After all, if a man does not look out for himself, heaven and earth will strike him down.
The true meaning of this phrase is that if no one in the world were to act for themselves, then heaven would strike and the earth would perish.
Therefore, seeking to survive is beyond reproach.
However, you forcibly rob others of their possessions, intend to murder them, and plan to abduct and violate innocent maidens.
Such means of survival are nothing but sin.
Those weighed down by sin will surely face retribution.
When you die, I fear you will fall into Eternal Hell and suffer all the cruel tortures of Eternal Purgatory.
You must stop at once. Turn back now, and you can still be saved. That is the righteous path."
Since most of the men in this group were believers of Divine Monk Wu Tan, Xu Lei naturally had to continue his act, adopting the posture of a transcendent master while hinting that they should release him and his companions.
"Divine Monk, I'm sorry! I believe I just stole from one of your companions! I'll return it right now!"
The scrawny bandit who was a believer was the first to respond, immediately moving to return the possessions he had stolen from Hui Ming.
"What bullshit Divine Monk!"
But just then, the burly bandit's expression flickered as he considered the situation. After a moment, he suddenly snarled, "I still don't buy it!
Brothers, you've all been deceived!
There's no such thing as a Divine Monk in this world! There are no Divine Buddhas!
If there really were Divine Buddhas, why haven't they used their Magical Power to save us from this sea of suffering?
Why have they let our lives become so bitter?
And why aren't they protecting him and his group?
Letting us surround them like this?
Letting us successfully rob them of their possessions?
If he's really a Divine Monk, why doesn't he save the world?
Why isn't he fighting back against us?
Why is he just standing here running his mouth?
Sin? Hell?
That's all stuff for after we're dead!
Our lives are miserable right now!
If we don't rob people, how are we supposed to survive?
Why do other people get to live the good life?
They get to wear nice clothes, eat delicious food, and sleep with beautiful women, but we can't?"
He finished and turned his head to glare at Xu Lei.
"'Turn back and be saved'? Sounds nice!
Aren't you just begging us for mercy?
Telling us not to touch your money or your women?
If you're really a Divine Monk, then right now, I'll disrespect the Buddha, and I'll disrespect you!
You're the Divine Monk, Divine Monk Wu Tan, right? Well, how about you show me a little trick right now!
Let me see how amazing you are.
Let's see the consequences of blaspheming a Divine Buddha and a Divine Monk like you!"
Xu Lei hadn't expected this guy to be so stubborn and difficult.
He was even using his words to sway the others.
He cursed inwardly.
On the surface, however, he remained perfectly serene.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Not knowing what else to say, he could only recite the Buddha's name.
"What damn good does chanting 'Amitabha Buddha' over and over do?"
But the burly bandit pressed on. "Divine Monk, oh Divine Monk, if you're really so powerful, why don't you send me to your so-called Buddhist Sect's Western Heaven for a look?
In other words, I'm asking you to take my life.
If you can take my life right now,
I'll believe you.
How about it?
Otherwise, I'm still taking your money and all the women with you today!"
"Number Two, don't be disrespectful to the Divine Monk!" the taller, leaner bandit leader interjected.
"Second-in-command, don't! You can't say things like that. What if there really is a Divine Buddha in the heavens?" a few of the bandits who favored the burly man couldn't help but say.
Xu Lei could see what was happening now. The bandits were likely split into two factions.
One faction, led by the tall and lean leader, believed in a code of conduct for their robberies, always leaving their victims a way out.
The other, led by the burly bandit, believed that if you were going to be evil, you should go all the way!
Previously, it seemed the burly bandit's faction had the upper hand.
This confrontation was now a flashpoint in the power struggle between the two leaders.
There had likely been friction between them for some time.
But now, one was advocating for respecting the Divine Buddha and the Divine Monk.
The other was advocating for disrespecting them, robbing them of their wealth and women, and then killing them all.
