Volume One Chapter Thirty-Six: Still Just a Novice

Chapter Thirty-Six: Still a Virgin

Indra was on the verge of madness.

Damn those two old foxes—using all sorts of pretexts to try and send this brat away. Did they really think he didn’t see through their scheme?

Sure, the dog needed treatment. They had to figure out what had happened to it. But did it have to leave Mount Sumeru for that? Was healing possible only away from the mountain, and impossible if it stayed? Either of them could easily place a restriction on the dog with their divine powers—was there any fear it wouldn’t obey?

Damn it, this was all just because they were afraid he’d do something to the brat!

There was no issue with sending the brat to Yama’s Heaven. The problem was—how long did they intend to let him stay? What divine arts were they planning to teach him?

Because of this kid, he’d lost face, lost a son, and lost his mount. Could that be simply written off? As long as the brat remained on Mount Sumeru, he had a million ways to destroy him legitimately, and no one would have grounds to object.

But if they sent him away, and he stayed for a short while, it didn’t matter. Yet if he were gone for long, who knew what he might achieve by the time he returned? Then it would be no easy task to plot against him. Besides, a day in Yama’s Heaven equaled two on Mount Sumeru. If the brat stayed there for five hundred years, wouldn’t his own lifetime be over? That old gourd was already over three hundred. In three hundred years, even he himself would be gone—how then could he get his revenge?

The real issue was that revenge was secondary. What mattered was that if the brat mastered some heaven-defying power and returned to Mount Sumeru, and he couldn’t suppress him at once, would they really let a peasant turn the tables? Watch as he led an uprising? Divided the spoils among the masses?

At this thought, Indra put on a troubled expression and said, “Master Muxiu Loutuo, as you can see, Tu Zhe is exceptionally gifted—such talent is rare even on Mount Sumeru. For the upcoming Decennial Youth Martial and Literary Tournament, we’re counting on Prince Tu Zhe to bring glory to our Nirvana Heaven. If this disrupts his training, well... you understand, don’t you... haha...”

Under the same sun, with the same celestial minds—who could outfox whom?

Muxiu Loutuo replied coolly, “Within ten years, he will not lag behind what you could nurture on Mount Sumeru. He will certainly compete in the Youth Tournament, and shine brilliantly. There’s no need for Indra to worry.”

So what more was there to say? Let him go, then! As for whether the brat could safely grow up, did they really think Mount Sumeru would idly await an uncontrollable situation?

Next, Tu Zhe and Qin Lei underwent the ceremony of the Heavenly Child’s birth that should have taken place at their arrival.

First, they bathed thoroughly in the Eight Virtues Pool at Polousha Garden. The Eight Virtues Water of Mount Sumeru was sweet, cool, soft, light, pure, odorless, and could be drunk without harming throat or belly. It cleansed grime, soothed the spirit, dispelled illness, and purified karma. Though its effects were far inferior to the Eight Virtues Water of the Western Pure Land, it was still a rare and precious water in the world of mortals.

Then the brothers went to the place of the Scented Leaf Tree. Upon seeing the two newly born heavenly sons, the fragrant tree drooped its branches and exuded a myriad of exotic scents, which enveloped them and were absorbed through their pores. From then on, they would carry this fragrance wherever they went, its sweetness drifting thirty miles even against the wind—a mark of the heavenly child.

After that, they proceeded to the Garment Tree. Seeing them, the tree drooped its branches and produced all sorts of wondrous garments—Cloud Robes, Starry Attire, Cooling Vestments, Celestial Silks, Untroubled Robes, Heavenly Bodhi Cloth—an endless array. Thus were the heavenly sons clothed.

Next was the Adornment Tree, whose drooping branches bestowed upon them all sorts of ornaments: Great Sun Pendants, Luminous Moon Earrings, Azure Sky Jades, Purple Cloud Crowns, Crimson Cloud Pearls, Seven-Treasure Bells, and countless others.

Then came the Garland Tree, whose branches dripped with celestial blossoms, forming garlands that adorned their heads—ancient, wild, mysterious, and solemn.

Afterward, they reached the Treasure Tree, where the branches lowered and all manner of precious implements fell into their hands: Vajra Rods, Sumeru Rings, Soul Binding Cords, Spirit Bells, and so on. But the brothers seemed unimpressed. Tu Zhe had a Sumeru World Ring gifted by the Great Thief, filled with far better treasures. As for Qin Lei’s indifference, the reason remained to be seen.

Weary from wandering, they rested in the Heavenly Orchard. The branches bent low, offering all sorts of exquisite fruits, which they ate to their heart’s content.

Carrying the scent of blossoms, they arrived at the Music Tree. Its branches drooped, bestowing marvelous instruments that played with heavenly resonance. Tu Zhe wickedly wondered how they compared to saxophones and basses from his previous life.

Finally, they entered the Garden of Delight.

It was said that those lacking sufficient merit could not see this renowned garden, nor enter it. Within, countless celestial maidens flitted about—some soaring through the air, some resting in the groves, some bathing in the pools. All were attired in veils as light as mist, their exquisite forms half-concealed, half-revealed. Any sentient being, any hot-blooded youth, would find desire surging, their passion as urgent as a thirsty horse galloping to water, their bodies burning as if set aflame—caring nothing for decorum, propriety, or shame, seeking only a fleeting moment of pleasure.

Tu Zhe and Qin Lei, after passing through all the preceding rites, were now deemed adults. Faced with such a scene, how could they fail to be moved?

Yet Tu Zhe recalled someone saying that the final stage of the ritual was the rite of adulthood. But this rite carried a consequence Tu Zhe could not accept.

Once a man and woman consummated, the heavenly child would forget everything from his previous life.

How could Tu Zhe allow that?

His parents from his former life—the untouchable, everlasting pain. It could remain hidden deep in his memory, but to forget them? That was absolutely unacceptable.

He turned to Qin Lei, whose face was flushed and whose tent was pitched high, and said, “Brother, do as you please. I won’t complete this ritual.” With that, he walked away—though his own resolve was being tested, his determined heart let him leave the Garden of Delight without a backward look.

Qin Lei wondered, What was this? Should he leave, too? Could it be that he, unlike Tu Zhe, lacked self-control?

So the brothers exited as quickly as they had entered. Outside, there was much speculation—were they both “quick shooters”? Wasn’t that a bit too fast? Maybe their pants hadn’t even reached their ankles before they were defeated?

Of course, there were those who knew they hadn’t consummated and completed the rite. Ordinary celestials might be fooled, but could they really hide it from Mara, Muxiu Loutuo, or Indra?

Even the dog kept a close spiritual watch on Tu Zhe. Seeing him flushed and breathless, it gnashed its teeth, cursing him as a lecherous rascal again and again. But when the brothers emerged having done nothing, the dog immediately bounded over, grinning widely, tugging at Tu Zhe’s cheek and teasing, “Hey, are you really planning to stay a virgin forever?”

Tu Zhe pried the dog’s paws off. “Not necessarily. But at least, let me return to Earth once more. To forget my parents—let me fulfill my wish first, all right?”

The dog retorted, “What if it takes you a thousand years to fulfill your wish? Will you really not touch a woman for a thousand years?”

Tu Zhe cast a melancholy glance at the dog. “Little mutt, you’re not allowed to bring up adult topics—it’s not good for your development. Besides, you’ll never understand how fickle my heart is...”

Tu Zhe’s melancholy deeply wounded the dog, which fell silent.