Chapter 104: Budha
The sun gradually rose up into the sky, drying the morning dew on the grass, and also my tears as well.
Mo’lin bandages my wounds, Jin Wen and Wawa helped me prepare and get dressed, the Blue Feather Goddess taught me the necessary etiquettes when meeting the Budha, and Bull Devil gege gave me a warm hug.
After everything has been prepared, Ao Yun transforms into a flaming red dragon, his scales exuding a golden glow. His stature billowing in the clouds would be mighty enough to attract everyone’s attention, beautiful enough to hold your breath.
He slowly lands with his four claws creating a cloud of dust, in a low voice, he says to me, “Climb on.”
I nodded my head, and as I was about to climb onto the dragon, Yin Zi grabbed my hand and would not let go.
“What is it?” I asked, puzzled.
“Promise me,” Yin Zi’s tone was desolate, but was full of hope, “That whether or not Shen Jun can be saved, you can’t do anything stupid, and must come back and find me.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
“This time, you can’t leave me alone by myself…..” After a moment of silence, Yin Zi said carefully, “I will wait for you to come back, everyone will be waiting for you to come back, so don’t hurt their feelings.”
“I’ll be back.” I looked up at everybody with a renewed commitment, their eyes shining.
“I wish you success…..” Yin Zi was reluctant to let go. I stepped onto Ao Yun’s back, the dragon roared and disappeared into the horizon. Passing thousands of miles in a blink of an eye, and disappearing from everyone in a blink of an eye.
I sat on the dragon’s back in silence. No trace of expression, just the fierce wind rippling through my face and hair. What will happen in the future? I don’t know, my heart was anxious, but also contained hope.
Only one thing is certain, after Bi Qingshen Jun appeared in my life, his smile and his person is what my heart yearns for.
Do you regret it? No, absolutely not. If you give me another chance, I’d always pick him.
I don’t know how long we’ve flown. Ao Yun suddenly asked me a question, “Miao Miao, if…..I’m just saying if, if I met you before Bi Qingshen Jun, would you fall in love with me and be willing to wait?”
This question left me stunned, I thought for a long time before giving him a definite answer, “He’s different, different from other people.”
Ao Yun only bitterly laughed, and no longer spoke.
After three cycles of day and night, on the fourth sunset, Ao Yun finally stopped at a vast and boundless sea of clouds. The red glow on the cloud from the sunset revealed a lofty and secretive place, a sacred and free place, but there were no presence of living beings.
“We’re here.” Ao Yun ignored my dismay, landed on a cloud and reminded, “I can only take to here. You must take the path behind you by yourself. Only those with an earnest heart without any doubt will be able to see the Budha. If there is even a shred of doubt or insincerity, you will see nothing.”
I earnestly nodded, my hands clasped together. Step by step, I walked forward.
Seven days and seven nights have already passed. Both my legs have become numb and the Budha still has not appeared. I dragged my heavy body along and continued to move forward. I did not know why this road was becoming increasingly more difficult to walk on, and eventually stumbled and fell, but the Budha still didn’t show up.
Could it be that Miao Miao’s sincerity isn’t enough to touch the Budha?
Will it be enough if I give away all my dried fish to the Budha?
Will it be enough if I peel away my beautiful fur coat and give it to Budha?
Will it be enough if I cut my cute tail and ears and give it to Budha?
I am willing to use anything and everything I cherish for a single wish, that is to resurrect Shifu.
I bowed my head, grit my teeth, and continued to crawl forward, never giving up.
Step by step, the excessive exertion began to blur my vision, as if to shut one’s eyes forever. In my daze, I’ve awoken to a golden light and lofty aroma. Everything around me began twisting and turning. I appear to be in the monastery. The gentle Budha sat on a lotus throne, and beside him there were a lot of others smiling at me.
Dressed in a white robe and holding a garland, the Budha walked forward, his hand sprinkling a sort of nectar on me, and suddenly all my wounds and fatigue instantly disappeared.
“Crazy demon, why have you come?” The Budha finally spoke, his eyes seems to not only see through the world, but also through my heart.
I quickly knelt down to tell him my request.
“Bi Qingshen Jun was destined to meet his end violently, having been through karma, life and death, why insist?” The Budha shook his head, he did not answer my prayers.
