Chapter 257 — Borrowing a Sword to Slay the True Dragon
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
The long-browed monk of the Arhat Hall stepped forward and said: "World-Honored One, the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult has done much evil. The Buddha-Child went to see him off, and was slain by him; several of Your Highness's attendants went to rescue the Buddha-Child and likewise lost their lives, their souls returning to the Pure Land."
Crown Prince Jingping was furious: "That fiend dares do such a thing? I did not go looking for trouble with him, and he comes instead to kill my men! My Buddha, this fiend even kills the Buddha-Child, truly reckless beyond measure. He must not be spared!"
Old Tathagata glanced at the Arhats of the Arhat Hall; the Arhats looked at their noses and their noses at their hearts, and said no more.
"Your Highness need not trouble yourself over this matter. Return to the capital as quickly as you can; Great Thunderclap Temple will deal with the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult."
Old Tathagata, mild of countenance, said to the long-browed monk: "Long-Brow, how long have you been in the Arhat Hall?"
"In reply to the World-Honored One, two hundred and nine years."
Old Tathagata said kindly: "You go and deal with the matter of the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult. I permit you to return to lay life."
The long-browed monk was greatly shaken, and raised his head to look at Old Tathagata; but Old Tathagata had already turned and was saying to Crown Prince Jingping: "When Your Highness returns to the capital, do not delay upon the road."
Crown Prince Jingping assented and hurried down the mountain, thinking: "This Buddha is truly unfathomable."
The long-browed monk likewise packed his things and went down the mountain, thinking: "Old Tathagata saw that I lied, and so, before I could even speak, he expelled me from Great Thunderclap Temple, worthy indeed of one of great wisdom and great enlightenment. I could never reach such a state in all my life; better that I make use of this still-useful body and do more for Great Thunderclap Temple!"
He had not gone far down the mountain when suddenly a voice came from the air: "Monk Long-Brow, why not come sit with me a while?"
The long-browed monk looked up and saw a splendid tower-ship halted in the air, the Crown Prince standing at its prow, inviting him.
His heart stirred slightly; at once he rose into the air and landed on the ship, and made his salute: "Your Highness, I am no longer a monk. My family name is Su, and my given name is a single character..."
He thought a moment, then laughed despite himself: "I have not used my lay name in over two hundred years; it is too long ago, I have forgotten it. Your Highness must excuse the laughter."
Crown Prince Jingping said: "Even returned to lay life, you are half monk and half layman; I shall call you Su Long-Brow."
Su Long-Brow thanked him and said: "Then let that be my name. For what matter has Your Highness kept me?"
"The Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult," said Crown Prince Jingping. "This demon-cult sorcerer is full of cunning; he even secretly did away with Sun Nantuo, and no trace could be found! And then, at the Grand Academy's year-end holiday, he went back to the Desolate Ruins alone; I had word spread to draw out masters from every quarter to hunt him down and cut him off, and he is still alive. And I have received word that of the mighty ones who pursued him, Lu Wenshu of the Qiongli Sect, the Green Fish Hermit, the Arhat of Universal Goodness, the Withered Leaf Daoist, even the Green Mountain Daoist, all are dead! The power of the Dark Demon Cult is no weaker than Great Thunderclap Temple's! I fear that if you go after him, you will only be destroyed by him."
Su Long-Brow was shaken. Lu Wenshu, the Green Fish Hermit and the rest were all figures of ringing fame, and the Green Mountain Daoist especially was a mighty one of the orthodox path at the life-and-death realm; the Green Mountain Daoist's powers were in no way inferior to his own!
Even the Green Mountain Daoist was dead?