Volume 4: The Revelation Revealed – Chapter 440: Obsessed with Affection

I am a peacock, with a father admired by all—Phoenix.
I wonder why I look different from my father, and why my brother Dapeng also differs greatly from me.
My father told me that the Phoenix is the supreme among all birds, and there can only be one such being. If I were also a Phoenix, I would never acquire its innate powers, unless he died.
Of course, I don’t want my father to die. As long as the three of us are safe, what does it matter whether we are Phoenixes, peacocks, or Dapengs?
There was deeper meaning in my father’s words—only one: loneliness. Perhaps he didn’t want me to suffer the same fate, I thought.
Loneliness, even pride—since I was born, my father has probably spoken no more than a hundred words to me.
He often flew very high. As he flew on, Dapeng could no longer keep up with us, and eventually, I could no longer keep up with him either; I could only watch his back as he soared into the sky. While I pursued my father, Dapeng also chased after us both.
My father never lowered his head; his gaze was always upward. What was there in the sky?
Wind! Endless wind, an unstoppable wind that left people disoriented!
Every time my father descended from the sky, his eyes held an undeniable sense of loss. As birds, we are not afraid of heights, but we cannot withstand the fierce winds at the top. Dapeng’s wings were hindered by the wind, and so were mine… surely my father too? I hate the wind!
As Dapeng and I grew older and our powers grew stronger, my father’s gaze grew ever more distant. I was a little afraid that one day he would leave us, but who could stop the wings and ambition of a Phoenix?
Finally, my father said to us, “Take care of yourselves. I will return.”
It was rare for him to speak eleven words at once. But what I didn’t expect was that I wouldn’t hear his voice again for tens of thousands of years.
Dapeng and I looked at each other. My father’s words could not be disputed. So, he left.
From then on, Dapeng and I practiced even harder. I wanted to fly higher, dreaming that one day I could catch up with my father. As for Dapeng? His eyes showed that he was afraid… of losing me.
I’m sorry, Dapeng. I can’t wait for you.
The world is vast beyond our imagination, filled with extraordinary people who surprise us constantly.
But the unruly nature of a Phoenix’s offspring had already taken root in me and Dapeng. We always acted recklessly—climbing mountains to capture tigers, diving into the sea to swallow dragons—enjoying ourselves for a while.
That day is etched in my memory forever: on Xiuniuhe Continent, I met my father!

Father was with an extremely ugly monster. It was only later that I learned that monster was Xiangliu. Father was the most noble and pure being in the world—how could he lower himself? With them was also a monk, namely Tathagata. What surprised me even more was that when Father spoke to Tathagata, he would even bow his head slightly! Heaven! My heaven has collapsed! What treacherous scheme did this Tathagata use to separate father and son? How did he manipulate Father into serving him? Why did he force Father to lower his noble head? I wanted to tear Tathagata to pieces, but with Father around, I dared not do so. Heaven help me—Father gave me a emotionless glance before walking away with Xiangliu. Seeing no chance, I swallowed Tathagata whole. With my cultivation at the time, killing him was effortless. But suddenly, Father flew back, his gaze full of reproach. At that moment, a phrase popped into my mind—“A father knows his son best.” Father knew what I was going to do! Without a word, he captured me, split open my back, and rescued Tathagata. I didn’t feel any pain at all. Father still cared for me, but I didn’t understand why he had to save Tathagata. Tathagata landed on the ground, unharmed at all. He just smiled—a terrifying smile. “Since I’m inside you, you can also be called the Buddha Mother.” Buddha Mother? I didn’t even know what a Buddha was, let alone a mother. Father still kept his eyes lowered, silent. It was then that I suddenly understood—Father had his own reasons. He was someone who aspired to soar in the skies—how could he easily bow his head? So I laughed heartily, “Fine, if I’m to be the Buddha Mother, then so be it! Only by being worshipped by millions can I live up to my name as a peacock!” Tathagata continued to smile, looking at me and then at Father, while there was a hint of confusion in Father’s eyes. At that moment, I wanted to laugh too. I had finally deceived Father once—he surely had no idea what I was planning. But poor Dapeng—he was finally left behind by us both. I settled on Mount Ling, changed—becoming a peacock that soared through the skies, turning into a patient Bodhisattva who never moved. No one knew what I was planning, except for myself. Tathagata treated me with great respect. He sent someone to give me a Buddhist scripture, telling me to recite it whenever I had time. I had no interest in reading scriptures, but Tathagata said that as a Buddha Mother, I had to put on an act. Well, to gain his trust, I played along. Every morning, I would recite this scripture in the Hall of the Vajra King for many monks and arhats. Day after day, year after year.

