All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 42

In the Rising Sun Kingdom, in the capital city of Daye, the Holy Light Sacred Court was located in the north of Daye City. Legend had it that the Holy Light Sacred Court was founded by the Moon Star Lord, one of the illumination Goddess’s nine disciples, to pass on the illumination Goddess’s ideals and faith. Among the Nine Radiant Stars, the Sun Star Lord had committed an unforgivable sin and was personally executed by the illumination Goddess. Few people knew about this, but the other eight of the Nine Radiant Stars were aware.

After over three thousand years, the Nine Radiant Stars had all withered away, but their legacy had not been cut off. At least the Moon Star Lord’s legacy was still preserved by the Holy Light Sacred Court, specifically by the archbishop of the Holy Light Sacred Court, Mumu Yunyi, who was also the younger sister of Wind Lord Mumu Xingyun. The Mumu family was second only to the royal family in the Rising Sun Kingdom, and these two individuals had made great contributions.

Unlike historical churches that liked to interfere in politics, the Holy Light Sacred Court’s doctrine was very simple and never meddled in politics. They maintained the illumination Goddess’s ideals, protected her reputation, and the Sacred Court’s research institute also had very advanced research on the illumination Towers and illumination Stones left by the illumination Goddess. Now, the Holy Light Sacred Court had a new mission: to protect and nurture the Holy Light Maiden.

At this moment, deep in the Sacred Court, a stunningly beautiful girl with golden hair falling on her shoulders and bright eyes had just finished cultivating. Sweat soaked her clothes, the tight garments outlining her graceful figure.

Since practicing the “Great Sun Traversing Heaven Technique”, Mumu Lixi had basically gotten rid of the cold poison’s disturbance. Although the cold poison hadn’t been eradicated, the previous bone-chilling feeling had never appeared again. Because Mumu Lixi hadn’t told others about the technique, both Mumu Xingyun and Mumu Yunyi found it incredible. This happened after worshipping the illumination Goddess statue in Sun City, and their devout faith attributed it to the Goddess’s divine intervention. Well, in a sense, it really was the Goddess’s intervention.

Others didn’t know, but Mumu Lixi was clear. Although they had only spent one day together, an image had already been imprinted in her heart, like a meteor streaking across her short life. Opening the window to welcome the warm sunlight from the east, Mumu Lixi stretched out her hand as if to catch this sunlight. The warm sunlight reminded her of the warmth transmitted when Zhanyue held her hand, just like this sunlight.

“Will we have a chance to meet again?” Mumu Lixi murmured. The girl’s face in the sunlight was sacred and beautiful beyond compare.

In the Eastern Kingdom, outside Thousand Feather City in the wilderness, a man was pushing a wooden cart quickly along the official road. A woman was lying on the wooden cart, her face pale, her right leg wrapped in bandages. Beside her crouched a little girl of five or six years old. Although in coarse cloth clothes, she was delicately beautiful, now looking at her mother with a pained expression.

“A Dong, I think it might rain. Will we be able to reach Thousand Feather City in time?” the woman asked worriedly. If the weather remained good, the man could push her and their daughter to the city, but if it started pouring, it might not be possible. And if they couldn’t reach Thousand Feather City before nightfall, what awaited them was the terrifying prospect of spending the night in the wilderness. There were no inns on this last stretch of road.

“I’ll do my best,” the muscular man named A Dong said, pushing the cart with more effort. His wife had accidentally broken her leg, and with the village’s medical conditions, it probably couldn’t be healed properly. He was bringing all their valuables to Thousand Feather City, hoping to heal his beloved wife’s leg.

Coming towards them was a monk. The old monk was as thin as a stick, wearing tattered monk’s robes, hunched over, walking slowly and unsteadily, step by step.

“Daddy, look at this old grandpa. He can barely walk steady. He must be starving,” the little girl on the wooden cart said, pointing at the monk.

A Dong frowned, “Diedie, just mind your own business.”

