Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 190 Pure Dust Bodhisattva

Zhou Ning led Ashu to a side room in the backyard to settle him in, and then returned to the main hall to report the situation of the Great Compassion Temple in the Western Regions to his master in detail.

Blood and tears Buddha statue, mad monk, old monk's last words, and the inscription of the wine-and-meat bodhisattva.

After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a long time.

He stood up, paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed.

"The Wine and Meat Bodhisattva... it seems her seal has indeed loosened."

Zhou Ning asked, "Master, what exactly is the origin of the 'Wine and Flesh Bodhisattva'?"

Yan Chixia took a yellowed ancient book from the bookshelf, turned to a page, and handed it to Zhou Ning.

The book page depicts a woman in a monk's robe with a compassionate face, holding prayer beads, standing on a lotus flower, and surrounded by a halo of light.

A few lines of text were written in small regular script next to it.

Jingchen Bodhisattva, abbot of Dabeisi Temple in the Western Regions, practiced for three hundred years and achieved perfect merit, and was hailed as the "Pearl of Buddhism".

"Bodhisattva Jingchen?" Zhou Ning murmured.

Yan Chixia said, "That was her Buddhist name before she fell from grace. A thousand years ago, she was the most renowned Buddhist monk in the Western Regions."

"She was compassionate and kind, and helped all living beings, which earned her the deep love and respect of the people."

"Every temple in the Western Regions enshrines her portrait."

He paused, then continued, "But later, she traveled the world and saw too much evil, such as war, deception, betrayal, and killing."

"So she began to doubt the meaning of Buddhism, thinking that 'saving all sentient beings' was just empty talk."

"She tried to save the world in her own way, but she became more and more entangled and eventually fell into the demonic path, calling herself the 'Bodhisattva of Wine and Meat'."

Zhou Ning asked, "She's been sealed away?"

Yan Chixia nodded.

"After she fell into depravity, she established the 'Paradise Religion' in the Western Regions, tempting people to indulge their desires and causing countless families to be destroyed and people to die."

"It took the combined efforts of experts from the Three Realms to seal her away. The sealing location is beneath the Great Compassion Temple in the Western Regions."

He pointed to a passage in an ancient book.

"It is recorded here that the seal requires three Nascent Soul stage cultivators to cast spells simultaneously to break it."

"The experts who participated in the sealing back then have long since passed away. Logically speaking, the seal should not have loosened."

Zhou Ning said, "Could it be the Black Mountain Demon?"

Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said:

"It's possible. Back then, the Black Mountain Demon was searching everywhere for the remains of powerful figures and the places where they were sealed. Perhaps he accidentally came into contact with the seal of the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva and damaged a part of it."

"The Bodhisattva of Wine and Meat harbors too much resentment and may fear the restraint of the extraterrestrial demons, so he has been hiding and has not shown himself."

"Now that the Heavenly Demon has been purified, she feels free, so she has been reborn."

Zhou Ning clenched his fist.

"Master, I must find her and stop her from continuing to wreak havoc on the world."

Yan Chixia looked at him, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"In fact, in theory, the strength of the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva is no less than that of the Heavenly Demon. The reason why the Heavenly Demon is stronger than her is entirely due to the restraint between them."

"Moreover, her methods are even more bizarre; she is adept at bewitching people."

"She can see through your deepest desires and then use them to seduce you."

"Although your resolve is firm, you must not be careless."

He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This is a notebook left by a senior who participated in the sealing back then. It records the weaknesses and origins of the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva."

"Take this back and take a look. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle."

Zhou Ning accepted the jade slip and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."

He left the main hall and returned to his residence.

Ashu was cooking over a fire in the yard when he saw him return and greeted him with a smile.

"Young Master Zhou, are you hungry? I've cooked some porridge, please have a taste."

Zhou Ning took the bowl and took a sip.

The porridge was very fragrant, the rice grains were soft and sticky, and there was a hint of sweetness.

"Your skills are quite good," Zhou Ning said.

Ashu laughed and said, "When I was a child, my family was poor, so I often cooked for myself. I practiced and practiced until I got the skills."

The two sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, drinking porridge and chatting.

When Ashu asked about the Great Compassion Temple in the Western Regions, Zhou Ning gave a brief account.

After listening, Ashu remained silent for a long time.

"The Bodhisattva of Wine and Meat... I think I've heard that name before," Ashu said.

"When I was little, my grandma told me her story. She said she was a Buddhist bodhisattva, but later turned into a demon."

"Grandma said she was driven mad by the world."

Zhou Ning asked, "What else did your grandmother say?"

Ashu thought for a moment and said, "Grandma said that the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva' is actually quite pitiful."

"She wanted to save the world, but was betrayed by it. She hated the world, and she hated herself."

"She indulged her desires to numb herself."

"Grandma said that if given the chance, she hopes someone will lend her a hand."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "Your grandmother is a wise woman."

Ashu smiled but didn't reply.

As night fell, Zhou Ning returned to his room, took out the jade slip, and probed it with his divine sense.

The jade slip records the life of the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva and the process of sealing her away.

On the last page of the notebook, there was a sentence written.

"The obsession of the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva' lies in her belief that people are beyond redemption. To convert her, one must first let her see the true goodness in people's hearts, but this is more difficult than sealing her away."

Zhou Ning carefully put away the jade slip and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Outside the window, the moon was obscured by clouds, and the world was pitch black.

In the distance, the mournful and drawn-out calls of owls could be heard.

The light was still on in Ashu's room.

Through the window, Zhou Ning saw Ashu sitting at the table, writing something.

He wrote very seriously, pausing from time to time to think before continuing to write.

"What exactly is this Ashu writing?" Zhou Ning wondered, but did not delve into it.

The next morning, Zhou Ning got up early and went to the back mountain to practice his sword.

The Heavenly Fox Sword transformed into a blue-gold light in his hand, drawing graceful arcs in the air.

The celestial fox spirit within the sword emitted a low hum, seemingly cheering him on.

He practiced the "Heavenly Fox Demon-Slaying Technique" repeatedly, each sword strike carrying a righteous spirit and a fierce intent.

Ashu arrived at the back mountain at some point, stood by the pine forest, and quietly watched him practice his sword.

A strange light flickered in his eyes, like envy or longing.

"Young Master Zhou, your swordsmanship is truly amazing," Ashu exclaimed.

Zhou Ning sheathed his sword and asked, "Want to learn?"

Ashu shook his head: "I'm not very talented, I can't learn it. I'm just happy to watch you practice swordsmanship."

Zhou Ning didn't press the matter. She walked to his side and asked, "A-Shu, what are your plans for the future?"

Ashu said, "I want to find the caravan first and deliver the goods. Then... maybe I can open a small shop in the Central Plains and live a peaceful life."

Zhou Ning nodded: "Then I wish you all the best."

Ashu smiled, took out a jade pendant from his pocket, and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"Young Master Zhou, this is a talisman left to me by my grandmother. She said it was blessed by a high-ranking monk from the Western Regions and can ward off evil spirits. I don't really have any use for it, but you are a good person, so I wanted to give it to you in the hope that it will protect you."

Zhou Ning took the jade pendant; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, and a lifelike fox was carved on it.

A thought struck him.

The patterns on this jade pendant are somewhat similar to the runes on the Heavenly Fox Sword.

"Thank you." Zhou Ning carefully put the jade pendant away.

Ashu said, "Young Master Zhou, you've been so kind to me, I really don't know how to repay you."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "No need to repay me. It was just a small favor."

Ashu lowered his head, a complex look flashing in his eyes.