"Beichen, we killed the Protector Heavenly Venerate of Guangwen Temple this time. Although no outsiders saw it, I believe Guangwen Temple will definitely know. Do you think they will retaliate?"
On the way back, Liu Yilin said with some worry.
"We shouldn't be worried; they should be. After all, they were the ones who provoked us first. They should be the ones worried about our revenge."
"However, these people do not concern themselves with worldly affairs, are unreasonable, have no fear in their hearts, and have entered the Buddhist path, having long been brainwashed by their faith. They will not be afraid until the knife is at their throats," Ning Beichen said.
"Then should we retaliate?"
Liu Yilin nodded, looking excited.
It was hard to associate her current self with the formerly helpless female CEO.
If it were her from before, let alone fighting and killing, she would have been afraid for a long time even if she had accidentally stepped on a cockroach.
"Of course, we must. If we don't retaliate, they will only think we are easy to bully and that we are afraid of them. Then things like today will continue to happen, and the conflicts will become more serious each time."
"We are not schemers, nor do we need to rack our brains to calculate against them. In the face of absolute strength, we only need to crush them with our power."
"In other words, we don't need to scheme; we just need to fight until they are afraid. If they are not afraid, then send them to see the Buddha," Ning Beichen said.
Liu Yilin nodded and then spoke.
"Beichen, you are right. Although civilization is progressing, society is also advancing, and humans are no longer the beastly creatures they once were. However, some things have remained unchanged for thousands of years: the winner is king, and the strong are respected!"
"Yilin, if you can understand these things, then I don't have to worry about you," Ning Beichen said happily.
Liu Yilin, however, rolled her eyes at him and said, "Are you implying you're afraid I'll be a bleeding-heart liberal?"
Ning Beichen chuckled dryly. Although he didn't answer, that was indeed what he meant. For those on this path, being a bleeding-heart liberal was a death sentence, only harming oneself and others.
One day later.
The bell chimed at Guangwen Temple. The body of the Protector Heavenly Venerate had been returned without disturbing the outside world. Only a few people knew.
Abbot Tianwu clasped his hands together, chanting the sutras for rebirth. He looked at the body of the Protector Heavenly Venerate before him. Although he maintained a benevolent appearance, his heart was filled with murderous intent.
"Protector Heavenly Venerate was killed by the demon Ning. Who among you is willing to subdue the demon?"
Tianwu, clad in a kasaya, sat on a lotus throne and said to those below, "We are willing."
A chorus of monks replied in unison.
"The demon Ning is powerful and cannot be dealt with by one person. Disciples below the rank of elder must not go. The Four Great Dharma Lords, heed my command: go down the mountain and capture the demon Ning alive."
Abbot Tianwu said.
"Yes, Abbot."
The Four Great Dharma Lords rose, clasped their hands, and obeyed the order.
However, at that moment, a deafening roar echoed from outside the gate.
Then, with a loud crash, the main gate shattered into several pieces. Several young monks fell into the great hall, followed by a figure who flew in from outside and landed gracefully in the hall.
"No need to trouble yourselves; I have already arrived."
"Bad! The demon Ning has attacked!"
The monks in the great hall immediately descended into chaos. The Four Great Dharma Lords quickly surrounded Ning Beichen.
"Bold demon Ning, surrender quickly!"
The Four Great Dharma Lords attacked simultaneously, using their internal energy to suppress Ning Beichen together.
Four halos fell upon Ning Beichen. In the eyes of the Four Great Dharma Lords, no matter how powerful the demon Ning was, he was still so young, and his cultivation could not possibly be stronger than theirs.
"With you trash?"
Ning Beichen snorted coldly, unleashing his aura outward. A vast power descended upon the hall, rendering not only the four Dharma Lords immobile but also the Abbot above.
With a stomp of Ning Beichen's foot, the Four Great Dharma Lords felt a crushing blow, grunted, and spat blood in unison, staggering back seven or eight steps.
Abbot Tianwu, still unable to break free from Ning Beichen's domain, sensed an extremely terrifying crisis.
He saw his expression turn fearful, his pupils constrict, and a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth.
A series of thudding sounds echoed.
All the monks in the great hall, including Tianwu, were sent flying by Ning Beichen.
The so-called Four Great Dharma Lords were now lying on the ground, crying and wailing, with blood seeping from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. They no longer even chanted "Amitabha."
Ning Beichen stepped forward, walked up to Tianwu, and kicked him in the face.
"Am I the demon? Or are you the demon?" Ning Beichen said mockingly.
"Ning Beichen, I underestimated you."
Tianwu no longer pretended to call Ning Beichen "demon Ning."
He knew very well whether Ning Beichen was a demon or not. Just as history is written by the victors, the truth is often held by only a minority.
He was a Buddha. To deal with Ning Beichen, he needed a reason, and there was no reason more righteous than dealing with a demon.
"Many people have underestimated me. Do you know why I hate you the most?"
"Because you are too hypocritical!"
"Sometimes, I just realize that since you want to deal with me, why can't everyone put aside their pride and invite me properly? Sending some gifts as a gesture of goodwill wouldn't hurt, would it?"
"Even ordinary people know that when asking for favors or seeking help, one must at least offer gifts and speak politely. I might not necessarily refuse."
"And you?"
"You act like a lord. If I don't agree, you call me a demon and say you must subdue me and take me away by force."
"This is not asking for a favor; it's the act of bandits and robbers!" Ning Beichen berated him.
But it was useless. Tianwu felt no shame, because according to his faith, he was righteous, and anyone who opposed him was a demon. It was like the Bible saying, "You shall have no other gods before me."
"Ning Beichen, do you think you've already won?" Abbot Tianwu gritted his teeth and said.
"It's not that I think so; I have already won. You are now under my foot, and you are merely raging ineffectively."
"Actually, I am curious. What exactly do you want to obtain from me by going to such great lengths?"
"As for the talk of subduing demons and eliminating evils, don't bother. It's disgusting to hear." Ning Beichen said lazily.
"Ning Beichen, we don't want to oppose you. We just want you to share the method of breaking through to the unity of heaven and man." Hearing this, Abbot Tianwu suddenly lowered his posture and said to Ning Beichen.
"How are you so sure that I have broken through to the unity of heaven and man? Did you guess it yourself? Or did someone tell you?" Ning Beichen asked him.
Although the two Taoist priests from Mount Hua had exposed Ning Beichen's cultivation as being at the unity of heaven and man, it was still only their word, and it might not be the truth.