Chapter 19: I Have Long Been in the Sea of Suffering

"A monk?"

Yamada Ryoka’s relaxed expression vanished, his pupils tightening as he stared at this high-ranking monk he had never heard of before. He could sense a different kind of power emanating from him.

In Japan, almost everyone is a Buddhist follower, or at the very least, has visited a temple to pray to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Shinto, the indigenous faith, and Christianity, an imported one, combined, could not rival Buddhism in terms of the sheer number of adherents. This is because Buddhism holds a powerful trump card: cemeteries. Post-mortem chanting, the bestowing of dharma names, funeral arrangements—all are handled by Buddhism, and all of these services require cold, hard cash. The concept that "Shinto governs life, while Buddhism governs death" is deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Japanese people.

Yamada had visited temples before and was certain that among the high priests and eminent monks who appeared on television, there was no one who resembled Chiriku.

Commissioner Hakuba felt a storm raging in his heart, yet he knew that the movements of Master Chiriku were beyond the reach of the Metropolitan Police Department. As for how the monk knew about the situation here, it could only be attributed to the unique, mysterious connections between those who transcend the ordinary. Relying on the composure he had cultivated in his high position, Commissioner Hakuba quickly regained his bearings and spoke: "This is Master Chiriku, the head priest of Senso-ji Temple. If you have concerns in this regard, Yamada-kun, perhaps you should try asking Master Chiriku."

Chiriku gave a slight nod, his tone earnest: "Donor, your situation requires resolution as soon as possible."

Yamada was silent for a moment before asking, "Master Chiriku, in your opinion, how much longer can I hold on?" Out of the courtesy expected of a high school student, he did not treat the monk with the same hostility he showed toward the police.

Chiriku opened his eyes, and a flash of golden light seemed to flicker within them. "In my humble opinion, if you do not encounter any unforeseen circumstances, you should be able to hold on for two or three years."

"Two or three years... at least two years, then," Yamada murmured to himself, then let out a soft laugh. "That is enough."

"What will happen if I refuse?" he asked, looking up.

Chiriku’s expression was full of compassion as he replied, "I would have no choice but to use Buddhist rites to forcibly liberate these wandering souls. They are already filled with infinite resentment; if something were to go wrong, it would be a disaster for the ordinary people."

Yamada chuckled softly, slowly assuming a stance, and asked, "Master Chiriku, did you know when the Tsuchigumo appeared?"

"I did indeed know, but due to my own duties, I could not arrive in time. If you must harbor hatred, donor, let it be directed at me alone."

Yamada shook his head slightly. "I do hate, but I hate the Tsuchigumo. Everyone has their own duties. Even you, Master, cannot save everyone."

These words opened the eyes of Commissioner Hakuba and the others. Is this really a high school student? How many adults possess such clarity of mind?

"But I cannot agree. You have your duties, Master, and I have mine. Before I complete my goal, I will not stop, I will not fall. Forgive me!"

With a sharp cry, the souls of the dead, like a dark curtain, emerged from behind Yamada. Ten, a hundred—in the blink of an eye, the sky was covered by the hideous, wailing spirits. This scene, which defied all logic, left everyone present stunned. Several palace priests and Shinto leaders stood frozen, as if carved from stone. This shocking spectacle was far beyond the earlier confusion of merely seeing flames suddenly extinguished.

"Department Chief, what should we do now?" a section chief asked, trembling with fear as he approached Toshiro Odagiri. Although they had been told before arriving that the mission would involve scenes far beyond human comprehension, they hadn't expected anything like this!

"Leave," Odagiri ordered without hesitation, turning to run. Yamada’s spirits had already proven impervious to bullets and artillery; what were they going to do standing there with guns? Even if they wanted to watch the battle, they needed a better vantage point. Seeing their chief beat a hasty retreat, the section chief and the "experts" were momentarily stunned, but soon joined the race to get away.

"Amitabha," Chiriku chanted, his face compassionate. Facing the overwhelming swarm of spirits, he remained unmoved. A faint, protective light radiated from his body, forming a halo of Buddhist radiance. The spirits at the forefront collided with it and immediately let out wails, vanishing at a visible rate.

Seeing this, Yamada was startled and hurriedly pulled back the spirits he had unleashed. Even so, he lost over a dozen spirits in those few seconds. Undeterred, he realized that wasn't working. Channeling his power throughout his body, Yamada stomped heavily on the ground; the sheer force caused the concrete to collapse and shatter, forming spiderweb-like cracks several meters wide. With his fist wrapped in a gale, he aimed directly at Chiriku’s chest!

Seeing Yamada’s firm resolve, Chiriku sighed softly, finally lowering his hands from the prayer position, his eyes resolute. "Since you have made your decision, donor, I shall say no more."

As Yamada closed to within five meters, Chiriku threw a punch!

"Boom!"

Although it was merely the collision of two fists, the resulting blast wave turned into a tangible shockwave that struck everything nearby. Windows shattered, and the massive sound shook the ears of those who had not yet fled far. Yamada’s expression changed as he realized his punch had been countered.

"Though I excel at chanting sutras, I am also well-versed in... martial arts!"

"Boom! Boom!"

As he spoke, Chiriku’s fists moved like raindrops, each strike carrying the fierce power to shatter steel. Faced with these attacks, Yamada could only manage to defend, unable to land a single counter-attack as he was forced to retreat. Their battlefield moved from the open lot into the apartment building, surging upward and then plunging back down. Everywhere they passed, dust and debris flew, and the roaring sounds were constant. The dilapidated building groaned in agony.

Rebar, concrete, and load-bearing pillars were all ravaged by their raw strength. Below, the crowd watched as the center of the battle spread from the initial building; the entire apartment complex appeared on the verge of collapse under the impact. The people on the scene and those watching from the Metropolitan Police Department were left speechless by this display of human power. Is this what a battle between transcendent beings looks like?

In a high-rise building in the distance, the sniper responsible for guarding against the earthbound spirits broke out in a cold sweat, darting his eyes back and forth. He had no idea how to aim! And could someone who could cause this much destruction with their bare body really be killed by bullets?

Inside the apartment building, smoke and dust billowed amidst the broken walls and ruins, as if it had just survived a war. Yamada leaned against a load-bearing wall that had exposed its rebar, his face grim, his arms trembling slightly. Opposite him stood Chiriku, as calm as when he first appeared, his robe unstained, his body still glowing with protective Buddhist light.

He was no match for him. Yamada quickly realized the situation. Unlike himself, who had only trained with the Self-Defense Forces after gaining his power, this monk was not only a master of martial arts, but his protective light burned Yamada with every collision. The Buddhist light was his bane.

"Donor, the sea of bitterness has no end, but turn your head and you will find the shore." Chiriku continued to plead.

Yamada sighed, appearing to deflate. He looked up, meeting Chiriku’s gaze. His face, which should have been filled with the youthful vitality of a high schooler, possessed a moving sense of determination. He suddenly smiled.

"Master, I have been swimming in that sea of bitterness for a long time."

The power of the dead surged. With a piercing shriek, a materialized sonic wave tore through the floor, slicing the building in half. The already tottering apartment block finally met its end, and rubble rained down! Thousands of spirits poured out, and soon Yamada’s body was engulfed by them. As only his face remained visible, he looked at Chiriku and whispered, "Master, do not stop me."

"BOOM!"

Thousands of spirits merged, condensed, and climbed rapidly. Standing upon the earth was a towering ghost over twenty meters tall. Countless spirits surged within its form every second; its arms hung past its knees, and its face was covered by a ghastly white, bone-like mask.