Chapter 180: Seven Days of Reflection, a Ten-Year Promise to Buddhism

Love is a word—a simple word, yet infinitely complex. For years, it has remained an eternal topic, one no one can explain clearly. It is not a game; one cannot treat life as mere amusement. It is not truth, nor can it be defined. When someone asks you what love is, you find yourself at a loss for words…

When the Wolf King asked July why she did this, she simply shook her head and smiled, saying, “I don’t know. Perhaps it’s just for his smile.”
When the Wolf King continued to persuade her to give up, July still smiled. Because she already understood that this impossible love stemmed from her own unwillingness to let go. Responding to the Wolf King, she said, “Thank you, Big Brother Wolf. July knows. How could I not want to leave him? But… there’s no way back anymore. It’s better to just watch over him for life.”
The Wolf King shook his head and said, “Why go to such lengths? Isn’t there always a way back in this world? It’s just that you refuse to give yourself a chance.”
July shook her head and said, “Big Brother Wolf, if I had the chance, I really would like to fall in love with someone else. But once someone’s image is etched in my heart, how can I accommodate another? For this feeling, I can only guard it silently.”
Hearing July’s words, the Wolf King didn’t reply, only shaking his head repeatedly, wondering why she endured such pain.
July continued, “Big Brother Wolf, let’s not talk about this. You won’t understand anyway. I want to know—has the scholar really lost his eyesight forever?”
The Wolf King replied, “That’s what I want to know too. But… this medicine must belong to the Nine Nether Demon God. So, we must prepare for the worst.”
Upon hearing this, July hurriedly asked, “Big Brother Wolf, are you saying the scholar might never see again?”
The Wolf King nodded helplessly and said, “It’s just an inference. Given the Nine Nether Demon God’s cunning nature and how quickly this medicine takes effect—rendering eyesight lost in an instant—I think… the Demon Lord might truly never see this world again.”
July shook her head firmly, saying, “That’s not true. There must be a way. There are so many experts in this world; surely someone can cure his eyes.”
The Wolf King shook his head and said, “I hope so. Perhaps I’m too ignorant. I still don’t know of any experts who can counter the Nine Nether Demon God’s poison.”
Hearing the Wolf King’s words, July’s heart sank. Though she refused to admit it, the truth was before her eyes. If the Nine Nether Demon God could become a god of destruction, he surely had great power. Since he wanted Liu Yi to go blind, he must be confident he could do it. By that logic, Liu Yi’s eyes were almost certainly beyond recovery.
The Wolf King sighed again and said, “What worries me is what will happen next. Since the Nine Nether Demon God didn’t let Jillie administer a fatal poison to the Demon Lord, he must have some other scheme. We just don’t know it yet. Think carefully—if the medicine Jillie was given by the Nine Nether Demon God was meant to kill the Demon Lord, I think…”

