After Li Qing investigated every possible avenue without any results, Pei Yaoguang figured could the name he kept uttering actually be a nickname?
Given his sharp intuition, he refused to believe for a single second that Puding was innocent!
Thus, today he changed into a set of white casual wear, which made him look quite jade-like, elegant, dashing, and untrammeled.
Stepping into the guest chamber, he entered Puding’s field of vision.
“Monk, how do you find this attire of mine?”
Silently reciting Buddhist chants in his heart, Puding paid him no heed.
Witnessing this reaction of his, Pei Yaoguang instantly burst into a blazing rage.
Stepping forward to crouch down right beside him, he murmured coldly in a low voice: “Is that person… also dressed in white like this?”
In an instant, Puding felt as though struck by a thunderbolt from the nine heavens, yet he dared not reveal a single trace of panic.
“This poor monk has no idea what Your Excellency is talking about.”
Rising to his feet, Pei Yaoguang looked down at him from a condescending height: “Since you care so deeply for this person, my interest in him grows all the stronger.” He curved the corners of his lips in a smile, “I am now impatient to know precisely who he is!”
“If you refuse to confess, then prepare yourself for torture! Until you make a full confession!”
Puding thought to himself: So be it. If I lose my life because of this, wouldn’t it simply be a form of release?
“Prepare the tiger bench,” Pei Yaoguang issued his command.
Though the tiger bench appeared relatively simple, it actually required one’s legs to be stretched straight while bricks were wedged beneath the heels one by one, binding the thighs tightly with ropes to exert pressure through the legs and knee joints, ultimately capable of fracturing the kneecaps or causing paralysis.
Clenching his teeth tightly, Puding endured in silence as he watched the bricks pile up layer by layer, the pressure bearing down upon his knees growing increasingly heavy.
Outside the window, the winter wind howled, roaring like a monstrous beast.
Cold sweat poured continuously from Puding’s brow, rolling down to soak his entire spine.
Unable to hold back any longer, his face distorted as he threw his head back and let out a long, agonizing roar, his mournful, pathetic shrieks sending shivers down everyone’s spines.
The cries startled a pale-bellied thrush perched upon a branch, causing the bird to flutter its wings and dart frantically away from the treetops.
After a long while, the tendons and bones in Puding’s legs tore apart until his knee joints were covered entirely in congealed blood.
Seeing his kneecaps on the verge of shattering, Puding’s eyes grew weak and lifeless, his entire body feeling as though it no longer belonged to him.
Yet this form of torture could not threaten his life; it could only subject him to the living hell of being slowly mutilated into a cripple.
Bathed in sweat and clenching his teeth, he focused single-mindedly on seeking death.
“Kill me! I beg Lord Pei to kill this poor monk!” Summoning the strength of his entire body, he forced the words out with immense difficulty.
“Since he has such a stiff spine, keep adding bricks until his kneecaps shatter, then reset them, and repeat the process over and over!”
With those words, Pei Yaoguang turned and left.
The excruciating pain caused Puding to lose all bodily sensation entirely.
With a sharp crack, his kneecaps shattered completely. Following a heart-rending, soul-shattering cry came a low murmur of bitter laughter, chilling everyone to the marrow of their bones.
The onlookers exchanged glances, guessing that the monk had likely been driven into a semi-deranged state.
A Brocade Guard muttered, “Are you going to submit or not, monk?”
Puding remained utterly silent.
An incense stick’s time later.
Heavy footsteps echoed from outside.
Approaching, Pei Yaoguang saw Puding covered in bloody scars, wearing an expression of absolute despair.
Learning that he still refused to submit, Pei Yaoguang exchanged a glance with Li Qing behind him and signaled with his eyes.
Stepping forward, Li Qing drew a dagger and pressed the monk’s fingers firmly against the floor. As the blade flashed with a cold gleam, a shrill, piercing shriek shattered the vault of the sky in the blink of an eye.
Puding’s right index finger was severed entirely.
Everyone present lowered their heads, not daring to look straight at the sight, save for Pei Yaoguang, who stared unblinkingly at that bloody, severed finger.
A patch of brilliant red brightness, resembling a blooming red spider lily, looked exceptionally glaring and harsh to the eyes.
Having already suffered severe injuries, compounded by excessive blood loss from his severed index finger, Puding collapsed and lost consciousness upon the ground once more.
“Men! Carry him back to his room to recuperate properly, make sure the broken bones are properly set, and treat his finger with the finest medicinal salves!”
Late at night, a dark shadow skimmed across the rooftops, moving as lightly as a swallow and flying swiftly with nimble steps.
Two soft knocks echoed against the door of Puding’s guest chamber, remaining unanswered in the end.
Inspecting the surroundings carefully to ensure no one was watching, the figure in black broke the door open and slipped inside.
Puding lay quietly upon the bed, only to reveal that the upper section of his right index finger was missing entirely.
Xiaobai’s pupils dilated abruptly in the span of merely a few short days, everything had changed, leaving things looking entirely different like a lifetime separated by worlds.
