Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2277: Chapter 2276: A Thread of Obsession

Gao Zhou was still reeling from the shock when Abbot Pu Zhu rushed in with others.

”Brother, where is my brother?” Pu Zhu asked, his face awash with tears.

Bai Ruozhu tried to steady herself, pointing to the wooden box with the relic inside, she said, ”Master has already departed, and these are the relics he left behind.”

”His body...” Pu Zhu wished to see him one last time, but upon asking, he recalled Pu Deng’s words and quickly held back.

”Thank you, Bai Benefactor, Gao Benefactor, for seeing my brother off.” Pu Zhu, tears streaming down his face, bowed to the two of them, and the other monks joined him in bowing, soon breaking into uncontrollable weeping.

The grief was heartfelt, for they sincerely respected Master Pudeng and were deeply pained by his passing.

Bai Ruozhu also felt a bit unsettled, she bowed to Pu Zhu and said, ”Then we’ll take our leave for now, let us know if you need anything.”

Pu Zhu, too heartbroken to speak and having no time for pleasantries, nodded to show she could do as she wished.

Bai Ruozhu tugged at the still-dazed Gao Zhou, and the two left the Main Hall.

Once they were some distance away, Gao Zhou asked as if coming back to life, ”Was he an angel reincarnated? Or do the great monks of this world become angels after death?”

Bai Ruozhu made a shushing gesture and whispered, ”Father, don’t mention this again, have you forgotten Master Pudeng’s instructions?”

”Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up again.” Gao Zhou agreed repeatedly.

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t quite describe her feelings; everything happened too suddenly, and only now did she realize what Master Pudeng’s words before his passing meant.

He asked, ”Did you see her,” with an expectant look in his eyes, clearly he cared about that person, likely referring to the woman who once lived by the cliff. Bai Ruozhu having been there caused this misunderstanding for Pudeng.

A thought of life and death, what thought turns to Buddha, what thought turns to a demon?

If you become a Buddha, I shall become a demon, let’s see how this black-and-white universe cannot accommodate me!

These two lines reappeared in Bai Ruozhu’s mind, she started to piece together the story between the woman and Pudeng.

She sighed softly, unsure if the woman had long passed away or gone elsewhere, and she never got to see Pudeng one last time.

After greeting Gao Zhou, Bai Ruozhu returned to the Room where Jiang Yichun was pacing, revealing his inner unrest.

”Ruozhu, how is it? I heard that Master Pudeng entered Nirvana?” Jiang Yichun asked urgently upon seeing her enter.

The commotion in the temple had just been so loud, and the bell rang nine times, Jiang Yichun just wanted to confirm again.

”Yes, my father and I watched over his Nirvana.” Bai Ruozhu said, and then pulled Jiang Yichun into Space.

Pudeng’s golden body was placed right at the entrance to Space, Bai Ruozhu pointed it out to Jiang Yichun, ”That’s Master Pudeng’s corpse.”

Jiang Yichun’s vision hadn’t fully recovered, he could only see a golden figure, filled with admiration, ”Truly a great virtuous monk, his body became a golden statue after death, it’s said to never decay.”

”But did you know? When the master entered Nirvana, his body emitted several rays of golden light and then ignited by itself, during this, a pair of wings unfurled from his back, massive white wings,” Bai Ruozhu narrated slowly.

Jiang Yichun was taken aback, ”Are you saying Master Pudeng was a demon?”

Bai Ruozhu’s heart skipped a beat, she finally understood why Master Pudeng didn’t want the temple monks to see his body, and why he entrusted the body to her, an outsider, emphasizing it to both Pu Zhu and her.

She and Gao Zhou were brought here through transmigration, their thinking differed somewhat from people of this era, they thought of an angel, while most others would think of a demon.

Bai Ruozhu examined the master’s body carefully, it was a golden statue sitting cross-legged with closed eyes, if not for the layer of gold, she would’ve thought the master was simply meditating and hadn’t entered Nirvana.

His back still bore two wings pressed together, though devoid of feathers and seemingly cast in gold, they still appeared to be a pair of wings that should not belong on a human body.

For a moment, Bai Ruozhu was also confused, she had previously pondered why Master Pudeng did not become a Buddha, guessing it was due to the woman’s words beneath the cliff, ”If you become a Buddha, I shall become a demon,” but now seeing his wings, Bai Ruozhu vaguely felt it was because of his identity; because he was a demon, he could not become a Buddha?

Wouldn’t that be unfair?

Suddenly, a beam of golden light shot out from Pudeng’s body, then a sound like a morning bell and evening drum resonated.

”All phenomena arise naturally, it’s just that the world doesn’t understand. If my true identity were known, it would only harm the innocent monks of Xinchan Temple. Thank you, Bai Benefactor, for your help.” Pudeng’s voice echoed softly.

”Master, you’re still alive!” Bai Ruozhu exclaimed excitedly.

”This is merely a lingering fragment of my consciousness, or perhaps an obsession, which will soon also dissipate. You needn’t worry about it, I don’t even know what I am, nor do I understand my own origins, I only remember my homeland is far, far away, I suppose I am what people refer to as a demon.” Pudeng’s voice was filled with bleakness and helplessness, for no one can choose their birth, even if he became a great virtuous monk, it couldn’t change his true identity.

”Master, don’t be sad. In the place I was born, those with wings like yours are angels, heaven’s messengers, bringing happiness and peace to people. You came into this world and helped so many people, isn’t that just what an angel is?” Bai Ruozhu rushed to say.

Master Pudeng laughed, a carefree laugh, yet not the flamboyant and reckless kind of others.

”Thank you, young Bai friend, this monk has figured it out, now I must go, take care.” As his voice faded, the golden light receded, seemingly leaving white specks of light adrift, could these be the fragments of consciousness he spoke of?

Bai Ruozhu also noticed that just now, Master Pudeng referred to her not as ”Bai Benefactor” but as ”young Bai friend,” meaning he considered her a friend.

She was glad to have been able to comfort Master Pudeng, and turned to speak with Jiang Yichun, only to find him still in a daze.

”Achun?” She waved her hand in front of Jiang Yichun’s eyes.

Jiang Yichun snapped back, ”What is it? What did you say?”

Bai Ruozhu was momentarily stunned, then understood that Master Pudeng spoke without wanting others to know, thus blocking Jiang Yichun’s senses.

Since that was the case, she respected the master’s choice and didn’t elaborate further.

But thinking back, the master had passed, and just this remnant consciousness was already so powerful, it showed how strong he must have been in life.

”What do you plan to do with the master’s body?” Jiang Yichun glanced at Pudeng’s golden body, feeling it was somewhat disrespectful to leave it here.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment, ”The master asked me to nurture his soul and find an opportunity to help him return to his homeland for burial, so he can’t be buried here. Let’s place him by the small Forest for now.”

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