NOVEL WEB Chapter 97 Lao Gui
"During the great battle in Zhongzhou, I had seen Mr. Lu's heroic figure from afar, never expecting to actually meet him here." The White Lotus Holy Maiden gave a bitter smile, already feeling despair in her heart, as such esteemed figures meant her fate was no longer in her own hands.
"As a wife, bringing blessings to a community, since you have chosen this life, live it well," Lu Yu said with a smile.
The White Lotus Holy Maiden was clearly startled by Lu Yu's words and asked incredulously, "Mr. Lu, you aren't taking me back?"
"Haha, why should I take you? The White Lotus Holy Maiden has long been dead, what I see now is only the kindly Great Lady Wu!" Lu Yu laughed heartily.
"Just live on according to your own wishes."
Great Lady Wu's beautiful eyes welled up with tears; no one knew just how significant Lu Yu's words were to her. From then on, the White Lotus Holy Maiden would forever disappear in Great Chu, leaving only the Great Lady Wu.
"If Mr. Lu wouldn't mind, please come to my home; I have prepared a banquet to thank you for your great kindness."
"Just in time, I am rather hungry. I shall impose upon your hospitality!" Lu Yu accepted with a laugh.
That day, everyone was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Wu Family was hosting a grand banquet for a scholarly gentleman, said to be a relative of Great Lady Wu. They all saw a learned man of great demeanor, inspiring involuntary respect at just one glance.
Lu Yu enjoyed the atmosphere of villagers dining together, where the distance between people was greatly reduced at that moment. Unfortunately, such a scene was only possible in times of peace; in times of chaos, when even getting enough to eat was hard, who could afford to hold banquets?
After eating his fill, Lu Yu took his leave, his demeanor free and easy, possessing an air of living his life freely despite the rain and mist.
Wu Family's eldest son sighed as he watched Lu Yu's departing figure, saying, "This gentleman is clearly no ordinary person."
"How can you tell that?" the Great Lady asked, her beautiful eyes wide and blinking, looking at her husband.
"Can't really say, just a feeling, like how I knew you were the one for me at first sight," the eldest son of the Wu Family said, scratching his head and speaking in a muffled voice.
With a roll of her beautiful eyes, Great Lady Wu responded, saying, "What are you staring at? Let's go back."
Their story continued, now without any relation to Lu Yu.
Lu Yu continued walking alone upon the earth, wandering through blossoming mountain flowers and unexpectedly coming upon vistas of blooming willows. One day, Lu Yu arrived beside a great river, and looking at the flowing water felt very familiar. This was the place where he had once preached, and where he first ignited the Five Qi, transforming from mortal to immortal.
"Is that Mr. Lu on the shore?" a familiar voice called out from the river, drawing Lu Yu's attention.
"Ah, it's you, Lao Gui, how have you been recently?" Lu Yu asked with a smile.
Suddenly a shadow appeared in the river, and a huge tortoise slowly crawled ashore, prostrating itself next to Lu Yu, its head slightly bowed. Looking at Lu Yu, it opened and closed its mouth, emitting an aged human voice: "Thanks to Mr. Lu's concern, this old tortoise has been well."
"That's good, cultivating virtue is not easy, and calamities are numerous, being able to meet again is also fate," Lu Yu said with a smile.
"What Mr. Lu said is very true, cultivating virtue indeed is not easy. Like me, Lao Gui, who gained sentience a thousand years ago and has cultivated every day without pause. Yet, to this day, the Great Dao has no entry for me, and I can't transform into human form. I came specifically to ask Mr. Lu for advice, hoping you can show me a way out of my confusion," Lao Gui pleaded earnestly.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu also became intrigued. After all, a thousand years of cultivation should enable even those of ordinary talent to transform into human form. Lao Gui, having listened to his teachings in the past, was not of dull wit; why then could he not shape-shift?
Opening his Dharma Eye for a closer inspection, he couldn't help but gasp in surprise. Above Lao Gui's head, dark clouds covered the sun—a symbol of great sin.
"Where did you acquire such sin? It is utterly monstrous. With such sin, being alive is already defying heaven's will, no wonder you can't transform after many years of cultivation," Lu Yu remarked.
Lao Gui was so frightened that he was beside himself, his voice trembling as he stuttered, "Mr. Lu, since I attained enlightenment, I have not committed a single evil act; I have kept my vows and been a vegetarian. My cultivation has been most sincere; how could I possibly have such overwhelming sin?"
Lu Yu was also puzzled. If it truly were Lao Gui's sin, he would likely have been scattered in spirit and soul long ago, never having the chance to embark on the path of cultivation. But his Dharma Eye saw clearly; the weight of the sin was rarely seen in this world.
"Then there is only one explanation—it must be that your ancestors committed a great crime against Heaven and Earth, thus the sin is difficult to eradicate and has been passed down to you, their descendant," Lu Yu concluded as the only explanation he could think of.
"What should I do now? I don't even know who my ancestors were or where this sin comes from. What can be done now? Might it be that there's no possibility for me to transform in this lifetime?" Lao Gui muttered to himself, his tone full of disappointment and incomprehension. For someone dedicated to cultivation, there was nothing more despairing than this.
"If we're talking about a solution, it's not as if there isn't one," Lu Yu suddenly shifted the conversation.
Hearing this, Lao Gui saw a glimmer of hope and hastened to kowtow to Lu Yu, requesting a method to resolve his predicament.
"Since it's a matter of sin, naturally you need to find a way to resolve this sin, and to do so, you need the merits of Heaven and Earth, though such merits are hard to come by," Lu Yu said softly.
Lao Gui felt a surge of despair upon hearing this. He had heard of Heaven and Earth's merits before, even the Buddhas wouldn't refuse them when offered—how could a mere demon like him possibly obtain them?
Lu Yu pondered for a long time. He already had a plan in mind, but was unsure if it was right to point Lao Gui in that direction, as a misjudgment could endanger Lao Gui's life.
"I indeed know of a way, but alas, it's difficult to predict whether it will bring fortune or calamity, and I'm unsure whether I should show it to you," Lu Yu expressed his indecision.
Lao Gui was overjoyed and said, "Even if it means going through a valley of knives and a forest of flames, I am willing to try. Even if I perish from this path, I will have no regrets. Please, Mr. Lu, make it happen."
For Lao Gui, being blocked on the path of cultivation was no different from death. Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, he was willing to stake it all.
Seeing Lao Gui's resolved, Lu Yu no longer hesitated and instructed, "Starting today, you are to head to Kyushu. Continue westward until you find a place called Tongtian River. Once found, devote yourself to cultivating there. After five hundred years, a Scripture Seeker will pass by. You can carry him a part of the way and ask him to consult the Buddha Ancestor about your transformation.
Remember, do not involve yourself in unnecessary conflicts or try to prove your valor, else you may lose a millennium of cultivation, and that would not be my fault." Your next chapter is on empire
"Thank you, Mr. Lu, for your guidance," Lao Gui guessed that what Lu Yu had instructed must involve a great secret of the three realms. He was grateful and quickly kowtowed again.