The Most Sincere Chu Xingchen

The morning sun cast golden rays of light, and the sound of Buddhist chants resonated through the clouds.

Within the Great Thunderclap Temple, inside the Mahavira Hall.

Runan sat upright upon the Buddha throne. With his head slightly bowed and eyes half-closed, he gently rolled a Nirvana Sarira between his fingers while silently reciting a Buddhist sutra.

Although his mouth recited the sutra, Runan's mind was still recalling his meeting with Chu Xingchen at the Tianyan Sect that day.

Runan constantly pondered and deeply analyzed every slight change in Chu Xingchen's expression, every shift in his tone, and every single word he had spoken.

Even though he had indeed been shocked by Chu Xingchen's words at the time, moved by his grand vision and trust, and even felt a sense of finally meeting a kindred spirit.

But after those feelings passed, Runan still had to take every possible precaution.

The fate of the entire sect rested on his shoulders. His master's final hopes, the ultimate entrustment of the Great Sutra—Runan had already sacrificed too much for all of this.

The current Runan naturally would not let his emotions dictate his actions.

Pleasant words alone would not truly change anything.

However...

What Chu Xingchen actually did was even more beautiful than what he had said.

Runan had arrived at the Tianyan Sect that day, and before a single day had passed, they had reached an agreement and he returned to the Buddhist Sect.

Scarcely had he arrived back at the Buddhist Sect when the Tianyan Sect issued a public announcement to all sects.

Runan's heart had sunk at the time—shouldn't such an announcement be carefully deliberated together before being released? How could it be published the moment he left?

At that moment, Runan even suspected that Chu Xingchen actually had no intention of negotiating terms with the Buddhist Sect and was merely mocking them.

But when he actually read the announcement published by the Tianyan Sect, Runan felt deeply ashamed of his initial reaction.

It was clearly an article that had been prepared well in advance, featuring rigorous wording to ensure there was absolutely no room for others to misinterpret or let their imaginations run wild.

The article first affirmed the Buddhist Sect—recognizing it as an orthodox immortal sect established for millennia, which had made outstanding contributions during the great calamity of the human race.

Secondly, it clarified things on behalf of the Buddhist Sect. Although a Heavenly Demon had infiltrated the Buddhist Sect, it was solely due to the demon's extraordinarily bizarre methods, not because the Buddhist Sect was intentionally harboring it or intending to collude with it.

Chu Xingchen even provided a logical defense for this: The Buddhist Sect was already among the absolute pinnacle of the Eighteen Immortal Sects; what price could a Heavenly Demon possibly offer to tempt them?

Finally, Chu Xingchen reminded the other immortal sects to be highly vigilant and beware of demonic infiltration.

This effectively completely cleared the Buddhist Sect's name regarding the Heavenly Demon infiltration incident.

In conclusion, Chu Xingchen also stated that Runan, as the Honored Buddha, possessed extremely high moral character and profound sincerity.

In facing the great calamity together, the Buddhist Sect remained a paramount force, and Chu Xingchen was fully prepared to join hands with them.

Throughout the entire piece, it did nothing but clear the Buddhist Sect's name and praise them.

There were no ambiguous words, nor were there any passive-aggressive undertones.

It was a public statement Runan had not even dared to dream of.

Moreover, this was not the limit of their sincerity. The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect immediately endorsed this article the very next moment, expressing their willingness to face the great calamity alongside the Buddhist Sect.

The Taidao Sect was much slower to respond, but eventually, they also publicly declared that regarding the Heavenly Demon matter, the Taidao Sect was willing to trust the Buddhist Sect.

This was the Taidao Sect, an immortal sect that absolutely loathed the Buddhist Sect.

For them not to kick the Buddhist Sect while they were down would already be considered a change in character. For them to actually express a willingness to trust the Buddhist Sect at this time...

This was clearly entirely out of respect for Chu Xingchen.

This also demonstrated just how resolute Chu Xingchen's attitude was.

Thanks to these events, the internal pressure within the Buddhist Sect lessened significantly.

The Earthly Buddha also understood that this matter had been smoothly glossed over. As for the matter of the Bright Buddha, it was left unmentioned in a tacit understanding.

This could be considered an unspoken exchange.

This matter was a lethal weapon, a life-or-death issue.

If there was room to maneuver, the Earthly Buddha naturally wouldn't push for the kill. Previously, they only used this matter to force Runan to take a stance because the situation was extremely unfavorable to the Earthly Buddha.