Qiyue nodded and said, “Yes, Brother Wolf. What you say makes sense. If that soup contained a deadly poison, the scholar would surely have drunk it too. But since the Nine Nether Demon God didn’t do that, it must mean he had his reasons. But why did he only take the scholar’s eyes?”
The Wolf King shook his head and said, “I don’t know if my guess is right, but now there are only the Demon Realm and the Netherworld left in the world. If the Demon Lord dies, the Demon Realm will also disappear. In that case… only the Netherworld would remain among the three realms. I think the Nine Nether Demon God might be afraid—afraid of the people of the Netherworld. And now he might be using Jili’er to create tension between the Demon Lord and the Netherworld.”
Qiyue nodded and said, “That does make sense. But this Nine Nether Demon God is truly cruel. He even exploited the scholar’s feelings for Jili’er. How hateful!”
The Wolf King said, “That’s precisely the brilliance of the Nine Nether Demon God. Right now, we’re at a disadvantage in everything. We have to rely on the Demon Lord to solve everything. Now that he’s locked himself away, I think we’ll soon know the answer.”
Hearing the Wolf King’s words, Qiyue didn’t know what to say. Her mind was in chaos, utterly confused…
So they waited, waiting for news from Liu Yi. But six days passed with no sign of him, as if he had vanished from their world. This wait brought them only anxiety and unease. What decision would he make after all these days? Seek revenge from the Ghost Clan? Fight to the death against the Nine Nether Demon God? Or go to the Netherworld to challenge Lan Ying and reclaim his wife? As time went by, countless thoughts crossed the Wolf King’s and Qiyue’s minds.
Thus, the endless wait continued. Another night passed. When the first rays of dawn pierced through the layers of ice peaks and snow, Qiyue once again entered the empty hall. By the window, she gazed at the beam of sunlight—so beautiful, so warm, as if a pair of hands were caressing her. Countless thoughts surfaced in her mind, but mostly worry.
At that moment, the Wolf King came up behind her and said, “Still worried about the Demon Lord?”
Qiyue turned to look at him and said, “I just don’t know his decision. He’s been locked in that room for so long. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”
The Wolf King nodded and said, “No matter what decision he makes, the Eternal City will always support him.”
Hearing the Wolf King’s words, Qiyue murmured, “The Eternal City… Perhaps the scholar hopes his love can last forever. That’s why even this city has such a beautiful name.”
The Wolf King didn’t speak, only nodded in agreement.
Just then, the sound of footsteps reached their ears. Hearing it, Qiyue’s face lit up with joy. The scholar had come out. He had freed himself. Without hesitation, Qiyue rushed toward the sound, helped Liu Yi up, and led him out from behind the hall.
Seeing this, the Wolf King immediately said, “The Demon Lord…”

Liu Yi forced a bitter smile and said, “Hehe, maybe I really should be blind, so I wouldn’t have to see those people’s ugly faces. I feel much calmer that way. But with Sister Qiyue holding me like this, why do I feel so old all of a sudden?” Hearing how Liu Yi referred to her, Qiyue suddenly felt a sense of strangeness. But seeing Liu Yi back to his usual self, she joked, “Do you still think you’re young? You’re almost an old man already.”

The Wolf King looked at Liu Yi and asked, “I wonder what the Demon Lord plans.” Indeed, this was the topic of greatest concern for both Qiyue and the Wolf King.

Liu Yi sat down on the stone chair, shook his head, and said, “I don’t know. In this darkness, I feel much more at peace. Maybe I should rest for a while. This curse, this hatred—they’ve exhausted me. I really don’t know what to do now.”

Hearing Liu Yi’s words, the Wolf King and Qiyue were surprised. In their minds, Liu Yi should be furious that the Nine Nether Demon God had blinded him and should seek revenge against him, or he should go after Lan Ying to take Jill back from him, or do something else. But they never expected Liu Yi to be so calm.

At that moment, the Wolf King and Qiyue seemed to understand a bit. With Liu Yi unable to see, how could he talk about revenge or challenge Lan Ying? It was obvious he would end up badly hurt.

Liu Yi paused for a moment and said, “Teacher, I have to entrust Eternal City to your care for now. Since the Nine Nether Demon God didn’t attack Eternal City while I was blind, it’s unlikely he will in the future. I think Eternal City is safe for now.”

Listening to Liu Yi’s words, the Wolf King felt he was making some decision and pressed, “So what does the Demon Lord intend to do?”

Liu Yi continued, “Ten years ago, I made a promise with Master Juegui from the Buddhist sect to visit them after ten years. So, I want to go to the Buddhist sect and visit Master Juegui again.”

The Wolf King asked in surprise, “It seems the righteous forces aren’t making any moves this time. We last saw Lan Ying in Fengdu Ghost City. I guess the righteous forces must have already been subdued by the Netherworld.”

Liu Yi shook his head and said, “The Buddhist sect belongs to those who stay away from the world. They didn’t even participate in the competition for ‘Heaven’s Chapter’ this time. I think nothing serious will happen. Lan Ying wouldn’t trouble a sect that doesn’t interfere in worldly affairs.”

The Wolf King nodded and examined Liu Yi’s expression again, trying to discern something, but Liu Yi’s expression remained unchanged. He finally nodded and said, “Alright. I wonder when the Demon Lord will return.”

Hearing the Wolf King’s words, Liu Yi shook his head and said, “I don’t know when I’ll return. So, Eternal City can only rely on you to help me manage it now.”

