Chan Master Bai Mei had once worn a string of prayer beads on his wrist—the Muni Fixed-Light Pearl—which he had given to Li Yingqiong.
He had given the Purple-Gold Alms Bowl to Chen Yan and the Brocade Kasaya to Zhu Youmu himself.
Zhu Youmu recalled that his master had also kept two spiritually awakened divine eagles, one white and one black. The Black Eagle had also been given to Li Yingqiong, but he did not know where the White Eagle had gone.
He asked, "Where is the White Eagle now? Once you leave, Master, he and I will have only each other."
"I have already made suitable arrangements for the White Eagle. You need only look after yourself!" Chan Master Bai Mei instructed him. "After I leave, you must take the precepts as your teacher, diligently recite Buddhist sutras, and devote less effort to supernatural powers! Nor may you go elsewhere to seek another sanctuary. Find a place on this remaining half of Stone Tiger Mountain and cultivate in seclusion for at least ten years. During those ten years, you must see no one. If you can keep your mind wholly pure, without giving rise to a single troubled thought, the day will come when you and I reunite."
He knew Zhu Youmu would certainly not follow the path he had laid out for him. Even if Zhu Youmu intended to follow it now, malignant karmic ties would naturally come knocking in the future and pull him off course...
If everyone could follow the best path, everyone could attain enlightenment. They would not even need a whole lifetime; half a lifetime would suffice to become a Buddha.
Unfortunately, external demons were easy to slay, but Inner Demons were hard to subdue. Inner ties were easy to sever, but outer ties