Novel Bin Chapter 23 - 23: Becoming a Buddha on the Spot
Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Becoming a Buddha on the Spot
Early morning.
A hundred meters outside the Ximen City, Jiang Ming was already seated on a piece of green stone, blocking the path to Baiyun Village.
Lu Yuan's words had stirred him up the day before.
Together with the information provided by Constable Jin, he had been able to eliminate most of the top-tier powerful people hiding in the vicinity of Baiyun Village early on.
He instructed Chang Qing to lead the Heavenly Martial Army to take out the rest and further strengthen their forces. Then they rushed over here, where the battlefield would be set up.
Jiang Ming wanted to enter the city directly, but his heart softened when he saw the common people on the way. After all, a battle with a Grandmaster-level powerful person would inevitably affect a large area, endangering countless lives.
The first to enter the city were the peasants, some carrying chickens, others carrying eggs, and some carrying vegetables. They had set out at nightfall, hoping to enter the city early and get a good price for their produce.
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Jiang Ming suppressed the turbulence in his heart.
His ears perked up and sounds were coming from the City Gate.
"Hey, the Xiao family has really lost its shame, sending out invitations for the various factions to join together in attacking Baiyun Village."
"It definitely won't be that simple. So many people have tried to take down Baiyun Village these days, but what has happened? Most of them didn't come back. The Xiao family must feel it's difficult to handle, so they are inviting many powerful people to join forces and take down Baiyun Village. This is a way to buy a reputation and strengthen their might."
"The Xiao family can't handle Baiyun Village with their strength alone? That's bullshit! It's been strange from the very beginning. I think they want to shift everyone's focus. Don't forget, the Shaoyang Scripture was initially rumored to be around here, and all kinds of powerful figures converged. Suddenly, it was said to be in Baiyun Village. Look at how many forces have come to the city now - the Chunyang Sect, the Zhen Wu Sect, the Dalin Temple, and even the Demon Sect have powerful people here. If they don't shift their focus elsewhere, in case there is unrest, Mount Dependence City might be left in tatters."
"That's the most likely explanation. Hey, let's not concern ourselves with that. Let's hurry along, get to Baiyun Village first and hide, and then sneak up after the great war breaks out. Ginseng and silver banknotes—if we can get the Shaoyang Scripture, hehe, our brothers will be rich."
"It's best to sneak up from the Back Mountain."
Hearing this, Jiang Ming stood up and walked over.
Invitations from the Xiao family?
They were really determined to label Baiyun Village as bandits and invite the Tianxia Sects to attack them.
"This road is blocked!" Jiang Ming stood in front of the three men.
"Kid, are you looking for trouble?!" The frontmost man was a bonze, carrying a Water-Fire Zen Staff in his hand, his face full of fierce features and an imposing demeanor.
"Stopping people outside the city gates to be a robber? Heh, you must be new. You haven't grown your hair fully yet, huh. Hurry home and feed, it'll save you from losing your head!" Another man said.
But Jiang Ming said nothing and took action directly.
The three men had decent strength—one was at the Innate realm and the other two were at first-tier. They were no ordinary people in the world of martial arts.
"How dare you?!" The bonze was furious, and his attack caused thunder in the air.
Jiang Ming effortlessly pushed back the three men.
Looking at their moves and steps, he absorbed their martial arts knowledge, turned it into his own foundation, and strengthened his accumulations.
In just a moment, he had squeezed out everything they had learned. Then he used the Six Meridians Divine Sword to pierce through the three men's wrists, and with a flick of his sleeve, he forced them all back.
"A small lesson to teach a bigger one, dare to covet Baiyun Village again, death!" Jiang Ming leaped back to the green stone and sat down. "I am the Commander of Baiyun Village, Jiang Ming."
After that, he closed his eyes.
The three people's faces were ugly, especially the injuries on their wrists, which made them even more uneasy.
If Jiang Ming had not been merciful, they would be...
Dead!
They reluctantly bowed and hastily retreated back into the city, spreading the news that the leader of Baiyun Village was blocking the western city gate.
The news spread fast.
More and more powerful people were rushing towards the area, but all were staying in the distance, looking at Jiang Ming with some dread.
"Amitabha Buddha!" A young monk approached with a compassionate expression on his face but a sharp light in his eyes.
He stopped two meters away.
"I am Disciple Huijian of Dalin Temple, and you must be Jiang Ming, the leader of Baiyun Village, Chang Qing?" Huijian asked politely, his voice gentle.
"That's right!" Jiang Ming looked at him. "Huijian, I've heard of you; you are the most talented disciple of Dalin Temple's current generation, with the strength of the Innate Peak, capable of contending with the average Grandmaster level powerful person. So, you want to get involved too?"
"Baiyun Village is a gathering place for mountain thieves, and there has been too much killing recently. I have come to resolve grudges and persuade the people of Baiyun Village to put down their butcher knives, repent for their sins, and start anew, clearing the air and putting an end to the killing." Huijian gently responded, "As for the donor, you should return to Dalin Temple with me, recite scriptures every day, and let go of the killing thoughts in your heart. As the saying goes, when one puts down the butcher's knife, one instantly becomes a Buddha."
"So you mean if someone kills and then repents for their sins, they can become a Buddha?" Jiang Ming's expression took a bizarre turn.
"Amitabha Buddha!" Huijian chanted a Buddhist mantra, "Recognize oneself, sincerely repent, and that is putting down the butcher's knife; recite scriptures daily, pray every night, and your heart will turn towards goodness, so you can indeed become a Buddha."
"Can the Demon Sect members who slaughtered towns and cities and committed countless murders also go to Dalin Temple and become Buddhas? Can they just repent for their sins and be exempted from punishment after killing your parents? Can they read a few scriptures after killing your Master and act as if nothing happened?" Jiang Ming asked with a smile.
"Donor, you are twisting my words." Huijian's face darkened.
"According to what you said, isn't that the case?" Jiang Ming laughed and said, "Why is it twisting words when it comes from my mouth? According to the teachings of your Dalin Temple, all the sinners in the world can go to the Dalin Temple to repent and atone without receiving any punishment, even trample on the laws of the court, and even let go of the enmity of their parents, wives, and children."
Huijian's face turned as dark as water.
"If a butcher can atone for his sins and even become a Buddha, what about the people who get killed?" Jiang Ming asked again. "Do they deserve to die? To be kind to sinners is the greatest blasphemy to good people and the greatest evil."
"You're forcing your argument!" Huijian was furious.
"Ha ha!" Jiang Ming laughed. "Isn't this what you said? Why is it forcing when it comes from me? According to you, if I destroy the Big Buddha Temple and then put my hands together, chanting 'Amitabha Buddha,' I can become a Buddha too, right? If I kill your Buddha and then put down my sword, reading scriptures, can I become your Buddha too?"
"Amitabha Buddha! You twist Buddha's teachings, commit serious sins, and must be a demon head reincarnate, blaspheme my Buddha, and should be executed!" Huijian struck immediately.
"Tsk tsk tsk, this is Buddha!" Jiang Ming dodged a blow and continued, "According to what you said, even demon heads can become Buddhas if they put down their butcher's knife. How can it be executed when you're executing a future Buddha?"
"Seeking death!" Huijian, enraged, attacked with even greater ferocity.
His palms flew and shattered the rocks.
"Tongue Blooming Lotus, everything can become a Buddha, but not a Buddha, it should be executed, wonderful, haha, wonderful!" Jiang Ming couldn't help laughing again, engaging in a battle with Huijian.
He forcefully suppressed Huijian, forcing him to use all his learning continuously.