Chapter 40: Na Ye Buddhist Kingdom
“Halt! Submit to inspection.”
As the horse team approached, more than a dozen Great Monks wearing monk robes and with blood-red heads came to meet them.
These monks’ heads were truly too striking, emitting an indescribable demonic allure under the sunset glow.
This was not the natural reddish skin like Lord Guan Erye, nor the redness from extreme anger or drinking, but a deep blood-red like brushed with dark red paint.
Their heads were purely red, a frightening red. And their skin was also delicately smooth unlike humans, as if devoid of texture rendering, glossy enough to reflect light.
But apart from their heads, the other parts were no different from normal humans. Sun-blackened skin, with visible textures, body hair, dirt, and even seeping sweat.
Additionally, the leader had his monk robe open, revealing a fully-featured Buddha Head the size of an egg right in the center of his chest. Indeed a monk cultivating the true dharma, just unknown why his head became so inhuman?
Behind him were about six warrior monks with distinct muscle lines and strong bodies. Their monk robes bulged underneath, clearly hiding extra arms, they were Vajra warrior monks who had undergone tempering of the physical body.
Yuan Zhu glanced at the young monk with his peripheral vision and found the other’s expression unable to hide surprise and shock, with undisguised fear in his gaze toward these blood-head monks.
Clearly frightened by these eerily red heads, which he had never seen before.
The leading monk leader rode forward to the front of the group, looking down from above, scrutinizing everyone. His gaze swept over spear after wooden spear, finally stopping on the captain, and demanded: “The Buddha spears in your hands, where did you get them from?”
“From the village by the roadside, we picked them up from those ghostly creatures that were completely dead.”
The monk leader asked again: “What are you people? Where are you from? Why are your clothes so strange?”
The captain: “According to this young monk, we should be otherworld visitors. The purpose of this trip is to visit high monks in the Na Ye Buddhist Kingdom, originally planning to do some small business. But we unexpectedly learned that the Buddhist Kingdom was invaded by demons, so we thought to come see if there’s anywhere we can help, and contribute our strength.”
The monk looked at the young monk who kept his head down avoiding eye contact, perceived the Buddha Cocoon on him, and said to the captain: “Oh? Then you arrived just in time. Not long ago, another group of otherworld visitors descended, helping the abbot subdue and suppress the ghost disaster, reclaiming the Buddhist City. Tonight, the abbot will hold a grand ceremony, gathering everyone’s power to strangle all evil spirit energy, purify the world, and reestablish the earthly Buddhist Kingdom. We will take this young monk away. If you’re interested, you may follow me back to the city to observe the ceremony. If you wish to meet the abbot, you must wait until tomorrow after the ceremony ends. Want to come along?”
While the monk leader explained the Buddhist Kingdom’s recent situation, the other warrior monks also pulled their reins, controlling their horses to slowly pace, subtly surrounding and controlling everyone. A stance as if they would fight if not agreed to, forcing compliance.
The captain nodded cheerfully as if he hadn’t seen it: “Of course! This is exactly our purpose here, I’d be happy to go observe the ceremony.”
The monk nodded: “Good, then follow along, I’ll lead you into the city. Now the Buddhist City is in full recovery, many areas still harbor Yellow Springs ghostly creatures, and the Vajra Temple has even been dragged into the ghost realm by a Buddha Corpse Ghost. After entering the city, stay with the people in the designated safe area, don’t move around freely, we will provide food. When Hai hour arrives, the ceremony will begin, you just silently observe.”
After speaking, the monk rode away. A servant at his side leaned down to scoop up the young monk who kept his head down not daring to look around, placing him horizontally on the horse’s back, shook the reins, and chased after.
Yuan Zhu’s group could only silently follow behind, heading toward Na Ye City.
“This group doesn’t seem quite right.” Yuan Zhu muttered softly.
Meng Xiyue rolled her eyes: “No kidding. Heads red like that, still glossy, doesn’t look human no matter how you see it. Captain, we’re just going straight into the city like this? I feel like it’s sheep entering the tiger’s mouth, walking into a trap.”
The little goat chimed in: “Baa!”
Yuan Zhu (tiger): ……
The captain replied: “Even if I refused, we’d still need to find a way to sneak in and see. I see they’re all maintaining rationality and seem communicable, that’s enough. In other bubble worlds, there are all sorts of bizarre
Hearing the last sentence, everyone clearly relaxed.
After entering Na Ye City, the sky grew even darker. Lanterns for illumination hung on both sides of the stone slab roads in the city, pedestrians flowed ceaselessly to and fro, carrying tools in their hands and back baskets on their backs, preparing for tonight’s Ceremony.
Among these city residents, 3/4 are normal humans, dressed in simple and tattered clothes, with sallow faces, heavy and numb expressions hiding worry. Another 1/4 of the residents, like those monks, have a bright red head, emitting a moist sheen under the lantern light.
