Compared to Qilin blood, the Pure Vase water of Guanyin was far more troublesome. By that time, she was already a senior disciple under the Buddha at the Western Heaven, widely venerated and sustained by the incense of the masses for her role in observing the sufferings of the world and providing universal salvation.
Dealing with her was no simple task. Any failure would inevitably mean declaring war on the entire God Realm—a consequence no artificial ancient god could easily bear.
This logic went without saying, and the green-eyed zombie was well aware of it. However, an artificial ancient god is often far more audacious than a natural one. Thus, it had its own plan: if Guanyin were rendered unable to speak of the matter, how would the God Realm ever find out?
As for how to ensure Guanyin remained silent...
Qiao’er continued her daily study of technique manuals. In her spare time, she led the various zombies and minor demons in digging wells, laying bridges, and paving roads. It could be said that the current reputation of Guantian Court had been carved out by her leading these zombies and demons with hoes and shovels, one stroke at a time.
Cuiwei Mountain did nothing to clarify the situation for Guantian Court, yet the number of pilgrims visiting the Court began to increase daily. The common folk always trusted their own eyes above all else; furthermore, Qiao’er truly did her utmost to fulfill the various wishes of the pilgrims, provided they did not violate fate or morality.
Guantian Court had once been the subject of much criticism, but no one had ever questioned its efficacy.
The green-eyed zombie exerted itself to recuperate at the bottom of the sea, and after ten or so days, its injuries were fully healed. At that time, Qiao’er happened to establish a new rule: all roads, bridges, and wells built by Guantian Court were free for all to use, except for disciples of Cuiwei Mountain. The fees for Cuiwei Mountain disciples were to be collected spontaneously by the local villages and towns.
Fan Shaojing was speechless. Priding himself on belonging to a prestigious and upright sect, he never expected Guantian Court to use such a childish tactic against him. The roads and wells built by Guantian Court were merely an annoyance to the disciples of Cuiwei Mountain, but the bridges were the most hateful part—you could bypass a road or choose not to drink the water, but when a great river lay before you, you couldn't very well swim across, could you?
Fan Shaojing did not engage in a competition of bridge-building and road-paving with Guantian Court. He knew the strength of Cuiwei Mountain—no matter how hard a human worked, their physical strength and energy were ultimately limited. How could they possibly compare to that group of freaks at Guantian Court?
His approach was direct: he added three new categories to the disciples' expenses: road tolls, water fees, and bridge tolls. Any such charges encountered were to be fully reimbursed.
Guantian Court was doing good deeds, after all. He felt this was better than a pack of zombies wandering around aimlessly all day.
In the evening, he took a wine flask and slipped into Guantian Court to visit Fan Shaohuang. When his soul was first sealed, it was merely a faint shadow; now, it had become semi-transparent, his cultivation clearly having improved. However, as for breaking through this formation... the path ahead currently looked bleak.
Fan Shaohuang himself was not anxious. "It has already obtained the Living Zombie Heart and the Qilin Blood. Its next target is likely the Pure Vase water."
Fan Shaojing was somewhat puzzled. "Cuiwei Mountain disciples have reported on the situation recently. I suspected it was a prescription for mending a zombie. Junior Brother, is this your handiwork?"
Fan Shaohuang did not answer. "Guanyin is not easy to deal with, but given its current cultivation... it is not impossible. Remember, at the critical moment, you must ensure Guanyin escapes alive. That way, the Taoist sects won't need to lift a finger to subdue it."
Fan Shaojing threw another small pebble at him. "Helping Guanyin escape... Junior Brother, as your Sect Leader Senior Brother, I truly do not wish for the disciples of Cuiwei Mountain to sacrifice themselves in vain."
Fan Shaohuang looked down at the pebble that had passed through his body: the twenty-eighth one. He counted silently. "Then notify Guanyin in advance, you fool."
Fan Shaojing had a sudden realization and left satisfied.
Within the formation, Fan Shaohuang laboriously moved the twenty-eight small pebbles together—the ancient war god Yinglong was one to hold a grudge over the smallest slight.
By that time, the chaos had been parted and the Way of Man was stable; the God Realm and the mortal world were completely separated. However, Taoist cultivators with profound cultivation still had ways to project their souls and travel to the God Realm.
Upon his return, Fan Shaojing set up a ritual altar at a Cuiwei Mountain branch temple, released his soul from his body, and went to deliver the message to Guanyin.
