Volume 3 Chapter 3 Universal Salvation

  Xu Xian took a concubine, named Qian'er, with skin as white as jade and bones as delicate as ice. She was light as a swallow. Xu Xian loved her dearly, but Pan Yu became jealous of her. There were many quarrels in the household, but Xu Xian pitied Qian'er's weakness and often showed her favoritism. Eventually, she gave birth to a son, who was not spoiled because of his noble birth, and everyone in the household treated him with even more care and preciousness.

  Pan Yuchang sat silently, feeling sorry for himself. Xu Xian tried to comfort him, but he was still unhappy. After a long time, Pan Yuchang's depression turned into illness. Xu Xian took care of him day and night, but Pan Yuchang's condition worsened, and Xu Xian became worried. He heard that there was a foreign medicine that could cure this disease, which happened to be within his jurisdiction. He secretly obtained it for treatment, and Pan Yuchang indeed recovered.

  Xu Xian was overjoyed and set up a banquet, but just as they were celebrating, an official arrived at the door with news that the treasure had been stolen, and Xu Xian was stripped of his office. He spent all his family's wealth to avoid being put to death, and was exiled to a remote border region three thousand miles away. On the way, he ran out of food and encountered a severe snowstorm, suffering from hunger and cold. Pan Yu felt that she was a burden to Xu Xian and hated herself so much that she wanted to die. Qiang'er tried her best to persuade him not to give up. Xu Xian looked up at the sky and sighed: "The oath of the mountains and seas, we promised to be together in life and death, today I can fulfill my promise." He was about to take his own life when Fa Hai walked up to the painting on the wall and knocked on it, saying: "Master Xu, it's time for you to return."

  This loud noise was like a thunderclap, and Xu Xian was shocked awake. After a while, he remembered where he was and who he was. The painting in front of him was still there, and the water clock behind him was still dripping. It had only been a moment. The right and wrong of his dream were like clouds dispersing, and the more he thought about it, the more confused he became. Only the joy of his wedding, the worry of having no children, the pleasure of taking a concubine, the suffering of illness, the joy of recovering from illness, the shock of events, and the despair and hardship of being exiled were still in his mind. For a moment, all the bitter, spicy, sour, and sweet emotions entered his heart, and he didn't know how to deal with them. Xu Xian turned his head to look at Pan Yu, then quickly turned back. He had actually married her in his dream, which was really perverted. But he didn't notice that Pan Yu's face was flushed red, and she didn't even glance at him. Fahai asked, "Xu Shizhu, how is this realm?" Xu Xian was stunned for a moment before realizing that there was an extra monk, and then thought about the strange phenomenon earlier. He asked, "Is this the master's skill?" Everything earlier was like a fleeting dream, a fantasy. It must be the master's skill to unknowingly lead him into a dream. This old monk is not ordinary. Fahai smiled and said, "Colors arise from emptiness, illusions are born from the mind. How can it be said that it is the old monk's skill?" Xu Xian's face turned red, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Can you see what I dreamed about?" Being seen by someone else while having lustful thoughts was already unbearable, and to make matters worse, the object of his desire was a man. If this got out, he would rather die. Xu Xian's anger was almost at a boiling point, and he was ready to kill someone to silence them.

  Fa Hai seemed to be unaware of the murderous aura on Xu Xian's body, and smiled: "The master's mind, how can I know? It must be some joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, happiness and anger, sorrow and pleasure."

  Xu Xian finally let out a sigh of relief, feeling that his "handsome appearance had been preserved", but he was still very displeased at being toyed with: "Master, why must you tease me like this?" He too was a cultivator, and would not be intimidated by these methods. Moreover, based on the usual accumulation from Yu Xuanji, the other party would neither dare nor be able to do anything to him, which is why he spoke so righteously and confidently.

  Fa Hai lowered his eyebrows and said: "The worldly disputes are all fleeting clouds, Master, haven't you realized that? Why not take refuge in the Buddha and seek another path?" He had a way to communicate with heaven, and also had a great plan. This time, he wanted to ferry Xu Xian, Pan Yu, and Xiao Qian together, only then would he display the "Small Thousand Worlds" method. Originally, he thought that no matter what, there should be some gain, but how could it be that after exerting himself for half a day, Xu Xian didn't feel anything at all?

