"Li Kuanghua, Bodhisattva Li, we meet again."
Amidst the compassionate sounds echoing through Lotus Ferry Nunnery, Abbess Dairou, her eyes and brow softening, called out gently to Li Kuanghua, her expression filled with admiration.
The Azure Cloud Li Clan had produced exceptional heroines who gathered in Shadowfell Prefecture.
General Li's martial reputation was illustrious, but the one who had made a name for herself in the Western Border even earlier than Li Tianyue was this Li Kuanghua.
In years past, when Li Kuanghua fought great battles against the Wu Race in the Western Border, she had united Buddhist disciples and the fiendish cultivators of Shadowfell Prefecture into a single vanguard.
The Buddhist sects called Li Kuanghua a "Bodhisattva," while those of the demonic path revered her as a "Holy Maiden," bringing about a rare, magnificent spectacle of harmony between Buddhists and demons.
At that time, Abbess Dairou had already admired Li Kuanghua to the utmost.
However, this girl hailed from the Azure Cloud Li Clan and had the backing of the Immortal Suppression Department; thus, the nunnery's repeated attempts to accept her as a disciple had all been in vain.
"Greetings, Abbess."
Li Kuanghua voiced her agreement, suppressing the anger within her heart.
The events of the Western Border were already clear to her.
She wished nothing more than to slaughter every last one of these deserters who had abandoned the army, too cowardly to face the enemy.
Yet, she did not know how she had fallen into the hands of Abbess Dairou, and the circumstances left her at a disadvantage.
She immediately feigned ignorance, "I wonder why the Abbess was not on the battlefield, but instead brought His Highness and me into Lotus Ferry Nunnery?"
Abbess Dairou's face filled with shame.
"Alas, the Western Border has been breached. We... fought a bitter battle and were defeated."
The breach had occurred only a few days prior, yet in Abbess Dairou's mouth, the battle of the Western Border had become a "bitter defeat."
Her words painted a vivid picture, to the point of claiming she had personally fought against the Nirvana Sage Elder, and only after seeing that the situation was hopeless did she accept Marshal Bi Shihu's dying request to protect the Crown Prince.
Abbess Dairou's face was filled with shame.
"The Western Border has already fallen into the demonic clutches of the Wu Race.
They are searching everywhere; it is an inescapable trap.
You and the Crown Prince cannot escape, and neither can our Lotus Ferry Nunnery.
You and the Crown Prince should simply cultivate quietly within my Lotus Ferry Nunnery.
Once the reinforcements fight their way back, that will be the day we see the light of day again."
"What?!!"
Li Kuanghua instantly lost her wits, sitting on the ground with a vacant gaze. She did not even need to put on an act.
The grief of her aunt's death had been weighing heavily upon her. She had kept it hidden from others, solely focused on fleeing with Fei Heng.
At this moment, Li Kuanghua's eyes truly turned red. Her face wet with tears, she stared blankly at Abbess Dairou.
She and her aunt had stayed at the Shadowfell Prefecture border pass for over a hundred years, and the time she herself had spent at the border was even longer.
Yet, what kind of people were these around them?!!
Deserters, liars, cowards!
If it were not for their family possessing the Ancestral Space, allowing the Old Ancestor to send a transmission, would she have believed it upon seeing Abbess Dairou speak these words with such sincerity?
"Alas, there is destiny in this world, and it is entirely out of human hands.
General Li was unwilling to retreat a single step, even unto death, losing her life alongside her Army of 320,000 amidst the Wu Race forces.
Bodhisattva Li, set your mind at ease. There is karma in this world.
One day, we will fight our way back against the Wu Race, and from top to bottom, our Lotus Ferry Nunnery will surely protect the lives of you two."
With these words, she had Daoist nun Hongzhen take Li Kuanghua away to rest.
Not long after, Daoist nun Hongzhen returned.
This Master Hongzhen was actually an old woman. Uncomprehending, she asked the Abbess, "Abbess, why do we not leave the Western Border?"
"Leave the Western Border? How could we possibly leave the Western Border?"
Abbess Dairou said in a somber voice,
"The people of the world are ignorant. I fear the title of 'deserters' has already been pinned upon the head of our Lotus Ferry Nunnery.
The Immortal Suppression Department and the various major factions will treat us as fish and meat on the chopping block."
"This..." The wrinkles on Hongzhen's aged face tightened.
Originally, Lotus Ferry Nunnery's Grotto-Heaven was already situated in the borderlands, meant to act as a surprise force.
But once that Nirvana Holy Elder appeared, his heavenly flames raging, the Abbess had performed a divination, only to state that all was lost.
Now, carefully pondering such consequences, Daoist nun Hongzhen's heart sank.
"In this chaotic world, human hearts are no longer as they were in ancient times.
A transgression like the fall of the Western Border—who can bear such responsibility?
The people of the world all say that those with great Spiritual power stand indomitable, holding up the heavens and supporting the earth.
The blame for this battle will inevitably fall upon our heads."
Abbess Dairou let out a long breath.
Seeing Hongzhen at a complete loss, she smiled and said,
"Do not fear. Such circumstances are equally a fortuitous encounter for us.
For tens of thousands of years, our Lotus Ferry Nunnery has not dared to claim the title of Buddha.
Now, with the souls of the dead littering the Western Border, it is precisely the time for our Lotus Ferry Nunnery to bring salvation to all living beings, and harvest the immense merit of this world."
"Go and fetch the Buddhist relics of Lotus Ferry Nunnery's past generations.
Today, our Lotus Ferry Nunnery shall shatter the Dao and return to Buddhism.
Once I find a fortuitous encounter to break through Dao Comprehension and achieve Dao Integration, seeking a glimpse into the Mahayana Realm, who in this world would dare to pin unwarranted crimes upon our Lotus Ferry Nunnery?!"
Lotus Ferry Nunnery had been suppressed for tens of thousands of years; they had long wanted to cast off these Daoist robes and continue cultivating the Buddhist Dharma.
Now that the Yidian Holy Monk was being hunted by the Immortal Suppression Department, and the fall of the Western Border had plunged the world into chaos, what was there left to fear?
The Buddhist Dharma was the true path of Lotus Ferry Nunnery!
Daoist nun Hongzhen was overjoyed. "Yes, Abbess!"
Abbess Dairou's gaze pierced through the walls, observing Crown Prince Fei Heng, who had been taken away to rest, her face devoid of expression.
"It seems the fortuitous encounter lies with you.
How can the defeat at the Western Border be blamed on me?
If anyone is to blame, it is you, this Tyrannical Crown Prince who could not bear loneliness.
What a pity that I have become the sinner reviled by all."