“Miao Miao doesn’t mind the degree of the request, I just want Shifu!” I implored.
I didn’t think the Budha would use such complicated language and reasoning. I simply did not understand, so I hastily ran up to the Budha’s leg and pleaded, ignoring the proper etiquette I was taught.
“Bold evildoer! How dare you act so rudely to the Budha!” One of the disciples scolded.
“I ask that Budha drag this shameless demon and have her punished to death for all the killings she has committed.” Another disciple reminded.
“I won’t kill anymore, I won’t kill.” I continued to plead, “Miao Miao will start over as a cat, I promise that I won’t kill even a single mouse! Please save Shen Jun!”
Budha shook his head and said, “Everyone is born equal, put down your knife and attain enlightenment.”
Tears streamed down my entire face as I rubbed it against Budha’s leg.
“But…..” A disciple said.
Budha continued to teach, “Even though this demon was evil in the past, it is willing to change for the better. Not to mention, unborn seeds are innocent.”
“This disciple is thankful for teacher’s wisdom.” The disciple glanced at my abdomen, deeply bowed and then left.
What are unborn seeds? I opened my eyes wide and continued to pray, hoping it would be soon.
He finally sighed and said to the stubborn me, “At the summit of Luoying Mountain, there is a large rock. Everyday, spring water drips on this rock, and when the spring water breaks apart this great rock, that is the day when Bi Qingshen Jun will return.”
“Really? Shifu can come back?” I excitedly raised my tail up, and if not for the disciples giving me death glares, I would have jumped in circles holding Budha.
The Budha nodded in silence and let out a sigh, and slowly the disciples dissipated. I was surprised to find that I had suddenly been transported back to my sea of clouds.
When the spring water breaks the great rock……how long would that be?
A year? 10 years? 100 years? 1000 years? 10000 years? 100000 years?
It doesn’t matter how long I’ll have to wait as long as Shifu can come back. I wanted to quickly to look for Ao Yun and go to the summit of Luoying Mountain, but my vision seems to be blurring again, and my head feeling dizzy. I resignedly fell onto the soft clouds losing consciousness.
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Chapter 105: Silly Rock
“Miao Miao, Miao Miao, wake up!” Someone kept calling next to my ears.
Trying hard to open my eyes, I was surprise to find that I was in Xuan Qing Palace with Yin Zi and the others crowded around me. His face showed some concern.
Was it a dream? Was everything just a dream? Bi Qingshen Jun didn’t die? I suddenly jumped up, grabbed Yin Zi’s collar, and asked, “Where is Shifu?”
Yin Zi was a little shaken up by me, he hesitated before answering, “Your Shifu…..didn’t he pass away a few days ago, you then went to look for the Budha, but soon after arriving there, you fainted, so Ao Yun brought you back.”
“I fainted soon after arriving there? Impossible! I was there for a full seven days and finally got to see the Budha!” I tried to argue, but did not expect my body to be painful all over. All my wounds are still in place and have not healed.
Didn’t the Budha heal them? Then could it be that I just simply did not see the Budha? That’s impossible, dreams aren’t that real, the hands that hugged the Budha’s legs are still here. I can still feel it.
“You only stayed there for less than an hour,” Yin Zi sadly looked at me, “How could you have walked for seven days to see the Buddha?”
“No, you’re wrong! I saw the Budha! He even promised to give Shifu back to me!” I hurriedly cried out, and looked all around, “Where is Ao Yun?”
“I’m over here.” Ao Yun came in from the outside, frowned and said, “Miao Miao, you really did faint on the clouds, seeing that you didn’t seem to wake up, I brought you back here.”
I shook my head and insisted, “I definitely saw the Budha, he said that there was a large rock at Luoying Mountain. And when this large rock splits from the spring water droplets, then that is when Shifu will come back!”
“Wasn’t Luoying Mountain destroyed by the earthquake? In the past, I didn’t see any large rocks with water droplets,” Yin Zi asked, “You’re not dreaming, are you?”
“It’s real! It’s definitely real!” Seeing their attitude, I shamelessly rolled on the ground, “If Miao Miao says she’s seen it, then she’s seen it!”
“Okay, okay, whatever you say,” Yin Zi sighed resignedly and then brought out a bowl of fish soup for me, “Eat something first, you haven’t had anything in your stomach for several days now.”
