Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 283 - The Dharma of No Self (2)

A man was sitting on a bed, his breath faint.

He was on the brink of death, surrounded by his children and family. The candlelight at the head of the bed flickered slightly, the wick reduced to a tiny ember, about to go out.

His relatives wept in sorrow at his bedside, but the man only gazed at the candlelight, his brow furrowing slightly.

Gu Baiying had finally awakened.

This had to be be his fourth life.

In the first three lives, he became an infant, a sick person, and an old man. Each life was quite difficult, and everything felt extremely real.

The reality was so vivid that it encompassed everything from the weather to the food, from the people around him to his internal feelings, all indistinguishable from real life. Sometimes he was a woman, other times a man. At the beginning of each life, he wouldn’t notice anything amiss, only gradually recognizing the truth as death approached.

He remembered his name and understood why he was here.

This was the Five-Wheel Pagoda, and he is in the trial within the Buddhist tower.

Mingjing once said that the yellow honeysuckle at the base of the tower symbolized the immortality of the soul and eternal reincarnation in the Buddhist realm. He was gradually understanding that this might be the essence of the tower’s test.

Experiencing the eight sufferings of the mundane world in reincarnation, and solidifying one’s resolve amidst life and death, not being swayed by worldly illusions.

Was that so?

The man’s gaze became cold. If that had been the case, why had the trial of the Buddhist tower still been ongoing? Just like the illusion of the Mirage Woman in Wufan City, when the truth was glimpsed and the illusion was pierced, it should have shattered immediately. He now understood everything, but the cycle of reincarnation continued.

It was as if the suffering of the mundane world had only just begun.

The cries of his family in the room grew louder. He furrowed his brow slightly, moved his lips, trying to speak. As soon as he had opened his mouth, he felt his lips stiffen, and he lacked the strength to speak.

The light flickered once, and the candlelight gradually weakened until it vanished completely into the darkness.

The person on the bed ceased to breathe.

Everything became quiet.

*

The honeysuckle at the base of the tower bloomed brilliantly, its long petals unfurling. At a glance, they resembled wheels moving apart and then coming together, spinning endlessly.

The trials in the Buddhist tower continued.

Graceful young women turned into frail, aging old women, experiencing the sorrow of time passing. Brave and handsome youths suddenly became bedridden patients, enduring the agony of their broken bodies day after day. Infants cried loudly, and the elderly took their final breaths. Lovers who once swore eternal vows drifted apart, and those with grand aspirations found their ambitions unfulfilled. Destinies bound by karma and grievances—this world of illusions spun endlessly, with life and death recurring. Nothing could be taken away, only karma followed.

All beings suffer.

The Silver Moon Lion stood before the blooming honeysuckle, occasionally glancing at the meditating cultivators around. From the outside, the Buddhist tower appeared tranquil.

After an indeterminate period, a faint sound suddenly came from within the tower.

Creeeak—

The sound was like an old, long-forgotten door being pushed open or a wooden wheel slowly turning, resonating clearly in the silent Buddhist tower.

Mimi stood up suddenly, anxiously looking upwards.

In the upper levels of the tower, something had been opened.

*

In the Three Realms, all beings undergo reincarnation through the Six Paths, like the revolving fire wheel.

Time stretched on endlessly.

Zanxing became countless versions of “Yang Zanxing.”

The reincarnation in the Buddhist tower was endless, like a wheel with no beginning or end, with life and death continuing ceaselessly.

In one life, she was the daughter of a wealthy family, cherished and raised in luxury from a young age. She married a handsome childhood friend, had a pair of lovely children, and lived a life free of worries. However, at the age of thirty, a war broke out in the country, and in one night, her immense wealth vanished. Within a year, her parents died, her husband was killed in battle, and her children were lost amidst the turmoil, leaving her to suffer the pain of parting from her loved ones.

In another life, she was a princess of noble birth, born into wealth and privilege. She had everything she could wish for, including the favor of the talented young scholar she admired. Unfortunately, the scholar was already committed to someone else. She used all her means to make him marry her, only to find herself neglected by her husband and unable to attain the love she had longed for.

In yet another life, she became an ordinary farmer, toiling from dawn to dusk. Despite her hard work, her wealth attracted the envy of her neighbors. The neighbors colluded with officials to seize her property, and she lost the lawsuit, dying in resentment and bitterness on her sickbed.

Countless versions of “Zanxing,” countless cycles of reincarnation. At first, she was always in discontent, anger, and tears amidst the various sufferings. The world is superficial, and those who first experience the world’s hardships cannot ignore them. As she went through more reincarnations, she gradually grew calmer.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism speak of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to its cessation. Through the cycles of life and death, she gradually understood. To survive in the world, one must inevitably endure such suffering. She also began to understand the purpose of the Five Wheel Pagoda’s trials. Perhaps the trials in the tower were meant to make them fully experience the Eight Sufferings of Life and thus attain enlightenment.

Zanxing didn’t know which layer she was currently in, nor did she know if she had passed the previous trials in the Buddhist tower. She was unaware of the situation with Gu Baiying and the others, nor did she know where Gui Yansheng was. Amidst the endless cycles, she felt an unusual calmness, as if all worldly troubles and turmoil had gradually been set aside through her experiences in one life after another. She felt an extreme tranquility and peace within, as if everything was being let go.

*

In the Five Wheel Pagoda, annoying creaking sounds gradually began to emerge. At first, it was as faint as raindrops falling on the ground, but soon, the sound of rotation became clearer. The honeysuckle flowers at the bottom of the tower bloomed even more brilliantly, with their bright yellow petals unfolding as steadily as a Buddha’s breath.

Mimi suddenly sensed something and stood up alertly, looking towards Zanxing.

Zanxing stood in front of the honeysuckle flowers. Although only a moment had passed, everyone at the bottom of the tower seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep at the same time. Zanxing was no exception. She stood silently with her eyes closed in front of the honeysuckle flowers and suddenly opened her eyes.

Mimi hurried over with joy, but Zanxing seemed not to notice it, her gaze fixed firmly on the honeysuckle flowers in front of her.

After a moment, she reached out and touched the petals of the honeysuckle.

The silver lion, sensing danger, nipped at Zanxing’s clothing, trying to pull her away. However, Zanxing’s actions were resolute.

On the sandy ground, the yellow honeysuckle cast a long shadow, which, from a distance, resembled a giant wheel slowly turning, enveloping the figure of the woman standing in front of it.

Creak—

The silver lion’s fur bristled, and it couldn’t help but arch its back, letting out a low growl.

The honeysuckle on the sandy ground continued to sway, but Zanxing’s figure was no longer there.

She had disappeared.