In real-world Buddhism, myths about Buddha Fire rarely involved a firebird like this. That sort of thing was generally the province of Taoism, and it had never been depicted that way in the book either. A fiery lotus might have been a closer fit.
As for what Zhang Xinghu had encountered, it was unclear whether foreign Buddhism differed from that of the Central Plains, or whether it was simply another, similar religion altogether.
Chu Ge questioned Zhang Xinghu several times, but Zhang Xinghu had no idea what was what. "What do you mean, Indonesian Buddhism and Central Plains Buddhism? And Buddhism and Hinduism? There's a difference? Aren't they all Indian religions?"
Chu Ge said, "...There is. Buddhism underwent a lot of localization after it spread here. Even Central Plains Buddhism has many different branches."
"I'm not an educated man like you people. Don't you just worship some fat Indian guy when you go into a temple? All the terms are weird Indian names with this 'bra' and that 'ma.' I can't tell them apart at all," Zhang Xinghu said. "Anyway, the temple was called Brahma Temple. That's all I know."
Brahma Temple. Chu Ge committed it to memory, thinking that he would probably have to go there in person.
In fact, this little story alone could not even prove a connection to the Vermilion Bird. It was only a lead, something to investigate slowly.
But even having a lead was no small thing. They had gone so long without any trace of the Vermilion Bird. He had been hoping Yan Qianlie, whom they had left to roam freely, might stumble across something, yet the first lead had actually appeared in the Mortal World.
Zhang Xinghu asked with some anticipation, "Well? Can you tell what's wrong with me? Can you catch