Past Buddha

Xiongchu, Xuantian Temple.

"That's how things stand, Master Zhengqing. The dead cannot return. Please accept my condolences."

Lu Bei spat out a black-tinged golden orb of light and placed it in Master Zhengqing's hands with a look of grief. "It was all that Vermilion Bird's doing. That beast had committed every evil under the sun, with crimes too numerous to write on bamboo slips. Heaven and earth would not tolerate him. Sooner or later, I, Lu, will make him pay the price he deserves."

Master Zhengqing accepted the orb, his face showing neither grief nor joy.

The abbot was well versed in Buddhist Dharma and cultivated the Great Divine Ability of Dream Enlightenment. With one glance, he saw that Gu Zongchen was not dead.

His failure to awaken for so long was because he had seized the opportunity to cultivate the art of Dream Enlightenment. Every bite and sip had its destined measure; it was both danger and opportunity, and could be called a great opportunity indeed.

Zhengqing knew that his disciple had attained the Dao, a blessing that could be encountered but not sought. Yet he showed none of it. After a long while, unable to contain his grief, he shed two muddy tears.

Lu Bei blinked. That old monk is laying it on too thick. Everyone knows what happened to Gu Zongchen. At worst, he'll sleep for three to five months. How could he die that easily?

Stop crying. If you want to blackmail me, Lu Bei, you can forget it.

"Master, glaring at me won't help. The wrongdoer is responsible for the debt. It was Vermilion Bird's doing."

"I did my best to stop it at the time. It was all Azure Dragon's meddling. If she hadn't been jealous of Little Monk's talent and comprehension, repeatedly interfering