The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 215: I'll leave you a chance! (4k)

"Since there's nothing else to say, let's leave it at that."

The old white ape sighed softly, slowly rose, and bowed to Du Yuan, saying, "This old monkey takes his leave."

Having said that, it was about to leave. Seeing that it was about to go, Du Yuan hurriedly called out to it:

"Wait a minute!"

The old white ape turned around in bewilderment:
"Does the Great Master have any further instructions?"

Du Yuan gently shook her head, her fingertips already holding the book out to it: "It's not an instruction, it's this book—you forgot to bring it."

Looking at the handwritten note from the mountain lord handed over by Du Yuan.

The old white ape gave a bitter smile and said:

“Great Master, I, the old monkey, now know the cause and effect, and I can say that I have put my mind at ease. But I really don’t want to hold onto this thing anymore.”

Three hundred years have passed, and all that has come is an enlightenment that was not truly enlightenment.

Even if it knows the cause and effect, it still finds it hard to let go.

But I'd be even more reluctant to destroy it myself.

So it really doesn't want it anymore.

In response, Du Yuan pointed in the direction it had come from and said:
"This is your proof of entry into the Confucian school in the future. Take it back and keep it safe in your cave. If one day you can really find that opportunity again, this will be the fruit of your three hundred years of hard work."

Actually, there was something else that was very clear, but Du Yuan didn't tell the old white ape.

That is, this is Confucian territory. The old white ape may not recognize that this is the handwriting of the academy's master when he was young, but others may recognize it.

If it ever commits a crime, given its cultivation level, the only person who will come to take it down is a highly skilled Confucian scholar.

This item can most likely save its life.

As the saying goes, "Even if you don't respect the monk, you should respect the Buddha."

No one can escape the complexities of human relationships and social interactions.

Once this item is seen, the previous judgments on right and wrong will naturally be presented to the mountain lord for his judgment.

Since three hundred years have not been enough to educate the stubborn and ignorant, then we can only offer this item, which is half a secret and half a guarantee.

This is the reward for its three hundred years of hard work.

However, the mountain lord probably never expected things to turn out this way, and that the one who came to hold him accountable was not a Confucian, but himself, a Taoist who was not a Taoist.

Perhaps there should be a better solution, but Du Yuan was not involved and did not know the true nature of the situation.

We'll never know why things ended this way back then. It might have been the best solution, or it might not have been.

It seems more likely that the former is the case.

Based on what he saw, he could only make what he considered a reasonable conclusion: since the white ape was willing to atone for his sins, he only asked for a karmic consequence to remain so that he might be willing to be executed in the next life.

Then Du Yuan had no reason to go after them all.

After all, it will indeed provide a lot of help to Du Yuan and Southwest.

Therefore, this book must be returned!

The old white ape took the book blankly, unsure how to respond; it remained oblivious to its own involvement.

Even with Du Yuan explaining the cause and effect, and even though it had previously considered that this item would likely be of great value in many situations, it was still confused and unable to see through it completely.

He could only nod blankly, then took the book and returned to his cave.

Looking at the half-destroyed corona, then at the book in my hand covered in graffiti, and then at my own reflection in the pond, I realized my days were numbered.

I just felt it was absurd and couldn't understand it.

After sighing several times, the white ape placed the book on the sun's corona, then hunched over and left the cave, preparing to restore the secrets of the southwest and re-establish humanity.

If you can't understand it, then you can't understand it.

Besides, whether or not one can pick everything up again depends on whether they can find this opportunity again after reincarnation.

Maybe they'll never come back?
If that's the case, why torture yourself over this? It's better to focus on the present and hold onto this opportunity first.
-
After watching the old white ape leave, Du Yuan lowered her head and slowly looked at the report.

I started to think about whether I should go to each person on the list one by one.

But in the end, Du Yuan gave up on that idea.

If they went there now, it would likely alert the enemy, causing them to scatter and flee, and they would no longer be able to quell the chaos in the southwest.

If they're unlucky, they might swarm in and attack even earlier.

So, should we go along with their plans? But that would mean a real, head-on confrontation to see if my Taoist methods are truly impervious to fire.

Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in Du Yuan's eyes—"Refine it if you must!"

After tinkering in the Southwest for so long, it's time for a tough battle to test the abilities of my Taoist lineage!
Of course, before that, we need to find a way to use them to bless ourselves.

The white apes said they were now quite afraid of him, to the point that they planned to form an alliance, which presented a good opportunity.

It seems that nowadays, if anything happens, they will keep each other informed.

