“Jiang Gautama? Jiang Lianshan’s son?” Gu Hai suddenly raised his eyebrows.
Gu Hai had been to the Yan Heavenly Dynasty’s Divine Farmer City and knew the Yan Heavenly Emperor Jiang Lianshan did not have a crown prince. Jiang Gautama?
“The Present Buddha is called Jiang Gautama? How can it be? If he is a fake Present Buddha, how could the other people of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land not tell?” Shangguan Hen frowned.
“Shangguan Hen? You received the black tortoise deity’s inheritance, right?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked seriously.
“Oh? That’s right. Everyone knows about it already,” Shangguan Hen answered in confusion.
“Since you have obtained the black tortoise deity’s inheritance, you should have heard of the Present Buddha’s previous title. Do you recall what the Present Buddha was called eight hundred thousand years ago?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked.
Shangguan Hen’s expression changed. “The Gautama Heavenly Demon?”
“Why is he called the Gautama Heavenly Demon?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng prompted with a bitter smile.
“It was said that eight hundred thousand years ago, the Present Buddha had a benevolent side and a demonic side. He would save one person and kill one person. He was half good and half evil as he swept his way through the west,” Shangguan Hen said after accessing the black tortoise deity’s memories.
“That’s right. Do you know why?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked seriously.
“Why?”
“It is because the Present Buddha had two sides. One was good, and one was evil. It was like two people living in the same body. Sometimes, the good side was in control. Sometimes, the evil side was in control,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng explained with a soft sigh.
“Oh? Dual personalities?” Gu Hai’s expression changed.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng nodded. “Mister Gu’s term about covers it.”
“Given that, he was somewhat similar to Shangguan Hen in the past. One body but two souls? Where the other one was Prime Feng Yue?” Gu Hai said as he looked at Shangguan Hen.
However, Shangguan Hen stared at Bodhisattva Lian Sheng. “Then?”
“The good side of the Gautama Heavenly Demon was a holy buddha, and the evil side was a ferocious demon. Back when the Six Paths Immortal opposed Heaven, the evil Gautama led the Spirit Mountain Holy Land in aiding the Six Paths Immortal, allowing the Six Paths Immortal to become Heaven,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng sighed.
“The evil Gautama?” Gu Hai said in a heavy voice.
“That’s right. One good side and one evil side. It was like two people living as one. Eventually, the two diverged further from each other. The good Gautama used a powerful method to cut off the evil Gautama from his body. It was just like how the previous Black Tortoise Prime cut off the evil part of himself. After the evil Gautama was cut off, the Spirit Mountain Holy Land became more dignified and benevolent. Since the evil Gautama and the good Gautama were of the same origin, the good Gautama did not kill the evil Gautama, only suppressing the evil Gautama. However, the evil Gautama eventually died and reincarnated into Jiang Lianshan’s son,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng explained.
“Reincarnated into Jiang Lianshan’s son?” Gu Hai frowned.
“Yes. Perhaps Jiang Lianshan did it on purpose, perhaps it was the evil Gautama’s plan, or perhaps the two planned this together. In any case, the evil Gautama reincarnated into Jiang Gautama and became Jiang Lianshan’s son, gaining Jiang Lianshan’s assistance,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng sighed.
Shangguan Hen frowned. “What happened after that?”
“After Jiang Gautama grew strong, he sought me out. Then, we headed to the Spirit Mountain Holy Land with another companion to question the buddhas and take over the sect.” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng smiled bitterly.
“Sought you out? Why? Which temple is Bodhisattva Lian Sheng from?” Shangguan Hen asked.
“Nalanda Temple,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng replied seriously.
[TL Note: Nalanda is a renowned Buddhist monastic university. Here is the Wikipedia entry on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalanda.]
“Oh? The Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s previous main sect?” Shangguan Hen said in shock.
“Nalanda Temple?” Gu Hai felt slightly startled.
“The Gautama Heavenly Demon was a monk sent out by the Nalanda Temple, a senior brother of mine. Later, the Nalanda Temple fell into decline. I remained in the Nalanda Temple, but Gautama Heavenly Demon started the Spirit Mountain Holy Land, turning it into the largest Buddhist faction in the world,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng explained.
“The three people going to question the buddhas were you, Jiang Gautama, and one more. Is the last person the current Future Buddha?” Gu Hai asked.
“That’s right. The three of us agreed to reform the Three Lives Buddhas one thousand two hundred years ago. We wanted to replace the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s Three Lives Buddhas. Hah! It was a terrible time. Blood formed rivers, and miserable cries shook the sky. Eventually, the good Gautama’s Buddhist heart broke, and he died. Jiang Gautama took over the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. The previous Future Buddha’s souls were destroyed, suffering a miserable end. Then, the current Future Buddha replaced him,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng sighed.
“What about the Past Buddha? You should be targeting the Past Buddha’s position, right?” Gu Hai said with a frown.
“The Past Buddha? He betrayed the original Three Lives Buddhas, which was why the previous Future Buddha died a miserable death.” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng smiled bitterly.
“That means that the Past Buddha betrayed the good Gautama. Then, Jiang Gautama and the Future Buddha betrayed you? The three of you went to question the buddhas together. However, they excluded you after they took over their positions?” Gu Hai said gravely.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng sighed and nodded.
“While filled with hatred, you found my son, Gu Han, and discovered him to be the good Gautama’s reincarnation, so you wanted to use him to take revenge?” Gu Hai’s voice turned cold.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng nodded bitterly. “Indeed. Initially, Gu Han and I had already started rebuilding the Nalanda Temple. However…”
Gu Hai stared at Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, only breathing out after a while. “Is Gu Han safe?”
