Chapter 187: Reversal of Cause and Effect, Karma Hard to Erase

Toad Daoist tightly shut his bulging toad-eyes, yet the Buddhist arts meant to subdue demons and vanquish evil that he had expected did not descend.

Behind his closed lids, his eyeballs rolled. Then, slowly, he opened his eyes and lifted his head. What he saw first were a monk’s shoes, then a monk’s robes extending upward. The old monk stood there motionless, hands raised in a Dharma seal.

“Why haven’t you made a move yet, you bald donkey? Waiting to laugh at this old man?”

The old monk shook his head. “Daoist Purple Star was a great demon, his cultivation unfathomable. Even when several major sects joined forces to suppress him, they struggled to defeat him. How would this poor monk dare to mock you?”

“The moment you say that, you’re already ridiculing me.”

Since he was at the mercy of others anyway, Toad Daoist simply crawled upright and sat there, gazing at the scenery of the broken cliff opposite him. “Back then, this old man committed countless evils—killing to seize treasures, bringing calamity without end. Today I’ve fallen into your hands. Stop wasting words and strike.”

From behind him came no reply. Only the sound of a monk’s staff being driven into the ground with a bang. The old monk rolled up his sleeves, walked over with a gentle smile, and instead of attacking, sat down cross-legged beside Toad Daoist.

Toad Daoist shot him a glance, clearly taken aback.

“Why aren’t you making a move? I remember an old bald monk back then—his name was Zhenhai. He was far more decisive than you.”

“Heh…”

The old monk chuckled softly before speaking again after a moment. “That was my junior brother. He is currently in seclusion, meditating on the Dharma. This poor monk’s Dharma name is Zhenkong.”

As he spoke, he silently recited a Buddhist invocation.

“Hmph, what difference does it make?!” Toad Daoist glanced at the dice lying not far away, sighed, then folded his webbed forelimbs across his chest and dipped his head slightly. “If it weren’t for the backlash that devoured my cultivation, how could I have allowed your junior brother to run rampant? How could I be sitting here now, chatting at leisure with a bald donkey like you?”

“And what is so bad about things being as they are now?”

The two spoke back and forth like old friends. Monk Zhenkong seemed in no hurry to deal with Toad Daoist at all, smiling as he continued.

“You and I sit here calmly, speaking of the past. Is that not a fine thing? Just as our Buddhist teachings say: when the heart harbors good intent, only then does the clear mirror reflect awakening to the Tathāgata… In truth, you yourself know it well. Back then, your slaughter was too heavy, and thus, you suffered backlash. Is this not precisely the moment to nurture kindness, accumulate virtue, and begin anew?”

“It seems that you, bald donkey, wish to deliver and redeem a great demon like me, steeped in sins beyond measure?”

At that, Toad Daoist clasped his webbed limbs together and burst into loud laughter, so hard that even the gourd on his back trembled.

“Ha—ha—ha!”

“Your Buddhist lot really does try to convert everything, don’t you? Is it that as long as one kills, then puts down the butcher’s blade, you’ll accept them? Then this old man will go kill a few more—come back and convert me again!”

With his current demonic power, Toad Daoist was utterly unable to discern the depth of the old monk’s Buddhist cultivation. Rather than endure the other’s preaching, he would rather provoke him into striking cleanly and decisively.

He rose from the ground and was about to leave. As he passed by the old monk at his side, the monk’s voice came quietly from behind him.

“This poor monk has long been redeeming you already.”

The webbed foot that had just lifted froze mid-step. Toad Daoist’s body trembled, and he spun around sharply, staring at the monk’s back.

“Ever since this old man was gravely wounded, everything I’ve done and every result I’ve met has been plagued by misfortune after misfortune. So it was you who was secretly causing trouble!”

“Amitābha.”

At the cliff’s edge, the old monk who had been seated cross-legged rose to his feet. He raised a Dharma seal and turned to face Toad Daoist, lowering his head slightly.

“Have you not heard? When one’s sins are too heavy, only the reversal of cause and effect can offset them. Today’s trials may not be a bad thing. Otherwise, how would you have found a new anchor, a new life?”

The anger that had filled Toad Daoist’s face froze at once.

Then, the monk suddenly smiled and walked over.

“Just now you asked whether the Buddhist path accepts anyone at all. This poor monk will answer you now. Within Buddhism, there are also Vajra guardians with wrathful eyes, meant to subdue demons and vanquish evil. Not every person—or demon—can be redeemed.”

“Then why do you wish to redeem this old man?”

Knowing that the other had altered his fate, using tribulation to offset karma, Toad Daoist understood that such a feat required cultivation beyond even his own reach.

Yet before him stood a monk of such profound Buddhist attainment—one who did not subdue demons, but instead sought to redeem him. This only gave rise to yet another question.

The lingering crimson clouds at the mountain peak were nearly spent. Flocks of birds chirped and wheeled through the sky.

Within the rosy afterglow, the old monk merely smiled. After a long pause, he finally spoke a single sentence—one that sent chills down the Toad Daoist’s spine.

“Do you remember the gravestone you erected in Mount Qi? The woman buried there was this poor monk’s daughter, the child I left behind in the mortal world before taking the tonsure…”

At those words, the bumps on Toad Daoist’s back nearly swelled to bursting.

“Y-your… your daughter…”

“This poor monk repays kindness with kindness, sacrificing a hundred years of cultivation, to return you a single chance.”

