Can Shout Again

Central Continent, Great Thunderclap Temple.

Inside the massive hall, there was absolute silence, yet a scorching atmosphere permeated the air.

Over a dozen Buddhas sat in their respective positions. The two distinctly divided factions remained silent, but the contempt and disdain in their eyes had reached a point where they could not even be bothered to hide it.

Runan swept his gaze across them, understanding the situation in his heart, but at this very moment, he could not say a word.

"Venerable Buddha, Chu Xingchen has confirmed the invitation. In two days, we can head to the Tianyan Sect for the meeting."

Outside the dharma gates, a novice monk spoke with a loud and clear voice, breaking the anxious and oppressive atmosphere.

As his voice faded, the gazes of the dozen or so Buddhas all fell upon Runan in unison.

The Karma Buddhas and Mortal Buddhas present all knew that the Great Buddha Dharma Assembly Runan had specifically invited them to today was not a simple gathering or heart-to-heart talk, nor would it involve preaching any Buddhist dharma.

It was just that everyone had not expected Runan to have such immense resolve.

Inviting Chu Xingchen at this moment was tantamount to exposing their most vulnerable side to him.

Let us not forget that the Bright Buddha, relying on Chu Xingchen's unspoken protection, was still able to preach the so-called Mahayana Buddhism to this day, and had even enticed the defection of a Karma Buddha.

To invite him at this moment...

Their lives and deaths would be entirely at the mercy of another's compassion.

Everyone looked at Runan, watching to see exactly how he intended to enter this struggle.

Runan's expression was solemn, golden light constantly swirling in his eyes. In his hand, he continuously rolled the supreme Buddhist treasure, the Nirvana Sarira.

This was both a deterrent and a declaration, Runan was the most authentic orthodox lineage of Buddhism.

"Heavenly Demons run rampant, and the mortal realm faces a great tribulation." Runan's voice was calm. "With compassion in our hearts, how can we bear to see the world turned into a purgatory?"

"When the Great Thunderclap Temple was established upon the divine mountain, we made a covenant. In both heart and word, we should face this great tribulation together."

"Since Chu Xingchen bears the Mandate of Heaven, meeting with him is an established principle and an inevitability."

After Runan finished speaking, he looked around.

A moment later.

One of the Mortal Buddhas spoke up:

"Whether Chu Xingchen truly bears the Mandate of Heaven or used other means to deceive the heavens, we shall set aside for now. However, from the very beginning, he has treated Buddhism differently."

"He blocked the Pudu River twice, swept through the Western Niuhe Continent, dismantled the Zhengyin Dharma Temple, and even saved an evil Buddha."

"With all these incidents one after another, if we meet him now, can we truly open our hearts to Chu Xingchen?"

"Or will Chu Xingchen take this opportunity to pillage and ruin our Buddha's compassion?"

"Venerable Buddha, to compassionately save all beings, one must first be free from worry. If we become fish on a chopping block, even if our hearts have the will, we can only stand by and watch."

"Buddhism has survived to this day not by answering the Mandate of Heaven, but by the compassion in our hearts."

Runan nodded gently but did not reply. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the Karma Buddhas who had not yet spoken.

However...

After waiting for a long time.

None of the Karma Buddhas present spoke, as if they did not care about this matter at all.

Sometimes, silence is the severest form of pressure.

Runan's expression remained unchanged as he looked toward the doorway again.

Through the unclosed doors, a slightly aged figure, an old novice monk with a somewhat staggering gait, walked in.

The next moment.

The previously calm Karma Buddhas could no longer maintain their composure.

Ruzhong walked in from outside the doors.

This Karma Buddha, who had been stationed in the Western Niuhe Continent to guard the Bright Buddha at the Zhengyin Dharma Temple, stepped inside.

When Ruzhong was previously in the Western Niuhe Continent, Runan had used the excuse that he had been bewitched by an evil Buddha to place him in solitary confinement.

