Chapter 869: False Notions

Chapter 869: Chapter 869: False Notions

Chu Xingchen pinched the jade token lightly in his hand. Chen Baiqing had written the contents in meticulous detail, identifying the suspected parties and those requiring caution — the Buddhist sect and Xiaoyun Hall.

She also warned to be wary of a meticulously prepared ambush, or a scheme to redirect disaster eastward — an attempt to provoke the Buddhist sect’s extreme dissatisfaction over this matter.

If Lotus Pool harbored Celestial Demons, the person sent to investigate would need to be at least a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator of considerable skill — someone with a real chance of escape or of holding out until rescue.

Bai Xuanling and Huang Miao had the cultivation for it, but they were too conspicuous. The probability of being recognized was high.

Beyond that, some understanding of wish-power would be valuable, to prepare for any contingency.

When it came to wish-power research, the Buddhist sect still had the deepest knowledge.

A pity that even if Runan learned of this intelligence, he might not dedicate himself fully to the investigation. At best, the trail would end there.

A large-scale raid might not yield the desired results either, and could leave the Buddhist sect unable to save face.

Chu Xingchen considered briefly, then a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Come to think of it, there was actually one person well-suited for this investigation.

Someone who could give the Buddhist sect an excuse to investigate on their own — and who could uncover the truth.

Chu Xingchen raised his hand, produced a jade token from his space ring, and extended it to Lin Luoyu, who was still eating fruit:

"Not a major affair. Take this jade token and find Lü Xuan to request some personnel. Even if you just pile them up in sheer numbers, it’ll be enough."

Lin Luoyu reached out, took the jade token, chewed her fruit, and nodded firmly. Without hesitation, she turned and left.

"What good thing could Chu Xingchen possibly entrust to us?" Wukong’s voice was thick with suspicion. His gaze slid sideways to the gaunt figure beside him — Radiant Buddha, draped in patched robes, leaning on a battered wooden dharma staff.

"Up top he’s got Bai Xuanling. Down below he’s got Huang Miao. They have righteous identities and public standing. He won’t ask them to handle something like this — he sends us, people who scurry like rats in the street. And Chu Xingchen is rumored to be on brotherly terms with Runan, discussing Buddhist teachings no less. We might just be merchandise, waiting to be sold at the right price."

"Before selling us off at a good price, he’d better squeeze every last drop of value from us first."

Radiant Buddha smiled at this: "Usually you’re calm and measured, unwilling to assume the worst about others. But when it comes to Chu Xingchen, not a single word suggests you think he might be a good person."

Wukong’s expression was aggrieved: "After being manipulated by him so many times, I’d better have learned some manners. I just don’t understand you, Revered Buddha."

"If Chu Xingchen truly intended to sell us at the highest price, we were worth the most in Western Niu Continent," Radiant Buddha replied, his tone measured, a hint of recollection in his eyes. "If Chu Xingchen were truly someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his ends, the world today would not look like this."

"That the world hasn’t descended into chaos — Chu Xingchen’s restraint is the single greatest reason."

"His nature seems carefree, someone who cares for nothing. Yet that doesn’t prevent him from being the most restrained of all."

"Besides — some matters we ought to take on for the sake of all living beings, whether Chu Xingchen asks or not."

Wukong sighed, his gaze drifting into the distance. Through the haze, he could see lotus blossoms on the verge of opening:

"I can never win an argument against you, Revered Buddha."

Radiant Buddha’s voice was as warm as his smile:

"Because deep down, you know I’m right."

His footsteps came to a halt. Radiant Buddha gazed at the stretch of fishing villages ahead and spoke softly:

"Wait here. Unless something truly cataclysmic happens, do not activate the token Tianyan Sect gave you — not unless I reveal my golden body."

"My golden body is cultivated to perfection, flawless and without omission. Even if a Celestial Demon stands before me, as long as I don’t channel spiritual energy, it won’t discern my true identity."