Their faces showed no signs of sorrow or worry; instead, they were exceptionally calm and serene. Carrying larger backbaskets and shouldering heavier loads, they still had no complaints. They silently kept up with the team’s rhythm and hurried toward the east direction of the city.
Normal black-haired human heads, vermilion moist bald heads, ragged ordinary people, neatly dressed monks, various combinations randomly appearing, harmoniously mixed together, giving a strong sense of the fantastical.
Although it was unclear what had happened, it could be certain that these vermilion heads must have appeared only recently, yet the Buddhist Kingdom residents treated them as commonplace without batting an eye, which was very strange.
“Alright, you all stay in this inn. Someone will deliver food to you shortly. Gather downstairs before the hour of Hai and follow the crowd to the east of the city to attend the ceremony.”
“Thank you, esteemed monks. These small gifts are a modest token of respect.”
After verbal thanks, the Captain took out several pieces of gold and roughly handed them over. The red-headed monks’ originally stern and impatient expressions instantly switched smoothly to joyful and charitable ones, and their attitude toward the crowd also improved greatly: “Wait patiently, we’ll send you some good stuff in a moment, don’t make a fuss.”
The Captain repeatedly indicated his understanding: “Got it, got it. Several high monks, please go ahead.”
Yuan Zhu: “Isn’t this too realistic?” We’ve already crossed into the Otherworld, and now into the Bubble World, and still pulling this stunt? Is this gold really that reliably valuable? The universally acknowledged hardest currency in the multiverse!
Lu Rang’s eyes also widened: “That huge chunk of gold, how much is it worth?”
Captain: “Remember, gold possesses extremely high value in every bubble world and is recognized as natural currency. In the future, if you have the ability, stock up on more for self-defense. Sometimes when facing a fatal crisis and no one can save you, this gold might be your last lifesaver.”
Meng Xiyue: “The [Golden Rule], huh!”
Entering the inn to rest, the group opened the trunk again, took out the firearms and magazines, loaded bullets, and performed maintenance.
“Tonight’s Ceremony is likely to have an accident. Everyone, prepare for battle. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, I won’t teleport back. So if the situation changes, you must at least ensure that you survive until dawn. That will also count as a test for you.”
Meng Xiyue: “Captain, are you up to something?”
“You all mix in among the civilians, so you shouldn’t encounter too much danger. As for me, I plan to sneak into the temple in Na Ye City to investigate. Additionally, I’m also very interested in that batch of otherworlders who descended with us first; they should be residing in the temple. If possible, I’ll also test the strength of the new Abbot. Take care of yourselves.”
“You’re being way too irresponsible! You threw us into the dragon’s den and tiger’s lair, then just washed your hands of it?”
Captain: “The clothes on your bodies, the mouse in your pockets, the weapons in your hands, and the wooden spears you’ve collected… as well as the power you already possess. Make good use of these, and surviving won’t be difficult. If absolutely necessary, you can use the uniform to absorb the Buddha Fruits from those red-headed monks. Just three to four Buddha Cocoons will give you power on equal footing.”
Bang bang bang…
A knock sounded at the door: “Guests, your food has arrived. There is also a gift instructed by the Buddha Lord, please receive it.”
Lu Rang: “Alright, coming right now.”
Chicken Comb Head quickly stepped forward, opened the door, and brought in two large food boxes, as well as a small golden cloth pouch.
He first opened the food box layer by layer, taking out plates of steaming food. Half meat and vegetable dishes, and the other half pure meat hard dishes. It seems the captain’s gold was not given in vain.
At this moment, Lu Rang picked up that golden small cloth pouch, weighed it in his hand, then opened the pouch mouth and poured the items inside into a white porcelain bowl.
Quail egg-sized fruits rolled out one after another, falling into the bowl. Bright red oval fruits with green calyces, they looked just like cherry tomatoes. But on the surface of these fruits, independent single eyes protruded abruptly, or a raised ear outline, or a nose with two holes…
Each fruit had a miniature organ on it, and the eyes could blink, the nose twitched slightly, the ears could contract as if listening to outside sounds. Only the single mouth could open and close, but couldn’t make a sound…
In the white porcelain bowl, a pile of cherry tomatoes growing single organs trembled and bumped against each other slightly, like living creatures. This was probably that red-headed monk’s so-called ‘good stuff’ that couldn’t be spoken of.
Tomato… wait, tomato!
Yuan Zhu’s body shook, he raised his head and exchanged a glance with the miss beside him who had the same realization, and they said in unison: “Tomato!”×3
Those monks’ heads were clearly tomatoes possessing human facial features! Not only those monks, but the heads of 1/4 of the residents in the city had also been replaced with tomatoes that could open and speak!
What kind of tomato Buddhist Kingdom was this Na Ye City exactly?!
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