## Chapter 142: On the Path of Enlightenment - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 142: Philosophical Discourse Facing the enticing enchantress before him, Su Mo spoke directly. "What do you want?" "Aren't you afraid of me?" "Don't come begging for mercy later on." After saying this, Su Mo gave a meaningful look at Yu Luonang, his eyes filled with playful teasing. He seemed ready to pounce at any moment. Hearing Su Mo's words, Yu Luonang instantly recalled the miserable state of Fei Lingxue and the others. A shiver ran through her heart. She quickly turned away. Not daring to speak further, she was afraid of provoking Su Mo's ire again. "My dear, I was wrong..." "Smack!" With a light snap, Su Mo flicked his whip, causing the rear of the Frost Soul steed to ripple with pain. "Enough." "Run fast!" The Frost Soul steed, wincing in pain, neighed and galloped rapidly toward the city of Hangzhou. Due to his prior simulation, Su Mo was very familiar with the route to Hangzhou, and without much detour, he arrived at the city limits swiftly. Out of caution towards Fahai, Su Mo instructed Yu Luonang to take her spider form and hide at his chest instead of entering the city as a human. The area at his chest brimmed with intense righteous yang energy, perfectly concealing Yu Luonang's demonic aura, preventing Fahai's detection. Night was falling when Su Mo entered Hangzhou. After some contemplation, he rode toward the Broken Bridge by West Lake. He faintly recalled the simulation with Bai Suzhen, where his residence was located there. He had spent three unforgettable years with them. Intent on seeing if reality aligned with the simulation, he headed toward that place... ... Arriving at the entrance of the residence with its red doors, the plaque above caught Su Mo's attention. "Liu Residence?" Su Mo was somewhat surprised. Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon Bai Suzhen's place. What a coincidence. Dismounting, he prepared to knock when the red-painted doors opened slowly, revealing Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing standing outside. Seeing him approaching, Xiaoqing couldn't help but tease. "My sister said magpies were chirping in the branches today — a sign of something good happening." "Who would've thought it meant your arrival." "Xiaoqing!" Bai Suzhen's cheeks turned slightly crimson, her eyes sparkling with joy as she looked at Su Mo. She had initially thought he wouldn't come and was planning another visit to Linjiang City. "Here." Su Mo took out a jasper pendant. "I've come today to return this." Bai Suzhen gently shook her head. "This jasper pendant is of no use to me, you may continue to use it." "After such a long journey, you must be tired. Come in and have some tea to refresh yourself." She then glanced at Xiaoqing. "Xiaoqing, take Mister Su's mount to the stable and feed it some fine fodder." "Alright!" Xiaoqing obediently led Su Mo's Frost Soul steed to the stable. Su Mo followed Bai Suzhen into the reception hall. As he admired Bai Suzhen's stunning silhouette, his heart stirred with emotion. Sensing his gaze, a faint blush appeared on the nape of Bai Suzhen's tender neck. Of course, Su Mo wasn't one to act rashly. Once in the reception hall, Bai Suzhen personally served a cup of refreshing tea to Su Mo. "Here, Mister Su." "Thank you." Sitting beside him, Bai Suzhen watched the man she had longed for night and day with attentive eyes. However, she noticed something different about him. "Your complexion seems better than before since we last met, Mister Su." Su Mo nodded lightly. "I've made some breakthroughs in martial arts." Feigning realization, Bai Suzhen said, "So Mister Su is also a martial artist." "Nowadays, there are numerous martial artists in the Song Dynasty, but practitioners are few." Responding to Bai Suzhen's words, Su Mo inquired further. "Why are there so few practitioners?" Bai Suzhen sighed helplessly. "The world is too chaotic for a conducive environment for spiritual practice." "Conversely, us demons advance swiftly amidst this chaos." Bai Suzhen candidly admitted her demonic nature before Su Mo, as she was sure he wouldn't mind. And as she expected, Su Mo appeared unaffected. "Miss Bai, what kind of demon are you?" Bai Suzhen smiled warmly. "How could I say? What if I tell you and you become scared?" Yet, Su Mo remained nonchalant. His purpose for coming this time was to solidify his relationship with Bai Suzhen, pre-empting any moves from Xu Xian. With this in mind, Su Mo stepped forward to hold Bai Suzhen's delicate hand. "Miss Bai, you are truly beautiful." "I believe