Greetings, Azure Spirit Sovereign! Several Vajras rose and spoke respectfully to Su Qing.
In response, Su Qing returned the courtesy.
Without further ado, the Vajras cleared the path and said, "The Buddha is already aware of your arrival. He is currently waiting in the main hall for you and the pilgrim. Sovereign, please!"
Although these Vajras were Bodhisattvas and had cultivated for many more years than Su Qing, they behaved with great humility in her presence. It was as if Su Qing were the senior who had cultivated for tens of thousands of years.
Su Qing had long since grown accustomed to such treatment, so she found it unremarkable. As for the Buddha knowing of her arrival, that was even less surprising. This was the Great Thunder Monastery, after all. Was there anything the Buddha did not know?
Su Qing nodded and said, "I appreciate your trouble."
The Vajras shook their heads, chanted "Amitabha," and led the way to the main hall to meet the Buddha.
Chaoyan silently performed a Buddhist salute to the Vajras. Her mind was filled with thoughts about the respect they showed Su Qing and the title they used.
"Azure Spirit Sovereign... is that Godmother's true name? Or is it her divine title?" Doubts swirled in Chaoyan's heart, but she quickly suppressed them. They were currently in the Great Thunder Monastery, under the very eyes of the ancient Buddha. She couldn't afford to make a fool of herself or cause any trouble.
Upon entering the Great Thunder Monastery, Chaoyan's eyes were immediately drawn to the surrounding scenery. She didn't know how to describe the sights; the only thing she could say was that it truly lived up to its reputation as a holy land of Buddhism.
In contrast, Su Qing and Yudie had long been used to various divine spectacles. Looking at the scenery now, they felt no ripples of emotion. At most, they simply thought it looked a bit better than the sights they had seen along the journey west.
The group followed the Vajras for a short distance and soon arrived at the main hall.
Inside, countless Buddhas were present, leaving Chaoyan dazzled. She recognized many Buddhist figures, but the sheer variety before her was overwhelming. However, she could tell at a glance which one was the Buddha—he sat at the highest point.
At this moment, she felt a wave of nervousness. As a nun who practiced Buddhism, it would be strange if she weren't nervous standing before so many Bodhisattvas.
Su Qing sensed her anxiety, smiled at her, and patted her shoulder in encouragement. Feeling the weight on her shoulder, Chaoyan knew it was her godmother's support, yet her breathing remained rapid.
Soon, they reached the Buddha.
"Little friend Su Qing, you have worked hard on this journey," the Buddha said with a smile, seeing that Su Qing remained as calm as ever.
Su Qing shook her head and said plainly, "I wouldn't call it hard work... I was just escorting someone. However, during this journey, I have gained many doubts. I fear I will trouble you often in the future to seek clarity."
The Buddha did not find this strange at all. He knew Su Qing was intelligent and would surely perceive certain things. He had long been mentally prepared for her questions. This time, he did not intend to keep her in the dark any longer. After all, she had accomplished what he had asked of her. To continue hiding things would be somewhat meaningless.
The Buddha nodded with a chuckle. "If you have any uncertainties in the future, just come and ask me. If I can resolve your doubts, I certainly will."
The Buddha's manner of speaking was much like Su Qing's—neither of them made absolute promises.
Su Qing wasn't surprised and simply nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Buddha. By the way, this is the pilgrim Guanyin Bodhisattva asked me to bring, Chen Chaoyan, Dharma name Xuanqing."
Su Qing didn't feel like making small talk. It wasn't the right time to ask her questions, so she decided to let the Buddha handle the official business first.
The Buddha laughed heartily. He nodded slightly and said, "Yes, you have worked hard as well, Xuanqing. From the Eastern Land of Great Tang to my Spirit Mountain is a distance of one hundred and eight thousand miles. You must have suffered much along the way."
"Amitabha. To seek the true scriptures, such suffering is nothing. Moreover, with my godmother's company, the journey was actually quite easy," Chaoyan said, shaking her head.
These were not lies. She knew her own experience best. While there were some trials, the truly insurmountable obstacles were either bypassed or resolved by Su Qing. One could say that traveling with Su Qing was more like a grand tour of the world than a perilous pilgrimage.
Ru Lai gave a kind smile. "Regardless, your sincerity in crossing thousands of mountains and rivers to seek the scriptures is worthy of praise and reward. Tell me, is there anything you desire?"
