Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 324 - 212: The Hemp Rope Always Breaks at the Thinnest Point_2

Chapter 324: Chapter 212: The Hemp Rope Always Breaks at the Thinnest Point_2

Accompanying the collision of the Dragon fish on the Buddhist Bell, it wasn’t only the sound that dispersed but also an extremely terrifying aura of ferocity. Each collision quickly spread the aura, but it would burst only momentarily before surging back into the bell again.

The Buddhist Bell had an antique design, engraved with countless scriptures, and made of a special material. It seemed as if Flowing Light was moving on the surface of the bell’s body, and it was as tall as a person, a famous Buddhist Bell within Buddhism.

For someone of the status of a Vajra Protector, it’s understandable that one would possess such a treasure, but Jin Shan was merely at the Peak of Core Formation, and yet he also held such an item.

"Master, why has nobody entered the mountain since yesterday? We’ve rung it dozens of times."

One of the young disciples asked with some confusion.

The old monk, holding prayer beads, stood in front of the Buddhist Bell and gently said: "Naturally, there are guests visiting, all of you may retreat now."

"Yes, Master."

Upon the old monk’s command, the multitude of disciples complied without any queries, but what was unexpected was that the group of disciples did not head to the backyard, instead, they walked directly towards the high tower that was radiating Buddha Light.

With hands pressed together and a devout expression, the Thirteen-story Exquisite Tower rattled a few times and then opened. The disciples one by one entered the Exquisite Tower, and immediately the Buddha Light flickering on this high tower intensified, and then the doors tightly shut.

"Amithaba Buddha..."

The old monk’s expression carried a mix of complexities.

He had known early on that Purple Cloud Palace would send a master, but he hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly; moreover, the reason for his complex expression was not the young man who dared to come alone to the Golden Light Longevity Temple but this young man’s identity.

Why could he hear the voice of the Thirteen-story Exquisite Tower? And why could he hear the mournful sound of the Buddhist Bell?

"The master had once said, although Demon Night True Monarch has died and his Divine Soul utterly destroyed, the master used his own lifespan to descend to the eighteen levels of Abyss Hell to meet the Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva, yet he had not seen Demon Night True Monarch’s name in the Impermanence Record, otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought these two items and fled into the secular world..."

"Master Jin Shan, why is your temple so deserted?"

A young yet somewhat deep voice disrupted the old monk’s thoughts; he strode towards him, stopping about five zhang away, the distance he considered safe.

The old monk just turned his head, the complex look on his face vanishing, appearing tranquil and at ease, even slowly strolling in the wide courtyard, showing no signs of aggression.

"It’s naturally because you, young benefactor, have been obstructing them. They wholeheartedly seek Buddha, while you Taoist disciples block them at every turn, harming the heavens and reason. These few days have passed without being able to ferry people, I fear many lives have fallen into your hands."

"A fine sentiment to wholeheartedly seek Buddha! Your so-called ferrying people, isn’t it just personally planting Soul Transfer Spells on them, making them unable to live nor die and can only seek relief here?"

He said this out loud, but Jiang Feng’s gaze was firmly locked onto the Buddhist Bell behind the old monk and that towering Thirteen-story Exquisite Tower, revealing a cold sneer, but only he knew that it was to mask the discomfort in his body.

The Serpent in his Dantian was already revolting, turning river and sea upside down, his small shack storing Spiritual Energy was like a boat in the sea being tossed about by the wind, as if it could collapse at any moment.

However, the youth mockingly continued: "Twisting truth and morals, bewitching people’s hearts. Although I don’t know what benefits those people have received from you, it seems like you, baldy, like the secular environment quite a bit."

"Since running out from Vajra Temple, no good deeds have I seen from you, but you adapted quickly, not learning the good but instead learning to assist evildoers, utilizing others’ power for your own profit."

"I don’t know about other towns, but at Shuipang County, I have seen the County Magistrate’s stupid son, who indeed was scared senseless when he was young. If you were using other people’s lives in exchange for his son’s recovery, it would still be acceptable, despite the high replacement price and it being a mere transaction."

