"Dong, dong, dong..."
Inside the deathly silent meditation room, Chen Kuang could almost hear the sudden quickening of his own heartbeat.
That strange smile on Xiuzhu's face lasted only for a brief instant before he returned to his original innocent and guileless appearance, his expression even showing a trace of nervousness.
But it was clear, that hadn't been Chen Kuang's imagination.
That purpose-obscured "second personality" had once again surfaced, watching everything unfold like a spectator.
And judging by the look of things... either he knew something, or he was in league with the three monsters before them.
Chen Kuang calmed down instantly, withdrawing his gaze and paying no further attention to Xiuzhu's sudden shift in demeanor.
In any case...
This was not a state that any normal cultivator should ever exhibit.
Chen Kuang himself cultivated the "Mud-Forged Gold Body Technique", and among the principal cultivation methods of the three Grand Chan Masters before him, this technique should be included as well.
But the current state of these three was in utter defiance of the principles of the Mud-Forged Gold Body Technique.
The technique focused on forging a flawless golden body.
The ultimate goal of tempering the flesh was to refine every inch of the body until it was without the slightest flaw, not even a single pore was to be neglected.
Yet now, aside from the mute one, these three had gaping holes so large one could put a fist through them, it wasn't flawless; it was riddled with flaws!
And that featureless, smooth face of the mute master, clearly this wasn't the result of any proper cultivation method either.
Chen Kuang didn't dare glance again at the dark pools of blood gathering on the floor.
Wugou Pure Land...
At this moment, even the name itself felt chilling to the bone.
Xiuzhu, as if unaware of anything amiss, stepped forward first with palms together, first addressing the earless one:
"Master."
Then turning to the other two:
"Chan Master Not-Seeing, Chan Master Not-Speaking."
Chen Kuang also stepped forward to bow in greeting.
At once, his nose caught a much stronger stench of rot, and he paused briefly before speaking in a calm voice:
"This disciple... 'Lionheart'... pays respects to the three Grand Chan Masters."
Chan Master Not-Hearing looked up at him, eyes resting gently upon Chen Kuang's own. A benevolent and kind smile spread across his face:
"Those reborn through Past Wisdom are not overly entangled with their former lives. There is no need for you to be burdened by this name. Be yourself."
If not for the fact that he could clearly see the brain matter squirming inside the man's skull, Chen Kuang would've believed that the Grand Chan Masters of the Pure Land were truly compassionate and understanding.
But at this moment..
"Plop!"
Chen Kuang's brow twitched. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a chunk of pale flesh, mixed with foul blood, drop from the bloody earhole of the smiling Chan Master Not-Hearing.
The writhing piece of white meat stretched upward, twisting as it struggled in the blood. Countless pale abdominal legs twitched erratically.
What was writhing inside the ear wasn't brain matter at all, it was a mass of plump, squirming white maggots.
Chen Kuang tugged the corner of his mouth into a smile and replied:
"Were it not for the cultivation technique of the predecessor 'Lionheart', I would already be buried in the Liang Kingdom. Therefore, I am willing to inherit his mantle and carry on his aspirations."
Knowing that the Divine Eye of Mind Perception of the three Chan Masters would only be stronger than Duguan's, Chen Kuang dared not lie.
Every word he spoke was partial truth woven into a narrative.
He had indeed cultivated using Lionheart's technique, which had helped him escape from Liang. But the one who taught it to him was Huo Hengxuan.
And after hearing the story of the unnamed monk, he genuinely did wish to inherit Lionheart's mantle and ideals, only his version of "goodness" would be more principled than Lionheart's.
Chan Master Not-Seeing nodded in approval, speaking gently:
"If that is so, then after you undergo the tonsure, continue using 'Lionheart' as your Dharma Name."
Chen Kuang paused briefly, then replied:
"This disciple fears... I cannot undergo tonsure."
"Oh?"
The three Chan Masters did not appear angry, only slightly surprised.
