A humble little courtyard, just like the one outside, with a simple house leaning against the mountain wall. A small path made of green bricks leads to the door, with grass and weeds growing on both sides. It seems that no one has taken care of it seriously for a long time, as wild grasses have grown in many places. Unlike the outer Zen room, this house has a thick black curtain hanging from the door, and except for this entrance, there seem to be no other windows or exits on the house.

  The demon gazed at the ordinary and unassuming little house, his throat dry and his hands clenched involuntarily. He looked up at Pu Heng, but saw that Pu Heng's face was also filled with a complex expression, as if he was both regretful and pained, unable to speak. The demon too stood there, staring blankly at the small door in a daze.

  For a moment, no one spoke, in the silence, only the low hum of insects came from the wild grass beside me, I didn't know what they were calling.

  After a long time, Pu Heng Shangren let out a soft sigh and said, "Let's go in."

  The muscles on Gui Li's face twitched slightly, and he said in a low voice: "Good."

  Pu Hong slowly walked forward, stretched out his hand to pull open the curtain, and with a creaking sound, pushed open the door.

  A faint creaking sound came from the hinges on the gate, and it was unknown how many days had passed since anyone last pushed open this door, heavy and desolate.

  A chill ran out of the house, and although Gui Li was still standing outside the door, he couldn't help but shiver at this chill. This small house seemed to be the coldest place in the world.

  The ghost frowned and hesitated, then at this moment, Pu Heng's voice came from behind the curtain, saying: "Little donor, come in."

  The ghost took a deep breath, shook his head, opened the curtain and walked in with big strides.

  The curtain slowly fell, and the door creaked again with a desolate sound, closing gently. The small courtyard returned to calm once more, and the figure of Fa Xiang walked slowly from the front, gazing at that simple and unadorned little house, softly chanting Buddhist scriptures, yet bowing his head in reverence, his face solemn and dignified.

  ********

  The curtain was dropped and the wooden door closed. Since there were no windows, the room suddenly became pitch black.

  A chill ran down his spine as a cold sensation swept in from all directions, like countless icy steel needles piercing his skin. Gu Yi had just recovered from his serious illness and was still experiencing some aftershocks, but he was no ordinary person, so after circulating the true law within him for a while, he slowly adapted to it. Even so, although the chill couldn't penetrate his body, that bone-piercing coldness was still extremely unbearable.

  The hut on Mount Xumi is even colder than the coldest place in the Arctic.

  Gui Lie's heart was shocked and amazed, just as he was in a state of uncertainty, he heard a low sigh from the mouth of Pu Hong above him, saying: "Younger brother, we've come to see you. This person, you must have wanted to see for a long time, right?"

  His voice was low and had a strange emotional tone, the chill in the room suddenly became even colder, almost to the point where it could freeze people's blood. Then, a faint light, white with a hint of silver, slowly appeared from the front of Pu Hong and Gui Ye, at the end of the small cottage, and lit up.

  That light was soft and snowy, first a wisp burst forth, then another silvery white glow slowly lit up at the edge of the light, but also close to it, merging into one body. Then, one by one, the glows lit up in succession, gradually revealing a circular shape about one foot square.

  That light was soft and pure white like snow, the beam rose to just over a foot high, and at the end it seemed to turn into tiny snowflakes, or white fireflies, dancing lightly and falling slowly, as if in a dream.

  Then, those strands of light slowly merged and gradually brightened. Gui Li and Pu Heng only heard a faint hum in the room, a clear and pleasant sound. The white light grew stronger, instantly radiating brilliance and illuminating the entire room.

  At that moment, Pu Hong bowed his head and chanted Buddha's name, while Gui Lie felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen, unable to feel even a hint of warmth. He couldn't even feel his own heartbeat, as if it too had stopped momentarily.

  He just stood there like a stiff pillar of ice, staring blankly into the depths of the light, his mind devoid of any other thoughts, only echoing two words:

  Universal Wisdom!

