The Restless Heart

After Wu Wang finished his sincere guarantee—after all, he could only show his gratitude once the matter was settled—

he immediately asked, "I wonder how Daoist Li plans to handle this? And which fellow Daoist have you invited?"

With Yun Li's lesson still fresh, it was always best to be cautious in all things now.

Although the current situation felt like it had hit rock bottom, what if it could get even worse?

"I invited a Great Confucian scholar," Li Yingling said, looking at Wu Wang with a hint of disdain. "Given the current situation, forcibly suppressing either side is not a good idea. The only way to completely settle this matter is to have both sides make concessions and mediate between them."

Wu Wang listened and felt this sounded somewhat reliable, so he pressed further, "Please elaborate, Daoist."

Li Yingling naturally led Chen Baiqing to find nearby chairs and sit down before adding:

"Naturally, it is a new policy. A top-down new policy, one that everyone can see, and one that makes both sides feel they have gained an advantage."

"The new policy is called 'University'. In short, it means decentralizing all the knowledge monopolized by the noble families. The noble families will need to contribute to this, and in exchange, they will not be purged now."

"As for your Small Vehicle Buddhist followers, they need to spread ideas—naturally, not your Buddhist ideas."

"Rather, make them think: even if they overthrow the noble families today, won't there be new noble families in the future?"

"At the same time, propagate the idea that even if they overthrow the noble families and some of them become the new noble families, how do they know they won't be overthrown again?"

"Is there a good method to let the position of noble families rotate, so that everyone can become a noble family?"

"Only when it concerns their own interests will the masses start to think."

"Therefore, the University new policy preserves the existence of noble families, but also leaves an opportunity for the commoners to become noble families."

"And you also need to tell the noble families that their foundations are already profound. If they are afraid that they can't even out-study mud-legged commoners who can't even get enough to eat, then the noble families probably won't last long anyway."

"This matter will be slow to implement and leaves room to maneuver. Even if it fails, it will just be a discarded proposal. At the very least, it won't add fuel to the fire and make the situation even more awkward."

"Buddhist Son, what do you think?"

Wu Wang listened carefully and memorized every single word. This matter really seemed viable. According to Li Yingling, even if it failed, it indeed wouldn't further intensify the conflict.

It seemed like a matter with no risks and all benefits.

However, Wu Wang did not agree immediately:

"Daoist Li, could you let me consider this carefully?"

Hearing this, Li Yingling leisurely stood up and turned to walk towards the door:

"Think whatever you want. During this time, I and the reinforcements I brought will stay in Miaoyuan Temple. However, you must understand that time waits for no one. If a true chaos erupts, then don't even think about dragging me and my master into this mess."

"That is all I have to say. Think it over carefully."

Li Yingling had carefully chosen this timing. The time left for Wu Wang was already extremely scarce; Wu Wang didn't have much time to gather information about this so-called new policy and its origins.

Even if Wu Wang knew, it wouldn't matter much, but a Wu Wang without any misgivings would likely handle it more smoothly.

With that said, Li Yingling left with Chen Baiqing.

Inside the hall, only the moonlight and Wu Wang, who had fallen into deep thought again, remained.

Although there were many fellow disciples from the Buddhist sect accompanying Wu Wang.

But those disciples were of mixed backgrounds; there were those of Karma Buddhism and those of Worldly Buddhism.

It was said they were accompanying him to handle matters, but supervising and obtaining accurate information were also their extra tasks.

Wu Wang did not dare to truly discuss the potential or planned strategies and tactics with them, lest it end up putting the Honored Buddha in a difficult position later.

Lifting his gaze, Wu Wang looked at the bright moonlight.

The bright moon was infinitely flawless, yet at this moment, it seemed unable to illuminate the confusion and hardship in Wu Wang's heart.

The moon shifted across more than half the sky.

Wu Wang's gaze shifted again, only to see Chen Baiqing, who had previously been following Li Yingling, walking over alone.

"My answer won't be that quick." Wu Wang's tone held a bit of helplessness.

Chen Baiqing stood a few meters away from Wu Wang and said in a calm tone:

"Your helpless expression is already your answer. You have no choice left. The Buddhist sect is powerful but also isolated, unable to seek outside help."

