Late Night Tales Of The Capital

Chapter 135 Unless Dust Has Covered the Eyes of the Buddhas
Hearing the voice coming from behind the temple doors.

The disciples of the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder all fell into silence, including the agitated Guan Shuheng. Lei Tianyou told them to come to Boiled Snow Temple because Grandmaster Yunxia was here. He believed that their relationship would be able to buy them several days of shelter.

However, Grandmaster Yunxia was dead and that linkage could be considered as completely broken.

How else could they open the temple doors?

Moreover, the little monk had made it clear that the temple would be sealed off for ten years and no guests would be entertained. The temple wouldn’t get involved in any affairs of the Cultivation World either. This could be considered an act of isolation from the outside world in order to focus on their cultivation. Perhaps, they were wholeheartedly trying to shun the world.

Endless darkness.

Ice-cold stillness.

Where could they go next?

Ye Que, who stood near the group, was sighing on the inside. “We have kneeled before the Buddhas for three thousand years, yet we see no pity from the Buddhas. Unless dust has covered the eyes of the Buddhas, then it’s because we have not made enough donations to the temple…”

“These Buddhist cultivators sure know the ways of the world!”

He once heard a saying that he had yet to verify. Now, he knew it to be true. “If the Buddhas aren’t greedy, why would they require the people to donate? If the Buddhas aren’t vain, why would they need the people to worship them?”

“You may treasure the Buddhas in your heart, but the Buddhas may not even think of you!”

If one day you seek refuge with the Buddhas after suffering the pain of the Human World, the Buddhas tell you, “Everything is destined.”

You say, “If you can’t help me, then why do you ask humans to worship you? What’s the point of us worshipping you?”

Buddhist cultivators loved preaching about delivering all living creatures from suffering.

Yet when true calamities arrived, they didn’t help anyone!

If sword cultivators or Taoist cultivators encountered something like this, they would surely lend a helping hand. They would never shy away from trouble.

Clearly, the Boiled Snow Temple knew that the devils were about to arrive and chaos was about to break out. What actions did they take? What path did they choose?

“Close the temple gate!”

“Ignore the affairs of the world!”

“Stay out of problems!”

During the past hundred years of flourishing times, they had received much of the people’s worship and donations. Weren’t they just making a fool out of those who trusted them? Weren’t they taking the people for idiots? If this was how they treated a child from an influential family whom they had a connection with, how would they treat the common folk? Would they just chase the common folk off Mount Cicada?

In the past, Ye Que never quite understood why Buddhist temples were built on the foot of a mountain while Taoist temples were built on hilltops. Now that he thought about it, temples at the bottom of the mountain made it easier for people to give alms. Many monks were robust and prosperous because they received enough donations to live on. The hilltop Taoists, on the other hand, cultivated in peace because few people would make the climb. Those cultivators were naturally much thinner than the monks.

Ye Que stepped forward and said quietly, “Let’s go. Since they have sealed the mountain and closed the temple doors, they won’t open it for you even if you break your hand knocking.”

“They said it’s inconvenient for them to receive us into the temple since Grandmaster Yunxia has passed away,” Guan Shuheng explained in a low voice.

“If they will only open their doors because you have a connection, then it makes no difference whether we enter the Boiled Snow Temple or not.” Ye Que scoffed. “These are merely fake Buddhists who are deceiving the world!”

Guan Shuheng tugged on Ye Que’s arm. His expression changed as well. “Mister, it’s best to be humble in our current circumstances. We should be careful with our words.”

This was a Truth-cultivating orthodox sect, after all. Who knew what the Buddhist cultivators inside would think if they overheard Ye Que cursing the Buddhas? They would be the biggest joke on earth if they ended up dying in front of a temple after escaping the devils’ pursuit.

“Didn’t they say they’re sealing off the mountain and closing their doors? Didn’t they say they’re not participating in the affairs of the Cultivation World? That means they’re not taking even a step out of the temple. What should I be scared of? If they’re that great, they can just come out. It’ll be nice to see what wicked faces they possess!” Ye Que curled his lips.

“Don’t speak up for them, Junior Brother. Do you think this is appropriate? Don’t you know how much strength we used to come all the way here? If they won’t even open their doors, we’ll likely freeze to death here. How long do you think Eldest Senior Brother can hold on?” Guan Shuheng’s Senior Sisters started lecturing him.

“Can’t you tell what is more important, etiquette or a human life?”

The girls dropped the subject after their little lecture and immediately started banging on the doors. They cursed as they slammed their fists on the doors, every word out of their mouth more unpleasant than the one before. Even Ye Que couldn’t stomach some of the things that they said, but no one stopped them.

In the face of death, everyone would unwaveringly grabbed on their final chance of survival.

It could be said that these female disciples of the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder would have a difficult time surviving the night if they couldn’t open temple doors. Lei Tianyou, at the very least, would meet certain death.

Ye Que glanced at the dying Lei Tianyou.

