Chapter 97: Shocking Three Views

The direction that Jueyuan pointed to was shrouded in the fog that never dissipated here. We couldn’t see clearly from the boat, so Huigen just rowed the boat towards that direction with his head down.

Jueyuan did not answer my question, and I did not pursue it, because I thought of another question. If the ghost city Jueyuan was talking about was so powerful, would we be somewhat restricted on the boat?

But this question is basically unsolvable, because none of us can float on water, and it is impossible to move on the water. The biggest reliance is still this boat.

“Actually…” Jueyuan spoke, and everyone’s eyes fell on Jueyuan. Jueyuan seemed to enjoy this attention, and couldn’t help but proudly straighten his jacket before continuing, “I was going to say that there is actually no such thing as a city, but it is just a place where ghosts gather, and we are used to calling it a city. The so-called new city and old city are just the new and old forces here.”

“Ghosts have a division of power?” Ruyue asked in surprise.

“I don’t know, but according to the history I know, there was no division at first, only a division of ranks. After all, the world of ghosts is more cruel than our world. Many ghosts devour other spirits, and long ago, a hierarchy was formed here, which has continued for many years, forming a unique power of ghosts.” Jueyuan said seriously.

“Go on.” I was also interested in this topic, but Jueyuan stood up and said something to Huigen, and the boat changed direction again.

“We are quite familiar with this area. We always know which places are dangerous and which places are relatively safe. It is always less trouble for Huigen to stay a little away and enter the boundary stone,” Jueyuan explained to us.

Then he continued, “In short, this power has continued in this way. There is a legend that has been passed down in the upper echelons that the Taoist and Buddhist masters have reached an agreement with the ghosts here to live in peace. The Taoist and Buddhist masters will not mass-kill the ghosts here, and the ghosts here will also have to stay safely within the outer perimeter of the human-built great formation and cannot easily go out. Humans need a place like this to house many vengeful ghosts, and the ghosts will also need such a place to live in.”

I widened my eyes, feeling that this was too much of a blow to my three views. How does it sound when humans and ghosts reach an agreement? It sounds like a temporary agreement between countries for some kind of benefit.

If ordinary people knew that there was such an agreement to embellish their ordinary days, what would their expression be?

“Actually, this is not surprising. Chengyi, I’ve said it before, your master has protected you too well. Think about it carefully. Don’t limit yourself to China. Even if you look at the whole world, there will always be a place within a hundred miles or a thousand miles that is rarely visited, with gusts of wind and ghosts. Or some are simply direct, remote and uninhabited places. How many ghosts do you think have died with grievances in this world and have not entered the cycle of reincarnation smoothly? If there is no place like this, what will the world become like?” Jueyuan looked at me with a smile that was half-smile.

“What?” This time, not only was I shocked, everyone was shocked, including Chengqing, who had always been very calm.

Only Xiao Chengqian grabbed his head and said, “This statement seems to have been mentioned by my grandfather in a vague way. He said that there are some places in this world that are off-limits, belonging to the territory of ghosts, and that everyone should mind their own business. I was not convinced at the time and said, “Where did you get so many territories from? My grandfather laughed at me disdainfully and said that 70% of the world is still the sea, asking me what I thought about it.”

“Originally, the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts was also a place where the well water did not encroach on the river water. Do you know why it is so famous in the circle, and why it is said to be a place where ghosts run rampant? It is because of the new city.” Jueyuan said again, seriously.

“Are you saying…”? I felt like I had grasped something.

Jueyuan stood up again, habitually straightened his clothes, and pretended to be very handsome as he went out to guide Huigen. Then he came in and said, “That’s what I mean. I’m not too clear about that history. The senior members of each major school are very secretive about it, and the people of the hidden schools don’t like to mention it. I also learned about this secret when I became qualified as an heir, but I don’t know the details very well. You can probably understand it like this: one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. There used to be only one king here, but then a new king rose up. No one would submit to the other, but no one could do anything about it either, so the old and new forces formed. The old forces still follow the human agreement…

“So the troublemaker is the new faction, which you call the New City? Why do you say that my master must have been to the New City? What if it was the Old City?” In fact, I can’t blame myself for asking this question. There is such an instinctive instinct to avoid in the depths of a person’s soul. If you can avoid the New City, which sounds troublesome, and go to the Old City, which sounds friendly, who wouldn’t want to?

