Chapter Sixty-Eight: Resolution

“What is this?” Chen Jin listened, utterly perplexed.

He tried to commit it to memory, but found it impossible. It seemed the words could only pass through his mind, then slip away completely—not so much slipping as marching grandly in through the front door and out the back, leaving nothing behind.

It was truly excessive, yet Chen Jin was powerless. He wanted so badly to remember those sounds.

But he simply couldn’t.

“Don’t waste your efforts. This is the Pure Words of the Brahma Gate. Unless you cultivate the Brahma Gate’s methods, you will never be able to learn it.” An aged yet vigorous voice suddenly sounded in Chen Jin’s ear.

His memory stirred, and he realized it was his convenient master.

“Master?” Chen Jin called out, testing the waters.

He had no qualms about addressing anyone as “master.” In modern society, you could run into a petty thief and beg him for mercy as “master,” so in this circumstance, it was even less of a concern.

A few more addresses wouldn’t hurt, and might even bring unexpected benefits—why not? Of course, if someone truly meant well for Chen Jin, and he had sincerely apprenticed himself, he would call them “master” with genuine respect. The tradition of honoring one’s teachers handed down through thousands of years hadn’t been lost; it was just that, in an era awash with material desires, people could no longer truly discern who was sincere.

“Mm.” The voice responded softly, saying nothing more.

Chen Jin’s gaze had already swept the area.

He saw no one else besides himself, Gao Jiu, and Gao Kang.

It seemed the voice had traveled across great distances.

He’d experienced this before, when he was at Mount Gehong, so it didn’t surprise him. After all, his master’s cultivation was comparable to Ge Hong’s.

The monk below was likely on similar footing.

But Master Liaoxin was probably trying to save that woman, so he hadn’t simply subdued her with his power.

“This matter was allowed by Liaoxin, so it should be resolved by him. Don’t concern yourself.” His convenient master transmitted his voice again.

Chen Jin had no intention of interfering.

“I know most of your affairs. Come find me later at Hui Guan.”

With that, his convenient master ceased the transmission.

Chen Jin listened, terrified, fearing the next words would order him to abandon his cultivation and send him off to reincarnation.

Fortunately, his convenient master was not a wrathful person.

Besides, this incident had been within his calculations. Thinking back to his initial encounter with Liaoxin, Chen Jin suddenly felt he’d been guided, step by step, into the path his master had envisioned. Of course, that was just his own wild speculation.

While Chen Jin was lost in thought, the woman, Xiao Mei, ceased to bleed and shed skin.

Master Liaoxin’s expression remained unchanged. The Pure Words of the Brahma Gate flowed steadily from his lips, relentless, as if he meant to wear out his tongue.

Yet his tongue was thick, as was his face.

Eventually, the golden light surrounding Master Liaoxin faded, and the Pure Words slowly drew to a close.

The woman, Xiao Mei, shed a shriveled layer of skin, revealing her true form—a ghostly old lady, sixty or seventy years of age.

“Xiao Mei, let me send you to the Underworld,” Master Liaoxin sighed.

The old lady nodded. Though Chen Jin couldn’t see her face, she seemed liberated.

He felt she was likely hypnotized, brainwashed; inside, she probably still held on.

How could anyone truly let go of their obsession just because a monk recited the Pure Words of the Brahma Gate?

If that were possible, no one in the world would have troubles; everyone would be cheerful, living as if in paradise.

Such a miracle doesn’t exist.

“Be careful of these Pure Words. Don’t fall for that bald man’s tricks,” his convenient master suddenly transmitted again.

“O-okay,” Chen Jin nodded.

As he did so, Master Liaoxin, preparing to send the old lady to the Underworld, suddenly smiled at him.

The rolls of fat on his face bunched up… a wave of greasiness hit Chen Jin.

“I heard everything,” Liaoxin mouthed, though no sound came forth. Chen Jin understood perfectly—lip-reading was a basic skill for a cultivator.

Uh…

Chen Jin was speechless.

Then he watched as Liaoxin began his ritual.

His actions summoned the Underworld’s soldiers, who escorted the old lady away.

Chen Jin watched her depart, then descended gracefully with Gao Jiu and Gao Kang in tow.

He wanted to hear the rest of the story, for it was clear there was much between Master Liaoxin and the old lady.

Yet Liaoxin simply shook his head, then turned to the two beside Chen Jin: “You two are destined with me. Would you care to follow me in cultivation?”

There were many issues with Master Liaoxin’s phrasing—he said they were destined with him, not with Buddha, and spoke of “cultivation,” not specifically Buddhist practice. So following him might mean learning other methods.

Well, quibbling over words was pointless. Better to wait for Liaoxin’s story.

“Yes, yes!” Gao Jiu responded quickly. Being clever, he naturally agreed.

In this day and age, monks likely weren’t so bound by rules.

Gao Kang hurriedly nodded as well.

Both knelt and bowed, accepting him as their master.

Liaoxin nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand, and instantly the two became bald…

“…”

Chen Jin watched silently, the corners of his mouth twitching.

It seemed those two were destined to be monks.

“You want to ask something, don’t you? About the ritual in Yuyuan Town—will you still conduct it?” Liaoxin smiled as he asked.

“No need.” Chen Jin glanced at the shriveled skin on the ground.

“Then let’s be on our way. I’ll leave the rest to you two. Once you finish, come find me at Mount Laoshan. When you arrive, I’ll appear.” Liaoxin finished speaking to Chen Jin, then instructed Gao Jiu and Gao Kang.

“O-okay…” Gao Jiu, feeling the chill on his newly bald head, could only agree nervously.

Seeing Gao Jiu consent, Liaoxin nodded in satisfaction.

Then he beckoned to Chen Jin and strode off.

Perhaps this matter struck him harder than expected.

Otherwise, with his nimble tongue, he would surely have spun the tale for days on end, embellishing it for weeks.

Chen Jin believed he was capable of it.

On the journey ahead, Chen Jin expected to hear about Liaoxin’s connection to the old lady and the Chen family.

It promised to be interesting—the story of Master Liaoxin.

He imagined Liaoxin recounting his past with a sigh.

Uh, he’d probably see that greasy smile again.

…

…