by RWX
This sutra talked a great deal about hell and how to pursue merit to avoid it. It was a mourning sutra of Buddhism.
The sutra also discussed how Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha rescued countless souls and brought them to salvation. He did not make an empty vow when he promised to not become a Buddha until his great work was done. And thus, the name of this sutra was the ‘Original Vows of the Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha.’
Thus, not only was the sword skill of the ‘Mt. Jiuhua Sword Sect’ exquisite, it also possessed the romanticism of poets and the mysterious secrets of Buddhism.
There were seven great sword sects in the martial world. Mt. Jiuhua wasn’t actually one of them, because they were always very few disciples of the Mt. Jiuhua sect, and even more rarely did they travel abroad in the martial world.
Long ago, the martial world conflated the Mt. Jiuhua Sect with the Netherworld Sect. Both of them worshipped the same two founders. The first was Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha. The other the dissolute man of poetry and wine, the eternal, unmatchable Li Bai.
It was said that the lay Buddhist Qing Lian was not only a god of poetry, but that also a god of the sword. The Mt. Jiuhua Sword Technique was passed down from him. After hundreds on hundreds of years, another amazing hero appeared in the martial world, Li Mubai. He was also a direct descendant of the Mt. Jiuhua sect.
These legends made the Mt. Jiuhua sect even more mysterious and mystical in the hearts of the people of the martial world. The whereabouts of the disciples of the Mt. Jiuhua sect became even more secretive, and in recent years, they seemed to have vanished from the martial world.
But none of these things were the reason for Fu Hongxue’s shock. What shocked him was Master Ruyi.
Master Ruyi wore a white robe, and was barefoot in grass shoes. A bald head, a solemn expression, and light radiating from the pupils. Master Ruyi was, without a doubt, a Buddhist of extremely great learning. A female Buddhist.
She looked as though she were already in middle age. Her figure was moderately covered, her appearances was upright, her bearing was respectable and polite. There was nothing particularly attractive about the solemn expression on her face, and even less was there something which should surprise people. No matter who looked at her, they would only see a middle-aged nun who strictly followed Buddhist rules, who was not one bit different from the thousands on thousands of other nuns in the world.
But in Fu Hongxue’s eyes, the situation was totally different.
Although her appearance was ordinary and sedate, her jade-white hands were as beautiful as spring scallions, so soft as to appear boneless. She was barefoot in grass shoes, not wearing any socks, revealing a pair of feet which were as white as the snow, so beautiful they could dazzle. Her white Buddhist robe was spacious and soft, without a speck of dust on it, concealing a large part of her body.
No one would fantasize about what the body and figure of a middle-aged nun would be like, underneath her Buddhist robe.
But Fu Hongxue couldn’t help but think about it.
The spotlessly white Buddhist robe on the railing. The beautiful, lush body in the bathing pool. The groans and moans in the darkness. The warm, smooth embrace. And those two hands which brought him into the dream world.
In his mind, he actually couldn’t separate this outwardly-moral appearing nun with the ripe woman, filled with longing, from last night. Although he forbade himself from thinking about it, he still couldn’t help himself.
Although he had already become indifferent to all things, unmoved and untouched, but this extremely solemn, rule-abiding nun caused his heart to be thrown into chaos. He could already feel his lips go dry, his heart rate increase, as though there was no way for him to control it.
Master Ruyi only dully glanced at him. Her dignified, solemn face did not reveal a single trace of an expression.
Fu Hongxue almost couldn’t resist rushing over there, tearing open her Buddhist robe to see if she was that woman from last night. But he still managed to force himself to stay still.
He seemed to hear her ask, “So this would be the world famous benefactor, Fu Hongxue?” [Benefactor is a term which monks and nuns use to address secular people.]
He seemed to hear his own voice reply, “Yes. I am Fu Hongxue.”
Madame Zhuo looked at them. The expression in her eyes was crafty and sly.
Did she already know about them?
She suddenly laughed. “Master, you have been stationed long at Mt. Jiuhua. I didn’t imagine that even you would have heard of Hero Fu’s name.”
