Chapter 100: The Heart of Buddha and the Sword of Integrity, The Elevation of Righteousness - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 100: The Heart of Buddha and the Sword of Integrity, The Elevation of Righteousness "Suicide in front of the Emperor?" Seeing this simulated outcome, Su Mo felt a surge of joy. This simulation had turned out quite well; he had managed to get close to the Yuan Emperor. This must mean there would be numerous opportunities to defy fate, right? With this in mind, Su Mo immediately chose to review his life experiences. Within the game interface, the simulated life unfolded smoothly. ... [From the moment you were born, you were abandoned at the gates of Tianhe Temple in the capital of the Great Yuan. Fortunately, an old monk sweeping the grounds discovered you and raised you.] [Due to surviving on porridge instead of breast milk from a young age, you grew up dark and thin, frequently bullied by the temple's monks. The old monk, realizing this couldn't continue, pleaded with the temple to send you to Pao Guo Temple to learn martial arts.] [When you were eight, the temple sent you off to Pao Guo Temple.] [The old monk perceived Pao Guo Temple, an official temple under the central authority of the Great Yuan, as a place of many talents. He believed that acquiring martial skills there wouldn't make his efforts for you in vain.] [Upon arriving at Pao Guo Temple, you continued to be bullied. The supervisor forced you to fetch eighteen vats of water daily before you could eat.] [Though initially arduous, each time you passed by the senior disciples practicing, you gained insight from their postures, unknowingly enhancing your strength over time. You went from filling the vats by nightfall to completing the task by noon.] [Noticing your change, the supervisor checked on you and discovered you had independently grasped Pao Guo Temple's foundational training techniques.] [Your talent piqued his interest. Seeing limitless potential in you, he sent you to the Hall of Discipline, sparing you from menial tasks like fetching water and splitting wood.] [The Hall of Discipline at Pao Guo Temple is a place devoted to Buddhist discipline and advanced martial arts.] [Upon arriving, you diligently studied Buddhist martial arts. Your rapid progress in martial skills and superior comprehension of Buddhist texts soon garnered widespread attention.] [Elder Kongzhi of Pao Guo Temple personally took you as his final disciple, not only teaching you martial arts but also various techniques for exorcism and numerous Buddhist scriptures.] [Your skills deepened, but this aroused jealousy among some monks.] [They believed that if you continued to grow, you might threaten their prospects of becoming the abbot.] [However, due to your high profile, these individuals could take no immediate action against you, biding their time instead.] [During this period, the old monk who raised you passed away, and you personally kept vigil over his body for three months.] [This is how you continued to grow until you were fifteen. At that age, you set out with the Pao Guo Temple elders for alms, as they said understanding Buddhist teachings required traveling afar.] [You disagreed, finding Buddhist insights as simple as eating and drinking.] [Having been bullied since childhood, you understood that voicing differing opinions often leads to isolation. Thus, you conformed, joining them in meditation and pilgrimage, treating the journey as a learning experience.] [Your group of monks was held in high esteem, garnering bows and respects along their travels, eventually reaching a small town near the capital for alms.] [It was in this town that you encountered an astonishing woman.] [She was the daughter of a butcher, named Bai Jiaojiao.] [The encounter was brief.] [Steeped in Buddhist teachings, you immediately believed she was a fated connection. But as a monk, marriage was forbidden; only by secularizing could you wed her.] [Back at the temple, the memory of her lingered uncontrollably in your mind and heart.] [Your state was quickly noticed by your mentor, Elder Kongzhi, who inquired about your turmoil.] [You honestly relayed your experience.] [Never having experienced worldly pleasures as a monk, you couldn't align with the Buddhist tenet of transcending desires.] [Upon hearing this, Elder Kongzhi didn't reprimand you but left in silence.] [That very night, you packed your belongings and left the temple.] [News