Jieyin and Zhunti cupped their hands in salute and said, "Greetings, three senior brothers!"
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian returned the salute. "Greetings, junior brothers."
The five straightened and smiled at one another, and the atmosphere seemed exceptionally harmonious.
Taishang looked at the five people behind Jieyin and Zhunti and said, "Are these your outstanding disciples?"
Zhunti said with a smile, "They can hardly be called outstanding. The West is poor and mediocre, unlike the East, which is brimming with talent. They are passable in the West, but in the East, they would be reduced to ordinary mediocrities."
The five behind Jieyin and Zhunti lowered their heads without speaking, appearing very humble.
Yuanshi said, "How could those who have caught the eyes of you two junior brothers possibly be mediocre?
Duobao, you will be responsible for receiving these junior brothers from the West. Do not neglect them or lose our manners."
Daoist Duobao respectfully replied, "Yes!"
Zhunti said, "All of you may go! Seek more guidance from your senior brothers and study well."
The three behind Jieyin and Zhunti humbly replied, "Yes!"
They followed closely behind Duobao and the others toward the back mountain.
Taishang said with a smile, "It is rare for you two junior brothers to visit. Shall we go admire the scenery of Mount Kunlun?"
Jieyin revealed a faint smile. "I would be honored to accept."
A light giggle echoed between heaven and earth, its crisp voice ringing over Mount Kunlun. "Why was I not informed when my brothers gathered together?!"
Taishang, Jieyin, and the others all looked skyward. Ripples spread across the heavens as a gorgeous and peerlessly beautiful woman slowly descended from within them.
Zhunti cupped his hands in salute and respectfully said, "It was merely a sudden impulse. We decided to visit our three senior brothers on a whim and did not dare disturb Senior Sister."
Taishang said with a smile, "Since Junior Sister has come as well, let us hold a pill-tasting gathering today! This old Daoist has just refined a batch of immortal pills and asks Junior Sister and Junior Brothers to appraise them."
Empress Nuwa landed before them and said with a soft laugh, "Then I must thank Senior Brother."
The group vanished from before the great hall in an instant. The next moment, they appeared beneath a large tree on the back mountain, seated around a stone table amid drifting fallen leaves. The place was especially secluded and tranquil.
A moment later, Holy Mother Wudang and Holy Mother Jinling brought over immortal fruits and fine nectar before withdrawing.
There was a waterfall on the back mountain, with flowing spring waters and flowers in splendid bloom. It was truly a beautiful place.
Duobao and the others brought the distant fellow disciples from the West here.
Duobao said with a smile, "How should I address you junior brothers?"
"My name is Medicine Master."
"My name is Ksitigarbha."
"My name is Mahasthamaprapta."
"I am Sunlight."
"I am Moonlight."
All five cupped their hands in salute.
Duobao nodded and said, "Please, take a seat, junior brothers."
Moonlight looked around in confusion. "Where are we to sit?"
Duobao said, "The Dao follows nature, so naturally, we sit upon the ground." He drifted onto a stone and sat down, watching them.
The other dozen or so registered disciples also sat cross-legged on the ground. A few even laughed softly as they looked toward Medicine Master and the others.
Medicine Master said with a smile, "We were too attached to appearances." He adjusted his robes and sat down on the ground.
Duobao looked at Buddha Medicine Master and the others, a flash of appreciation passing through his eyes.
The group chatted about amusing tales from ancient and modern times. As they spoke, the conversation gradually turned to discussing the Dao. Their disagreements steadily widened, and the sounds of laughter and banter dwindled.
Flap, flap, flap—wings beat through the air.
A wounded, beautiful little bird fell from the sky, followed closely by a golden eagle swooping down to seize it.
Buddha Medicine Master waved his hand, releasing a streak of golden light that blocked the golden eagle.
A young man with large ears wanted to ease the tense atmosphere, so he immediately joked, "What luck. Food has delivered itself to us. Let me kill and roast it to entertain our fellow disciples from the West."
Buddha Medicine Master shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Daoist Brother, but in our West, we do not commit acts of killing."