After thousands of years of reading, I found that I had changed, and this change filled me with fear.
That Tathagata, the one I never dared to look directly at, grew ever taller in the Mahavira Hall. Gradually, I had to look up to see him clearly—could I really see him clearly?
Meanwhile, my father’s image faded in my heart, and Tathagata gradually became the most revered figure. He would take me there, to a place of infinite beauty.
I didn’t know where that place was. I clearly knew it was all false, yet I couldn’t resist it.
That scripture was like an addictive poison, slowly planting a dream in my heart.
Who in the world can resist the temptation of a dream? No one! Neither my father nor I could!
But because of my trust in my father, my longing for freedom, and my hatred for Tathagata, I tried every means to rid my heart of this dream.
Throughout Mount Spirit, aside from the Ratna family, everyone else was a follower of Tathagata—fanatical and loyal. Among all these people, only I suffered the most.
I had to deceive myself constantly, reminding myself that this idea rising from deep within was false!
It’s ridiculous—deceiving one’s own heart is such a funny thing, yet that’s exactly what I was doing.
I just wanted to know how Tathagata had deceived my father, almost costing himself as well.
Later, Tathagata ordered me to go to the Buddhist hell. I couldn’t resist his command. Yes, it was a command—no matter what he said, I would consider it an order that must not be disobeyed.
Every day, I had one hour for myself—just one hour when I was myself, awake. The rest of the time, I was busy serving others.
Seeing the many bodhisattvas around me, I felt slightly relieved. From their eyes, I could tell they didn’t even have one hour of freedom; they had completely become puppets of Tathagata.
Oh, countless bodhisattvas—thousands upon thousands of us sharing the same name. Who still remembers the peacock?
In the Buddhist hell, I learned many skills I had never imagined before, such as soul control. One day, Tathagata ordered us eight bodhisattvas to go to Lion Mountain to seize Tang Seng’s soul. Then, I met the Great Roc.
My brother… we met, yet couldn’t recognize each other!
I hadn’t achieved my goal yet; I couldn’t give up halfway.
The Great Roc was a fool. He was lucky to have met such good friends and brothers.
This time, I was happy—I met the Great Roc.

This time, we returned empty-handed—a force beyond imagination stopped us. Of course, there was also that female Taoist priestess; I could tell she was far stronger than me. But we practiced the art of controlling souls—eight people working together, invincible in the world!
Tathagata did not blame us. It seemed everything in the world was under his control. I gradually realized his terrifying nature—his heart was likely far deeper than all those in this world combined.
Back in the Buddhist Hell, I found that the time I was conscious was getting shorter and shorter, from one hour to half an hour a day. I knew that if this continued, one day I would too become a mere walking corpse like the others. But what could I do? Though unwilling, I still hoped for a miracle.
Finally, that day came. A group of people invaded the Buddhist Hell, and among them was my father.
To my annoyance, Bodhisattva Nili actually forced us father and son to fight each other. I didn’t want to battle my father, but I had no choice, as my half hour hadn’t yet arrived.
My father held back from attacking me. Though I was strong, I could never be his match. My father was injured, so he used his innate ability—The Great Roc Transformation—and I used mine—Peacock Feathers.
Then… my father finally captured me. Oh God, the emotions I had accumulated over thousands of years were finally released at that moment. “Take me away, Father!”
“You’re free now. I want to be free too!”
After a long while, I woke up. My heart felt as if a huge piece was missing. I knew my father might be gone. It was a special connection between father and son, no need for anyone to explain it.
Ironically, lying beside me, just like me, was Xiang Liu, the person I hated the most…
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The peacock spoke as if in a dream, murmuring simply about her life’s experiences. Then, she tilted her head and fainted.
Xuan Nu said, “She isn’t faint—her half hour has passed. She doesn’t want to be in a state of frenzy.” Wukong nodded, sighing deeply. The three of them—Phoenix, Peacock, and Great Roc—were all extremely stubborn. The Phoenix allied with Tathagata to pursue her dream of ascending to heaven; the Peacock sacrificed herself to uncover the secrets between Tathagata and the Phoenix; and the Great Roc harbored resentment toward his father and brother, unable to forget for even a moment…
In the human world, there are those who are deeply in love—this hatred has nothing to do with romance or beauty!