"Amitabha, I desire nothing but to follow my master's orders and obtain the true scriptures," Chaoyan replied honestly. To her, there was nothing she lacked, as her most precious treasure was already by her side.
Ru Lai smiled with satisfaction. "Good! In that case, Ananda and Kasyapa, lead Xuanqing to the scripture library to collect the scriptures." He then asked Chaoyan, "How does that sound?"
Chaoyan beamed and nodded repeatedly in thanks. Ru Lai laughed again and ordered Ananda and Kasyapa to take her away.
As for Su Qing and the others, they did not follow but remained in the Hall of Great Might.
When Chaoyan arrived at the scripture library, she was left speechless by the sight. The pavilion was filled with auspicious light and divine mist. Row upon row of cabinets were filled with various scriptures—more than she had ever seen in her life.
"Amitabha, this is the scripture library of the Great Thunder Monastery. It houses scriptures from all over the world, numbering in the hundreds of millions. There are scriptures with words and scriptures without words," Ananda explained slowly.
Chaoyan gasped. "So many? Bodhisattva, I have one question... why is there a distinction between 'worded' and 'wordless'? Can a book without words still be called a scripture?"
"Amitabha, wordless scriptures are naturally scriptures. It is just that they are too profound, carrying immense wisdom. Ordinary people cannot understand their meaning or perceive their mysteries, so they appear wordless."
"I see... thank you, Bodhisattva."
"So? Do you want scriptures with words or without words?"
"Worded ones will suffice."
"Why not choose the wordless ones? Those are the truly superior scriptures."
"My master ordered me to fetch scriptures to educate the masses. If they are wordless, the common people won't understand them. What use would they be then? Wordless may be good, but worded scriptures have their own value."
After a moment of silence, Ananda and Kasyapa both nodded. "Amitabha, as expected of the reincarnation of the Buddha's disciple, you truly possess great wisdom! Very well, I shall select some worded scriptures for you to transcribe."
Chaoyan was stunned. "Thank you, Bodhisattvas. But you said I am the reincarnation of the Buddha's disciple? What does that mean?"
The two looked at each other, seeing a trace of confusion in each other's eyes. They quickly realized that neither the Buddha nor Su Qing had told her. Since the higher-ups hadn't spoken, they didn't dare say too much.
"Amitabha, it is not our place to say. If you wish to know, ask your godmother or the Buddha."
Chaoyan blinked, looking a bit dazed. After a moment, she nodded. "I see. Then let us go transcribe the scriptures."
She had many more questions, especially about Su Qing, but seeing their reluctance, she decided to wait and ask Su Qing directly later.
"As long as you understand," Ananda and Kasyapa said, feeling relieved. They didn't want to face punishment for loose lips.
Back in the Hall of Great Might, only the Bodhisattvas and Su Qing's group remained.
The Buddha looked at Su Qing and asked calmly, "Little friend Su, you have worked hard. Is there any reward you desire?"
"I brought the pilgrim here mainly because I promised you, so taking another reward feels inappropriate."
"There is nothing inappropriate about it. You have done so well; you deserve more." The Buddha shook his head. "If you don't know what to ask for... how about I grant you a Bodhisattva status?"
Su Qing was taken aback. She shook her head and said, "While I have studied some Buddhist teachings, my roots are in the Dao. I am also a mountain god. Wouldn't it be illogical for me to hold a Bodhisattva status? Besides, ordinary people strive their whole lives without achieving such a rank. If I get it just for escorting someone, it might not look good if word gets out."
Her refusal wasn't just because she didn't want to be bound by Buddhist rules; she genuinely felt it would be strange for a Daoist to hold a Buddhist rank.
The Buddha shook his head slightly. "You do not realize the significance of your journey or the benefits you have brought to this world. What you have done is more than enough to earn this position. In fact, just a Bodhisattva rank is arguably too low."
Su Qing's eyebrows twitched. Although the Buddha was being vague, he had revealed that the journey west had a much deeper meaning. She had sensed this, but she couldn't figure it out on her own. Only the Buddha could provide the answers, which was exactly what she planned to ask later.
She was surprised the Buddha was already hinting at it. It seemed he didn't intend to hide much from her anymore, which was good. However, she still didn't want the Bodhisattva status.
Just as she was about to refuse again, the Buddha spoke first.
"Just take the status. You won't be required to follow any precepts! You aren't a member of the Buddhist sect, after all. Furthermore, having this status means enjoying another share of incense power, which will aid your cultivation and future endeavors. Besides... if I truly forced you into the Buddhist sect, your master, Li Shan Lao Mu, and Taishang Laojun would never let me hear the end of it. So rest easy. This Bodhisattva status is merely a title in name only."