your true form must be just as lovely and charming." Flustered by Su Mo's bold confession, Bai Suzhen's cheeks flushed bright red. Just then, a deliberate cough echoed. "Ahem." "Sister, I finished tending to the horse." Clad in a light blue dress, Xiaoqing stood in the reception hall's doorway, watching Su Mo and Bai Suzhen with great interest. Embarrassed, Su Mo quickly withdrew his hand. While Bai Suzhen was slightly annoyed, she cast a stern look at Xiaoqing. "Xiaoqing, go prepare the meal." Seeing her sister's irritation, Xiaoqing stuck out her tongue playfully and headed toward the kitchen. The mood now disrupted, Su Mo hesitated to reach for Bai Suzhen's hand again. Meanwhile, Bai Suzhen gently brushed her hair, her silence mirroring Su Mo's own contemplations. ... Suddenly, Bai Suzhen's expression turned solemn. In her vision, a grand Buddhist light lingered outside her house. She immediately recognized the aura's source. It was none other than Fahai from Jinshan Temple! Bai Suzhen was irate. Why did Fahai choose to come now of all times?! Observing Bai Suzhen's unease, Su Mo asked out of curiosity. "Miss Bai." "What's wrong?" "Your face suddenly looks so serious." Hearing his concern, Bai Suzhen was anxious, eager to leave yet reluctant to abandon Su Mo. What if leaving a bad impression on him? As Bai Suzhen remained silent, Su Mo was left guessing her thoughts. At that moment, Yu Luonang's voice sounded in his ear. "My dear, there is an accomplished monk outside this residence." "Could it be this is why Miss Bai seems troubled?" Hearing Yu Luonang's suggestion, Su Mo's mind went into overdrive. Could it be Fahai? With this thought, anger welled up in him. Why did that old monk have to show up now? Abruptly standing, Su Mo announced. "Miss Bai, I suddenly realized that I dropped my purse." "Thinking back, it must have fallen by the West Lake while admiring the scenery." "I'll step out briefly to retrieve it." With that, he promptly headed for the door. Su Mo moved swiftly. Bai Suzhen, caught off guard, watched him leave. Opening the door, Su Mo found an elderly monk clad in a red robe, holding a staff and wandering outside. Seeing Su Mo, the monk's face lit up with surprise. "Mister Su, we meet again." "Just now, the golden bowl guided me to this place." "I saw you speaking amiably with the snake demon inside, so I didn't interrupt." "But I advise you, Mister Su, not to associate too closely with demons, lest you be tainted by their aura." Learning that the golden bowl had led Fahai to him, Su Mo was taken aback. Could it relate to his "Buddha-heart, sword-bone" nature? Although he could easily dispatch the monk, easing Bai Suzhen's troubles in the process, Fahai was a figure esteemed by the Buddha. Dispensing with him was simple enough. But what of the repercussions? Contemplating this, Su Mo inquired. "Elder Fahai, what do you seek?" Fahai replied promptly. "I wish to invite you to Jinshan Temple for a discourse. Would you grant me this favor, my young friend?" "Of course!" Su Mo agreed without hesitation. "I'll go with you now but please refrain from troubling Miss Bai and Xiaoqing in the future." Fahai nodded at once. "As long as Mr. Su accompanies me to Jinshan Temple, I will not trouble them henceforth." Su Mo suddenly felt a hint of suspicion. "Elder Fahai, why does it feel like once I go to Jinshan Temple with you, returning might become difficult?" Upon hearing Su Mo's words, Fahai stroked his long beard. "Rest assured." "You'll be free to come and go." "Stay at Jinshan Temple for as long as you like." "And leave whenever you wish." "Alright!" With that, Su Mo followed Fahai as they departed. After they left, Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing opened the door, watching their figures fade into the distance. Xiaoqing's eyes twinkled with admiration. "Sister, Su Mo is such a man." "He was incredibly handsome standing up for us against that old bald monk Fahai." "How did I not notice it before?" "Sister, you've got such great taste!" Bai Suzhen, however, was filled with concern. She knew Fahai was interested in Su Mo because of the Buddha-like purity within him. Although Su Mo's golden aura had been passed to her and Xiaoqing, the essence of Buddha remained, making him a prime candidate for monastic life. With Su Mo going with Fahai, the monk would certainly attempt to persuade him to take holy orders. What if Su Mo was swayed? Xiaoqing, straightforward in her thoughts, glanced at her sister without such complexities clouding her mind. "Sister, since Fahai won't trouble us anymore, shouldn't we be happy?" Bai Suzhen