Chapter 49
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Chapter 49: The Lotus Cloud of Dharma Appears
Five days later, morning mist covered the ground.
The little monk Wu Jing yawned as he harnessed the cow cart, which was loaded with six large baskets full of steamed buns, flatbreads, and pastries, all overflowing.
“I’m so sleepy! Handsome Uncle is really something, not setting up a Merit Box to collect money but insisting that the faithful offer these. I have to wake up early every day to harness the cow cart.”
“Nephew, this is merit! Your uncle is specially sharing some with you. Every time you harness the cow cart, think about the children who will eat well because of this food. Aren’t they happy?” Li Hui said calmly, holding prayer beads.
“They’re not happy. Those beggars would be better off dead and reborn. I, Wu Jing, have the talent to practice cultivation; I’m almost ready to produce Dharma clouds. Once I gather nine Dharma clouds, I can reach Awakening, and I’ll definitely become a master one day.”
“Uh, all beings are equal; you shouldn’t think like that.” Li Hui shook his head. The Guangxiao Temple cared little for merit and only for money and cultivation. The Dharma Cloud stage was equivalent to the Spirit Motion stage, while the Awakening stage corresponded to the Concentrating Spirit stage. Above that was the Cutting Illusions stage, equating to Condense Essence. Further yet, it followed the same path as the other cultivators in the world—practicing Bosa and the myriad phenomena. Thus, Guangxiao Temple represented an unremarkable sect, rumored to be backed by the Buddhist sect, specifically the Dalong sect, although the details were unclear.
Li Hui and the little monk could not communicate about compassion for all beings or cherishing moths that flutter around lamps; it was all a ploy to deceive common people. Just think, a temple that can afford to use light silk for lampshades must be financially prosperous.
In the morning mist, the cart wheels creaked loudly as the little monk went back to catch some sleep while the old yellow cow moved steadily forward.
Once the sun burned off most of the mist, Li Hui arrived at a dilapidated abandoned house on the eastern edge of the city.
Hearing the sound of the cart wheels, many little heads peeked out from behind the crumbled walls, their faces bright with joy and anticipation as they looked towards the cow cart.
Without Li Hui having to call out, over a dozen half-grown children rushed out, unloading the items from the cart while bowing and greeting him as they jumped down.
“Alright, alright, it’s just a small effort. No need to thank me.”
Li Hui greeted them with a smile, but he knew well that these over a dozen kids were superficially respectful. If they encountered someone they could bully, they wouldn’t hesitate to stab that person with a knife and snatch their money, leaving the body abandoned in the wild; they might even spit on the corpse and walk away proudly.
However, they were in charge of around a hundred beggars.
Although these beggars’ daily earnings were exploited by them, they acted as a protective umbrella, shielding the one hundred children from the wind and rain.
Thus, Li Hui only accepted food at Guangxiao Temple and didn’t take any money, as money wouldn’t reach these children even if he accepted it; that would serve no purpose!
In truth, delivering food to alleviate these beggars’ burdens was akin to sending money! Some exquisite pastries could even be sold, providing a financial source.
Li Hui sat down among the beggars, listening to them eat while discussing the city’s big and small affairs. The children knew that the master liked to hear unusual tales and hence elaborated the stories, hoping the cow cart would come every morning.
Today was the fourth day. Li Hui had not used the two nine-patterned anomaly Spirit Sense Talismans in his pocket to spy on the royal palace, fearing that high-level demon cultivators could trace the source of his gaze. Instead, he pieced together information through these little beggars.
Over the past four days, he had confirmed at least five things.
The first thing: the royal palace’s wooden building had collapsed, causing a large-scale landslide. Whether Cheng Yuyan had survived, he couldn’t know.
The second thing: most of the masters from the Hidden Sky Sect had left two days ago, with more than twenty white giant eagles soaring from the royal palace. This spectacle happened to be witnessed by two little beggars.