Gazing at his pale, breathing-on-the-brink-of-death appearance, a sudden pang of sharp, twisting heartache clutched at his chest, while anger surged through his mind like a raging, overwhelming tide.
Clenching his fists tightly, his eye sockets suddenly turned blood-red, shimmering with unbidden moisture as he fought desperately to restrain the violent emotional turbulence raging within his breast.
His shoulders trembled incessantly as he silently swore to tear Pei Yaoguang into ten thousand pieces.
Sitting down by the bedside, Xiaobai called out softly: “Puding! Puding! Are you alright?” he choked out through a trembling voice.
Fluttering his eyelashes open slowly, Puding opened his eyes, weeping tears of joy the moment he caught sight of the person before him.
“Xiaobai, you’ve come!” First struck by delight, he immediately followed up with, “Why did you come here? It’s too dangerous!”
“I came to check on you. How did he manage to torture you into this ghost of a shape?”
He looked neither human nor ghost, having lost the greater half of his life.
Noticing the profound grief etched across Xiaobai’s face, a desolate warmth welled up in Puding’s heart he actually felt sympathy for his plight.
Would he feel deeply heartbroken?
He recalled Xiaobai stating previously that a person like him was incapable of harboring any genuine emotions toward others.
Yet currently, watching his sorrowful and pitiful expression, he bore no resemblance whatsoever to a cold, unfeeling individual.
The truly cold, unfeeling, and completely inhuman monster in this world was none other than Pei Yaoguang.
Reaching out slowly toward Puding’s severed finger, Xiaobai trembled at the fingertips, wanting to touch it yet pulling his hand back, only to reach out again before withdrawing once more.
Wanting to make contact yet not daring to do so.
“I’m fine, don’t worry. I’ve known for a long time that a day like this would come. You don’t need to worry about me—hurry up and leave! Don’t let him discover you.”
Consumed by righteous fury and grief-stricken rage, Xiaobai was further moved by profound pity for him.
“Say no more, I know what I’m doing. Rest assured! I am not so easily caught; I… still have many unfinished tasks to accomplish!” His voice rang out with absolute conviction.
“That’s right, there’s something I wish to ask you. Are you acquainted with the An Estate Heir from the An’guo Estate?”
Puding’s expression froze in a start: “Why do you ask? What business do you have with him?”
“I simply feel that your appearance… bears a rather striking resemblance to his.”
Upon hearing this, Puding was momentarily stunned. If the tribulations he had suffered today represented the deepest agony of his life, then Xiaobai’s words suddenly infused his heart with a renewed spark of courage to keep living.
“To not keep secrets from you, this poor monk is that very An Estate Heir, and my given name is Huisheng.”
When these words were uttered, Xiaobai fell into a momentary daze, his heart swelling with intense emotion as a bright gleam surfaced within his eyes.
He had originally intended to reveal his true identity to him, but the moment the words reached the tip of his tongue, he realized that the more Puding knew, the less safe he would be.
Thus, he dismissed the notion of acknowledging him.
“Oh, I had the good fortune to catch a glimpse of the An Estate Heir once upon the road during my youth, which is why I asked.”
Puding did not probe further, knowing full well that some matters ought not to be questioned. Yet at that fleeting instant, he had briefly mistaken him for Xie Qingyi. However, realizing abruptly that Xiaobai’s appearance differed vastly from Xie Qingyi’s, he understood it was merely his own illusion.
“Did you know me during our childhood?”
Lowering his gaze as the color deepened within his eyes, Xiaobai lifted his head once more, his gaze shimmering as he slowly replied: “You did not know me.”
Puding nodded, complicated emotions stirring within his heart.
“What are your plans for the immediate future? Let me take you away!” Xiaobai said with bitterness in his tone.
Puding shook his head: “You are already a wanted fugitive fleeing for your life where could you possibly take me? If I returned to the temple, I would simply be recaptured by his men.” Pausing briefly, he offered a reassuring smile, “He won’t take my life; he merely wants to subject me to ruthless humiliation!”
With those words, his expression grew entirely helpless.
Xiaobai let out a long, heavy sigh, blaming himself for lacking the capability to protect the people around him just as he had lacked the strength to safeguard his family back then.
“I’m truly useless! I can’t even protect the person right beside me!” he choked out through tears.
Extending a hand to rest upon Xiaobai’s shoulder, Puding offered words of comfort: “Do not underestimate yourself. Born into this turbulent era of ours, managing to survive by sheer luck is already no small feat.”
Ants in life, paper-thin in fate. In this cold and desolate, turbulent world, only by growing strong oneself could one truly achieve absolute security!
A ruthless chill swept through Xiaobai’s gaze: “I want to take that dog eunuch’s life right this instant!”
“No! You cannot necessarily defeat him just yet; he commands too many formidable experts. If your attempt fails, you’ll lose your life as well. Never act rashly and impulsively on account of me alone!”