Master Ruyi said, “Although this humble nun is located in distant lands, I am not totally unaware of the matters of the martial world.”
Madame Zhuo said, “Master, didn’t you meet him before?”
Master Ruyi mumbled to herself, then actually nodded. “It seems that I saw him once. Only, at that time, it was already very dark, and I did not see him clearly.”
Madame Zhuo laughed. “But although you did not see him clearly, master, he definitely saw you very clearly.”
Master Ruyi said, “Oh?”
Madame Zhuo’s laughter became even more mysterious. “Because this Hero Fu has perfect night vision. Even in the darkness, he can clearly perceive each hair on an animal’s body.”
It seemed as though a strange expression had appeared on Master Ruyi’s face.
Fu Hongxue’s heart was sinking as well. Last night, in the dark room, he hadn’t actually seen her clearly. He had only faintly seen the outlines of her body.
He hadn’t realized this up til now. Only now did he realize that his eyesight had unknowingly suffered damage. That must have happened after he saw the old man in the iron cabinet.
Could it be that within that old man’s eyes, there was a power which could make others slow and sluggish? Why wouldn’t he allow Fu Hongxue to see the woman in the darkness? Why was she waiting for him in the darkness?
The last two witnesses were also invited in by Gongzi Yu, but Fu Hongxue actually didn’t notice who they were.
His heart was thrown in turmoil again. He couldn’t forget the events of last night, nor could he turn a living woman into a tool.
Boss Chen’s grief and pain and Ni Baofeng’s hatred-filled gaze suddenly became intolerable to him as well.
And that scarlet red sword. How could this sword be in Gongzi Yu’s hands? If the sword was in his hands, where was Yan Nanfei?
What type of mysterious relationship was there, exactly, between these two? Why was it that Gongzi Yu, up to this very moment, was still refusing to reveal his true features?
The torch fires rose up high. The stone platform was as bright as daylight.
Fu Hongxue finally walked on to the stone platform. He tightly gripped his sabre, even more tightly than normal. When he was sorrowful, vexed, suffering, or helpless, only this sabre had the power to stabilize him.
To him, this sabre was far more important than a blind man’s walking stick. There was already a strange emotional bond between him and the sabre, one which no person in the world could ever understand. Not only did they understand each other, they also trusted each other.
Gongzi Yu stared at him. One word at a time, he slowly said, “You can draw your sabre at any time, now.”
Now, the sword was already in his hand. Anybody could tell that he had even more confidence than Fu Hongxue.
Fu Hongxue unexpectedly said, “You can’t just wait a bit longer?”
A cynical look appeared in Gongzi Yu’s eyes. “I can wait. Only, no matter how long I wait, victory and defeat will not be affected.”
Fu Hongxue did not listen to his words. He suddenly turned around, left the stone platform, and walked to Master Ruyi.
Master Ruyi lifted her head up to look at him, appearing surprised and uncertain.
Fu Hongxue said, “Master, from whence do you come?”
Master Ruyi said, “I come from Mt. Jiuhua.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Where did the Prince come from?”
Mas
ter Ruyi said, “He came from Silla.” [Part of modern Korea.]
Fu Hongxue said, “Why did he give up his riches and honor?”
Master Ruyi said, “To abandon all to study Buddhism.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Since he sacrificed everything to study Buddhism, why did he vow not to become a Buddha?”
Master Ruyi said, “Only to bring all life to salvation.”
Her expression had become peaceful, and her expression had become even more solemn. But others couldn’t understand at all what they were talking about.
As it was, when the emperor of the Tang dynasty sent out troops to help quell a rebellion in Silla, the prince of Silla, Jin Qiaojue, gave up his glories and came to China to study Buddhism. By himself, he scaled Mt. Jiuhua, where he cultivated himself and meditated. All the deeds he had done in his life were identical to those done by the Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha. In the eleventh year of Emperor Tang Dezong’s reign, he ascended to Parinirvana. Before departing, his appearance was exactly the same as that of the original appearance of the Bodhisatvva Ksitigarbha. According to legends, he left behind his flesh to future generations, as his body became a pagoda at the peak of the mountain. The pagoda was exquisitely made in all aspects, resplendent in gold and jade, with copper vases in each corner, the colors of cinnabar and jadeite. Within them, there was holy oil which can grant people peace and and tranquility. The disciples of the Mt. Jiuhua sect carried this oil with them at all times.
