Yefutidaolu

Chapter 448 Overwhelming
"Master Feixiang, how is the situation here?" Gao Jian walked into the courtyard, looked around at the tranquil scenery, and asked.

When Gao Jian first arrived in the capital, he witnessed too many shocking scenes.

Many orphans and ordinary people were bought and sold like commodities, cruelly trained as slaves, used as food for certain cultivators, and even tortured to death, their vengeful spirits were refined into vicious spiritual materials. Among the culprits was the powerful Youmingdi, which orchestrated these schemes.

At the time, Gao Jian, with his reckless courage, intervened to prevent several such incidents, thus thoroughly offending Youmingdi and forging a deep-seated enmity. Later in Liangzhou, his conflict with Youmingdi escalated again, even prompting the intervention of Youmingdi's patriarch, Yuan Lü. Ultimately, however, Gao Jian, through his courage and cunning, managed to negotiate a "cooperation" with Yuan Lü, and to some extent, "helped" Yuan Lü advance to the level of an Earth Immortal. From then on, Youmingdi openly ceased to cause Gao Jian any further trouble.

However, Gao Jian knew very well that the situation in the capital was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

The shady dealings involving cultivation resources at the lower levels will not be completely eradicated simply because of a single Yuanlu's "cooperation." That's why he asked Feixiang about the current situation.

Fei Xiang's blue eyes lowered slightly, his voice still calm: "The situation in the capital is difficult to resist. The demand for servants in various households, mansions, and even some hidden sects is deeply rooted, like an undercurrent that is difficult to completely suppress." There was a sense of helplessness in his words, but he then said, "However, I hold onto one thought: if someone is trapped in a predicament, has a strong desire to survive, and yearns for the light rather than succumb to despair, then I will lend a helping hand."

He looked at Gao Jian and said with certainty, "Never anything has been missed."

This means that as long as there are people who do not give up hope and struggle to survive, the spirit will sense it and lend a helping hand. This is not about saving all living beings, but about giving those who help themselves an opportunity.

Gao Jian nodded upon hearing this: "God helps those who help themselves; this is the best way now." He agreed with this idea. If a person has given up the will to struggle and survive, then even if they are saved, they are nothing more than walking corpses, which is of little significance. The best approach is to screen out those souls whose will has not been completely extinguished and who are worth saving.

At this moment, Fei Xiang's gaze passed over Gao Jian and landed on Qin Long, who had been silent and taciturn with an aura as cold and hard as stone, behind him. He asked in a gentle voice, "So, who is this?"

"Qin Long." Qin Long took half a step forward and gave a concise self-introduction, but he didn't mention his identity, background, or relationship with Gao Jian, maintaining his consistent style.

Gao Jian added from the side, "He's a good person."

Upon hearing this, a faint, almost self-mocking ripple seemed to flicker across Qin Long's cold, hard face. He shook his head, looked at Fei Xiang, and said in a calm yet earnest tone, "I'm not. I'm an assassin; taking lives is commonplace for me." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the tranquil Zen temple, as if penetrating the walls, and his tone carried a genuine sigh, "Master Fei Xiang... you're the good one."

He didn't seem to have ventured deep into the Buddhist temple, but through his senses alone, he understood the compassion and redemption that this pure land embodied.

Although Qin Long could not see the specific situation inside the meditation room, his honed senses allowed him to clearly detect the breathing sounds coming from inside.

It was neither a light sleep filled with fear and anxiety, nor a deep, exhausted slumber, but a truly calm, peaceful, even, and long breath.

Such breathing only occurs when the mind is completely relaxed, feels absolutely safe, and sleeps soundly.

This kind of breathing... Qin Long himself hadn't done it for many years.

In his memory, only when he heard the news that the Fang family had been completely wiped out did the huge weight that had been pressing on his heart for many years finally fall to the ground, and only then did he sleep so peacefully that night.

Judging from the breathing sounds, there were quite a few people in the Buddhist temple, all sleeping peacefully. From this alone, Qin Long could conclude that Master Fei Xiang's words were true; he had indeed created a true sanctuary here, protecting these souls who had suffered.

This is truly a great act of merit.

