Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 132 Buddha in the Human World

Master Haishan chanted a Buddhist prayer, then led the remaining disciples to take their leave. Throughout the entire process, Huiming kept his head down, like a silent shadow, following at the back of the group, never once looking up at Chen Anran.

After the monks from Jingang Temple left, only Chen Anran, Wei Qingyi, and Shen Zui remained in the private room.

Shen Zui let out a long sigh of relief and rubbed his temples: "We've finally made another step forward. With the help of the 'Immaculate Buddha Eye' from the Vajra Temple, finding those few cowardly fellows should only be a matter of time."

Chen Anran looked at him: "You seem to trust them a lot?"

Shen Zui smiled bitterly: "It's not about trust, but about having no choice but to rely on their power. The aura of the 'Reincarnation of the Vengeful Buddha' is too subtle and peculiar, and our Miscellaneous Materials Department's conventional detection methods are too inefficient. As the source of this method, the Vajra Temple's Buddhist spiritual perception is the most effective tracker. Moreover, Master Haishan is known within the Vajra Temple for his strict adherence to precepts and his hatred of evil, and he is not on the same side as Master Haisheng. The fact that he personally led the team down the mountain this time also demonstrates the Vajra Temple's determination to clean house."

He paused, looked at Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi, and said solemnly, "Of course, one must always be wary of others. We will need your help with the follow-up operations, just in case."

"Since you've agreed, we'll do our best," Chen Anran nodded.

"Alright! That's all for today." Shen Zui stood up. "I'll let you know as soon as Master Haijing has any news. Please keep your communication channels open for the next few days."

The three left the tea room and parted ways at the door.

After parting ways with Shen Zui, Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi walked back along the path they had come from. Although the meeting with the people from Jingang Temple had not resulted in any conflict, the lingering sense of unease stemming from old grudges still lingered in their hearts, making the atmosphere somewhat somber.

As soon as the two turned the corner and entered a relatively quiet alley, they saw a solitary figure leaning against the wall in front of them—it was Huiming.

He seemed to have waited there specifically. Upon seeing Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi, he struggled to stand up straight, his sallow face displaying an extremely complex expression—a mixture of guilt, confusion, and pain.

He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi, his body swaying slightly due to weakness.

"Benefactor Chen, Benefactor Wei..." His voice was dry and hoarse, like a broken bellows, "This humble monk... on behalf of my late master, apologizes once again to the Yunyin Sect."

Chen Anran stopped walking, but did not speak immediately.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Wei Qingyi's eyes, and she said softly, "Master Huiming, Shi Haisheng's mistake is not your fault. You don't need to do this."

Huiming raised her head, her eyes slightly red. Her once clear eyes, now bloodshot, were filled with deep confusion and pain.

"The elders in the temple all say that Master... has fallen into demonic ways and is deeply sinful. I have followed Master in my cultivation since childhood, respecting him as a father and believing in his guidance... but his actions run counter to the teachings of Buddhism, harming both himself and others..." His voice trembled. "I question my heart day and night, what is Master... truly pursuing? What exactly is this 'Buddha' he speaks of?"

He looked at Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi, as if asking them, or perhaps asking himself, or even more so, asking the ethereal Buddha, his voice filled with an almost desperate confusion:

"Benefactor Chen, Benefactor Wei... tell me, where exactly is Buddha?"

The alleyway quieted down, as if the hustle and bustle of the distant city had been shut out.

Upon hearing this, Wei Qingyi sighed softly, a feeling of compassion welling up within her, yet she didn't know how to answer this fundamental question about faith.

Chen Anran silently watched Huiming, observing his bewildered and pained expression as his faith crumbled.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, "The Buddha is not in the Western Pure Land, nor in the scriptures, nor in your abbot's so-called 'reincarnation method'."

He pointed to the bustling, vibrant world outside the alleyway:

"The Buddha is in the sigh of the suffering people when they are saved, in the lamp that guides the lost, and in the peaceful and joyful meal of an ordinary family."

"Shi Haisheng saw power and 'fruition,' but he couldn't see the suffering of the sentient beings beneath his feet. He wasn't worshipping the Buddha, but rather his own desires and delusions."

"If you really want to know where the Buddha is," Chen Anran concluded, "you should first look at yourself. Your current guilt, confusion, and even your courage to stand up and apologize on behalf of your teacher may not be without a glimmer of Buddha-nature within them. Whether you continue to wallow in the shadow of your teacher's sins and ruin your future, or step forward and use your actions to make amends and truly fulfill the great vow you made when you first took refuge, the choice is yours."

