The Lost Lychee

Inside the Zheng Yin Dharma Temple.

The Venerable Buddha Runan sat silently at the center of a lotus of dharma light, his eyes half-closed, gently holding the Nirvana relic in his hand.

Ever since Runan had returned to the Great Thunderclap Temple to settle the matters that needed settling, he had turned down all advice and pleas, personally crossed the Pudu River, and taken up residence here in the Zheng Yin Dharma Temple of West Ox Continent.

The news that Lizhi had heard—that only two tribulation-crossing Buddhas had come from the Buddhist gate—was not accurate. In truth, counting Runan himself, there were actually five tribulation-crossing Buddhas stationed in West Ox Continent.

Even given the Buddhist gate's number of tribulation-crossing practitioners, dispatching five of them to hold this position was already an extraordinarily lavish investment.

But sometimes, there was simply no other choice.

The current state of the Buddhist gate had been laid bare for all to see—the fact that they had been blocked twice before the Pudu River last time, and the matter of the East Sea's willing power that Chu Xingchen had never asked about, though everyone knew it in their hearts.

Some things were never spoken of, but that did not mean no one cared.

The devastation of West Ox Continent last time was also true, and it had taught Runan that if he did not personally keep watch over West Ox Continent, perhaps eight out of ten reports he received would be outdated.

The Buddhist gate could no longer afford any turmoil, and the situation in West Ox Continent must not repeat its past mistakes.

By personally taking up residence here, he made it clear to all living beings:

The Buddhist gate was still the Buddhist gate they had always hoped for.

"Venerable Buddha, Chu Xingchen has arrived as promised and now stands outside the Zheng Yin Dharma Temple, accompanied by Xie Lingyu. There is also another Golden Core realm cultivator with him—his aura somewhat unstable, his background unknown."

Outside the Great Hall of the Mahavira, an arhat delivered the message.

Runan lifted his gaze: "Invite them all in."

With demons emerging in West Ox Continent and hidden devils of the heavenly demon path lurking within the Buddhist gate itself, what was needed now—beyond lending effort—was someone who could bear witness to the Buddhist gate's innocence, proving that they were not shielding any evil spirits.

The temple's ten thousand clear bells could not drown out the slanderous whispers of others.

At present, only Chu Xingchen could bear such a role. Besides, this was a matter Chu Xingchen would naturally need to involve himself in and understand.

Runan's gaze turned to the main gate of the Zheng Yin Dharma Temple. Moments later, he saw the arhat leading Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu forward, followed behind them by a Golden Core cultivator who seemed... somewhat weak in the knees.

He clasped the Nirvana relic and said with a soft smile:

"Daoist Chu, it has been a long time. Your bearing remains as fine as ever."

Chu Xingchen clasped his hands and replied with a light smile:

"Daoist friend, you as well. And taking up personal residence here with such a grand gesture—this was beyond my expectations."

Runan let out a gentle sigh: "Merely mending the fold after the sheep are lost, remembering the mistakes of the past."

Chu Xingchen did not continue that thread. Instead, he shifted aside slightly and gestured toward Lizhi beside him:

"This is Lizhi, my trusted subordinate in West Ox Continent."

Lizhi forced a smile onto her face. She was convinced that if she spoke, she would stutter and embarrass herself, so half-resigned, she simply nodded.

Though she did not know who this person before her was, judging by the Buddha light shining like a rainbow and the lotus spinning with unceasing radiance, she knew he had to be at least a tribulation-crossing Buddha.

Only someone of that level would have so many bodhisattvas and arhats standing guard outside, with even flood dragons coiled about.

Runan looked over, then gave a slight nod.

This child was likely not being rude—more nervous than anything. There was nothing to fault in that.

"Please, all of you, be seated," Runan said.

Chu Xingchen nodded in thanks, then led Xie Lingyu and Lizhi to the chairs below.

After a few simple pleasantries.

