Chapter 20: Just Cause Is Human Nature

In this regard, the disciples of the Buddha are indeed far ahead. No matter their true nature, at least in the eyes of others, they are beyond reproach. Moreover, this young novice monk lacks that tiresome, preachy attitude found in those old monks. Xia Huanjiao had a very good impression of him. And it was absolutely not because he was good-looking!

Xu Yingying followed quietly by Xia Huanjiao's side, like a silent shadow. The sunset cast a long silhouette of the little girl. Separated by a wall of rammed earth, the young novice chanted Buddhist scriptures in a low voice to soothe the suffering of others. Xia Huanjiao reached out her arms in a gesture to be held, letting Xu Yingying lift her up. Just as she stood on tiptoe, a crisp-sounding bell fell from her body, attached to the end of a tattered bag.

Xu Yingying moved to pick up the little girl’s belongings, but she heard Xia Huanjiao’s soft, clinging voice by her ear: "I don't want these things anymore."

Xu Yingying paused, her phoenix eyes filled with an emotion Xia Huanjiao could not decipher. Finally, Xia Huanjiao tugged on Xu Yingying’s sleeve. "Let's go."

Their footsteps were soundless, and the wind scattered the lingering traces of their passage. Only the bell remained on the dirty ground, shining with an unusual brightness.

It is unknown how much time passed before a gaunt child ran out from behind the earthen wall, spotting the extraordinary bell on the ground at once. She wiped her grimy little hands on her nondescript clothes before picking up the bell and running back inside. Clutching it as if it were a treasure, she presented it to Xuanqing with excitement. "Brother Xuanqing, what is this?"

Xuanqing looked at the sword intent on the bell, then at the tattered bag, and recited a Buddhist chant. His amber eyes were like the rising sun. "It is a gift from a kind soul."

"Then why didn't she come to see us?"

"Amitabha," Xuanqing tapped the wooden fish. "Why must there be an acquaintance?"

"Is she afraid that we would cling to her?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanqing glanced at the child, his tone uncharacteristically stern. "Little benefactor, do not harbor malicious speculations about others."

He stood up, opened the tattered bag, and took the items out one by one. Inside were quilts and food; there was nothing related to the immortals. Once everything was removed, the bag and the bell fulfilled their purpose and, under everyone's gaze, vanished. They crumbled into dust, merged with the wind and frost, and disappeared.

"Amitabha, virtuous indeed."

But the children, as if abandoned, grew somewhat paranoid. "Why didn't she come to see us? Does she despise us?"

"Brother Xuanqing would never despise us!"

"Exactly, even though we are beggars, we wouldn't cling to her."

Xuanqing heard their shrill voices and sighed. He thought that the cultivator he had never met had taught him a lesson. Human nature is greedy. Because he was visible and tangible, they did not think to blame him for not giving them things. But that kind cultivator, who had never appeared from beginning to end, had only helped them once, yet it made them want to grasp at her. There was no gratitude, only the growth of malice. They wanted that cultivator to be like him—helping them again and again.

His master was indeed right about some things. Those who practice cultivation should distance themselves from the mundane world and not interfere with the karma of others. Realizing this, Xuanqing felt the shackles of his Foundation Establishment stage loosening. He was about to break through. To realize the Way is to understand it.

The beggars saw the ripples in Xuanqing’s normally calm eyes and felt a flicker of panic. Instinctively, one reached out to grab Xuanqing’s monk robe, but he sidestepped to avoid the touch.

"Amitabha, little benefactor, this monk will not come again."

"Brother Xuanqing?" The youngest child looked terrified, a flash of imperceptible malice crossing their eyes. "Are you abandoning us?"

Xuanqing looked at them, lowering his eyes slightly. Compassionate and merciful, he resembled a statue of Buddha, pitying their suffering. "I once heard of a spiritual plant called the 'Cloud-Dodder Silk.' It is a plant that appears very delicate, but in reality, it survives by draining the life of others. It is an unmitigated predator."

The beggars did not understand at first, but when he explained that the Cloud-Dodder Silk’s ability was its disguise, they finally understood that Xuanqing was talking about them. When he said they were a group of Cloud-Dodder Silks surviving by feeding on others, someone finally lost their temper.

"Get out!"

"Get out of here!"

They were furious from embarrassment. The feeling of having their masks torn off was not pleasant; it turned their position of advantage into a disadvantage. People in this land often insisted on having a "justified cause." But now, Xuanqing no longer wanted to grant them that "justification." He wanted them to... return to their true nature.

Xuanqing took a step back, looked at the crumbling earthen wall, recited a Buddhist chant, and turned to leave, leaving their curses behind him. Stripped of their human-like skin, they all eventually turned into man-eating monsters. Either you are eaten by others, or you eat them.

Night deepened. Xia Huanjiao was not asleep. Xu Yingying lay on the outer edge of the bed, watching over her. In an instant, she felt Xia Huanjiao’s breathing grow erratic.

Outside the window, a giant vulture sat, its beak holding the hand bone of a small child. On it was something Xia Huanjiao recognized—the candy wrapper from the bakery! It was from the child behind the earthen wall!

Realizing this, Xia Huanjiao suddenly reached out to grab Xu Yingying, her voice trembling. "Yingying, wh-what is that?"

Xu Yingying looked in the direction Xia Huanjiao pointed. Outside the window, a scarlet rain fell. The vulture dropped the child’s hand bone onto the window, making a dull thud, and spread its wings to take flight. The moon in the sky was suspicious; it was not a silver moon, but a scarlet one. It looked like blood, dripping onto the ground, drop by drop.

Xu Yingying instinctively wanted to restrain Xia Huanjiao, telling her to stay in the inn and wait for her return. However... Xia Huanjiao saw through Xu Yingying’s thoughts and was naturally unwilling. She climbed onto Xu Yingying’s body with her hands and feet, like a sticky piece of rice cake, saying, "No, you can't leave me here alone, it's too dangerous!"

"If you aren't here, Yingying, what if some powerful creature comes and breaks the barrier? Wouldn't I be in danger?"

Hearing this "ominous" talk, Xu Yingying replied, "It won't break." Her barrier, besides herself, was very difficult to break. But what the little girl said was indeed possible. More importantly, this little girl had always been highly curious; if someone lured her out, she would truly be beyond saving.

Thinking of this, Xu Yingying changed her mind and said, "Fine, follow me."

"Don't cause trouble."

"Mm!"

Xia Huanjiao did not expect Xu Yingying to take her along so easily this time. She had thought she would need to say much more for Yingying to listen. However... Xia Huanjiao slowly tightened her grip, hiding in Xu Yingying’s embrace, which smelled of cold incense. It seemed... this was not bad at all?