Jian Xiaolou listened quietly as Chan Lingzi recounted the story. The fear that had gripped her began to dissipate, replaced by utter confusion.
"What Lotus Lantern treasure?" she asked.
"The Eighteen-Petal Red Lotus—a divine artifact passed down since the cataclysm of the Crimson Firmament," Chan Lingzi explained, sitting upright with a solemn expression. His gaze fell on the red mark on her brow. "As my master told me, it was forged from the karmic flames of the Eight Cold Hells. It can incinerate all evil and sin, making it the bane of demons and ghosts alike."
Following his gaze, Jian Xiaolou instinctively raised her hand and touched the red mark. "Not that I doubt you, venerable master, but I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm just an ordinary cultivator in the Eastern Immortal Tri-Continents. My constitution is a mere three-spiritual-root one, not even a trace of a fire vein. And you're telling me I harbor the karmic flames of the Red Lotus?"
Chan Lingzi shook his head gently. "The Lotus Lantern has already merged with your soul. I would not mistake such a thing. While I too am puzzled by how you have transitioned from male to female and the circumstances behind it, these details are no longer of consequence. What matters now is that you are the only one who can wield the Lotus Lantern and are destined to be the next abbot of Kasyapa Monastery. This is indisputable."
Jian Xiaolou's face twitched uncontrollably at his words. This had to be a joke.
Her? A woman? Running off to a monastery to become an abbot?
Even in a cultivation world without rigid gender roles, the idea was absurd.
She glanced down at Xiao Hei perched on the wooden post below the window. The little black bird met her gaze, its beady green eyes radiating innocence and confusion.
Chan Lingzi continued, "Over the past fifteen years, have you not noticed anything unusual about yourself? For example, an inability to take life?"
His words jolted her back to reality. Her heart pounded fiercely as the implications dawned on her. "It's because of the Lotus Lantern?"
Chan Lingzi nodded, his expression tinged with pity. "Even I did not anticipate this. My predecessor, Abbot Zhikong of Kasyapa Monastery, spent his life cultivating a Soul-Engraved Vow and embedded it into the Lotus Lantern. My poor disciple, if you wish to achieve greatness in this life, the only path left to you is to embrace Zen and join our Buddhist sect."
"Soul-Engraved Vow? What is that supposed to mean?" Jian Xiaolou felt like her brain was overheating. Dealing with someone so enigmatic—especially one who looked like a benevolent monk while holding a lotus flower in his hands—was giving her mental whiplash. "So, you're telling me this grand vow means I freeze up when I feel killing intent, get stomach cramps if I eat meat, and bite my tongue if I lie?"
Her lips twitched at the irony. For years, she had considered herself cursed. Learning the origins of this "curse" made her want to laugh—and cry.
These restrictions weren't impossible to live with.
No meat? Fine. Once she reached Foundation Establishment, she wouldn't need food to survive anyway.
No lying? Easy. When her cultivation improved, she could vibrate her vocal cords to speak without moving her lips.
As for the killing prohibition, she'd already broken it once. What was a bit of pain compared to that?
Chan Lingzi smiled faintly, an inscrutable expression crossing his face. "Do you think that's all there is?"
Jian Xiaolou's heart sank. "...What else?"
"Right now, breaking the vow may only cause minor discomfort. But as your cultivation increases and your transgressions accumulate, the punishments will grow more severe." He paused, recalling something uncertainly. "For instance, killing a single living being might invoke a dozen heavenly tribulations. While they won't kill you outright, they will leave you scorched and scarred, taking decades to recover."
Jian Xiaolou sucked in a deep breath. Too cruel!
Chan Lingzi continued, "Your attachments will lead to loss, your fears will manifest, and indulging in any of the seven emotions and six desires will plunge you into an abyss of suffering. The vow forces you to sever worldly ties, abandon emotions, and embrace the Zen path, seeking liberation from it all..."
"Enough!" Jian Xiaolou cut him off sharply.
"Why do you never let me finish?" Chan Lingzi sighed, exasperated.
