster, or something more…?

As Du Yuan pondered, the steward returned with the pass.

“Living Buddha, here is your travel pass!”

Taking it and glancing at the sky, Du Yuan declined to stay longer and prepared to head to Qing County.

He bade farewell to the reluctant people of Qiaoshui town.

Beneath the blazing sun, Du Yuan’s robes fluttered as he walked on.

Many townsfolk knelt deeply behind him, bowing, “Farewell, Living Buddha!”

Du Yuan did not look back but waved his hand in acknowledgment.

When the Buddha’s figure vanished from sight, Lord Zhuang first looked regretfully toward the direction of Du Yuan’s departure.

Then he picked up the lingzhi mushroom, examined it briefly, and smiled freely.

“Old Liu,” he said to his steward, “Hasn’t tenant Zhang’s family long lacked a mature lingzhi for their medicinal concoctions?”

“Master?” the steward was astonished.

The life of a tenant could hardly compare with a lingzhi fit for tribute!

Lord Zhuang shook his head, smiling, “Had I met the Living Buddha earlier, perhaps Zhou Da wouldn’t have died of illness. Now that I have met him, how can I stand idly by as another life slips away?”

“Otherwise, wouldn’t I be betraying the Buddha’s enlightenment?”

The steward stood stunned, feeling as if he saw his master for the first time.

At Lord Zhuang’s light laughter, suddenly the air above Qiaoshui town was filled with the sound of glass shattering.

Yet this sound was unheard by heaven, earth, or the townsfolk.

Only Du Yuan, now far away, could hear it.

Looking back, he saw a bead that had appeared out of nowhere in the sky above Qiaoshui town, cracking and breaking apart, about to vanish entirely.

What was this?!

Before Du Yuan could ponder further, a fierce shout rang out:

“Who dares!!!”

The roar tore through the void!

Its voice was like dark iron splitting mountains from the depths of the nine abyssal realms, or like a bronze cauldron cracking from the heavens, bearing the might of ancient thunder, devastating the mortal world.

It was truly an awe-inspiring heavenly power!

Strangely, the entire world was silent, as if this voice had never existed.

Du Yuan was certain the voice was directed at him.

After a moment’s gaze, under this heavenly wrath, his robes billowing, Du Yuan laughed aloud:

“小西天，雷音寺！” (“Little Western Paradise, Thunder Sound Temple!”)

“Bald donkey, you have some nerve!!!”

Before the spiritual bead disappeared completely, that was all Du Yuan heard.

Meanwhile, deep within an ancient tomb, a coffin in a side chamber trembled violently.

The spiritual energy, now thick as liquid, surged wildly from the quivering coffin.

It seemed the owner of the coffin would break free at any moment.

Yet at this critical juncture, a voice devoid of sorrow or joy echoed from the main chamber:

“Do not deceive yourself.”

The coffin’s occupant roared in fury:

“The time has not come; I fear no one. At worst, we perish together!”

Unexpectedly, that voice replied:

“Unafraid of divine law, claiming the Western Paradise, can you withstand it?”

The violently shaking coffin instantly calmed, the spilling spiritual liquid ceased.

The entire tomb fell silent again.

As if nothing had happened.

Yet the spilled spiritual energy, passing through layers of powerful arrays, continued to attract countless water beasts.

They knew not what it was but sensed the great wonder of this place!