Don't be afraid, fairy, I'm blind

Chapter 295: Thinking about Buddhism; Did the abbot go astray?
The deeper you get into the valley, the thicker the dust becomes, like a natural veil that hides the true appearance of Falling Star Valley.

Zi Yiyi followed closely behind You Su, and the range illuminated by the golden paper lanterns became increasingly limited.

While she was on the run, she had already used the sound transmission order to pass on the message to the monks of the Exorcism Division outside the Falling Star Valley, informing them of the flying patterns of the white bird evil spirits. But she still couldn't hide her panic, always feeling that she was surrounded by unknown dangers.

You Su was different from her. You Su couldn't see, so he wasn't that afraid of the dark. On the contrary, he was unusually calm, with a sharp gaze like a cheetah, staring at the white bird evil spirit flying in the sky, and by the way, he used the Mosong sword that blended into the night and was almost invisible to cut off the evil spirit that hit it.

But as we went deeper into the valley, these evil spirits became more and more numerous.

This valley was like a hotbed of evil. Bizarre evil spirits were crawling out of the soil, and they were so rampant that they were almost disgusting.

What was unexpected but also reasonable was that these evil spirits all looked like land creatures, including scorpions, hares, birds...

There are even... people!

You Su was very sure that the person in front of him was a complete evil spirit, just like Huo Yuandi whom he met in the cave that time.

But the person in front of him was not as rotten and smelly as Huo Yuandi. He looked more like a living person.

He wore a white crown and gorgeous clothes, which were all worth a lot of money; but he was hunched over, with a pale face and thin body, and the corners of his clothes and trousers were all hanging down, which was very loose. He looked like a country bumpkin pretending to be a nobleman in the city.

You Su's expression froze. This was the first time he had seen a follower of an evil god that he could identify at a glance, apart from Huo Yuandi. This meant that there was at least an evil spirit-level evil spirit hidden in the Falling Star Valley.

Zi Yiyi also stopped behind him. She couldn't tell whether the person in front of her was good or evil. The range-based detection tool of the Evil Repelling Order was useless in such an environment full of evil spirits, but she could guess something from You Su's expression, so she immediately raised all her attention and prepared for the battle.

The evil white bird in the sky had already spread its wings and landed, landing squarely on the shoulder of the person in front of him.

"When a friend comes from afar, he must be punished even though he is far away."

The person in front of him raised his right hand, waved his wide sleeves, showed a warm smile, and his sallow face was full of wrinkles.

Zi Yiyi was a little confused, wondering why this person's expression and tone seemed to welcome them, but his words were full of hostility? Did he mispronounce it on purpose?
To be on the safe side, she has clasped her hands together, purple light is flowing from her fingertips, and her magic is ready to be unleashed.

"It's a pleasure to have friends coming from afar."

You Su was not as nervous as Zi Yiyi and corrected her.

The man was stunned at first, then smiled embarrassedly, clasped his hands together and said:

"I remembered it wrongly. Thank you for reminding me. I almost caused a misunderstanding."

Zi Yiyi frowned, but still didn't stop using her magic. She whispered to You Su, "You're not going to kill him?"

You Su turned to look at her and laughed loudly, "Sister Yiyi, please take back your magic. This person has no ill will towards us."

These words didn't seem to be spoken to Zi Yiyi, but more like to this evil person who suddenly appeared.

Zi Yiyi's beautiful eyes flickered, but she still obeyed the order and stopped.

The person in front of him was definitely related to evil spirits, but he didn't look oppressive. He was just as harmless as the land-walking evil spirits he had encountered before, so Zi Yiyi dared to stop.

"Yes, I really mean no harm."

The person in front of him scratched his head, and his honest face seemed a little rustic.

"Young Master and Young Lady, you can just call me Lao Jiu. You are here to join the sect too, right?"

"Join the religion?"

Zi Yiyi was a little surprised. She didn't know there were religious activities in Luoxing Valley. She was afraid that the evil spirits in the valley were closely related to this so-called religion.

"We passed by here while traveling. We heard there was a cult here so we wanted to come and take a look. Uncle Laojiu, could you tell us what the cult is called?"

“Think of Buddhism!”

Lao Jiu's eyes lit up and he was extremely excited. When he said these four words, he actually felt a strong sense of pride.

"Buddhism?"

Zi Yiyi was even more surprised, "You mean, there is Buddhism here?"

"What did I lie to you for?"

Lao Jiu shook his hands, as if expressing his distrust and dissatisfaction with the girl.

You Su frowned slightly, also finding it a little unbelievable.

The control over religious sects in various parts of the five continents is very strict. The sacred mountain and the five great immortal ancestors are the common and only beliefs of the people of the five continents.