Fu Hongxue asked again, “Where is the Prince now?”
Master Ruyi said, “He is still at Mt. Jiuhua.”
Fu Hongxue said, “The Prince will bring all life to salvation. How about you, Master?”
Master Ruy said, “This humble nun has that desire as well.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Since that is the case, I hope that you, master, will give me your blessing and allow my heart to become pure and tranquil.”
Master Ruyi’s hands folded together. “Yes.”
She really did remove a small wooden vase from her clothes, poured out a few drops of holy oil, gently rubbing it against Fu Hongxue’s face and hands. She also repeatedly murmured Buddhist prayers, then asked again, “What desires do you have?”
Fu Hongxue chanted, “To be as stable and unmoving as the earth, as peaceful and as deep as an earth depository.”
Master Ruyi lightly tapped him on the crown of his head with the palm of her hand. “Alright. Go.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Yes. I go.”
He lifted his head. His pallid face was already gleaming with light. It wasn’t the light of oil. It was a holy light of serenity and peace.
He once more ascended to the stone platform, then walked to stand in front of Madame Zhuo. He suddenly said, “Now, I already know.”
Madame Zhuo said, “Know what?”
Fu Hongxue said, “Know it was you.”
Madame Zhuo’s face suddenly changed. “What else do you know?”
Fu Hongxue said, “I know everything which I should know.”
Madame Zhu said, “You…how could you know?”
Fu Hongxue said, “Quietly pondering deep secrets, like an earthen repository.”
He walked onto the stone platform. Facing Gongzi Yu, not only did he seem as calm as a huge boulder, he really did seem as unshakable as the earth itself.
Veins had already appeared on the hand with which Gongzi Yu gripped his sword.
Fu Hongxue looked at him. He suddenly said, “You have already been defeated once. Why must you insist on being defeated again?”
Gongzi Yu’s pupils contracted. Suddenly, with a loud shout, his sword left the sheath. Scarlet sword light flashed like a rainbow lightning bolt.
Only people with extremely strong eyesight could see that there seemed to be a faint flash of sabre light within in the rainbow lightning bolt.
With a ‘ding’, all movement seemed to coalesce. All things and all creatures on the earth came to a halt in that moment.
Fu Hongxue’s sabre had already entered his sheath again.
Gongzi Yu’s sword was only an inch away from his throat, but he didn’t pierce him through. His entire body seemed to have suddenly stiffened. And then, the bronze mask on his face slowly split apart, revealing his own face.
A handsome, spirited, and attractive face, but one filled with shock and terror.
That ‘ding’ was heard again as the mask fell to the floor. The sword fell to the floor as well.
This person was actually Yan Nanfei.
The fire light was still flickering without pause, but the great audience hall was as deathly silent as a tomb.
Yan Nanfei finally spoke. “When did you find out?”
Fu Hongxue said, “Not long ago.”
Yan Nanfei said, “When you drew your sabre, you already knew it was me?”
Fu Hongxue said, “Yes.”
Yan Nanfei said, “So you were already certain of victory.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Because my heart was already orderly and unmovable.”
Yan Nanfei let out a long sigh. Dispiritedly, he said, “Of course you should have been certain, because I should have died to you already.”
He lifted up the long sword, then offered it forwards with both hands. “Please. Please finish it.”
Fu Hongxue stared at him. “Now, is your deepest desire ended?”
Yan Nanfei said, “Yes.”
Fu Hongxue dully said, “Then you are already a dead man. Why should I bother to kill you?”
He turned around, not sparing Yan Nanfei another glance.
Only to hear a sigh coming from behind him. A drop of blood splashed towards him, falling near his feet.
He still didn’t turn around, but an indescribable, unescapable sorrow appeared on his face.
He knew this result. Some results, nobody could ever change. Some people’s destinies were the same.
