Chapter 154: Chapter 154: He Looks Like a Dog Chapter 154: Chapter 154: He Looks Like a Dog Wukong established the Ultimate Bliss World in the Western Direction, and over the span of ten years, more than a million people entered, coming from all over various places. Wukong also delineated the Ten Directions Country, all within the Ultimate Bliss World.

The people of the Ultimate Bliss World, without worries for food or clothing, all did good deeds, bathed in Buddha’s Light, read Buddhist Scriptures, and revered the Victorious Fighting Buddha, presenting a thriving and prosperous appearance.

Wukong gave a short sermon every three days and a longer one every two months, talking about Buddhist Scriptures, the lives of mortals, and the Heavenly Dao.

As years followed years, it was now the nineteenth year. On this day, Wukong called to the Ancient Buddha Burning Lamp and instructed him to go and save those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who had already achieved Nirvana, to bring them to the Ultimate Bliss World, while he himself had important matters to attend to.

What important matters? Naturally, it was to search for Zixia’s reincarnation.

He had calculated that Zixia had once again cultivated the Immortal Dao and had become an Earth Immortal, currently residing in the Eastern Divine Region.

Wukong transformed into another being, taking on the appearance of the Heaven-Defying Taoist.

“What business does the Victorious Fighting Buddha have summoning me?” Heaven-Defying asked.

“To resolve a matter, off you go. I have seen enough of this world,” Wukong said.

Heaven-Defying wanted to ask more, but Wukong waved his hand and pushed him, immediately sending him flying tens of thousands of miles away, landing in the Eastern Divine Region.

This was the peak of Mount Tai, where a woman holding a Treasured Sword was dancing madly, captivating him completely.

Heaven-Defying called out, “Zixia!”

Zixia suddenly startled, and as she stopped her sword dance, she nearly fell off the peak, but Heaven-Defying, with quick reflexes, grabbed her in time.

“It’s you,” Zixia said, looking at him, using only two words.

Heaven-Defying nodded, “It’s me. I am the stone.”

But Zixia shook her head, “I don’t know you!”

After saying this, she turned around and walked away. Heaven-Defying, not knowing if she was angry or what, could only follow behind. Zixia used her Escape Technique all the way toward Luoyang City. Heaven-Defying also used his Escape Technique to follow, looking at her figure from behind, only sighing silently in his heart. He and Wukong were one and the same; he was Wukong, and Wukong was him. It was just a different title and appearance, but his remorse for Zixia was far from trivial.

The less Zixia spoke to him, the more guilty he felt in his heart.

Zixia was indeed somewhat angry with him. Upon seeing him just now, bits of her past life flooded back into her mind, though not completely. It was a vague memory, and she only knew that she had died for him, and that he abandoned and forgot about her. How could she not feel angry in her heart?

Upon entering Luoyang City and just stepping through the city gate, Zixia turned and said angrily, “Why do you keep following me?”

Heaven-Defying couldn’t help but laugh, “I like you, so naturally I want to follow you!”

Zixia snorted coldly and unsheathed her sword in front of everyone, thrusting it toward Heaven-Defying’s neck.

Heaven-Defying hadn’t expected Zixia to strike as soon as she spoke, he was startled and stepped back, but Zixia’s sword nevertheless pressed against his throat. Heaven-Defying had no choice but to step on the city gate bricks and use the force to jump onto the city wall several meters high. Zixia, driven by a surge of anger, but more so by an indescribable feeling, kicked the wall and, using the momentum, flew up after him.

“Why?” Heaven-Defying asked.

“Why? In the last life, I died because of you, this life you ought to repay me with your life,” Zixia rebuked.

The sword thrust forward, yet stopped right before his throat, at that moment, the blade was just less than a hair’s breadth away, and his neck had even begun to goosebumps due to the chill emanating from the sword’s edge.

Before, now, the past, ask no more; red, fallen leaves, buried deep, within the dirt.

From start to finish it’s always the same, unchanged; graceful you, drifting by, beyond the clouds.

In the Sea of Suffering, love and hate cannot be distinguished, it’s hard to escape fate in this mortal world.

The sincere heart, so unreachable; yet I should believe it is fate.

Lovers, after parting, forever, ask no more; in vain, alone I, gaze around, outside this worldly realm.

Though flowers may wither, they will bloom again; the love of a lifetime is indistinct, beyond the clouds.

In the Sea of Suffering, love and hate aren’t confined, it’s hard to escape fate in this mortal world.

The sincere heart is so unreachable; yet I should believe, it is fate.

In the Sea of Suffering, love and hate are not accounted for, it’s hard to escape fate in this mortal world…

“Why don’t you dodge?” Zixia’s expression was complex, but she couldn’t bring herself to stab him.

