34 – Diary Reading and Theological Exchange

Third day of the Cold Winds

I have practiced writing like humans. These are the names I like:

Jīnlián (金莲|Golden Lotus)

Yùlián (玉莲|Jade Lotus)

Bìhuī (碧辉|Jade Radiance)

I like Jinlian the most. It sounds the prettiest.

Today I ate two spirit carps and one armored crocodile. The crocodile meat was tough but tasty. Humans really write about what they eat, right? So I will write too.

Seventeenth day of the Melting Snows (many cold winds later)

A strong demonic bull came today. He is also Semi-Golden Core, same as me. He said I am the most beautiful serpent he has ever seen and wants to take me as his mate. I refused. He got angry and we fought. I broke one of his horns with my tail. He ran away.

Stupid bull.

Forty-second day of the Blooming Season

The bull came again. This time he brought gifts. Two fat spirit deer and many spiritual fruits. I took the gifts and told him to leave. He seemed happy even though I rejected him again.

Strange creature.

Ninth day of the Scorching Season (many moons later)

The bull keeps coming with gifts. Today he brought three sets of beautiful human clothes. He said they would look perfect when I finally transform. The clothes are very revealing. Especially the last one. I still took them.

He is useful. As long as he doesn’t touch me, I will keep accepting his gifts.

Third day of the Falling Leaves

A terrifying presence appeared near my territory today. Golden Core cultivator. Extremely powerful. I hid deep in my cave and covered myself with dirt and scales. I was so scared I didn’t dare to breathe.

But I got curious… I peeked.

It was a woman. She was bathing in the spiritual spring under the moonlight. Her skin was pale and smooth like the finest jade. She touched herself between her legs and on her breasts, making soft, sweet sounds. Her expression looked like she was feeling immense pleasure.

I watched for a long time. My tail kept twitching. I felt hot inside.

When she left, I tried it too. I touched the place between my scales where it feels best. It felt strange but nice. I kept going. The feeling got stronger and stronger until something burst inside me. My whole body shook. It was good. Very good.

Fifth day of the First Snow (one full season later)

She caught me, but she did not kill me.

Her name is Lán Huá (兰华| Orchid Splendor). She didn’t kill me. She said I was “adorable” and “interesting.” She came closer and touched my golden scales, praising how beautiful they were. Then she taught me how to touch myself properly. Her fingers felt better than my own. I lost my mind many times that night.

She comes sometimes now. She says I am talented. She teaches me many things. Not just pleasure. She also teaches me arrays and how to use my golden scales better.

I think… I like it when she visits.

Eighteenth day of the Great Heat (almost two seasons later)

Lan Hua came again tonight. She looked tired from her travels. I wanted to make her feel good, so I showed her something I always wanted to try.

I wrapped my long serpentine body around her gently, coiling twice around her waist and legs. While holding her with my coils, I used both hands to pleasure her. I touched the places she showed me last time, rubbing and stroking while my tail caressed her back and breasts.

Lan Hua moaned loudly. Her body trembled more and more. Finally, she cried out and squirted powerfully, soaking my hands and lower body. She looked completely lost in pleasure.

After she recovered, she stroked my hair and whispered, “Jinlian… you’re becoming better than me at this. Such a talented little serpent.”

My heart felt warm when she called me that.

“Can you not read it out loud!?” Fumo finally snaps as he drives. As the seat fits my size, I make some adjustments so his feet can press the gas and brake. He learns how to drive surprisingly quickly. Well, the fact that there’s no one on the road also helps.

“I thought you might be curious,” I teased, flipping another page. “This part is actually pretty well-written.”

Fumo’s jaw clenched. He had been quietly chanting sutras under his breath for the last ten minutes as he drives

“But eyes on the road,” I remind him to focus, “you might hit a stray buck.” 

“And what do you think I’m doing while you keep reading that sinful book!?” Fumo shouts, his patience finally runs out. His ears were bright red. I glanced at his emotional halo and there’s a little hue of pleasure I see. Hidden beneath all the embarrassment.

“But you like it though. ” I decided to test what is Fumo’s slight masochist flavor is

“WHAT!? NO, I’M NOT!” Fumo’s lie taste like a tea with too much sugar

“Yes you did! Not the content of the book but how you are forced to listen.”

“NO! I. Did. Not!” Fumo growled, staring intensely at the winding road.

