The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 262 Discussing Tao on Top of the Mountain

Mount Tai.

It was the first time for Li Ye to reach the top of Mount Tai after he arrived in this world. The five prefectures of Pinglu were on the east of Mount Tai, which was called Shandong in the world where Li Ye lived before his transmigration.

There was a Taoist temple in Mount Tai as well. However, it was not affiliated with the five major Taoist sects but the place where the Quanzhen Temple was located. The Quanzhen Temple was the new Taoist sect founded by Su Emei and Wei Xiaozhuang.

“Any mountain, high or not, can be famous with the presence of an immortal; any river, deep or not, can be holy with the presence of a dragon. In my opinion, the Quanzhen Temple needn’t be built on Mount Tai. It’s high and hard to climb. My Boji Mountain is a good place.”

When he reached the summit, Chu Nanhuai put his hands in his sleeves and curled his lips, looking as though he didn’t think much of Mount Tai.

It was still dark, and the surrounding was deep and quiet. From the top of the mountain, the mountains were hidden in the thick darkness. The morning star was very bright, but it was too far away to light up the top of the mountain.

Su Emei was personally arranging the small tables, futons and other things for Li Ye and the others. Standing before the cliff with his hands clasped behind him, Li Ye smiled and said, “It’s a bit of a cliche to take advantage of the situation to succeed, but it’s inevitable. Whether it’s the Taoist temples or the Buddhist temples, they all try their best to occupy the world’s famous mountains and rivers. These places are beautiful, rich in Spiritual Qi and beneficial to cultivation. Besides, it’s a matter of course to enhance the status of the Taoist temples and the Buddhist temples with the help of these famous mountains and rivers.”

Chu Nanhuai sat down behind the small table arranged by Su Emei, waiting for her to serve him wine. All the people were waiting for the sunrise on top of the mountain, so good wine was indispensable. Su Emei disliked Wei Xiaozhuang’s clumsiness, so she did these things all by herself as if she had returned to her young days when she took care of the Taoist temple in Boji Mountain.

Chu Nanhuai looked at Li Ye and asked suddenly, “A group of demons is causing chaos in Pinglu. What are you going to do with them? I want to tell you that I’m very old now. I just want to live out my life in retirement in Boji Mountain.”

Li Ye didn’t take it seriously. He turned around and smiled. He came before the small table and sat opposite Chu Nanhuai.

Su Emei put the wine pots and cups on the table for the two of them, and there were plates of a variety of cakes as well, the majority of them Osmanthus cakes. No one knew where she got osmanthus at this time of the year. She did all these quietly, and she didn’t interrupt. A lock of hair slipped down her white, flawless face, dancing lightly in the breeze on top of the mountain.

On top of the mountain, apart from Li Ye, Chu Nanhuai, and his two disciples, only Shangguan Qingcheng in silver armor was guarding the crossing at the edge of the ground with three guards. Shangguan Qingcheng looked steadily forward. She was standing tall and upright with her hand on the knife, looking as if she could whisk out her knife to protect Li Ye anytime—even though it was perfectly safe here.

Li Ye said to Chu Nanhuai, “I have a question.”

Chu Nanhuai picked up the wine cup, beckoning Su Emei to pour wine for him. He took a quick sip, smacked his lips and said, “Don’t hesitate to ask. I will tell you everything I know.”

When he said he wanted to live out his life in retirement just now, he was not in the mood. But now that he’d drunk a cup of wine, he was in high spirits. In this case, if Li Ye was willing to send him dozens of jars of wine, it was possible for him to even be Li Ye’s attendant.

Li Ye asked earnestly, “Are there demons and monsters in the world?”

There were no demons and monsters on the earth, but Li Ye didn’t know if there were in this world. If not, there was no explanation for the demons that were causing chaos in Pinglu. If there were, was it true that the Taoist sect and Buddhism could subdue demons and monsters?

Chu Nanhuai chuckled. “After the creation of the world by Pangu, but before humans appeared, the witch clan and the demon clan were the lords of this world. The demon clan was headed by Nuwa and Emperor Taiyi, and they controlled the Immortal Court and built the Immortal Palace; the witch clan was headed by the twelve ancestral witches, and they controlled the earth and built the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Later, after Gonggong knocked down Buzhou Mountain, the witch clan and the demon clan were at war. Both of them suffered great losses, so they retired respectively. Then humans became prosperous. If that’s what you’re asking, then witches and demons do exist. But as for monsters... What are monsters?”

