Fox Demon: Reincarnation of the Ninth Life

Chapter 120 The story is short, we just haven't seen each other for a long time

"Master, take care!"

Leaving only one sentence, Abbot Bodhi stared at Chen Baoan's receding figure in the wind, with countless words stuck in his heart, unable to be expressed.

"You will have to walk the rest of the way alone."

Abbot Bodhi's brown pupils slowly turned golden, emitting a divine glow.

Chen Baoan was carrying a worn-out bag containing all his belongings, holding a Zen stick in his hand and a string of Buddhist beads around his neck.

He walked slowly down the stairs, and each step seemed a little difficult.

As he walked, he turned back from time to time and looked at the ancient temple on the mountain, his eyes full of nostalgia and reluctance.

Time passed, and seven years had passed since he came to Guiyuan Temple on the mountain to practice. Unknowingly, he regarded this place, where he originally lived only to survive, as his home.

The ancient and solemn steps seem to carry the traces of time and are stained with traces of crystal clear dew.

Green moss grows wildly on this mysterious stage. They cling tightly to the surface of the steps, as if they want to dye the whole world with their own color.

When the sunlight shines on it, in the blur, two figures intertwine and run past it.

"Brother, faster!"

"Slow down Goku, wait for me."

It was Chen Baoan and Senior Brother Zhiming’s daily martial arts training that deepened the friendship between the two.

Once I leave, I'm afraid we will never see each other again in this life.

Perhaps I should leave a letter for him, but what is pressing is the sudden change in Shenhuoshan Villa.

He firmly believed what those strange guys said, even if this trust had no basis, but it came from the depths of his heart, and he could not forget it after years of practice.

When he thought of this, he couldn't help but think of the figure in his mind.

"Xiaopei, Xiaopei?"

Chen Baoan couldn't help but call her name, and his voice echoed in the air, but unfortunately, there was still no response.

Every cry was like a stone thrown into a bottomless abyss, silent and without a sound.

A feeling of loss welled up in my heart, but it dissipated in just a moment.

During his practice in the outside world, he had long been accustomed to the departure of people around him.

During these six years, his countless calls were met with no response.

Maybe her appearance was just to help me grow up quickly. Now I am already independent, but unfortunately I have to face the dark side of the world and the death of my loved ones alone.

Perhaps it was because of this that she had lost the meaning of continuing to stay in his mind.

More likely, she imagined it because of her loneliness in Aolai Country and the village.

It sounds crazy, but it's the only way to explain her sudden disappearance.

Every teenager will fantasize about having a friend to accompany him when he is lonely in his childhood, just like Nobita's Doraemon, Guan Gu's magical Mario, and Bald Qiang's Big Bear and Little Bear.

When they leave, that’s when the boy grows up and spreads his wings and flies.

I don’t know how many years of youth I have experienced, but I hope that the old friends are still the same and even more charming.

After that, the mountain gate of Guiyuan Temple still stood in the same place, and countless disciples crossed the mountain gate in batches, but the only missing figures were the pair who were playing and frolicking one after the other.

There is a new abbot who holds a Zen stick, has deep eyes, and often stands in front of the mountain gate, gazing at the world.

. . . . . .

After getting down the mountain, Chen Baoan took a deep breath, sorted out his feelings, and strode forward.

The prosperous capital city is still as busy as it was many years ago. The streets are full of cars and pedestrians, busy and orderly.

It will never stagnate because of the departure of some people, nor will it disappear because of the rise or decline of some force.

Times have changed, things and people have changed, but the capital is still the capital, so lively and yet so cold.

"Selling candied haws, red candied haws!"

The voices of vendors are endless.

Chen Baoan bought a set of common clothes and a hat from a clothing store to temporarily conceal his identity as a monk and to decorate himself at the same time.

Nothing major has happened in the capital recently, as if Ye Mian is only trying to seize power and has no grand ambition to rule the world.

This made Chen Baoan a little confused, and he vaguely felt that the secret hidden in it seemed to be even bigger.

"Let's go to the tavern first."

Chen Baoan lowered his mind a little. Although everything was calm, he could often feel some eyes on him.

I don’t know whether he was a robber or an official. After all, his portrait and name are still on the wanted poster.

It's always better to be cautious.

Chen Baoan passed by the place where the notice was posted and took a glance. Sure enough, his portrait from six years ago was at the top.

Of course, there were other discoveries as well, such as the Wudang wanted list had been updated at some point.

Perhaps the Wudang rebellion had been dealt with by an expert, which made him feel relieved.

After all, the village’s problems were caused by the chaos in Wudang. Now that Wudang has returned to normal and with the relationship with the village chief Qing Yan, the village’s problems must be no longer a big deal.

Thinking of this, Chen Baoan, while relaxed, could not help but sigh that his many years in this industry were like a dream and in the end, he had accomplished nothing.

I couldn't protect anything...