“I tell you man, you like—

“I. did. Not. —

“HELP! HELP!”

DUARRR!

Fumo slammed both feet on the brake. The truck screeched violently to a halt. Both of us lurched forward before slamming back into our seats. Fumo’s eyes wide on the road. Hand gripping the wheel tightly. Surprised by how fast it happens. I open the window and peek outside. A man sprawled beside the road. Bleeding profusely with plenty of broken bones. And he looks familiar

“Fumo, just drive.” I said calmly. “He’s part of a bandit group and this is their usual scam.” I repeat what Lao Meng’s said and from my personal experience

“You sure?” Fumo asked, even as we both sensed multiple hostile presences moving through the trees

“Yes.” Fumo hesitated for half a second, then stepped on the gas as he decided to trust me. The truck roared forward, leaving the “injured” man behind.

“Third Brother! NOOOOO!” A loud shout echoes through the forest and to the hills

I leaned back comfortably in my seat and reopened the diary.

“It’s fine,” I said casually. “I already ran over their Second Brother last week.”

Fumo stared at me for a long moment, then started muttering prayers again. This time louder than before.

As to not repeat this accident, I didn’t read out loud this time

Third day of the Autumn Winds (one full season later)

Lan Hua returned today. She brought me a cultivation book called The Coiling Lotus. She made it specifically for me! For when I finally gained a human upper body! She looked proud when she gave it to me.

After she left, I decided.

My name will be Jinlian. No more thinking about other names.

I am Jinlian.

I read the name she decided for herself. Then reread it again. It is a nice name. I closed the book for now. The entries after that are quite mundane. Back to narrating what she eats, waiting for Lan Hua to return, and a pack of Ashen Wolves encroaching on her territory. There's a few entries left but I decided to hold it off for now as there’s nothing important for the next ten pages. It would seem like the problem, or rather, my karma with Jinlian is not yet finished. As there’s this bull and not to mention Lan Hua. I hope I didn’t meet them anytime soon and that they don’t recognize me else there will be plenty of headaches.

By the time evening fell, we had stopped at a wide clearing near the river.

“Is it still far from the wolves’ territory?” I asked. Fumo knew the route better than I did.

“We should arrive quite early tomorrow,” he replied, sitting cross-legged on a large rock. “We’ve covered a good distance today, even without flying.”

“How much is this good distance? And what are your thoughts on driving for the first time?” It is a pity the truck cannot fly when Fumo drives it. As the truck is my soul projection, flying is currently entirely reliant on me controlling the projection. So Fumo cannot use it for flight.

Fumo smiled slightly. “I’d say around five hundred Li. That’s more than ten times what a mortal caravan could manage, and over twice what a caravan with Qi Refining beasts could do.”

Again, I don’t know how far is this Li as I am from civilized metric measurements. But let’s assume it is a good distance. If A Li is close to one kilometer then it is a really good distance. 

I sat near Fumo and made some fire. While he began chanting sutras again under his breath, I found myself with nothing to do. I wasn’t hungry, but the silence felt boring. So with nothing else to do, I project a machine to process the potatoes that I have. So I projected a large food processing machine and dumped several sacks of potatoes into it. The machine hummed to life, peeling and slicing them into thin, uniform chips.

I start taking out the oversized cooking utensils Xiaochuan has bought for me. It is light enough in my hands, but just from the size, it would be very heavy for a normal boy. I paused to see the pot in my hands. Perhaps the reason he didn’t get to the shelter in time is that he slowed down from my orders. Or even because taking multiple back and forth runs.

“Brother Danxing.” Fumo called out as I prepared the large pot.

“Yes?”

“I’ve noticed something,” he said, watching me curiously. “Since we’ve been traveling together, you’ve never once prayed or chanted any sutras. Why is that?”

I poured cooking oil into the oversized pot and set it on a projected stand.

“Well, in case my choice of bedtime reading didn’t make it obvious,” I said with a grin, “I’m not exactly devout or pious. I rarely prayed back home. Chanting Bible verses isn’t required, though reading the Bible regularly is recommended.”

I controlled the fire directly and began heating the oil.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t bring anything with me when I was… spirited away to this world.”

Fumo tilted his head. “Then do you still remember the contents of this Bible?”

“The important parts. Hopefully,” I replied with a small shrug.