Although deep down I think that the yin veins under the lake, the ghost gate in the yin veins, and the ghost village surrounded by a thousand ghosts should not be solved by going to the old city, I still have a glimmer of hope in my heart.

“Old City? You think it’s safe there? Let me draw an analogy. Two people, one has been following the rules for many years, and suddenly a second person appears who doesn’t follow the rules, and then gains greater freedom and benefits, and yet receives no specific punishment. What do you think the first person will think? The Old City is not a paradise where you can hide! The reason I am certain that your master went to the new city is because the high priests of our lineage said so, and because the new city was too noisy, and your master went to knock it down. At that time, it was also the time when the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts gained its reputation, because it was not peaceful and the ghosts were rampant, causing a great reputation. After your master went there once, it got better, but the reputation was already there. In recent years, there have been occasional accidents that have affected ordinary people, but they can be suppressed. It’s not too bad, and humans will give appropriate counterattacks, such as using formations to do something.” I asked a question, and Jueyuan said a lot more, but what he said was shocking to us.

It turns out that we were born at the wrong time. This lake of ghosts has long been in chaos, because there are two fairly powerful forces at play. This “temple” is too small, otherwise one side will be completely wiped out, or one side will “kill” its way out.

It’s just that the existence of ghosts in this world still leaves me dumbfounded. In my original understanding, there should be some wandering ghosts in this world who have not gone to the so-called place they should go to for various reasons, and have not gone through the so-called reincarnation.

There are also some vengeful ghosts who have not yet had their grievances resolved and have already killed to avenge or fulfill their wishes.

But I never thought that ghosts could be distributed in this way in the human world, and that they could have an agreement with a secret level of humanity, or even have disputes of power.

“Are you stupid? Even if we think we are standing high and looking far, there are always things we cannot see, and there is even a sky that is beyond our reach. We should have a respectful attitude towards the world.” When Jueyuan said this, his eyes were calm and profound. I think this kid will have a lot of followers if he goes out to be a charlatan.

“It’s just not fair. Why is it that whenever Taoists come here, there’s always a storm of blood and rain? The village is surrounded by Taoist guardians of the lake! And it seems that the Buddhists haven’t been troubled by ghosts and demons up to now. In fact, you can even freely cross over the ghosts in the lake of ghosts. Give me a reason!” Xiao Daxia was unhappy, crossed his legs, and asked Jueyuan with a rather “melancholy” look in his eyes.

Jueyuan smiled indifferently, stepped forward to the bow of the boat, and said in a distant voice, “I just said that the two schools have completely different philosophies. Taoists are always more radical, and Buddhists are always more compassionate. Taoists believe that almost all the ghosts here are vengeful spirits, and this is the only special location in the bustling world of mortals. It would be better to surround it and wait until we have enough strength to destroy it in one fell swoop. Even if they cannot be killed, they must be suppressed severely. Taoists have a responsibility to the world of the living, and they will not interfere in the disputes of the people of the world. But the matter of the two worlds is the responsibility of Taoists.

This is indeed the correct approach for Taoists, but do Buddhists think differently?

Before I could ask, Jueyuan spoke up: “In the eyes of Buddhists, all living beings are equal. The moment you put down the butcher’s knife, you become a Buddha. If the ghosts here accept the salvation, and give up their resentment in their hearts…”

Jueyuan said leisurely, but I interrupted him with a question: “To put it simply, you Buddhists want to cleanse this place of all evil spirits, right?”

Jueyuan smiled and didn’t answer my question. I guess the reality made him a little sad. Not long ago, he had also said that it was just a trick of the ghosts to paralyze the enemy, to stabilize one side and suppress the other…

At this point, Hui Gen, who had not spoken up until now, suddenly spoke up: “Buddhism is gentle, but it is not weak. In order to maintain a pure land, it is necessary to have the law enforcement of the Arhats, Vajras, and thunderous actions. A few years ago, I put down my rosary and picked up my sword… The principle is similar. I am willing to walk in the most tragic place. Since I cannot convert them, it is better to kill them.”

Jueyuan did not say anything, but just chanted a Buddhist mantra and said that the boundary marker was almost there.