As for the so-called Buddhism, based on the incomplete scriptures it left behind, we can guess that it was the greatest belief of people in that ancient chaotic era before the birth of the five great immortals.

The complexity of its teachings and the depth of its thoughts can be glimpsed through just a few words in unofficial history, but no one has ever seen the real Buddha. After the Immortal Ancestor appeared out of nowhere, Buddhism disappeared.

Many scholars are curious about this mysterious Buddha, and speculate that he is the first psychic in the world. However, due to lack of information, the study of Buddha can only be superficial, and many scholars who are obsessed with Buddha often commit self-harm and die young.

Gradually, "Buddha" also became a taboo topic. This was the case even for those who held the right to speak, and it was even less likely that the common people would be exposed to this word.

But in the west of Zhongyuanzhou, there is Buddhism hidden in this deep valley...

"May I ask Uncle Laojiu, I have heard of Buddhism, but what does it mean to think of Buddha?"

Seeing You Su was interested, Lao Jiu smiled and pointed at him with his index finger:
"You have wisdom! Thinking of Buddha means that your wishes will come true!"

"You mean that thinking of Buddha can make people's wishes come true?"

"Of course! I, Lao Jiu, always keep my word. I am famous for this in the surrounding area, okay?"

As Lao Jiu spoke, he turned around and exclaimed, "If I hadn't worshipped Buddhism, how could I have worn such gorgeous clothes?"

Zi Yiyi subconsciously glanced at You Su and thought to herself that it was no wonder that this man's temperament and outfit were extremely inconsistent, just like a nouveau riche who wanted to act gentleman but almost caused a misunderstanding.

"Is this Buddha really so powerful? Can Uncle Jiu take us to see him?" You Su asked with pretended enthusiasm.

"You can want to see it, but if you want to see the true Buddha, you must enter my Buddhist sect."

Lao Jiu shook his head. If You Su could not see him directly, he might really think that he was just an ordinary villager, not a servant of the evil god.

"This Buddha is hidden deep in this valley. How did you find it, old man?"

"Of course it's all about fate. Five days ago, I followed my friend to this mountain to mine, but I saw the real Buddha by chance. I was deeply moved by the profoundness of Buddhism and immediately became a believer of the real Buddha."

You Su suddenly realized what was going on in the valley. The "Buddha of Thought" was probably the source of the evil spirits in the valley. He disguised himself as a Buddha and made all the mountain people who came to mine become his followers. He just didn't know what ability this "Buddha of Thought" had to create the illusion that everything he wanted would come true...

"So it seems like we are destined to be together."

"Yes, it's not easy for you to pass by this place occasionally. Buddhism calls this a matter of fate. You must seize the opportunity. Come on, I will take you to see the real Buddha."

Lao Jiu said this and prepared to turn around and lead the way.

Zi Yiyi looked hesitant and quietly poked the back of You Su's hand with the lantern pole.

You Su gave his return a reassuring look. What he was least afraid of was this kind of false and distracting thing, but Zi Yiyi was different.

Zi Yiyi bit her lower lip and said, "Old man, if you want us to join the church so much, what benefits will you give us?"

The old man was a simple and honest person when he was alive. He did not continue to hide his thoughts after being exposed. He laughed and said:

"Old Nine, I won't lie to you. If you can lead new believers to join the religion, you will have another chance to make a wish to the Buddha. But no one has come to this Falling Star Valley for a long time. Apart from us, a group of miners who don't care about their lives, who else would come?

During the day, someone brought two women in. I thought that the Buddha granted them two wishes on the spot, which made me jealous. You two should help Lao Jiu. I thought that the Buddha would never let you down. "

He said this with a confidence that was no different from that of a simple villager. If you didn't know better, you would think that what he was recommending to others was really a treasure.

Two women?

Zi Yiyi was doubtful. The Luoxing Valley was under very strict jurisdiction and no outsiders could enter. Who else could these two women be except Huajing Shouzuo and Tao Yaoyao?

"Would Buddha allow a greedy person to be his believer?"

Zi Yiyi complained mercilessly, but she was no longer as reluctant as before to go deeper. If Hua Jing Shouzu and Tao Yaoyao were right in front, with Hua Jing Shouzu there, safety would at least be guaranteed.

Lao Jiu was also a little ashamed and explained, "I'm not greedy, I just want my wife and children to live a prosperous life, but I have used up all my wishes. If I can recruit you, my next wish is to let my wife and children come in..."

"Then why don't you go out and pick them up yourself?" Zi Yiyi asked again.

"Since I have become a believer, how can I leave easily if I have not yet achieved the Dharma? What I regret most now is that I did not make a vow to send my wife and children in first."