This means that you can gain experience from all of them by relying on one person and one thing!
What does this mean? It means that when Nasus last-hit a minion, he gains the stacks of last-hitting all the minions on the field!
If you can lose at this, then you should really study Buddhism more!
Thinking of this, Du Yuan closed the document.

It woke up the group of little monsters.

Looking at the bewildered little monsters, Du Yuan squatted down in front of them and smiled:
"You haven't committed any evil deeds, which is a good thing. That's why the old white ape chose you to come before me. Do you know why?"

The yellow dog still shook its head blankly, while the big tabby cat trembled and said:
"Because if it were any other monster, you would kill it!"

Upon hearing this, the yellow dog was so frightened that its four legs trembled and its lips quivered incessantly.

Du Yuan nodded with a smile: "That's true. So you must remember that such a clean body is hard to come by, and you must cherish it. In this world, most of the time, one wrong step leads to another, and it's hard to turn back."

At this point, Du Yuan glanced again in the direction the white ape had gone and said:
"Just like your so-called White Ape Ancestor."

It was a wrong step that led to irreversible consequences, and all that could be done was to seek a chance after being executed.

"We understand! We understand!" The little demons nodded hurriedly. "Don't worry, Grandpa Immortal, we would never dare to be disrespectful!"

Seeing that the admonition had taken root, Du Yuan decided to point them in a more promising direction.

Anyone can preach, but getting people to truly listen and follow their advice is the real challenge. However, what others find difficult is often the easiest thing for oneself.

Because I can make things that are invisible and intangible become real and visible!

Du Yuan got up and walked to the stone carving of the cat and dog hole.

After chuckling, he simply raised his hand and wiped away the three large characters.

Then, turning to the anxious little monsters, he smiled and said:

"I am erasing the name of this cave from you not to punish you, but to give you an opportunity!"

The yellow dog and the big tabby cat were stunned for a moment before asking in trembling voices:
"May I ask, Grandpa Immortal, what is the reason for your good fortune?"

Du Yuan smiled, her hands behind her back:

"That is to leave you a blank plaque. Right and wrong, merits and demerits, cause and effect, will all be judged by posterity and decided by Heaven and Earth!"

"If you can uphold your true nature, do good deeds, and accumulate merit, the people will surely inscribe on this stone plaque a name worthy of your virtue!"

The yellow dog was a little confused, not understanding what the point of leaving its name was.

Isn't it just a difference between a nicer sound and a less nice sound? The tabby cat instantly understood, its tail bristles standing on end, and it almost fell to the ground in excitement.

Seeing that the silly dog ​​was still standing there in a daze, it hurriedly kicked the silly dog ​​to the ground, and then knelt down with a "plop," kowtowing repeatedly: "This little demon thanks the immortal grandfather for bestowing upon me this divine opportunity! Thank you, immortal grandfather, for bestowing upon me this divine opportunity!"

This gives them a 'divine position'—the size of which depends entirely on how they earn it!
Seeing that the tabby cat understood, Du Yuan pointed at them and laughed:
"Now I can rest assured!"

After saying that, he chuckled and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Not long after Du Yuan left, two more Taoist priests, covered in soot, emerged from the withered forest.

The heavy rain continued unabated, showing no sign of stopping.

Both Taoist priests looked at the broken incense sticks in their hands with worry.

"This is too strange, really too strange! The incense given by the patriarch not only won't burn, but it's also broken!"

"Senior brother, look! There's a monster's cave!"

Upon hearing this, the leading Taoist immediately drew his long sword from his waist.

"What kind of demon are you here? State your name! Otherwise, don't blame me for slaying this monster!"

The other Taoist priest also flicked off his whisk:

"Quickly state your names!"

Although the two Taoist priests looked imposing, they were actually quite nervous inside.

Because the rain was so strange, their magic was suppressed, to the point that even incense sticks couldn't burn.

If they were to actually fight, they really didn't know if the two of them would be able to defeat even a group of minor demons.

Upon seeing two more Taoist priests arrive, the group of lesser demons were immediately terrified and rushed forward to pay their respects.

"Oh dear, young Taoist masters, please calm down. We are not some wild monsters, we are, we are..."

The tabby cat wanted to say that it was a monster from the Cat and Dog Cave of Crow Sparrow Mountain.

But when it thought of the instructions the immortal grandfather had just given it, it was in a dilemma again.

What kind of monster am I?

"What kind of monster is this? Hmm, this cave of yours."

The two Taoists looked at the cave dwelling, which had not yet been inscribed with a name, and both felt that something was wrong.

