Chapter 41: A Gift of Words, A Treasure from the Buddha

Above the dense forest, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled as scorching flames enveloped the massive locust tree, illuminating the void like a blazing torch. Ruthless fire consumed all, countless spirits and demons howled, but in the end, none could escape their fate; they turned to ashes and vanished into nothingness.

Jade Maiden’s tears soaked her garments as she wept silently, her mind a blank expanse. In the end, the great locust tree dragged every demon and ghost with it into death, and this nest of evil completely dissipated, reduced to dust.

For the sake of his beloved, Ancestor Black Cloud willingly sacrificed his life, dying for righteousness to save the peach spirit, Jade Maiden. Though he perished, his wish was fulfilled; Jade Maiden’s survival was his greatest comfort.

When the fire faded, the mighty locust tree disappeared, replaced by a peach tree, lush and vibrant, bursting with life. Jade Maiden’s figure appeared before Xu Xuan and the others. She continued her silent weeping, saying nothing. Xu Xuan wanted to comfort her but found himself at a loss for words.

At last, Zhao Wujin spoke: “Jade Maiden, what are your plans from now on?”

Jade Maiden was silent for a long time before she replied, “I will dwell here from now on, never to be separated from him. This place bears his shadow, and I wish to stay by his side.”

Of the eight thousand characters in the world, only the character for ‘love’ can truly kill. Xu Xuan was deeply moved by the feelings between Ancestor Black Cloud and Jade Maiden.

Since Jade Maiden wished to remain, Xu Xuan decided to help ensure her peace, lest she be disturbed in the future. Thinking it over, he quickly found a wooden plaque, fetched brush and ink from his chest, and began to write.

Soon, he finished a poem, and gently approached the peach tree to hang the plaque upon its branches. At the end, he signed: “Xu Xuan of Five Willows County, in reverence to the Peach Immortal.”

Xu Xuan’s fame as a demon slayer soared after this event. Now, even if someone came to this place, seeing his name on the plaque, they would not dare lay hands on the peach tree.

With everything done, the two men and one fox bid farewell to Jade Maiden, preparing to depart. At that moment, Jade Maiden turned to gaze at the poem hanging upon her true form and involuntarily recited:

“Longing is as deep as the sea,
Past events as distant as the heavens.
Tears fall in endless streams,
Leaving my heart in sorrow, broken.

To meet is impossible,
Even if I tried, I could not succeed.
If fate was not granted in a past life,
Let us vow to meet again in the next.”

After reciting, Jade Maiden’s eyes were already brimming with tears. In this life, she and Moyun could not become husband and wife; all she could do was wait for another life.

To express her gratitude for Xu Xuan’s gift, Jade Maiden called out after him:

“Thank you, Young Master Xu, for your poem. This item is of no further use to me; I gift it to you.”

Xu Xuan felt a strong wind at his back and instinctively reached out, catching something heavy in his hand. Looking down, he found it was the Buddhist treasure that radiated holy light.

The treasure was the size of an egg, crystal clear like a stone, covered in Sanskrit inscriptions, containing boundless energy—truly a rare and precious artifact.

Xu Xuan had not expected that, after gifting a poem, he would receive such a treasure in return.

Looking at Jade Maiden’s delicate form, Xu Xuan smiled and expressed his thanks before departing.

After much turmoil, the ordeal of Ancestor Black Cloud had finally passed safely.

The two men and one fox returned to the monk’s quarters, but sleep eluded them. With matters settled, it was time to part ways.

The Fox King, grateful for Xu Xuan’s great kindness, immediately gifted a hundred taels of red gold and promised that, should Xu Xuan ever require assistance, he would give his utmost.

After the Fox King left, Zhao Wujin also prepared to depart, as he had other matters to attend to. Before leaving, he presented Xu Xuan with a token.

The token was forged of black iron, with the character “Jin” engraved upon the reverse. It was a symbol of identity—any demon hunter of the Demon Suppression Bureau would recognize and honor it.

After all, Zhao Wujin was one of the Bureau’s Five Champions; who would dare offend him?

In the end, the vast Lan Hua Temple was left with only Xu Xuan. Bored, he took out the Buddhist treasure for study.

The treasure held infinite energy—though Ancestor Black Cloud had absorbed it for years, its spiritual light remained abundant.

Holding it in his hand, Xu Xuan channeled his power and immediately drew forth strands of Buddhist radiance, greatly benefiting his cultivation of the “Great Sun Sutra.”

With this treasure, his future cultivation would be much easier.

Moreover, his merit for slaying the demon earned him ample reward from the Merit Treasure Mirror—his merit points increased by a thousand.

Although Ancestor Black Cloud was not slain by his own hand, and though Xu Xuan had contributed, he was not directly responsible; a thousand merit points was already quite generous.

When dawn arrived, Xu Xuan tidied up, preparing to depart. He had been away from home for some time, and calculated it was time to return.

Leaving the monk’s quarters, Xu Xuan looked back toward the dense forest behind Lan Hua Temple. The forest was scorched black, the giant locust tree reduced to ashes.

But at the site of the locust tree now stood a peach tree, and in a single night, it had grown thick enough that two people could barely encircle it.

Its branches were lush and green, and vibrant peach blossoms bloomed across its limbs—truly miraculous.

It was not the season for peach blossoms, but after Jade Maiden endured the cleansing power of thunder, absorbing the force of life, her cultivation increased, changing her true form.

Seeing Jade Maiden’s powers strengthen, Xu Xuan felt reassured; with her abilities, ordinary demons would not be her match.

“Farewell. If I have the chance, I’ll come to see you again.”

Xu Xuan gazed at the great peach tree, smiled, and waved goodbye.

The previous night’s flames and thunder, accompanied by countless cries, had frightened the villagers near Black Cloud Mountain so badly that none slept.

When dawn broke, they gathered in groups to investigate Lan Hua Temple.

The temple had never been peaceful; strange events were common, and no one dared approach at night.

But the commotion was so great this time that the villagers braved daylight to see what had happened.

They found the forest behind Lan Hua Temple burned, the massive locust tree vanished without trace.

Where once the forest stank, it now smelled fresh and clean, tranquil and pleasant.

The locust tree was gone, replaced by a peach tree in full bloom, its fragrance wafting through the air.

This scene astonished many villagers, who wondered at the transformation.

When someone noticed the poem hanging on the peach tree, a learned scholar exclaimed in admiration at its exquisite lines.

Upon seeing the signature—“Xu Xuan of Five Willows County, in reverence to the Peach Immortal”—they realized it had been left by the recently renowned Xu Xuan, whose feats in slaying demons had made his name soar.

Black Cloud Mountain did not belong to Five Willows County, but rather to neighboring Qingyun County. Yet the two regions bordered each other and exchanged news freely; Xu Xuan’s reputation, spread by scholars, was well-known in Qingyun as well.

Since Xu Xuan called this peach tree the Peach Immortal, and given the unparalleled poem, word quickly spread that Lan Hua Temple’s rear mountain was home to the Peach Immortal.

Not only did local villagers come, but many refined gentlemen also visited to pay their respects.

All treated the Peach Immortal with utmost reverence, offering tributes and, in some cases, tying red threads to the tree, praying for blessings.

In no time, the name of the Peach Immortal echoed across the land, and Jade Maiden enjoyed the incense and veneration of countless followers.

Even the magistrate of Qingyun County visited in person, formally petitioning the court to enshrine Jade Maiden as the Spirit of Fortune.

Lan Hua Temple, too, became lively once more, with monks returning to burn incense and worship, keeping the sacred flames alive.