Chapter 733 - 734: What Nursery Rhymes Did You Write?

Chapter 733: Chapter 734: What Nursery Rhymes Did You Write?

There really was such a thing as reaping what you sow in this world.

Chu Xingchen looked at Runan’s sincere face, feeling not a shred of gratitude — in fact, he felt a twinge of disgust.

He really didn’t know whether to say that Runan truly deserved to be the Buddhist sect’s specially selected Honored Buddha. Besides being equally thick-skinned, his learning ability was truly exceptional.

Bai Xuanling’s gaze was naturally amused as she watched Chu Xingchen. This kid had perfected the art of playing innocent to a tee, and now he was getting a taste of his own medicine. It was quite entertaining.

"Since Fellow Daoist is so sincere, then I’ll speak frankly today too." Chu Xingchen put on a equally heart-on-sleeve expression. "Actually, I understand you too, Fellow Daoist. In your heart, you believe that Mahayana Buddhist Teachings will be the Buddhist sect’s true foundation in the future, don’t you?"

"If you push the Small Vehicle on a large scale now, then when you want to push the Mahayana later, it’ll be even harder than it is today."

"After all, Fellow Daoist rose from Buddhist Son to Honored Buddha — when it comes to Buddhist doctrine, you naturally understand the gap between Small Vehicle and Mahayana."

"Your difficulties are my difficulties — I’ll definitely help with this!"

"Li Junzi is also willing to walk the Sub-Sage Path for this cause!"

Chu Xingchen had suspected before but couldn’t be certain of Runan’s true feelings about Mahayana Buddhist Teachings. Now, with these words spoken, he understood.

After all, Chu Xingchen would never believe that Runan would truly harm the Buddhist sect’s interests just to repay some debt of gratitude.

If Runan were truly that sentimental, he wouldn’t have once contemplated killing the Radiant Buddha.

This thick-browed, big-eyed Honored Buddha who’d been suppressing both the Karma Buddha and the Radiant Buddha — in his heart, he was actually quite fond of the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings.

Bai Xuanling suppressed the strange feeling inside her, watching Chu Xingchen’s face full of "I’m doing this for your own good" expressions, and put on a similarly warm smile.

She thought to herself — it was truly remarkable that these words could come out of Chu Xingchen’s mouth. Turning black into white while looking like he genuinely cared.

Truly, a selected Heaven-Blessed Prodigy waspeak in every conceivable sense.

Runan clearly hadn’t expected Chu Xingchen to say something like this either. His warm expression stiffened somewhat — perhaps he too hadn’t imagined that anyone could be this shameless.

Chu Xingchen saw Runan sitting in silence and pressed further:

"Could it be that I misunderstood Fellow Daoist’s intentions? You actually don’t plan to switch to Mahayana?"

"If that’s truly the case, I’ll personally escort the Radiant Buddha to Great Thunder Temple tomorrow."

Runan fell silent again. Though he’d said he’d forget everything once they left Wanhua Ridge, some things couldn’t be said even if you weren’t going to acknowledge them.

"Enough." Bai Xuanling cut in, stepping into their conversation. "You’re both thicker-skinned than the other, and your hearts are blacker than the other’s. As long as your goals align, that’s enough."

"Go home, both of you. Watching you sit here chatting like this — the one being tortured is me."

Runan stood and performed a Buddhist salute:

"In that case, I won’t impose any further."

Chu Xingchen also stood, returning the bow:

"Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again." Runan nodded slightly, then turned and dissolved into golden light.

Chu Xingchen watched the golden light streak away into the distance and shook his head with a helpless smile:

"No wonder Runan is the Honored Buddha — truly one of the best. Comparable to Sect Master Lü in shameless flattery."

Bai Xuanling scoffed: "Lü Xuan’s skin, compared to yours, is like Cui Hao compared to three winters."

"Surely I’m a bit better than three winters?"

"You’re Cui Hao!"