It is neither truly powerful nor truly enlightened; it is vague and unclear, difficult to discern.

But it's definitely not something these little monsters could have concocted.

Upon hearing them mention this, the large tabby cat quickly stepped forward and explained the whole story.

Upon hearing that it was left by a great master from the ancestral temple, both Taoists instantly changed color.

He then pressed further:

Where has the Great Master gone?

The big tabby cat pointed in the direction Du Yuan had gone and said:

"The immortal grandfather has gone here. And who are you two young Taoist masters?"

However, the leading Taoist priest hurriedly said:
"Junior brother, hurry, let's catch up!"

After saying that, the two Taoists quickly chased after Du Yuan in the direction she had gone.

However, before leaving, the Taoist priest, who had fallen behind, turned back and looked at the little demons and the blank stone plaque with a complicated expression, saying:
"This is a divine destiny, not a mere stroke of luck; it is extremely rare, so don't let it slip away!"

As long as they stay true to themselves and do good deeds, they can transform from nameless little demons in the Cat and Dog Cave into beings remembered by humankind and protected by heaven and earth. This is to teach them to move from "relying on the name of the cave" to "establishing their own name through virtue"!

To put it bluntly, this gives them an opportunity to earn their own future, and the way to do so is simple and clear—exchanging the most basic good deeds for the most solid foundation of the Great Way.

Others can imitate them, but they can never see or touch them like these!
After all, others are seeking results anonymously, while they are seeking results with a name.

Although the reverse is also a huge cause and effect, it is still a good thing that many people in the mountains would never dare to dream of.

To be frank, even their ancestor would be overjoyed to have such a stroke of good fortune, yet this bunch of little monsters stumbled upon it!

Really
After sighing, the Taoist caught up with his senior brother and hurriedly went after Du Yuan.
-
Du Yuan continued to stroll leisurely through the torrential rain, which showed no signs of abating.

But as someone who draws dragons to pray for rain, Du Yuan knew in her heart that the rain was about to stop.

The black dragon was right about one thing earlier—this severe drought in the southwest is no ordinary event.

But Du Yuan was already content.

This thorough downpour is enough to protect the people of the southwest and also enough to give us ample time.

Thinking of this, Du Yuan's mood lightened up.

The scholar Shen Yan had a name associated with him, and the Great Lord of Chong Mountain whom the old white ape met also had a name associated with him.

The Confucian personal name, when it is spoken, exudes a sense of integrity and dignity, and each one has endless wonderful uses.

When I reach that point, should I also choose a name based on my birth year?
But what word should we use?

For a moment, Du Yuan couldn't help but let her mind wander.

Just then, Du Yuan heard the dragon above her head suddenly let out a long roar, and then, sensing something, looked behind her.

Before long, two young Taoist priests came running after them.

They saw that Du Yuan was standing there waiting for them.

The two, who had never expected to run into this great master, were both stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

Until Du Yuan said to them:
"What brings the people from Yiqing Mountain to this humble Taoist priest?"

The two of them just came back to their senses.

Their journey has been marked by a karmic entanglement with this great master.

Little Zhangshan, the Three Mountain Lords, it's happened again. Truly, there's no escaping it, no hiding from it.

At first, I thought we were just kindred spirits, but then I realized that he was quite accomplished and that he was a senior.

Now, they are even more astonished to discover that it is actually the ancestor of the ancestor.
No wonder the patriarch specially sent the two of them over.

Therefore, the two of them bowed and said in unison:
"We two juniors greet the Great Master!"

Upon hearing this, Du Yuan, who felt as if she had just witnessed this scene, couldn't help but laugh:

"Did your ancestor send you to find me?"

Both of them bowed again and said:
"It was indeed sent by the patriarch!"

Du Yuan found it even more amusing and said:
"Is your ancestor also planning to atone for his sins with good deeds?"

The two men were taken aback. It was normal that they couldn't hide it from the Grand Master, but what did that mean?
But he still said:
"In reply to the Great Master, that is indeed the case. The Patriarch, having deeply reflected on his mistakes, is willing to atone for his sins with good deeds. This matter should have been discussed with you personally by the Patriarch, but, for some reason, we have been unable to contact him."

"The incense sticks used for communication broke, didn't they? Hehe, that's normal, because I didn't give my approval, so no one can become a 'noble'."

Du Yuan stood still, her words seemingly casual yet causing a thunderclap.

The two were taken aback again. Could it be that the entire southwest was already in the hands of this great master?

(End of this chapter)