Bai Jin stretched out his hand, and the scrolls flew up in succession, all falling into his grasp. He unfolded one to take a look, then smiled and said, "My magic treasures are certainly not cheap. Initially, they borrowed quite a bit of merit to rent these magic treasures. With the accrued interest, this bit of merit is far from enough!"
Shen Gongbao hesitated before saying, "Senior brother, I’ve damaged the face of figures like Maitreya and Ksitigarbha, as well as other Buddha Bodhisattvas in front of all immortals. If they bear a grudge against senior brother and refuse to repay the debt, what then?"
Bai Jin put away the scrolls, smiling as he said, "This scroll has a Heavenly Dao Oath on it. How could they possibly renege on it? I actually hope they don’t pay back because the interest will only grow more."
He paused, then continued, "In truth, it’s not my desire to ask for repayment in a public setting, thus embarrassing them. But since they do not honor righteousness, it should be no surprise if I do."
Shen Gongbao nodded, then sighed, "Senior brother, your tolerance and mercy are admirable, but the Primordial World is full of cunning and deceitful ones, who disregard friendships. You must be careful!"
"Thank you for your concern, junior brother. I have no wish to engage in such clandestine schemes. To live with a pure heart under the sun and the moon, without shame in my heart—is my Tao," Bai Jin said, looking up and puffing out his chest, as though a surge of vast Righteous Qi was bursting forth from within.
Shen Gongbao’s expression changed as he looked at Bai Jin. No wonder great powers like Zhao Gongming, Yun Xiao, Kong Xuan, Feathered Immortal, and Wuyun Immortal all pay their respects to senior brother. Such character truly commands respect. I should have joined the Jie Sect initially, but it’s not too late even now.
After chatting and having tea with Bai Jin for a while, Shen Gongbao took his leave.
No sooner had Shen Gongbao left than Bai Jin also quietly departed from the Bird’s Nest. He made his way to the third floor of the Heaven and Earth Human Bank to a particular room. He knocked on the door twice, paused, and then knocked another two times.
A deep voice from inside said, "Buddha Light Shines on Three Thousand Realms!"
In a soft voice, Bai Jin replied, "Taoism Unlimited Heavenly Transmission!"
The door creaked open a crack, Bai Jin pushed his way in, and then closed the door behind him.
Bai Jin looked around the room, where he saw Maitreya Buddha, no longer smiling, sitting by the window dressed in his kasaya.
Bai Jin approached with a sincere smile, "Maitreya, junior brother, we could meet openly at the Bird’s Nest next time, there’s no need for such secrecy."
Maitreya looked at Bai Jin and said, "Emperor, you must understand, as Buddhism rises, it is inevitable there will be a conflict with the Heavenly Court. I am a Buddha of Buddhism, and you are a Great Emperor of the Heavenly Court. If we are seen as too close, it is disadvantageous to us both."
Bai Jin sat down opposite Maitreya and asked with a smile, "I wonder what prompted Buddha to take such a risk to come here?"
Maitreya Buddha looked intently at Bai Jin and asked seriously, "Was Shen Gongbao’s action at the Buddhist assembly on senior brother’s instruction?"
Bai Jin looked confused and said, "What action? I have no idea at all! Please enlighten me, junior brother."
The Maitreya Buddha gravely said, "In front of all the immortals, Shen Gongbao produced our debt contracts, demanding repayment, putting me in an awkward situation. Wasn’t it at senior brother’s behest?"
Bai Jin immediately pleaded with an aggrieved face, "Oh, conscience of heaven and earth! I truly wasn’t aware of what Shen Gongbao has done! I have been in closed-door meditation these days, seeking enlightenment towards the Quasi-Saint Realm. I had no knowledge of Shen Gongbao going to Buddhism. Furthermore, even if I knew Shen Gongbao went to Buddhism, I wouldn’t instruct him to trouble junior brother. We are allies, after all!"
