925 On Behalf of Heaven (2/2)
The Abbey Dean said calmly, ”If the gate to the Divine Kingdom could not be reopened, you will eventually be a nobody too.”
The Drunkard was slightly shocked. He did not expect that a wastrel like the Abbey Dean would be aware of such a secret. He said with a cold voice, ”Someone like you can contribute nothing to those heavenly matters.”
The Abbey Dean said, ”It was said when the Chief Monk gave the preaching, there were countless ants flying up as they bathed in the sunlight. Although they couldn't reach the sky, they became countless flaming spots as if that was the gate to Nirvana.”
The Chief Monk he mentioned was definitely the Chief Monk of Scripture of the Xuankong Temple. The Drunkard understood what he meant and frowned. ”You are so conceited. How could Haotian considered you pious?”
The Abbey Dean answered, ”Haotian's perception of human beings would never change no matter what we do.”
The Drunkard said, ”I'm not Haotian and I do change. Now I want to kill you even more.”
The Abbey Dean asked, ”Why do you want to kill me?”
The Drunkard said, ”Because your conceit makes me afraid. I'm the Drunkard. Do I even need a reason to kill?”
The Abbey Dean continued calmly, ”You don't need to pretend to be mad. That's not going to work with me. I know you are neither Ke Haoran nor Liu Bai. You are just addicted to alcohol.”
The Drunkard was a bit stunned and said, ”So what kind of person do you think I am?
”Addiction to alcohol is indulgence, and addiction to meat is greed. The two of you have been cultivating on human desires. The human desires are overwhelming and indestructible. You survived the previous Ever Night just because you cultivated on these desires. Therefore, you are cowards. The stronger your desire for survival is, the more fearful of death you become.” The Abbey Dean said to him with a smile, ”You said previously you have not been to West-Hill for a long while. I know that was a lie. Actually you've never come to West-Hill because you are afraid. You are afraid of being found by Haotian.”
The Drunkard became stern.
The Abbey Dean continued, ”In the teaching of our Haotian Taoism, the human desires are our original sins. You and the Butcher are steeped in your sins. Now that Haotian has promised to cleanse your sins, I suppose you should no longer be as cowardly as you used to be.”
The Drunkard said, ”But what you are going to do is against her will.”
The Abbey Dean shook his head and said, ”You are wrong.”
The Drunkard asked, ”Why am I wrong?”
”Taking the human desires and the cause and effect concept taught by Buddhism into consideration, we would be able to see through truth of most things and what every human being actually desire for. Xiong Chumo sought for glory, magnificence, and the worldly fame. Therefore he cared nothing but his power.” He glanced at Long Qing and turned back to the Drunkard, ”You and the Butcher want immortality, while Haotian wants to return to the Divine Kingdom. She might forget that, but we, as her followers, should constantly remind her. If she could no longer remember it, then we have to find a way to send her back.”
The Drunkard asked, ”So that's not against her will?”
The Abbey Dean answered, ”Correct.”
The Drunkard kept quiet for a long while. Then he looked at the wise Abbey Dean and sighed. ”I never met anyone as weird as you. Please excuse me for not going to keep your company.”
The Abbey Dean said calmly, ”You have to stay on my side.”
The Drunkard mocked, ”Throughout these years, the Taoists dared not to mess with me. Now it has changed, huh?”
The Abbey Dean asked, ”How about Haotian?”
The Drunkard said, ”Her telling me that in person is completely different from you speculating her thoughts. Not to mention that your speculation is probably against her will.”
The Abbey Dean said, ”You could go take a look and help me send a message.”
The Drunkard frowned and asked, ”Send a message to whom?”
The Abbey Dean explained slowly, ”I can't travel much now. The way to the west is too long. I can only rely on you.”
The Drunkard finally confirmed what he had speculated. He turned dramatically and shouted, ”That's extremely audacious! There's no chance to win! Even if she is much weaker now, she is after all Haotian. Throughout the cyclic existence of the human world, all those who dared to disobey Heaven all died. Even the Headmaster lost to her. How could someone like you and me win?”
”You are wrong. This is not disobeying. It is …” The Abbey Dean said calmly, ”To proceed on behalf of Heaven.”
To proceed on behalf of Heaven — what if Heaven would not speak or approve? In that case, how could they proceed? By floating on the sea?
Yet none of those would be the Abbey Dean's choice.
He was extremely firm. If Heaven could not do this, then I will proceed on behalf of Heaven. As long as I pursue and execute Heaven's Rules, no one could claim me wrong, not even Heaven.
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