Chapter 2491 - 2489: Exchange of Interests
Emperor Shi Tian, upon seeing this, rose and headed back to the Maitreya Pure Land in the Western Direction.
At this time, Guanyin Bodhisattva was meeting with the Buddha of the East in the Maitreya Pure Land.
She had just arrived from the Posuo Pure Land, where Tathagata Buddha had advised her against seeking karmic repercussions.
However, people compete for a breath, while Buddhas compete for three sticks of incense.
Once this sense of anger arose, it could not be suppressed.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was not convinced and came to seek guidance from the Buddha of the East.
Maitreya Buddha looked at her with a smile, rotating the Buddha Beads in his hand, divining the heavenly secrets, "The primordial era is divided into twelve assemblies, each lasting 10,800 years, thus, a full era is 129,600 years.
As they say, with each new primordial beginning, all things are renewed. Now, as this era is about to conclude, it coincides with a great calamity.
The karmic repercussions of heavens and earth will all erupt at this time. Then, the debts will be settled, and feuds avenged. It will be either your survival or my demise, with rivers of blood flowing between heaven and earth.
The catastrophic divine enthronement battle, where our Buddhist Sect rises against the tide, is the root cause. This calamity will undoubtedly bring consequences with the Daoist Sect. Your anger stems from this naturally. It’s the fate of heavens, beyond your control. You don’t need to suppress your true feelings, simply go with the flow."
Guanyin joined her hands and said, "Thank you Patriarch Buddha for your enlightenment, I understand."
Maitreya Buddha nodded, "This great calamity concerns the foundation of our Buddhist Sect. If Bodhisattva ever needs anything, feel free to find me in the Maitreya Pure Land. I shall assist you wholeheartedly without any objection."
"Good!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva joined her hands in farewell to the Buddha of the East.
Having received this promise from the Buddha of the East, her heart became much more settled.
Regarding this calamity, Tathagata Buddha remained seated and unmoved, which puzzled Guanyin Bodhisattva greatly.
The Buddhist Sect spread its teachings in the Eastern Land, achieving today’s accomplishments with great difficulty.
Now, an incompetent ruler emerged, seeking to sever the Buddhist Sect’s foundation.
Concerning the Buddhist Sect’s fortune, Tathagata Buddha seemed utterly indifferent.
Thus, she came to seek assistance from the Buddha of the East, and after obtaining what she desired, she returned to the South Sea Purple Bamboo Forest with Hui’an.
Hong Hai’er was not present, only two young women were kneeling in the hall below.
Upon Guanyin’s appearance, the two hurriedly kneeled to pay their respects, "Fox Clan’s Bai Jie’er pays respect to Bodhisattva!"
"Fox Clan’s Bai Xiaochun greets Bodhisattva!"
Guanyin inquired, "Where is my Kind-hearted Boy?"
The two replied, "That young man brought us back here, turned around, and vanished without a trace, we do not know."
Bodhisattva calculated with her fingers, then furrowed her brows tightly, feeling a burst of frustration, "This troublemaker, ordered to bring people back yet stirred up such a mess."
She turned and instructed Hui’an, "Hui’an, go to the South Heavenly Gate and wait there. If you see the Dragon King of Yunmeng Marsh, apologize on behalf of me, the humble monk. Then tell him his eldest son, Ao Li, who made mistakes in his early years, has been imprisoned beneath the Blackwater Pool in Southern Ridge. As the calamity is nearing its end, I might ask the Jade Emperor for a favor, to release him for work by my side, ensuring a future of merit."
"Good!"
Hui’an joined his hands and rode the clouds away.
Bai Jie’er and Bai Xiaochun kneeled on the ground, their minds enlightened, realizing that Bodhisattva was exonerating her disciple’s crimes.
Before coming to heaven, they believed that immortals were free from desires and pursuits.
Little did they know, the gods and immortals fought even more fiercely than mortals.
In front of these supreme beings, they were no more than ants, subject to manipulation.
Bodhisattva gazed at them for a while, then kindly said, "My young disciple is the son of Bull Demon King, naturally wild. Unexpectedly, his character remains unchanged after thousands of years in my South Sea. He killed your clan’s granny, I apologize on his behalf as a humble monk."