By his mother’s—

Toad Daoist’s entire body went numb. He turned and fled at once. “Utter nonsense! You bald monk, have clearly gone mad to spout such drivel! This old man is already this old—if I were to acknowledge a father-in-law, I’d at least pick someone younger!”

Even as he hurled curses, the direction he was heading toward was the very place where he had earlier rested together with Lu Liangsheng. He had no idea why his steps had carried him back here again.

Looking around, the surroundings were empty. There was nothing but the rustling of the forest and wilderness as the wind brushed through. He pressed his lips together, then continued forward.

“See? Once the heart has something it clings to, one naturally steps away from past sins.”

At some unknown moment, the old monk had appeared behind Toad Daoist, leaning on his monk’s staff as he walked along at an unhurried pace. Toad Daoist glanced back at him.

By his mother’s… could this really be this old man’s father-in-law?

The terrifying thought made him snap his head back around at once. “Redeeming this old man cost you a hundred years of cultivation. Hmph… just as foolish as that disciple of mine who never knew his own limits.”

Behind him, the old monk chuckled softly. “Whether one redeems a person or redeems a demon, it is all immeasurable merit.”

“Fine. Just so happens there’s a great demon in the capital. It’s only a bit weaker than this old man was at his peak. Go try redeeming that one!”

“Then this poor monk must go and take a look.”

“Careful you don’t get eaten, old bald donkey!”

“Haha… Amitābha.”

One in front, one behind—a short, squat figure and a gaunt old monk—trading words back and forth as they walked. The road, at least, was lively.

The rosy afterglow sank away, night swept in, and before long daylight rose again at the horizon.

In the early morning’s leaden blue light, a few stars still dotted the sky.

The fifteenth day of the eighth month had arrived.

At the gates of Tianzhi City, just as on any ordinary day, the soldiers slowly pushed the gates open. The merchants and travelers waiting to enter had yet to pass through when a fast horse came galloping in from the far end of the official road. The rider wore the uniform of the Imperial Apprehension Office, four long sabers crossed on his back. Even the drowsy soldiers dared not stop him, assuming an urgent matter was at hand. They hurriedly drove a few vendors aside and let the rider charge straight through the city gate.

Clop, clop…

Hooves thundered across the bluestone-paved streets. By now, townsfolk were already moving about, steam rising in the air as they bought their morning food, preparing to begin another day of life.

Hearing the sudden, urgent thunder of hooves, they hurriedly pulled their companions aside to avoid the road.

“These government lackeys—don’t care about their own lives, and don’t treat other people’s lives as lives either!”

“So rushed, could it be an emergency report from the border?!” “Who the hell knows!”

“Stop talking. Hurry up and find work to do. Getting home early to spend time with family—that’s what matters.”

Amid the voices, the distant rider turned at the end of the street and galloped toward the cluster of official residences. He picked a manor belonging to an official not required to attend court that day, dismounted, and strode up to knock on the courtyard gate.

The instant the gate opened, Zuo Zhengyang shoved the door panel inward. The tremendous force sent the old gatekeeper stumbling backward in a flurry.

“What are you doing?!”

The saber-bearing figure ignored him and walked straight inside. Guards rushed over to block his way, only to be swept aside with a single hand, flung up into the tree branches.

Bang—

Reaching the rear courtyard, Zuo Zhengyang’s face was expressionless as he kicked open the door to the sleeping chamber. The impact shook even the window frames. Then, in one clean motion, he drew the slender blade at his waist.

In the darkness, someone turned their head toward him.

What greeted them was a flash of cold steel.

Pfft!

The figure inside collapsed heavily to the ground, blood spreading everywhere, reeking with a foul stench. Zuo Zhengyang stepped forward, blade in hand, prodded the corpse once with the tip, then twisted his arm and flicked upward—

A massive centipede was lifted into the air.

The guards and servants who had been shouting moments earlier went pale with fright and retreated in unison. When the women of the household rushed over and saw the scene, their eyes rolled back, and they fainted on the spot.

“Demonic abomination!”

Zuo Zhengyang shouted as he hacked the thoroughly dead centipede in half with a single stroke. He sheathed his blade, strode out of the manor, mounted his horse, and rode straight for the imperial city.

At the gates of the imperial city, the soldiers greeted him with smiles.

“Commander Zuo, did you capture that Lord Minister? That would be a great merit indeed.”

The rider did not dismount. Leaning down, he asked in a low voice, “Are the hundred officials in court? Is the National Protector Venerable Master still there?”

“Uh…”

Caught off guard, the soldier froze for a moment before reacting. “Commander, don’t joke with us. At this hour, of course, all the civil and military officials are in court. As for the National Protector Venerable Master, that… we don’t know. Commander, are you seeking the Venerable Master for an urgent matter?”

“Yes.”

Zuo Zhengyang nodded. No one noticed that the hand gripping the reins was trembling faintly. He murmured a low command: “Hyah!”

He urged his horse forward, charging into the imperial city. He galloped along the palace road, staring at the brightly lit outlines of the palace halls ahead. Zuo Zhengyang released one hand from the reins and closed it around the hilt of his blade.

On the vast, desolate square, he hauled on the reins and brought the horse to a halt.

Facing the majestic treasure hall at the top of the stone steps, his voice rang out, hoarse and unrestrained:

“You demons and monsters—!”

Clang!

The blade left its sheath with a long, ringing cry.

“—You dare usurp the Son of Heaven’s hall? Get out of here!!”