Lao Jiu shook his head, his tone full of regret.

"Then please lead the way, old man."

You Su has already taken a step forward, and it seems that he is determined to succeed in this journey of realizing his dream of becoming a Buddha.

When Lao Jiu heard this, a smile immediately appeared on his pale face, and he walked to the front in a friendly manner to lead the way for the two of them.

The sound of the wind gradually died down, You Su's nose moved slightly, and he clearly smelled the moisture in the air.

"Excuse me, old man, this Falling Star Valley is so desolate, how can we quench our thirst and fill our stomachs?"

"There is a lake in the Falling Star Valley. Although the surroundings of the valley are dilapidated, the lakeside is still lush and green. So we eat grass fruits to fill our stomachs and drink the lake water to quench our thirst."

But from what You Su knew, Luoxing Valley had already become a desolate place, with broken walls and ruins everywhere. How could there be any lake or pond?
But he clearly felt that the ground beneath his feet was becoming softer, which meant there was definitely water.

"Could it be that this lake was also created by the Buddha's mind?"

"You guessed it right. Otherwise, I would say you are very smart!" Lao Jiu laughed.

Just at this moment, a red light flashed, and Zi Yiyi actually used a fire spell to attack the purple leather deer boots on her feet.

All of a sudden, several long and thin worms on her boots were roasted dry, and then turned into black water and melted into the earth.

"Miss, you can't!"

Lao Jiu was very anxious when he saw this, his eyes showing grief, "These earthworms are also believers of Buddha. We are all from the same religion. They crawled out of the ground and climbed onto our shoes to welcome us. We must not kill people from the same religion!"

"Are earthworms also believers? Are all those birds, centipedes, and the like also believers?"

"Of course! Miss, remember not to attack them again! Be careful not to anger the True Buddha and bring retribution!"

You Su and Zi Yiyi subconsciously looked at each other, with a hint of surprise in their eyes. They finally understood why the evil spirit in the form of a land creature appeared.

But what kind of ability does this Buddha have? Even such low-level creatures with low intelligence believe in him...

As Zi Yiyi walked, she observed the things around her more carefully.

As expected, green grass and tall trees gradually appeared around her, but these plants were much bigger than she had imagined. They were just roadside weeds, but they were as dense and tall as bushes. These trees rose from the ground, with their crowns connected together, and not even a trace of moonlight could be seen.

Zi Yiyi felt that although everything here was not smelly or dirty, it was filled with an indescribable weirdness.

Finally, the two heard the sound of Sanskrit chanting coming from afar. It was a group of people gathered together to chant sutras and there was an inexplicable bewitching feeling.

"Put away the lanterns, walk lightly, and don't speak. Don't disturb the pure land of Buddhism. You will soon meet the real Buddha. When the time comes, you will do whatever I do and say whatever I say."

Lao Jiu turned around and gave some final instructions, then continued to lead the way in the direction where the Buddhist chanting came from.

After passing through a stone door, You Su and Zi Yiyi both widened their eyes, but their pupils shrank into small pieces in an instant——

There were twinkling fireflies all around, and a group of demon followers in extraordinary clothing were seen kneeling on a huge lotus leaf, prostrating themselves in worship towards the center of the pond. They spoke with great confidence, and the scriptures they recited were neat and loud, revealing an ancient meaning.

And in the center of the pond, there is a majestic Buddha!
The Buddha's body is transparent, his face is kind, and his appearance is solemn, as if it were made of crystal glass. You can even see the stone wall behind the Buddha through his body.

But this huge glazed Buddha was a living being. Its head turned slightly, its lips moved, and a majestic voice suddenly resounded through the heavens:

"Since you have seen the real Buddha, why don't you worship him?"

You Su and Zi Yiyi stood on the shore. They knew very well that the Buddha was speaking to them!
Lao Jiu quickly prostrated himself and chanted piously:
"I bow my head and take refuge in the Buddha of Mind. I bow my head and face to the seven kotis. I now praise the Buddha of Mind. I only pray for your mercy and protection."

This villager who could mix up "Isn't it fun?" and "Even though he is far away, he must be punished" could recite the scriptures word for word.

As soon as he finished speaking, a lotus leaf rose from the lake and floated in front of Lao Jiu.

You Su opened his lips slightly, but he was not about to recite scriptures.

It was because he could see with his own eyes that among the people on the pond, there were two women looking at him with indifferent expressions.

One of them had a baby face but an extremely exaggerated body; the other one had a misty face, but the gorgeous crimson dress gave You Su a strong intuition:

These two evil followers are Hua Jing Zu and Tao Yaoyao!

(End of this chapter)