Ji Ming had long ago let go of the seven emotions and six desires. Love, hate, obsession, and familial bonds were now foreign concepts to him.
“…I don’t understand what she meant by ‘like,’ but I feel that after she left, here,” he pointed to his heart, speaking slowly, “it hurts.”
For a Buddhist, life and death were merely processes, and he should have been able to let go.
Nan Yan couldn’t help but ask, “You were already unmatched in the world. Why… didn’t you go find her later?”
“If the guardian leaves the Huangquan River, there would be nothing to suppress the myriad ghosts, and the mortal realms would fall into chaos,” Ji Ming replied. “I wanted to find her, but I couldn’t leave. I could only release the Seven Buddha’s Karma Scripture, which could sense those with Buddha nature.”
…He never expected that the Buddha nature would be passed on to their child.
“Tell me about your life in the mortal realm.”
Nan Yan didn’t want to bring up painful memories at this moment. She could sense that Ji Ming was gradually developing a mortal aura, his demeanor subtly changing. Not wanting her father to be consumed by hatred just as he regained his emotions, she remained silent for a moment before sharing the warm memories she still recalled.
“…I heard that after she had me, she didn’t know how to raise a child at first. One night, she climbed over a wall to find a wet nurse for advice and was almost thrown out.”
“When I was a bit older, she promised to teach me to read and write, but she fell asleep after just half a day of teaching.”
“Her cooking was truly terrible. If she weren’t a cultivator, I don’t know how she would have survived.”
“But I miss her…”
Nan Yan lowered her head, her eyes reddening as she tried to hide her tears. She felt a warm hand gently pat her head.
“I’m sorry,” Ji Ming said, a hint of guilt appearing in his eyes, which were as calm as a still lake beneath his frost-white hair. Seeing her look up, he repeated, “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long.”
With that apology, Nan Yan suddenly realized how many years she had been waiting.
“Will you come home with me?” Nan Yan asked, turning her head to hide her overwhelming emotions. “I don’t want to cultivate to become an immortal or a god. I just want to return to the place where Mother and I lived in the mortal realm after all this is over. It’s a small, square courtyard with an old ginkgo tree… I want to spend the rest of my days there, never leaving.”
Ji Ming felt his daughter’s head trembling slightly. His expression was very similar to Nan Yan’s, only slower and more gentle.
“I promise you, I will bring her back, no matter how long it takes…”
Instinctively mimicking the scenes of family affection she had witnessed, Nan Yan extended her pinky finger to Ji Ming and said, “It’s a deal.”
Ji Ming paused, then hooked his pinky with hers, gently shaking it based on a vague memory.
“Yes, it’s a deal.”
As Ji Ming couldn’t yet leave Hui Gu, needing to assess whether the Prison Master could bear the weight of the Huangquan River, Nan Yan tried to repair their long-neglected father-daughter relationship while waiting for Ji Yang.
However, Ji Ming was a man of few words, slow to emotion. He would respond to everything Nan Yan said with a gentle “Okay,” “Sure,” or “A’Yan is impressive.”
One didn’t know how to be a father, the other didn’t know how to be a daughter. After Nan Yan’s initial enthusiasm waned, she suddenly felt the atmosphere grow cold.
After a long silence, Nan Yan was surprised to hear Ji Ming initiate a conversation: “What bottlenecks have you encountered in cultivating the Seven Buddha’s Karma Scripture?”
Right, she was still the inheritor of the Seven Buddha’s Karma Scripture.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Nan Yan replied, “The Seven Buddha’s Karma Scripture differs from traditional Buddhist teachings. With no one to guide me, I’ve been figuring it out on my own. Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a few questions. Please, Zen… Father, enlighten me.”
So when Ji Yang finished activating the Canopy Barrier to send away the cultivators who had served their purpose in Hui Gu and came looking for Nan Yan, he found the two Buddhist cultivators engrossed in an intense discussion.
Little Nine-Colored Deer poked its head out from Ji Yang’s arms and asked, “Don’t you humans usually cry and hug for three days and nights when father and daughter reunite?”
Ji Yang had also expected something similar, but he hadn’t anticipated that these Buddhists would be so enlightened as to discuss Buddhist teachings.
He watched from afar for a while, feeling that something was amiss. He put down the Little Nine-Colored Deer, attached a small Yin Curse to its antlers, and sent it trotting over to investigate.