  A faint light like snow, shining and flowing, emanated from a pure white jade-like round plate, while emitting a chilling aura. On that one-foot-square round plate, surprisingly sat a person, who was the very one who had changed Zhang Xiaofan's fate back then, and now made Gui Li's heart ache - Pu Zhi.

  From a distance, Pu Zhi's face was vivid and lifelike. Although his skin looked deathly pale and had no vitality, upon closer inspection, there were no signs of dryness or withering. In fact, he still looked like the compassionate and peaceful old monk that Zhang Xiaofan remembered from years ago, without any changes, except for a hint of hidden pain in his eyes.

  Besides physical health.

  Puzhi's body somehow shrunk to less than half its original size, which was why he could sit cross-legged on the pure white jade plate. It seemed that the cold air in this room was quite biting, yet there were no visible ice blocks stored here. The reason probably lay with this strange treasure. And it was likely due to this treasure's power that Puzhi's corpse had been preserved for so long.

  However, the monk sitting peacefully on the jade plate with a compassionate and serene expression was deeply engraved in his heart, and for over ten years, he had not forgotten it in the slightest.

  Is it hate?

  Is it?

  His mind was sometimes empty and hollow, sometimes like a stormy rain, thunder and lightning, with all sorts of pain and resentment, yet they all flashed through his heart at once!

  That kind and gentle monk was the one who saved his life, taught him the true way and treated him like a son. However, it was also this seemingly compassionate monk who ruined his entire life, causing him to suffer day and night, as if he had fallen into an abyss of despair...

  Grudges and affections entwined, I thought it was only in my heart, but unexpectedly today, I saw his face again.

  Under the intense shock, he was slightly unsteady on his feet, dizzy and disoriented, and his body began to fall to one side. Just then, a warm and gentle hand reached out from beside him, supporting him, and a familiar aura, that of the Buddhist monk Mohe Yanjue, emanated from the palm of the hand, calming the turbulent blood in Gui Li's head.

  "Amitabha Buddha, little donor, don't be too excited, taking care of your body is important." Master Pu Heng's calm voice came from beside him.

  Like a ghost, he woke up from his dream, gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, let go of Pu Heng's hand, and straightened his body. However, his eyes never left Pu Zhi's face. In the dim light, Pu Zhi's peaceful face showed an even deeper painful expression.

  Pu Heng stood beside him, carefully examining Jue Lian. In his eyes, the young man's face was changing in the dim light, and at this moment, Jue Lian seemed to be no longer that notorious demonic cultist, but just a suffering mortal in his eyes, like that young boy many years ago.

  He sighed softly, his eyes sunken, and turned to look at Pu Zhi in front of him. He walked slowly forward, gazing at Pu Zhi's face, and said in a low voice: "Younger brother, your last wish before you died, I've helped you fulfill it as your older brother. I'm incompetent, and couldn't save you back then. Evil causes bring evil effects, one must reap what they sow. These were your own words. May you put down the karma of your past life and be reborn soon. Amitabha!"

  He clasped his hands together in front of Puzhi's body, bowed, and then walked straight out. As he was about to leave the door, he said faintly: "Little donor, I think you also want to stay with Puzhi Shidi alone for a while. I'm in the Chan room ahead, if you have anything, come find me."

  Guilian didn't say a word, seemingly deaf to everything around him. At this moment, his eyes only had the faintly glowing figure of Puzhi Monk.

  Pu Heng let out a sigh, pulled open the door and lifted the curtain, and walked out. The house was silent.

  The ghost slowly, slowly moved his footsteps, little by little towards Pu Zhi. He seemed to be afraid of something, somewhat at a loss, although he had once been so resentful and hateful, but for some reason, at this moment, his heart was filled with infinite sorrow.

  That person sat quietly, without a hint of anger, yet seemed to be waiting for something, and on his face, which was tinged with pain, there seemed to be an even deeper longing and expectation.

  The ghost slowly walked to his front, staring at Pu Zhi, his hands slowly clenched, his fingernails deeply embedded in the flesh, but finally relaxed. He seemed to have lost his support, his body weak, and he fell silently to the ground, sitting in front of Pu Zhi, without a word.