Righteously proclaiming, he said, "If junior brother does not believe me, I can certainly call Shen Gongbao here to confront the issue. If he says it was under my instruction, I will definitely apologize to junior brother and repay the merit and outstanding debts on junior brother’s behalf."
Maitreya’s eyes shone brightly—The temptation of Bai Jin repaying the loan is significant indeed!
Bai Jin shook his head with a sigh, "Is there really no trust left between us?"
Mile, struggling to resist the temptation, reasoned that since Bai Jin dared to confront the issue, whether it was him or not, he must have made thorough preparations. After pondering, he said, "I naturally trust senior brother. At the assembly, Shen Gongbao claimed he was carrying out orders from our senior sister to collect a debt, which must be referring to Gu Liang, right?"
Bai Jin immediately cried out in anger, "It’s her, it’s her, indeed it is her. Ever since she cozied up to the Heavenly Emperor, she has increasingly disregarded me. Now she has even gone behind my back to demand debts from my own brothers. Does she really think I wouldn’t be enraged?"
Mile subconsciously thought of himself, envisioning the scenes of Bodhisattva Arhats leaving Xumi Temple, and said with sorrow, "So that’s how it is, I understand this feeling of senior brother’s all too well."
Bai Jin was slightly startled, and thought to himself, I haven’t even finished making my sly arguments, and you already believe me? Are all followers of Buddhism so naive?
Mile remarked with emotion, "I deeply empathize with senior brother’s feelings."
Bai Jin had another doubt and thought, Empathize? Based on what?
"Back when I was influential, many Bodhisattva Arhats served by my side. Longji Bodhisattva, Bao Yue Bodhisattva, Muni Bodhisattva, all used to listen to my teachings. But now—"
Mile Buddha sighed lightly and spoke with desolation, "Now that Duo Bao Tathagata has become the Lord of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and sits on the divine position receiving the worship of myriad Buddhas. They too have entered Tathagata’s service, passing me by without uttering a word, eager to distance themselves from me. I comprehend this sense of desolation."
Bai Jin looked at Mile Buddha, his lips trembling lightly, and uttered with pathos, "To think that the one who understands me the best would be my junior brother. Senior brother’s life in the Heavenly Court is not easy! Though I am nominally the great Heavenly Emperor, one of the Four Imperials, I am actually powerless. Former fellow disciples have betrayed me one after another, even the God of Wealth I personally promoted has been bought over by Hao Tian. That Heavenly Emperor Hao Tian sees me as a thorn in his flesh! My days are truly difficult!"
Mile subconsciously nodded, expressing his shared sentiment, "I understand senior brother’s feelings, for my days are not easy either! Disciples under my tutelage have betrayed me left and right, and Duo Bao Tathagata is exceedingly wary of me. Although I hold the title of Future Buddha, it is but an empty honor, utterly useless."
The two looked at each other, brimming with fervor. Bai Jin clenched his teeth and whispered, "Junior brother, we cannot just resign ourselves to this fate. When faced with problems, we cannot sit idly by. We must stand tall and resist."
Mile hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Senior brother is right. But how should we stand tall and resist? Please provide some guidance, senior brother."
Bai Jin softly said, "You are in Buddhism, I am in the Heavenly Court; we can completely support each other. If the Heavenly Court takes any action, I can inform you, and you can plan accordingly to thwart their actions while also increasing your own prestige. If Buddhism takes any action, you inform me, and I will sabotage it to reduce Tathagata’s prestige. In this back and forth, our prestige will rise, and the reputations of the Heavenly Emperor and The Buddha will fall. Over time, the disciples of Buddhism will surely recognize you more as the Buddha, and the immortals of the Heavenly Court will also recognize me more as the Heavenly Emperor. Junior brother, there is much we can achieve this way!"
Mile’s eyes shone, but then he hesitated and said, "Senior brother, forming an alliance is fine, but there is the matter of this loan..."