Chan Master Not-Hearing turned to him, asking patiently:
"Why not?"
Chen Kuang replied:
"This disciple's worldly ties are not yet severed. I am not ready to formally take refuge."
Chan Master Not-Hearing pondered for a moment, then surprisingly nodded in agreement:
"You have affinity with the Buddha, yet your mind has not awakened. The Six Roots are still impure. Then it is indeed better to wait. Stay here in the Pure Land. When your bloodlust and mundane attachments are all released... then, take the tonsure."
"For now, you shall cultivate as a lay disciple, with hair unshorn."
Although his test hadn't yielded much reaction, Chen Kuang caught a subtle implication in Not-Hearing's words.
"During cultivation... may I not leave the Pure Land?"
Chan Master Not-Seeing chuckled:
"Of course you may. Look at Xiuzhu, he just returned from a trip outside."
"However, you do have many enemies outside. That is one of your worldly ties that must be severed. Vengeance begets vengeance, when will it ever end? The more you interact with it, the deeper you are drawn in. It is better to cultivate in peace here in the Pure Land. Only by laying down the butcher's blade can one attain Buddhahood."
So...
They weren't unaware of one of Chen Kuang's motives for coming here.
Chen Kuang remained silent for a while, then brought his palms together:
"This disciple understands."
Chan Master Not-Hearing nodded:
"In that case, you shall reside for now in the meditation chamber next to the Mirror Platform on the western side of the temple. Cultivate quietly, and if you have questions, you may come to us at any time."
He smiled warmly:
"Especially Not-Speaking, he was Lionheart's master. You may also treat him as your own."
Chen Kuang thought to himself:
"Then I definitely shouldn't speak a single word to him."
He looked toward Not-Speaking, the one who looked most normal, and offered a respectful bow.
The mute Chan Master remained silent, his gaze still exceedingly gentle.
The three Chan Masters then chatted with Xiuzhu for a while longer, quizzing him on his studies and the results of his journey. Finally, they had him escort Chen Kuang to rest by the Mirror Platform.
Nothing unexpected occurred.
As Chen Kuang exited, the door behind them slowly closed on its own.
He turned back for one last glance, those grotesque faces of the three Grand Chan Masters faded into the shadows.
But he could still vaguely hear the sticky sound of insects wriggling.
Xiuzhu said:
"The Mirror Platform is a good place. There's a Bodhi tree in the courtyard, the very one beneath which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. They say if you gaze at it long enough, you might comprehend something extraordinary."
He scratched his head, a little sheepish:
"But maybe I'm just too untalented, no matter how many times I looked, it was always just a regular old Bodhi tree. Every time my master sent me there to meditate, I ended up napping beneath it."
Chen Kuang suddenly asked:
"Am I the only Child of the Buddha in the Pure Land?"
Xiuzhu shook his head:
"Of course not. In our generation, there's also Senior Brother Xiuxin. He should still be in the temple."
As expected, there was a towering Bodhi tree beside the Mirror Platform.
Chen Kuang lifted his head and squinted at it.
After a long day, it was already night.
Through the densely packed leaves of the Bodhi tree, bathed in faint light, he could just make out the stars scattered across the sky.
"You've arrived..."
Suddenly, a vague female voice whispered in Chen Kuang's ear.
His expression froze. His divine sense swept out in all directions but aside from Xiuzhu, there was no one else present.
Yet the voice had sounded as though it came from right in front of him.
Chen Kuang's thoughts spun rapidly.
He raised his head and stared at the Bodhi tree before him.
Could it be...?
Xiuzhu halted, then turned and smiled:
"Chen Kuang, have you heard this phrase before?"
Chen Kuang saw the look in his eyes, and knew it was that "second personality" once again.
He remained silent.
Xiuzhu kept smiling, and slowly, word by word, said:
"The End of Dharma destroys the Heavenly Dao. Māra slays the Tathāgata."