Chapter 39: This Humble Monk Does Not Understand

Qin Changsheng spotted the young monk and the youth in Taoist robes at a glance. For a moment, he could not fathom why they were together, especially sitting there sharing a roasted chicken.

A monk and a devil, sitting together in the sunset—the scene was unexpectedly harmonious.

Qin Changsheng had heard their conversation and observed them from a great distance. Having awakened his Ancient Immortal Pupils, he could see far and wide, missing none of their movements and catching every word. After a moment of hesitation, he approached. Although the monk’s presence was a surprise, one cannot fear surprises if one is determined to act.

Qin Changsheng did not strike immediately. Instead, he walked up to them and stared at the pile of chicken bones left behind, lost in deep thought. The other two, watching him, fell into their own contemplation, harboring the absurd notion that he was lamenting the fact that he hadn't gotten to eat any of the roasted chicken.

"Amitabha," the young monk finally broke the awkward silence. "Benefactor Changsheng, you are late. Otherwise, you could have tasted this delicious chicken."

"Indeed, I am a bit late. Master Wuling, why are you here?" Qin Changsheng sighed.

The youth in Taoist robes stood quietly to the side, looking like a spectator enjoying the drama, as if it were none of his business. Hearing Qin Changsheng’s inquiry, he didn't wait for the monk to answer. "This monk has nothing better to do and wants to learn the Great Path of Demonic Cultivation from me. Seeing that his attitude is decent, I kept him by my side. Brother Changsheng, you have traveled far—could it be that you, too, wish to learn the Way of the Devil from me?"

The youth looked at Qin Changsheng with a playful smirk. He was no fool; he knew that Qin Changsheng had not sought him out to learn how to practice demonic arts. Qin’s intent was simple: to kill him or to achieve some other objective. Regardless of which it was, it was not a good sign for the youth.

"Benefactor Changsheng, do not listen to his nonsense. I am here to persuade him to lay down his butcher's knife and attain Buddhahood. You know that the Buddha is compassionate and unwilling to forsake any devotee who has gone astray. Seeing that Benefactor Chen An possesses a certain Buddha-nature, I have stayed behind."

The young monk stepped forward to explain, though his words only earned him a strange, scrutinizing look from Qin Changsheng.

"If a villain only needs to lay down his knife to attain Buddhahood, then who would ever choose to be good?" Qin Changsheng drew his heavy sword. Looking at the two who had grown wary, he continued, "Master Wuling, sometimes, using demonic means to perform righteous deeds is the best method. Faced with a demon, one does not need to wait for him to lay down his knife; ensuring he can never pick it up again—that is how one attains Buddhahood."

Qin Changsheng strode toward the youth, his cultivation of 9,999 layers of Qi condensing slowly. His Ancient Immortal Pupils opened slightly, with the power of Yin and Yang rotating within them.

"It seems that in the few days we’ve been apart, Brother Changsheng has found quite the opportunity. You actually have the confidence to come out and kill me now." The youth clicked his tongue and summoned his Ghostly Sword.

***

In those same few days, the youth’s aura had become much more stable and solid. Both men shifted into fighting stances, the battle on the verge of erupting.

The gentle-faced monk stepped between them. "Benefactors, please calm down. The causalities of this world cannot be resolved through violence. Killing only creates heavy karmic obstacles that you cannot handle; by the time you reach immortality, these obstacles will become insurmountable barriers, causing all your efforts to fall short."

"Why not listen to me? If you have grievances, sit down and talk them out. Turn big problems into small ones, and small ones into nothing. Take a step back, and the sky will be vast. If everyone lays down their knives, everyone can become a Buddha. Isn't that wonderful?" The monk manifested his Immortal Golden Body, appearing solemn and dazzling.

"Sorry, I don't believe in Buddha," Qin Changsheng shook his head. A terrifying power erupted as he swung at the youth. A massive Taiji Yin-Yang fish surged from his blade, bypassing the monk and striking toward the youth.

The youth sneered, "Actually, I don't believe in Buddha either. If believing in Buddha worked, why would there be so much slaughter in the world? In a world where the strong prey on the weak, the three-foot-long blade in one's hand is the only absolute truth."

The Ghostly Sword unleashed countless vengeful spirits, slashing toward Qin Changsheng. In an instant, a hellish purgatory was manifested.

Yin-Yang versus Purgatory!

The terrifying forces collided. *Crash!* The balance of the Yin-Yang fish was shattered; as the two forces impacted each other, they detonated in a violent explosion. The purgatory was wiped out, and both combatants were blasted backward.

Only the monk in the center, still maintaining his golden body, stood firm, though he looked pale as he clutched his chest. He watched the youth, who was gasping for air with broken ribs, and Qin Changsheng, whose white hair was disheveled and whose clothes were shredded.

"Brother Changsheng, you're so ruthless you'll even blow yourself up?" The monk muttered, "Amitabha... I didn't realize it would be so joyful to see Brother Chen An get beaten up." As he spoke, the monk quietly took two steps back. Having been beaten by the youth so often, he was more than happy to watch him receive a taste of his own medicine.

"Cough, cough," the youth struggled to stand. "Brother Changsheng, do you really want to kill me that badly?" Qin Changsheng’s power was several times greater than it had been when the youth had hunted him down just a few days ago. This shocked the youth; even with the progress he had made discussing the Dao with the monk, he was now finding himself barely a match for Qin.

"Of course I want to kill you. After all, no one dares to keep a man who breaks his word until the very end," Qin Changsheng coughed twice. Although the terrifying Yin-Yang explosion had hit him, it hadn't caused him much harm. His physical body had reached a formidable state, nourished by his 9,999 layers of Qi, the Yin-Yang laws, and the origin essence.

"It seems Brother Changsheng is still holding a grudge over me trying to swallow you?" The youth sensed Qin's terrifying power and his expression softened significantly. He glanced warily at the shameless monk who had retreated to watch the show. Seeing that the monk had no intention of intervening, the youth sighed, "In that case, I have no choice but to flee."

*Whoosh!* With a flash of eerie black smoke, the youth’s body reappeared a mile away.

He had actually run away!

"He ran?" Qin Changsheng was stunned.

The corner of the young monk's mouth twitched. "This devil... he truly knows nothing of integrity."

"Benefactor Changsheng, aren't you going to pursue him?" The monk looked at him with encouraging eyes. But Qin Changsheng had no intention of moving. He sheathed his heavy sword. "I agree with you, Master. It is better to be forgiving when possible. Taking a step back opens up a vast world."

He really wasn't going to chase him.

The monk was dumbfounded. "I don't understand. A moment ago, you were bent on killing him, and now you want to be forgiving?"

"Benefactor Changsheng, your magnanimity is truly impressive. Why not join me in eating vegetarian meals and chanting sutras? With your insight, I am sure you can attain Buddhahood by my side."

Qin Changsheng rubbed his head awkwardly. "Actually, it's not that I'm magnanimous. It's just that I can't catch him." He couldn't fly yet—what else was he supposed to do?

The monk: "..."