  Little Qian World, although it cannot monitor the thoughts and feelings of the person being operated on, it can bring the person's spirit into a dream state. When entering the dream, the body is not self-controlled.

  The temptation of the dream lies in its ability to give the recipient what they desire in their heart. Moreover, there are often extreme fortunes and misfortunes that rise and fall, causing the recipient to become even more infatuated. However, if one can wake up, even an ordinary farmer should have some enlightenment.

  As expected, Xu Xian nodded and said: "There is indeed a bit of that, but dreams are beyond one's control, so it doesn't count!"

  Fa Hai sighed: "Do you think you can be independent in this mundane world? Why not follow me, the old monk, to leave the sea of suffering and take refuge in Buddhism."

  Xu Xian thought for a moment and said: "Sometimes it can't be helped, but Master, haven't you heard that saying before?"

  "What?"

  Xu Xiandao said, "Is it? The Book of Changes is just one sentence. Heaven moves in a strong and steadfast way, and the gentleman should strive to be self-reliant and unyielding. Earth's movement is gentle and yielding, and the gentleman should cultivate virtue and carry all things with him. Although some people say that this book is very mysterious, I think it's just a fortune-telling book! But even a fortune-telling book teaches people to cultivate their own virtues and strive to be self-reliant. How can I give up because of this small pain?"

  He had been doing good deeds in his past life, but he didn't know how many nails he had encountered. In the end, he even lost his life, but he died without regret. Fa Hai wanted to help him cross over, but it was like hitting a brick wall. You only experienced this in a dream, but he truly went through more than twenty years of bitter and sweet hardships.

  Fahai simply hummed the Buddhist mantra "Amitabha", but for a moment, he didn't know how to persuade him. This should be considered as Fahai's first formal meeting with Xu Xian. In the original world, Fahai had also wanted to convert Xu Xian, but was shut down by Xu Xian's nonsensical sentence "A good wife can bring good fortune to her husband". Fahai felt that this child was impossible to teach and left with a flick of his sleeve.

  Xu Xian was ultimately deceived into Jinshan Temple because of Bai Suzhen, and became a monk for twenty years. When he came out again, he had already become a foolish and stupid person. This encounter is really unknown how to express.

  But today, Xu Xian's response was more than ten times deeper than before. It was no longer the naive dream of a confused young man, but rather the wise and weathered words of a seasoned sage. Although it was a rebuttal to Fa Hai, it was reasonable and well-reasoned, with a sense of determination that made him admire Xu Xian even more. He couldn't help but become more interested in Xu Xian, thinking that if he could cultivate Buddhist teachings with such persistence, what kind of achievement would that be?

  Xu Xiancai suddenly felt a chill as he stared at himself with his dazed and confused eyes, his heart filled with unease. He hastily asked: "The dreams you give me always end in tragedy, don't they?" "This one."

  "This." Fa Hai hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to respond. Although he couldn't completely control the dreams of those who had received his teachings, he could observe their emotional changes and would always wake them up at the moments of "ups" and "downs" in their lives.

  Based on his experience, patients are more likely to have a realization at this time.

  Xu Xian angrily said: "Is this considered the end? It's like saying: In the past, there was a child who didn't cultivate Buddhist teachings and ended up getting run over by a cart. What significance is that?"

  Fa Hai did not expect Xu Xian to be so sharp, no matter how powerful his magical powers were, but when it came to words, he couldn't gain an advantage, and being exposed in a weak spot also left him speechless.

  "I told you, with my illustrious..." He originally wanted to say "transmigrator" but quickly changed his words to: "With my intelligence and wisdom, how can life be so tragic? Moreover, a good wife at home means no calamity for the husband. Do you understand?" Seeing the old monk's red face and ears, Xu Xian finally felt relieved.

  Fa Hai was suddenly enlightened, knowing that to ferry this immortal still required a chance. "Today there is something unsaid, another day the old monk will again speak the Dharma with the donor." Having spoken he turned his body to leave. But in the instant of turning his body, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, and he made up his mind. Rather eat one good apricot than not eat a basket of rotten pears.

