People Are Always Like That

Putuo Temple.

A high-ranking Buddha stared at Bore and said, "Courage is not the same as recklessness. Huang Miao and Chen Xiao were also there that day. It is easy to say we should just kill without worrying about the aftermath, but I am afraid the Karma Buddha would not be willing to make a move, would he?"

"The Revered Buddha just dropped this vague statement without officially acknowledging it. If things go wrong in the future, will we be considered right or wrong?"

"It would be better to say that such an order does not sound like it came from the Revered Buddha's mouth at all."

As the words fell, the scrutinizing gazes of all the Buddhas turned toward Bore.

Since ancient times, whenever there was a major move, how could it be so sneaky and secretive? Instead of acting in unison, it felt like doing something as stealthy as a thief.

This did not look like a plot to kill someone; it clearly looked like finding a scapegoat to take the blame.

The first rule of doing a big job for someone is having their backing, not just going ahead with a sentence or two of instructions.

Although the situation within the Buddhist sect was still unsettled, Runan was at least maintaining his relationship with the Mundane Buddhas.

The situation was still relatively favorable, or at least stable in name. To do something that harms others without necessarily benefiting oneself might even invite retaliation from the three major sects.

If they won, everyone would be happy. But what if they lost?

The Buddhas present were not hot-headed youths who would rush to someone's door to kill just because of a few mocking words.

Rather, their ability to coax others into acting impulsively was excellent.

They were all thousand-year-old monsters.

Given the current situation, unless Runan personally spoke up and announced it to the five continents and four directions, providing the backing of the Buddhist sect's name, the Buddhist sect would naturally have to bear the consequences if anything went wrong.

Bore spoke with a composed expression:

"First of all, dealing with the Evil Buddha is an internal affair of the Buddhist sect. It is the three major sects who are overstepping."

"As for falsely transmitting the Revered Buddha's orders... do you think I have any reason to do so?"

"The Evil Buddha must be executed; this is the Revered Buddha's will. It is up to you whether you obey the order or not."

Bore leisurely waved his sleeves:

"Anyway, I am only responsible for delivering the message. If the Revered Buddha finds out that you only know how to bow and scrape, and hesitate over every little task given to you, I see the return of Mahayana Buddhism to the sect as only a matter of time."

"I know that in your eyes, I am an anomaly. I do not cling to power, I do not control the sect's forces, and I only run errands behind the Revered Buddha."

"Most of you think I am stupid, but you do not consider that if you only act as blood-sucking mosquitoes, no matter how big the Buddhist sect is, it will be sucked dry."

"If the sky falls on the Buddhist sect, who knows if it will be destroyed, but we will definitely be the first to be crushed."

"We seem united, but that unity only exists when manipulating power and ostracizing others. When things truly fall apart, I imagine none of you will be slow to run away."

"After all... smart people never do stupid things."

"And in the eyes of smart people, sharing benefits with others is a stupid thing."

"I have said my piece. What I cling to is not the petty profits before my eyes. All of you have already reached the Tribulation Transcendence stage; what good will more power do you?"

"Chu Xingchen runs rampant, the three major sects are united, and other immortal sects are eyeing us like tigers watching their prey. Do you really think the golden lotus of this Buddhist sect will never fall?"

"Or do you think that when the storm comes, the golden lotus will shelter you blood-sucking mosquitoes?"

"I covet the future. When the wind blows and the tree falls, the Revered Buddha will remember an obedient person like me."

Bore bowed and turned away without any hesitation, a cheerful expression on his face.

"Wait!" A Buddha on the platform shouted. "What exactly is your intention with what you said today? Is this what the Revered Buddha means?"

Bore stopped in his tracks and looked back over his shoulder:

"What is my intention? I am a Mundane Buddha. No matter what Buddhist scriptures I read or how many suffering beings I save, it cannot change the fact that I am a Mundane Buddha."

"If Mahayana Buddhism truly returns to the temple, what difference will there be between me and you? Today we are Buddhas of the sect, tomorrow we will be rogue cultivators by the roadside. Think back on what you have done over the years; will the Karma Buddha thoroughly settle the score?"

"Now that the three major sects are bearing down on us, most of the Karma Buddhas in the sect are standing by and watching. The Revered Buddha knows well that this is not the time for Mahayana Buddhism to return, but if you still fail to see the situation clearly and choose to sit idly by..."

"Then does the Revered Buddha have any other choice? Will the isolated Revered Buddha truly not burn his bridges and make a desperate last stand?"

"When you and I lose the purpose of a Mundane Buddha, then there is no longer any need for Mundane Buddhas to exist."

"Once the Evil Buddha is killed, there will be no more Mahayana Buddhism in the world. Even if the three major sects retaliate, the Karma Buddhas will have no choice, and the Buddhist sect will remain the same Buddhist sect."

Bore looked at the gorgeously dressed Buddhas and chuckled softly:

"Have you all sat on your Buddha thrones for so long that you have forgotten the principle from your days as cultivators: if you do not seek survival in the face of death, you will die without a burial place?"

"This world will not refrain from eating you just because you have become Buddhas."

The words fell.

The hall was unusually silent, and the Buddhas on the high platform were all communicating with each other via sound transmission.

Bore looked calm and did not say anything more, simply letting them continue their discussion.

A moment later.

A Buddha spoke up, "The day after tomorrow is the time of the meeting. Do you have a plan?"

"Make a feint to the east and attack in the west. First, focus our fire on Chu Xingchen. Everyone, hold back appropriately; do not actually inflict severe injuries, just push the three major sects into a corner," Bore said, a smile reappearing on his face.

"As soon as we find an opening, we shift our fire to the Evil Buddha. Everyone, listen to my command when the time comes."

"The Revered Buddha will make a move, and two of the Karma Buddhas will also take action. Once the fight truly breaks out, the Karma Buddhas who are standing by will have no way to continue doing so."

As Bore spoke, he took out several tokens from his spatial ring and raised his hand to distribute them among the Buddhas, saying:

"These are your proofs. If the task fails, feel free to push the blame onto me. I only ask that you do not hold back out of cowardice when the time comes."

After Bore finished speaking, he bowed and turned to leave, showing no sign of reluctance.

The main doors were opened and then slowly closed.

All the Buddhas held the token proofs left by Bore in their hands.

This was not just one or two tokens. With one in each person's hand, it meant that whatever the facts were, they could spin the story however they pleased.

"What do you all say?"

"We might as well trust him this once. With so many token proofs in hand, are we afraid he will deny it?"

"If Mahayana Buddhism is not completely resolved, it will be our fatal weakness in the future. Resolving it early is a good thing."

"That makes sense. This time, it should truly be what the Revered Buddha has in mind."

"It cannot be that Bore is harming others without benefiting himself, and that he no longer wants to stay in the Buddhist sect."

The Buddhas voiced their opinions one by one, tacitly agreeing with Bore's reasoning.

After all, compared to taking responsibility themselves from the start, they now had a scapegoat in their hands, one that had delivered himself to their doorstep.

Not to mention, what Bore said did make some sense.

Their voices gradually converged in agreement.

Outside the hall.

Bore looked calm. Without looking back at the Putuo Temple behind him, he walked straight out.

With this, things had mostly taken shape.

Sometimes, the factional rifts within a sect could be its fatal weakness.

Especially when there was enough greed and dissatisfaction.

They had played this trick quite well in the past, but no one had truly learned their lesson.

People were always like this.

They were merely relying on the heavens, that was all.