Chu Xingchen steered the conversation to the main topic: "Daoist friend, you know I have been quite busy lately. The Evil Spirit Cult in North Julu Continent is being purged, and in East Victory Divine Continent there are rumors that I use celestial immortal authority to oppress ordinary cultivators and act with overbearing arrogance."

"And especially my poor third disciple—so innocent, so pure-hearted, so simple-minded—yet they gave him the title 'White Abyss True Lord.'"

"Who is at fault in this matter remains unknown for now, but Daoist friend, you surely understand the harm that such rumors can cause."

Runan nodded gently in understanding: "I see. Tell me, what is it that I can do for you, Daoist friend?"

"I do not have much time to linger in West Ox Continent. The Buddhist son Yuan Kong would normally be the right person for this place, but he has his own affairs to handle, and his time is even more precious than mine." Chu Xingchen gestured to Lizhi beside him and continued, "So today, I hope you can lend a hand and look after Lizhi for me."

Runan's gaze shifted, then he asked: "Since you have entrusted me, I naturally shall attend to it. But what exactly do you mean by 'look after'?"

Chu Xingchen gave a bold smile in reply: "Naturally, it means bringing her back alive and well, safe and healthy."

Runan did not hesitate long before answering:

"Within the borders of West Ox Continent, that will be no problem."

"Then I thank you, Daoist friend." Chu Xingchen rose to his feet and simultaneously gestured to Lizhi to stand with him. Looking at her, he said: "Come, thank the Venerable Buddha of the Great Thunderclap Temple together."

Lizhi saw the gesture and instinctively stood up, her bow already halfway down before the words—Venerable Buddha—dimly registered in her ears.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she lifted her gaze to Runan's kindly face.

People from West Ox Continent sometimes let their mouths run faster than their brains.

"What? He's the Venerable Buddha—"

Lizhi stopped mid-sentence and clamped her mouth shut, silently finishing the thought she dared not voice—the boss who couldn't keep his own Buddhist gate in line?

Runan looked over and chuckled twice:

"Oh? Do I not look like one?"

Lizhi put on a placating smile: "No... it's just that you seem rather kind, not as imposing and awe-inspiring as I'd imagined—one word carrying ten thousand pounds of weight..."

She froze mid-sentence, realizing she might have said something she shouldn't, and quickly added: "Wait... I don't mean your words don't carry weight... I mean, you appear very gentle and approachable..."

Lizhi's face scrunched up as she struggled for words, failing to find any way to patch things up. After a moment, helpless, she turned a bitter, grimacing face toward Chu Xingchen—Boss, I've embarrassed you completely.

Chu Xingchen smiled and patted Lizhi on the shoulder, looking at Runan:

"A young cultivator, a bit nervous before a Venerable Buddha. Please don't take it to heart, Daoist friend. She has a simple nature and wouldn't spout nonsense. If she did say something she shouldn't, please just chalk it up to her head spinning a little too fast."

Runan's gaze was warm: "Those who do not speak falsely are rare in this world. How could I fault her for that?"

Hearing this, Lizhi's eyes darted back toward Runan.

She had assumed that top-tier great cultivators like him—people who had cultivated all the way to the peak—wouldn't be easy to deal with. After all, a man who'd endured a lifetime of bitter cultivation to reach the summit, commanding a legion of tribulation-crossing mighty ones beneath him—surely he'd need both a temper and a firm hand to keep such cultivators in line.

Lizhi well understood this principle. She was only a mere Golden Core company captain, and even she sometimes had to swallow frustrations from her Foundation Establishment subordinates.

But these great cultivators—at least so far—actually seemed rather easy to talk to.

Of course, whether the Venerable Buddha was only being so agreeable for Chu Xingchen's sake was another matter entirely.

With that, the matter was settled.

Runan did not understand exactly what Chu Xingchen planned to have Lizhi do, but there was no need to refuse. After all, a move visible in the open was far easier to handle than one hidden in the dark.