“If any mishap were to befall you, I would never forgive myself for as long as I live!” Puding spoke with a mixture of melancholy and utter helplessness.
“Hurry up and leave! If he comes over later, it will be too late to run!”
Hesitating through repeated indecision, Xiaobai ultimately realized this was the only viable course it was not the time to act rashly or recklessly display bravado.
He only hated himself for lacking sufficient strength to protect the person he wished to shield.
Before leaving, Xiaobai turned back to cast a deep, lingering gaze upon him: “Remember this: you are the best friend I’ve ever had in this lifetime!”
Puding nodded: “You are also this poor monk’s best friend!” He vaguely sensed that a different kind of emotion lay concealed within Xiaobai’s eyes.
Unspeakable, indefinable.
With lightning speed, Xiaobai departed, his dark night-walking attire sweeping across the vast expanse of the sky, leaving behind an endless stretch of desolate loneliness.
Lowering his gaze to survey his mutilated, missing finger, grief surged from the depths of Puding’s heart. A moment later, reflecting once more, he recalled that during his lifetime, King Kalinga had severed the eyes, nose, arms, and legs of the ascetic patience-practitioner, yet the practitioner bore not the slightest trace of resentment, instead generating a vow to guide King Kalinga to attain Buddhahood in the future.
Thinking of this, Puding felt deeply ashamed; his own spiritual cultivation remained stagnant, entirely devoid of any heart of compassion.
He told himself that he must emulate the Buddha, harboring no resentment, and resolve to guide Pei Yaoguang to attain Buddhahood in days to come.
He would surely succeed! Puding admonished himself inwardly: The mind shifts in accordance with circumstances, and circumstances vanish alongside the mind. Everything is false, merely the illusions wreaking havoc through one’s six senses.
Being human was indeed terribly painful; thus, in this lifetime he must diligently advance his spiritual practice, seeking early enlightenment so that he might secure the fruition of Buddhahood and enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Moments later, Pei Yaoguang pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Feigning deep sleep and unawakened slumber, Puding hastily closed his eyes.
A towering figure materialized, blocking out the light from Puding’s pale face.
Still not awake? Pei Yaoguang felt somewhat puzzled it shouldn’t be taking this long!
Gazing down at the person upon the bed, he stated with chilling coldness: “How is this, you’ve been reduced to such a state, yet not a single soul has come to rescue you? Why hasn’t the person you kept muttering that night come to save you yet?”
Could that person have long since severed all ties with him, leaving him behind in isolation to grieve and yearn in solitude?
Seating himself, Pei Yaoguang extended a slender fingertip to stroke Puding’s cheek gently warm yet cool, lacking much warmth.
He was truly far too stubborn! Stubborn as a mule.
Pei Yaoguang told him: “I’ve already instructed your Abbot; you will be staying at my estate for a spell, so you needn’t trouble yourself with attending to the temple’s affairs.”
As these words filtered into Puding’s ears, his heart grew even more chilled. It was sheer torture! It had truly destroyed half of his life, leaving him crippled and indistinguishable from a useless scrap of waste.
In truth, how much difference was there between him and a useless cripple nowadays?
Following a period of time thereafter, though Puding no longer suffered physical torment, the psychological devastation was far more severe. Pei Yaoguang persistently commanded Wu Huan and Zhang Shu to engage in sickening displays right before his eyes, putting every imaginable posture on full display!
Whenever Puding attempted to close his eyes and refuse to watch, Pei Yaoguang would order his subordinates to prop his eyelids open with small wooden splints, rendering him utterly incapable of closing his eyes.
Even so, his pupils never focused upon those two individuals, doing his utmost to avert his gaze from their figures.
Yet Pei Yaoguang demanded that the two of them emit lewd and lascivious sounds of pleasure, disrupting his concentration through auditory stimuli.
Not stopping there, he secretly had his own bodily fluids prepared inside a vessel and forced him to ingest it.
The heavy, fishy reek was enough to haunt him for a lifetime!
As if that weren’t enough, he even had his prepared fluids smeared across his entire face.
From eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, to mind, he was stimulated and humiliated in every conceivable dimension.
Could anyone who had suffered such catastrophic trauma still be considered a normal human being? He had long since been stripped of all capacity for resistance, reduced to nothing more than a puppet.
Noticing that Puding offered zero resistance or reaction, Pei Yaoguang abruptly lost interest and packed him off back to the Buddhist temple once again.
Having endured this harrowing ordeal, when the stillness of deep night fell, Puding could no longer hold on! He was merely a mortal being, entirely incapable of attaining the transcendental realm possessed by the Buddha in his past lives.
He had lost to himself in the end!
Throwing his religious faith to the winds, he attempted to put an end to his mortal existence, only to be intercepted in the nick of time by Xiaobai, who hauled him down from the white silk noose.
“You cannot die! You still have me, I am here! And you still have your family! All the grievances you’ve suffered today, I will surely return to them twofold in days to come!”