“But we still have extra cakes and water on our cart. Can we give him some?” the little girl asked.

A Dong looked at his precious daughter, then at the monk, and sighed helplessly, “Alright, but be quick.”

The little girl happily took a cake and a jug of water, got off the cart, and walked to the monk.

“Grandpa, have some food and water before you continue your journey,” the little girl offered the cake and water to the monk.

The old monk looked at the little girl once, neither refusing nor speaking. He just silently ate the cake clean and drank all the water, then left on his own.

A Dong looked at the old monk’s back with some displeasure, “This old fellow didn’t even say thank you.”

“It’s alright, A Dong. Maybe he has difficulty speaking. Let’s continue our journey. We need to hurry. I’m afraid it might really pour,” the woman on the cart reminded. The family of three continued towards Thousand Feather City.

The old monk looked back at the three, his brows furrowed, “Such a heavy aura of death.” Then he sighed slightly and continued on his way.

Zhanyue’s pace was quick, but Thousand Feather City was still far away. He probably couldn’t reach it before sunset, but he wasn’t afraid. Unless he encountered a King-level Nightmare, he could save his life even facing high-level Nightmares. This was the confidence the illumination Goddess had given him.

After walking alone for who knows how long, the scenery of the wilderness on both sides wasn’t particularly beautiful, but combined with the setting sun about to fall, it had a desolate feeling.

Under the setting sun, a figure stumbled towards him. It was an old monk in tattered clothes.

Zhanyue looked at the old man with some surprise. Did this world also have monks? However, as the old man came closer, a shocked expression appeared on his face. He actually saw a huge stone Buddha pressing on the old monk’s back. The old monk had been carrying this five or six-meter-high stone Buddha all along, and looking at his feet, he hadn’t left even a single footprint.

It was indeed — Walking ten thousand miles alone, carrying Buddha to plant karmic causes; When will steps produce lotuses, allowing sentient beings to turn back?

Carrying a Buddha statue weighing thousands of pounds yet leaving no footprints in the sand, what level of strength did this old monk have?

Zhanyue didn’t dare to rashly interact with such a powerful being, just silently making way. However, the old monk stopped beside him.

“Benefactor, can you see the Buddha on this poor monk’s back?” the old monk asked.

“Yeah.” Zhanyue knew there was no point in lying at this moment, so he nodded.

“Benefactor, since you can see the future Buddha, you have deep karmic affinity with Buddhism. Are you willing to join our Buddhist order?” the old monk asked again.

Zhanyue shook his head. Joking aside, he didn’t want to become a monk. He was thinking of taking several wives and concubines.

“By the way, Master, this Buddhist order you speak of, how many people are there?” Zhanyue asked curiously. He really hadn’t expected this world to have Buddhism too.

“Just me alone. Since you’re unwilling, it seems we have karmic affinity but not karmic connection,” the old monk said with some regret. He had walked all this way, finally meeting someone who could see the Buddha on his back.

“Master, are you carrying this Buddha statue as an ascetic practice?” Zhanyue asked further. This old monk seemed quite easy to talk to.

“I’m practicing a Buddhist secret technique – Steps Producing Lotuses,” the old man didn’t conceal.

Zhanyue was very curious about this cultivation method, but didn’t dare to ask more.

“Master, we’ll meet again if fate allows,” Facing such a high-level person, Zhanyue didn’t dare to stay too long, deeply fearing being forced to become a monk.

Just as Zhanyue was about to leave, he was called back by the old man, making Zhanyue’s heart tremble.

“Benefactor, I have a request. A meal’s kindness cannot go unrewarded. This karmic debt, I need you to repay for me. I will give you some benefits in return,” the old monk said. As he finished speaking, a string of prayer beads in his hand automatically wrapped around Zhanyue’s wrist.

“This old monk is quite forceful. Giving me the benefit first, not allowing me to refuse,” Zhanyue thought.