Chapter Forty-Two: Brave Heart (Final)

The voice of the Buddha of Eternal Light seemed to possess a peculiar enchantment, especially when he spoke of the merit that Luo Hanya was to perform. Luo Hanya felt his mind descending into a haze, as though only the two words “merit” remained imprinted within his consciousness.

“You may end it yourself, benefactor. I shall follow cause and effect, sever your past incarnation. Thus, the dark crow of this space-time will vanish, and the demonic fetus, bereft of assistance, will be thoroughly sealed. In doing so, you shall accomplish a great act of merit,” intoned the Buddha of Eternal Light, his voice woven with a mystical, seductive power. Luo Hanya’s mind grew ever more clouded, until his senses were wholly befuddled.

“I shall end it myself, and perform this immense merit.”

“I shall end it myself, and perform this immense merit.”

Luo Hanya repeated the phrase over and over, sometimes expressionless, sometimes grinning foolishly. “Merit—I must perform great merit.” Thus unfolded the scene that had just transpired: at this moment, Luo Hanya seemed no longer himself, but like a clay statue in a temple, face devoid of emotion.

As the dark crow laughed maniacally, Luo Hanya drew the pistol from his waist, his countenance slack and vacant. Slowly, he pointed the barrel at his own temple, muttering “merit” under his breath, his finger already resting on the trigger.

“Eternal Light, you bald fraud! How despicable you are! Wake up! Do not fall into his trap!” The demonic fetus, silent for so long, cried out in alarm, its tone frantic and agitated.

“Hahaha, it’s too late! Everything is finished. You’d best stay put right here, you’ll never emerge into the world!” Luo Hanya’s expression twisted, and he burst into wild laughter, the sound eerie, wholly unlike his own voice.

Luo Hanya’s index finger tensed, about to pull the trigger, as though everything here was truly about to end.

At the critical moment, however, his finger froze, his face contorted with struggle. He did not fire!

In that instant, the dark crow transformed into human form, a bolt of black lightning. His right hand seized Luo Hanya’s throat, lifting him single-handedly, while his left snatched the pistol from Luo Hanya’s grasp. With a sharp crack, the gun was crushed into shards.

“Is it over now? Heh heh. I don’t know what you are, but your host is now entirely under my control—what else can you do?” The dark crow glared at Luo Hanya, his voice vicious.

At that moment, Luo Hanya’s expressions flickered between savagery and silent resolve, clearly a fierce struggle was raging within him.

Inside Luo Hanya were two spheres of light. One, though faint, gleamed with boundless Buddhist radiance, sacred and dazzling. Within its core sat an old monk, his countenance serene and compassionate, yet with a trace of cunning and malice lurking deep within.

The other sphere, though larger, alternated between dim white and gold light. Surprisingly, it did not resemble Luo Hanya, but a young man. He was clad in robes as white as snow, his black hair flowing unbound, both garments and locks drifting lightly. His temples were sharp as if cut by a blade, his brows shaped like paintings, his face delicate as a peach blossom, his eyes deep as autumn waters, with a subtle sheen upon his skin, and in his gaze flickered a myriad of crystal lights.

From within the white light came an angry voice: “You thieving monk! You will never control me!”

“Open your heart, benefactor. I am Buddha; my thoughts are the thoughts of all beings. If the demonic fetus is not eradicated, the world will know no peace. If you obstruct me, you obstruct all beings. Come, take refuge, do not stray farther upon the path of demons,” the voice of Eternal Light reverberated, rays of Buddhist radiance streaming from his faint sphere, merging into the sphere where Luo Hanya resided.

“Ah, nonsense about the thoughts of all beings! It’s all your selfish desire! Seducing the world, forcibly converting, suppressing dissent—a fine Buddha of Eternal Light! A fine act of merit!” The young man in white cried out in anguish, his words laced with sarcasm, as if he had uncovered some truth.

“Benefactor, why persist in confusion? The thoughts of all beings, the tides of the world—how can one not follow?”

“The masses are blind; how can one follow? The world is foul, yet I wish to remain pure alone!”

“When the world is your enemy, you cannot resist—why not yield to the current? Merit is what all beings strive for; how can you remain unmoved?”

“Where the Way resides, though ten thousand oppose me, I go forth!”

Their argument dragged on, unresolved. As they stalemated, the white sphere began to tremble, and in an instant, turned jet-black.

Eternal Light spoke coldly, “The demon’s thoughts surge, hidden deep within. No wonder you are so stubborn—it is because you harbor a demon in your heart.”

Now, the young man in white looked entirely different. His handsome face bore a wicked smile as he said languidly, “What is a demon? All demons in the world are but the victims of hypocrites. I wished for peace, yet the hypocrites would have me dead, so they branded me a monster, called me a demon.”

He paused, as if recalling old memories. “Later, I met another demon. She told me: to kill one is a crime; to slaughter ten thousand is greatness. Slaughter nine million, and you are the greatest of the great.”

“So, I stopped running. I entered the Way through killing, until the hypocrites dared not speak lightly, until I carved out an era of clear peace.”

“Throughout history, benevolence has always harmed others; righteousness has never been true. Having seen through a millennium of virtue and fame, I care not for fine reputations, but cherish infamy; killing millions leaves my heart untouched. Hahaha, if I were gone, who knows how many more demons the world would breed!” The young man in white laughed to the heavens, wild and unrestrained, so much that Eternal Light changed color, the Buddhist radiance vanished.

“All that remains from past lives is the bloodshed. I want the heavens purified of filth, the earth cleansed of impurity. I want this world free from hypocritical harm, and all those demons to gaze upon the boundless blue sky!”

When Luo Hanya awoke, the first thing he saw were two faces, one large, one small, both strange and unfamiliar—one was the dark crow, and the other, a child he had never seen before.

“Haha, do not be afraid. Tsk tsk, I never thought we were kindred spirits. You, brother, I, the dark crow, acknowledge!” The dark crow, in contrast to Wang Shi’s coldness and cruelty, was now full of warmth, speaking with affectionate enthusiasm.

“Sir, you are truly a marvel. I admire you greatly.” The child was handsome, fair-skinned, with a pair of pale violet eyes glowing with mystery. His shoulder-length hair was tied behind him, and he wore a black jade-brocade robe—an exceptionally handsome little boy.

He looked at Luo Hanya with reverence, his voice clear, “Sir, my name is Ling Xiao. Thank you for your kindness today. If ever I have the chance, I will surely repay you.”

Luo Hanya stared blankly at the elder and the child, who now conversed warmly with him, utterly confused as to what had transpired.

The current task is complete; the main quest has been fulfilled.

A brave heart lies in fearlessness.

Whether strong or weak, rich or poor,

So long as you possess a courageous heart, you will be unafraid of all the world.

Even if all abandon you, you dare to raise your voice.

Where the Way resides, though ten thousand oppose me, I go forth!

Swing your arms wide! Sometimes, truth truly belongs to the few...