Chapter 201 — Freeloading
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
On Sumeru Mountain, the Tathagata saluted Imperial Teacher Jingping: "Imperial Teacher Jingping, this matter being concluded, this old monk takes his leave. " "Go safely, Tathagata.
" Imperial Teacher Jingping returned the salute. The phantom of Sumeru Mountain drifted westward. Qiong Fuzi, Tian Zhenjun, and the others turned to look back, and saw Imperial Teacher Jingping order his men to cut off the bronze-masked man's head and bury it on the spot, while the headless body was placed in a coffin, prepared for transport to the capital. Li Sanren sighed: "Elder Daoist brother Tathagata, had it not been for you this time.
.
. " The Old Tathagata shook his head: "Say no more.
Imperial Teacher Jingping is already displeased with our Great Thunderclap Temple.
Come, let us return to the mountain. I expect that wayward disciple of mine has taken the chance to return to the temple and seize his arm. If we go back in time, we may still run into him.
" The monks on the mountain felt a chill in their hearts.
The phantom of Sumeru Mountain drifted to the peak where Shen Mu and the others stood, and from below came a cold laugh again: "Thieving baldy! " The bodhisattvas, arhats, and venerable ones on the mountain shouted in reply: "Vile spawn of the demonic path! " The Old Tathagata shook his head, brought Sumeru to a halt, cast his gaze downward, and abruptly pressed his palms together: "Elder brother. " A look of surprise crossed the Old Tathagata's face.
He nodded and led the assembly away.
"Cult Leader, why did you bother returning that old bald donkey's salute? " the Right Protector Envoy Xue Bi'e grumbled: "Now that your true identity is exposed, seen clearly by that old thieving baldy—trouble is bound to arise!
" "As the Holy Cult Leader, since he greeted me with the courtesy of an equal, I could not fail to return it.
" Shen Mu smiled: "I am the Holy Cult Leader—I could not keep the secret forever. Besides, I cannot let you all lose face, nor let the Holy Cult lose face.
" They all called out: "We would rather have no face at all!
"