  Flickering dim light shines on Pu Zhi and him, casting a silhouette of two people!

  Time stood still in this room, sometimes flowing backwards, sometimes jumping forward, but what remained unchanged were the two kinds of hearts?

  Even if it's a beating heart, and a silent one!

  ********

  "Dong...... dong...... dong...... dong......"

  The morning bell, once again ringing out, echoes through every corner of Mount Sumeru, gently and softly, waking people up from their dreams, yet with a flavor that can take people away from the mundane world.

  On the top of Mount Xumi, outside the Xiaotian Temple and the quiet Zen room, a knocking sound was heard.

  Pu Hong raised an eyebrow, then slightly shook his head, let out a sigh and said: "Is it Fa Xiang? Come in."

  He responded to the voice and entered, walking over to bow to Master Pu Heng. Looking at his face, he seemed to have a hint of worry, saying: "Master, it's already been a whole day and night, but Zhang Shi Zhu still hasn't come out."

  Pu Hong shook his head and said: "The grudges of past lives, the emotional debts of this life, how can they be so easily let go of?"

  The ten Dharma characteristics combined, and in a low voice, he said: "Master, I'm worried that there's a 'Jade Ice Plate' inside the small hut. Although it can protect Master Pu Zhi's Dharmakaya from decay, its extremely cold energy is very harmful to ordinary people. Moreover, Zhang Shi has just recovered from his serious injury and is still in great pain and mental turmoil. What if something goes wrong... and he falls ill? How can we face Master Pu Zhi's last words?"

  Pu Hong said calmly, "It doesn't matter, I used the Mahayana Mantra to protect his heart pulse yesterday, plus his own cultivation, although the cold air is toxic, I think it's no big deal."

  Fa Xiang heard this and finally let out a sigh of relief, clasped his hands together and said: "So that's how it is. I can also put my mind at ease now."

  Pu Heng nodded, and at the same time glanced at Fa Xiang, saying: "I see that you care about this Zhang Shizhu very much. Although there was what your Master Pu Zhi entrusted to you on his deathbed, it seems that you also have a special regard for him."

  Fa Xiang smiled and said, "Master's wise eyes are indeed correct." As he spoke, he seemed to recall past events and sighed, saying, "To be honest with Master, from the year I first met Zhang Shi Zhu until now, ten years have passed in a flash. In these ten years, my Buddhist studies and conduct may have made some small progress, but as for this life, it's like a baby taking its first steps, with hardly any change. Only this Zhang Shi Zhu, observing his life, has experienced great waves and billows, immense suffering and joy, gratitude and resentment, all the pains and hardships that Buddha spoke of, he has tasted them all."

  Pu Heng's face moved slightly, and he clasped his hands together, lightly reciting a Buddhist mantra.

  "Disciple also once in the dead of night, unable to sleep, thought of this Zhang Shi Zhu, and also put himself in his place, imagining all these sufferings happening to himself. Unfortunately, disciple's Buddhist studies are not deep enough, and he is frightened. Buddha said that **skin bag**, after all, is just dust, only this heart's one way, emphasizes actual experience. Every time thinking of this, remembering Zhang Shi Zhu's life of hardship, now still able to barely hold on, disciple truly admires."

  At this point, Fa Xiang suddenly changed his expression and knelt down to Pu Huan Shangren. Pu Huan Shangren was taken aback and said, "What is the meaning of this?"

  "Master is above, I am a novice monk with shallow practice and not deep understanding of the Buddha's teachings. But I have a hard time tolerating Zhang Shi's evil deeds, which are caused by his heart demon. I beg Master to use great divine power and the boundless power of the Buddha's teachings to transform and guide him; to use the compassionate power of Buddhism to change his evil energy and free him from the sea of suffering caused by his heart demon. This is also a great virtuous deed, which will bring blessings from heaven and comfort the spirit of Master Pu Zhi."

  Having said that, he knelt down with both hands on the ground and kowtowed three times.

