After learning of the Fixed Number, Guanyin the Honored took her leave.
She did not change direction and continued toward the Heavenly Court.
Wenren Sheng watched her depart but did not follow. Instead, he descended.
"Old Wen, who was that person just now?" Little Illusion asked.
"Journey to the West's teacher of the Seven Buddhas, one of the Five Regions Five Elders—the Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Pole."
"So that was Guanyin. She looked quite kind. Damn it, I forgot to ask her for something to eat. My stomach's hungry." Little Illusion rubbed her belly.
"Let's go down and take a look."
As they spoke, the two arrived in a city below.
The city was desolate. Only after asking around did they learn that a plague had broken out here.
Everyone had fled for refuge, and those who remained were simply waiting to die.
This was also how plagues were dealt with in ancient times. Once everyone in a place had died, things would settle down.
Often, across hundreds of miles, village after village would be wiped out.
"Strange. You have so many immortals up there. Why don't they come out and do something?" Little Illusion grabbed an old man and asked.
"Alas, there are many immortals, but there are also many people. Everyone prays to immortals—how could the immortals possibly handle them all?" The old man wore an expression of someone who had accepted it all.
"Oh, then you're quite pitiful. You clearly have immortals, yet they're useless. Why worship all these temples?" Little Illusion pointed at the grand, magnificent temples.
"It's good enough that they're useless. If you don't worship them, they'll punish you." The old man sneered.
"Huh? That's far too unreasonable, isn't it?"
"Reason? This old man has lived seventy years, and I've never heard of