Free Web NovelChapter 1201: Chapter 804: Buddha’s Heart (Part 2)
All these rhetorical elements were automatically blocked by Yang Xiao; they were just self-aggrandizing nonsense that can be found in almost every religion, and they’re all more or less the same.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiao noticed that the "Divine Statue" in front of him, to be precise, was a damaged statue. Its left foot, seated on a massive stone altar, was missing two toes, as if they had broken off and were lost.
Yang Xiao immediately realized that this "Divine Statue" wasn’t sculpted and created within this Buddhist Hall; it was made elsewhere and then moved here.
Those two toes were likely lost during the move, probably accidentally knocked off somewhere along the way.
With a dull bell sound resonating from outside, the morning class ended, and the group left the Outer Buddha Hall, sighing in relief once they stepped outside.
The atmosphere within the Buddhist Hall was oppressive, not purely because there were no windows allowing airflow or sunlight to enter, but because the place itself felt inherently stifling.
Shari, whose character was timid, hunched her shoulders and frequently glanced back. She had a feeling she didn’t dare to voice, or didn’t have the courage to.
Clutching the scriptures and reciting along, she always felt as if a gaze was fixed upon her, yet when she looked around, everyone was busy with their own matters, with no one even remotely paying attention to her.
There was seemingly no one else in the Buddhist Hall, only... Shari swallowed instinctively, her expression somewhat panicked. If something was watching her, it could only be the "Divine Statue" in the Buddhist Hall.
But how could that be? The "Divine Statues" were lifeless, all lifeless.
Several seasoned players gathered together, while the others stayed to rest; Musa, Yang Xiao, and Datou convened to discuss their next move.
"What do you... think of these scriptures?" Imam Musa’s expression was peculiar, as if he had discovered something.
"My scriptures say that the statue was once an Evil Ghost that committed all sorts of crimes but was subdued and converted by the Buddha to become a protector under the Buddha." Adila spoke nonchalantly, glancing at everyone, "If I’m not mistaken, your scriptures probably say something similar."
Datou slowly nodded, "That’s right, they’re just about the same. It seems these four statues were formerly mighty demons, no wonder the Outer Buddha Hall is built like this."
When they first arrived, Yang Xiao and the others already sensed something odd about the Outer Buddha Hall. It was more a prison than a Buddhist hall, and now they knew why.
"Imam, what are you trying to say?" Yang Xiao pressed further, knowing Musa must have discovered something different.
Musa looked around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then spoke softly: "There’s something off about the content of these scriptures; I’m not referring to the stories of subduing demons — I mean the scripture itself."
"This temple should be practicing Theravada Buddhism, which focuses on the original teachings of the Buddha, emphasizes discipline and individual practice, and aims for the attainment of Arhatship, severing the cycle of reincarnation, emphasizing self-liberation, as stated in the Agama Sutra..."
"We’re not getting a word of what you’re saying, talk about something we can understand," Juan, who was quite impatient, interrupted.
Taking a deep breath, Musa reorganized his thoughts, "Let me put it this way, Theravada Buddhism focuses on personal liberation and rejects the Bodhisattva Path, while Mahayana Buddhism’s ultimate goal is to achieve Buddhahood and save all beings."
"One is about cultivating oneself for personal liberation, and the other is about cultivating Buddhahood to save all beings. Do you understand now?"
"Got it." Yang Xiao, quick-witted, responded, "One is self-cultivation, the other benefits oneself and others."
"Right." Musa nodded, but a touch of confusion still lingered on his face, "This is a Theravada Buddhist temple, yet the scriptures contain elements of the Bodhisattva Path and benefiting others. Isn’t that strange?"
Musa, being someone deeply involved in religion, was far more sensitive to these matters in the scriptures than ordinary people.
"Could it be a coincidence, or perhaps just by chance?" Maria suddenly suggested.
"Impossible, given the timeline, it’s precisely the era of blood conflict between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. The clashes were extremely vicious at one point."
"This isn’t something that can coexist or tolerate differences; it’s a life-and-death battle, a war of beliefs, absolutely no room for error." Musa’s expression was very serious.
"Then what do you make of it?" Yang Xiao inquired, still rather trusting of Musa, considering him a reliable person.
Musa pointed a finger at the ground, speaking in a low voice, "There’s something wrong with this temple; these guys aren’t sincere followers of Theravada Buddhism, none of them are."
This statement hit a chord within Yang Xiao, awakening dormant memories.
After first receiving the Ghost Script, an Esoteric Sect martyr once told Yang Xiao that judging others as a cult, the true name was Taixiao.
Taixiao had once briefly occupied parts of the remote northwestern Myanmar and Thailand, also known as the Tribulation Sect.
Most importantly, this faction was extremely mysterious, having no formal doctrine but able to plunder others’ beliefs. freёwebnovel.com
"Tap, tap, tap"
Approaching footsteps came closer. Soon, a group of over ten people appeared before them, led by none other than Abbot Patuo.
Monk Patuo looked exhausted, evidently burdened by Ahmed’s funeral rites. After inquiring about the morning class, he shifted the topic, hoping that Yang Xiao and his companions would escort Ahmed’s body to a cemetery outside town for burial tonight.
"Isn’t that a bit rushed?" Aisha asked, considering it best to avoid it since going to a graveyard at night didn’t sound safe.
Moreover, their team was scheduled to handle tasks tonight, following the rotation.
Ahmed’s unexplained death last night left everyone dreading the next mission.
Hearing this, Monk Patuo took a deep breath, his expression somewhat unpleasant, speaking with a troubled tone: "You’re all right, it’s rushed, indeed. It’s also unfair to the deceased, but there’s no choice; the corpse must not remain in the temple overnight."
"Why?" Adila questioned. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"If such a corpse is not buried the same day, terrifying things could happen at night." Patuo’s voice was low, his tense expression suggesting no hint of a joke.
"A corpse transformation?" This time it was Juan speaking, immediately recalling the ghostly shadow he saw outside the window last night.
Monk Patuo nodded, his voice deep and firm, "Do you remember the procession you saw by the lake? That was a funeral procession; two more died in town the night before. We had to organize the team, thinking to send the corpses to the submerged lake in River Immortal Village, hoping they wouldn’t transform into Fierce Ghosts and return to kill."
Pausing, Monk Patuo’s face darkened, "But you all saw the result: it didn’t work. The two... two bodies not only came back, but brought a whole boat of Fierce Ghosts; the people from River Immortal Village are still not letting us go."
This last sentence stirred something in Yang Xiao’s heart. Monk Patuo seemed to have slipped up, his wording inviting deeper thought, suggesting they weren’t letting go.
Direct inquiry could cause unnecessary trouble, so while Yang Xiao was contemplating how to subtly ask, a discordant voice emerged, "Why won’t they let go, is it because there’s a grudge between you?"
It was Davi asking, her big curious eyes not realizing Maria Aisha across was signaling her frantically to stop.
"Of course, there’s no grudge, at least not before River Immortal Village faced such a tragedy; our town almost had no contact with them. But after River Immortal Village was flooded, my master and five other High Monks continuously..."
Direct inquiry could cause unnecessary trouble, so while Yang Xiao was contemplating how to subtly ask, a discordant voice emerged, "Why won’t they let go, is it because there’s a grudge between you?"
It was Davi asking, her big curious eyes not realizing Maria Aisha across was signaling her frantically to stop.
"Of course, there’s no grudge, at least not before River Immortal Village faced such a tragedy;