  He had cultivated for seven hundred years and should have become a Buddha long ago, but seven hundred years ago, there was a case of gratitude and resentment that made him feel great anger in his heart. More importantly, he said in his rage: "I swear, whether it's a thousand years or ten thousand years, I will catch you and kill you!" This sentence made him regretful.

  A cultivator's vow is not like an ordinary person's casual promise, but rather contains immense faith and power that can transform your wishes in the unknown, which is what Buddhists call a "vow".

  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's great vow: "If the hells are not empty, I will not become a Buddha." This means that he relies on his own vow to hope for a day when the hells will be empty. But if the hells are forever not empty, then he can never become a Buddha, and this is something even the Buddha cannot change. Fahai's vow of course cannot compare with the Bodhisattva's vow, nor is it as binding, and to release his vow does not necessarily require killing that white snake, but a vow is a vow.

  What was originally a grudge that could be let go of had become something that must be avenged, and this too made him feel helpless. Having cultivated to his current level, if he couldn't attain Buddhahood, it would also be difficult for him to progress further, so he could only spend his days ferrying people across, accumulating some blessings.

  Although Fa Hai is not good at heavenly calculations, after cultivating to this point, he naturally has some feelings. Recently, he felt that his own grievances would soon be resolved. Although he didn't know in what way, he was confident that with his profound and unfathomable magical powers, he could fulfill his wishes.

  That body of clothes can also be borne by others. Xu Xian's foundation is not small, and his strength is like a day, which coincides with the Buddhist "Mahavairocana" method. Although it seems to be a Taoist method, the practitioners are particular about each other's way, seeking their own way. However, whether it's from Taoism to Buddhism or from Buddhism to Taoism, it's all common.

  Moreover, Xu Xian had a compassionate thought that could not be ground away. Yet he would not be weak, able to make his eyes blaze like gold and subdue demons and monsters. Moreover, it seemed as if he still had some master-disciple affinity with him, truly the most suitable candidate for conversion.

  He has a good understanding, a solid foundation, compassion, the ability to subdue demons, and a predestined affinity. He is truly a rare and exceptional disciple who appears only once in a thousand years. In the eyes of Taoist practitioners, Xu Xian's temperament is still somewhat stubborn and meddlesome, not conforming to the principle of non-action. However, in the eyes of Buddhists, he is so outstanding that they would eagerly shave his head and ordain him as a monk, letting him quickly take refuge in Buddhism.

  Fahai stood outside the corridor. He said, "Amitabha", feeling grateful for the Buddha's mercy and sending down such a good disciple. In his heart, he thought: Xu Xian, you are mine now.

  But these emotions, Xu Xian still didn't know, he saw the old monk retreat, and in his heart, he was proud of himself, secretly thinking that his words were even more sharp. He also forgot to ask the monk's name, but didn't know that he had already surpassed his own acknowledged ultimate Boo, after exchanging a few moves, still having the upper hand. If he knew, he might have been even more pleased.

  But if he knew that he had already been recognized by the final Boos as the next Boos, and it was very likely that he would become a strengthened version of Fa Hai, 'he would probably immediately run down the mountain with his tail between his legs, never to return again.

  He still doesn't know his mistake, and is still feeling proud of himself. Suddenly, he feels a little empty after defeating an old monk like that.

  Xu Xiandao said: "Hey, Mingyu, let's go. After a few more laps, it'll be time to update quickly. Let's just come and sleep."

  Pan Yu had been distracted since just now, and even the debate between Xu Xian and Fa Hai didn't catch her attention much. She had seen Xu Xian's methods before, and always felt that no matter what happened, Xu Xian would definitely be able to protect her. This confidence sometimes made her laugh at herself.

  She is now constantly thinking about the encounter in her dream, herself, she actually married him, it's really him, not someone else. Although she doesn't remember past events, they all have their own identities in the dream. From Xu Xian's words, she can understand that it was indeed him, with a gentle and soft gaze, but then there is some resentment, he actually took a concubine. And some melancholy, herself inadvertently harming his family and causing them to be destroyed.

  For a moment, my intestines were twisted into a thousand knots, and all sorts of flavors filled my mind.