Chapter 498: Chapter 441: Buddha in Seclusion
Maitreya Buddha said with a chuckle, "Huang Mei, what big news have you discovered?"
The young novice monk with yellow hair replied, "Master, I was just playing cards with the disciples of Mahasthamaprapta and Medicine Buddha.
While we were chatting, they boasted that Medicine Buddha and Mahasthamaprapta have become creditors of the Great Sun Tathagata. Now if they tell Great Sun Tathagata to face east, he doesn’t dare face west, and if they tell him to chase away the Heavenly Dog, he wouldn’t dare pursue Mao Ri Star Lord.
They also said that Medicine Buddha and Mahasthamaprapta have received many Merit Coins from Great Sun Tathagata. But then I remembered, wasn’t the main creditor of the Great Sun Tathagata you, the Buddha? When did it become them?!
So I rushed over to report."
Maitreya Buddha’s expression changed. This is no good. Brother Bai Jin has also given them the contract. With Great Sun Tathagata’s meager possessions, he certainly can’t pay back his debts. If it were just me asking for the debt, we could take it slow, without tearing each other apart, but with them involved, it’s now a completely different situation. It’s now a race of who grabs the assets first; the quick will get it, the slow will get nothing.
"Huang Mei, don’t leave. Wait for me to come back and explain where you got the money to gamble!" Maitreya Buddha’s figure faded and disappeared.
Huang Mei stood there, dumbfounded, in the hall. Great, my secret stash is exposed.
...
In front of the Great Sun Temple, three figures stepped out from the void; Maitreya, Mahasthamaprapta, and Medicine Buddha were now all together.
The three looked at each other and an unspoken tension formed amongst them. At the same time, they narrowed their eyes, sizing each other up.
Mahasthamaprapta spoke first, "Maitreya Buddha, you are deemed as the Future Buddha, all of Buddhism is to be yours in the future. Why vie with us over these trifles?"
Medicine Buddha also advised, "Maitreya Buddha, you’ve already obtained all the wealth of Great Sun Tathagata. Even taking one-tenth should be satisfying enough."
Maitreya Buddha was taken aback and said, "What are you talking about? One-tenth? What I get is all mine."
Mahasthamaprapta exclaimed in astonishment, "What? All yours?
Brother Bai Jin told me it was just one-tenth of it! Buddha, you must have heard wrong."
Medicine Buddha also said, "Brother Bai Jin told me the same, one-tenth."
Mahasthamaprapta and Medicine Buddha furrowed their brows, looking at Maitreya Buddha. Could he have some special arrangement with Brother Bai Jin?
A sly smile crossed Maitreya Buddha’s lips. So that’s how it is. With a single thought, he realized Brother Bai Jin’s plan. If it were only me going after Great Sun Tathagata to claim debts, he would surely hold a grudge against me. But with Mahasthamaprapta and Medicine Buddha involved, it’s entirely different. They are here to share the pressure with me. Brother Bai Jin really is thoroughly thoughtful! I must learn more from Brother Bai Jin.
Maitreya Buddha, with his big belly, cheerfully said, "Mahasthamaprapta, Medicine Buddha, our situation is not the same. I participated in the battle of the Northern Continent."
Both Mahasthamaprapta and Medicine Buddha suddenly realized. Maitreya Buddha was ordered to subdue the Northern Continent and fought Emperor Zhenwu to a standstill. Back then, we seemed to have excused ourselves to meditate in seclusion, a flash of regret crossed their minds. If it had been me who agreed back then, wouldn’t all the repayment money be mine?!
Brother Bai Jin indeed never treats anyone who works for him unfairly. In the future, I’ll need to be more proactive in matters concerning Brother Bai Jin. Fortune favors the bold.
Maitreya Buddha walked towards the Great Sun Temple, followed closely by Mahasthamaprapta and Medicine Buddha.
Inside the Great Sun Temple, Great Sun Tathagata sat on the Lotus Platform. Upon seeing the three who entered, his heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rose within him—why have they all come together?!