Wukong had followed Radiant Buddha for a long time. The title "Revered Buddha" came naturally to his lips. He had long since devoted himself to Mahayana Buddhist Teachings and understood their profound depths.

He offered no objection and raised no alternative. He simply bowed with deep respect.

Radiant Buddha gently reached out and patted Wukong’s head:

"In the turns of karma, in the cycles of cause and effect — when this seed was planted, I did not stop it. Today, it is my turn to repay it personally."

"My junior brother appears heartless in what he does, yet his actions are the most compassionate. I appear compassionate, yet I once committed the most heartless act."

"As the elder brother, I cannot simply dump every difficulty onto my junior brother."

"No matter how exquisite the Mahayana Teachings, one must practice them personally to seek truth."

"Today I act, and the Mahayana Teachings become truer for it."

Wukong said nothing more and bowed once again.

Radiant Buddha turned and walked forward in his worn patched robes, straw sandals on his feet, rough wooden staff in hand — heading toward the string of fishing villages at the outermost reaches of Lotus Pool.

The waters of Lotus Pool branched off from a major river’s tributaries. Each household diverted river water to cultivate their own lotus ponds.

Between the great rivers, fishing was the primary livelihood.

Tawny fishing nets hung high to dry. Women sat with shuttles, meticulously mending the mesh.

A gust of wind swept through, carrying the scent of fish through every corner of the village.

The boats here were mostly small skiffs. Nets piled full, they pushed out past the lotus blossoms, heading toward the deeper waters.

Radiant Buddha walked at an unhurried pace, like a wandering monk who had drifted here by chance and was curious about everything.

These fishing villages had no names of their own. The people here identified their approximate addresses by their position relative to the river — upstream, downstream, or midstream.

The villagers showed no sense of exclusion or wariness toward Radiant Buddha. Seeing his monk’s robes, if anything, their expressions grew warmer. Those who spotted him either nodded or pressed their palms together in greeting.

Radiant Buddha returned each gesture with a smile. His gaze searched for a moment before he found, in one corner of the village, a temple that was indistinguishable from any ordinary house.

Calling it a temple wasn’t quite accurate. The structure had not been built to any formal Buddhist standard.

The only sign was a crooked inscription hung above the single room — Great Hero Hall.

Radiant Buddha stood at the doorway, looking through the open entrance of the Great Hero Hall. Inside, the layout was extremely simple: several tables bearing small Buddha statues of identical appearance.

These statues matched the ones described in Chu Xingchen’s intelligence exactly — even their dimensions were virtually the same.

By all appearances, these were the Premium Buddha Statues imported from Western Niu Continent.

Cushions were laid inside, and a few believers were softly kowtowing in prayer. But here, there was no incense burner.

Radiant Buddha stood outside, gazing at the extraordinarily high-quality wish-power contained within those Premium Buddha Statues.

Without prior intelligence, he might have sighed in admiration — in this world, there were always monks who could see past appearances, seeking only the sincerity of the heart.

But if Celestial Demons truly hid among them, manipulating this wish-power...

Then what he was witnessing today was truly terrifying.

A believer who had finished praying walked out and noticed Radiant Buddha. After a moment’s hesitation, he approached:

"Master, you appear to be from another village."

"Yes — just arrived."

"Our fishing village is poor and small. This temple has no resident monks. If Master wishes for a vegetarian meal, you’re welcome at my home."

Radiant Buddha looked at the believer’s sallow, gaunt face, considered for a moment, and replied with a smile:

"Thank you for your kindness, benefactor. An acquaintance has already invited me for a meal today. I simply noticed this temple’s unique character and came to have a look."

"That’s good then." The believer smiled in relief, bowed, and turned away.

Radiant Buddha withdrew his gaze and continued walking deeper into the string of fishing villages.

The people here had almost no false desires.

Then... where would someone with false desires be found?