Chapter 628 — The Divine Eye Between the Brows Opens
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, finally understood. With a half-smile he said, "Nonsense! The Wasteland is a savage place; this is the Buddhist realm.
How could the Buddhas tolerate you unleashing a great slaughter?
" Xuanliao the Demon Ape looked disappointed. He had opened his spirit-intelligence; he was a son of the Buddha, praised as one whose attainments in the Dharma were unfathomable, renowned for an eloquence nothing could obstruct — and yet he was, after all, a creature of the Wasteland. Many of the Wasteland's creatures were like Shen Mu: wild by nature and untamable, with a fierce, unbridled ardor in their breasts.
Even Shen Mu, after living so long in Jingping, still yearned for the days of no restraint — how much more so Xuanliao the Demon Ape? Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, blinked and said with a smile, "It is true that a great slaughter is not permitted. But if another should try to kill you, and you kill him in return by mischance — well, that cannot be helped, and it is worthy of understanding. Even if it comes to an inquiry, there will be those to back you.
" Shen Mu blinked and asked curiously, "I wonder who this person is who will back us? " The Buddha-light behind Sakra's head suddenly went out, and he grew dim. Blinking, he said, "There will naturally be someone to back you. So do not be afraid.
Besides, I too wish to see the arts of Brahma, the Heavenly Buddha King. This chance is rare; I mean to slip in among the Buddha-sons as well — who knows, I may get to see Great Brahma.
I have taken no disciples, so I must go into the field myself. " This Buddha wore a yellow robe. His frame was well-proportioned, so the robe hung loose upon him, trailing to the tops of his feet, and he was fond of going barefoot. Now that his Buddha-light was extinguished, standing among Shen Mu and the others he seemed himself a Buddha-son, hardly like the figure in the Buddhist realm second only to Brahma, the Heavenly Buddha King. "Even the Buddha King wants to compete? " The monk Chenghuai was astonished, and inwardly he grumbled, "If you come to compete, who could possibly outdo you?
" Shen Mu was doubtful. He looked this well-proportioned Buddha up and down and thought, "A Buddha this mischievous — this is the first I have seen. Every other Buddha is imperturbably grave; why is he so flighty? A temper just like mine. .
.
" Shen Mu said quietly, "Chenghuai, what is this Buddha's background? " The monk Chenghuai shook his head.
"I have read nearly all the scriptures of Datingming Temple, but there is little record of this Buddha. " Shen Mu blinked and said with a smile, "Buddha King, you said just now that someone would back us. Could that someone be you? " Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, blinked.
"I said no such thing.
" Shen Mu blinked. "One who has left the household does not lie!
" Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, blinked. "I am a Buddha.
I have not left home.
Wherever I go is my home — why should I leave it?
" The two stared at each other, blinking. After a moment each turned his head away and would not look at the other.
The monk Chenghuai was uneasy at heart.
"Brother Shen stared down the Buddha King — what nerve. When we are back, I must teach him how many ways there are to write the character for death. .
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" "Sore? " Xuanliao the Demon Ape Zhankong asked Shen Mu in a low voice.
Shen Mu nodded. He had blinked the tears out of his eyes just now, and still Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, had not let slip the least hint; his lips were sealed tight.
Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, was rubbing his eyes too; no doubt he had blinked too many times and was feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Shen Mu was doubtful at heart. Sakra, the Heavenly Buddha King, did not behave like a Buddha. He had a powerful curiosity, and there was something human in the way he handled matters — and yet he was the Buddha of Sakra's Heaven in the Buddhist realm, a being second only to Brahma, the Heavenly Buddha King.