Yan Song Fangzhang had passed away.
Those present could not help but shed tears. Even Old Jin, who had only recently met Yan Song Fangzhang, felt saddened by the departure of this elder.
Old Celestial Master Zhang Yin was gone, and Yan Song Fangzhang was also gone. A once brilliant era seemed to have come to an end.
The only one who did not shed a tear was Miao Hua.
But at this moment, Miao Hua was more saddened than anyone present.
It was Yan Song Fangzhang who had given Miao Hua a second life. Yet, Miao Hua had forgotten everything, not only failing to thank Yan Song Fangzhang but also harboring resentment, ultimately contributing to today's tragedy.
"When will the cycle of revenge ever end…"
Master Ben Heng said to Miao Hua in a hoarse voice, "Miao Hua, after this matter, I hope you can return to your true self and no longer be bound by the past."
With that, he removed the golden hoop that had been restraining Miao Hua. However, Miao Hua still lay on the ground, motionless, his eyes vacant as he stared at the ceiling.
He needed some time.
After Yan Song Fangzhang's passing, Ben Heng became the abbot and abbot of Hanshan Temple. It was now his time to shoulder the responsibility.
"Miao Ji, take Yan Shouyi's inner demon into the Mahā Tower. Remember to light the eternal lamp and assign a few disciples to guard it in rotation."
Miao Ji quickly promised, "Yes, Master."
Miao Ji rose, picked up the incomplete Glacier Dharma Body, and then instructed Old Jin to stay and watch over Yan Shouyi. He then left from the back door of the main hall.
The news of Yan Song Fangzhang's passing was already enough to shock the monks of Hanshan Temple. If Miao Ji were to carry out a damaged "Yan Shouyi," then no matter how Ben Heng explained, everyone would not believe it, and would only suspect that Yan Shouyi had killed Yan Song Fangzhang.
This matter required caution.
Miao Ji took the Dharma Body and went to the Mahā Tower.
The Mahā Tower was an ancient pagoda built in the center of Hanshan Temple. It was said that the Mahā Tower existed before Hanshan Temple, indicating its importance.
Legend had it that Dipankara Buddha had once stayed at the Mahā Tower, thus making the Mahā Tower Hanshan Temple's "Buddha Tower." Ordinary disciples were not allowed to enter.
Miao Ji entered the Mahā Tower, placed the Dharma Body on the lowest level, then closed the heavy stone door, reinforced the seal with Buddhist mantras, and finally lit the eternal lamp.
From then on, Yan Shouyi's inner demon would be sealed beneath the Mahā Tower. In Miao Ji's understanding, the Mahā Tower could not be breached by the inner demon. This meant that the day the Mahā Tower reopened would be the day Yan Shouyi defeated his inner demon.
At the same time, Yan Shouyi finally slowly woke up from his coma.
He felt as if two nails were stuck in the back of his head, and the slightest movement caused him unbearable pain.
"Old Jin?"
He noticed Old Jin guarding by his side.
Old Jin immediately stuffed two calming pills into his mouth and then said,
"Everything is over."
After the pills went down, Yan Shouyi felt his condition improve significantly, but Old Jin's words confused him:
"It's all over?"
How could it be over? Had Miao Hua died, or…
Yan Shouyi turned his head and saw the tear streaks on Master Ben Heng's face, Yan Song Fangzhang, who had been laid before the Buddha statue, and Miao Hua, who was still lying not far away, silent. He seemed to have guessed something.
"I'm not entirely clear about the specific situation," Old Jin explained in a low voice, "but the conflict between Miao Hua and Yan Song Fangzhang has been resolved."
Yan Shouyi slowly understood the course of events.
Because Yan Shouyi had killed Yan Song Fangzhang's malevolent thoughts, Yan Song Fangzhang himself was on his last breath. Moreover, because Yan Shouyi's inner demon was too powerful, Yan Song Fangzhang could only sacrifice himself to forcibly remove the inner demon, seal it within the Glacier Dharma Body, and then send the Glacier Dharma Body into the Mahā Tower for suppression. At the verge of death, Yan Song Fangzhang's conflict with Miao Hua was finally resolved.
In this story, everyone got a happy ending, except for Yan Song Fangzhang, who died.
Perhaps Yan Song Fangzhang had long foreseen his fate, but he did not intend to interfere.
Yan Shouyi sighed softly.
Although he had killed the malevolent thoughts, strictly speaking, he was the one who killed Yan Song Fangzhang.
Now, Yan Song Fangzhang had become a great benefactor who helped him remove his inner demon, leaving Yan Shouyi indebted to him.
He hadn't even had a chance to repay this debt of gratitude, let alone say thank you to Yan Song Fangzhang, before the old schemer passed away.
Regrettable.
The only thing Yan Shouyi felt fortunate about was that Master Ben Heng and the others did not blame him.
Master Ben Heng placed Yan Song Fangzhang's body down and silently recited the Diamond Sutra to guide Yan Song Fangzhang's soul.
Chang Shan followed suit, chanting the scriptures.
After lying down for a while, Miao Hua seemed to have slowly accepted reality. He then got up and sat beside Master Ben Heng, joining him in chanting for Yan Song Fangzhang.
Yan Shouyi also joined them.
Before long, Miao Ji returned, and he also began to chant the scriptures.
After the requiem ceremony was completed, the four exchanged glances.
Master Ben Heng spoke first, "Yan Shouyi, you must keep the information about your inner demon firmly in mind."
First, the inner demon was currently within the Glacier Dharma Body, sealed beneath the Mahā Tower.
Second, the inner demon must be slain by himself, and the inner demon would become more powerful as his own strength increased.
Third, the Vajra Subduing Demon Pestle must be obtained from the Kingdom of Siam to completely kill the inner demon. Apart from that, no one could kill the inner demon.
Upon hearing this information, Yan Shouyi's heart grew cold.
He had already witnessed the terror of malevolent thoughts and inner demons. Now that he himself had generated a powerful inner demon, it was equivalent to planting a time bomb in the world.
The one who tied the knot must untie it; he had to resolve this trouble sooner or later.
After the admonition, Ben Heng continued,
"Next, you should leave Hanshan Temple."
Yan Shouyi remained silent.
He had carefully considered whether Yan Song Fangzhang would have died if he hadn't come to Hanshan Temple, and he felt extremely guilty for a time.
But later, he realized that he was merely caught up in the story of Yan Song Fangzhang and Miao Hua, an innocent bystander.
After thinking this way, he felt much better.
Ben Heng said with a headache,
"It's just that your identity is special, and I don't know what excuse to use to let you leave. News of your arrival at Hanshan Temple must have already spread. If you were to leave Hanshan Temple unharmed, other reputable sects would certainly not agree."
"Uh… regarding this matter, Senior Ben Heng need not worry, I already have a plan."
Yan Shouyi said, touching his head sheepishly and looking at Chang Shan.
Chang Shan sighed silently and explained to Ben Heng, "Brother Yan wants to kidnap me and use me as a hostage to force Hanshan Temple not to make a move against him."
Ben Heng was furious upon hearing this.
What a terrible idea!
However… it was also the simplest and most effective idea at the moment.
So Ben Heng nodded in agreement, "Amitabha, in that case, Chang Shan, I will have to trouble you to be kidnapped by Yan Shouyi."
Chang Shan: "...Yes."
He had thought his master would show some favoritism, but he didn't expect the outcome to be the same.
In any case, he was determined to be this hostage.