of your departure pleased many monks, as it removed a formidable rival for the future abbot position.] [Arriving at Bai Jiaojiao's home, she was shocked by your secular return to seek her.] [Her first reaction was to send you back, not wanting the reputation of luring a monk.] [Bai Jiaojiao's father, however, was pleased with a monk son-in-law, seeing it as a family honor and blessing, even if you resumed secular life.] [You successfully married Bai Jiaojiao, becoming the live-in son-in-law at the butcher’s home.] [But your awkwardness was apparent during your father-in-law's pig slaughtering as you recited prayers for the pigs' peace.] [Your father-in-law didn't mind your actions, seeing them as reducing his sins.] [For a year, you and Bai Jiaojiao enjoyed married life. It was the happiest time in your life.] [After a year, a sense of calm returned to your heart, and the fervent feelings for Bai Jiaojiao waned.] [Around this time, the world became chaotic.] [Heroes and warriors rose in rebellion, many being conscripted.] [Realizing peace for commoners was dwindling, you bid Bai Jiaojiao farewell, returning to Pao Guo Temple.] [Bai Jiaojiao, though reluctant, respected your decision. By abandoning a love role, you defy fate, increasing your rating.] [Returning to Pao Guo Temple, monks warily watched your unexpected return.] [Elder Kongzhi was delighted, recognizing you had understood the Buddhist truth of relinquishing desires after experiencing them.] [Your reputation grew as you frequently silenced opponents in debates.] [The Yuan Emperor, having heard of your profound Buddhist knowledge, summoned you to the court for discussions.] [Seeing this as an opportunity, you excelled at court.] [Many applauded your arguments, and the Yuan Emperor was pleased, offering you the position of Imperial Advisor.] [You declined the role, instead volunteering to quell the uprisings, believing commoners are blameless, with chaos rooted in oppressive nobility.] [The Emperor, troubled by rebellion, was elated by your bold proposal.] [He appointed you as Grand Marshal despite your inexperience, pairing you with two skilled generals.] [Rebel leaders, upon hearing a monk was appointed Grand Marshal, underestimated you.] [Your strong learning ability led you to rapidly excel in warfare, equating it to understanding Buddhist texts.] [Under your command, over ten years, you quashed over twenty anti-Yuan factions. (As a Buddhist disciple becoming an imperial general and altering fate for the Yuan Court, your evaluation soared.)] [News of your victories quickly reached the capital. The Yuan Emperor personally awaited your return outside the city walls.] [Amidst the welcoming crowd, you spotted Bai Jiaojiao’s silhouette.] [Though feelings for her had cooled, your shared past compelled you to ensure her safety, allowing her to observe you from afar.] [Following the victory feast, the Yuan Emperor resolved to execute captured rebels.] [You objected, clashing fiercely with the Emperor.] [Despite your service, the Emperor, wary of your influence, demanded your suicide in exchange for the prisoners' lives.] [To save countless lives, you agreed to his demand.] [You chose to end your life in court.] [True to his word, the Yuan Emperor spared the captives.] [In death, Bai Jiaojiao alone tended to your remains, honoring your spirit throughout her life.] Chapter 100: The Heart of Buddha and the Sword of Integrity, The Elevation of Righteousness "A life filled with turmoil and achievements that shook the heavens, you were merely an abandoned infant, yet you accomplished incredible feats, ultimately sacrificing your life for the common people." "The masses hold eternal gratitude and reverence for you, a grand master renowned for his virtue." "Evaluation: Boundless Merit." "Please stay tuned, reward calculations underway..." Jackpot! Reading through this life experience, Su Mo's eyes sparkled with excitement. This time, the talent he might receive is the purple-tiered "Heart of Buddha and Sword of Integrity." If he could acquire it, it would be remarkable. Just as Su Mo began daydreaming, a reward notification popped up. "Congratulations, you have been awarded: 'Heart of Buddha and Sword of Integrity' from the simulation." "Heart of Buddha and Sword of Integrity: With this talent, one carries a heart of compassion, greatly enhancing one’s comprehension of Buddhist doctrines and swordsmanship. Yet, excess wisdom can bring