Chapter 47 Part 2

“No, I must go now,” Wu Yinyu smiled, rolling her eyes downwards. She teased, “Is this path not open for me?”

“No, no, not at all,” the Heavenly Soldier quickly moved aside. Watching her figure nearly disappear from sight, he hurriedly added, “Today, Little Enlightenment Ruins is to welcome a new Buddha. That Venerable One might have no time to see you.”

Wu Yinyu’s steps faltered. She turned her head and asked, unconcerned, “A new one? Who?”

“It seems she comes from a Small World, and is about to ascend to the immortal registry now,” the soldier answered.

Wu Yinyu shook the wine jug in her hand and said cryptically, “It’s been quite some time since Little Enlightenment Ruins welcomed a new ‘Dharma Vestment.’ By which Dao did this new one enter Buddhahood?”

“I don’t know,” the soldier replied. This wasn’t something an ordinary Heavenly Soldier would be privy to.

Wu Yinyu simply waved a hand. “Forget it. What’s it to me? I still have to go see Lian Sheng.”

“High Immortal!” the soldier cried out in alarm.

But Wu Yinyu’s figure had already vanished, arriving in the next moment amidst the countless thousands of Gourd Pagodas.

Seeing her, the assembly of Buddhas all pressed their palms together in greeting. Even the leading Lamp Bearer bowed slightly and said, “High Immortal, well-met.”

Wu Yinyu’s gaze swept past the gathered Buddhas and landed on the newcomer at the very back. She met a pair of cold, slightly sinister eyes.

In all her time in White Jade Capital, she had never seen a female Dharma Vestment like this. How had someone so full of base desires attained the Dao?

So fierce, so brimming with hatred. She must have entered the Dao through slaughter.

Wu Yinyu quipped, “A rare sight.”

The Lamp Bearer understood her implication perfectly but showed no annoyance. He replied, mildly and deliberately, “High Immortal, watch your words. Anyone who enters Little Enlightenment Ruins must have received Venerable Lingming’s approval.”

Lingming was the ruling Buddha of Little Enlightenment Ruins. The towering Buddha statue in the distance was carved in its likeness.

Wu Yinyu sensed the newcomer staring at her, and she stared back without any concealment. “If Lingming permitted it, then surely there is no mistake.”

Her words and tone suggested she was speaking as an equal to Venerable Lingming.

The Lamp Bearer bowed slightly, saying no more.

“I see you are all still busy. I won’t stand in the way here. I’m going to find Lian Sheng.” With curved brows and a grin, compared to these precept-laden Buddhas, she was simply too free-spirited.

None of the Buddhas tried to stop her, allowing her to roam freely through this forbidden ground of the Ruins.

Wu Yinyu wove through the Gourd Pagodas, not even paying obeisance when passing the towering Buddha statue. Spotting a Lotus Pool in the distance, she flew over and leaned lazily against the Bodhi tree, plucking a leaf to tickle the top of the head of the person below.

The immortal below sat barefoot, a heavy, wide crimson robe draped over a white gauze shirt. She seemed carefree and natural, yet she sat ramrod straight, as though difficult to approach.

Her long black hair hung loose down her back, only the ends tied with a red string. The leaf on her headdress rustled intermittently against her hair.

“Pay me some attention, Lian Sheng,” Wu Yinyu called.

Only then did Lian Sheng tilt her head up. Her face was, indeed, exactly the same as Yu Zezhi’s.

She was Yu Zezhi, and also the Questioner during the Heavenly Execution.

“Lian Sheng, do you like me yet today?” Wu Yinyu asked, full of anticipation.

The person below answered coolly, “I do not.”

Wu Yinyu didn’t lose heart. She invited, “Want to go see the Crystal Flowers? If you take more walks with me, talk to me more, you’ll naturally come to like me sooner.”

“But why must I like you?” Lian Sheng asked.

“Because it would make me happy,” Wu Yinyu replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Standing on that ritual platform in Overgrown Mountain, Wu Yinyu felt dazed. So, at the very beginning, this love had been unrequited—something she had to pursue?

Her vision sharpened. She was still in White Jade Capital, but the person before her eyes was no longer Yu Zezhi, but the deeply malevolent Wuxian.

Over the following centuries, she still frequented Little Enlightenment Ruins. She still ran into Wuxian often. But she only cared about Lian Sheng. Whatever others did never concerned her, and she rarely bothered to give them a second glance.

