Chapter 77: The Buddha (Part 1 of 2)

Sure enough, it was a familiar face. A young man dressed in a deep red monk's robe appeared. His sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes, along with a proud nose, gave him a commanding presence. Although he wore a gentle smile, it could not conceal the fierce aura surrounding him. Honestly, the first time I met him, I didn't sense this intensity. But now, his aggressive posture clearly showed that he had come to send the weasel spirit to its death.

This was Yicheng, a monk from Shisheng Temple. To be honest, if Master Miaoyin could be likened to a living Buddha, then Yicheng was more like the Wrathful Vajra Deity.

Jiang Shiyu ran eagerly behind him, clearly showing that this was the reinforcements she had requested for me.

But even with his arrival, it was already too late. The weasel spirit was dead and the consequences had already been set in motion. What worried me most was how much of my own lifespan I had lost as punishment—and whether I still had time to see Liu Ruoyi. At this moment, how I longed to tell her face to face that she was safe.

"Dabao! Dabao, are you alright?" Jiang Shiyu rushed to me.

Since the master had warned me about the coming retribution, it was clearly far worse than just injury. Yicheng greeted me with a single-hand Buddhist salute and calmly said, "It looks like Master Zhang is not well."

"What's wrong with Dabao?" Jiang Shiyu quickly turned around.

Yicheng smiled but said nothing. I smiled as well, silently understanding each other. This young monk was no ordinary temple dweller who only studied rituals. Buddhist temples often display fierce guardian deities like the Wrathful Vajra and Luohan statues right inside the door, all skilled in magical arts. I suspected Yicheng belonged to this class.

"No worries, Master. Thank you for coming," I said politely.

"Exorcising demons is our duty," Yicheng said, looking fiercely at the weasel spirit, "This demon carries the aura of Buddha, probably having cultivated by listening to sutras and thus becoming a spirit. If it sincerely sought goodness, I might have spared it for its cultivation. But it has caused the deaths of three people in recent days. It deserved its fate. Master Zhang, your self-sacrifice for a greater cause is admirable."

His words annoyed me. The weasel was a local earth spirit who had nearly completed its transformation to humanity and immortality. How could he say it was utterly wicked? Though it died because of me, it wasn't my wish. Hearing Yicheng say this, I was displeased.

"Master, I must disagree. Buddhism teaches all beings are equal; life has no high or low, noble or base. Though the weasel is a beast, it achieved human form by fate's will. It died because of me, and I am truly saddened. What you say makes it seem the weasel's death was deserved, but I cannot agree," I said seriously. In essence, the weasel had already been wronged by us, and it was unfair to call it a monster.

Jiang Shiyu tugged my sleeve, slightly scolding me, "Stop arguing—you're both fine, and that's what matters."

"Thanks for your concern. By the way, do you have Liu Ruoyi's phone number?" I asked.

Jiang Shiyu hesitated, seeming like she wanted to say something but held back. Then Yicheng squatted by the weasel's corpse, silently pondering before saying, "It's not over yet."

"What?" I was startled.

Yicheng pointed to three spots on the weasel's body:

The claws, tightly closed;

The eyes, wide open;

The anal gland, protruding.

"The claws are clenched, the eyes wide, and the anal gland's scent gland is protruding. Before death, she sent a message to her kin. Something big will happen tonight," Yicheng said gravely.

Thinking of that pitch-black weasel, I realized she was not alone. She had a whole lineage waiting in the shadows. Honestly, I felt guilty. We had caused the death of the weasel and now might be causing harm to her descendants. Humans are selfish, and I am no exception. After the weasel died, the spirits haunting Liu Ruoyi and others likely dispersed. Her desperate call for help was aimed at those present—like Grandpa Cui.

"I'm sorry, but I won't meddle in karma anymore. I hope Master will think carefully," I said, making it clear I wished to withdraw.

But Yicheng pressed his hands together, "Amitabha. Since ancient times, people know that monks who descend the mountain face chaos. They help the needy in troubled times and avoid the world in peaceful eras. Yet we travelers of the Buddha walk the world, slaying demons and evils. Today, Master Zhang need not involve himself—Yicheng will not allow demons to wreak havoc."

In an instant, Yicheng's eyes flashed with killing intent. Normally, Buddhist monks would not harbor such fierce hatred. But Yicheng was obviously full of righteous fury, quite unlike the gentle warmth in Master Miaoyin's eyes.

Yicheng then helped Grandpa Cui to his feet. "Master, rest assured. We'll take care of this demon. Let's return to the village first."

"Thank you, Buddha, thank you, Buddha!" Grandpa Cui kept bowing repeatedly.

Undeniably, in both appearance and aura, Yicheng could outshine the two of us easily. Especially the gleam in his eyes made him feel like a reincarnation of a Vajra.

For a moment, I felt like an ignored bystander. Jiang Shiyu's mood was noticeably subdued. At the time, I was a bit clueless about girls' feelings and assumed her mood was simply mourning our deceased classmates.