How Can One Deliver Others? (Continued)

Although Si Ming agreed to let Kou Feng fight first, plans can't keep up with changes.

Master Wuguo led the group to the foot of a strange rock peak about 500 meters high, pointed upwards and said, "The fourth martial arts competition will take place here. The rules are very simple: no leaping or flying is allowed. The first to touch the topmost rock wins."

Everyone looked up and immediately understood which stone the other person was referring to. After all, it was too conspicuous. On the vertical and steep mountain wall, there was a horizontally extending stone pillar, cylindrical in shape, as thick as an elephant's leg, and about three meters long. Hanging on the mountain wall, it was extremely eye-catching and stood proudly above all others.

"Hey, don't you guys think this rock looks like... you know?"

"Hehe, it really does look a bit like that. If water could flow over it and then be poured down, it would look even more like it."

"This thing looks so strangely handsome, could it have some kind of magical effects? Like, touching it can enhance male virility or something?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm tempted to try it. I'll sneak a peek after their match. It's not like touching someone will kill me, and if it actually works, I'll have made a killing."

The onlookers exchanged lewd remarks, their expressions conveying a knowing, sly grin. But the contestants themselves had no interest in such lowbrow humor, or rather, even if they made the connection, they wouldn't voice it. Vulgar things are only suitable for casual conversation, not for formal occasions.

Si Ming said to Kou Feng, "You're going to be disappointed. It seems the opponent won't be sending Shen Wumian to play in the fourth match."

Kou Feng nodded helplessly. "We'll have to postpone it."

The purpose of this martial arts fight is not to knock down the opponent, but to see who can reach the target first. Therefore, lightness skill is more important than fist, foot, sword and knife skills.

Shen Wumian's lightness skill is certainly not weak, but it is far inferior to his Swordsmanship. If he were to fight in the fourth match, it would be a waste of his talent. Moreover, the fourth match is not a crucial point in the game. Even if the aristocratic Aristocratic Clan lose, it will only be one to three, and there is still room for recovery. Therefore, they cannot send Shen Wumian.

Si Shuiyun said, "How about I go again? Since I started practicing the 'Void Shadow Killing Technique,' my lightness skill has improved a lot."

Unfortunately, they were intercepted again. Hongdou said, "Let me do it. I prefer a competition where the winner can be decided without fighting to the point of fighting."

Si Ming cautioned, "Even if you desire peace, the other side may not grant your wish. As long as one side is unwilling to back down, peace will not come."

"I know, but I don't like seeing blood. Wouldn't it be better if everyone refrained from killing and could be friends peacefully? I don't want to harm anyone, and I hope others won't kill or harm others either."

Upon hearing this, Master Wuguo exclaimed, "The Buddha is merciful. If everyone in the world could have a compassionate heart like you, benefactor, there would be no more human calamities or wars. You would be in Land of Ultimate Bliss right here, and there would be no need to search for it in the Western Paradise."

Si Ming dismissed these idealist musings, arguing that the fighting spirit, in a sense, is also a driving force for the progress of human civilization. It can bring disaster or change; everything has two sides. We cannot only see the harmful side and ignore the beneficial side. To think that something is harmful and then cut it off completely is simply throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Of course, the old monk would have a reason to defend himself if he said such things, with some beautiful fantasy about using benevolence to control a fighting spirit. Si Ming was too lazy to argue with him, and only said to Hongdou, "Peace is achieved through struggle, while peace is lost through compromise. When the other party attacks you, if you only defend yourself, it will only embolden them and make them more reckless. On the contrary, as long as you show them a power that frightens them, they will restrain their thoughts and obediently concentrate on their journey, and dare not provoke you again."

Hongdou laughed and said, "Don't worry, although I hate seeing blood, if it has to be bloody, then let the enemy bleed. I'm terrified of pain."

Upon hearing this, Master Wuguo secretly shook his head, feeling that a promising seed of compassion for a Bodhisattva had been corrupted. Wuguo he not heard that the Buddha cut off his own flesh to feed an eagle, yet he never harbored any desire for conflict?

"The leader's competitive spirit surpasses that of ordinary people; he must firmly control his mind and use the methods of wisdom and meditation to dispel his anger, lest he be driven by desire."

Si Ming chuckled, "Is the master going to give that lecture again, telling victims to be tolerant and to remain indifferent to the perpetrators?"

"Forgive me, forgive me, this humble monk had no such intention. It is only because I see that you, benefactor, clearly possess wisdom and affinity for Buddhism, yet you are trapped in the sea of suffering, failing to seek liberation and missing the opportunity to attain Buddhahood. I cannot help but feel regret."

Si Ming thought to himself, "It's a pity there's no Qiantang River here, otherwise I would definitely recite Lu Zhishen's Buddhist verse to show off."