The Great Sun Tathagata revealed a faint smile and said, "I wonder what brings the Maitreya Buddha, Medicine Buddha, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva to visit with such pomp?"
Maitreya Buddha stood in the center of the great hall, chuckling as he said, "It’s time for the Buddha to repay the debt he owes."
Indeed, it was about this matter. The Great Sun Tathagata, suppressing his anger, forced a smile and said, "Buddha Ancestor, didn’t we just make a repayment not long ago?"
Maitreya Buddha slightly shook his head and said, "Not nearly enough!"
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva tried to persuade, "Buddha Ancestor, you are the Crown Prince of the Demon Clan and the Great Sun Tathagata of Buddhism, why trouble yourself with owing such a small sum of money? Why not pay it off sooner?"
The Medicine Buddha also advised earnestly, at least he believed his intentions to be good: "Buddha Ancestor, we are the ones asking for repayment this time and naturally speak to you with good intentions. If you refuse to pay, next time Bai Jin will come, and then it won’t be so simple, will it? You will lose face, but the money still has to be repaid."
The Great Sun Tathagata’s smile faded, and he said coldly, "You keep mentioning ’Brother Bai Jin’ with such familiarity, are you that close?"
The Medicine Buddha shook his head with a bitter smile, "It seems that the Buddha Ancestor has some misunderstandings about Brother Bai Jin! Brother Bai Jin is truly a good deity, and he has provided us with much assistance."
Both Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva and Maitreya Buddha subconsciously nodded. Brother Bai Jin, amiable and helpful, isn’t he indeed a good deity?
The Great Sun Tathagata took a deep breath and said coldly, "Fine, very well! I shall repay this money today, and from now on, our courtesies cease."
Maitreya Buddha, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and Medicine Buddha were all indifferent, standing in the great hall smiling at the Great Sun Tathagata. Let the courtesies cease, as long as the money is there.
With money, all Buddhas bow in worship; without money, one cannot move an inch. This is the harsh reality in Buddhism, even the Tathagata Buddha was greedy for wealth. Once, when the holy monk disciples went down the mountain, they recited the scriptures once at the house of Zhao Changzhe from She Wei Country, ensuring the safety of the living and the liberation of the deceased, only to receive a repayment of three dou and three sheng of gold coins. The Buddha even said they had sold themselves short, leaving their descendants without money to spend. Reciting the scriptures once for only three dou and three sheng of gold coins was still considered cheap, and the most avaricious on the Spiritual Mountain was the Buddha himself.
The Great Sun Tathagata said coldly, "Buddha Bodhisattvas, please wait a moment, I will fetch the money right now. Bai Jin thinks to press me with money, but how could I let him have his way?"
The figure of the Great Sun Tathagata disappeared above the Lotus Platform.
...
Before the Great Leiyin Temple, the silhouette of the Great Sun Tathagata emerged, stepping forward into the temple.
Ananda and Kasyapa stood in front of the Great Leiyin Temple. Upon seeing this, they hastily came forward to greet him, and with palms together, they bowed respectfully, "We pay our respects to the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha!"
The Great Sun Tathagata with an authoritative tone asked, "I request the Venerable to convey my wish to meet the Buddha."
Ananda respectfully said with his head bowed, "The Buddha Ancestor is currently in seclusion."
The Great Sun Tathagata unconsciously furrowed his brow, asking, "When will the Buddha Ancestor emerge from seclusion?"
Kasyapa, with due respect, replied, "We do not know!"
The Great Sun Tathagata looked deeply at the Great Leiyin Temple. So now he’s in seclusion, is it because he fears I’ll ask for a loan? Truly, Buddhism is unreliable. Transformed into a rainbow light, he soared into the sky, heading towards the North.
Deep within the Northern Continent, an enormous palace lay surrounded by profound auras that flowed like the oceanic abyss.
A rainbow light streaked across the sky, descending in front of the Demon Court, transforming once again into the majestic Devil Race Crown Prince, Lu Ya.