After saying that, Chen Anran said no more and walked slowly past Huiming with Wei Qingyi.

Huiming stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning, repeatedly chewing over Chen Anran's words. He watched the two figures leave, then looked out at the bustling and real world outside the alley, and in his empty eyes, there seemed to be a very faint light called "thinking".

Wei Qingyi took a few steps, glanced back at Huiming who was still standing there in a daze, and said softly to Chen Anran, "You've brought him to his senses."

Chen Anran gazed calmly ahead, "Whether he wakes up or not ultimately depends on him. He has to walk his own path."

The two figures gradually disappeared into the crowds of Guangshi. Only Huiming was left alone in the quiet alley, facing the storm in his heart and the possibility of rebirth.

For the next two days, Guangzhou was calm and peaceful.

Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi's lives returned to their previous rhythm. During the day, they would either meditate quietly at Biyunxuan or be taken by Wei Qingyi to experience the charm of Guangzhou. At night, they would return to their temporary "home" and watch the city lights from the terrace.

But beneath this calm, undercurrents are surging.

No new murders have occurred in Shen Zui's area, but the investigation seems to have reached a stalemate. Master Haijing and the monks of Jingang Temple have set up the "Immaculate Buddha Eye" array, centered on Jingxin Zen Temple in the west of the city. The spiritual power sweeps across the entire city like invisible ripples, but they have been unable to accurately pinpoint the source of that wisp of evil energy. The other party seems to have sensed something and has hidden itself even deeper.

That evening, Chen Anran was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the terrace, guiding the sparse urban spiritual energy and the spirit-gathering stone on her body to circulate through her body, when her phone suddenly vibrated. It was Shen Zui.

"Fellow Daoist Chen," Shen Zui's voice carried a hint of weariness, "there's movement."

Chen Anran opened her eyes, her gaze sharp: "You found them?"

"It's not completely locked on yet, but Master Haijing's 'Immaculate Buddha Eye' detected an extremely brief and weak burst of evil energy on the edge of Liwan District, near the abandoned site of the 'Yongchang Textile Factory.' The aura is from the same source as the 'Reincarnation of the Vengeful Buddha,' but it's more concentrated and aggressive than the remnants from the previous murder scene." Shen Zui spoke quickly. "Our people have secretly surrounded that area, and Master Haijing and his group are on their way. The enemy is very alert; this burst might mean they're taking action, or... the technique is about to be completed."

"My second senior sister and I will be there right away," Chen Anran said without hesitation.

"Okay! I'll send you the address to your phone. Be careful, they might do something desperate."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Anran looked at Wei Qingyi, who had somehow appeared behind her. Wei Qingyi had clearly overheard the conversation; her expression was calm, and she simply nodded slightly: "Let's go."

Night was falling and the city lights were coming on.

Driven nimbly by Wei Qingyi, the black GLS weaved through the evening rush hour traffic, speeding towards Liwan District. Chen Anran sat in the passenger seat, eyes closed, focusing her mind and slowly gathering her spiritual energy.

About half an hour later, the vehicle entered a relatively desolate old industrial area.

The road was lined with dilapidated walls and abandoned factory buildings, the streetlights were dim, and there were few pedestrians. Following the location sent by Shen Zui, they found Xiao Qi waiting at a fork in the road.

"Master Chen, Immortal Master Wei!" Xiao Qi quickly stepped forward, lowering his voice, "Shen Ke and Master Hai Jing have already set up controls inside. This way, please."

Led by Xiao Qi, the three walked through several paths filled with discarded building materials and finally stopped on the outskirts of a large abandoned factory area surrounded by high walls.

The factory gate was rusty, and the words "Yongchang Textile Factory" were faintly visible.

Shen Zui and Master Haijing emerged from the shadows, accompanied by several solemn-looking monks from the Vajra Temple.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Wei." Shen Zui nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze falling on the dark factory buildings deep within the factory area. "The source of the evil energy is in the innermost main factory building. The energy fluctuations are very unstable, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, as if it is carrying out some crucial step."

Master Haijing clasped his hands together, a faint Buddhist light appearing in his eyes: "Amitabha. The resentment here is far heavier than I expected, and the filth of the blood and essence is far greater than I anticipated. That wicked creature has probably harmed more than five people and is trying to condense the prototype of the 'True Body of the Vengeful Buddha.' If it succeeds, although it will be far inferior to the real Vengeful Buddha, it will not be controlled by ordinary means."

"We must stop him." Wei Qingyi said firmly, raising her hand slightly, a wisp of icy spiritual energy already swirling around her fingertips.

