Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 551

Chung Myung’s head tilted slowly to the side.

The Great Living Buddha.

That title was more than just the Lord of Potala Palace.

In Tibet, the Great Living Buddha was seen as a living god, holding even more power than the king. People respected him not only because he led Potala Palace, but also because they deeply admired his Buddhist teachings.

The Abbot of Shaolin was also respected in the Central Plains, but the Tibetans’ respect for the Great Living Buddha was on a different level.

And this Great Living Buddha…

“Is just a little kid?”

“You imbecile!”

“Your mouth! Watch your mouth, you little rascal!”

The Mount Hua disciples rushed to quiet him, but Chung Myung glared and pointed at the child called the Dalai Lama.

“No, they’re saying that kid is the Great Living Buddha!”

“……”

“Sasuk, do you believe that? Huh? Really?”

“Ahem, ahem!”

Baek Cheon cleared his throat loudly, avoiding eye contact. He couldn’t say what he really thought, and he couldn’t lie.

Chung Myung stared at the child, then quickly turned to Panchen Lama.

“This little kid… no, this child… is really the Great Living Buddha?”

Panchen Lama smiled gently and nodded.

“Indeed.”

“Oh, so this kid is the Lord of Potala Palace, the most important place in Tibetan Buddhism? The Great Living Buddha who is more respected than the king in Tibet?”

“That is correct.”

Hearing this, Chung Myung grinned.

“Haha. The Abbot of Shaolin was the same. Have you monks started scamming people? Where did you get this ridiculous idea…!”

“You imbecile! Watch your mouth!”

“Please, just shut your mouth…”

The Mount Hua disciples tried to hold Chung Myung back, but they were just as confused.

‘What is going on?’

If they had said the child was the king of Tibet, they would have accepted it. After all, kings usually inherit their position.

But it was hard to believe that the Great Living Buddha, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, could be such a young child.

How much could a child know about Buddhist teachings?

Imagine if the Abbot of Shaolin was a toddler.

No one would respect him or listen to his words.

‘Since Panchen Lama is saying it, I can’t just disbelieve it.’

Panchen Lama quietly poured tea and offered it to Chung Myung.

“Calm your heart.”

“……”

“The tea tastes quite good.”

Chung Myung hesitated, then took the teacup and began to drink.

The Mount Hua disciples were shocked.

‘He tamed him.’

‘Good heavens, he’s controlling Chung Myung.’

‘The Dharma is boundless.’

Panchen Lama watched Chung Myung calmly drink tea and clasped his hands together.

Baek Cheon took the opportunity to speak.

“I apologize. My Saje is a bit hot-tempered…”

“Please, do not worry. I understand it may be hard for people from the Central Plains to believe, even for those who follow Buddhism.”

Panchen Lama looked at Hae Yeon. Hae Yeon prayed and clasped his hands, showing that he also found the situation hard to understand.

Panchen Lama nodded as if he understood.

“Have you heard of reincarnation?”

Chung Myung nodded.

“I don’t know much about Buddhism, but I know reincarnation means being reborn after death, right?”

Panchen Lama nodded, pleased.

“You are very clever, Benefactor.”

“Hehe. I’m not that clever… Hehehe!”

The Mount Hua disciples sighed as Chung Myung grinned foolishly at the compliment.

Panchen Lama smiled gently and continued.

“Yes, reincarnation means being reborn after death. Not just people, but animals and even insects are reborn and live again.”

Chung Myung’s eyes darkened slightly as he listened.

“Why is that?”

“Because they have not escaped.”

“Have not escaped?”

“Yes.”

Panchen Lama stroked his prayer beads.

“Imagine life as a giant wheel that keeps turning. People and animals are born, live, and die, then are born again and again. They commit sins, gain merits, learn, and come to understand things.”

“……”

“Buddhist teachings are so deep that you can’t understand them in just one lifetime. So, all living things are born and die repeatedly until they reach enlightenment. Even Sakyamuni became a Buddha after countless rebirths.”

Chung Myung turned around sharply.

“Hey. What does ‘countless rebirths’ mean?”

“…It means a time so long we cannot even imagine it, Benefactor.”

Chung Myung looked at Panchen Lama with a blank expression.

“Even Sakyamuni? Isn’t Sakyamuni the most important Buddha?”

“…Yes.”

Panchen Lama hesitated for the first time. The Mount Hua disciples blushed and looked down.

‘We are sorry.’

‘We are so embarrassed.’

‘How shameful.’

Chung Myung was Chung Myung, no matter who he was talking to.

Panchen Lama quickly regained his composure, chanted a prayer, and continued.

“People follow Buddhism to escape this cycle of rebirth. By breaking free from the wheel and ending suffering, they can become a Buddha.”

“Oh…”

Chung Myung looked at the young child, the Great Living Buddha.

“So, you’re saying this child is the reincarnation of the previous Great Living Buddha? Is that what you mean?”

“That is correct. You are indeed very clever, Benefactor.”

“Hehe. Aah, anyone could have guessed that. Hehehe.”

His face red, he scratched his head, embarrassed. The Mount Hua disciples wanted to applaud. They were sure that Panchen Lama was a remarkable person, whether they understood him or not.

“Um, but…”

Baek Cheon, who had been listening, tilted his head, confused.

“Please, speak.”

“This might be a rude question…”

“It is alright.”

Encouraged by Panchen Lama’s calm face, Baek Cheon asked.

“You said those who reach enlightenment become Buddhas and escape reincarnation, right?”

“That is correct.”

