Free Web NovelChapter 89: Chapter 77: No Wish for Immortality, Only to Hold Your Hand and Grow Old
But to Xu Lei’s disappointment, he couldn’t find the Spirit Monster’s location.
Soon, the pointer stopped moving again.
People were coming and going all around, making it impossible to tell who the Spirit Monster was.
He wandered around for a while longer but still came up empty-handed.
"Martial Uncle Hui Chi, how’s it going?"
Zhi Jian ran over just then and asked, "Did you find anything?"
"What about you?"
Xu Lei asked. "Did you find anything?"
Zhi Jian looked a little embarrassed and shook his head.
"Me neither."
Xu Lei said, "That’s to be expected. Any Spirit Monster that dares to blend into the Mortal World is bound to have a few tricks up its sleeve."
Or they have very strong disguise abilities.
Finding them won’t be that easy.
By the way, you bumped into someone earlier?
What happened? Are you okay?
"I’m fine."
Zhi Jian said, "It was just a hurried collision."
I’m fine, and the patron wasn’t seriously hurt either.
"Let’s keep looking around."
Xu Lei said, "If we really can’t find anything, we’ll go meet up with Martial Brother Hui Ming."
Zhi Jian nodded as well.
After that, the two continued to wander the area.
「In the blink of an eye, another fifteen minutes passed.」
Xu Lei and Zhi Jian split up.
They searched everywhere for Demonic Qi.
As Xu Lei was walking down an alleyway,
the young woman from before suddenly reappeared.
She ran over and immediately ducked into a hiding spot nearby.
At the same time, she looked at Xu Lei and made a gesture that said, ’Please, please, if someone asks, tell them I ran the other way.’
Just then, a few pursuers appeared at the entrance of the alley. They asked Xu Lei if he had seen someone matching the description of the girl who had just hidden.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei didn’t want to get involved. After all, Zhi Neng’s cautionary tale was still fresh in his mind. Karma was unpredictable; it was best to avoid it when possible. So he simply said, "This humble Monk didn’t notice."
Seeing this, the pursuers couldn’t help but frown slightly.
They didn’t sprint off in any particular direction.
Instead, it seemed like they intended to search the immediate area.
"Amitabha Buddha."
But unexpectedly, Zhi Jian suddenly appeared not far behind Xu Lei. He pointed and said, "I think I saw her just now. That patroness ran that way!"
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, a large man among the pursuers’ eyes lit up. He waved his hand and said, "Thank you for the tip, little master! After her!"
With that, the group rushed off.
Xu Lei glanced at Zhi Jian, then at the girl.
After all, Zhi Jian had just told a lie.
In the past, Zhi Jian would never break his vows so casually.
This couldn’t help but make Xu Lei’s mind race.
After all, Xu Lei was now fifteen years old.
And Zhi Jian, a little older than Xu Lei, was seventeen!
A fifteen-year-old Xu Lei and a seventeen-year-old Zhi Jian were both young men in the prime of their youth.
Both were handsome and well-featured.
Looking at the hidden girl, while not a peerless beauty, she could certainly be described as quite attractive.
「A few minutes later.」
Xu Lei, Zhi Jian, and the girl were gathered at a street corner.
"You damn Monk!"
The girl pointed at Xu Lei and scolded, "You’re completely cold-blooded and heartless, with no compassion whatsoever! You’re a disgrace to your monastic vows!
So much for ’my Buddha is compassionate’! Bah!
I’m just a weak girl being hunted by those vicious men!
I clearly begged you to help me, but what did you do?
If it weren’t for Master Zhi Jian here helping me just now, I would’ve been done for!"
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "Patroness, please calm your anger.
My Buddha is indeed compassionate, but compassion is not blind charity.
You are being pursued by so many people, Patroness. This humble Monk could not immediately tell if you were good or evil.
If I acted rashly and you turned out to be a wicked person, wouldn’t this humble Monk have unintentionally committed a sin?
Besides, monks do not involve themselves in worldly affairs or entangle themselves in karma.
Furthermore, monks do not tell lies.
This humble Monk already showed compassion by not revealing your location.
You would force this humble Monk to break the vow of speech, to tell a lie, to deceive others on your behalf?
Is that reasonable?"
The girl was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Sophistry! You’re just twisting words!"
Then she stomped her foot and said, "I can’t win an argument with you! Anyway, you’re not a good person at all! You’re infuriating!
You don’t even seem like a Monk!
This Master Zhi Jian is much kinder!
He’s a truly compassionate Monk!"
Xu Lei looked at Zhi Jian.
"Amitabha Buddha. A sin, a sin."
Meeting Xu Lei’s gaze, Zhi Jian lowered his head, pressed his palms together, and said, "I told a lie just now. No matter how you look at it, I broke my vow of speech, which is a sin.
