The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 694

Chapter 694: Chapter 690: A Single Thought Becomes a Demon Chapter 694: Chapter 690: A Single Thought Becomes a Demon Hearing Qi Lianmi's account, the expressions on Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian's faces gradually darkened. As they watched Zhan Guo sitting quietly in a corner of the flying boat behind them, they couldn't help but feel some compassion for him.

It turned out that Zhan Guo was the king of Danhun Kingdom and had been raised in a temple since he was a child. Because of this, he was kind-hearted, believed strongly in Buddha Dharma, and became the rightful successor to the throne when the old king died.

After becoming the new king, he devoted himself to governing the country, reducing taxes, building temples, spreading kindness throughout the country, making great vows, and doing good deeds, hoping to accumulate merit and achieve enlightenment through good deeds.

During his short reign of three years, he had several times become a monk, devoting himself to the largest temple in the country, Kong Lin Temple, and was several times redeemed by his ministers at a high price.

Zhan Guo's actions, although they brought peace and prosperity to the people and won the hearts of the people, gradually aroused the criticism of the ministers, and undercurrents were surging in the court.

Finally one day, the general in charge of the military staged a coup, put him under house arrest, and forced him to abdicate.

Zhan Guo, who had no interest in state affairs, willingly gave up his position as ruler of the country.

The general did not make things difficult for him, gave him some money, and let him, the queen, and their two princes move out of the palace and live the life of ordinary people.

Zhan Guo, who was already content with little desires, was not greatly discomforted by this change in his life. Plus, the queen was virtuous and kind. Their life might have become ordinary, but it was peaceful and happy, and their family was filled with joy.

Even as an ordinary person, Zhan Guo continued to chant scriptures and worship the Buddha, cultivating good deeds and kindness in his daily life.

Until one day, Zhan Guo found a man covered in blood outside his house. Although he knew that this man was a notorious villain, he saved him and looked after him in compliance with the Buddhist precept that all life should be cherished.

Moreover, during this process, he patiently used the teachings from Buddhist scriptures to try to guide this man on the right path, in hopes that he would repent and abandon his evil ways.

However, instead of turning away from evil, this villain harbored wicked thoughts about the queen who had helped look after him. When Zhan Guo was out doing charity work, the villain tried to violate the queen.

In the end, the queen chose death over dishonor, and she and her two young princes were killed.

When Zhan Guo returned home, the villain had already fled without a trace, and everything was already too late.

Upon witnessing the tragic state of his wife and children, Zhan Guo was overwhelmed with grief and despair. All his years of studying and practicing Buddhism could not help him escape from his suffering. All his pain, regret, and fury became the fury of Diamond Vajra and he determined to find the villain and take revenge.

However, when he finally found the villain after many years of relentless searching, the man had already given up his murderous ways and taken refuge in the Buddhist sect under the guidance of a senior monk.

When Zhan Guo confronted the man, the villain kneeled before him with a remorseful expression, saying that his past evil karma still haunted him, and that even after chanting scriptures and worshipping the Buddha for many years, he was unable to achieve peace. He begged Zhan Guo to help him find liberation.

Holding a steel knife high, Zhan Guo hesitated. He could see the man truly regretted his past deeds.

However, driven by hatred, he decided to kill the villain, otherwise, he would not be able to face his deceased wife and children.

But a senior monk from the temple stopped him, telling him, “Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.”

Zhan Guo fell into a state of shock, trapped in chaos.

Although he held a steel knife, he did not yet have any blood on his hand. The villain, although clasping his hands in prayer, had fresh blood on his fingers. They were all asking him to put down his butcher's knife, but was the knife in his hand really a butcher's knife?

Good and evil, cause and effect, everything became entangled at that moment.

“Reportedly, Zhan Guo had already lost his mind. He shouted to the sky, questioning what was good and what was evil. Who held the butcher's knife and what was the consequence? Could a person who had committed countless evils transcend to Buddha simply by putting down his butcher's knife?” said Qi Lianmi.

“Did the senior monk provide an answer?” Chan'er asked.

“The senior monk simply told him that the sea of suffering had no shore, but turning back would lead him to it. As long as he sincerely repented his evil deeds, even ferocious tigers and evil dragons could be transformed into Buddhas,” Qi Lianmi answered.

Upon hearing these words, Chan'er shook her head, clearly unsatisfied with such an evasive answer.

“What happened next?” Bai Xiaotian asked, frowning.

“Eventually, Zhan Guo went mad. He slaughtered all three hundred monks in the temple in a single day. He thrust his long knife into the ground in front of the temple, wrote in blood on the temple's gate, 'Evil ones can become a Buddha by laying down the butcher's knife. The good ones have no knives, how can they transcend?' Afterward, he disappeared. When he was seen again three years later, it was here in Red Valley City. Initially, he had occasional episodes of madness, but then he became like this, always asking people how a good person can transcend,” answered Qi Lianmi slowly.

Shen Luo and the others were left in somber reflection after hearing the story. When they turned to look back at Zhan Guo, they saw that even though he had a smile on his face, tears streamed down his cheeks, and he seemed completely oblivious to it.

“Amitabha, one who worships Buddha wholeheartedly should not fall into such obstacles,” Chan'er muttered, a hint of sympathy flashing in her eyes.

“It seems that his insanity is likely due to unresolved issues in his heart. Is there any way to bring him back to reality?” Bai Xiaotian sighed and asked Chan'er.

“Mister Shen, is it possible to bring him back to the posthouse with us? I am willing to use my own knowledge of Buddha Dharma to help him break free from this chaos and suffering,” Chan'er said solemnly to Shen Luo.

“Certainly,” Shen Luo replied with a smile, nodding his head.

When Shen Luo and company returned to Red Valley City, there were hundreds of soldiers assembled outside the city, some on horseback and others leading camels. They seemed to be preparing to leave the city to search for Qi Lianmi.

Seeing Shen Luo and the others descending from the sky, all the soldiers dismounted and bowed in reverence, shouting, “Immortal Master!” Upon seeing that Qi Lianmi was also among the crowd, they were overjoyed and sent a faculty messenger back to the city with the news.

Under the escort of the soldiers, Shen Luo and others returned to the posthouse. Before they could go inside, a large entourage charged in from outside and completely surrounded the posthouse.

Not long after, a tall man with a gold crown, dressed in a brocade robe, with slightly curled hair and bluish pupils entered the courtyard under the escort of the crowd.

As soon as Qi Lianmi saw him, his face broke into a brilliant smile. He called out, “Father King,” as he threw himself into the arms of the tall man.

Understanding dawned upon Shen Luo. He realized that this man must be the king of the Black Chicken Kingdom, Jiao Lianmi.

His eyes swept over the crowd and noticed that several people behind the king were emitting fluctuations of Mana, among whom the strongest was none other than the Chan Master Lin Da, whom they had previously encountered at the city gate.

As for the Chan Masters Longtan and Baoshan and the others, they stood respectfully behind Master Lin Da.

However, unlike the raggedy clothes he wore earlier, Master Lin Da was now wearing a red monk's robe, with a string of white stone beads irregularly linked together, hanging on his chest.