Chapter 10 – Become a Buddha (1)

That night, Grandpa carried me up the mountain. Captain Wu waited for us in his car at the foot. After we climbed up, I saw the dense woods, that looming stele, and thought of the huge demonic face I’d seen two days ago. I couldn’t help but become frightened.

Grandpa placed me on the ground. He knelt down and scattered some paper money while calling toward the Woods of No Return, “There was a woman who entered the mountain for three years then returned. She gave birth to this child whom she entrusted to me. His name is Baqian. He is young and has obstacles in both life and death.”

With that, Grandpa scattered some more money and kowtowed toward the Woods of No Return. “Today, I found a fated person who is willing to help eradicate the troubles for Baqian, giving him hope to live in this world. I hope you will let him survive.”

“Baqian,” Grandpa continued. “Kneel down and kowtow.”

I really didn’t want to. Grandpa’s words made me extremely sad. I thought of the three graves outside the village and the people who pointed at me and mocked me as a bastard. All of this was thanks to that heartless man and the monster in this mountain. But thinking again, the officers who’d entered the woods for their mission were still missing. Their families must have cried all their tears dry. They had aged parents and infants who must be very pitiful too.

Thinking of this, I knelt down slowly. But deep down, I told myself that I wasn’t kneeling to beg him to save me. Instead, it was to save those police officers.

I knelt like Grandpa and put my head to the ground. After a long while, I heard footsteps come from the Woods of No Return. I raised my head, looked toward the sound, and was shocked. I saw the five officers in a line, walking slowly out of the woods. They all had dazed eyes, deathly pale faces, and extremely muddied bodies. They looked like zombies. Even when they crossed the stele and came to our side, their eyes were still dull as if they were dead.

Grandpa was overjoyed. He pulled me to kowtow to the Woods of No Return. “Thank you.”

After that, we went down the mountain slowly with the five officers. Captain Wu, anxiously waiting at the foot of the mountain, saw us and his eyes widened in disbelief. Then he ran towards us.

When he was before us, he fell to his knees. “Old sir,” he said with red eyes. “I can’t express my gratitude. From now on, no matter where you need me or my brothers, I’ll help you even if I die!”

Grandpa helped him up. “Don’t thank me. It’s their fortune to have a leader who protects them like you.”

Captain Wu stood up and called out the officers’ names, but they stood at the foot of the mountain without moving or responding. They didn’t react even when Captain Wu pushed them. Understandably worried, Captain Wu asked, “Old sir, what’s this?”

“They’d already died and their souls had left their bodies. Now that their souls have returned, it’s like they’re waking up from a long dream. Bring them back and they’ll awake at the rooster’s crow tomorrow, but their souls might be a bit unsettled. Make sure they rest and don’t get frightened.”

Captain Wu let out a relieved breath. He carried the five officers to the police car. It was obvious that he couldn’t hold down his excitement. “I will thank you in the future,” he said to Grandpa. “I’ll take them back now.”

“Go,” Grandpa said. “Remember our promise. You mustn’t tell others about this or else my life will have no peace.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone even if I die!” Captain Wu nodded and started the car.

Seeing the car drive off, Grandpa hugged me and murmured, “I hope today’s kindness can save your Third Uncle when needed.”

This experience couldn’t help me unveil the mysteries of Green Dragon Mountain, but I knew that the thousand-year-old question couldn’t be answered so easily. Chinese Tunic’s appearance meant that I could survive the Life and Death Trial in my 23rd year.

He also opened my lost and young heart. I’d used to be extremely lost. I had an unspeakable background that made me have low self-esteem. At the same time, I had extreme hatred within me. Even though Grandpa’s family loved me, there were some things that they couldn’t make up for—such as motherly love. The way others looked at me with disgust were also things that I couldn’t handle when I was young.

I hadn’t interacted with Chinese Tunic a lot, but his confidence and power undoubtedly affected me deeply. The scene I saw of the green dragon around his body appeared in my dreams countless times and always excited me.