To be honest, the poison on Lin Mei’er’s dagger wasn’t hard to cure and the injuries on his abdomen weren’t difficult to heal either. However, Ye Que didn’t have the correct herbs with him and the environment wasn’t suitable for the healing either. There was no question that a snowy environment was unsuitable.

Even so, he wasn’t all that worried. He and Red Bean weren’t in danger, at least. He was now in the Starburst Realm while Red Bean was in the Formless Realm. He possessed the Divine Book and the River Soldier while Red Bean had absorbed the immortal Dragon’s Bones. She was also from the Dragon Clan. Never mind other factors, he was sure that survival wouldn’t be a problem for them.

The same couldn’t be said for these disciples of the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder.

He thought that his job would be over once he safely escorted them to the Boiled Snow Temple. Little did he expect such an outcome.

He didn’t expect to hear verbal abuse echoing throughout Mount Cicada.

There was no sound of activity for a good fifteen minutes.

The girls continued hurling abuse at the temple until a few of them started running out of steam. When they were about to exhaust their vocabulary of curses, a small crack appeared in the temple doors to hand them a little porcelain bottle.

“Benefactors, this is something that the abbot ordered me to hand to you. Your Eldest Senior Brother may have a need for this. Please forgive us. We simply can’t open the doors.”

“Female benefactors, please stop hurling abuse at us. It’s useless. It’s cold on a snowy night; I advise you to save your strength to keep yourselves warm.”

“Be careful not to let the cold hurt your body.”

“The snow on Mount Cicada at this time of the year is cold enough to swallow you whole.”

The young monk’s words were undeniably sarcastic and yet no one could pick a problem with it.

“Little monk, are you threatening us? The snow will swallow us whole? Do you think we’ll freeze to death on Mount Cicada?” Guan Shuheng’s Senior Sister added fiercely, “I’m a Physic Realm cultivator. Even if you die, I won’t!”

“May your words be true. That’s only a reminder from me. Whether or not you freeze to death is your business and has nothing to do with me. I care not.”

No more sound came from behind the doors. Just when they thought the little monk was gone, they heard him say, “The night brings cold wind and heavy snow. I won’t stay to chitchat with you all anymore. It’s nice and warm inside the house; please excuse me while I return to rest.”

Such a young monk and yet his words were incredibly sharp.

“Is that how the Boiled Snow Temple treats its guests? Is this how the Buddhist cultivators save people from hardship? If I get the chance, I’ll surely walk up to the golden statues in your Hall of Great Strength and ask how the Buddhas educate their disciples!” The eldest female disciple placed both hands on her hips and kicked the temple doors.

“Senior Sister!”

“That’s enough!”

Guan Shuheng tugged on his Senior Sister’s sleeve as hard as he could and called out for the rest. Then, he silently squatted down to pick up the little porcelain bottle on the ground.

“Junior Brother, we don’t want their crappy medicine.”

“Exactly! Junior Brother, throw that bottle away! Don’t you feel disgusted holding it?”

“Did they think they’re giving alms?”

Ignoring the disgusted looks of his Senior Sisters, Guan Shuheng rubbed the dirt on the porcelain bottle and carefully placed it in his bosom for safekeeping.

“Where has your dignity gone, Junior Brother?!”

Once again, the girls began to nag him.

Guan Shuheng didn’t talk back to them. His expression turned progressively worse as he listened. Finally, the last shred of his patience ran out and he yelled, “Enough!”

“Senior Sisters!”

“Can we stop talking about this?!”

“If I don’t take the medicine, we’ll be watching Eldest Senior Brother die!”

“If we ignore this medicine, who among you can save him? Who knows how to? If Eldest Senior Brother dies, where do we go from now on? Do you know where to go? Do you not fear the devils’ pursuit? Do you want to die that badly?”

He began weeping as he spoke. Today had been a trying day for the youngest male disciple of Pavilion of Wind and Thunder. He had suffered too much. The pressure on him was too great. No matter how much he persevered, how hard he worked, there was still a limit to how much he could do. Right now, he had reached that limit. “From today onwards, we’re the only ones left of the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder. Can we stop quarreling? If we can’t even unite and work together, we don’t even need others to kill us; we’ll bring our own demise!”

“The moment the sun rises tomorrow is the moment the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder perishes.”

Silence finally fell after everyone saw the young boy yell while sobbing spasmodically.

Ye Que looked at the youngster who he had assumed to be weak in surprise and nodded. Then, he stepped forward. “If you don’t mind, why don’t you listen to my suggestion?”

Ye Que and Red Bean played only bodyguard duty throughout the journey, leaving the arrangements to the disciples. However, they were at an impasse now.

“Mister.” Guan Shuheng turned his head and looked at Ye Que with tear-filled eyes.

Ye Que lifted a hand. “If you trust me, come with me.”

“We’re leaving.”

Giving Red Bean who was lying on his back a pat, Ye Que took the lead in leaving the Boiled Snow Temple. Going back on the same path they came in, he made his way down the mountain in the darkness.

“Do we leave or not?”

Guan Shuheng looked at his Senior Sisters.

