Chapter 270 - Gathering in Kunlun (1/2)

“Here you are.”

Ning Zhe had already known who was coming by sensing the aura. He didn’t need to look back.

“What’s your answer?” Leng Yueyan was being very straight-forward.

Ning Zhe turned around and looked at the beauty in a grey robe. Then he smiled and proposed, “Maybe we should go and enjoy some beautiful scenery here.”

Leng Yueyan didn’t refuse him. They took a walk in the Muni Valley scenic area. After they passed a waterfall, they arrived at the center of the place, which was called Erdao Lake.

This lake was the soul of this place. The peaceful water covering such a large area looked quite magnificent. Although it was just a place in the mortal world, the two felt like they were communicating with the abundant spirit aura around them.

Just like Jiu Zhaigou, this place had some faint aura flowing in the air, which wouldn’t help cultivators much, but it was abundant enough for ordinary folks to feel.

The two attracted the eyes of lots of tourists. The man folded his hands and wore beads. He looked like a monk, only with long black hair.

The beautiful woman behind him was in a grey Taoist robe, holding a horsetail duster in her hand. Judging by her look, she had to be a peaceful and lofty Taoist nun.

There were walking by the shore of the lake and enjoying the scenery without much talk. The place was well-known for its high mountains and lakes. Lakes shared the same word as “sea” in the local dialect.

Those colorful small lakes made up a big one. On some of the islands in those lakes, there were all kinds of exotic flowers. The two felt relaxed just by looking at them.

In the depths of the forest around Erdao Lake, there were ancient pines. Under those pine trees, there were several fabulous sulfur hot springs.

Legend had it that those fairies from heaven once used this place to boil herbs and refine medicine. Those pools were built to cure diseases. Those fairies also took baths here because the water could strengthen bodies.

Leng Yueyan wouldn’t buy it. She knew from observation that the water here had a special aura in it which even mortals could absorb. That was why some of them felt cured after a bath.

This Muni Valley looked so strange even for cultivators. The story of the fairies might have been created mainly because the famous Taoist, Huanglong, once lived here.

There were also lots of Buddhist stories and temples here. The two religions co-existed in this place.

The two stopped at a secluded place. The view here wasn’t as beautiful as other places, but it was very quiet due to those lush trees.

“We’ve walked for an hour, and this is where we’re heading?” Leng Yueyan asked.

“I thought there wouldn’t be many people here because it’s not tourist season, but there are still many more than I expected.” Ning Zhe apologized.

“Then what is your answer?” Leng Yueyan was expressionless. She didn’t want to waste any more seconds on this man.

Ning Zhe hesitated for a second. Then he turned around and said with his eyebrows furrowed, “I’m sorry, Yueyan. I owed you a lot in our last life, and I’ll pay you back in this one.”

“So you don’t want to give up Buddhism for me?” Leng Yueyan’s eyebrows furrowed tightly.

She could tell from his tone that the man was still unwilling to give up his religion. He was doing it to “pay her back”.

She slowly shook her head and smiled calmly. “You’re just trying to ‘pay me back’. It’s fine. You can end this life like how we ended our last one. We don’t owe each other anything. Hope our Taoist paths cross someday in the future.”

Ning Zhe shook his head when he heard what she said. “I want to stick to my religion, and I don’t want to let you down.”

“In that case, you should drop your religion. You let me down in our last life, isn’t that enough? Is my love not enough for you to give it up?” Leng Yueyan asked again.

“As the saying goes, ‘I’m in fear that our love would ruin my cultivation, and I would be guilty if I let you down again once going back to the mountain for cultivation. There’s no perfect solution for the contradiction, I’ll have to either let the Buddha down or disappoint you’.”

“I know there’s no perfect solution, but you have to make a choice. Me, or Buddha?” Leng Yueyan frowned and continued to ask.

“I…” Ning Zhe kept frowning.

He really didn’t know where to start. His heart was telling him to face reality and start a life with Leng Yueyan, which meant that he would leave his religion behind.

However, his mouth could not open because he didn’t want to turn his back on Buddha. He wanted to spend his whole life embracing, trusting, and following the Buddha. The contradiction was stirring his heart.

“Which one do you want? Or do you still believe that you can find the perfect solution? From now on, we won’t see each other anymore. You’ll walk beside the Buddha, and I’ll follow my Taoist way. Maybe we’ll meet on our way ascending to heaven.”

She couldn’t read Ning Zhe’s mind. The only thing she saw was his attitude. She felt they had no more to say, so she turned away decisively.

The moment she turned around, her slim arms were suddenly grabbed by Ning Zhe. He mumbled, “No, I already let you down in our last life. I won’t allow myself to make the same mistake in this life.”

“But you still don’t want to give it up,” Leng Yueyan said, giving him her profile.

Ning Zhe shook his head and said, “Bugui once told me something, and I finally understand it. The origin of Buddhism is Taoism. I’ll do it even if it’s wrong.

“I’ll practice Buddhism, and at the same time, try to learn Taoism. I’ll put those daily affairs aside. We’ll see how our last life set the tone for this one.”

Leng Yueyan’s body quivered. She turned around and said, “If you really want that, I’ll be with you. Our last life didn’t have a happy ending. We can’t let this life end in regret, too.”

Ning Zhe nodded. “OK. I’ll make up for my mistakes in our last life. You’ll be with me, and we’ll find the answer to our questions. We shall put an end to this.”