Chapter 240: Hui Ke’s Past and Present Lives

Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Hui Ke’s Past and Present Lives

Besides Su Ci, there were seven other people in the Nunnery.

The old nun who had led Leng Yingxue to the Zen Temple, who looked even more ancient than Su Ci, was actually Su Ci’s disciple.

She had also been a disciple of Piaoxue Palace. She had been Su Ci’s disciple even before Su Ci married. It was only after Su Ci became a nun here that she resigned from her position as a Piaoxue Palace disciple and took her vows, all to care for Su Ci’s daily needs.

The other six were the old nun’s disciples, making them Su Ci’s grand-disciples.

Leng Yingxue’s cold arrogance was partly due to her master’s teachings. She was being groomed as the successor to the Palace Master of Piaoxue Palace. Under her master’s deliberate guidance, her personality had naturally been shaped to be cold and proud.

In truth, the main reason also had much to do with what Su Ci had gone through.

She had witnessed almost the entire process of Su Ci’s relationship turning from a harmonious marriage to one of mutual animosity.

This was why she held a skeptical attitude toward romantic love itself.

But then she met Chu Fan, and her heart was thrown into turmoil. The principles she held so dear were shattered to pieces.

That was why she sought out Su Ci, hoping the nun could help her find enlightenment.

But Su Ci had spent decades in quiet meditation, and her heart had long become as still as an old well.

The most difficult thing in the world to understand is romantic love; the hardest thing in the world to let go of is also romantic love.

So Su Ci told her to look into her own heart. Everything was a matter of karmic law. To fall in love and know one another was karma; for treachery to be revealed when all seemed lost was also karma; to grow old and never see each other again was karma as well.

Of course, during that day and night, they only spent a short while discussing romantic love. Most of the time, Su Ci was explaining the current situation in the Central Domain to Leng Yingxue.

She spoke of how Piaoxue Palace should form alliances to protect the common people when the darkest hour arrived. Even if not for the people, they should prepare to stand strong in these chaotic times.

When asked about the God Slaughter Hall, Su Ci said that she had sent people to investigate it but had found nothing.

"Amitabha. Su Ci has meditated here for decades and finally gained some insight into the Buddhist Technique."

A chanted mantra echoed in the air.

But the voice sounded like the squawking of a gander.

Su Ci and Leng Yingxue looked up to see a Little Monk, who appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen, walking toward them through the void.

A cold glint appeared in Leng Yingxue’s eyes. A young monk, merely at Divine Separation Realm Tier One, actually dared to address Su Ci, a Saint, by her name.

Su Ci, however, remained calm. She placed her palms together, first chanting "Amitabha," then said, "Since you are a fellow cultivator of the Buddhist Sect, please, come and sit in the Zen Temple."

The Little Monk landed in the courtyard, placed his palms together, and bowed to Leng Yingxue.

"Su Ci, I am overjoyed that you have kept your promise and have now comprehended such profound Buddhist principles."

"And how should I address you?"

"In this life, my dharma name is Hui Ke," the Little Monk said.

That’s right. This Little Monk was the same Little Monk Hui Ke whom Chu Fan had first met in the Miracle Secret Realm.

"’In this life?’" Su Ci muttered, then shot to her feet in shock. "Could you be the reincarnation of Master Jikong?"

"Precisely. However, I have only awakened a portion of my past life’s memories. I have come today for two reasons: one, to see an old friend, and two, to retrieve the True Body Relics of my past self," Hui Ke said without concealment.

"’Retrieve the True Body Relics?’" Su Ci’s expression changed slightly. She said, "It is not that I don’t trust you, Mage, but Master Jikong’s True Body Relics are of grave importance. What proof do you have that you are indeed the reincarnation of Master Jikong?"

Leng Yingxue frowned as she listened to their conversation.

She had, of course, heard about awakened reincarnations within the Buddhist Sect, but today was the first time she had ever seen a Buddhist disciple claim to be one himself. Naturally, she was very curious.