“Yes. Mister Gu, sorry!” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng bowed to Gu Hai with a bitter expression.
“Never mind. If Gu Han is truly the good Gautama’s reincarnation, some other monk would have taken him away even if you didn’t. No wonder…no wonder none of the bodhisattvas, arhats, and guardians have any complaint about Jiang Gautama leading the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. So, this is the reason. Jiang Gautama and the good Gautama are the same person in the first place; it is just a difference between good and evil,” Gu Hai sighed softly.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng nodded.
“Mister Gu, we had better leave quickly. I infused energy into Gu Han not long ago. My cultivation is only in the Middle Heavenly Palace Realm now. We will not be able to leave when the Future Buddha returns,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said.
“Leave? Do you know how to leave? I heard that one can only leave through the Reincarnation Pool?” Gu Hai said.
“The Reincarnation Pool? Hah! That used to be the foundational treasure of the Nalanda Temple. Now, Jiang Gautama is in control of it. However, I have a way to leave,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said seriously.
“Oh?”
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng took out a white jade bottle. When he gently opened the stopper, streams of seven-colored light wafted out from it.
Gu Hai lowered his head to look inside and saw a seven-colored lotus flower and a seven-colored lotus flower bud resting in a liquid.
“This is?” Gu Hai asked.
“The liquid in this bottle is water from the Reincarnation Pool. The seven-colored lotus flower used to grow in the Reincarnation Pool,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng explained.
“Oh?”
“After picking this Reincarnation Lotus, the lotus will wilt and open an exit in the path of reincarnation secret realm. While where you reappear will be random, you can get out,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said gravely.
“Reincarnation Lotus? Get out?” Gu Hai parroted, unconvinced.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng extended his hand and plucked the flower.
Snap!
After plucking the flower, the rest of the plant withered and disappeared.
The plucked Reincarnation Lotus trembled slightly and gave off rainbow light. Space rippled around the light. Then, a large passageway appeared out of nowhere.
The lotus flower remained floating in the air, quickly wilting.
“Mister Gu, there are only thirty minutes. We should leave quickly,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said.
Gu Hai looked at this mystical passageway, and his expression changed. “Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, I still have a friend in this hell. Do you mind waiting?”
“Huh?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s expression turned stiff. Then, he showed a bitter smile. “Mister Gu, you spoke too late. This entrance will last for only thirty minutes. Once the Reincarnation Lotus fully wilts, it will be too late. Can you call your friend over within thirty minutes?”
“I can’t make it in time. I don’t know where he is yet.” Gu Hai forced a smile.
“There’s no other way. Mister Gu, we should go first and return when there is an opportunity,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said with a bitter smile.
“However, I can see a flower bud in your bottle?” Gu Hai asked, feeling confused.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng glanced at the seven-colored flower bud and smiled bitterly. “Mister Gu, who knows how long it will take to bloom?!”
“Oh?”
“When this Reincarnation Lotus was moved from the Reincarnation Pool to the bottle, it was also a flower bud. Furthermore, it was even thrice the size of the flower bud in the bottle. That was eight hundred thousand years ago,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said with a bitter smile.
Shangguan Hen’s expression changed. “What? This Reincarnation Lotus took eight hundred thousand years to bloom?”
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng nodded. “So it will definitely take even longer for this flower bud to bloom. Eight hundred thousand years? No, it might not bloom even in one million eight hundred thousand years.”
Gu Hai’s eyelids twitched wildly.
At this moment, a flower petal fell off. Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s expression changed. “Mister Gu, quickly come with me. Otherwise, it will be too late. The Six Paths Immortal has sealed the eighteen layers of hell. There is no other way out!”
Gu Hai remained silent for a while. “Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, are you willing to give this flower bud to me?”
“Huh? You are not leaving?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng felt slightly startled.
“I wish to continue searching. Furthermore, the time here does not match the time outside, right?” Gu Hai smiled.
“You will still have to endure it. Can you?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said in shock.
“I wish to try,” Gu Hai said gravely.
“There’s no problem with giving it to you. However…however, if the Future Buddha returns, he will search for you with everything he has. How could you…,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said worriedly.
“There will always be a way, isn’t that so?” Gu Hai smiled.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng fell silent, looking at Gu Hai strangely.
“Alright. You may have this bottle. I wish you the best of luck, Mister Gu,” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng sighed softly.
“Many thanks, Bodhisattva Lian Sheng!” Gu Hai received the bottle gratefully.
“Haha! Mister Gu, there is no need to be polite with me. You rescued me. Hah…never mind. Do take care.” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng shook his head.
“Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, when you go back, would you please help me pass a message to Gu Han? Tell him, ‘Don’t become attached to material things or saddened by personal losses. Even if you lose the Spirit Mountain Holy Land, you are still the Han Imperial Dynasty’s second crown prince,’” Gu Hai said seriously.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s expression changed slightly. Finally, he nodded. “I will pass on the message. Take care.”
As Bodhisattva Lian Sheng spoke, he stepped into the passageway and disappeared before Gu Hai.
“Your Reverence, are we not leaving?” Shangguan Hen asked worriedly.
“We are not leaving. You shouldn’t leave, either. Hell is a blessed land. We can help you recover your cultivation,” Gu Hai said.
“Yes!” Shangguan Hen nodded.
Indeed, the Reincarnation Lotus completely wilted after thirty minutes, turning to ashes. That passageway also vanished.
“Let’s go!” Gu Hai turned his head away and left the palace hall with Shangguan Hen.