When no one answered him, he followed after Ye Que without saying another word.

The wind in the mountain whistled and the snow was getting heavier. The wind blowing in Mount Cicada was felt as sharp as a knife as they brushed across their faces but the pain they felt was in their hearts.

The only two men in their group were now gone, leaving only tens of female disciples of the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder. Fear finally prevailed over all other emotion. “Junior Brother, wait for us.”

One hour later, Ye Que led them to a shabby Guandi temple. It was tiny, but at least it provided a roof over their heads and walls around them. It was a simple and crude shelter that Ye Que discovered by chance while climbing the mountain. It was exactly what they needed now.

“Rest here a while. We’ll be stepping out for a moment,” Ye Que said after making sure everyone was settled down. He didn’t even let down Red Bean.

Guan Shuheng carefully placed Lei Tianyou on the floor and asked, “Where are you going, mister? Do you need extra help?”

“That’s not necessary. Just stay here. We’ll be back after getting some things. We won’t take long.”

In the snowstorm, Ye Que and Red Bean returned to the Boiled Snow Temple at a much faster speed than before. This time, he didn’t knock on the doors. He found a relatively short wall in the compound and jumped in. Of course, Red Bean had climbed off his back by now. She looked exceptionally excited.

The girl’s eyes were gleaming. “It’s too exciting to travel with Ye Que. Is this the so-called ‘robbing the rich to help the poor’?”

“Wait, that doesn’t sound right. It’s not ‘robbing the rich to help the poor’. What is it again?” She scratched the back of her head.

The Boiled Snow Temple wasn’t some powerful family or large sect. Even when they sealed off the mountain and closed their doors, they wouldn’t utilize a grand formation. They couldn’t afford to waste Spirit Stones. It was just a temple shutdown in name only.

When Ye Que led Red Bean into the temple, most of the monks had returned to their rooms to rest with a part of them already deep into their meditation.

Of course, there weren’t many who meditated tonight. Their temple was closed off, after all. That meant they wouldn’t be interacting with the outside world for the next ten years. Cultivators tend to compare their progress in realm breakthroughs with one another. Thus, they would need people around them. Now that they couldn’t even leave the mountain, what was the point of cultivating when they didn’t have people to show off to?

To amuse themselves?

Or comparing with fellow disciples in the temple?

Where was the fun in comparing with a group of bald monks? Victory and defeat were both predestined. It made things incredibly dull.

Now that the temple was closed, they lost their desire to strive for success. They might as well have a good rest. In their dreams at least, they could save humanity and achieved unprecedented honor.

Ye Que made a string of gestures at Red Bean. Only after seeing her nod that he scanned the entire temple. In the end, he chose to sneak into one of the side rooms. Like a ghost, he slipped inside and unleashed his hiding skills. He turned to look at Red Bean and found her even more deeply hidden than he was. It almost looked like she had completely disappeared.

She was in the Formless Realm, after all. The gulf between realms was like the difference between heaven and earth.

In the Cultivation World, someone who had broken out of the Starburst Realm to enter the Formless Realm would be considered as having broken away from the title of a novice and becoming a cultivation expert.

It wasn’t without reason that those in the Starburst Realm and below were called novices.

He closed his eyes, turned his Divine Energy into psychokinesis, and poured that force into the room. It seemed that the monk inside had just fallen asleep.

Two figures flitted across.

Moments later, the door slowly opened. Ye Que and Red Bean walked into the room.

The side rooms of the three halls in front of the Hall of Great Strength were mostly used to accommodate regular disciples. Most were in the Psychic Realm, Pre-celestial Realm, or Post-celestial Realm. Few were Starburst Realm cultivators.

Thus, Ye Que and Red Bean advanced at an incredibly high speed.

They went from one room to another, entering and then exiting every room. Only then did they secretly slipped out of the Boiled Snow Temple under the faint light of the snowy night.

In just an hour, they returned to that small and simple Guandi temple.

Walking inside the temple, they found it a little cleaner and tidier; as expected of female disciples, indeed.

“You’re back so soon, mister.” Guan Shuheng looked happy to see him. Subconsciously, he also shot his Senior Sisters a glance as if telling them, “I told you so. Your speculations earlier were malicious and lowly.”

“Is it?” While speaking, Ye Que began fishing out things from the spice bag he kept with him at all times. First, he took out beddings and cotton-padded clothes meant for blocking out the cold. Then, he took out some vegetable dishes and even intricate-looking medicine bottles.

Soon, the small temple was filled with things. The young disciples of the Pavilion of Wind and Thunder were dumbfounded to see the pile of bedding and clothing. “Where did you get all of these? These look like they belong to monks! Did you loot the Boiled Snow Temple?”

“These things?” Guan Shuheng couldn’t even get his question out of his mouth before Red Bean gave him a hard pat on the shoulder.

“Kiddo, don’t overthink it. We’re only borrowing these things. Borrowing, alright?” Red Bean said excitedly. However, even idiots could tell from her raised head and upturned nose that she was lying.