The Karma Buddha also calmed down somewhat, as the world had already responded positively to the Honored Buddha's words.

Runan had to admit that what Chu Xingchen did perfectly aligned with the best possible outcome he had envisioned.

Whether it was the public statement or the choice not to hand over the Bright Buddha.

Runan had never imagined that his most thorny and distressing problem would ultimately be solved by Chu Xingchen—his once most detested rival, the man who had brought people to blockade the Pudu River twice and dismantled the Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

And it was timely help in his darkest hour... Furthermore, he asked for nothing in return, and even gifted a house on top of it.

If they could truly promote the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism across the five continents and ten thousand regions as Chu Xingchen had promised, then the dispute between the Greater and Lesser Vehicle Buddhism... might find a chance to be quelled.

At the very least, the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism would not face such a disadvantageous situation.

It was just that...

He didn't know if Chu Xingchen could actually promote the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism as he had promised that day.

Naturally, Runan himself would not be the one to negotiate these matters. The only time Runan would step in to negotiate would be if there were massive disagreements that threatened to ruin the deal, and his counterpart would be Chu Xingchen, not Li Yingling.

At this moment, Runan was waiting inside the Mahavira Hall for news to return.

An unknown amount of time passed.

A muffled bell tolled. Runan lifted his gaze and watched as the tightly shut gilded doors were slowly pushed open.

Three monks, showing neither joy nor sorrow on their faces, slowly walked into the hall.

Runan looked at the monk leading the group. This was an outer disciple to whom he had taught the Dharma and personally approved, and also his most trusted Buddhist Son.

Seeing him return, Runan knew that the negotiations were mostly concluded.

A gentle smile appeared on Runan's face as he nodded and said:

Wu Wang, you have worked hard.

It is for the Honored Buddha. Wu Wang first performed a Buddhist bow, then took out a jade token from his spatial ring, and slowly said, I have not failed the Honored Buddha's command. The promotion of the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism has been settled. I have returned with the jade token signed and sealed by Chu Xingchen's eldest disciple, Li Yingling.

With a humble expression, Wu Wang offered the jade token with both hands.

Runan raised his hand, took the jade token, and sent his divine sense into it.

A period of silence followed. A moment later, Runan's voice, filled with disbelief, echoed through the grand hall: They actually agreed to all of these conditions?

If Wu Wang hadn't personally negotiated it, he wouldn't have believed it either. He replied, It is confirmed. It is a jade token personally signed and sealed by Li Yingling.

Runan had naturally verified it, and he did not doubt why it wasn't signed by Chu Xingchen.

As Li Yingling was Chu Xingchen's eldest disciple, the ultimate responsibility for such a monumental matter would naturally fall on Chu Xingchen. After all, the people of the world were not fools; one couldn't just find an underling to take the blame and expect people to accept it.

If Chu Xingchen refused to acknowledge it, not only would Li Yingling lose her prestige, but Chu Xingchen's own reputation would be completely swept away.

Runan reviewed the contents once more. The conditions were complex, and most of the clauses explicitly stated that if anything went wrong, the Buddhist Sect would not be held responsible; rather, Chu Xingchen would bear the responsibility.

The entirety of the agreement boiled down to this: if the matter succeeded, the Buddhist Sect would reap the benefits; if it failed, Chu Xingchen would take the massive blame.

Runan pressed further, Did you negotiate directly with Li Yingling?

Wu Wang shook his head. Li Yingling sent someone from Chu Xingchen's sect to negotiate. The person sent wore their emotions on their sleeve and didn't employ many convoluted schemes.

Hearing this, Runan fell silent. After a moment, he sighed softly, To think... what Chu Xingchen said that day truly came from the sincerity in his heart. It turns out I am the one at fault.

If others were to see these terms, they would surely think that our Buddhist Sect is pushing our luck and doesn't know what's good for us.

Wu Wang immediately bowed and admitted fault, It is my failure to handle the matter properly. I am willing to accept punishment.

Hearing this, Runan shook his head and said:

"I have underestimated Chu Xingchen, just as I have underestimated the aspirations within his heart."

Runan gazed out of the hall.

A sliver of guilt unconsciously surfaced within him.

Even after such terms had been laid out, Chu Xingchen had not sought him out to voice a single complaint.

Chu Xingchen... might truly be the most sincere and earnest soul in this world.