However, when he hurried all the way to the Western Heaven, it happened to be the time for the Primordial Lord of Heaven to lecture on the scriptures. Fan Shaojing waited at the gate for an hour without seeing a soul; even the gate-keeping boys had vanished. He pursed his lips and decided to enter the Lecture Hall.
If the Buddha were to blame him... he had thought of dozens of excuses. For instance, "The Buddha delivers those with whom he has a fated bond; now that this humble Taoist has happened upon this, it is a fated bond." Or perhaps, "I have long admired the great name of the Honorable Shakyamuni, thus even knowing this is a great taboo, I risked death for a single glimpse, and would die without regrets..."
He pondered these excuses as he slipped into the Lecture Hall, only to find everyone inside with their eyes closed in deep meditation—no one was taking attendance at all!
The Lecture Hall was filled with swirling golden light, and every Bodhisattva sat radiant and dazzling. In his blurred vision, he truly couldn't pick out Guanyin for a moment, so he had to quietly mingle and find an empty seat.
Upon the dais, the Honorable Shakyamuni still had his eyes closed, lecturing with rapt intoxication: "Before this Seat’s previous incarnation attained the Way, I was once reincarnated as a Great Venomous Dragon. The dragon possessed a supreme technique called 'Death at a Glance.' Countless people were stared to death by it, and this Seat thus accumulated many evil fruits. Yet there were many in the world who did not fear death, coming one after another in an endless stream to seek death before the dragon's eyes. Later, this Seat received the guidance of a Great Master, which finally put an end to those seeking death. Do you all know what kind of guidance this Seat received?"
This was Taoist Master Fan Shaojing's first time hearing a Buddha lecture. Though their paths differed, his heart was still stirred—he had heard of this parable: "The Great Master pointed out to the giant dragon that was the Buddha's incarnation: 'Those who kill accumulate long-standing resentment; those who harm others will surely be harmed by others. If you can sincerely observe the precept against killing, you will surely escape the Path of Animals and the boundless sea of suffering.' Upon hearing this, the dragon followed the precept of non-killing. Later, when it encountered a hunter who wanted its skin, it gave it up and attained great liberation."
Strangely enough, no one had noticed anything amiss since he entered, but as soon as these words were spoken, every radiant Bodhisattva instantly opened their eyes. Their gazes met, the meaning very clear: "An outsider has snuck in!"
The Buddha, who was lecturing, was instead overjoyed that someone had finally responded. "Incorrect answer. Eject him and make him stand guard outside the door for one full cycle of time!"
A young boy came forward to haul Taoist Master Fan Shaojing out. He was indignant. "The Buddhist scriptures clearly record it this way!"
But before he could defend himself, he heard the Primordial Lord of Heaven behind him speak in a peaceful voice: "Later, Shakyamuni received the guidance of a Great Master. The Master said: 'What is there to fear in death? What is truly terrifying is "Pregnancy at a Glance."' Shakyamuni acted accordingly, and those who came to seek his gaze vanished completely. Only then did the karma of killing cease."
Taoist Master Fan Shaojing’s face was covered in tears as he woke up crying. The mission to deliver the message had failed. When he went again the next day, the Primordial Lord of Heaven was still lecturing, and all the Bodhisattvas had gone out wandering, their whereabouts unknown.
On a dark and windy night, the green-eyed zombie cornered Guanyin. It had intended to hide this from Qiao’er, but she would not be fooled again and followed it closely, never leaving its side. This only strengthened the zombie's resolve to eliminate Guanyin—if the God Realm retaliated, its own fate would be hard to predict, but Qiao’er’s fate would be even easier to foresee...
Guanyin sat high upon a lotus pedestal, her left hand in a mudra and her right hand holding the Pure Vase, with a willow branch tucked inside. She was surrounded by auspicious clouds; wherever she passed, celestial music drifted and signs of luck appeared. But when an object blocked her path, her good mood from skipping class to wander was completely ruined—this... this thing was simply too ugly.
"Who dares block this Seat's path?" The Guanyin on the lotus pedestal sat dignified, holy, and pure. The green-eyed zombie lunged forward, its muffled punches falling like rain, a barrage aimed straight for her head and face.
"Good grief! I finally managed to escape the Lecture Hall to avoid those cold jokes, only to encounter an ugly freak here to assault my eyes!" Guanyin shouted from atop the lotus pedestal, coldly chanting the Buddhist Six-Character Mantra into the air: "Om Mani Padme Hum!"
