The one-sided battle began again. Monkey King swung his Golden Staff, smashing wildly in a frenzy.
Mountains and rivers—everything was ravaged beyond recognition. The raging winds swept through all, reshaping the landscape again and again. Sand and stone blotted out the sky, even covering the faint moonlight.
Yet no matter how great the commotion, how much strength he poured in, how he roared and struggled, Lord Buddha simply watched in silence, smiling—a look as if he were watching a vulgar play.
Falling stones from the sky struck the already dilapidated temple roof, making a clattering sound like hail.
From afar, Evan Leaf carefully poked his head out, his face full of confusion.
Behind him, the old monk placed a trembling hand on his shoulder and shakily stood by his side.
"Master, is that the demon monkey causing trouble in the east you spoke of?"
"It should be," the old monk replied.
"And the other one? The other... looks just like the Buddha in our temple. Could it be the Buddha himself?"
The old monk was silent for a long time before he softly said, "Perhaps. Or maybe it's some other Buddha, or perhaps an arhat."
The howling wind swept sand across the temple, making the frost-covered wild grass in front tremble slightly.
Evan Leaf quietly watched a seven-spotted ladybug frozen stiff on a blade of grass, frowning, looking somewhat unhappy.
After a long while, he whispered, "That Buddha is forcing the demon monkey. He even said just now that he wanted to take him to Spirit Mountain..."
Before he could finish, the old monk gently pressed his mouth and shook his head, signaling him not to say more.
After a brief silence, Evan Leaf looked up at the crazed Monkey King, blinking as he said, "That demon monkey isn't evil. I can tell—he just hopes the Buddha won't harm those around him. But the Buddha won't agree... because he offended the Buddha."
At this, Evan Leaf lowered his head, rubbing his reddened fingers, and whispered, "The demon monkey looks to be in great pain. He can't let go, can't move on—he's just one of the countless sentient beings lost in the sea of suffering you always speak of, Master. But why does the Buddha still 'kick someone into the well'? We pray for Buddha's protection, yet race to become Buddhas who refuse to protect others, unwilling even to look back at the suffering multitudes behind us. Why is that?"
He lifted his head, eyes wide, gazing at his master, waiting for an answer.
Those eyes were so clear they made one feel ashamed.
Faced with his questions, the old monk could only smile faintly, stroke his head, and sigh deeply.
This child never pays much attention to the sutras, yet somehow he seems to understand more than anyone. Whenever he asks a question, he always leaves the old monk speechless.
Evan Leaf continued to quietly watch his master, as if still waiting for an answer.
After thinking for a long time, the old monk could only softly say, "My cultivation is insufficient. I cannot answer your question. When you grow up, if you have the chance, seek the answer yourself. Perhaps you will cultivate better than I have."
"Master, where should I look for it?"
"Go... to Spirit Mountain's Great Thunderclap Temple," the old monk replied softly.
...
At the edge of Blossom Mountain, Right-Dharma Radiance Tathāgata suddenly turned to look west, as if startled by something. His fists tightened slightly.
In the distance, Blossom Mountain had already completely fallen apart.
The power displayed by Lord Buddha instantly drove almost every demon from the heights of morale to utter despair.
The units of the Five Demon Kings fled, and many wavering troops broke and retreated, each scrambling for their lives. Of all Blossom Mountain, only Monkey King's personal guards remained—the ones who had been there since the Heavenly Fleet besieged Blossom Mountain. Their numbers were but tens of thousands.
Even more tragically, this force was already battered and scarred.
On the deck, Bai Juan clutched Shortbeak's corpse, crying until she fainted, while Daisy Grass hurried to care for her.
The Nine-Headed Wyrm, already too wounded to move, was carried onto another warship.
Louis Quickpaw walked step by step to the blank-faced Rhino, glanced back at the monk legions already assembled in the distance, and said quietly, "Let's go. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to leave at all. They could attack at any moment... Even if the Great Sage returns, he can't save anyone. Hiding is the only way."
Rhino slowly shook his head and said softly, "I'm not leaving. If everyone goes, who will cover the retreat? Of those still able to move, I'm the highest in rank... If no one stays behind, they'll catch up easily."
"But..."
Staring blankly at Lindsay's corpse, now laid out and pieced back together, Rhino's mouth twitched into a bitter smile. "I miss them. Her and her mother, Shortbeak, Big Bull, Old White Ape... I miss them all, so many. Living is so exhausting. I want... to be with them."
Looking at the rhino who had always been carefree—even able to sleep through meetings—now weeping openly, Louis Quickpaw, usually so sharp-tongued, found himself at a loss for words.