However, I only did so because I knew the patroness was not a wicked person.
Although it was out of compassion, I did indeed break a vow.
Patroness, please don’t speak like that. You must not be disrespectful to my Martial Uncle!
Martial Uncle has a clear and thorough understanding of the Buddha’s heart. It is I whose understanding of Buddhist principles is lacking!"
"He’s your Martial Uncle?"
The girl said in astonishment, "You look older than him, though?
You actually call him Martial Uncle?
But what do you mean by that?
So, because you broke your vow of speech, you’ll be punished when you go back to the temple?
Will you be punished by this cold-blooded Martial Uncle of yours?
Hey, you damn Monk, don’t you dare punish a good person!
Your Martial Nephew here, Master Zhi Jian, he just had good intentions!
He only did it to help me! If you punish such a good deed, you better watch out for divine retribution! May lightning strike you down!
Fine, I’m begging you, okay?
How about this? This all started because of me. If you have to punish someone, punish me!
Don’t take it out on Master Zhi Jian!"
"Zhi Jian!"
Xu Lei looked at Zhi Jian and said, "Let’s go! We’re heading back!"
He paid the girl little mind, even though she was quite good-looking.
But in this life, Xu Lei hadn’t reached the time to start thinking about procreating. He was only fifteen!
This was the best age for cultivation, so naturally, he had to keep pushing forward on his spiritual path.
Therefore, women were nothing but passing clouds in Xu Lei’s eyes right now.
However, Xu Lei was a little worried about Zhi Jian.
After all, unlike Xu Lei, who was living his second life, Zhi Jian was not.
Although Zhi Jian usually seemed mature, he was actually just an ordinary teenager.
When a young man experiences the first stirrings of love, it can be a fatal distraction.
Hui Ming only had this one disciple left. Xu Lei didn’t want to see Zhi Jian fall to a trial of love.
"Yes."
Zhi Jian, feeling a bit guilty, meekly replied, "Martial Uncle."
The two of them turned to leave.
"Hey, damn Monk, you stop right there!"
But the girl chased after them, blocking Xu Lei’s path with her arms outstretched. "I’m begging you. How about this? I’ll treat you to a meal, alright?
I’ll give you money—no, I’ll donate incense money, how about that?
Martial Uncle, please, don’t punish your Martial Nephew!
He was just doing a good deed!
If you do, my conscience won’t be clear!"
She actually took out a bag of silver, looking both quite naive and very wealthy.
Today’s so-called chase was likely just the drama of a rich young lady running away from home.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei didn’t want to get entangled with her. The longer they stayed, the more danger Zhi Jian was in. Thus, he accepted the girl’s silver and said, "If that’s the case, then this humble Monk will accept it on behalf of the Buddha.
As for Zhi Jian’s matter, rest assured, Patroness. I will not punish him."
With that, Xu Lei led Zhi Jian away.
「A few minutes later.」
Xu Lei and Zhi Jian had completely parted ways with the girl.
"Why?"
Xu Lei looked at Zhi Jian. "Why did you break your vow for her?"
"I just... I couldn’t bear to see it."
Zhi Jian said, "I had no other intentions!"
"I hope you remember what you yourself said when Zhi Neng left the mountain."
Xu Lei said, "You are Martial Brother Hui Ming’s only hope now!"
"Martial Uncle, you’re overthinking it! It’s nothing like that!"
Zhi Jian said hurriedly, "Your nephew has no such stray thoughts! My heart is devoted to the Buddha!
I only saw her weakness and vulnerability, and my compassionate heart was moved!
Of course, breaking the vow of speech is indeed a sin.
When I return to the temple, I will certainly enter seclusion to reflect on my actions!
I beg you, Martial Uncle, please do not tell Master about this!"
「In the blink of an eye, three more years had passed.」
One day at Tianming Temple,
the girl, now pregnant, arrived.
Seeing this, Xu Lei’s expression changed drastically.
He took a few steps inside, and his face grew even darker.
"Master, I’m sorry!"
At that moment, Xu Lei saw Zhi Jian kneeling before Hui Ming, saying guiltily, "This disciple has failed you, Master!
Please, Master, take back my Dao Seed!
I cannot let her drift alone in the vast sea of humanity!
I cannot watch her endure the scorn of thousands while carrying my child alone!
I cannot bear to see her grow old and wither away in a life without me by her side!"
"Say that again!"
Hui Ming roared in anger. "What did you just say!"
"Long life is not what this disciple desires!
I only wish to grow old with her!
Even if, in a few decades, death comes like a snuffed-out lamp!"
Zhi Jian kowtowed repeatedly, his head pressed to the floor as he shouted, "Please, Master, take back my Dao Seed!"