The outcome of today's events would likely determine their future prestige and status within the group.
So when the leader heard the burly bandit's challenge, his expression soured.
But all he could do was mutter a few words, telling his 'second-in-command' not to be disrespectful to the Divine Buddha and the Divine Monk.
The man obviously wasn't listening.
Faced with the burly bandit's aggressive stare, Xu Lei was momentarily at a loss.
He hadn't transmigrated from Earth with a pistol. How could he possibly take the burly bandit's life from three or four meters away, especially with several other bandits standing between them?
If he truly possessed that kind of Magical Power or Divine Power, Xu Lei wouldn't be stuck here pretending to be an eminent monk in the first place.
"Come on! So-called Divine Monk!"
The burly bandit continued to glare at Xu Lei, his voice a mocking sneer. "If you can take my life,
I'll acknowledge you as the real deal!
Otherwise, my vote is still to rob! And to kill!
And to rape every last woman traveling with you!"
Xu Lei was speechless.
Hearing the man's words, he was furious.
After all, the man had threatened his women.
But hearing that the bandit wanted to sleep with *all* the women in his party, Xu Lei was once again rendered speechless.
Aunt Hu was a woman, too.
This burly bandit wanted to sleep with even Aunt Hu!
Xu Lei had to admit, the man was truly a piece of work.
Of course, Xu Lei had no time to dwell on that.
Seeing the other bandits turn to look at him after hearing the burly man's speech, Xu Lei's heart leaped into his throat.
If he couldn't pull off something spectacular right now,
the halo of the Divine Monk would surely shatter.
These men, already living desperate lives as bandits, might really follow the burly man's lead and embrace pure evil.
And they would make an example of him, the so-called Divine Monk, first!
"Amitabha Buddha."
But Xu Lei still couldn't think of a good way out of this.
He had learned many skills back on Earth, but he couldn't think of a single one that would be useful right now.
So he simply recited the Buddha's name again and said, "In my years, this humble monk has met tens of thousands of patrons.
But this is the first time I have ever seen or heard a patron request to 'have his life taken' and 'be sent to the Western Heaven.'"
Xu Lei was just saying this to buy himself time to think of a plan.
POP—
But what Xu Lei never expected was that at that very moment, the head of the burly second-in-command—the one who had been so arrogantly and mockingly staring him down—
suddenly, out of thin air, right in the middle of his own men, shattered like a watermelon being crushed.
Brains and bits of flesh exploded outward; blood and eyeballs went flying.
He had been a perfectly healthy, burly man!
Just moments ago, he was bursting with life!
But just for uttering a few disrespectful words against the Divine Buddha and the Divine Monk, just for arrogantly demanding that the Divine Monk take his life,
now, surrounded by his own men, with no one seeing a thing fly toward his head,
his head had suddenly and bizarrely exploded, killing him instantly!
And so!
That explosive sound!
It left everyone horrified!
Stunned!
Aghast!
Dumbfounded!
Their hair stood on end!
In utter disbelief!
The world spun around them!
Then, one by one, they all snapped their heads to stare at Xu Lei—at the renowned Divine Monk, 'Wu Tan'—their eyes filled with unparalleled awe!
However, Xu Lei himself was also completely stunned!
He knew, of course, that he hadn't done a thing.
But now, the burly bandit was truly dead!
He had asked for death, and death he received!
His wish had been granted!
'What's going on?'
On the surface, Xu Lei maintained the Divine Monk's posture—as immovable as a mountain, as transcendent as the heavens—but inside, his mind was reeling in shock, a tempestuous wave crashing through him.
This was followed by a wave of unparalleled excitement as he roared in his mind: 'An Extraordinary—this is the power of an Extraordinary!'
Then, while the others were still reeling in confusion, Xu Lei's head snapped around. He had figured it out.
'One of them made a move!'
'Hui Ming, Young Master Wei, or Aunt Hu!'
'The Extraordinary who struck must be one of them!'