"What did I ever do to you monks to deserve this?!" she exploded, dropping all pretense of respect. "Why must you torment me like this? Aren't Buddhists supposed to be compassionate? Doing something this sinister—aren't you afraid your Buddha will punish you? The Lotus Lantern wasn't something I stole! It ran off because you couldn't guard it properly. If you had asked me nicely, I might have helped. But using a curse to coerce me into becoming a nun? No way! If you push me too far, I'll find a rope and end it all. Let's see what happens then!"
Chan Lingzi frowned slightly, setting the lotus flower aside. He reached out and touched "Li Jianzhao's" neck thoughtfully. "How does one strangle oneself with a rope? Oh, you mean hanging oneself?"
Is that the point here?! Jian Xiaolou's eyelid twitched violently. She felt she was about to pass out. "Old monk, stop playing dumb! I don't care who you are or how powerful you might be. I'm not becoming a nun, I'm not becoming your disciple, and I'm not going to Kasyapa Monastery. Get out of here!"
Chan Lingzi smiled gently. "Anger harms the liver, my disciple. Let's calm down and discuss this rationally..."
"Does old age make your face thicker too?!" Jian Xiaolou stormed to the door, pointed at it, and declared, "You leave, or I will!"
Chan Lingzi paused, reflecting on her words. He couldn't recall the last time he had experienced such powerlessness. After a moment, he offered one last piece of advice: "You're destined to join the Buddhist path. Listen to your master—do not fight the vow. You cannot win."
"And how do you know that?" she snapped.
"This vow was created by a great monk to subdue a monstrous demon who terrorized the world for over seven centuries. The demon ultimately succumbed to it. That demon later became the revered Zen Sword Buddha..."
Jian Xiaolou froze. Her anger subsided, replaced by shock. She hesitated, then asked tentatively, "So... you were also...?"
Chan Lingzi pressed his hands together in a prayer gesture, his expression calm. "Kṣitigarbha once vowed that he would not become a Buddha until hell was empty. Your grandmaster spent 700 years guiding me to redemption. My disciple, we have a long journey ahead..."
"Wait—"
Before she could finish, the body of Li Jianzhao, which Chan Lingzi had been possessing, suddenly collapsed.
Jian Xiaolou dodged instinctively as the body fell with a loud thud, landing face-first on the floor.
Li Jianzhao woke up groggily from the pain, clutching his chin. "Who ambushed me?!"
This is bad. Jian Xiaolou cursed inwardly. Did Chan Lingzi have to leave the body right at this moment?
When Li Jianzhao noticed her standing stiffly against the wall, he froze. Then his expression darkened. "Wretched woman! What are you doing in my room at this hour?!"
Jian Xiaolou nearly spat out blood. "Young Master Li, look carefully—this is my room."
"Nonsense! Just because I've been kind to you these days doesn't mean you can sneak into my... bed..." Li Jianzhao trailed off as he glanced around and realized the truth.
"Where is this?" he asked, stunned.
"My room," Jian Xiaolou said again, shrugging helplessly.
Li Jianzhao gawked for a long moment before blurting out, "Then why am I here?!"
"You tell me! I was sleeping when you barged in. I'm curious how you got past my warding formations..." Jian Xiaolou's voice faltered as her tongue bit down involuntarily. Blood trickled from her mouth as she winced in pain.
Li Jianzhao believed her—mostly. He did have a treasure that could bypass most wards. But how had he gone from sleeping in his room to waking up here?
The sight of blood on both their lips—his from the fall, hers from biting her tongue—left him more bewildered. He pointed at himself, then at her. "I didn't...?"
Jian Xiaolou blinked at him in confusion.
His face turned livid as if he'd swallowed a fly. Grabbing his head in frustration, he stormed out of the room without another word.
Left alone, Jian Xiaolou leaned her forehead against the door, her thoughts swirling.
Chan Lingzi's revelation about the Lotus Lantern shook her to the core. If the treasure's presence was exposed, she would become