His intuition proved correct.
“Father,” Nan Yan said, unconsciously pressing her palms together with a Buddha-like aura behind her, feeling her understanding had reached new heights after Ji Ming’s long instruction, “I have a worldly confusion in my heart.”
Ji Ming replied, “Speak freely.”
Nan Yan: “I have mortal feelings I can’t abandon. Though there are countless beings before me, I only wish to save one person.”
Ji Ming, understanding completely, closed his eyes and said, “Cultivation is in the heart, not in methods. If there is joy in your heart, then pursue it.”
“Then…” Nan Yan was interrupted by the Little Nine-Colored Deer nudging her knee. She turned back to look, and at the end of the withered red expanse, she saw Ji Yang gazing at her. Seeing her turn, he raised his hand from his chin and gave a small wave.
This was the mortal feeling she couldn’t abandon.
Nan Yan suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
Ji Ming raised his eyes, following Nan Yan’s gaze to look at Ji Yang for a moment. He stared until the latter began to feel uncomfortable, then slowly changed his words: “Cultivation is in the heart, not in methods. The Buddhist path does not need to continue the family line. All matters should be carefully considered before acting.”
Nan Yan: “Father, that’s not what you said just now.”
Ji Yang leisurely walked through the Manjusaka flower sea, naturally taking his place beside Nan Yan. After exchanging a glance with her, he nodded to Ji Ming: “Zen Master, it’s been a long time.”
Ji Ming’s black pupils reflected the subtle atmosphere between these two. After letting the other party hang for more than ten breaths, he calmly replied, “Prison Master, you’re too polite. I have already entrusted the Buddhist path to A’Yan. From now on, guiding all beings is no longer my responsibility. There’s no need to call me Zen Master anymore.”
“…”
Ji Yang, being highly intelligent, immediately realized that Ji Ming’s words had two layers of meaning. First, he had indeed passed on his teachings to Nan Yan. Second, he was telling Ji Yang that it was impossible to make Nan Yan renounce her Buddhist vows.
But Nan Yan, wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism, suddenly felt the weight of this great responsibility. With an aura reminiscent of Shakyamuni behind her, she exclaimed excitedly, “I won’t let you down, Father!”
This situation was truly problematic. Ji Yang had used every means at his disposal to shake Nan Yan’s Buddhist faith to this extent, and now her determination might be renewed.
After careful consideration, Ji Yang followed Ji Ming’s lead: “Since entering the Buddhist path, A’Yan has shouldered the great wish of saving the world. She has worked tirelessly day and night. I, too, once lost my way on an evil path, but thanks to A’Yan’s guidance, I pulled back from the brink. From now on, we will support each other. You can rest assured, elder.”
“I used to think that with the Huangquan River’s three thousand zhang, I wouldn’t find someone who could endure the trial of myriad ghosts in this lifetime. The fact that you’ve maintained your sanity is not solely due to her guidance but also a merit of your own,” Ji Ming said, seemingly approving at first, but then turned to Nan Yan and added, “A’Yan, the path to crossing the Huangquan River is long and difficult.”
Nan Yan, troubled by this, responded solemnly, “I understand.”
Ji Ming looked at her earnestly and said, “If you truly can’t guide him, you can always choose to help him transcend.”
Nan Yan: “…”
Ji Ming: “Would you like your father to demonstrate?”
Nan Yan: “??”
Ji Yang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He turned to Nan Yan and said, “I have some matters to discuss with your father. Stay here and practice for a while. We’ll be back soon.”
Before Nan Yan could react, the two men suddenly vanished into thin air.
“…Huh?”
…
Upstream of the Huangquan River, the Yin Curses that had been floating in the sky were suddenly pulled down by an invisible force, pressed heavily to the ground, and wailing helplessly.
“Elder, as Taoism says, ‘The way follows nature.’ For you, mortal [redacted] is already a regret. Why trouble yourself with matters of children and karma?” Ji Yang said.
With frost-white hair falling at the corners of his eyes, Ji Ming replied calmly, “All beings are equal. I have not obstructed anything. When A’Yan asked, I merely taught and answered her doubts. Whether she chooses the mortal world or the Buddhist path is for her heart to decide.”