He then looked at Daoist Duobao. "Daoist Brother, this is your sacred ground. How should such a situation be handled?"
Daoist Duobao said calmly, "The strong devouring the weak is a rule of heaven and earth. Just release it back into the mountains and forests."
Medicine Master shook his head. "If it is released back into nature, this beautiful forest spirit will surely die. Can Daoist Brother truly bear it?"
Daoist Duobao frowned and scrutinized Medicine Master. "What would you do?"
Buddha Medicine Master rose and held the beautiful little bird in his hand. He brushed its injured wing, and golden light flowed across it. The bird's injuries instantly healed, and it chirped happily.
Medicine Master casually tossed it away. The little bird spread its wings and soared high, vanishing into the clouds.
Having been embarrassed, the large-eared young man sneered. "Daoist Brother saved the little bird, but how is that fair to the golden eagle?"
Medicine Master smiled and looked at the golden eagle. "I took a piece of meat from you. How about I return a piece to you now?"
The golden eagle held its head high as it looked at Medicine Master.
Medicine Master opened his robe and used his hand like a blade to cut off a large, bloody piece of flesh from his chest. It fell to the ground.
The golden eagle lowered its head, picked up the flesh, spread its wings, and soared away into the clouds.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at Medicine Master. He had actually done such a thing. Though it would not kill him, the pain was truly painful!
Medicine Master straightened his robes and looked at the large-eared young man with a smile. "Now both have lived."
The large-eared young man's face darkened, and he fell silent.
Daoist Duobao looked at Medicine Master with a grave expression. They had come prepared! The appearance of that golden eagle and little bird had also been far too suspicious. Was this the Dao of the West?!
Medicine Master sat cross-legged atop a bluestone.
Ksitigarbha stood and walked over to sit beside a female disciple.
Beneath a tree some distance away, Holy Mother Jinling quietly asked, "What is he trying to do?"
Holy Mother Wudang shook her head. "I do not know!"
Holy Mother Jinling said coldly, "I think they came here just to cause trouble."
The female disciple beside Ksitigarbha frowned. "This poor Daoist is Shi Ji. Greetings, Senior Brother. Did Senior Brother sit in the wrong place?"
Ksitigarbha shook his head without speaking.
"Please change seats, Senior Brother!"
Ksitigarbha continued shaking his head without speaking.
A flash of anger passed through Shi Ji's eyes as she formed a hand seal.
Daoist Duobao suddenly said, "Do not attack our guests."
Shi Ji's hand paused. Her hand seal changed, and a fierce wind blew toward Ksitigarbha. Sand and stones flew through the gale, enveloping him.
Ksitigarbha sat cross-legged on the ground without moving, ignoring the flying sand and fierce wind.
Seeing that the wind was ineffective, Shi Ji changed her hand seal again. The ground rumbled and shook like rippling water, but Ksitigarbha remained motionless.
Bolts of lightning descended from the sky and struck all around Ksitigarbha, yet he still did not move.
Wind, frost, thunder, and lightning could not make Ksitigarbha leave, as though he had grown from the earth itself.
Shi Ji abruptly rose to her feet, her face livid. "Good! What an impressive Daoist friend from the West." With a sweep of her sleeve, she strode away to the side.
Ksitigarbha opened his eyes and said with a smile, "Daoist Friend, do you know why none of your spells and divine abilities could defeat me?"
Shi Ji halted and said mockingly, "Because you are shameless enough."
Ksitigarbha shook his head. "You got one word right: because I am nothingness.
You have spells. Existence is finite, exhaustible, measurable, and bounded;
while I have no spells. Nothingness is infinite, inexhaustible, immeasurable, and boundless.
The relationship between nothingness and existence is to meet all changes with the unchanging. I do not change, so I overcome your myriad changes."
Shi Ji suddenly turned to stare at Ksitigarbha. "What are you trying to say?"
Ksitigarbha said with a smile, "Nothingness is a tolerant state of mind, a calm realm. You need to learn it."
Shi Ji's expression changed several times before she turned and walked away.
Daoist Duobao murmured inwardly, What a notion of nothingness. The Dao of the West is rather interesting after all.
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