Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 704: This Is Buddha

“To be honest, King Zhao, your presence here does make me feel a mix of emotions. On the one hand, it’s unnerving. It’s as if our temple’s secret realm suddenly became a public outhouse with people coming and going as they please. But on the other hand...” Yuan Cheng sighed, pouring tea as he continued, “It’s oddly comforting. It proves that you’re not some god or Buddha yourself, but merely someone who knows the situation here because they came in person, rather than predicting it and sending a message from thousands of li away.”

In the temple, Yuan Cheng and Yuan Xing sat with Zhao Changhe, casually drinking tea. Snow-Treading Crow, stood by Zhao Changhe’s side, affectionately nudging his face, clearly proud of having handled the situation on its own. It seemed to take great pride in its newfound autonomy.

Yue Hongling, meanwhile, was not present—she had gone to enjoy the hot springs.

The Buddha statue had been removed from the bustling secret realm. Once outside, it still remained motionless, indicating that it had not truly been resurrected. It had only been artificially activated, and after Dark Oblivion had siphoned off its energy, it had reverted to a dormant statue. However, faint remnants of life force suggested that revival might still be possible in the future.

Upon hearing Yuan Cheng’s wry remark, Zhao Changhe sipped his tea and smiled. “So it seems you also think that an omniscient Buddha doesn’t exist? Does this shake your faith?”

Yuan Cheng shook his head. “The Buddhist faith has many branches, and each interprets the concept of Buddha differently. After the previous dynasty’s purge, our sect is one of the few remaining, and we hold a slightly unconventional perspective.”

“Oh?” Zhao Changhe’s curiosity was piqued. “I’d like to hear more.”

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“We teach that enlightenment is inherent, and to awaken to it is to become a Buddha. In other words, anyone in this world can achieve Buddhahood,” Yuan Cheng explained plainly, avoiding esoteric language. “What is Buddha? It’s just a concept. If I accomplish what the scriptures describe, then I am Buddha. If I fail or stray from the path, then even if I were Shakyamuni[1] himself, even if I possessed boundless dharma, I would no longer be worthy of the title.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “I like this interpretation of Buddhism. Is that why your branch has managed to survive while others have been nearly wiped out?”

Yuan Cheng sighed. “Perhaps. As for your earlier question on whether we believe an omniscient Buddha exists? A Buddha must exist. If not now, then in the future. But this Buddha may not be omniscient. Similarly, omniscient individuals exist, but they may not be Buddhas. It could be you or Heroine Yue. And, of course, if the two of you were to become Bodhisattva or even Buddha, that would not be impossible.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “The way you put it, I can’t help but feel there’s a political implication in your words.”

Yuan Cheng laughed and clapped his hands. “If you see it as such, then it is.”

Zhao Changhe replied, “I could never be a Buddha. A Blissful Buddha[2] perhaps, but my idea of the Pure Land is likely different from yours.”

Yuan Cheng: “...”

At the mention of such matters, even the most eloquent could be momentarily stumped.

Yuan Xing, seated nearby, could not hold back a laugh. “Well, that’s exactly why the branch of Maitreya can never truly be eradicated. Their legacy still lives on, and will likely live on for as long as there are people.”

Yuan Cheng chuckled at that, and the surrounding monks joined in with amused smiles.

Zhao Changhe laughed along as well, thinking these monks were unexpectedly entertaining.

In the past, Zhao Changhe had very little exposure to the teachings of either Buddhism or Daoism. His interactions with Gui Chen, Xuan Chong, and Yuxu rarely touched upon such matters. His impressions of these sects and faiths had always been laced with biases and a hint of prejudice. To be fair, he felt similarly about the Four Idols Cult. Of course, that opinion had shifted now that he was, in theory, the center of their beliefs. The Four Idols Cult had practically become a shrine to him, and criticizing their faith felt like criticizing himself.

In light of his current experiences, however, he found those earlier biases unnecessary. Based on the interpretations proposed by these monks, their teachings seemed far more sensible than the Four Idols Cult or the Blood God Cult. They had qualities that explained why they had endured across two different worlds.

Moreover, Yuan Cheng’s subtle remarks clearly signaled a willingness to align with Zhao Changhe’s vision. They were essentially saying that they would listen to him so long as he met their definition of “Buddha.” That conversation, however, had stalled on the matter of Zhao Changhe’s worldly entanglements.

Aside from his relationships, Yuan Cheng and Yuan Xing genuinely felt Zhao Changhe embodied their ideals well. Even his relationships would not have been an issue if he and Yue Hongling were a respectable couple living in harmony. The problem was the sheer number of his entanglements. Even his saber spirit had a “mixed” appearance. If Zhao Changhe were declared a Buddha, they would truly have to regard him as the Blissful Buddha.

Yuan Xing’s earlier joke was an attempt to ease the tension, and with the mood lightened, Yuan Cheng seized the opportunity to express his gratitude, “Regardless, the entire temple is grateful to you for your assistance.”

As for who might be considered Buddha, they set that conversation aside for now. Continuing to discuss it further may inadvertently veer them toward the teachings pertaining to Maitreya.