“Hmm.” Fumo thought for a moment, then offered, “Perhaps we can exchange knowledge about our respective faiths? It might even help you recall things more clearly.”

I considered his suggestion briefly before nodding. “Sure, why not?”

Fumo smiled gently and began, his voice calm and measured.

“In Buddhism, we believe that life is filled with suffering. This suffering comes from our desires and attachments. But there is a way to end this suffering. By following the Noble Eightfold Path. Right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, and so on. We can purify ourselves and eventually reach Nirvana, a state of complete peace and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.”

He looked at me expectantly. “What about your faith? What do Christians believe?”

I leaned back. thinking for a moment.

“Well… we believe there is one God who created everything. Then Adam and Eve, the first humans, committed the original sin. But God loves us so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. If we believe in Him, repent, and accept His grace, we can be forgiven and have eternal life in Heaven after we die.” 

“Hmmm.” Fumo thought for a while. “Previously you said that Christians don't believe in reincarnation. Does that mean that if one doesn’t believe in your God and repent, they are consigned to hell or this eternal separation depending on the interpretations you said?”

I start frying the potato chips. “Basically yeah.” 

Fumo’s expression grew concerned. “That kind of belief… couldn’t it easily lead to dangerous fundamentalism?”

“Hmm…” I hummed thoughtfully, recalling the history of my world. “Pretty much. I know other religions existed but like before, you are the first one I met. Proselytizing to non Christians is also quite heavy. Not to mention the Second Crusade to the American continent and founding of the Belisarian Inquisition in 1177. Which is more than nine hundred years ago.”

“Bear in mind that the second crusade is called after it is found by the explorers that a civilization present which heavily practiced human sacrifice and skinning. Other indigenous tribes also support the crusade as that particular civilization heavily oppresses other tribes for tributes or even raiding the tribes for sacrifice or fun. Then the Inquisition is to make sure such practices are rooted out in Christian lands. Though I don’t hear if such a heavy-handed method is used again for another faith after that.”

Fumo nodded slowly, absorbing my words. After a moment, he asked another question.

“Then… how do Christians achieve salvation? In Buddhism, we believe in self-cultivation. Through discipline, wisdom, and following the Eightfold Path, one gradually purifies the mind and accumulates merit until reaching enlightenment. It is a long journey of one’s own effort.”

He looked at me with genuine interest. “What about your faith? Is salvation also achieved through effort?”

I thought for a moment, trying to recall the teachings properly.

“Not exactly. In Christianity, salvation is mainly by grace. We believe humans can’t earn their way into Heaven through good deeds alone. Instead, God offers forgiveness and eternal life as a gift through Jesus’ sacrifice. But humans are expected to actively work with that grace. But they come after you’re saved, not as a way to earn it.”

Fumo tilted his head slightly. “So… it is received rather than achieved?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” I said

Fumo was quiet for a moment, clearly reflecting on the idea of grace. Then he gently shifted the topic.

“You mention ‘original sin’, what is it?”

“Well, how to summarize this?” I hum. “During the time of creation, Adam and Eve are placed within the Garden of Eden. Within the Garden, there’s a Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in which they are forbidden to eat the fruit. In short they ate the fruit after being tempted to be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Fumo raises his eyebrows. “So the original sin is knowing good and evil?”

“Not exactly. It is deciding good and evil themselves instead of God. At least that’s the interpretation that I know of.” I pick up the first batch of potato chips from the pot. “Surely you have heard people justifying something as good? Or even lesser evil?”

“I see. In Buddhism, any action that causes suffering is considered unwholesome deeds (惡業|È Yè). Things that stem from Greed, Hatred or Anger, and Ignorance. Killing, stealing, lust, lying, and intoxication. ”

He paused, then continued, “So if I understand correctly, in your faith, sin is anything that goes against God’s will?”

I blinked, slightly impressed by how quickly he grasped it. “Yeah… pretty much.”

“As for karma, I don’t think we need to compare.”

Fumo nods. “At least we both value the same basic virtues in the end.”

The heavy conversation gradually faded into comfortable silence.

I scooped the golden, crispy potato chips into an oversized bowl. Reaching into my storage ring, I pulled out a fist-sized container of salt, opened the lid, and dumped all of its content over the chips before giving the bowl a good shake.

“Want some chips?” I asked, holding the bowl out toward Fumo.