Heaven-Defying gazed into her eyes and slowly said, “Once, I had a true love right in front of me and I didn’t cherish it. When I lost it, I regretted it more than anything else in the world. If heaven could give me a chance to do it all over again, I would tell that girl three words: I love you. If I had to put a time limit on this love, I hope it is a Yuan!”

Zixia bit her lip and didn’t speak.

Heaven-Defying spoke these words with a voice that was anything but soft.

Below the city walls, the common folk already gathered to enjoy the spectacle had burst into applause at the scene.

“Marry him, marry him, marry him!”

Eager for excitement, the onlookers started to shout and bellow from below.

Zixia pursed her thin lips tightly, her eyebrows knitted as if lost in thought.

From within the crowd, Wukong watched from a distance. With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind blew forth. Zixia quickly stowed her sword but was caught by the gust, falling right into Heaven-Defying’s arms.

“Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her!”

Seeing this, the crowd’s shouts grew even louder.

A kiss. Deep, deep!

Once more, cheers and applause erupted from the midst of the crowd, all approving of the scene—and thankfully, the Tang Dynasty was a relatively open era; otherwise, this scene might have truly seemed to corrupt public morals.

Wukong smiled, turned, and walked away, severing the spiritual connection with Heaven-Defying with a flick of his wrist. If this was a dream, then why not make it a beautiful one? Why not let himself and her linger longer in this dream?

Zixia’s complexion flushed, and suddenly sensing something, she turned her head to see a departing figure.

Resting in his arms, as she watched Wukong’s retreating figure, Zixia felt an inexplicable emotion. She suddenly laughed and said, “Look at that person. He looks so strange. He looks just like a dog!”

Heaven-Defying seemed contemplative. Hadn’t he lived just like a dog?

Holding Zixia close, Heaven-Defying smiled and said, “This is but a dream.”

Zixia asked, “What dream?”

With a gentle smile, Heaven-Defying replied, “No matter what dream, it’s a beautiful dream. We could stay asleep in this dream forever.”

Zixia smiled and said, “Okay! I’ll dream with you!”

The setting sun was just right!

The departing figure of the Victorious Fighting Buddha was lonely, filled with melancholy, also conveying a heart-wrenching feeling. He came alone and he left alone, because he knew this was just a dream. Although he longed to sleep forever in this dream, he couldn’t do it; he couldn’t deceive his true heart. Life had been so exhausting for him. He felt truly pitiful; he longed not to wake up again… Maybe Zixia was right—he was just like a dog!

“Yes, this is just a dream… I’ve awakened, but you are still in it. This dream might go on forever. I hope so.” He brought his palms together and slowly sat down cross-legged, “May Buddha’s compassion be upon us!”

The wind blew harshly against his face.

“I am still with you,” a soft call seemed to knock on the tender tip of his heart.

Victorious Fighting Buddha’s face was streaked with tears, his hair began to turn gray, and his flesh started to wither. Then, engulfed by seven-colored flames, he turned into countless sarira…

In the Western Paradise, the sound of the Buddhist bell resonated for a long time.

“Victorious Fighting Buddha has entered Nirvana…”

“May Buddha’s compassion be upon us!”

“Victorious Fighting Buddha, may Buddha’s compassion be upon us!”

Three thousand Buddhas, countless Bodhisattvas, a cloud of Vajra, eight hundred Arhats, holy monks, Bhikkhunis, novice monks, all with hands joined in prayer, sat down and worshipped the lotus pedestal, saying, “Victorious Fighting Buddha, may Buddha’s compassion be upon us! Well spoken, well spoken.”

Throughout the Ten Directions Country, the citizens wept bitterly. Victorious Fighting Buddha had entered Nirvana, and that pain penetrated deep into their bones.

“As the dream awakens, everything reaches Perfection. I am not the Victorious Fighting Buddha; I am Wukong!”

He opened his eyes and looked at Xuan Ming before him, speaking slowly.

Xuan Ming bit her lip gently and looked at him with a smile, saying, “You are not sad. Because I am still here.”

Wukong did not avoid her gaze but met it, reaching out to gently touch her cheek, feeling the warmth spreading from his fingertips. Not contradicting his heart, when it was time to love, he did not hesitate; he didn’t want to see another girl saddened because of him.

Xuan Ming’s eyes closed slightly, her face flushed with a rosy glow, and she said, “You’ve fulfilled both your Buddha-nature and your true nature. Congratulations.”

Wukong smiled and said, “Wait until I become a saint!”

Xuan Ming nodded slightly, sparing her words. She was never one to speak much.

Whether Wukong has achieved the Primordial state, please listen to the explanation in the next episode.