Chapter 307

Chapter 307: How about we practice dual cultivation, and I’ll agree to enter the Buddhist path (4000 words)

“Holy crap.”

Xu Ming cursed out loud.

Xu Ming had no idea why he was flying just fine, then suddenly something came plummeting down from the sky, hitting him directly.

Xu Ming’s whole body went numb.

He was just relieved that his martial artist level wasn’t too low, with a decent physical strength.

Otherwise, Xu Ming felt like his spine would’ve been shattered by the impact.

“Sorry, good sir.”

A light, pleasant voice came from above Xu Ming.

“Save your apologies for now, can you get off me first?” Xu Ming lifted his head from the dirt.

“Ah? Sure, sure.” The woman hesitated for a moment before jumping off quickly.

Once she got off, Xu Ming felt an instant relief.

He stood up, dusted himself off, and looked at the woman in front of him, his expression slightly stunned.

Is this… a monk?! A female monk?!

In just a second, Xu Ming guessed her identity.

There’s only one female monk in the world, and that’s Shixin.

And when Xu Ming saw Shixin, he somewhat understood why this woman ranked first on the Red Beauty List.

Even though she’s bald—something usually quite unflattering.

Because without any hair, all the features of your face are highlighted, amplifying any flaws.

But Shixin is different.

Shixin’s features are too perfect. Her delicate eyebrows, almond eyes that seem to hold stars, a perfectly proportioned nose, and beneath it, cherry lips so tender they look like strawberries ready to burst with juice at the slightest bite.

But Xu Ming felt no matter how he described it, he couldn’t truly capture Shixin’s beauty.

It’s as if this woman was born to be this perfect, her features meant to be this flawless.

If even the slightest change were made, it would disrupt the perfect balance of her features.

She’s that beautiful. When she stands before you, you’d think her beauty isn’t real, not of this world.

Xu Ming could hardly imagine how stunning she’d be with hair.

Perhaps it’s this baldness that seals Shixin’s true beauty.

Although Xu Ming hadn’t met the Dragon Empress of the North Sea, in his opinion, ranking second on the Red Beauty List doesn’t seem unfair, does it?

“Good sir, have we met before?” Shixin tilted her head, looking at Xu Ming, feeling like Xu Ming was gazing at her as if seeing an old friend.

Xu Ming shook his head: “No, but I know who you are. In this world, there’s only one female monk, and the top of the Red Beauty List. It must be you, Miss Shixin.”

Shixin blinked: “May I ask the good sir’s surname?”

“My surname is Xu, simply ‘Ming’.” Xu Ming didn’t hide it.

Shixin felt this name seemed very familiar.

She thought for a moment, her eyes flashing with a bright light: “Could the good sir be Xu Ming from the Xu Mansion of Wu Kingdom?”

“Exactly.” Xu Ming smiled, “What a coincidence. Master was supposed to come help our Xu Mansion, right? But here we meet unexpectedly.”

“The good sir needn’t call me Master. I’m not worthy of such a title. Call me Shixin.” Shixin said.

“Alright.” Xu Ming didn’t refuse.

He found it strange calling someone of the same generation ‘Master’.

Shixin nodded: “Indeed, what a coincidence.”

“Shixin, are you also here for the Rootless Mystic Realm?” Xu Ming asked.

“Not really.” Shixin shook her head, “I was originally heading to Wudu, but along the way, I encountered a twisted portal. I touched it and ended up here, unexpectedly colliding with you, Good Sir Xu.”

“There’s nothing to be done. After the Rootless Mystic Realm ends, Master will have to go to Wudu.”

Xu Ming sighed inwardly.

She didn’t intentionally set aside her own affairs to seek opportunities in the Rootless Mystic Realm; she came here unintentionally.

Now all he could hope for was that his mother wouldn’t have any issues during the days Shixin was delayed.

Shixin asked curiously: “Can’t I leave now?”

Xu Ming shook his head:

“No, the time flow in the Rootless Mystic Realm is ten times faster than outside. Only between the thirtieth and fiftieth day after the realm opens will portals to the outside appear. However, after this Rootless Mystic Realm dissipates, the entrance might vary slightly, but generally, it shouldn’t exceed twenty days within the realm.”

Shixin nodded: “I see.”

As Shixin pondered, Xu Ming suddenly remembered something: “If you don’t mind, Shixin, you can follow me. I have an artifact connected to the Wudu exit. When the outer gate opens, we can leave together, reaching the Wudu exit faster than if you traveled alone.”

“Alright.” Shixin didn’t refuse, “Then I’ll follow you, Good Sir.”

“Let’s go, let’s head to Bodhi Mountain first.” Xu Ming continued flying toward Bodhi Mountain, with Shixin following naturally.

As they approached Bodhi Mountain, Xu Ming and Shixin felt a no-fly magic array ahead, so they landed at the foot of the mountain and began climbing step by step.

On the way, Xu Ming didn’t talk much to Shixin, and Shixin didn’t try to initiate conversation either.

They just kept climbing.

However, as they climbed, both Xu Ming and Shixin furrowed their brows simultaneously.

The next moment, dozens of arrows shot towards Xu Ming and Shixin.

Shixin clasped her hands together, forming a Golden Bell Cover around Xu Ming, shielding them both.

The arrows struck the Golden Bell Cover and were deflected.

The arrows stuck into the grass nearby, causing the plants they touched to wither instantly.

Clearly, these arrows were laced with potent poison.

“Kill them!”

Seven or eight cultivators emerged from the shadows.

Xu Ming thought he was targeted by some demon cultivators, but surprisingly, all seven or eight were human. Hmm, not only do demon cultivators want my life, but human cultivators are also paid by the demon realms?