Lowering his head, Rhino murmured, "I've really lived enough. Back in Dragon Pool, I should've died already. Never thought I'd become a general, have a wife, a daughter, enjoy so many years of good fortune... I've gained enough. No regrets."
Looking at Louis Quickpaw, Rhino wiped away his tears and slowly broke into a smile.
That expression left Louis Quickpaw stunned; unable to help himself, he rushed forward and hugged Rhino tightly.
"Take care... If you can, you must survive."
"Mm." Rhino gently patted Louis Quickpaw's back and said softly, "Go quickly, I can't hold them off for long."
Releasing Louis Quickpaw, Rhino slowly stood, leaning on his battle axe, and staggered forward into the wind, gripping the ship's rail. Facing the few remaining demon officers, he said quietly, "Pass the order: those with wives and children, retreat with the army. The rest... stay with me and give your loyalty to Blossom Mountain."
All the demon officers watched him in silence.
Each of them was already battered and bloodstained, their armor long since shattered.
After a long while, one spoke up: "General Rhino, I've already... written my farewell letter. May I stay behind?"
"Don't you want to retreat with your family?"
The demon officer hesitated and said, "I have only one wife. I think... she wouldn't want a coward for a husband. I want to be a hero, even if I die."
Saying this, the demon officer smiled faintly.
The other demon officers also smiled.
"General, I've already written my farewell letter too."
"Me too."
"If we're still standing here, it means we're not leaving. You couldn't drive us away if you tried."
"If you stay, you'll surely die. You all understand that, right?"
The demon officers just smiled, giving no answer.
Not everyone clings to life or fears death. Faced with death, not everyone chooses to run.
In a daze, Rhino seemed to recall a little demon during the great escape on the road to Dragon's Pool.
In this world, there is a spirit called courage. It does not belong only to the truly strong.
...
"Everything is ready. Why not give the order to attack? If we wait any longer, they'll all escape." The sword-bearing Buddha pointed toward the distant demon fleet. "Once they're scattered across the vast world, hunting them down will be a nightmare."
"I'm wondering whether we should attack at all."
"Should we or shouldn't we? You already gave the order, didn't you, Venerable?"
Right-Dharma Radiance Tathāgata hesitated, then spoke softly: "Perhaps we Buddhists should seek a better way to coexist with the living beings of the Three Realms."
Manjusri was stunned for a moment, gazing at Right-Dharma with a hint of confusion.
This way of speaking was so reminiscent of someone—a former companion, a person who had already lost his Buddha-light.
"Where is he now?"
"He's been reborn as a little monk, chanting sutras and seeking enlightenment in a small temple. Two lifetimes of the tenfold vow have already passed; this is the third. The mortal world is turbulent—I don't know if he can endure and remain himself. Manjusri, I truly hope he will grasp a different kind of Dharma. That's why I agreed to watch over his final life."
Manjusri smiled faintly and sighed, "Let's focus on the present. You've already given the order to attack; it wouldn't be proper to withhold it now, would it?"
Gazing at the retreating demon warships in the distance, Right-Dharma Radiance Tathāgata drew a deep breath. "Lord Lao's 'Non-Action' Dao is broken, Subhuti's Dao-heart is damaged and cannot reach Heaven's Way for now. Lord Genesis, Lord Skygate, and Zhenyuan are all gravely wounded. Among the Daoist powers... every obstacle to our cultivation of Buddhism has vanished. For now, let it be. We should reorganize as well. Once those who wish to leave have gone, we'll strike and fulfill the Lord Buddha's command by dealing with those who remain."
"All right, I'll follow your lead. You're the commander after all." Manjusri sighed, "Just don't overthink things. If you fall into madness and lose your Buddha-light like he did, and enter reincarnation, there'll be one less voice to speak in Spirit Mountain. Wouldn't that be a shame?"
Right-Dharma glanced at Manjusri and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't make you watch over my ten lifetimes."
"Good. That's a relief."
Far away, the demon fleet—warships loaded with wounded—raised their sails and began to depart in waves. The monks simply hovered in the air, occasionally shifting position, but showed no sign of attacking.
Inside the ruined South Heaven Gate, Isabel Su descended slowly, panting heavily as she bent to pick up a discarded celestial longsword.
Her complexion had grown increasingly pale.
Stepping over corpses, she leaned on the sword and walked step by step toward the gate.
The immortals she passed, seeing her red fox ears, all shrank away; not one dared to stop her.
"Has the Great Sage already returned to Blossom Mountain?" she wondered, popping an elixir into her mouth before leaping into the void.