Qiyue quickly asked, “Scholar, aren’t you going to become a monk?”

Liu Yi smiled bitterly and said, “How could that be? It’s just that I made a promise with Master Juegui ten years ago. Now that my heart is much calmer, it’s the right time to fulfill that promise.”

Qiyue nodded and said, “Then I’ll accompany you.”

Liu Yi stood up and said, “Good. Sister Qiyue is so concerned—maybe you’re afraid I won’t find my way.”

Hearing those bitter words, Qiyue forced a smile and said, “It’s easier for me to help you, right?”

The Wolf King looked at July and Liu Yi and said, “Then please take good care of the Demon Lord. The Wolf King will wait here for his return.” Liu Yi nodded and replied, “Teacher, you’ve gone to so much trouble.” With that, he turned and walked away. Watching Liu Yi’s figure disappear into the shadows, the Wolf King was filled with confusion. Liu Yi hadn’t gone to seek revenge on Lan Ying or the Nine Nether Demon God as they had expected; instead, having become blind, he had become even quieter. Now he was going to meet up with the Buddhists—what changes had taken place? Had the Demon Lord truly seen through the worldly distractions? Had he given up on Jillier? Even with a thousand years of cultivation, the Wolf King couldn’t fathom Liu Yi’s thoughts. Ever since Jillier had blinded him seven days ago, Liu Yi seemed like a different person—calm, composed, and free from his usual arrogance. It was unclear whether this was good or bad for him. At that moment, Liu Yi was blind and wielded the “Sorrowful Dream” sword, relying entirely on July’s voice to guide him. Along the way, to help Liu Yi orient himself better, July kept talking about unrelated things, also to avoid hurting his pride. But how could Liu Yi not understand July’s good intentions? Unable to see, he could only rely on her voice to find his way, and to spare his feelings, July always brought up interesting yet irrelevant topics. Thus, the two flew slowly through the air for about three days until they arrived at the former Buddhist temple. They landed at the temple’s entrance, where Liu Yi’s “Sorrowful Dream” sword served as a cane as he groped his way forward in the darkness. To make it easier for Liu Yi to walk, July deliberately made noise by rubbing against the ground—everything was done with consideration for him. When they reached the temple entrance, it turned out the temple hadn’t been taken over by Lan Ying. However, eight monks stood there, each holding a long stick, on high alert. Clearly, the temple hadn’t been attacked, but it must have heard news of the destruction of other sects. July explained all this to Liu Yi one by one. When they were about thirty feet from the entrance, one of the monks stepped forward and said, “Please stop, visitors. What brings you to the Buddhist temple?” Hearing the voice, Liu Yi felt it was young and energetic. Comparing himself to it, he felt as if he had truly become an old man. He sighed and said, “Could you please inform Master Juegui that an old friend, Liu Yi, has come to visit?” The young monk replied politely, “Please wait a moment. I’ll go inform him right away.” As his words faded, Liu Yi heard the sound of his footsteps gradually fading away. In that instant, he once again realized how miserable a world without light could be. After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, footsteps sounded again, but this time they were more complex—not from just one person. Listening carefully, one could tell there was a heavy step and a light step. If Liu Yi wasn’t mistaken, the light step must belong to Master Juegui. He hadn’t expected Master Juegui to come out in person to greet him.

As a voice sounded, “Amitabha… Donor Liu, it’s been ten years—you’ve aged greatly.” Hearing that voice, Liu Yi tilted his head slightly and said, “Is it Master Juegui?” Juegui observed Liu Yi’s reaction and replied, “It is indeed I. Donor Liu, what about your eyes?” Liu Yi gave a bitter smile and said, “I’m blind.” Though he couldn’t see Juegui’s face, he could sense that Juegui was momentarily stunned, his expression surely filled with surprise. Juegui paused for a moment. He could tell that although Liu Yi had spoken just two words, they carried countless stories. Juegui continued, “In that case… Donor Liu, please follow me. It’s been ten years—it seems you indeed didn’t come alone.” Liu Yi smiled and said, “Master, please lead the way.” Juegui bowed in return and said, “Please.” As his footsteps faded softly, Liu Yi accurately pinpointed the direction, and with Qi Yue’s support, he followed Juegui into this Buddhist sanctuary untouched by worldly affairs.