"The factory's internal structure is complex, and visibility is obstructed. A direct assault could lead to an ambush." ​​Shen Zui looked at Chen Anran and Hai Jing, "Fellow Daoist Chen, Master Hai Jing, what do you think..."

Chen Anran slowly extended his divine sense, like invisible tentacles, cautiously scanning the main factory building. Indeed, a powerful evil aura lurked within, filled with violent, greedy, and despairing emotions, like a festering sore about to erupt. At the same time, he also sensed two other, weaker but of the same origin, auras hidden in different corners of the factory building.

"There are three inside. The main target is in the center of the factory, and the other two are in the mezzanine or behind the equipment on the left and right sides. They should be the guardians." Chen Anran withdrew his divine sense and calmly analyzed, "The main target's aura is very unstable, as if it is breaking through a barrier. The other two are in good condition, and their cultivation is about the middle stage of Qi Refining."

Master Haijing nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Chen Anran's judgment: "Benefactor Chen's perception is keen, and I feel the same way. In that case, we must split up and act quickly. I and my disciples will be responsible for exorcising the grudges here and suppressing the evil energy of the main formation, while dealing with the guardians on both sides. Benefactor Chen and Benefactor Wei, I urge you two to go straight to the central palace and interrupt that wicked creature's cultivation."

Shen Zui immediately replied, "Okay! Xiao Qi and I will lead men to provide support from the outside, setting up an isolation formation to prevent the spread to the outside world and also to prevent them from escaping!"

With the plan settled, no one hesitated any longer.

Master Haijing chanted a Buddhist mantra, and a pale golden Buddhist light emanated from his body. Several monks behind him also simultaneously activated their techniques, and the peaceful yet powerful Buddhist light connected together, forming a warm net that slowly enveloped the factory area, attempting to purify the dense resentment.

Almost simultaneously, the violent and evil aura inside the factory seemed to be stimulated, suddenly surging and emitting a silent roar!

"Attack!" Master Haijing gave the order, and he and two middle-aged monks pounced out like eagles, rushing towards the two sides of the factory. Their Buddhist light shone brightly, and they instantly engaged in combat with the two evil cultivators hiding there. The sounds of metal clashing and magic colliding filled the air.

Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi exchanged a glance, then moved with lightning speed, rushing directly towards the half-open, rusty gate of the factory.

"boom!"

Chen Anran struck out with his palm, unleashing a surge of powerful spiritual energy imbued with pure Yang energy that shattered the heavy iron gate into pieces! Amidst the billowing dust, the two of them slipped inside.

The factory's interior was vast, filled with abandoned textile machinery. The air was thick with the stench of blood and a cloying, rotten smell. In the center of the factory, a strange magic circle, drawn with dark red blood and an unknown material, glowed eerily.

In the center of the magic circle sat a monk with a emaciated body, as thin as a skeleton. His eyes were bloodshot, and countless tiny insects seemed to be wriggling under his skin. He was surrounded by a black and red evil aura. He was one of Shi Haisheng's disciples, with the Dharma name "Huichi".

His hands were forming a strange mudra, and above his head floated a blackish-red tumor, formed from resentment and life force, that twisted and throbbed constantly.

The moment Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi burst in, Hui Chi suddenly opened his eyes. There were no pupils in his eyes, only a crazy blood red!

"Those who obstruct my path to Buddhahood shall die!"

He let out a roar, and a beam of light filled with death and decay shot out from the black and red tumor on his head, heading straight for Chen Anran!

Wherever the beam of light passed, even the air hissed as it corroded, and the dust on the ground instantly turned to dust. The deathly, withered atmosphere seemed to be wiping out all life.

"Watch out!" Wei Qingyi was about to step forward, but Chen Anran blocked her from behind.

The white guardian spirit in the [Soul Nourishing Shrine] appeared above Chen Anran's head. The white guardian spirit above his head emitted a clear and melodious hum, and a soft yet resilient white light spread out, like the purest barrier, steadily blocking the beam of light that was full of withering meaning.

"Hmm? You've got some skill!" A hint of surprise flashed in Huichi's blood-red eyes, quickly replaced by deeper madness. "But with this little bit of inspiration, you think you can stop me from becoming a Buddha?!"

His hand seals changed again, and his body was filled with surging black and red evil energy. The resentment and bloody smell left in the factory seemed to be drawn to him, frantically converging on the tumor on his head. The tumor throbbed violently, and the outline of a painful and distorted human face appeared on its surface, emitting a silent wail.