Bai Jie’er and Bai Xiaochun repeatedly bowed their heads, saying, "We do not blame Bodhisattva!"
They were three parts fearful, seven parts genuinely unblaming.
The Fox Clan granny never showed any affection towards them, forcing them into danger without any pity.
They felt no indebtedness towards the Fox Clan.
Bodhisattva nodded, "Everyone has their destiny, you sisters are destined for great fortunes. In the future, by assisting me, you will achieve merit upon completion. I possess a body-cleansing mantra to help you cleanse the aura of the Fox Clan. First, find a place in Purple Bamboo Forest to cultivate; once the time is right, I will arrange accordingly."
"Disciple understands!"
The two foxes kowtowed, not daring to utter a single dissent.
Bodhisattva pointed her finger, embedding the body-cleansing mantra into their foreheads, then returned to her field to cultivate.
Above the nine heavens, beyond the South Heavenly Gate.
The Yunmeng Marsh Dragon King, donned in royal attire, arrived from Yunmeng Marsh with Chancellor Turtle, intending to file a complaint against Hong Hai’er.
Outside the South Heavenly Gate, the Four Heavenly Kings stood vigilantly with their guards.
Upon the Dragon King’s arrival, they raised their hands to stop him.
The Dragon King clasped his fists in salute, "Four Heavenly Kings, this little dragon has matters to report to the Jade Emperor, please allow entry."
The Four Heavenly Kings said, "We just received a decree, please wait outside the gate for two hours."
The Dragon King raised his brow, immediately feeling unsettled.
After waiting for two hours, a young Daoist approached, clasping his fists in greeting, "Might you be the Dragon King of Yunmeng Marsh?"
The Dragon King nodded, raising his brow as he asked, "Who might you be, Daoist?"
The young Daoist replied, "I am Envoy Hui’an, disciple under Guanyin Bodhisattva, tasked by Bodhisattva to apologize to the Dragon King. She advises the Dragon King to rest assured, once her mischievous disciple returns, he will be properly disciplined, providing a satisfactory explanation. Additionally, Bodhisattva mentions that the Dragon King’s eldest son Ao Li’s sentence is nearing completion. She can request a favor from the Jade Emperor for Ao Li’s release to serve Bodhisattva, ensuring future success."
The Dragon King was suddenly shocked, "How could this little dragon possess such merit to receive Bodhisattva’s concern? Kindly relay to Bodhisattva, the Dragon King accepts her kindness, and will bring substantial gifts when the opportunity arises to visit."
"I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me!"
Envoy Hui’an joined his hands, nodded, and turned to leave.
The Dragon King wiped the sweat from his forehead, sighing towards the South Heavenly Gate.
The Four Heavenly Kings gestured welcomingly and asked, "Does the Dragon King wish to enter now?"
"No, no!"
The Dragon King shook his head, swiftly leaving with Chancellor Turtle.
Chancellor Turtle asked in confusion, "Why doesn’t the Dragon King file the complaint anymore?"
The Dragon King felt clogged inside, unsure where to start, only expressing some sorrow, "Though we are rulers of a realm, in the eyes of the heavens and buddhas, we remain mere earthworms. Since Bodhisattva has spoken, how dare I file a complaint? Having lost a wife, this king does not wish to lose a son as well."
He obediently returned to Yunmeng Marsh with Chancellor Turtle, never daring to mention filing a complaint again.
Events of past days vividly come to mind.
His eldest son Ao Li was born of a lineage with Pixiu, naturally obsessed with wealth.
Upon maturity, the Old Dragon King secured him a position in the Heavenly Court, serving as the Water God in Thousand Island Lake.
However, this son disgraced himself, constantly demanding money from nearby mortals.
Consequently, even led to a death.
The issue reached heavenly ears, with the Jade Emperor furious, initially sentencing the son to execution on Nine Nether Platform.
The Old Dragon King made numerous pleas, sought favors.
Thus, the sentence was altered, with imprisonment under Southern Ridge’s Blackwater Pool, enduring daily thunder and lightning punishment, had lasted for over 300 years now.
Now that Bodhisattva has spoken, this son surely has a day of relief.
The Old Dragon King, receiving this benefit, naturally felt less agitated and dared not stir trouble with Bodhisattva anymore.