What about his own destiny?
The first to welcome him was Master Ruyi. Smiling, she said, “Benefactor, you won.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Master, do you truly act freely and as you wish?” [Ruyi means ‘as one wishes’.]
Master Ruyi was silent.
Fu Hongxue said, “Since you, master, aren’t truly free and act as you wish, how can you know that I have truly won?”
Master Ruyi let out a light sigh. “Well said. Victory or defeat, acting as one wishes or being restrained, who can truly tell?”
She folded her hands together, quietly murmured a Buddhist prayer, then slowly walked out.
When Fu Hongxue lifted his head up, the only person left in the great hall was Madame Zhuo.
She was looking at him. When he turned his head over, she slowly said, “I know.”
Fu Hongxue said, “Know?”
Madame Zhuo said, “Victory is victory. The victor gains everything, the defeated perishes. This can’t be faked in the slightest.”
She let out a sigh. “Now, Yan Nanfei is already dead. You, naturally, are already…”
Fu Hongxue interrupted her words. “Yan Nanfei is already dead. How about Gongzi Yu?”
Madame Zhuo said, “Yan Nanfei is Gongzi Yu.”
Fu Hongxue said, “He truly is?”
Madame Zhuo said, “Can it be that he is not?”
Fu Hongxue said, “He definitely is not.”
Madame Zhuo laughed. She suddenly stretched her hand out and pointed behind her. “Take another look. What is that?”
The smooth, flat stone platform behind her suddenly split open. An enormous bronze mirror was slowly rising from beneath the platform.
Fu Hongxue said, “A bronze mirror.”
Madame Zhuo said, “What else is in the mirror?”
There was a person in the mirror. Fu Hongxue was standing in front of the mirror. His reflection was in it.
Madame Zhuo said, “What do you now see?”
Fu Hongxue said, “I see myself.”
Madame Zhuo said, “Then you have seen Gongzi Yu, because now, you are Gongzi Yu.”
&n
bsp; Fu Hongxue was silent. She said he was Gongzi Yu, but he was silent.
Although sometimes silence is a form of soundless protest, most of the time, it was not.
Madame Zhuo said, “You are extremely intelligent. From the hand which Master Ruyi used to anoint you with oil, you could guess that the woman from last night was not her, and was me.”
Fu Hongxue was still silent.
Madame Zhuo said, “Thus, by now, you definitely understand why you are Gongzi Yu.”
Fu Hongxue suddenly said, “Now, I really am Gongzi Yu?”
Madame Zhuo said, “At least, you are for now.”
Fu Hongxue said, “When will I no longer be?”
Madame Zhuo said, “When an even stronger person in the martial world appears. At that time…”
Fu Hongxue said, “At that time, I will be like today’s Yan Nanfei.”
Madame Zhuo said, “Right. At that time, not only will you not be Gongzi Yu, you will also no longer be Fu Hongxue. At that time, you will be a dead man.”
She laughed. Her laughter was tender and sweet. “But I believe that within the next ten years, there definitely will not be anybody in the martial world stronger than you. Thus, for now, everything is yours. You can enjoy all your wealth and fame, and you can enjoy me.”
Fu Hongxue tightly gripped his sabre. “You will always be Gongzi Yu’s woman?”
Madame Zhuo said, “Always.”
Fu Hongxue stared at her. His hand tightened even further, drawing out his sabre.
He suddenly drew his sabre. A flash of sabre light. The bronze mirror split in half, just like how the bronze mask on Yan Nanfei’s face split in half. When the bronze mirror fell apart, it revealed a man within it. An old man.
There was a small, exquisite room behind the mirror, with a small but magnificent couch in it.
This old man was reclining on the couch. He was already a very, very old man, but his eyes must have long ago received all the blessings and benedictions of all the spirits of heaven and ghosts of hell, because they had retained their youth. These two eyes were the eyes which Fu Hongxue had seen in the iron cabinet.
Those two eyes were staring at him right now.
Fu Hongxue’s sabre entered the sheath. Staring at him with blade-sharp eyes, he said, “Only one person knows who the real Gongzi Yu is.”