Iraq’s civil war erupted quickly and ended just as fast. The Iraqi government had captured the armed rebels, including several important heads. They were now conducting a total sweep of all those who participated in the rebellion, things wouldn’t be over that soon.
Thanks to this sudden turn of events, Xu Zhenyu and the gang’s Envoy’s Mission had also been successfully completed. With reinforcements from Xu Xianghu, the group was currently secreted away in a safe house as they waited for the fighting in Iraq to taper off. Once the traveling restrictions were lifted, they would be able to head back to their own country.
Nevertheless, even though Iraq had sealed off its borders from the world, there was no stopping Si Yiyan from leaving.
Si Yiyan didn’t return to Capital city in Country Z but headed to another place.
Nepal!
The home of Buddhism!
Where prayers flags fluttered in the winds, pagodas stood tall and prayer chants never ceased!
Si Yiyan slowly ascended some rather damp stone steps, heading toward an ancient building.
The meandering stone path took one across a cloud of incense, where an ancient Bodhi tree grew in the backyard. It was a peaceful and lovely scene.
Si Yiyan!
You have come from hell, butcher’s knife in hand and drenched in murderous and sinful blood. Why are you standing here now?
Life is just a grand dream, a simple life is all I hope for!
“Why have you come bearing an aura full of killing and sin?” A reverend dressed in gray robes calmly sat cross-legged inside. It was as if a layer of ancient dust covered him, making him look exceptionally quaint and isolated.
His peaceful voice was like a melodious chant.
He had not lifted a single eyelid at Si Yiyan’s arrival.
Si Yiyan knelt before the reverend on a yellow cushion. He clasped his hands together and placed them before his chest. “I have some doubts I hope reverend can help me solve.”
The reverend was unmoved. “I remember I have told your fortunes twice before. The first time when you were five and the second time when you were 18.”
Th reverend continued counting his rosary beads with eyes shut. He had yet to open his eyes since Si Yiyan appeared.
“That’s right.”
Si Yiyan lowered his head slightly as he answered.
The first time was when he was five years old. The reverend said that he was destined to a lonely life.
The second time after he returned to Country Z, he had met this reverend again by chance. The reverend gave him two cotton purses, one red and one white.
The red one held the words: Through thick and thin, until death does them apart!
The white one held the words: Alone in desolation, fated to a lonely life!
“You are Buddha’s incarnate and could have attained Nirvana after three rebirths. There are 108 trials in Buddhism and you have already gone through 107 of them. The final trial requires you to give up love and lust. But you have instead given in to your desires. It is a pity.”
“Don’t you understand the concept that things don’t last forever?”
The reverend’s voice was deep, his words thought-provoking.
Si Yiyan replied in a low voice, “To dig one’s eyes out for fear of temptation after seeing beauty is an act of foolishness. That is because the heart is the main source of temptation. When one’s heart is already tempted, it is difficult for one’s flesh to resist.”
All the eyes could see were temptations!
The heart would thus be clouded, and there was no escape.
The reverend sighed softly as he opened his eyes. “You have come today with your answer?”
The red and white cotton purses.
The white purse represented a chance at transcendence!
Buddha said that after transcending, all feelings would fade in time. Since I no longer feel any emotions and my heart is as calm as the water, why don’t I cut off all earthly ties and devote myself to Buddhism?
The red purse represented predestined doom!
Buddha said that when a person continued to be mired in love and desires, his heart would be tainted and he would be blinded and unable to see the path.
“I have.” Since meeting Wen Xinya, he had become Asura with his blood-drenched butcher’s knife. “Buddha said that you must exchange glances 500 times over your past lives in return for a meeting in this one life. I’m willing to trade one million glances in return for spending the rest of this life with her.” He paused for a second before continuing. “I’m willing to give up three lifetimes of meditation and the good karma accumulated over my 107 previous trials, just so that I can be with her through thick and thin, until death do us apart.”
Buddha upheld the virtuous practice of Buddhism, but the devil preyed on wicked thoughts!
A person with wicked thoughts would fall into hell, never to be reborn!
And Wen Xinya was the driver behind his wicked thoughts!
The reverend’s brows quivered as he asked in a low voice, “Do you know that of the 108 trials, the love trial is the most painful?”
With love came worries and fears!
At this point, he was deeply submerged in love and fear, completely unable to escape.
Si Yiyan replied, “I am just reaping in this life, whatever I sowed in my previous life.”
He had spent his previous life bitter and lonely!
So in this life, he would live it to the fullest!
“It’s always difficult for one to see one’s own failings. You have cut ties with Buddhism and took up Asura’s pathway to hell.” The reverend slowly closed his eyes again. “Leave, you and I are through!”
Si Yiyan remained kneeling. “I have some doubts and hope you can offer me some guidance.”
Previously, he was a disciple of Buddhism.
Now, he was just a follower of the faith.
The reverend replied mildly, “The killing has yet to end, the blood yet to stop flowing. Life is just a grand dream, a simple life is the best. Buddha said a good person can achieve good by wicked means, while a wicked person can do evil via kind methods. All things are created by the mind alone! Do what you deem fit!”
Life is just a grand dream, a simple life is the best.
Life was like one long dream. Whatever you do—right, wrong, kind, evil—only you will know best.
Si Yiyan bowed. “Thank you, reverend, for your help.”
He had interfered with the civil unrest in Iraq for his own selfish motives. He had killed and stained his hands with blood. This was already against all his previous principles. He had turned his back on Buddhism and was already bound for hell.
The reverend did not speak another word.
Silence descended.
It felt like an eternity had passed.
The room held a gloom in which even sunlight would find it difficult to penetrate. Only a single oil lamp was lit.
Si Yiyan sat quietly, appearing oblivious to the passing of time.
All the way until dusk fell and the room was completely dark, did he finally open his eyes and slowly stand up. He bowed without a word to the reverend before turning to leave.
The reverend suddenly opened his eyes.
His profound gray pupils were dull but full of worldly wisdom as he watched Si Siyan walk away step by step.
First step, rebirth!
Second step, hell!
Third step, no return!
Si Siyan was walking down a path of no return.
And he was doing so without any qualms.
As Si Yiyan left the courtyard, he passed by some tourists.
He reached the bottom of the mountain where the temple was situated, before gazing up again. The pagodas were half covered in the mist, while prayer chants continued endlessly.
He slowly took out his mobile phone, which showed that he had more than 30 missed calls and over 20 messages. All of them were from Wen Xinya.
She must have been scared stiff by the civil war in Iraq!
Si Yiyan carefully read through all her messages.
They were all cheerful messages as she didn’t want him to worry.
Actually, nothing concerning her would manage to escape his keen eye.
Old Mr. Wen’s coma, the Wen Family husband-and-wife conflict, her stepping up to take the reins of the Wen Corporation, as well as Old Mr. Wen waking up—he knew everything!
“I have already completed the peace charm. When are you coming back?”
This was the final message sent this morning at 9 am.
Si Yiyan smiled. “It has been three months and it’s time for me to go home!”
He suddenly looked forward to seeing what her peace charm looked like.