Fahai sighed at this point.
"I never expected that after our parting, she would transform into my heart demon, haunting my soul and leaving me no peace," he said.
At this point, Fahai appeared somewhat bashful and rather embarrassed.
Being a Buddhist disciple and harboring feelings for a demon was naturally scandalous.
"If you like her, bring her back. If she has feelings for you too, we would go and ask for her hand on your behalf. Besides, that Bai Suzhen is said to be a disciple of Lady of Mount Li, we can directly approach Lady of Mount Li," Lu Dongbin said with a smile.
Now, as someone from Wukong’s entourage in the Three Realms, whoever he chose to marry, the other party would unlikely refuse.
Even if that person were a disciple of Lady of Mount Li.
Bai Yu interjected, "Exactly, you’re overly indecisive, Monk. Even if she isn’t interested in you, if we from Huaguo Mountain went to propose, could they still refuse? If not, we could have Great Emperor Ziwei issue a decree and arrange the marriage directly. Would Lady of Mount Li dare to defy it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone glared at Bai Yu, causing him to shrink back instantly.
He timidly asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
Lu Dongbin sternly said, "Do not speak recklessly. The Heavenly Court is the supreme court of all beings in the Three Realms, known for its justice. How can we forcibly compel someone into marriage? If word got out, wouldn’t that be laughable? Where would the dignity of the Heavenly Court stand?"
"Exactly, and others would say Huaguo Mountain relies on power to bully others. If the reputation of both Heavenly Court and Huaguo Mountain were ruined, could you bear that responsibility?"
Fan Yao also gave Bai Yu a disdainful look. Didn’t this guy think before he spoke?
Using power to oppress others, such behavior was absolutely unthinkable.
Bai Yu immediately shut his mouth, his comment had been casual but he hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from everyone.
Nu Ba smiled; she knew the reaction of the crowd was a bit over the top.
Yet, Nu Ba did not stop them.
Only those who truly loved Huaguo Mountain and wanted to protect it would care about everything related to it, hence their exaggerated reactions.
This made their reactions somewhat understandable.
However, Bai Yu thought for a moment and realized how foolish his words had been.
"What are your intentions?" Nu Ba asked.
Fahai thought for a while and then spoke with determination, "I intend to suppress my heart demon. As someone who has renounced worldly desires, if I cannot even do this, how can I continue to claim that I am a monk."
Everyone was speechless; they wanted to advise Fahai that this was not a heart demon.
This was either love or human desire. Buddha taught that all is void, but could this actually be the real delusion?
That contradicts the natural instincts of living beings; it is simply abnormal.
But, after all, this was Fahai’s own path, and others could not interfere.
"Alright, if you decide you want to unite with Bai Suzhen, just let me know, and I will have the Great Saint make a personal visit," Nu Ba said after a moment’s thought.
At that moment, she distinctly assumed the demeanor of a lady of the house.
"Thank you, Great Sage’s wife," Fahai said earnestly.
However, his address made Nu Ba somewhat uncomfortable.
Though Wukong acknowledged her, nothing had yet occurred between them. The title of ’wife’ seemed quite premature.
But, since Fahai had already called her that, Nu Ba accepted it.
Some things, after all, have to be grown accustomed to.
With Nu Ba’s promise, Fahai felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart, and his resolve strengthened.
Now, it was all up to him whether he could slay this heart demon or not.
Ksitigarbha could not help but shake his head; this naive boy, the path of emotions, if it were that easy to sever, then so many immortals and Buddhist disciples wouldn’t need to face emotional tribulations – many immortals and Buddhist disciples are doomed because of them.
In his view, fully rejecting them wasn’t necessarily healthier than embracing them openly.
From Ksitigarbha’s perspective, this may not be detrimental to Buddhist teachings at all.
It might even lead to the realization of something different.
A side story, aside from Fahai’s closed-door cultivation, everyone rushed back and then hurriedly left again.
A figure in a white dress leaned against the pavilion, watching the tumultuous clouds.
But from her dazed expression, it was obvious she wasn’t truly focusing on the scenery before her.
"What, exactly, are you thinking?" she sighed quietly to herself as the white figure vanished from there.
She went to visit Lady of Mount Li, preparing to return to Mount Emei.
Though considered a disciple of Lady of Mount Li, she had her own spiritual grounds.
"Xiaobai, you are now at the peak of Celestial Immortal. Follow my cultivation for a while and strive to break through to the Heavenly Venerate realm soon. Only then will I not fail the trust your father placed in me."
"Yes," the woman instantly put aside her distractions, but her face showed no joy.
At that moment, she really had no desire for cultivation.
But since her master had commanded it, she naturally did not dare refuse.
Watching Xiaobai’s departing figure, Lady of Mount Li smiled gently.
"This girl has been touched by emotion. Could it be that monk from thousands of years ago, who is now a Heavenly Venerate and still follows the Great Saint? He’s rather carefree. If it hadn’t been for this emotion, my disciple would already have reached the Heavenly Venerate realm," she said in the end, her face showing a touch of dissatisfaction.
Towards this disciple, she still had great expectations.
It was mainly because a close friend had entrusted her, and after so many years of following her cultivation, to be at just the Celestial Immortal realm was really underwhelming.
This time, she must push Xiaobai to the Heavenly Venerate level.
In the Western Continent, Shao Siming eyed the few people before her, her eyes brimming with deadly intent.