Chapter 564 – To Be Unfazed By Emotion (2/2)

TL: Less of a translation note and more of a clarification for the interaction between Li Qingshan and Gu Yanying, as well as Gu Yanying’s philosophy.

The other thing is how Gu Yanying won’t fall in love with anyone. This does not imply Gu Yanying is afraid of falling in love, or becoming overly attached, or afraid of losing the person she loves—she’s not afraid of anything in this case. She knows what will happen if she falls in love and this is a conscientious, rational choice she’s made regarding the path of cultivation she’s chosen. Of course, she might just end up falling in love, but the consequences will be far worse than just becoming attached to someone. She’ll essentially be going against the belief she’s been holding onto all this time and the path she’s chosen.

If you haven’t realised, this is also where her “graceful, unrestrained bearing” comes from. She refuses to be tethered down by anything, making her free like the wind, yet also making her seem a little heartless at times.

Leaving the Waterside Pavilion of Listening Wind, the heavy fragrance of flowers had yet to completely vanish. Heavy snow drifted through the air right before him.

“Let’s go!”

Li Qingshan said to Xiao An and rode off on a cloud, heading into the horizon. He did not glance back even once the entire time.

Sitting on the cloud, he opened the mental map of the Green province. He could still remember the word of advice she had given him, “The Green province spans fifteen thousand kilometers. The jianghu is only but a corner.”

He smiled gently. “The nine provinces are like a well, trapping me in here. I’m just a tiny tadpole. I better leap upwards as hard as I can! I can’t let this bird woman look down on me.”

Although riding clouds was nowhere near as fast as flying in his daemon form, it was still extremely fast. He reached the edge of the Ruyi commandery very soon and shot past it without halting at all. It was like he had crossed through an invisible barrier, stepping into a higher land.

Although there was as much as five thousand kilometers between them and the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, Li Qingshan was in no hurry. When he came across any particularly touching sights, he would stop and take a look, witnessing the fine landscape and scenery of many lands.

Apart from Xiao An behaving differently from the past, the journey was extremely smooth, taking up two days.

Suddenly, a steep, magnificent mountain appeared on the horizon.

Li Qingshan passed by many renowned mountains and rivers along the way, but none of them could rival this mountain in bearing.

It was not particularly tall or large, but it had a solemn bearing to it in the way it stood on the land.

The mountain was covered with buddhist pagodas, and the halls formed an unbroken chain with eaves that curled up and protruded corners, giving off the sound of chanting.

“We’re here! This is the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga!”

Li Qingshan stowed the mental map of the Green province away and descended far away. Regardless of the sect, none of them liked cultivators flying over them. Li Qingshan was confident in his strength, but he was not confident enough to provoke this large buddhist sect.

At this very moment, the red sun rose up from the east, gilding the entire mountain with a layer of gold.

Li Qingshan’s eyes lit up, gazing at it from bottom to top. The silhouette of the mountain was like a giant buddha sitting cross-legged. The obscure chanting was like the gentle recitals of the great buddha, awakening the people of the world from their blinding obsessions.

Under the sunlight, the golden hall at the very top gave off rings of golden light like the halo behind the great buddha. It accentuated its dignified aura of holiness, enough for people to drop to their knees and prostrate themselves even if involuntarily.

He understood why this mountain was called Great Buddha mountain now.

Li Qingshan sucked in a deep breath and regained his composure. Looking at Xiao An, her gaze was fixed on the great buddha. The Samādhi Flames of White Bone blazed in the depths of her eyes.

“Are you ready?”

Li Qingshan rubbed Xiao An’s head, and she nodded.

The two of them purposefully slowed down, passing through the thick forest and arriving on the mountain path.

Perhaps this could not be regarded as a “mountain path” anymore. It was over three hundred meters wide, rising and falling, twisting and turning on the mountain like a dragon, extending towards the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. If this world had not been a world of cultivation, it would be extremely difficult to construct such a path even using the modern technology from his past life.

Even more shockingly, the great path was covered with travellers. The closer it was to the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, the denser they became. Just by gazing over, Li Qingshan had spotted over a hundred thousand people; clearly, there were more paths like this elsewhere on Great Buddha mountain.

Countless men and women, old and young, prostrated themselves with each step, making their way towards Great Buddha mountain. There was even a grey-haired old woman who did the same. Whenever she took a step, she would throw herself onto the ground in prostration such that Li Qingshan even began to worry about whether she could climb back up or not. Beside her was a child, probably her grandson. He still seemed rather muddle-headed, but he still copied the old woman, bringing his hands together and prostrating with each step.

They did not talk. It was silent and solemn, yet as harmonious as if they were siblings. The sunlight illuminated their faces, which were sincere and determined, glowing with peace and happiness. This was the glow of resolute belief.

Even non-believers would be influenced by this sight. Li Qingshan also brought his hands together and bowed towards Great Buddha mountain in the distance.

As a transmigrator, he did not believe in anything, but he did respect the beliefs of others. The life of mortals was filled with pain. Not everyone had the opportunity to become a cultivator or was allowed to attempt to break free from the shackles of fate. Holding onto belief like this was not a bad thing.

People would always need some consolation. Non-believers would always look down on the word “belief”, but they would buy and drink alcohol without restraint, wallowing in the internet, gorging themselves on indulgences like food, sex, or gambling. They were not necessarily more clever than people prostrating to the statue of a buddha.

Not to mention that buddhas actually existed here. They were powerful figures that possessed great wisdom and great strength. The Western Paradise Sukhāvatī and the Hell realm Naraka existed as well. Accumulating good karma and being reborn in paradise was all real.

Thinking up to there, Li Qingshan gained a clearer understanding of what the word “buddha” represented. They were existences with powers well beyond his imaginations. He glanced at Great Buddha mountain in the distance again and said to Xiao An with his soul sense, “If they don’t provoke us, there’s no need for us to actively work against them either.”