[Nameless One] wept until his grieving heart seemed dead, while everyone present listened without expression.
Ksitigarbha's phrase, "living beings incapable of understanding one another," was perhaps the most profound Chan truth he had ever articulated.
Not a single person could truly empathize.
His gaze passed over Xiong Ji, straining to press his sword downward; Huang Weizhen, visibly impatient; and Ksitigarbha, his eyes full of compassion—this man always had to pretend he understood you—before finally settling on Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang silently took a step behind Huang Weizhen. Flames named [Red Dust Tribulation] flickered from his fingertips, only for him to press them back down.
The desires of mortals, the seven emotions, even sorrow.
The tears of a Transcendent were truly a rare sight. And they were indeed the finest nourishment for [Red Dust Tribulation].
But to see such a sincerely grief-stricken, mummified ancient sage and immediately regard him as some rare treasure to be harvested—wouldn't that be too cruel?
People of the current age seemed to feel little about lofty ideals such as "saving the world." All of them were confined by their little households and little states, by love and longing.
The sacrifices of the Recent Antiquity Era could no longer stir any ripples today.
That was truly a kind of sorrow.
Of course, [Nameless One] also understood that a vague and incomplete story could hardly hope to evoke resonance.
Yet Ksitigarbha remained as compassionate and tolerant as ever. "I understand the pain of not being understood. I see the courage with which you walked on alone. I can understand how you feel... What must I do to help you?"
[Nameless One] looked at him.
Ksitigarbha said, "If you truly must kill me, that is not entirely beyond discussion..."
[Nameless One] said, "Give me one more chance."
Ksitigarbha smiled