Among all fathers-in-law in the world, the Buddha Repentance Lord was undoubtedly the most difficult to deal with.
Ji Yang wasn’t afraid of his Seven Buddha’s Karma Scripture; he feared that he would brainwash Nan Yan, making her completely devoted to Buddhism and detached from the mortal world. If that happened, not just he, but all living beings would have no chance.
Moreover, he had noticed that Nan Yan now seemed to listen to everything Ji Ming said.
“…Please enlighten me, Elder. Is your concern because I’m a disciple of the Dao Sheng Tian Sect Master?” Ji Yang asked.
Ji Ming shook his head gently and said, “It’s because I don’t know how long you can walk this path of the Yellow Springs. That year… when I rescued you from the banks of the Huangquan River, although you had been devoured by a Yin Curse once, your three souls were not scattered. I asked if you were willing to let me gather your soul and spirit to be reborn through the Yellow Springs.”
At that time, he could have been saved, could have severed all ties with everything he had lost and hated in this life. But he didn’t agree. He asked Ji Ming to cast him into the Huangquan River, to bear the karma of myriad ghosts, and ultimately… to enslave the netherworld.
“What kept you alive then was a deep hatred,” Ji Ming said, his eyes full of insight from his long stay here. “But a vengeful ghost born of hatred could never endure the devouring of myriad ghosts… I just didn’t expect you to have the Shared Fate Lock.”
The Shared Fate Lock—the source of all encounters, the cause of everything.
“The Red Emperor Nan Jue Yun once created this technique for the Demon Empress, but unfortunately, it wasn’t completed before the Demon Empress perished.”
Among the Red Emperor’s many legacies, the Shared Fate Lock seemed the most inconspicuous and least sought after, but it was the only method in this world that could reverse cause and effect.
Ji Ming murmured, “What she planted in you wasn’t a restriction to enslave your life to protect her daughter. It was a karmic bond placed in your heart… As long as you hold onto it, the Shared Fate Lock will never be undone.”
Ji Yang lowered his eyes slightly and said, “In Hui Gu, my master nearly killed her.”
“The Shared Fate Lock can substitute one life for another. I can kill him, but if you can’t break the Red Emperor’s demon heart, in the end, you’ll be the one to die. Have you thought it through?”
“The best hope, the worst outcome—I’ve weighed them in my heart.”
As the last Manjusaka flower withered, the entire Hui Gu shook violently. The age-old barrier above suddenly shattered, and countless light images converged above Hui Gu, forming a giant sword that reached from heaven to earth. The Eight Trigrams formed its guard, the Five Elements its blade, and the blade pointed directly at Ji Ming.
“I owe you a favor,” Ji Ming said, knowing Dao Sheng Tian’s punishment had arrived. His expression remained unchanged as he addressed Ji Yang, “Let me repay some of it now. Thank you for your trouble.”
The Prison Guardian couldn’t leave until all souls crossed the Yellow Springs, bound for eternity. However, he was the Yellow Springs itself—the variable that even Ying Ze Wei couldn’t calculate.
The waters of the Yellow Springs flowed in reverse. Unlike the previous projection, as Ji Yang closed his eyes, all the evil ghosts in the universe simultaneously bowed.
“Demons, ghosts, humans… Master, the final chapter is approaching.”
…
Mao Zhou, Chou Shan Temple.
Yin Ya’s shadow flitted through the brightly lit pagoda. Though his snow-white figure was conspicuous, the occasional passing monk paid no attention.
As he neared the top of the pagoda, Yin Ya’s movements slowed. Fortunately, having been raised by the Bao Qi Rulai, Chou Shan Fan Hai was like a second home to him. After passing through the final barrier, he merged into a corner shadow of the highest level’s octagonal Buddha hall, observing its center.
A massive red ice block floated in the center of the hall. Eight Buddha lamps were arranged like a spider’s web, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day. Beneath the red ice was a well emitting ghostly energy, faintly resonating with the soul river outside.
“Senior Brother Abbot, half of Lady Nan Fang’s soul fragments are scattered in the Bitter Spring River. If we continue summoning, the seal on the Bitter Spring River might break,” a monk reported.
