Chapter 6: Truly a Master!
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In response, Du Yuan merely waved his hand, signaling it was unnecessary to be so formal. His actions were driven not only by goodwill but also by self-preservation. After all, he still couldn’t quite grasp the extent of his own capabilities. He feared the horse demon might lose control and worried about innocent bystanders getting caught in the chaos.
With this in mind, Du Yuan addressed the horse demon: “Redstone.”
The horse demon shuddered and quickly knelt, taking a few steps forward. “Master, please speak.”
“No need to be nervous. I just have a few questions for you.”
Questions? Could it be about whether I’ve done anything wrong before? Redstone thought he probably hadn’t, and logically, the master wouldn’t attack again, but still his heart raced. After all, this master had exposed his true form without even meeting him in person. Although he had never encountered a true expert before, he could tell this was an extraordinarily powerful technique.
It was like an ant facing a colossal being who could crush it without a second thought—even if that giant had no intention of harming it and might even want to offer it a few sweets to play with, how could the ant not be afraid?
Seeing his fear, Du Yuan felt a bit helpless and thought, “Isn’t it you who’s the demon?” Yet, this was good; fear meant he wouldn’t dare to deceive.
“Relax. These are just some simple questions. For example, when did you awaken your consciousness?”
What exactly was this world like, and what was the nature of these demons? This was Du Yuan’s foremost concern. The mysteries of the supernatural and spirits were not only fascinating to casual listeners of folk tales—he was equally intrigued. This was not only a new path full of hope but also a possible way home. A wanderer can never be free of homesickness.
“Well, Master, I’m not quite sure how to explain this, but it happened roughly within the last month,” Redstone said.
“More precisely, about twenty-something days ago, but I really can’t say for sure,” he added, somewhat clueless as his awareness had been hazy when he awakened.
“No matter. Just tell me everything you know,” Du Yuan encouraged kindly. Feeling emboldened by Du Yuan’s gentle demeanor, Redstone continued, “Master, I remember that about twenty days ago, everything suddenly seemed different. I started understanding what others said and could think more deeply. I even gradually grasped a few simple spells—for example, the illusion I used to hide among the crowd without being detected by anyone but you!”
“But I really can’t describe exactly how it happened. It was just... sudden. Suddenly, I could do it. Suddenly, I changed,” the horse demon said with a troubled expression.
Seeing this, Du Yuan realized he probably wouldn’t be able to learn the demon’s spells, nor get much more information from him, so he shifted the topic.
“Then why do you think you awakened?”
The horse demon answered honestly, “I don’t know. At first, I wondered if I had eaten something special, but no matter how I think about it, I have no memory of that.”
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If there was no special food involved, then it couldn’t be from accidentally ingesting some rare treasure of heaven or earth.
“Have you seen anyone unusual?” Du Yuan asked.
The horse demon and his caravan quickly racked their brains and answered together, “No, really, only you, Master.”
This was their first time ever encountering a demon, and also the first time they had met a true expert capable of subduing such creatures. So it probably wasn’t an enlightenment given by a sage.
Du Yuan pondered briefly before continuing, “Have you ever worshiped at any statues or temples?”
This time, without hesitation, the horse caravan and horse demon replied, “No, no. There’s not even a local earth temple on our path.”
That wasn’t it either. Could it be that this horse was truly gifted, so much so that it reached enlightenment by itself? But after looking at that horse’s face—so innocent and pure, almost saintly—Du Yuan abandoned that notion. It was probably just a stroke of luck that the little horse suddenly awakened.
While Du Yuan asked the questions he wanted answers to, the horse caravan and demon grew increasingly uneasy. Despite being told this was a spiritual horse, why did they feel the master’s questions carried some hidden meaning? Could it be that the tale of the spiritual horse was just to comfort them, and in truth, the horse demon had a suspicious origin?
So, Zhao Lao San hurriedly asked, “Master, why do you ask these questions?”
Du Yuan looked at him and suddenly laughed, “I ask because I want to tell you, it truly is a spiritual horse.”
Then he shifted tone and said to them, “Do you know why Redstone awakened without a sage’s enlightenment, without consuming any earthly treasures, and without divine intervention?”
None of them, including the horse demon, shook their heads.
Du Yuan folded his hands behind his back and said meaningfully, “Because this is the fate you cultivated in your past lives.”
“Ah!” the horse demon and caravan exclaimed together.
Du Yuan pointed at them sharply, “You were connected in your past lives, which is why you met in this one. And because you accumulated virtue in those past lives, this horse could awaken, and you would meet me!”
“Therefore, you must cherish this rare bond!”
After all, Buddhist teachings often use this kind of reasoning in dramas and novels. Today, it was just convenient to borrow it. Besides, it was for the better harmony among them. Helping others helps oneself—what’s not to like?
The group and the horse demon listened with their mouths agape.
Some of the younger ones couldn’t help but ask, “Master, what exactly is this bond?”
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Ah? How would I know? I just made it up! But obviously, that couldn’t be said aloud, so Du Yuan waved his hand with a mysterious expression and said, “Ah, the Buddha says it is ineffable!”
Hearing him mention the Buddha, everyone dared not ask further out of reverence.
Only Zhao Lao San, filled with admiration, asked, “Master, can you see our past lives?”
Du Yuan waved his hand and smiled, “An Arhat can see a person’s five hundred past and future lives! I merely glimpsed the fate you shared in your past lives.”
He wanted to say his abilities were nothing special, but they took it as modesty—after all, Du Yuan was the only one they had ever met with true skill.
Even the horse demon thought so. It had seen monks and Taoists along the way and felt it could easily trample them, but Du Yuan made it feel like one sneeze from him could send it flying against a wall, never to get up.
Not to mention the aura of Buddhist light that surrounded him, and earlier, his fierce words that chilled the horse to the bone. It was the first time it had encountered a Buddhist so deadly—someone who would rush forward and strike down demons in a few blows.
Zhao Lao San and the horse demon grew more respectful and asked Du Yuan, “May we know your Dharma name and where you practice? We would like to pay our respects at your sacred temple.”
Du Yuan smiled and shook his head, “No, no, I’m not a monk.”
They looked puzzled. “Then what about all your skills?”
Du Yuan thought for a moment and said, “Well, I just know a bit more Buddhism than most. If you want to know where I stayed for a while, it was Jinshan Temple and Lingyin Temple.”
“Oh, and I’ve been to Leiyin Temple too, though that was a long time ago. Actually, I recently caused a bit of a stir at the Little Leiyin Temple,” he added, his mood brightening and speaking freely.
Besides, who said traveling with a camera doesn’t count as visiting a place?
Du Yuan was in good spirits, but the horse caravan grew increasingly bewildered and alarmed. What was Jinshan Temple? What was Lingyin Temple? And what was Leiyin Temple? Why did he say he caused a disturbance at the Little Leiyin Temple? Moreover, if he only knew a little Buddhism, then what were those itinerant monks who begged for food everywhere?
In short, they couldn’t understand but were increasingly awestruck, thinking, “No wonder he’s a master; what he says is beyond our comprehension.”