Even after ascending to Little Enlightenment Ruins, Wuxian still wore that earth-colored robe. Standing before the statue of Venerable Lingming, she said, “In Wisdom Water Red Mountain, whoever passes Venerable Lingming’s image must pay respects.”

Wu Yinyu was just on her way to find Lian Sheng. She paused at this, chuckling with amusement. Compared to the other’s solemn and dignified expression, she was utterly lazy and frivolous.

Why would she ever bow to this stone image? She simply lifted her chin, tilting her head to examine it, and said dismissively, “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Lingming in a while.”

“High Immortal,” Wuxian said, her tone serious.

“What, you intend to block my way?” Wu Yinyu drawled, completely lacking decorum. With a flick of her finger, a wisp of Ink Qi drifted over.

Wuxian flinched back sharply, fearing it was some deadly spell.

But unexpectedly, the Ink Qi brushed past her ear and merely shot towards the stone statue behind her.

The wisp landed on the statue, blooming into a black flower right next to “Lingming’s” ear, adding a touch of charming playfulness.

Wuxian, however, couldn’t bear the sight of it. Her eyes immediately filled with intense, baleful anger. “You dare—”

“You’ve been here a hundred years. How can you not know? Even Lingming must show me some respect.” Wu Yinyu curled her finger. The flower blooming on the statue immediately closed, transforming back into a drop of ink that flew into her palm.

“You are committing blasphemy against Venerable Lingming! Venerable Lingming presides over three thousand great and small worlds! What about you? In all of Wisdom Water Red Mountain, you don’t even hold a sinecure! What gives you the right to demand a Venerable One’s respect!” Wuxian stood beside the statue, looking exceptionally small and insignificant.

Her eyes glared with deep-seated rage, her entire body tense. At a glance, she didn’t look like a Buddha, but an Evil Devil.

Wu Yinyu, however, only laughed. Softly, teasingly, she said, “Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name.”

Wuxian’s eyes reddened with fury. She was already beside herself with rage.

“What’s your name?” Wu Yinyu asked lazily, lifting a hand to gently blow against her palm, sending the drop of ink flying out.

Wuxian had no intention of answering. Yet, a crushing pressure surged forth alongside the ink droplet. The ink landed on her forehead and she was rendered utterly immobile. Then, her tightly sealed mouth opened of its own accord and formed two words: “Wuxian.”

Upon entering Wisdom Water Red Mountain, one had to change one’s name. This was naturally not her original name.

“Wuxian (Without Disgust). A good name. Does it mean ‘without dislike,’ ‘not discarded’?” Wu Yinyu mused with interest.

Wuxian’s expression darkened abruptly. But with the ink still on her forehead, how could she speak any other words? The more she resisted, the louder her rigid bones cracked, a grinding, grating sound like gnashing teeth.

This was, after all, Little Enlightenment Ruins. Wu Yinyu wouldn’t go too far. After a moment, she recalled the drop of ink.

Wuxian’s body sagged in release as she gasped heavily for air.

“Wuxian, your heart is impure. On what grounds did Lingming keep you?” Wu Yinyu asked.

Wuxian hung her head low. After a long time, she asked hoarsely, “I know about your private feelings for that one. You cling persistently. This is not permitted in White Jade Capital. On what grounds did the Heavenly Dao keep you?”

Wu Yinyu was completely unfazed. Yet the more she appeared unconcerned, the more casual her bearing, the more she provoked loathing and fury.

She completely evaded discussing her own affairs with Lian Sheng and simply asked, “You entered the Dao through slaughter, didn’t you? Actually, I checked the Immortal Register Casket long ago. I’ve known your name for a while. You came from Little Desolate Islet. You must have committed many evils over there.”

“They provoked me first!” Wuxian said coldly. “I was personally appointed by Lingming. Even if I entered the Dao through slaughter, I won’t be expelled from Little Enlightenment Ruins. And you? You violate the rule against private affections. Can you avoid being expelled from White Jade Capital?”

And then, before Wu Yinyu’s eyes appeared that Thousand-Layered Pagoda. Slamming into her vision again were the swift lightning and fierce flames. Only, she understood clearly now: her conviction was not for some private affair, but because she had…

Murdered a multitude of Buddhas.

Before the execution, she saw the scene that had appeared in her dream before—she was entrusting Lian Sheng to send her to the Wu family on Little Desolate Islet.

She just didn’t understand why her True Body had vanished, and her soul trapped inside a twelve-faced die, making it so hard for Lian Sheng to find.