Bao Qi Rulai, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and looking utterly exhausted, replied, “Lady Nan Fang’s three souls have long been separated. This Pagoda of Many Treasures is the only place in the world that can gather her soul. If we fail to gather it this time, not only will we have failed Nan Yi’s request, but there will be no one left in the world who can recall the Red Emperor’s demon heart.”
At the mention of the Red Emperor’s demon heart, even the highly cultivated senior monks couldn’t help but show displeasure: “Ying Ze Wei is already the number one cultivator in the world. Few can stand against him. If he cannot be killed, when will the calamity of Dao Sheng Tian ever end? Senior Brother Abbot, we must gather Lady Nan Fang’s soul with all our might!”
The senior monks of Chou Shan Fan Hai steeled their resolve. Immense Buddhist power pointed towards the mouth of the Bitter Spring River well, gradually drawing out fragments of soul essence tinged with black energy.
Yin Ya, hiding in the corner, narrowed his eyes and muttered, “Something’s not right…”
The moment he sensed it, Bao Qi Rulai suddenly shouted, “What demon dares to possess this body!”
A light laugh, seemingly from the depths of hell, echoed. The previously docile soul fragments exploded, coalescing into a ghostly human form. This specter’s right hand transformed into a sword, slashing at the well sealing the Bitter Spring River. In an instant, the entire Pagoda of Many Treasures shook violently.
The Buddha lamps flickered and went out in large swathes. The specter instantly dove into the red ice. As the ice shattered, the person who should have been in eternal slumber slowly opened her eyes. On her pale skin, a demonic pattern spread from between her brows.
Bao Qi Rulai was the first to feel the pressure. The demonic energy that surged out as she possessed the body forced him back several zhangs. He recognized the entity’s origin.
“You are… Ying Ze Wei’s heart demon manifestation!”
Having achieved her goal, the heart demon woman’s face showed extreme satisfaction. She lightly touched her red lips, mockingly watching the monks struggle to suppress the evil ghosts constantly surging from the Bitter Spring River. Just as she was about to leave with a light tap of her toes, she suddenly collided with an invisible barrier.
“Who’s there?”
Puzzled, the heart demon woman looked up to see an ancient, majestic banner floating above, its aura suppressing the demon blood within the empty shell she had possessed.
The next moment, a huge white fox burst out from the shadows, letting out a long howl and knocking aside Bao Qi Rulai and the others. “You old suffering fools, let go now! Do you want to die?!”
After days of suppression, the monks were already exhausted. Yin Ya’s sudden attack, combined with the Prison Master’s summons, caused the Bitter Spring River seal to explode.
Amidst the howling of myriad ghosts, the heart demon woman recognized Yin Ya’s identity. While trying to break free from the Wan Nuo Banner’s constraint, she laughed, “I wondered who it was. So it’s the royal bloodline of the demon race. Once Ying Ze Wei unifies the cycle of reincarnation, I’ll devour his divine soul and become the Demon Lord. Then your demon race will have its revenge. Why resist so stubbornly?”
Yin Ya glared at the heart demon woman, purple light flickering in his eyes. “Ugly woman, get out!”
The heart demon woman exclaimed in disbelief, “What did you say? Are you blind?”
Yin Ya retorted, “I’m not blind. I said you’re ugly, so you’re ugly! My grandmother is Da Ji, and my sister’s beautiful mother is my mother. Don’t you dare draw on my mom’s face? Get out!”
The heart demon woman, furious, sneered, “Demon creature, your words are absurd. Look closely. With all these ghosts emerging, let’s see who dies more miserably!”
Yin Ya seemed to make a great decision. Gritting his fangs, he said, “All these ghosts emerging… are you sure we’ll be the ones to die?”
The surrounding monks wanted to step forward but were stopped by Bao Qi Rulai.
“…One sleep of the Nightmare Fox, and the Yellow Springs will have no travelers for ten years,” Bao Qi Rulai murmured.
The Bitter Spring River’s master, Shi Wu Ni Gui, was the most vicious of ghosts. Upon breaking free from the seal, it intended to feast on humans, but unexpectedly encountered a pair of crystal purple fox eyes.
Yin Ya closed his eyes and inhaled. In an instant, countless ghostly beings were involuntarily sucked into his body, while his demonic energy surged higher and higher.
“So you are—”
Under the heart demon woman’s astonished gaze, the white fox’s form expanded enormously. With a long howl—the ninth tail materialized!