Chapter 201 — Freeloading

The Right Protector Envoy planted her hands on her hips and laughed coldly at the sky: "Bald donkeys! If you've got the nerve, don't you dare leave!

I can curse you for three days and three nights without ever repeating myself!

" A bodhisattva sneered: "Xue Bi'e, all that's left of you is that mouth!

" "Pay them no heed. " From Sumeru Mountain, the Old Tathagata said: "If we trade curses with them, I fear it could go on for half a year. We have fought for centuries and cursed for centuries; there is no need to be hasty at this moment.

Let us first go and stop this battle.

" The monks covering the mountain did not pause; the phantom of Sumeru Mountain drifted toward the battlefield. Imperial Teacher Jingping was still locked in fierce combat with Qiong Fuzi and the others, striving to do away with these powerhouses before the phantom arrived. Just then, the Old Tathagata's voice drifted over, unhurried: "Imperial Teacher Jingping, all you fellow cultivators—might you grant me a favor? " Imperial Teacher Jingping let his sword qi disperse, eluded the pursuit of Qiong Fuzi and the bronze-masked man, and said with a smile: "Tathagata, please speak.

" "Very well. Fellow cultivators, please stay your hands," the Old Tathagata said in a deep voice.

Qiong Fuzi and the others had been about to strike; hearing this, they hesitated a moment, then each came to a halt.

Tian Zhenjun could not stop coughing blood; his heart and lungs had been wounded by Imperial Teacher Jingping's sword qi.

In a shrill voice he cried: "Old Tathagata, do you intend to join forces with us and rid the world of this fiend? " The Old Tathagata shook his head.

Li Sanren's face changed slightly, and he sneered: "Could the Great Thunderclap Temple also have become a lackey of the Jingping Kingdom, like the Youmo Cult?

" The Old Tathagata shook his head again. Qiong Fuzi said flatly: "Elder Daoist brother, no more riddles—speak plainly.

" The Old Tathagata laughed: "I have come to form a bond of good affinity with you all and to settle this affair.

All of you are cultivators; if you continue to fight, who knows how many heroes will fall, how many lineages be severed.

Why not, this very day, beat swords into plowshares and, in peace and goodwill, bring your mutual karma to an end? " Imperial Teacher Jingping's eyes flickered, but he remained silent. The Old Tathagata looked at him and laughed: "Imperial Teacher Jingping is a good man. Once you came to my Great Thunderclap Temple, and I spoke with you of the Dharma, expounded the Mahayana, and formed a good affinity.

Would Imperial Teacher Jingping be willing to return this affinity to this old monk?

" Imperial Teacher Jingping said solemnly: "In those years I was still young, traveling and studying across the world. When I reached the Great Thunderclap Temple, the Tathagata, with no sectarian prejudice, guided my cultivation. I count myself half a disciple of the Great Thunderclap Temple, and it is fitting that I return this affinity.

Yet how am I to know this is not releasing a tiger back into the mountains? These men are the foremost bandit chieftains of the world—how could they be willing to stop here? If they rise again in days to come, living beings will be plunged into misery again. The Tathagata, compassionate at heart, should understand my concern. " The Old Tathagata laughed: "This old monk will have them take refuge in the Great Thunderclap Temple and no longer meddle in worldly affairs. What does Imperial Teacher Jingping say to that?

" Imperial Teacher Jingping neither assented nor objected. The Old Tathagata smiled and looked at Qiong Fuzi and the others: "Each of you was a hero in your day, peerless in grace, imperious through all your lives, radiant through all your years.

Are you now willing to lay down your arms and take refuge in the Buddhist faith?

" Tian Zhenjun sneered: "Old Tathagata, with us joined to your Great Thunderclap Temple, would destroying this fiend really be so hard? Do you think that by letting this chance pass, your Great Thunderclap Temple will be spared? Once Imperial Teacher Jingping destroys us, he is certain to destroy Buddhism!

Why not strike now, and show us your arts of quelling demons? " The Old Tathagata laughed: "However Imperial Teacher Jingping may treat our Buddhist order, there will always be in this world people who believe in and revere the Buddha. Whether gods and Buddhas still exist in this world or not, faith remains. It will not perish because Imperial Teacher Jingping destroys the Buddhist order, nor will it shine brighter because he exalts it.

If you are willing to set down enmities and arms, then come with me. If not, this old monk can only say that our affinities were lacking, and take his leave. " Suddenly, figures dropped sharply from the sky, landing behind Imperial Teacher Jingping—a hundred or more armor-clad generals of the Jingping Kingdom, drenched in blood, their battle intent surging to the heavens. Duke Weiguo boomed: "What's this? The Tathagata has come to join the ruckus too? Sponging off us, is he?

Imperial Teacher Jingping, let's make an end of this white-browed monk and all these bald-headed. . .

" Imperial Teacher Jingping raised a hand to stop him and said in a low voice: "We must not end in mutual ruin. The Old Tathagata has come to make peace—this is a good thing. " Duke Weiguo was suspicious, puzzled by his meaning: "They're just here to sponge!

They seize this chance to take these rebel leaders into his Great Thunderclap Temple and swell its strength. These rebel leaders are formidable figures, every one of them.

Let them go, and it's releasing tigers back to the mountains—endless trouble to follow! Imperial Teacher Jingping, think twice! " Imperial Teacher Jingping smiled: "The Old Tathagata has said that once they take refuge in Buddhism, they will no longer meddle in worldly affairs. I trust the Old Tathagata. " "You truly trust him?

" Duke Weiguo stared wide-eyed: "Hairless heads, shoddy deeds. .

.

" He was about to say more, but Imperial Teacher Jingping raised his hand and said calmly: "The Old Tathagata is the foremost leader of the Buddhist faith.

For him to come resolve grievances, end a conflict, and return peace under heaven—this is a deed of immense benevolence. Besides, I too have been wounded. " On Sumeru Mountain, the bodhisattvas and arhats, hearing this, turned their heads to look.

The Old Tathagata chanted a Buddha's name to bring them to attention, and laughed: "Imperial Teacher Jingping is willing to resolve the grievance.

Qiong Fuzi—what of you all? " Qiong Fuzi and the others exchanged a glance and nodded silently.

If they refused to take refuge in Buddhism, the Old Tathagata would stand by and watch them die, leading the many powerhouses of the Great Thunderclap Temple away; they would surely die at Imperial Teacher Jingping's hands.

The Old Tathagata had brought nearly all of the Great Thunderclap Temple's powerhouses this time, making clear his determination to succeed, and if they agreed to take refuge, even Imperial Teacher Jingping would not dare pursue the matter. The Old Tathagata laughed: "Elder brothers and sisters, set down your grudges and karma, take refuge in Buddhism, and with the four elements all empty, you shall surely attain the Way.

Imperial Teacher Jingping. .

. " Imperial Teacher Jingping raised his hand and pointed at the bronze-masked man: "Tathagata, he must stay.

" The bronze-masked man felt a chill in his heart.

The Old Tathagata frowned slightly, and the bodhisattvas, arhats, and venerable ones upon the phantom of Sumeru Mountain chanted the Buddha's name in unison. Imperial Teacher Jingping smiled: "He must stay.

" Though his voice was light, there was in his tone an air that brooked neither doubt nor bargaining.