shook her head. "You don't understand, Xiaoqing." "Never mind, even if Su Mo becomes a monk, I'll take him back from that old monk Fahai!" ... ... Presently, Su Mo followed Fahai en route to Jinshan Temple. Fahai moved quickly, as if covering miles with each step. Su Mo wasn't lagging behind. With his immense martial strength and mastery of the Yi Jin Jing, this distance was trivial. Hence, they reached Jinshan Temple within half an hour from West Lake. Seeing the familiar temple gate stairs, Su Mo felt nostalgic. Finally, he arrived at a place he'd only experienced in simulations. Noticing Su Mo's expression, Fahai was curious. "Mister Su, have you visited Jinshan Temple before?" "Hmm?" Su Mo laughed. "No, just had a dream that resembled it." Fahai smiled lightly. "Mister Su truly has a deep affinity with Buddhism." "Please, follow me." With that, Fahai led the way up the stairs to Jinshan Temple. Su Mo followed closely. As they arrived, the monks at Jinshan Temple were performing evening prayers, casting curious glances at Su Mo and Fahai. They wondered where their abbot had found such a guest. Su Mo found the monks' appearances quite fascinating. They were exactly like the ones he had seen in past simulations. Subsequently, Fahai led Su Mo to a meditation room. Inside, the scent of sandalwood permeated, lifting spirits. "Please, have a seat." Fahai settled onto a mat and Su Mo followed suit, mimicking his posture. As he gazed at Su Mo, a sense of familiarity washed over Fahai. He felt as though he had known Su Mo in a past life. With Su Mo's strong connection to Buddhism, perhaps they were indeed old acquaintances. With this realization, Fahai decided to speak openly. "Mister Su, in my eighty-plus years of life, I've encountered countless people." "From the first moment I saw you in Linjiang City, I sensed your deep Buddha affinity, with a Buddha-heart hidden within your wise spirit." "Know this, life's struggles—birth, aging, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, meeting those you despise, unattained wishes—all stem from desires." "If you were to join the monastic life, you could transcend suffering and ease others' burdens." "To remain lost in this worldly chaos squanders your innate gift." Hearing Fahai's invitation to become a monk, Su Mo felt his forehead darken with exasperation. In Su Mo's heart, Yu Luonang was silently fuming. How dare this bald monk suggest her dear become a monk? Yet, fearing discovery by Fahai, Yu Luonang refrained from voicing her thoughts. After contemplating for a moment, Su Mo spoke up. "Elder Fahai, you mentioned becoming a monk is necessary to escape life's sufferings and help others." "But might I ask, have you escaped them?" Fahai was momentarily stunned by Su Mo's direct question, unsure how to respond. Su Mo continued. "Elder Fahai, you say I possess a Buddha-heart and affinity." "But I don't believe forsaking worldly life is the only way to honor that gift." "Legends like Shakyamuni Sacrificing Himself and Bodhidharma Crossing the River often embody helping the world through engagement, not withdrawal." "I'm already within the world; wouldn't this be more direct?" Fahai immediately shook his head. "Not so, not so." "Are you aware, entering the world forfeits a crucial practice—meditative cultivation." "In meditation, one releases all desires, achieving inner peace, stillness akin to a serene lake." "Within a single thought, one can transcend temporal and spatial constraints." "Thus cutting off the root of suffering, realizing profound truths!" In response, Su Mo picked up a ceramic bowl, drained it of water, and then began to polish it on the table. His actions were deliberate, rhythmic. Fahai was puzzled by Su Mo's actions. "Mister Su, what are you doing?" Calmly, Su Mo replied. "Polishing a tile into a mirror." More confused, Fahai asked, "How can polishing a tile make a mirror?" "Just as how can meditation alone lead to enlightenment?" Hearing Su Mo's words, Fahai felt a sudden clarity, as if emerging from a fog. His eyes cleared, understanding dawning upon him. "Mister Su, I've been too stubborn!" "Practice indeed knows no boundaries, and I was too narrow-minded." As Fahai spoke, his aged features seemed to glow faintly with a Buddhist light, as if Su Mo's insight had enlightened a part of him. Su Mo, observing this, couldn't help but marvel. Fahai, truly a monk of remarkable insight. Yet, remembering something, Su Mo queried Fahai. "Elder Fahai, there's something else I don't understand." "When you first encountered the man-eating black bear spirit, why didn't you simply eliminate it?"