harm, suggesting a short lifespan. Accumulate virtue to reverse fate." "Due to your limitless merit in the simulation, the adverse effects of 'compassion' and 'short lifespan' have been eliminated." "Reward calculation complete, wishing the player a pleasant experience." Seeing the removal of the two disadvantages from the Heart of Buddha and Sword of Integrity, Su Mo felt relief washing over him. No more concerns lingered. Although this simulation yielded only one reward, it was already extraordinary. After all, a purple-tiered talent sans downsides is near-golden in value. Right then, the relic on Su Mo's chest burst into light, startling him. What happened? Quickly, he reached into his shirt, only to discover the relic had vanished. Unknowingly, Su Mo’s mind was flooded with insights from Buddhist texts he had once skimmed over on Earth. He couldn’t help but delve into this enlightenment, feeling as if a barrier had shattered, and many previously incomprehensible principles suddenly became clear. After a long while, Su Mo opened his eyes, his mind filled with newfound understanding. Heart of Buddha and Sword of Integrity. So that’s the essence of it. But what would it be like to practice swordsmanship with this? Curious, Su Mo wanted to grab a stick and experiment with sword techniques. However, having never formally learned swordsmanship, he lacked the basics. In previous simulations, he'd studied the sword but found it boring, often switching perspectives to sneak peeks at the ladies of the Su household instead. Yet, the boomerang returned swiftly, filling him with regrets. Then a thought struck him. Su Mo remembered Xu Miaoyin. Here’s a ready-made sword master! After waking up tomorrow, why not approach Xu Miaoyin for some sword lessons? Relaxed by this plan, Su Mo felt much lighter. Additionally, he noticed that the Haoran righteousness in his chest had expanded severalfold. Could these changes be attributed to the relic? Intrigued by the transformation, Su Mo wondered if he could intimidate demons by merely writing. With three times the Haoran righteousness, ordinary demons shouldn't dare to act up. The counter held brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, primarily brought by Guo Lin for bookkeeping. Tomorrow, he'd have to put it to the test. Although his handwriting might be a bit unsightly, who knows if that would affect the outcome… Lost in thought, Su Mo opened the Romance of Life. Next, it was naturally time to continue the simulation! Let’s see if this time brings a favorable start. ... "Would you like to begin the simulation?" "Start!" "Randomized birth location is being selected." "This time, you are born in Nanjing Prefecture of the Ming Dynasty." The Ming Dynasty? Recalling previous simulations, it seemed the current reigning emperor was Zhu Yuanzhang. ... "Randomizing romance role." "This time, your bound romance role is a farm girl named 'Chen Huniu.'" Seeing she was a farm girl, Su Mo's heart sank. This start might not be promising… "Randomizing identity." "This time, your identity is a farmer's son." "Randomizing talent." As the white light flashed, Su Mo’s talents for this simulation came into view. "Your random talent this time is 'Longevity.'" "Longevity: With a robust constitution from a young age, you will live to a hundred, even if you don’t have enough food or clothing." ... Seeing this inevitably poor start, Su Mo lost the desire to continue watching. This beginning was rather lacking. The Ming Dynasty heavily restricted farmers; being born a farmer means staying one for life. He could practically foresee his life's trajectory: Farming, marrying, farming, having children, farming… And the talent wasn’t great either. A lifespan of a hundred years. If that were true, he'd have to wait for another two days for the next simulation. Unless his simulated self met an unfortunate fate. Shrugging it off, Su Mo hit the idle button. As he closed the Romance of Life, anticipation filled him as he lay in bed, drifting into a deep sleep. The next morning, Su Mo woke up early. Checking the idle interface, he found his simulated self already 34 years old. By tomorrow morning, this simulation might well conclude. After a quick wash, he eagerly approached the front desk, fetching the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. All were high-quality supplies courtesy of Guo Lin. Now, it was time to see if Haoran righteousness truly held power! (End of chapter)