It was a rather ordinary room, surrounded by yellow silk curtains, bathed in that yellow light. A character for “Chan” hung on the wall, telling the history of Buddhism. The room was simple yet tidy. Liu Yi could sense that familiar scent—yes, he had been here ten years ago and seen it before. But now… he couldn’t see, nor could he see the furnishings inside. Recalling the past, a hint of sadness arose in his heart.

The three of them sat around the table. Juegui looked at Liu Yi, shook his head, and sighed, “It seems Donor Liu hasn’t had a good time these past ten years.” Liu Yi nodded helplessly and said, “What’s the difference between good and bad? Isn’t experience what matters in life? Otherwise, what value does a blank sheet of paper have?” Hearing Liu Yi’s words, Juegui nodded and said, “Amitabha… Your words reveal the essence of life. It seems my understanding is still insufficient.” Liu Yi shook his head and said, “Master, you’re too modest. Ten years ago, you must have seen that I would bring disaster to the three realms, which is why you agreed to meet me in ten years—probably to use Buddhist principles to resolve the violence in my heart.” A hint of surprise appeared on Juegui’s face. “How did you figure that out, Donor Liu?” Liu Yi replied, “I didn’t figure it out. It’s just… when my memories from my past life returned and I remembered that agreement, I understood your good intentions.” Juegui nodded and said, “I was overthinking it. I’ve always had a question, not sure if I should ask.” Liu Yi said, “Master, please go ahead.” Juegui continued, “Last time, the forces of good and evil joined forces to seal the Nine Nether Demonic God. The lord of the Eternal City also appeared back then. I wonder what your connection is to that Eternal City.” Liu Yi replied, “Since Master has already guessed, I’ll just be direct—I am the one who founded the Eternal City.” Hearing this, Juegui didn’t show any surprise, as if he already knew. Changing the topic, Juegui asked, “Then, Donor Liu, what happened to your eyes…?” Liu Yi replied, “It was the work of the Nine Nether Demonic God. I came here to ask Master if there’s anyone or any medicine that can restore my eyes.”

Jue Gui listened and blurted out, “Are you saying that the Nine Nether Demon God hasn’t been sealed and has now emerged?”
Liu Yi nodded and said, “Yes. I believe the master also knows that the righteous path of the human world and the dark demonic path in the three realms have been eradicated. This is precisely the plan of the Nine Nether Demon God. However, unifying the demon race is also something I must do.”
Jue Gui nodded and said, “It seems the calamities in these three realms haven’t ended yet. I wonder what other evil schemes the Nine Nether Demon God has.”
Liu Yi simply shook his head; he couldn’t answer Jue Gui’s question because he was also part of this scheme.
Jue Gui examined Liu Yi’s eyes again, studying them carefully for a while before saying, “From what this old monk can see, Lord Liu’s eyes are incurable. The poison has already damaged them beyond repair.”
At that moment, Qi Yue suddenly interjected, “Master, you are a highly enlightened monk—there must be a way.”
Jue Gui shook his head and said, “This isn’t an ordinary poison. It has already destroyed his eyes. Even with a miraculous pill, recovery would be impossible.”
Qi Yue wanted to say more, but Liu Yi interrupted, “Enough, Qi Yue. I know this poison better. The master is right.”
Jue Gui nodded and said, “Lord Liu, there’s no need to be sad. This world needs to be seen with a discerning eye. What the eyes see isn’t necessarily true. Since it’s already lost, there’s no need for regret.”
Liu Yi nodded and continued, “Master, I’d like to ask—is there any medicine in this world that can restore a person’s memories of their past life and allow them to recall their past experiences?”
Hearing Liu Yi’s words, Jue Gui thought for a moment before saying, “Forgive this old monk’s ignorance. I’ve never heard of such a medicine. But… if Lord Liu is truly determined, this old monk does know of someone who might have a way to restore a person’s past memories.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yi hurriedly said, “Master, please tell me.”