Witnessing their disbelieving expression, I angrily grabbed the bowl and drank it. Then, I tried to slowly recall the fragments of the conversation, “The Budha said something about peaches, and how there’s an unborn seedling in me.”
Everyone looked at each other, confused, Ao Yun approached cautiously and asked, “Unborn seedling?”
After thinking about it, I also nodded. Jin Wen instantly started jumping up and down, she ran towards me and exclaimed, “I’ll ask Mo’lin to come over and have a closer look.”
They all stared at my stomach stunned. Ao Yun said it was almost impossible to hit the jackpt the first time, but Yin Zi said something about how pregnancy is controlled by the female in cats. Wawa was pleased to hear this and said that if things were true, then it would be really great.
The sun’s position had only shifted a little in the sky when Jin Wen dragged Mo’lin in through the doors. He put down his medical chest and rushed to my side. He grabbed my hand, and felt my wrist.
Everyone’s face was extremely nervous and excited. After a long time, Mo’lin finally raised his head up, he hesitantly said, “I don’t think so…..”
Suddenly, disappointment filled everyone’s faces.
“Perhaps the time period is too short, the results would be more obvious after a month’s time…..” Mo’lin explained.
Jin Wen angrily scolded, “Since you can’t tell, then why are you still measuring her pulse!”
“I…..I’m just a little excited, after all, wouldn’t I be like an uncle if Miao Miao was pregnant with Bi Qingshen Jun’s child?” Mo’lin scratched his head and said in embarrassment.
I stare dumfounded at them, I don’t understand what they were talking about in the conversation. My mind kept thinking about that large rock and water droplets. But I told myself I wouldn’t run around too much since if something happen and if I’m really carrying a little Shen Jun, then that would be a big problem.
I have a child, Miao Miao is carrying Shifu’s child! This good news made me lively and energetic. Thinking about what Bi Qingshen Jun asked before he died made me feel a great sense of responsibility and devastation. I immediately drank more bowls of soup, felt my stomach, and then reminded myself that I would carefully revisit the matter on Luouying Mountain.
Everyone had a bad feeling about the idea, but eventually, they all reluctantly agreed to this request given that a lot of people were with me to take care of my needs and to protect me. I wasn’t allow jump and run around, not allowed to stir up trouble, not allowed to leave their sights, can’t act on my own if I’m not able to find that stone, and I must to care of my body. Of course, I promised to abide by all these requirements.
I rode the hellhound Bi Qingshen Jun gave me and embarked on my journey back to Luoying Mountain. I didn’t find any scars that showed signs of past ruins, and discover plains of wild chrysanthemum blooming in full. The lush grass also covered the red fertile land with new varieties vines and rocks.
The originally dry rivers has opened up numerous waterways with an array of fish swimming in it. The sweet and delicious wild berries have also popped out from their bushes. This prosperous hometown of ours has once again returned.
I suddenly remembered what Bi Qingshen Jun had told me in the past, he said that there was a cause to every effect. This time, the earthquake was the cause and the new-found prosperity vibrantness are the effects. Luoying Mountain really has become more beautiful.
Witnessing this new-found exuberant and lively change first hand, I was filled with a limitless hope, easing some of the pain I’m currently experiencing.
I believe that one day, the pain will pass, and happiness will find its way back.
Our footsteps stopped by the source of a spring, and under the shade of the branches and trees where numerous water droplets fell, was a large rock quietly enduring these weightless droplets. At first glance, there might not be any traces of wear on the rock, but under careful examination, one would be able to find shallow indents at the top due to the countless water droplets over time.
At this moment, no one made a sound, and no one questioned whether or not I had seen the Budha any longer. What I saw was traces of smiles on everyone’s faces, I happily touched my stomach as if it was a new source of hope for me.
Since then, I’ve decided to leave the Heavenly Realm, and return to Luoying Mountain, guarding this rock every day, waiting forever…..
Waiting until the water droplets split this rock, until the day Bi Qingshen Jun and I reunite.
Yin Zi patted my shoulders and softly said, “I’ll wait with you, okay?”
A year, ten years, 100 years, 1000 years, 10000 years, 100000 years…..
I’ll wait for you.
Until the day the water droplets split the rock, the day when you’ll be back.