"Now that things have come to this, the risks outweigh the benefits. The current Buddhist sect will only clarify the situation and sever ties with you to avoid greater impact, rather than betting everything on a Buddhist Son like you who let things get to this point. So you should understand, you have no backup anymore."

"Right now, agreeing is all you can do."

Wu Wang exhaled heavily, and his effort to maintain a calm expression turned into a faint bitter smile:

"You are harder to deal with than your eldest senior sister, and your words are sharper."

Chen Baiqing ignored this remark and instead asked on his own:

"So, the crux of the problem is, do you really plan to listen to my senior sister's idea?"

Hearing this, Wu Wang paused, understanding the underlying meaning of Chen Baiqing's words. After a moment of silence, he probed:

"Is there a problem with your senior sister's idea?"

"Naturally there is. For instance, the timing is wrong, making it hard to accomplish," Chen Baiqing said calmly. "The most critical point is that after this matter, the Small Vehicle Buddhism will essentially be considered a failure."

"My senior sister's idea can only put out the fire, but it cannot save the Small Vehicle Buddhism, nor can it save what you want to achieve."

"You should also understand that for you, the failure to promote the Small Vehicle Buddhism is an unacceptable loss."

Wu Wang looked silently at Chen Baiqing standing in front of him.

The moonlight shone on Chen Baiqing's expressionless face. Those calm eyes, much like the moonlight, made one involuntarily feel a bit of resistance.

Wu Wang took a deep breath and finally said:

"So, you have a new method?"

"Only when lotuses bloom in hell can life be endless," Chen Baiqing said slowly. "Since the failure to promote the Small Vehicle Buddhism is already unacceptable, you should be even more reckless, instead of failing on both ends and tossing the problem to the Honored Buddha."

"Your vision has been constrained. If you can ignore the annoying mess in front of you and instead focus on what you actually want to do, you will find it isn't actually that difficult."

"No matter how many people die, it actually doesn't conflict with your goal of promoting the Small Vehicle Buddhism. What you should do is grasp the main point."

"The noble families believing in Buddha is just them seeking peace of mind when they have nothing better to do, but the myriad sentient beings are not like this, especially when the Buddhist sect can truly bring them hope."

"The sentient beings, originally scattered like sand, can be united together because of a single phrase of the Small Vehicle Buddhism."

"If you are willing to bear the karma, if you are willing to bear the sin."

"Then, aside from my eldest senior sister's idea, there is actually a broader path to walk. At the very least, you won't be throwing the problem to the Honored Buddha."

"You and I are both cultivators. Treating everyone equally is what Heaven should do; to you and me, looking upon the sentient beings is inherently like looking at ants."

Wu Wang's heart grew even heavier. He hardly dared to ponder Chen Baiqing's words that struck directly at his soul, but instead asked in return:

"Why do you and your senior sister have two different sets of rhetoric? What exactly are your master's thoughts?"

Chen Baiqing slightly raised his head, his eyes ruthless as he said:

"Master is soft-hearted. He would rather see the matter fail than see the sentient beings suffer."

"But everything comes with a price. If this fails, the repercussions for my Master will be far greater than those for your Venerable Buddha."

"I am not soft-hearted, which is why I am telling you the exact moment this can succeed."

"And my reason for telling you is that I refuse to do this dirty work myself."

"I will remain my Master's obedient disciple, while you will be the loyal Buddhist Son who solved a massive problem for the Venerable Buddha."

"Naturally, this matter will demand sacrifices and take a toll on you, but it will all be worth it."

"Doesn't your Buddhist doctrine say... 'If I do not descend into hell, who will?'"

"It suits you perfectly right now."

Chen Baiqing paused. Gazing at the bright moon, he said slowly,

"Tonight's bright moon is perfect for quiet reflection. You now have two paths to consider."

"Buddhist Son Wu Wang..."

"You must understand one thing. Sometimes, to act, you merely need to follow the voice in your own heart."

Chen Baiqing's calm expression finally shifted. A faint, disdainful smile curled the corners of his lips before he turned and walked away.

The moonlight remained unchanged.

Beneath the moonlight, Wu Wang remained unchanged.

Yet, his heart had finally grown exceptionally restless.