Li Ye slightly frowned and asked further, “The Taoist sect can subdue demons, and Buddhism can subdue monsters. Is it true or not?”

Chu Nanhuai sneered. “Your Highness, you’re an intelligent man. How can you ask such a question?”

He brushed his sleeve lightly and slowly said, “In the statement of the Taoist sect and Buddhism, demons and monsters are the scourge of the world, and they kill people without blinking an eye. It’s really ridiculous. Originally, there are no demons and monsters in the world. To attract people to believe in them and so that people will offer them sacrifices and feed them, Buddhism and the Taoist sect made up stories of subduing demons and monsters. Through these stories, people were awed by Buddhism and the Taoist sect and began to worship them. Particularly when they encountered difficulties, they would want to pray for blessings.”

“However, if only Buddhism and the Taoist sect can subdue demons and monsters, then who subdued demons and monsters before Buddhism and the Taoist sect appeared? If no one could subdue demons and monsters at that time, why didn’t they make trouble in the human world everywhere and make ordinary people suffer?”

“If the sages do not disappear, the thieves will never end. People know beautiful things because of the existence of ugly things. If there are no demons and monsters, there are no immortals and Buddhas. If there are no demons and monsters, Buddhism and Taoism needn’t exist. To exist, Buddhism and the Taoist sect can only make up the stories of demons and monsters to substantiate the necessity of their existence.”

Chu Nanhuai sneered as he spoke. He picked up a cake and put it in his mouth, enjoying it.

Li Ye took a sip of wine. The wine was good, and it was Jiannan Spirit produced in Sichuan. The fragrance filled the place. It was the middle of winter, and a sip of wine could warm the stomach. But at this moment, Li Ye couldn’t taste its flavor even though the wine was good.

Li Ye put down the cup and asked again, “There are no demons and monsters in the world, so people needn’t subdue demons and monsters. Then, what was the use of immortals and Buddhas? It’s just because they want to show their power and be worshipped by people, and they want people to support their disciples? They are no different from robbers. Robbers don’t work hard either but rob others’ fruits. The difference is that the robbers do it by force, but they use mind control.”

“If immortals and Buddhas are merciful, why are they willing to help eliminate people’s disasters only when people offer them sacrifices? If people don’t offer sacrifices, they won’t help eliminate people’s disasters. Then, they are no different from those Jianghu killers who help eliminate people’s disasters only when people pay them money. If immortals and Buddhas really can eliminate people’s disasters, why is the world still full of misfortunes?”

“The rich but heartless people and those who take bribes and bend the law have never died suddenly for no reason. However, few of those who are kind-hearted and often help others will live an extravagant life. The picture of the world is that the former is getting more and more unscrupulous, but the latter is getting more and more difficult and troubled. If there are immortals and Buddhas, why don’t they appear in the world to punish the evil people and protect the good people?”

At this point, Li Ye took a deep breath and continued to ask, “If there are no demons and monsters in the world, and if immortals and Buddhas can’t help eliminate people’s disasters and punish the evil people, does that mean the existence of immortals and Buddhas is merely to let ordinary people with no power, who live a hard life, worship them in awe? Is it to make people in this world willing to endure the hardships of life and the torture of those who are rich and heartless to hope for a virtual afterlife where they can become the rich and powerful who can do whatever they want?”

“If there are no demons and monsters in the world, and if there are no immortals and Buddhas in the world, then those who offered sacrifices are only powerful but selfish cultivators. They are no different from the powerful and rich in the human world. How could they easily forget where their food comes from just because they say that they are detached from the secular world and are free from human desires and passions? How could they easily forget who gave them their bodies and who raised them? If they care about the world, why not do something to make it a better place?”

“If there are no demons and monsters in the world, if there are no immortals and Buddhas in the world and if there are no powerful cultivators in the world, the existence of Buddhism and Taoist sect won’t be beneficial to ordinary people and the world. Then, what is left? It’s just a group of people who chant sutras. They play tricks, say insincere words, have unrealistic dreams and fantasize about the summit they can’t reach in front of ordinary people, to swindle ordinary people out of their money. They are no different from the pyramid sale.”

Li Ye didn’t continue. He was a little overwhelmed by emotion at the moment and he even blurted out the words “pyramid sale”.

Su Emei knelt beside the small table, quietly listening to the conversation between Li Ye and Chu Nanhuai. Hearing Li Ye’s words, she looked at him oddly with her bright eyes.