Zhao Changhe said, “I still have to thank you, Master Yuan Xing. The map you gave me back then played quite a role in my relationships with Hongling and even with Lady Three... It was far more significant that you might have imagined at the time.”

Yuan Xing’s expression was a mix of amusement and helplessness. A monk could act as a matchmaker, but this... becoming the matchmaker for multiple relationships? Best not to think about it.

Zhao Changhe continued, “In truth, helping you is also helping myself. The other party was clearly trying to sow discord between us. I know Dark Oblivion well. It thrives on chaos and aims to prevent a unified divine land. This has been evident for some time. But as for you...”

He paused, and Yuan Cheng, discerning the implication, immediately spoke with great tact, “King Zhao, you need not worry. We are resolute in our support for a unified divine land and are dedicated to striving for the peace and stability of all people.”

Hearing this, Zhao Changhe found the phrasing oddly modern, as though they were parroting a political slogan. But after thinking about it, he supposed it was fine and said, “So long as you maintain your faith, guide people toward virtue, and stay aligned with the court’s goals, the court will welcome your presence. That said, there are a few issues we need to clarify.”

Hearing Zhao Changhe affirm their legitimacy, the monks collectively let out a sigh of relief. After all, the imperial edict that had once suppressed Buddhism still loomed over their heads. If Zhao Changhe declared them illegitimate, they would have no choice but to retreat underground, living in misery and risking a repeat of the Maitreya Cult’s history. Zhao Changhe’s words essentially signaled the cancellation of the edict, making everything else negotiable.

Yuan Cheng nodded. “Please, King Zhao, do enlighten us.”

Zhao Changhe said, “First, your impatience is dangerous and makes you vulnerable to manipulation. This impatience to assert your place and the accompanying sense of contention are in themselves demonic inclinations. I speak from experience as someone who has practiced demonic arts. Even I must slow down at times to avoid being consumed by the vicious blood. And you, as Buddhists, should be even more cautious.”

The monks chanted softly, “Amitabha...”

Who could say Kind Zhao isn’t like a Buddha? His intentions align with our teachings so closely.

Zhao Changhe continued, “When such contentious intentions are manipulated, it becomes the root of trouble, as you could see just now. The power of faith absorbed by this Buddha contained a great deal of conflict and chaos, which overflowed into a heart of wrath. This goes against the most fundamental nature of a wrathful vajra. The wrathful demeanor of a vajra is meant to subdue evil and uphold virtue, not to serve interests or prejudices and create disputes. Worse still, this unrest in faith reignited instability in Jingxiang, creating a bigger mess for me to clean up.”

Yuan Cheng bowed his head. “We acknowledge our mistakes.”

Zhao Changhe paused, momentarily taken aback. Seeing the elderly monk, with his white eyebrows and beard, bowing low to admit fault, he found his anger cooling down. He decided to leave it at that and said instead, “Second, if the Buddhist faith is to continue spreading, certain rules must be established.”

“Please elaborate, King Zhao.”

“I don’t know where the idea of tax exemptions for temple properties or exemption from labor for monks came from—maybe it was a custom from the previous dynasty, or maybe it was something you needed for development. But I’m telling you now that it ends here. If you want to build temples and preach, you’re free to do so, but taxes and duties must apply equally to everyone. Otherwise, it will lead to land annexation and population decline, which will eventually result in major conflicts. Your temples are already vast, and your lands substantial. For now, start by paying the seasonal taxes you’ve evaded and compensating for the labor you’ve avoided. You can pay your dues in either money or grain.”

The monks looked at each other, their expressions bitter.

Under normal circumstances, they might have argued. But the current situation was clearly against them. There was clearly a demon targeting them, and their Buddha had nearly been destroyed. It was Zhao Changhe who saved them. Setting aside gratitude, they also needed his continued support to handle future threats. They had no leverage to dispute his demands. Their bitterness could thus only be swallowed.

Escaping taxes might have been enjoyable in the past, but repaying them now would likely require selling off land they had claimed. Thankfully, Zhao Changhe had not mentioned penalties for late payment. If he had, they might have had to dismantle their Buddha statues and temple pillars to sell as well.

Zhao Changhe sighed softly and added, “As for the labor conscription system, it clashes with my principles. When I saw its effects in Bashu, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Apart from necessary military conscription, I’ll work to see this abolished or replaced in the future. But that depends on us building a stable nation and a prosperous, peaceful environment. If you truly have Buddha in your hearts, I ask you to assist me in this endeavor to defend against both internal and external threats.”

The monks stood, bowing in unison as they chanted, “Amitabha... Who says King Zhao is not a Buddha? This is Buddha.”

Zhao Changhe was about to respond when he suddenly sensed something. He turned to see Yue Hongling leaning against the doorway, watching him intently. Her eyes were filled with admiration but also a complexity he could not quite read. Who knew how long she had been standing there?

1. This refers to the historical Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha. He is a historical figure born as a nobleman (legends say prince) in ancient India, who attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. It is said that at birth he showed the so-called “thirty-two marks of a great man,” implying that it was known from the get-go that he would become a great figure. ☜

2. The actual term used here is 欢喜佛, which could also translate to Pure Bliss Buddha or Nandikeśvara in Sanskrit. This Buddha is commonly associated with dual cultivation in Chinese culture. ☜