Chapter 354: If You Don’t Live, How Would You Know?

　　Dragin’s eyes sparkled. She sniffed through her nose. “Brother, I can smell it. It’s meat.”

　　Li Nianfan smiled and said, “Ha-ha, I can smell it, too. This is the meat of a Kirin, the texture must be quite good.”

　　His tone was very emotional. This Kirin seemed to have dried itself out. Li Nianfan had not done anything and he had already died.

　　Who would have thought that he would have the pleasure of eating Kirin meat? He wondered what it tasted like.

　　In this cultivating realm, he had tasted some Immortal Beasts. Now, he was about to taste Kirin meat. This trip was worth it!

　　“Don’t touch it first. I need to do some planning. This Kirin isn’t small, and we must make use of all of its meat!” Li Nianfan warned them. Then, he started planning. “It’s a pity that I don’t have experience eating Kirin meat. I’ll need some time to work things out. However, looking at its flesh, the thigh can be roasted. As for the back, I can braise it with some sauce. Wow, its tail’s delicate! It can be made into a soup, too!”

　　Black Kirin laid by the side, as tears rolled out of its blank eyes continuosly.

　　‘How cruel! How cruel!

　　‘He actually wants to cook me in parts!’

　　The Kirin guessed its destiny. It would not take long before it was turned into a dish. No, a few dishes…and a soup.

　　It was an elder of the Kirins! A well-respected elder! It had lived countless years, born to be the lord of the world.

　　‘My flesh isn’t delicious. Please, let me go.’

　　Li Nianfan was still planning, while Daji stood by the side of the Black Kirin. A glow gradually engulfed the Black Kirin.

　　Black Kirin’s pupils dilated. Its eyes were filled with a deep shock and surprise.

　　It wanted to struggle but realized that it was unable to do so.

　　“This… This is…the Sucking Gourd?!”

　　He was thoroughly shocked and in extreme despair. It noticed the golden gourd in Daji’s hand

　　“The Sucking Gourd’s made from a gourd by Saintess Nuwa. However…why is it with her? Unacceptable, unacceptable! Not only is my flesh about to be eaten, they’re not even letting my divine consciousness go!”

　　In the next moment, a flash of light flew out from between its brows and went into the golden gourd.

　　‘Although the gourd’s different, in the end, I still can’t escape my destiny of being sucked into the gourd.’ This was its final thought before entering the gourd.

　　Li Nianfan gradually stood up and smiled. “Alright, we don’t have to worry about food for the rest of the journey.”

　　“We don’t have to.” Yun Yiyi looked at Jiese. She continued, “Jiese, this is Kirin meat. Aren’t you going to taste it? Perhaps it’ll be good for your cultivation? Why are you so obsessed with becoming a monk?”

　　Jiese clapped his palms together. “I chose this path.”

　　Nanan could not help mumbling, “Aren’t you a Buddha? Why has it become a path now?”

　　“Ha-ha-ha…”

　　Li Nianfan could not help smiling by the side. He said, “A path is an abstract concept. The path to heaven is impermanent and ruthless. Many changes can be affected by many things and yet, still free from external factors. There’s no good and evil, no right and wrong, no gratitude and resentment. The Immortal path’s a path, the demonic path’s a path, the evil path’s a path. Therefore, Buddhism’s naturally a path, too.”

　　The faces of the crowd moved. They felt their heads go blank and clear up. There seemed to be a humming sound and they had goosebumps all over.

　　Swiftly after, their pores opened up as if they were in a hot spring. They felt warmth all over with an unspeakable comfort.

　　At this moment, their understanding of the path was like a skyrocketing rocket, rising vigorously. They were able to look at the path with wisdom. In the past, the path had been a blurry concept to them and they were unable to fathom it. However, they could see it more clearly now.

　　The expert was pointing it out to them!

　　“Mr. Li, your words are like drums in the early morning. You’ve widened your understanding and I’ve learned many things from you. You’re a man with wisdom!” Jiese said with his palms together. He said politely, “Please, allow me to kneel in front of you.”

　　Li Nianfan waved it off nonchalantly, “Jiese, you’re too polite. I was just casually speaking.”

　　Li Nianfan did feel good about it. The things he said were perfect for him to act cool. Perhaps this was the benefit of reading!

　　Yun Yiyi bit her lip. She could not help asking, “Mr. Li, do you think a Buddhist could get married?”

