Capítulo 783: Chapter 335: Power of Star Covering

“If I haven’t committed a grave mistake, then why am I waking and sleeping, in a daze?”

“It wasn’t until Senior Brother was the first to reclaim his status that I finally understood, the Twenty-One Zen, it is the Ancient Buddha, and the Ancient Buddha is the Twenty-One Zen.”

The Seven Leaf Venerable said, “The Twenty-One Zen are scattered across many spaces in Jing Country, perhaps becoming cultivators like those Heavenly Gods who have not yet fallen, or perhaps becoming some nameless farmer or fisherman, only to regain their status when the right opportunity arises.”

“Has your opportunity arrived?”

“It has.”

The Seven Leaf Venerable gently brushed off the dead leaves from the branch in his hand, pointing at the bare branch and said, “Ah Xing, you and I, our sins are heavy, each of us will turn into a leaf, trapping the Dual Souls within this branch, guarding the human world for three hundred years, to dissolve the many tribulations of the future Jing Country, to atone for our sins…”

“And then what?”

“Then, our sins will be washed away, the dual leaves will wither, and we will each enter reincarnation, to finally live out a love, by chance coming together, growing old together, and living another life.”

The Seven Leaf Venerable spoke solemnly.

“I have no sins, and I don’t need to atone for any sins.”

Star Covering said.

“If you have no sin, then why did you painstakingly fall the ‘Six Desires’ early? And why did you imprison Junior Brother Zhu Jiu?” the Seven Leaf Venerable asked.

“Hmph.”

Star Covering sneered but could not answer.

“All these years, you’ve been harboring resentment, supporting the kidnapper and the Evil God, harming all beings, and now you wish to perpetrate further murders, to wash this entire city’s populace in blood—Ah Xing, don’t make one mistake after another.”

The Seven Leaf Venerable held the bare branch in his hands, walking towards Star Covering, pleading to become dual leaves with her, to atone for the world, and as he reached Star Covering, the branch was knocked away by a delicate hand.

“Seven Leaf, if you want to guard, then go guard; if you still have any affection for me, then come with me, and slaughter all these You Shen of Mingjiang Prefecture, for my brother, avenge the two hundred years we’ve spent hiding, and face the supreme will head-on…”

“Ah Xing, don’t make another mistake.” The Seven Leaf Venerable bent down to pick up the branch, saying, “If you believe the supreme will is wrong, then confront the supreme will yourself, rather than making all the people of Mingjiang Prefecture endorse your revenge and resentment.”

“The people of Mingjiang Prefecture? What does their death have to do with me?”

“Then do you know, in this great fire in Mingjiang Prefecture, how many Seven Leafs and Star Coverings it burned to death?” the Seven Leaf Venerable asked.

“What do you mean?” Star Covering asked.

The Seven Leaf Venerable said, “After the Young Master entered the Dragon Seeking Incense, he drew a total of three sets of divinations. The last two were from the Great Saint of Literature Xu Jingchuan and me, and the first one was from an ordinary family… A girl named Xu Qing who ran a tea house.

Xu Qing’s husband was named Zhang Sheng.”

“Zhang Sheng was unfortunate; he guaranteed a business for a cousin who ran away with the money, inadvertently taking on a huge debt. At this time, he found out Xu Qing missed her period, likely pregnant,

Realizing he was in debt, Zhang Sheng knew he couldn’t support the new baby, so he prayed to the Bodhisattva, hoping Xu Qing wasn’t pregnant, but it was not to be, she indeed was,

Zhang Sheng could only accept his fate. After the Mingjiang Flood retreated, just as the Mingxi District was recruiting watermen to retrieve bodies from the sinkhole—a life-threatening job—he exchanged his life for money,

For Xu Qing and the unborn child’s future, Zhang Sheng secretly became a waterman, diving into the pit multiple times within three days, underwent countless risks, finally earning a fortune, and returned home successfully,

Thanks to the Young Master’s guidance, Xu Qing heard Zhang Sheng would be home with earnings, so she brewed a pot of milk tea early, waiting anxiously for her husband’s return,

While Zhang Sheng, parched and weary, full of wounds, thought not first of a full meal, nor seeking a doctor for his wounds… instead, he went to Liu’s Shop, and with part of his earnings, bought Xu Qing a golden bracelet. Thus, Zhang Sheng and Xu Qing became lovers and their life gradually became stable, awaiting the baby’s arrival…”

The Seven Leaf Venerable paused here, then turned back to ask Star Covering: “Do you know where Zhang Sheng and Xu Qing, this couple, are now?”

“Two insignificant mortals, wherever they are is none of my concern.”

“A great fire burned down the tea house, Xu Qing was trapped inside, by the time Zhang Sheng arrived, he saw only his wife’s charred body, killing two with one corpse; without a moment’s hesitation, he too leapt into the fire, perishing for love.”

The Seven Leaf Venerable narrated to this point, and Star Covering finally seemed moved, her tongue slipping, sticking slightly to her somewhat dry lips.

“Ah Xing, you told the Painter you want to question the supreme will, you simply want to live an ordinary life with me, to uphold a lifetime together, you wish to question the supreme will, what wrongdoing do you have.”

“But first, you don’t have much love for me, upon seeing me, you won’t even take a few extra steps towards me.”

“Secondly, if you truly want to question the supreme will in the name of love, you must first ask yourself if you’ve made the right choice… Zhang Sheng and Xu Qing’s love is far more sincere and passionate than between us, yet because of you, they perished in the flames.”

“In Mingjiang Prefecture, who knows how many such loving couples have been burned alive by the Xianhuo you drew upon.”

“Aren’t these lovers just like the Star Covering and Seven Leaf of old?”

The Seven Leaf Venerable finally turned back, handing the bare branch again to Star Covering: “Ah Xing, come with me, you and I each become a leaf, guarding the human world to atone for our sins…”