Ye Zhu shook his head. "Why... be so obsessed? Human life is precious, the Dharma is rare, and a person's life is short, like an insect on a mulberry tree, life is fleeting. Why leave regrets in this world?"
Xie Feng asked, "Then tell me, what would it take to avoid regret?"
Ye Zhu said, "The important thing is to aspire to perfection and transcend birth and death. The Dhammapada says: 'The day has passed, and life is diminishing, like a fish in shallow water. What joy is there in that?' It is just like that."
"You and I have been quoting scriptures, and I've also read a few Buddhist texts, so I'll discuss a few points with you."
As Xie Feng spoke, he took two steps forward, gently waving his Azure Profound Fan. He smiled leisurely and adopted a posture of engaging in grand discussions.
"You speak of seizing the day and avoiding regrets. The 'Verses of King Wonderful Color Seeking the Dharma' states: 'From love arises sorrow, from love arises fear; if one is free from love, there is neither sorrow nor fear.' Humans have seven emotions and six desires; only by letting go of these can one be free from worry and anxiety, is that right?"
Ye Zhu nodded. "Indeed, those who are free from love are without worry or fear."
Xie Feng tilted his head and asked, "According to your thinking, what constitutes being detached from love?"
"Transcend yourself, purify your desires, or believe in the Buddha Island and let this Emperor deliver you from suffering!"
"There's another saying: ' Saint seek enlightenment within themselves, not from Buddha; fools seek Buddha, not from their own hearts.' What does this mean?"
"Do you want me to speak?"
Ye Zhu looked directly at Xie Feng and asked calmly.
Xie Feng smiled and said, "If you don't know, I'll explain it to you!"
Ye Zhu shook his head. "This emperor will not listen."
Xie Feng shook his folding fan. "That won't do, I'm going to say it. What this means is that foolish people, unaware of their own wisdom and spirituality, seek divine intervention everywhere when they encounter problems. When will they ever achieve true liberation?"
The Ye Zhu replied, "All sentient beings, from beginningless time, are burdened with karmic obstacles. Unable to awaken their true mind, they are entangled by ignorance and afflictions, hindering their pure mind."
"No, there's a next line to that sentence!"
Xie Feng shook his head.
"Using delusions, which are not true, leads to the cycle of rebirth. The people you mentioned, because their delusions are too great, are unable to clearly see their true nature, and thus they enter an endless and inescapable state."
"Your Buddhist Dao and Daoist teachings constantly talk about perfecting human imperfections, but who can live a life without regrets? Isn't pursuing unrealistic perfection just wishful thinking? The reason people suffer is because they think too much!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhu lowered his eyes, his expression calm and composed, and continued in a gentle, philosophical tone:
"Therefore, if you wish to avoid being tormented by this suffering, you should live a fulfilling life under my Buddha Emperor Bell! This is a blessing for me and for them. By entrusting your bodies to me, I will create a peaceful haven for them. Isn't that wonderful?"
"On what grounds?"
Xie Feng's eyes turned cold. "Why are you the creator of this world? Why do you have the right to deprive others of their freedom of will?!"
The Ye Zhu remained silent and indifferent.
Xie Feng composed himself, softened his tone, and said in a deep voice, "Even if you can deceive young people, middle-aged people, and the elderly, what about infants? What about teenagers? Their lives haven't even had a chance to blossom before you forcibly stifle them in their ignorance. These are people; they shouldn't be treated like puppets. You have no right to force everyone to build your ideal kingdom according to your own vision!"
Ye Zhu took a step forward, his fingers unconsciously touching the Blood Tathagata Beads hanging from his neck. A trace of memory flashed in his eyes, but soon his gaze turned cold and ruthless.
Ye Zhu said, "Isn't this exactly what Buddhism is about? To help others is to help oneself. I, the Emperor, am wholeheartedly devoted to doing good and helping people in the world. How can you complain about me?"
Xie Feng narrowed his eyes and gave a cold laugh, "You understand the real purpose better than I do."
Ye Zhu countered, "And what about you? Don't you have any regrets? Don't you want to make up for those regrets?"
"If it comes at the cost of stripping away one's will, what does it matter if there are regrets? A full moon is beautiful. A crescent moon is less so, isn't it? The moon waxes and wanes, isn't that just how it is?" Xie Feng said.
Is that what you think?
Ye Zhu smiled, his every word and action revealing an unfathomable mystery and profundity. It was precisely this kind of person who inspired the most fear!
Xie Feng sneered, "Do you know how ugly you look right now? You're neither a pure Buddha nor a pure demon; you're just a hybrid of two halves!"
Despite such sarcasm, Ye Zhu remained calm and chuckled, "So you're about to curse me?"
"Clever!"
"Then you speak, I am all ears."
"We're not exactly strangers, and now that we've come this far, there's no need to hold back. You're very persistent, but in Buddhism, persistence is also called 'appearance'."
"You are obsessed with appearances, yet ridiculously believe yourself to be a savior. You constantly try to perfect others, but this only reveals the emptiness within your own heart!"
Xie Feng took a small step forward, a cold wind swept over him, and his eyes flashed with a cold light.
Ye Zhu nodded. "Well said, anything else?"
Xie Feng smiled, "I have a sharp tongue, and I'm afraid your pride won't take it, so I won't say the rest!"
"I will not be easily angered."
"You really want to hear this?"
"You say!"
"Alright, let me ask you first. The Buddha has six perfections. Do you know what they are?"
Xie Feng raised the corners of his mouth and asked with a smile, much like a little fox who was carefully planning and setting a trap.
Ye Zhu said expressionlessly, "Giving, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, wisdom."
What is charity?
"The essence of giving is relinquishing and not possessing."
What is the meaning of upholding precepts?
"Not obsessed, not attached, without desires or wants."
What is forbearance?
"Don't be angry."
"Then... what is meant by diligence?"
"... Are you planning to ask about every single one of them?"
You can answer one by one, or you can answer them all together. In short, give me your answers.
"Diligence is about continuous improvement, making oneself better, and not falling into depravity; meditation is about relinquishing control over the mind and reaching a state of clarity and emptiness; wisdom is about having knowledge and understanding the true nature of things. Are you satisfied with this answer?"
Ye Zhu took a deep breath, seemingly trying to hold back. He wanted to keep listening and see what else Xie Feng could say!
Xie Feng closed his fan and gently tapped his palm. He spoke eloquently, "It seems you know quite a bit about this. Since that's the case, you also know about the Six Perfections in Buddhism, which are the basic principles of Buddhist Dao practice. As the Buddha Emperor, which one have you achieved?"
Ye Zhu looked him straight in the eye. "Did I fail to do that?"
"A lust for power and a strong desire for control—is this giving? A persistent desire to transcend others and control the world—is this keeping precepts? Initiating wars and disrupting the Dao Realm —is this forbearance? As a Buddha, willingly becoming a demon, with excessive delusions—is this diligence? Allowing attachment to dominate your thoughts and obsessively trying to unify the spiritual Dao Realm —is this meditation? Refusing to accept the fate of all things—utterly foolish—how can you claim wisdom? All of the above is sufficient proof that you are completely contrary to the Buddhist Dao and Daoist paths. What right do you have to use Buddhist Dao and Daoism to bewitch people?!"
Xie Feng looked over sharply!
In an instant...
A strong wind suddenly arose...