NOVEL NEXT Chapter 511: Rumors Spread
The image in the Golden Light Mirror shifted, revealing the inside of a city where clusters of people gathered on the streets, and the excited chatter of men and women filled the air, their spittle flying as they discussed the latest gossip.
"You know what? The rumors that the West Sea rebelled against the Heavenly Court are actually about them trying to evade punishment."
"I heard that too, the West Sea Dragon Prince is really no good."
"Sigh~ I was wrong about the Heavenly Court before, I even pitied the West Sea, but it turns out the West Sea Crown Prince is the biggest scoundrel of them all."
"That Guanyin and the Wang Po from our street, they are alike in not being good people, both love to gossip behind others' backs."
"The rumors that spread before were odd, probably someone deliberately misleading, trying to slander the Heavenly Court."
...
Inside the Great Leiyin Temple, Guanyin Bodhisattva's face grew increasingly unsightly, what exactly did I do? Her small teeth grinding with a clack-clack noise.
The image within the Golden Light Mirror shifted again, this time revealing the Underworld's Yin Mountain, where a splendid treasure temple sat atop a mountain peak, radiating Infinite Buddha Light that shone down to save the souls of wronged ghosts and fierce spirits.
Groups of these spirits and ghosts, lying or sitting, gathered within Yin Mountain, bathing in the Buddha Light.
A ghostly and hazy voice arose.
A long-tongued hanging ghost whispered mysteriously, "Did you hear? Something happened in the mortal world, they say the West Sea Dragon King rebelled against the Heavenly Court and was caught."
"What? The West Sea dared to rebel against the Heavenly Court? Isn't the West Sea Dragon King afraid of death?"
"Why?"
...
The surrounding wronged spirits and fierce ghosts converged, their ghostly eyes brimming with curiosity for gossip, still unable to change their nature even in death.
The long-tongued hanging ghost said secretly: "I heard it's because the West Sea Dragon King couldn't bear the oppression of the Heavenly Court and resolutely turned to Western Buddhism."
"No way!"
"The Heavenly Court is that brutal?"
"Do you think the Heavenly Court will eventually start oppressing the Underworld?"
Beside them, a disheveled female ghost snorted and said, "Nonsense,
that's outdated information you have. The real situation is that the Third Prince of the West Sea forced himself on a maiden and was pursued by the Heavenly Court's troops."
The long-tongued hanging ghost suddenly turned with a fierce look, "What would a little long-haired ghost like you understand? I heard this from the souls who just died."
"I might not understand, but I have a relative who is a Ghost Messenger."
A Ghost Messenger? The long-tongued hanging ghost's expression changed immediately, and he hastily beckoned with a flattering tone, "Big sister, please sit down, have a seat."
The surrounding ghosts quickly made room to both sides.
The long-tongued hanging ghost chuckled with a strange laugh, "Please, big sister, tell us what really happened."
The long-haired female ghost sat cross-legged, proudly saying, "My second cousin's sister's husband's tutor's great maternal uncle is now working The Underworld as a Yin Cha, and it was him who seized me. He didn't mistreat me.
According to great maternal uncle, the Third Prince of the West Sea coveted the beauty of the Dragon Girl of Emerald Waves Lake, and asked Guanyin to act as a matchmaker. Princess Wansheng swore to resist to death...
...
Eventually, Nine-Headed Beast submitted a petition and took the West Sea to Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court, outraged, ordered the Law Enforcement Celestial to summon the West Sea Dragon King and the Third Prince of the West Sea. But the West Sea Dragon King, knowing a great calamity was upon him, immediately sought refuge in Buddhism, thinking he could escape Heavenly Court's punishment by relying on the Buddhism's power. Little did he know, Heaven's might is vast, not even Buddhism can protect such lawless dragons from them. In the end, the West Sea Dragon King was suppressed, and the Third Prince of the West Sea was captured into the Heavenly Prison."
A ghostly figure drifted over, cackling eerily, "This beauty speaks the truth, that battle was truly earth-shattering!
The West Sea Dragon King, driven into a corner, wickedly brimmed with the desire to overturn the waters of the West Sea and flood the land.
Had it not been for the combined might of the East Sea Dragon King, South Sea Dragon King, and North Sea Dragon King suppressing the West Sea, all living beings on the mainland would've perished."
"The East Sea Dragon King, South Sea Dragon King, and North Sea Dragon King are all benevolent dragons!"
"That's right, when I was alive, I lived by the East Sea coast, and every time I went to sea, the East Sea Dragon King would grant me his protection, until my death."
...
A throng of ghosts excitedly discussed on Yin Mountain, their ghostly babble and chilling aura filling the air.
Inside Great Leiyin Temple, the Golden Light Mirror vanished.
Great Leiyin Temple fell silent, Guanyin Bodhisattva's beautiful face held a murderous look, her small fists clenched tightly, as she silently probed Heaven and Earth.
Numerous Buddha Bodhisattvas formed hand seals, using their own methods to covertly seek out news, their expressions turning to shock one after another.
Especially Guanyin Bodhisattva, her eyes turned red, my reputation built over billions of years! Who dares tarnish it? Fabricating such nonsense, aren't they afraid of being struck down by the Five Thunders?
The grand voice of The Buddha resounded, "Universal Virtue, why has this occurred?"
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva pressed his hands together, bowing his head sorrowfully, "It is my disciple's fault!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva angrily said, "Universal Virtue Bodhisattva, now is not the time to pursue your faults, why not clarify the true facts? Why allow rumors to run rampant?"
"I understand how Guanyin Bodhisattva feels."
Guanyin Bodhisattva's rage blazed, you understand? No, you couldn't possibly understand! Me, the Great Compassionate and Merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, slandered as a long-tongued evil woman, how could you understand?!
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva explained, "As soon as I heard the news, I immediately ordered our Buddhist Disciples to hasten the spread of the truth.
But the truth we promoted holds no interest to the beings of the Primordial World; they ignore it. Instead, they are all enthralled by the scandalous love-hate relationships of the Third Prince of West Sea, Princess of Bibo Pond, and the Nine-Headed Beast."
Guanyin Bodhisattva incredulously said, "Why is this so? These are clearly fabrications!"
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva shook his head, "I don't know why they do this."
The grand voice of The Buddha arose, "This is the karmic evil of the Eastern Land, blackening white, hearts devoid of good and evil, akin to the fierce ghosts of Abyss Hell."
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva opened his mouth, then said nothing, too embarrassed to tell The Buddha that the people of the Western Continent were the same.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's face bore a deadly look, asking, "Who exactly started these rumors?"
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva calmly replied, "I don't know!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva shouted angrily, "Universal Virtue Venerable, with the reputation of Buddha Sect now tarnished, do you not even know who our opponent is?"
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva's brow furrowed slightly, his tone displeased, "If Bodhisattva does not believe, feel free to investigate yourself!"
Is there a lead? There might have been before, but now it's gone, all concealed and destroyed by Galuo.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's figure immediately vanished within the Buddha Light, anxious to find and utterly obliterate the lying immortal God spreading slander.
The Buddha remained calm in his heart, knowing full well without investigating who was behind it. Such lowly tactics, reminiscent all too much of Bai Jin's actions. Not just reminiscent, they were definitely his doings.
...
Soon after, several versions of the West Sea bridal abduction event emerged within the Three Realms, and as for the West Sea's rebellion against the Heavenly Court, it became an accepted notion that the West Sea sought to escape punishment. As for Buddhism's continuous promotion of the truth, but is the truth that important? The truth isn't nearly as interesting as gossip!