Wayfarer

Chapter 939: The Plea of the Buddhas Head

Chapter 939: The Plea of the Buddha's Head

Blue Lantern had been imprisoned in the undying realm for over a millennium, consumed by torment and confusion. He couldn't fathom why Su Qingchan, the love of his life, had betrayed him.

The vows they had exchanged, the life-and-death struggles they had endured, the cherished memories they had created—were they nothing but lies?

He had grieved, suffered, and despaired, but he had never hated Su Qingchan.

It wasn't until he returned to the wild wastes hidden realm and witnessed his father's dying moments—enduring unspeakable agony while waiting for his son—that Blue Lantern finally came to his senses. He discarded his affection for Su Qingchan, and his heart filled with hatred.

The death of his father fueled Qing Deng's determination for vengeance. When Su Qingchan's avatar provoked him, he didn't hesitate any longer and personally ended her life.

But only now was the whole truth coming to light. Su Qingchan had been coerced by her father all along. For the past thousand years, she too had suffered in endless torment in body and soul alike.

She had sacrificed her own life to prove her innocence. For a thousand years, she had endured, waiting for Blue Lantern and seeking to make amends.

How could Blue Lantern hate Su Qingchan any longer? All the hatred in his heart was replaced by an overwhelming guilt. He blamed himself for being powerless, for failing to protect his fiancée and save his father.

Tears filled his bloodshot eyes as he knelt before Su Qingchan. Grasping her hand, he poured his spiritual power into her body, desperately trying to heal her injuries.

Su Qingchan's physical body bore no significant wounds, but her soul was utterly shattered and her truesoul badly damaged.

"It was a Soul Explosion curse—it detonates the soul, erasing body and spirit alike. How could Su Tianxin be so ruthless? How dare he call himself a father?!" Blue Jade sobbed beside him.

"I can save you. I will save you," Blue Lantern cried out, his voice trembling.

Eight bronze compasses appeared and orbited Su Qingchan's body. Blue Lantern directed a torrent of blue energy into her body, attempting to stop her life force from seeping away.

Su Qingchan, however, refused to accept the energy. She rejected it.

"Don't! Let me save you!" Blue Lantern shouted in desperation.

Su Qingchan smiled gently and shook her head. She knew that her fate was sealed. Prolonging her life would only deepen Blue Lantern's pain.

"Don't give up, Su Qingchan!" Blue Jade shouted.

Su Qingchan didn't respond. She reached out weakly to Blue Jade with a faltering hand.

"I'm here. What's the matter?" Blue Jade grasped Su Qingchan's hand immediately.

Su Qingchan didn't reply. She then extended another hand to Blue Lantern.

Seeing her gesture, Blue Lantern, choking back sobs, held Su Qingchan's other hand tightly.

Su Qingchan gently brought Blue Jade and Blue Lantern's hands together.

As their hands met, both Blue Jade and Blue Lantern seemed to realize something.

"Qingchan!"

"Su Qingchan!"@@@@

Their voices quavered as they called her name.

Su Qingchan glanced at their clasped hands with a mix of longing, relief, and satisfaction.

She looked at them one last time, her eyes filled with fondness, before her pupils slowly dilated and her smile froze in place.

"Qingchan!"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned thoughtfully.

"This meeting is an opportunity for you. I am willing to grant you several top-tier techniques, on one condition."

"Hm?"

"Stand on the compass formation on my behalf and relieve me of my burden. Are you willing to do so?"

Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He neither accepted nor rejected the offer immediately.

"I possess several supreme Buddhist techniques: the Imposing Avatar of Rulai, the Snowfield Buddha's Form, and the Art of the Truegold Minuscule. Stand on this compass for me for just a moment, and I shall grant you these techniques. Have a look."

Golden light flashed before the Buddha, gradually resolving into a golden jade tablet.

"Confirm the techniques in the tablet for yourself," the Buddha instructed.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at the tablet. Indeed, within were several supreme Buddhist techniques, so precious that countless holy lands would consider them among their most prized treasures. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng wasn't greedy.

"I apologize, Senior. I'm not interested in these techniques, and cannot accept your request."

"Why not? Aren't they excellent techniques?"

"They are, but I'm not interested in them."

"What do you want? I can give you anything in my possession," the Buddha continued.

"I apologize, but I'm not interested," Xiao Nanfeng repeated.

"State your conditions. Anything will do."

Xiao Nanfeng increasingly felt that something was off. He was convinced that this Buddha was plotting against him.

"No need, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng said with a slight shake of his head. "Since it was your evil aspect that captured me, I won't hold it against you. Farewell."

The Buddha immediately frowned bitterly. "Friend, I've been trapped here for what feels like eternity. I'm pitiful beyond words. Won't you at least keep me company and chat with me? Just humoring me will do."

Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows.

"Just pretend to agree with me to make me happy, won't you?" the Buddha pleaded.

Xiao Nanfeng stared at the Buddha's head for a moment. A soft-hearted person might have felt pity and said a few kind words, but Xiao Nanfeng was extremely cautious, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that the Buddha had ill intentions.

"I apologize, but I must go," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

As he spoke, he activated his candleflame powers, escaping from the Buddha's realm of the palm and appearing outside its hands. Just as he was about to depart, the Buddha's compassionate expression was replaced with a sinister, snarling face.

"In your dreams!" it cried out.

It pressed its palms together, forming two massive constructs of energy that trapped Xiao Nanfeng in their center. The collision of the palms unleashed a torrent of flames that caused the void to shudder violently.

The immense force was terrifying. If not for Xiao Nanfeng's Imposing Avatar of Rulai, the attack would have turned him to pulp. However, Xiao Nanfeng emerged unscathed. He activated his candleflame powers once more and escaped to a spot not far away, his body radiating with golden light.

"The Imposing Avatar of Rulai? No wonder you weren't greedy for my techniques at all. You already possess one of the strongest ones," the Buddha murmured in astonishment. Then, with a cold voice, it asked, "How did you realize that something was wrong?"

"I have heard of the rule of substitution, where verbal agreements can be enforced in the form of bound contracts. When word becomes law, one can transfer all sorts of bindings and geases to a scapegoat. I suspect I would have been bound by whatever is trapping you here had I agreed."

"So you knew all along!" the Buddha exclaimed, its expression icy.