“Then… the Great Living Buddha…”

Panchen Lama smiled gently.

“Ah, that is what you were curious about. The Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, a living Buddha. He could escape reincarnation at any time, but he chooses to be reborn to save others and guide them to Buddhist teachings.”

“Ah….”

“As proof, when the Dalai Lama dies, he tells where he will be reborn, so his followers can find him.”

“Th-that’s….”

Baek Cheon pressed his lips together.

He almost said, ‘Does that even make sense?’

What he heard in the tent did not make sense to him.

“We are following the Dalai Lama’s teachings, looking for him to bring him back to the Potala Palace.”

Everyone looked at the child in the center.

‘Is that child really… the reincarnation of a Great Living Buddha?’

He looked at the young Great Living Buddha. He didn’t see anything very special. Only the child’s eyes were different. They were deep and bright. Other than that, he seemed like any normal child.

Baek Cheon quietly stared at Chung Myung’s back.

Usually, he would have argued or asked the young Great Living Buddha questions carefully. But now, he was strangely quiet.

Besides….

‘Why does his back look so heavy?’

Could Chung Myung find something important in this conversation?

As if he knew what Baek Cheon was thinking, Chung Myung slowly spoke.

“Then….”

He only looked at the young Great Living Buddha.

“Does the Great Living Buddha remember everything from his past life?”

“Om Mani Padme Hum.”

Banseon Lama slowly shook his head.

“Of course, the Dalai Lama remembers his past life and the lives before that. But people who are reborn must forget their past lives, so the memories are not complete.”

“…….”

“It is very hard for someone who has found peace and understanding to be reborn. They have to leave their perfect state and come back to the imperfect world to teach Dharma again. The Dalai Lama has chosen a difficult path to save living beings. That is why the Lamas see the Dalai Lama as a living Buddha and respect him.”

Chung Myung sighed softly.

“……I see.”

He understood, but he also didn’t understand.

But Chung Myung didn’t want to ask more questions. Religion is often strange to people who don’t believe in it.

Only those who accept and understand the teachings can see the path clearly.

Wouldn’t the teachings of Taoism, which Chung Myung followed, seem just as strange to them?

Banseon Lama watched Chung Myung’s face and smiled quietly.

“Are your questions answered now?”

“Yes. I’m sorry for asking so many questions as soon as we met. I get carried away sometimes.”

“Those who look will find. A Buddhist is here to answer, so don’t worry.”

“You’re really different from those Shaolin baldies.”

“Ahem!”

“Why? Is something stuck in your throat?”

“Ugh… Benefactor.”

Hae Yeon complained with tears in his eyes, but Chung Myung didn’t even look at him.

Banseon Lama smiled gently and said,

“It would be good to talk more, but it’s late. Rest tonight, and we can talk more tomorrow.”

“Yes. I have been rude by staying so late.”

“Benefactor, you are very polite.”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

Um… Banseon Lama… I don’t think you see people very well… Is that child really the Great Living Buddha?

Baek Cheon had serious doubts.

The Lamas gave the Hwasan disciples a large tent. They politely said they could set up their own tents, but the Lamas just smiled and went to their own tents.

Everyone felt a little uncomfortable in the tent. But they were also very tired. They all fell asleep quickly without saying much.

In the early morning…

Tap. Tap tap.

Chung Myung quietly came out of the tent and sat by the fire near the pond, throwing in firewood. Sparks flew into the dark sky.

Chung Myung thought about his conversation with Banseon Lama.

‘Reincarnation…’

He stirred the fire with a branch and shook his head.

‘That’s just a story.’

In Taoism, when someone dies, everything goes back to nature. Only those who understand Tao become immortals and help the world.

But….

‘Then what about me?’

Taoist teachings couldn’t explain Chung Myung’s situation. And Banseon Lama’s idea of reincarnation didn’t fit either.

Even the Great Living Buddha loses his memories when he is reborn. So why did Chung Myung, who is not a Buddha and knows nothing about Buddhist teachings, remember everything?

‘Then what am I, really?’

He sighed and looked up at the sky.

‘I don’t know, Sect Leader.’

He had tried not to think about it. But after hearing about the Heavenly Demon’s return and seeing the Great Living Buddha, he felt confused.

‘I am…’

Just then, he quickly turned his head.

He was startled.

He saw someone next to him and jumped back in surprise, which he rarely did.

“What….”

The young Great Living Buddha had quietly come out and was staring at him. He was very close.

Chung Myung was surprised and tried to speak, but he stopped.

He didn’t fully believe in reincarnation, but he knew there was something special about this child.

After a moment, Chung Myung slowly spoke.

“Um, so… are you really the Great Living Buddha….”

“Why….”

“……Huh?”

At that moment, tears started to flow from the Great Living Buddha’s eyes. He put his hands together in prayer.

His face was so beautiful and sad that Chung Myung couldn’t speak. A heavy feeling pressed down on Chung Myung.

“How did this happen? How on earth….”

“…….”

The child’s eyes were full of sorrow. The Great Living Buddha quietly chanted a verse.

“Poor living being. Why do you walk such a hard path? Why do you walk the three asamkhya kalpas, like the Avici Hell? Why….”

What… What is he saying…?

“It is a path you must not leave. Why did you leave it? Poor, so poor living being. Why…!”

The Great Living Buddha’s voice sounded strange and not from this world. It pierced Chung Myung’s ears.

What on earth… What is he talking about?

What on earth… A look of shock slowly appeared on Chung Myung’s face.

Chung Myung’s soul began to scream.

It was a very sad scream.