He was not a believer, but faced with such pure compassion and steadfastness, he felt a deep respect. So he suppressed his usual coldness, clasped his hands together, and solemnly bowed to Fei Xiang. This was the highest respect he could express.

Not wanting to accept it calmly, he returned the greeting, his azure face still bearing that compassionate and peaceful expression. He then turned to Gao Jian and asked, "Gao Jian, is there something you need this time?"

"I just came to check if there's anything I can help with or if there's anything that needs to be resolved," Takami asked.

Fei Xiang pondered for a moment, a hint of worldly troubles showing in his clear eyes: "If I had to say... it would probably be money. Other things, including external violent interference, I can handle, they're not that serious. But in this capital, to support so many people's livelihoods, food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and education, money is still the most important thing."

He sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness: "It's just that everyone calls themselves a poor monk, while we who chant scriptures are ultimately not very good at making money."

Upon hearing this, Gao Jian smiled and said, "That's not necessarily true. There are many Buddhist temples in the world that are magnificent and have flourishing incense offerings. However, you, Master, are a celestial being, extraordinary and refined, so your influence should be even stronger. If you were willing to open the door to charity and accept donations, the number of believers offering to you would surely be considerable. Moreover, given your character, you would certainly not waste money on extravagance, but would only use it for righteous purposes."

Fei Xiang shook his head, his gaze clear and firm: “Accepting that money will bring karmic consequences. The money offered by believers is often tainted with their desires, obsessions, and even sins... It is a heavy vessel of the ‘wishes of all beings.’ If this money is accepted and used here, these karmic consequences will invisibly entangle them. For these children who have just found peace, it will not be a blessing, but rather a pollution and burden. This humble monk cannot ruin their hard-won purity for a momentary need.”

As he spoke, he led Gao Jian and Qin Long through several halls and came to a courtyard in the very center of the temple.

In the center of the courtyard, there grows an extremely ancient and tall tree, with lush branches and leaves, its canopy like a canopy, covering most of the courtyard.

Like the ancient trees in almost all the most popular temples in the world, its branches are covered with a dense network of red silk ropes, each with a small wooden plaque at the end, inscribed with all sorts of wishes. Some pray for peace, some long for reunion, some hope for recovery from illness... The densely packed ropes carry countless ordinary joys, sorrows, and hopes.

However, Gao Jian's gaze sharpened, and the Heart Lamp Illuminating Shadow Sutra silently began to operate.

In his "vision," the tree was surrounded by a vast and pure spirituality, nurtured by the long years, the serene atmosphere of the temple, and countless sincere wishes.

It had almost reached the pinnacle of ordinary wood, brimming with spiritual energy. It was only one step away from being imbued with intelligence, shedding its wooden form, and becoming a true "demon," or rather, a "spirit." Moreover, given its profound accumulation, once it transformed into a demon, it would likely directly enter a level above the seventh realm, which was no small feat. However, it had been unable to take that final step for a long time.

It was as if an invisible, resilient barrier imprisoned it, preventing its surging spirit from completing its final transformation and sublimation. It remained stuck at the critical point, accumulating and struggling, yet unable to break free of its cocoon and become a butterfly.

"It's about to transform into a demon. What do you plan to do then, Master Feixiang?" Gao Jian asked directly, looking at the ancient tree that was full of spiritual energy but stagnant. In his view, if it could successfully transform into a demon, it might be a great help to the temple.

Upon hearing this, a hint of pity flickered in his deep blue eyes. He gently shook his head and gave an answer that surprised everyone:

"This tree is dying."

Gao Jian was slightly taken aback.

Fei Xiang's gaze fell on the wishing plaques swaying gently in the wind, and his voice was low: "This is the dilemma I just mentioned. It cannot bear the power of the wishes of all beings. Having received incense offerings and absorbed the prayers and obsessions of believers, it can no longer escape this invisible bondage. It seems to be spiritually perfect, just one step away from transforming into a demon, but in reality, this last step is like an insurmountable chasm, because it carries too many and too heavy burdens, losing the possibility of pure transcendence. The inevitable outcome is that its spirituality dissipates and it returns to annihilation."