　　Of course, she knew the importance of his words. She wanted Jiese to get rid of this idea. However hard she tried to talk him out of it, Jiese would not change his mind. If Li Nianfan could convince him, however strong-willed Jiese was, he would surely listen.

　　Li Nianfan did not give a direct answer. He was thinking.

　　He knew what Yun Yiyi’s intention was, and he did want to see the two of them get together.

　　Yun Yiyin loved and hated with a passion. Although she seemed as if she did not care, she had been keeping a close eye on Jiese. While Jiese did have the same thinking, he did not dare to use Yun Yiyi as a target to cultivate his lack of desire. He tried to avoid talking to her.

　　They had true love!

　　For a Buddhist, although Li Nianfan did not have first-hand experience, he did know quite a lot.

　　Jiese did this to prevent his heart from being tainted. A Buddhist was most afraid of being tainted by the seven feelings and six desires. They could destroy one’s chastity and lead to severe outcomes.

　　Li Nianfan had to consider both sides. On one hand, was the feelings between the two of them, and on the other was Jiese’s cultivation.

　　This was quite complicated.

　　Yun Yiyi looked at Li Nianfan with anticipation. Jiese clapped his palms together and closed his eyes gently.

　　Li Nianfan smiled and said, “Jiese, the so-called eight sufferings in Buddhism, have you experienced them?”

　　Jiese answered, “I’ve avoided them all. I’ve never experienced them.”

　　Li Nianfan asked, “Do you know where Buddha comes from?”

　　“I don’t.” Jiese’s face changed. He looked at Li Nianfan, waiting for an answer.

　　Li Nianfan continued, “Buddhism didn’t come from nothing. Even Buddha didn’t start off being a Buddha. He went through nine reincarnations. It was because he had experienced all sorts of pain in life that he was able to understand the pain and live past it. If you haven’t even experienced the eight pains and avoided them whenever you can, you haven’t actually cultivated properly. If you don’t live, how would you know what pain is?”

　　Jiese was stunned. His eyes widened. In his head, he kept repeating the words Li Nianfan said.

　　‘If you don’t live, how would you know what pain is?’

　　Right! He only knew about the eight pains in life but had not been through them. Everything was merely words.

　　Li Nianfan merely reminded him with one sentence, but he started to think more about it.

　　For example, why would ordinary people believe in Buddhism? This was because they had been through the eight sufferings in life. They wanted relief, but what about himself?

　　As a Buddhist, he had not even been through the eight sufferings. He probably did not feel as deeply as the ordinary men.

　　“Amitabha.” Jiese’s face could not help but change. Ever since he became a monk, he had been repressing his emotions. Yet, he was now incredibly emotional.

　　Gradually, his usual calm state of mind started to change in big waves.

　　“I…I’ve been enlightened!” He knelt on both knees and started bowing at Li Nianfan.

　　“As long as you understand.”

　　Li Nianfan let out a sigh of relief. He did not speak clearly, and he merely used another way to remind him. It was still Jiese deciding for himself and it had nothing to do with Li Nianfan.

　　Yun Yiyi was thoroughly impressed by Li Nianfan.

　　Look at him. What was an expert? He was an expert!

　　The way he spoke was so respectable!

　　Yun Yiyi said with excitement, “Jiese, you’re going to marry me.”

　　“Now that Buddhism has just started, the demons are acting wildly. It isn’t the time to live with suffering yet.” Jiese did not reject her. He then said, “Once everything has stabilized, I’ll marry you if you’re willing to wait.”

　　Yun Yiyi was delighted. She raised her hand to touch Jiese’s bald head. “Monk, of course, I’ll wait for you!”

　　“Congratulations to Miss Yun. It’s finally a happy ending.” Daji’s eyes were filled with admiration.

　　She looked at Li Nianfan with her beautiful eyes while weighing her thoughts. Did she have to be braver like Yun Yiyi?

　　However…the gap between her and Li Nianfan was way too big! He was so unreachable, like a star in the sky.

　　Sigh, if only she could get closer to him.

　　After going through this, the atmosphere between them became more joyful. The meat of the Kirin naturally became the ideal reward for celebration.

　　The crowd was having a Kirin feast. From the braised Kirin to the deep-fried scales, then to the stewed Kirin tail. It was a big feast. Of course, it was very delicious.

　　For the rest of the journey, there were no accidents. Out of boredom, Li Nianfan decided to take out the golden rock and rub it in his palm.