Hui Ke smiled and said, "Su Ci, you are quite cautious. Although I have not awakened many memories of my past life, it will not be difficult to convince you that I am Jikong. The first time I fought you, the first Buddhist Scripture I recited was the *Scripture of Fortune-Telling Good and Evil Karmic Retribution*, and I ended with the *Sutra of the Small Immeasurable*. It was then that you had a Zen epiphany and were willing to convert to Buddhism. Do you remember?"

"That is correct. However, when Jikong and I fought, many people in the vicinity witnessed the entire battle. So that doesn’t count as proof," Su Ci said.

"That day, I used a single Vajra Demon-Subduing Finger to break your Technique here. Afterward, I loudly recited the *Ten Virtues and Six Perfections* three times to calm your Heart Demon. Do you remember?" Hui Ke added with a smile.

"My disciple also witnessed that event. I fear the details could have been leaked, so that too does not count."

"Before I entered nirvana, after instructing you ’Do not take half a step out of the Zen Temple until the great calamity arrives,’ I also said ’Om mani padme hum.’ Listen to the intonation. Is there the slightest error?"

Hearing this Six-Word Mantra, Su Ci’s expression changed. In truth, she was already ninety percent convinced.

But out of caution, she still shook her head.

As a member of the Buddhist Sect, she certainly knew far more about reincarnation than outsiders. She was well aware of the importance of the True Body Relics.

To her, Jikong was both a master and a friend. If not for him, her Heart Demon would never have been suppressed, and who knows how many Karmic Obstacles she would have created.

"Then follow me!"

With that, Hui Ke walked toward the Zen Room in the temple, and Su Ci followed close behind.

After entering the Zen Room, Hui Ke pointed to the tiles on the roof above. "I built this Nunnery with my own hands, brick by brick. Go and lift the sixteenth tile in the third row. See if the word ’pad’ is written on it."

Hearing this, Su Ci tapped her feet on the ground and shot into the air. She took down a tile from above, and sure enough, on it was the word ’pad’, written smaller than a fly.

"The thirty-eighth tile of the fourth row has the word ’me’ on it. The seventh tile of the fifth row has the word ’hum’. On the side of the thirteenth tile of the sixth row is written the third section of the *Diamond Scripture*, but it’s missing the six words ’the listener should also practice empty-minding’..."

Hui Ke spoke faster and faster as Su Ci removed the tiles one by one, verifying his words. Everything was exactly as he’d said, without the slightest error.

"If you still think the words on these tiles were written by someone else later on, then examine the handwriting. Is it a forgery?" Hui Ke continued.

At this point, Su Ci was completely convinced that Hui Ke was the reincarnation of Jikong.

But as she looked at the tiles, a sense of dread inexplicably rose in her heart.

"So, if I had developed a murderous intent and left the Zen Temple any time these past years, I would have been killed by an Array? Mage, your methods are truly formidable, to have laid such an Array here."

Hui Ke smiled and said, "I knew my earthly life was at its end. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you, but that accidents can happen in this world. That is why I left these measures in place. However, this is only one Array. Besides this one, if the Nunnery were attacked by an external force, it would also activate a Defense Array to protect your life."

Su Ci was merely a little uncomfortable at first, feeling that Jikong had plotted against her. But after thinking it over, she understood.

She placed her palms together and bowed to Hui Ke. "Disciple greets the Mage!"

Hui Ke smiled and nodded at Su Ci, then turned his gaze to Leng Yingxue. "Donor Leng, it has been years. Your blessings have deepened somewhat since we last met. My congratulations."

’Blessings?’

Leng Yingxue suddenly recalled a chance meeting with an old monk decades ago. The old monk had worn the same smile and had also said just one thing: "Donor Leng, your blessings are vast. You must cherish them!"

"Where do my blessings come from?" Leng Yingxue couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity piqued.

"It cannot be said. It must not be told!" Hui Ke finished with a smile, then placed his palms together. "Amitabha!"