Dazed and disoriented, Wu Yinyu finally opened her eyes there in Overgrown Mountain.

She couldn’t fathom it. Why would she kill so many Buddhas of Little Enlightenment Ruins? Because of Wuxian? Definitely not. She had never taken that person seriously.

Then for whom had she gone? Because of Wuxian? Maybe there was some connection, but it certainly wasn’t just because of Wuxian!

In the distance, the Lotus Pattern Arc Light was still shining, a mass of Plague Ghosts still trapped within it, howling miserably.

“Aren’t your legs sore?”

Wu Yinyu came back to her senses and saw the hand Yu Zezhi extended. She stared at it for a few seconds, then lifted her arm to grasp it, pulling herself up. “They hurt.”

“What happened just now?” Yu Zezhi noticed the icy coldness of her palm and seemingly casually gave it a light squeeze, transferring the warmth from her fingertips.

Wu Yinyu pulled her hand back. Perhaps it was because the “Lian Sheng” of Wisdom Water Red Mountain had been so cold and detached, but now that she was back, she felt a lingering sense of discomfort.

“Wasn’t it just your leg you bumped?” Yu Zezhi’s brow remained furrowed, her eyes scanning the person before her.

Wu Yinyu let out a short laugh. “Are you trying to say I hit my head too? Boss Yu, resorting to veiled insults now?”

“You misunderstand me,” Yu Zezhi said. Looking into the distance at the gathered Plague Ghosts, she turned her wrist. From within the arcs of light, fiery red lotuses bloomed.

Wherever there were Plague Ghosts, the red lotuses blossomed. In an instant, the entire mountain blazed crimson, brilliant as beacon fires under a red sky.

The instant the Lotus Pattern Arc Light vanished, those Plague Ghosts were all swept away, without a trace remaining.

Only desolation was left in the mountains. The Jiangshi skeletons clattered down, piling into mounds on the ground.

“Where did you send those Plague Ghosts?” Wu Yinyu squinted, searching.

“Naturally, the Two-World Sea,” Yu Zezhi lowered her hand. “They shouldn’t have died originally, and they should still have a next life.”

“Boss Yu is indeed as merciful as a Bodhisattva,” Wu Yinyu teased weakly, leaning over and nestling against her.

Yu Zezhi glanced sideways at her but stood still, letting her lean. Her gaze dropped down slightly, and then she bent down, picking away a blade of grass that clung to Wu Yinyu’s skirt.

“You still haven’t said what you just saw,” she prompted.

Wu Yinyu, however, subtly lifted her skirt, exposing a bit of her leg. Casually, she said, “I think my knee is bruised from the fall. Want to take a look for me, Boss Yu?”

“Can’t see clearly,” Yu Zezhi replied.

“Isn’t there the lotus light?” Wu Yinyu was still holding up the plain-colored hem.

Yu Zezhi paused, her eyes fixed downward as she corrected herself. “It is a bit bruised and blue.”

“Does it need to be massaged out? I can’t muster the strength,” Wu Yinyu hissed lightly in feigned pain.

“It will hurt,” Yu Zezhi averted her gaze.

“Oh, no then. I’m afraid of pain.” Wu Yinyu let go of her skirt and changed the subject. “Just now, I saw Wuxian. This ritual platform is her doing. Deep in the mountains, there’s also a stone statue she had villagers carve for her. She used these two things to raise Plague Ghosts, using the endless tide of Yin Energy to bolster her cultivation.”

She paused, then asked slowly, “Don’t you find her name a bit familiar?”

“What do you mean?” Yu Zezhi looked at her steadily.

Wu Yinyu smiled. “I saw her kill a Judge and usurp his seat. It’s because of her that the Five Gates toil through the generations. She entered Wisdom Water Red Mountain by cultivating the Wicked Dao. There, she changed her name to Wuxian. You were both in Wisdom Water Red Mountain; I thought you might have heard her name.”

“Somewhat familiar,” Yu Zezhi said, crushing the blade of grass between her fingers. “What else did you see?”

Wu Yinyu shook her head, appearing completely sincere. “Nothing else.”

“Where is Wuxian’s stone statue?” Yu Zezhi gazed towards the depths of the mountain forest.

Wu Yinyu turned and hesitantly pointed into the forest. “That way?”

Just as they were about to leave, a mournful cry suddenly echoed from the ritual platform beneath their feet.