Tathagata Buddha stood to one side, motionless and silent.
Six-Eared Macaque packed his belongings, feeling exceptionally cheerful. Tathagata Buddha's lack of understanding did nothing to spoil his mood.
To Six-Eared Macaque, Tathagata Buddha was merely someone who explained Buddhist teachings. He held little fondness for him and, if anything, felt considerable hostility toward him.
Tathagata Buddha's lack of understanding meant nothing to Six-Eared Macaque.
"Tathagata, I'm leaving." After finishing his packing, Six-Eared Macaque slung his luggage over his back and said with a smile.
"You're leaving so soon?" Tathagata Buddha was rather surprised. It was still night—indeed, the middle of the night.
"You wouldn't understand. Farewell."
After saying that, Six-Eared Macaque leaped over the threshold and headed into the distance.
Tathagata Buddha stood there, fingering the Prayer Beads in his hand before shaking his head. "Everything is karma; everything is fate. It was destined that Six-Eared Macaque would not be drawn in this time. Patriarch Bodhi's method this time was indeed quite good."
Patriarch Bodhi naturally knew that Six-Eared Macaque dearly wanted to go to the Slanting Moon Three Pure Ones Cave, so he used this method. No matter how Tathagata Buddha tried to dissuade him, Six-Eared Macaque would never agree.
After Six-Eared Macaque left, Tathagata Buddha naturally continued to suffer the Ghost Clan's erosion, as they relentlessly absorbed the power of his Buddhist teachings.
By now, the power of Tathagata Buddha's Buddhist teachings had weakened significantly, dropping by more than half.
Tathagata Buddha felt utterly helpless. He desperately wanted to change things and resist, but there was simply no way.
After all, he had no idea where they were, nor when they would come, and his strength could not withstand them either.
Tathagata Buddha paced back and forth inside the room, trying to find a way to deal with