He came to the tavern where he had lived for many years. Now there were other people stationed here. The tavern was still the same tavern, but it was no longer his home.

'Boom boom boom...'

"Please come in."

His voice was full of energy, as if he was a middle-aged man in his thirties.

"Sir, what would you like to drink?"

"Can we capture monsters here?"

Chen Baoan said softly.

The man's eyes narrowed and he looked around. The guests were still eating, drinking and chatting, and they didn't notice this side.

"Sir, please come this way."

The middle-aged man made a gesture of invitation, Chen Baoan nodded, and followed him into the back.

Chen Baoan looked around the basement. The decoration was still the same as before, without any changes.

Time seemed to stop at this moment. The shadows of Lu Wan and Zhao Hong were busy in front of the table. They waved at him while tidying up.

"Chen Baoan, come and have dinner."

"Hurry up, continue to improve your knowledge after eating, are you going to save the village?!"

His vision blurred for a moment, and the figures of the two people disappeared like bubbles.

Everything has changed, it’s just… I haven’t seen you for a long time.

"Are you from Wudang?"

"No, I just came here to look for the relics of an old friend."

Chen Baoan said this, walked forward and touched the wooden table.

The deep and shallow scratches on it are all traces left by the invisible thing called time.

"Old friend? Elder Zhao Hong?"

"Well, I can be considered as his disciple."

!!!

When the man heard this, his expression immediately became serious.

"Zhang Zhen, Wudang A-level disciple, greets the senior!"

Zhao Hong holds a highly respected position in Wu and is regarded as the number one person under the leader.

There is no need to say more about his identity as a disciple!

"Please get up quickly. There's no need to do this. I'm here just to pay my respects to him."

When Chen Baoan saw Zhang Zhen kneeling down, he immediately helped him up.

"Yes, senior, please come this way."

Zhang Zhen began to lead the way.

Zhao Hong had a special identity and died too suddenly, so his body was placed under a big tree on the outskirts of the capital.

On the way, Chen Baoan thought of something.

"Zhang Zhen? Your surname is Zhang? Could it be that you are from the Zhang family of the Taoist Alliance?"

"What the senior said is absolutely true. I am indeed a member of the Zhang family, but I am a side branch."

"I see. Good, good."

Chen Baoan clasped his hands together, which was also a blessing to the person in front of him.

"Senior, what are you..."

Zhang Zhen looked at Chen Baoan's hands clasped together, and then remembered that he called himself a donor, and asked with some confusion.

"I'm sorry, but I had to become a monk to avoid being hunted down by the bureaucrats."

Chen Baoan said.

"I see."

"I wonder what the situation in the capital is like now? Can you tell me something?"

Having said that, Chen Baoan also planned to inquire about the current situation in the capital.

"..."

When Zhang Zhen heard Chen Baoan's request, he frowned slightly and looked a little embarrassed.

"Donor, what is this?"

"Nothing, but even I can't see through the situation in the capital. At this stage, Wudang has held a meeting on the situation in the capital and has kept it confidential."

When Chen Baoan heard this, his expression became serious.

A secret that even the A-level disciples can't access...

It seems that the capital city is shrouded in fog. I wonder if I would be strangled by the storm or if I could get through the fog.

"We're here. This is where Elder Zhao Hong is buried."

Just as Chen Baoan was daydreaming, the two of them arrived at their destination.

The towering trees in sight are lush and leafy, and the remaining time will protect this piece of heaven and earth.

It was as if Zhao Hong once protected the entire capital city.

"Elder Zhao was buried under this big tree. I'm sorry that we were unable to transport his body back to headquarters due to the emergency situation at the time."

Zhang Zhen said guiltily.

"It's okay, thank you for bringing me here."

Chen Baoan clasped his hands together and saluted.

"Then I will take my leave first."

Zhang Zhen clasped his fists in salute, then left. He understood that the two of them, no, perhaps just one person and one soul, needed an independent space.

"Sir, I'm back, and I'm sorry for saying this. It's seven years late."

Chen Baoan sat cross-legged next to the giant tree.

He slowly took off his hat, and his bald head represented letting go of the past.

However, there are still some burn marks on the ordination scar, which have not disappeared even after six years.

"Now I understand what you mean."

“Perhaps, one really needs to lose something before one can gain enlightenment.”

An illusory figure seemed to appear next to Chen Baoan. He was hunched over and looking at Chen Baoan with a smile.

The body of a deceased person is like that of a child, and his sins and merits are not yet determined. One should accumulate merits for him, and wish that the spirit of the deceased will be reborn in the Pure Lands of the ten directions.

Chen Baoan took off his Buddhist beads, placed them in front of himself, took out the "Sutra on Rebirth According to Wishes" and began to recite it.

Before I knew it, a long time had passed. I finally finished reading it and felt like I had let go of everything.

When I came to my senses, I was already in tears.