  The superior being on the lotus platform shook his head and sighed, "Foolish child! Foolish child! You don't know that your words have stirred up anger. Moreover, it's not that I, as a master, am unwilling to transform this person, but rather he has experienced many hardships, a life of difficulties, and by now his will is as firm as a rock, not something an ordinary person can shake. As the saying goes, 'The Buddha is in the human heart, all sentient beings have a connection with the Buddha.' Whether he falls into the sea of suffering or turns back to ultimate bliss depends on a single thought in his mind; we have no power to influence him."

  Fa Xiang slowly stood up, lowered his head and clasped his hands together, a hint of disappointment on his face, but still said in a low voice: "Yes, disciple understands."

  Pu Heng sank into thought for a moment, then said: "You'd better go to the small house in the back and take a look at him. Although the cold air inside shouldn't be a problem, with his current body condition, going without food or water for a whole day and night isn't a good thing either."

  Fǎ responded with a sound, calmed down, and walked towards the outside of the house. Just as he was about to open the door to go out, he suddenly saw someone standing outside the door. The sunlight shone in from behind that person's back, and their face was a shadow, making it impossible to see their features clearly for the time being.

  Fa Xiang was startled and took a step back, only then did he see that it was Gui Li who had somehow appeared outside the door without making a sound. Not having seen him for a day and a night, Gui Li seemed to be fine, but his face had turned very pale, with bloodshot eyes, as if he hadn't slept all night.

  When he saw Fa Xiang, Gui Li's mouth moved slightly, and he slowly nodded towards Fa Xiang. Fa Xiang was taken aback for a moment, then joined his palms together in respect. Gui Li then slowly walked in, standing opposite Pu Hong.

  Pu Heng was still the same as yesterday, sitting cross-legged on his meditation bed, holding a rosary in his hand and constantly rotating it. Seeing Gui Li wanting to speak but hesitating, he didn't find it strange either, and calmly said to Fa Xiang: "Get a chair for the young donor, and you sit down too."

  Fa Xiang responded with a sound, pulled over a chair for Gui Li to sit on, and sat down beside him.

  Pu Heng fell silent for a moment before saying, "If you have any questions for me now, go ahead and ask."

  His fierce eyes seemed somewhat wandering, as if his mood had not calmed down until now. After a while, he heard him say in a low voice: "Why did your Tianyin Temple save me?"

  "Everything has a consequence because of a cause. The donor's current difficulties are largely due to the evil karma planted by Master Puzhi of Tianyin Temple in his previous life. Since this is the case, Tianyin Temple cannot just stand by and do nothing."

  The ghost let out a cold hum and said: "You're doing this, aren't you afraid that Qingyun Gate will turn against you?"

  Pu Hong smiled slightly and said, "Afraid."

  Guilei was taken aback by his straightforwardness and said: "Then you still..."

  Pu Hong shook his head and said, "The Tianyin Temple and the Qingyun Gate have been on good terms for generations. The ancestors of each generation have taught that it is not allowed to destroy things at will. That's why I ordered them to wrap you in black clothes and bring you back without revealing any traces."

  The demon sneered coldly: "There are many experts in Qingyunmen, what if you were to expose your tracks?"

  Pu Hong said calmly, "I had them hide their tracks, considering the harmony of both factions and not wanting any discord between the two schools. That's why I resorted to this inferior plan. But if it really comes down to it, then so be it. To save Master Shi, I'll have no choice but to turn against you."

  The ghost stared at Pu Heng and asked in a low voice: "What are you doing this for, why do you have to save me so desperately?"

  Pu Heng Shang Ren fell silent this time, and Gui Li didn't ask further, just staring at him. After a long while, Pu Heng Shang Ren let out a deep sigh and said: "Do you want to know what happened when Pu Zhi Shixiong was dying and struggled back to Tianyin Temple until his death?"

  The demon's body shook violently, and for a moment he couldn't speak. Looking at the pain in his eyes, it seemed as if there was another storm raging inside him. Finally, he said in a low voice: "Think."

  His voice was somewhat hoarse for some reason.