Xu Ming stepped away from Shixin, raising his sword. With a few swings, only three of the human cultivators remained alive.

Seeing the bloodshed before her, Shixin closed her eyes and recited a Buddhist chant.

“Grandpa, please spare us! We were blinded by greed and attacked you mistakenly. We’ll give up everything we have, just please spare our lives.”

These three cultivators bowed repeatedly to Xu Ming.

Xu Ming initially thought they were targeting him, but upon hearing their plea, he realized they attacked indiscriminately.

To be honest, these Dragon Gate Realm cultivators, setting traps and using poisoned arrows, probably killed many people already.

Looking at their pleading faces, Xu Ming remained calm, clearly unwilling to show mercy.

Since they tried to kill him, they should accept the consequences.

“Good Sir Xu, since they’ve acknowledged their wrongdoings, why not spare them?” Shixin stepped forward to mediate.

“Yes, yes!” They were almost resigned to death when the beautiful bald monk intervened, rekindling their hope. “We truly know we were wrong! We won’t dare again! Please spare our lives, and we’ll definitely do more good deeds!”

“Shixin, do you really want to save them?” Xu Ming turned to ask.

Shixin nodded: “They say they’ve realized their mistakes.”

“Shixin, you’re mistaken,” Xu Ming chuckled bitterly. “They don’t realize their mistakes—they know they’re going to die.”

“…” Shixin fell silent.

Xu Ming continued: “Even if I let them go, killing them doesn’t benefit me much. It might even earn your favor, making you more willing to help me later.

But Shixin, what if you let them go and they continue harming others? Wouldn’t their sins then partially fall on you?

You save them out of kindness, but they harm others. Is that fair to the victims?

Moreover, they’ve probably ambushed other cultivators successfully before. Their poisoned arrows aim to kill.

If you let them live, how do you justify the grudges of those buried underground?”

Under Xu Ming’s relentless questioning, Shixin lowered her head, deep in thought.

At this moment, sensing their impending doom, the three decided to make a last-ditch attempt, lunging at Xu Ming for a slim chance of survival.

But Xu Ming was prepared.

A flash of swordlight passed before their eyes. They clutched their necks but couldn’t stop their heads from falling off.

“Amitabha.”

Witnessing this, Shixin clasped her hands together and recited another Buddhist chant.

“Shixin, won’t you refuse to help me because of this?”

Honestly, Xu Ming was somewhat worried.

This female monk seems a bit saintly.

What if the killings upset her and she refuses to help? What then?

“No.” Shixin shook her head. “Since I’ve promised the old man to help in Wudu, I will keep my word, regardless of what happens.”

Xu Ming still doubted and asked again: “Really?”

Shixin nodded: “Monks don’t lie.”

“That’s good.” Xu Ming relaxed. Otherwise, having a saintly person around, unable to kill this or that, would be too inconvenient.

Of course, for his mother, he’d endure it.

“But good sir, your anger is too heavy, and your killing karma is too strong. This is not good.” Shixin looked seriously at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming laughed and walked straight ahead: “I never intended to be a great benevolent person. Those I killed wanted to kill me. If they want to kill me, they must accept being killed by me.”

“…”

Shixin thought silently, but Xu Ming had already walked far ahead. She hurried to catch up: “What you’re saying is all nonsense.”

“Then tell me, how is it nonsense?”

Climbing the mountain was boring, so Xu Ming indulged in debating with her, hoping to correct her overly saintly nature.

Otherwise, this female monk might die without knowing it.

Emmm, with her looks, it might be worse than just dying.

“Put down the butcher’s knife and instantly become a Buddha. As long as they repent, the sea of suffering has no end, but turning back leads to the shore.” Shixin said.

“Ho ho ho.” Xu Ming gave a cold laugh. “Did your master never tell you that the ‘butcher’s knife’ doesn’t refer to evil-doers? It refers to the three karmic actions of body, speech, and mind, and all delusions, false thoughts, confusion, inversion, discrimination, and attachment. If someone can truly reach that state, they can indeed become a Buddha.”

“…” Shixin stared blankly at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming asked: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“My master never told me these things.” Shixin looked surprised at Xu Ming. “Good sir, you have wisdom.”

“…” This time it was Xu Ming’s turn to be speechless. “So am I considered wise just because of this?”

Speaking of which, doesn’t Western Buddhism cover these topics? Could the Buddhist teachings of the Western Sect differ from Blue Ocean Star’s?

“Yes.” Shixin nodded seriously. “Good sir, you’re very wise. Why not join our Buddhist path?”

“Huh?” Xu Ming froze, doubting if he heard correctly. “You were just saying my murderous intent was too strong, and now you’re inviting me to join your sect?”

Shixin shook her head: “Though good sir has killing karma, there’s cause and effect. The sea of suffering has no end, but turning back is good.”

“Forget it.” Xu Ming waved his hand. “Your Buddhist path isn’t for me.”

“Good sir, you really should join.” Shixin seemed insistent.

Xu Ming chuckled helplessly: “Fine, if I join your sect, what benefits are there?”

“Benefits…” Shixin was stumped. She’d never thought about the benefits of joining the Buddhist path.

“What kind of benefits do you want?” Shixin asked.

Xu Ming stroked his chin, pretending to think seriously: “You’re so beautiful. How about we practice dual cultivation, and I’ll agree to join your sect.”

Shixin frowned: “Good sir, lust is a great taboo in the Buddhist path.”

“Hahaha.” Xu Ming burst into laughter. “You’re willing to sacrifice yourself to guide me into Buddhism. If you won’t even sacrifice yourself for me, how can you claim compassion?”