"But isn’t using Soul Revival Pills a bit excessive? The person isn’t even dead yet, their soul had just lost a few parts. Eating your Soul Revival Pills, who knows what soul it revived, if it was a Human Soul, it would be fine, but reviving a demon soul or ghost mix... heh."

"Enough, I might have expected too much from you, after all, a high monk who came out from Vajra Temple, heart of a beast but human face, manipulating people’s hearts, never without ulterior motives, claiming to do good but always thinking for oneself, you really fit my stereotype of baldies perfectly."

"Can’t all you Buddhist disciples die once for all the beings in the world? It’d be good for you, for me, and for everyone, truly."

Bang!

Iron wire suddenly appeared in his hand, and then he flung it directly towards the Buddha statue sitting beside him. Master Jin Shan was shocked, as nobody expected the boy to be so bold, but he did not stop him.

He just watched as the sitting Buddha’s head was directly knocked off.

The round head rolled on the ground a few times and finally stopped between the two. Just from this action and attitude, Master Jin Shan understood that the boy’s previous words were not mere harsh words, but came entirely from his heart.

He truly wished all the disciples of Buddhism dead.

Jiang Feng might not be good at other things, but his spoken words had been acknowledged by a Sword Immortal. Surprisingly, the old monk did not stop him; instead, a faint smile appeared on his face, not even sparing another glance at the Buddha’s head on the ground.

"Buddha is merciful; it seems that not only towards this old monk, but you also bear some prejudice against us disciples of Buddhism. However, disrespecting the Buddhist Law and speaking recklessly might bring misfortune upon yourself, could it be that you are not afraid..."

"Karma, reincarnation, diminishing merit, imbalance of karmic scales, interrogation by Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva, entering the Abyss Hell, even reincarnation requires becoming cattle and horses to repay, escaping into the Beast Path."

He preemptively took a step forward.

Even providing a comprehensive answer, a moment of astonishment appeared on Master Jin Shan’s face. Knowing all this in his heart, yet how could this boy still dare to slander the Buddha so boldly?

Where does such courage come from?

However, he just pursed his lips slightly; somehow, since entering the Golden Light Longevity Temple, a nameless fire had been building up in him, an action and behavior very unlike his character, clearly influenced by the remnant soul of Demon Night True Monarch.

Taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself down as much as possible.

Originally, Jiang Feng held no good feelings towards Buddhism, even describing it as disgust. Even though he had heard from Liu Tangxi about the good deeds of Master Guang Pu, both aiding the people and sacrificing flesh to nurture them, he still carried a very stubborn prejudice.

In Jiang Feng’s view, nobility always lies in individuals, not professions, yet some people like to associate personal nobility with professions.

Perhaps Master Guang Pu genuinely wished to help all beings escape from suffering, but that did not necessarily apply to the entirety of Buddhism, which only knew how to exploit those truly good people to embellish themselves. His reason for such prejudice was simple.

Since ancient times, religious faith has been a shackle used by the ruling class to control the lower classes.

Whether it is the theory of merit or karma theory, he had nothing but disdain for them.

Being bullied and not thinking of retaliation, but instead burning incense and praying for the oppressors to fall into Abyss Hell and never be reincarnated, temporarily forgetting the reality of being oppressed and immersing oneself in illusions...

The already impoverished lower classes, in search of spiritual solace, had gone mad with blind belief, spending all their money only to gain psychological comfort.

The weakest part of the rope always breaks first; misfortune always seeks out the miserable.

He had seen many obsessed people in Qingshui County, who lacked high awareness and literacy, merely suffering and being wronged, continuing blindly to burn incense and pray to Buddha.

But did anything change?

No, it did not.

"Young patron."

Master Jin Shan stepped forward, waving his hand and the temple doors closed directly. Jiang Feng, however, was not panicked; he just stared straight at the other party, but Master Jin Shan remained immovable, still speaking kindly.

"Have you ever considered that it’s not that this old monk deceives them, but rather..."

"They actively seek out this old monk, wishing to exchange the suffering of all beings for their own salvation?"