Chu Nanhuai smiled. “Only a few people in this world can step into the threshold of Buddhism and Taoist sect, so they must have some kinds of superior qualifications and merit. Ordinary people live in hardship and suffer various difficulties. If there are no demons and monsters in the world, if there are no immortals and Buddhas in the world, and if there are no powerful cultivators in the world, then the people in the Taoist sect and Buddhism are an unusual group of people. They should help all the people in the world and help them to solve their pain when they are in trouble. They should walk all over the world to let ordinary people listen to the sayings of Buddhism and Taoism so that ordinary people will have less hostility and anger in their lives, love each other, have fewer disputes, be well-educated and propriety-minded, get along with their families and help their neighbors. If they can’t do these, it’s meaningless.”

At this point, Chu Nanhuai drank a cup of wine. He stood up, facing the morning star in the sky.

He declaimed, “People believe in Taoism and Buddhism because they want blessings, wealth and health, but it’s a fruitless approach. However, it’s undeniable that the doctrines of Buddhism and Taoism really can purify people’s minds and calm people. The highest good is like that of water, the great sound is quiet, and Great Tao has no disputes, so some ordinary people are fed up with worldly disputes and turn to the Taoist sect and Buddhism for peace. Then, Buddhism and the Taoist sect become shelters for them to escape the secular world and seek peace of mind. If so, the Taoist sect and Buddhism should not enjoy offerings.”

Chu Nanhuai waved his hand, and the wine pot on the small table flew into his grasp. He raised his head and drank the wine all in one gulp.

Much later, he continued to speak in a more sonorous tone and a louder voice, “In my heart, Buddhism and the Taoist sect are a group of people who can eliminate people’s violence and evil thoughts and make people live a peaceful life! In my heart, Buddhism and the Taoist sect are a group of people who carry forward love and kindness! In my heart, Buddhism and the Taoist sect are a group of people who carry forward the noble spirits and make the world a better place! In my heart, Buddhism and the Taoist sect are a group of people who help those who are in need, reduce human suffering, and make the world more harmonious!”

“In my heart, Buddhism and the Taoist sect are a group of people who wander all over the world to help others, to do good to people, and to make the world a better place!”

“Anyone, who can make the world a better place, even a little bit better, deserves the respect and love of the world. All men are equal. All living creatures are equal. Equality requires respect and friendship but not fear and worship.”

“In my heart, Buddhism and the Taoist sect don’t need people to worship, to fear, and to kneel. They are not people who don’t work hard and don’t pay, but have no qualms about enjoying others’ fruits, dressed in bright clothes!”

“Those people are the parasites of the world! In my Taoist temple, my disciples are not that kind of people!”

“They will let people all over the world know that the Taoist sect is worthy of their respect and love and that they can count on the Taoist sect! Even though they can’t eliminate people’s disasters, at least, they won’t use those immortal stories to bluff people and ask for their money! Even though they can’t ensure that people have enough food and clothing, at least, they can bring peace to people!”

“This is my Taoist sect. This is the Taoist sect I want!”

Li Ye was shocked to hear him.

The mountain wind was whistling, and Chu Nanhuai’s clothes were fluttering.

He was still wearing the robe which had as many patches as cow’s hair. It looked shabby and insignificant. Walking on the official road and in the marketplace, those rich and powerful in splendid clothes wouldn’t pay attention to him. Moreover, they stay far away from him, covering their noses, as though they were avoiding flies.

However, at this moment, in front of the morning star, Li Ye saw hope from this old browned cloaked Taoist.

Li Ye couldn’t help but stand up. “The universe is heartless; it regards everyone as insignificant. In the eyes of the sages, people and vegetation are the same, and the sages will treat them equally. Why are you concerned about people?”

Chu Nanhuai turned and looked directly at Li Ye. “The sages treat all things the same not because they have no compassion or mercy, but the opposite is true. If they favor people but slight vegetation and animals, the vegetation and animals will suffer a catastrophe someday. Can people still exist at that time? I’m concerned about people because I’m concerned about everything.”

Li Ye was a little stunned. A while later, he bowed deeply to Chu Nanhuai. “I have benefited from your advice.”

Chu Nanhuai came before Li Ye, holding his hands, and said with hope, “Your Highness, you were born for heaven and earth. I hope you will comprehend the Way of Emperor as soon as possible. That is the blessing of heaven and earth.”

Li Ye was stunned again. What was the Way of Emperor? Before Yuan Tiangang released all his power, he also mentioned the Way of Emperor and said something similar to Li Ye.

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