All my life I've done no good deeds, only loved killing and arson. Suddenly the golden rope breaks, the jade lock is shattered. Ah! The tide comes in on the Qiantang River, only today do I realize who I truly am.

This Buddhist verse is devoid of any ornate language; it is almost entirely straightforward. Despite its murderous intent and violation of Buddhist School precepts, it possesses a righteous and transcendent sense of detachment. Its profound Zen meaning is enough to make those corrupt monks who spout monastic rules feel ashamed.

However, not being able to recite this Buddhist verse doesn't mean he doesn't have other ways to criticize others. In his previous life, Si Ming was not only a cyber troll, but also a highly cultured and sophisticated one.

"Master, have you attained Buddhahood?"

This remark inevitably carried a connotation of cursing someone to death, but Master Wuguo, with his profound composure, did not get angry and replied solemnly, "No."

"Has he attained Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi?"

Anuttara means "supreme," Samyaksambuddha means "superior and perfect," and Sambodhi means "universal wisdom and enlightenment." It means unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, that is, the highest wisdom and enlightenment.

Master Wuguo already knew that Si Ming had some knowledge of Buddhism, so he was not surprised and shook his head again. "No."

The Diamond Sutra says, "If one seeks me through form or sound, that person walks Evil Dao and cannot see the Tathagata." Master, you always talk about compassion and encourage others to be compassionate. But ask yourself honestly, have you truly not fallen into attachment?

Master Wuguo was stunned for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Si Ming continued, "When the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, he said, 'How strange! All sentient beings possess the wisdom and virtues of the Tathagata, but they cannot realize it because of their delusions and attachments.' Therefore, as long as one lets go of delusions and attachments, turns away from defilement and unites with enlightenment, one can return to one's original nature. There is no need to seek the Buddha; understanding one's own mind is the supreme Dharma. Master, have you let go of your attachments?"

Master Wuguo's expression shifted unpredictably, sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Master, you can't even save yourself, how can you expect to save others?" Si Ming shouted. "The sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. One wrong thought, and you're in hell on earth!"

"If you can't even save yourself, how can you expect to save others..."

Master Wuguo swayed and collapsed to the ground, his internal energy fluctuating wildly, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, clearly indicating that he had suffered internal injuries.

With a strange expression, Si Shuiyun asked Si Ming, "When did you master such a powerful sonic Secret Method? You can make someone Qi Deviation just by saying a few words?"

"This isn't the effect of martial arts, but rather the mental damage caused by a conflict in thought processes. That's why Buddhism is something you can't touch; you can easily fall into its trap."

"Won't offending the referee cause problems? What if he retaliates against you?"

"No, people like him are best at finding excuses for others' 'misdeeds,' minimizing major mistakes and dismissing minor ones, prioritizing harmony above all else. This easily gives the impression that they're speaking up for the perpetrators. Even if they themselves have suffered great injustice, they will always pursue fairness and justice. A gentleman can be deceived by his principles, after all. This kind of person is better suited as an enemy than a friend; getting too close will only bring trouble."

Despite the referee's injury, the game was not affected. After all, it's difficult to cheat under the watchful eyes of everyone, and no one would allow anyone to distort the truth or call a deer a horse. If you anger the public, it will be difficult to extricate yourself from the situation.

Master Wuguo's role is only twofold: to announce the rules of the competition and to announce the results. As for supervising the competition process, he doesn't need to do it; tens of thousands of eyes are watching.

No one from the Aristocratic Clan stood up to say anything. They were even somewhat gloating, thinking that no matter how magnanimous a person is, if they are injured for no reason, they will definitely harbor resentment and might then favor their Aristocratic Clan in the competition rules.

Amidst the many gloating gazes, Si Ming sensed a different kind of gaze. His Internal Cultivation had now reached level nine, greatly enhancing his intuition, giving him the ability to sense the emotions of the person in question through their gaze. He followed the gaze and discovered a man with an ugly appearance, a crooked mouth, a flat nose, and slanted eyes, almost as if he had piled up various ugly organs together, making him uniquely ugly.

The ugly man noticed Si Ming's gaze, smiled and nodded in greeting. Although he stood with the members of the Aristocratic Clan, he did not seem to be one of the Aristocratic Clan. It was clear that the Aristocratic Clan family members around him excluded him from their circle.

"Wow, when he's not laughing, it's like a comedy, but when he laughs, it's like a horror movie. Just who is this guy? He can't be nobody, he's so ugly that he leaves an impression on everyone who sees him. And judging from the attitude of the Aristocratic Clan families around him, they seem to be keeping their distance from him. He can't be incompetent, can it be that the Aristocratic Clan want to invite him to pollute our sanity?"