Once the mantra was spoken, she pulled the willow branch from the Pure Vase with her left hand and began to lash the green-eyed zombie with force...
Following behind, Qiao’er felt like coughing up blood...
One Buddha and one zombie fought from the second watch until the third. The four Ba joined the fray, and Qiao’er also took action. She was skilled in Taoist arts; while Guanyin’s Buddhist powers were excellent at suppressing demons, they were not as effective against Taoism. The schools of Buddhism and Taoism were naturally suited to complement each other rather than destroy one another.
Thus, her joining the battle actually served to constrain Guanyin somewhat.
The battle of the many against the few continued until the end of the third watch, until Guanyin finally couldn't take it anymore. "Halt! What exactly do you little monsters want, blocking this Seat's path?!"
Qiao’er was quite honest and replied upon hearing this, "We need to take one drop of the Bodhisattva's Pure Vase water."
Guanyin took a step back and asked after a long pause, "The few of you have fought with this Seat for so long, making this Seat break into a sweat... just to take one drop of Pure Vase water?"
The Ba remained on guard, blocking her path. Yet the Guanyin sitting high on the lotus pedestal had a face full of resentment. "Good heavens, could you ask for what you want first next time? It's just a drop of water, is all this necessary?!"
The Ba were dumbstruck.
Guanyin, however, was generous. She tilted a drop of water from the Pure Vase into her palm and tossed it toward Qiao’er. Qiao’er caught it carefully and stored it in a jade bottle, yet she still seemed unable to believe it. "You... you're just giving it to us like that?"
On the other side, the Guanyin on the lotus pedestal still looked indignant. "To deliver all living beings, my Buddha did not hesitate to cut his own flesh to feed an eagle or offer his body to a tiger. Now, what you seek is but a single drop of Pure Vase water; why should I refuse?"
Qiao’er felt quite ashamed—the enlightenment of a god was indeed extraordinary. In the end, it was Guiche who used its eight heads to look at her with disdain while saying to Qiao’er, "She saw that we have the advantage in numbers and she couldn't win, so she's just doing us a favor to save face. Stupid!"
Qiao’er: "..."
Guanyin, however, quickly discovered Guiche lurking in the shadows and was overjoyed. "Oh my! So the delicacy that the Howling Celestial Dog can't stop thinking about has escaped to this place!!"
Guiche was terrified and began jumping and cursing.
With the Pure Vase water in hand, there should have been no further issues, but the green-eyed zombie was still uneasy. This Guanyin’s temperament was unpredictable; if they let her go back, who knew what trouble she might stir up? Yet if they didn't let her go, eliminating her now would still require a great deal of effort...
While it was lost in thought, the Guanyin on the lotus pedestal spoke up with great interest: "What exactly do you intend to use this Pure Vase water for?"
Qiao’er figured there was no harm in telling her, so she explained the method for mending the zombie. Upon hearing it, Guanyin was greatly intrigued. "There is truly such a miraculous prescription? It can heal the wounds of a god's bloodline?"
Her curiosity was piqued, and she strongly requested to watch. This played right into the green-eyed zombie's hands—by bringing her back to Guantian Court, she wouldn't be able to call for help from the Western Heaven, at least for a short while.
The group returned to Guantian Court just as the sky was beginning to brighten. Fearing that Qiao’er wouldn't be able to restrain Guanyin, the green-eyed zombie insisted that she dive into the seabed with them. Guanyin was deeply disappointed. "Amitabha. This poor monk would rather stay with the female benefactor Gongxi."
Qiao’er also felt that this way of treating a guest was ungracious, but the green-eyed zombie stood firm. Seeing that she truly could not go against its will, Guanyin looked at the crowd of zombies, large and small, and covered her face in utter misery. "Sob, sob... who can understand the pain of a fresh flower being accompanied by a giant pile of cow dung?"
Hearing this, Qiao’er pursed her lips. "In Buddhist and Taoist thought, there is the concept of the unity of heaven and man and the equality of all things. How can a Bodhisattva mind the difference between a flower and cow dung?"
Guanyin’s expression remained miserable. "Not so. You have only heard that all things are equal, but you do not know that the reason the Buddha was able to smile back then was only because he picked up a fresh flower. Have you ever heard of the Buddha picking up cow dung and smiling?"
"..."
***
