Chapter 1003: Three Bodies

Chapter 1003: The Three Bodies

Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound of stumbling footsteps grew clearer, drawing near as the rain outside began to subside.

Yang Na, clutching her bleeding abdomen, was clearly all too familiar with those footsteps; she forgot her tears and rushed toward the rain-drenched doorway.

Chen Hongyu, standing nearby, was quick to react, reaching out to grab her firmly.

Just as Yang Na clawed at her fingers to break free, three figures stepped in from the rain.

It was Li Huowang. He looked gravely wounded; gunshot wounds, slashes, and blunt force trauma covered his body, and blood mixed with rainwater left a trail of crimson footprints on the floor.

Ba Nanxu, giggling neurotically from time to time, followed her brother as they supported Li Huowang inside; they were in little better shape themselves. "Damn, Huozi, I really underestimated you. When you've got some free time, let's hit the sheets."

Once Li Huowang crossed the threshold, his consciousness fading, he mustered his last ounce of strength to turn around, reach for the door, and pull it shut, locking it tight.

With that done, his body collapsed instantly, his exhausted frame sliding slowly down the door panel until he finally came to a rest.

Seeing the severity of his wounds, Wu Qi, who had been bandaging the bearded man under Zhao Shuandian’s command, rushed over with a medical kit. She injected a vial of medicine into Li Huowang and began frantically trying to stem the bleeding.

Yet, the chaotic mess of wounds left her momentarily at a loss for where to begin.

"Why... why..." Li Huowang murmured, his lips pale as he repeated the words.

His gaze swept over everyone’s faces, taking in their expressions.

Li Huowang realized that besides Zhao Lei, Ling’er—who always had a twitch at the corner of her mouth while following Zhao Shuandian—was also missing. The Siling of Baiyujing were being culled again, and he did not know if they could ever return from this.

"Why did I kill so many Siling, and why was there no return to the narrative? Why? Is it because we didn't fight within Baiyujing?"

Wu Qi, however, had no time for his ramblings. "He's lost too much blood! If this continues, he'll go into hypovolemic shock! Who here is Type O?"

"I am." A voice that caught everyone by surprise rang out.

Qing Wanglai, wearing his signature smile, wove through the others and arrived before Li Huowang, extending his right hand toward Wu Qi.

Seeing the rage and murderous intent in Li Huowang’s eyes, Qing Wanglai reached up to adjust his rimless glasses.

"Don't get excited. You can't afford high blood pressure right now; if it spikes, the little blood you have left will likely pump right out."

Just as Li Huowang lunged to his feet, drawing his copper coin sword to strike at Qing Wanglai, the others rushed forward, pinning him down with frantic hands.

Click. The sound of a bullet chambering echoed, and two guns were leveled at Qing Wanglai from behind—one held by Ba Nanxu, the other by Yang Na.

Ba Nanxu, a cigarette dangling from her lip, pressed her pistol against the back of Qing Wanglai’s head, her tone laced with dissatisfaction. "Qingzi, this move of yours wasn't very honorable."

Yet, facing the threat of death, Qing Wanglai remained entirely unruffled. With a smile, he turned to look at the approaching Zhao Shuandian. "Sister Zhao, no chance for an explanation? Besides, I haven't done anything truly wicked, have I?"

"Speak. Explain everything you know," Zhao Shuandian said, taking a computer and watching as Qing Wanglai began to type rapidly.

Qing Wanglai did not speak immediately. He stood straight, calmly pulling a lens cloth from his pocket, removing his rimless glasses, breathing on the lenses, wiping them clean, and putting them back on.

"Li Huowang, you saw it, didn't you? You must have seen it too," he said, looking down at Li Huowang, who was slumped against the door. "Otherwise, all this trouble I went through would have been for nothing."

"I don't know what you're talking about! I just want to tear you to pieces right now!" Li Huowang snarled through gritted teeth.

Facing the threat, Qing Wanglai sighed and shook his head helplessly. "You've forgotten again. If not for the circumstances, I truly wouldn't want to deal with someone like you."

Wu Qi snapped at him, "Stop the nonsense! Why are you just standing there? Get your hand up!"

As Qing Wanglai raised his right hand, the scarlet blood from his veins flowed through the tube into Li Huowang. "How about now? Do you remember?"

Li Huowang grabbed the transfusion line with one hand, ripped it out, and slammed it to the ground, forcing himself back up against the door.

Seeing this, Wu Qi was so angry she felt like she might have a heart attack. "Oh! What are you doing?! Lie down!"

"You clearly saw that existence. Do you still doubt my decision?" Qing Wanglai asked, looking puzzled.

Hearing this, Li Huowang stopped, making no further aggressive moves.

"Perhaps you think I am heartless, but you understand how powerful the Fusheng Tian you speak of is. Given this situation, my plan is the optimal solution. Only by doing this do we have a glimmer of hope."

Qing Wanglai stepped forward, looking down at him. "Or, facing such an enemy, can you think of another way?"

"As long as you can come up with an effective alternative to help us survive this crisis, I promise to abandon my plan and assist you with all my heart. I guarantee it."

Finally, Li Huowang spoke. "You keep saying you're helping us, but look at what you've done! How are you any different from Fusheng Tian? What is the difference in the end?"

"Of course there is a difference," Qing Wanglai said as if it were obvious. "We are merely projections now. If a projection is lost, as long as the screen remains, it can be recreated at any time. But if the real us are all gone, then I fear we won't even have a final chance."

Qing Wanglai’s words drew dissatisfaction from Zhao Shuandian. "Don't be so vague. Be specific."

Qing Wanglai turned to her. "Your elephant theory is wrong. In reality, we are projections, but we are not the only ones. Projections have two layers, like a person casting two different shadows under two light sources."

"Only by comparing the projections from both sides can we understand the reality that mortals cannot grasp. In Buddhist terms, this is the Three Bodies: the Transformation Body, the Reward Body, and finally, the Dharma Body."

"Our side is one layer, the Transformation Body," he turned to Li Huowang, pointing meaningfully at his chest, "and that side is the other. The Reward Body."

As he spoke, Qing Wanglai’s expression turned serious. He leaned down and whispered into Li Huowang’s ear, "Brother Li, I am still the me from back then. Everything I do is for the sake of all living beings."

Li Huowang’s pupils constricted. He trembled, opened his mouth, and with a sudden burst of strength, bit down on Qing Wanglai’s left ear. With a spray of blood, the entire ear was torn away.

Missing an ear, Qing Wanglai stepped back. Even as blood streamed down, he didn't care in the slightest; his signature smile remained, as if the body were not his own.

"Just a projection, it doesn't matter. My plan is not complicated: it is to sacrifice all the Reward Bodies and Transformation Bodies to save the only Dharma Body—to save the real us."

Smiling, Qing Wanglai reached out and gripped Li Huowang’s hand tightly, looking at him with fervor, his voice filled with a hint of pleading. "Brother Li, help me one more time. I beg you, hurry up and die."