NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 56 - I want to borrow someone from you
Chapter 56: I want to borrow someone from you
Gu Liuyun gave a slight smile and stashed the concealed talisman away. This item could be helpful during certain special situations, making it a pleasant, unexpected find. Next, he turned his attention to the blessed prayer beads. These prayer beads were of medium-grade quality, surpassing all of Gu Liuyun’s spiritual weapons. They were a valuable treasure.
[Ding! You successfully found the hidden object. Please choose one of the options below!].
[1. Just take the Buddhist beads and leave, ignore the deacons of the outer sect, and don’t help the grandson of Old Tan.].
[2. Kill the deacon of the outer sect, take away the prayer beads, and not rescue the grandson of Old Tan.].
[3. Take the deacon of the outer sect to the Buddhist sect, expose his evil deeds, exchange the Buddhist beads for the pill of washing marrow, and treat Lao Tan’s grandson.].
Gu Liuyun glanced at the three options and had a rough idea of the possible outcomes. Among these three choices, the first option would grant him the Buddhist beads but would earn him the enmity of the outer sect deacon, resulting in the death of Old Tan and his grandson at the hands of the deacon.
The second option would also provide him with the Buddhist beads, but it would lead to hatred from the Buddhist sect due to killing their outer sect deacon. Moreover, since he didn’t help Old Tan’s grandson obtain the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, his reputation would suffer slightly.
As for the third option, it appeared to be the least favorable as it would only earn him the Buddhist sect’s goodwill and Old Tan’s gratitude, increasing his reputation slightly.
In his previous life, the player who triggered this scenario was a disciple of the Buddhist sect with a Nascent Soul cultivation level. He chose the first option, took the prayer beads, and left, disregarding the outer sect deacon and not aiding Old Tan’s grandson. However, Gu Liuyun couldn’t make the same choice, as he wasn’t a Buddhist cultivator, and the magic weapon was useless to him. He was an experienced player with ten years of gaming knowledge from his past life and understood that in the Nine Realms, one could think creatively, and there were often more possibilities than the presented options.
After stashing the prayer beads, he left a message for Old Tan, “I will come to find you once I obtain the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill.”
He carried the outer sect deacon and headed towards the Buddhist sect. The Buddhist sect was not far from the town, and within an hour, Gu Liuyun arrived at the temple’s entrance. In contrast to the Taoist Palace with numerous halls or the Battle Alliance with a grand martial arts hall, the Buddhist sect had a single temple that resonated with the sounds of Buddhism. It might seem modest on the surface, not befitting one of the Four Great Sects, but it was built by a past Buddhist master using supreme Buddhist techniques, containing profound Buddhist principles within its walls.
At the temple entrance, the monks on duty were perplexed. They saw the usually assertive outer sect deacon with a severed hand-held hostage by a young man with a flying sword. Just as they were about to raise an alarm, the young man greeted them warmly and politely.
“This humble disciple is Gu Liuyun, a direct disciple of True Immortal Tianluan in the main hall of the Taoist Palace. I have come to visit your sect. Can you inform a senior master of my arrival?”
The monk on duty was shocked, not expecting such a distinguished visitor. He quickly returned the courtesy and went inside to inform the outer sect elder. A short while later, Gu Liuyun heard the sound of a Buddhist chant, and a middle-aged monk in a gray cassock appeared at the temple gate, walking slowly without using any martial or Buddhist arts. The previous monk on duty followed beside him.
Gu Liuyun remained composed, knowing that beyond the temple gate was another realm. Although the middle-aged monk seemed to walk slowly, there was more to it.
The middle-aged monk, named Miaojue, approached Gu Liuyun, offered a Buddhist salute, and said, “I am Miaojue. May I know your name, fellow cultivator?”
Gu Liuyun reciprocated the salute and replied, “Greetings, Master Miaojue.”
At this moment, the outer sect’s deacon suddenly exclaimed, “Elder Miaojue, please save me quickly. This young man took my magical weapon and even injured me.”
Miaojue, upon hearing this, cast a glance at the outer sect deacon but remained unfazed. He folded his hands and asked Gu Liuyun, “Fellow Gu, can you clarify your intentions?”
Gu Liuyun smiled faintly and proceeded to recount the story of Old Tan in detail.
After listening, Miaojue furrowed his brow and uttered a Buddhist chant, “Amitabha, I can’t believe this.”
Gu Liuyun nodded and added, “Master, if you doubt the veracity of my words, you can send someone to investigate. I’m confident that the truth can be easily uncovered with the methods of Buddhism.”
Miaojue nodded in agreement and turned to the outer sect deacon, asking, “Is what Fellow Gu said true?”
The outer sect deacon refused to admit it and quickly responded, “Elder, I’ve been wronged. I’ve already explained that he took my magical weapon first and injured me. Now he’s falsely accusing me!”
Gu Liuyun then took out the “Blessed Buddha Bead” and presented it to Miaojue, saying, “Master, please have a look. If I had stolen his magical artifact, why wouldn’t he have recognized it as his own? Moreover, I am a practitioner of the Dharma, and a Buddhist artifact holds no value for me.”
Miaojue nodded and turned to the outer sect deacon, shouting, “Tell the truth!”
In just four words, his voice was like thunder, echoing through the surroundings. The outer sect deacon turned pale and knelt down, tearfully admitting his wrongdoing.
Gu Liuyun was shocked by the power of Miaojue’s shout, realizing it was the “Buddhist Law: Mantra of Truth,” a method used to discern the truth. It’s typically only practiced in the Discipline Hall. Could Miaojue be not just an outer sect elder but a Discipline elder?
Miaojue then turned to the deacon, saying, “Take him to the Discipline Hall and apply the appropriate punishment.”
The monk on duty promptly approached and took the outer sect deacon into custody.
Miaojue returned to Gu Liuyun, expressing his gratitude, “Thank you, Fellow Gu, for revealing this. I didn’t expect an outer sect deacon to commit such an offense.”
Gu Liuyun responded with a smile, “Master, no need to thank me. He might be a lay disciple with limited knowledge of Buddhist principles.”
Miaojue chuckled and said, “You make a valid point.”
[Ding! Due to your disclosure of the misconduct by the outer sect deacon in the Buddhist sect, your favorability with Miaojue has increased by +50, and your friendliness with the Buddhist sect has increased by +20.].
Gu Liuyun smiled and respectfully addressed Miaojue, “Venerable Miaojue, I have another request.”
Miaojue considered the earlier conversation and replied, “If you wish to exchange that artifact for a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill for Old Tan’s grandson, that can be arranged without any issue.”
But before Miaojue could finish, Gu Liuyun interrupted, “It’s not about that. My sect excels in alchemy, and acquiring a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill is not difficult. I have a different request.”
In the Nine Realms, aside from the Medicine King Valley, it would be the Taoist Palace if you asked who had the most potent alchemy skills. For a mere Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, would it be reasonable to exchange it for a middle-grade magical artifact? What was he thinking?
Miaojue was shocked by Gu Liuyun’s words and replied, “Fellow Gu, you make a valid point. What is your specific request?”
Gu Liuyun smiled slightly and pointed to the Buddha bead in his hand, saying, “I wish to borrow someone from your sect using this item.”
“Borrow someone?” Miaojue seemed perplexed by this request.