He paused, then steered the conversation back to the previous problem, explaining that the logic was the same: "By accepting donations tainted with desire, these children also become entangled in karma. They may gain temporary financial benefits and solve their immediate predicament. But what will they do when those donors come to them one by one with their own demands, asking for favors and repayment? They can't escape it, they can't avoid it. Even if they can harden their hearts and refuse, they will inevitably leave behind resentment, curses, and other negative consequences that will entangle them, disrupt their peace, and ultimately lead them to suffering."

Fei Xiang sighed deeply, his azure face seemingly shrouded in shadow under the moonlight: "So, money may be easy elsewhere, but here it is truly difficult. This humble monk can withstand weapons, but cannot escape the word 'poverty'."

Gao Jian remained silent for a moment, understanding Fei Xiang's concerns. He thought for a moment, then reached for his mustard seed bag, untied it, and handed it to Fei Xiang: "I do have some here." This mustard seed bag contained the wealth he had accumulated when he wiped out those aristocratic patriarchs in Cangzhou, including many rare and precious herbs, elixirs, and divine weapons. If he were to sell it, it would be an astonishing fortune, enough to keep the temple well-off for a long time.

However, Fei Xiang turned to the side and did not reach out to take it.

He looked at Gao Jian with a complex expression and slowly said, "Mr. Gao, I appreciate your kindness. But... you are also part of this chain. The karma you bear is so vast and deep that it is beyond compare." His gaze seemed to sweep over the rusty knife on Gao Jian's back. "If we accept your money and bring your enormous karma into this place, I'm afraid few of the people in this temple will have a good end. I cannot push them into an even more unpredictable abyss just to solve our current predicament."

His words were like ice water, poured over Takami's heart. Takami slowly withdrew his outstretched hand.

He understood that Fei Xiang was not being unreasonable; on the contrary, it was precisely because he saw things so far ahead and so clearly that he was so cautious.

"Is that so?" Takami's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet courtyard, tinged with a hint of complexity. "So, I can't help you?"

Fei shook his head: "It's best not to help me. In fact... you shouldn't appear in front of them too often."

He was referring to the children under his protection, saying, "Something bad will happen to them."

"Is it that terrifying? You can't even ask for help? I won't let them know about these things." Gao Jian raised an eyebrow. He had experienced countless life-or-death situations and faced even more bizarre beings, but this attitude of "avoiding them like the plague" was somewhat unbelievable to him.

Even if there are other concerns, why not just keep them in the dark?
"Sigh." Fei Xiang sighed deeply, a complex expression of unspoken words appearing on his azure face. In the end, he simply shook his head and remained silent.

Some things, once revealed, become a calamity.

Just then, Qin Long, who had been as silent and aloof as a stone statue, suddenly moved slightly.

He didn't speak, but his sharp eyes, like those of a most vigilant eagle, suddenly turned towards a certain direction outside the temple. The restrained aura around him instantly transformed into a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, poised to strike.

He had clearly sensed something unusual.

Almost at the same time that Qin Long made a move, Gao Jian also sensed something and raised his head.

Even without circulating the Heart Lamp Illumination Sutra, one can sense a mixture of undisguised malice, greed, and the roguish atmosphere unique to the markets of the capital, surging towards this tranquil Buddhist temple like a turbid tide.

There were quite a few of them, and they didn't seem to have any good intentions.

Someone has come from outside.

There were about twenty or thirty men gathered outside the temple’s not-so-grand gate.

Most of these people were dressed in short, tight-fitting outfits of mixed colors, or with their shirts open, revealing bodies that were either lean or bulky, but all bearing the marks of rough physical training. They did not carry standard weapons, but rather a motley collection of things: short iron-clad clubs commonly used in street fights, barbed forks, and common weapons used in the martial arts world, such as broadswords.

The one in the lead carried a ghost-headed saber that clearly possessed magical power and flickered with an unstable, eerie light.

These people were mostly shrouded in a faint aura of bloodlust and resentment, clearly having blood on their hands and not being benevolent individuals. Their cultivation levels were generally low, mostly hovering between the second and third realms, relying on their ruthlessness and sheer numbers to operate in the gray areas of the capital.

Judging from their words, actions, and energy fluctuations, they don't seem to be disciples of a powerful sect with a deep background. They seem more like henchmen who are attached to a low-level gang and are specifically responsible for handling "dirty work."

(End of this chapter)