Su Qing fell silent for a long time, weighing the matter. To her, the title seemed more like a shackle than a benefit. But the Buddha had explicitly stated she wouldn't be bound by their rules and that it would help her cultivation.
As she hesitated, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.
"Accept it! It truly will benefit you."
Su Qing frowned. She knew that voice, but its owner hadn't spoken for a very long time, resting within her mind to the point she had almost forgotten it. It was the Bodhi Tree that had established a consciousness grotto-heaven in her Niwan Palace.
"Why do you say that?" she asked internally.
"No particular reason... the Buddha isn't lying to you. Just trust me."
Su Qing's internal scale tipped. After a moment, she nodded and looked up at the Buddha. "In that case... I shall accept this status."
The Buddha nodded, relieved. He hadn't expected that something others begged for would take so much convincing for this girl to accept.
"Excellent," the Buddha said with a smile. "You escorted the pilgrim to the Great Thunder Monastery, you are the mountain god of Changbai Mountain, and you are a disciple of Bodhi... Therefore, you shall be the One-Leaf Bodhisattva!"
Su Qing's brow rose at the name. "Is there some deep meaning to that?"
"One flower, one world; one leaf, one Bodhi!"
Su Qing was speechless. She thought there would be some profound significance, but it was just that? It really was just a nominal title given on a whim. However, this also confirmed that she wouldn't be restricted by Buddhist rules. Not that she would have let them restrict her anyway—she was still the mountain god of Changbai Mountain.
After a moment, Su Qing bowed and thanked the Buddha.
"It is what you deserve," the Buddha said, then turned to the others. "You also accompanied Little Friend Su and endured hardships. I have prepared gifts for you as well."
He was speaking to Yudie, Jingyue, and the little white horse. Yudie was surprised. She had just come for the trip and didn't expect a reward. She looked at Su Qing for permission, and seeing her mother nod, she bowed. "Thank you, Buddha!"
Jingyue also thanked him. She wasn't interested in becoming a Buddha, but she wasn't about to turn down treasures. The horse couldn't speak but whinnied twice, perhaps hoping for a lifetime supply of spirit pills.
The Buddha waved his hand, and streaks of light landed in their hands—and on the horse's head.
Yudie received a bracelet that looked like ordinary jade, yet she found herself strangely fond of it. Jingyue received a booklet and a staff, looking at them with confusion. The horse had a small wooden box placed on its head, which emitted the faint fragrance of a high-grade spirit pill.
The Buddha didn't explain their uses, and before they could ask, Chaoyan returned with Ananda and Kasyapa.
Su Qing watched from the side, unconcerned. She didn't know what the items were yet, but the Buddha wouldn't give out trash.
When Chaoyan saw Su Qing, she broke into a smile, but she quickly turned serious and pious when she looked at the Buddha. It was a comical sight, though no one pointed it out.
Chaoyan bowed to the Buddha. "Thank you for granting the true scriptures."
"You have crossed countless dangers to reach this place; the scriptures are your due," the Buddha said calmly. "Now that you have them, I have one more thing to say. You have reached the consummation of merit, so we have decided to grant you a Bodhisattva status."
The other Bodhisattvas looked slightly surprised, but they remained silent.
"A Bodhisattva status? How can I be worthy?"
"You are worthy," the Buddha said. "Just accept the title."
Chaoyan fell silent for a moment, then nodded obediently. She felt unworthy, but refusing would be disrespectful.
"In this life, you are a disciple of Guanyin; in your past life, you were my disciple. Your affinity with Buddhism is deep. I shall name you the Tanyuan Bodhisattva."
Chaoyan blinked, accepting the title without much thought. Her mind was already overloaded with too much information that defied her common sense. She looked a bit dazed, but no one minded.
"Very well, your merit is complete. Take the scriptures and return to the East!" the Buddha said, signaling the end of the meeting.
Chaoyan bowed again. Her brain was at full capacity; she couldn't ask any of the questions she wanted to. Since the Buddha was dismissing them, they wouldn't overstay their welcome.
"Amitabha, we shall take our leave and return to the East," Chaoyan said.
Su Qing also bowed. "I will see them back first. I'll come back to find you when I'm free. I still have things I want to ask clearly!"
The Buddha nodded. "Naturally."
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