Runan streaked through the sky in golden light, the warmth in his eyes completely gone, replaced by a trace of helplessness. He sighed softly.

He’d originally thought Chu Xingchen was a genuinely sincere person. Now it seemed, that had been his own wishful thinking.

The Small Vehicle Buddhist Teachings — he’d initially intended to push them earnestly, which was why he’d carefully selected the candidates.

At the time, he’d also believed Chu Xingchen was genuinely helping.

Now looking back...

But it was fine. After all, even he himself wouldn’t truly be selfless toward others now, let alone Chu Xingchen, who wasn’t even a Buddhist cultivator.

If you truly wanted to turn the tide of heaven, being shameless and breaking promises might indeed be necessary conditions.

As for abandoning the Small Vehicle rollout, Runan had his own calculations.

The Buddhist sect’s turmoil hadn’t subsided. If the Small Vehicle failed, it would allow the sect to temporarily step back from its most prominent position in the storm. Though reputation would drop a notch, what the Buddhist sect needed right now was time to recover.

Second, this also served as leaving a favor with Chu Xingchen.

I know, I understand you’re using me, but I’m willing.

Even if Chu Xingchen’s verbal prowess didn’t diminish, he’d still have to feel grateful in his heart.

Just as Runan was now using this matter to repay Chu Xingchen’s unconditional help in stabilizing the Buddhist sect.

Naturally, the most important reason driving Runan to do this was that he understood — if Chu Xingchen truly wanted to use the Buddhist sect as a stepping stone for Li Junzi, the sect genuinely had no way to continue pushing the Small Vehicle.

A task that was impossible to accomplish anyway — there was no need to antagonize Chu Xingchen further over it. Better to do a favor and be done with it.

If Li Junzi truly became a Sub-Sage and later said one word — "What kind of joke is the Buddhist sect?" — the Buddhist sect’s mortal foundation would be thoroughly shaken.

Runan was also more willing to believe that if Chu Xingchen wanted it, perhaps the Sub-Sage could truly reappear in the world.

The calculation of interests was one reason. Perhaps, as Chu Xingchen had said, he too had already acknowledged the Mahayana Buddhist Teachings in his heart.

The golden light flowed on, and Great Thunder Temple was now within reach.

Runan’s gaze caught a figure that had paused to perform a Buddhist salute, and he stopped as well:

"Wu Wang..."

Wu Wang performed the salute, his expression earnest:

"Honored Buddha, this disciple is personally heading to Southern Zhanbu Continent to supervise the Small Vehicle rollout."

"Mm." Runan could only nod slightly. After a brief thought, he still spoke: "Act within your means. Pushing the Small Vehicle won’t be easy either."

Wu Wang’s attitude was perfectly proper, his tone full of assurance:

"Please rest assured, Honored Buddha. This disciple will give it his all."

Runan saw this and didn’t say more. If he said anything more, this Buddhist Son might just die in Southern Zhanbu Continent. He only added one instruction:

"If you encounter difficulties, come to Great Thunder Temple and find me."

With that, Runan’s figure entered Great Thunder Temple.

Wu Wang slowly rose, his gaze lingering on Runan’s retreating figure before turning toward Southern Zhanbu Continent.

Difficulties?

Southern Zhanbu Continent was already full of difficulties.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed off alone ahead of time.

Southern Zhanbu Continent, Xuanwu Kingdom’s imperial capital.

Cui Hao looked pleased with himself, his steps somewhat jaunty as he headed toward Li Junzi’s study.

He pushed open the door with practiced ease, his mouth moving faster than his eyes:

"Master Li, I’ve written you another nursery rhyme today... uh... ah..."

Cui Hao’s eyes went wide, his voice suddenly stuttering:

"E-Eldest Senior Sister... what are you doing here?"

Inside the study.

Li Yingling held a book in her hands, her gaze slightly angled as she appraised Cui Hao. She didn’t answer his question, instead asking in an unfriendly tone:

"What nursery rhymes did you write?"

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