The third thing: five young girls had gone missing from their homes, and the officials were searching furiously. At one girl’s house, they encountered a black-faced giant who was stronger than all the officials combined; this person seemed to resemble the master Gao Yuhu.
The fourth thing: for three consecutive mornings, mist had formed, with each day thicker than the last. Some people reported sightings of ghostly figures moving in the mist, and each time they appeared, talismans floated through the air.
The fifth thing: two days ago, there were loud noises from Hongye Valley leading to the White Sea. Two merchant caravans returned with dirty faces, stating that a mudslide had blocked the route, and to reach the White Sea, they would have to take the long way around Iron Gourd Mountain.
“Master, my little sister is sick! Can you treat her?” A dirty little girl knelt before Li Hui, hope filling her face as she looked up at the kind monk.
“Oh, she’s sick? Then you should hurry and boil some water.” Li Hui reached into his robe and took out three Dew Pills, telling the little girl, “Dissolve these pills in the hot water. Not only for your brother, but let the other children have some too.”
As the three pills fell into the girl’s hands, Li Hui suddenly felt a warmth in his chest.
“What’s happening? This yellow pearl is glowing and heating up?” Li Hui looked down to see golden light emanating from his chest. He hurriedly reached in to grab the pearl, but unexpectedly, pain shot through his palm, and numerous light patterns appeared on his left arm, revealing the Dragon Claw pattern that activated automatically.
“Uh, what’s happening?” Li Hui was taken aback, and just then, “thump thump,” the nearby little beggars saw this spectacle and immediately knelt down, including the older beggars. Perhaps moments ago, they had been eyeing the pills in the girl’s hands, but now they were too frightened to look up.
Before he could collect himself, pain struck his left arm again.
The light patterns intricately intertwined, and a yellow pearl filled with mist appeared on his left arm’s spirit mark, held firmly in the Dragon Claw.
At the same time, spiritual energy gathered from all directions.
Li Hui quickly rose, noticing a white cloud shaped like a lotus forming beneath him. It opened like a flower, followed by a second, a third, and then a fourth.
“How is this possible? Dharma clouds? Four lotus-shaped Dharma clouds! I’m just a fake monk and haven’t practiced any monk methods. Why are Dharma clouds appearing?” He felt an overwhelming inner turmoil. When the Dragon Claw pattern on his left arm faded, the four lotus-shaped Dharma clouds disappeared too, leaving only the curious little ones who looked up at him frequently.
“Hurry up, everyone get up! The poor monk is giving out pills. No need to kneel when I occasionally have a breakthrough.” Li Hui waved his hand, lifting the beggars with a gentle force, and they felt the master’s wonder.
“Quickly, dissolve the pills for your sister to drink.” The oldest beggar urged the little girl and then kneeled closer again.
“Kid, Luo Chongba, I earnestly request to be by your side and listen to the master’s teachings.” This young boy had a face full of pockmarks and a chin that was disproportionate, making Li Hui frown as he thought, “How could I accept this strange-looking kid as a disciple when I, Handsome Master of the Jade Symbol Sect, have good looks? I might wake up from nightmares!”
“Child, it’s good that you have a heart for the Buddha. However, you seem mired in worldly bonds; it’s best for you to cultivate as a lay disciple!” Li Hui had a kind heart and did not want to dampen the boy’s enthusiasm. Additionally, the hundreds of little ones needed someone to care for them. So he reluctantly accepted him as a lay disciple, feeling that this connection might allow him to keep some money and resources.
Upon hearing this, the pockmarked boy Luo Chongba eagerly bowed his head nine times in a row, more sincere than any ancestral worship, making Li Hui, who was shy, feel quite embarrassed. He cleared his throat and said, “Ahem, let me give you some pills to build your strength!”
Just then, a loud “whoosh” shocked the air, and a bright light shot up from the city, “crackling” and exploding into the sky, weaving into a blue token in the air. Li Hui gasped in shock, “A Jade Symbol Law Tablet? All disciples of the Jade Symbol Sect must assemble.”
