Phoenix sat with her legs crossed as she massaged her temple. Her blood-stained cassock trailed behind her while her soft black hair cascaded down her back. Surrounded by faint fragrance of sandalwood, she rose to her feet.
A little monk stood before her and spoke hesitantly, “Lord Phoenix, you’re certainly a fierce person.” It’s better for you to be less zealous. You should attend the banquet as it’s necessary to stop the gossip and turmoil. Most importantly, you’re disrespecting Tian Dao if you refuse to attend the banquet. If you upset the Buddha, you’ll be punished and ordered to chant the sutra again.
Do you really think that you’re good at chanting the sutra?
Why do you have to force the little monks to listen to you every time you recite the sutra?
Can you be more considerate to them?
They’re on their way to become Buddhas!
They’re going to be Buddha!
They’re going to be Buddha!
This is so important that it has to be repeated thrice!
“Of course I can attend the banquet.” Phoenix stared at the little boy in front of her who was pretending to be composed but was, in fact, overwhelmed by his emotions. Then, she sneered before she continued, “Reduce my confinement by two days.”
The little monk shook his hand. “We’ve to follow Buddha’s order.”
“I hate to be immured.” Phoenix’s tone turned bitter.
The little monk chanted Amitabha before he explained, “That’s why Buddha instructed us to keep you under surveillance. Why are you so reluctant to tell us what happened in the magical realm? Why wouldn’t you explain how you got hurt, or describe what kind of people you encountered there? It’s only sensible for Buddha to lock you up for three days. Yet, you request for the punishment to be reduced by two days. You’re being insatiate. Buddha said that…”
“What did Buddha say?” Phoenix stood up before she began to comb her long hair with her fingers. “You definitely have the potential to be a Buddha.”
The little monk’s eyes widened as he asked expectantly, “Really?”
“Of course. It’s such a waste if a loquacious person like you doesn’t chant sutra.” Phoenix reached out to gently rub the little monk’s bald head. “Fine. I’ll attend the banquet. But first, bring me the mythical water that I took from Tian Dao.”
The adorable little monk nodded before he asked again, “Are you going to water your plant? It’s too lavish to water one sole Bodhi tree with the mythical water. I heard that the mythical water from Tian Dao should be used to nourish the golden lotus. The Bodhi tree can survive even without water. Furthermore, someone told me that the golden lotus has turned into a human yesterday. The lady has also successfully cultivated into a Buddha. The enchanting lady is going to attend the banquet as well.”
“Is Buddhism trying to bewitch the emperor with a beauty?” Phoenix rested her hands behind her head before she put on a nonchalant smile as though she was completely unconcerned by the issue.
The little monk followed behind her obediently, “That’s not true. According to Yue Lao, there’s something called the affection in the mortal world. It’s really wonderful.”
“You should tell Yue Lao that this is more precisely a matchmaking.” Phoenix received the mythical water from the little monk before she painted a faint grin over her lips. “The man will meet the woman for a meal. As long as they are mutually interested, they will be immediately sent into a private room. Do you understand?”
The little monk was puzzled, “Then… then…”
“Nevertheless, you’re still too young to join a matchmaking…”
Little did Phoenix know that someone was watching her as she spoke too.
She overheard someone else’s conversation.
Similarly, another person was eavesdropping on her as well.
“Emperor…” The Buddhist novice, who was leading the way, put on an awkward smile. He had always known about Lord Phoenix’s persona and her forthright speech. However, she was seldom seen in public. Therefore, she had yet to create any trouble to date.
Then… The Buddhist novice lifted his gaze to look at the emperor, who was wearing a half smile, before he nervously explained, “Emperor, please don’t misunderstand.”
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“Misunderstand?” the man spoke. His body was covered by a pure white gown that appeared as if it was made of thousands of layers of petals. Meanwhile, his long hair fell gracefully on his gown like a waterfall. The scene was as beautiful as the loti that silently blossomed on the tranquil water at night. “What’s the misunderstanding you’re talking about? Buddhism intends to gift a woman to me? They want to match me up with the woman?”
The novice was flustered. He did not want to learn about matchmaking anymore!
“Let’s go. I’m curious about what the members of Buddhism will say at the banquet.” The man chuckled once again. He still carried the bloodthirstiness he brought back from the hell of Six Dao.
The Buddhist novice dared not utter a word as he quietly stared at the man from behind. Meanwhile, innumerable light spots were dancing around the man before they eventually transformed into a magnificent icy mountain range. At this moment, he felt as though everything was going to collapse on him.
No one had ever been able to applied divine consciousness in Buddhism.
This was the most offensive thing to do to the tens of thousands of Buddhas.
“Emperor, please.” The Buddhist novice lowered his head as he wiped off the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve.
He thought to himself, what will happen when they meet at the banquet?
They represent Tian Dao and Buddhism respectively and the two parties have never been on good terms.
If they begin to fight right after they see each other…
The novice was too afraid to picture the scene. As he continued forward quietly, he could not help but turn to look at the Bodhi tree.
Phoenix was watering the tree. She had become one of the Buddhas because she had saved thousands of damned souls and killed uncountable numbers of devils.
Therefore, the Buddhas rarely spoke to Phoenix, neither did they have the audacity to tattle about her. At the very least, no one from Buddhism dared challenge her directly.
Phoenix had always been alone since she was young, having no friends. Everyday, she would kneel before the Buddha and chant sutra. She was usually very quiet when she was not sent on a mission.
Other than chatting with the little monks, she would sit under the Bodhi tree to read the scriptures and water the tree.
Just like what the others told her she should not waste the mythical water.
Upon hearing this, the little Phoenix leaned on the Bodhi tree and smiled. “I’m not wasting my mythical water. Despite its beauty, there are plenty of golden loti around. Meanwhile, this is the one and only Bodhi tree in this mountain.”
That was how the Bodhi tree got its name — Jing Wushuang1.
From then onward, Phoenix began to water and nourish the Bodhi tree relentlessly.
Now, Phoenix had grown into an adult. However, the Bodhi tree had yet to gain its six senses, not to mention to turn into a human.
“Lord Phoenix, I learned from Honored Sir that Bodhi tree will never transform into a human.” The little monk carried Phoenix’s vase in his arms as he continued, “They will remain as plants no matter how much mythical water you pour on them.”
Phoenix smiled as she straightened up. “It’s not right to say that he cannot transform into a human. He’s always been helping others in becoming Buddhas and he has earned a great merit from this.”
“Wait a minute. Did Lord Phoenix figure this out on your own?” The little monk stared at Phoenix with his big round eyes, resembling a lovable baby animal.
Phoenix lifted her brows as she answered, “Nonetheless, my Wushuang will turn into a human, and later a Buddha in the future. This mythical water is mine anyway. No one can comment on the way I utilize it. Anyone who covets the mythical water shall fight with Tian Dao and earn their own mythical water.”
“You’re too potent. Not everybody likes to fight.” The little monk trotted behind Phoenix with the scriptures in his arms, “Lord Phoenix, please remember to stay quiet during the banquet and don’t fight with the emperor. We are all religious Buddhist and we should never resort to violence. Moreover, the emperor is here for…”
“He’s here for the matchmaking. I know. I’ll stand at the side like a mute. However, I can’t promise that I’ll not fight back if he attacks me.” Then, Phoenix proceeded to ascend to the boundless sea of clouds.
Jing Wushuang is originated from a made-up phrase by the author that signifies “one and only”.