But the actual situation was likely that he had made some sort of agreement with Chu Xingchen.

"The Mandate of Heaven... compassion in our hearts..." Ruzhong's voice was not loud, but it was extremely firm. "It is not that things beneficial to oneself are right. Sometimes, it is the correct things that are right."

Ruzhong's steps were slow, and golden Buddhist light surged around his body.

Step by step, the golden light gradually transformed Ruzhong's originally tattered monk robes into a brilliant golden kasaya.

His face was still aged, and his eyes looked toward the Karma Buddhas with a look of compassion:

"So what are you waiting for at this moment? Do you also intend to flee at the sight of disaster?"

"Greed, resentment, anger, and hatred should not obscure what you and I cultivate in our hearts."

"I dare not speak for others, but as Buddhist cultivators, you and I should understand that having the ability to act but choosing not to... makes one an accomplice."

Ruzhong's gaze swept over the people before him, and memories of the past surfaced.

Perhaps even the most innocent person at heart would put on a protective coloring in this mud-like dyeing vat.

Today's Buddhism was perhaps no longer the Buddhism of its origins.

What Runan defended in his heart was only the form of Buddhism, not its true essence.

But...

Ruzhong sighed softly.

The Karma Buddhas finally stopped their silence and began to speak.

"Our Buddha is compassionate, willing to face the great tribulations of the mortal realm."

"We should witness the Mandate of Heaven to understand the beginning and end of this great matter."

Seeing this, the Mortal Buddhas naturally understood Runan's choice in their hearts and said no more.

Or rather, from the moment they saw Ruzhong, they knew Runan's decision.

Runan was not here to discuss this time; it was a simple and clear notification.

Runan held the Nirvana Sarira in his hand, his gaze upon Ruzhong filled with uncertain emotions. But the matter was finally settled. He ignored the previous rebuttals of the Mortal Buddhas and concluded:

"Since that is the case, then we shall attend the invitation in two days."

"I will go personally, along with Ruzhong, Hua Wu, and Du Ci."

Runan paused. The three he had just named were all Karma Buddhas. Then he continued slowly:

"Wenliu, Ba Zhuan, and Jin Huan will also accompany me."

The latter three were Mortal Buddhas.

The next moment.

The Buddhas whose names were called answered together:

"We obey the dharma decree."

The confrontation was destined before it even began.

Any more arguments now were useless. The meeting was in two days, which was actually the preparation time Runan gave them.

The real confrontation would happen after stepping out of these doors.

Runan flipped the Nirvana Sarira in his hand and closed his eyes.

This was the tacit gesture for dismissal.

No one spoke, and the Mortal Buddhas were the first to leave.

The Karma Buddhas also said little, bowing to Ruzhong first before departing.

Ruzhong returned the bows but remained standing where he was without moving.

It was only when all the Buddhas except Runan and Ruzhong had left and the main doors were slowly closed again.

Only then did Runan reopen his eyes, his gaze fixed on Ruzhong.

Ruzhong gave a light chuckle:

"It has been a long time."

Runan asked in a calm tone, "Is Senior Brother blaming me?"

Ruzhong did not answer directly. He looked around the magnificent hall and only spoke slowly after a moment:

"I never expected that I would have a day to return to the Great Thunderclap Temple."

"Time flies like light. Even though I have remembered it countless times in my heart, truly returning on this day, it seems familiar, yet it is so very strange."

After sighing in lament, Ruzhong finally answered:

"Naturally, I must blame someone, but not you. I must blame Master and the Great Sutras for seeing things too accurately."

"But those matters are for the future. Let us speak of something good."

"Now, Senior Brother can fight shoulder to shoulder with you once again."

"For what you wish to do in your heart, and for what I wish to do in mine."

Hearing this, Runan also chuckled lightly, no longer possessing his previous majesty, and said:

"Then does that mean I can once again call out..."

"Second Senior Brother, save me?"

The master illustration commissioned from the artist.

Full-body illustration.